“Aim high with your guest count to start. It’s better to subtract than to add at the last minute.”
like. On average, we’ll meet monthly. It becomes more frequent as we near the wedding date.” BE MINDFUL OF YOUR BUDGET Avoid online budget tools, the pros agree. The best approach is to plug actual bids and quotes into a spreadsheet and be aware of the bottom line from the very first contact or purchase. Make decisions with your head rather than your heart. “We easily work with any and all types of budgets. We try to get our clients to be transparent with us about their total budget and-or budgets for specific elements if we are executing one of our bigger planning packages,” says Steven Finkle of 402 Event Services. “As for sizes of weddings ... the larger the guest count, the more expensive the wedding will be – from the venue’s ability to accommodate the guest count, down to the bar packages.”
Blaine Muhle, designer-coordinator for Memrical
JENNA BECHTHOLT PHOTOGRAPHY
RESPECT THE BIDS YOU GET “A lot of couples think that the wedding industry is rooted in bartering,” observes Farrage. “For many wedding planners, this is our livelihood, and we often cannot decrease our pricing just because our services don’t fit within your budget. You also shouldn’t expect a caterer to cut corners on your behalf or a band to offer you a lower rate because you absolutely have to have them play at your wedding. You wouldn’t walk into a department store and ask the salesperson to reduce the price of a particular handbag just because you’ve always dreamed of owning one. The same rule applies to anyone in the wedding industry, especially when it’s peak season. Please respect our rates and our services.” LIMIT CHANGES “Most vendors give you between 15 and 30 days to update your guest count,” notes Blaine Muhle, designer-coordinator for Memrical. “Make sure to specify any particular requirements as many vendors hold-order items specifically for your day. These things can’t be changed last minute. Clients need to study their vendor contracts; they are in place for a reason. Many work with numerous couples at one time, and many events fall on the same date. Keep an open communication.”
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