Are you planning an outdoor wedding in Boise, Idaho? Would you like to cut hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars from your wedding budget? Consider one of Boise’s beautiful parks for your wedding ceremony and/or reception. For under $100 you can reserve one of the following locations for your special day: 

Prices per reservation time block: 7:00am - 11:00am, 12:00pm - 4:00pm, and 5:00pm-9:00pm. 
All blocks include setup and cleanup time.

PICNIC/GARDEN SITE/CAPACITY RESIDENT 
(Boise City Limits)  
Ann Morrison Shelter (500) $85.00
Camel's Back Picnic Site (50) $38.00
Cassia Shelter (50) $38.00 
Ivywild Shelter (200) $59.00
Julia Davis Shelters, #1 & 2 $85.00
 Julia Davis Rose Garden (150) $85.00
Kathryn Albertson - The Eyrie (150) $85.00
Kathryn Albertson - The Rookery (150) $85.00
Municipal Shelter & Sites 1-10 (200) $59.00 Phillippi Shelter (50) $38.00
Quarry View Shelter (50) $38.00
Veterans Picnic Site (50) $38.00
Veterans Shelter (200) $59.00
Winstead Shelter (200) $59.00  

Rules and guidelines can be found at: https://cityofboise.org/Departments/Parks/PDF/Reservations/ParkUseGuidelineFlyer.pdf

Let us at Sound Wave Music help you make your wedding day special and beautiful in one of Boise’s beautiful parks. From the bridal party processional to your first dance as husband and wife, we have the music that fits your style. Call us today for information, suggestions, and ideas for your Boise wedding.

Boise Weddings on a Budget – Creating the Budget

Before you start to plan a wedding the single most important thing you can do is create a budget, and then stick to it! This post is created as a guide to planning your wedding according to your budget. 

First, decide what your budget is. What is the most you can afford to spend and who will pay for each part? Here is a link to a traditional  “who pays for what” list http://www.ourmarriage.com/html/who_pays_for_what.html but remember, nothing is set in stone and, depending on finances, some adjustments may need to be made. 

Once you have decided on your budget, and who is responsible for each, get out your calculator. Here is a breakdown of costs, and the % of your budget to be allotted for each. (See our earlier “Wedding on a Budget” posts for money saving tips and tricks.)

1. The reception, including the site, food, rentals, cake, and drinks will consume the largest part of your budget at 50%. The money you can save in this area will have the largest impact.
2. Next is the wedding attire at 11%. This includes clothing and accessories for both bride and groom.
3. Photography comes in third at 9%. Shop around to get the best deal, without sacrificing quality.  
4. The cost for the flowers is next at 8% including the bride’s bouquet, groom’s boutonniere, corsages for the mothers and bridesmaids, and boutonnieres for the groomsmen.  
5. For the music, you should expect to spend 8% of your budget, but check our prices for the best deal. We can save you a bunch of money here!  
6. The rings for both bride and groom should total 5% of your wedding budget, including engraving and sizing.  
7. The invitations, response cards, and thank you cards will run about 3% of your budget.  
8. The ceremony, if a paid one, should run you no more than 3% of your budget, this includes fees for the officiant and marriage license.  
9. Wedding transportation services will run about 2% as well, including shuttles for wedding party, transportation to and from the ceremony and reception, and any parking attendant fees.  
10. And finally, don’t forget the gifts for the bridesmaids and groomsmen for about 1% of your budget.  

Keeping a careful accounting of your spending will help you stay on track during the planning process. Be sure to keep all your receipts and contracts to avoid disappointment later if something doesn’t fit right, or other unexpected events occur. 

Please feel free to share any wedding planning tips and tricks here and contact Sound Wave Music right away for the highest quality Boise DJ wedding music service at the best prices in the valley. Your satisfaction is our goal. 

