WHERE TO START WHEN PLANNING MY WEDDING !!!

Being a bride-to-be is a lot of work! While many women dream about their big day from the time they're little girls – picking out dresses, color schemes and themes long before they've even met their future husband – they tend to underestimate just how much time and effort it's going to take to plan their wedding and wedding reception.

Just remember, while the ceremony may seem much simpler to prepare for then the wedding reception, both elements require you to keep organized and plan ahead. The little details are the ones that are going to catch you up on your big day – and you don't want any mishaps (forget to pay the officiant, anyone?) spoiling things for you.  ETC Events specializes in Wedding Planning and takes you through every step of the planning process ensuring that these little mixups don’t happen.

Why ETC

 

 

You may be thinking to yourself ‘why do I need a wedding planner?’ Well your wedding day is going to be one of, if not, the most important day of your life, so why try and do it all yourself? You hire an expert to do the catering, take the photos, make the cake, so why not hire a professional to help with the planning?

WELL to answer the questions, They could save you money, time and hassle… If you want your wedding to run like a dream, let a wedding planner take the strain
Do you want a dream wedding but have no idea where to begin? Are you on a tight budget but want to make your money go as far as possible? Maybe you want someone there on the day to ensure everything goes smoothly. Whatever you envisage for your special day, a wedding planner will have the skills and experience to make it a reality.

A wedding planner’s brief is simple: to provide you with a stress-free and enjoyable planning experience that results in a wedding day that is within budget and a true reflection of your relationship and commitment to one another.
Money-saving advice
Hiring a planner not only provides relief from the 300 hours it could take you to plan your day – they’ll save you a considerable amount of money too. Their experience in the wedding industry means that not only do they have extensive knowledge of venues, suppliers and current trends; they can also show you where to cut costs without cutting corners and negotiate on your behalf to ensure you receive the highest quality for the lowest possible price. They will help you:
•    Create a budget that is both realistic and easy to manage.
•    Assess your vision and planning priorities.
•    Decide where to splurge and where to save.
•    Negotiate discounts with suppliers.
•    Monitor when deposits and final balances are due.
It has been reported that 70% of brides who didn’t use a planner, wish that they had….A wedding planner’s job, as corny as it may sound, is to make your dreams a reality. It is our aim to do everything in our power to make sure you have the best day ever, and in the process keep you as calm and stress-free as possible, saving you much needed time and of course save you money!

 

 

Why ?

 

You may be thinking to yourself ‘why do I need a wedding planner?’ Well your wedding day is going to be one of, if not, the most important day of your life, so why try and do it all yourself? You hire an expert to do the catering, take the photos, make the cake, so why not hire a professional to help with the planning?

WELL to answer the questions, They could save you money, time and hassle… If you want your wedding to run like a dream, let a wedding planner take the strain
Do you want a dream wedding but have no idea where to begin? Are you on a tight budget but want to make your money go as far as possible? Maybe you want someone there on the day to ensure everything goes smoothly. Whatever you envisage for your special day, a wedding planner will have the skills and experience to make it a reality.

A wedding planner’s brief is simple: to provide you with a stress-free and enjoyable planning experience that results in a wedding day that is within budget and a true reflection of your relationship and commitment to one another.
Money-saving advice
Hiring a planner not only provides relief from the 300 hours it could take you to plan your day – they’ll save you a considerable amount of money too. Their experience in the wedding industry means that not only do they have extensive knowledge of venues, suppliers and current trends; they can also show you where to cut costs without cutting corners and negotiate on your behalf to ensure you receive the highest quality for the lowest possible price. They will help you:
•    Create a budget that is both realistic and easy to manage.
•    Assess your vision and planning priorities.
•    Decide where to splurge and where to save.
•    Negotiate discounts with suppliers.
•    Monitor when deposits and final balances are due.
It has been reported that 70% of brides who didn’t use a planner, wish that they had….A wedding planner’s job, as corny as it may sound, is to make your dreams a reality. It is our aim to do everything in our power to make sure you have the best day ever, and in the process keep you as calm and stress-free as possible, saving you much needed time and of course save you money!

