Calling Your Vendors and Avoiding Email Confusion

We have turned into a society of non-communicators. If you aren’t sure of what this may mean or how it may pertain to you, think about the last time that you had a true phone call. Truthfully you may use the phone for work or for a specific purpose but then that’s about it. Most of us either use email, text, instant messaging, or some other form of communication to speak to those closest to us. Even in our professional lives we find that it’s much easier to just send an email than to pick up the phone. Does that make us lazy? Not necessarily it is a great way of allowing us to cross things off of our list and multi task all at the same time. It may not be ideal long term, but these other methods of communication just work for us. When it comes time to planning a wedding however, you may want to consider picking up that phone.

That Personal Touch

First and foremost when you are planning a wedding and reaching out to vendors and other related companies and individuals, a personal touch can go a long way. It’s one thing to send out an email inquiry overall to a number of vendors, but will this get you very far? We all want to get a bunch of things done throughout the course of our days, but where will this end up when it’s all said and done? You end up with a bunch of generic emails asking for you to call them and then you start to feel overwhelmed. Taking the time to do your research in advance and then reaching out to the short list of vendors that you are interested in via phone can be far more effective.
So rather than spending your time online to reach out to a bunch of vendors over email, use it for research. Take the time to look into vendors that may be of interest and then make a short list for yourself. Then take the time to personally pick up the phone and call them. Talk to them, get a feel for their personality, ask them questions, and see what they have to offer. This is a great way of determining if they may be a fit anyhow and though it may take more time, it’s going to give you better results in the end. You may be turned off immediately when you talk over the phone. Alternatively you may find that you are actually interested in a vendor that you may not have otherwise considered. You may even find that certain vendors have other services that they have to offer that you would have never found from a simple email.

Stay Out of their Spam

Another important reason to stay away from email when it comes to vendors is that you never know if you might end up in their spam folder. It’s sad but true that in this day and age a lot of email systems pick up just a general email as spam. This means that the vendor of your dreams may never see your email. Even worse is if you are trying to book a certain date and the competing bride actually took the time to call, you’ve now missed out. These are the things that many people don’t think about as they would much rather just send out an email and be done with it. A phone call goes a long way, allows you to find out everything in one sitting, and ensures that you can make the right decision moving forward. Though a phone call may take a bit more time out of your busy day, it will ensure that you end up with the vendors that you want and the answers that you need.

Planning a Michigan Wedding on a Budget

You may always wonder what your wedding will be like someday. You may dream of it, you may envision the details, and you may even have it planned out in your head. This is all normal and a fun part of planning a wedding. The most astounding part for most couples however comes when they realize the staggering cost of planning a wedding. There is no place in the world where weddings are cheap, and that includes Michigan. There are however ways to cut down on the cost and plan a memorable wedding on a budget. Being tuned into the spectacular ways to save some money can make for the wedding of your dreams without costing you a bundle. This doesn’t mean that you aren’t going to have an affair to remember, it just means that you are going to do it in a financially sound manner.

Knowing the Shortcuts to Financial Finesse

If you want to plan a wedding on a budget, then you need to get in tune with the best shortcuts to make it happen. One of the best ways to save on your wedding is to plan it on a certain time or at a certain time of the year. The first thing to focus on is time of year. Everybody plans their wedding in the summer or early fall and this is when the rates at venues are the highest. If you want to plan a beautiful wedding in Michigan on a budget then go for alternative times. Try for early spring, late fall, or even winter. These can make for beautiful times of year in Michigan and can really save you a bundle. You can also plan for either a Friday night or Sunday afternoon reception. Since Saturday night is the most popular that’s what you will pay the most for as well. So you can still have the venue that you want and yet do so at a fraction of the cost.

You can also learn that shopping for a discount doesn’t mean compromised quality. For example you can shop for your dress at a store such as David’s Bridal. You are sure to find something gorgeous but at far less than you might pay at a bridal boutique. Consider shopping around on the Internet for favors too. You can cost compare and end up with something cute that doesn’t cost you a bundle. If you can put together the favors on your own that too can save you a lot. It’s not that you can’t have the things that you really want, it’s that you just have to be smart about it so that you don’t end up going over your budget.

