5 Common Mistakes Brides Make When Starting to Plan Their Wedding

Full disclosure, this post was and is inspired by real events and people but of course the names will be changed to protect the innocent!  Just kidding ! But seriously I have a very good friend who is in the process of planning a very quick wedding. When I say quick I mean two weeks quick so you can understand all of her and my frustrations. Me being the good friend that I am assisting her every step of the way but with my background and new found knowledge on planning and wedding design I can't help but to nit-pick a bit in helping her.  There are so many things that go into planning a quick wedding, which is a whole other blog post in itself (which I will made into a series in the next coming weeks) but got me to thinking. There are a lot of mistakes that occur at the beginning of your planning that affect your whole wedding! These critical decisions can make or break your wedding so it's imperative that you take some time after you get that ring and really ....  Wait for it .... Think!

But don't worry we did the hard work for you and came up with five common mistakes brides encounter when in the initial planning stages.


1.Not considering a professional wedding planner - Even if you hire an experienced pro for a few hours, it will always pay off. Whether you need help finding the perfect venue or need realistic estimates to create an accurate budget, a seasoned pro can share their expertise.

2. Meeting with vendors before you have a wedding date and venue booked – Your vendors already have weddings on the books for at least the next year. While you may be super excited to book your favorite florist, wait until you have a confirmed date and venue so they can actually book your date and know they are available.

3. Not having a rough budget estimate from the start - If your overall wedding budget is $30k but you want the venue that is $20k, you are really going to skimp on every other vendor category to stay close to your budget.

4. Randomly finding vendors – Ask your venue for a preferred vendor list, hire an experienced planner or use a resource such as Richmond Weddings to find reputable professional vendors who have a great reputation and at least two years of experience. Also, read reviews for potential vendors on websites such as the Knot.com, MyWedding and Wedding Wire.

5. Not having a general style before you look at venues - Rustic mountain cabin, historic mansion, grand hotel ballroom, private home, country club, organic farm…all of these offer a very different types of atmosphere for a wedding. What is the feeling and type of atmosphere you want to create? Romantic, elegant, luxury, casual, chic, modern, artsy, vintage, simple and eclectic are just a few common adjectives to help you get started.

We hopes this helps for all the new brides out there! But as always if you need more help don't hesitate to contact us! We're here for you.

 www.zaharasdesign.com

804.464.7327

info@zaharasdesign.com

Explaining the Difference Between Planners & Designers

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I empathize with most clients who aren’t sure about the difference between what wedding planners do and what wedding designers do.
These two services have become so interchangeable that most of the time, it’s difficult to tell them apart.

Not to mention the local banquet managers from hotels and venues who do not hesitate to tell clients they don’t need a planner. It’s no wonder clients are confused about who does what.

Creating an Amazingly Styled Wedding

Styling is something Zahara's Events & Design is known for and sometimes I have brides ask me what styling is. Yes, we can do styling for our brides and bridal party, which means we are there for them every step of the way from picking the perfect dress and shoes, up to the right hair clip.

But that’s not what our styling services typically entail.
Most of our couples want help pulling together the look of their day.  We assist with all of the details that will impact the feel and look of the space.  This includes everything from programs to lighting, linens, and centerpieces.

The process is different for each bride, sometimes they need help finding their theme and picking colors. Other times they have a very clear idea or vision but want our help adding personal touches and making sure they have a cohesive look.

Since styling is such a huge passion of ours and a major part of what we do, it will now become a featured section of the blog.  So check back for styling tips, trends, and ideas.

 www.zaharasdesign.com

804.464.7327

info@zaharasdesign.com

We've Been Featured!: Old World Elegance styled shoot

In case you don't follow us on  Facebook, last Friday was a grand day for us in studio! We have been fighting back from sharing these amazing photos for the longest time. And finally the day has come when I get to share it with you all. We have been so excited to share, that we were featured on the lovely blog of Glamour and Grace! Ekkk! We are so grateful to be featured and a special thanks goes to David Abel for taking these amazing photos!  In case you missed it be sure to check out all the prettiness on Glamour and Grace here. Special thanks to all the awesome vendors who helped in making this shoot a success! 

Creative Ways To Use Florals At Your Wedding

Here in the studio we love florals! We especially love seeing them displayed in unexpected and creative ways! Below we put together some inspirational images for your perusal!

Wedding Planning 101: Cutting Costs

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When I stumbled upon this article on Huffington Post about what brides would have done differently for their wedding, it got me thinking. Thinking about wedding budgets. With weddings averaging upwards to 30-50 thousand dollars the burning question that comes to mind is "whose paying for all of this?" Yes on your big day you want to feel like royalty but at what costs? Keeping up with the Joneses is not smart if your going to be broke after having the "wedding no one could forget." Considering your budget and what you can afford is the beginning of the conversation but hang on with us and we'll show you how to make a budget and keep it.

Someone Please Call 911- Essentials For Every Bride on Her Big Day

Picture this. It's your big day and the unthinkable happens. You spill something on your dress. In disbelief you scramble to find something to clean off your dress. Little mishaps like this can either make or break your big day. The key thing to remember is to always be prepared. This ensures your event goes off without a hitch!

With all the planning and preparation that goes into a wedding, you want to be sure to have a prevention plan too. When working with a reputable event planner/designer  you'll never need to worry about what could happen, or could I say "almost happened."

 But if your flying solo for you big day let me introduce you to what I call the Bridal Emergency Kit. Packed with wedding day essentials like tooth brushes, hairpins, breath mints, tampons and scissors this kit will have you covered! Having these necessities helps prevents small problems from becoming HUGE problems. Keep in mind the word essential is objective so take some time out to think about what you really need. For instance, if your getting your nails done you probably won't need nail polish but another item to invest in would be a nail clipper just in case you  break a nail. Small items like this really go a long way! So while you busy bee brides are planning away don't forget to pack your essentials kits for those "just in case moments."

If you need even more help there are plenty of  emergency checklists that you can print out. I love this one! If you need even more advice we are here to assist you! Contact us at our website www.zaharasdesign.com!

Until next time!

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 www.zaharasdesign.com

804.372.5177

info@zaharasdesign.com