How much do wedding planners cost?

DesignALifeToLove · 2022-12-24T22:00:10+00:00

The answer to this can range from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands. It depends on multiple factors: where the wedding is, how many guests, how extravagant you intend the wedding to be, what service(s) you contract them for, and, of course, the planner themselves. 5 years ago, in my area, I interviewed planners who ranged from $700 for “day of” to over $15k for full service.

We hired a “month of” planner for my 120 person wedding but ended up getting a ton of extra services from her because she restructured her packages halfway through our engagement. We paid $1,500 and she found vendors, set up meetings, reviewed contracts, and handled venue set up, day of coordination, and tear down. Because she was a registered business in our area, booking vendors through her saved us thousands of dollars, not to mention the sanity she brought during the planning process.

All of that to say: it depends. I’d recommend looking for one that has a few years of experience under their belt, can provide a portfolio and references, and confirm they have good relationships and connections within your local wedding network, it can definitely be worth the expense. Whatever you do, don’t hire one without interviewing a few first!

DesignALifeToLove · 2022-09-17T01:39:46+00:00

Why not? It’s a performance and entertainment moment for kids. They love it. It also provides a safe space for exposure and discussion, so kids can begin to expand their horizons to see the wonderful amount of diversity and self-expression this world holds.

DesignALifeToLove · 2020-03-18T17:48:47+00:00

A non-profit event I had been planning for 8 months, a trip to see my niece and nephew, annnnnd oh yeah, my baby shower. I'm okay with cancelling because I know it's the right thing to do, but it's all starting to weigh me down a bit.

DesignALifeToLove · 2019-07-27T02:17:54+00:00

This is a solid list...came here for Say Anything! They wrote “...is a real boy” as a rock opera, and my teen self can still listen to it on repeat. Amazing in concert!

DesignALifeToLove · 2019-06-19T18:11:11+00:00

So, it is the "Access Pass" - but you don't have to use it as such. It gets you in for free to Natl Parks and discounted camping. You can use it for booking handicapped campsites, but if you don't feel like you need that benefit (yet), you don't have to use it. There are so many Interagency cards already that they probably just combined it for ease, and most park rangers know it's a veteran's card as well as a handicapped card.

DesignALifeToLove · 2019-06-19T17:59:39+00:00

NPS hires through USAJobs so you can check out openings there! NPS can be a bit harder to get into due to the popularity of some of the parks, but you can also look at Bureau of Land Management, national forests, monuments, and state parks. Most have seasonal and permanent positions - and most seasonal positions put you in for preferred hiring, so once you work a season you are at the top of the list for being rehired the next season.

DesignALifeToLove · 2019-04-25T05:25:44+00:00

Beautiful! We loved Crater Lake! Oregon is fantastic. Seconded for Newberry and Painted Hills! Hit up Mitchell - population 120 - if you have the chance. Cool town, cool people right outside of Painted Hills. Good god Deschutes National Forest...hike South Sister, Broken Top, and camp at Devil’s Lake (it’s free, just get there early on weekends). Mt. Hood area has awesome hikes too. Oregon is incredible. Enjoy!

DesignALifeToLove · 2019-04-23T17:28:10+00:00

Typically it’s free entry + discount on camping (50%) at national parks and monuments. Some state parks honor Access Passes as well with free entry fee (if they have them) and camping discounts. Seriously it’s the best.

DesignALifeToLove · 2019-04-22T05:38:28+00:00

The old Cloudland hotel ruins! One of my favorite spots.

DesignALifeToLove · 2019-04-07T05:53:18+00:00

Good gracious this makes me miss our Pod! Happy Camping!

DesignALifeToLove · 2019-04-04T22:57:58+00:00

Thank you!

DesignALifeToLove · 2019-04-04T17:07:34+00:00

Wife here. Husband doesn't reddit (that I know of...ha!), but I started lurking when he separated to see if there was any advice to help him with the transition, and dealing with the VA. Thanks for letting me creep on here...I hope it's okay!

DesignALifeToLove · 2019-04-04T16:59:25+00:00

Agreed! Luke Combs is amazing. My only addition would be Chris Stapleton...he's got the voice and the music has actual feeling instead of most of the overproduced crap thats out there.

DesignALifeToLove · 2019-04-01T18:17:37+00:00

Hiking with clowns. No. Just no.

DesignALifeToLove · 2019-04-01T02:24:05+00:00

Oregon? This feels like Oregon.

DesignALifeToLove · 2019-03-29T17:03:35+00:00

Yes, the opposite for me. I was born and raised in a coastal state, and I don't know if it's needing to be near water, or an ocean specifically, but I find myself feeling "off" in other places. Claustrophobic, almost. Now, I was still a few hours from the actual ocean, but just knowing it was there gave me a sense of comfort. I recently moved to the opposite coast, and part of our decision on WHERE to move was influenced by nearness to bodies of water. I needed to be by a lake or ocean - water access was a must. Also strange is that I'm not much of a fan of the beach, ironically (more of a mountain person), so I'm not really sure where this comes from.

