Today seems to be a photography day, but I was SOO excited to get these photos, I had to share them IMMEDIATELY.

These are from a wedding that we did in August at Cipriani 23rd Street.  The bride and I worked tirelessly on each and every detail and it was, simply put, a blast.

It helps that they are adorable and that Christian Oth shot the photos.  Ron Ben-Israel did the cake, Charles at United Floral made us these awesome trees and my favorite ice guy, Joey Ice at Ice Fantasies made these awesome centerpieces.  Here is a "taste" of their wonderful wedding.  The rest of the shots from this wedding are up on our website.

With all the Wall Street wackiness going on this week, I thought it would be great time to pass along budget saving tips that brides have shared with me.    I’m not one for strenuous saving methods that don’t amount to much cost reduction, but these ideas really struck me as creative and resourceful!

1) Eliminate a Course.  If your venue’s food and beverage package comes with 3 courses or an elaborate dessert course, speak to your sales manager about eliminating a course or nixing dessert or reducing a station.  Be sure that you still have a plentiful amount of food, but you’d be amazed at what $10-20pp plus tax and tip can amount to in savings.

2) Re-purpose, re-purpose, re-purpose. One bride recently told me about working with her florist to design larger bouquets for her bountiful bridal party which, after the ceremony, will be placed into ceramic vases and serve as centerpieces during the dinner.  (I’d say that probably saved her anywhere from $700-$1400)

3) Going with Gently Used.  I know this next idea isn’t for everyone, but the gorgeous gowns that I’ve heard of being snapped up on  Once Wed have really surprised and blown me away.

4) Wholesale It. Is your vision of thousands of tealights, or amazing candlesticks?  Consider sourcing these things online directly or (if in New York, at B & J Floral Supply) through a floral supply store like Jamali Garden and speak with your Day of Coordinator, or On Site Coordinator about helping to set them out for you.  Often times your direct purchase cost can be lower than your rental cost from your florist or decorator.

5) Think Ethnic.  If you are working in  a space that requires off site catering and want to really control costs, consider eschewing the Steak or Salmon options typical of wedding meals.  Working with a caterer who focuses on a particular ethnic cuisine can often save you money and can also be a great way to infuse cultural background into your day.  Here in NY, Indian, Chinese banquets, Italian and Latin catering can often come in at 1/2 the price of a continental style off-premise caterer. 

What great saving tips have you discovered as you’ve been planning away?

The Q:  My ex-boyfriend and I are still good friends, I want to invite him to my upcoming wedding, but my fiance feels uncomfortable around him because we dated for so long. Is it ok to exclude someone so close to me from my wedding?

The A: Unless your name is Grace and your ex-boyfriend named Will, a hot, recently un-closeted gay man, NO.  No, it is NOT appropriate to invite him to the wedding, most particularly because it bothers your fiance.  In fact, I would say nearly exclusively because it bothers your fiance. 

    If you and your ex are so close, he’ll understand your need to prioritize your future husband’s comfort level on this important day.   If it bothers you tremendously that your fiance feels this way, you should look at the reasons why?  Have you made an effort for them to socialize together (which, if you are truly platonic and it’s truly in the past, is hopefully possible).  Is your fiance unnecessarily jealous in general?  Is this something you want to chat about?  And then, the really big and awkward question, is this friendship really platonic?  Having guy friends is normal, but I think you should understand why that might make your future husband a little uncomfortable.

    Or maybe I’m just old fashioned!

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