Welcome to
Pro Tip Thursday
This week we are featuring one of our Favorite Wedding Officiants...
With advice on: PLANNING YOUR WEDDING
In my 43 years of experience serving as both a christian Pastor and Bishop and presently serving within the wedding industry, I have the opportunity to see how different today's "future brides" have changed in just the past three years. In today's down-turned economy, these brides-to-be have put much more emphasis on the cost factors involved with the planning of their wedding. These future brides are busy creating a more streamlined budget and leaving out things they formerly considered an acceptable extravagant notion and now realize that expenditure is not really necessary for their wedding needs. They are closely examining the cost factors related to their ceremony and reception venues, their wedding gowns, types and choices of their reception entertainment, their wedding party gifts (if applicable)
and flower costs as well as the invitations and mailings.
The national average cost of a wedding these days is approximately $28,000. In cities like Miami, Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, San francisco, and Boston, those prices are at least doubled. In the central Suncoast area of Florida, such as the Tampa Bay region, the prices range from $18,000 to $26, 500. However, many frugal minded brides, following the breakdown of services and costs shown here, can duplicate a very lovely wedding between $7,000. up to $12, 500. A big difference!
Today's frugal-minded bride has learned through price comparison shopping and careful bargaining with wedding vendors, that holding her reception at 1:00 p.m. in the early afternoon will allow her (within proper ettiquette standards) to serve inexpensive foods dishes like "finger Foods", chocolate strawberries, melons, cheese dishes, even pizza along with her wedding cake as well as beer, wine and soda. Entertainment for the small reception can be a musician, recorded Ipod music, a CD machine or a D.J.
For a full and standard reception, the "open Bar" during the cocktail hour can be serving Beer, wine and soda also. The toasts can be with a sweet tasty champagne. The open bar can be open during the cocktail hour only and then re-opened during the reception. Towards the end of the reception (1 hour before closing) the beer and wine is discontinued and is now serving only soda, coffee and tea. After all, supposedly your guests have attended to celebrate your marriage, not to get drunk - right !?
In choosing a weekday evening (Mon. - Thur.) the venue fee will be much more affordable than Friday evening and Saturday day and evening. Sunday is also costly. Choosing a Friday, Saturday or Sunday morning time period (9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. will also be more affordable than the afternoon or evenings, such as 3:00 p.m. until midnight.
Just imagine how much the couple saved by using the information mentioned here.
However, planning a wedding with just you and your beloved can be mind boggling. I recommend hiring a wedding event coordinator to give you room to breathe, knowing that a real wedding professional will be handling all your headaches and problems, leaving you free to be with your loved one.
You'll be glad you did!
Rt. Rev. + Ronald Turcot, D.D.
Tampa Wedding Officiants
727-871-9900
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