Happy Monday! Today I thought I would share some of the mistakes or pitfalls of the wedding planning process.  Just a few tips to remember when planning your big day.

1.  Remember why you are doing this....Too many people get caught up in all of the little details and stress of wedding planning.  Remember that you are marrying the love of your life.   You are committing your lives to each other in front of friends and family.  You are celebrating your love.  

2.  Don't always steer the conversation to your wedding planning...When you are with your friends and family, yes, they want to hear how it is going.  No, they don't want wedding planning to be the only topic of conversation when they are with you....plus you want to keep some of the fun details a surprise!

3.  Losing your personality in the wedding...You are celebrating the love of two people.  Let your personalities show, as individuals and as a couple.  It can be through decor, table names, food choices, song choices..but stay true to yourselves...Just because you saw it on Pinterest doesn't mean you have to do it.  Be yourself!

4.  Not hiring professional, experienced wedding professionals...This is a big one!!  You think you are getting a great deal by hiring that DJ or Photographer that's a friend of a friend who does weddings on the side...BIG MISTAKE...make sure your wedding pros are experienced in wedddings, have the appropriate licensure and insurance, can provide references.  There are horror stories all over the internet from brides who went the cheap way and it ended up costing them so much more emotionally and monetarily.

5.  Underbudgeting...Don't underestimate how quickly the small things add up...postage, garter, that cute little sign you saw on etsy, hair accessories, getting your nails done, driving around town on wedding errands (hey, gas is expensive). 

Happy Wedding Planning!

Jen, Mandi, Nikki and Lara

Hi there!  Hope everyone is keeping cool in this brutal summer!  

You have set the date and the planning has begun.  Now you find yourself having to create the dreaded…Budget.

We all know about the big ticket items…venue, dress, photographer, DJ, florals, food and drink, invitations…But there some hidden budget busters out there.

Here are just a few of those budget busters:

1.  Mailing Costs – don’t forget to include the costs of stamps for RSVP envelopes and oddly shaped or over sized envelopes cost more to mail.

2.  A hanger for your dress – Your photographer will be taking some stunning photos of your dress on a hanger..Check out etsy.com and order a custom hanger.  It will look amazing in your photos..but don’t forget to budget for it.

3.  Shipping – When ordering on-line or shipping wedding items to a destination, make sure you ship with plenty of lead time so you don’t have to pay extra for overnight or express shipping.

4.  Alterations – No dress is going to fit properly the minute it arrives.  So be sure to include the money for alterations and bustling of your dress in your attire budget.  Also, if your guy is getting a new suit..pants may need to be hemmed or sleeves shortened.

5.  Tips – It is customary to tip vendors that provide exceptional service on your wedding day.  Your vendors appreciate this more than you can ever know.

6.  Favors – Even though they seem like a small item..when ordering in quantity they can add up…Just be sure to include this item in your budget.

7.  The little things – It’s all the little things that add up and become budget busters.  Don’t forget things like toasting flutes, cake knife and serving set.  Create a line item for each of these things and stick with it.

8.  Gifts – Don’t forget to include gifts for your bridal party (and parents) to thank them for being so supportive during the wedding planning process.  They will appreciate this small gesture in a big way.  Remember to include it in your budget.

Even though the budget process can seem daunting, it is necessary.  Remember to include all of the above items and give yourself a little wiggle room in each line item.  Your professional wedding planner is a great asset when it comes to budgeting for your wedding.

Cheers!

Jen, Mandi, Nikki & Lara

jennifer@fabuluxeevents.com

561-254-2041

We had the best time with Madeleine and Dustin.  Though they both live in the Washington DC area, Madeleine grew up on Palm Beach and her family still lives there.  So for her, she knew exactly where she wanted to get married.  St. Edward's Catholic Church and The Flagler Museum were Madeleine's dream wedding locations.

During the process we shared lots of texts, emails, facetime calls, and jammed meetings into a few weekends...and the whole time we laughed so hard!  And Dustin is just the most romantic, big-hearted guy ever...there is nothing he wouldn't do for Madeleine.

From the incredible rehearsal dinner at Eau Palm Beach the wedding day festivities, it was an extraordinary weekend!

Thank you so much to everyone who made it all happen.

