Planning Michelle's Wedding - Chapter 2 - The Wedding Budget

Even though deciding on the date and place really gets the wedding planning process off and running, the Wedding Budget should be the governing factor when a bride begins the planning process. Having a realistic goal in mind will help in every aspect of planning, and will help you focus your money on the things that are most important to you.

Michelle, a prepared girl by nature, came to our first meeting armed with a basic budget goal - a nice wedding for 75-100 people with great food, decor, drinks and entertainment for $10,000 or less, which means we will need to keep a close eye on every expenditure, and weigh each purchase carefully. I like to take the estimated goal and work backwards, subtracting along the way, so that we can see how much is left after the "want" list is plugged in, and determine ways to cut or eliminate as necessary. Helping massage the budget and negotiate the most for the money is a major benefit of hiring a professional wedding planner such as Shenanigans Weddings and Events.

A major piece of advice, other than knowing your budget, is being prepared with an amount you can spend on each item (such as flowers or photography) before you meet with the vendor. A quality vendor will steer you towards what will fit in your budget rather than trying to consume all your budget!

Next topic: Color & Decor Ideas

Planning Michelle's Wedding - Chapter 1 - Date & Venue

After the ring, the two most common questions are "When do we get married?", and "Where do we get married?". Now of course, the wedding planner in me says, "Let's pick the date after we find the place", because I am saddened when one of my brides can't have the venue she has her heart set on. However, as a bride myself (a few moons ago), I started with the date because that's what I wanted, and when you are the bride what you want is what you get....or at least that is what we strive for!

When Michelle called and asked to meet with me, she actually already had both of these questions answered. Michelle is getting married in October, which just happens to be one of THE MOST POPULAR months for a wedding in the DFW area (note to future or the newly engaged... plan ahead if October is the month of your dreams). Michelle also had the venue, Austin Ranch in The Colony. A great find, and easy on the budget as well. The grounds are lovely and the space will beautifully accommodate an outside ceremony and an inside-outside reception.

A great start to the wedding vision - the perfect month, and the perfect setting for a rustic yet chic setting for City girl meets Country boy.

Stay tuned for our next topic: Chapter 2- The Wedding Budget

Plan a Wedding with Us!

Curious about the steps involved in planning a wedding? Do you need decor or venue ideas? Are you trying to stay within a budget? These are just a few of the many questions that arise when planning a wedding. At Shenanigans Weddings and Events, we work with clients in every budget range. No matter what your budget is, each bride deserves the wedding of their dreams, and while not all of them can be "Platinum", all can be uniquely yours.

Meet one of my newest brides, Michelle. Michelle is a self-professed "laid back" kind of girl. The vision and inspiration for her wedding is the Town Mouse meets the Country Mouse - or, in this case, the City Girl and the Country Boy. Follow along as we go step by step through the wedding planning process. Michelle has a limited budget, so our goal will be to maximize her dollars spent toward the elements that are the most important to her!

Next topic: Date and Venue Selection

"Ringing" in Shenanigans Weddings and Events Blog

Welcome to the first edition of the Shenanigans Weddings and Events Blog! We invite you to join us each week as we share amazing pictures from our weddings and events, fun ideas that you can incorporate into your special day as well as wedding planning tips and creative ways to stretch your wedding budget! Some ideas you may love, others you may not, but either way we hope to inspire and encourage you as you prepare for your big day! Look for décor ideas, budget do’s and don’ts, and what to look for in a wedding coordinator. At Shenanigans Weddings and Events, our goal is to make your day as special as you have dreamt it to be!