Hop over the border from NJ...Save some $$$

This is just one of the locations here in the Lehigh Valley that Couples can choose to have their reception at.

In working with couples from all over the United States we see a range of Wedding Budgets.  Having lived and worked in the Princeton NJ area for years before we moved to the Lehigh Valley, I am well aware of what the cost is of venues in Mercer and Middlesex county. 

When faced with helping to plan my brother's wedding my future sister-in-law and I looked at the many locations that are within a two hour drive from their home in Mercer County NJ.  We talked about some of our favorite locations and great past weddings we have both attended or been in.

They decided to make the hop over the border!  They were able to save thousands..$$$$.

They actually had their wedding at Bear Creek in Macungie.  It was a mini destination wedding.  Still close to the 78 corridor and the turnpike for easy travel.  Fabulous per head pricing and the staff there does an amazing job.  It could not have been a better choice for them.  We were able to help them save $ on entertainment, photography, we'll pretty much everything wedding related.

If you would like to slash about 5,000.  off of your total budget consider coming to the Lehigh Valley. You will be pleasantly surprised.

Lacey & Jared Wedding Preperations

Images Courtesy of Hussey Photography

Tim you were fanttastic to work with!!

http://www.husseyphoto.com/

The way to save money on flowers

When budget savy brides first come in for a consultation they normally know what the cap is for their flower budget.  I do not go along with the old addage of 15% of the budget should be earmarked for flowers.  I believe that with a knowledgeable florist and a bride that is willing to let substitutions happen then you can get that chic boutique look for less.  The average bridesmaid bouquet for our weddings cost between 70.00-90.00.  This does not mean that you cannot get a smaller bouquet for less.  You may even spend more depending on the flower choice.  Here are a few tips to help save extra money on your floral bill.

• See if there are rental table centerpieces available.  The curly willow fall centerpiece shown above was done as a rental item.  It went very well with the natural fall colored decor at Bear Creek in Macungie.  It also saved the bride and groom hundreds if not close to 1,000.00 dollars in expense.  They had a high look adding interest to the room, great candlelight and exactly the look they were going for.  Originally they had thought about trying to do the table centers themselves but my colleague and I showed them how it was a huge savings $$$ wise and TIME wise.  
• Make some flower changes with the bridesmaids bouquet.  NEVER change the bridal bouquet...Get what you want for your special day!  The girls bouquets should be an accent to yours.  Save the higher priced stems for you and choose some specialty stems and more general flowers for the girls.  This does not mean carnations...  I am not a fan of the lollipop look...That should be reserved for people who adore carnations...can they be used tastefully?  Absolutely...and spray carnations and sweet william are wonderful additions to bouquets and arrangements.  Roses are purchased in pack amounts as most flowers are.  Add some spray roses to the girls if you want all roses.  A mix of Standard roses and spray roses adds great dimension to a bouquet and helps keep the cost down a bit.  Bouquets made of 7-8 flowers can sometimes cost more to create than sticking to 3-4 blooms.  Buying in bulk amounts helps save $money$.  

Try and stick with blooms that are readily available.  The wonderful thing about the internet and magazines is that they can give us wonderful ideas for color combinations and general information about flowers....Be cautioned.  Just because a bouquet is shown does not necessarily mean that every florist can get that exact peony, scabiosa, or anemone at that time of year.   If you love a flower research it's growing season before you make up your mind.  Having lily of the valley can be a costly adventure outside of it's may growing season...Stephanotis may be an alternative...even thoughs it is still costly it is more readily available.  Some dahlia's are pretty cruddy looking in fall..some are still picture perfect.  Your florist and or their buyer can help determine the better varities from overseas or local growers.  Let me guess...You love lady slipper orchids....Ask your florist what he or she would do in the event customs will not allow them to be delivered.  Have a back-up plan or second choice whenever possible!    

Don't forget the details..

"It's the little details that count"

Time and time again...Tara and I remark at how the photographer never captures the little details that brides work so hard to achieve...that capture that "LOOK".  Whether it is the favors you worked hours on...that bow that you had tied on chair covers just so.  The placecard menu's or even your escort card table.  With most brides these are important details that you have spent hours pouring over and making decisions.  While skimming the internet brides are reminded how complete an event is by the details that are captured in photographs.

*Our tips *

• Along with the famous pictures of family and friends write a list of detail photographs you wish your photographer to capture.  When it is 90 degrees mid August and everyone is trying to rush through the photographs the photographer who is doing an excellent job of keeping everyone in the moment and happy may not remember to capture that $200.00 arrangement on your entry table or the escort cards you spent $60.00 on and took you 4 hours to print or write.
• Take table center pictures before the guests have entered your ballroom.  There is nothing worse than having a beer bottle next to your million dollar arrangement of dendrobium and cymbidium orchids!
• Remember that photographers need some ambient light to take amazing shots of details...don't turn your  event room into a cave.  Ask your banquet manager to discuss lighting with your photographer before the evening get's started.
• Use flowers of different shades and textures if you want really interesting pictures in black and white.  Highlight and shadow make all the difference.

In the end you will be very happy with asking them to capture the details....10 years down the road as our memory fades it will be wonderful for you to have them captured for eternity.