Wedding Layers

When setting up a budget for a wedding, many couples forget to include a line item for tips and gratuities. Sure, you could bypass this area completely, but that really wouldn’t be very nice, now would it? It would also go against accepted wedding etiquette.

Maybe you think a quick $100 will cover tips to everyone? Well, it may have 50 years ago, but in current times, it’s not uncommon for this area to run into the hundreds of dollars. This is why it’s important to include them in the budget. Tips & Gratuities are known for being budget busters of many a wedding.

You will want to be sure to check contracts out because some have a gratuity included. In these cases, there is no need to tip those associated with these particular contracts, unless of course you feel that one of the staff goes way above and beyond. If that’s the case, you may want to slip that person an extra tips.

Now, as far as wedding etiquette goes, the following people should be (and expect to be) tipped:

Altar boys / girls – $10 to $15 a piece

Bartenders – 10% of the total bill (unless a cash bar)

Chauffeurs – 10 to 15% of the total bill

Coat Check / Restroom Attendants – 50 cents to $1 per guest

DJ – $50 to $100

Hair Stylist / Makeup Artist – 10 to 15% of the total bill

Valet Parking Attendants – 50 cents to $1.00 per car (on top of what guests give them)

Waitstaff – 15% of the catering bill

There are also some optional folks you may want to tip as well. You’ll need to know about how these type of folks operate and make the call from there. For example, if you are doing business with the business owner directly for a particular service – say a florist – they may be doing the work themselves and have been compensated fairly in the contract you have with them. In this case, a nice thank you note may suffice and would be most appreciated. However, if you are dealing with an employee of the florist, a tip would likely be appropriate.

Here are the folks that tipping is optional with:

Baker / Cake Designer – $10 or $20

Catering / Reception Manager – $50 to $100

Musicians – $5 to $10 per hour, per musician

Florist – $10 to $20 per staff member

Officiant: $75 to $200 – This can also be paid as a donation to the church

Photographer / Videographer – $50 to $100

On site Wedding Coordinator – $50

Wedding Planner – 10% of their total bill

Tips should be paid in cash and should be placed in envelopes. Plan on them being paid just as the vendor and staff are leaving. By doing this in this fashion, you’ll be able to judge how much of a tip they have actually earned. Don’t be afraid to make adjustments on the fly if necessary. The best man – or trusted person – will generally be in charge of taking care of this for you.

You may not have considered tips and gratuities to be an item worthy of being in your wedding budget. Hopefully, this article has shown you otherwise. You may want to set up a second account for expenses that may be overlooked so that you aren’t shocked by them. Consider funding this account to the tune of 10 to 15% of your total wedding budget. This is something that could save you from pulling your hair out trying to redo your budget so that it comes in where you need it to.

Be sure to keep these extra funds separate from your main wedding account. Don’t use these funds unless you run into unexpected expenses. This extra fund could go a long way to ensuring your wedding comes in at or under budget.

Becky has been writing about several topics that have touched her life in the last decade. When she was engaged to be married back in 2002, both she and her fiance knew that in order to have the wedding she’d always dreamed of, they were going to have to get creative. She has taken to writing about her wedding on a budget experiences so that others can experience a first class wedding without having to pay for it the rest of their lives. Becky also maintains a number of web sites on a wide range of topics. You can check out her latest site here: Backyard Birdwatching which features the Equipment For Birdwatching

Author: Becky McLaurin
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Digital Camera News

There are always a small percentage of engaged couples that don’t appreciate or understand the use of an expensive wedding photographer on their wedding day. They might be self-conscious or just don’t believe that an expensive professional wedding photographer will deliver better photos than a cheaper photographer.

Wedding photography is not just about taking a few pictures of the happy couple cutting the cake and family and friends catching the bouquet. Wedding photos will be the most important keepsake of this happy day which you will have for years to come.

Wedding photos should capture the mood, the love, the magic and the detail of your special day. An average wedding Photographer will take pictures of your day, but a good wedding Photographer will be able to capture every special moment as though you are reliving it over and over.

