PLANNING
• Make sure you hire a planner whose personality complements your own. You will be working a lot together in the months ahead and the process will go much more smoothly if you get along! Submitted by: Liene Stevens, Blue Orchid Designs Wedding & Events. 480-760-5029. www.blueorchidweddings.com.
• Stay Organized! The more organized you are, the less chance there is that something will go wrong. Buy a notebook, and keep all your wedding information in it. Receipts, contracts, ideas -- everything. You might also want to get notebooks for your maid of honor/bridesmaids and the best man. Put info such as dates, times, locations, and duties. This will keep everyone organized as well, and minimize the chance of someone missing a fitting date or rehearsal time.
• A planner has reputable wedding professionals that they work with and refer to their clients. Usually the wedding planner will review the budget and style that the client has and then match these with the pricing and style of the wedding professional. Without a wedding planner, you might have to interview 4-5 DJs, Florists, Caterers and other wedding professionals before you discover one that fits your budget and taste, and who really has the time or the energy to do that? Submitted by: Heather Crabtree, Outstanding Occasions. 602-923-0227. www.outstanding-occasions.com
• Details, Contracts and Negotiations. When dealing with wedding professionals (caterers, florists, etc.), be sure to clarify all the details and what your expectations are during the initial discussion. Make sure you get a contract specifically stating dates, times, locations and costs. Be sure to include what you feel is appropriate dress, and what you feel isn't. Spell out everything. Try to negotiate the best deal for goods and services, but don't sell yourself short on important things just to get a better price.
• Most importantly, be sure to read the fine print on every contract before you sign it, and make sure you're aware of cancellation policies and fees. Also ask if there's a grace period to cancel just in case you change your mind or something happens and you need to postpone the wedding (you never know.
• What type of bride hires a planner and is it for you? If you answer yes to any of the questions below you may wish to consider hiring a planner.
• Do you and your partner work long hours?
• Is your job stressful and demanding?
• Do you have to travel frequently with your job?
• Are you living outside the area of which you plan to marry?
• Do you want your wedding to have the WOW factor?
• Are you worried about putting pressure on your Mother?
• Do you want a professional edge to your wedding?
• See each other before the ceremony.
Here are a few reasons as a planner I believe it's a great idea.
1. Get the formal pictures out the way. You will have so much excitement and anxiety built up before the ceremony that you most likely will feel the desire to mingle with your guests and enjoy the party after the ceremony is complete. If you go right into pictures you will miss a portion of the festivities that you worked so hard planning for and besides wouldn't you want to enjoy the party too?
2. Natural light. Any professional photographer will know that natural light is the best lighting for those amazing pictures. Instead of flash photography using the sun's natural rays as your sunshine (no pun intended) is the most complimentary. If you were to get married at sunset then by the time the ceremony is over you would have ran out of day light and would be forced to have all of your pictures done by flash lighting which can really wash a person out. Natural lighting...hands down.
3. He can tell you look beautiful. Don't you want to hear what he is thinking as he sees you for the first time? Most times when you reach the end of the aisle you move into the systematics of the ceremony you don't have the opportunity to interact. If you see each other first you can spend several minutes together before the schedule of the day really begins and he can tell you how beautiful he thinks you look.
Don't worry. Seeing each other first won't disrupt the ceremony or any of the butterflies beforehand. You will still be very excited and your ceremony will be amazing. I promise!
Submitted by: Cicely Rocha-Miller, Life Design Event Planning. 480-219-8067. www.lifedesignevents.com
• What about hiring a planner just for the big day? What does that include?
Sometimes a bride and groom want to plan their own wedding, but really want to enjoy their wedding day. Why not hire a wedding planner for the “day-of” the wedding so that you can sit back, relax and have fun and not have to worry about any of the details. Make sure you see what is included in your wedding planner’s “day-of” package and that it meets your needs. Wedding planners include different things in their “day-of” packages. Submitted by: Heather Crabtree, Outstanding Occasions. 602-923-0227. www.outstanding-occasions.com
• What exactly can a planner help with? Most planners have a mix of packages and tailor made services to choose from. It really is up to the client what the planner can do for them, every wedding is different.
• Recommending suitable venues
• Recommending suitable suppliers
• Producing your budget & ensuring you stick to it
• Arranging payments to all suppliers
• Creating a wedding theme and design
• Sending invitations
• Managing the wedding day itself
• If you are going on your honeymoon the day after your wedding, plan a leisurely morning and leave in the afternoon. Rushing to the airport at 4 am with your new husband is no fun. Submitted by: Liene Stevens, Blue Orchid Designs Wedding & Events. 480-760-5029. www.blueorchidweddings.com.
• Another one of the steps to planning a wedding is the wedding reception itinerary. Deciding which events you want included in your itinerary can be difficult, but it's a necessary decision. Your wedding reception itinerary tells the order of events, including at what point dinner is served, who will say the dinner blessing, who will be providing the toast, and so on. The wedding reception itinerary helps the event flow smoothly so the guests do not get bored and leave before the night has begun. The DJ or master of ceremonies will need a copy of the wedding reception itinerary so they can make the appropriate announcements and keep things moving. Be sure your lead photographer has a copy also. She will need to know what to expect next so she can position herself accordingly.
• What details are often overlooked? Oftentimes bride and grooms don’t think about things such as:
1. Giving the final guest count to the caterer a few days prior to the event.
2. Scheduling the florals to arrive before photographs begin.
3. Who will set out the place cards and favors?
4. A written timeline of the day. A bride and groom usually underestimate how much time different aspects of the day will take.
5. Hair and Makeup. It is very important to have your hair and makeup done by a professional. You will hold onto these photos forever, so dedicate some of the budget to hire a makeup artist and hair stylist. Plus, it is one day that is all about you and your fiancé so just relax and let others pamper you.
Go back to: WEDDINGS home page
See more: ENGAGEMENT photography