Kristin Cole
Sound Wave Music
Boise Wedding DJ
Boise's Best DJ

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Weddings can be costly and the last thing you need are unexpected costs. Here is a list of  common expenses that may not be planned for in your original wedding budget:

Postage

Did you know when you mail your wedding invitations, oversized envelopes and bulky contents increase the cost of postage up to $2 more than a regular sized envelope? Postal service regulations specify dimensions and thickness for regular postage here: http://www.usps.com/send/waystosendmail/senditwithintheus/firstclassmail.htm

First-Class Mail Letters – Uses a single stamp for the following dimensions:

~ Rectangular

~ At least 3-1/2 inches high X 5 inches long X .007 inch thick

~ No more than 6-1/8 inches high X 11-1/2 inches long X ¼ inch thick

~ Maximum weight is 3.5 ounces

~ Letters that are considered non-machinable are subject to a surcharge

~ Length is the dimension parallel to the address

First-Class Mail Large Envelopes – Additional postage applies for the following dimensions:
~ Large envelopes exceed any one of the maximum dimensions of a letter (above)

~ The maximum size of a large envelope is 12 inches high by 15 inches long by 3/4 inches thick

~ Mail pieces that exceed the maximum dimensions for a large envelope are charged parcel prices

Delivery fees for rented items

Often delivery fees are not included in the “per item” rental cost (for chairs, tables, etc.). Check with the facility you rent from up front so there are no “surprise” expenses on the final bill. If delivery costs do not fit within your budget, shop around for companies who deliver for free, or even recruit friends and family to pick up items for you to help save money.

Gratuities

If you utilize the services of facility staff at your event to set up, cater, serve, decorate, or any other service, gratuity is often added to the final bill and not included in initial “service charge.” Gratuity can range anywhere from 15% to 20% of the total bill.

Clothing alteration fees

You might assume that alterations are included in the price of your wedding dress, bridesmaid dresses, tuxedoes or other clothing items. This is often not the case. Alterations fees can greatly increase the cost of the item being purchased (or even rented). Make sure you know alteration fees before making your final purchase.

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. Sound Wave Music is Idaho’s leading wedding DJ in Boise. We are here to help you with all your wedding planning and especially your wedding music needs.

Kristin Cole
Sound Wave Music
Wedding DJ - McCall Idaho
Idaho Disc Jockey

Decorating for your wedding does not have to be expensive or stressful. Wedding decoration purchasing is often near the bottom of the to-do list, after the more expensive items have been purchased, and the budget is nearly exhausted. Here are some fun, easy and inexpensive decorating ideas for your Idaho wedding:

• Rent items such as backdrops, arches, runners, center pieces, candelabras, fountains, tables, chairs, even flowers and trees, for a fraction of the cost of retail. Local vendors specialize in event rentals and often offer delivery, if needed. Here are a couple of local vendors to get you started:
  
  Tates Tents & Events (http://www.tatestentsandevents.com/) and Brown Rental (http://www.brownrental.com/)
  
  
• After deciding the theme, talk to some of your crafty friends and family members for assistance in creating some of your own decorations.
• Consider your location and talk to the venue representative. A backyard event will require less decorating than an empty room. And if your event is in a reception center some of the decor (ie: flowers, tables, linens, etc) may be provided for you. Some venues have optional decorations for a nominal fee. It is worth asking about.
• Silk flowers are less expensive than real flowers, and they last longer! A silk flower in the center of a small mirror would make a beautiful centerpiece.
• Check dollar stores, craft stores, or discount outlets for inexpensive items that may be altered to serve nicely as perfect wedding décor.

Using creativity and patience, decorating your wedding will be as fun and rewarding as planning the wedding itself! Good luck and congratulations! 

Don't forget about hiring a Boise DJ.  Your Disc Jockey and entertainment can make your ceremony and reception a wonderful experience.  2010 dates are filling up fast.  Call today!

Kristin Cole
Sound Wave Music
Best Disc Jockey in Boise
Boise Wedding DJ Services

If serving food at your wedding reception is part of your plans, with a little pre-planning and creativity, you can do so without maxing out your budget, or your sanity. Here are some tips for saving money and time on wedding food prep and planning:

• Contact a few of your favorite local restaurants to compare food prices and large order availability. Restaurants will often be less expensive than caterers for weddings, especially if you pick up the order yourself. 
• Think back to family reunions, church functions, potlucks, get-togethers, etc. Who do you know who enjoys cooking, makes a great casserole, loves to barbecue, etc? Ask if they would consider ‘gifting’ you with their specialty for your wedding.
• Consider having a buffet line so guests can help themselves and clear their own tables, this will save money on wait-staff and caterers.
• Purchase needed food and paper items at Costco or Cash & Carry to save a lot of money over traditional grocery stores. Both stores offer bulk orders and Costco offers party trays specifically for large groups at a much lower cost than other companies.
• Make sure the prep and setup are completed ahead of time so that your favorite aunt or best friend isn’t stuck in the kitchen during the fun and festivities.
• And finally, delegate-delegate-delegate. Allow a capable friend or family member to coordinate the planning and do the leg-work so you are free to focus on more pressing items during this important time of wedding planning. 

