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Survey
Says!
After
the wedding is over...
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72% of all brides say they would have spent more time choosing their reception entertainment.
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Almost 100% say they would have spent more of their budget on the entertainment.
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During wedding planning, brides say their highest priority is their attire, followed by the reception site and caterer -
reception entertainment is among the least of their priorities. Yet, within one week after their reception, 78% say they would have made the entertainment their highest priority.
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When asked, 81% of guests say what they remember most about a wedding is the entertainment.
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65% of all couples that chose a band to entertain at their wedding said, if they had it to do over again, they would have chosen a disc jockey.
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Entertainment is
often only 5% of the Wedding Budget, but TWICE as many guests will remember the entertainment more than anything else.
*These statistics were published in St. Louis
Bride & Groom Magazine in 2003. Sources include: Simmons, 2001; USA
Today, 2002; National Bridal Service, 2001; The Knot, 2002; Brides
Magazine, 2001.
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Don't let this be a conversation you have
late in the evening after your party is over...
Thank
you honey for not spending too much on the entertainment.
We
did a lot of worrying and went through a lot of hassle trying to make sure
everyone had a good time, but I guess you
were right.
I
thought the peanut butter sandwiches cut into hearts went over real well,
didn't you?
I
still have some stuck to the roof of my mouth. But you're idea of not providing
a dance floor, really saved us a bundle. I'm sure the few who danced
on the carpet in their stocking feet got a kick out of the static charge.
I
know I'm still tingling.
Hmm...I
wondered why grandpa kept clutching his chest. Now, that strobe
light your brother brought caused some neat dancing effects, especially
when that one guy would break dance on the floor.
Honey,
I think he was having a seizure...
Really? He had some
pretty good moves. I thought he was a professional you hired.
REMEMBER!!
You wouldn't let me spend any money on the entertainment!!!
Have this one instead!
Thank you
for
having the
Copen Cabana
host the
party!
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How
to save money on your Wedding, Prom, or Party! Helpful
Advice Tips: (You
can either read complete article or just go to where your interest is)
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DID
YOU KNOW?
"...almost
40% of a person's
budget is spent on the food
and beverages!" |
It
never fails to amaze us that the national average spent on a wedding is
around $20,000, and that people
continue to allocate so little in their budget to its most
important aspect - the entertainment.
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Wedding and party cakes,
many a work of art, range from $5 to $30 per slice, and watching their
demolition is almost sacrilegious, and can bring tears to the stoutest
heart. It can cost from
$750 to $4,500 just to serve 150 people a piece of cake.
Now you know why there are so many tears shed at weddings. On the average, almost
40% of a person's budget is spent on the food and beverages! |
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Thousands of dollars worth of food is
devoured within 20 minutes, the expensive flowers start to
droop, and the decorations you agonized over for months are given just a
passing glance, as spilled drinks on tables are hastily mopped up.
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That doesn't even
begin to cover the invitations, wedding dresses, bridesmaid gowns, tuxes,
flowers, catering, party decorations, wedding
albums, favors, facility rental, limos,
wedding planner, or even the...uh...uh...that's
right, the wedding entertainment. Why is the entertainment always last on
the list?
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DID
YOU KNOW?
"Entertainment is
often
only 5% of the Wedding Budget, but TWICE as many guests will remember the entertainment more than anything else."
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Then the entertainment
is expected to make up for a restless crowd, uncomfortable in their formals,
suffering from eating too much, shirt collars and girdles are feeling too tight, and new shoes
are pinching sensitive toes. |
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The entertainer is expected to wave a magic wand and
make sure everyone has a grand time, feels great, and goes home
remembering the best party they ever
attended. |
SAVE
MONEY:
"Choose
vendors who provide a Gift
Registry so friends and family can help you offset your
costs."
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Well, it is doable with a personable and
highly energetic entertainer... like us for an example. We can create the
magic because we have the professional equipment and experience to work
the crowd, so you and your guests can relax and have a great time.
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Regarding
your next party, here's the FREE advice from
David and Dawna, still happily married
since
1981 and counting... |
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What
your guests WON'T Remember: Your guests won't
remember what the flowers looked like or how the food tasted, and many
won't remember how the tables were decorated. But they will remember
if they had fun at your party, and enjoyed the entertainment. So,
don't cut corners when it comes to your
entertainment or your memories!
Favors
to help people remember your event. Choose favors that help people
remember your event, yet that are valuable and utilitarian enough that
they can be used for something else later, whether it be personalized photo
playing cards with your picture, name and date of event, or some other
type of personalized favor. Hardly anyone ever throws away a deck of cards, and it's a
great way for people to remember you and your anniversary or corporate
message! Make it unforgettable not just
for you, but for them as well.
