Hi All,

Wedding season is off to a great start!  We are blessed to have been a part of Dustin and Katie's wedding and Kelsey and Bryan's wedding in September.  Looking forward to our exciting fall weddings in October and November. 

I wanted to write a blog about tipping.  Every bride and groom ask us our thoughts on tipping and their is lots of information out there.  Some of that info I agree with and some...not so much.

By definition:  a gift of money, over and above payment due for service

A tip is given for service that is above and beyone what was expected.  It is a gesture of thanks and appreciation.

So often in our business I hear people say..."you don't have to tip him/her she is the business owner. They make plenty of money." But that is missing the point.  The point of a tip is to say "thank you...I appreciate all you did for me."

We love getting a handwritten thank you note, a gift card to our favorite restaurant, a spa or the mall, and cash is good too.  It says "I value all of the late night phone calls, random texts, handling of family drama, etc...and organizing our wedding."

No, a tip is not expected by all vendors, including us.  

Please take the time to write a note to your vendors...give them a tip. Thank them for their hard work on your behalf.  Believe me, it will make their day. Honestly, we are all invested in you and your wedding and want it to be just as perfect as you do.

So have a great day! 

Best,

Jen, Mandi, Jan, Amelia and Karlee

Hi All,

Yes I know it has been eons since I blogged.  But we are fixing that today with some great info.  

I am sure that this has happened to everyone...you announce your engagement and suddenly everyone you know, knows a guy who does weddings.  It could be a photographer, DJ, caterer, florist...anything, and you have an inbox full of random names and contact information.

These people are what we call Friendors..and you should run far, far away.  A Friendor is someone who may do some family photography at Christmas and now wants to photograph your wedding.  A Friendor is someone who loves to cook and loves you so they want to "gift" you the catering for your wedding.  A Friendor is someone who loves music, has a huge Itunes collection and wants to DJ your wedding.  

All of these people have two things in common:

1.  They are somehow your friend, a family friend or relative.

2.  None of these people make their living in the wedding or event industry.

Please trust only professionals to handle your wedding.   We have seen relationships ruined by the hiring of a Friendor and then the Friendor is unable to perform properly, the quality of the finished product is poor and feelings are hurt on both sides.

Tell your Friendors - that "I would much rather you enjoy our special day and be in the moment and celebrate with us."  You can give them jobs such as readings, handing out programs, helping people find their seats at dinner, helping with the rehearsal dinner and so much more.

You have one chance on your wedding day to get amazing photos, eat spectacular food, keep the crowd on the dance floor. Don't take a chance.  If you hire amateurs you will get amateur results.

Keep Friendors as your friends!

Until next week,

Remember...You Deserve a Fabuluxe Day!

Jen, Mandi, Amelia and Jan

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 

Hello and hope you are well and enjoying the holiday season!  It is a crazy time of year.  Let's remember that the most important thing is being able to be with our family and friends.  There are 20 families in Newtown, CT who will never be able to celebrate the holidays the same way again.  Perspective is important for all of us to remember.

Which brings me to my topic for today....Post Wedding Depression and remembering what is truly important.  The most important thing to remember when planning your wedding, during your wedding and after your wedding is that you and the love of your life have pledged your love to each other and are embarking on a new life together.

Now this may sound a little crazy coming from a wedding planner.  But it is the truth.  Don't get me wrong, I ADORE planning weddings, charitable events, parties and other fun stuff.  It is my passion and I am blessed to be able to do what I love everyday.  Forming lasting relationships with our couples, knowing that we can help change a life and seeing families come together are rewards that can't be quantified.  

So remember the following when reflecting on your wedding day.

1.  You are now married to the most special person in your world.

2.  No matter how much you plan, organize and plan again...something will not go according to plan.

  Examples....people will show up late, people will show up early, people will RSVP yes and not show up at all, your hair won't turn out the way it did during your trial, someone will forget the marriage license (this actually happened at one of our weddings), the weather may not be perfect, people will forget what they learned at rehearsal...and the list goes on and on and on.

3.  You will know that something is not the way you planned, but 9 times out of 10 your guests will have no idea.  At my own wedding, the organist played the wrong processional song as I was coming down the aisle.  The only thing to do was smile and keep going.  Did I dwell for weeks and think that my wedding was ruined...no, I joke about it now.

4.  Your hired professionals will do everything in their power to make your wedding/event smooth and special.  They will take care of things that you will never know about.  They may miss a thing or two in the interest of solving a bigger problem or fixing something that unexpectedly arose.  But remember, that we are human too and sometimes a mistake is made.

After the glow of the wedding and honeymoon fade, you are back in the real world.  No longer are you the center of attention.  Your friends and family have had a chance to "debrief" you on all of their thoughts and opinions (whether positive or negative, right or wrong) and suddenly you find yourself dissecting the whole day...and now your perfect wedding is flawed in your mind.  This is a complete waste of energy.  

Remember the love you felt from your family and friends. Remember the look on your new spouse's face when you saw him/her for the first time.  Remember the fun you had dancing. Remember the special times with an older family member.  My wedding was the last time I saw my Great Aunt with Alzheimers, focused, alert and having fun.  I cherish that memory.  Take in every wonderful moment and hold them dear to your hearts.  Life can change in an instant so remember what is truly important in this world.

So enough of my soapbox.

Until next time,

Blessings to you all.

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

PS.  I am going to hug my husband and son just a little tighter tonight.