Yesterday, Fox61 news at 10 stopped by our studio to interview myself, Elisabeth of Blush Floral Studio, Eric Langlois of raw photo design, and Tom Morlock of Paradigm Digital Video, and get our opinions on how couples could save money while planning their wedding. I advised couples look into off season dates and nights other than Saturday — where the cost differential can be pretty considerable! Here are some other tips we talked about that didn’t make it on air:

Cut your guest list: About 40% of a couples budget is spent on the reception (food, drink, and the site itself). You can significantly impact your budget by cutting the guest list down!

Prioritize. Spend / splurge on what is important to YOU and seek out creative and cost effective ideas for aspects that are not as important. Every couple is different, and therefore, every couple will have different priorities. Once you identify areas that you want to invest in — do so!

Some other advice: If you have a hobby, skill, or something you are love to do — I definitely recommend infusing that into your wedding! But I caution couples: don’t bite off more than you can chew. It may seem like no big deal to do something yourself — and with enough time and preparation no task is insurmountable. Be sure to schedule enough time to get a project done and have a back up plan in case something doesn’t go as planned. Always consider, as well, if doing something yourself is actually saving you money.

A few days ago both Jaime from It’s a Jaime Thing…, Tracey from Las Vegas Wedding Concierge , and Juliet from Green Orchid Events gave a shout out to our blog as a “blog they love.” It is always so WONDERFUL to hear that people love what I put out there — so thank you Jaime, Juliet and Tracey — you guys rock! In the good spirit of passing on links I admire, here are some blogs that YOU should be reading, in addition to the three I mentioned above.

RJT Pictures
Robin Dini Photography
Carla Ten Eyck Photography
raw photo design
Orchard Cove Photography
Justin & Mary Marantz
Fresh Picked Weddings
The Wedding Planners’ Fabuluxe Blog
Totally Tabletops
Swanky Tables
Ritzy Bee
Design is Everywhere
By Your Side Events

My good friend Samantha Darr from soireebliss! called me to chat last night and told me about a very sad situation that some of her couples are facing in Houston. Apparently, their wedding / reception venue has shut down over night and the owners are nowhere to be found. They’ve taken off with couples’ deposits and full payments. I can only imagine how utterly devastated these couples must be to have lost not only their entire wedding, but their investment in that wedding. Prior to the venue shutting down, they ran a promotion where if couples paid in full, they received 20% off the total event price. Some people signed contracts as little as a few days prior to the venue locking its doors. The venue was also an “all inclusive” kind of venue, where the pastry chef, florist, DJ, and photographer were part of the package and subcontracted through the venue itself. The vendors haven’t been paid either and know nothing of being contracted to work for these couples on their wedding day. So these couples literally have no wedding at all. There are couples with weddings schedule to be this weekend and there is nothing that can be done. It really is a very upsetting situation and I wish there was something I could do to help the couples who are suffering over this. You can view the local news story about it here.

In my experience this is uncommon, but I wanted to share it with our readers because there is a moral here. Wedding Insurance is something that I recommend to all my couples from a liability standpoint and in case something like this happens. When you make investments you always insure them – your home, car, business, the diamond engagement ring you’re wearing. All of those are costly investments that you want to protect. You should think about your wedding day in the same way and spend the extra $200-$800 (depending on the size of your coverage) to insure your wedding and have peace of mind. I cannot stress this enough and I really encourage all of you to do some research on wedding insurance companies, like WedSafe, and consider making the investment. When you have $30K — $100K invested in an event you want to make sure that you are protected in case something goes wrong.

To all our vendors who read, please consider donating some of your services in some capacity to these couples. Many have of course spent their life savings and now they have absolutely nothing to show for it.

