Cost Saving Tips for Weddings

My dear friends Judy and Zak Zajac launched their new podcast today - Zajacs at Large. From their own words - "The audiocast features a range of interesting topics… some things will make you feel angry, happy, relief, or impartial. The main idea is that we get everyone talking and speaking their minds!"

Guess what the topic of their first episode is? - WEDDINGS! Yes, weddings - almost my favorite topic. (Although I enjoy planning and talking about weddings, I wouldn't say that is my top interest in the event world. I actually enjoy planning fundraisers and benefit parties even more because everyone is united by a similar cause.)

Anyways, in the podcast, Judy and Zak share how costly weddings really are (average wedding in the U.S. costs $28,000) - which turned them away from having a traditional wedding. They opted to do a Vegas wedding instead, which only cost them $4,000.


There are definitely ways to cut costs on your wedding, and it really just depends on where your priorities lie. Spend more on those non-negotiables and maybe cut things out that are frivolous.


Here are some cost-saving tips (in no particular order):

• Destination Wedding! It's nice to extend invitations to family and friends for your destination wedding, in let's say, Hawaii. But not very many will be able to go, which can be good since it would substantially cut down the RSVP list as well as costs! Which brings me to my next point....
  
• Smaller Guest List: If you don't want to spend a lot on your wedding, cut down your guest list! 60% of wedding costs are from the venue and food & beverage expenses. Less people means less money spent on catering costs!


• Stay away from Saturdays: The most expensive days for weddings are Saturdays. Most venues offer discounted rental fees or packages for Fridays and Sundays - even more so on Monday - Thursdays! The best idea I've heard was a recent bride who chose to have her wedding on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. That probably saved her thousands on the venue! Genius!
  
• Ask Friends: I'm sure we all have talented friends in various fields. Why not ask them to help out? Whether it be your cousin who is a hair stylist or a family friend who enjoys creating invitations or a coworker who puts together amazing slideshows, these people would probably be more than happy to help you in your wedding planning. It is definitely nice to offer compensation and at the very least, offer to pay for all materials. But if they don't accept or this is completely out of your budget, let them know that they can use their services as their wedding gift to you. Be sure to thank them and emphasize your appreciation! Note: One thing that I would not skimp on is photography. You can read my earlier post on that HERE.


• Rentals: Instead of spending tons of money on a designer wedding dress you'll wear for 1 day and then leave in your closet forever, why not rent a wedding dress instead? You can rent a designer dress for 1/3 of the cost and never have to worry about it again! Sure, you knew about dress rentals, but I bet you didn't know about cake rentals! Shippable faux cakes that look like cakes from Ace of Cakes and extravagant cake competitions on the Food Network start at $175 on http://www.cakerental.com/. There's even an edible cake portion placed in a hidden compartment in the back of the bottom layer of the cake - for photography and cake cutting ceremony purposes. Guests can't eat the faux cake since it's made out of styrofoam, but you can buy sheet cakes at Costco for $16 a sheet (feeds 50) to serve guests. Just exchange the faux cake with cut up sheet cake and guests will never know the difference!


• Cut Videography: This is really a personal opinion since I don't value videography as much as photography. For me, I wouldn't even hire a videographer for my wedding. As much as I would think I'd like to reminisce about my wedding day, I don't think I would take the time to sit down and watch hours of footage. However, when I get nostalgic, I can just flip through the photo albums. I actually saw a wedding video that was just a recording of everyone taking photos (with the family and table photos) - that was pretty lame. A slideshow of the photos is sufficient unless of course if there was a cool dance involved at the wedding that must be recorded.


• Seating Chart: Instead of having escort cards, create a fun seating chart instead and post up right outside of the reception site. You can even give printed copies of your guest/table list to your ushers and ask them to help escort or point guests to their tables. Here are some samples:
  
  

Stay tuned for upcoming posts on "Cost Saving Tips" for other types of events!

Side note: If you enjoyed the Zajacs at Large podcast, check out Judy and Zak's company website: Verudia, LLC for more.

Surprise!

Just read this post on 100 Layer Cake and had to share:

http://100layercake.com/blog/archives/1345

A surprise wedding for their guests put together in 7 days! How amazing is that!

So brides, no fret - if this couple can do it in 7 days, your 7 months is plenty of time!

P.S. - For those of you reading on Facebook, I know some of you are confused - why is she always talking about weddings??!!! This is actually a direct feed from my event planning blog located here: http://eastwesteventproductions.blogspot.com/

P.P.S. - I like postscripts.

It is not cheap...

...to be a wedding guest.

Allow me to explain. Although I do love attending weddings and feel honored for being included in a couple's momentous occasion, it is not friendly to the wallet.

