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| Q&A – QUESTION AND ANSWER |
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Southern Grace Weddings invites all brides-to-be to post their wedding-related questions on our wedding forum so that other brides and bridal professionals can help answer them. Who knows, your question could be in our next issue.
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Q:
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Should I send out RSVP cards with my invitations? Are they worth the extra postage?
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A:
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It depends on the number of guests you plan to invite. If you are having an intimate event of fewer than 75 guests it may not be necessary, unless you do not communicate with these guests on a regular basis. If you are planning an event of 100 or more guests and have hired a caterer who will require a count of guests for meal preparation, it is highly recommended. Most caterers do not expect you to have an exact number however your RSVP responses may save you from over preparation and expense. If you underestimate you may find yourself paying much more after the fact when additional meals have to be prepared the day of your wedding. Compare the cost of postage to an extra meal and you may find yourself licking stamps. But how many of your guests will actually RSVP? Most people will however, nine times out of ten the ones who do not will be your immediate family and closest friends. A polite phone call inquiring whether they have received the invitation may be needed two weeks before the wedding. If your budget is tight try a postcard response, as they are less expense to mail.
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Q:
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What is the difference between a Service Fee and a Gratuity Charge when booking a venue?
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A:
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A gratuity is normally considered a tip for service provided or exceptional service. When considering a wedding venue that provides a number of services for your wedding in the cost of a package, a service fee may be charged. In higher end venues a service fee is customary, this is a fee charged for the services provided and coordinated for your convenience. This fee is normally about the same amount as the traditional gratuity charge but worth more in the long run. These venues normally work with the best professionals in the area thus negotiating a better pricing for you. This results in a better price on services such as catering, cakes, beverages and music. One most important service would be the event coordinator. Wedding coordinators can charge several hundred to thousands of dollars to help you with your wedding. If your venue has a qualified coordinator on staff you will be saving yourself precious time and money with just your initial consultation. When you choose a higher end venue that includes a service fee the staff is normally compensated at a level that reflects exceptional service, so no need to tip. So the difference is a gratuity is a tip and a service fee is a fee charged for services provided.
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Q:
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I am trying to stay within a budget and am thinking of not having a videographer but my cousin with his video camera. What do you think?
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A:
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That depends upon how important your wedding video is to you. Unless your cousin is experienced with a video camera, you run the risk of having a video memoir of your wedding that includes more scenes of the floor and ceiling than of your memorable moments. Just because someone you know owns a video camera doesn’t mean they are educated on proper shooting techniques or more importantly, the professional etiquette that is needed to honor the sacredness of a marriage ceremony or that’s necessary to work with the other professionals that you have hired.
Also, with a professional you usually have more than one camera. So when the footage from both cameras is edited your video has shots from different angles. It really ends up being a major production. You will never regret investing the money to hire a professional video specialist to produce your wedding video.
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