Wedding Planning Notes

approx. weddings per year
2,172,503

wedding cities
1. istanbul, turkey
2.las vegas
3. gatlinsburg, TN
4.new orleans

avg. age
bride: 25
groom:27

most popular months
1. june
2. august
3. september

avg. # of guests
190

% consultants make
5-20% of budget

2016 avg. wedding cost
$26k-$28k

hourly wedding services
$50-$200 per hour (2-3 hr)

full service wedding planner
flat fee(3000+) or percentage of budget

day of wedding planner
$900+ for day, contract needed

referral wedding service
free, compensated by suppliers/vendors

bride price
groom(& his family) pays brides family for her

dowry
bride's family pays groom(or his family) to marry their daughter

marriage by capture
bride captured by groom or his tribe, result of war

where U.S. traditions come from
draws heavily from ancient Isreal & ancient rome

ancient jewish weddings
bride is center of the ceremony, held at brides home

ancient roman ceremony
-arranged by both fathers
-bride received ring
-red/orange veil w/ flowers
-pre-wedding bride offers 'toys' to family gods

early european weddings
-forbade divorce
-christian practice only
-origin of nuptial blessing

early middle ages
-ceremony at church for 1st time

late middle ages
-weddings were a legal affair
-no white gowns/wedding clothes/veil

catholicism
vows must be exchanged before a priest

original engagement period
9-12 months to ensure bride was not pregnant

wedding ring finger
-4th finger on left hand
-vein in left hand goes directly to heart

origins of bride standing on left
husband could reach his sword easily in case someone tried to steal the bride

brides position in jewish ceremonies
bride stands to right of the groom

origins of bridesmaids
ancient rome: friends dressed similar to confuse evil spirits

origin of boutoniere
wearing his ladys color to symbolize his love

ancient roman wedding cake
wheat cake was shared by couple to insure fertility

wedding cake during middle ages
small cakes piled, couple kisses over top for luck

origin of carrying bride over the threshhold
-so brides weren't captured
-europe: unlucky if bride stumbles

honeymoon during middle ages
chance for couple to get to know each other for the first time

origin of clinking glass
-scare away evil spirits
-couple kiss

13 moon cycles contract
if marriage is renewed after 13 moon cycles then marriage is 'as long as love shall last'

hand fasting ceremony
-his right to her right, his left to her left
-infinity symbol
-'tie the knot'
-'lets get hitched'

old, new, borrowed, blue
-old=traditions of family
-new= lucky (due to lack of new items)
-borrowed=bring fortune from happy couple
-blue=purity

what to include on engagement announcements
-name
-career
-parents & where they live
-education credentials
-wedding date (month)

civil ceremony
non-religious
ex. courthouse

elopement
-private
-dislike/cannot afford wedding

religious ceremony
-differs
-check with officiant

christian holidays to avoid scheduling over
-lent
-end of december

Jewish holidays to avoid scheduling over
-yom kippur
-rosh
-hashanah
-sukkoth
-between passover & shabuoth

Muslim holidays to avoid scheduling over
-muharram
-ramadan

3 busiest months
1.june
2.august
3.september

busiest days
1. saturday
2.fridays&saturdays

4 meal options
1.brunch
2.lunch
3.afternoon tea
4.dinner

where to get a marriage license
county probate court

expiration of a marriage license
60 days

what to check on before getting insurance
1. get a copy of the venues policy
2. check the couples pre-existing insurance
*dont over pay/ over lap

cancellation coverage
covers unavoidable cancellations
ex. venue has an electrical outage

weather coverage
can cover rescheduling the wedding, and all wedding details such as ceremony, flowers, etc.

vendor no-show coverage
can cover cancellation or postpone of the wedding

sickness or injury coverage
can cover sickness/injury of anyone essential

military or job coverage
covers postponements due to sudden call to military duty or necessary corporate move

photography coverage
can cover for:
-retaking the photos
-no show
-negatives are lost, damaged, or developed wrong
-re-stage w/ flowers, cake, etc.

