Lazy Bride's Blog

Register for Your Honeymoon

Lyla from over at Globetrotting Bride turned me onto something the Hyatt has started for couples who want more from their registry than china and sheets. This new program at hyattregistry.com sets you up with your own registry where guests can purchase gift cards and Hyatt Check Certificates you can use for services, room nights, etc. at Hyatt hotels and resorts the world over. Hmm, a romantic dinner on the beach or a blender...

And you can do everything from the comfort of your own computer, sipping your favourite beverage (the Lazy Bride way to register!). Me likey!

Blue Beach Wedding Board

To me, the colour blue and the beach are the perfect match for a wedding. Through in a bit of white and another colour for a bit of pop (maybe a purple or a mango) and you've got yourself an easy, breezy colour scheme. 

I'm quite proud of myself as I have finally figured out how to do these board thingys and wow, a lot easier than I thought!! I put this one together for a bride based on the bridesmaids' dress colour swatch (Dusk) and her vision of a blue-themed wedding. Hope you enjoy!

Clockwise  - via Snippet and Ink low arrangement, glass charger, beach ceremony, blue fountain, via Snippet and Ink blue & white arrangement, favours, white canopy, chair decor, colour swatch, via Snippet and Ink cattleya orchid bouquet, tall orchid arrangement, sand dollar seating cards, centre photo of beach

Last Minute Tropical Wedding? Consider Costa Rica

Speaking with colleagues recently, we're seeing a lot of 'last minute' wedding bookings this year. And hotels are taking note, many offering incredible group pricing for weddings within the next few months. Costa Rica has some amazing hotels and deals available for last minute weddings - and for any of you brides who are scrambling to move destinations due to health concerns in Mexico, the land of 'Pura Vida' here is a great option.

For example, the new 5 star JW Marriott just opened this February on one of the most stunning beaches in the country as the top two photos attest. First-class service all the way, with fab surfing, golfing and horseback riding all on the premises. There is even a gorgeous chapel (non-denominational) on site for weddings. And, as if that wasn't enough, they're offering a very special low rate for wedding groups of 10 or more rooms between July 1 - November 1 of this year.

Other hotels are also offering super-special rates - we're talking $125 a room in a four-star hotel like the Hotel Parador. In my seven years of planning here, I've never seen rates as low as they are now. With direct daily flights from major cities in North America to either San Jose (SJO) or Liberia (LIR) airports in Costa Rica, getting down here is easy and affordable. 

If you're considering a destination wedding in the upcoming months, you may want to check out what Costa Rica has to offer, as I'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Photos by Dan Power Photography

Wedding coordination by Weddings Costa Rica

Lazy Bride 411

You're busy and lazy - I get that. It's a lot to juggle being a modern gal and a bride. Wouldn't it be nice to ask your most pressing wedding question and have the answer magically appear in your in-box? No slogging through endless Message Board chatter or countless emoticon-cluttered chat rooms. Just the info you need, now. 

Welcome to Lazy Bride 411, the answer to your wedding planning dreams. You've got questions, other brides and wedding pros have the answers. An extension of this blog, the idea grew out of the angst I've heard from brides who are frustrated by not being able to find the info they want quickly and efficiently. I felt there had to be a way to make a bride's life a little easier and hence, Lazy Bride 411 was born.

How does it work? Simplicity itself. Sign up and sit back. Once a day, you'll receive a list of queries from other brides or even wedding media. If you can answer any, email the inquirer directly. Otherwise, hit delete and go about your day.

Have a question? Send in a request and then wait for the answers. It's one big wedding community helping each other through the wedding planning maze.

So wether you're a bride in Missouri wondering about a great honeymoon spot in St. Lucia or a wedding magazine writer looking for a 'Lord of the Rings' themed wedding couple or a recent bride with 300 slightly-used votive candles for sale, Lazy Bride 411 is here to help. 

Sign up today and join in the info-sharing fun! And please help spread the word!

Kid's Table - Do or Don't?

Having a table just for the tiny tykes at your wedding is a great idea  - keeps them entertained, allows the parents a brief respite and you can save some $$ by having 'kid friendly' table decor.  Sounds perfect, no?

Well, as recent experience has shown, a kid's table only works if:

a) you have a number of children (five or more)

b) you have the table set up with toys or crayons or something to make it fun

At a past wedding, the client asked me at the last minute to have a small table off to the side for the three kids in wildly differing age categories. As it was last minute, we didn't have any proper 'kiddie' items for them.

