3 Ways to Cut That Guest List

Have you always imagined your wedding day would be a small, intimate group of 50? Or maybe you want a large wedding, but it's just not in the budget? Fallen in love with a venue, but they max out at 75? How are you going to  narrow down the guest list? Keep reading...

Create a full list of everyone you want to invite. Then break up the list into 3 groups. 
     A: I can't get married without them!
     B: Don't neeeeed them there, but the will be missed.
     C: Cool, fun person but don't need to see them at my wedding. (We know it sounds mean, but we all know people like this. :-)

Reconsider inviting kids, plus-ones and work colleagues. 
Kids meals can be costly. Plus-ones: You are not obligated to invite your uncle's girlfriend of two weeks. (Sorry!) Work colleagues: If you left your job tomorrow, would you still talk to this person?

Set List Rules and Don't Break Them
Trust us. Using them will help to avoid the drama that may come up later. Don't invite:
     A: if neither of you has spoken to this person in two/three years and they aren't related.
     B: if you're doing it just because you attended their wedding years ago.
     C: if you think they wouldn't possibly come so you just send them an invitation to "be nice."
         You'll be surprised how many of those "definitely nots" become "for sures!"
     D: Don't invite people out of guilt.

Love and Celebrations! ~ LLE

Question: Does Preferred Reallllly Mean Preferred?

Is your venue's "preferred vendors" list really made up of preferred vendors? And preferred by who? Couples? The ever-changing hotel staff? Or other vendors?  We're going to touch on the touchy subject that is becoming more and more the standard in South Florida. 

The thing that really gets under our skin is the injustice done to the couples. Recently, we had a bride inquire with us. After talking with her on the telephone, she stated that we had made her feel at ease and she is so happy that she called us even though her venue had a "Preferred Vendor List."  She said had spoken to the "preferred planner" and didn't feel comfortable with her. She had done her own research, found us on The Knot and later hired us.  Lucky girl! ;-)

Many venues with these "preferred lists" are making money off of vendors by (in our opinion) misleading the couple. If venues were up front and let their couples know that the lists they are providing are of paid advertisers, that wouldn't be so bad right? At least the couples would know that these lists are more like paid magazine ads, but this isn't the case. 

The lists are still called "Preferred Vendor Lists" and couples are led to believe that these vendors are the highest quality vendors the venue has ever worked with. If you’re going to rely on your venue to recommend vendors to you, wouldn’t you expect those vendors to be people that actually provided a high quality service at a value compared to other similar vendors?  With some venues that’s not always the case.  Please understand that this does not apply to all venues and all Preferred Vendor Lists that you will come across.  However, for us it is an ethical issue that we feel is worth writing about to educate the couples that we work with.  

And to take it even a step further, some venues are making a percentage of the total cost that the vendor is charging the couple. We're sorry.... remind me who's supposed to be benefiting form the "Preferred Vendor List" again???  How is this okay to anybody, anywhere?

One thing that venues won’t necessarily tell you (even if you ask…) is how vendors get onto their preferred vendor lists.  Before you immediately turn to a venue’s Preferred Vendor List, find out what the process is to get onto that list. Research the vendor.  Check out websites, like Wedding Wire or The Knot to see what other couples have said about them. Do your homework! 

Love and Celebrations! ~ LLE

Natasha and Michael ~ Featured in BB Magazine!

We are so excited to share that Natasha and Mike's wedding is featured in a GORGEOUS six page spread in the current Black Bride Magazine. Captured beautifully at the W Hotel Ft. Lauderdale by Adam Opris Photography.

Our ABSOLUTE favorite part of the article is when BB asked Natasha what wedding advice she would give to a future Bride and Groom. Her first response?  "Hire a wedding planner. Your wedding day should be stress-free and hassle-free." We couldn't have said it better ourselves!

