Week three had the most diverse kinds of vendors we had seen yet and I could tell how much the brides enjoyed asking questions and learning even more about inside vs. outside weddings, invitations, hair/make up, photography, and decor!
One of the first decisions that has to be made about your wedding is a venue. With that choice comes the battle between having all of your wedding outside, all of your wedding inside, of doing half and half. I have said this in a blog before and I will say it again now. Have a back-up plan if you are doing any part of your wedding outdoors. Whether that means renting a tent or picking a venue who has a building or shelter-type area in case of rain, it is better to be safe and less worried than sorry and regretful. You can actually, in many cases, cut costs by having everything indoors. This can help your budget by eliminating the need to rent things like restrooms, dance floors, kitchen needs for caterers, things like that for places outside that do not have requirements like that. Another way to cut costs is by doing seal and send invitation. Basically these are invitations that are one piece, but have a perforated bottom for RSVP’s to be sent back to you! These cost less for you because they are the invitation, envelope, and RSVP in one. They typically meet regular postage weight so you can send them like regular mail instead of having to pay for more postage.
Like I mentioned before, it is so important to have your wedding day look set for not only your wedding, but also your photography. It was stressed that getting the right look will make you and your photographer much happier. Doing trial runs for your hair and make-up are a great way to ensure that you are getting exactly what you want. If you are wanting to do a bridal session before the wedding (where you take portraits of just yourself in your dress so there is less photographs you have to do of just yourself the day of the wedding), it is a great idea to book your trial run of hair and make-up on the same day so you can not only see how it photographs, but cut the cost of having to do another session of hair and make-up.
Decor is a large part of every wedding. There are all kinds of centerpiece options for brides that range from flowers, candles, vases, pictures, and everything in between. Depending on your budget, you can do all sorts of things with your centerpieces. One of the biggest things to remember is that guests will not want to have flowers or any type of centerpiece all up in their face while trying to converse with others at their table. Go for a shorter arrangement or a taller piece that allows for room either above or below for conversation.
Week two and three have been so amazing and such a great experience for the brides, and myself as an intern wanting to know more about the industry. I look forward to the next two weeks! (p.s. I am going to be so sad when the series is over.)
Thanks to The Thoroughbred Center, Affordable Invitations, Tie The Knot Hair, Wes Brown Photography, and Doug Smith Designs & Events for participating!
I have included a few pictures I took of bouquets and the “sparkler exit” provided by Doug Smith Designs & Events last night!
 
