Top 6 things you should do when you first get engaged"

Once a couple is engaged they usually have no idea on how to get started with their wedding plans and they have no idea what to do first, so usually the Bride gathers up her Mom and friends and goes bridal gown shopping! Here are a few tips to get your wedding planning started out down a smooth path! 

1. First have a dinner or engagement party to announce your big news to all of your very close family and friends. Don't just jump right into picking a date or anything, take a moment to enjoy the moment of being engaged. Show of your new ring to friends and family, let them congratulate you. Have a few moments to have time to soak in the fact that yes you are getting married and this is a big commitment and what does this really mean to you. 

2. Go to your local book store or grocery and buy a few different style Wedding Magazines! Look at the dresses and reception styles and cut out everything you like and put it in a binder. Once you do this, you should be able to figure out what type and style of wedding you and your fiancé would like to have. 
Now, I know you are probably saying to yourself, "Can't I just go pin a bunch of stuff on Pinterest, that is the same thing right?" 
Sure, pinning on Pinterest is great and I recommend that, but nothing beats sitting down, scissors in hand, making your very own wedding idea binder out of great magazine cut outs! Believe me, its like bride wedding planning therapy! 

 

3. Determine your estimate guest count: Talk with your parents and find out an estimate amount of guest that you will invite or who would like to attend. Almost everything you do in planning will require you to know an estimate number to accommodate your guest.

4. Pick a wedding date or season! If you do not have a particular stand out date you must have that holds a true meaning for you both just pick a season. If you pick a date and fall in love with a venue and it is already booked, you may find yourself disappointed, but if you pick a season and fall in love with a location, you have a few dates you can work with. Picking a venue should be the first real booking in your wedding planning process to secure your solid wedding date. 

5. Interview wedding planners. Even if you really had not planned on hiring a wedding planner, don't do yourself a disservice, talk with some just to get yourself on the right path to wedding planning success. Many planners offer a free consultation and will give you a few great pointers for free. Then if you decide to hire one, any-time is fine, but at the very beginning is the best time, so they can help you plan your dream event in your budget parameters and keep you from making costly mistakes in your planning process.  

6. Now once you have an idea of what style of wedding you want, the number of guest that may come, have a venue locked down and a planner to make sure it all comes together, now its time to find that perfect wedding gown! We highly suggest making bridal gown appointments at least 2 weeks in advance preferably during the week not a weekend. We also suggest taking no more that 3 people, and try to take those who like the similar things you like and will tell you honestly if the gown is perfect for you. This should be a fun and exciting time and we all have a negative person in our lives and no matter how close they may be to you, it is a good idea to leave this person out of the initial picking process. Also having too many people come with you may give you too many opinions leaving you frustrated, which is not what you want. 

Written By: Cossie Crosswhite, 

Owner of 1 Elegant Event, Wedding & Event Planning 

and National Event Specialist

Visit our website at www.1elegantevent.com

To see the our TV segment on this wedding tip click HERE

The best financial tips and tricks for wedding planning!

By Guest Blogger:  Jenny Creno

Soon after couples announce their engagement, planning the wedding becomes one of the first financial obstacles that the couple has to overcome together. The best thing to do is to learn about typical trends when it comes to planning a wedding and what mistakes lead to the most financial failures amongst couples during this process. Should you put everything on credit cards? Or create a separate checking account specifically for wedding expenses to avoid overspending? The infographic below highlights information from couples who have gone through this process, wedding planners, and event coordinators to give newly engaged couples a few tips on how to save on their wedding, avoid financial conflicts, and lastly and most importantly the benefits of stress free well planned wedding. Want even more advice? Check out more tips on our community page, and our wedding budget calculator.

Those redundant words, your wedding day is just one day, may very well be the truth. But society has given us Bridezillas, Say Yes to the Dress!, and all the jazz to keep us wanting that one big day, to be one very big day. Don’t get caught up in the fuss, and listen to the advice from people who have been through this process before.

Check out our interactive wedding budget calculator based on the budget allocation in this infographic, and read more tips on our community page!
Like this infographic? Share your thoughts on your own blog and use the code below to embed it in your post:
<a href="http://www.creditcardinsider.com/insider/financial-advice-for-wedding-planning/"><img alt="Financial Advice For Wedding Planning from Credit Card Insider" src="http://www.creditcardinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Wedding-Graphic-3.jpg" border="0" /></a>


 http://www.creditcardinsider.com/insider/financial-advice-for-wedding-planning/

www.1elegantevent.com

"Tips to Surviving a Bridal Show": How to get the most out of your bridal show experience!