Wedding Professionals:
Planner: Liz & Lex Events
Photographer: Adam Opris
Flowers: Flowers By Carol
Venue: W Hotel Fort Lauderdale
DJ: Sound Event DJs
Live Music: AA Musicians
Photo Booth: Capture Pod
Officiant: Ana Rosa Ramirez


Love and Celebrations ! ~ LLE

Married in Fort Lauderdale! Peggy and Robert

Peggy and Robert contacted us last Spring. After planning some of their destination wedding, all the way from St. Louis, they realized they wanted some help selecting vendors and tying in the details of the day. Their ceremony took place at the gorgeous waterside Esplanade Park in downtown Ft. Lauderdale. Then their guests sailed down the Fort Lauderdale intercostal while enjoying an amazing evening of dinner and dancing.

    

   

   

Love & Celebrations! ~ LLE 

Adored Vendors~ Style Unveiled!

We are so excited to have been accepted by Style Unveiled as one of their Adored Vendors. If you haven't checked out the Style Unveiled wedding blog yet, here's a little info from their site.

"Style Unveiled launched in 2008 and quickly became a popular destination for wedding inspiration. A wedding blog for the illustrious of tastes, Style Unveiled continues to be a leader in the industry with Real Weddings and Vendors for hire.

Ahead of trends and with a great understanding of what brides are looking for Style Unveiled merged with The Bridal Style in 2014 to bring an innovated wedding platform which allows brides and dreamers alike to search amazing content and envy over Real Weddings. Style Unveiled continues to bring you trusted wedding professionals, and now offers a Shop offering exclusive product created just for you."  Here is a peak at our Style Unveiled page:

Ladies we  definitely think you should create your own personal Style Board on Style Unveiled. It's a wonderful way to put all your visions for your wedding in one place.  They even have pre-made boards that you can take inspiration from. Check out this beautiful Bouquet Board! Ahhhhh, GORG!

Head on over and "unveil your style!"

Engaged? Enter our "Insta-Love" Contest!

Contest Time! We LOVE contest time! 

Get all the lovely details below!

Good luck!

Instagram ~ @LizLexEvents

Insta-Summer! Insta-Smile :-)

In the words of Earth, Wind & Fire, we are truly "Dancing in September!" Yep! Summer is ending and although we are super excited to begin our Fall Wedding season. We are reflecting on the weddings we have been a part of over the past few months. 

Thanks to Instagram, we can share again! Follow us @LizLexEvents 

In case you missed it... 

We were featured in The Knot Magazine, as one of their exclusive 

Best of The Knot winners for 2014! We also had two of our 2013 weddings featured on Miami Borrowed and Blue! We were thrilled!

In May, we visited Sunny Isles for the  James Bond themed wedding of the century! Ice sculptures, champagne favors, diamonds, and hot pink roses... ahhhhhh!

The Mizrahi Merger took place next! The Miami Heat announcer, the hora, oh and Extra! Extra! Read all about it in their Wedding Day Post!

Team DLG said I Do in beautiful Coral Gables! Black and Gold and Ivory filled the air with elegance. The couple is GORG and did you see those striped b-maid dresses?? They had pockets... No other comments needed! Go #TeamDLG

Erika & Alex said their vows in front of a little over 200 of their friends and family in a beautiful Catholic church in Miami Beach. Then they danced the night away at the grand Alexander Hotel!

Dena and Vivaldi, who planned their wedding from Dubai, had a swimming Stars and Sea themed wedding at the beautiful Westin Colonnade in Coral Gables. It was breathtaking!

Mandie and Marcus otherwise know as #TeamAnderson got married on the Fourth of July overlooking the beautiful beach at The stunning James Royal Palm Hotel!  Let's just say, the fireworks started early in 2014!

Arani and Rohan were married at the beautiful Hilton Ft. Lauderdale Beach! #stunning

Teaira and Khalid were married in August at the beautiful Douglas Entrance in Coral Gables. This definitely was the Best.Day.Ever.

Mint to Be! Mr. & Mrs. Minter were married this past weekend in Boynton Beach! #MinterLove

Thank you to all the beautiful couples that shared their special days with us.

We adore each one of you!

Love and Celebrations! ~ LLE