How to Work Successfully with a Boise, ID Wedding Planner

While many people might not think of Boise, Idaho as a place where people might plan a destination wedding, there are several reasons they might do so. Some brides may have grown up in Boise and are now returning there to have their wedding ceremony close to old friends and extended family, while others may want to get married at the same venue that their parents did or because they fell in love with a locale they can’t find anywhere else. Brides who are planning a wedding in the area may benefit from working with a wedding planner, who can help them find everything from a Boise wedding photography company to a catering company that will fulfill their reception needs. While wedding planners can be a great asset to any bridal couple, there are several things couples should keep in mind when working with one in order to make this very special day a complete success. 

Know What They Can and Cannot Do

While a Boise wedding planner will probably be able to scout venues and vendors for you and work with a decorator to ensure your reception hall is a thing of beauty, you should not expect them to wear every hat or be able to perform miracles. As you interview wedding planners, one of the first things you should ask for is a list of services they perform so that you can arrange other details they don’t handle. While some large wedding planning companies are able to plan almost every facet of a wedding, individual planners or those who only have one or two assistants may be limited in how many details they can plan, so it’s important to communicate to your planner what you need done before they can let you know whether they are able to accomplish it. 

Understand the Cost Before You Shop 

To avoid “sticker shock” when you set out to find a Boise wedding planner, you might want to do a little research before you begin. Because of all wedding planners do, they are usually costly and can eat into your bridal budget to the tune of several thousand dollars. However, this doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to find a planner who fits your budget. Start with local bridal forums online and ask those who have gotten married in Boise recently if they can recommend one that fits your budget. Take your time and start looking for a planner as soon as possible, as many book the year before, especially for the spring and summer, and you don’t want to miss out on hiring an affordable company or individual because you waited too long to contact them.

Listen to Their Recommendations 

A wedding planner usually has a number of contacts that he or she will use in order to help plan your wedding, such as Boise wedding photography companies, local caterers, and bridal gown tailors. He or she will probably recommend a number of different vendors based on who they have worked with in the past, and although you may not agree with every suggestion, it’s important to keep an open mind. Not only do these planners have a great deal of experience when it comes to working with local vendors, it also means they have the inside scoop on which ones have earned the highest ratings and awards. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or feel that you must take every suggestion instantly, but keep in mind that they are most likely recommending them from past experience. For peace of mind, you can always set up an interview with a company representative later on, which is important in the case of someone who will be close to you throughout the day, such as the photographer. Working successfully with your Boise, ID wedding planner can mean the difference between a stress-free wedding and an utter disaster on what should be one of the happiest days of your life.

Choosing a Wedding Dress: Renting vs. Buying

As you prepare and plan for your wedding, you will have to make dozens of decisions before all is said and done, from choosing a Tampa wedding photographer for your South Florida wedding to deciding which wedding planner is affordable for your large wedding in Manhattan. Out of all the decisions you make for your wedding, however, none will be more important than the choices you make regarding your wedding dress. From its style to its color to the retail location you choose, all of the choices you make about your wedding dress will have an impact on your big day. If you’re trying to save money on your wedding, you may be considering a dress rental; however, before you make this choice, you should consider the pros and cons of renting a wedding dress vs buying one in order to avoid having any regrets in the future. 

Buying Your Wedding Dress 

The greatest advantage of buying your wedding dress is that it will be tailored to your exact fit for maximum comfort throughout your wedding day. This is an important factor, especially when you consider that you’ll be wearing the gown for up to eight hours, depending on how long the services and reception are. If you’re having a late spring or summer wedding, you may also have to stand in the sun while you pose for pictures, so you’ll want a gown that fits comfortably. For example, if you’re getting married on a beach in South Florida, your Tampa wedding photographer may take dozens of shots after the ceremony, and wearing a dress that fits properly will keep you comfortable and smiling throughout the photography session, which may take up to several hours. 

Another advantage to buying your wedding dress is that you’ll have a gown to pass down to your daughter or favorite niece when it comes time for them to be married. An heirloom gown is often unique and can be easily tailored to fit any woman’s height and figure. Keep in mind, however, that you will need to store your gown properly to preserve it and to keep it from becoming damaged. This will require proper storage space, which is something to consider if you’re moving into an apartment with limited space after your wedding. 