Contact Sound Wave Music, Idaho’s #1 wedding DJ service, for additional information on money saving tips and ideas for a perfect wedding. With over 10 years in the Boise wedding music business, your satisfaction and enjoyment are our goal.

Kristin Cole
Sound Wave Music - Boise, Idaho
Boise Wedding DJ Services

 

THE WEDDING CAKE

A wedding cake can add hundreds of dollars to your wedding budget. Bakeries charge as much as $10 per slice (or more) for a multi-tiered and decorated wedding cake; this adds up quickly for a fancy edible centerpiece. Here are some ideas to reduce your cake budget:

• Opt for a smaller, beautifully decorated wedding cake for the bride and groom to share (and/or plaster on each other’s face), and then order a single layer sheet cake to serve to guests. Sheet cakes usually range from $1 - $2 per slice. The difference could be hundreds of dollars!
• Talk to friends, neighbor, coworkers, etc. to find local individuals who bake wedding cakes from home. You will save money and help someone else earn a few extra bucks too.
• Purchase your own cake toppers, ribbons, flowers, and other cake decorations from local craft stores like Joann’s (www.joann.com) or Michael’s (www.michaels.com) to add to a simple wedding cake from Costco or Albertson’s.
• Consider making and/or decorating your own cake. Recruit family and friends and make a day of it! Here are some wedding cake recipes and decorating ideas:
  http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/how-to-make-a-wedding-cake.htm
  http://weddings.about.com/od/weddingcakesfoodmenus/a/weddingcakedeco.htm
• For reasonably priced specialty cakes, contact A Slice of Life Custom Cakes at http://www.asliceoflifecustomcakes.com/
  

Contact Sound Wave Music, Idaho’s #1 Wedding DJ service for additional information on money saving tips and ideas for a perfect wedding.

Kristin Cole
Sound Wave Music - Boise Idaho
Boise, Idaho Wedding Disc Jockey

2010 is right around the corner and Sound Wave Music is here to help make your Idaho wedding as fun and exciting as possible! 2010 brings new trends in weddings - in addition to the time-honored traditions handed down through generations. In spite of the slump in the economy couples are still having beautiful and memorable weddings, using a little creativity and good old-fashioned elbow grease. Hiring a DJ for wedding music instead of a live band, purchasing a second hand dress, having your reception in the backyard at home, the list is endless. Idaho offers many options for weddings-on-a-budget. 

The next several blog posts will present ideas in wedding planning and budgeting to spark some creativity and inspiration so you can have the wedding of your dreams at a cost you can afford.

A DRESS FOR UNDER $100

Let’s talk about the dress. Have you priced them lately? It really isn’t necessary to spend thousands of dollars on a wedding dress. Because women often sell, donate, or even give away their wedding dress after the ceremony is over, the possibility of finding a fabulous dress for pennies on the dollar is a real option. 

• A search for “wedding dress” on boise.craigslist.org returned 15 wedding dresses under $100 posted in the past ten days. Some have never been worn and the rest worn once or twice. 
• On eBay, hundreds of wedding dresses posted for auction in the past several weeks went unsold, and many more sold for under $100. 
• Another option is to peruse local thrift stores where dresses have been donated: Savers, Deseret Industries, Salvation Army, Idaho Youth Ranch, and more - right here in Boise. 
• Consider employing the services of a local seamstress to alter a dress for a perfect fit and style. Brooke Davis is an experienced seamstress and specializes in wedding wear. For more information see Brooke’s website at http://www.sewbrooke.com. 

Congratulations on your engagement! Sound Wave Music is more than a wedding DJ service. We genuinely care about you and your needs. We will do all we can to help make your special day the most memorable and cherished occasion you can hope for.

Kristin Cole
Sound Wave Music
Boise’s Wedding Disc Jockey
www.boise-dj.com