Wedding Planning Timeline | Three Month Mark

In-between six months, and three months before the wedding, there tends to not be much to do. You got all the big things- the venue, food, photographer/videographer, DJ, wedding planner/day of coordinator, florist, and dress -handled, and at the three month mark it’s time for all the little details! 

1. Start looking at wedding bands for you and your fiancé, and order them so they can be in, and sized in time. 

2. Finalize your guest list, and get your wedding invites ready to be sent out in the next couple of weeks. 

3. Schedule your cake tasting, and order your wedding cake (or another dessert if you’re not doing cake). Side note: it is normal for bakeries to charge for tastings! 

4. Set up the tasting with your venue/caterer and finalize the food, and drink selection. 

5. Book your rehearsal dinner location! The earlier the better with this if you’re getting married in “wedding season”!

6. Start your wedding registry! Go prepared with a list, and give yourself a whole day! ENJOY! This is one of the funnest parts of the planning process!

7. Decide on your hair and makeup artist, and schedule your trials. It’s normal for there to be a charge for this, too!

Check out my other posts in my wedding planning timeline series! 

xo, Val 

perfectlyplannedbyval.com

Ways To Save Money On Your Wedding!

I understand that everyone has a budget, and there are plenty of ways to keep costs down:  

• Trim your guest list by eliminating kids, and plus ones.  
• Use candles instead of flowers as some, or all of your centerpieces. 
• Check with your venue and see if they have vases, votives you can use before you buy/rent them.
• Skip chair covers and sashes if it's an extra cost at your venue.  
• Have a buffet, or family style instead of a sit down dinner. 
• Have a small cake for the two of you to cut, and have sheet cakes (hidden in the back of course!) or cupcakes/cake pops for your guests. 
• Forget the limo and/or Photo Booth unless it fits into your budget. They're both fun, but not necessary.  
• Try to borrow a veil, sash/belt, and/or jewelry from a family member or friend as your "something borrowed/old". It will save you so much money!

Here are some examples of things not to do when looking to save money: 

• Not feeding your vendors. I once saw an article about ways to save money on your wedding, and one was not serving your vendors, or giving them a cheaper meal.  This is something that is not okay.  Your vendors will work VERY hard on your wedding day, and they deserve more than a turkey sandwich and a bag of chips.  

• A cash bar. It's NEVER okay to have a cash bar.  When someone gets invited to your wedding, they won't expect to have to pay for their own alcohol.  Limit it to just beer and wine and one or two signature drinks if you have to cut bar costs, but don't make people pay.  

• Only having one entree.  Some people think that a good way to cut costs is to limit people's choices to only 1 entree instead of the standard 2 or 3.  You will probably save $2-3 per person that way, but not everyone likes/wants chicken.  It's best to have chicken or fish, a red meat, and a vegetarian option. 

• Not having a DJ.  Some couples feel like hiring a DJ is an unnecessary cost when you could use your friends speakers and an iPod.  This is fine if you're just looking for some background music throughout the night, but not if you want people to dance and have a fun time.  A DJ is what really gets the party started.  There are ways to find a cheaper- but still a good- DJ.

• Skipping Hors d'oeuvres.  My number one rule is: your guests should NEVER be hungry! When your guests arrive at the venue for cocktail hour, there needs to be food! I'm not saying you need to spend $5-$10 extra per person for a ton of food that will fill up your guests before dinner.  You should however have some kind of cheese, fruit, veggies, etc. to hold them over.  

Happy Planning!!

XO, Val.  

just married. by vebullock featuring silk scarves

Kate Spade silk scarve
katespade.com

Rosey and Josh's Wedding | September 20, 2014

I met Rosey and Josh almost a year ago when they were looking for some help planning their September wedding. We went to Quail Hallow State Park in Hartville, and we all fell in love with it!  They were such an easy couple to work with!! If things didn't go exactly how they wanted, all they cared about was getting married.  What more could you ask for?!

The Ceremony.

I was a good blogger and actually brought my camera with me to this wedding! I somehow had a few seconds during the craziness to capture the brides creativity, and the happy couple! 