Renting Your Wedding Gown 

While grooms and groomsmen commonly rent tuxedoes for a wedding, it is less common for a bride to rent her gown because its purchase is seen as an important part of the overall bridal experience. However, if you need to save money on your wedding, then renting a dress will cut costs up to more than half. For example, a dress that costs over $1,000 can be rented for seven days for just a few hundred dollars, and the money you save can be put away for your honeymoon or toward a down payment on a new house or car. Rental stores usually have a wide selection of rental dresses to choose from, which means that you won’t have to sacrifice style in order to save money. 

However, there are a few drawbacks to consider when renting a wedding gown. Most importantly, you will have to be very cautious about not damaging the gown because you will have to pay for any rips or stains that might occur, and if the damage is considerable, you may have to end up paying for the gown after all. Paying for a rental gown also means that you won’t be able to pass your wedding dress down through the family, so this is something to consider if this tradition is important to you and your family. 

Deciding between the purchase or rental of a wedding gown can be difficult, but once you know all the facts, you will be able to make an informed choice that will benefit you and make your big day one of joy, not one of regret.

A Post-Engagement Checklist: What Needs to Be Done After You Agree to Say “I Do”

From the moment you accept a wedding proposal and your fiancée slips the ring on your finger, you will feel a swirl of emotions that will threaten to overwhelm you, and while this is completely normal, it’s important to keep your head and not act on impulses that might affect future wedding plans. To avoid making impulsive decisions right after your engagement, such as jumping online and buying a wedding dress, booking a Sarasota wedding photographer for that destination wedding you’ve always dreamed of, or ordering an expensive wedding folio, there are a few post-engagement dos and don’ts to keep in mind that will save you time, money, and best of all, the embarrassment that comes from plunging into wedding plans too soon.

Whether you’ve been expecting it or it comes as a complete surprise, a marriage proposal can be one of the most exciting and romantic moments of your life. From the moment you accept and your fiancée slips the ring on your finger, you will feel a swirl of emotions that will threaten to overwhelm you. While this is completely normal, it’s important to keep your head and not act on impulses that might affect future wedding plans. To avoid making impulsive decisions right after your engagement, such as jumping online and buying a wedding dress, booking a Sarasota wedding photographer for that destination wedding you’ve always dreamed of, or ordering an expensive wedding folio, there are a few post-engagement dos and don’ts to keep in mind that will save you time, money, and best of all, the embarrassment that comes from plunging into wedding plans too soon.

Do Enjoy the Moment

While your first impulse after accepting the ring will be to call your parents, your friends, and post pictures of your new ring on all your social media accounts, doing so may cause you to miss out on those few special moments that will never come again. Before you let anyone know that you’ve accepted, spend a few quiet moments with your fiancée, and once you do announce your engagement, take the time to simply enjoy all the romance, bonding, and excitement that comes from accepting a proposal. While there is certainly much to be done, from buying your dress to choosing a venue, these are not choices that need to be made right away, and there’s really no need to put undue stress on yourself or your fiancée until you’re ready to make some solid plans. For the first few weeks, put off discussing wedding plans and simply enjoy the sensation of being engaged because riding that wave of romance is something that you’ll only experience once.

Don’t Assemble Your Wedding Party on Your Own 

While you might want to start asking your closest girlfriends to be your bridesmaids right after you get engaged, making wedding party plans without your fiancée could turn out to be disastrous, as he might want to include some of his own family, such as sisters or favorite cousins. While it’s traditional for the bride to choose her bridesmaids and maid of honor, it’s also important to have your fiancé’s input as well and to keep an open mind when it comes to choosing your wedding party. While you might have a few disagreements during your planning, they won’t be as serious as they might be if you try to make all your wedding party plans without considering your partner’s wishes or suggestions.

Do Listen to the Advice of Friends and Family

If you have very specific ideas about what your wedding will include, then you might balk at the idea of taking suggestions about your upcoming wedding from your mother, your aunts, your recently-married female cousin, or even your best friend. However, flat-out refusing to listen to anyone’s suggestions or advice, especially if the advice will help you out financially, may label you as a dreaded “bridezilla” that no one will want to deal with. While you don’t have to take in every piece of advice from everyone who wants to give it, it’s wise to keep an open mind and ear and to let your loved ones help you with some of the planning duties. For example, if you’re having a destination wedding in Florida, you might want to listen about any advice when it comes to selecting a quality Sarasota wedding photographer to ensure your wedding photos are unique as they are beautiful. While there are many things to consider once you’re engaged, the most important is to revel in the moment and truly enjoy one of the most exciting and joyous times of your life.