When you have a small budget for your wedding, you will try and cut the costs on every single detail. But ask yourself this question: Is it really worth cutting a few hundred dollars to save on your live long memories? The one expense that will be the difference between having photos you want to hide from family and friends or having individual original photos you would want to treasure for all of your live to come. There is a good chance that an inexperienced Photographer will not deliver the quality of photos that is to be expected from a wedding Photographer. That photos might not be the right exposure or composition, the Photographer might have missed irreplaceable moments or the photos might not reflect anything about your personality or style.

For the couple that is self-conscious or doesn’t enjoy having their photo taken, it is very important to have an experienced wedding Photographer. Good wedding Photography is an art that can only be perfected with time, experience and knowledge. An experienced wedding Photographer will deliver relaxed, unposed photos and will not let you stand in awkward poses or take too long with the photo shoot.

You want a Photographer that does his job quick and efficient and knows what to do and when to do it. You want someone that can disappear in the crowd but still get the most beautiful natural pictures from you as couple and your guests. Apart from the obvious quality in exposure and composition, a good wedding Photographer will concentrate on detail and story telling.

As soon as you get back from honeymoon, family and friends will want to see the photos of your special day. If you are not completely satisfied with your photos, it will be very disappointing if you have spend a lot of money to ensure that very detail of your wedding is perfect and then not have the quality photos to show for it

The best way to see the differences between an average Photographer and the best wedding Photographer is to meet with them, see their work and compare the prize. Once you have seen more than one Photographer in different prize ranges, you will get a good idea on their quality and differences. To make sure that you get the best photos for the amount you are willing to pay, there are a few things you can do:

Make an appointment to see a few wedding Photographers and compare the following critical details:

Prize of the package: What is the total amount that it will cost to hire this particular photographer. Costs should include the amount for the photos as well as transport costs, accommodation costs (if the photographer lives far from the venue and needs to sleep over)

What do you get for your money: Compare the quantity photos, the size of photos, and any extras such as an album and compact disc with photos.

Copyright: If a compact disc is included in your package, are you allowed to reproduce more photos and submit it to things like magazines and newspapers?

Duration: How long will it take the Photographer to edit and print your photos before you receive them? The popular photographers won’t necessarily take longer with your photos, because they have people working for them to ensure a speedy end product. I know people who used a cheaper photographer and ended up waiting 8 months for their photos.

Do you get along well with the Photographer: Does he understand what is important to you regarding your photos? This is important, because you have to let this person get close to you and follow you on the most special day of your live.

The fact of the matter is, we can not all afford the best and expensive wedding Photographers if we’re having a budget wedding. You do however have to do your homework and compare a few photographers to get the best deal.

We know how it feels to dream about a big, expensive & romantic wedding and not being able to have the budget for it. There are a lot of great ideas and products out there that can help you plan the wedding of your dreams. For more Budget tips and advise for your wedding day, visit http://bellsandbrides.com

Author: Estie Higgs
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Digital Camera Times

When setting up a budget for a wedding, many couples forget to include a line item for tips and gratuities. Sure, you could bypass this area completely, but that really wouldn’t be very nice, now would it? It would also go against accepted wedding etiquette.

Maybe you think a quick $100 will cover tips to everyone? Well, it may have 50 years ago, but in current times, it’s not uncommon for this area to run into the hundreds of dollars. This is why it’s important to include them in the budget. Tips & Gratuities are known for being budget busters of many a wedding.

You will want to be sure to check contracts out because some have a gratuity included. In these cases, there is no need to tip those associated with these particular contracts, unless of course you feel that one of the staff goes way above and beyond. If that’s the case, you may want to slip that person an extra tips.

