3 Tips for Designing on a Dime!

By Tonya J. Shadoan, MBC™, T Productions, Fishers, Ind.Let’s face it. Not every wedding has a large budget. So what can you do to meet your couples’ budget, create the wedding of their dreams, and get paid? The answer? Design on a dime with these hot tips.1. Make Use of Complimentary VenueCenterpiecesUse anything and everything the venue has to offer that is complimentary. While it’s true that the typical mirror and votive candles seem uninspired, don’t dismiss them. Use them in a creative way. For the mirrors, skip putting them on the tables, and think outside of the box. Try putting them together across the head table to create a mirror table runner. Mirrors are a trendy way to use shape and a great way to reflect candlelight. And what couple doesn’t love candlelight? It’s the number one way to set a mood of romance. The more candles, the better. Use complimentary votives around the cake table, bar, window ledge, etc, even if you bring in specialty votives. It’s free, and it enhances the ambiance. By grouping mirrors, votives, or even their hurricanes together, you can create groupings in areas that are usually not decorated. Line the entrance with hurricanes. Use the votives in the women’s restroom. There are endless possibilities. If they offer it, just say, “Yes!” The couples will love your creative ideas. This is an opportunity to showcase your design and creative talents, while saving your clients’ money. It’s a win, win!2. Personalize, Personalize, Personalize!Even though the economy is making a comeback, couples are still very budget-conscious. One of the advantages of hiring you might just be to save them money and make their wedding unique. No one wants a cookie-cutter wedding design. They want something special and unique, something customized. They want their Pinterest dreams, but do not want to pay a lot of money. That’s where the words “personal” and “custom” become your best friends when selling your services. If you take the time to personally relate to the couple, you can create a personalized, custom décor that reflects their style. It’s the little touches that make the biggest impact. I always say during my first consult, “I want your guests to walk into the room and see little touches of you both.”How? Think about creative ways to incorporate their personalities—whether through pictures, homemade goodies created by grandma, or a special chocolate from their hometown. I have even used a couple’s favorite ceramic statue from their home as their cake topper. One of my couples played volleyball every day during their lunch hour. It was their favorite way to spend time together. For the guest book, we had a volleyball engraved with the couples’ name and wedding date. Guests signed the ball, and the couple got a special keepsake for their new home. Using what they love makes the design reflect their personalities. If you really want to know what makes your couple tick, suggest a planning meeting in their home. It’s worth the visit! Creating personal designs keeps you creatively fresh and prevents burnout. Weddings you design should have the same style but never the same personal touches.3. Exclusive rentals are the way to go!Start a collection of exclusive décor items. I started small with the basics, and now, thanks to Pinterest, I’ve created exclusive, elaborate pieces. The dollar store can be your best friend. There are hidden treasures on its shelves. You can start with dollar picture frames, use diamond bling to dress them up, and charge a pretty penny for little time and effort. Then, the next time you plan a wedding, those bling table frames are done and ready to rent again. Bingo, more money in your pocket, and now you have inventory. For example, I created a signature floral ring from dollar store flowers for less than $200, yet the first time I rented it out was at a rate of $550. Since May, I have used it four times in different venues and now charge a minimum of $700. That’s $2,650 in my pocket, just from one idea. Most couples don’t have the time or resources to create their own Pinterest dream weddings. So, what can you create to rent and inspire your couples?Be on the lookout wherever you shop; you never know where the next inspiration might be. Think clearance sales, antique shops, garage sales, thrift shops. Vintage is here to stay, so challenge yourself to find something old and make it new again.As you look at ways you can inspire brides and design on a dime, be sure to get creative and avoid styles that have come and gone, like Mason and Ball jars. Your couples will love it!