Secret Budget Busters!

The dreaded "B" word.  Budget... Not surprisingly, talks over the wedding budget can be one of the most stressful aspects of planning a wedding for most couples.  How much is too much to spend on the dress?  the venue?  the flowers?  photographer?  food?  Sometimes it may seem as if the expenses are never ending!  Thankfully you and your sweetie prevail!  Come to a compromise, think you have all the expeses accounted for with your fiance and decide "We will only spend X on the venue/flowers/photographer/food/etc!"  You're feeling great.  Then... BAM!  Those pesky little unexpected expenses pop up outta nowhere and there goes your perfect little budget plan... (insert sad background music here)

Not to worry  No one is perfect and unless you are the engaged daughter of Bill Gates and don't have a budget; no budget is perfect either!  Here are our top 10 Secret Budget Busters that every bride should look out for:

1.  LABOR:

It's sooo easy to hear a price "It's only $15 per light".  Then... BAM!  You get your bill and what you thought was only $15 per light turns out to average $50 per light because of all the labor involved with setting up the equipment.  Don't let this happen to you!  When getting the initial quote, don't forget to ask about labor costs!  The vendor should be able to give you a rough estimate on how much labor is going to cost.  This way, when you get the final bill you won't have to pick your fiance up off the floor from shock.   

2.  ALTERATIONS:

One of the most exciting parts of planning a wedding for most brides is when you finally get to say "YES" to the dress!!  You fork over your hard earned cash, wait for what seems like an eternity, and then finally the day comes when your dress has arrived.  Then... BAM!  Your dream dress doesn't fit perfectly and alterations are going to be $300++... When shopping around make sure to ask what the average cost could be for different alterations!  Maybe your dress just needs the hem taken up - typically that is a lot less than taking in the bust of a dress. 

3. POSTAGE: 

Your invitations say sooooo much about your wedding day to your guests.  In fact, they are their first glimpse into what you have been planning for months.  Your invitations set the stage, so they need to be perfect!  Then...BAM!  You find out that your gorgeous pocketfold is just heavy enough that you have to get a $.62 stamp.  So now your postage cost just increased by $.17 - multiply that by 150 and now you're spending an extra $25.50 that you weren't expecting.  May not seem like a lot, but ever heard the phrase "dealth by a thousand cuts"?

4.  WELCOME BAGS:

It's such a nice gesture to give your out of town guests a 'Welcome Bag'.  Fill them with your favorite snacks, candies, water bottles, map of the area, weekend itinerary, etc... Your guests will feel extra special when they see the time and effort you and your sweetie went into making them.  But who will give them to your guests?  Certainly the hotel front desk...right?  Not necessarily!  This is something you have to ask when blocking your rooms.  Some hotels pass out welcome bags free of charge; others charge a per bag fee (anywhere from $2-$8 per bag!!).  That can add up quickly!  So make sure to ask first!

5.  BAR FEES:

Most of the time you will pay for your open bar with your catering fee.  However, that doesn't always mean a bartender (or the bar itself) is included. Bartenders can run an additional $50 - $250 per hour.  Make sure you ask for the total price, including any bar setup and/or bartender fees. 

6.  CAKE CUTTING:

Some times reception sites offer you the choice of getting the cake through them OR going with an outside cake vendor. Unfortunately choosing an outside cake vendor can often mean being charged a 'cake cutting fee'. This means your venue will charge you for having their staff cut your cake. Traditionally this is a per slice charge. Cake cutting fees can range from $1.50 to $3 per slice! So a $1.50 cake cutting fee for 150 guests means an additional $225! When checking out different venues, include cake cutting fees on your "Must Ask" list of questions. That way there are no surprises later on.

7. TAXES & SERVICE CHARGES:

Unfortunately there's no getting around all the taxes you'll end up paying... It seems like just about everything has a tax attached to it. Then there are service charges. Most venues charge anywhere from 18% to 28% service charges (keep in mind, these service charges are NOT gratuities!). So image taking your $7,000 food & beverage minimum and tacking on an additional $1,900 for fees. That will bust a budget real quick! When deciding on where to have your reception, make sure you ask about these fees and calculate them into your estimated total. That way, there will be less "sticker shock" when the final bill arrives.

8.  GRATUITIES:

To tip or not to tip?  I get this question, by far the most from my brides.  And, of course, it's the most tricky question.  For the most part, tipping is optional and not expected.  However, it depends on the vendor.  First, double check your contracts to make sure it's not already included.  Next, if you loved your vendors and loved the level of service you received from them, I would say go ahead and tip 'em.  Keep in mind a "tip" doesn't have to equal cash!  A yummy bouquet from Edible Arrangements is a wonderful "Thank You" gift!  Or a small flower arragnement would put a smile on any vendor's face.  Feel free to be creative!

9.  ROOM FEE: 

Most private facilities (think country club's and some hotels) will charge you a room rental fee.  This is simply a fee for using their space/ballroom.  Sometimes the fee comes with other amenities (delivering gift bags/complementary night stay at the hotel); somestimes it doesn't.  Also, if you don't hit their food & beverage requirements, the venue can also reserve the right to charge you a room rental fee.  Fees can range from $750 - $2,000.  Make sure to ask about a room rental fee when checking out different venues!     

        10.  BAND vs. DJ:

  Typically, the fee for a band will include paying for the musicians and a minimal amount of equipment. If your reception is outdoors OR in an extra-large space, you could need to rent a generator, additional sound equipment and even an extra sound engineer to make sure everything sounds great.  This can certainly add up fast!  Also make sure the band's agreement clearly spells out any special requests or requirements they may have (i.e. # of breaks, meals, drinks, changing room, etc...).  You don't want to find out last minute that your band requires 10 vegan-friendly meals.  Typically, DJ's are a lot less maintenance, very rarely are there any hidden fees and DJ's can work in a wide variety of venues and spaces.  If you're looking for a "one-stop-shop" option - go with a DJ.  However, some people love live music.  If that's you, then just make sure to ask a lot of detailed questions and hear the band play live before signing on the dotted line.  You'll be happy you did.  