 

TIPS ON WEDDING SPEECHES

Wedding Speeches

Being asked to give a wedding speech is a great honor. You have the opportunity to publicly tell the couple how much they mean to you. Yes, you can express your feelings in a card, but declaring your thoughts before all your loved ones gives your words a special significance. Opportunities such as this come along few and far between - make the most of it.

 

 

When it comes to writing your speech the key thing to remember are that speeches are essentially long toasts. The same sentiment, words of wisdom and perspective on marriage that are found in a wedding toast are likewise present throughout a speech. However, a wedding speech goes one step further. It takes the time to explore and share our relationship and feelings for the couple with others. And while a wedding toast can provoke our thoughts, a wedding speech can stir our emotions.

 

 

In fact, a wedding like no other event brings out the best of our emotions: love, joy, pride, hope and a sense of unity. A wedding speech coveys all those feelings and more. The bittersweet sadness of a father "losing" his little girl. The sense of life coming full circle for a grandparent and the anticipation of their new life together by the couple themselves.

A wedding speech is also a public acknowledgement of those who made the wedding a reality. It thanks the parents for their financial contributions. It pays tribute to the hard work and dedication of the wedding party. Lastly, a wedding speech commends those who took care of all the details to make the wedding a success.

WEDDING TRADITIONS !

Popular Wedding Traditions

Today's popular wedding traditions have evolved over hundreds, even thousands of years of people joining together in some form of matrimony. Some wedding traditions that have endured are based on blessing the couple with good luck; others are a means for the couple to convey their feelings for one another. Regardless of the wedding tradition itself, all wedding traditions share the same essential symbols of unity, happiness and prosperity; messages that stand the test of time.

Old, New, Borrowed, Blue

The saying, "Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue" is a popular rhyme that has been used since Victorian times. The "something old" represents the bond to the bride's family and her old life; "something new" represents the couple's new life together and their future hope for happiness, prosperity and success; "something borrowed" from a happily married woman is meant to impart similar happiness to the bride; and "something blue" represents fidelity and constancy.

White Bridal Dresses

Wearing white also dates back to Victorian times when Queen Victoria abandoned the usual royal tradition of wearing a silver gown, instead choosing to wear white. Before that time brides simply wore their best gown, rather than a special wedding dress . The popularity of white can also be attributed to it symbolizing purity and virginity. White was also thought to ward off evil spirits.

Throwing Rice

Showering the couple with rice is an ancient tradition. As rice is considered a "life giving" seed it is thought that by throwing in on the couple they will be bestowed with fertility and have many children. Many churches now forbid it on their property but there are some safe alternatives to throwing rice . 

Sharing the first piece of wedding cake is a wedding tradition with Roman roots. The Romans believed that by eating the wedding cake together a special bond was created between the couple. The wheat used to bake the cake was symbolic of fertility and a "fruitful union", while the cake's sweetness was thought to bring sweetness to all areas of the couple's new life.

The ceremonial kiss that concludes the wedding ceremony is said to represent the couple sharing and joining their souls. In Roman times the kiss "sealed" the couple's agreement to join in a life-long commitment.

The wedding tradition of the groom wearing a boutonniere originates in medieval times when a knight wore his lady's colors (through flowers) as a statement of his love. Flowers and bouquets have long been used in weddings. In addition to adorning the bride with flowers to promote good luck and good health flower meanings allow the bride to express her feelings for the groom. Orange blossoms signify purity, daisies loyalty, violets modesty and red roses signify true love.

 

Placing the wedding ring on the third finger of the left hand has two possible origins; ancient Egypt or 17th century Europe. The Egyptians believed the "vein of love" ran directly from the ring finger to the heart, therefore the ring was placed there to denote eternal love. During a 17th century wedding ceremony the groom would slide the wedding ring part way up the bride's thumb, index finger and middle finger as the priest said "In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit". As the ring finger was the first free finger, the ring was placed there.

 

Wedding Traditions !!!

Who Pays for What?

Breaking Down Traditional Wedding Costs

One of the most commonly asked questions when it comes to weddings is "Who pays for what?" More and more often, established couples are able to pay for their own wedding, but there are still instances when a newly engaged couple needs the help of their families. One way that more contemporary weddings are being paid for is by dividing the cost equally between the bride's and groom's families. This is a widespread and fair way to cover wedding expenses.

