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BY RHONDA BASSAT-RIVERA
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
WEDDING TRENDS
Welcome to my first column about the state of weddings in New Jersey! I am so excited to share with you what I have learned, experienced and accomplished over the past seven years that I have been a wedding consultant here in New Jersey! I certainly hope that you will glean some information from this column that will help make your special day even more amazing that you dreamed.
The first "trend" that I want to address is perhaps not so much of a trend, but an acceptance of the current economic reality. When I first started coordinating weddings, my clients never were too concerned with the budget. Of course, they had a budget, but there always were extra funds to be put toward the lavish centerpieces or room lighting or an extra gown for the bride. Money was plentiful and excess was the norm.
Today, the economy has affected even the recession-resistant wedding market in one way or another. Couples who have the budgets are scaling back so as not to appear ostentatious. Others are seeking financial assistance from just not parents, but also other family members. Still other couples are seeking to do more with less of a budget.
Many creative ways exist to have your dream wedding in New Jersey. The first way to curb costs is to cut down your guest list – since half of your budget goes to the reception venue. If you simply cannot eliminate your second cousin, twice removed and his new girlfriend, then consider having your wedding on either a Friday night, Saturday afternoon or Sunday, when venues typically charge 10 percent less than on a traditional Saturday evening.Some venues even offer lower rates in the off-season (November through April). Depending upon the size of your guest list, you could save a lot on your reception site, which essentially is transparent to your guests.
Once you've decided upon your venue, a myriad of other possibilities are available to trim your budget, such as:
- Order your wedding gown at a trunk sale. Many designers offer special discounts during the sample sale.
- Hire a videographer to professionally tape your wedding ceremony only. This way, the most important part of your day will be professionally recorded, and you can ask friends to tape your reception.
- Rent a specialty car – such as a convertible Mini Cooper – instead of hiring a limo company. You'd be surprised at the number of well-wishers you'll meet along the way!
Have your wedding ceremony at your reception venue. This will eliminate limo costs, and the fee a venue charges to set up the chairs usually is lower than church fees.- Choose a DJ instead of a band. If you have a little extra to spend in this category, however, many DJ companies offer a lighting package that will give your party that "wow" factor.
- Create your own invitations and related wedding papers (escort cards, menu cards and ceremony programs), or order them online. Be very careful about making or ordering samples, so that you know you'll be completely happy with the result. Have your invitations done three months before your wedding date so that you'll have time to assemble them for mailing eight weeks before your big day.
- Instead of florals, choose candles. You can purchase candles, in bulk, online or at a dollar store. Create a centerpiece a few months ahead, and tweak it until you're very excited to share your creation with your guests. And the best thing? Everyone looks great in candlelight!
- Your wedding cake not included with your package at the banquet hall? Consider cupcakes! Everyone loves cupcakes, they make a terrific display, and are a fraction of the cost.
- Work with a wedding planner. While this may seem counter-intuitive, wedding planners know local vendors and may be able to get discounts for you that are unavailable to the general public. We also are a great resource for ideas to create the ambiance and atmosphere wanted within a specific budget.
When I'm working with my clients, I start out by asking them to tell me everything about their day – what they envision wearing, eating, dancing to, seeing. We create their dream celebration and then turn that dream into a reality, within their budget. Surprise touches, the unanticipated "wow" are what make an event truly memorable. However, the most important part of any wedding is a bride and groom sharing their love with family and friends - truly, the most awe-inspiring part of any wedding celebration. And it's free!
Rhonda Bassat-Rivera is a wedding planner & consultant and the founder of West Orange-based Bride Ideas. You can contact her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