Saying I Do to the Perfect Wedding Dress

Shopping for a wedding dress can be both exciting and frustrating; however, there are a few tips you can use when it comes to what you might look for and what you should avoid so finding the perfect dress will be that much easier. While it’s never easy to find a dress that’s both unique and suits your own individual style, following these tips will help your shopping experience be hassle-free, and the faster you can find your dress, the more time you have to focus on other details of your wedding.

Whether you’re having a destination wedding in Florida and need to find everything from a Tampa wedding photographer to an experienced wedding planner or getting married in a small ceremony in your hometown, one of the most intimidating, fun, emotional, confusing, and even downright exhausting experiences you might go through is shopping for a wedding dress for your big day. Whether you’ve already begun to look for dress ideas online or visited a few bridal shops, the experience can be a daunting one. However, there are a few tips you can use when it comes to what you might look for and what you should avoid so finding the perfect dress will be that much easier. While it’s never easy to find a dress that’s both unique and suits your own individual style, following these tips will help your shopping experience be hassle-free, and the faster you can find your dress, the more time you have to focus on other details of your wedding.

 

Don’t Settle on Mediocre Service

When you go into shops to look at wedding dresses, do insist that you get great service because your wedding dress is an investment and its cost will no doubt be a large chunk of your wedding budget. Because of this, you should be treated fairly and with courtesy, and to expect anything else would be unreasonable. If you go to a bridal store or salon and the staff makes you feel uncomfortable or as if they haven’t got time for you, then you shouldn’t feel obligated to shop there. Why choose a store that doesn’t pay attention to your needs before they’ve even picked you up as a customer, even if they have the latest wedding dress styles or a trendy reputation? You’ll be spending a great deal of time and money at any store you choose, so you should insist on excellent service wherever you shop. 

Don’t Shop Alone

Whether you’re looking for a Tampa wedding photographer for a beach wedding in Florida or a caterer that matches your vision for that perfect wedding buffet, it’s important to have a second opinion, and the same should be said when it comes to shopping for a wedding dress. When you shop, bring someone along who you can trust to give you their honest opinion about a boutique’s service, and selection, such as your mother, a favorite aunt, or your closest female friend. Sometimes the excitement over shopping for a wedding dress can cloud your judgment, so it’s important to have someone on hand who can cast an objective and critical eye on the service you might receive. This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t have the final say—after all, it is your dress, and you will be the one wearing it, but it’s never a bad idea to have other viewpoints. 

Plan Ahead

It’s always a good idea to browse online for ideas before you visit a bridal shop or boutique instead of showing up at one unannounced. Not only will this help you get some idea of what kind of dress you’re looking for, many bridal salons only accept appointments and even if you do get attention as a walk-in client, you might have to wait until everyone else who has an appointment is taken care of. Shopping early will also give you plenty of time to find a dress, as you should keep in mind that wedding dresses take weeks to order, and then even if you do find one early on, it might need tailoring and multiple fittings to get it looking just right. Shopping for wedding dresses can be daunting, but if you shop early, insist on excellent service from your bridal shop, and look to those you trust for their advice and opinions, your experience will be a fun and adventurous one.

Three Personality Traits to Look for in Your Wedding Photographer

While you might think browsing a wedding photographer’s portfolio is the best way to choose a photographer, it is just as important to consider their overall personality and whether it gels with yours. After all, you will be spending a great deal of time with this person, so it’s important that you understand and feel comfortable with each other. As you meet with photographers, there are several traits you should look for to ensure that he or she will be an asset, not a liability, to your wedding plans.

Whether you’re having an outdoor wedding in Boise and need Boise wedding photography services or you’re getting married in Florida for a destination wedding, choosing the right wedding photographer can mean the difference between photos that you’ll want to share with everyone for years to come and those that you’ll end up hiding away in a drawer out of embarrassment. While you might think browsing a wedding photographer’s portfolio is the best way to choose a photographer, it is just as important to consider their overall personality and whether it gels with yours. After all, you will be spending a great deal of time with this person, so it’s important that you understand and feel comfortable with each other. As you meet with photographers, there are several traits you should look for to ensure that he or she will be an asset, not a liability, to your wedding plans. 

Patience

This is one of the most desirable traits in any wedding photographer, as they may be dealing with delays, weather changes, and uncooperative relatives. The last thing you need to be facing on your wedding day is a photographer who’s throwing a tantrum because the ceremony started a bit late or one who gets into a screaming match with your new mother-in-law over which poses your wedding party should be doing. No matter what happens during the day, your wedding photographer should remain poised and professional and always have a backup plan in case of equipment failures, weather snafus, and changes in the wedding schedules. 

