From rustic barns, to elegant ballrooms, contemporary museums to industrial warehouses, St. Louis offers a plethora of wedding venues to choose from.  So where do you start?

STEP ONE: Consider Your Budget First

Since there are so many different styles and sizes you can choose from, prices can range anywhere from $1,500 – $9,000 just to rent event space, so it’s important to consider EVERYTHING when planning your budget.

According to the 2020 Wedding Report, the average wedding in St. Louis cost $22,000.

Once you land a total amount, that you feel comfortable with, THEN you can start actually planning your wedding.  Why is this important?  Without stating a number, you leave yourself vulnerable to overspending, which will only result in buyer’s remorse, making it very difficult to enjoy the whole wedding day experience.  Trust me, I’ve seen it.

STEP TWO: Create Your Guest List

I know what you’re thinking… “Dori?! C’mon!  Can’t we start touring venues yet?  I’ll think about my guest list later!!!” 

Wellllllll…. You can, but let’s be realistic.  It doesn’t matter how much you love a particular venue, if you won’t be able to fit all of your guests inside of it.  Right?!

Creating The Perfect Guest List is another article, for another blog post, so I’ll skip ahead….. Once you’ve tallied up the names on your list, remember that on average 20% of your invited guests will not be able to make it, and now with COVID concerns still lingering, that number might even be as high as 30%.

I’m telling you this because it will help you to zero in on the realistic number for your headcount.
For instance, your invited list tallies up to be 200 guest…. Then you subtract 20% (40 people) you will most likely have around 160 in attendance on the day of your wedding.

STEP THREE: Consider Location & Logistics

YAY!!!! Now you’re ready to tour!  Well, almost!
Your wedding day is all about you and your boo, but I also want you to consider your guests, as we take a look into where to host your Big Day! 

Questions To Ask Yourself:

1.) Is there a location that is centrally located between my relatives and my fiancé’s relatives?

2.) Do we have a lot of out-of-town guests that will need lodging accommodations?

3.) Are there some specific St. Louis hotspots we MUST have our photos taken on our wedding day?

4.) Do we have any handicap guests, or loved ones with mobility issues?

STEP FOUR: Style & Concept – Now that you’re ready for the fun stuff!  What are you envisioning for your wedding day vibe?  Are you wanting something Rustic Chic?  Maybe something Classic & Regal?  Below, you will find a guide I’ve created for you…..  6 venue venues per category, sorted by direction from St. Louis County.

Need help planning your wedding?

Let’s have a heart to heart, (pats the couch) come have a seat sister girl. 

I want to talk about a not so glittery side of wedding planning.
It’s a slippery slope, so I want to make you are aware of the potential risk of wedding addiction.

First of all, I want you to know that I fully understand how exciting, stressful, and all consuming everything can be when you’re trying to balance the multiple aspects of planning a wedding, AND keep up with regular daily life. 

I get it girl.  It’s a lot.

Since most of us woman LOVE a good to-do list that we can sink our teeth into, we relish in the organization of our wedding binders, pinterest boards, and don’t even get me started on the spreadsheets.  Gah!  Its deliciously detailed.  I mean, its like we can’t get enough of it…. 😬

And that is exactly what I want us to focus on today….

Once it’s planned….  Let it be (clap👏)

Imagine this… You get your hands on your grandmother’s insanely scrumptious flourless chocolate fudge cake recipe.  It’s your favorite!  You’re so excited that you immediately head to the store, get all the ingredients, rush home, put on your perfectly adorable apron, and go to town like you’re Betty Freakin’ Crocker.

Pinch of this, dash of that, stir stir stir, little batter taste, and viola!
It’s time to pour this gooey goodness into your super cute cake pan, EEK!

Then into the oven it goes!

But guess what?!  Once it goes into the oven, the OVEN does the work from there.

You can’t pull it back out, and start adding or removing the ingredients from the batter.

At this point, you need to just patiently let the cake bake, sweety♥

What most planners won’t say to your face is this…

“Stop overthinking things!”   Your wedding is less than 2 weeks away, and you’ve done a great job making all of your decisions. Now, listen to me baby girl…. it is time to accept the fact that the planning has officially concluded. (holds your hand, and nods slowly).