Because September 20th is so unpredictable when it comes to weather, we decided it would be best to rent a tent from Sullys Rental, and have the reception under there incase it rained, or was really cold.

If I would have guessed what the weather would be, 80 degrees and sunny would not be it!! Besides it being a little windy, we couldn't have asked for a better day!  Even though renting the tent was originally for rain/cold, it was a good thing we had it to keep the sun off everyone!

Rosey was one of the biggest DIY brides I've ever met, and to top it off she is EXTREMELY creative and crafty!

Toni from Dishes by Design and her team made the best wedding food I have ever had in my life, and I've had A LOT of wedding food! Rosey wanted some autumn food, so Toni suggested butternut squash ravioli with pecan cinnamon sauce!! It was my favorite part of the dinner! Everything else was a 10 out of 10, but those ravioli were a 12! I meant to take a picture of the dinner, but I ate it WAY too fast! Even the Hors d'oeuvres were superb! Toni and her staff were all extremely professional, and helpful.  

When Rosey told me that the woman making her cake was making a couple different flavors of cake and cupcakes, I didn't image such verity! It was such an adorable setup, and to top it off, everything was delicious!!

Having an outdoor wedding will ALWAYS have it's challenges, but we couldn't have asked for a better day! In my opinion it was a perfect wedding.  It was a beautiful venue, the weather was great, the food was delicious, and the guests had a great time! All those things together are what make an excellent wedding!  I was so happy with the way to day turned out, and I hope Rosey and Josh feel the same way! 

XO, Val. 

Julie and Dave's Wedding | July 19, 2014

I've known Julie for years, and helped with two weddings that she was a bridesmaid in.  I'm really happy both weddings went well, because soon after she got engaged, she called me asking to help her on her big day! She explained that she didn't want to worry about anything that day, and really wanted to enjoy it! Julie was a VERY DIY bride, and worked so hard on her wedding day! I wanted nothing more than to make the day she planned so perfectly to go as smoothy as possible.

Olivia Grace Perspective

Something VERY important to the couple was that people had a good time, and they did! The DJ was great and made sure people were out on the dance floor all night long!  Since Dave is a DJ, and does weddings all the time, I knew he'd have the best DJ for his own wedding.

Olivia Grace Perspective 

Unfortunately it rained on and off all day, but they made it outside at the right time, and got some AMAZING pictures! Olivia of Oliva Grace Perspective did SUCH a beautiful job! She's so sweet, so easy going, and such a professional photographer for being so young!    

  

The best way to explain Julie is 'Classic Beauty'.  She has beautiful pale skin, that doesn't need a drop of makeup, and then that gorgeous dark hair a la Audrey Hepburn.  I couldn't wait to see how lovely she'd look on her wedding day, and as you see, she was stunning!  Julie told me how great the day was, and how happy she was to finally be married.  Dave on the other hand didn't need to tell me.  I don't know Dave very well, but what I do know is he absolutely adores Julie. Dave couldn't keep his eyes off his new bride the whole night, there was such love and happiness in that look.  It was very special to witness their love. 

Olivia Grace Perspective 

Olivia Grace Perspective

Chris of Chris' Floral worked very hard with Julie to get the exact color of flowers she wanted.  The bright colors REALLY popped with the bridesmaids classic black Vera Wang dresses. 

Olivia Grace Perspective

Olivia Grace Perspective

The team of stylist at MC Hair did an amazing job on hair and makeup for the bride and bridesmaids! 

Olivia Grace Perspective

Olivia Grace Perspective

Julie and Dave were a pleasure to work with.  I'm so happy they chose me to help them on their special day! 

XO, Val.

Jen and Mike's Wedding | July 11, 2014

I had the pleasure of working with Jen only nine months after I helped her older sister Rachelle with her wedding. Being laid back is something that runs in the family! They both cared about getting married, and the rest of the details didn't matter much!

