Adrienne Banks

Wedding Website: derrickandadrienne.com
I didn’t have my wedding planned out when I was a wee one like some girls. When I finally got engaged, I had an idea of what I wanted, but no idea of what I was getting myself into. Now we are about nine months from wedding day and each day I’m learning the ins and outs of wedding planning, DIY and stress management, or lack of. I am a native of Kansas City and have finally decided to stick around for a while and purchase a house in the area with my fiancé. I enjoy spending time with friends and family and of course, wedding planning. I couldn’t be more excited to share tips, ideas and suggestions with fellow brides, bridesmaids and other members of the wedding party as we all count down to our big day!

Save the Date for the Save the Dates

Posted by Adrienne Banks on December 8, 2009

Before I was engaged, I always knew I wanted to make Save the Dates a part of my stationery suite. I liked getting Save the Dates in the mail. Not only did they signal an upcoming wedding, but also gave me plenty of time to make arrangements to be out of the office and travel if necessary. Why would I settle for anything less for my own guests? So this week, I finally dropped all my Save the Dates in the mail and I couldn’t have been more excited!

I admit, Save the Dates aren’t always necessary. If the majority of your guests are in town or your wedding isn’t over a popular holiday weekend, then word of mouth may suffice. But if you are having a destination wedding or most of your guests will have to travel to attend, Save the Dates are recommended and they don’t have to cost a fortune.

Photo Credit: Sonjasbrides.com

One way to cut down on costs for Save the Dates is to send them by e-mail. E-mail Save the Dates, invitations, and RSVPs are becoming more popular, but not necessarily the best way to go about corresponding with your guests. Keep in mind that not all of your guests may have access to a computer or the Internet. The method I used was postcards. You can save a bundle on postage by sending a simple Save the Date postcard that has a cute picture on the front and a little copy on the back. Then your guests can just stick it on the fridge or put it on their calendar. I made mine myself using simple publishing software and had them printed. It was super easy.

When Should You Send Your Wedding Save the Dates?

If cost isn’t an issue, the sky’s the limit! You can do magnets, photo booth layouts, kits, wherever your imagination takes you. There are plenty of sites online that can help you design and print your own creations or you can use one of their templates. The main consideration when thinking about Save the Dates is when you are going to send them. Six to eight months from the wedding is usually the norm. You don’t want to send them too far from the wedding, but you don’t want to send them too close to the wedding because you might as well just send the invitation. You also want to give your guests plenty of time to make arrangements at work and book travel.

Photo Credit: Etsy.com

Photo Credit: RifleDesign.com

Photo Credit: MintDesignBlog.com

Photo Credit: ItsFancy.blogspot.com

So save the date for the Save the Dates and give your guests a heads up about your big day!

Filed under: Our Brides & Grooms, Paper Goods

December 8, 2009 by Adrienne Banks

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Inside the Outside Wedding

Posted by Adrienne Banks on November 27, 2009

Photo Credit: Anne Surface

Important Elements of an Outdoor Wedding Ceremony

I live in the midwest in the Kansas City area. The area is known for its unpredictable weather. Kansas City also is in tornado alley and we get our fair share of severe weather during the months of April, May and June. So why am I taking such a huge risk by having my wedding ceremony outdoors on May 1st? I love spring. I love the sense of new beginnings it brings. The flowers, the trees, the sunshine—it’s the perfect season for a wedding. Don’t get me wrong. I didn’t go into planning my outdoor wedding blindly. Below are just a few things I’ve considered so far in planning my outdoor wedding.

The Backup Plan. One of the first things I considered for my outdoor wedding was a backup plan. If you’re considering an outdoor wedding, it’s great to think you’re getting married outdoors rain or shine, but who really wants their guests to sit through a ceremony soaking wet or in wind tunnel? It is not ideal and your guests will not be happy. Speak with your venue about rain plans. Usually venues can provide great and creative alternatives to outdoor events.

Photo Credit: AffordableUtahWeddings.com

Consider Comfort. Another thing to consider for your outdoor wedding is making sure your guests are comfortable. If your outdoor wedding is during a warm time of year, a great idea is to turn your programs into fans. Guests will be sure to keep cool during the ceremony. If it’s going to be chilly during your wedding, a fun idea is to drape shawls in your wedding colors across the back of chairs so your female guests can wrap one around them if they get chilly. It’s also a great way to dress up your chairs.

Provide Seating. Don’t forgo chairs for your guests. Even if you keep the ceremony short and sweet, guests will want to know where their chairs are. For most venues, you are responsible for renting your own chairs. Check out the rental companies in your area and compare rates. Be sure to ask about the set up and take down and if there is an additional charge.