After much deliberation, Our friends have compiled a top list of things that will have any future bride, groom or couple prepared to walk confidently into any bridal expo and accomplish everything on their to do list without suffering a mild stroke. Enjoy!

1. Dress for the occasion. First off Ladies, I cannot stress enough the need for comfortable footwear! 5 inch heels are just not conducive to what should be a fun and enjoyable day at a bridal show! I saw girls weeble, wobble and almost tumble for two days straight while walking for hours on the unforgiving concrete convention flooring! Flats, boots or sneakers are going to help you get the most out of your bridal show experience! I imagine it would be extremely difficult to have a conversation with what could be the perfect vendor for you, but you can't comprehend anything they are saying because all you are thinking is "I can't feel my toes". If you still feel like you can't part with the pumps, at least throw a pair of cute ballet flats into your bag (you know, just in case). In regards to the rest of your perfectly plotted outfit - keep it simple. Try to avoid the bulky winter coats and sweaters. After about 20 minutes, you will be sweating and your coat will be on your last nerve. I recommend a nice pair of jeans and a light shirt, sweater or jacket to be most comfortable.

2. Part with the entourage. Do you have 8 girls in your Bridal Party? While we at 1 Elegant Event believe it is fantastic that you have such a large support system, we recommend you leave the posse at home. Sticking with Maid of Honor, your Mom or even your fiancée is best! When you have more than a couple of people with you - the experience turns more into a tug of war over what shade of blue you like best, or who is going to sit with whom when the fashion show begins. These show are a great opportunity to see vendors at their best! If you are constantly listening to the opinions of half a dozen people who have tagged along with you, it may be hard to hear your own thoughts or you may not approach that one photographer you think looked great because you didn't want to hurt a friends feelings. So in this case with friends, less is more!

3. Mailing Labels are your new best friend! Before attending any Bridal Show or Expo, take a few minutes to print off mailing labels with your contact information (Name, address, most important a correct EMAIL address, phone number, and wedding date). This will save you much time when filling out entry forms and you won't have to worry about someone not being able to read your handwriting. You wouldn't want to miss out on that free Honeymoon you could have won, just because a vendor couldn't decipher your email address, do you? (Yes, its has happened more than once!)

 4. Use your Vendor List to your advantage:  Lets say you are in the need of a photographer and cake artist, look up their booth numbers on your map and find out where they are located. Grab a pen and walk around, casually strolling by their booth. As you go through, highlight the vendors that spark your interest with their display, photos, personality, etc. Next, go back and have conversations with those who captured your attention. You should view their work, sample their cakes and ask questions that are important to you. Once you have done this,  it will be much easier to make a decision about who you liked best. Their product and personality will be fresh in your mind and as I always say, "Go with your instinct!"

 5. Write notes on the back of your favorite vendors business card! After speaking with over 50 wedding vendors at one time how will you ever remember that you loved "that" florist or "they" were your favorite photographer or this person offered you a special price. Write simple but clear notes to yourself on the back of their business card before you throw it in the bag with all the others. Quick, easy and will save you lots of time in the future!

 6. Put your money where your mouth is: If someone approaches you inside or outside of a show and wants to have a conversation with you about their delectable cakes, visually stimulation cinematography or awesome photo-booth - first ask what their booth number is. If they did not pay to be at the show, RUN! The Wedding Professionals at these shows work tirelessly to create a welcoming and positive environment for all the potential brides in attendance. Someone who is strolling in to try and attract brides without the footwork is no good to you. It shows they are not willing to invest the time, effort or money to solicit the right way. Think of it like the purse vendors in china-town who lead you into an abandoned building where you have to knock three times on the back door and utter a password to get your hands on a shoddy Louis Vuitton? It's just bad business.

 7. Pay Attention to Personality:  I've had couples tell me that it was my personality that first attracted them to come up and talk to me. That is such an amazing compliment! I believe in stress free Wedding Planning and I want all my couples to have the time of their lives, so this means so much! By working with a vendor who matches your personality, you are so much more likely to be satisfied with the end result of their work, no matter what aspect of the industry they are in. So taking a little bit of time and watching how certain vendors interact with potential customers will tell you a lot about their true personality.



 
8. Most Importantly, Have Fun! This is supposed to be the best time of your life! Take a deep breath, smile and enjoy the experience!

BONUS!!! Thank you , since you took the time out to read our very helpful blog, here are 3 more free bonus tips!

*** The Best time to attend a bridal show is when it first opens! The food samples are plentiful and fresh and the vendors have not been worn down from talking all day! 

*** The Best time to talk to vendors is the last hour of the bridal show. The crowd is thinner and many are starting to pack up. So if you want, get the return to event stamp or armband take a break and come back! Feel free to interrupt a packing vendor, they would love to spend that time answering your questions! 