Yep.  It’s done babe.

You chose all of the perfect flowers. You chose all of the best food items.  Your linens are going to look great!  Your hair trial went flawlessly!  Your bridesmaids’ dresses have all been altered, and look stunning.  Your out-of-town guests have all confirmed their accommodations.  The weather forecast is looking incredible.  Your photographer got the exact time of the sunset for your wedding date.  The Earth is still rotating.  The sky isn’t falling….

You see where I’m going with this?

Stop. Nit. Picking. Every. Little. Detail. Trying. To. Find. Something. To. Plan. Or. Revise.  (clap, snap, hair flip)

What some planners won’t say to your face is that you are literally making yourself crazy, driving your fiancé nuts, and quite frankly, making your wedding planner’s job a little difficult to finalize everything, with all of these teeny tiny last minute changes.

This overthinking is NOT helping you, or anyone else around you.

Here’s a trick to ween you off of “wedding plans”, and ease the withdrawals.

Since you’ve been primed to dive into planning mode as soon as you arrive home from work,

Turn that energy towards another outlet…. Like journaling!

What are some things you want to do in your first 12 months of marriage?

•Buy a house?
•Remodel a kitchen?
•Start a family?
•Move to another state?

Divert your attention from away from overthinking wedding plans, and redirect it towards a new project that you can look forward too! I promise that your wedding day is going to be magical & memorable!

Now exhale, trust, and change the channel in your brain. It’s all going to be fabulous♥

The Foundry Art Centré hosted a Block Party on Saturday, June 19th, which featured live music, art demonstrations, and local food vendors. Our owner – Dori Abell, and Event Specialist – Maggie Winchell were on the scene with our Wander Selfies to provide fun photos for all who attended!

Grafik House, a new print shop and art producer in St. Louis, provided an interactive art demonstration, which included a steamroller and large pieces of fabric stretched over ink soaked design templates. The outcome created beautifully and strategically printed tapestries!

Here’s a glimpse into the fun that was had VIEW FULL ONLINE GALLERY

WHY AREN’T MY GUESTS RSVP?

 We live in a super hectic world, with a million things fighting for our attention every moment of everyday.  Think about your work schedule, and all the tasks you’ve had while planning your wedding, and social events you’ve committed too…… now think of that thing that you want to do, but keep putting off….

Trust me, I’m the first person to tell you that poor responders frustrate the crap out of me, BUT I’m also the person who will put the DSW 20% coupon on my fridge, promising that I’m going to get over there soon, and then next thing I know the deal expired over a month ago.

Wedding guests are normal people too.  Of course they’re excited about your wedding!  And YES they are super honored that you invited them, and I bet that their RSVP card is sitting on their counter ready to go in the mail, but maybe they ran out of stamps.

BUT, if you are an instant gratification lady, like me, then let’s come up with a game plan to make sending an RSVP simple and stamp free.

There are several ways for engaged couples to create online RSVP options….

1. TheKnot.com – Have you created your wedding website? TheKnot.com is a prime example of a quick and easy way to create a special page for your wedding day, that also includes RSVP options.
2. EventBrite.com – This is a FREE event website, that you can use to track your RSVP’s
3. Facebook Events – Let’s face it, this is not the sexiest option, but it works AND most of your wedding guests our already on FB anyway.

Just because you’re offering an online option doesn’t mean you have to skip the process of having beautifully printed invitations created.  It’s simply another way you can connect with your invited friends & family, to make sure you receive an accurate headcount.

by Amy Robertson of TheKnot.com

You may have helped a friend plan their wedding day or spent hours on Pinterest creating your dream board, but that doesn’t mean you have to tackle it solo. There are so many different reasons why we suggest hiring a wedding planner. Between booking vendors, organizing your RSVPs, and managing your budget, planning can be a lot of work. Add in your normal day-to-day responsibilities, and it’s enough to make even the most organized to-be-weds stressed. Working with a pro can take a huge weight off you and your partner, leaving you time to enjoy the process. Here are six reasons why you should hire a wedding planner.

