In today’s hive:
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I think Anne Barge dresses run from $4000-$15,000 but that is just based on how much friends I know paid for a dress from her. I am not sure what the range is.
for those who have purchased haute bride jewelry, where did you purchase from and how much do they range?
hd - our three discs of pro photos have been on kodakgallery for about a week, and we’ve gotten no guff from anyone. However, if we did, I have no doubt that our photographer would happily give us permission in writing.
Lindsey - I happen to have access to InDesign at work, so that’s what I did all my paper goods in. I would imagine MS Publisher would do what you need it to do, though. The local printer (which I found via Google Maps) didn’t use any of the programs I had, so I just sent the file to them as a pdf since it was a digital print run anyway. It was super easy, about 35 cents each for the printed layer of the invitation, and I had complete control and got exactly what I wanted.
Hd– I’m getting the rights to the digital files from my photographer, but I’ve never heard of any of the online companies giving people trouble about professional photos. Only the reprint desks at places like CVS or Walgreens. You should ask your photographer if there are any online sites he recommends to get reprints made.
Annie - can’t tell about the dress pictures, but I think I’ve seen halter necks like that on Pronovias gowns, so check them and other companies in their design group (you’ll be able to find the others from the Pronovias website, I think.)
tipperella, you could just give your centerpieces to your guests and let them take the vases so you don’t have to worry about them. Or perhaps donate them to salvation army or a nearby church.
So here’s the problem. My sister is supposed to be my MOH, and she’s purchased her dress. However, she and I have almost NEVER gotten along; especially now. It’s always better when she’s away at college. I don’t think I can take much more butting of heads with her and need to decide whether or not I should ask her to step down from her duties as MOH (7 months till the wedding). Doing this would also alleviate the problem of her always being out of state for college when I need help with wedding related stuff and her having to try to put together a shower and bachelorette party. I don’t want to go all bridezilla on her (shudder) and leave fresh family wounds, but I really don’t know if I can deal with the stress the relationship is putting on me on top of the planning and my job as a teacher. Help? Suggestion???
Kelly — I tried on one Paloma Blanca gown that was around $2,600. There is a picture of it in one of my dress shopping entries. It’s a satin dress with a brown sash around the waist.
I think Anne Barge is a bit more expensive (probably over $5K) because I didn’t see any of her dresse at any of the boutiques that I went to, and I only went to boutiques that had dresses under $3,000.
hd- my photographer did include giving us the copyrights on our contract, but then just today was explaining that he also does a sort of embedded, non visual watermark. It gives him credit for the photo but gives the rights to the client
Lindsey- I actually did our invites in photoshop and illustrator (sort of a combo of both, but then went to all photoshop). we printed them all ourselves on our Canon MP530, and it work fabulously. this way i controlled everything and could change things easily. they came out very well, and everyone thought they were professionally done.
Lindsey– I used Photoshop to create the invitations, which worked great, and then I sent my files out to http://www.nwprintedsolutions.com to get thermographed. Turned out perfectly, and no having to deal with smudging, feeding pages into a printer, etc. If you’re just going with plain ink, I’d take them to Kinko’s. Make sure you have plenty of paper, though, in case they screw up!
kelly- my dress is a PB, and it was 1600
Miss Radish! That PB is my dress 
it retailed at my store for 1,600, however, I was able to get a discount, and paid 1200.
interesting, the different retail prices!
Question:
The reception site will cut the cake at no cost, but charges $50/100 people to serve the cake. Thinking about saving that money and asking someone to do it, but is there etiquette about who is okay to ask and who isn’t? Are cousins and aunts considered to close to do a task like that?
Lindsey - I used Illustrator for my invites and had a local printer do them. I would suggest the same since you can do press checks, see proofs etc - just look up a design firm near you and find out where they print. A good printer is a good printer but a bad one is a nightmare - don’t do overnightprints.com or something like that unless you are ready for bad quality. If you want great do “real” printing not digital, and thermography, letterpress, etc are even better, prettier, etc. We used Palmer in Chicago. Good luck!
aoedorothee - Haute bride pieces can run from $100 - $400 I think. The most common bracelets are around $200-$250.
Lindsay- I used photoshop and printmaster to print my save the dates.
tipperella- I am also having a DW so I figured I would just tell everyone to take a centerpiece if they want it. They are in these beautiful cut glass bowls so I think they will.
tipperella — if you have any friend/relative attending your wedding who is engaged, ask him/her if she’d like to have them. Maybe tell him/her to be prepared to lose a few to those who help themselves and take them home, and then let your friend/relative be responsible for collecting them and taking them home at the end of the reception.
hd- my photographer has a letter that is included with the cd of our engagement images, that states she’s releasing them to us.
for what its worth, i developed them all (330) at ofoto.com and they never questioned it.
lindsey, i used http://www.whcc.com for my save the dates, (and all other pro type things i need printed) and i’m always very happy with them.
