Tips

Tips from the best? You got it! Our partners are sharing their wisdom with you!

WEDDING TIPS - The Riley Group, Personal Assistant & Errand Running Service, www.therileygroup.info
Valerie Riley, founder of The Riley Group, offers a one of kind service to brides! Consider contracting The Riley Group to assist with mailing invitations, last minute details, setting up or cleaning up after the event, etc... They charge by the hour so you only hire them for what you need...whether before the wedding, during the wedding, or after the wedding.

The Riley Group

405-242-2267

valerie@therileygroup.info

Wedding Tips from The Riley Group

• Before you begin looking at anything-set your budget!

• Ask family and friends that have been married what vendors they used - these will be some of your best references!!!

• Have an idea of how many people you want to invite

• Questions to ask yourself before creating guest list:

- Do you want a more intimate or social wedding?
- The number of guests will determine your venue
- Do you want a local or destination wedding?
- Do you want a large or small wedding?
- Consider sending out “Wedding Announcements”

• Interview all your vendors you are considering-and look at their portfolios!!!

• Get copies of all contracts written and signed

• Create a wedding binder for all of your information for your big day

- Include clippings from magazines of things you love
- Use tabs to separate wedding topics
- Personalize it to your taste-it will become a keepsake item!

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EASY TIP FOR GOING TO A BRIDAL SHOW - Marie Wear, OKC Waterford
Marie Wear is with OKC Waterford. To contact Marie about booking the Waterford for your event, call 405-858-2414 or mwear@waterfordokc.com

Oklahoma Bridal Show offers numerous vendors! To ensure you get to all of them...Marie suggests you come prepared by printing address labels with your information to easily give to the vendors. This saves you time from filling out each of the contact cards for the vendors you want to hear from.

Things to include:

First & Last Name

Mailing Address including City & Zip

Email address

Wedding date

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SETTING AND MANAGING YOUR WEDDING BUDGET - Emily Meyer, Chandelier Weddings, www.chandelierweddings.com
Emily Meyer is a certified wedding planner and founder of Chandelier Weddings. She provides full service wedding planning to Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and surrounding areas.

Setting your budget

1. Figure out a combined total of how much your families, you, and your fiancé can save from now until the wedding date. This will give you an idea of how much you can spend on your wedding.

2. Take the following list of wedding expenses and divide them up into categories, “Mandatory”, “Optional”, and “Totally unnecessary”.

Attire
• Wedding Gown
• Alterations
• Headpiece
• Shoes
• Jewelry
• Lingerie
• Tuxedo
• Shoes
• Wedding Rings

Beauty
• Hair
• Make-up
• Manicure
• Pedicure

Ceremony Fees
• Officiant’s Fees
• Church, Synagogue, or other location fees
• Organist Fees
• Cantor Fees
• Marriage License

Flowers
• Ceremony
• Reception
• Bridal Bouquet
• Bridal Attendants’ Bouquets
• Corsages
• Boutonnieres

Gifts
• Bride’s Gifts for Attendants
• Groom’s Gifts for Attendants
• Bride’s Gift for Groom
• Groom’s Gift for Bride
• Gifts to Parents
• Gifts to other important people

Honeymoon Costs

Music for Reception

Photography
• Photographer
• Engagement Session
• Engagement Pictures/Album
• Wedding Albums
• Videographer

Reception
• Location
• Food/beverages
• Reception Favors
• Wedding Cake

Stationary
• Save-the-Dates
• Invitations
• Reception Cards
• Thank You’s
• Direction Cards
• Response Cards
• Programs
• Escort Cards
• Place Cards
• Menus

Transportation/Parking
• Limousine for Wedding Party
• Valet Parking
• Out-of-town Guest Transportation
• Get-Away Car

Wedding Consultant Fees

Extras
• Dance Lessons
• Other Wedding-Related Party Outfits
• Rehearsal Dinner
• Tips and Gratuities
• Taxes

How much of my budget should go to what?

Attire 7%
Beauty 3%
Ceremony Fees 6%
Flowers 10%
Gifts 2%
Music/Entertainment 6%
Photography 10%
Reception 45%
Stationary 4%
Transportation 2%
Extras 5%

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TIPS FOR A BUDGET CONSCIOUS BRIDE - Jenny Statler, RSVP Only Wedding & Event Coordinating
Jenny Statler, RSVP Only Wedding & Event Coordinating, is also Director of Sales at Hilton Garden Inn OKC North/Quail Springs. To contact her, call 405-249-9641 or email her at rsvponly_weddings_events@live.com

Tips for a Budget Conscious Bride

1. Choose an off day wedding date. Weddings that take place off season, or on a Friday night or Sunday may prove to be budget friendly. Choosing a weekday may also decrease the fees of the space.

2. Talk to the wedding site to see if there is another wedding going on in the same weekend. If you’re not locked into specific colors or style then maybe you and the other bride can go half in for the flowers.

3. Giving yourself ample time can always help save money as you can be choosey and pay off a little as you go. The shorter engagements end up being a large lump sum paid at one time several times throughout the process.

4. Spend a little extra to hire a Wedding Professional to oversee the Day Of. This will help during the planning process as you will have a second set of eyes to review the contracts and ensure that you are getting the most for your dollar.

5. When looking to hire a Videographer….if it’s not #1 priority on your list talk to some of the Broadcast students at the local colleges. Many times they can take care of all the shooting and editing at a lower cost.

6. Shop local craft store Sale Ads. Often there are items that you can purchase in bulk for 30-50% off the regular tag price.

7. Some handmade items are a NICE touch to your big day..and is super cost effective.

8. Get a cake with less tiers than you would need and supplement with various flavored sheet cakes. This will allow for options AND sheet cakes are cheaper.

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MONEY SAVING TIPS - Emily Meyer, Chandelier Weddings, www.chandelierweddings.com
Emily Meyer is a certified wedding planner and founder of Chandelier Weddings. She provides full service wedding planning to Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and surrounding areas.

It doesn’t ALL have to be flowers!
Instead of floral centerpieces, get creative! Alternative elements may consist of candles, water, birdhouses, fruit, rocks, decorative wine bottles, and even potted plants. Think about incorporating you and your fiance’s personalities into it!

DIY Invitations
You don’t have to spend a fortune to have great customized invitations. At CardsAndPockets.com, you can create your very own do-it-yourself kit.

Don’t spend it all!
When setting your budget for each category, don’t give the vendor your full budget. Most vendors try to up sell their products and services. For instance, if you have a floral budget of $1,000, tell the florist that it is only $800 or $900. That will leave room for any extra hidden costs, including delivery. It will also keep you on budget, if not, under!

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HOW TO BE HAPPY - Emily Meyer, Chandelier Weddings, www.chandelierweddings.com
Emily Meyer is a certified wedding planner and founder of Chandelier Weddings. She provides full service wedding planning to Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and surrounding areas.

Wait, what event are we planning for?
In the midst of planning a wedding, we tend to put centerpieces and linens above each other. Take a breath of fresh air every once in a while and DON’T smell the roses. With your fiancé, leave all of the wedding talk behind and go for a walk, put on a movie, let loose with some wine, or whatever will make you and your beloved relaxed; because when all is said and done, your love and commitment you just made with one another is the only thing that counts!

Till’ Debt do us Part…
When it comes to needing and wanting, think about how many American’s struggle with debt! It is one of the top 10 reasons why married couples are filling for divorces. Even if you are already in debt, take this opportunity to begin working your way up the ladder and out of the whole. Is 5 hours of your life really worth it?

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