On Monday I discussed ways to overcome your first dance jitters and mentioned how I wanted to talk about the choreographed first dance. I think couples started to get the idea to do a dance routine during the advent of Dancing With the Stars (I’ve admittedly never watched an episode other than the occasional channel flick and pause, but I do appreciate their AMAZING talent and beauty). So, what is my take on the preplanned dance routine? You may be surprised. While I may have a plan for almost everything personal and professional, I don’t like dance routines and don’t recommend that my couples do one unless dancing is a hobby you both have, it’s something you’ve done for years, or something you both thoroughly enjoy. Why? Well, unless you have some dancing DNA in those jeans (genes?) of yours, it can end up looking overly contrived, stiff, and unnatural. Let’s face it, when normal folks like you and I try our hand at the waltz we don’t look as graceful and elegant as our TV show counterparts. And while the old adage “practice makes perfect” may have gotten you to jam harder on your grade school violin, it may not apply to whizzing around a 300 square foot dance floor with fluidity and grace. I can also guarantee you, with a pretty large degree of certainty, that you’re other half is no Fred Astaire and doesn’t wish to be, either. This brings me to the number one reason why I don’t recommend it to my couples: it is an added level of stress that you both don’t need on your day of. Some people have a hard enough time remembering to recite the vows the minister just spoke, never mind how many counts to the left and right. And when you’re spending more time counting your dance steps and trying to remember your “lines”, you’re spending less time enjoying the moment and each other, which is really the most important.

As I said before, I am a big supporter of taking dance lessons to work with what your momma gave you. It loosens you up and allows the two of you to bond and feel confident about your natural dance ability. Plus, you get to spend some scheduled time together pre-wedding day, which is important!

Good morning! I hope everyone had a spectaular weekend — and congrats to all our 8-8-08 Connecticut brides!

I was talking with some industry friends recently about the epic first dance and all the anticipation, trepidation, and hesitation that couples go through preparing for it. If you and your partner are shy or born with two left feet, the first dance is naturally going to work up your nerves. I don’t think I’ve met too many couples who haven’t been nervous about their first dance. I’ve even come across some who want to forgo the tradition all together because they are self-conscious about being in front of a crowd. I don’t recommend skipping your first dance. It’s not only a tradition that your guests expect and love to see, but it’s also something that you will regret not having done; don’t let little moments like these slip away because they are important memories that you’ll look back on in the years to come. The first dance is also an important transition from your entrance into dinner. I’ve been to weddings where the first dance was skipped and it is a bit awkward when couples enter the room for the first time as husband and wife and “take a seat” instead.

So, what do I recommend for overcoming your first dance stage fright? For starters – get over it! You are surrounded by your family and friends.. these people love and support you unconditionally. They don’t care if you can’t dance. As a matter of fact, since you are from the same gene pool, it’s pretty likely that they can’t dance either! The first dance is not about aesthetics or trying to impress… it is an intimate moment that you two share with your guests and it is a fun time to “catch up” on the day’s events as you wiz around the dance floor. It is a very emotional time and not something that comes along often…

If you’re finding it hard to take my first piece of advice, than consider these few tips.

Choose a song that not only has meaning, but has a rhythm that you can dance to. Spend the time researching the perfect song that has a rhythm you both can understand and move to.

Practice! Dance in the kitchen, dance in the living room. Dance, dance, dance! Practice dancing to your song. It’ll make it easier on the big day.

Consider taking a few dance lessons. I like dance lessons for two reasons – one, you get a few tips from a professional which will help boost your confidence. The second thing I love is it is some scheduled time that you two spend together on a Wednesday night. During the weeks leading up to your wedding you may not see each other as often as you like, and this is a perfect way to schedule in a pre wedding date night.

Have the DJ invite your wedding party onto the dance floor a minute or two into the song. With your wedding party joining you a minute or two into the song, you’ll be able to relax a bit and enjoy yourself. You’ll only be in the spotlight for a few moments which will appease Grandma and allow the photographer to get some really beautiful pictures.

Tomorrow… some advice on whether to choreograph your first dance..

I’ll admit it: I’m frugal, to a point. Yes, I may own a Louie Vuitton, but if my shampoo isn’t on sale, guess what — I’m not buying it!

I learned a long time ago to make my dollar go farther and I want to share with you some websites and resources that I use on a daily basis. I don’t leave my house without checking these websites. The markups of clothing, furniture, and housewares can be anywhere from 40% to 700%. Not only that, but why should you have to pay full price while “preferred” customers or internet savvy ones get discounts because they have a coupon? Well, I don’t think you should! Save your precious dollars for that fabulous fashion photographer, or the splurge worthy Christian Louboutin’s you want to wear on your wedding day.

