Hey there! It's almost Friday.  Hope everyone has spectacular weekend plans!

So you are chugging away with wedding planning and every time you bring it up the groom-to-be disappears.   How can you get him to be interested and help with the planning.

1.  Remember to talk about things other than wedding planning.  It is important to keep perspective, you are spending the rest of your life with him and that lasts much longer than one day.

2.  Find out what things are interesting to him with regard to the wedding.  A lot of grooms are interested in the food, the bar, the music...but make them look at 150 bridesmaid dresses and you may have a mutiny on your hands.  It is ok if he doesn't want to be involved in every single aspect of planning.

3.  Narrow choices to the top 3 in a category.  Do the research first and then ask his opinion on your top 3 choices. This works well for venue, invitations, favors, and color palettes.

4.  If your groom does have to go to an appointment with you, have a plan for after the appointment..Go to his favorite restaurant, promise to watch a ballgame with him, encourage him to have a guy night.  After all, you will be practicing the art of compromise for the rest of your life.

5.  Plan date nights and promise not to talk about wedding planning during your date.  

6.  Set aside time to talk about the wedding plans with no distractions.  You will get more done in less time and won't lose his attention.

7. Go back to number #1.

As always, stay true to yourself and true to the two of you as a couple.  

Best,

Jen, Mandi and Amelia
jennifer@fabuluxeevents.com
561-254-2041

Hi everyone,  Today I am doing something a bit different.  I am sharing a blog originally written by Christine Boulton of Wedding Dish.  She explains this so well.  She is sassy, no nonsense and right on the money.

Do You Need a Wedding Planner? Would You Remodel Your Home Without a General Contractor?

I don’t get it. Why would you take on a project that can cost you anywhere from $10,000 to, well, as high as you want to go without having a professional by your side?

Here is the thing, would you take on a major home remodeling project without hiring a general contractor? Of course not. I know, you are asking how are those even remotely the same. Let me ask you,

“How are they different?”

• Both have budgets in at least the 5 figure range. That is a LOT of money.
• In both instances you want a high degree of personalization. In short, you want YOUR dream to be executed.
• Both will require a long list of sub-contractors that you have most likely never dealt with before.
• Both require tight scheduling to make sure everything comes together on time and on budget.
• Both are going to have glitches and unexpected issues pop up that someone is going to have to deal with.
• The results of both are going to be with you for a long, long time.

Am I beginning to make some sense here?

All those things listed above are what a wedding planner does.

• They know which vendors are reliable and match your style.
• They help you translate your dreams to the people who are going to make them come true.
• They know all about how your venue works in terms of timing and convenience for load in.
• It is their job to keep that timeline on track so, for example, the flowers show up after the tables are set up, dinner is served hot and the MC know when to do the first dance.
• It is their job to keep all those sub-contractors working together on the right plan.
• They are there to look you right in the eye and say “Yes you can have that, but you are going to have to give up XYZ”
• They are there to handle those last-minute glitches and issues in a way that you don’t even know they happened.

There is a wealth of information online today on how to plan a wedding, but until you actually do it, you have no idea of everything involved.
Seriously, when you look at it in this light, why would you even think of not hiring a wedding planner for one of the days you are going to remember for the rest of your life.

Sure, I could watch HGTV, DIY Network, House Crashers and This Old House until my eyes bleed but one episode of Holmes on Homes or DIY Disaster will cure my ass of thinking I can remodel my kitchen on my own!  - Christine Boulton

Remember, we can be your General Contractor!

Call us at 561-254-2041 or email jennifer@fabuluxeevents.com

Hi there!  Hope everyone is starting off the week in a great way.  

You found your soulmate, 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, cake topper and the garter.  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.

Remember you deserve a Fabuluxe Day!

Jen, Mandi and Amelia
561254-2041
www.fabuluxeevents.com
Jennifer@fabuluxeevents.com

(c) 2012 Jennifer Hardiman, FabuluxeEvents.com Want to use this article in your E-Zine or website? You can as long as you include this complete statement: Jennifer Hardiman is a Wedding and Special Event Planner who publishes FabuluxeEventsBlog. Set up your FREE consultation by contacting us at jennifer@fabuluxeevents.com.

Hi Everyone!  We are back after a weeklong vacation.  It was great to unplug for a while but now we are ready to go into the holidays and the new year.  So many exciting thing are coming in 2013!  We can't wait to share them all.

Yesterday, after reading the annual Oprah's Favorite Things magazine issue, we were inspired to share our favorite things with you.  Some of them are wedding related, some of related to the holidays and some are just our favorite things about our lives.  We hope you enjoy!

Jen's Favorite Things:

1.  Watching dad walk his daughter down the aisle.  I cry everytime and usually the dads are crying too.  The beauty in the pure emotion is so special!

2.  Seeing the surprise on my son's face after Santa has come to our house. (I think that this will be the last year he believes and I am going to cherish every moment.)

3.  The smell of cookies baking and hot chocolate always put me in the holiday spirit.

4.  Seeing the look on a groom's face the first time he sees his bride.   Another moment of tears for me.  

5.  Giving back at the holidays and all year are so important in our family.  It is one of my favorite things to help make turkey dinners and shop for Toys for Tots...but we must remember that the need is there year round for these families.

6. Seeing all of the hard work and planning for an event or wedding come together is one of my favorite things.  Just knowing that we played a role in such an amazing day is such a huge reward.

7.  Giving gifts to others is another favorite thing...bringing a smile to someone else is magical.

8.  Watching a bride and groom, their family and friends celebrate their love and the beginning of their life together is so full promise and joy and that is what made me choose this profession.

Mandi's Favorite Things:

1.  Spending time with family at the holidays.

2.  Making a little girl's dream become reality on her wedding day.

3. Driving around and looking at the Christmas lights with family.

4. The tears in the eyes of the parents as they give their daughter away...I can't help but cry too.

5. Hearing a Christmas song and singing along.  It always makes me happy!

6. Witnessing the love that two people share and watching two families unite.

7.  Finding the perfect gift for someone special and then watching them open it.

8. Seeing the endless possibilities of colors, themse and ideas for a wedding.  It gets my creative side energeize.

So what are you favorite things? We would love to hear from you.

Have a Fabuluxe Day!

Jen, Mandi and Amelia

561-254-2041

Jennifer@fabuluxeevents.com

PS.  Here a gift from us to you.  Go to www.adorn.com and rent your bridal jewelry.  Use promo code Fabuluxe and receive 10% off your order!