On the day of the wedding, Jen- who's already gorgeous- was STUNNING!! She would have loved to have her wedding outside, walk barefoot through a field, and put fresh flowers in her hair.  But being Catholic, that wasn't really an option for them.  She settled for a beautiful church wedding, a great pair of shoes, and a lovely crown of fresh flowers (and bouquet) from Chris' Floral, in her hair.  

Jen and Mike's First Look with Gra Photography, and the reception took place at St. George Fellowship Centre in Akron.  

Right after they their first look! So happy!!

I'm so happy I got a picture with the newly weds!!! 

Jen and Mike were such a pleasure to work with.  They are so in love and couldn't stop smiling the entire night!! 

XO, Val. 

Unexpected Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding Day!

Today I want to talk about a couple things that could save you money on your wedding day!

Over the summer, and into the Fall, three of the couples I am working with have opted to not have a bridal party.  A bridal party is something that people just assume needs to be part of your big day.  The biggest cost to the bride and groom when it comes to a bridal party is the flowers.  If you have five bridesmaids and five groomsman in your bridal party, plus parents, grandparents, and the two of you, you could be close to $700 in just bouquets and boutonnieres.  There are many expenses the bridal party takes care of, but flowers isn't one of them.

Something else is bridal party gifts. No one says you have to give them gifts, but it is expected.  Spending at least $50 on each person is pretty standard.  With ten members of your bridal party, that's around $500 that you probably didn't budget for.

Also, if you don't have a bridal party, a rehearsal dinner isn't necessary.  It's again, a large cost, and if the two of you are paying for it yourself, it could break the bank.  If someone else has offered to pay for the rehearsal (it's traditional for the grooms parents to pay), you can still have it with family, close friends and out of town guests.  You could also explain to the person that offered to pay that since you're not having a bridal party, a rehearsal dinner isn't necessary, and maybe that money can be put to better use somewhere else in the budget.

It's becoming more and more popular to have a close friend of family member marry the couple  instead of hiring an efficient or minister for their wedding day.  I have three couples this year that have opted for this option! If you're getting married outside, or at a venue other than a church, you're going to have to hire an officiant or a minister to marry you.  It's again a cost most couples don't think about. Good officiants charge between $250-$400, and some even charge for traveling and the rehearsal!  If you have someone you know marry you, it will be much more personal. You should offer to pay the fee for them to get ordained, but that's only around $50.  Get them a nice gift to thank them, but even then you're saving so much money.


Hope this helped!!
xo, Val

outside wedding. by vebullock featuring bridal gowns

Nicole Miller bridal gown
nicolemiller.com

Home decor
paperstyle.com

Buying the Perfect Wedding Dress!

Hi everyone!!

I recently bought my wedding dress, and I wanted to give some advice that I have learned from other brides, and also my own recent experience!  

I did buy my dress a little early (about eleven months before my wedding), but since my sister lives out of state, I wanted her to be there for my appointment, and it just happened that when she was in town, it worked out for everyone to go.

Before my appointment, I'll admit I looked at hundreds of wedding dresses online.  I went into the appointment with an idea of the style I wanted.  I also went in with an open-mind, however.  Even though I thought I knew the exact style I wanted, I still tried on other styles.  I was surprised at how much I liked the other styles I tried on!

I made an appointment at a salon called 'All Brides Beautiful' in Hudson, Ohio and a consultant worked with me throughout my entire appointment. I told her my budget, what style I liked, and what style I didn't like.  Since we already chose our venue-which is very modern- I knew I didn't want lace, or anything vintage-looking (even though there were many beautiful lace dresses, especially Jim Hjelm!)

It's important to pick a dress that fits your venue/feel of your wedding.  If you're having a rustic backyard, or beach wedding, a huge tulle ball gown might not be the best option. Your dress should reflect your wedding.

Dress by Rivini. (not mine)

I trusted my consultant to find me the right dress. It's very important to trust your consultant during your appointment. They will be extremely knowledgable of all of the dresses in the shop and the prices of each dress.  My consultant actually did show me a dress way out of my price range, which I wasn't happy about, but I'm lucky I didn't fall in love with it! Always check the price before you decide if you like it or not! Also, don't purposely try on a dress out of your price range, even though it's beautiful.  You will most likely fall in love with it, and you'll be disappointed when it's twice your budget. A cheaper dress most likely won't compare once you have something so luxurious on. 

