As you begin planning your wedding day, the ‘what if’ questions will probably start coming to mind….What if a hurricane comes through my city on my wedding day? What if the bridal salon goes out of business after I’ve paid for my dress? What if my caterer is a no-show? Every bride hopes to not have to deal with these situations, but the fact of the matter is….things can happen! These ‘what ifs’ can cause anxiety and stress, but there is a solution to help you prepare for these possibilities! Wedding insurance policies are available to help plan for these and other unforeseen circumstances.
The concept of wedding insurance originated in London in 1988 and has been available in the United States since 1993. Wedding insurance is becoming increasingly more popular, particularly in light of businesses closing due to the economic downturn.
Policies can be purchased to cover such things as: refunding non-recoverable expenses if there is a last minute postponement, replacing damaged wedding gifts, recreating ruined wedding photos, or providing liability insurance if your venue requires it. In 2009, USA Today presented some interesting statistics on the most common causes of wedding insurance claims (statistics courtesy of The Travelers Companies). Forty-three percent of claims were due to problems with caterers, photographers or other vendors. And other claims were for such things as broken items and weather issues. Please click on the link below for more details on the report,.
http://www.pancommunications.com/_docs/32609USAToday.pdf
Wedding insurance, as with any other type of insurance, is an excellent way to protect the financial investment you’ve made in your wedding. Before making a decision on a policy, be sure to closely read and understand the limits of liability (those items that are not covered by your policy). You should be absolutely clear on what your policy covers. In addition, you should review your current insurance policies (your agent can assist with this) to make sure you are not buying duplicate coverage.
Check out the following links to learn more about wedding insurance coverage.
www.nasep.org
www.protectmywedding.com
www.weddinginsurance.com
Although you may never need it, wedding insurance is a smart move to prepare you for the unexpected!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Wedding Cakes 101: Getting Started
I’ve written this article to help brides to start thinking about their wedding cakes. It’s more than just dessert…it’s an integral part of a wedding!
Why Wedding Cakes Are Important
The wedding cake or bridal cake should be the centerpiece of your reception! It should be displayed where everyone can see it, but out of the way of foot traffic. The cake table is an excellent location for photo ops (and not just for the cake cutting part of the reception), so where the cake is displayed becomes important. It also serves as dessert for your guests, so you want it to be delicious and memorable (there’s nothing worse than guests being served a mediocre dessert after having enjoyed a fabulous meal)!
How To Decide on a Wedding Cake
You should start shopping for your cake about 4 months before your wedding, keeping in mind that very reputable bakers and designers may be booked a year in advance. You should plan your cake around the décor and set up of your wedding reception venue. If your venue has high ceilings, you should consider a taller cake. You should also consider the colors of the venue, so that your cake colors can coordinate.
The cost of the cake is based on several factors, including: number of guests; number of tiers and layers; level of detail in the decoration; and types of flavors, filling and icing you desire. An intricately designed cake will be more expensive than a simpler one, and specialized cake flavors will also increase the overall price.
Standard vs. Specialty Flavors and Fillings
Bakeries offer a range of flavors for the cake and filling. Some standard cake flavors may include vanilla, lemon, chocolate, almond and coconut, while some specialty flavors may include red velvet, banana nut, and carrot cake. Fillings can range from lemon mousse and chocolate cream to white chocolate mousse and cream cheese. Bakeries specializing in wedding cakes should be able to customize flavors to suit your tastes!
Buttercream vs Fondant Icing
Buttercream icing is very rich in flavor. It is a smooth, creamy icing that is typically used for decorating. Fondant is a smooth, malleable icing that dries hard. It gives the cake a very smooth and professional finish and helps keep the cake moist longer. Fondant is also used to make detailed cake decoration, such as flowers and bows.
When considering the type of icing, consider where your reception will be held. If you are having an outdoor reception and it’s the middle of summer, a cake with buttercream icing will not hold up as nicely as one with fondant.
Educate Yourself
There are several excellent websites that can help you learn more about wedding cakes. One of my favorites is http://www.weddingchannel.com, where articles focus on glossaries of terms, hiring a cake designer, using flowers to decorate your cake, and many other topics. This site was extremely helpful to me when I planned my own wedding!
Happy Cake Shopping!
Why Wedding Cakes Are Important
The wedding cake or bridal cake should be the centerpiece of your reception! It should be displayed where everyone can see it, but out of the way of foot traffic. The cake table is an excellent location for photo ops (and not just for the cake cutting part of the reception), so where the cake is displayed becomes important. It also serves as dessert for your guests, so you want it to be delicious and memorable (there’s nothing worse than guests being served a mediocre dessert after having enjoyed a fabulous meal)!
