Analogy time!

About two years ago I bought a designer handbag from Target. (You all know Target gets some pretty good designers these days and for less!) Anyways, I’ve casually used the bag on and off since the purchase. Recently, it became my go to bag. I was using it on a regular basis because it suited my needs. And one day while I was out running errands…the braided leather handle broke. NOT a happy camper. But it was my go to bag of the moment so I took it be repaired. The handbag doctor fixed it up and I thought it was as good as new! Yeah. Not quite. Spent the day in wine country two weeks ago. The other handle broke. It was at that point that I realized I was not sporting a designer handbag for less…I was sporting less than a designer handbag. The bag was worth exactly what I paid for it and not a penny more.  However, my beautiful French leather bag that I spent several hundred dollars on has taken a beating in the year that I’ve had…no problems whatsoever! Its a handbag that on some days looks like my luggage because its so jam packed with stuff…but not a single stitch is out of place.   Worth every penny and then some!

“Worth every penny and then some” is how you should feel about your Wedding Planner / Coordinator. Its not about how cheap or inexpensive they are, but what they are offering you. Did they plan their own wedding and decide to “go in to business” or spend years in the industry developing their skills before taking on the most important day in your life? Have they only ever “planned” or have they spent time in the caterer’s/photographer’s/florist’s shoes? Do they crack under pressure and stress or thrive in those situations? I know with finances being what they are these days, its tempting to scoop up the “deal” but the deal may not be worth it in the end.

So you can use the “broken handle” Wedding Planner because they are offering you a good deal, but remember the deal comes with trade-offs. Or you can use the “not a single stitch out of place” Wedding Planner that offers you exceptionally high quality service, won’t fall apart on you when you need them the most, and leaves you feeling like it was the best money you ever spent. The choice is entirely up to you.

And when all else fails and you don’t know what to do… ask questions! Nothing is more valuable than being as informed about your decision as you possibly can be.

Happy Planning!

Congratulations!  You are planning a wedding / birthday party / business event / basically any type of shindig you don’t normally do.

What do you do first?  Commit to a budget!  Even if you have no idea what anything actually costs, you likely have an idea as to what amount of money you feel comfortable spending.  And that is where you start!  For most people, their first budget is a draft that allows them to prioritize and set their expectations.  Even if you have overestimated or underestimated your first budget, you will quickly find how much things actually cost, what is important to you, and what you can scale back on.  If you have underestimated (which many people do) then you may consider the following:

• Re-style your event (2 hour cocktail party instead of a 5 hour party with dinner)
• Evaluate the bar situation (beer and wine only is a classy choice - you can even add in one signature cocktail)
• Change up the entertainment (DJ instead of 10 piece band)
• Location Location Location (a venue with a natural vibe can save you $$$ on decor)
• Add in more money (which is the obvious choice, but not typically the easiest)

These are just basics to get you started!  But think of your budget as your game plan (which sometimes needs to be flexible) and then the task of planning your event won’t be so daunting.

SmartBiz.com has a great article on cost saving tips - geared mostly towards corporate style functions but there are still great ideas!

Brides.com has a great tool for all you brides and you can even modify it for a non-wedding event!

Happy Planning!!