Planner 1 Events

1. Save on Postage

There is no need to send out save-the-date cards when you’re only asking your guests to put a date in their diaries. Send out a group email in your lunch hour instead, saving you time, money and the annoyance of sticking down envelopes.

2. DIY Wedding Flowers

All you need is a patch of ground and some seeds and you can raise your own blooms in the time it takes to write your wedding vows. Or, if you are lacking a garden, head to a flower market and pick up your blooms at cost price. You’ll have to get up early (most markets open around 3am and close at 11am) but you’ll save a massive amount of money.

3. Keep Venue Decorations Simple

A slim glass vase containing a single white rose, or some odd bits of crockery from a charity shop stuffed with garden flowers, can have more of an impact than expensive oasis decorations. Save money on decorating the wedding venue by opting for bunting rather than flowers – much cheaper and you can reuse it or sell it on eBay(opens in a new window)(opens in a new window) afterwards to another budget bride. You can even make your own bunting – simply cut triangles of double-sided brightly coloured paper and attach it using glue to some strong string.

4. Don’t Buy Wedding Magazines

Most of the wedding mags, such as Wedding Magazine(opens in a new window) and You and Your Wedding(opens in a new window) also publish online, plus there are lots of other great wedding supplier and resource sites. Try Confetti(opens in a new window)(opens in a new window)and Cheap Wedding Success(opens in a new window) to keep you topped up with inspiration free of charge.

5. BYO Bridesmaids’ Dresses

Bridesmaid dresses are often handmade and this can be expensive. The cheapest way around this is to have a rough theme, say ‘vintage nudes’, and ask your bridesmaids to choose and pay for a dress that they’ll want to wear again. Useaccessories(opens in a new window), such as pearls and corsages, to pull the look together.

6. Second-Hand or Sample Wedding Dresses

Apart from the reception venue and honeymoon, your wedding dress is likely to be one of your most expensive outgoings. If you shop around, you can find your dress at a better price than if you simply buy a gown off the rack. Go to the expensive boutiques first to try on the different styles and get a clear idea of what you are looking for. Then, buy a budget dress and find a good local dressmaker who can alter it to your requirements.Oxfam(opens in a new window) have eleven bridal shops in the UK (with the cost of your dress going to a good cause) and they have a decent selection online. You can also try factory outlets, such as the Wedding Dress Factory Outlet(opens in a new window) in Leicestershire, which offers a similar service as upmarket boutiques and the dresses are at rock-bottom prices (around £150 to £400).

7. Tap into the Skills of Your Nearest and Dearest

From your annoying uncle who has filmed every family occasion you can remember to your bedroom-DJ brother, ask everyone with a suitable skill to get involved. Delegating will save you a small fortune – plus it’s a nice way for friends and family to feel involved. Professional photos, in particular, can be very expensive so ask a talented friend to be the official photographer at the ceremony and leave disposable cameras on the tables at the reception. Just give the pictures a good edit before you show them to Granny.

8. Budget Honeymoon

Two weeks in the Caribbean might sound like a dream come true, but when you check in at reception with hundreds of other honeymooning couples, it loses some appeal. You could try a working holiday, such as one of the amazing experiences on offer with the National Trust(opens in a new window), walk the Great Wall of China(opens in a new window)or try any of the other once-in-a-lifetime expeditions organised by charities. Ask your wedding party to sponsor your trip as a wedding gift. Alternatively, the Youth Hostel Association(opens in a new window) andHosteling International(opens in a new window) have come a long way since Pot Noodles and Kumbaya.

9. Ask Your Wedding Guests to Contribute

We are not suggesting you charge at the door but with wedding receptions commonly coming in at £70 per head, it’s worth considering recouping some of your expenses. Sites, such asThe Bottom Drawer, allow you to create a wedding list of almost anything, from the cost of an extension on your house to donations towards your honeymoon.

