celebrate
a guide to simchahs
DREAA9D U A F Y
We are in the details, so you
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friends and family to inspiring
festivities from an exquisite
rehearsal dinner, to an elegant
celebration, to a relaxing
morning after champagne
brunch. Create the perfect
atmosphere in the artfully-
restored Crystal or Venetian
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Ballroom. Entrust us with
your vision, and let us handle
the rest. You will be free to
focus on the vows you take
and the memories you make.
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celebrate! I March 2014
Brides On A Budget
Our top tips for creating the day of your dreams without
breaking the bank.
Lynne Konstantin
I
Contributing Writer
-Niost of us have dreamed of
a fairy-tale wedding day
..
with all the trimmings. But
whether you crave a top-of-the-line
celebration or rustic festivities, the
bills can still add up.
But it is possible to create the
memorable day of your dreams
without breaking the bank — espe-
cially if you keep in mind the things
that are important to you and your
groom, rather than the most expen-
sive of everything. At the end of the
day, you will be left with fantastic
memories, a day of love and fun —
the beginning of a life together.
PRIORITIZE Choose three com-
ponents of your wedding that speak
the most of you and your groom, and
focus your dollars on those. Have you
always dreamed of walking down
the aisle in a fairy-tale gown? Start
your budget with the dress. Does
music rock your world? Plan to spend
money on the band or DJ that will
motivate the mood you want your
party to have. If you focus on the
facets that thrill you the most, chanc-
es are you won't mind foregoing or
limiting the pieces that just aren't as
important to you.
PLAN Once you know the most
important pieces, you can get to
work. It can be helpful to hire an
event planner, but that also incurs
additional costs where you may not
want to spend the money. But if you
really feel you need the advice of an
expert, says Rebecca Schlussel, co-
owner of Joe Cornell Entertainment
in Southfield, "Many planners will
meet for a consultation, get you
organized, then be there for the big
day to tie it all together. There are
many levels of usability."
It's also helpful to take advan-
tage of the bridal and event expos
that take place throughout the year
(visit michiganweddingslavin.com for
a chronological list of shows, check
out Joe Cornell's Event Planning
Expo on Sunday, Sept. 28, and visit
planitmagazine.com ). "Advice is
free," says Schlussel. "Anyone you
talk to in the industry, whether it's a
venue or a DJ company, has worked
with people they like and can give
referrals."
RECRUIT Gather your closest friends
and assign to their strengths. Do you
have a crafty friend? Ask her to create
DIY place cards or giveaways. Does
your sister have a green thumb? Put
her to work choosing a florist and
being their point person, or
if she's willing, let her design
the florals herself.
customize to your specifications then
email a high-resolution digital PDF or
JPEG and you can print as many as
you want.
SCAVENGE Centerpieces don't
have to be enormous and overflow-
ing. Pick up diminutive vases at
Target, Ikea and flea markets and
scatter a handful on each table with
shimmering votives. Fill them with a
bud or two, or even a simple, sculp-
tural branch — much less costly. ❑
THINK OUT OF THE
(WEDDING) BOX
Choose a venue that's
already loaded with ambi-
ence, like a restaurant, a
museum, even the zoo,
where the decor is ready
to go. You can save tons
on extras like chairs, linens,
china and more.
CHOP CHOP Be ruthless
when compiling your guest
list. If you are consistent
(no one from work; no one
that you don't know person-
ally; no children), it helps to
spare feelings while trim-
ming costs substantially.
GO INFORMAL Let your
invitations express your per-
sonal style. You can still fol-
low the etiquette dicated by
Emily Post while saving dol-
lars with downloadable and
printable invitations, found
in slews on Etsy.com and
other websites (sometimes
they are even free), and
often including an entire
suite with complementary
response cards, place cards
and more. The Summer
Florals design shown here
by Pics-O-Andrea cost a
mere $20; the designer will
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