Wedding Layers

With wedding planning, it can get very hectic quickly. That’s why you need a “plan for your wedding planning” as odd as this may sound. You should determine early on what tasks will have to be completed to successfully plan the wedding on time and within budget.

Things to Do Very Early On

There are some things that just can’t wait when it comes to wedding planning. First, secure your photographer of choice with a money deposit. Once you have a wedding date set, you can talk with a photographer and schedule the photo session for your bridal portraits and secure their services for your wedding day. The reason you’ll want to book this very early is because photographers (really good ones) are usually booked months in advance, and many weddings are on weekend days.

Find a wedding dress early on as well so you’ll have time for fitting, ordering, and alterations (if needed). The bridesmaids will need plenty of time for their dresses so keep them informed also. Choose wedding colors and possibly a wedding theme before you start planning. Once you know the colors, you can start shopping for wedding favors and decorations early and possibly find some great bargains when you’re not in a rush.

Choose a Location for Your Wedding

Probably one of the most important things you’ll do is choose a location for your wedding. If having the wedding in a church, consider the types of decorations you will need and where you might hold the reception. If planning a wedding outdoors, you’ll have to take possible weather conditions into consideration – and do have a backup plan! Pick a location with great lighting, or plan to illuminate with additional lighting. The location is important to know how many decorations you will need, depending on the size of the building or area, and how many guests you can invite.

Hire a Wedding Director

A wedding director should be booked early on as well so you can be sure to have one when the day arrives. The director can help with last minute planning and the formalities of the ceremony. You’ll likely consider the director to be a lifesaver when the day finally arrives!

Order Decorations, Flowers, Invitations, and Wedding Party Gifts

The little details can cause big headaches if you don’t do these early on. You’ll need invitations early enough to address them and mail them at least a month ahead of the wedding date. Flowers and corsages should be ordered well in advance along with small appreciation gifts for the wedding party including bridesmaids, groomsmen, etc.

To save time and possibly money, you might be able to order many of the small wedding items online. There are thousands of wedding websites that carry almost every decoration, gift, or invitation you can think of at reasonable prices. The wedding websites also usually offer great tips on wedding planning for your benefit.

Don’t forget about the wedding rings, catering, wedding songs, reception decorations, punch, food, and of course, the wedding cake. These are all crucial parts of wedding planning and have to be taken care of early on to minimize stress. If you take care of the wedding planning far in advance, you’ll see things fall into place and be able to enjoy your wedding as it was meant to be!

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Learn more about Wedding Planning Tips

Author: Chris Robertson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Smart 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: Pressure cooker

With a mammoth task of planning a wedding in front of you it is safe to say that anyone would wonder were to start. Cheap wedding plans are available to get you started.

The key to planning a wedding is to take everything one step at a time. If you have never had to plan, or been part of planning for a wedding then there is no reason why you would know how to plan for a wedding. There are many cheap wedding plans available to help you on your way so do yourself a favor and invest in one. Just because you buy a wedding planner does not mean you have to follow it to the letter, use the planner as a guide. The advantage of a wedding planner is all the extra information that is given with the plan, if you want to know how to plan a simple wedding then their will be tips to help you achieve your dream, as well as plenty of money saving tips.

First things first, set the date and book the venue for the wedding. This needs to be done before anything else as you may need to change the date to get the venue you want as some venues are booked 3 years in advance. If you had 3 years to plan a wedding then you would have a lot of time to shop around for everything you need!

When you have set the date then you can set your wedding planning time line to keep you on track with everything you need to do. When deciding how to plan for a wedding the key is to book as early as possible. The best you can get are booked months in advance for weddings, whether it is photographers, caterers or florists when you find the one you want book as soon as you can so you don’t lose their services.

You will want to shop around for your wedding services and you will want to enjoy the planning experience. The key is to ensure you stick to the time line you create so that you do not run out of time or find that everyone is already booked for your day.

Why not visit our website for more help with your wedding planning along with more ideas for the wedding day

Author: Karen Lincoln
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Duty on LCD/Plasma TV

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: Programmable Pressure Cooker

Planning a wedding can be a difficult and time consuming process, but it is also one of the most rewarding things any of us will ever do.

Weddings are special events – full of religious, cultural and romantic significance, and these celebrations have had a special place in every culture throughout human history.

With all this historical baggage in place it is important to give your wedding planning the care and consideration it so richly deserves.

Learn To How To Decrease Your Stress Level

There are many tips one hears when planning a wedding, but perhaps the most important is simply to start the planning as early as possible. The earlier you can start planning the wedding the easier it will be.

Waiting until the last minute is the best way to increase your stress level but not necessarily the best way to plan the wedding of your dreams.

Take Advantage Of Discounts

Waiting until the last minute to plan that dream wedding can also increase costs significantly, as it may be too late to take advantage of the many discounts available to wedding planners.

When you get started early you have time to shop around and compare prices, but when you are pressed for time you may be forced to simply take whatever you can get.

Get Start Planning

So as soon as the question has been popped it is important to get started with your wedding plans. From choosing the perfect flowers to getting the best wedding cake to finding the greatest wedding gown ever, there is plenty to do when you are planning a wedding.

Being Organized From The Start

It will of course be helpful to put everything down in writing when you start planning that dream wedding.

There are software programs designed to take the guesswork out of planning a wedding, and those programs can be very helpful with their lists of things to do and details to take care of. Even in the absence of a special program, however, it is possible to plan a great wedding simply by being organized.

Whether you choose to right all the tasks down on a piece of paper or use a computer to keep track, a list can make wedding planning easier, less stressful and even less costly.

Shaunta Pleasant is a professional writer and editor on wedding topics. Visit my site to learn more about planning the perfect wedding at http://www.best-wedding-plan.com/wedding_ceremony.html

Author: Shaunta Pleasant
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Programmable Multi-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: Electric 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: Programmable Multi-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: 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: Smart 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
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