Buy Used!

Ideally, we only get married once. Many of the items you purchased for your wedding (bird cage, card box, ring pillow, etc) will never be used again. Rather than throwing them away, sell them. Before purchasing them, look to past brides who may be able to donate their gently used items to you for a fraction of what they paid or for free. Check with relatives, family, and friends. Also look to places like Craigslist, wedding message boards, and bridal barter websites. Bride Share is a new site that allows you to exchange goods and ideas to make planning a little easier on your wallet!

Hire Student Musicians!

Cocktail hour music is one of the details that the bride and groom don't feel the need to micromanage. Typically when the bride and groom are asked for music choices, they say to just play classical music. Beyond that, they've got nothing! If you're looking for basic piano music, look to a local college with a reputable music program. Contact the head of the music department or a professor and ask for a student recommendation. This will cost far less than having your band or DJ play for cocktail hour.

Save on your Cake Costs!

Specialty wedding cakes can range anywhere from $5-$25 per slice and up. Depending on the flavors, materials, and handmade details in your cake, you could be facing a pretty large bill. If you're on a tight budget, cut down on the cake. If the specialty cake look is what you are going for, have a smaller dream cake made. It'll be much cheaper to do a very detailed cake for 50 people and have sheet cake reserved for the guests than a detailed wedding cake for 250 people. People will never know the difference!

Save On Champagne!

Having champagne at your wedding can get very costly very quickly. Check your bar package to see if champagne is included. Oftentimes, there is only a champagne toast included with the option to upgrade your open bar to include champagne all night. If pricey champagne all night long is not in your budget, serve it just for the cocktail hour. Most people will not drink champagne all night anyway, they just have a glass or two to get the party started. By the end of the night, no one is even aware that champagne is no longer an option. If you are being charged on a consumption basis for the champagne, serve it as a champagne cocktail rather than a full glass of champagne. It'll last twice as long that way. Try a bellini, kir royale, or mimosa. You'll still get that elegant champagne feel for a smaller price tag.

If you need champagne suggestions, I have three. My top pick for a more inexpensive, sweet champagne, try the Martini & Rossi Asti. For a local champagne, try the Carpe Diem from Brotherhood Winery in Washingtonville, NY. If you want to go all out, my favorite champagne is the Veuve Clicquot Rose.

Cut Down Your Guest List!

When you are planning a wedding on a budget, the very first thing you should look at is your guest list. Keep in mind that there is more to a per-guest price than just food. Even adding one or two guests can throw off the balance of an entire room. You'll need more tables, additional centerpieces, favors, invitations, menu cards, programs, and place cards. Suddenly, what looked like a quick add just made your overall budget jump. Weddings are no longer a race to see who can fill the largest church. Couples are looking for small, intimate time with the people most important to them. Try to keep your list to people that you know well. If you think you'll look back on your wedding photographs in ten years and not know who the people are nor think you'll still be in touch with them, this budget cut should be an easy decision.

Frugal Flowers!

Wedding magazines are every girl's guilty pleasure. One drawback to them is that they often showcase flowers that are exotic and very expensive. All too often I have clients who have their hearts set on the exact centerpiece or bouquet that they see on one of those colorful, glossy pages. When they hear that the bloom in the photo is a rare orchid from New Zealand that is only available three weeks out of the year and that it costs $250 a stem, it changes everything. Have a firm floral budget worked out before you meet with your florist. Work with your florist to see what flowers are readily available within your price range during your time of the year. Always bring the photos that you fell in love with. Chances are, your florist will know of similar blooms and arrangements to make your floral dreams come true for much less!

Welcome Back!

Welcome back to the new and improved As You Wish WEDding blog! I have made some changes to the look of the blog as well as the content. I thought long and hard, talked to many people, and I think you'll really enjoy what I have to deliver.

One of the traits of being a successful wedding planner is the ability to plan out every last detail but also to be incredibly spontaneous and flexible. This new blog will be a physical representation of that. There will be some structure and things you can count on, but there will also be a ton of spontaneous items thrown in. Here is what you can count on:

Money Saving Mondays - Especially in these economic times, funds are tight. I am going to share with you some tips and tricks to save you money throughout your planning process. There are ways you can - and SHOULD - save money with budgets big and small.

Wellness Wednesdays - Whether you are a wedding pro, a busy bride, or anything in between, we all need to take a step back from the planning and just relax. As a business owner this is something I have struggled with. There is always another contract to review or an email to answer. As a bride, there is always another invitation to send or favor to assemble. Each Wednesday I will share a non-wedding related item that helps me relax. From great wines, to the newest handbags, to travel recommendations, I'll provide a ton of excuses to break away from the stress and indulge in something incredible.

Fun Find Fridays - I am exposed to fantastic new ideas and items in the wedding industry every day. Some don't fit into the themes of anything I am working on, but it may fit into what you are planning and they are just TOO GOOD to keep to myself.

In between all of this, I will answer reader questions and always keep you up to date on everything that is going on at As You Wish!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading. Please subscribe to my blog so that you can be notified when exciting, new things are posted. As always, any feedback you have is always welcome!

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Very Truly Yours,