Just in time for fall event planning season, here’s a cornucopia of news stories specially curated to keep you up to date. One of our objectives is to keep our readers up to date on new technology in the field, and this post is no different: we’re sharing a great article on leading-edge event website technologies.

To round things out, we cover a unique dinner held in a football stadium, partying with tequila, and an update on the sustainability practices of an industry giant!

Trends In Event Websites

With more than a billion websites on the internet, standing out from the crowd is never easy. Author Sean Burke makes sure you know that mobile functionality and great SEO are critical: he lists them early. Burke says to be sure:

…that the site is mobile-friendly and… …that the site doesn’t use Flash, as it doesn’t show in mobile and loads slowly on desktop. Over 50% of all traffic most sites get is mobile, as confirmed by Google’s mobile update, so this is an easy win.

But he notes that:

Due to the complexity of SEO, you may want to have someone handle all of this for you.

https://meetings.skift.com/2016/09/15/6-trends-in-cutting-edge-event-websites/

Tequila Trucks To Pencil Centerpieces: Great Event Ideas

In their efforts to differentiate their event from all the others, professional planners work hard to come up with unique ideas. Here we’ve collected a bunch of the best for your inspiration.
For the Excel Academy’s Celebration of Excellence, the folks at AB Events designed awesome table centerpieces to fit the education theme. According to author Ian Zelaya:

…sunflower centerpieces wrapped with a row of pencils…and table numbers were created with new covers on old books, which were then used in classrooms and libraries.

https://www.bizbash.com/event-venues/10-best-ideas-of-the-week-a-mini-tequila-truck-display-pencil-centerpieces-a-budweiser-swing-ride

An Awesome Party In A Football Stadium? Absolutely!

There aren’t many sit-down dinners hosted in professional football stadiums, but that’s exactly what American Express did at CenturyLink Field, where the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL play.
Deborah Curtis, vice president of entertainment marketing and sponsorships for American Express, explained the firm’s reasoning in choosing this venue:

…we are focused on delivering amazing experiences for our card members by tapping into their passion points, and the ‘Dinner on the 50’ event worked to accomplish just that… By leveraging our partnership with the Seahawks, we were able to create this unique experience that brought the 12s even closer to the team they love at one of the most exclusive locations in Seattle.

https://www.bizbash.com/event-venues/why-american-express-hosted-a-seated-dinner-on-a-football-field

Industry Leader Freeman Management Goes Green!

Titans of the event industry, Freeman Management, are demonstrating leadership in sustainability and green practices. With more than 4,000 exhibitions and 11,000 corporate events yearly, Freeman is certainly the “gorilla” in the field, and now they’re environmental leaders as well.

The firm earned the International Event Sustainability Management certification, ISO 20121, certifying that the organization’s management system complies with environmental, economic, and social aspects of sustainable development, and it requires the organization to integrate sustainability into all stages of planning and throughout the supply chain.

https://www.freeman.com/resources/green-for-the-greater-good/

At Privy Chambers in Oregon, we’re proud to offer the finest portable luxury restrooms in the Northwest. With the largest fleet, the most luxurious appointments, the region’s only ADA-compliant restrooms, and more, we’re the experts’ choice for rental restrooms. Call us today!

As we come to the end of the summer season, we added some focus in this month’s post on event planning as a business.  From best practices in pricing event planning services, to those podcasts you should be following to stay up to date, it’s all here. 

Stay Current With Podcasts

One of the most effective and convenient ways of keeping up with the event planning industry is through podcasts, you can listen pretty much whenever it’s convenient.

Author Josh Levine notes that although “social media has dominated interaction between event experts and event planners…

some influential organizers are turning to Podcasts as an alternative means of sharing event planning tips, tricks and best practices.

The 7 Best Podcasts for Event Planners 

Update on Pricing Best Practices for Event Planners

For most small businesses, setting pricing is one of the most challenging parts of running their business.  Event planners are no different.  How do you know your pricing is competitive?  Or are you committing the sin of “leaving money on the table”?

The Event Leadership Institute in partnership with the International Live Events Association conducted a survey this spring of 516 respondents, following a similar survey done in 2013.

A key takeaway from the survey was that:

Most independent planners—those who work for external clients either on their own or within a planning company—earn $5,000 or less on an average event.

Are You Charging Enough For Event Planning Services? 