Now, as far as wedding etiquette goes, the following people should be (and expect to be) tipped:

Altar boys / girls – $10 to $15 a piece

Bartenders – 10% of the total bill (unless a cash bar)

Chauffeurs – 10 to 15% of the total bill

Coat Check / Restroom Attendants – 50 cents to $1 per guest

DJ – $50 to $100

Hair Stylist / Makeup Artist – 10 to 15% of the total bill

Valet Parking Attendants – 50 cents to $1.00 per car (on top of what guests give them)

Waitstaff – 15% of the catering bill

There are also some optional folks you may want to tip as well. You’ll need to know about how these type of folks operate and make the call from there. For example, if you are doing business with the business owner directly for a particular service – say a florist – they may be doing the work themselves and have been compensated fairly in the contract you have with them. In this case, a nice thank you note may suffice and would be most appreciated. However, if you are dealing with an employee of the florist, a tip would likely be appropriate.

Here are the folks that tipping is optional with:

Baker / Cake Designer – $10 or $20

Catering / Reception Manager – $50 to $100

Musicians – $5 to $10 per hour, per musician

Florist – $10 to $20 per staff member

Officiant: $75 to $200 – This can also be paid as a donation to the church

Photographer / Videographer – $50 to $100

On site Wedding Coordinator – $50

Wedding Planner – 10% of their total bill

Tips should be paid in cash and should be placed in envelopes. Plan on them being paid just as the vendor and staff are leaving. By doing this in this fashion, you’ll be able to judge how much of a tip they have actually earned. Don’t be afraid to make adjustments on the fly if necessary. The best man – or trusted person – will generally be in charge of taking care of this for you.

You may not have considered tips and gratuities to be an item worthy of being in your wedding budget. Hopefully, this article has shown you otherwise. You may want to set up a second account for expenses that may be overlooked so that you aren’t shocked by them. Consider funding this account to the tune of 10 to 15% of your total wedding budget. This is something that could save you from pulling your hair out trying to redo your budget so that it comes in where you need it to.

Be sure to keep these extra funds separate from your main wedding account. Don’t use these funds unless you run into unexpected expenses. This extra fund could go a long way to ensuring your wedding comes in at or under budget.

Becky has been writing about several topics that have touched her life in the last decade. When she was engaged to be married back in 2002, both she and her fiance knew that in order to have the wedding she’d always dreamed of, they were going to have to get creative. She has taken to writing about her wedding on a budget experiences so that others can experience a first class wedding without having to pay for it the rest of their lives. Becky also maintains a number of web sites on a wide range of topics. You can check out her latest site here: Backyard Birdwatching which features the Equipment For Birdwatching

Author: Becky McLaurin
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Import duty tariff

Bound and determined brides have a plethora of resources available to them when it comes to finding a dress of their dreams at a realistic price. And I’m not talking about simply going to a discount store. The Internet, your friends and family are all you allies when it comes to finding the perfect gown at the best possible price.

Check out these money saving tips!

1. Research And Buy Your Gown Online

Strange as this may sound, the Internet has made finding a top quality wedding gown and even bridesmaids dresses easier than ever. The web is home to a large number of discount bridal retailers. You’ll definitely want to include the following sites when conducting your search for a reasonably priced gown:

bridalonlinestore.com
lilywedding.com

both of these are well known for top quality value and service from brides who have actually purchased gowns from them. You can also find very reasonably priced gowns at department store web sites such as Macy’s.com and even Amazon has gotten into the mix.

eBay is also another place you may want to keep an eye on. They have both an auction and a “buy it now” format. Don’t be fooled into thinking you may just be looking at used – and potentially damaged – gowns on eBay. A large number of discount bridal shops have stores set up on eBay. But do use caution if you decide to buy a gown on eBay. Look carefully at the buyers feedback rating, look carefully at the provided photos and be sure to ask questions that you have before buying.

2. Borrow A Gown

While you may not want to wear someone Else’s dress, doing so can add a personal touch, especially if it’s from a family member. On top of that, you’ll be making the day of your mother, aunt or friend when you ask them to loan it to you.

