Wedding Wednesday - Consider Your Pets

If you're considering including your 4-legged friends/family in your wedding ceremony, you need to take a few things into account.

Venue: is your venue pet-friendly? Is there someone your doggy can hang out before and after the ceremony?
Responsible Party: just like you'll be hiring a wedding coordinator/planner to take care of everything on the big day so you can just relax, you'll need to designate someone as the responsible party for your furry friend. Your dog might get nervous and have an accident or need to be walked - who's taking care of this while you're getting in your dress/tux? And if your reception is going late, who'll take the little (or big) guy out?
Excitement Levels: just like kids, animals are unpredictable, especially in large crowds. Be prepared that your pet might not cooperate and have a back up plan (e.g. responsible party grabbing the pet in case he/she starts running in the opposite direction).
Dress Code: just like the rest of the family members, with their boutonnieres or posies, consider getting a little something for your pet. A bout for the collar or a little flower collar are always a nice touch.

Images: Audra Wrisley

Wedding Wednesday - Engagement Photos

Many couples go back and forth about taking engagement photos - is it worth the extra cost? Extra time? Do we really need engagement photos? We say yes - it's worth doing the engagement session and here's why:

Getting to know your photographer - unless you've hired someone you know well (who's also a professional photographer - not just a friend with a camera), it'll take some time getting used to your photographer (and vice versa). The engagement session will help the photographer understand your personality and how to best shoot you and what cues to give.
Getting comfortable in front of the camera - unless both of you are models/actors/used to being in front of a camera, it will take some getting used to feeling comfortable being in front of the camera and taking cues. The engagement photos will help you better understand your angles and be prepared for the big day.
Bonus - you get awesome photos you can share with family and friends, or just keep for yourselves.

Images: Jessica Latos Photography

Wedding Wednesday - Photo Tip

One detail that very often gets left out of wedding photos is the invitation suite. You've most likely spent time and $$ designing these, so why not include it in the memories captured? Tip - chat with your photog before the wedding day and ask their preference on shooting these. Some photographers will shoot onsite while shooting other details (jewelry, shoes, etc), and some prefer to shoot them in their studio before/after the wedding. Save at least 1 full suite especially for this.

As seen on Weddings Unveiled

Photography: Audra Wrisley

Stationary: C&V

Ring: Trumpet&Horn

Ring Box: The Mrs Box
Silk Ribbon: Frou Frou Chic

Savor the Moment

Between all the vendor meetings, contracts, and decision making it's easy to stress and get caught up in the details. But remember, your wedding day is all about savoring the special moments with your loved ones. Seeing your future spouse for the first time, your dance with your mom/dad, and even your wild friends enjoying themselves - savor it. Don't worry about the tiny details that will have zero impact on your future marriage (e.g. napkin is the wrong shade of pink).

 Sam Stroud Photography

Wedding Dress Bustling Tip

Depending on your wedding dress, you might have to bustle it once ceremony is over and you'd like to move around without everyone around you stepping on the your dress. You and your MOH (or  mother, bridesmaids, aunts, whoever) all watched the nice ladies at the wedding shop show you how to bustle. Everyone took notes and everything seemed straight forward...until it's 2 minutes before your reception and all of the sudden no one can remember how to bustle the complicated pattern. Tip - video the bustling at the gown shop. On the wedding day, simply pull out that smart phone of yours and voila - your dress is bustled like a pro.

This will also help your planner out, as every dress is different and requires a different method.

Video - Bow Tie Tutorial

It's wedding day, you decided to rock a bow tie, and all of the sudden you realize you have no idea how to tie it. And as it turns out, none of your Groomsmen know how to do it either. No worries - here's a great video walking you through the steps of the bow tie:

Man Monday - Wedding Details

The wedding planning process doesn't have to be all about flowers, ribbons, linens, and candy bars. Chat with your significant other about adding elements of you in the reception. How about a cigar bar to enjoy after dinner? Or a local craft beer bar displaying your favorite brews? Remember - you should enjoy your wedding, so add in elements that represent you and create an atmosphere that is truly authentic to you and your partner.

Image: Procopio Photography 

Image: Paired Images

Wedding Planner as Your Advocate

It goes without saying but if you're planning a wedding, you should really consider a month-of coordinator at a minimum. Weddings are detailed and unless you've planned one before, chances are there are many things you just don't know because you've never had to think about them. When hiring a wedding planner or a month-of coordinator, look for someone who's ready to be your advocate. Your planner should be proactive about getting you better deals and fight for you when a vendor pushes back.

