Setting a Budget!

The dreaded word that all brides hate to hear.....BUDGET!  At least it was for me.  My husband and I were not only trying to save for our wedding, but also buy a home months before.  Crazy - I know! But you would be surprised of how many couples have been in that exact same situation.

We started off with getting quotes on the most important vendors, such as venue and caterer, then built around those.  With me being the creative DIY girl that I am, I had TONS of ideas that I wanted at our wedding.  Yes I was saving money by doing those myself, but were they necessary?  Probably not, but they were things that I wanted.  And that is something that should always be in the forefront of your planning.

What do you WANT and what can you live without?  Start with picking the things that mean the most.  If you have always dreamed of an outdoor wedding, do it.  If you couldn't imagine having your reception without a plated dinner, do it.  Even if that means flying your photographer in from a different state because they are that awesome!  This is not me telling you to go crazy and spend all kinds of money, because it can be easily done, trust me.  Picking the things you love most, doesn't mean you can pick everything you love most (unless of course you have a large budget).

A suggestion that I would give to any client is pick the costly things first (tweaking along the way if needed), then build from there.  If you have a certain dollar amount to stay under for the entire event, keep that in mind at ALL times!  It is very easy to get carried away with this table cloth, that centerpiece and those intricate lights that only the most expensive store has.  This is where a coordinator/planner, like myself, could come in handy.  Someone to constantly say, is that really in your budget or let's see if we can get it at a better rate. 

I think a lot of brides aren't aware of the financial responsibility a wedding can have.  There are definitely ways around it, but sticker shock will happen one way or another.  Be sure to explore your options and compare them all before making any decisions.  At the end of the day, you are marrying your best friend, soul mate and forever love - that is all that should matter. 

~Keeping it Simply Southern~
                  Heidi

Meet Heidi - Owner of Simply Southern LLC

I am proud to announce my official ownership of Simply Southern LLC!  We take your vision of an event and turn it into something you thought was only possible in your dreams.  We specialize in weddings, however are open to birthdays, showers and other small social events.  A special addition to Simply Southern LLC is custom invitation options for your event.  Have an idea, but not sure how to put it on paper?  Let us help you get there!  It can be as simple as text on a sheet or something as elaborate as a 4-5 piece set up that will absolutely wow your guests.

To tell you a little bit about me, I am a newlywed myself.  My husband and I married June 29, 2013 on a beautiful summer evening at an outdoor venue in Louisville, Kentucky.  I have always had a passion for planning events and knew that I wanted to have my own business some day.  We recently decided, what is stopping us?  We are young and no children (yet), with little responsibility outside of our day-to-day jobs.  With the full support of our friends and family, we have plunged in to our small business!

My first full event coordination of course was my own wedding, and let's face it, we as women are the biggest critic when it comes to our BIG day!  It all started with colors, pictures and small ideas here and there, that I finally realized this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.  I know the feeling that I got when I saw my dream come to life, and the thrill of seeing it on a bride and groom's face is just breath taking.  It doesn't matter how much work or how many hours I have to put in to an event, at the end of the day all that matters to me is the pure satisfaction of my clients.

I graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor's in Marketing.  I have spent the past 6 years of my life in a Human Resources role for a local company.  They are a great company to work for and have also been very supportive whether it be with my business or furthering my education.  My husband works for UPS, which is usually when I spend most of my time working on Simply Southern.  We have been together for over 7 years and are thoroughly enjoying our new marriage!  He backs me 100% in every decision I make and has no doubt that Simply Southern can be a success, even if it means helping me cut paper.  I always say that I couldn't be luckier to have him, but it is true and I will continue to say it every day of my life. 

I am currently planning a wedding in October, including custom invitations.  I am also designing custom invitations for my best-friend's wedding in August,  I will post pictures as soon as those are delivered to their guests.  If you are interested in the services we can offer please contact me via email at simplysoutherneventsky@gmail.com and be sure to like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/simplysouthernky.

~Keeping it Simply Southern~
Heidi