3. Rent Your Gown

This can be a great option if you positively must have that dress from a high end designer, but can’t afford it. You can locate shops that rent gowns either in your local phone book or online. Some will not only rent gowns, but bridal party dresses as well. Depending on the type of gown you want, where you live and what time of year you are getting married, the cost can run around $100 for a dress that costs $300 to $500. You can expect to spend around $1,000 to rent a gown that costs $3,000 to $5,000. The rental price should definitely include the headpiece, veil, train, crinoline and other accessories outside of shoes and jewelry. Another benefit of renting is that you won’t have to worry about cleaning or storing your gown after your wedding.

4. Consider Buying A White, Cream or Ivory Bridesmaid Dress

Sure, it’s not a wedding gown, but a dress of this type could cost you less than $100! If you embellish the dress with a colorful wrap, sash, ribbons or sequins, it very well could be that no one is the wiser. Bridal shops have started catching on to this money saving tactic and are starting to keep plenty of white bridesmaid’s dresses in stock. But, a number of them are either charging an exorbitant fee or they are requiring you to purchase a minimum number because they know you won’t buy that many if you are planning on using it as a wedding gown. If you run into this, take your search online where you won’t run into this type of behavior.

5. Make Your Own Gown

Or, have someone you know make it for you if you aren’t into sewing. This can be a very affordable option if you are fortunate enough to have this skill or know someone who does. Most fabric shops carry wedding gown patterns. Even if you don’t know anyone, you could always hire a professional seamstress to make your dress. It’s likely that you’ll still save plenty going this route because many professional seamstresses can make designer looking dresses at a fraction of the cost of a bridal shop gown.

Becky has been writing about her wedding on a budget experiences ever since she went through the process back in 2002. It’s true – couples really can experience a first class wedding without having to pay for it the rest of their lives! Becky also maintains a number of web sites on a wide range of topics. You can check out her latest site here: Digital Scanners featuring the Hand Held Scanner

Author: Becky McLaurin
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Pressure cooker

When setting up a budget for a wedding, many couples forget to include a line item for tips and gratuities. Sure, you could bypass this area completely, but that really wouldn’t be very nice, now would it? It would also go against accepted wedding etiquette.

Maybe you think a quick $100 will cover tips to everyone? Well, it may have 50 years ago, but in current times, it’s not uncommon for this area to run into the hundreds of dollars. This is why it’s important to include them in the budget. Tips & Gratuities are known for being budget busters of many a wedding.

You will want to be sure to check contracts out because some have a gratuity included. In these cases, there is no need to tip those associated with these particular contracts, unless of course you feel that one of the staff goes way above and beyond. If that’s the case, you may want to slip that person an extra tips.

Now, as far as wedding etiquette goes, the following people should be (and expect to be) tipped:

Altar boys / girls – $10 to $15 a piece

Bartenders – 10% of the total bill (unless a cash bar)

Chauffeurs – 10 to 15% of the total bill

Coat Check / Restroom Attendants – 50 cents to $1 per guest

DJ – $50 to $100

Hair Stylist / Makeup Artist – 10 to 15% of the total bill

Valet Parking Attendants – 50 cents to $1.00 per car (on top of what guests give them)

Waitstaff – 15% of the catering bill

There are also some optional folks you may want to tip as well. You’ll need to know about how these type of folks operate and make the call from there. For example, if you are doing business with the business owner directly for a particular service – say a florist – they may be doing the work themselves and have been compensated fairly in the contract you have with them. In this case, a nice thank you note may suffice and would be most appreciated. However, if you are dealing with an employee of the florist, a tip would likely be appropriate.

Here are the folks that tipping is optional with:

Baker / Cake Designer – $10 or $20

Catering / Reception Manager – $50 to $100

Musicians – $5 to $10 per hour, per musician

Florist – $10 to $20 per staff member

Officiant: $75 to $200 – This can also be paid as a donation to the church

Photographer / Videographer – $50 to $100

On site Wedding Coordinator – $50

Wedding Planner – 10% of their total bill

Tips should be paid in cash and should be placed in envelopes. Plan on them being paid just as the vendor and staff are leaving. By doing this in this fashion, you’ll be able to judge how much of a tip they have actually earned. Don’t be afraid to make adjustments on the fly if necessary. The best man – or trusted person – will generally be in charge of taking care of this for you.