10. Champagne Versus Prosecco

Italian prosecco and Spanish cava are much cheaper and tend to be less acidic and more fruity than champagne, so many find them more palatable – as well as economical. For proseccos, look out for Prosecco di Conegliano Valdobbiadene on the label – this guarantees that the grapes were grown in the best Prosecco region, just north of Venice. Cava is made in the same way as champagne but at a fraction of the price. Freixenet and Codorniu produce some great examples. You should be able to pick up a bottle for about £8 compared to around £20 for a bottle of champagne. Try Majestic(opens in a new window) or the major supermarkets.

http://www.channel4.com/4beauty/style/weddings/wedding-tips/10-budget-wedding-tips

A green and white orchids wedding! Orchids everywhere: ceremony gazebo, chairs, bouquets, boutonnieres, cocktail centerpieces, escort table arrangements, chargers and finally dinner tables centerpieces. An elegant wedding mixing the beach rustic stile with silver touches for chairs and table and white tablecloths at the beach of the gorgeous Maroma Resort and Spa Hotel. A unbelievable stunning tent with rustic poles, white organza draping recreating big sea waves and delicate glass drops with candle inside as hanging décor dressed this amazing reception under the Mexican Caribbean stars.

The bride and groom also had a fantastic surprise for your guests: a gorgeous lounge set up with a bonfire, so their guest could enjoy the DJ during all night long.

PHOTOS: DEL SOL PHOTOGRAPHY: http://delsolphotography.com/blog

VENUE: MAROMA RESORT AND SPA: http://www.maromahotel.com/

FLOWERS AND DÉCOR: PLANNER 1 EVENTS: www.planner1events.com

Del Sol Photography just sent me Amanda and Ryan´s professional photos from their stunning wedding at Rosewood Mayakoba. Simplicity, romantic and rustic touch for their décor and flowers. Beginning from a beautiful baby breath and peach color roses and mini roses, Mexican Calla lilies in white pillars and an original set up at MK Blue Beach Club made this date memorable to the bride and groom family and friends. It was a honor to be part of this amazing day.

For the reception dinner set up: fuchsia, ivory and apple green cushions for the dark chocolate tiffany chairs and flower arrangements with tropical leaves, small baby breathes bouquets in rustic glass vases. Lanterns, candles and tiki torches all over the place and string lights to décor the area and the lighting dance floor.

PHOTOS: DEL SOL PHOTOGRAPHY http://delsolphotography.com/blog

MAKE UP AND HAIR: THE MAKE UP PROS: FERNANDO FUENTES

VENUE: ROSEWOOD MAYAKOBA http://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/mayakoba/

DÉCOR AND FLOWERS: PLANNER 1 EVENTS www.planner1events.com

All About Wedding Insurance

You can make every effort to ensure that all of your planning details come together for the wedding day of your dreams, but there are many factors outside your control that can profoundly affect or even postpone your special day. The illness of the bride or groom (or a close family member), an unforeseen weather pattern, or a deposit lost to a vendor who goes out of business can all make adjusting or postponing your wedding unavoidable. There’s no need to panic however – wedding insurance can safeguard the investment you’ve made in the perfect wedding, and give you the confidence (plus peace of mind) that your planning and beautiful day are covered. The remarkably affordable policies (starting at less than $195) are specially tailored to meet the needs of couples planning a wedding, and are appropriate for both small and large events.


What Is Wedding Insurance?
Wedding insurance are policies specifically designed to protect you from financial loss in the event your wedding must be cancelled or postponed due to circumstances beyond your control, or if one of the major elements of your wedding (e.g., photographs, wedding attire, and/or gifts) is lost or damaged. Most policies respond in the event of a cancellation or postponement resulting from causes ranging from such common concerns as adverse weather and illness, to events that are rarely considered, such as unemployment, military deployment, or acts of terrorism. In addition to providing coverage for cancellation and postponement, many wedding insurance policies include coverage to protect your wedding photography, wedding dress and attendant clothing, jewelry, and gifts from damage or loss. Finally, most wedding insurance programs also provide the ability to purchase liability and property damage coverage that protects the wedding couple against claims for damage to the premises and/or property rented for the wedding reception, as well as host liquor liability. Whatever your situation, there is a wedding insurance policy that is suitable for your needs.


