When attending a wedding, the casual observer may think that the whole production is easy — buy a dress and some flowers, and the job is done.
These people are living in a world of make-believe. Anyone involved in wedding planning knows a huge amount of effort and work goes into the event. However, it doesn’t have to be a complete nightmare.
Jo Dial, owner of Eugene’s The Wedding Solution, earns her living by making sure every wedding is the one her clients dream of all their lives, she said.
Dial, who has worked for more than three years planning these ideal weddings, said her job is “to relieve all of the stress of the bride.” She helps the bride organize everything, from choosing the invitations to cleaning up after the reception, she said.
In addition, Dial said she is at the wedding “all day to make sure everything is delivered on time.” She contacts the various vendors, from the florist to the caterer to the DJ, and matches the bride’s dream wedding to her budget, she said.
A wedding planner also requires six to nine months’ advance notice, Dial said, and ideally up to a year’s warning. “So many people book their vendors a year ahead,” she said, and without enough time, the bride may not be able to get her first choice.
But for those do-it-yourself brides, a number of local businesses can help everyone make their weddings an occasion to remember.
The Wedding Gallerie, located inside Reed & Cross, has everything from rental tuxedoes to gowns for the bride, bridesmaids and flower girls.
Valerie Babb, manager of the Wedding Gallerie, said special-order wedding gowns take three to five months to arrive, and the store gets “more special orders than off-the-rack” dresses.
Wedding dresses vary in price from $300 to $1,500, she said, while bridesmaids’ gowns typically run $100-$200. The groom and groomsmen need to choose their tuxedoes two to three months before the wedding to ensure a proper fit, Babb added.
The flowers are another crucial part of the wedding. Carol Headlee of The Flower Market said that the most popular style of bridal bouquet is the “Martha Stewart-style” clutch bouquet, which has approximately 30 roses.
Summer weddings require the most advance notice, Headlee said, as August and September are the most popular months to get married. She recommends giving three to four months’ notice when choosing a florist. She also suggests choosing the style of bridal gown and colors before talking to the florist, so the flowers can complement those choices.
Bridal bouquets typically cost $35-$150, she said, while bridesmaids’ bouquets cost around $35-$50 and tie in with the wedding theme. Decorative flowers vary widely in price, from candelabras at $45 to altarpieces ranging from $100 to $200, she said.
To save money, a bride can transfer flowers from the wedding to the reception, she said. Headlee added that bridesmaids’ bouquets can also double as centerpieces.
A major part of the wedding reception is the food, and unless a bride plans on a barbecue for her guests, she may want to contact a catering service.
Paul Webber, owner of Alpine Catering, recommends contacting a caterer six months in advance, depending on how elaborate the wedding will be.
Different caterers offer different services for their customers. Alpine Catering, for instance, provides delivery and set-up, Webber said. As for eating utensils and waiters, he said most catering services do have those options available for an extra cost.
Vegetarian and vegan meals are also available, he said. The cost can range from $11-$35 per person, and sometimes a deposit of one-third of the total cost is required.
The most crucial part of a wedding is the marriage license. According to Marle Hoehne, supervisor of Lane County Deeds & Records, anyone getting married must be at least 17 years old.
No witnesses are needed to get the license, he said, nor is a medical or blood test required. Licenses cost $60 and are valid for 60 days after purchase. He added that civil ceremonies, which cost $15, are available weekdays at 9 and 11 a.m. for walk-ins, and at 2 and 2:30 p.m. weekdays by appointment. For more information, call 682-3640.