My very first GIVEAWAY!!!

There is nothing I like more than giving people presents, it's true! I have sick obsession with making others happy and if that makes them like me in return well then no harm no foul right?... but enough about my psychosis back to the point! ... So, you can imagine that I am thrilled, overjoyed, ecstatic (insert your own over-the-top synonyms for happy here please) that I am able to conduct my first giveaway ever!

Here is the deal, remember that fantastic Wedding Workshop I went to back in December? I could not stop talking about how informative and interesting it was. Well, the brilliant and talented Lindsay Landsman is having another Workshop this weekend (full details are below) and you my fabulous friends of the blog world can go for FREE ... thats right people, free! I have 4 tickets to give away to some lucky readers. So just leave a comment on this post, the winners will be chosen randomly, and I will announce them on Friday morning. You only have until Thursday, 10 pm to comment ... so get to it people!

The New York Wedding Workshop

“How To” Series

“How to Hire a Photographer and Videographer”

Saturday, January 31, 2009

10 AM to 12:30 PM

Gina Gallery

454 Columbus Ave at 82nd Street

Course description: Are you overwhelmed by the sheer number of wedding photographers and videographers in New York? Are you wondering how to tell one from the other without calling and meeting each one? Who is right for your wedding and what should you be looking for? Join us for a step-by-step seminar that will take you through the research and selection process for two of the most important vendors you will hire for your wedding day. Learn about film vs. digital, black and white vs. color, flash vs. natural light, candid vs. photojournalistic, discs vs. prints and all the other “buzz words” you are flooded with as you pour over photo and video websites. Also, get tips on negotiating contracts specifically with photographers and videographers to get the best value and to actually walk away with the images you want. This course is well-suited for novice planners as well as brides and grooms. Light breakfast will be served.

Gifts and goodies at every event!

Visit www.nyweddingworkshop.com for tickets and more details.

Featuring wedding photography expert Lily Kesselman

Some useful events for my NYC peeps...

The New York Wedding Workshop “How To” Series

Upcoming events:

“How To Design on a Dime”

Saturday, January 10, 2009

10 AM to 1 PM

AVEvenue

13-15 West 28th Street, between Broadway and 5th Avenue

10th Floor

Course description: This invaluable course will teach brides on every budget level how to maximize the look and style of their wedding. Starting with invitation design right through to tabletop and every decorative element in between, learn what is worth the splurge and where you can save while enhancing each element of your décor. Work hands-on with actual materials and experiment with colors, textures and styles for your wedding. Attendees will leave this session with a list of NYC and online décor shopping resources, how-to guides for creating breathtaking decorative elements and referrals for decorators and florists who will give you a proposal that is within your budget parameters. This is a do-not-miss for DIYers! Light breakfast will be served. Call 212.206.9201 or email info@nyweddingworkshop.com before January 7th to purchase tickets at the discounted price of $45!

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“How to Hire a Photographer and Videographer”

Saturday, January 31, 2009

10 AM to 12:30 PM

The Gallery at The Prince George Ballroom

15 East 27th Street, between 5th and Madison Avenues

Course description: Are you overwhelmed by the sheer number of wedding photographers and videographers in New York? Are you wondering how to tell one from the other without calling and meeting each one? Who is right for your wedding and what should you be looking for? Join us for a step-by-step seminar that will take you through the research and selection process for two of the most important vendors you will hire for your wedding day. Learn about film vs. digital, black and white vs. color, flash vs. natural light, candid vs. photojournalistic, discs vs. prints and all the other “buzz words” you are flooded with as you pour over photo and video websites. Also, get tips on negotiating contracts specifically with photographers and videographers to get the best value and to actually walk away with the images you want. This course is well-suited for novice planners as well as brides and grooms. Light breakfast will be served. Call 212.206.0026 or email info@nyweddingworkshop.com before January 25th to purchase tickets at the discounted price of $30!

Gifts and goodies at every event!

Visit www.nyweddingworkshop.com for more details.

NY Wedding Workshop “How To Get the Most for Your Money” part 4 (the finale)

To close out the week of recapping the Wedding Workshop, I wanted to list some of the vendors that Lindsay Landman recommends as well as a few last money saving tips.

Clever Money Saving Alternatives

1. SugarFlowerShop.com

This tip blew my mind ... mostly because it involves cake. Wedding cakes nowadays can get super pricey, especially if you want fancy sugar flowers to decorate it BUT many venues offer a free wedding cake (and by free I mean included in your package price) but fairly few wedding venues have a titan of the pastry arts working for them. So here is the plan, take the cake that comes in your package and ask them to make it very simple (no embellishments), then go to www.sugarflowershop.com and order whichever flowers suit your fancy and just stick them right into that cake. End result = fabulousity.

