Archive for January, 2009

The Grand Exit - Ceremony or Reception

Every movie with a wedding scene always has the bride and groom happily making a grand exit from the ceremony or reception as all their guests surround them with well wishes and love as they start a new life as husband and wife.

What happened to the grand exit?  I love this part of the wedding.  The Grand Exit has somehow faded away from wedding ceremonies and receptions.  Now, it seems like guests rush off after the ceremony to avoid traffic jams trying get to the reception site.  On the other hand, receptions fizzle like a night club when the lights come up and the bride and groom are left with a handful of straggling guests.

Bring back this classic tradition and plan a Grand Exit with style.  Your guests can send you off with rose petals, bubbles, or sparklers.  Don’t forget about the time honored tradition of decorating the get away car with "Just Married" decorations.  It’s such a great moment to capture via photo or video.    

Let your wedding planner, photographer, and DJ/MC know what time you will be making your grand exit and they will alert and coordinate your guests for you.

P.S. No confetti - it’s too messy.  It gets stuck in your hair, eyelashes, cleavage, etc.

grand exit 3 - sparklers.jpg

just married.jpg

grand exit - bubbles.jpg

grand exit - sparklers.jpg

Wedding Budget Analysis

Once you have determined the budget for your wedding, it is very important to allocate a percentage of your budget to specific purchases before you start spending your hard earned cash.
As a rule of thumb, you can follow the following percentages for your wedding budget:
50% - Reception
·         Venue
·         Rentals
·         Wedding cake
·         Food & beverage
10% - Attire
·         Wedding gown, accessories, and alterations
·         Groom’s tux, accessories, and alterations
·         Hair & makeup
10% - Flowers & Décor
·         Bouquets
·         Boutonnières
·         Reception centerpieces & decor
·         Ceremony arrangements
·         Lighting
·         Miscellaneous
10% - Music
·         Musicians
·         DJ or band
·         Audiovisual equipment
·         Dance floor rental
10% - Photography/Videography
·         Photographer
·         Videographer
·         Wedding album & prints
2% - Favors & Gifts
·         Bridal party gifts
·         Favors for wedding reception
·         Welcome gifts for out of town guests
2% - Wedding Ceremony
·         Site fee
·         Officiant fee or donation to the church
2% - Stationary
·         Wedding Invitations
·         Postage
·         Thank you’s
·         Programs
·         Save-the Date’s
·         Place & menu cards
2% - Wedding Bands
·         Bride & Groom’s wedding bands
2% - Transportation
·         Limousine rental
·         Valet parking
·         Parking fees
 
$30,000 Sample Budget
 50% Reception - $15,000
10% Attire - $3,000
10% Flowers - $3,000
10% Music - $3,000
10% Photography - $3,000
2% Favors - $600
2% Ceremony - $600
2% Stationary - $600
2% Wedding bands - $600
2% Transportation $600