Once you've sent your seating arrangements off to the calligrapher, what's next?
If you are doing favors, order your supplies and get them organized.
Make sure your timeline is finalized and that every vendor has a copy - if you hired a planner (even just a Day Of planner) they will do this for you.
Make a list of your entire bridal party with their cell numbers.
Go through your ceremony details with your bridal party and your officiant - before the rehearsal! It will make the rehearsal run much more smoothly.
If you are doing welcome bags for out of town guests - get them organized and ready to go! If you are dropping them off at a hotel or other accomodation - write explicit directions!
For your venue - drop off anything you will need on the wedding day a few days in advance. This can include - cake knife, special toasting glasses, a birdcage or similar for gifts, any other items that you want included!
Once you've gotten everything squared away (a few days before the wedding hopefully!) - RELAX!
Happy Planning!
-Lisa
Showing posts with label planner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label planner. Show all posts
Friday, March 6, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
The Countdown ...
In the spirit of our upcoming Wedding this weekend, I thought I would include some tips on how to manage your planning phase as it comes to end as your big day draws nearer and nearer!
Finalizing details - what does this entail?
During the last month before your wedding day, you should have received all your RSVPs (and for the delinquents - tracked them down and shaken an answer out of them!). Now, decide if you are doing seating arrangements and what kind - are you just placing people are tables or are you giving your guests a specific chair to sit in during the reception? Once you've pick your seating plan preference - place your guests accordingly. Then get all this information over to your calligrapher to have your escort cards and/or place cards written up.
Next detail tomorrow!
Happy Planning!
-Lisa
Finalizing details - what does this entail?
During the last month before your wedding day, you should have received all your RSVPs (and for the delinquents - tracked them down and shaken an answer out of them!). Now, decide if you are doing seating arrangements and what kind - are you just placing people are tables or are you giving your guests a specific chair to sit in during the reception? Once you've pick your seating plan preference - place your guests accordingly. Then get all this information over to your calligrapher to have your escort cards and/or place cards written up.
Next detail tomorrow!
Happy Planning!
-Lisa
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Catch Up & Finding Time ...
Sorry for my week long absence! Its been a very busy few days, we have a wedding coming up in a short few weeks, so we are getting all the final touches ready. Which ... brings me to my topic today: Timelines!
Whether you've hired a planner or not, or your venue does this or not, you need a timeline for your wedding weekend. It is so helpful to create a worksheet that outlines exactly how you want your day to flow. It'll include all the pertinent information: when to get ready, when to go to the ceremony, when to take pictures, when to party (plus cake cutting, bouquet toss, garter toss, anything else you want to include, like dances, announcements etc). Having everything laid out clearly in a format that includes time will tell your bridal party, vendors and parents what exactly is happening and when/where they need to be.
Spend some time with your timeline, tweak it over the course of a few days before sending it to your vendors and bridal party.
If you'd like to see a sample of a timeline that we use at Anderson Green Events, just email me! lisadee@andersongreenevents.com.
Happy Planning!
-Lisa
Whether you've hired a planner or not, or your venue does this or not, you need a timeline for your wedding weekend. It is so helpful to create a worksheet that outlines exactly how you want your day to flow. It'll include all the pertinent information: when to get ready, when to go to the ceremony, when to take pictures, when to party (plus cake cutting, bouquet toss, garter toss, anything else you want to include, like dances, announcements etc). Having everything laid out clearly in a format that includes time will tell your bridal party, vendors and parents what exactly is happening and when/where they need to be.
Spend some time with your timeline, tweak it over the course of a few days before sending it to your vendors and bridal party.
If you'd like to see a sample of a timeline that we use at Anderson Green Events, just email me! lisadee@andersongreenevents.com.
Happy Planning!
-Lisa
Monday, January 19, 2009
Venue secured, now what?
You should feel like a big weight has been lifted once you've found a venue and secured it. Its probably starting to really feel like you're getting married! Since you're on such an awesome roll of getting things accomplished for the wedding, whats next?
Finalize your guest list, look for a gown and start thinking about who should marry you.
For your guest list - you typically get a 15-20% decline, so think about this when you are putting your list together. If your goal is 100 guests at the event, invite 115 to 120 (and so on and so forth). Also, try and avoid the A list / B list way of inviting guests - people can find out and/or figure it out (I was the recipient of a B list invite a few months ago - it was obvious too - received the invitation 5 days before the wedding ...). You don't want to upset people by inviting them too late or run the risk of them finding out that they didn't get invited. People shouldn't expect to be invited, but if someone is running around town saying they can't wait for your wedding, yet they aren't actually going to be a guest that day, just tell them. Or, think about inviting them. On the A list.
