10 Forgotten Wedding Expenses

When planning your wedding, you are going to find many posts & lists regarding the wedding budget.  But many of those forget about setting aside funds for "miscellaneous" expenses such at those listed below:

• Postage for save the dates, wedding invitations and response card, thank you cards for shower and wedding gifts 
• Clothing for pre-wedding events
• Alterations for wedding attire
• Feeding and parking for vendors
• Tips and gratuity
• Marriage license
• Accommodations the night before the wedding
• Month-of coordinator
• Hair and make-up trials
• Officiant fees

Until next time...WEDologize!

(Photo credit - Alvarado Photography)

Guide to Tipping Wedding Vendors

I get asked a lot about gratuity guidelines for wedding vendors, so below you'll find Ultimate Wedding Vendor Tipping Guide borrowed from Brides.com.

Ceremony
Hair/makeup pros: 15–20 percent of the total bill
Musicians: $25–$50 each
Officiant: $50 if you're married by a judge or clerk; clergy members, in general, don't accept tips, so instead, make a donation ($100 on average) to the appropriate house of worship.
Altar boys or girls: $5–$10; if they decline, add this amount to your donation to the church.

Reception
Wedding planners: 10-15 percent of contracted price
Photographers/videographers: $100–$200 if the pro is part of a larger outfit or agency (but not the owner). Second shooters should receive $50–$75.
Catering manager: $250–$500
Waitstaff: 15 percent of the total pretax food bill (given to the catering manager or "captain" to distribute)
Bartenders: 10–15 percent of the total pretax bar bill. Inform the bartenders of your intent to tip after the reception, and request that they refuse tips from guests. No rogue tip jars!
Reception band/DJ: $25–$50 per person, but take their performance into account: Did your bashful uncle boogie for the first time in 40 years? Then give a little more cash.
Chauffeur/driver: 15–20 percent of the total bill, typically presented at the end of the day
Valets: $1–$2 per car, given to the supervisor in advance, to be split among staff. Display a sign at the valet station stating that gratuities have been taken care of. The valets should also be instructed to refuse any tips offered by guests.
Restroom/coat-check attendants: $.50–$2 per guest; calculate this total in advance and give to your reception site manager to distribute.

Setup/Breakdown
Delivery people: $5–$20 per person for deliveries arriving from your florist, baker, rental company, and other vendors. These staffers may also be doing the heavy lifting, on-site setup, and hauling away that come with producing your wedding—so tip accordingly.

Honeymoon
Bellhop: $1–$2 per piece of luggage brought to and from the room
Doorperson: $1–$2 per task for any kind of assistance, like hailing a cab
Housekeeper: $2–$4 per day
Concierge: $5–$20, depending on the request(s)

Of course these suggestions are standard guidelines. If you feel a vendor went above and beyond the call of duty, bless them accordingly. And if you are disappointed with the level of service of a vendor, you are not obligated to extend gratuity. But make sure to let them know how you feel so that they can improve for the next clients they service.

Until next time...WEDologize!

Wedding Day "Forget-ables"

There are plenty of good resources, both online and in print, that discuss lists, time lines, to-do's, etc. for planning your wedding.  But when planning out your budget, there are some things that couples tend forget or wait until the last minute to even consider.  Once you have booked all the BIG vendors (venue, photographer, videographer, florist, stationery designer, musical entertainment) make sure to note these items on your budget to-do list...I so eloquently named them...The Forget-ables:

Vendor meals.  It's customary, although not mandatory, to provide vendors that are on-site with you longer than 6 hours a "vendor" meal.  The vendors to include are: wedding coordinators, photographer, videographer and DJ or Band.  A vendor meal is not the meal + bar provided to your wedding guests, so make sure to ask the banquet manager/facilitator about meals for those service providers.

Snacks in the wedding suites.  Yes, the couple and their wedding party members are sure to need a little nourishment while getting all dolled up for wedding day.  Have some snacks, juice and water on-site so that no one becomes ill during this long, but wonderful day.

Gratuity.  It's up to you what you'd like to tip your service providers, but if they do a good job, consider blessing them with a token of appreciation.  Check out our blog devoted to gratuities.

Midnight Snack.  Many caterers offer midnight snack ideas for your wedding guests, but make sure to have a plan in mind for how you and your husband/wife will eat before calling it a night.  Trust me...you will be hungry.

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credit - Rush Photography & Videography | repost from 6/4/12)

Gratuity Questions Answered

I get asked a lot about gratuity guidelines for wedding vendors, so below you'll find Ultimate Wedding Vendor Tipping Guide borrowed from Brides.com.

Ceremony
Hair/makeup pros: 15–20 percent of the total bill
Musicians: $25–$50 each
Officiant: $50 if you're married by a judge or clerk; clergy members, in general, don't accept tips, so instead, make a donation ($100 on average) to the appropriate house of worship.
Altar boys or girls: $5–$10; if they decline, add this amount to your donation to the church.