Result? Huge failure. The kids felt like they were being hauled off to a gulag in Siberia and literally scrunched their noses up when approached to sit there. One parent huffed 'I guess they don't want you sitting with the adults'. Well, yeah, they didn't. In the end, the kids all avoided it like a plate of boiled spinach and sat with their parents, at the 'big tables'. 

Lesson here is...kids aren't stupid. They know when they're being shuffled off to kiddielandia as an afterthought. Take a few minutes to make the wedding comfortable for them - something as simple as colouring books, some PlayDoh and kid-friendly food will make the kids table THE table to be at. And happy children make for a happy wedding.

Photo courtesy El Velo Photograpy

Surprise! It's a Wedding!

Here is the ultimate for the Lazy Bride - a wedding where you just show up. No planning, no invites, nada - not even an idea that you're getting married. Instead of a surprise birthday party, it's a surprise wedding. 

And if you think I'm making this one up, guess again as we just had a surprise wedding last week. One of our clients at Weddings Costa Rica is a German luxury cruise line and we coordinate weddings in Costa Rica for their passengers. We had a lovely couple last week marry on the Caribbean coast, amidst the jungle with a stunning ocean view. 

What made it truly memorable was the fact the groom set everything up without the bride's knowledge. He bought the rings (gorgeous), the dress (stunning), shoes, arranged for the decor...and the gal didn't have a clue. They weren't even engaged when they started their cruise! Once they were anchors away, he proposed and then announced that he'd arranged to have the wedding when they hit port in Costa Rica. Thankfully, she said yes to everything and was very excited by her surprise wedding. It was a good day for all.

While I don't believe it's a new trend, this is the second groom I've worked with who has had this 'romantic' notion in his head (thankfully, he reconsidered as his bride and her mom were less than impressed with his plans). I'm not sure what the attraction is of springing a wedding on their beloved as I cannot imagine a lot of brides would be flipping cartwheels at the thought.

In short, I don't think it's a great idea. No matter how much a girl may say she's not all caught up in the notion of a wedding, rare is she who would not want to be somewhat involved in her big day. A surprise engagement is one thing but a wedding - whoa, that's dangerous territory buddy. The groom has to be rock-solid in his belief that the bride will be a) happy to marry him right there and then and b) thrilled with his choice of decor, flowers, dress, cake, photographer, musicians...you know, all the gazillion things that even a simple elopement involves. 

No offense, guys, but most women get hives at the thought of letting you pick out a pair of shoes for us much less plan and coordinate a wedding. The saying that everyone loves surprises doesn't apply here. 

My advice? Plan a surprise dinner or a surprise honeymoon even but let your bride decide with you, together, when and where the wedding will be. A good marriage does need excitement and little surprises along the way but it also needs you working together as a couple to make decisions about both the big and little things in your life. 

Lazy 'n Frugal Guide - Organizers

Lazy or not, an organizer is a bride's must have. Even if you're not a DIY gal, having one binder for all your notes, fabric swatches, vendor cards, contracts, to do's and timelines is a huge time and sanity saver. 

There are a number of organizers on the market, ranging in price and features.

Russell + Hazel have a beautiful set in a variety of colors. Best of all, you can download the different templates you need for free! Form and function in one stylish package. On the pricier side at $75. 

Target's Club Wedd organizer has received lots of very favorable reviews, many from brides who had looked at more expensive options. Highly usable, complete with stickers and pockets, and at $17, a great bargain. 

If you're looking to pinch the pennies, then consider making your own organizer (don't worry, this is easy and does not fall into DIY territory by much). Go to an office supply store, buy a three-ring binder, clear pages for business card, tab pages, page protectors, envelopes (for your receipts) and a calculator. Log onto Brides Club and download the planning pages, place into your binder and voila! You've got yourself your own wedding organizer.

No matter what option you choose, having all your information together in one spot (preferably portable) will keep your life organized, your mind sane and minimize wasted time running about the house or rummaging in your handbag for swatches from the bridesmaid's dress or that amazing bouquet photo you swiped from the obscure Brazilian bridal magazine at the hairdresser's.

