Here is the situation.  You don’t have a lot of money and you have lots of people you want to invite.

Your solution – don’t invite significant others.  Everybody will be alone, so everyone will make an effort to meet new people.

The reality – Well, if cutting down your guest list is a goal – you’ve done it!  There are many people that will attend a wedding without their children, but without their significant other?  No.

Lisa’s solution – As with all questions of etiquette, I think everybody knows the right thing to do.  Just do the right thing and everything will be okay.  What are the right things…?

• Cutting down on the frills and pomp and circumstance (specialized lighting, flowers, fancy favors, etc).  opt for something more simple, but still elegant.
• Cutting down the guest list – period.  Make the tough decisions and cut.  Food and rental costs are proportional to the guest count.
• Making an A- and a B-list.  Send out your A-list of invites earlier than normal.  This gives you time to start sending out to your B-list guests as you get “regrets” back.
• Smart budgeting – a realistic budget from the beginning helps a lot.  Know what you are getting your self into.
• Alternative reception styles – as we all know the reception is the biggest chunk of your wedding budget.  Make smart choices here.  Maybe some creativity is need.

You have to think about this early.  After you send your save the dates, it’s way too late.  Save the Dates commit you to an invitation.

Happy planning!

Thanks to Jennifer Hughes, for this wonderful photograph!

As I end my wedding day coordination era, I wanted to express how important it is to have a professional day of coordinator.  Everyone should make room in their budget for this very essential service.  I am not giving this advice as a wedding planner – but as someone who wants everybody to have the perfect day.

The wedding day coordinator has a huge job in making your day perfect, but she cannot do it without all of you – which brings me to my second, and most important, tip of the day.  Communication is essential to make your wedding day a  success.

When your coordinator asks you for things – there is a reason.  If she is good, she has your best interests at heart, and wants you to have the best day possible.  It’s important that you give all the information she requests.  I know that sometimes it’s annoying – but it’s essential information none-the-less.  If you do that, you will have no worries on the weeks leading up to – or on the day of your wedding.  Just make sure to hire a professional that works on a full time basis – and has good vendor and client references.

If you make sure to hire the right person, you give her all the information and she will give it to everybody that needs it.

Have very happy and successful weddings!

Lovely photograph by Jennifer Hughes