What Foods and Drinks Should You Spend or Save On?

Posted on November 7, 2009 by nlcf28

I just answered a reader’s question about whether she should spend more on the food or drinks at her wedding. I gave a bunch of suggestions — but I’m curious whether you agree with my advice! If you want to remember what I said…. here is my thoughts on where you can save money on your foods & drinks. Remember to look at our cheap wedding tips if you’re looking to save money in ALL areas of your wedding!

Happy eating & drinking!

~ Natasha

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Wedding Attire Roundup: Wedding Dresses, Tuxedos, and the Wedding Party’s Clothing

Posted on November 5, 2009 by nlcf28

Photo from The Wedding Lens!

When it comes to selecting the clothing options, there’s a lot of information out there. I’ve written a lot myself! In case you’re looking for all of it in ONE handy dandy location…. here you go!

Photo from The Wedding Lens!

See anything I didn’t cover? Let me know! Email me: natasha@theweddinglens.com

~ Natasha

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Wedding Question: What Food & Drinks Should I Spend the Most Money On?

Posted on November 3, 2009 by nlcf28

Photo from The Wedding Lens

We just received this question from a reader: I am in the process of figuring out the food and drinks for my wedding. I’m not (yet) over budget, but I’m having a hard time figuring out where I should bother to put in the extra money and where it will make no difference! What is it that people notice the most and what won’t they care about?

Great question! It’s always hard to know where the extra money on food and drinks will make the difference. Here’s my advice:

First, spend a little more on great appetizers & h’oeuvres. People remember the first bits of food they eat — because it’s usually right after the ceremony and before the alcohol kicks in!

Second, spend a little less on the main courses. You can do this by having a buffet or by selecting less expensive options with your caterer (or at the restaurant — depending on the venue). Most of the time people dont expect fabulous main courses. And by then, they’re chatting and drinking and ready to dance! Usually chicken and fish dishes are less expensive than steak, but that’s not always the case. And, of course, be sure it’s something you don’t mind eating!

Third, save some money on drinks and alcohol by sticking with beer and wine (or just wine!). Once you start getting into purchasing hard alcohol and mixers, things go downhill for the wallet. If you do decide to purchase hard alcohol, try to make purchases that mix well with the non-alcoholic beverages you’re already going to have. For example, if you’re already going to have cola, go for a rum to mix with that cola! You get the idea.

Hope that helps! Good luck!

~ Natasha

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What Kind of Wedding Entertainment Will You Have?

Posted on November 1, 2009 by nlcf28

Most weddings have a band or a DJ, but some have other things — like the silhouette artists that I wrote about the other day! Others have photobooths or cigar bars. But there are a ton of options! Tell us what you’re having and then drop us a line to tell us more!

Have fun!

~ Natasha

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Wedding Entertainment Idea: Silhouette Artists!

Posted on October 30, 2009 by nlcf28

I went to a wedding a couple weeks ago where there was something, I must admit, I had never seen before! They had not one, but TWO silhouette artists there. And while I was skeptical at first, it was absolutely fantastic!

Silhouette

What’s a silhouette artist?

A silhouette artist is someone who cuts out a silhouette of YOU while you’re sitting there.

How does it work?

I know, it’s hard to explain. Basically, you sit down on a seat and there’s a light shining on your profile. While you sit there (no smiling!), the artist watches your profile and cuts your profile into a black piece of paper. So in the end, you have a really cool silhouette of you. And, if you prefer, your significant other. Like that photo above — which is a photo of the actual silhouette. The real one had a nice border on the paper, along with the date of the wedding. 

How do I fit it into my entertainment?

Well, at the wedding I was at, the couple decided to put the artists (they hired two) in one corner of the reception. That way, guests could venture over throughout the night to get their silhouette cut out.

How should I find my silhouette artist and how much do they cost?

