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Samantha CasanovaApril 18th, 2013ENC 1102-044Dr. GuenzelThe Cost of Happily Ever AfterWhen one thinks wedding planner, they think Jennifer Lopez in the film, The Wedding Planner. They might think young woman with loads of work on her hands. They think stressful, creative, multi-tasking individuals. They think dream-makers. Whether or not a wedding planner is consumed by the dramas shown in The Wedding Planner, the job of a wedding planner is not an easy one. Knowledge and expertise is required, creativity and innovation is demanded, and organization and multi-tasking are crucial. Kristi Santana, a wedding planner and a board member in the National Association of Wedding Professionals writes in her guide The Wedding Planners Handbook, with two million weddings a year and 80 billion dollars spent on them, it is easy to infer that the demand for wedding coordinators is high (Santana). As an aspiring wedding planner, it is imperative that I find what it means to start my own business and that the earnings are worth it for my future. This paper will further examine ways in which wedding coordinators and brides-to-be can better utilize resources to stay within their potential budgets. According to wedding planner Staci Deblois, wedding coordinators earn up to 75,000 dollars a year (Fritz). This statistic is limited to the state of Rhode Island so one can infer that the salary may vary throughout the country. Wedding planner Kristie Santana says “top wedding planners can earn over $120,000 every year” (Santana). The salary depends on the planner. The longer the planner has been in the industry, the higher the salary should be (Santana). A wedding planner can work for an event company or they can start their own business. There are a variety of ways in which a wedding planner can charge their customers. Writer for The Houston Chronicle, Brian Hill, states, “You can offer services free to the bride but get a percentage of what each vendor charges, or charge a flat rate based on an agreed-upon number of consulting hours. Other alternatives include a percentage of the wedding budget or a combination of a flat rate with extra hours charged on an agreed-to hourly basis.” Although the cost to start a successful wedding planning business varies, there are several different strategies that a coordinator can do to lower the cost. For example, starting up a referral network with former clients such as thanking them with some sort of gift card and thus help to save money on a much more expensive type of advertising. Also, having relationships with vendors can lower the cost as they may offer discounts to loyal customers and thus help save more money. Brian Hill also stresses the importance of marketing. He expresses that it is imperative for bringing in customers (Hill). The author continues to point out that the more wedding planners put their company out there, the more clients they will receive. He suggests one way to do this is to attend and participate exhibition shows. Exhibition shows display a variety of table booths selling an assortment of bride must-haves; wedding consultants are among them. Flyers and brochures can be made to inform potential clients of services provided. An extravagant display at the exhibition can attract brides-to-be. Websites, whether local business or not, are essential for each wedding business as most brides (or any person) in this generation are searching online for products (Hill). Wedding planner, Melissa Davis urges the usage of social media, especially the relatively new Pinterest (Davis). Through these mediums discussed by Hill and Davis, it is clear to see that there are different ways in which a wedding planner can acquire clientele. The average cost of a wedding in the year 2000 was 25,000 dollars for 200 guests (see table 1). Today it is around 27,000 dollars (Santana). It is easy to observe that it takes a lot of money to execute a wedding. Stephanie Overby, writer for Dollarsense magazine, believes that it may possibly be one of the biggest expenses a person can make in their lifetime (Overby). Barbara De Lollis, writer of USA Today, agrees that although the recession has affected many Americans negatively, sources say it will not stop brides and grooms to say their vows. In fact De Lollis writes, “Many hoteliers expect to handle about the same number of destination weddings this year as 2008, despite a drop in overall bookings.” These couples may still be booking at these pricey venues but they may be substituting many products and services in their budgets. These substitutions can include “do it yourself” projects, better known as DIY. However, many people view this