November 20, 2019

Candi Coronel

How much do Wedding Flowers really cost!

November 20, 2019

Candi Coronel

Congrats, you finally can make that secret “Wedding flower” board on Pinterst public! It feels good, and we are thrilled with you that after your long nights of pinning flowers, it can finally be seen by everyone. However, now is the time to settle down and really decide what florals you love and how much they will cost you? Today on the blog we are taking the tricky part of “how much will it cost” out of the equation and giving you the power to know how to budget properly for all the flowers you want at your wedding.

How much should I budget for flowers?

As a trained professional, I can confidently tell you that you need to budget between 8-15 % of your total wedding budget toward the floral decor. Why? Wedding flowers really do make a statement in your event. Weddings are all about the romance between the couple and what says romance more than flowers? Flowers are usually the dominating factor in your decor, and can make the wedding feel very luxurious. Who dose’’t want a romantic, luxurious wedding?

How can I save money in my flower budget?

Be up front about your budget with your florist. This will play a key role in the types of flowers they can use in your wedding. They will typically use in season flowers first because these are the best and most beautiful flowers. When using flowers out of season, they tend to be smaller blooms, most likely imported in from out of town, and that can drive up the cost significantly. Consider using more greenery in your bouquet as it cost less, especially when trying to save money in a large wedding party. Consider reusing ceremony flowers as reception flowers to save costs.Also consider mixing high and low centerpieces for visual interest and save some money here since taller centerpieces will cost more.

How much will they really cost?

Every company will quote differently depending on their caliber, what the clients want, and the type of flowers they are using. Our couples tend to be budget conscious, but they also want luxury and high-end flowers for their wedding such as peonies, garden roses, ranunculus, dahlias, etc. Our venue, The Wright House has a built in flower shop on our property - Flowers by Ellen. This makes it very convenient to set up flowers (no delivery fee) and makes last minute changes or add ins (opps I forget to order my step mom a corsage) very easy. Our center piece are included in all of gem packages but it doesn’t mean you can’t add in our florist for your personals making it seamless and stress free.

Bride's Bouquet $175-$300 (average $200)
Bridal floral crown $75-150 (average $100)
Bridesmaid's Bouquets $50-70 each (average $50)
Toss bouquet $40
Flower Girl headband $35
Mother's Corsages $30 (pin-on or wrist)
Groom Boutonniere $15
Groomsmen Boutonnieres $10 each
Ceremony Flowers $300 (2 large arrangement on each side of the gazebo)
Pew chairs $15-40 each (average $20)
Rose petals for ceremony $200-500 (depending on how lush the clients want for the petal count)
High centerpieces $200-$300 (average $250) - Good thing it’s included at The Wright House
Low Centerpieces $99-$200 (average $150) - Good thing it’s included at The Wright House
Cake flowers $75 (for 3 tier cake decoration)
Sweetheart table $150-500 (average $300)

We know flowers are beautiful on wedding day but knowing exactly what you want can be hard. Take the time to narrow down your Pintrest board to the bouquets you really love, and then let the florist do the work from there.

Enjoy

XOXO

November 6, 2019

Candi Coronel

You're engaged, Now What?

November 6, 2019

Candi Coronel

Congratulations! You’re newly engaged!

We are guessing at this point you shared a photo of your ring on Instagram, and changed your status on Facebook. And of course took time to personally share the good news with the important people in your life.

But what do you do next?

Well, today on the blog we are sharing our 4 tips on helping you make the most of your engagement before you even start tackling the big wedding planning checklist. Yes, what to do before your start planning, and forget to enjoy the moment.

1. Celebrate, just the two of you

Once the reality sets in, and phone calls stop pouring in, it’s important to take time for the two of you to celebrate taking the next steps in your relationships. Plan an evening or activity for the two of you without your phones to celebrate. Before you know it, everyone will be offering to help with wedding planning, so soak in the moment and the love you feel. It’s important to keep doing little things like this throughout the planning journey so you remember why you’re getting married in the first place!

Not only will this time together be enjoyable when life gets busy during wedding planning. But, looking at some of these things can help you find details that reflect you and make your wedding more personalized.

2. Insure the Ring

We know you’re going to want to show of that new and shiny bling on your finger, but remember that this is going to be your forever accessory. At this point in the process insurance for your shiny new engagement ring is a MUST. Rings slipping off your hand, or diamonds falling out of the setting are sure ways to sour your wedding planning.

Call your local car insurance company - they tend to have a personal property insurance that is very affordable and easy to insure when you first purchase your ring. We also recommend getting your ring sized so that it fits properly and, treat yourself to a manicure if you haven’t already - because everyone is going to want to see your bling!

3. Discuss the vision for your wedding day

Before you involve any external parties in your wedding planning, it’s important to sit down and discuss what you both want and how you envision your wedding day. This can include budget, design, and any things that you absolutely want to have. Together, as a couple, look at the big pieces of your wedding that are important to each of you. Is a religious ceremony a big part of your life? Are you looking at a larger wedding or maybe a smaller destination wedding?

Each of you can make a list of three things that are most important to each of you. It might be an awesome band that fills the dance floor, it could be more low key with an incredible dining experience paired with wine. Knowing what is important to each of you is a big piece of getting started, especially before involving external parties.