*** No Matter if your budget is limitless or minimal, a great deal from a top sought after vendor would be great, right! A top vendor secret is, the best price you will ever get from a top wedding vendor is if you book them on the spot at the bridal show! Most of these vendors never offer discounts because they are of such high quality ( you get what you pay for right!), but at bridal shows only, they offer deposit deals or percentages off! Many may not have them out, but have new client contracts and mobile credit card scanners on hand for deposits. Bridal shows are the best places to get more bang for your buck, that is if you have bit of deposit money on hand to spare.

Click HERE to view these tips on our Monthly TV Wedding Planning Segment

 live on Fox Studio 10: Mobile, AL

Blog Written By Cossie Crosswhite, 

Owner of 1 Elegant Event, Wedding & Event Planning  

and National Event Specialist 

Visit www.1elegantevent.com

www.BrideRide.webs.com 

"Tips to Surviving a Bridal Show": How to get the most out of your bridal show experience!

After much deliberation, Our friends have compiled a top list of things that will have any future bride, groom or couple prepared to walk confidently into any bridal expo and accomplish everything on their to do list without suffering a mild stroke. Enjoy!

1. Dress for the occasion. First off Ladies, I cannot stress enough the need for comfortable footwear! 5 inch heels are just not conducive to what should be a fun and enjoyable day at a bridal show! I saw girls weeble, wobble and almost tumble for two days straight while walking for hours on the unforgiving concrete convention flooring! Flats, boots or sneakers are going to help you get the most out of your bridal show experience! I imagine it would be extremely difficult to have a conversation with what could be the perfect vendor for you, but you can't comprehend anything they are saying because all you are thinking is "I can't feel my toes". If you still feel like you can't part with the pumps, at least throw a pair of cute ballet flats into your bag (you know, just in case). In regards to the rest of your perfectly plotted outfit - keep it simple. Try to avoid the bulky winter coats and sweaters. After about 20 minutes, you will be sweating and your coat will be on your last nerve. I recommend a nice pair of jeans and a light shirt, sweater or jacket to be most comfortable.

2. Part with the entourage. Do you have 8 girls in your Bridal Party? While we at 1 Elegant Event believe it is fantastic that you have such a large support system, we recommend you leave the posse at home. Sticking with Maid of Honor, your Mom or even your fiancée is best! When you have more than a couple of people with you - the experience turns more into a tug of war over what shade of blue you like best, or who is going to sit with whom when the fashion show begins. These show are a great opportunity to see vendors at their best! If you are constantly listening to the opinions of half a dozen people who have tagged along with you, it may be hard to hear your own thoughts or you may not approach that one photographer you think looked great because you didn't want to hurt a friends feelings. So in this case with friends, less is more!

3. Mailing Labels are your new best friend! Before attending any Bridal Show or Expo, take a few minutes to print off mailing labels with your contact information (Name, address, most important a correct EMAIL address, phone number, and wedding date). This will save you much time when filling out entry forms and you won't have to worry about someone not being able to read your handwriting. You wouldn't want to miss out on that free Honeymoon you could have won, just because a vendor couldn't decipher your email address, do you? (Yes, its has happened more than once!)

 4. Use your Vendor List to your advantage:  Lets say you are in the need of a photographer and cake artist, look up their booth numbers on your map and find out where they are located. Grab a pen and walk around, casually strolling by their booth. As you go through, highlight the vendors that spark your interest with their display, photos, personality, etc. Next, go back and have conversations with those who captured your attention. You should view their work, sample their cakes and ask questions that are important to you. Once you have done this,  it will be much easier to make a decision about who you liked best. Their product and personality will be fresh in your mind and as I always say, "Go with your instinct!"

 5. Write notes on the back of your favorite vendors business card! After speaking with over 50 wedding vendors at one time how will you ever remember that you loved "that" florist or "they" were your favorite photographer or this person offered you a special price. Write simple but clear notes to yourself on the back of their business card before you throw it in the bag with all the others. Quick, easy and will save you lots of time in the future!

 6. Put your money where your mouth is: If someone approaches you inside or outside of a show and wants to have a conversation with you about their delectable cakes, visually stimulation cinematography or awesome photo-booth - first ask what their booth number is. If they did not pay to be at the show, RUN! The Wedding Professionals at these shows work tirelessly to create a welcoming and positive environment for all the potential brides in attendance. Someone who is strolling in to try and attract brides without the footwork is no good to you. It shows they are not willing to invest the time, effort or money to solicit the right way. Think of it like the purse vendors in china-town who lead you into an abandoned building where you have to knock three times on the back door and utter a password to get your hands on a shoddy Louis Vuitton? It's just bad business.