So how do you know if your potential coordinator/planner will fight for you? Ask them hypotheticals (unless you already have a brewing issue - e.g. a dj is being pushy about doing certain traditional things, such as parent dances) and see how they would handle these situations. Don't be afraid to bring up your planning concerns at your initial meeting and see what that planner suggests. If the answers are passive, red flag. Also ask what their relationship is with their referred vendors. Some planners get kick-backs or commission from specific vendors - avoid those planners. They are not sending you to vendors that are the right fit for you - it's the right fit for their wallet. You're already paying them a fee, which should automatically include being honest and doing what's best for you and your wedding.

This is one of the qualities that makes our team standout. If you talk to any of our past planning clients, they'll say we've gone above and beyond and fought for them the entire time. We listen to our clients needs/priorities and make sure all other vendors address these. Whether a vendor adds on "extra" fees that we know can be removed or a caterer is swaying a layout that is convenient for them but not necessarily for the flow of your dream event, we step in. We look at every wedding as if our brother/sister/best friend were getting married, so we're always on the lookout for the best deal, best fit, and best decisions for you and your priorities.

Image: Rachael Foster Photography

Man Mondays - Standing Out

Gentlemen - don't be afraid to stand out! Your suit doesn't have to match the wedding party in color but keep the style the same. If your groomsmen are wearing ties, rock a bowtie (or vice versa) or choose a different color tie! Another option, rock a different color jacket. Remember - this is your day as well and your fashion can be as bold as your partners.

Post Consult - How To Choose The Right Vendor

Now that you've met with your vendors and have collected all the quotes, how do you make the right decision? First, see if the vendor addressed all your needs and included everything you discussed. If they missed a big chunk of what you talked about - red flag. Their lack of attention to detail will most likely reflect on the rest of the planning process and you don't need to add anything else to your checklist.

Reviewing the quote closely is also important - a few things to watch out for:

• Delivery cost vs product cost: different companies price out their services differently. Some have higher delivery costs, but lower pricing and vice versa. Make sure you're comparing apples to apples.
• Additional fee: ask about what services the quote doesn't cover. For example, some florists might charge you to move décor from ceremony to reception. A caterer might charge a cake cutting or champagne pour fee. A vendor might look like an amazing deal but they might be hiding fees that will be tacked on to your final invoice.
• Negotiable Items: if you really like a vendor, but find that they are coming slightly over budget, don't be afraid to discuss what can be done to adjust the quote. Make it clear you want to work with them - most vendors will appreciate this and be super receptive. Also, remember that great talent is worth the money - like 'em, book 'em.
• Gut Feeling: if you clicked with a vendor and your gut is telling you that it's the right fit, book. Having a connection with a vendor will go a long ways. They will work extra hard to make sure your day is amazing and worry free.

And one final note - don't wait to book vendors you really want. If you want them, the chances are others do as well.

Image: Nancy Anderson Photography

Vendor Consults - What To Ask

Now that you've done your research and found some great vendors, time to setup your consults. Use your consult to get to know the vendors' style+personality, their services, and who else they like to work with.

STYLE+PERSONALITY - this is key. Whether you're working with a vendor for a month or a year, personality and similar working style go a long way. Vendors who truly understand your vision will not only bring your ideas to life but also build on them, for one ultimate wedding.

SERVICES - see the full list of services that your vendors offer. Your DJ likely has uplighting, and  many times at a significantly lower price than a professional lighting company. And your photog might provide photo booths. If you don't ask, you'll never know.

REFERALS - if you vibe with a vendor, ask who they work with. Your caterer might know a great florist or your photographer might have great transportation company suggestions - again, just ask!

Next Wednesday we're talking post-consult - how to compare quotes, what questions to ask, and how to make the right decision.

Image: Zac Wolf Photography

How To Get the Most Out of Vendor Meetings

Whether you're looking to book a florist, a photographer, or a caterer there are a few steps you can take to make sure you get the most out of your meetings. Think about it - you're getting ready to spend 20-30 minutes on an intro call or an hour+ in a face-to-face consultation with at least one vendor per category. That's a lot of time if you're not properly prepared, so focus on researching Price, Vision, Priorities, and Reviews prior to your meetings.

PRICE RANGE - just like buying a car, you need to do your research about pricing. Yes - it is a bit more difficult to get clear pricing in the wedding industry but with a little google magic and a few simple calls, you can get a good idea of what your vision might cost in your geographical area (the cost of your sister's wedding in Ohio will be much different than your own wedding in DC). Now, why is this important?

1) Budget - allocating your wedding budget based on realistic costs can save you the heartache of going over budget, as well as help make an educated decision about what to spend on each service. Doing this based on some formula you found online can be frustrating, as it doesn't account for your priorities or actual cost of items in your area. Having budget guidelines also is a huge help to vendors, especially those putting together custom proposals (designers, florists, caterers).
2) Vendors - finding vendors in your price range is important. If your photo budget is $4k but you're reaching out to photogs starting at $10k, you might be disappointed when they send you a proposal for $10k. We also highly advise against meeting with three vendors from three different pricing categories (low, medium, high) because you'll be comparing apples to oranges. Pick 3 vendors in your style and within a similar price range to get the most out of your vendor search. And if your planner is sending you on low/medium/high consultations ask them why - your planner should be working for you and not for the vendors they've cut deals with.