You may not have considered tips and gratuities to be an item worthy of being in your wedding budget. Hopefully, this article has shown you otherwise. You may want to set up a second account for expenses that may be overlooked so that you aren’t shocked by them. Consider funding this account to the tune of 10 to 15% of your total wedding budget. This is something that could save you from pulling your hair out trying to redo your budget so that it comes in where you need it to.

Be sure to keep these extra funds separate from your main wedding account. Don’t use these funds unless you run into unexpected expenses. This extra fund could go a long way to ensuring your wedding comes in at or under budget.

Becky has been writing about several topics that have touched her life in the last decade. When she was engaged to be married back in 2002, both she and her fiance knew that in order to have the wedding she’d always dreamed of, they were going to have to get creative. She has taken to writing about her wedding on a budget experiences so that others can experience a first class wedding without having to pay for it the rest of their lives. Becky also maintains a number of web sites on a wide range of topics. You can check out her latest site here: Backyard Birdwatching which features the Equipment For Birdwatching

Author: Becky McLaurin
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: WordPress plugin Guest Blogger

Planning a wedding party is not like planning any other party. The amount of planning goes into it will boggle your mind. However, if a few important aspects of the planning process are kept in mind then, everything else will take care of itself. A wedding party should be fun and therefore must be planned well. Given below are a few aspects of planning a wedding party, which must be considered carefully.

The Budget

While planning a wedding party, the first thing you must do is set a budget. It is one of the most important aspects of planning a wedding, and once the budget is finalized you can get on to the other aspects of planning. If you have decided upon a low budget then you would have to plan a low key party, however if there are no limits to the budget than you can pull out all the stops. While figuring out the budget you must include the associated cost of anything and everything that is going to be a part of the wedding party right from invitations, to photography and from the cakes to the going away presents. Only then will you have a clear idea about the kind of money you can spend on the wedding party.

The Number of Guests

This is the tricky part. This is because the number of guests that are a part of your wedding party will decide the major part of the expense of your party. Have a rounded off figure that you can offer to the sales person of the party hall or garden where you are going to host the party. Try and give the maximum figure, which you can prune down at a later time. Most party halls or gardens etc, charge by “the head’ and thus the number of guests that you are going to invite for your party are going to be very critical.

The Party Theme

If you want you can even plan a theme for the party. For e.g. you could call it a dinner ‘n’ dance party and thus decorate the venue and plan the party accordingly. Or else you could plan the party according to a particular theme like ‘summer’ ‘Rain’, or even ‘Snow’. You could then ask people who are invited to the wedding party to don specific clothing and also organize various events centered on the particular theme. You can also keep a simple party that has no theme attached to it, and it’s only about having fun and congratulating the wedded couple.

The Menu

It is a fact that one of the biggest attractions of any party is the menu. People might forget anything and everything associated with the party but they will never forget the kind of food that was served at the wedding party. Make sure that there is delicious food on the menu and that it caters to all kinds of tastes. You can offer your guests a myriad of choices ranging from Indian, Continental, and Chinese etc. You might also want to serve non-vegetarian dishes to your guests; however, this decision has to be taken with care. You might have invited guests who wouldn’t like the fact that non-vegetarian dishes are being served along with vegetarian food.

Don’t leave it all for the Party Planner

These days one can hire party planners who have an expertise in planning parties. You can just give them a fair idea of what you want and they will do everything else for you. However, it’s important that even if you hire such people, you become a part of the planning process. Your contribution will give a personal touch to the party and moreover, you can know for certain whether all that you have asked to be planned is in order or not.

Indian Matrimony

Catering Service

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Author: Parbhat Kumar
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: eCommerce solution, service provider

When setting up a budget for a wedding, many couples forget to include a line item for tips and gratuities. Sure, you could bypass this area completely, but that really wouldn’t be very nice, now would it? It would also go against accepted wedding etiquette.

Maybe you think a quick $100 will cover tips to everyone? Well, it may have 50 years ago, but in current times, it’s not uncommon for this area to run into the hundreds of dollars. This is why it’s important to include them in the budget. Tips & Gratuities are known for being budget busters of many a wedding.