Dresses at the shop I went to were definitely on the higher end. However,  I knew I wanted to spend more to get a higher quality, designer dress (I bought a stunning Rivini gown). I also discussed it with my fiancé.  We agreed that my budget was acceptable, even though it was a bit tough saying my budget out loud!  I am not, however, saying you need to spend $5,000 on a dress!! It's all about what's a priority in your wedding budget.  Do you want to spend a little more on a dress, or do you need a massive five-tired wedding cake? It's all about your priorities! 


Hope this helps you when you pick out your wedding dress!

XO, Val

Wedding Planning Timeline: One Year Mark pt. 2.

Hi Everyone!!

When you're a year out from your wedding, in addition to determining budget, guest list and the overall feel of your wedding, there are a few other things you need to start thinking about.

Deciding on your bridal party is something that should be done as soon as possible.  Like your fiancé and yourself, your bridal party is going to need time to prepare and save money as well.  Asking someone to be in your wedding is a big commitment.  They may need to travel from out of town, so giving them time to make arrangements is best.

via: the knot.

Something else to do a year out from your wedding is hire your wedding planner. Weather you're having someone to help with every aspect of your wedding or just a day of coordinator, finding them at the beginning of the planning process is a good idea.

Having an engagement party is also something that happens right after the engagement. Not everyone has one, but it's a good way to celebrate your recent engagement.

This is also a good time to start trying on wedding dresses.  You need around eight months to have your dress ordered, so having extra time to try on dresses will be great. This will give you time to figure out what you like and what looks good on you before you decide on the right dress.

Jim Hjelm. Picture via: the knot.

You should also start looking at photographers and videographers.  Try to decide what style you prefer, and ask friends and family for recommendations. 

Trying to get most of the big details of your wedding out of the way in the beginning is a great idea, but not necessary.  If things kind of fall into place a year out from your wedding you're very lucky.  Don't think you have to have everything done right away, though. Really think about what you want, and enjoy the planning of your wedding! 

I hope this helped! 
XO. Val

Colored Wedding Dresses.

Hi everyone!

Today I'm going to be talking about colored wedding dresses!  I'm not talking about a red or black dress here; I'm actually going to be talking about very subtle color.  These dresses are still traditional, but they are just outside of the box enough for brides looking for something a little different.   

You might not realize, but this Monique Lhuillier dress is actually a soft pastel blue. You'd make a statement in this dress, but not too much of a statement.

This blush colored dress by Vera Wang is absolutely stunning! The shape of it alone is to die for, and the color just gives it that extra special touch! 

Are you planning on rocking a colored wedding dress on your wedding day?

XO, Val.

Wednesday Wow #3

Hi everyone!

I'm back this week with another 'Wednesday Wow.'  I have been obsessing over Lazaro for years, I feel like I just love everything he does. This dress by Lazaro may be a bit much for some people, because there is a lot going on.  The reason I found this dress so amazing is because of the bottom.  I've never seen a skirt like this before. It has these amazing pleats, a beautifully beaded top, and a belt that compliments the dress perfectly.  

I hope you've been enjoying all of the new dresses in the spring and summer collections as much as I have. 

XO, Val

Wednesday Wow's. [2.12.14]

Hi Everyone!

I'm starting a new installment on my blog called 'Wednesday Wow's'. Every Wednesday I'm going to share with you something I am loving in the wedding world this week.  

This week's 'Wednesday Wow' is this AMAZING dress by Hayley Paige! 

This dress is absolutely stunning! It's from the Hayley Paige Spring 2014 Collection. It's a real piece of art.  It's unlike anything I've ever seen before.  It will turn some heads when you walk down the isle in this dress.

I'll be back next week with another installment of 'Wednesday Wow's'.

XO, Val