For females, you have the bridal shower, then the bachelorette party, then the wedding (and for some, not too long after - the baby shower). How much do these really add up?

Check out the following post on Weddingbee in which one blogger details her expenses:
http://www.weddingbee.com/2009/08/26/the-cost-of-being-a-wedding-guest/

Shower:
Gift: $50 (made stationery)
Travel: $35 for rental car that day (I was in town anyway, but required a rental car that day to get from where I was staying to the shower)

Bachelorette Party:
Travel to (Oakland to Las Vegas flight): $260
Cab/Shuttle fares (various throughout the weekend): $100
Lodging/gift chip in/cabana chip in/bottle service at club chip in: $275
Food (including chip in for bride’s meals) 4 meals: $100

Wedding:
Gift: $125
Travel (gas to drive round trip to Southern California): $80
Lodging (2 nights): $250
Food for 2 people (Mr. Peng and me): $120

TOTAL: $1395

Wow that is a hefty number!

As much as the hosts of the weddings complain about how costly the functions are, the guests have it pretty rough too.

P.S. - For the wedding guest newbies - it's good ettiquette to give at least $100 (or close to) as a wedding gift. You're pretty much paying for your attendance and meal at the event. I've had someone say to me that he thought you didn't need to bring gifts to weddings. That weddings were a free event. Uh...wrong! I assure you that if you show up empty handed or with a cheapo gift, the couple is NOT going to be happy with you.

P.P.S. - Don't get me wrong. This is NOT a knock on weddings nor the engaged couples hosting them at all. I LOVE LOVE LOVE participating in weddings and find much joy in that weddings are a place where people are reconnected. Weddings are truly celebrations. Many THANKS to the couples who have allowed me to partake as a guest in their wedding festivities.

Just wanted to share from a guest's perspective.

Worth 1000 words

Pictures are worth 1000 words. Here are some photos from Jisun and Dan's wedding at the Grand Events Center in Long Beach.

Colors were black, white, and pink. Absolutely stunning!

Photos courtesy of Vince & Carla. (Also - congratulations on the recent addition to their family - a new baby boy!)

The 3/50 Project

I've been meaning to blog about this, although it's not directly events related, but I think it's a great "project" to contribute to and make a part of your life routine. The boyfriend and I just started this last week; and plan on spending at least $50 in 3 independent stores or restaurants a month.

My first contribution was to the Sweet & Saucy Shop in Long Beach, CA for their Grand Opening. I bought 2 of their delicious cake lollipops! So many event vendors are considered independent (only if they have a storefront) - bakeries, restaurants that cater, gift boutiques, etc. Why not stop in and support all those indie business owners!

Recession Buster of the Week - The 3/50 Project

It’s time we own this recession and get busy rebuilding and supporting our communities and our country.

The 3/50 project was born out of the concept of buying local to build the economy.
How do you support your local business and stores when your pocket book is so slim?

1. Pick 3 independently owned businesses that you would miss if they disappeared. Stop in. Say hello. Pick up something that brings a smile. Your purchases are what keeps those businesses around.

2. If half the employed population spent $50 each month in local independent businesses, it would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue annually. Imagine the positive impact if 3/4 of the employed population did that!

3. For every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. If you spend that in a national chain only $43 stay here.

4. The number of people it takes to start the trend…one….you!

Read more about the 3/50 project here http://www.the350project.net/media.html
*Idea taken from the BargainsLA.com Weekly Newsletter and the 3/50 Project.

Amazing!

The Party at 511 for Angela and Grace was AMAZING! I really cannot take any credit for the work that was put into this event - all I really had to do was show up!

The talent line up was a good mix of dance, music, and spoken word. The food was absolutely incredible! So many volunteers dedicated their time and resources to this event, that everything went so smoothly.

Some highlights:

1) Cajun Vic's mouth watering gumbo! My friends and I could not stop going back for seconds, thirds, fourths...
I am a fan of southern comfort food and this is by far the best southern dish I have tasted. Cajun Vic is a native of Louisiana and now has a catering business based out of Huntington Beach. He has an amazing story to tell too, you should read about him on his website - http://www.cajunvics.com/. Definitely a friendly and admirable guy!

2) Andy Windak - food blogger and photography extraordinaire! He also does animation! Such a multi-talented individual. He takes different foods that he has experienced and tries to recreate the recipes. One of his fave are caneles, which he brought out to share with us - chewy, sugary, delectable goodness. Don't know what they are? Check it out on his blog here: http://www.windattack.com/?p=109

3) Matt Shockley - up and coming musical artist! I really don't want to put him in a box and tie him down to one genre since he does have a very unique sound so you just have to hear him for youself. http://www.mattshockley.com/He has FREE shows all over Southern California so catch one in your area!

