Vol. III

Expense or expression? You decide.
by Abbey Roy

There was a point in time during the past couple months that I got tired of writing the economy into nearly every news story I covered.
Of course, I couldn’t argue that it was relevant — just old.
But the fact is, the economy IS an important thing to consider, especially when planning a hefty event like a wedding.

First of all, know this: More dollars does not translate to a better event. So instead of stressing about your tight budget, try to think of ways to express yourself uniquely without draining your savings account.
Here are a couple things to try:

• Shop online.
The beauty of the Internet Age is the incredible variety of tools available to you on the Web, often in bulk or for cheaper prices than you will find at your local craft store. For invitations, for example, try using a site like vistaprint.com, which lets you design your own invitations, save-the-dates, etc. and prints them for you, then ships them in the mail.

Looking for decorations, and needing a lot of them? Check e-bay. You will find a generous number of former brides who are more than excited to let you take their lot of 100 lily bowls off their hands. An added bonus: After your big day, you can resell to the next bride in line! (I have never sold on e-bay, for the record, but have bought numerous things there and have never had a problem.)

• Shop around.
A temptation with wedding shopping — whether for accessories, décor or even a venue or photographer — is to splurge just because it’s a big day, a once-in-a-lifetime event, etc. While that may be a fact, a streak of impulse buys on wedding shopping trips could lead to regret down the road when you’re struggling to finance something the two of you may have a need for.

Yes, those flashy, custom-designed invitations are REALLY cute, and yes, the $2,000 photographer has an amazing portfolio. But before you decide to splurge, double-check your bottom line. Would it be easier on your budget to stick with the lower-end invites and embellish them yourself? Could you check with a photographer friend or look up a student in a college photojournalism program (insert plug for Kent State University’s top-notch journalism and photojournalism program here) who might be able to provide his services for a discounted price?
Sometimes, a splurge may be merited — but not without careful consideration.

• Put uniqueness before gallantry.
Your wedding should be an expression of you and your husband-to-be: Your tastes, your passions, your creativity. Don’t forget to shop local, where you can find some embellishments or creative touches that might not be offered by the big names. Try to think outside the box and put your hard-earned cash into a celebration that your guests will remember as being “you” — not just extravagant.

Our nation’s economic woes are touching just about every wallet out there, in one way or another. But that’s no reason to fret about pulling off a gorgeous wedding ceremony and reception. A little creativity and some savvy shopping skills will work wonders for your budget — and perhaps leave room along the line for that nice little house you’ve been saving for.

-- Abbey

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To contact Abbey?

Send emails to: Abbey@lvsoundent.com

Do you have a comment or idea for the LV Sound Wedding DJ Zone?

Please email us: info@lvsoundent.com

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More Wedding DJ Zone Advice & Tips

CREATIVE IDEAS

Instead of numbering tables, name your tables. You can name your tables after favorite places. We saw one couple that was from the Columbus area and attended Ohio State University that named their tables after favorite area landmarks, buildings on campus, and other places that they enjoyed going to. At each table the couple put a card naming the table and explaining why that place was special to them. While your guests are going around looking for their table, they will learn a little more about the two of you.

Publish your own wedding newsletter to be passed out as a keepsake.

MUSIC IDEAS

Wedding Ceremony Selections:

Processionals

Canon In D - Pachelbel
Trumpet Voluntary - Clarke
Bridal March - Wagner

Recessionals

Wedding March - Mendelssohn
Trumpet Tune - Purcel

Wedding Reception Selections:

Father/Bride Dance

Daddy's Little Girl - Al Martino
Butterfly Kisses - Bob Carlisle
I Loved Her First - Heartland
Unforgettable - Natalie / Nat King Cole
Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler
What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
Hero - Mariah Carey

Mother/Groom Dance

A Song For My Son - Mickey Viereck
Mama - Boyz II Men
Unforgettable - Natalie / Nat King Cole
Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler
What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
Hero - Mariah Carey