Looking for a gown - its one of the best parts of getting married! Start tearing out gown pictures and hit up a few salons. Try everything on, even if you think that on the hanger its not going to work. You'll be completely surprised. I also suggest only taking 1 or 2 people with you for these first visits - you want an outside opinion, but not a jury.
For an officiant - if you have a family affiliation, look there first. If you don't, start reaching out to various officiants. You really want someone who understands you as a couple and who you think will be the best person to make your union official. Definitely interview a few officiants - and find out what will be required of you as couple to be their clients. Is there pre-marital counseling? How many times will you be required to meet? Are there workshops you need to attend? I personally loved our pre-marital talks, but for some, they may not have the time or want to delve into the nitty gritty (my favorite question was "in your opinion, what is the role of the husband" ... that really got me thinking), so when you meet with your potential officiant, make sure all of these time requirements are outlined.
Now, relax. Don't forget to spend some non-wedding related time together with your soon to be. Its the most important item on your checklist of things to do!
Happy Planning!
-Lisa
Finalize your guest list, look for a gown and start thinking about who should marry you.
For your guest list - you typically get a 15-20% decline, so think about this when you are putting your list together. If your goal is 100 guests at the event, invite 115 to 120 (and so on and so forth). Also, try and avoid the A list / B list way of inviting guests - people can find out and/or figure it out (I was the recipient of a B list invite a few months ago - it was obvious too - received the invitation 5 days before the wedding ...). You don't want to upset people by inviting them too late or run the risk of them finding out that they didn't get invited. People shouldn't expect to be invited, but if someone is running around town saying they can't wait for your wedding, yet they aren't actually going to be a guest that day, just tell them. Or, think about inviting them. On the A list.
Looking for a gown - its one of the best parts of getting married! Start tearing out gown pictures and hit up a few salons. Try everything on, even if you think that on the hanger its not going to work. You'll be completely surprised. I also suggest only taking 1 or 2 people with you for these first visits - you want an outside opinion, but not a jury.
For an officiant - if you have a family affiliation, look there first. If you don't, start reaching out to various officiants. You really want someone who understands you as a couple and who you think will be the best person to make your union official. Definitely interview a few officiants - and find out what will be required of you as couple to be their clients. Is there pre-marital counseling? How many times will you be required to meet? Are there workshops you need to attend? I personally loved our pre-marital talks, but for some, they may not have the time or want to delve into the nitty gritty (my favorite question was "in your opinion, what is the role of the husband" ... that really got me thinking), so when you meet with your potential officiant, make sure all of these time requirements are outlined.
Now, relax. Don't forget to spend some non-wedding related time together with your soon to be. Its the most important item on your checklist of things to do!
Happy Planning!
-Lisa
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Can we have an open flame?
When visiting venues, feel free to ask any question you like. Don't hold back. Remember, this will be your space for your wedding and you absolutely can ask how many toilets there are for each gender or how they have handled unruly guests in the past. When you walk into the venue, try and picture what your guests will see and feel. Do you like the entry way? Is it easily accessible by young and old? Ask where coat check happens and where escort cards will go. You want to get a good enough verbal description that while you are standing in the space, you can picture what your wedding day will look like when the area is all set up.
As I said, any question goes, so ask it. Be sure to ask if there is a bridal suite, what size tables they have, what the linen and cutlery options are, where bars get placed, how the waiters operate when serving. Also, remember to ask if open flame is allowed, what vendors you can bring in for florals/decor/entertainment/photography etc - do they have a preferred list or can you use anyone? How does the menu work - make sure you fully understand what your options are, and how your choices affect the price point. Get everything in writing - the price per head, any usage or site fees, taxes, gratuity, extras.
Lastly, the most important thing to ask is if they are flexible on pricing. If you fall in love with a space but its a tad outta reach, say that you love it, but you were hoping to spend XXX instead of YYY and see what they can offer you. I'd say that most venues are willing to bend a bit to accommodate you, at the end of the day, they would rather have a happy bride and groom than none at all!
Happy Planning!