1.) Retailmenot.com – Okay, so this is one of my favorites, even if J. Crew gave them a cease and desist order to take off their coupon codes! But there are hundreds of other retailers on here where I can guarantee at some point you will spend your precious wedding dollars. For instance:

Victoria’s Secret: Wedding night nighty? Check. Plus free shipping and 10% off.
Borders.com: New books for the honeymoon flight? Perhaps some journals for your ‘maids as part of their gift? CD’s, DVD’s… what about that wedding binder you’ve been thinking about buying? 30% off!
Michaels.com: These may come in the newspaper every week, but I’ve never seen a 50% off coupon on one single item. So do not fret – your DIY wedding project just got a little cheaper!

Here are some other known sites worth mentioning: Wedding Paper Divas, My Wedding Favors, Beau-Coup.com, Banana Republic (hello fabulous rehearsal dinner outfit!), Piperlime, Amazon.com, Expedia.com, tons of other travel websites for your honeymoon and your out of town guests… I mean, the list is endless. And they do boast that they have 85,000 coupon codes!

2.) Free Printable Coupon Codes – This is my favorite of the two, I have to admit. I always score killer printable coupon codes here which means I can print them out on my computer and bring them to the store. I love to shop online, but for certain things, you have to see it before you buy it. Here are some current noteworthy coupon codes available:

Home Depot / Lowes: 20% off coupon for all your DIY projects that require a little bit more than cardstock and a glue gun!
UPS: $10 off coupon for all your shipping needs!
Staples: $40 printable coupon to recharge your ink cartridges. Get those place cards printed!
Rag Shop: 40% off a regular priced item (admittedly, I have never been to this store, so I’m taking a wild guess here that it has some DIY project supplies!)
Jo-Anns: 40% off a regular priced item. Awesome!!
NY & Co: $20 off your purchase. New jewelry, honeymoon clothes, something special for your ‘maids?
Victoria’s Secret: $10 off coupon the VSX line.
… and the list goes on, and on, and on!

The point of this post is to encourage you to scower the internet before you buy and make sure you can’t find the best deal. You might be surprised at how much you end up saving over the course of the year as you plan. It’ll make it that much easier to save up for your dream florist or wedding planner.

If you have any super fabulous similar websites that you’d like to share, feel free to post a comment.

I wanted to share with you all some of my top stores to register for your bridal shower and wedding. This will be a running blog series of Connecticut and online based stores that you should consider. I want to do an in-depth look at the stores themselves, what they have to offer, who to contact, and what you should expect. I’ve visited these stores personally and I’ve spoken to the registry experts to ensure that you can maximize your experience!

When you register, be sure to bring along your mother, grandmother, maid of honor, or close girlfriends. Having an interested family member or friend around can help you in selecting items you wouldn’t think of or they can point you in the right direction. I’m also available to my clients to assist in registering. But don’t invite too many opinions or it could be chaos! Be sure to allot yourself a significant amount of time – this isn’t a quick “in and out” shopping trip. Take your time and enjoy the process!

My first pick is Macys Department Store. I’m sure you’re all familiar with this renowned shopping Mecca, but you may not realize all the benefits of registering at Macys.

First and foremost, I want to talk about the process of registering at Macy’s and which stores you should consider visiting. There are a variety around the state, but I’ve chosen these three because there is a great selection to choose from, the items are displayed beautifully, and the store appearance and service is impeccable. My top picks in order are:

1.) Connecticut Post Mall – They just recently redid the interior and all I have to say is: WOW! I never knew a Macy’s could be even more beautiful and inviting! Their selection of china is impressive, with every china pattern imaginable available. From Kate Spade, to Lennox, Wedgewood, to Vera Wang they have it all. Plus, they’ve devoted an entire floor to their home section!

2.) West Farms Mall — This Macy’s is equally as impressive, just not newly renovated. But they do have an impeccable selection of top designer registry items and an equally impressive selection of affordable items. They also have a furniture store where you can register for that beautiful buffet or leather club chair you’ve been eyeing!