VISION - I think this portion scares many of you because someone out there labeled "vision" as "all of the tiniest details of wedding". When we say "vision" we don't mean tell us the details of the menu cards, exact color of your linen, or the tone of uplighting you want to have. What we mean is give us an idea of what kind of event you're looking to have. Will it be a relaxed family-style meal or an all-night rager with one of the top DJs in the country. As wedding vendors, we need some parameters to be able to narrow down and give you the proposal that will encompass both your budget and your needs - which we won't know if we don't get any vision direction. We need to know who we're designing for and what role we will be playing on the big day. This will also help you narrow down your search to vendors that fit your style, which is super important.

PRIORITIES - knowing what's important to you can help vendors put together the best package for you. For some it's food, for some it's photography, and for some it's décor. We are never offended when someone says "hey - we're dropping a lot on our photographer, so we'd like to scale down the flowers". This is actually super helpful - we know that flowers are taking a back seat, which impacts the floral selections and overall design (tall elaborate centerpieces vs. low floral accents).

REVIEWS - this goes without saying but we'll say it anyway. Do your research on vendors you meet PRIOR to the meeting. If you're looking at established vendors, there should be plenty of reviews on WeddingWire, Yelp, Facebook, etc to help you find not only trusted vendors but ones that fit your style. Another thing you can do - pick up the phone and inquire if your vendors have biz licenses and/or liability insurance. This will help you understand who's not only good at their job but is also good at running a legit business (if they're not approaching their business seriously, they'll most likely not approach your wedding seriously - beware "brides turned planners").

Join us next Wednesday for how to make the most of your consultation - what to look for and ask when meeting with vendors.

Rainy Days Are For Catching Up

We know we've been neglecting the blog, so we're spending these next few rainy days to update content and bring you some of our latest projects+events. Stay tune!

Image: Mantas Photography

Lebanese Celebration at the Ronald Reagan Building

Let's close out this week of #dbiplans with Sandy+Lane's Ronald Reagan Building wedding, captured beautifully by Connor Studios:

 

Happy Friday!

It's Planning Week!

Studio DBI has just entered it's fifth year in business, and we can honestly say the company looks a little different from our first year. Our services grew from simple flower+decor to full scale design and planning. So this week, we're featuring weddings where DBI played the planning role and planning role only - all flowers seen this week are designed by other extremely talented companies/florists and we loved working with all of them!

Let's kick off this week with Jill+Preston's Army Navy Club DC wedding with Gabe Aceves Photography, Love Blooms DC, I Do Wedding Videography, Haymarket Transportation, and Fluffy Thoughts:

how gorgeous is the bride?! 

Hotel Room Blocks - Consider Your Guests

Recently, I was having a conversation with a bridesmaid, who was flying to a different country for the actual wedding. She's already purchased a BLHDN dress ($250), a plane ticket ($800+), had to purchase bridal shower and wedding presents ($150+), and we won't even go into all the expenses associated with staying in a foreign city for 5 days. Furthermore, when she told me about the available hotel room blocks, my jaw dropped. The couple reserved 3 hotels - all 5 star, high-end hotels, with the cheapest option of $250/night. Let's do the math - 5 days at $250 and we're looking at another $1250 worth of expenses for someone else's wedding. Where does that put us...$2450. Yikes! And let's not even mention that this is probably 1 of at least 4 weddings this year this person is attending.

As a host of any party, it is your job to make everyone feel comfortable and enjoy their time. Part of that is provide your guests with Hotel Room Blocks fitted for any pocket.

ASSESS YOUR GUESTLIST: You know who's attending your wedding, so plan accordingly. Consider the amount of out-of-town guests and make sure you book enough room blocks to accommodate majority, if not all guests. Keep in mind that hotel room blocks are not endless - most hotels limit the amount of rooms one can reserve and some hotels might have a booking minimum.
*as with any contract, read the fine print.

RESEARCH CONVENIENT HOTELS: Whether or not you're providing transportation for all guests, research what's around your venue. The last thing you want is a lengthy ride back after the reception.

PROVIDE VARIETY: Not only should you provide variety in terms of budgets, but also in terms of hotel groups. People love loyalty programs, and Uncle Fred might want to stay at a Marriott, while Uncle Chris has rewards points at a Hilton.

Wedding Wednesday - Newly Engaged? 6 Things to Do Right Now

Eek!  You’ve just gotten engaged, you’ve got a few (or 10) bridal magazines on your nightstand, and you have all sorts of ideas and advice flying at you from all directions.  Where do you start with the wedding planning?  You could use one of the many crazy checklists found in all of your fore-mentioned magazines.  I kept mine on the refrigerator and another copy in my wedding binder.  It was a seriously exciting moment when items got checked off, because that meant we were one step closer to our wedding day!