Think Outside the Box for Your Outdoor Event

Outdoor events are popular, but how do you set your event apart from all the others?  Here are six real creative venues from a train car to a tree-house.  Writer Michele Laufik admits that:

Now more than ever, planners are seeking out the newest, most novel event settings to wow guests

6 Outdoorsy Spaces for an Out-Of-The-Box Event 

Apps for Events.  No Longer All The Rage?

One day something can be on everyone’s lips, yet a month later you rarely hear of it.  In the event planning world, apps were the darlings of the business not long ago.  But has that trend stalled, or even ended?  Author Florian Courgenouil notes that:

The volume of downloads from the top US app developers on both Apple iOS and Android has fallen 20% over the last year, with global downloads slowing to a modest 3% growth year on year.

But he adds:

At the heart of technologies adopted and adapted for events remains the event mobile app. Many events today have chosen to get digital.

Mr. Courgenouil offers five things for event planners to consider to make sure that everyone benefits from a mobile event app.
Has The Event App Bubble Burst? 

A Creative, Nostalgic Twist on the Bar Cart

When it comes to alcohol at events, there’s almost a sense of “been there – done that”.  Here’s an idea for serving drinks that is at the same time unique and nostalgic.

The folks at Bar Car converted a 1965 Airstream trailer into a mobile bar. The side opens to reveal a full liquor bar with customized spirits, while self-service beer taps can pour local micro brews. A sound system is available to play iPod playlists.
Bar Car Debuts Airstream Traveling Bar 

Wrapping Up the Summer Season

Even though the summer event season is drawing to a close, there are still plenty of nice, warm days left for a great event.  When you’re looking at an outdoor venue, or planning one in a location with limited facilities, don’t forget that Luxury Restroom Trailers offers your guests the nicest “place to go”.

Covering the Northwest from Seattle to southern Oregon, no matter the size of your event, we’ve got a luxurious restroom to meet your needs.  Give us a call today!

The summer event season is in full swing, and we’ve rounded up a great selection of reads to keep you up to date on everything in the event planning arena.  From insights gleaned from industry leaders, to the emergence of airbnb as a reputable option for planners, it’s all here!  And we top it all with some great ideas from a Cuba-themed party.

Getting That Promotional Email Right

Email is one of the most popular (and disliked) of all digital marketing techniques.  Despite the nuisance factor, when done right it is a very powerful tool.  And, since your prospects are likely bombarded by dozens of emails every day, yours has to stand out to be successful.
Email marketing expert and author Maddie Veal notes that:

…to make your messages cut through the noise, you’ll have to choose your words wisely.

She closes the article with perhaps her best advice, focused on calls to action, saying:

Put your CTA at the very top and bottom of your email to make it as fast and easy as possible for attendees to find — and click.
Your reader should know exactly what to expect when they click

Email Copywriting Tips for Event Organizers

Twitter Advertising Gets You In Front Of Attendees

Of all the major social networks, Twitter has been latest to the paid placement (nice phrase for advertising) game.  With over 300 million monthly users, it’s very much worth exploring to see if it can be another tool in your promotional arsenal.

Writing for Event Manager Blog, Michael Chidzey says that advertising on Twitter is perfect to:

…get in front of the right Twitter users, sell tickets to your events, and engage with attendees leading up to the big day.

Most importantly though, Mr. Chidzey sees the network as a:

…great place to advertise to users that have visited your event’s site but not bought tickets. This involves setting up a pixel (you can easily create a Twitter pixel to place in the header tag of your event’s website template) and target people on Twitter that have visited your website. Since they’ll already be familiar with your brand, they’ll be much more receptive and likely to engage the second time around.

How to Use Twitter Advertising to Get In Front of Attendees

Hot Havana Nights: Bringing Cuba Alive For A Corporate Party

Few events are as popular as themed parties.  And what fits better with a warm summer’s evening than a party with a Cuban theme? The organizers pulled out all the stops to make sure attendees really felt like they’d taken a trip to Havana.

From a variety of rustic table settings and centerpieces, to a “vintage car” themed mural, this was an event to be remembered.
Hot Night in Havana: Koncept Events Brings Cuba Alive for a Corporate Client

Airbnb: It’s Not Just For Vacations Anymore

Now that AirBNB has become nearly as ubiquitous (and disruptive to the market) as Uber has, event planning professionals are standing up and taking notice of the firm as a legitimate vendor for their events.

