#HELLYEAH HIGHLIGHTS

We get it, you're getting married, but you're also on the go go go, and don't have the time to scroll through our entire blog to find the information you need (our feeling aren't hurt, we promise)! To save you the trouble, we've rounded up some of our best posts to plan for your big day. Here is the 411 on the BIG 5!

Budget

Both starting point and sticking point for many couples. Save yourself the disappointment and establish a firm budget ASAP.

Photo | Jas and Mike Co.

Venue

The backdrop of your wedding day should be as beautifully matched as you and your betrothed.

Photo | Jillian Zamora

Wedding Party

With your boo and your besties by your side, you’re guaranteed to have the best night ever.

Photo | Brynna Isabell

Guests

The number one rule for keeping the guests happy, you ask? Keep the drinks, the music and the love flowing!

Photo | Payge Stevens Photography

Ceremony + Reception

The vows, the tears, the dinner, and the dancing! Uff, we can’t get enough!

Photo | Chelsea Kaye

May the wedding gods be with you!

TOP 5 | WAYS TO KEEP YOUR WEDDING COSTS LOW

There aren't many things people enjoy more than a good deal, especially on a big (typically pricey) day like your wedding. But, as professional wedding planners/your internet BFFs, let us assure you that your wedding is neither the time nor the place to try and cut corners. Guests will notice, you will notice and attempting to cut costs on the wrong item or vendor could actually end up costing you more in the long run. So if you're looking for high glamour without having to break the bank, check out our cheat sheet to help keep costs low and smiles high.

TAYLOR + COLLIN
Photography | A Sea of Love 

1. Venue
It's easy to spend big on your dream venue but, remember that weddings should be about experiencing the love between two people. So focus on finding a venue that is naturally beautiful. This will help you save loads on decor + floral arrangements. Also consider getting hitched at a historical location. You can potentially claim the facility costs on your taxes #winning

A venue like the private lakehouse for Sarah + John's wedding earlier this year is the perfect way to cut cost on a venue without sacrificing personal style.

2. Drink Responsibly
Alcohol is an easy way to go WAY over your wedding budget. Try hosting a cocktail or mixer bar instead. This helps cut down on the amount of alcohol needed as guests are encouraged to add in fruits, ice, and garnish that take up the space of straight alcohol. 

Or you can host an open bar during cocktail hour then switch to beer + wine during the reception. 

Our favorite tip is to  premier a couples signature cocktail. It's less alcohol and specific to your big day.

BRITTANY + TYLER
Photography | Kelly Sparks

3. Timing
Remember our talk about how 'in-season is the best season?' While this is still true for florals, it's not true for basically any other aspect of your wedding. Getting married out of wedding season or even choosing to marry on a Sunday or Wednesday versus a Saturday is a great way to instantly trim your wedding budget by about 25%.

Design House via Airbnb

Off Grid House via Airbnb

4. Honeymoon
A great wedding budget includes the costs of items associated before, during and after the wedding. Skipping out on budgeting for the costs of bachelor/bachelorette parties or a honeymoon can make for a very sobering reality 2-3 months after your big day. Plan ahead! If you can, skip the long and pricey international flight and stay domestic instead. AirBnB has a TON of listings from country to city to satisfy every couples desires. 

SARAH + JON
Photography | Angela Sostarich

5. The Guest List + Invites
Perhaps the simplest way to cut back on costs is to invite less people. A smaller guests lists means less invites, less seats at a reception, less tables, less centerpieces, etc. If you're struggling to figure out who does and doesn't get an invite follow the unofficial golden rule: are they (active)  in your life currently and are they going to attend to celebrate the couple (as a whole)? Inviting your coworker who invited your to her holiday party four years ago might seem less attractive when you realize her seat costs approx. $60. 

Embrace the digital age! It's 2016, send e-invites to cut back on postage and stationary for save-the-dates and RSVPs. 

Hire a Wedding Planner!
Yes, yes, we realize this is technically a 6th tip but, one of the best ways to ensure you stay on track financially and get great deals on everything from alcohol to parking permits, is to hire a wedding planner. They are in the business year round and have loads of connections/contacts that will save you time and money. If you are really set on doing most of the planning yourself, consider a Day Of Coordinator. This person can consult with you during the planning process and help keep everything organized and running smoothly to ensure dodging any last minute hiccups, fines or fees. We offer lots of packages for every bride and groom. 

Photography | Savannah Pyron

Remember your wedding day is YOUR wedding day. It's all about deciding what will make you, your partner, and your guests happiest. Know your budget and be choosy about what is and isn't worth shelling out cash over. Consider sitting down and making a list of wedding must-haves versus wedding would-be-nice to haves. 

TIPS | REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS

Most girls have a Pinterest, whether it's for DIY home ideas, clothing, or our personal favorite, weddings! On the other hand, most girls have also found that the pictures they quickly fell in love with on Pinterest, are often out of their wedding budget. 

This week, we have some tips and tricks to educate brides on the price tag of a pinterest wedding and how to have realistic expectations for your budget, because really... who doesn't have at least some sort of budget for their wedding!? People all around the world see the same images and fall in love with the same ideas, without any knowledge of where that venue is or how much that gown truly costs. Here are a few things to keep in mind! 

That venue doesn't always look that perfect at your budget.

Those drapes with twinkle lights are not always so perfectly placed, and in fact, the cost of the venue might not even include them. Having a venue add drapes and lighting can cost up to thousands of dollars extra! The additional costs at a wedding venue, for example, upgrading the color of the reception chairs from a black chair to a nicer white chair, can quickly add up and surpass your budget, so make sure you know what you want and if the venue includes those little details in their rental price. 

Photo courtesy of Nessa K Photography found on Pinterest.

That "discount bridal dresses" caption might be paired with a designer dress picture.

Pinterest can be deceiving at times... you can't always trust the caption that goes with the picture! Personally, I have about a million (okay, maybe not quite THAT many) dresses pinned for ideas when my time comes around, many of which have "cheap wedding dresses" as the caption. After doing some digging, I've found that most of the dresses, which I have imagined myself walking down the aisle in, are accompanied by a not-so-cheap top dollar price tag! Take those pictures and use them as inspiration for your own wedding gown, shop around, and find similar styles at local shops that are within your budget. 

Sometimes, we have to go to the professionals for help.

DIY this, DIY that. Yes! Don't get me wrong, you can save quite a bit of money doing things yourself, but if you're anything like me, there are just some things you gotta know when to turn to the pros. One of the most common examples this wedding season is calligraphy.  Welcome signs, menus, invitations, you name it and it's being done this season! I know my handwriting isn't the best, let alone trying my hand at calligraphy! So if your budget allows, find a professional from your area and spend the extra change to get that sign so perfectly written everyone will think it's printed! We highly recommend Ellie and Ace, and you can learn more about them here!

Photo courtesy of Ellie and Ace.

All in all, some of the best advice I have, is pick what is most important to you, and splurge on those things. For some brides it will be florals, for others it will be the photographer, and for me personally, the cake! Pinterest should be used for ideas to help get those creative juices flowing. Make your wedding your very own at a budget that won't break the bank!