Wedding Budgeting 101 - with Jamison Events

Does saving money and creating your wedding budget get you stressed out? If you’re engaged, newly engaged, or expecting to be engaged soon, this wedding budgeting 101 advice will surely put you at ease.

One of the first steps in wedding planning will be creating your budget, and this will be an ongoing process as you find each of the vendors for your wedding, kind of like slowly  placing puzzle pieces that will eventually create a beautiful picture. 

When you work with Jamison Events- Step one is to draw up your guest list. Step two is to establish your budget. 

• Start going over your savings and figure out what you can realistically contribute to the wedding fund without breaking the bank!

• You’ll want to find a detailed way to keep track of what you’re spending for each vendor.

If spreadsheets are your thing, you’ll want to make one for three stages; your estimated cost of vendors (research stage), an inquiry of costs from vendors (proposal stage), and then the final amount (total cost stage). 

• Leave a bubble for possible surprise costs; such as a set-up/clean up fee, vendor transportation/travel, etc.

• Use your credit card responsibly! Don’t put anything on credit that you can’t pay off in 30 days, or know you have the money to pay off. 

*If you do use a credit card, I suggest using one that gives you a generous cashback program. I’m always big on using cash to pay up front, since credit cards are expensive to use, but with the same rules applied from above, a % reward program on your credit card is common for Couples. 

• Remember to ask vendors how they take payments. Some only take checks or venmo, some only take credit. So, plan to have a few ways to pay! 

Let’s Talk About Wedding Budget Myths:

“Vendors charge more for a wedding than they would for a birthday party, so don’t mention “wedding” in the inquiry.”

Ok, this always makes my blood boil. For vendors, weddings have higher expectations and work. You may be the most easy going Couple on the planet, but that does not diminish the standard of work the vendor needs to accomplish. So, while weddings do tend to cost more than another type of event, the degree of work is higher too. 

“Service fees are gratuity.”

In fact, this is typically not the case. Service fees are often charged by the venue or caterer and typically go directly to the company. Gratuity is often not a part of the service fee or final bill. 

“You don’t need to add a gratuity if the vendor owns their business.” 

I always tell my Couples that gratuity is not expected but always appreciated. Whether the vendor is the owner or not, offering them a nice gift, cash or gift card truly shows appreciation for the hard work they did.

“Having a food truck will save you money.” 

While this is mostly true in regards to the overall food bill, there are many factors to consider when hiring a food truck. Who will buss tables, remove trash, set up coffee, cut the cake? Typically, when you hire a food truck you’ll also need to hire staff and bartenders to ensure the important things like trash removal is done. 

Five Thoughtful Ways to Save Money:

1. Don’t get stuck on a venue until you shop options: I always recommend looking into different types of venues. Make sure to shop different styles of venues, from country club to DIY. Really crunch the number prior to booking to ensure you understand all of the venue fees. It's not always true that bringing in your catering/staff/bar means a lower cost! 

2. Host the ceremony + reception in the same place: This will cut down on your need for a shuttle, extra vendor fees for multiple locations and longer booking fees from vendors. Typically multiple locations means you have to book your vendors for longer periods of time. 

3. Choose an off-time for your wedding (different season or a Friday/Sunday): Be open to a weekday wedding and/or an off season date because there’s a good chance most vendors will offer discounted rates. Remember- higher costs are always associated with holiday and peak seasons. 

4. Forgo an expensive live band, but don’t forgo the professionals!: It’s important to hire professionals to ensure your entire day is literally a dream. To do that, you do need to hire experienced professionals. In my experience, when Couples try to hire friends/family or newbie vendors, it ends up costing them sanity and peace. So, make sure to hire those who will ensure a smooth day and feel free to comparison shop to give yourself vendor options. 

5. DIY any paper products yourself: Address your own invitations AND to save on extra postage, have your guests RSVP on your website. 

Remember, more guests = more money! If budget is a concern I always recommend going for a smaller, more intimate event with your closest friends and family. 

Pro tip: Never assume any contributions from your loved ones, but it doesn’t hurt to ask them. Remember, that if you accept contributions a gift or thank you card is highly recommended! 

