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It’s Friday SJE fans!  Last week we introduced you to our Feature Friday series for the month of June which is the Plan B of wedding preparations.  Today we’d like to give you some information on something we always recommend to our brides, Wedding Insurance.

I know what you may be thinking, “I have to buy insurance too?”  But think of it like this, you pay for coverage for your automobile which costs 25k.  Yet you could spend 50k or more on your wedding day.  Why not protect this investment, too?

• What is wedding insurance? Generally there are two types of wedding insurance which are: Liability and Cancellation/Postponement Insurance.

Liability Insurance

Liability insurance is used to cover the Bride and Groom from certain types of claims arising from accidents taking place during the wedding, reception, and rehearsal.  It offers protection for the wedding couple for damage to the facility caused by a guest or vendor, bodily injury to guests, and alcohol-related accidents they are found liable for.

Cancellation/postponement Insurance

Event Cancellation/postponement insurance is designed to safeguard your wedding from unexpected mishaps.  It covers cancellation/postponement and losses such as no-show vendors, bankruptcy of vendors, damage to the wedding attire, theft of gifts, and more.

• How much does it cost?

As with all insurance the cost is dependent on the coverage amounts you choose but I used a coverage calculator from Wedsafe.com.  I requested a quote based upon a 75k wedding and the cost was $511.00 for the liability and cancellation/postponement coverage.

• Does cancellation/postponement Insurance cover weather related disasters?

Yes, it will provide coverage if the weather conditions are extreme enough to prevent the Bride/Groom and/or their immediate families from attending the wedding or reception which renders the event unusable or unsafe.

• Can you give me a recommendation for companies that offer this type of insurance?

Wed Safe

Protect My Wedding

NASEP

Now it’s your turn SJE fans!  For our brides-to-be, have you heard of any stories from your married friends where a vendor filed bankruptcy before their big day?  Event planners, do you know of a situation where a venue was damaged in a natural disaster?  Feel free to share!

As we promised, this month is all about showers! Today I put together a small inspiration board for the couple who has everything. How about throwing a co-ed “Stock the Bar” wedding shower? With this shower, guests bring gifts such as the favorite wine of the groom and bride-to-be, ice tongs, and wine tags.  How about some tie-the knot toothpicks for the scrumptious hors-d’oeuvres you’ll be serving?  How fun, right? 

Good Morning and Happy Cinco de Mayo SJE Fans!

Did you miss us?  We know things have been a little quiet around here but that’s because we’ve been busy making our clients swoon.  This month our focus will be wedding showers!  We’ll have ideas about shower locations, what to do for the couple who has everything, and provide you with a few inspiration boards for your viewing pleasure.  But for now, we’d like you to wish you an awesome Thursday!

Have you recently been to an awesome shower?  Tell us about it!

Happy Monday!!!  It seems like we just started the New Year and it’s already the last day of February.  Time sure flies when you’re having fun!  For the month of March we’re going to focus on entertainment.  We love to help our brides think beyond the traditional DJ or wedding band.

Your guests love to be entertained of course!  We enjoy the fine details of entertainment and once we put our heads together with our brides, we have stellar results.  In the past we’ve had a Nigerian dance troupe, an acapella group pose as guests while spontaneously bursting into song, and a Chinese dragon dance; just to name a few.  Think outside the box!

Finally, I’ll quote Courtney whose wedding is featured below,  “I don’t know if this is appropriate to say because it’s my own wedding but, THIS IS THE BEST WEDDING I’VE EVER BEEN TO!”

Click here ~~~~>ATMOSPHERE

Happy Monday SJE blog fans!   I hope you enjoyed your Super Bowl weekend.  If your guy proposed, then CONGRATS!!!  Today I’ll be highlighting Venues.  Three things to consider when selecting your reception venue are capacity, location, and cost.

Capacity

How many people can your venue hold comfortably?  Sometimes when you visit a venue, you are given the capacity that the space can hold by the venue manager.  However, if that number gives you a pause, then you might be in for a tight fit.  A wedding planner can plan the space with you down to the exact the floor plan you’ll have on your wedding day.  Sometimes we (wedding planners) can take a look at a space and determine that your dream won’t be fulfilled in your chosen space.

Location

Obviously, if you have guests traveling from out of town you’ll want to skip long treks across the city for your guests.  If your ceremony is at one end of the city and your reception at the other, it can be a pain and an additional expense (for you) to transport your guests comfortably to the final destination.  But if your heart is set on a specific venue that’s far from your ceremony your wedding planner can help you make the transition a smooth one.