Checklists are great for a timeline perspective; however, they can be overwhelming and make you feel like you have 101 things to do right now!  Where do you start? What needs to be done first?  Don’t be disappointed, but it’s not dress shopping or completing your gift registry . . . . . that fun stuff comes later.  Today we’ve got the top six priority objectives to get your wedding planning started.

1.  Establish a Budget

This is clearly the least fun of all wedding-planning duties, but it is by far the most important.  Sit down with everyone who will be contributing financially and determine who will be paying for what and what your overall budget will be.  This will be the cornerstone of all of the wedding details to follow.

2.  Choose a Wedding Style

What’s your bridal vision? Do you want small and intimate or big and extravagant?  Whatever you want the vibe to be, choosing a wedding style early on will help guide you when picking a venue, décor, catering, etc.

3.  Start a Guest List

Obviously you don’t need to have an exact head-count, yet, but determining an approximate number will help establish what size venue you will need and it will also help you obtain accurate pricing estimates.

4.  Narrow Down a Few Dates

Picking 2-3 potential wedding dates is a good idea, in case your dream venue is unavailable on your numero uno date.  Consider things like weather, holidays, work schedules, and local events.

5.  Pick a Venue

Now that you’ve taken care of items 1-4, sit down and research potential venue sites.  Once you find one (or several) that fits your style and budget, give them a call, or email to see if the date you want is available and schedule a tour.   If you plan to check out multiple venues, try to do so within a few weeks time.  Some sites book up a year to a year and a half in advance, so you don’t want to hem and haw over the perfect venue for too long.

6.  Hire a Photographer

Excellent photographers are hot commodities, and many are booked out as far in advance as venues! To ensure you get the guy or gal you want; book your photog early on.

Wedding Wednesday - 5 Keys to Wedding Day Bliss

We're back this week with some of the best wedding advice, EVER!  Okay, that was a little dramatic, but it's true.  You'll find that everyone has an opinion about what's most important during the wedding planning process, but here are my top suggestions to you.  Bridal predecessors wisely passed some down, and others were discovered through personal experience.  What's some of the best wedding advice you've received?

1.  Compromise

You must be willing to give and take - especially if you have a very involved fiancé.  There's no point in getting into a knock down fight over which passed hors d'oeuvres are to be served during cocktail hour.   During the planning of our wedding my husband didn't really concern himself with such things like readings, ceremony music, or invitation style.  As long as he got to have final say on the DJ and choose the song that played when we were announced at our reception, all was good in the wedding planning hood.

    Sidebar - We were announced to the chorus of a hardcore rap song.  Sounds odd, but it fit us  
                    perfectly.  Which brings me to my next piece of advice . . . . . . 

  

2.  Make it Personal

Whether it's the unique table numbers, special menu items, or a really cool guestbook, some details of your wedding should be all about you.  Not the standard and cookie cutter.

3.  Some things are best left to the pros

Don't commit to too many DIY projects.  Although you may be crafty, and making your own bouquets (gulp) is cost effective, it's probably better to pay someone to do that.  In a world with websites like Pinterest and apracticlewedding.com (which we love!) one can easily be tempted to take on too many seemingly "easy projects".  Pick one or two that truly interest you, and leave the rest to the professionals.

4.  A great DJ/Band Leader is a MUST

The DJ is not there to simply play music.  He or she will also be MC-ing your reception, and must be able to read the crowd.  The last thing you want is for your guests to be bored.  The DJ is there to control the flow and keep the party going!

5.  Have Fun and Remember to Eat! 

You've worked so hard planning an amazing wedding, so be sure to sit back and truly enjoy the day.  Be a guest at your own wedding!  . . . . And I wasn't kidding about remembering to eat.

We're Hiring!

As we wrap up the Spring/Summer wedding season, we're already getting ready for a hectic Fall. In preparation, we're looking to bring on additional staff. We're looking for several different individuals:

FLOWER POWER: For the people with floral background - we'd love to add a head floral designer and assistant to our team. If you're crafty, love flowers, and thrive in a hectic environment, we'd love to hear from you.

COORDINATING ASSISTANT: For those that are organized and are quick problem solvers - we'd love to add you to our planning team. This position will work with the head planner to ensure the wedding day runs smoothly.

EVENT STAFF: This is for those interested in event production. Tasks will include everything for decor installation to windexing vases to putting together floral pieces. Usually very high paced and definitely physical.

If you or someone you know would be a great fit please email us at info [at] studiodbi [dot] com with a resume and a little bit about yourself.

Friday Happiness

Our clients make it all worth it...especially moments like these (Dumbarton House 2 weekends ago):