Have you seen the special Marriage or Mortgage on Netflix? 

I always watch this show in awe, because it's so interesting to see what is most important to Couples. The fact is, your budget will change and mold as you plan your big day. There may be certain areas that you end up spending less in or more. It’s most important that you have your dream wedding without throwing yourself into debt. You don’t need to forgo the home in lieu of Wedding, if you’re truly smart about your budget when you start planning. By setting a budget early and keeping an eye on it often, you’re preparing both of your futures for success! 

Have a Wonderful Day,

Jamison

Let's Talk About Booze, Baby!

**Jamison Events does not promote or encourage alcohol & the following post should be taken without cause. We do not claim any financial, medical or other liability for this post. Aka.. The Vodka made you do it... not us!

Here are some of my industry secrets to an event bar-

Often our clients will chose a location for their event, where they have the opportunity to bring in their own Wine, Liquor and Beer. There is both good and bad to this, depending on the corkage rates, your guests (are they expected to drink a lot?) and any additional fees that could be associated.

So, let’s talk BYOB.

First off, let’s talk about why BYOB could be more inexpensive. Traditional markup on a bar can be up to 30% at restaurants and even up to 40% for banquet events. The reason it can be that much is because traditional markup on almost anything else… is 25%!

Bar tabs are big money in the food and beverage industry. So, bringing your own beer, wine and liquor CAN be a money saver. Especially if that venue will allow you to take home any unopened bottles.

**note- In California and most states: its illegal for the venue or bartender to give you opened bottle that is not consumed there, its also illegal for you to drive home with an open container, so don’t expect, even if there is a full bottle of Vodka, if its opened, it to be given back.**

The question is-how much do I buy?

Most of the time going to Costco or BevMo will be your best bet of purchasing bottles. There are some Liquor and Beverage stores you can work with too. Below is a cheat sheet, I have made to make it as easy as possible when purchasing at the store.

Important to note-

You know your guests’ intentions…I’ve had Weddings who have used this sheet and ran out, I’ve had Events who have used this sheet and it’s been too much. So, be extra aware of your guests and purchase more or less, depending on the expectation.

Additionally,

This sheet is based on a full bar (beer, wine and liquor) so if you are purchasing beer and wine only. I suggest purchasing higher amounts, to have enough.

Things to consider-

Mixers and Garnish. Some venues will offer the mixers and garnish for a small fee. This may be a good option, so you do not have to do day of purchasing of limes, etc. Plus, if you are bringing in the garnish, will the bartender slice the limes? All questions to ask, before making a decision to bring in your own bar.

How can BYOB be MORE expensive? If you have a group that will drink. I mean DRINK. I suggest having the venue provide the bar. Typically, the per person cost is about $48 per person for 5 hours. This estimate includes the service fee and tax. That may seem like a lot on paper, but once you have purchased the beer, wine and liquor at the store, plus the mixers any garnish, paid for the staff, bartender and the taxes, for a heavy drinking crowd, it can be pretty comparable.

Let’s talk saving money on your bar! (IF your venue allows it)

• I suggest hosting (aka OPEN Bar) for the first three or four hours of the event, and offering the bar on consumption for the last two hours. Typically this means the bulk of the drinks will go in the first few hours, once the bar goes to consumption, the bartender will literally keep track of every drink. You are charged per drink (not the guests, you). But normally, in the last two hours, is when majority of the guests slow or stop drinking. Offering it to be a better option than fully hosting the bar. I suggest offering a $1200 bar tab to the last two hours on consumption. (based on 150 guests)

• Now, if your venue will offer a consumption refund for the amount not drank, perfect. Meaning, you tell the venue “I want to pay $1200 towards the last two hours of bar on consumption,” and your guests only drink $900, will the venue offer a refund of the $300. If they do not and you can add that night, then do a $500 tab and add as needed.

Important Note- Most venues will offer a package with the Bar included. While the bar can be a place to rethink and save, I suggest not overthinking the bar. When all is said and done, you and your guest want to enjoy the night. Worrying about how much is drank, the bar tab, if you’ve run out, can really put a damper on the night. At Jamison Events, we will make a plan together to best serve your event and budget. It’s important to me that once this is planned out, its done. I never want the BAR to be a source of stress at any event.