However, in spite of changing trends in wedding cost sharing, many families still prefer to go the traditional route when planning for wedding costs. But traditionally, which family pays for what parts? Here is a traditional breakdown of expenses for the bride's and groom's families.

Bride's Family

The bride's gown and accessories are at her family's expense. The reception expenses including the location rental, food, and beverages are the bride's family's responsibility. All stationary, invitations and postal cost as well as the cost of the bridesmaids' bouquets and all flowers arrangements and decorations for the ceremony and reception are paid for by the bride's family's. Ceremony and reception music, photography, and all transportation and parking are also a cost that the bride's family is traditionally responsible for when planning the wedding budget .

Groom's Family

The groom's family purchases the bride's rings and wedding gift, as well as the marriage license and officiant's fee. The bride's bouquet and corsage, the corsages for the mothers and grandmothers and boutonnières for the groom's family are at the groom's family's expense. Ties, gloves and gifts for the groomsmen are also a groom's side expense. His family hosts and pays for the rehearsal dinner and the honeymoon.

 

 

Wedding Budgets - How to stick to them !!!

How to Make Your Wedding Budget

Creating a wedding budget not only helps the couple determine how much they can afford to spend on their wedding, but also keeps the costs under control.

The first step for the couple is to sit down with their families to determine how much they are willing to contribute. As men and women getting married later in life the couple may decide to foot the entire bill themselves.

The next step involves taking a realistic look at wedding style and wedding size you want. Keep in mind the bigger and more elaborate the wedding the higher the costs. Compare this with the available funds. Is it possible to get the wedding you want with the money you have? If not, look for more cost-effective alternatives in the style or size of the wedding. Controlling the size is a littler easier. Simply try to limit the number of guests when creating a guest list (granted, this is easier said than done).

 

Once you have a firm idea of the total amount you can spend the next step is to divide that number among the various wedding parts.

 

For example, how much do you plan to budget for the wedding dress, the reception hall, the invitations and the honeymoon? Do some research and estimate the costs, ask your Wedding Planner to help here.  ETC Events deal with suppliers that are the best in the industry without charging an arm and a leg.

 

List all the items and their estimates on a sheet of paper. Do the math. Does it all add up to your total budget? If not, play with the numbers until everything balances. Compromise is very important during this step. You'll both have different ideas of what you're willing to spend on a given item.

 

Once a decision has been reached stick with it. Constantly altering the numbers will make it impossible to maintain and balance your budget. Like your wedding checklist carry your wedding budget with you when you go shopping. It will keep you organized and help you stick to the costs.

 

ETC Events also offers an inhouse stationery and floral design/decor service that is extremely reasonable compared to industry standards.

 

 

ETC Events - What we do for to make your Wedding a DREAM COME TRUE !!!

Etc Events was formed in 2007 because of a need for a Professional, dedicated and creative Event Management Company in KZN.  Debbie Montague is the owner and has been involved in Wedding and Event Planning for 15 years in KZN and around the Country.  She is passionate about Weddings and says there is nothing quite like a Stress-free, Glowing Bride !

WEDDINGS ARE OUR SPECIALITY…

As different as each Bride, so every Wedding is unique, but all deserve the same Professional and dedicated co-ordination and planning. Etc Events provide a cost effective service to Brides that eases the stress of planning a Wedding but still involves the Bride in every aspect of the planning process.

Our services include:

• Assisting in the designing of your Special Day, ensuring that your Wedding is your Dream Wedding
• Sourcing, Managing & Liaising with all suppliers, you deal with 1 person who knows what is happening with each and every detail of your Wedding, not 10 different people
• Assisting Couple in sourcing a Venue, Menu Selection, Advice on Wedding Etiquette and Wedding Attire
• We are there every step of the way during your Wedding Day, ensuring YOU have a magical day free of Stress, with only Wonderful memories to look back on
• The above mentioned Services for the Full Co-ordination and Planning of your Wedding cost R6000.00

We also offer a Wedding Stationery service in house including Invitations, Menus, Table Seating etc...  as well as Décor & Flowers thereby giving you a huge cost saving.

Contact Debbie on 083 653 7900 or debbie@etcevents.co.za for a no strings attached meeting/skype or call to get a realistic quotation for your Wedding.