substitution idea differently. A cover story in Dollarsense magazine describes, “When wedding bells ring, so do cash registers. There's obviously no real limit to the amount a wedding can cost; it can range from less than $1,500 to more than $100,000” (“When Wedding Bells”). Newly engaged couples or couples thinking about publicly tying the knot should think about the smartest choice when it comes to planning a once-in-the-lifetime wedding spectacle.First there are the savvy planners. These people believe that planners should communicate their ideas with the bride and groom about better cost-effective plans so that they may be able to maintain their budget. “By giving it [the wedding] some creative thought and then making the right money moves, your wedding can be a breeze, financially” (“Who Pays”). Then there are those who like to spend money on things that may not be necessary. Some brides and wedding planners believe that DIY and substitutions are “tacky” and ruin the wedding’s image. “For a ‘happily ever after,’ price should not be an object” (Overby). Lastly, there are those who believe the average total of a wedding is just right: no substitutions, and no extra spending. Regardless of these different perspectives, through social media it is easy to see that more and more couples, especially the younger ones, are leaning towards the savvy planning and DIY. As previously mentioned, there are different tactics in utilizing a couple’s budget. From different methods for transportation to substitutions for a wedding cake, the possibilities are endless. First thing’s first: who will pay for the wedding? “Conventional western wisdom once held that the groom's family funded the rehearsal dinner and the bride's family paid for everything else. That's not necessarily the case today” (Overby). More and more couples are starting to pay for their own weddings (Overby). Kristi Santana provides the statistic: with the average bride age at 26, it may not always be easy to pay for an average of $27,000 dollar wedding (Santana). To sum up Overby and Santana, it is imperative for most couples to look for alternatives and budget-saving strategies.To begin with, the wedding dress is the easiest way to start in maximizing budgets. My grandmother would always make my Halloween costumes, as well as my quince dress (A Hispanic girl’s right of passage party), and senior prom dress. The reason for this is because it saved a significant amount of money. Getting a wedding dress custom made may cut the price by as much as a half; I know this through personal experience. Although the wedding dress may not play a huge role in the wedding planners job, a wedding planner should always be available to offer tips in finding alternatives. A couple of methods a bride can consider is renting a dress rather than purchasing one (“Get me to Church”). How many times will one wear their wedding dress anyways? Location is a huge part of the wedding’s ambiance. “Experts say that above all else, make it personal--from selecting a unique site such as a museum, a loft, a barn, a college chapel or a restaurant atop a skyscraper or choosing as a wedding theme some aspect of the bride's or bridegroom's education, hobbies, careers or ethnicity” (“When Wedding Bells”). It is possible to attain one’s dream location; it all just depends on when one books it. Saturday nights should be avoided at all costs because it is the most popular day of the week to wed. Months like June, August, September, and October hold the most weddings so couples should consider winter or spring weddings. Also, morning ceremonies prove more inexpensive than an afternoon one (Overby). If a couple wants to save money on both their wedding and honeymoon, marrying at the honeymoon site can save a substantial amount of money. For example, a couple getting married in a Riu hotel in Jamaica, receives airfare, lodging, a wedding ceremony, and food and beverage for only $3,600 (De Lollis). A couple must be smart in planning the time and location as it shapes the entire atmosphere and price of the wedding; it is the planner’s job to help.Social networks such as Pinterest and Tumblr are popular among wedding planners to find inexpensive, creative, décor (Davis). Décor on these sites are homemade and easy to make. By using DIY décor, personality can be incorporated to a couple’s wedding. Additionally, flowers can be one of the highest expenses in a wedding (see table 1). To lower costs of floral arrangements, wedding planners should suggest the use of in-season flowers (Overby). These are easier to acquire than for instance, trying to find tulips in the middle of November. Also, flower arrangements that are used in the ceremony can