What Is Usually Covered?
Not all wedding insurance policies are alike, and the cost for a policy naturally depends on the coverage limits you need. Some of the areas covered in a typical policy include:

Weather. Generally, if the policy is purchased more than 14 days before the wedding and extremely bad weather prevents the celebration from taking place or a majority of the guests from attending, the cost of rescheduling the event is covered. You should note that stormy skies and light rainfall alone won’t qualify as reason enough to cancel your wedding.
Key People. If people crucial to the wedding are unable to attend due to illness or injury, the cost of postponing the event is covered. This also holds true if the officiant fails to appear on your wedding day.
Service Providers. If your caterer doesn’t arrive with the food, for example, or the ceremony or reception site burns down or goes out of business, you’re covered for the cost of your non-refundable deposits paid and expenses incurred so that you can reschedule your special day. Some policies will also include coverage for the increased cost of replacement items or services, if they are available, to avoid a postponement of your event.


Additional Coverage.
There are a number of additional areas that can be covered by a wedding insurance policy (either as part of a package, or as add-ons at an additional charge). The options include:

Photographs & Video. If your photographer fails to show, if the film used for your photos is defective, or if the negatives are lost, destroyed, or improperly developed, this coverage allows you to reunite the wedding party for a re-shoot.
Gifts. This coverage is designed to protect you against the theft, damage, or loss of your wedding gifts.
Wedding Attire. If your wedding gown or the attire of one of your attendants is lost or damaged, this coverage will provide for repair or replacement.
Loss of Deposits. If one of your vendors goes bankrupt or ceases doing business, this coverage will reimburse you for any deposits you may lose as a result.
Personal Liability. More and more, wedding couples are expected to carry their own liability insurance to protect their ceremony and reception sites against damage to property and injury to guests. Without such coverage, you may be left vulnerable to expensive bills and/or lawsuits.
Rented Property. If you are renting a tent, tables, or chairs for the wedding, this coverage will pay for repair or replacement of the rented property.


Cost And Acquisition.
The cost of wedding insurance generally starts at a one-time premium of less than $195, with a number of the coverage options previously mentioned included. Of course, higher limits and additional coverage options are available with only moderate increases in the premium.


One Last Thing.
Wedding insurance does not cover you for “change of heart.” So, if either the bride or groom decides not to go through with the wedding, the people footing the bill will pay out of pocket.


A Few Couples Helped By Wedding Insurance:
The couples’ wedding that was postponed to a future date because the groom was rushed to the hospital with appendicitis.
The bride who arrived to pick up her dress at the bridal salon only to find a “Bankruptcy” sign plastered across the window.
The couple whose garden wedding was canceled when a September hurricane blew in.
The couple whose caterer went to a tropical island with the deposit money and never returned.
The couple whose wedding gifts were stolen from the reception hall while the wedding ceremony was taking place.
The wedding that was rescheduled due to a fire rendering the appointed ceremony location unavailable.

Not being a wedding insurance agency, WeddingChannel.com cannot advise you about whether or not to purchase wedding insurance for your big day, but we can tell you all we’ve found out about the subject, and let you make your decisions from there. As you prepare for your wedding, you’ve no doubt made non-refundable deposits and signed contracts with service providers for such things as the reception location, the flowers, the catering and so on. These contracts protect your vendors, so it is important that you learn how you can protect yourself. We hope that this article has helped you better understand what wedding insurance is designed to cover, in order that you can decide whether wedding insurance is right for you.

Source: WeddingChannel.comAll About Wedding Insurance

The perfect way to send you off into your weekend festivities is with this heartwarming video by Spencer Combs. You see, not only is Spencer one very talented photographer, but he also happens to be a wonderful musician, as well. And the gift he presented his wife on their second anniversary is knock-your-socks-off, out-of-this-world amazing… the gift of song. So, sit back, relax and prepare to take in every romantic second below. Enjoy!

Ribbon is one of the latest trends in wedding day decor. Not only is it an economical way to add drama to your Big Day, it’s also incredibly versatile.

Colorful decor for Altars, reception ceiling ribbons, chairs. Be different!

You can also use light color if you want. Be windly friend!