Lazy 'n Frugal Guide - Hiring a Wedding Coordinator

Although hiring a wedding coordinator may not seem frugal (but a definite must for the truly lazy bride), the reality is that having an experienced wedding professional on your team can not only severely cut back on the number of hours you need to invest in planning (and time is money, no?) but also can save you cold hard cash.

But aren't wedding coordinators expensive, what with the J Lo headsets and all, you may ask? In a word, no (and Hollywood movies tend to grossly stereotype). While you do have their fees to consider, consultants will be able to find ways to save you money on your overall budget, usually enough to cover their costs and then some. They are familiar with the different vendors in your area and know the good, the great and the ugly through years of experience. You as a bride alone, however, are walking into the planning forest without a compass, much less a guide. Maybe you have some recommendations from friends but you're likely experiencing an overwhelming sense of 'where do I even begin'? How do you know for sure that you are going to get the product/service you want, on time, on budget and that Vendor X is your best option? You don't. You're taking a risk, a leap of faith.

Enter the wedding coordinator. Weddings are their lives, literally. It's what they do all day, week in, week out. They know which cake maker has the best flavors, the florist who uses only the freshest flowers, the rental shop with the linens that are always in impeccable shape. And they also know the photographer who is more interested in hooking up with the cute bridesmaids than shooting the reception, the caterer who shows up late and the musicians who are always slightly out of tune. They will work with the best and steer you away from the rest.

A coordinator knows that the most expensive vendor is not necessarily the best and this alone can save you gobs of money. They also know different tricks of the trade, how to get the best bang for your buck, which venue offers the best setting for your wedding vision and how to make your decor dollar stretch without the result looking like you were cutting costs. Because they work with vendors on a regular basis, they are sometimes able to get discounts not available to the individual bride and then pass them along to their clients. When you hire a wedding consultant, you are hiring an advocate who will work and negotiate on your behalf.

Besides the dollar and cents (or should that be sense) a wedding coordinator makes to your budget's bottomline, the piece of mind that you have a professional looking out for your best interests while you navigate planning (what is likely) the largest, most expensive and most anticipated party in your life, is priceless. 

My advice to the lazy 'n frugal bride is to speak with a couple of wedding coordinators (check out the Association of Bridal Consultants for members in your area). Most will offer a free one-hour consultation. See what they can do for you and how they can help you realize your wedding vision. It's likely more affordable than you may have thought!

Lazy 'n Frugal Guide - Location, Location, Location 3

Restaurant

Next up on our location list are restaurants, which can make for a super cool reception location. They are usually best suited for small - medium sized weddings. By choosing a spot that has great decor and atmosphere, you can save yourself a lot of money on flowers and other decorations. But make sure you're choosing a location that matches your design aesthetic. If you're wanting a romantic, classic look, a super sleek and modern lounge is likely not a great pick. Food is the first consideration, of course, but look at the restaurant's setting. How will it play into your vision? If you must must MUST have the food at  the Bombay Palace, you may have to change your original vision of a day in the English countryside. Best advice is to choose for the food and then run with the restaurant's decor.

Photo by Dan Power Photography

This open-aired, funky restaurant, Dragonfly Bar and Grill, in Tamarindo, Costa Rica was the setting for an eclectic wedding we planned in April. We brought in our own chairs and linens, chargers and flowers. Although some guests had dined at the restaurant previously, the entire look was transformed by our simple decor changes. The idea is to augment what is already in place, not make a pigeon into a peacock (or something like that).

Visit the restaurant a few times before the wedding and speak with the owner. If they have fresh flowers, ask if their florist will create arrangements to fit in with your look (be prepared to pay a bit extra but it could save you money overall). If there are fake flowers or any other design element you don't like, ask if they'll remove it/them for the wedding (but be reasonable - we had one bride ask if a supporting cement post could be taken away...riiight). 

Ask how the tables will be configured and be aware if there are any size/height differences that my be troublesome. If so, you may need to reconfigure your seating chart or rent tables.

If they print up their own menus, see if they'll do something a bit special for your day. Don't expect anything elaborate but a nice simple program works just fine and will save you some dough.

A few touches can make your event shine. Consider renting better quality linens that are full-length and linen napkins, as most restaurants use a durable poly-cotton blend meant for everyday use. Linens are an affordable splurge that can make your room look like a million bucks.

Candles are always a great option. Lots of them. See what the restaurant has to offer and you may want to buy or rent some to supplement. You can cut back on florals by using more candles. 