-Lisa
As I said, any question goes, so ask it. Be sure to ask if there is a bridal suite, what size tables they have, what the linen and cutlery options are, where bars get placed, how the waiters operate when serving. Also, remember to ask if open flame is allowed, what vendors you can bring in for florals/decor/entertainment/photography etc - do they have a preferred list or can you use anyone? How does the menu work - make sure you fully understand what your options are, and how your choices affect the price point. Get everything in writing - the price per head, any usage or site fees, taxes, gratuity, extras.
Lastly, the most important thing to ask is if they are flexible on pricing. If you fall in love with a space but its a tad outta reach, say that you love it, but you were hoping to spend XXX instead of YYY and see what they can offer you. I'd say that most venues are willing to bend a bit to accommodate you, at the end of the day, they would rather have a happy bride and groom than none at all!
Happy Planning!
-Lisa
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Budgetary Spending ...
I've been thinking a lot lately about budgets and wedding budgets (in this economy, its not hard to!). When I meet with potential clients one of the first things they mention is that they don't want to overspend because a wedding is one day and the marriage lasts a lifetime. I agree, but there are ways to make your budget (regardless of size) work to bring your amazing and personal wedding to life, without overspending.
Firstly, there are lots of elements that contribute to your wedding and your budget needs to account for all of them, including any miscellaneous, last minute items (for my wedding this included an extra tent for the cocktail hour as the lovely Hurricane Hannah decided to join us that evening ...), so make sure that your original number includes any last minute, forgot about items. Here are the elements that your budget should include (and remember, just about everything gets taxed and if its service related, factor in gratuity, and if someone is delivering something, its going to have a delivery fee as well)
Ceremony Site - check if being a member of the congregation gets you a discount, otherwise you probably will be paying for usage, music, clergy people, programs etc
Venue - this could include a site fee, a per head cost, valet or parking fees
Catering - food, staffing (service), gratuity for all those servers, and the possibility of insurance / permits (always check to make sure your caterer can actually legally serve food and drinks)
Bar - alcohol, mixers (fruit juices, lemons, limes, mint anything that makes drinks even more yummy), ice
Florals - flowers that are out of season = imported from Holland which means that there will be a higher cost per stem (I always suggest sticking to what will be in season, there are amazing florals out there that are always in season), don't forget that you'll be charged a delivery fee and possibly a pick up fee if they need to return at the end of the night, and you could pay for the truck rental
Photographer / Videographer - what is expensive is everything you get once the wedding day is shot. If you don't think your grandparents want 1000 images in wallet size, remove this from your package. Shooting a wedding is not where the price comes in, its the product you receive afterwards
Entertainment - if you go the band route, you pay per piece, DJs just for the DJ himself, you'll have to tip everyone again at the end of the night, so factor that in as well. This goes the same for anyone you hire to play during the ceremony and cocktail hour. If they are traveling to your event, you probably have to pay for travel too
Wedding Planner - some price on a flat fee, some on a percentage of your total expenditure. Go over the package details with your planner during your consultation and make sure everything you want is in there and take out items you don't want. Your contract should include the price and any other related fees i.e. travel or lodging
Transportation - gratuity for the limo or bus driver
Dress - check if alterations come with the price of the dress, shoes, undergarments, hair accessories - should all be accounted for
Miscellaneous - umbrellas, extra champagne for the limo, bridal magazines (yes, this should definitely be in your budget!), hair and make up trials, rings!, if its a destination wedding - your travel costs during the planning phase, site usage fees (i.e. using elevators for load in/out, security guards, list goes on and on!)
Tented wedding - building a kitchen, all serverware,
Rentals (linens, tables, chairs, cutlery) - do these come with your venue or must
your rent them yourself?
This is just a brief list, but as you may see, there are a ton of elements that contribute to your budget, so make sure you cover as many as possible when you are putting together your budget.
If you have any questions regarding putting together a budget, or want to know more factors to include in your budget, just email me and ask! I'd be happy to answer any and all questions! lisadee@andersongreenevents.com
Happy Planning!