The Tricks of the Trade

Many a bridal couple has been blown away by the cost of a wedding cake. Though this is a center piece for your wedding day, it is still a cake and one that you can end up spending a fortune on. Try this trick—put out a beautifully decorated but smaller cake for all to see. Then when the venue cuts the cake up for guests in the back, have a huge sheet cake for them to use as a cost saving measure. Guests will still get cake, but you won’t have to pay for an extraordinarily expensive cake to make that happen.

Get into the habit of reusing to keep the cost down. To decorate the head table, have the bridesmaids put their flowers at the front of the table to carry off a beautiful look that won’t cost you a fortune. Bring the flowers from the ceremony into the reception to adorn the gift table or another area of the venue. Skip the appetizers or go for a buffet or family style meal to keep the cost more manageable. There are so many ways to keep the cost down and still plan a beautiful wedding in Michigan. Just be aware, be flexible, and be in tune with what you can do to keep the costs down and still make for a special day in the end!

The Secret to Picking the Very Best Wedding Vendors

As you embark on your wedding planning journey, you start to see that this can become overwhelming. It’s something that you always dream of but yet you may not realize just how much work it involves. Wedding planning is a breeze and great fun for some couples and like pulling teeth for other couples. In this day and age of having too many options and not knowing what to do, we take a look at what works best for us. In a sea of many different vendors and far too many choices, how can we pick what’s right for us? There are so many things to think about and so many areas that we want to work towards perfection, how can we possibly figure out how to pick the very best vendors for our wedding needs?

Start with Personality

Start with your personality that is. Think about your needs, your wants, your wedding budget, and all the special little touches that you want for your wedding. Begin by making a list because that’s always a great way to figure out what you are really after. Make your dream list of all places and elements that you want included in your special day. Follow that closely by a budget that will ensure that you can figure out what you can actually afford rather than going for broke. This is a great starting point and can ensure that you go after the services that you really want. You know that you will need certain elements such as a ceremony, somebody to marry you, a reception venue, music, flowers, and cake. Beyond that, you can start to get creative and insert the special touches that you want.

When we say to start with personality that should also expand out to the personality of the vendors that you are interested in. This will require either a phone call or an initial meeting. Start by creating a short list of vendors by location, by service, and by price. This will ensure that you are working with vendors that fit your needs without breaking the bank. You can tell a lot by speaking with the vendor as to their attitude, their knowledge, and their experience. This can help you to make your decision in the end and narrow down your choices. Personality goes a long way so let that be a big part of making your vendor selection. You should also be focusing on their level of experience and knowledge in their given area. If they have been in the business for awhile, have worked within a variety of different environments, or can offer special little touches that you are after then you may have found yourself a match.

Word of Mouth Goes a Long Way

When you start planning your wedding, start asking around to everyone you know. The first few people you want to ask include recent brides, couples who were quite happy with their vendors, and even the reception venue that you select. Everyone loves to give a recommendation when they have a good one so ask around for a bit of help. You just never know when the best vendor may be through a friend or recent bride. Reception venues also see wedding vendors every week and so they can give you the good, the bad, and the ugly. Word of mouth is equally as important so that you end up with a vendor that comes with a good recommendation behind them. Rather than creating a huge master list to make your way through, narrow down some potential vendors from the beginning and dive right in. If you have the right criteria from the beginning, it is sure to be smooth sailing. You will end up with the vendors that you like with the services that you need and it will be a beautiful wedding day!

A Bundle Package to Save You Money and Time

We’ve seen that there is always a way to save yourself a bit of money. When it comes to grocery shopping you look for coupons and start to learn the best deals on your favorite products. When it comes to planning a vacation you can either go for the route of the all-inclusive or opt for a package deal that covers air, hotel, and meals. There is such a thing as a package deal when it comes to wedding planning. You may not believe it, but there are great ways to save yourself some time and money in your wedding planning efforts. This unfortunately isn’t what vendors tend to advertise but it’s becoming a trend that you need to get in on.

Look for Natural Connections to Start

First and foremost, you must learn through the wedding planning process that you need to speak up and ask plenty of questions. Once you have a reception venue booked for example and you have your date, start asking around. Ask the venue not only if they have any vendors that they would recommend, but also if they are aware of any package deals. Start with your biggest vendor like the reception venue and then work your way down. They may very well have their own package that you can work with, or at the very least have some suggestions. They deal in this everyday so they are a good starting point.