You will want to be sure to check contracts out because some have a gratuity included. In these cases, there is no need to tip those associated with these particular contracts, unless of course you feel that one of the staff goes way above and beyond. If that’s the case, you may want to slip that person an extra tips.

Now, as far as wedding etiquette goes, the following people should be (and expect to be) tipped:

Altar boys / girls – $10 to $15 a piece

Bartenders – 10% of the total bill (unless a cash bar)

Chauffeurs – 10 to 15% of the total bill

Coat Check / Restroom Attendants – 50 cents to $1 per guest

DJ – $50 to $100

Hair Stylist / Makeup Artist – 10 to 15% of the total bill

Valet Parking Attendants – 50 cents to $1.00 per car (on top of what guests give them)

Waitstaff – 15% of the catering bill

There are also some optional folks you may want to tip as well. You’ll need to know about how these type of folks operate and make the call from there. For example, if you are doing business with the business owner directly for a particular service – say a florist – they may be doing the work themselves and have been compensated fairly in the contract you have with them. In this case, a nice thank you note may suffice and would be most appreciated. However, if you are dealing with an employee of the florist, a tip would likely be appropriate.

Here are the folks that tipping is optional with:

Baker / Cake Designer – $10 or $20

Catering / Reception Manager – $50 to $100

Musicians – $5 to $10 per hour, per musician

Florist – $10 to $20 per staff member

Officiant: $75 to $200 – This can also be paid as a donation to the church

Photographer / Videographer – $50 to $100

On site Wedding Coordinator – $50

Wedding Planner – 10% of their total bill

Tips should be paid in cash and should be placed in envelopes. Plan on them being paid just as the vendor and staff are leaving. By doing this in this fashion, you’ll be able to judge how much of a tip they have actually earned. Don’t be afraid to make adjustments on the fly if necessary. The best man – or trusted person – will generally be in charge of taking care of this for you.

You may not have considered tips and gratuities to be an item worthy of being in your wedding budget. Hopefully, this article has shown you otherwise. You may want to set up a second account for expenses that may be overlooked so that you aren’t shocked by them. Consider funding this account to the tune of 10 to 15% of your total wedding budget. This is something that could save you from pulling your hair out trying to redo your budget so that it comes in where you need it to.

Be sure to keep these extra funds separate from your main wedding account. Don’t use these funds unless you run into unexpected expenses. This extra fund could go a long way to ensuring your wedding comes in at or under budget.

Becky has been writing about several topics that have touched her life in the last decade. When she was engaged to be married back in 2002, both she and her fiance knew that in order to have the wedding she’d always dreamed of, they were going to have to get creative. She has taken to writing about her wedding on a budget experiences so that others can experience a first class wedding without having to pay for it the rest of their lives. Becky also maintains a number of web sites on a wide range of topics. You can check out her latest site here: Backyard Birdwatching which features the Equipment For Birdwatching

Author: Becky McLaurin
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: portmeirion porcelain dinnerware, bakeware & accessories

When setting up a budget for a wedding, many couples forget to include a line item for tips and gratuities. Sure, you could bypass this area completely, but that really wouldn’t be very nice, now would it? It would also go against accepted wedding etiquette.

Maybe you think a quick $100 will cover tips to everyone? Well, it may have 50 years ago, but in current times, it’s not uncommon for this area to run into the hundreds of dollars. This is why it’s important to include them in the budget. Tips & Gratuities are known for being budget busters of many a wedding.

You will want to be sure to check contracts out because some have a gratuity included. In these cases, there is no need to tip those associated with these particular contracts, unless of course you feel that one of the staff goes way above and beyond. If that’s the case, you may want to slip that person an extra tips.