-Lisa
Firstly, there are lots of elements that contribute to your wedding and your budget needs to account for all of them, including any miscellaneous, last minute items (for my wedding this included an extra tent for the cocktail hour as the lovely Hurricane Hannah decided to join us that evening ...), so make sure that your original number includes any last minute, forgot about items. Here are the elements that your budget should include (and remember, just about everything gets taxed and if its service related, factor in gratuity, and if someone is delivering something, its going to have a delivery fee as well)
Ceremony Site - check if being a member of the congregation gets you a discount, otherwise you probably will be paying for usage, music, clergy people, programs etc
Venue - this could include a site fee, a per head cost, valet or parking fees
Catering - food, staffing (service), gratuity for all those servers, and the possibility of insurance / permits (always check to make sure your caterer can actually legally serve food and drinks)
Bar - alcohol, mixers (fruit juices, lemons, limes, mint anything that makes drinks even more yummy), ice
Florals - flowers that are out of season = imported from Holland which means that there will be a higher cost per stem (I always suggest sticking to what will be in season, there are amazing florals out there that are always in season), don't forget that you'll be charged a delivery fee and possibly a pick up fee if they need to return at the end of the night, and you could pay for the truck rental
Photographer / Videographer - what is expensive is everything you get once the wedding day is shot. If you don't think your grandparents want 1000 images in wallet size, remove this from your package. Shooting a wedding is not where the price comes in, its the product you receive afterwards
Entertainment - if you go the band route, you pay per piece, DJs just for the DJ himself, you'll have to tip everyone again at the end of the night, so factor that in as well. This goes the same for anyone you hire to play during the ceremony and cocktail hour. If they are traveling to your event, you probably have to pay for travel too
Wedding Planner - some price on a flat fee, some on a percentage of your total expenditure. Go over the package details with your planner during your consultation and make sure everything you want is in there and take out items you don't want. Your contract should include the price and any other related fees i.e. travel or lodging
Transportation - gratuity for the limo or bus driver
Dress - check if alterations come with the price of the dress, shoes, undergarments, hair accessories - should all be accounted for
Miscellaneous - umbrellas, extra champagne for the limo, bridal magazines (yes, this should definitely be in your budget!), hair and make up trials, rings!, if its a destination wedding - your travel costs during the planning phase, site usage fees (i.e. using elevators for load in/out, security guards, list goes on and on!)
Tented wedding - building a kitchen, all serverware,
Rentals (linens, tables, chairs, cutlery) - do these come with your venue or must
your rent them yourself?
This is just a brief list, but as you may see, there are a ton of elements that contribute to your budget, so make sure you cover as many as possible when you are putting together your budget.
If you have any questions regarding putting together a budget, or want to know more factors to include in your budget, just email me and ask! I'd be happy to answer any and all questions! lisadee@andersongreenevents.com
Happy Planning!
-Lisa
Sunday, January 11, 2009
2009 and Almost Back!
Happy 2009! I hope that the holiday season was fun and relaxing. My husband and I are currently in the midst of flying back to NYC to get back to work. I spent a big portion of our trip working on ideas related to upcoming weddings and wedding planning and have a ton of information to share with you, which I am really excited about. Back to regular (and daily) posts tomorrow, so check back to see what Anderson Green Events has in store in 2009.
Happy Planning!
-Lisa
Happy Planning!
-Lisa
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Checking things off the list ...
On the big list of "things to do" in order to plan your wedding, you've been on quite a roll so far ...
Proposal - check
Created a budget - check
Started working on a guest list - check
Chosen a location for the wedding - check
Defined your wedding style - check
What's next?
Start looking into venues and then vendors. Decide where in your budget you want to spend more money - food, entertainment, decor, lighting, transportation, any aspect of the reception - its up to you to choose where a larger portion of your budget should go, based on what is important to you as a couple.
Decide if you want to hire a wedding planner. A planner can be a great resource for cost cutting ideas, help with pulling together the design for the wedding day, aid with all the logistics, and most importantly for relieving stress from you. Most planners offer a range of packages from Full Planning to Day Of services. If you opt to go the planner route, decide which package will suit your needs the best.
Start looking at stationary (Save the Dates, invites, other paper goods) and meeting with different stationers. If your guests are going to be traveling in for the wedding weekend, its best to send a Save the Date out roughly nine months before the wedding to give them a heads up and to start making their travel plans.
Amass a big collection of wedding related materials - magazines, blogs, images and file them away. Everything you see should serve as a source of inspiration for each element of the wedding day. Start looking at various wedding gowns and go try a few on! You'll never know what looks the most amazing if you don't try it on!
Lastly, relax. Be proud of the things you have accomplished so far. Since its the holidays, take some time to just enjoy the holidays!
Happy Planning!
