Bride Sanity Guide

06/10/2017

Please check out our new blog posts at www.bridesanityguide.com. One is how to calm the stressed out bride. The other is whether you need a wedding planner/coordinator or not for your wedding. Happy reading:)

03/27/2017

01/12/2017

Part 5 of Creating a Wedding Budget (Closing Remarks)
The Different Ways to Create A Budget

There are a few different ways to create your wedding budget.
● You can choose a number you think will work best for you say $15,000 and stick to it.
● You can have an open budget; you just get whatever you need no matter the cost.
● You can try to have a budget and be as cost effective as you can but if need be there is some wiggle room.
● You can choose to prolong your engagement to save and have your dream wedding.

There is no right or wrong way to create your budget just like there is no right or wrong way to plan a wedding. Every wedding is unique because it’s a day that reflects the both of you. You can choose whichever way works best for you. Remember this is one day and some look at it as one day to have the amazing party of their life and for some they just want a nice day without the expense. Everyone has different views, tastes and opinions, but in the end it’s your day and one you will have to look back
on so make sure to end up with something that you want.

● Do you have the funds to start planning?
● Do you want to start your marriage off in debt?
● Do you want to save up first?
● Do you want to plan a smaller budget wedding?

These are questions you will have to re-evaluate and discuss. You want to make sure you guys are on the same page about this. It may take some time. There may be some arguments. For some of you this may be the first time you now have to think like a couple and not an individual. You need to work together. This is both your day so guys please be involved. Many times grooms give full rein to the bride then all of a sudden you decide you want a voice. You do deserve a voice from the beginning. Brides I know it’s hard because more often it’s all about the bride and your vision but please do ask the groom what he wants and compromise. Both of you need to compromise on some things. Grooms if you do decide to give up the rein then you can't get upset or mad at the way things turned out. But brides if the groom does decide to get involved please listen as well.

I hope that you have found this series helpful. I know this may have seemed like a lot of information but it will definitely help you start off on a positive note for planning your wedding.

Thank you very much for reading and visiting us today. Please post a comment, like and follow to keep up to date with posts or
contact us with any questions you may have.

I hope that you have a great day.

Happy Planning!

01/12/2017

Part 4 of Creating A Wedding Budget
Parts of the Wedding I find Important To Have At Every Wedding.

The following is a list of things that I find are the most important parts of making or breaking the wedding experience and what people generally regret not getting. From here you can expand
(suggestions are geared towards the budget minded couple, and you may not want any of these suggestions. It’s your wedding and there is no right or wrong way to do things). Things marked with an
** are required no matter what to become legally married.
● Officiant**-whether justice of the peace, non-denominational or religious.
● Marriage License**-different cities and towns have different costs. Check your jurisdiction on rules and regulations.
● 2 Witnesses**-best man and maid of honor
● Ceremony and Reception Location**-can be anywhere like a house, courthouse, rented venue or outside tent.
● Photographer and Videographer-even if it’s asking a guest to photograph and videotape the ceremony and big things like first dance, speeches, cake cutting etc. People often feel they
don't require this (especially videography) but in the end do regret not hiring someone. The day goes by so quick and emotions are high you may not take it all in or have time to. We hired a
videographer just for the ceremony and asked guests to help us out at the reception. The reception has more opportunities for help from guests but not necessarily at the ceremony.
● Music-even if it’s on an Ipod. You would want some music playing while guests are arriving at the ceremony, for the prelude to the wedding when the bridal party is walking in, for the registry
signing, any ceremonies you have during your ceremony like sand ceremony or unity candle lighting, the recessional as well when you are exiting and in the background at the cocktail hour and reception.
● Food and drinks-if you are having more than just a ceremony. You decide how fancy or casual.
● Attire-most of us want the nice white dress and tuxedo to rent but anything will do really.
● Hair and makeup-I suggest and recommend it but it’s a personal choice. You can have a friend do it or DYI. It always feels good to be pampered.
● Invitations-You need to have a way of inviting guests even if it’s an email or personal phone call.
● Decor-well this is up for debate but a little decorating wouldn't hurt depending on the venue chosen and how you want your day to feel like.
● Flowers-can be real or fake. Fake is generally cheaper but not always especially if you are picky on looks. Some fake flowers look fake and some look real and there are different costs for both.
Some people choose alternatives as well like feathers or brooches. Flowers are not required everywhere either some just pick flowers/alternatives for the bouquets and that's it.

