Guest Post Now Published on WeddingWire's WeddingAces!

Recently, I was invited by Wedding Wire to write a guest post as a Wedding Ace on their sister-site, Wedding Aces. It has just been published and can now be viewed by clicking the link below!


http://www.weddingaces.com/2012/01/tricks-of-the-trade-negotiating-with-wedding-vendors/


Tricks of the Trade: Negotiating with Wedding Vendors
Guest Post by Rachael Zebrowski, Vintage&Lace, Wedding Planner

One of the best pieces of wedding planning advice I received shortly after my engagement came from a newly wed friend who said, “Negotiate! Negotiate! Negotiate!”

From my friend’s insight, I soon learned that one of the best-kept secrets in the wedding industry is the incredible willingness of most vendors to negotiate a trade.

Many couples on a tight budget take one look at the price of a venue and write it off as out of their range.  However, if you get creative, there are ways to craft a better deal.

Instead of just asking for a discounted rate, ask yourself what you have to offer that might be of value. For example, my husband and I chose a brand new wedding venue to host our reception. Knowing that the venue would need photos for their marketing material, we offered them the use of our wedding photos in exchange for waiving the Event Use Fee. Recognizing the offer as a win-win for both parties, the venue took the deal. They received loads of professional photographs to use in their marketing campaign while we saved $2,000 (which we then used to hire a top-notch photographer)!

The possibilities for trades are endless; think about what goods or services you can bring to the table and start negotiating. It never hurts to ask and you have nothing to lose!

Look for more ways to save soon, like substitutions, being flexible with your date and time, and joining forces with another couple. Happy Planning!

A Kukio Beach Wedding: Kevin ♥ Jill

Many couples opt to marry in Hawaii because they want an intimate, romantic beach wedding that is just the two of them. That's exactly what Kevin and Jill had in mind when they contacted Vintage&Lace about their January wedding.

Both Kevin and Jill work full time in high powered positions that keep them busy most of the year. The idea of planning a wedding from afar and organizing the details, even for just a two person wedding, was overwhelming! 


Even for a small wedding you still need to:
-Identify the right location for your wedding ceremony
-Choose and contact a Wedding Officiant or Minister
-Hire a Wedding Photographer
-File for the required Beach Access Wedding Permit from the State (which also requires special insurance)
-Set up an appointment with a Marriage License Official for when you arrive in Hawaii
-Arrange transportation
-Order and pick up leis or other floral items
-Make dining reservations, and
-Hire a musician


That's why Jill and Kevin contacted Vintage&Lace. They knew that even their small wedding could turn into a lot of work so they called us! 

We love planning and coordinating small wedding ceremonies and are so happy that Jill and Kevin chose us. We offer some of the most affordable (starting at just $500) and highest quality Intimate Beach Wedding Packages on the Big Island that we customize to meet your Hawaii wedding needs.

 We know all the great secluded beach ceremony locations and are aware of all the State rules and regulations so that you don't have any unwanted surprises on your big day. We also already have the required insurance and paperwork to file for the Beach Wedding Permit that we provide free with the purchase of any package (at least a $95 value!). Additionally, we set up a special post-ceremony toast for the two of you, order and deliver your included wedding leis, and personally meet and direct your officiant, photographer, and musician on location so you don't have to.  

Here is what Kevin and Jill had to say about the value of their Vintage&Lace Beach Wedding Package: 

"For a couple of hard-working mainlanders, we needed a wedding planner who could quickly arrange a low-key but meaningful beach wedding for two with minimal input on our part. Rachael met that task gracefully. She chose a truly fantastic location, hired an exceptional guitarist, helped us arrange our photography (breathtaking!), helped us book the Minister (wonderful!), ordered and brought our lei and maille, supplied champagne and toasting flutes, and made sure it all ran like clockwork. Rachael made this day entirely stress free, which meant we could simply be present in the moment for the happiest day of our lives! We whole-heartedly and enthusiastically recommend Vintage & Lace."  -Jill L. 

Whether you are planning a Hawaii Beach Wedding for 150 or, just for 2, we think that a wedding planner is a smart investment and we might be biased, but we think Vintage&Lace Weddings is the best choice! 

For more information on our intimate beach wedding packages, please visit our website at www.vintageandlace.com. 


Aloha, 
Rachael 


All of Kevin and Jill's Photography was taken by  Bob Brown, Eye Expression.

Wedding Jewelry Inspirations: Wedding Bands, Engagement Rings, and more!

If you are on the hunt for the perfect wedding band or engagement ring, or if you just love day dreaming about diamonds, this post is for you! All of these beautiful wedding ring photos were taken by Toby Hoogs Photography for couples married right here on the Big Island of Hawaii. 


A great photographer, like Toby Hoogs, always takes the time to photograph special details at every wedding and getting a few unique shots of the couple's rings is a must. (If you have ever tried to photograph your own wedding rings, than you probably know just how important it is to have a professional take the shot!) 


We also recommend having your wedding photographer grab a few shots of your garter, earrings, bouquet, something old/new/borrowed /blue, invitations, ring bearer pillow or any other special or sentimental details. That way, all of the time and effort you spent on those little wedding details won't be lost over time. 


We hope this post inspires your search for the perfect wedding day bling and reminds you to make sure your wedding photographer grabs an interesting picture of your beautiful wedding rings and jewels on your special day! 

DIY: Heather's Favorites

Our prediction is that 2012 will maintain the DIY trend for weddings and we couldn't be more excited! Here are some new finds in the do-it-yourself world.


For the wine lovers like myself, collecting corks is an easy way to get key components for a project.  You can use them to make a cork board for family photos, escort cards, table tents, or position them in the shape of letters to spell 'Family' or 'Love,' etc.  You can also use the wine bottles for table numbers, candle holders, vases, etc. 

from http://mydiyweddingday.com/page/2/

Another fun DIY project that has a vintage touch is to find an old window frame or door frame, paint it with crackle paint, and then use the glass planes for directives, words from the bride & groom, labels, or seating assignments. 

from http://www.nandlnotes.com/tag/window-seating-cart/

We also liked to visit N&L Notes, a blog with many great ideas for wedding decor, and like their idea to use an old ivory mailbox to hold cards at your gift table.  You can also paint the mailbox to fit your wedding style and vision. For example, if you are having a rustic vintage wedding, you could paint the mailbox antique shade and give it an aged look or you can add your groom's last name or embellishments to the mailbox to personalize it.

from www.nandlnotes.com

A great DIY alternative to pom-poms or banners is creating lace lamps like those found at http://webecoist.momtastic.com.  They look great hanging in trees for an outdoor ceremony or from the rafters or ceiling in a reception venue.

We hope you enjoyed the DIY projects and please feel free to share with us your favorite DIY projects and ideas.  You can also contact us at info@vintageandlace.com or www.vintageandlace.com for more Wedding DIY inspirations! 

Wishing you happy moments,

Heather