As you start to look for vendors overall think of natural connections. If for example you are choosing a DJ then think about what other sort of services they may provide. In many instances they have the ability, knowledge, and equipment to help you with things such as lighting and even a photo booth. Start with a check list of all the things that you want for your special day and then work through it in that manner. Book the bigger services such as the music and then ask if they have other services or connections that may be useful to you. This can take the sting out of planning and out of your budget. This will almost always result in cost savings overall and inevitably mean that you have a nice connection to make communication and set up far easier.

Consider Your Options

If you want to have some of the more “specialty” services offered at your wedding then check into them. As you can see natural connections exist everywhere. If your vendor has access to other services then utilize them. If they have a relationship with another vendor that can help you out, then talk to them. It never hurts to check into it and this is especially true if it can result in everything that you want at a more discounted price. There are good vendors out there which can create an amazing package deal for you. Just because they may not advertise it that way it never hurts to ask.

Just as you would look for good deals and packages in other areas of your life, consider it for your wedding needs. More and more vendors are getting in tune with the fact that a package deal makes for a happy bride. So figure out what your needs are, start your research, and pay attention to what sort of packages may best fit your wedding needs.

Tips for Hiring the Perfect DJ in Michigan

If you are interested in hiring a DJ in Michigan, then you need to be aware of a few things. This is one of the most important services for your wedding as it will set the tone for your reception. The DJ will be involved in all of your entertainment needs and will help to make your reception a success or a failure. You might not think that the music is that important and unfortunately this is an area where a lot of people tend to dedicate very little of their overall wedding budget. This is a mistake as going for a DJ without the right experience or dedication can really cost you in the end. Thinking through what you foresee for your wedding reception can be helpful in advance. From there it’s time to focus in on what is important for you and your wedding.

Pick the One that is Right for You

The good news is that there are many options for you to choose your DJ from. Michigan happens to have a lot of DJ companies out there. This is good as it means that you have a long list to choose from. However it can be a bit overwhelming or confusing if you aren’t sure what to look for. When searching for a DJ in Michigan, you want to tune into a few key factors to make the right choice. Look for things such as:

• Experience: If you want to get the DJ that is going to make your wedding reception a hit, then you want to ensure that they have some good experience behind them. This means that they have worked in the wedding industry for a long time and they are happy to tell you all about their gained experience. A DJ should never be offended if you ask about the experience that they have and they should be more than willing to offer up their credentials.
• Your Interests: Are you looking for a DJ within a certain genre? Are you looking for a DJ that just plays music or that offers full entertainment? Think about what you want out of a DJ company before your first meeting. This can be helpful so that you are certain that they are a match for your interests and your expectations. If you want all the bells and whistles like props, bubble machines, and the like then talk about this up front. If you have certain expectations for dinner music then mention that. Be sure that the DJ that you select is a good match for your interests.
• Personality: This is a vendor for whom you want to be sure to have a good match with personality wise. If you don’t hit it off then it can make the entertainment for the evening a little disappointing. You want somebody that can command attention when necessary such as for the bridal dance. You want somebody that can read the mood of the crowd and offer up the music that they want to hear. If you don’t match up personality wise, then you may want to keep looking.

Thinking Through the Specifics

Michigan is a fantastic state with many wonderful wedding venues. Those venues can be quite different based on the season, the set up, and the specifics imposed upon them. Be sure that your DJ either has experience within your selected venue or that they have the ability to adapt easily to it. It’s always a good idea to have an initial meeting with your DJ to discuss where your wedding will be held, what you are looking for, and to discuss any special songs or arrangements. This can also be a great way for ensuring that your personalities click and that you feel comfortable with them.

This is also a great time to ask if they have the ability to adapt to an outdoor environment or if they have special equipment if necessary. Set your expectations up front so that there is no confusion down the road! Planning a wedding can be so much fun and Michigan offers so many wonderful places to hold it. Be certain that as you make your arrangements with your DJ that you are both on the same page and that you end up with the entertainment that is sure to make your reception a great success!