Stephanie - If you are reluctant to pay the caterers to serve cake, how about have cupcakes and having guests just pick a cupcake off of the display? I think having relatives/friends waiter is abusive for lack of a better word. They are your guests and should be treated as such.
Kelly - I have a PB dress and it was just over $2000 after a 10% discount we got at the store. (P.S. I definitely recommend negotiating when you get your dress - they took 10% off my dress, veil, and bridesmaid dresses after nicely asking for a discount!)
Brooke,
We had a photobooth at our wedding last October and it was huge hit. They were there from right after the ceremony (during the cocktail reception time) through the end of the evening — about 6 hours. It was set up outside in the cocktail area, which worked best for our venue, a private estate. People also had to pass the area on their way out and could have used it then, too. There was a table nearby with stamps, stickers and plain black sheets for guests to put together their own page. Some just left us their strip of photos and we put together a page for them afterwards. We made sure the DJ/MC reminded people at intervals during dinner and dancing (which were held at other nearby and connecting parts of the venue) to remember to use the photobooth. In the beginning the booth was crowded, but it soon cleared out and during certain times (like dinner) it was nearly empty — those who used it then got multiple strips. It absolutely did not take away from the evening, but then again there were a little over 200 guests for our day and no way was a few guests’ temporary absence noticeable. I’m just sorry that more folks didn’t use it. We love flipping through the resulting album almost as much as our formal one. If you can swing the cost, do it. Sorry, but we didn’t use Party Booths - ours was photoworksinteractive.com and ran around $2000.
Good luck.
Thanks for the idea Kim! I didn’t mean for it to be abusive at all and it’s so far off, that’s why I was asking. thanks again!
Question for the hive:
OOT bags, who gets them?
We only have about 4 people from out of state and for most others the venue is approx. 45 min to an hour away, does everyone who’s staying over get one?
http://www.mpix.com is a great resource to print out pro-quality digital pix
Kelly - Anne Barge has three different collections.
The least expensive is called La Fleur, and dresses from this collection are $1800-3000. The Couture collection is $3000-6000. The most pricey collection is Black Label, with dresses starting at $5500.
new question-
my bms and i are going to get manis/pedis the day before the wedding. i’d like to do a bm luncheon before we get our nails done. any ideas on invitation wording? bms are paying for their own nails, but i want to treat them to lunch. thanks!
I am looking for jewelry for my wedding day and have heard of people leasing fine jewlery from jewlery stores in their area (i.e., leasing jewelry for the day). Has anyone done this? If so, how does the process work? How much do they charge?
Amanda: This would be something to send out an invite for the lunch since you are paying and then use word of mouth for the mani and pedi since sending an invite for an event usually means you are paying. Telling the girls there is an optional mani and pedi time after the lunch verbally would be a better option.
Michelle: typically out of town bags go to guest who have no idea what to do around the city and need all the information. Someone driving 45 minutes probably wouldn’t use that information so I would say only the 4 people from out of state need to get them.
Kelly-
My Paloma Blanca (new collection #3802) was $1695 at the salon I went to- got it for $1440 since I took the sample. Hope that helps!
Tipperella - you could sell them to someone now and then bring the packaging with you to the wedding. Have someone else in the party package them up and send them directly from the wedding to the person who buys them. That way they are out of your hands and you don’t have to bring them back.
Can anyone recommend some nice places in Long Island for engagment pictures in the Fall? I love foliage! I’m not interested in Westbury Gardens, but any other ideas aside from that are welcome!
QUESTION: I’m having my two nephews(ages 9 & 7) in my wedding but not as Ring Bearers. I’m calling them Jr. Groomsmen but I don’t have a particular task assigned to them. I thought they might escort their little sisters (the flowergirls) down the aisle but now I’m reconsidering this option. Does anyone have a suggestion for what role they might play in the wedding?
Thanks Julie!! saves me a bunch of money!
Q: We’re having a Catholic Mass ceremony.. Is it a MUST that I put the readings/flow of the Mass on the program? Or can I just list attendants/credits?
Annie, the dress looks like it might be an Elizabeth Fillmore. Check her website.
Emily– Which is 3802? I can’t seem to locate model #s on her or any other site. Thank you!
Beehive
Feature Launched: Aug 31, 2006
About: A forum for readers to post questions and get feedback from the hive, aka the weddingbee community.
Kelly — I was looking at a PB dress that was $1600 — I think you can check online vendors like houseofbrides.com to see mfc listed prices.
I know Anne Barge are much more $$