Gordon Cashen Intro

[Gordon Cashen]

The launch of the Cashen Bridal Account (CBA) web site marks the first online contribution site dedicated to wedding flowers and décor. This new web site offers guests the opportunity to gift money for an important yet often expensive part of the couples’ wedding. Not only are guests giving a wedding gift, but also making a personal contribution to the wedding celebration. It also offers an opportunity for family members who perhaps can’t attend the wedding, but want to do something extra to be a part of the big day, safely and easily contributing a bit more. Those who contribute to the couples’ account at Cashenbridalaccount.com, can also be sure that the money is being put toward a specific cost associated with the wedding, they can even add a personal note identifying that the money help pay for a staple such as the bride’s bouquet or perhaps the contribution means there will be corsages for Godparents or additional flower petals for the flower girl to toss on her way the aisle.
Approximately 2.5 million weddings are performed annually in the U.S. The average cost of the wedding is between $26,000 - $27,000, with an average of just under $2,000 spent on the wedding flowers and décor.
Cashen Bridal Account was created by Gordon Cashen, a floral store owner in Michigan. After encountering many brides who were not able to realize their dream wedding when it came to flowers and décor, Cashen set out to find a way to help couples make it easy and convenient for family and friends to help by contributing to a floral and décor fund. Thus Cashen Bridal Account (CBA) was born.
The simplicity and ease of use of this online registry is meant to help reduce the stress that every couple experiences while planning and budgeting for a wedding.
For more information or to set up your registry today, visit www.cashenbridalaccount.com

 

[BOSS]

Welcome to the FlowerChat Community....

Interesting concept you have there... I'm curious as to your cut, how the florists are selected, what happens if there is not a florist in the brides locale...

I'm sure there will be more.

 

[Gordon Cashen]

A lot of your questions are answered on line through our FAQ document, but great questions. I tried to think of everything, but I welcome all suggestions and questions for future enhancements to the website.

[h=2]How much does it cost to setup an account?[/h]CBA charges an 8% service fee to the amount gifted to the registered bride and groom. The service fee is utilized for the credit card transaction fees, bank charges, and website maintenance and services. So for every $50 there is $46 deposited into the registered bride and grooms account. This will be reflected on your balance while visiting CBA and watching your account grow!

As far as who the bride and groom uses for the floral or decorations, that is up to them. This site provides the opportunity for the "Participating Vendors" to be visable and available to use. We also explain to the bride and groom why they should use one of these vendors because of the minimum discount of 5%. We also produce the thank you cards to the bride and groom for those who have contributed and with the option to purchase the rest.

I own a small chain in upper michigan of floral shops, I did this locally for the last two years. I more than doubled my sales in the wedding area because of this. Please feel free to contact me about anything! Visit the site and see what you think!


I see you are from Midland, I actually am from Shepherd Michigan. I been to Midland a number of times. Nice to see the Tigers get one last night!

Gordon Cashen

 

[anytimeflowers]

So Gordon,

What happens if they just want the money, can the bride and groom just take it as a gift? How long does it have to sit there before they are able to access it?

 

[Flowerchatter03]

What would be the perks of using your service rather than creating one on your own? We partnered with a local credit union to provide wedding loans at no charge to us and also encourage brides to let their invitees know that they are registered with our shop. We can also add a registery to our own site.

 

[Gordon Cashen]

All great questions!!!

They can always just decide to keep the money, but if they are going to invite others to gift to something and family and friends believe that is what it is going to, they will use it for that purpose. I suggest taking a few moments and go to the site and read the FAQ document. Below is part of what is in there to help answer your questions. Again, I love the questions, it makes me feel good that you are asking what has already been thought of and we try to take care of. A big reason why I created this was obviously to help my sales, but also to reduce the "Wedding in a box" weddings. As you know, most of the brides after doing a cheap, cost cutting weddings, they always come back to us to fix something or complain that they should have gone to us to begin with!

Thanks again!!!!!




[h=2]How do we get the funds that were gifted to us?[/h]There are two deposit dates (direct ACH) into the bride and grooms bank account. After registration, please contact CBA if there are any changes to the registered Bank Account information. (allow 2-3 business days for deposits to be reflected in your bank account)

• First Deposit date – Defaults 1 month prior to the wedding date. This date can be modified at anytime up to the day before current wedding date. At time of setting up the account, if the wedding date is less than one month away, there will only be one deposit date. Two (2) weeks after wedding (see next bullet).
• Last Deposit date – Will always occur 2 weeks after the wedding date. This allows people to continue to gift and it allows time for us to print the personalized and additional purchased Thank You cards.
• Account Closed - Closed after last deposit is completed and validated.

[h=2]How long does it take to receive the funds?[/h]It takes 2-3 business days for the funds to show up in your account. If you have any questions you can always visit cashenbridalaccount.com to contact us.

[h=2]Can I see who has gifted to us?[/h]Yes! There are 3 ways you can see who has gifted to your CBA Account.

• At time of Gift – Whenever anyone gifts to your account, you will immediately receive and e-mail (to the e-mail account on your file).
• Watching your Account Grow –When watching your account grow, you have the ability to see who has gifted by clicking “view contributors” and print off the .pfd document.
• After Last Deposit - 2 weeks after the wedding date your last deposit is made and your Thank You cards are mailed to your post wedding address. We will also send along a detailed list of who has gifted to your CBA Account.

 

[Gordon Cashen]

So are you asking the bride and grooms to take out a loan and pay interest on the loan? Yes no charge to you, but the bride and groom or whoever is paying the interest. Even if they just set up an account where people can gift to it. People still need to write a check, mail it, time, etc. Is it all worth 8% service fee??? I would have to say yes. Also, in today's world, people are more giving on Credit Cards than they are on Cash or check!

I suggest taking a look at the site, reading the FAQ, maybe even setup an account of your own. But I please ask if you do, let me know so I can remove it. It won't do anything, I just don't want it out there. Below are some more points.

1) We provide an easy and elegant way of asking friends and family to be a special part of their day.
2) If you are taking out a loan, then you have to go through the process of credit check, paper work, etc.
3) You are also talking about brides you already have, what about the ones you don't have? If advertise with us, now we provide the avenue for brides to see you. We are also at a national level! Anyone can use us and we use the knot.com (only in California at this time), as a gift registry! We will be going to all regions on the knot.com, but for this very reason on our discussion. I am sure I have not thought of every questions or concern, I want to make sure it is as good as it can be before I go to all regions on the knot.com!
4) We provide the Thank you cards for those who have gifted to the account for free, not a huge benefit, but it helps.
5) Bride and grooms can continue to watch their account grow and continue inviting people.
6) We leave the account open for a last deposit 2 weeks after the wedding. This allows for those who have forgotten and allows us time to print the thankyou cards and send to them.