Mad props to Angela and Grace for putting this together and giving me the opportunity to be a part of this great event! I don't know the exact numbers yet but last I heard, over $1000 was collected at the door to give to PATH and over 100 people were present! AMAZING!

UPDATED NUMBERS: 200 guests were in attendance and $2000 was raised for PATH and 5Eleven. Read more here:
http://partyat511.blogspot.com/2009/08/2000-and-more.html


Picture time!



the guests of honor



the event space



me doing my thang



dessert table



pretty flowers



andy windak!

Me? Speak??!!!

I was recently invited by Nadia, the Program Coordinator for the Asian Pacific Islander Student Resource Center at Cal State LA to participate in a career workshop there. Me, being the student involvement advocate (I was in several organizations in college), of course I jumped on the opportunity. Plus, someone is actually inviting me to speak??!!! That is a great honor.

I can't say that I have my career all figured out, but I do know that event planning is something I want to do in the long haul. I'm happy to dish out guidance and advice to confused and curious college students - I was there once too.

So, if you're free and in the area, stop by for an hour and hear me speak about my experiences regarding my career and event planning!

API’s Work(in) It: Popular Industries among Asian and Asian American Students
Time and Date: 3:15pm to 4:30pm, Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
Location: Los Angeles Room A, U-SU, CSULA
Concept:
Professionals in various fields will provide students suggestions on how to improve their skills and become marketable in their career search. This workshop features professionals in fields/industries that have had a typically high percentage of the Asian and Asian American population. Current professionals who identify as Asian Pacific Islander will be featured as panelists and participants will be able to participate in small groups to have a more intimate conversation with each professional affiliated with their field of interest. This event will also encourage students to bring their resumes as conversation starters!

Personal note: So interesting how Nadia found me. She is a follower of the Angry Asian Man blog, who posted about Grace and Angela's party this Saturday. Then she went to their party blog and saw that I was coordinating and then contacted me via my EWEP website! Very cool!

Oh the power of social networking! This business has truly been blessed because of how supportive everyone has been. I do virtually NO advertising except for my blog and website, but there are still people out there who find me...and it's mostly via word of mouth referrals. It's been great meeting the various clients and vendors that people have connected me to.

So THANK YOU - readers, friends, family for your encouragement and support. Know that words cannot express how grateful and appreciative I am. Cheeeeese.

Left my heart in San Francisco...

or was it my stomach? Anyways, I heart SF! Especially all the yummy food!

This past weekend took an amazing trip with the boyfriend to see some friends in San Francisco. And lightbulbs in my head popped up everywhere we went!

San Francisco is such an eclectic city full of surprises in every corner. Inspirations for wedding/event decor and food can be found in so many places!

How about an engagement photo shoot with a SF cable car?

Photo courtesy of Geoff White Photography. You can see the complete engagement photo session on their blog. Fabulous!

OR

Desserts you found at a farmer's market?

Kingdom Cakes at the Island Farmers Market in the Metreon. With yummy and unique cupcake flavors like "Pancakes n Bacon", "Basil Lemon Blueberry" (pictured above), "Strawberries & Champagne" - how can you resist?

OR

Favor ideas from the many chocolatiers in the city?



This is a cute gift box from Teuscher in Union Square. You can find various whimsical candy boxes on their website.

If you're native to SF, I would suggest exploring the city even more for inspiration for your event or wedding - you never know where you'll see something creative and awe-inspiring! And for the non-SF folks, it doesn't hurt to make a trip up there! You'll fall in love with SF just like I did!

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT: Party at 511!

I was recently contacted by Angela from Newsong Church to participate in a party that she's putting together with her friend Grace. This celebration will be a benefit party - where the arts, culture and social justice come together. It will also be to celebrate Angela's 29th birthday and Grace's going away. How cool is that? They are turning a celebration which could've been only for exclusive and self-involved reasons, but instead, they chose this to be a public event benefitting some great organizations!

See below for the event announcement:

Bye-Bye Grace… Hello 29! – August 15 (4pm-10pm)

A benefit party: where the arts, culture and social justice come together. Come for food, live artists, great music and fun community!

Proceeds will go towards organizations that Grace Yi and Angela Park love:
PATH (http://epath.org/) and 5Eleven (http://511.urbanartsoutreach.org/)

Date:
Saturday, August 15, 2009

Time:
4pm - 10pm

Location:
5Eleven – Santa Ana’s Creative Space
511 E. Santa Ana Blvd.
Santa Ana, CA 92701

This event is open to the public. Bring your friends and family!
For updates and details: http://partyat511.blogspot.com/ (schedule of events to be posted soon)

I will be onsite to coordinate. Please come support these organizations and enjoy yourselves with some good food and entertainment!