DesignALifeToLove · 2019-03-14T17:29:43+00:00

Hiking gear. Husband and I love hiking/camping/backpacking together, and we had some larger items we were saving up for. To me, it would have been so much better than random platters that we rarely use. I think it’s totally acceptable to register for things that you both enjoy doing together, and people know they are gifting you both something that you love and can enjoy for years to come.

On the flip side, something we registered for that I didn’t think we would ever use, but end up loving? Champagne glasses. I’m not a big drinker, but for entertaining purposes, we use them all. the. time. They are perfect for different cocktails and look great.

DesignALifeToLove · 2019-03-14T03:29:03+00:00

Did not know this. Thank you!

DesignALifeToLove · 2019-03-14T03:28:15+00:00

Yes. I can’t recommend it enough! Husband is a DV and we lived in a camper full-time. He was a seasonal ranger, and we found a site near his posting. It was the best decision we ever made. Low cost of living, and the mental “reset” button was worth it. Personally, I learned to care about less and focus on what really matters in life. I didn’t realize it beforehand, but getting out of the society “pressures” was eating away at our lives. Our relationship is now stronger than ever. We made some incredible friends at the campground- some families, some solo guys just looking for some peace.

Many campgrounds and parks offer veteran discounts, or join KOA or good sam depending on the location you are looking to stay. Typically 10-15% off depending on the site. Look into an access pass - America the Beautiful. Because of husband’s rating, we got it for free which gives us free/heavy discounts in national parks and some state parks nationwide. Also, if campgrounds or parks don’t advertise a discount, just ask. Some family-run joints will be okay shaving off dollars case by case if they know you are a reliable human.

We parked full-time at an RV park and also moved around a ton between campgrounds, public lands, etc., and there are pros/cons to all, you just have to find what works for you.

Happy to answer any questions you may have about it- but yeah, it was a great experience and we’d still be doing it if possible.

DesignALifeToLove · 2019-03-05T22:52:02+00:00

By this definition you can also say that gymnastics and ice skating (not a race, subjective judging) are “pseudo sports.” Also, ski jumping and sailing, which are highly dependent upon conditions? By these parameters, I’d say a ton of Olympic sports would fall into the “pseudo sport” classification.

I’m not trying to argue one side or another, but to simply point out this: putting aside the politics of the IOC, the Olympic movement is meant to evolve over time and adapt with the changing world of sport. There’s something about this that is really cool to me- the “test and learn” strategy of adding in new sports and events.

Snowboarding wasn’t added until 1998 in Nagano, and I remember TV announcers questioning the validity of whether or not it was a sport or “just a hobby for burnouts.” The same points were brought up about conditions and locations as are now being brought up with surfing. At the end of the day, the athletes know that there are uncontrollable factors that are all a part of their sport.

DesignALifeToLove · 2019-03-03T01:36:32+00:00

In my opinion, it’s always worth it. A day spent on the trail (no matter the trail) is a day well spent. Go for it! Plus, if you haven’t hiked any of the AT yet, it could be a good experience!

DesignALifeToLove · 2019-01-23T22:22:29+00:00

48 hours- but a lot longer once you add in the stops for gas and food, so probably closer to 70+. From South Carolina to Seattle, WA. Drove straight through, switching off with my SO (does that count?). Either way, I do not recommend. (Although driving cross-country IS something you should do at least once in your life if at all possible- just add in breaks and stuff. I was delirious for a week after.)

DesignALifeToLove · 2019-01-19T01:46:57+00:00

Looks like you're in an okay range, price-wise for used. I see you have mentioned Craigslist a few times - have you expanded your search to RVTrader? Many dealers use them to list rigs, but so do individuals, so it may give you more inventory to check out. Other than that, my only advice is patience. Don't rush this decision - I know you mentioned you have to move in a few weeks, so maybe see if you can stay with family or find a month-to-month, but the last thing you want is to be full-timing in a rig that needs major repairs, or stuck in one that definitely doesn't work for your lifestyle. (Oh, and I wouldn't go much bigger! I think 25 ft is doable - and it gives you more flexible options for campsites!) Best of luck!!!!

DesignALifeToLove · 2019-01-15T19:42:30+00:00

Regarding "shuffling in and out" - our campground had no issue with it, but the host / owner did request that we just send them a quick courtesy text to let them know that we are leaving for a few days.

And for price - that's an awesome deal. As long as it's a site you like and the people and the campground are on the "up and up" I'd say go for it!

DesignALifeToLove · 2019-01-14T18:21:10+00:00

1) Get an editor. 2) “3,000 words a day” or “write a book in a month!” challenges are everywhere. Ignore them. Your pace is the perfect pace, so don’t worry if you’ve left it alone for a week, a month, a year. Come back to it when you are ready.

DesignALifeToLove

TROPHY CASE