be used in the reception to reduce costs (Overby). In other cases, a couple may have envisioned their special day in a certain way and may demand the flowers and décor they desire. There can be a clash here in different perspectives, especially to those who believe that their big day should not have a price tag.With some weddings having over 200 guests in attendance, it can be quite a challenge, and quite an expense, to feed all of them. Wedding planners suggest a buffet style dinner rather than a formal dinner which can make all the difference (Overby). They suggest having a reception with “eclectic treats like pasta, dim sum, tapas and burritos” (Overby). Catering is also not always necessary. Essence magazine advises, “You can cater it yourself by buying heat-and-eat items in bulk from a food warehouse, or do potluck by asking friends and family to bring their favorite dish” (“A Fab Wedding”). This can make a wedding more personal as well with family involvement. The details of a wedding seem never-ending, whether they are small or big. There is the subject on how will the couple arrive? Band of DJ? Steak or Fish? There are an incredible amount of details that need taking care of. Dollarsense magazine suggests to “share the load,” “start saving,” “know your limits,” “prioritize,” and “relax” (Overby). “Working out the financial details of your wedding day is not an exact science” (“Who Pays”). Overby and the article “Who Pays” show that organizing and executing a wedding can be a tough process but through the planning with a professional and efficient wedding planner, the stress of it all can be cut by a great deal. Saving money seems to be the trend in today’s world and there is no better way to do it than getting creative. There is no need in spending extra money than needed to make one’s “big day” all the more special. With help from a wedding planner, the process of DIY can be stress-free and can enlighten and surprise guests who are used to the same old, boring flowers, centerpieces, and limousines. A wedding planners job is to, first and foremost, gain experience, knowledge, and integrity. This then will gain them clients and contracts, thus further building their own company or the company they work for. A wedding planner should love what they do so that they do every part of their job to the best of their ability. Starting a wedding planning business takes dedication but the results and salaries in the end are worth it. They are suggesting, advising, creating, innovating, and designing individuals. They are the true dream-makers by maximizing their client’s budgets for what they envision. They are forever changing the way people view the cost of happily ever after. Invitation/Announcements$350Bridal Gown and Accessories$1,750Bridegroom's formal attire and accessories$350Bridesmaid's attire (4)$700Groomsmen's attire (rented)$300Flowers for ceremony and reception$750Music at ceremony and reception$775Photography and videography$1,500Gifts for wedding party (8)$800License and ceremony fees$250Reception (200)$15,000Wedding cake$400Total:$22,925Additional items:Limousines$200Legal costs, prenuptial agreement$250Medical tests$100Bridesmaids' luncheon, rehearsal dinner, etc.$750Wedding coordinator$1,500Add to above total$2,800Total:$25,725Table 1 Average Costs for a Wedding for 200 GuestsNote: These prices reflect on the year 2000. Today the average wedding is 27,000 dollars according to wedding planner, Kristi Santana.Works CitedDavis, Melissa. E-mail interview. 18. Mar. 2013.De, Lollis, Barbara. "Frugal brides and grooms still walk Caribbean aisles." USA Today n.d.: Academic Search Premier. Web. 26 Feb. 2013.“A Fab Wedding On A Tight Budget.” Essence (Time Inc.) 33.10 (2003): 86. Academic Search Premier. Web. 26. Feb. 2013. Fritz, Anita. "Job Of The Month." Yankee 69.5 (2005): 14. Academic Search Premier. Web. 26 Feb. 2013."Get Me To The Church On Time!." Essence (Essence) 26.10 (1996): 93. Academic Search Premier. Web. 26 Feb. 2013.Hill, Brian. "What Do You Need to Start a Wedding Planning Business?" Small Business. Demand Media, n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2013.Overby, Stephanie. "Parents Of The Bride." Dollarsense (2000): 8. Academic Search Premier. Web. 26 Feb. 2013.Santana, Kristie. "Wedding Planner Salary: How Top Planners Earn $120,000 /Year." Web log post. The Wedding Planner Book RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2013."When Wedding Bells Ring. (Cover Story)." Dollarsense (1996): 12. Academic Search Premier. Web. 26 Feb. 2013."Who Pays For The Wedding?." Ebony 57.8 (2002): 30. Academic Search Premier. Web. 26 Feb. 2013. ................
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