Reception
Wedding planners: 10-15 percent of contracted price
Photographers/videographers: $100–$200 if the pro is part of a larger outfit or agency (but not the owner). Second shooters should receive $50–$75.
Catering manager: $250–$500
Waitstaff: 15 percent of the total pretax food bill (given to the catering manager or "captain" to distribute)
Bartenders: 10–15 percent of the total pretax bar bill. Inform the bartenders of your intent to tip after the reception, and request that they refuse tips from guests. No rogue tip jars!
Reception band/DJ: $25–$50 per person, but take their performance into account: Did your bashful uncle boogie for the first time in 40 years? Then give a little more cash.
Chauffeur/driver: 15–20 percent of the total bill, typically presented at the end of the day
Valets: $1–$2 per car, given to the supervisor in advance, to be split among staff. Display a sign at the valet station stating that gratuities have been taken care of. The valets should also be instructed to refuse any tips offered by guests.
Restroom/coat-check attendants: $.50–$2 per guest; calculate this total in advance and give to your reception site manager to distribute.

Setup/Breakdown
Delivery people: $5–$20 per person for deliveries arriving from your florist, baker, rental company, and other vendors. These staffers may also be doing the heavy lifting, on-site setup, and hauling away that come with producing your wedding—so tip accordingly.

Honeymoon
Bellhop: $1–$2 per piece of luggage brought to and from the room
Doorperson: $1–$2 per task for any kind of assistance, like hailing a cab
Housekeeper: $2–$4 per day
Concierge: $5–$20, depending on the request(s)

But of course these suggestions are standard guidelines. If you feel a vendor went above and beyond the call of duty, bless them accordingly. And if you are disappointed with the level of service of a vendor, you are not obligated to extend gratuity. But make sure to let them know how you feel so that they can improve for the next clients they service.

Until next time...WEDologize!

Wedding Day "Forget-ables"

There are plenty of good resources, both online and in print, that discuss lists, time lines, to-do's, etc. for planning your wedding.  But when planning out your budget, there are some things that couples tend forget or wait until the last minute to even consider.  Once you have booked all the BIG vendors (venue, photographer, videographer, florist, stationery designer, musical entertainment) make sure to note these items on your budget to-do list...I so eloquently named them...The Forget-ables:

Vendor meals.  It's customary, although not mandatory, to provide vendors that are on-site with you longer than 6 hours a "vendor" meal.  The vendors to include are: wedding coordinators, photographer, videographer and DJ or Band.  A vendor meal is not the meal + bar provided to your wedding guests, so make sure to ask the banquet manager/facilitator about meals for those services providers.

Snacks in the bridal suite.  Yes, the bride, groom, and their bridal party members are sure to need a little nourishment while getting all dolled up for wedding day.  Have some snacks, juice and water on-site so that no one becomes ill during this long, but wonderful day.

Gratuity.  It's up to you what you'd like to tip your service providers, but if they do a good job, consider blessing them with a token of appreciation.  Check out our blog devoted to gratuities.

Midnight Snack.  Many caterers offer midnight snack ideas for your wedding guests, but make sure to have a plan in mind for how you and your husband/wife will eat before calling it a night.  Trust me...you will be hungry.

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credit -  www.dscphotobiz.com)

Gratuity Please

I get asked a lot about gratuity guidelines for wedding vendors, so below you'll find Ultimate Wedding Vendor Tipping Guide borrowed from Brides.com.

Ceremony
Hair/makeup pros: 15–20 percent of the total bill
Musicians: $25–$50 each
Officiant: $50 if you're married by a judge or clerk; clergy members, in general, don't accept tips, so instead, make a donation ($100 on average) to the appropriate house of worship.
Altar boys or girls: $5–$10; if they decline, add this amount to your donation to the church.

Reception
Wedding planners: 10-15 percent of contracted price
Photographers/videographers: $100–$200 if the pro is part of a larger outfit or agency (but not the owner). Second shooters should receive $50–$75.
Catering manager: $250–$500
Waitstaff: 15 percent of the total pretax food bill (given to the catering manager or "captain" to distribute)
Bartenders: 10–15 percent of the total pretax bar bill. Inform the bartenders of your intent to tip after the reception, and request that they refuse tips from guests. No rogue tip jars!
Reception band/DJ: $25–$50 per person, but take their performance into account: Did your bashful uncle boogie for the first time in 40 years? Then give a little more cash.
Chauffeur/driver: 15–20 percent of the total bill, typically presented at the end of the day
Valets: $1–$2 per car, given to the supervisor in advance, to be split among staff. Display a sign at the valet station stating that gratuities have been taken care of. The valets should also be instructed to refuse any tips offered by guests.
Restroom/coat-check attendants: $.50–$2 per guest; calculate this total in advance and give to your reception site manager to distribute.

Setup/Breakdown
Delivery people: $5–$20 per person for deliveries arriving from your florist, baker, rental company, and other vendors. These staffers may also be doing the heavy lifting, on-site setup, and hauling away that come with producing your wedding—so tip accordingly.

Honeymoon
Bellhop: $1–$2 per piece of luggage brought to and from the room
Doorperson: $1–$2 per task for any kind of assistance, like hailing a cab
Housekeeper: $2–$4 per day
Concierge: $5–$20, depending on the request(s)

But of course these suggestions are standard guidelines. If you feel a vendor went above and beyond the call of duty, bless them accordingly. And if you are disappointed with the level of service of a vendor, you are not obligated to extend gratuity. But make sure to let them know how you feel so that they can improve for the next clients they service.

Until next time...WEDologize!