MeetingsNet interviewed Jack Johnson, DMAI (Destination Marketing Association International) chief advocacy and board compliance officer who confidently stated that:

Airbnb is a legitimate option for lodging, just like boutique hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, and campgrounds. Airbnb is a global business with a platform offering a different product mix.

Why DMOs Need Strategic Relationships with AirBNB

7 Experts Share Their Event Planning Advice

Nothing beats expert advice, and this month we close with wisdom from 7 leading corporate event planners.
Julius Solaris, editor of Event Manager Blog makes a strong case for technology saying:

2016 will be about event technology, more than ever before. As the event tech market expands, VCs invest and attendees grow tired of usual concepts, more event professionals see a direct link between the use of technology and better engagement

Liz King, CEO of Techsytalk, is at the other end of things.  She thinks:

…[the]key is through visual involvement. Making your event feel inclusive, exciting and fun, by posting a selfie using a common hashtag, will help to raise event awareness among social media users. It will make everyone at the event feel as though they are part of a larger, welcoming community.

7 Event Industry Leaders Share Their Planning Advice

Keeping Up To Date In A Busy Time

During the busiest part of the year is not the easiest season to find time to catch up on the happenings in your industry.  Look to your friends at Luxury Restroom Trailers for a great selection of quick reads every month.  And don’t forget, when your guests need a nice “place to go”, give us a call for the Northwest’s largest selection and widest service area. 

With the summer event season in full swing, we’ve curated five of the best reads in the industry.  From the always important swag to social media promotions, we’ve got something for everyone here, and we close with a little wardrobe guidance for professional event planners.  What more could you ask for?

Up to Date Ideas for Swag

It’s a fact, everyone thinks about swag when they think of conferences or events.  It’s important to attendees, and if it’s important to them, it’s important to event planners.
Author Ronnie Higgins says:

Like speakers and sponsors, the contents of your event swag bag can say a lot about who you are and what your brand represents. If you hope your event will be memorable, carefully consider what you’re giving attendees.

New Ideas for Show and Event Swag

Promoting Your Event with Social Media: Do It Right!

There’s not a professional event planner out there who doesn’t already know about social media and how important it is to event promotion.  But with anything changing as fast as social media, you need to stay constantly up-to-date.
Event Manager Dan McCarthy of Ultimate Experience thinks:

Social media is not just about getting butts on the seats. It should also be used to generate engagement during the event. Strategically place a few social media walls where people tend to cluster. Encourage attendees to share their own thoughts and submit selfies while the event is in progress.

Using Social Media for Event Promotion

Branding Your Event: Details Matter

Marketing professionals know how critical branding is. Are you putting enough emphasis into branding your event?
Writing this blog as well, Mr. Higgins urges you to:

Think about your content as your brand. Attendees don’t register for your event because it stands for something. When it comes down to it, they show up to hear speakers talk about topics that interest them. Kat suggests making sure your event agenda is not only front and center on your event website, but available in formats that can be easily digested. That means offering a printable PDF attendees can bring to their boss to get buy-in to attend.

Details Matter in Branding Your Event

Improve On-Site Logistics, Reduce Your Pre-Event Anxiety

Logistics can make the difference between event success and failure.
They’re pretty much an event planner’s life.  It’s really as simple as that.  And, when you know that all the logistics are taken care of, it takes stress off and lets you focus on making the rest of the event perfect.

Tracy Kosolcharoen, writing in the Eventbrite Blog, advises that:

If you’ve ever had pre-event anxiety, you know it’s often due to uncertainty over the unexpected. From traffic jams to electrical issues, anticipating problems will help you avoid them.

Improve On-Site Logistics; Lower Your Stress

Presenting Yourself–Dressing for Success in the Event Industry

Looking the part is important in any role, and event planners are no exception.  Here are pointers for dressing the part.

Author Holly Barker is a digital native with a passion to help shape events and brands through storytelling, creativity and digital magic. She has over 10 years of experience consisting of social media marketing, events and promotional management, digital marketing, and brand development.

Everyone knows that they should wear comfortable clothing.  But are there some additional things you should do?  Of course, says Holly.
Her advice is:

Dressing for success as an event planner can be challenging. Long, active work days need you to keep moving quickly, and always be prepared for the unexpected! You need to have your essential go-to outfits that are made for comfort and convenience.