Bridal Party Dance

Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers
Unforgettable - Natalie / Nat King Cole
What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton

Bouquet Toss

Chapel Of Love - Dixie Cups
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
Oh Yeah! - Yello

Garter Removal, Garter Toss, and Garter Remount (this part is optional)

The Stripper - David Rose
Legs - ZZ Top
You Can Leave Your Hat On - Joe Cocker
Oh Yeah! - Yello

Anniversary Dance

For The Good Times - Ray Price
Grow Old With Me - Mary Chapin Carpenter

Last Dance

The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra or Steve Tyrell
New York, New York - Frank Sinatra
That's What Friends Are For - Dionne Warwick and Friends
I've Had The Time Of My Life - Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
Goodnight Sweetheart - The Spaniels
Last Dance - Donna Summer

Need more ideas? Here's the Top 200 requested wedding songs of all time!

List of the Top 200 Most Request Wedding Songs

 

MONEY SAVING IDEAS

Tuxedos...

Many of the larger tuxedo chains will have a special outlet store within their chain where used tuxedos are often available for purchase at prices often lower than what it would cost to rent a tuxedo. Think about it... even if the tuxedo is never worn again and thrown away, you will save money. Also, the tuxedo can be dry cleaned and saved for use on a cruise or a future formal function.

The one down side is that there may be less of a variety of accessories such as vests and ties available for purchase in the colors you desire. However, if you have a smaller wedding party, no wedding party (just the groom in a tux), or can live with black or white as your vest and tie colors (these colors go well with almost anything), purchasing a used tuxedo versus renting might be a great idea for you.

Disposable cameras...

As cell phone cameras have become so commonplace, fewer and fewer guests that want to take a picture will bother to do so with the disposable cameras that are placed on tables at receptions. In our many years of providing entertainment at weddings, we often see these cameras not even used at the end of the night.

If you do have your heart set on these cameras, save money by purchasing them at a wholesale club in large quantity and check the "must use by" date. These cameras get the best results with fresh film, so do not buy these cameras a year before your wedding. Also, don't bother with the specially decorated wedding models. These cameras often have a lesser quality film inside and cost many times what a name brand camera will cost at a wholesale club.

Do you have a money saving tip you would like to share? Email us.

FORGOTTEN THINGS AT WEDDING RECEPTIONS

Caterer or bartender does not have the champaign or preferred beverage ready on the table for the toast. Also, having the appropriate glassware for the toast on the head table is overlooked.

Bride misplaces the "toss" bouquet.

Bride forgets the garter.

Cutlery to be used for the cutting of the wedding cake is forgotten or not placed by the cake when needed. Also, couples need to review with their caterer whose responsibility it will be to cut and serve the wedding cake as all caterers do not provide this as a service.

Parents of the bride or groom cannot be found when it is their time to dance with their son or daughter.

Members of the bridal party cannot be found when it is their time to be introduced or dance together.

Person giving a toast makes their speech but forgets to raise their glass to conclude the toast.

There is no special basket or wishing well to use for the money dance.

Vendors that arrive ahead of time before the wedding, such as a florist or cake decorator, do not know where to drop off or set up their goods.

The bride and groom or a guest provides the DJ with a burned cd having a special song that the DJ may not have. They failed to test the cd ahead of time in a car stereo or boombox to make sure that it burned correctly. Even though the cd works on the computer, it may not have burned properly to play in a regular cd player. Always check!

RUDE GUEST BEHAVIOR

Guests do not turn off their cell phones or pagers even when asked to do so before a wedding ceremony. I have seen them go off during many a wedding ceremony. I even saw one guest take the call and tell the caller that they would call them back in a few minutes.

Guests do a variety of rude cell phone behaviors at the wedding reception such as taking calls at their table, surfing the internet and texting.

Guests that fail to honor the tradition that the bride and groom should have the first dance of the evening by going out onto the dance floor and dancing during or after the dinner.

Fighting. Yes, many couples fight at weddings.