4. Money and People

Everyone’s budget looks different, and that’s okay! It’s important to sit down and discuss a rough budget so that you can look for vendors and designs that will fit your budget and style. It’s never an easy conversation, but it is important to involve any parties that might want to contribute to your wedding day! The biggest thing is finding out who is contributing what and how much that is in dollar signs. Now a days, it is very common to see the couple put in a certain or majority of the cost. So take the time to look at your own finances before your meet with the external parties.

Once you have an idea of how much you have to spend, it’s important to look at who you want to invite. We suggest making more than just one list, but breaking them into A,B, and possibly even C categories so that you can ensure you’ve got everyone on a list. Then look at what you can afford, and which people from the list will make it. Be sure to also ask your parents and any other parties involved if there are people that they think need to be there. Of course, weddings can be costly, so its most important to have the people that you want in the room on your special day, and when in doubt, focus on the ones you know will be in your lives 5 years from now.

Remember that at the end of the day, a wedding is the beginning of a beautiful love story between two people. Everything else is noise around you.

Enjoy

XOXO

Thank you to one of our favorites - Ashtyn Nicole Photography - check her out here.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashtynnicolephoto/

Website: https://www.ashtynnicolephoto.com/

October 23, 2019

Candi Coronel

5 Suit Mistakes to Avoid when Choosing the Grooms Suit

October 23, 2019

Candi Coronel

While future brides-to-be scroll through Pinterest boards, wedding-dress websites and pack their Saturdays with appointments our grooms expectation on “what to wear”, is the last thing the bride is thinking. A groom quest for a great suit doesn’t get much attention. The wedding dress always tends to be top priority, and men are basically expected to show up wearing the right color tie and an outfit that doesn’t have stains on it.

We know you may not be used to thinking for more than five minutes about what you want to wear on any given day, but this is your wedding. So today on the blog, we want to help all of the grooms out there in stepping up and planning your wedding attire. Here are 5 suit mistakes to AVOID when choosing your wedding attire.

1. Waiting until the last minute

The bride’s not waiting until the last minute to pick up her dress, why would you wait until the last minute to pick up your suit? This is one of the worst things you can do; there is so much room for disaster. Let’s not forget about Murphy's Law: "anything that can go wrong (probably) will go wrong."

You’ll have a dozen other tasks on your to-do list, there will not be time to worry about something that should have been taken care of already. Believe us when we say that picking up Grandma from the airport, remembering to eat, memorizing your vows, and fixing a ruined suit cannot all get done in between whatever else your bride has planned for you.

Everything might turn out fine, but some simple Google searches would point otherwise. We have seen it all, wrong sizes, wrong colors, even no suit at all. It will cause unnecessary drama for the bride and you.

We suggest ordering your suit or tux six months in advance and get it in your hands 14 days before your wedding.

2. Don’t need a Tailor

A wedding is the most important photographic moment in any couple’s life. Do you want to look back at your wedding pictures, carefully taken and edited by a professional that you paid a lot of money for, and see sleeves that are too long or a baggy inseam? If your answer is anything but “no,” please seek help. Your bride should be able to set you straight!

Even if a suit fits well in the store, the groom should strongly consider getting it tailored before the big day. A tailor can turn an acceptable-looking suit into a dynamic article of clothing that will turn heads every time you wear it. Alteration costs vary based on the tailor and what you need to have done. As a general rule, expect to spend between $10 and $150.

If you have a strict budget, choose a less expensive suit and spend more on professional tailoring. People will usually notice a suit’s fit more than the quality of fabric and stitching.

3. Don't just consider the wedding

When you’re buying a suit for the wedding, you probably imagine wearing it while saying your vows, listening to speeches and getting down on the dance floor.

But have you imagined wearing it at a dinner party, a funeral or another friend’s wedding? Is your suit versatile enough to handle a variety of situations, or will it only be appropriate in rare circumstances?

Gray and navy suits are a good compromise between a traditional black suit or tux. Tan and white suits might be popular for summer weddings, but won’t work well for a networking event. The suit should also match the bride, fellow groomsmen and bridesmaids, so don’t ruin the aesthetic of your wedding over practicality—just try to find a reasonable middle ground.

4. Wrong accessories

There’s some wiggle room when it comes to suits and your personal style, but there are also some tried and true ways to wear your accessories.

Tuxedos, being the classiest option, come with the most rules: do not wear a belt with a tux (the lack of belt loops should be your first clue), instead, opt for suspenders; studs and cufflinks should be worn with your tuxedo shirt; and bowties, rather than long ties, are traditionally worn with tuxedos.

Other guidelines to consider: nontraditional colors for socks are fine, but stray away from white; no brown shoes or belt with a black suit; and both a belt and suspenders are not necessary with a suit.

If you plan on re-wearing the suit, also plan on re-wearing the accessories. If you’re buying a new tie, belt and pair of shoes for the wedding, make sure to find something you’ll want to wear again. Get shoes that look good with the suit but also with a more casual outfit. Consider a reversible belt that has both brown and black depending on shoes and tie.

5. Don’t expect to turn into a Style Expert

Ignorance is bliss. If you don’t know or care about all things fashion, then swallow your pride and elect your most fashionable groomsmen to help shepherd you through your options. If none of your groomsmen care, then the bride should be the one to take the reins. However, the most important part is that you are easy going and flexible when seeing new styles or a bit more “fitted pants” than usual. Remember, you won’t feel like you are wearing basket ball shorts and your favorite t-shirt when it comes to wearing a suit but you sure will look like the cover of GQ on your wedding day!