Well, given that I’ve only seen this at one wedding, the best advice I can give you is to look it up online! Go about finding a silhouette artist as you would go about finding any kind of vendor. In other words, look for recommendations, ask for samples, meet with them, AND check out any reviews online that you can find!

Good luck! And dont forget to share pictures!

~ Natasha

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How to Create a Wedding Budget

Posted on October 28, 2009 by nlcf28
Photo from The Wedding Lens

Photo from The Wedding Lens

A friend recently told me that she wasn’t sure how to start planning her budget. She didn’t really want to start by saying she had X thousand dollars to spend & then figure out how to spend it; she wanted to work her way up and figure out what she would need. So, how do you start planning a wedding budget?

  1. Start by doing some research about the cost of weddings in your area (or the area where you want to get married). This will give you an idea of what you can expect to spend — though, of course, careful planning can save you money!
  2. Think about which expenses are fixed and which are dependent on the number of guests. For example, food is dependent on the number of guests; attire costs are not. This will help you decide how much you will need to limit your guest list.
  3. Consider the costs. The items below give you a general idea of the expenses you’ll face. The (f) next to the item means it’s a fixed cost, independent of the number of guests.
  •  
    • Attire (f)
    • Rings (f)
    • Paper: STDs, Invitations, Program, Menu, Thank you cards, Guest book
    • Ceremony venue & officiant (f)
    • Reception venue & catering: Food, Drinks, Alcohol
    • Wedding cake
    • Photographer/videographer (f)
    • Decorations: Flowers, Centerpieces
    • Entertainment (f)
    • Transportation
    • Gifts: Wedding party, Favors (optional)
    • Tips & service charges

 4.   Think about the percentages that things cost. For example, the reception can cost between 35 – 50% of your total expenses because it includes food and drinks! Here’s a quick break down of costs…. Keep in mind, there are things that should also fall within these categories, such as hair & makeup, dress alterations, jewelry, dry cleaning. Oh, and the marriage license! :)

  •  
    • Attire (f) – 5%
    • Rings (f) – 15%
    • Paper: STDs, Invitations, Program, Menu, Thank you cards, Guest book (and stamps!) – 5%
    • Ceremony venue & officiant (f) – 1%
    • Reception venue & catering: Food, Drinks, Alcohol - 35%
    • Wedding cake – 3%
    • Photographer/videographer (f) – 10%
    • Decorations: Flowers, Centerpieces – 10%
    • Entertainment: DJ, band (f) – 4%
    • Transportation – 3%
    • Gifts: Wedding party, Favors (optional) – 2%
    • Other expenses: rehearsal dinner, after party (optional) – 2%
    • Tips & service charges – 5% (10-15% tips based on the charge)

5.   Decide which parts of the planning are the most important to you. You might decide that you would rather spend more on the food and drinks and less on the decorations; or you’d rather donate to a cause than give out favors. If you’re way over budget, think about what you can do without – and consider some the wedding tips that help you save money!

This should at least get you started on what you need to do to start planning your budget. Do you have any other tips or ideas? Let us know!

~ Natasha

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Exchanging Gifts on Your Wedding Day

Posted on October 26, 2009 by nlcf28

After doing the poll the other day about whether you will exchange gifts, I decided to look into the tradition myself.

Photo from The Wedding Lens

Photo from The Wedding Lens

Do we have to exchange gifts?

It turns out, gift exchange on the day of your wedding is not a required tradition; it’s completely optional.

When do we exchange gifts?

You can exchange gifts the night before the wedding, the morning of the wedding, or after the festivities are over. But really, it’s your call — it’s your wedding and your gift exchange!

What kinds of gifts should we give?

Anything! Some people like to give something that the other can wear on the wedding day — such as cuff links or jewelry. Other people like to give gifts that are applicable to the honeymoon — swim or snow gear, sunglasses, etc. But you should give whatever you like!

One person suggested exchanging letters with the gifts and having the MOH or BM deliver them on the day of the wedding. Sweet, right?