Rehearsal Dinner - Eau Palm Beach Resort

Reheasal Dinner Decor - Xquisite Events Florida

Ceremony - St. Edward Catholic Church Palm Beach

Cocktails/Reception - The Flagler Museum

Cocktails/Reception Decor - Xquisite Events Florida

Reception Catering - Chez Gourmet

Linens, Chargers, Glassware, Flatware - Atlas Event Rental

Photographer - Chris Joriann Fine Art Photography

Transportation - Molly's Trolleys

Band - South Florida Heatwave

Video - Andreo Studio

Hair and Make Up - Kiss This Make Up

Planner - Fabuluxe Events

Hello out there!  I hope everyone had an amazing Valentine's Day and is enjoying this fabulous time of year.

So, we are in the middle of engagement season and the topic of budget is a big issue for newly engaged couples.  It can be awkward, uncomfortable and daunting to talk about budget when planning the wedding of your dreams.  

First and foremost...EVERYONE HAS A BUDGET.  Whether your budget is $10,000 or $100,000 it is still a budget and your ideas will need to fit within those parameters.

So here are some tips for handling the budget discussion.

1.  Sit down with both sets of parents.  Ask what, if anything, they are able to contribute. Sometimes it is a dollar amount. Sometimes they will say, I want to pay for photography or flowers up to a certain dollar amount.  But be up front and ask the questions.

2.  Talk honestly as a couple.  What can you two afford to contribute to the wedding expenses?  Be honest...Do NOT go into major debt to plan a wedding.  It is not a competition.  It is a wedding celebrating two people in love making a lifelong committment to each other.  

3.  Have realistic expectations.  You may have to sacrifice in some categories to get what you really want in other categories.    You can not have surf and turf, open-premium bar and a live band for 150 on $5,000...so something will have to give.  Be realistic.

4.  Set priorities.  If photography is a priority get the best possible photographer you feel comfortable paying.  If food is a priorty stretch the food budget and lower another category.  

5.  Carefully watch your guest list.  Less guests = less money.  It is that simple.  So Uncle Joe, three times removed does not have to be on the guest list if no one in your family has seen him since Reagan was President. 

6. Hire only professional wedding vendors, with wedding experience.  It will cost you far more in time and effort if you hire someone who is not a pro or let a family member handle certain things. 

7. Hire a fantastic Wedding Planner, like Fabuluxe Events.  Wedding planners will know which vendors and venues will fit your budget. They can help you negotiate contracts.  They can keep you on-track and sane during the process and that my friends, is priceless.

So remember, EVERYONE IS WORKING WITH A BUDGET.  They key is being realistic and honest about it from the very beginning.

And remember,
You Deserve a FABULUXE Day!
Jen
jennifer@fabuluxeevents.com 
561-254-2041 

Hi all...we are back after a break for a few weeks.  Wedding Season has been incredible so far this year and we are incredibly thankful for all of the amazing couples we work with each week.

Which brings us to this week's blog topic.  Why We Do What We Do.

Here are the top 5 reasons on Why We Do What We Do.

1.  We meet the most incredible people.  Not only are the couples very special, but very often we get to meet their families and parents and friends and get to known them during the planning process.  And we are so fortunate to become personal friends with our couples.  Getting to see them as they move through life and have families of their own is a true honor.

2.  We see some really cool ideas at parties.  From the decor, to the entertainment, to the way that the food is served, the amount of creativity that we see each week truly boggles the mind.

3.  We get to flex our creative and logistical muscles.  On some weddings we are all about coming up with new ways to handle the logistics of a new venue, creating a venue out of a blank space or organizing 200 people to be where we want them.  On others we get to show our creative side with design and decor elements and little surprises that make it all work together.

4.  We see people on one of the most emotional days of their lives.  And let me just say, that being allowed to be part of one of the most special and emotional days of someone's life is so beautiful.  We cry, we laugh, we are overwhelmed with emotion.  The ceremony, the parent dances, the speeches by the parents...all of those are filled with so much feeling!

5.  Our Fabuluxe Team is a family.  Creating this Fabuluxe Family and having the team we have is a blessing.  When you work with people that you truly care about, it shows in the work you do. 

There you have it...Why We Do What We Do!

Until next week...Have a Fabuluxe Day!