Thursday, September 29, 2011

Cash Bar Alternatives

More and More I am seeing and hearing of couples whom are on a strict budget, are choosing to have a cash bar. Now I am the first to suggest budget friendly ideas but having a cash bar is usually not the first money saving idea I would suggest to my clients.


If social correctness is the utmost importance then having a cash bar is an absolute "no-no". Wedding etiquette clearly states that a cash bar is very improper.
You are inviting your guests to enjoy this night with you, most likely they are travelling a distance, buying you a lovely gift and may have even taken the day off work. Put it this way, if you were invited over to a friend's house and they charged you for each glass of wine you drank, how would you feel?


So here I have prepared a few suggestions on how to cut cost for you big day while allowing your friends and family to have a worry free enjoyable time.

  • First and foremost cut the guest list: Having a large guest list will really pull on the purse strings.


  • Have a brunch wedding: People drink less earlier in the day.


  • Have a standard bar rather than having premium top-shelf liquor


  • Offer only beer and wine or maybe just have one or two signature drinks


  • And of course the easiest: have a non alcoholic wedding. Nothing wrong with that.


If however none of these suggestions work for you and you have seriously considered what it means to your guests to have a non host bar, then by all means do the cash bar. Emily Post may not agree with this break from wedding etiquette, but times are changing. Just be sure to notify every guest that your wedding will require them to purchase their own drinks, you don't want guests showing up with no cash!

Friday, September 2, 2011

Wedding Insurance: WEDensure

All inclusive wedding insurance from WEDensure offered exclusively through NW Insurance Brokers Ltd in Vancouver, BC.


Why get insurance?
A lot can go wrong on your wedding day, and with wedding insurance you wont need to worry about it anymore!


What does it cover?
**Taken from the WEDensure website**

  1. Cancellation or Postponement Expenses 
    A large concern for any bride and groom is the wedding being cancelled or postponed. WEDensure will cover the expenses that result from the cancellation or postponement of a wedding. We will pay for any deposits that were placed before your wedding and lost due to a delay or cancellation. For example, if you placed a non-recoverable deposit on transportation and hotel accommodation before the wedding was cancelled, we would pay for the deposit.
  2. Additional Expense Incurred to Avoid Cancellation:
    WEDensure will pay for expenses that are used to avoid a wedding cancellation. For example, if the groom is traveling on a plane to the wedding and the flight is cancelled, WEDensure would pay for another ticket so that the groom can attend the wedding.
  3. Failure of Suppliers 
    WEDensure will pay for any non-recoverable deposits from a supplier who fails to provide their services as agreed upon. For example, if a photographer is unable to attend a wedding due to an unforeseen circumstance, we would pay for the cost of another photographer.
  4. Wedding Attire
    WEDensure will cover any damage to your wedding dress or suit after it has left the supplier and before the conclusion of the wedding. For example, if the bride's wedding dress is damaged, we will pay for either the tailoring or replacement cost of the dress.
  5. Wedding Rings
    Similar to the wedding attire, this coverage will pay for any damages to the wedding band. The band is insured starting from seven days before the wedding until the conclusion of the event.
  6. Wedding Gifts
    WEDensure will pay for any damages to your wedding gifts up to 24 hours after receiving it. The gift must be either at your house, the reception, or in transit between your house and the reception.
  7. Transportation
    WEDensure will reimburse the non-recoverable deposits that were paid to a transportation supplier if they fail to meet their contractual obligations. For example, if the limousine that takes the bride and groom away from the reception cancels their commitment, we will pay for the costs of another transportation vehicle.
  8. Photographs, Video, DVD, or other Medium
    WEDensure will reimburse the expenses incurred to correct, take, or retake the wedding photographs or videos within 90 days of the wedding.
  9. Wedding Cake and Flowers
    WEDensure will pay for any direct loss or damage to the wedding cake or flowers seven days prior to the wedding until the conclusion of the reception.
  10. Wedding Stationery
    This coverage will pay for any direct physical loss or damage to wedding stationery prior to the wedding. Examples of wedding stationery include: invitation cards, RSVP cards, menus, name cards, itinerary, etc.
  11. Rented Property
    WEDensure will provide reimbursement for direct physical loss or damage to any rented property used during the wedding or reception.
  12. Honeymoon
    WEDensure will reimburse you for any pre-paid, non-recoverable costs of travel arrangements for the honeymoon due to the cancellation or postponement of the wedding.
 Also included in the WEDensure program is Host Liquor Liability.


What does it cost?
Policy premiums or payments will range from $500 to $2,625 based on your budget and whether you want a $1 million General Liability or $2 million General Liability policy. 


How do I buy?
Call NW Insurance Brokers Ltd. toll free at 1-888-603-1931 or 604-602-1931


United Kingdom Building
Suite 1610 - 409 Granville St.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada V6C 1T2