Now, as far as wedding etiquette goes, the following people should be (and expect to be) tipped:

Altar boys / girls – $10 to $15 a piece

Bartenders – 10% of the total bill (unless a cash bar)

Chauffeurs – 10 to 15% of the total bill

Coat Check / Restroom Attendants – 50 cents to $1 per guest

DJ – $50 to $100

Hair Stylist / Makeup Artist – 10 to 15% of the total bill

Valet Parking Attendants – 50 cents to $1.00 per car (on top of what guests give them)

Waitstaff – 15% of the catering bill

There are also some optional folks you may want to tip as well. You’ll need to know about how these type of folks operate and make the call from there. For example, if you are doing business with the business owner directly for a particular service – say a florist – they may be doing the work themselves and have been compensated fairly in the contract you have with them. In this case, a nice thank you note may suffice and would be most appreciated. However, if you are dealing with an employee of the florist, a tip would likely be appropriate.

Here are the folks that tipping is optional with:

Baker / Cake Designer – $10 or $20

Catering / Reception Manager – $50 to $100

Musicians – $5 to $10 per hour, per musician

Florist – $10 to $20 per staff member

Officiant: $75 to $200 – This can also be paid as a donation to the church

Photographer / Videographer – $50 to $100

On site Wedding Coordinator – $50

Wedding Planner – 10% of their total bill

Tips should be paid in cash and should be placed in envelopes. Plan on them being paid just as the vendor and staff are leaving. By doing this in this fashion, you’ll be able to judge how much of a tip they have actually earned. Don’t be afraid to make adjustments on the fly if necessary. The best man – or trusted person – will generally be in charge of taking care of this for you.

You may not have considered tips and gratuities to be an item worthy of being in your wedding budget. Hopefully, this article has shown you otherwise. You may want to set up a second account for expenses that may be overlooked so that you aren’t shocked by them. Consider funding this account to the tune of 10 to 15% of your total wedding budget. This is something that could save you from pulling your hair out trying to redo your budget so that it comes in where you need it to.

Be sure to keep these extra funds separate from your main wedding account. Don’t use these funds unless you run into unexpected expenses. This extra fund could go a long way to ensuring your wedding comes in at or under budget.

Becky has been writing about several topics that have touched her life in the last decade. When she was engaged to be married back in 2002, both she and her fiance knew that in order to have the wedding she’d always dreamed of, they were going to have to get creative. She has taken to writing about her wedding on a budget experiences so that others can experience a first class wedding without having to pay for it the rest of their lives. Becky also maintains a number of web sites on a wide range of topics. You can check out her latest site here: Backyard Birdwatching which features the Equipment For Birdwatching

Author: Becky McLaurin
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Digital TV, HDTV, Satellite TV

An exciting moment when you have decided to spend the rest of your life with someone, and your wedding ring becomes even more important if you think about what it means. A wedding ring is meant to incorporate the circle of life and the never ending love for your significant other.

Before deciding on a style or size of wedding ring, be sure to set a budget, you don’t want to be looking at rings that you just can’t afford. It’s okay to going into debt for your wedding ring, but make sure it’s reasonable. Remember, a wedding ring is a constant reminder of the one you want to spend your life with.

Once you have set a budget for your wedding rings, it’s important to take in your lifestyle. A wedding ring that is to bold or sticks up high on your finger, can not only be irritating but also actually dangerous. You want a setting that will fit in with what you do in your world; construction workers, blue collar workers, and others that work with their hands do not need something to catch on machinery and take their finger with it. Choosing style is the second most important thing when deciding on a wedding ring.

Whether you’ve decided on diamonds or another stone, purchase the highest quality stone you can afford. It’s more important to have quality in a stone, that it is size. You’ll want to look for flaws, color and clarity in the stone and make sure that it is something that will continue to increase in value. Purchasing a larger, but poor quality stone will not increase in value and can actually break the stone through hard wear. So choose the stone within your budget and that is the best quality.

Now you’ve chosen a budget, a setting and the stone it’s time to choose a jeweler. The jeweler becomes very important because the setting of the stone needs to be durable. You may choose a jeweler that has a good reputation and then purchase a maintenance plan along with your wedding ring. A maintenance plan will allow you to take the ring in several times a year to have it cleaned and have the setting checked to make sure that you won’t you lose the stone.