Or how about an online photo album filled with ALL of the guests photos? (I had to!)

~ Natasha

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Will You Exchange Gifts on Your Wedding Day?

Posted on October 24, 2009 by nlcf28

Some people have shared with me that they are going to be giving their future husband or wife an amazing gift on their wedding day. Others seem to think that it’s unnecessary and that gift giving should be saved for anniversaries. Thoughts?

Give the gift of an online photo album!

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Celebrating My One Year Anniversary at The Wedding Lens with FREE album giveaways!

Posted on October 22, 2009 by nlcf28

That’s right, it’s been a full year that I’ve been bestowing all my wedding wisdom on you! I can’t believe it either. In honor of my one year anniversary, we’re giving out free albums!

Of course, it’s not quite THAT easy. Here’s the deal, email me with a funny or crazy story from your wedding or a wedding you’ve attended. Or share a crazy engagement story. Either way, make sure it’s something you’re OK with us posting in a blog post if we so decide.

How’s that? Not too bad, right?!

THREE random winners will be selected for FREE premium photo albums; all submissions will get a coupon!

Start emailing! natasha@theweddinglens.com

Good luck!

~ Natasha

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Guest Post: Beauty for the Bride-to-be!

Posted on October 20, 2009 by nlcf28

Here’s our monthly guest post from Wishpot!

Its no secret that every girl dreams of being the Belle of the Ball on her wedding day, and we couldn’t  be more supportive. In fact, we’ve turned to our Wishpot Experts for their go-to beauty secrets to help you look your absolute best on your big day!

BeautyProducts

(top left; clockwise)

 Laura Mercier Foundation Primer: This product was recommended by wedding expert, Brynn Andre from Smart Bride Blog. It acts as an invisible barrier between the face and make-up. It was created specifically for sensitive, oily and acne-prone skin types, so it will keep the most flawed skin looking good from morning to night for your special day!

 Lollia Hand Cream: This whipped shea butter was recommended by wedding expert Leila Khalil and can be found at Anthropologie. The hydrating lotion is said to have floral infusions of mimosa, violet, and rose- leaving you smelling irresistably feminine.

 Onyx Roll-On Perfume: This seductive scent was recommended by wedding expert Cicely Roche.Miller and is retailed at Multi-Chic. The pint-size perfume makes for convenient travel and fits perfectly into a tiny clutch, so you can easily reapply any time of day.

 Arcona Cranberry Toner: This product was brought to our attention by fashion expert, Jess Estrada from FreshJess. According to Jess, the cranberry toner is absolutely divine and keeps her skin looking fresh all day long.

 Lorac Red Carpet Authorities: Getting a red carpet look is no longer limited to celebrities, and thanks to our fashion expert, GraceLikeKelly, we’ve got just the trick to give you the A-list look. The croc palette includes everything you need to get a gorgeous cheek & eye glow and can be found at Lorac Cosmetics.

 Sephora Straight-Making No Frizz Styling Spray: This styling spray was recommended by wedding expert, TwoBrides and can be found at Sephora. This spray is said to address the two causes of frizz: humidity and friction through creating a light humidity barrier on hair while reducing surface friction.

 Kiehl’s Superbly Restorative Dry Oil: This product recommendation also comes from fashion expert, GraceLikeKelly, who swears by this multi-purpose restorative formula.

 Rosebud Salve: This lip balm can be found at Sephora and is used by fashion experts SPUN and GraceLikeKelly. The balm is delicious and keeps your lips soft and kissable at all times. 

 Soft Bubble Bath Dough: This unconventional bath product was recommended by wedding expert, trendsettingwedding and can be found on Etsy. The perfect beauty relaxation method before and after the wedding!

 Thanks to our wedding and fashion experts for the inspiration and great gift ideas! For more tips, ideas, or inspiration, check out the Wishpot Wedding or Fashion Blog, or follow us on Twitter: @wishpot, @gift_girl

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