How To Decide on a Wedding Cake
You should start shopping for your cake about 4 months before your wedding, keeping in mind that very reputable bakers and designers may be booked a year in advance. You should plan your cake around the décor and set up of your wedding reception venue. If your venue has high ceilings, you should consider a taller cake. You should also consider the colors of the venue, so that your cake colors can coordinate.
The cost of the cake is based on several factors, including: number of guests; number of tiers and layers; level of detail in the decoration; and types of flavors, filling and icing you desire. An intricately designed cake will be more expensive than a simpler one, and specialized cake flavors will also increase the overall price.
Standard vs. Specialty Flavors and Fillings
Bakeries offer a range of flavors for the cake and filling. Some standard cake flavors may include vanilla, lemon, chocolate, almond and coconut, while some specialty flavors may include red velvet, banana nut, and carrot cake. Fillings can range from lemon mousse and chocolate cream to white chocolate mousse and cream cheese. Bakeries specializing in wedding cakes should be able to customize flavors to suit your tastes!
Buttercream vs Fondant Icing
Buttercream icing is very rich in flavor. It is a smooth, creamy icing that is typically used for decorating. Fondant is a smooth, malleable icing that dries hard. It gives the cake a very smooth and professional finish and helps keep the cake moist longer. Fondant is also used to make detailed cake decoration, such as flowers and bows.
When considering the type of icing, consider where your reception will be held. If you are having an outdoor reception and it’s the middle of summer, a cake with buttercream icing will not hold up as nicely as one with fondant.
Educate Yourself
There are several excellent websites that can help you learn more about wedding cakes. One of my favorites is http://www.weddingchannel.com, where articles focus on glossaries of terms, hiring a cake designer, using flowers to decorate your cake, and many other topics. This site was extremely helpful to me when I planned my own wedding!
Happy Cake Shopping!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
How To Get the Most Out of Bridal Shows and Bridal Expos
Bridal shows and bridal expos can be exciting and fun! They are also an excellent way for you to get assistance with planning your wedding or special event.
These are my top 5 tips for getting the most out of a wedding show or wedding expo:
1. Be prepared – Review the schedule for the day so you can know what events you want to attend. Many shows have fashion shows and workshops, and reviewing the schedule will help you spend your time wisely. Also, many expo organizers provide an exhibitors list so you can know which vendors will be in attendance.
2. Ask questions – The vendors you meet at a wedding expo are experts in their fields, and they are available to help you! Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the types of services they provide. If your questions are very in-depth, it may be a good idea to schedule a consultation with the vendor so he or she can spend uninterrupted time with you. Most vendors will schedule your consultation right on the spot.
3. Bring address labels – Many vendors will have giveaways for great prizes, or will offer you an opportunity to sign up for a free gift. You will need to write your contact information multiple times, so it’s a good idea to bring pre-printed labels with you to the show. Don’t forget to include your wedding date (or an approximate wedding date), email address and contact number on the labels!
4. Take notes – Bridal shows are a great opportunity for you to get ideas on such things as color combinations, décor, and fashion. Take notes on what you see! Also, if a particular wedding vendor peaks your interest and you’d like to learn more about them, make a note on their card or brochure. This will help trigger your memory about them when you move on to the next step….
5. Take time to read all of the information you received from the show – After the show, take time to review the flyers, brochures and postcards you received at the bridal expo. Visit the vendors’ websites and blogs to get additional information. Ideally, you should do this shortly after the show; you may forget some details if you wait too long. And again, if you have questions about a particular vendor’s services, don’t be afraid to ask! They are more than willing to assist!
If you are in the Tampa Bay area, check out these upcoming bridal shows!
Tampa Bay Bridal Show – Sunday February 21
http://www.tampabaybridalexpos.com
Polk County Bridal Exhibit Marketplace – Sunday March 21
http://www.pcbridalexhibit.com
Your Wedding TV’s Spring Bridal Show – Sunday April 11
http://www.YourWeddingTV.com
Florida Signature Bridal Affair – Sunday April 18
http://www.tampabride.com
Bridal shows and bridal expos can be a valuable way to spend an afternoon. Use them to your advantage in planning your wedding!
These are my top 5 tips for getting the most out of a wedding show or wedding expo:
1. Be prepared – Review the schedule for the day so you can know what events you want to attend. Many shows have fashion shows and workshops, and reviewing the schedule will help you spend your time wisely. Also, many expo organizers provide an exhibitors list so you can know which vendors will be in attendance.