 

 

 

 

Our Happy Brides - What we do and LOVE !!!

This is why I love what I do !!! 

No Wedding or Bridal Couple is ever the same and I am the very lucky person who gets to make all their Dreams come True on their special day etc... etc... etc...

The best decision we could have made, aside from getting married, was to hire Debbie and etc. events to plan our wedding. Organising a wedding is stressful and Debbie took all stress that away. Her creativity, energy and general objectivity was something to be admired. Debbie's communication with us was flawless - we knew where we stood on every detail and were reminded when we needed to make certain decisions. Debbie has a great way with people, especially when it comes to diffusing potentially emotional situations - she was a lifesaver (or rather a relationship saver!). I knew that I could relax and enjoy my Wedding day comfortable in the knowlege that it would all run smoothly (and it did!). I LOVED every minute of my Wedding day thanks to Debbie and all her hard work. 

Angela & Dean Barnes – 25^th April 2009

Dear Debbie

I Thank You from the bottom of my heart for the wonderful day we experienced on Niamh's Special day. It was truly a day to remember and it went so smoothly that we were not even the slightest bit nervous. You had it all under control and so well organized. Many, many thanks from us all.

We dropped Niamh and Dom at the airport on Monday afternoon and on the way the wedding day was discussed in great detail with only compliments to all your hard work. They must be on the beach now in The Maldives enjoying the beginning of their real life together.

LOL

Geraldine McCarthy (Mother of the Bride)

Niamh & Dominic Targett – 23^rd April 2011:  Zulu Nyala

Dearest Debs,

This is just a tiny token of our IMMENSE appreciation.  You have done wonders and worked your MAGIC.  Thank-you so so much, we just cannot thank-you enough.  Thank-you for being a such a great support to me and mom and putting up with all our stresses . You are a STAR.

Claire & Rob  – 9^th April 2011:  Zulu Nyala

Debs! We were blessed beyond words to have you as our wedding co-ordinator! Not only were you there for us professionally,But there for us for Friendship, Loads of love and support! Without your help,Your Smiling face and Kindness...I would have been a wreck! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for Making our Amazing day...EASY! Xx

Robyn & Tinus Olivier – Tala Winning Bridal Couple 2011

                                                           April 2012

Corale Jeffrey via Facebook

Hi Debs
Sorry it has taken me for ever to get back to you, it has been a mix of being lazy forgetting and remembering at the wrong times and not knowing what to write - I am rubbish at things like this and probably won't give you any justice to actually how amazing you were, but here it goes.

Literally from the first correspondance Debbie was helping me out with planning our wedding. Until late at night email by email she just kept responding to my questions and requests. Throughout 18months of planning Debbie was at my beck and call, even though she had other events almost every weekend before my own wedding, no question was too stupid and no request too much.
Before the wedding and on the day she was amazing, I had to do nothing, I worried about nothing. She made me feel so relaxed and to walk into my reception where she had laid out all my ideas that exactly resembled my dreams. Planning a wedding from another country was bound to be difficult but Debs literally did it all. Thank you so much! You truely are an amazing, gifted person with a real passion for making peoples dreams come true, and an amazing ability to read into other peoples dreams.

Corale & Wayne – April 2012

 

Morning Debbie

We all good, and slept reasonably well and very excited for today.

Thank you for everything you have done in the build up to the wedding.  You have been quite fantastic and supportive.  What has been put together in the hall, is exactly as I saw it in my head.  Thank you for all your help and professionalism in how you have put this together.  I have complete faith in you as from now, that all will run smoothly because it is in your capable hands.  It is a blessing that I can now relax and enjoy Nicola and Ian's wedding!

With love and thanks

Lucinda and Nicola

Dear Debbie

This note of thanks comes from us all for helping to make Nicola + Ian's day the most wonderful, happy, stress-free occasion for us all. Your organisation, management and effort was quite amazing, and was commented on by all who knew your role. You will be highly recommended by us to any in need of your services (have already been asked by one guest for your details)!

 

I apologise for the late email, but we have just said goodbye to our last guests for today.  Nicola + Ian left at 2.30pm and loved every minute of their wedding.

Well done on providing such an excellent service!