-Lisa
PS - I am off on vacation this afternoon, and will be posting when I have regular access to the Internet. Hopefully it'll be everyday, but in Africa, you never know!
Proposal - check
Created a budget - check
Started working on a guest list - check
Chosen a location for the wedding - check
Defined your wedding style - check
What's next?
Start looking into venues and then vendors. Decide where in your budget you want to spend more money - food, entertainment, decor, lighting, transportation, any aspect of the reception - its up to you to choose where a larger portion of your budget should go, based on what is important to you as a couple.
Decide if you want to hire a wedding planner. A planner can be a great resource for cost cutting ideas, help with pulling together the design for the wedding day, aid with all the logistics, and most importantly for relieving stress from you. Most planners offer a range of packages from Full Planning to Day Of services. If you opt to go the planner route, decide which package will suit your needs the best.
Start looking at stationary (Save the Dates, invites, other paper goods) and meeting with different stationers. If your guests are going to be traveling in for the wedding weekend, its best to send a Save the Date out roughly nine months before the wedding to give them a heads up and to start making their travel plans.
Amass a big collection of wedding related materials - magazines, blogs, images and file them away. Everything you see should serve as a source of inspiration for each element of the wedding day. Start looking at various wedding gowns and go try a few on! You'll never know what looks the most amazing if you don't try it on!
Lastly, relax. Be proud of the things you have accomplished so far. Since its the holidays, take some time to just enjoy the holidays!
Happy Planning!
-Lisa
PS - I am off on vacation this afternoon, and will be posting when I have regular access to the Internet. Hopefully it'll be everyday, but in Africa, you never know!
Style? Whats that?
Regardless of whether or not you think you have style, you do. So does your mate. And, you and your mate have a style that distinctly defines you as a couple. Now, all you have to do is identify that style and then use it to help create your wedding style. And now you're saying "How in the world do I do that?"
Easy. Look at your home and your closet. What colors and textures are there? How would you describe your home? Vintage, Modern, Traditional, Romantic, Stark, Minimalist? What type of restaurants do you frequent? Trendy, Sophisticated, Small and Cozy? Where do you like to vacation? Beaches, Ski Lodges, Cities? What do you and your mate like to spend time doing? Cooking, reading, hiking, sports, traveling? All of these elements add up to create your defining style as a couple! (Obviously this is a small smattering of places to find your style - look everywhere!)
Now, take a few of those style elements and think about how you want to apply them to your wedding style. If you love the look of vintage glam, go for vintage vases to hold your centerpieces or wear a vintage dress. If you love cooking, really invest time and your budget into finding a phenomenal caterer and create a really scrumptious menu. There are literally 100's of ways for you to infuse your 'couple style' into your wedding - it doesn't necessarily have to be in every element of the wedding, but can be subtle and small. Anything at the wedding (your pick for your first dance, the choice of ribbon on your bouquet, the color tie he wears) can be representative of your style.
Lastly, a tidbit of advice that I swear by: create an inspiration board. I am a visual and hands on person, so for me, I tear pictures out of magazines and print things out like a mad woman to create my inspiration board for each wedding that I work on. It can be a picture of flowers, a cute favor idea, a swatch of fabric, websites that you love and adore, anything. Keep it all in one place and bring it to every vendor meeting. You never know which image will be a source of inspiration!
Happy Planning!
-Lisa
Easy. Look at your home and your closet. What colors and textures are there? How would you describe your home? Vintage, Modern, Traditional, Romantic, Stark, Minimalist? What type of restaurants do you frequent? Trendy, Sophisticated, Small and Cozy? Where do you like to vacation? Beaches, Ski Lodges, Cities? What do you and your mate like to spend time doing? Cooking, reading, hiking, sports, traveling? All of these elements add up to create your defining style as a couple! (Obviously this is a small smattering of places to find your style - look everywhere!)
Now, take a few of those style elements and think about how you want to apply them to your wedding style. If you love the look of vintage glam, go for vintage vases to hold your centerpieces or wear a vintage dress. If you love cooking, really invest time and your budget into finding a phenomenal caterer and create a really scrumptious menu. There are literally 100's of ways for you to infuse your 'couple style' into your wedding - it doesn't necessarily have to be in every element of the wedding, but can be subtle and small. Anything at the wedding (your pick for your first dance, the choice of ribbon on your bouquet, the color tie he wears) can be representative of your style.
