What Does That Wedding Cost – Southern California Wedding

Feb 8th

by: Lauren

You may or may not know that I’m on a mission… a mission to educate about weddings, wedding costs, and the importance of hiring professionals.

We all know that there’s no lack of wedding inspiration nowadays. Brides and grooms everywhere are dreaming, planning, and designing their weddings using Pinterest and Instagram, which are filled with beautiful images of lush florals, flowing gowns, and picturesque settings. It’s your dream to have all that inspiration you’ve pinned on Pinterest come to life, right?!

But then, reality sets in. The sad fact is, those images you’re pinning and saving don’t come with prices attached. You might end up dreaming WAY too big, and NOT getting that dream wedding you’re envisioning. And we all know that having to settle for one thing when you’re picturing something else is a recipe for disappointment.

But what if you were better prepared?

What if you could have more knowledge in general surrounding wedding costs?

What if you were able to have more realistic expectations established before you even meet with your planner or designer?

Well friends, I believe all of that can be solved through the sharing of information. Because the more you know about weddings, that will help you make educated decisions, and as a result, the better your wedding will be.

So, today starts a new series here on ELD, “What Does That Wedding Cost?”, where we will not only be showing you a wedding design, but also sharing what it will cost to achieve that look. Things will definitely vary depending on total budget, guest counts, and locations. But the information we share in these features will be far better than being absolutely clueless, right?! (PS- Wedding pros… we are looking for submissions for this series! Be sure to head to the end of this post for the details!)

We’re kicking things off with a gorgeous design from Confetti Skies that was captured by Belinda Philleo Photography. You can see the entire feature of this design here. Aimee of Confetti Skies shares:

We took the same wedding concept and showed what a $75,000 budget in Southern California could look like with 100 guests and what it could look like with 150 guests. Both set ups are beautiful and the guests will be in awe with either set up. The goal of this shoot was to help couples really sit down and review their guest count and their budget first and foremost. These two elements greatly affect all other aspects of your wedding.

Our overall design concept for this wedding was rich lush fabrics mixed with beautiful, full florals and colors that would work well in the spring, fall, and winter seasons. For linen choices, we decided to go with textured linens as they cover such large portions of wedding guests view. Linens tend to be an afterthought of many couples, but they can really make a huge impact on your overall aesthetics. With the florals, we chose rich hues and full flowers such as peonies, roses and ranunculus.

One item that remained the same throughout was the bouquet. Our pro tip is NEVER skimp on your bouquet. It should be special and it should be exactly what you envision. All of the professionals agree on this!

$75,000 budget – 150 Guests – Southern California

Reception Decor Budget Breakdown

Reception Floral Budget: $4,000 / 19 tables= $210 per table

Stationery Reception Budget= $1,000 / 150 guests= $6.67 per place setting

Upgraded Rentals + Linen Budget $5,000 / 150 guests= $33 per place setting

Total (entire wedding) budget per guest at 150 guest count = $500 per guest

Items used in design:

Linen: champagne shantung linen, deep purple velvet napkin // Tabletop Rentals: gold rimmed glass charger, gold flatware, colored glass water goblet // Stationery: Standard invitation suite, menu on shimmer paper // Florals: lush with mostly roses with pops of peonies and ranunculus // Chairs: venue owned chiavari chairs (included in the venue fee) // Lounge: coffee table, couch, two chairs, pillows

$75,000 budget – 100 Guests – Southern California

If you have the same budget with 100 guests, you have more room to play with regarding your decor. The upgrades to the tablescape bring your wow factor up a notch!

Reception Decor Budget Breakdown

Reception Floral Budget: $4,000 / 13 tables= $307 per table
Stationery Reception Budget: $1,000 / 100 guests= $10 per place setting
Upgraded Rentals + Linen Budget: $5,000 / 100 guests= $50 per place setting

Total (entire wedding) budget per guest at 100 guest count = $750 per guest

Items used in design:

Linen: Overlay + champagne shantung linen, deep purple velvet napkin // Tabletop Rentals: upgraded china, gold flatware, colored glass water goblet, amber champagne coupe // Stationery: Upgraded invitation suite (handmade paper, wax seal, envelope liner), menu on handmade paper // Placesettings: Acrylic names + floral spring // Florals: lush with more peonies and ranunculus // Chairs: Upgraded // Lounge: large coffee table, couch, two chairs, more pillows, more decor, bench, side tables, rug

Note: The budgets provided are true to this design based on the rentals and prices the vendors charge. Different companies in different areas may charge differently.

Click here to see more of this entire wedding design!

A big thank you to the Southern California vendors who participated in bringing this design- and the information- to life! Be sure to check out the entire feature of this look too!

Vendors who made it all happen…

Planning + Design: Confetti Skies // Floral Design: Beautiful Savage Flowers // Photography: Belinda Philleo Photography // Venue: La Ventura Event Center // Paper Goods: Jen Simpson Design // Upgraded Chairs: Signature Party Rentals // Tabletop + Lounge: Sundrop Vintage // Linens: Luxe Linen // Acrylic Names + Table Numbers: Happily Ever Etched

Wedding Pros! Want to help us educate about what weddings cost?

Submit your design and budget breakdown here!

Lavender and Red Southern California Wedding Inspiration

Category: INSPIRATION, MEMBER FEATURES 0 Comments

, , , ,

Feb 8th

by: Lauren

pinterest twitter fb stumble gplus

We’re so excited to share this gorgeous Southern California wedding inspiration from Confetti Skies that was captured by Belinda Philleo Photography. This feature is part of a new series here on ELD, “What Does That Wedding Cost”, and you can learn more about this design (and yes, what it costs) here.

