Tips on Tipping As we all know, the unspoken rules of tipping are a kind of elaborate social calculus. When and how much? And who gets the tip? And how can you sort out what’s anticipated from what’s deserved? First of all, you should never feel obligated to pay a tip, especially for crummy treatment. [...]
Get Those White Gloves Dirty Good news for the do-it-yourself types: You can save money–and add personal flair–throughout the planning process with a little extra scissor time. Couples with the most energy can go Martha or bust on just about every element, including flowers, invitations, food, music, and centerpieces. Try these quick-and-cheap ideas on for [...]
Hashing Out the Cash Even in the healthiest families, money matters can stir up mud. Use the following steps to keep discussions of the green stuff from clouding over your planning process. When it’s their money: If your folks are pitching in to help pay the wedding bills or–lucky, lucky–foot the entire tab, then you’re [...]
Booking to Save Looking for one of the simplest keys to cutting wedding costs? It’s all in the timing. As elementary as it seems (and as far away as the big date may be), one of the best favors you can do your budget is to book your services early. The principle is simple–the earlier [...]
Filling the Connubial Coffers Paying for a wedding is no small feat, especially since Americans are currently shelling out tens of thousands on the big day. If it’s your job to come up with the funds or supplement them in large measure, some realistic fiscal planning is in order. There are two basic ways to [...]
How Much to Be Me? Trying to have a five-star celebration on a two-star paycheck? If your wedding-day vision seems to call for the royal coffers (and you’re a commoner like the rest of us), it’s a good idea to find ways to cut costs while preserving your dream. Basing your plans on your expense [...]
Even the best-laid wedding plans can go awry for unexpected and unlucky reasons. Though not for everyone, wedding insurance can be a valuable safety net if the groom gets food poisoning or the caterer files Chapter 11. Wedding insurance protects you from circumstances, damages, and loss. If a storm threatens your outdoor wedding or your [...]
Though the simple act of drawing up a budget makes anybody feel good, the thing is only worth its salt if it works in the real world. Start off with your feet on the ground, and it’ll be all the easier to keep your footing as planning progresses. Begin by making a list or spreadsheet [...]
A group of wedding vendors can quickly resemble a nest of hungry chicks. And it’s up to you to decide who gets the goods. Unless you’re graced with a bottomless budget, prioritizing wedding expenses is the best way to make sure that everyone gets paid and that you two go home happy. Of course, there [...]
Before you dial up a single DJ or try on a single tiara, you need to determine the size of your wedding budget. This number is a product of two simple factors: (1) where the money is coming from, and (2) how it will be spent. The total wedding tally is affected by countless little [...]