Be pro-active and speak
directly with all of your party vendors, and ask for alternative options for less expensive
food and beverages, floral
arrangements, decorations, party favors, videography and photography for your
event. Want to save a good amount of money quickly and easily? Then choose
vendors who provide a Gift Registry
so your friends and family can help offset the cost.
How
to get people to show up at your event. Remember the comment about pinched
toes in the above Helpful Facts and Suggestions?
There is nothing worse than spending thousands of dollars on food and
beverages, and only half the people decide to show up for your
event! Decide how "formal" you want your party to be, and
if it doesn't matter to you that people wear comfortable clothes, then be
sure to include this information in your invitation. The more
freedom you give your guests, the more apt they are to attend your party.
You want people
to have a good time and interact by dancing, participating in the party games,
and such.
Save
Money on your photography and
videography. "Photojournalistic" is a coined
phrase which means "NOT STAGED" (i.e. Candid photos taken
without being in set positions. Portrait photography is staged not
candid). If
you don't mind spending thousands of dollars for a Photojournalistic
photographer, then skip to the next paragraph. But if you'd rather
put your hard earned money toward something which will last a lifetime and
become an heirloom, please consider a professionally edited digital
video archived on DVD or a professionally designed and printed Coffee Table
Magazine Style Wedding Photo
Book, containing your favorite pictures, written vows, text
annotations, toasts, and more.
If you really like the photographer's
work but not the price, ask if the price can be reduced by having fewer
pictures taken and/or less time spent at the event. Some
photographers and other vendors will give a discount if the event is held
during the weekday rather than on a prime weekend. Want to save even
more? Schedule your portrait photo shoot several days or weeks prior
to the wedding, then schedule the photographer to take only the candid
photos during the actual ceremony. Not only can this save money, but
VALUABLE time as well, and you won't feel as rushed to get to your
reception.
With the advent of the
digital age, it is amazing some of the candid photographs which can be
taken by friends and family. If money truly is an issue, enlist the
help of your friends and family, set up a schedule and list of events that
you don't want forgotten, and have them take as many pictures as they can,
so you can pick the best of the lot.
Save
Money on Food and Beverages...it's Easy! Instead of
providing fancy foods and desserts that are unrecognizable, consider having
plenty of good food on a buffet that you can get at a more reasonable
price, rather than doing a "sit down" dinner.
Don't have an open bar, which can put a big hole in your pocket. If
need be, have a cash bar and have people pay for their own liquor or ask them to bring their
favorite. They're less apt to get inebriated, especially if they have to
pay for or provide, and your conscience will
feel better.
Want
to make your Wedding even LESS STRESSFUL? Consider having your
wedding ceremony on one day with just immediate family and a few select
friends, take your honeymoon, get your household in order, and then have
the reception a month or two later. This gives everyone time to
rest, additional plans to be made, and the expense of the event is spread
out over a period of time.
It
is so important to take TIME days, weeks, and months BEFORE the wedding to
just sit and do NOTHING, which will help free your mind from worry and
anxiety. Don't use up all your vacation and budget for your
honeymoon. Set aside a couple of personal days to give you an added
break in between the stress. Use your DO NOTHING TIME to spend just
on you, by going away for a special weekend, which could be:
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to
a spa that includes a relaxing massage or facial.
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a
fishing trip where only the fish are biting and not the in-laws.
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a
beach trip where all you do is soak up the sun.
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a
bed and breakfast where you're pampered for the weekend.
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a
dude ranch in the mountains to help remind you there are still things
bigger than your Wedding, and it's all a matter of perspective!
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Remember:
The list is endless, but it's up to you to seize the JOY and RELAX!
Take
a holistic view of your event, and understand that each aspect needs to
balance the next. Having a seven tier cake sitting on top of a
folding card table scotch taped with crepe paper just doesn't "cut
it". Renting a huge space at a convention center or fancy hotel
for only 50 guests just doesn't make sense, or worse yet having a bunch of
people in your allocated space but hiring a DJ with only two speakers and
sound system that barely holds up in a living room environment is not a
very good idea.
But
most of all, sit down with family and friends, especially those who have
hosted parties, listen to their suggestions, and brainstorm about ways that you can cut costs but still get what you
really want. You might be surprised at some of the options that present themselves.
And, PLEASE move the entertainment
consideration to the top of your list. It is truly the most
important. For more proof.... check out the survey at the top of the
left column.
If you don't believe the survey figures, then ask your friends and family
what they remembered most at the last party they attended.
copyright
2003 all rights reserved
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