 

2. Rightonthewalls.com

Love your monogram? Want to stick it everywhere? How bout your dance floor? Well those personalized dance floors can cost a pretty penny so to get the same effect on the cheap (well... cheaper) got rightonthewalls.com and get yourself one mama-jama of a giant sticker. The best part: stick on the dance floor before the party starts and at the end, they peel right off. No muss, no fuss.

3. AdornBrides.com

Got a yen for the blingy shiny things but a budget that only gets you one half an earring? Well then consider renting your jewelry! That way you can indulge in dripping diamonds without going into debt for the rest of your life. (Side-note: I am not really into jewelry unless it has some sort of meaning to me no matter how shiny it is but I have always been kind of a tomboy about that stuff and I think that if you are into the big and sparkly then this is definitely the way to go).

Some Lindsay Landman endorsed vendors:

CakesbyMona.com

CustomCookies.com

CheektoChic.com

Mjwcalligraphy.com

That is all for my report from the Wedding Workshop ... hope you all enjoyed it!

NY Wedding Workshop “How To Get the Most for Your Money” part 3

The wedding advice continues from the Wedding Workshop this past weekend lead by wedding planner extraordinaire Lindsay Landman.

Today we learn: How NOT to Lose Money 

1. Don't over commit to your vendors.

Got a guest list of 170 people? Well its very likely only about 150 of them will come, do not tell your caterer/reception site that you are having 180 guests thinking "Just in case!" Lindsay's wise words on this subject were "You can always add guests but never take away!" Once you commit to a certain number of guests, that is how much you will get charged for and even a few extra people adds up!

2. Don't over order.

(When she said this I thought to myself, "Oh no, she has radar senses for my compulsive over ordering fortified by years of mothers and grandmothers saying 'We aren't going to have enough for the guests! We should have gotten more!'") Lindsay's rule of thumb is that you should order 25 less favors/programs than you have guests. And don't worry you will still have one for your scrap book! Many people don't take the favors/programs home and often couples take on for the both of them. Why spend money on something that you don't have to?? Answer: don't!

3. Never get "drinks on consumption."

This though never even crossed my mind since I come from a family that takes vodka shots to celebrate any and every occasion... oh and also on days that end in "y" but I guess some others that are not trying to mollify a frenzy of alcoholics might consider this option. Lindsay's advice on this was steer clear! People are notoriously fickle with drinks at weddings. They order one, take a sip, put it down, order another, leave it on the table and it gets cleared, order another one, throw it on the floor and yell "opa!" ... then they order another one, pour it on that other guest who was mean to them in the bathroom... oh yeh and then they order another one.

4. Do not sign a contract for a hotel block that requires you to guarantee a percentage of rooms and nights.

It's self explanatory folks, your guests don't fill them and you get stuck with an expense you never expected to pay.

5. Don't book transportation for guests without having them confirm  that they will use it.

Another one thats pretty clear - don't spend money on it if no one is going to use it.

6. Do not secure a service through a vendor who does not actually provide that service him/herself.

Lindsay's example, if your band does not have members who play strings but your only wish and desire is to have string play you into your ceremony then contract with a string musician independently do not ask your band if they can get you someone. Sure they will probably find someone and they probably even have great contacts but they will add on a hidden finder's fee for the small effort they exerted in placing the phone call. (PS: Another tip from Lindsay - if strings is the answer to your heart's true desires call the Juilliard school and they will set you up with some string musicians).

7. Do not have a bajillion hair and make-up trials.

Those things cost money! Once you find someone you like, go with it ... we have come back to wedding motto #2 again: don't make yourself nuts searching for the "best" when great is staring you in the face.

NY Wedding Workshop “How To Get the Most for Your Money” part 2

Negotiating Your Contract ... more tips from Lindsay Landman.

Here are Lindsay's main tips for understanding your vendor contracts and negotiating to get a better price:

1. Read your contract carefully.

Yeah ok, no brainer, right? But Lindsay made an interesting comment about this point. Don't get caught up in the legalese (I know the best part of this post is that I am a law student quoting this advice ... on a side note: soon to be former law student!!!). Almost all of the contracts give the vendor all of the legal protection and if you cancel they get everything you get zilch (if your really worried about it, look into insurance). 

But do carefully look over what products/services you are getting that are explicitly stated in the paper work. If they promise you something and you don't see it in there, go ahead and write it  in in pen (advice from a law student who is not a practicing attorney but did get a good grade in her first year contracts class: draw their attention to the fact that you have made this addition before they sign... trust). 