 7. Pay Attention to Personality:  I've had couples tell me that it was my personality that first attracted them to come up and talk to me. That is such an amazing compliment! I believe in stress free Wedding Planning and I want all my couples to have the time of their lives, so this means so much! By working with a vendor who matches your personality, you are so much more likely to be satisfied with the end result of their work, no matter what aspect of the industry they are in. So taking a little bit of time and watching how certain vendors interact with potential customers will tell you a lot about their true personality.



 
8. Most Importantly, Have Fun! This is supposed to be the best time of your life! Take a deep breath, smile and enjoy the experience!

BONUS!!! Thank you , since you took the time out to read our very helpful blog, here are 3 more free bonus tips!

*** The Best time to attend a bridal show is when it first opens! The food samples are plentiful and fresh and the vendors have not been worn down from talking all day! 

*** The Best time to talk to vendors is the last hour of the bridal show. The crowd is thinner and many are starting to pack up. So if you want, get the return to event stamp or armband take a break and come back! Feel free to interrupt a packing vendor, they would love to spend that time answering your questions! 

*** No Matter if your budget is limitless or minimal, a great deal from a top sought after vendor would be great, right! A top vendor secret is, the best price you will ever get from a top wedding vendor is if you book them on the spot at the bridal show! Most of these vendors never offer discounts because they are of such high quality ( you get what you pay for right!), but at bridal shows only, they offer deposit deals or percentages off! Many may not have them out, but have new client contracts and mobile credit card scanners on hand for deposits. Bridal shows are the best places to get more bang for your buck, that is if you have bit of deposit money on hand to spare.

Click HERE to view these tips on our Monthly TV Wedding Planning Segment

 live on Fox Studio 10: Mobile, AL

Blog Written By Cossie Crosswhite, 

Owner of 1 Elegant Event, Wedding & Event Planning  

and National Event Specialist 

Visit www.1elegantevent.com

www.BrideRide.webs.com 

Advice from a Wedding Planner: Remember to Insure that Bling!

Did you recently get engaged over the Holiday's? 

If so, Congratulations! 

Before you get entrenched into planning your dream wedding, consider getting some insurance on the fabulous bling your fiancé put on you! Recent research states that the average cost for an engagement ring is around $5000! That is a lot if you loose it, get it stolen, or accidentally dropping it in the sink and the garbage disposal eats it, yikes! 


What is wedding ring insurance, no one ever mentioned this to me? 

I'm so glad you asked!
In most cases most homeowners or renters insurance policies do not cover wedding rings if it's lost or stolen unless it was stolen inside the home during a burglary. Ask your insurer about a "rider" ring insurance that can be purchased as an extension to your existing renters' or homeowners' policy.  A better option is to research company's that specializes in jewelry insurance, they usually offer more coverage.  



Do I really need to purchase insurance for my ring, I promise never to take it off! Yes! It is always better to be safe than very sad and sorry you didn't. Take a little survey of some of your parents friends and ask them how many have lost or had their rings stolen, you may be surprised by the number (its higher than you think, especially if you ask them when their spouse is not around, LOL!) 
If you have a ring made of real mineral value of $500 or $50,000+, your insurance honor's all the sentiment it represents and it's financial value.  

Now that I'm convinced how does it all work?   
Make sure your fiancé has kept the receipts because you will need to provide proof. You will also need a professional appraisal from a certified gemologist. If it is an Heirloom Ring your gemologist appraisal is very important thing to obtain. Also make sure If you move after the wedding you are still covered! To have the full replacement cost of the ring covered you will need to obtain a floater or endorsement. They both typically offer coverage if you misplace the ring and don't have a deductible.
 


You mentioned having renters insurance or homeowners insurance, we do not have either, what do we do?
You should then consider buying a stand-alone policy. The Jewelry Insurance Brokerage of North America and Jewelers Mutual Insurance Co. great stand alone policy's and can explain all of the details to you about what is covered. The price of additional coverage or separate policies depends on the type of policy, where you live and the value of the ring. Coverage for a $5,000 ring ranges from about $15 to $100 a year.

 


 
This is a lot of information, is there something you said that is the most important?

Sure, always when buying any kind of insurance read the fine print before you sign. Don't feel bad about taking an extra 15 minutes + of the insures time to actually read what you are agreeing too! Any great policy will cover all potentially ring-threatening situations from damage, and theft to accidentally dropping it in unmentionable places. HAPPY PLANNING!

Blog by: Cossie Crosswhite, 

Owner of 1 Elegant Event, Wedding & Event Planning

Visit our website at

www.1elegantevent.com