If you know people in any of the wedding vendor areas I would definitely ask them. If they haven't already offered in lieu of a gift or maybe there is something you can do for them as well like a trade. If you don't know anyone with any of these particular talents then the both of you need to sit down and decide what elements you want and don't want based on importance to you. When the time comes you get the most important first and see how it goes for the other items on the list. What can't you live
without and what can you live without.

Vendors typically need a non-refundable deposit to hold a date, so make sure before you start you know your financial situation for deposits. The ceremony and reception venues also need to be
booked first and together so you have a date to work with for the other vendors. It would be best to see what venues you are liking, meet with them and find out how much it is first for a deposit. If you
have it great book it but if not you need to decide whether to save up for it and change your possible date or find a venue within reach.

Hiring a Wedding Coordinator is a vendor I do recommend for all brides. Everyone deserves the right to a stress and hassle free day. You want to enjoy the morning getting ready, relaxing as much as you can not worrying about how things are going. The wedding coordinator will meet with you prior to go over everything with you and how you want your day to go and look like. They will be the ones to chase vendors down and problem solve if necessary so you don't have to. You can actually spend the
day having fun dancing, relaxing and being with your guests and now husband or wife.

Thank you for reading and visiting us today. Please stay tuned for Part 5 and the closing, The Different Ways of Creating A Budget and Questions to Ask Yourselves, Compromising and Communication.

01/12/2017

Part 3 of Creating a Wedding Budget
Who Is Paying For The Wedding?

Is it entirely on you or are you getting help from family members. You will need to have this conversation with them as well to see if you have help or not. You may already know the answer but
it’s always worth a try. They may have already said what they can do to help or offered to pay for certain items. Now if you are having help from family members I would make sure to ask if the money is for your vision or theirs. Sometimes parents offer to help but want a lot of say with how the money is spent. They may ask for specific things that could make or break your budget and vision. Make sure to have a conversation and get a clear answer from them, maybe even in writing if you know them well, of
how the money is to be spent. You guys will have to decide whether to take their offering or decline based on their response.

The Average Cost of Weddings

The average cost of a wedding is between $25,000 and $30,000. Does that mean you need you spend that? No. Does that mean you need all the things in the book? No. It does mean that you will
may likely need to make some compromises on your vision to achieve something less.

Below is a cost breakdown of basic typical wedding requirements based on the average cost of 130 guests before tax and gratuity.
● Reception Venue-(includes food and open bar before tax and gratuity) $100 per
person=$13,000
● Ceremony Venue-(if not held at reception) Church-= $500-$1000+ for rental
● DJ- approx $1000
● Photographer-$1500+
● Videographer-$1500+
● Cake-$600+ (usually done per slice)
● Wedding Dress (and accessories)-$1200+
● Grooms Attire-tux rental $250+
● Hair and Makeup-$200 (combined)
● Musicians for ceremony-$300+
● Reception Band-$1000+
● Invitations(actual invitation, envelopes, stamps, RSVP and other inserts)-$300+
● Transportation-$500+
● Rings-$1000+
● Officiant-$250+
● Favour-$300
● Decor and centerpieces-$1000+
● Flowers-Bride bouquet $150+, Bridesmaids bouquet $100+
● Honeymoon-$4000
● Nails-$60
● Wedding Planner (Day of Coordination)-$1000
● Total (chose the Dj not the band) - $28,410
Side note: There is also a wedding checklist available that has a list of various items you might need
for your wedding. This is just a list to help keep you organized and ideas. You do not and probably
will not require every item. Please click the wedding Checklist button to view or go to the file page to
download you free version of it.
A Typical Percentage Breakdown of costs of a wedding are as follows ( note these aren't set in stone
just a general idea):
● Ceremony-5%
● Reception-45%
● Attire-8%
● Photography and videography-10%
● Stationery-3%
● Rings-3%
● Flowers-7%
● Cake-2%
● Music-5%
● Transportation-2%
● Decor-3%
● Wedding Planner-2%
● Misc-5%

Side Note. The wedding budget you start out with is typically an estimated budget. Be prepared it may go over so you might want to allot some money for overage but on a happy note you may also go under. In wedding books there is a column usually for estimated cost and one for actual cost.