2. Ask questions!

A good one that Lindsay suggested is: "What is going to cost extra that is not included in here?" I think this is a great question. Often there are hidden fees and/or taxes that may be hard to find all of the jargon in the contract. Specifically ask about set-up fees, delivery fees, and gratuities. You read that right, ASK about gratuities. That way you don get hit with the "Well it is customary to give X% tip to joe, jack, and jim...." at the end of the night when your happy and tipsy and not in any mood to discuss.

3. Some things are not negotiable.

If you are getting married at a hotel they sometimes employ union staff and unions often have set fees for certain services (coat check, cake cutting, etc...).  Union fees are not negotiable. Don't bother arguing them, its not worth the stress.

4. Ask: "Where can you be flexible?"

That question is a great way to start the conversation. Let them know that you really would like to use their product/service but that you want to know where they can be flexible in terms of their rates and/or what they can give you for those rates.

Sometimes it is easier for vendors to throw in perks rather than lower the price, but that still means that your getting the most bang for your buck. For example a photographer is more likely to give you some extra time or a caterer can throw in more food (an extra appetizer for example) rather than lower their price. ASK. Always ask.

5. Ask: if you can pay the entire cost up-front for a discount. OR Ask if you can pay in cash for a discount.

BUT remember ALWAYS get a receipt of your purchases. Many vendors will give a discount for cash because when they accept credit cards they are charged a fee. Some vendors will offer a discount for paying upfront (especially during wedding light months like during the winter and especially if they are a small business) in order to raise capital right away rather than wait for it.

6. Remember to ask your caterer if you can negotiate the price of your vendor meals.

Another tip in this category was that if you have a huge band, ask your band if they are willing to do a "meal buyout" (where you give them cash to either run out or get delivery and eat before they need to be on).

7. Most importantly, be ready to walk away.

Not as a bargaining technique but because sometimes things just don't work out. Be realistic! If the price is not for you and they can't or won't work with you on it, then it might be time to move on.

  Remember Wedding Motto #2: Best is the enemy of good! Maybe you will find something even better that won't break the bank.

Tomorrow: The Wedding Workshop series continues with "How NOT to Lose Money"

NY Wedding Workshop “How To Get the Most for Your Money”

So because of my good luck I got to go to the NY Wedding Workshop “How To Get the Most for Your Money” this past weekend and it was really helpful. It was not at all like those huge wedding trade shows where everyone shoves flyers and postcards in your face, this was an interesting and insightful presentation lead by expert wedding planner Lindsay Landman.

I am going to be highlighting some of her advice this week (along with my interpretations of said advice). Some of the comments are common knowledge in the wedding universe but I am thinking there are probably some other clueless (or at least semi-clueless) brides out there just like me who could benefit from Lindsay's experience.

General tips for staying on track with your budget:

1. Set your budget and then aim for one or two vendors to be below the prices you have allotted for them... it gives you "wiggle" room and then you will have money left over to either pocket and put away, add to some other aspect of the wedding, or to use for those unexpected expenses that sometimes creep up on you.

2. Use a budget chart.

Lindsay gave out the one she uses at the event and mentioned that she doesn't really like may of the ones offered online since they don't give you a sliding scale for each item to work with and they don't ask for your number of guests. Her exception to this was the budget calculator on Brides.com which she gave a thumbs up to (figuratively speaking there was very little actually thumbs up going on... it was very dignified). 

3. Make a list of priorities.

This piece of advice really struck me as on point! I know for sure there are certain things I don't care about even a little and so I should allocate my budget accordingly... seems simple right? But sometimes its the simplest ideas that are the most clever. This is where the whole sliding scale thing comes in, don't care about invites (like me!) move that money into something that does matter to you (like yummy yummy food and good music! ok so maybe those are just my priorities). 

Lindsay relayed her experience dealing with couples who spent too much money initially on stuff they didn't really care about not realizing they could have found a better price for slightly lower quality product (for example not having letterpress invitations, which I hear are very pricey, if thats not something you actually care about). 

4. Look for the "Hidden Value." An example of a hidden value is a bridal suite offered by your ceremony/reception location. It's a hidden value (not just for the convenience) but because you can save money on transportation. If you can get ready at the ceremony site you do not need your transportation to take you there from your home/hotel, therefore you save money because you would have had to pay them for that time. 

More to come in the next few days... 

Tomorrow: Contract Negotiations (I know, I know ... control your excitement people!)