For anyone planning a wedding, my hat’s off to you and I wish you the best of luck. Planning a wedding is hard work… and very stressful. Whether you do it alone or with help from your family, it’s one of the largest, most complex– and expensive — events you will ever plan.
While you might have parents (or you and the fiancee) financing this shindig, there are so many other people that have a say in this event that include clergy, caterers, bridesmaids/groomsman, not to mention guests that you want to have there. However you don’t have to burn a hole in your credit card (or two) to have a great wedding and reception. It’s all about the perspective of what’s really important on your wish-list for you and your fiancee’s wedding. Thankfully I am very lucky to have Tina Hoang-To, CEO of WeddingSpot.com who has so kindly offered to guest blog for LA-Story.com on this topic. It’s a hot topic and this article hits the high points. Should you want more in-depth information, I suggest you hit her website!
Wedding Planning: 5 Tips for Saving Time, Money + Sanity!
When I set out to plan my wedding 2012 years ago, I found myself more stressed than happy. Between Google searching for vendors, calling to request information for venues, booking walkthroughs and trying to stay on budget, I felt like I would never reach the end of the line.
Frustrated with how little help I could find online, I came up with the idea of Wedding Spot, an online tool that helps brides plan their perfect wedding. Wedding Spot gives its users the power to search, compare and price out venues in their desired areas (including Orange County), and also to connect with certified venue contacts to book a viewing appointment, utilize a guest list manager and more, all meant to ensure that brides like me were not wasting their time searching for venues that don’t fit budgets or needs.
Staying sane while searching for a venue is the first step of the process, but how to get through the rest? The pros at Wedding Spot have compiled a quick list of tips that will help save time, money and sanity when booking a wedding.
Happy planning!
1. Opt for A Winter Wedding
One luxury of living in Southern California is that the weather is always nice, which means that when it comes to picking a date for your big day, you’re not limited to a certain season. Electing for a winter wedding has become a popular way to save money, and data from Wedding Spot supports the fact that choosing an off-season date can save you 14 to 20 percent on venue rental fees.
Vintage Rose
2. Location, Location, Location
Although the idea of a beach wedding may seem the obvious choice to an Orange County bride, there are several other options that are far more affordable and just as breathtaking. Opting for a gorgeous golf course like the Tuscan Ranch Golf Club or a historic landmark like The Villa Del Sol can help save on venue costs while still maintaining a beautiful California backdrop.
3. Don’t be Afraid to give them the Axe
With all of the pressure that comes with planning a wedding, one of the biggest pressures comes from creating the guest list. Although it would be favorable to be able to invite everyone: family, friends, and co-workers, it is important to remember that venues and catering costs add up per guest. By limiting the number of guests to only those you associate with regularly, you’ll save money and have a more intimate gathering.
Vintage Estate, Napa
4. Embrace the “do-it-yourself” movement
Online tools like Pinterest and Wedding Spot have made it easier than ever for brides on a budget to come up with creative decorating ideas and search and price dream venues. The biggest advantage to using these tools is that they are free, so you save money across the board.
Brownstone Gardens, San Francisco Bay area
5. Live by the Splurge & Save Rule
Saving money on your wedding is key, but don’t place limitations on what is really important to you. Want to buy that dream dress? Consider cutting down on catering costs by serving several rounds of passed hors d’oeuvres instead of a three-course dinner. Love the idea of a videographer? Scale back on photo booth options by substituting with a Polaroid camera. The options are endless!
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Thanks to Tina Hoang-To for this great article on how to plan your wedding so that you don’t break the bank but you also get the wedding of your dreams!
About Tina Hoang-To
Tina had the idea to build Wedding Spot after planning her own wedding in late 2012. She was overwhelmed with the stacks of wedding packets that were quickly taking over her coffee table and the thought of researching hundreds of wedding venues. She then realized there’s a big opportunity here to build a company that can help brides like herself plan the perfect wedding without going through all the stress. Today, as CEO, Tina is executing her vision of allowing future brides and grooms all over the world to search, price, and compare wedding venues and vendors.
Before founding Wedding Spot, Tina was a Director at Rocket Lawyer where she was responsible for strategic partnerships and corporate strategy. Prior to that, Tina spent a few years in the VC industry as an Associate at Technology Crossover Ventures – known for their investments in Netflix, Facebook, eHarmony, GoDaddy and Expedia – where she focused on later stage enterprise software and services investments. In her earlier years, Tina was an Investment Banker at Bear Stearns & Co. working on Tech IPOs and M&A transactions and started off her career in corporate finance at KLA-Tencor Corp. Tina has over a decade of experience in working on investments, strategy, and finance in Technology. She has always had a passion for disruptive technologies and building products and teams from the ground up.
Follow the Wedding Spot on these social platforms::
Website: http://www.wedding-spot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wedding-Spot/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeddingSpot/
Linked: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3133919
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/atweddingspot/
Stevie Wilson,
LA-Story.com
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