Now like I said earlier you do not need to choose everything on the list or in the wedding books. You can allot more money to things that are really important to you as well. When you start to cross off
certain items then it can open up more money for the things you want or just keep the budget down.

Thank you for reading and visiting us today. Please stay tuned for Part 4 - Parts of the Wedding I find Important To Have At Every Wedding.

01/12/2017

Part 2 of Creating a Wedding Budget
What Can Make or Break Your Budget?

The guest list is the biggest deciding factor on determining your budget. Without this you can't crunch your numbers. It impacts pretty much every aspect of the wedding. Without this number you can't figure out what size venue you need, how many invites to order and for outdoor weddings the size of tent to rent and how many chairs or tables. The more people you have the more expensive your wedding will be.

The time of year and day of the week can also pose an impact on your wedding budget. May, June, July, August, September and even October are considered prime wedding months in North America. The prices for vendors will be higher during these months typically. Saturday weddings are the highest price, Fridays are second, Sundays are third and every other day are the lowest prices typically (some places charge same price for all days and months). So check to see if your vendors will offer different
prices for different days of the week. Some items are seasonal like flowers, certain decor and fruits and vegetables. Some flower types will cost more in certain months than others. Some decor is only offered in certain months as well depending on season, like beach weddings. You may need to get certain things at specific times of the year or you will need to order online. Caterers will tend to offer certain fruits and vegetables in season as well, so if you are looking for specific food items that are not in season be prepared to pay for it.

Venues are the most expensive part of the budget. Are you having an indoor or outdoor wedding? Outdoor Venues and barn weddings can actually end up costing you more as you are building a individualized wedding. You usually need to rent the space, obtain a permit, rent a tent, table, chairs, cutlery, heaters or air conditioners, dance floor, portable toilets, caterers, decor etc. Indoor venues are usually a one stop shop and have a caterer and onsite coordinator. They usually have base linens and
decor options already built into the cost. They offer different packages priced per person to choose from for a variety of budgets so you know what generally your wedding will cost up front. Is the ceremony at the same place as the reception? If not you will need to find 2 locations and 2 therefore 2 different costs. Even if you have the ceremony at the same location there is usually a separate cost for the ceremony as well.

Are you going to "Do it yourself (DYI) or hire a professional? Do it yourself is a very popular choice as it tends to cost less because you aren't paying for someone elses time. However you need to be very realistic in how much time you can spend on your wedding and how much help you have from your attendants or family. In the end you may end up hiring someone and spending money you weren't thinking of spending. If you can find outlets for decor then you could save as well. If you do the DYI option then I would highly recommend hiring a wedding coordinator for the day of the wedding. The more you DYI the more you have to be there or have someone there to set it up and tear it down. This means someone outside the wedding party unless you are lucky enough to be able to go in the day before to set everything up. If there is this option you would normally have a cost attached to it as well.

Thank you very much for reading and visiting us today. Please stay tuned for Part 3. Who is Paying for The Wedding, Average Costs of Weddings and Percentage breakdown Of Weddings.

01/12/2017

Useful Tips For Creating Your Wedding Budget-Part 1

Yes I said the horrible "B" word "Budget.

This is definitely one of the most dreaded tasks about wedding planning but unfortunately we do have to talk about it. It may cause some headaches, stress, arguments and disappointment for some but hopefully we will help you still achieve the wedding of your dreams no matter the size of your budget.