3.) Danbury Fair Mall – This Macys is also beautiful and has a wide variety of items to select. They too have a furniture store.

When you arrive at Macy’s to register you are greeted by one of their registry experts. These experts have been educated on all the products that Macy’s sells and they are there to assist you and answer any questions that you may have. They will enter your information into their computer system and talk to you about the benefits of registering at Macy’s. Traditionally, Macy’s has offered “perks” to their customers who register, such as 10% off all registry items that were not purchased, free items if certain big ticket items are purchased (such as pots & pan sets, china sets, knife sets), and double rewards points on your Macy’s card. The registry expert will give you a variety of promotional material to look over, a “check list” (although I recommend you bring your own or if you are my client, the one I provide you) and your scanner, which you’ll use to scan the items that you would like to register for. Resist the urge to scan erratically, feverishly and obsessively (trust me, you will experience this phenomenon!). Make sure that the items you scan are items that you truly want. Also be sure to include items that range in a variety of price points so your guests can choose a gift that they can afford.

Once your information is complete in their system, they like to give you a tour of their home department and can help you shop for each item you’re interested in. If you’d prefer to privately register and shop, you should speak up and let the assistant know that and if a question arises you’ll look for her. Remember, they are there to help and are a well full of information.

What I love best about Macy’s is it is truly a one stop shop. For the kitchen you have dinnerware and entertaining items (china, everyday, glasses, barware, platters, serving utensils, crystal, vases… the list goes on!), cookware and bakeware, kitchen gadgets and necessities, top quality knives and sets, and a wide selection of kitchen electronics. Be sure to check out Martha Stewart’s new collection of everyday dinnerware. They are timeless and beautiful! For the bedroom they have a wide variety of designers and bedding assembles to choose from. You can select individual pieces, mix and match, or do a traditional “bed in a bag.” Be sure to register for two bedroom sets – one fall/winter and one spring/summer! You can also outfit your entire bathroom – from the shower curtain to the soap dispenser Macy’s offers it all. They also have luggage and furniture (at select stores).

Another benefit is your family and friends can view your registry online and make purchases online. You can also manage your registry straight from your desktop, adding and deleting items at will.

The favor you give your guests at your wedding is a wonderful way to thank them for sharing in your special day. Its also a great way for your guests to get to know you better by giving them something that is a reflection of you as a couple. I love the idea of regionally inspired favors. Long gone are the days of the covered almonds or popuri filled swans. More and more, couples are coming up with unique favor ideas that represent them while being cost effective.

Regional favors represent the area in which your wedding takes place. Its not only charming to give something local, but it is also great for the local economy. Whenever you can spend your money in local businesses and specialty stores you’re giving back to your community.

Many of the bridal magazines have explored great regional favors in other states, but no magazines talked about Connecticut-centric favors, so here are some ideas for you Connecticut brides!

Bottles of Connecticut wine. DeGrazia, Jones, Hopkins, Sharpe Hill, and Jonathon Edwards are all local vineyards that have wonderful varieties of wine. Often, you can pick up their bottles in your local liquor store… but better yet, why not visit the vineyard yourself?

Having a fall wedding? Why not give your guests small bottles of maple syrup from Lamothe’s Sugar House in Burlington. You can even personalize the bottles with your monogram, or specific design elements from your invitation.

Is decedent chocolate more your thing? Why not give your guests handmade, gourmet chocolates from Bridgewater. Bridgewater Chocolates are known as Connecticut’s Most Delectable Chocolate. Give them away in small colored boxes wrapped in ribbon. Attach a tag expressing your gratitude or affix your monogram or invitation design.If you and your future hubby really enjoy coffee, why not give gourmet ground coffee or coffee beans to your guests? Independent Coffee Roasters in a family owned business in West Hartford. They have a dozen or so yummy flavors listed on their website and they also do personalized labeling with their in-house graphic designer!

These are just a few great ideas for wedding favors. If you know of a local specialty store please post a comment! There are so many wonderful businesses and artesians in Connecticut.

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