DETAILS ULTIMATE GUIDE
CELEBRATE!
There’s so much to do t hat it’s eas y to forget
one ver y important thing: celebrating your
engagement! We asked real brides to share
fun things they did during their first month
of preplanning bliss. Here, some of our
favorite ideas for enjoying the moment.“After getting engaged, we wrote
each other a letter sharing our
excitement and all the love we feltfrom family and friends. It was
the perfect thing to revisit whenthings got tough over the ensuing
months of planning.”
—MICHI PEZESHKI“I surprised my fiancé with tickets
to the Austin Food & Wine Festivalas a fun mini-moon. We watched
cooking demos, drank wine, and ofcourse ate tons of tacos!”
—KRYSTLE GRANDY“We planned an ‘I Do Barbecue’
party—and used the term fiancé as
often as possible.”
—SARAH VORIS“My fiancé and I agreed to make no
wedding plans for the entire first yearof our engagement. We traveled
cross-country and really got to knoweach other on a whole new level!”
—COLEY OGDENIS YOUR
DREAM VENUE
REALLY ON
BUDGET?
Before you sign
that contract, make
sure there aren’t
any hidden costs
that will push you
over your limit.- Is the site fee all-
inclusive? If not,
you may have to
shell out big-time
for rentals (tables,
chairs, china, flat-
ware, et cetera). - Ask if the total
accounts for state tax
and gratuity (known
as a “plus plus”). - If your ceremony
is on site, you may be
charged twice for
setup. (Some venues
double the fees
for reception and
ceremony prep,
even if it’s just to
lay out chairs.) - How much time is
allowed for setup
and tear down? (An
hour of overtime
can cost $1,000,
according to Bean.) - Check the power
needs for a DJ or
band; if the site’s
supply isn’t suffi-
cient, you may have
to rent a generator. - Will you need
additional lighting? - Confirm the valet
and security policy.
Venues can charge
between $5 and $25
per car, while others
tack on a flat fee,
which could be sev-
eral hundred dollars.
(And don’t forget
tips—about $40 to
$60 per attendant.) - Are there bath-
rooms there,
or do you need to
rent them?
2
Exclude any place, however dreamy,
that doesn’t accommodate your head
count. Don’t gamble on RSVPs lowering the
final number. It never works!3
Make a list of nonnegotiables—like,
say, outdoor space—and avoid touring
places that don’t tick those boxes, advises
Bean. Otherwise you risk falling in love
and having to change your plans to make
it work.4
If the majority of your friends and
family are traveling, consider a central
location. A remote estate that’s a four-hour
drive from the airport can be tough for guests.5
Hotels sometimes book more than one
wedding per weekend, so be sure to ask
about overlapping events and how that
could affect your bash.6
Find out how the venue handles cater-
ing: Is it done on site? If so, can you
customize the menu? If not, can you hire
anyone you like, or do you have to pick
from a list of approved vendors? If you’re
a foodie, ask about the venue’s tasting
policy. You might be able to sample the
cuisine for a fee that gets credited back if
you book there; if not, seek out referrals
from past clients.7
Do you want to party all night long? Many
venues (especially those in residential
areas) have a curfew or a maximum decibel
level for music. Check before you book.“Make a list of
nonnegotiables,
and avoid touring
places that don’t
tick those boxes.
Otherwise you
risk falling in
love and having
to change your
plans to make
it work.”
—CLAIRE BEAN,
CLAIRE BEAN EVENTS326 F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 1 6 BRIDES.COMSHAYCOCHRANE.COM