Love Lucinda, Richard, Nicola + Ian xx

7^th July 2012 @ Highbury

 

Hey Debs! Just wanted to thank you for everything you have done!You gave us our dream wedding! Everything was perfect and were an absolute dream to work with. Lots of love xxx

Carmerita & Marshall

Du Boirs – August 2012

 

 

Hi guys,

 

Just want to say a huge biiiiiiiiig thank you! I have been flooded with compliments and praises about every aspect of the wedding!!

 

Trace, the food has been raved about non stop - the burger bar was an absolute sensation!!! And the cocktails were amazing!!!!!

 

Brendon everyone said how awesome the music was and how nice it was to have a cool DJ!!!! And those pics you took were so flippen cool!!

 

Debs everything looked beautiful and the day ran so smoothly, helped me feel so relaxed and could just take it all in and be worry free.

 

Shieldsters we had a blast missioning around with you two, you made it so fun which made us comfortable and could be ourselves! Cannot wait to see the results!

 

We could not have asked for a better team to have helped make our day what we wanted! So thank you all very very much!!!!!! You guys are amazeballs ;)

Candice & Mark

Litchi Orchard, Salt Rock – October 2012

 

Wedding Flowers without breaking the Bank !

Budget-busting flower ideas

We love these top tips for beautiful big day blooms on a budget

 

1. Go for a retro vintage theme and you can use a mix of second-hand mis-matched containers that you can pick up at fleamarkets or antique stores.

2. Before you start spending, carefully plan your budget and decide where flowers rank on your list of wedding priorities. If you’d rather spend more of your pennies on food and drink than decorating the venue, look to spend less on flowers, but if you want to create a beautiful space for your reception, allocate a larger portion of the budget to flowers.

3. Be upfront about how much you have to spend. Your budget is one of the first things you should discuss with your florist. The average spend is 10-15% of the overall cost of the day but this is not a realistic option for everyone. Be clear about how much you have to spend and your florist should have the experience to rise to the challenge.

4. Choose a florist who is happy to work within your budget. A florist who encourages you to spend more than you can afford isn’t the right person for the job. You may have to compromise on the specific blooms or the types of arrangement you want in order to stay within your financial limits but your florist should be able to suggest alternatives that will look just as good at a lower price bracket.

5. Choose seasonal flowers grown locally. This will cost you MUCH less than flying in exotic blooms from abroad.

6. Bridesmaids’ bouquets can really add up so be inventive. Think about giving each bridesmaid a single statement bloom to carry down the aisle, or opt for just having flowers in their hair or on a wrist corsage. If you’re set on bouquets, consider using them as table centres at your reception afterwards.

7. Concentrate your budget on the areas that guests will spend the majority of time in and where lots of photographs are going to be taken. If you want to get a real wow factor at the reception make the flowers totally different to the ceremony it will make everyone gasp especially going from country chic to modern funky!

8. Instead of having expensive flower arrangements on every table you can alternate tables with displays of candles, which you can get for a fraction of the cost.

9. Be a little indulgent.  If you’ve got your heart set on an expensive flower, use it but do so sparingly. Lots of brides love Lily of the Valley but used in abundance, it can break the bank. Instead, just have a little in your bouquet then you’ll feel like you’re surrounded by it all day.

10. Ask if there are any other weddings taking place at your church or ceremony venue on the same day. If there are, you might be able to share the cost of the flowers with another bride.

11. We suggest a little DIY to cut costs.  Decorate each table with silver votives containing supermarket-bought roses and fresh rosemary from your garden.

12. To make the most of your reception flowers, place table centres on a mirror base and add tea lights around each one. The reflection and flickering light will instantly make any arrangement seem bigger, more opulent and more dramatic.


13. Consider having less flowers and more foliage. A few statement blooms surrounded by lots of greenery can look striking and modern.

14. To save on your reception flowers, use pot plants or potted herbs in pretty containers.  They last well, make a lasting, thoughtful thank you gift for your mum and mother-in-law, or can be taken home by your guests as a memento of the day, and take the hassle out of worrying about arranging flowers for the reception.

15. Make the most of your church flowers by transporting them to your venue to decorate the reception space. Pedestals and trees are easy to move and look fabulous as entrance displays, while pew-ends can be used as chair backs.