Photo Credit: CeremoniesIdo.com

Simple Décor. One good thing about an outdoor ceremony is, depending on your venue, décor can be minimal. If you’re going to be on the grass, you can easily dress up your pews with pomanders on shepherd’s hooks. Since my ceremony is outdoors and my wedding is indoors, I’ve planned the décor in a way that it can be used both indoors and outdoors (just incase!).

Appropriate Attire. Your wedding attire should go with the theme of your outdoor wedding. If you’re having an outdoor wedding in the spring or summer, why not choose light weight fabrics or light colored suits. Also, as the bride, you certainly don’t want to stand outside in the heat sweating in a heavy dress with tons of tulle.

Photo Credit: SnippetandInk.blogspot.com

Let it Happen. Finally, I plan on trying not to stress about the weather. It is something beyond my control and I’ve already accepted that the wedding may need to be indoors. Even if you have your heart set on having your wedding outdoors, don’t be too disappointed or let it ruin your special day if it’s not. The most important thing is that you are marrying your soul mate and in the end, it doesn’t matter whether you say your “I dos” outside or in.

Filed under: Our Brides & Grooms, Venues

November 27, 2009 by Adrienne Banks

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Time Management for the Modern Bride

Posted by Adrienne Banks on November 13, 2009

Stress-Free Wedding Planning Checklists Help with Wedding Details

Currently, I’m a project manager at an advertising agency. My day is full of setting time lines and priorities and making sure projects are completed right and on time. It’s only natural that I would take that approach with the biggest project of my life—my wedding. If you’re like me, you have a full-time job, social and family obligations, a household to take care of and finances to manage. With all that going on, do you ever wonder where you can possibly squeeze in wedding planning?

Photo Credit: dumbledorian BlipFoto.com

Well, the modern bride can get it done … especially when she has a plan. The best way to get your head wrapped around all your wedding details is to create a calendar that is just for the wedding details. I created mine in Microsoft Excel. Work back from your wedding date and indicate milestones along the way. For example, my wedding date is May 1, so I counted back about eight weeks to figure out when I needed to have all my invitations out the door. From there, I can figure out when I need to have them addressed, then ordered, then picked out. Working backwards almost guarantees you’ll hit your milestones. There are plenty of resources on the Web that provide wedding calendars and countdowns so you can figure out when your milestones should be. Each time you’ve accomplished something, mark it on the calendar and by the end of the month you have a record of everything you’ve done.

Photo Credit: BayAreaWeddingReview.com

Although modern brides can do just about anything, modern brides can’t do it all. There’s nothing wrong with delegating. Politely ask your bridesmaids if they can make calls for you or run a few errands, but don’t take them for granted. It’s your wedding, but they have lives, too. Be specific with your requests and be sure to show them gratitude for helping you out.

If you can get away, run your bridal errands or make your phone calls over your lunch hour. That way you’ll catch vendors during business hours and you can avoid weekend crowds.

And most important, make time for yourself. A tired and worn out bride is a useless and cranky bride. Make sure you reserve some time to relax and not work on wedding-related items.

Photo Credit: Ross Oscar Knight Photography

So far, my time management skills have worked to my advantage. Wedding planning has been virtually stress free and I have an idea of what I need to do in the weeks and months ahead. That may be a different story weeks before the wedding. What are some of your modern bride time management tips?

Filed under: Our Brides & Grooms, Planning & Resources

November 13, 2009 by Adrienne Banks

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Surviving the Bridal Fair

Posted by Adrienne Banks on September 14, 2009

Florists, soloists, caterers, dresses, tuxes, transportation—there’s so much to do and so many vendors to call when planning a wedding. Why not kill about 50 birds with one stone by attending a local bridal fair or expo? Bridal fairs are great ways to meet with multiple vendors, try out some tasty treats and see some gorgeous gowns without running around town (trust me, running around will come soon enough). While they are helpful, would you believe there is actually an art to attending these events? I learned that bit of information the first and last time I went to a bridal fair last winter and I’m happy to share what I learned so you can have a positive, successful and fabulous time attending bridal fairs.

Photo credit: San Fernando Valley Sun

Buy Tickets in Advance
If available, you should think about purchasing tickets in advance. Advance-ticket prices may be a little cheaper and there may be an incentive to buying early like drawings or prizes.

Get There Early
Who doesn’t like free stuff? Samples go fast so you want to consider getting there early so you have first dibs on any of the swag.

Eat a Light, Nutritious Breakfast
If you plan on being at the fair all day, I suggest eating a light breakfast. Sure, you’ll be sampling cream puffs and cake with fondant and raspberry filling, but you will need the strength to get through the crowds of brides and their moms. With that said, don’t spend a dime on concessions. Usually there is plenty of food to try and water to drink. I guarantee you will be full of cheese balls and pigs in a blanket by the end of the day.

