07/21/2015
Wow Summer is here! There is no question about that. It is now the season/time of the year when I am busy taking bookings for Weddings, Showers, Rehearsal Dinners, Engagement parties, Open House receptions ect ect.
I still have weekend dates open in August, September and October.
It has become a growing trend for weddings (especially the smaller quaint affairs) to be held on friday Evenings. It also seems that weddings are starting later and later. Many even after 7pm and than go on until after midnight. It is a trend I personally like. I of course am a "Night Owl" and think that everything appears better and classier when held after dusk!
The best advise I could offer a Bride who wants to have a memorable Wedding Day, but also would not be tied down for the next 20 years paying for it should always remember that smaller at-home or "Park" Weddings can be very elegant and classy. This allows for a Bride to choose much better food and decor. I often see at home weddings where they simply hire a piano player to provide the live music.
Many people worry that they will be offending their co-workers and aquaintances by not inviting them to their Wedding- A common obstacle, (after all we are talking about a "Smaller Affair!"-However, there is a super remedy for this. It goes something like this........After the HoneyMoon (that you will likely be able to afford by cutting the size of the wedding)....and after the new couple is all settled in their new (or old) homes, which can be as much as 4 to 6 months later, the couple can throw what is commonly called an "Open-House' where they can offer informal (but Superb) food and drink- and allow people to come and go as they please-thus allowing them a chance to mingle and get an intimate glimpse into the new lives of the "New Couple!" This can often be pulled off for around five-hundred-dollars. The Bride can choose to wear her original wedding dress (providing it was sheek and more to the semi formal extent. Let's face it, it would look rather silly for the bride to be walking around in a big bulky wedding gown for an open house.) Or the more favored option...the bride can choose something simpler and less formal while still looking sheek & stylish.
At an "after wedding" Open House the bride can have a "Picture-Table" where she can put out her favorite photos of the Original Wedding-and also provide disposable cameras to get pictures of her extended open house guests! When you put the two events together, a couple end up with having a very rich and full Wedding experience and at the fraction of the cost of a large formal wedding.
Many Personal Chef's even offer package deals where they will plan and execute the rehearsal...or wedding "eve" get together, as well as the Actual wedding AND the Open House! I personally would be more than happy to work out an all inclusive "package deal" for up coming weddings.
This advise comes after being asked by so many Bride to Be's who want to know how they can have "The wonderful Wedding Experience" without spending the 25+ Grand (the average price of the typical New york City Wedding is often a bit higher) So...This is MY ANSWER to what has become such a common dilemma for so many couples! Of course, their is no one answer for every Bride out there! Just another option to think about!