2. Ask questions – The vendors you meet at a wedding expo are experts in their fields, and they are available to help you! Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the types of services they provide. If your questions are very in-depth, it may be a good idea to schedule a consultation with the vendor so he or she can spend uninterrupted time with you. Most vendors will schedule your consultation right on the spot.
3. Bring address labels – Many vendors will have giveaways for great prizes, or will offer you an opportunity to sign up for a free gift. You will need to write your contact information multiple times, so it’s a good idea to bring pre-printed labels with you to the show. Don’t forget to include your wedding date (or an approximate wedding date), email address and contact number on the labels!
4. Take notes – Bridal shows are a great opportunity for you to get ideas on such things as color combinations, décor, and fashion. Take notes on what you see! Also, if a particular wedding vendor peaks your interest and you’d like to learn more about them, make a note on their card or brochure. This will help trigger your memory about them when you move on to the next step….
5. Take time to read all of the information you received from the show – After the show, take time to review the flyers, brochures and postcards you received at the bridal expo. Visit the vendors’ websites and blogs to get additional information. Ideally, you should do this shortly after the show; you may forget some details if you wait too long. And again, if you have questions about a particular vendor’s services, don’t be afraid to ask! They are more than willing to assist!
If you are in the Tampa Bay area, check out these upcoming bridal shows!
Tampa Bay Bridal Show – Sunday February 21
http://www.tampabaybridalexpos.com
Polk County Bridal Exhibit Marketplace – Sunday March 21
http://www.pcbridalexhibit.com
Your Wedding TV’s Spring Bridal Show – Sunday April 11
http://www.YourWeddingTV.com
Florida Signature Bridal Affair – Sunday April 18
http://www.tampabride.com
Bridal shows and bridal expos can be a valuable way to spend an afternoon. Use them to your advantage in planning your wedding!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Wedding Budgets - The Necessary Evil in Wedding Planning
Money and budgets can sometimes be a sensitive subject. But unless you have an unlimited about of funds to spend on a wedding, careful planning of your wedding budget is a necessary evil.
Before you start setting dates and hiring vendors, it's imperative that you sit down with your fiance' and/or your families to discuss your wedding budget. Whether you are footing the bill yourselves, or will have help from your families, you should determine what you are able to realistically spend without leaving a mountain of debt. Why start your married life with bills?
Once you have determined your bottom-line figure, decide what your wedding priorities are. Do you want to spend more on the reception and less on pictures? Is it really important to have a haute couture wedding gown, and less important to have expensive flowers? If you have a wedding planner, he or she can help you determine what things are musts and what things you can be a bit more frugal with.
Once you have developed your budget, stick to it! If you go over budget in one area, you may need to consider spending less in another area.
An excellent planning tool I've used with my brides is the following budget calculator:
http://www.yourweddingcompany.com/templates/planning/budget_calc.php/action/showProject/planId/3/
I hope you find it useful as well!
Happy Budgeting!
Before you start setting dates and hiring vendors, it's imperative that you sit down with your fiance' and/or your families to discuss your wedding budget. Whether you are footing the bill yourselves, or will have help from your families, you should determine what you are able to realistically spend without leaving a mountain of debt. Why start your married life with bills?
Once you have determined your bottom-line figure, decide what your wedding priorities are. Do you want to spend more on the reception and less on pictures? Is it really important to have a haute couture wedding gown, and less important to have expensive flowers? If you have a wedding planner, he or she can help you determine what things are musts and what things you can be a bit more frugal with.
Once you have developed your budget, stick to it! If you go over budget in one area, you may need to consider spending less in another area.
An excellent planning tool I've used with my brides is the following budget calculator:
http://www.yourweddingcompany.com/templates/planning/budget_calc.php/action/showProject/planId/3/
I hope you find it useful as well!
Happy Budgeting!
Welcome to Our New Blog
Good Day Wedding Bloggers! Welcome to An Elegant Affair's blog page! We have excited that you have stopped by to check us out! Look for regular blog entries covering the gamut of wedding and event planning. We welcome your feedback and comments, and we encourage you to suggest discussion topics.
For information regarding the services An Elegant Affair provides, please visit our website at http://www.an-elegant-affair.net/.
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Feel free to share this site with your online friends!
Welcome to An Elegant Affair!
For information regarding the services An Elegant Affair provides, please visit our website at http://www.an-elegant-affair.net/.
You can also find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Riverview-FL/An-Elegant-Affair-Wedding-and-Event-Planning/163411256228?v=app_2373072738&ref=ts#!/pages/Riverview-FL/An-Elegant-Affair-Wedding-and-Event-Planning/163411256228
Feel free to share this site with your online friends!
Welcome to An Elegant Affair!
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