Wedding Tips Archives | SWANKY SOIREE EVENTS- Event Design & Wedding Planner

Determining Who is Paying for What!

If you have found this post it is probably because you are stuck in the awkward situation where your wedding is only a few months away and it is time to talk money with the family. Do not stress, here is a list of what family member(s) usually pay for - traditional and relevant! Traditionally, the brides parents pay for anything wedding related. This custom is now getting divided between the brides parents, the grooms parents, and the couple. The brides parents are usually held accountable for the following expenses: ~ Engagement Party ~ Wedding Planner ~ Invitations and day-of stationery ~ Photography and Videography ~ Venue ~ Bride's attire (and details) ~ Ceremony and reception floral arrangements, rentals, and decor ~ Food and drinks ~ Wedding cake ~ Guest transportation ~ Travel and lodging costs for bridesmaids and officiant ~ Any other reception expenses The groom's family typically pays for: ~ Marriage License and Officiant fee ~ Corsages and Boutonnières for family members on both sides ~ Lodging for groomsmen ~ Rehearsal dinner costs ~ Reception Alcohol (optional) ~ DJ or Band (optional) The bride usually pays for: ~ Wedding flowers and gifts for the bridesmaids ~ All hair and makeup costs ~ Grooms wedding band ~ Grooms wedding gift And last but not least, here are the items a groom typically pays for: ~ Engagement & Wedding Rings ~ Marriage License and Officiant fee (if parents have not covered) ~ Brides bouquet ~ Groomsmen boutonnières and gifts ~ Brides wedding gift ~ Honeymoon Another thing to think about is tipping your vendors, typically this expense is given to the bride and groom [...]

Wedding Tip: Picking A Florist!

Picking a florist is one of the most important parts of planning the big day. With their work of art is displayed throughout the entire day, it is important that your vision and expectations are met accordingly with the vendor. From guest table pieces to boutonnières, it ALL needs to be discussed. When it comes down to picking the right one, here are a few tips we would like to share! Ask for opinions: Whether this is from other vendors, family/friends, or your local grocery store clerk. It is always good to have a second opinion from somebody, it also gives people a chance to express their personal experiences with local florists. Matching aesthetics: It is all about portfolio stalking. As you narrow down your list of potential florists, dig deep into their portfolios to really find what you are looking for. A few things to keep in mind is that if you are looking for light and airy florals, lean more towards those florists with that as their portfolio, not tight and traditional designs. Discuss Budget: This is super important!! A florist with beautiful designs that you've fallen in love with is easy to find. If you have a certain budget you are looking to spend, express that with a few florists until you receive a quote back similar to your budget. Ask Questions: It is very important to know exactly what each floral company does. It is is also super important to understand the contract and the billing breakdown. Ask questions, it never hurts! Bonus tip! If you are a visual person, you can ask your florist to do an in-person table mock up, for an additional cost. This helps visually [...]