At the end of the day, YOU are in charge of your event and your guests. If you are the contracting party/host, it's your responsibility to make sure (along with the venue and bartender) that your guests are practicing safe drinking. I ALWAYS recommend offering your guests a way home that is safe, after offering a bar, even if they have only had ONE drink.

Additionally, I suggest closing the bar during the last hour of the event, to allow guests some time. before making their way home It’s important that you do not allow drinking for guests under 21 and that the venue/bartender asks for I.D. per the law. You personally could be held liable. *Jamison Events does not encourage or promote alcohol consumption.*

For more insider Bar secrets and ways to make your event incredible email me!

Every Wedding is on a Budget!

Let’s face it, one of the hardest parts of planning a wedding is that nagging feeling that you may not be getting the most “bang” for your buck. Not everyone is born with the skill (or desire) to haggle their way through their wedding planning. As a Wedding Coordinator in the early 2000’s my Wedding Motto was ‘High End Weddings, on a budget.’ That motto always (and still) seems to ring true to a lot of couples. However, since the 2000’s, many things have raised in cost, everything from minimum wage to food and beverage and it's only natural to see the costs of Weddings to steadily rise with the economy, but what doesn't seem to change are the Couples understanding on the overall Wedding Budget.

The Facebook group “Something Borrowed Something Blue” has become extremely popular for those planning their upcoming nuptials. As I scrolled through the posts, I was struck with how many brides were looking for a vendor and offering a budget that was either very low or very high in comparison to the market. Being properly educated could mean all the difference to the final cost of the wedding.

With over 20 years of experience in the wedding industry, I wanted to share a couple of real and true wedding budget pieces of advice.

1. Hire a Wedding Planner early. I promise it’s not that I am biased, this is just fact. At Jamison Events we help compile, negotiate and create a real life budget that is comparable between the Couples wants, needs and Vendor Costs. Often, couples will start to think about hiring a Wedding Planner for their Day-of needs as the day gets closer, what they don’t realize is how helpful a planner can be leading up to the Wedding, throughout the Vendor negotiations and hiring. Frankly, a really great Planner, with sound vendor connections, should be able to save you at the very least double the amount of money they charge you for their services.

2. Have a true understanding of how pricing works in the wedding world. On Something Borrowed Something Blue, I noticed a post that said, “In need of a Wedding Planner, only need them there 5 hours to do light setup and Ceremony Coordination. Will pay $150.” Of course, there were no comments or engagement on the post because, while the brides intentions may have been good, the pricing is just simply too low. The bride probably thought of a random number (that she thought she could afford) and threw it out there, but budget creation has to be more calculated if you want to truly stick to what you can afford. Otherwise, you'll end up spending too much on one thing, and not enough on another.

3. Compare Shopping can be key. 92% of wedding businesses in our country are considered small businesses. So, this means that a “regular” person, with bills to pay and deadlines to meet, is running their business. The vendor has put thought and care into their pricing, knowing that their time is valuable. Typically the pricing is within their market and comparable to their competition. The absolute best way to understand their value, is to compare shop with other vendors. Reach out to several vendors in the same area, with the same parameters and there you have the ability and tools you need to choose the right vendor. Keep in mind, it’s not just about price- before deciding the vendor ask a couple questions; Did they respond quickly? Do I like their work? Do they understand my Wedding style? How are their reviews?

So, don't be afraid to truly understand the market, immerse yourself with information and be open with your vendors on your intention of sticking to your well planned budget. Best yet, Call Jamison Events, we’d love to sit down with you to discuss how we can develop and help you stick to a reasonable Wedding Budget, that won’t break the bank or your Wedding Dreams.

Article Resources-

https://www.facebook.com/groups/740353196097813/

https://www.weddingwire.com

#weddingplanning #weddings #weddingcoordination #wedding #weddingbudget #bride #weddingadvice #budgetbride #budgets

Nicole Henshaw Photography