Whether you’ve chosen a wedding ring set or are just looking for the wedding ring, you want them to match. Choose a wedding ring that matches with the engagement ring and fits comfortably on your hand. An ill-fitting set can not only be uncomfortable, but can actually damage each ring

Remember when it comes to choosing your wedding ring that you’re choosing something that is not only for your lifetime, but that can possibly be handed down through the generations. Choose the best quality ring you can afford and don’t go over your budget. Make sure that it’s a quality stone and purchased from a quality jeweler that will maintain your wedding ring setting.

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Author: Marlon Dirk
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Canada duty

When setting up a budget for a wedding, many couples forget to include a line item for tips and gratuities. Sure, you could bypass this area completely, but that really wouldn’t be very nice, now would it? It would also go against accepted wedding etiquette.

Maybe you think a quick $100 will cover tips to everyone? Well, it may have 50 years ago, but in current times, it’s not uncommon for this area to run into the hundreds of dollars. This is why it’s important to include them in the budget. Tips & Gratuities are known for being budget busters of many a wedding.

You will want to be sure to check contracts out because some have a gratuity included. In these cases, there is no need to tip those associated with these particular contracts, unless of course you feel that one of the staff goes way above and beyond. If that’s the case, you may want to slip that person an extra tips.

Now, as far as wedding etiquette goes, the following people should be (and expect to be) tipped:

Altar boys / girls – $10 to $15 a piece

Bartenders – 10% of the total bill (unless a cash bar)

Chauffeurs – 10 to 15% of the total bill

Coat Check / Restroom Attendants – 50 cents to $1 per guest

DJ – $50 to $100

Hair Stylist / Makeup Artist – 10 to 15% of the total bill

Valet Parking Attendants – 50 cents to $1.00 per car (on top of what guests give them)

Waitstaff – 15% of the catering bill

There are also some optional folks you may want to tip as well. You’ll need to know about how these type of folks operate and make the call from there. For example, if you are doing business with the business owner directly for a particular service – say a florist – they may be doing the work themselves and have been compensated fairly in the contract you have with them. In this case, a nice thank you note may suffice and would be most appreciated. However, if you are dealing with an employee of the florist, a tip would likely be appropriate.

Here are the folks that tipping is optional with:

Baker / Cake Designer – $10 or $20

Catering / Reception Manager – $50 to $100

Musicians – $5 to $10 per hour, per musician

Florist – $10 to $20 per staff member

Officiant: $75 to $200 – This can also be paid as a donation to the church

Photographer / Videographer – $50 to $100

On site Wedding Coordinator – $50

Wedding Planner – 10% of their total bill

Tips should be paid in cash and should be placed in envelopes. Plan on them being paid just as the vendor and staff are leaving. By doing this in this fashion, you’ll be able to judge how much of a tip they have actually earned. Don’t be afraid to make adjustments on the fly if necessary. The best man – or trusted person – will generally be in charge of taking care of this for you.

You may not have considered tips and gratuities to be an item worthy of being in your wedding budget. Hopefully, this article has shown you otherwise. You may want to set up a second account for expenses that may be overlooked so that you aren’t shocked by them. Consider funding this account to the tune of 10 to 15% of your total wedding budget. This is something that could save you from pulling your hair out trying to redo your budget so that it comes in where you need it to.

Be sure to keep these extra funds separate from your main wedding account. Don’t use these funds unless you run into unexpected expenses. This extra fund could go a long way to ensuring your wedding comes in at or under budget.

Becky has been writing about several topics that have touched her life in the last decade. When she was engaged to be married back in 2002, both she and her fiance knew that in order to have the wedding she’d always dreamed of, they were going to have to get creative. She has taken to writing about her wedding on a budget experiences so that others can experience a first class wedding without having to pay for it the rest of their lives. Becky also maintains a number of web sites on a wide range of topics. You can check out her latest site here: Backyard Birdwatching which features the Equipment For Birdwatching

Author: Becky McLaurin
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Import duty tariff