gift coverage
replace any non-monetary gifts that were:
-lost
-stolen
-damaged
*police report required for stolen gifts

attire coverage
covers special attire if lost, stolen, or broken.
*also covers financial failure of bridal store

personal liability
covers:
-bodily injury or property damage
*caused by accident that occurs during the wedding
ex. man trips & hurts himself

honeymoon insurance
-expensive
*check homeowners insurance first

11 theme ideas
1. environmentally friendly
2.movie
3.book
4.travel locales
5.career
6.season
7.holidays
8.ethnic
9.setting
10.mood
11. romantic

things to consider w/ the venue
-size
-parking
-lighting
-color scheme
-outlets
-double booked?

reasons to use balloons
-cheap
-bold statement

risks of balloons
-latex allergies
-balloon release=bad for the environment
-foil conducts electricity, flammable
-some venues have regulations
-rugged ceilings can pop them

lifetime of balloons
helium-latex=12-18 hrs.
helium-foil=days
air-latex=days
air-foil=months

5 types of tents
1. pole or guy
2. tension
3. frame
4. structure
5. marquee tent

pole or guy tents
-high peaks/dips
-lots of poles
-only in grass

tension tent
-sculpted top
-webbing & ratchets

frame tent
-free standing
- more expensive

structure tent
-can handle up to 70 mph winds
-on internal poles
-large sizes
-anchored by gravity blocks or water ballast

marquee tent
combo of pole and frame

6 areas to light
1.bar/food area
2.sign-in table
3.entrance
4.walkways/stairs
5.performers
6.dance floor

maid/matron of honor
-hold flowers during ceremony
-plan bachelorette party
-plan bridal shower

best man
-hold rings during ceremony
-paying the tips
-plan bachelor party

huppah holder
hold up huppah in jewish ceremony

transportation captain
give directions

space need for guest list
25-30 sq. ft. per person

guest list sysetms
- 1/2=couple 1/4=each set of parents
-a&b list(invite first round, then second)
-dream guest list (1st, 2nd, 3rd tier)

# of menus per table
2

reasons for cocktail hour
-gives buffer time between ceremony & reception
-photo op
-social
*used in most jewish weddings pre-ceremony

how to plan a cocktail hour
-45 to 1 1/2 hour
-music!
-seating for old and disabled
-food & drink
-flow of traffic

canape vs. Hors D'oeurves
*canape can be a type of Hors D'oeurves
-canape: base, spread, garnish

tips for a buffet of Hors D'oeurves
- 6-8 types
- 1 piece/person
-3 pieces of sushi/person
-skyline to add height to table

complications w/ an off-site caterer
-glasses can break
-estimation of alcohol

ideas for alcoholic beverages
-custom cocktails
- sommelier for a day

when having a bar, check venue for:
-corkage fee
-contract
-can i bring my own alcohol?
-license?

seating during ceremony
bride's fam = left
groom's fam = right

positioning at the altar
bride=left groom=right

father giving away his daughter
-father walks on brides right arm
-shakes groom's hand & kisses brides cheek

vows
groom goes first, then bride

ceremony order (8 steps)
1. procession
2.officiant opening remarks
3.charge to couple
4.vows & ring exchange
5.pronouncement
6.kiss
7. officiant final remarks
8.recession

practicing ceremony
-start by doing spacing at altar
-skim through ceremony readings
-recession & procession (x2)

processional order
-officiant, groom & groomsmen
-grandparents (groom -> bride)
-grooms parents
-brides mom
-bridesmaids -> matron/maid of honor
-ring bearer -> flower girl
-bride and father

rehersal time
-night/day before
-20-30 mins

receiving line
-brides mom (father)
-grooms mom (father)
-couple
-bestman & bridesmaids

cake per guest
-2 tier=50 guests
-3 tier=75 guests
-4 tier=125 guests
-sheet cake=40 guest
*tier=14-16in.

things to ask cake baker
-CONTRACT!!!!!!
-price/slice?
-type of icing for the temperature?
-different flavors/layer?

cake decoration tips
fruit&flowers=inexpensive
gum&sugarpaste=expensive

post cake cutting
-save top tier
-save cake topper

groomscake
-traditionally fruitcake
-popular in the south
*consider using for the reception

tips for cake cutting ceremony
-keep water/cloth to clean knife
-get photo/videographer before hand

cake cutting ceremony
-grooms right hand over the brides
-feed each other
*may serve slices to their in-laws