If you've begun to research reception venues, photographers, and other "high-ticket" items on your wedding to-do list, you've undoubtedly experienced a good case of sticker shock by now. You may find yourself thinking: "How can they get away with charging this much?!!"
This is a fact. Anything with the word "wedding" attached to it is likely to mean "expensive" as the wedding industry happens to be huge.
So is it feasible to hire a photographer who doesn't necessarily focus on weddings, or a band that wouldn't be found in your local bridal magazine? It is!
If you want to get started on this road less traveled, then you can begin by asking recently-wed family, friends or colleagues for any good wedding leads. They may have ideas like knowing a fabulous bakery that was less expensive than all the larger ones in the area. Or they may know an art student who just graduated from college and is looking for work as a calligrapher. How about if there is a friend of a friend who happens to be an aspiring photographer and would be able to capture fantastic wedding photos for you on your big day.
The next step is to move your research online and try checking out the local wedding chat boards in your area at TheKnot.com and WeddingChannel.com. Look for posts like "Rave Reviews" and "Highly Recommended" - and be sure to also take note of any vendors that received negative reviews from other brides and grooms. There is another excellent free resource and that is Craigslist.com. Posting their services regularly here in areas across the country are what musicians, photographers, and other artists would do. Just send a quick email to the poster to get more information, or submit your own ad describing exactly what you're looking for if you do see a post that catches your eye.
Lastly, buy at least one good wedding planning book when you head to Amazon.com or your local book store. This will be your trusty reference book and will help you know just which questions to ask, so that you can make an informed decision about a particular wedding vendor. For example, if you know the various costs that are typically associated with catering, then you will be able to ask only for items that you need and avoid paying for anything that you don't. In fact, knowing a bit about each type of wedding service vendor - caterers, musicians, DJs, etc. - will actually help save you money no matter which vendors you talk to, "professional" or not.
You are on your way to pulling together a fantastic wedding day that may just cost you less than you think as long as you think outside the box and have basic knowledge about the "biz."
This is a fact. Anything with the word "wedding" attached to it is likely to mean "expensive" as the wedding industry happens to be huge.
So is it feasible to hire a photographer who doesn't necessarily focus on weddings, or a band that wouldn't be found in your local bridal magazine? It is!
If you want to get started on this road less traveled, then you can begin by asking recently-wed family, friends or colleagues for any good wedding leads. They may have ideas like knowing a fabulous bakery that was less expensive than all the larger ones in the area. Or they may know an art student who just graduated from college and is looking for work as a calligrapher. How about if there is a friend of a friend who happens to be an aspiring photographer and would be able to capture fantastic wedding photos for you on your big day.
The next step is to move your research online and try checking out the local wedding chat boards in your area at TheKnot.com and WeddingChannel.com. Look for posts like "Rave Reviews" and "Highly Recommended" - and be sure to also take note of any vendors that received negative reviews from other brides and grooms. There is another excellent free resource and that is Craigslist.com. Posting their services regularly here in areas across the country are what musicians, photographers, and other artists would do. Just send a quick email to the poster to get more information, or submit your own ad describing exactly what you're looking for if you do see a post that catches your eye.
Lastly, buy at least one good wedding planning book when you head to Amazon.com or your local book store. This will be your trusty reference book and will help you know just which questions to ask, so that you can make an informed decision about a particular wedding vendor. For example, if you know the various costs that are typically associated with catering, then you will be able to ask only for items that you need and avoid paying for anything that you don't. In fact, knowing a bit about each type of wedding service vendor - caterers, musicians, DJs, etc. - will actually help save you money no matter which vendors you talk to, "professional" or not.
You are on your way to pulling together a fantastic wedding day that may just cost you less than you think as long as you think outside the box and have basic knowledge about the "biz."
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You can outfit your whole bridal party - click http://www.bellarosabridal.com/brides.html for the latest.
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