We all wish we have an unlimited budget but in reality that's just not the case for the majority of us. Most of us have been dreaming of this day our whole lives and all the wonderful things we want to
have. One of the things mentioned in the last post was to do some pre-planning research first to see how much things actually cost in the wonderful world of wedding planning. Unfortunately just by
adding the word "wedding" already bumps up the price from just a special occasion. Sometimes getting quotes without the word "wedding " is a good way to see what the vendor will charge. Ask the vendor something like " I am looking for a limo to drive from here to here" instead of " I need a limo to drive me from here to here on my wedding day". They will have to find out that it’s a wedding at some point but at least you have a quote for what you want first and then see where it goes. By researching things first you will get a sense of what your actual wedding budget may end up looking like. Weddings tend to cost more because of the work involved but also the items that may be included to make the
day extra special for you. Venue packages may include chair covers for weddings but not for a Christmas party for example. Limos will offer different hours because they don't want you to have to wait for a car, they will be your private driver for the day. Cake decorators spend hours on decorating a wedding cake (I know I have done some cake decorating in the past). Everyone wants to help make your day special and there is a lot of pressure to do so.

What You Actually Need To Be Legally Married

To actually get legally married all you need are the both of you, 2 witnesses, marriage license and and an Officiant. Everything else is extra. Having said that, a wedding is also a celebration and probably one of the biggest parties you will throw in your life. For most of us we want something more than just a small wedding ceremony, we do want the party, the nice dress, the nice hall and everyone we know.

Thanks For reading and visiting today. Please stay tuned for Part 2- What Can Make or Break Your Budget

01/12/2017

Congratulations On Your Engagement! Where To begin Planning

Congratulations on your engagement!

This is a very exciting time for you both. Before you even begin to think about planning your wedding I hope that you guys take this time to be excited, share the news and calm down before jumping right on in. Your head is in the clouds right now and you may regret making some of those decisions later on. If you have looked at one of those wedding planner books then you may be a little overwhelmed as well so relax and enjoy each other for now because things may get a little crazy for the next little while.

Once you are relaxed and calmer you will need to answer some questions between you and your fiance. These questions are important to help direct you in your planning journey. There are so many things that could be part of your day and you do not need all of them. For some however the amount of options available can be overwhelming. Answering these questions will help guide you where to start looking and narrow down the searches.

1. What type of wedding would you like? Theme or no theme, indoor or outdoor.
2. What are the important things you would want to have at your wedding? Ex. Cake, open or cash bar, simple or elaborate wedding etc.
3. What time of year or season would you like?
4. Are you open to different days of the week? Different days have different costs.
5. Where do you want to get married? City, province/state or destination.
6. Who is paying for the wedding?
7. How much realistic time can you put into your wedding planning? Do you work long shifts or have many extra activities.
8. What type of personality are you? Super organized, leader, follower, procrastinator, hard time making decisions. Believe it or not certain personalities can make or break your experience. This is a whole separate post though and will be talked about shortly.
9. What do each of you like and dislike about weddings?
10. How many people would you like at your wedding?
11. What type of atmosphere, mood or feeling would you like your wedding to have? relaxed, party type, grand, small.
11. What is your budget? Is there a specific number or just as cost effective as you can, or just pay for whatever as it comes. This is also as whole separate topic I will touch on soon.
12. What are your colours?

Now that you have answered your questions you will now each make a list and list the things in order of importance to you and go over it together. From here you can start to do some pre-planning research to see how much things actually cost and to see if your vision is within reach. Sometimes we need to scale back or decide whether to keep with the vision or hold off a bit longer to have what you want. The decision is yours.

There is no perfect wedding just a wedding that's perfect for you. We all have different tastes and visions. There are no longer strict wedding rules. Do what you feel is right for you.

The wedding planning experience is different for everyone. Everyone's vision is different and everyone reacts differently to situations. For some this experience will seem stress free, happy, while others are completely stressed out angry and want to elope. Unfortunately you may experience every emotion possible while planning your wedding.

I hope you have liked what you have read. Please let me know if there are any topics you would like me to cover. This blog is for you guys and to help assist you on your journey. Please feel free to leave a comment, hit the like and follow buttons as well to keep up to date with posts and contact us with any questions you may have.

Email: [email protected].

Hope you have a great day!

Happy planning😀

01/12/2017

Bride Sanity Guide was created to help couples with their wedding adventure. I want to help them stay as calm as they can and provide them with a full view of what wedding planning can be like, the good the bad and the ugly.

Weddings are something that many of us dream about and we have this predetermined view of what it will be like to plan our wedding. Unfortunately for many this dream view turns out to be something different, leaving couples depressed, angry and anxious.