Cost

Finally it all boils down to the cost.  You may have booked your venue simply because it was the least expensive option you could find.  Maybe they cut a great deal for you and you couldn’t say no.  A wedding planner can review the contract with you and help you determine what you are more likely to actually spend on that “cheap” venue.

Hello my lovelies.  I hope your Thursday is a smashing one!  Can you believe we’ve practically reached the end of January 2011 already?

Team Simply Jubilee Events or (Team SJE) as we affectionately call ourselves, is always on the lookout for fresh and inspiring wedding professionals and products for our brides.  Of course being members of the amazing Houston event industry we get invited to many events and are fortunate to rub elbows with the beautiful people.  So when the invitation arrived in my inbox to attend Ivory Bridal Atelier’s Grand Opening I was excited. 

I must admit before I went to the opening I assumed I would be attending just another bridal boutique store.  I could hardly think of why Houston needed yet another bridal boutique.  However, I was wrong!

I loved everything about the store, from the wide plank, dark chocolate floors, to the sparkling wall sconces.  Ah, but you may be wondering what makes Ivory Bridal Atelier unqiue?  Hold on, I’ll tell you!

First, they have built two large dressing “suites” for the brides.  This creates a wonderful cocoon for you to share with your friends and family when shopping for your gown.  So no more standing on a wooden box for the whole world to see.  Next, they bring champagne, cupcakes, and accessories to the bride while she shops to make it a truly enjoyable experience.

The store is run by two sisters, Ronit and Sharon Levy and perhaps they are the biggest treasure of the store.  The two of them seem truly humble and honored to be a part of Houston’s bridal gown community.  They were gracious hosts and kept thanking everyone over and over for the tremendous outpouring of support.  Even their mother was there looking fabulous and asked me to fix her dress.  What a hoot!  I wish these ladies all the best!

Details:

• 2800 Kirby Drive Suite 218 Houston, TX 77098 in the West Ave Shopping Center of Upper Kirby
• Dresses range from $2800 to $15000
• Website: Ivory Bridal Atelier

Set a Date

Ok, this is a no brainer, right? Not exactly rocket science. However remember that you aren’t the only one who just got engaged. Don’t rush into a date, but give it some careful consideration. For example there are some pretty popular dates floating around in 2011. (i.e. 11-11-11 or 09-10-11) You might have to fight the crowds to get the wedding professional of your choice if you pick a “hot” date.

Set a Budget

Yes this seems pretty straight forward as well but it can become tricky. Most couples have a budget in mind but where do you spend the money? A wedding planner can help you determine what’s reasonable to spend on certain items and when to reign you in if you seem to be heading toward blowing your budget. For example, if your total budget only allows for 3 to 5% to be spent on (XYZ super item) but the cost would require 8% of your total budget, then your wedding planner will help you trim in other places to get that item if you can’t live without it.

Determine a Guest Count

You will probably want to invite everyone you ever met, including your first grade teacher. But be realistic about the number of guests that would actually appreciate seeing you tie the knot. You also might be happier with having a super intimate affair at the swankiest place in town, instead of a huge party in a stadium just to accommodate your huge guest count. Do what your heart tells you.

Happy Monday SJE blog fans!  Today I’m going to touch on three 2011 Weddings Trends that you’ll be seeing.  Enjoy!

1.Think Vintage

The past is a major trend for 2011.  Brides will be wearing mom or grandma’s dress with a twist and even incorporating old wedding pictures into the décor.  Some brides will be handing out favors from vintage brands and building a historical theme around this idea.  Of course weaving modern details into these ideas make it fresh.  Have fun!

2. Eco-Chic

Brides are continuing to go green in 2011.  This means using recycled paper invitations and programs, LED lightning, and food from local farms.  The eco-friendly bride is continuing to ask for donations to their favorite charity in lieu of wedding gifts and opting to do the same instead of giving the guests a traditional wedding favor.  

Tiny Prints has a nice collection of eco friendly invitations.

3.D.I.Y.

The economy may have started this trend but I think “do it yourself” details are here to stay.  This trend does save the bride money but also adds that special touch to the big day that everyone will notice.  Couples are showcasing their favorite sports, interests, and vacation destinations.

What are some trends you’re seeing for 2011?  Go ahead and share, don’t be shy!

Image Courtesy of Glamourdotcom