Have a Plan of Attack
One way to get overwhelmed at these things is to go in without a plan. Plan ahead and find out which vendors are going to be there and which ones you definitely want to talk to. Most bridal fairs feature a map or layout of the floor so you can plan accordingly. Once you’ve hit all your must-see vendors, you can go visit others, but at least you covered all your bases first.

Photo credit: sweetjulias.wordpress.com

Start at the Back
Almost inevitably, when patrons enter the fair, they will congregate at booths in the front. So, why not head straight to the booths in the back and work your way to the front. You’ll avoid the crowds and have more time to spend with your vendors.

Bring Name and Address Labels
Unless you want your hand to fall off filling out contact information, I strongly recommend pre-printed address labels. With your hands full of magazines and bags of goodies, it’s a pain to dig around to find a pen and write the same information over and over again. With a label, you can just stick it and walk away.

Take Notes
Be sure to write down which vendors you liked or want to research further. There are so many vendors that by the time you get home, it’s hard to remember who you met.

Have Fun
This is the most important tip. Bridal fairs are an excellent way to bond with the moms, dads, bridal parties, whoever, while getting some great ideas for your wedding. With these tips, you will be on your way to surviving your next bridal fair.

Photo credit: bridalexpochicago.com

What tips do you have for surviving bridal fairs?

Image Credits: San Fernando Valley Sun, sweetjulias.wordpress.com, bridalexpochicago.com

Filed under: Our Brides & Grooms, Tips and Tricks

September 14, 2009 by Adrienne Banks

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Times Are Tough … Be A Bargain Bride

Posted by Adrienne Banks on August 18, 2009

It takes me forever to purchase something, whether it’s a new gadget or a fabulous pair of shoes. It’s not that I am indecisive. I’m just picky about where my money goes, especially during these unstable economic times. I rarely pay full price for anything and I’m always searching for a better deal. I’m not cheap, just resourceful. Same goes with wedding planning. Every bride and groom should have a budget and find any means necessary to stick to it. There is no sense in going into huge amounts of debt before you blissfully begin your lives together. So here are a few lessons I’ve learned so far about having a fabulous wedding on a budget.

Start Early. So what if you’re having an 18-month engagement. There isn’t a rule that says you can’t start planning as soon as possible. Give yourself a little time to bask in the glow of your newly engaged status, then start planning. If you plan on blocking rooms for out-of-town guests, do not wait until you’re a month or two out from your wedding. Contact hotels and other accommodations as soon as possible. Most hotels will block a certain amount of rooms without holding you to any financial obligation and can add more rooms if needed. If you wait too long to get a room block, events and other groups that are in town or blocking rooms could cause rates to increase or even worse—no vacancies. One more thing: the sooner you start planning and booking vendors, the more time you have to pay them. Paying a vendor over the course of nine months certainly beats paying them over the course of two.

Shop Around. I’ve learned to treat vendors like a job interview. Just because I met with them did not mean I was obligated to use them. I went to five different bridal gown stores, three different florists and what seemed like a million different ceremony and reception venues. Starting the planning process early means you can take more time meeting with different vendors and comparing prices and services. Once that’s complete, you can make a more informed decision and get the best bang for your bridal buck.

Be Honest About Your Budget. I was watching a wedding show the other day where a young bride told a bridal gown consultant that her dress budget was $5,000, when it was really between $1,500 and $3,000. Of course, the consultant was bringing out $5,000 gowns and the bride was falling in love with them. Then she had to come to her senses and tell the consultant the truth and they had to start all over. The moral of the story is when working with vendors, be honest about your budget. They are professionals and they can provide you with ideas and suggestions that will work best with your budget. There is no sense in getting your hopes up and theirs with services you can’t afford.

Be Flexible. When my heart is set on something, I want it. But as a budget-conscious bride, I’ve had to learn the art of compromise and flexibility. Perhaps your budget does not allow for cascading floral arrangements all over the ceremony site and altar, or you can’t have that $5,000 designer gown you love so much. Use your vendors to help find comparable items. Be ready to compromise.

Just Ask. We have yet to pay full price for anything. Why? Because we asked about discounts. Believe it or not, many vendors will work with you if you simply ask about discounts or added value. The worse they can say is no. For instance, when we shopped around for room blocks, we got the discounted group rates, but breakfast was not included in any of them. I simply asked if there was anything we could do about providing the guests with breakfast and we were given discounts of up to 15 percent and restaurant vouchers. Vendors are just happy to have the business, and as long as you’re not completely low balling them, they are usually happy to work something out with you.

Track Every Dollar Spent. Many Web sites have budget tools brides can use. It is important to track every dollar you spend on anything wedding related. This can be a tedious task, but it is so worth it. By having everything organized and in front of you, it will help you determine where you can move money around if necessary.

Budgeting can be tricky, but if you stick to some of my lessons learned, your wedding planning process will go much smoother and you can sleep at night without worrying about being in the poor house. Happy planning!