Over the course of this blog my hope is to alleviate some of the stress and provide insight into what it could be like to plan a wedding and provide tools to help keep you as sane as possible while doing so.

Please stay tuned and I hope that you find the topics helpful.

Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or use the contact area to the right with any topic requests or questions.

Thank you for reading and visiting us today. We hope you subscribe to keep you up to date with posts. Please visit again soon:)

Happy planning!

01/08/2017

Welcome To Bride Sanity Guide

Bride Sanity Guide was created to help couples with their wedding adventure. I want to help them stay as calm as they can and provide them with a full view of what wedding planning can be like, the good the bad and the ugly.

Weddings are something that many of us dream about and we have this predetermined view of what it will be like to plan our wedding. Unfortunately for many this dream view turns out to be something different, leaving couples depressed, angry and anxious.

Over the course of this blog my hope is to alleviate some of the stress and provide insight to what it could be like to plan a wedding and provide tools to help keep you as sane as possible while doing so.

Please stay tuned and I hope that you find the topics helpful.

Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] with any topic requests or questions.

Thank you for reading and visiting us today. We hope you like and follow to keep you up to date with posts. Please visit again soon:)

Happy planning!

01/06/2017

Questions To Ask Before You Start Wedding Planning

Just got engaged! Congratulations 😀.

Before you start planning here are a few pointers for the next steps. These pointers are designed to help you have a successful and stress free experience.

First thing first RELAX and ENJOY this time and just be excited. You will need to be focused before you start to plan your wedding. You do not want to make any decisions you might later regret. You are in a dreamy state most likely and that is an awesome place to be. Just wait before you start anything.

Once you are relaxed and calmer then you will need to answer some questions between you and your fiance. These questions are important to help direct you in your planning journey. There are so many things that could be part of your day. You do not need all of them however for some the options can be overwhelming.

1. What type of wedding would you like? Theme or no theme, indoor or outdoor, casual or formal.
2. What are the important things you would want to have at your wedding? Ex. Cake, open or cash bar, simple or elaborate wedding etc.
3. What time of year would you like?
4. Are you open to different days of the week? Different days have different costs.
5. Where do you want to get married? City, province/state or destination.
6. Who is paying for the wedding?
7. How much realistic time can you put into your wedding planning? Do you work long shifts or have many extra activities.
8. What type of personality are you? Super organized, leader, follower, procrastinator, hard time making decisions. Believe it or not certain personalities can make or break your experience. This is a whole separate post though and will be talked about shortly.
9. What do each of you like and dislike about weddings or specific things in weddings?
10. How many people would you like at your wedding?
11. What is your budget? Is there a specific number or just as cost effective as you can, or just pay for whatever as it comes. This is also as whole separate topic I will touch on soon.
12. What type of feeling do you want your wedding to have? What ambiance? Relaxing, fun, party time. Believe it or not this question alone will be able to help narrow an array of vendors like venue and music. Ex. Music for a relaxing wedding ceremony you would/could use a harpist or relaxing spa type music as people entered. A more present atmosphere maybe a string quartet. Different instruments have different pitches which give off different vibes.

Now that you have answered your questions you will now each make a list and list the things in order of importance and go over it together. From here you can start to do some pre-planning to see how much things actually cost and to see if your vision is within reach. Sometimes we need to scale back or decide whether to keep with the vision or hold off a bit longer to have what you want. The decision is yours.

There is no perfect wedding just a wedding that's perfect for you. We all have different tastes and visions. There are no longer strict wedding rules. Do what you feel is right for you.

I hope you have liked what you have read. Please let me know if there are any topics you would like me to cover. This blog is for you guys and to help assist you on your journey. You can hit the like and follow button as well to keep up to date with posts.

Email: [email protected].

Have a great day and happy planning😀

01/04/2017

While the website is being constructed I will be posting on this page the blog. I hope that you enjoy and find it helpful. Happy reading😀

If you are looking for wedding coordination and are in the Southern Ontario, Niagara, Halton, Hamilton and Greater Toronto area please feel free to contact us for information or visit Heartfelt Occasions Ontario page www.heartfeltoccasions.ca is currently under construction.