Essence of Events, LLC     

Such a pleasure to be to have Consumer Reports Magazine feature my suggestions in 2 separate articles on different ways of saving on weddings!  

Featured in Consumer Reports Magazine's Article: "5 Ways to Save on Your Wedding" - by Tobie Stanger

4. You Could Pay For a Higher Guest Count

You can always add guests later, but it may be harder to reduce your guest list, says wedding planner Michelle Culp, of Essence of Events in Seattle. "If you prepay for 100 guests and only 80 accept, you could still be charged for a guest count of 100," she says. The solution: Give the caterer a guest count estimate that's on lower end of your expectation.

More on 5 Ways to Save on Your Wedding

Featured in Consumer Reports Magazine's Article "Cheap Wedding: 31 Ways to Save on Festivities"- by Tobie Stanger

Venue

3. Get a catering estimate for the minimum guest count. You can add guests later, but late in the game it may be hard to subtract, notes wedding planner Michelle Culp, owner of Essence of Events in Seattle. “If you prepay for 100 and then you’re only at 80, you could get charged for a guest count of 100,” she says.

Food and Catering

16. Shed the tiers. Order a small, decorated “cutting cake” for photos, then serve sheet cake to guests, advises wedding planner Culp. Other delicious but less costly options include cookies, cupcakes, or donuts.

Alcohol

18. Stick with the caterer’s or venue’s house spirits. And don’t spring for premium brands. “Nobody cares or really knows,” Culp says.

Everything Else

28. Understand the contract before signing. Check for buried fees and requirements. “A venue can put in that you have to pay for two cases of their alcohol,” Culp notes. “Or a photographer can say that he can bring in an extra photographer if he wants to, at an additional cost.”

29. Negotiate. Be brave. “All the vendor can do is say no,” Culp says.

More on Cheap Wedding: 31 Ways to Save on the Festivities

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Blog post by: Michelle Culp