This team of Southern California wedding pros created two different looks, using a red and lavender color palette with an elegant style. These two looks are both based off of a $75,000 wedding budget- one for a guest count of 150, and one for a guest count of 100. Lush florals by Beautiful Savage Flowers, exquisite details, and a stunning color palette are just a few of our favorite elements from this inspiration. Aimee of Confetti Skies has a lot more information, so I’ll let her take over from here:

Our overall design concept for this wedding was rich lush fabrics mixed with beautiful, full florals and colors that would work well in the spring, fall, and winter seasons. For summer inspiration, we would go with more bright, vibrant colors. Purple is an amazingly versatile color and can go with many color combinations. For linen choices, we decided to go with textured linens as they cover such large portions of wedding guests view. Linens tend to be an afterthought of many couples, but they can really make a huge impact on your overall aesthetics. With the florals, we chose rich hues and full flowers such as peonies, roses and ranunculus. The lounge we chose had to be inviting and comfortable! You want somewhere for guests to sit and catch up if they need a break from dancing or to chat over some delicious dessert!

Venue Coordinator VS Wedding Coordinator… Does it really matter?

Category: WEDDING PLANNING 29 Comments

Feb 7th

by: Lauren

pinterest twitter fb stumble gplus

I’ve heard it SO many times- “Oh the venue coordinator will handle everything, I don’t need a wedding planner/coordinator.”

What most couples don’t quite understand is this:

a venue coordinator works for the VENUE, not you.

So the answer is yes, it does matter!

(Nothing against venue coordinators- I love them and they’ve helped me out a lot before!) If they tell you they can handle things on the day of your wedding, it’s true- they can, but it’s only within a certain scope. And so, since I’m kind of the person who says things about planning weddings that not many others will, let’s chat a little more about this…

A venue coordinator is looking out for the venue’s best interests. A wedding coordinator is looking out for YOUR best interests. The venue coordinator deals with everything having to do with the venue- food, setup, bathrooms, etc. A wedding coordinator will deal with aspects of the venue that pertain to you, such as setup, and will make sure everything is to your specifications.

If your ceremony is at a location other than the venue, your wedding coordinator will be there with you. A venue coordinator will not be at that offsite ceremony. If the ceremony is at the venue, the venue coordinator will (ideally) be there to help with the coordination of the ceremony. But if there’s an issue happening with the venue itself, you may find that your venue coordinator will be nowhere to be found.

True story time: A family member of mine was told by her venue coordinator that she would be there for the ceremony to help organize, tell people where and when to go, etc. Thirty, fifteen, ten minutes prior to the ceremony, and the coordinator was nowhere to be found. Guess what? SHE WENT HOME. When I asked why, the venue staff said because everything for the reception was setup and good to go. Ummm… well, thank goodness I was there and had been there at the rehearsal, and I was able to step in and run the ceremony. But not everyone will have someone attending their wedding who was a former wedding planner, so… do with that information what you will. :)

A wedding coordinator stays by your side throughout the day and night. They are there to tell you when things will be occurring throughout the night, such as the cake cutting, bouquet toss, toasts, etc. As a (former) wedding planner, I stayed until the very end of the wedding, until all of the guests were gone. A venue coordinator stays until the meal is served, and the majority of the time, leaves after. Some may stay until the cake is cut and served. He or she will not be by your side throughout the day or night. Although the venue coordinator will do their best to keep you happy, he or she likely will not be helping if your bustle breaks, when it comes time to load up your gifts, or tracking down your lipgloss.

A wedding coordinator contacts your vendors before your wedding to make sure everyone is confirmed and knows what time they will be arriving. A venue coordinator may contact vendors that have to do with setup of the reception, but it’s not common. Other vendors, like your photographer or hair and makeup, would not be contacted by your venue coordinator.

Venues are known to have a high turnover rate among the coordinator/sales positions. The person that you book your wedding with may or may not still be there when it comes time for your wedding 6 months, a year, or a year and a half later. As much as you may have connected with that venue coordinator, she (or he) will have no qualms moving on to greener pastures before your wedding day occurs.

But your wedding coordinator is hired by YOU, hand selected by YOU, and won’t be going anywhere- unless, God forbid, something horrible happens!

So, these notions are just a few things to think about when it comes to deciding whether or not you need a wedding coordinator.

And this is in no way meant to be ill spirited towards venue coordinators. As I said before, I LOVE venue coordinators- it’s always awesome to work with them! But as a couple planning a wedding, I want you to be aware of the differences between the two so you can make the best decision!

If you have any questions about wedding coordinator vs venue coordinators, please don’t hesitate to ask in the comments!

Click here for more posts about wedding coordinators!

A version of this post was originally published in June 2010.

An Elegant Garden Sarasota Wedding

Category: MEMBER FEATURES, REAL WEDDINGS 0 Comments

, ,

Feb 6th

by: Lauren

pinterest twitter fb stumble gplus

It doesn’t get any dreamier than an elegant garden wedding and no one does them better than ELD favorite NK Productions Wedding Planning! Elizabeth & Rob’s Sarasota wedding was classic personified with a timeless color palette of cream, champagne, and blush. The courtyard of the Ringling Museum in Florida is the ultimate venue for romantic elegance. Add in an abundance of lush florals by Elegant Designs Floral Art Studio and hanging chandeliers from So Staged Event Rentals and you have one magical wedding reception. Keep scrolling to see all of the pretty captured by Ryan Joseph!