A Sweet Debate

So it's official... I've been roped in... asked to take a side...  What side might that be?  The biggest debate in the wedding industry - cake or cupcakes?!  Which is better?  What will my guests like more?  What will my fiancé and I like more?  What is more cost-efficient?  These are all great questions and since I haven't quite decided where I stand, I'll be comparing the following categories: cost, style, & tradition to see who comes out frosted on top!   Cake? or Cupcakes? 

Okay, so what’s the cost?
Initially cupcakes exploded on the wedding reception scene because they were cheaper than a cake… but then bakers realized they had to individually bake, frost, and decorate every single one of those little suckers!  Cupcakes can be very time consuming and thus have become less “cheaper” than cakes.  Depending on how fancy you want your cupcakes decorated you may be better off getting a cake.  Current market prices for cupcakes range from $1.60 each to $3 per cupcake for basic frosting & decoration.  If you and your fiancé want something specific on your cupcakes (think fondant circle initials!), then you’ll need to check and compare prices. 

How cool are those fondant monograms?!

Last little side note – some venues will still charge you a cake cutting fee (usually around $1.50 per person) even if you’re having cupcakes… just something to think about!  =) 

Cake prices can come with the most modest, budget friendly price tag… all the way to a “I-could-have-payed-for-my-college-education-for-that-much-money!” price tag.  J

Just like cupcakes, cake prices depend on how many guests you’re serving and how elaborate you want the cake decorated.  Most bakeries charge more for fondant vs. butter cream frosting.  A classic butter cream wedding cake can be as affordable as $2.50 per serving all the way to $4.25 per serving.   Throw on some fondant or a few gum paste flowers and now you’re looking at $5.25 per serving.  A great, affordable option that you can’t get away with when having cupcakes, is the ability to serve the majority of your guests from sheet cake!  Double-layer cakes (4” tall!) with fillings run around $2.50-$3.00 per serving and your guests will never know the difference!  Another bonus when choosing a cake, most bakeries will make you a complimentary 6” round cake on your one-year anniversary.  This is the perfect solution for folks who do not like the idea of eating year-old frozen cake! 

Next, let’s look at style:

There’s just something about unwrapping your own little piece of deliciousness!  Personally, I love cupcakes!  They are fun, individual (I can visually see how many I’ve eaten!) and allow you to have much more of a variety.  You can have as many different flavors, frostings, and filling combinations as your baker can handle.  Who doesn’t like variety?!  Cupcakes are a great reception treat for the fun and trendy bride & groom who don’t have that “traditional” mom breathing down there neck (sorry Mom!).   Plus you get to really play with that cupcake stand! 

Now, if you’re having a more traditional wedding or just really want that photo opt with your beloved cutting that gorgeous cake then my recommendation is, call it a day and go with the cake!  Plus if the majority of your guests are traditional folks, they may think cupcakes aren’t cute… There are so many different styles, frostings, flowers, etc when it comes to decorating your cake.  The options are endless!  So sit down with your baker and let him/her get to know you & your fiancé.  Work together to come up with a design that encompasses the wedding and your personality as a couple.   You’ll end up loving your cake so much you’ll wonder why you even considered cupcakes! 

Lastly – The Traditions:
The wedding cake is a tradition that dates back as early as the Roman Empire (yep, that long ago!).  The original “cake” was actually a loaf of bread that the groom broke over the bride’s head as a symbol of his dominance in the marriage and over her.  Guests would then scramble for crumbs that fell to the floor.  These crumbs symbolized fertility (where do they come up with this stuff?!).  Thankfully that tradition disappeared fairly quickly!  Eventually Roman bakers began creating small, sweet cakes and the tradition of crumbling the cakes and then throwing the crumbs over the brides head began (possibly a segway into the throwing of rice tradition?!...).  Eventually what we now recognize as the modern wedding cake sprung from the 20^th century.  Either way, you can see why brides have such a hard time letting go of this long standing tradition!   Least I remind you that the cake cutting is another tradition all on its own!  Having the bride and groom cut the cake together symbolizes their first joint task in married life.   The gesture of feeding cake to one another is a symbol of the commitment that the bride and groom are making to provide for one another.  So what have we learned today?  There are a lot of traditions wrapped up in that gleaming tower of sugar, milk, eggs & flour!

For those superstitious brides out there who don’t want to toss out tradition but still want fun and flirty can have the best of both worlds!  I have two great suggestions!  First, ask your baker to make you a supersized cupcake that looks just like the mini cupcakes (well, only in comparison!) your guests will be getting.  One that’s large enough for you and your honey to cut and feed each other from.  My second suggestion – have your baker make a 6” or 8” cake for you two to cut.  Most cupcake stands have enough room on the very top to hold a 6” cake – so it’s like your own unique cake-topper!  You can have your cake and eat it too!  (Sorry, I couldn’t resist!)

You and your hubby could easily cut that gigantic cupcake!

So what’s the verdict?!  The decision must be made – who’s side am I on?!  Well, when it comes down to it, I’m going to be on whatever side is best for each of my brides!!  (Stop it!  I can hear your “boo”-ing from here!).  But for those of you who are dying to know, I will be making this exact decision very soon for my own wedding.  So which will we choose?  My future hubby and I will be going with a …….... (drum roll please!) ……… CAKE!