Dressing for Success in the Event Planning Business

Wrapping a Hot Summer for Events

We know that the season is keeping you busy.  Don’t forget how important the details are: good promotion, great giveaways, and a clean, comfortable “place to go”.

At Luxury Restroom Trailers, we’re proud to offer the Northwest’s largest fleet of luxurious restroom trailers suitable for any event.  That includes the area’s only ADA-compliant model, and the only 8-stall model that can handle events with up to 600 guests.  Give us a call today!

With all those wonderful summer events in front of us, our May Event Planning Roundup focuses on some of the “little” things that will make your event a hit with attendees and your boss as well.  In this post, we’ll share some technology that’s making inroads into events, great ideas for putting a personal touch to your gala, and some new thoughts on the all-important SWAG.

Adding A “Personal Touch” to Your Event

Many of the attendees at your next event probably attend several a year.  So just how do you make your event stand out for them and make them want to return?  Author Deborah Pannell, writing in Techsytalk, suggests adding some personal touches—like personal introductions—saying:

The more your attendees connect with one another, the better. Here’s how you can help ensure that the right people meet one another…
When people arrive, be prepared to introduce them to folks who may be of interest to them. Not only will this be a great icebreaker for people who might not otherwise speak to one another, but you’ll be stimulating conversations that have more of a potential to lead to actual relationships.

Ms. Pannell also says you should carefully consider dietary issues and make sure restrooms are stocked with hospitality supplies.  But we can assure you that when you rent a luxury restroom trailer from us, that’s already taken care of.

Just one less thing for you to worry about.
These Personal Touches Can Take Your Networking Event Over the Top

Promote Your Event With Facebook Official Events

Everyone knows Facebook is one of the most popular and fastest growing social media networks, and most event planning professionals already make good use of it to promote their events.  But did you know there’s a feature called Facebook Official Events that get your message even further out there?

Although not straightforward at all, this feature might just be worth the effort says Eventbrite columnist Keiko Tokuda, noting that:

Facebook Official Events can only be created through a custom Facebook integration…

Tokuda says that “…information like event date, time, venue, and a link to buy tickets, [can be] sent directly from the ticketing partner to Facebook.”  And, as a result,

…Facebook Official Events may be more likely to show up on search and News Feed recommendations where people are spending most of their time. This means your event can get in front of more people, and help you boost your event registration.

Plus, using Facebook’s analytics, you can easily see how the event page is performing.
Reach More People in Less Time with Facebook Official Events

Avoid These 11 Common Speaker Failures

A great speaker can make the event; a failure in that area can spell event planning disaster—plain and simple. For sure, every planner who’s been in the business long has a few horror stories.
Writing for Event Manager Blog, Christina Green notes that “…demands on speakers are greater than ever…”, adding that:

The requirements have switched from a one-way content presenter to a much more dynamic role of thought leader and discussion instigator. If you aren’t connecting with your audience, you’re failing them.

Ms. Green presents eleven of the most common problems with speakers and makes great suggestions on what you can do to avoid them.
11 Speaker Fails and How to Avoid Them

6 Great Ideas for Swag To Keep Them Coming Back

Every professional in event planning knows that swag is much more important than anyone wants to admit it is.  And some say good swag can make the difference between attending and deciding to skip next year’s event.

Writing for the MeetingsNet blog, guest columnist Neen James, notes that since she gets to “…have the privilege of speaking at some of the coolest events around the globe”, she gets to see the lengths some planners go to in order to please their guests.

Something as simple as “the meeting planner handed us a $1 bill as we stepped out of the taxi to give to our bellman. They had thought of every little detail!”, goes a long way.  James notes that, among other things, you need to:

Satisfy the senses… …Fresh flowers and candles appeal to the olfactory learner (those who remember through smell, but be sure to also provide scent-free zones for the allergic); flowers and colored linens appeal to the visual guests; linens and touchable fixtures appeal to the kinesthetic (those who are tactile and enjoy a sense of touch).

Have a look at all of her suggestions at: 6 Ideas for Interesting Extras that Appeal

Consider Using Snapchat for Your Next Event

With the video sharing platform Snapchat growing by leaps and bounds, it’s finally becoming something to consider for event planning.  And if you look at its user demographics, should your event cater to the 35-and-under crowd, you should seriously think about it.