They’re Experts

Here’s the number one reason why you should hire a wedding planner. Trust us—whether you’re expecting 50 or 150 guests, planning requires a lot more than just picking out pretty flowers or tabletop décor. A planner essentially juggles the roles of designer, legal counsel, budget manager, coordinator and so much more—all while helping you pull together your wedding. They can be tapped to take care of everything on your to-do list, from choosing aesthetic details to going over vendor contracts and dealing with day-of emergencies. All of this makes planners a huge asset for busy couples hoping to approach the checklist with minimal stress. They’re clued into everything there is to know about throwing a wedding, and all that comes along with such an emotionally charged event, so you’ll be in good hands whether your issue is bouquets or overbearing in-laws. Plus, they’re connected with top venues and pros in your area, ensuring you have the best team of experts to pull off your celebration. Simply put, an experienced planner is one of the key investments you can make when bringing your wedding day to life.

They’ll Help You With Your Specific Needs

There are essentially three types of wedding planners: full-service, à la carte and month-of coordinators. A full-service planner will handle it all, start to finish—from crafting the vision for your event to hiring and meeting with your vendors, and coordinating a weekend of activities for guests. This option is best for a pair looking to host a multi-day affair or destination wedding, or for couples who simply want a professional to guide them through every step of the wedding planning process. 

Prefer a part-time pro you can contact on an as-needed basis? An à la carte planner can help you iron out specific details, like your tabletop rentals, or give suggestions for the perfect caterer to execute your French bistro menu. Ideal for couples who just need someone to help refine their wedding day blueprint, an à la carte or part-time planner is also a more price-conscious choice. They give you the help you need for a price that doesn’t put you over budget. 

For assistance during your wedding day (but not throughout the entire process), opt for a month-of coordinator. Different from an on-site venue coordinator, they’ll be solely focused on your priorities and responsible for making sure your wedding day runs smoothly. Typically, a month-of coordinator will begin working with you anywhere from two weeks to a month ahead of your wedding to make sure everything is in order. They’ll coordinate both your ceremony and reception setup, keep you and your wedding party on schedule, and handle any necessary, immediate post-wedding duties, like tipping. If you’re unable to include a full-service or à la carte planner in your budget, adding a day-of coordinator to your team will help you and your partner relax and enjoy your wedding day festivities to the fullest.

They Can Help You Stick to Your Budget

Packages can range depending on the pro you hire, but a wedding planner typically charges their clients a flat fee, an hourly rate, or a percentage of their overall wedding budget. These days, most planners list a flat fee for their contracted services. If they don’t, expect to set aside around 10 to 20 percent of your overall budget for a full-service planner. An à la carte planner will charge an hourly rate or flat fee for each service they provide, while day-of coordination is generally a flat fee. While hiring a planner may seem like a big chunk of your budget, it’s an investment that will give you peace of mind and ensure you enjoy the moments you’ve spent months planning. Plus, with an expert behind all your decisions, purchases and negotiations, you’ll save money in the long run. Their pull may be able to score you insider deals, and they’ll always look out for your budget so you don’t have to.

They’ll Bring Your Vision to Life

The right planner will help you make the wedding of your dreams a reality—but only if you pick the right one. Think of your initial meeting with a planner like a first date—you want to make sure the two of you get along and have the same vision, as you’ll be spending a lot of time together over the next year or so. Arrive armed with a few basic questions, and then listen to their responses carefully. Whether you’re envisioning a formal ballroom affair or a rustic outdoor ceremony, the right planner will know all of the best venues and vendors to pull it off. 

They Can Help You Enjoy the Day 

Think of your planner as a safety net on your wedding day. If anything goes wrong (and something typically does) they’re there to troubleshoot so you won’t have to fret. They’ll be the one able to make the rain call to move your affair indoors when you can’t bear to or hunt down your set of heirloom champagne flutes before the first toast of the evening. On your wedding day, your only order of business is to soak up every memorable second, which is why so many couples hire a wedding planner. Trust the pro you’ve hired to do their job, and let go of control day-of. Working with a pro also means you’ll get to spend precious extra time with loved ones instead of worrying about the cake not showing up or a missing flower arrangement. Trust us on this one—you want (and deserve) a helping hand on your wedding day. After all, this is going to be the happiest day of your life.