Things to be aware of...

Site fees - if you're taking over the entire restaurant on a Saturday night, be prepared to pay a decent site fee as they'll be turning away their usual business for the evening

Additional charges - you will almost certainly be charged you if you bring in your alcohol. And some places may charge a plating fee if you bring in a wedding cake so check ahead

Open bar - the last thing you want is a cash bar (tacky tacky tacky) but you don't want your friends drinking the joint dry. Have the bar put the 'good stuff' (the single malts, the cognacs,etc) out of view and only have the brands you're offering set out. Work with the restaurant on a flat fee for the bar

Book on an off-time - find out when is the busiest time for the restaurant and see if you can negotiate a deal for hosting your event on a down-time for them. For example, if they are usually closed on Sundays or only open for dinner, they may likely welcome the opportunity for the extra business if you host a Sunday wedding or a Friday brunch

And lastly, do NOT book your wedding a restaurant that has yet to open. Rare is the place that opens on the date it's earmarked for. The last thing you want to deal with is a pushed opening date, leaving you scrambling to find another venue.

Lazy 'n Frugal Guide - Location, Location, Location 2

Hotel

Hotels are one of the more popular spots to host a wedding reception and with good reason - they make it pretty easy for everyone involved. Guests can stay right there (especially important for out of town guests or if you're having a destination wedding). Hotels are equipped to handle events and the larger ones do so on an almost daily basis so they (should) have it down to an exacting science. Chairs, tables, basic linens, glassware, waiters - they are usually part and parcel. 

Do be prepared for some additional charges, such as chair cover rentals, upgrades on linens and dinnerware. If you're planning a long reception, be prepared to pay overtime charges for waiters and bar staff. And some hotels may charge a site fee as well. 

Some hotels may allow you to bring in your own alcohol and charge you a corkage fee for doing so (remember that the bar is where hotels and restaurants make the bulk of their money). This can be a great way to save money (Liquor Warehouse, here we come!) but the drawback is you may run out of booze (and then will have to pay the hotel to provide drinks) or you may end up with a lot of bottles left over (be sure you can return unopened bottles to the store or else you're going to be holding a lot of parties in the upcoming year).

And I cannot think of any hotel that will allow you to bring in another caterer or chef (there may be some out there but generally, no). So that means you're going to have to work with the hotel's menu and food. Larger hotels will likely offer you a tasting beforehand and do take advantage of it so you don't have any surprises.

Where you may run into paying more than in another location may be on the food and drink as well as on decoration. Most hotel ballrooms look the same - ugly carpets (why can't they put in something neutral?), chandeliers, hideous banquet chairs (you know the ones - all pleather and chrome) and basic lighting. Oh and usually an incredibly high ceiling. Which all adds up to creative decor in order to turn 'the box' into a wedding-worthy site. Which means you could end up spending more money on decor than at another location. 

A good lighting designer can transform a large space and make it look like you spent a lot more on decoration than you did. Plus they can alter the atmosphere and mood over the course of the event by subtly changing the color of lights. Their price may look high at first glance but if you start comparing how much you can save on other aspects of decorating, I think you'll find it's a bargain.

Other frugal ways to get more bang from you buck with a big room...

swag fabric from the chandeliers - gives the room a more romantic look plus it makes the space feel more intimate as you're breaking up the vast space from floor to ceiling

large tree branches with twinkle lights - place them around the perimeter of the room to create a pretty, romantic look that brings the outdoors in

alternating heights of centrepieces - in a big space, a low centrepiece in the middle of a round top will get a bit lost. But having all tall flower arrangements can break the bank. My suggestion is to alternate low and tall. You'll still get the effect of having lush, tall arrangements (which help minimize the space) but interspersing them with low arrangements, with a lower price tag, will keep your budget on track

Another advantage of a hotel wedding is having the ceremony and reception at the same location. If the hotel has a nice pool or gardens, you can keep everything contained and can save money on transportation. Or you may want to hold the ceremony in one ballroom and the reception in the other. Another idea is to 'flip' the room, from ceremony to reception, while guests are enjoying the cocktail hour in another part of the hotel. This is a labor intensive task, however, and requires a great deal of planning and attention to detail so you'll need a top-notch team to pull it off - and likely not the best choice for a frugal bride.