To gauge a photographer’s patience threshold, pay attention to their tone during your initial interview. Do they rush through it, or do they take the time to answer all your questions? Do they complain a great deal about past gigs, or do they focus on your event? How do they speak to their assistants or other clients? If the photographer seems constantly in a hurry, snaps impatiently at people, and rushes you through an interview, you may want to take this as a red flag and look elsewhere. 

A Sense of Humor

While you don’t want your wedding photographer to be a complete clown, it’s important that they have a sense of humor about themselves and that they don’t take themselves too seriously. A photographer that’s overly serious will communicate that attitude during the photo shoot and as a result, your photos will lack that sense of joy and fun that make them something special. In addition, a photographer who believes that every photo he or she takes is a singular work of art won’t be able to take suggestions or criticism. This implies a huge ego, which isn’t something you want to deal with on your wedding day. 

As you chat with a photographer during your interview and you look through his or her portfolio, listen carefully when it comes to how he or she talks about her work. Does she regard every photo as flawless, or does the photographer admit flaws and see humor in them? If you believe that having a sense of humor is vital when it comes to planning a wedding, then hiring a photographer who has one is probably a good choice. 

The Ability to Work with Different People

Your wedding photographer isn’t going to be much use to anyone if she clashes with your bridesmaids, your fiancée, your pastor, your new in-laws, so choosing a photographer who knows how to get along with even the most difficult people is important. While this can be a difficult trait to gauge during an interview, one way to do so is to listen how she talks about others. Does she want to spend a lot of time gossiping about former clients? Does she have a negative outlook overall? If so, she may not be the photographer for you. Whether you choose a Boise wedding photography service or a freelance photographer to shoot your wedding photos, having a professional, lighthearted, and people-friendly individual at your side will reduce stress and make your wedding day the joyous event it should be.

Three Steps for Choosing a Destination Wedding Florist

Destination weddings are becoming more popular than ever as people discover tropical venues right in the U.S. that fit their budgets. While destination weddings can be a challenge to plan, there are a few steps you can take when it comes to finding local vendors, such as a wedding florist. Finding the right florist is an important step to planning a destination wedding, as flowers are a vital component to your wedding’s décor, the bridal bouquet, and the bridal party photos that will become part of a shared history with the family for years to come. While you might think that finding a Sarasota wedding photographer and caterer rank high on your list of things to do, finding the right florist is just as important, as the flowers you choose will affect the overall look of your once-in-a-lifetime destination wedding.

Begin Your Search Online

While choosing a florist in another state may seem like a challenge, narrowing down your search online can help make the task a bit simpler. Begin by looking up florists in the destination area so that you can compare availability, arrangement styles, and prices. You can strike out the ones that don’t match your tastes right away so that you can compare prices for the ones that remain and find one that’s a good match for your budget. Once you have narrowed the choice down to two or three florists, check out local reviews for the company to see if those who used the vendor had any issues that were never resolved. For example, was the florist late delivering the flowers? Were all the arrangements accounted for? Were the flowers fresh looking, or were they wilted? While one or two complaints shouldn’t be a deal breaker, especially if the vendor is within your budget, a florist company that has a number of bad reviews attached to it should probably be avoided.

Ask Other Local Vendors for Recommendations

Wedding vendors often have connections with each other, so one way to find a good florist is to ask your other vendors for a recommendation. For example, if you’re getting married at Lido Beach or the Powel Crosley Estate in Sarasota, Florida, then your Sarasota wedding photographer may be able to recommend a florist that he or she has worked with at these venues. In fact, it is common for wedding vendors to create a network where they recommend each other’s businesses because it profits each company. Of course, it’s important to do your own homework as well and do a bit of research into the companies another vendor recommends, as even though they may come highly recommended, they may not be within your price range or suit your personal tastes.

Consider All the Angles

Choosing a florist for your destination wedding will entail more than simply choosing what kind of flowers you want to use for your centerpiece and other décor. Flower colors, styles, and even their scent will have to factor in to what you choose. Seasonal issues will also come into play, as not all flowers are available year round, so if you have your heart set on flowers for your winter wedding that are only available during warmer weather, this is something you will have to consider. Before you visit a recommended florist, make a list of what types of flowers you will need and for what, (bridal bouquet, table centerpieces, hair pieces, bouquets for the bridesmaids,) so that you don’t forget any important details. If you have guests that have certain allergies, you may want to choose flowers for their table that don’t have a powerful scent to keep them from being overcome during the reception. Choosing flowers for your destination wedding doesn’t have to be an impossible task, especially if you plan ahead, ask advice of local vendors, and realize the importance of their presence.