MONEY! MONEY! MONEY! MONEY!

OK! So, you have met all the vendors, mailed the invitations, booked the honeymoon and the big day is almost here. But, when the party is over and real life sets in, are you ready for the day to day events of, YES!...married life!!! From http://www.theknot.com/ a money checklist. Remember- money is the root of all evil. So, talk about it and don't let it undo your wedded bliss!!

HER ACCOUNTS
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HIS ACCOUNTS
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ON THE BOARDS

I read the message boards every day to see what girls are saying about vendors, what questions they ask and what they are worried about. Sadly, I can't post on the boards because I am a vendor! So, I have decided to "post" some advice here in hopes that some of you will read this and get answers.

On dresses: for the bride who wanted to know about bridesmaid dresses and her plus size sister- please order your dresses from one shop and have them shipped to your out of town girls. Take your sister shopping and let her pick the style and then tell the other girls. NEVER let the girls order the same dress from different shops!!! The dresses will not be the same color. And, as I have said before- ordering on line can be risky and you have no recourse if something is wrong and no one to alter the dresses.

On realistic budgets: you have to be realistic in your expectations! If you only have $20,000 to spend on your wedding, then research your options and keep your dreams in check. In actuality, weddings are expensive!! All of the articles about how much weddings cost must have come from the Midwest or some obscure location. If you are getting married on either coast or in any metropolitan area, expect to spend at least $35-$40,000 for a larger wedding. Quality speaks for itself and you DO get what you pay for. I have helped many brides to plan beautiful weddings without breaking the bank. But, you have to be ready to compromise and make concessions.

On DIY projects: LADIES! You are the bride! Pay people to make the dresses, bake the cake and do the flowers!!!! Sure, favors are something you may want to do yourself. But, you have enough to fret over and there will be plenty of unexpected things that arise. Don't add to your stress by trying to wear too many hats! Wear the tiara! Let the professionals do the rest!!

I would be glad to answer more questions for you ladies! While the message boards are a good place to share ideas, brides all have their own personal take on things- from budgets, to tastes, to personal experience. Let someone with years of experience and many brides to pull from answer your questions. Your wedding is too important to follow the crowd. Write to me!

CHA-CHING!!

What will your wedding cost? Contrary to many surveys out there in cyber-space, they don't cost $15-$20,000! Maybe if you live in Wisconsin or Indiana, but if you live in a city on either coast- not a chance!! Realistically, if you are having a wedding on a Saturday night in Philadelphia, expect to spend $50-70,000. You can do things to save money. www.brides.com and other sites help you to DIY some of your wedding. Also, check out www.michaels.com for crafty ways to personalize your special day! One thing is sure: if you want your day to be flawless, get a planner involved! It isn't an added expense. It is the insurance to have a perfect day and save time, money and stress along the way. It is a VERY wise investment!