Although author Sue Pelletier admits that “I haven’t felt compelled to play around much with image messaging app Snapchat as a social channel for meetings and events…”, she’s found six reasons why it just might work for your event.

Noting that:

more than 60 percent of 13–34-year-old smartphone users use Snapchat

And that:

with 10B snaps a day… …it’s now overtaking Facebook in the video wars…

Pelletier also thinks that the Snapchat Live Stories feature is great because it lets event planners create a community around an event that attendees can easily contribute to.

6 Reasons Why You Should Use Snapchat to Power up Your Event

Summer is a busy time for event planning, especially for corporate events.  Our takeaway from these stories is that the little things can help make your event a huge success and make your attendees want to come back next year.

We’re proud to provide the Northwest’s finest luxury restroom trailers, including ADA-compliant models and the area’s only 8-stall model.  Serving customers from Portland to Seattle and everywhere in between, your friends at Luxury Restroom Trailers are ready to help with your next event.  Give us a call today.

Wedding costs are skyrocketing: the national average is $26,444—that may seem like the cost of a new hybrid vehicle, but there are often a lot of items on the “Wish List” (or Pinterest Board) and those wishes and pins add up quickly!

To make life a little easier, we’ve created a cheat sheet of the top 7 ways to help you create your dream wedding without breaking the bank.

Weddings range from the “sky is the limit” high end events to the more budget-friendly trip to the court house window for a quick exchange of “I do’s.” However, most weddings fall somewhere in between and it can be a figurative maze trying to navigate what best fits your taste, your style, and often most importantly, your budget!

1. Your Wedding Dress – SAVE!!

In terms of wedding costs, what you pay for your dress can be all over the map.

When I was shopping for my wedding dress, I wanted something classic and beautiful. But mostly, I wanted a dress I wouldn’t look back on in 20 years and say “What was I thinking?!”

After searching the internet high and low for the styles I liked, the true test came when I went to an actual gown shop (don’t forget to make an appointment – most shops are by appointment only!). I tried on “all the latest styles” and found many were built for a woman with a passion for Pilates and coming in at about a foot taller than myself. With disappointment on the horizon, I perused the sale rack as a last ditch effort with my mom coaxing me to try on a dress I knew I wouldn’t like. Once on, I saw it had all the beading I wanted, the lace, the vintage feel was everywhere.

But it was about 4 sizes too big, way too long, and had a halter top which was a little less than flattering. We spoke to the Alterations Queen and after addressing some of my concerns, she said a revamp would be no problem. She was able to cut the straps of the halter top, turn the straight neckline into a sweetheart neckline, she removed some of the length from the lace skirt to help it fit my frame and made cap sleeves from the extra lace. After all was said and done, it looked like a completely different dress. But the best part was the final sale of the dress: $495 INCLUDING the alterations. It is incredible what you can do with a talented seamstress and a great imagination.

MAGICAL WEDDING GOWNS FROM EVER AFTER BRIDAL
Around the World in 25 Wedding Dresses

2. The Wedding Venue – SAVE!!

Do you or someone in your close family & friends have an amazing piece of property? Put it to use! With venue rentals ranging from $1500 to over $15000 and sometimes being the highest of all the wedding costs, this is an amazing budget saver for any wedding.
We held our wedding in a friend’s over-sized backyard. After stringing up party lights across the dance floor, hanging battery operated chandeliers from the trees, and the white linen tables for the guests, the space was breath taking and a bit of a step up from the classic BBQ’s the backyard had seen in the past. And with all the blooming nature surrounding us, we were able to save HUGE on the florist budget!
Handcrafted Orchard Ranch Wedding

3. Wedding Restrooms – SPLURGE!!

This is typically the last item on anyone’s radar. Everyone needs to use the restroom at some point and if you are in a friend’s backyard they may not want anyone coming in and out of their house—or worse, they could be on septic (if it’s a big rural space, chances are it will be on a septic system)—which really puts a kink in the bathroom works. Plan ahead and bring in extra restrooms.

People—for the most part—will sort of remember your dress, they will recall pieces of the ceremony, they’re likely to remember the meal, and they will absolutely remember if they had to use a port-a-potty or not. Skip the port-a-potty!! Do not let your dream wedding be brought down by a trip to the blue plastic box.

At Luxury Restroom Trailers, we have forever solved the dreaded port-a-potty adventure for a black tie event. With heating, air conditioning, sound system, dimming lights, full vanity, faux hardwood flooring, this will not only be a hit with all the guests, it becomes a party destination in itself. Instead of whispers of, “Ew, have you seen the bathrooms?” you will hear exclamations of “Have you seen the bathrooms yet? You have to go now – they are amazing!”
Check All of the restroom options at Luxury Restroom Trailers by Privy Chambers

4. Your Guest List – SPLURGE!!

Always splurge on the guest list! Sure, it will add to the wedding costs, but you never know when those second cousins from Texas are actually going to show, and you want to make sure you invite the old friends from high school, plus the new friends from work.  And the last thing you want is worrying about how so-and-so didn’t get an invitation.

This day is supposed to be a celebration of your love and commitment, and you want the ones that helped you get to this place with you while you celebrate. My mother’s side of the immediate family has over 65 individuals including her brothers and sisters, their husbands and wives, and their children…And that doesn’t include my husband’s side of the family or any of our friends…Insane! So, saving in other ways was very important to us, so we could have all the guests there that we wanted.
A Timeline for All of Your Wedding Stationery Needs

5. Catering for the Wedding – SAVE!!

Every great party needs incredible food! What most people don’t tell you when you’re planning a wedding is that YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT! It’s your party and you can plan it however you like (within in reason, of course). We planned a sit-down dinner catered by one of our favorite restaurants. If I had it to do over again, I would probably still get the same food but I would nix the sit down dinner part. With over 200 guests (aye aye aye), there were so many faces to see and talk to—some were family I had not seen in a while, and some were my best friends I just wanted to spend all my time with.
To avoid the time commitment of a sit down dinner, I would have swapped out the dinner plate for hors d’oeuvres sized portions of all the dinner choices. That way people could still get in a full meal, but the atmosphere would have been more causal, we could have walked around more and talked to all the folks we were so happy to see!

6. Your Photographer – SPLURGE!!

The wedding photos are the best source of memories from the day. Everything happens so fast, most of the time you don’t even have time to eat, let alone finding a quiet moment to take it all in.

Make sure you are comfortable with your photographer. My husband and I can be a bit awkward when the cameras come out, so having someone we were comfortable with was crucial. Every now and then we thought we were doing our “super nice wedding smile”, when in reality we looked like trolls under a bridge with some goofy grin we had never tried on before going full frame with it. It was great having someone who was able to say “…maybe try a different smile…this one isn’t quite fitting…”.

But trust me, some of the troll photos are some of my favorite! It captured the craziness of the day and were great for a laugh!
Finding Your Perfect Photographer From a Planner’s Perspective

7. The Wedding Décor – SAVE & SPLURGE

If you are crafty and have the time, you can make almost anything yourself. My mother and I kept Michael’s Craft Store in business during the lead up to our wedding and hand crafted nearly everything that wasn’t already growing in the backyard.

We had big round tables with white linens, hand-sewn burlap runners made by my mother-in-law, and handmade centerpieces with a “vintage museum” feel with glass domes containing handmade aged scrolls, mossy rocks, and battery-operated candles for a night time glow. We even put together handmade LED twig chandeliers hanging from the trees; they’re still a hit to this day on Pinterest!
We really went above and beyond in the crafty department. Here are some things I would have changed:

I would have rented more items. We purchased EVERYTHING for the centerpieces…now…five years later, I still have all of those centerpieces packed in boxes taking up valuable storage space. Décor companies have so much to offer; they are a fantastic option for renting anything from a fork to a faux boxwood wall. Check out their catalogs and see what works best for your design – Maybe buy one of two centerpieces and rent the rest – save the closet space!

Beyond just renting things, I think I would have opted for more causal seating.

Looking back on it now, I would also have chosen different furniture: rather than tables and chairs for every guest, I would have gone with a more causal lounge atmosphere featuring over-stuffed couches and alternative seating choices.  All of which would have gone perfectly with an hors d’oeuvre menu and casual conversation hamlets throughout the evening.

Your wedding is an event you and your guests will remember for a lifetime, but few us can simply afford to ignore wedding costs.  Our experience—and we’ve seen hundreds of weddings—has taught us that there places you can can save, and those where you shouldn’t.