Lastly, a tidbit of advice that I swear by: create an inspiration board. I am a visual and hands on person, so for me, I tear pictures out of magazines and print things out like a mad woman to create my inspiration board for each wedding that I work on. It can be a picture of flowers, a cute favor idea, a swatch of fabric, websites that you love and adore, anything. Keep it all in one place and bring it to every vendor meeting. You never know which image will be a source of inspiration!
Happy Planning!
-Lisa
Friday, December 19, 2008
Where should we get hitched?
Perhaps you've known for ages where you would like to get married. Your hometown? His hometown? A family home somewhere? The city you met in and fell in love in? A vacation spot you had a lot of fun in or some place you've always wanted to go. Regardless of the significance of the place you decide to get married in, narrowing down the choice can be a hard one.
Here are three factors to consider on behalf of your guests:
1) How convenient is it for you and your guests to get there? Does it require a ton of travel by plane, car or train? Is there a large airport nearby or will your guests have to traverse small watercraft and ferries to get there?
2) Is there affordable, nice lodging available? While some guests won't mind paying a lot for a hotel, some guests might not have the resources for the same place. Make sure that there are different budget options.
(As a side note, for my wedding in East Hampton, we made suggestions from low to high end on our wedding website and then let guests choose on their own. Since there wasn't a large hotel or chain hotel (for a room block) we had guests staying at 20 different locations, which made delivering gift baskets a complete nightmare ... keep this in mind!)
3) Are there fun activities for your guests to do during the weekend while they aren't at the wedding itself? As wedding weekends have become more like a mini getaway for guests, providing a list of activities in the area (i.e. shopping, sports, beaches, sightseeing etc) is extremely helpful - especially if they haven't been there before.
Just as much as the wedding is for the bride and groom, consider these factors for your guests when choosing a location!
Tomorrow I will mention my tidbits for defining your wedding style ... stay tuned!
Happy Planning!
-Lisa
Here are three factors to consider on behalf of your guests:
1) How convenient is it for you and your guests to get there? Does it require a ton of travel by plane, car or train? Is there a large airport nearby or will your guests have to traverse small watercraft and ferries to get there?
2) Is there affordable, nice lodging available? While some guests won't mind paying a lot for a hotel, some guests might not have the resources for the same place. Make sure that there are different budget options.
(As a side note, for my wedding in East Hampton, we made suggestions from low to high end on our wedding website and then let guests choose on their own. Since there wasn't a large hotel or chain hotel (for a room block) we had guests staying at 20 different locations, which made delivering gift baskets a complete nightmare ... keep this in mind!)
3) Are there fun activities for your guests to do during the weekend while they aren't at the wedding itself? As wedding weekends have become more like a mini getaway for guests, providing a list of activities in the area (i.e. shopping, sports, beaches, sightseeing etc) is extremely helpful - especially if they haven't been there before.
Just as much as the wedding is for the bride and groom, consider these factors for your guests when choosing a location!
Tomorrow I will mention my tidbits for defining your wedding style ... stay tuned!
Happy Planning!
-Lisa
Thursday, December 18, 2008
He proposed, you said yes ... Now What?
Getting engaged is a fantastic time during your relationship. It's exciting, it's joyous and then ... it becomes daunting. After everyone congratulates you, they ask "So, when is the big day?" When is the big day? You can barely get over the fact that you've gotten engaged and already you need a day, a plan and all the logistics sorted out?!
Firstly, relax. Once you're engaged, you don't need to jump onto the planning. Its perfectly fine to take some time to let the proposal and engagement seep in. No need to become a stressed out bride who can't relax. Start the planning off slowly and in a calm manner. If you let the wedding and the wedding planning take on a life of its own, it'll wear on you too much! Instead, be practical, be resourceful and most of all, be relaxed!
When you finally manage to come down from Proposal Cloud Nine, there are two things you should think about: when and where. When do we want to get married? (What season of the year, what date, what holds the most significance for you as a couple?) Where do we want to get married? (Is there a specific place you've always dreamed of, or a place that holds a lot of meaning for you as a couple, or for your families?) ... With those answers taking shape, you can tackle anything regarding your planning.
The next step ... guest list. Make your ideal guest list - don't worry about size, numbers or amount of people. Once you get this Master Master guest list (this would include all your parents choices too) you can sit down and narrow down the list to the most important people in your lives while eliminating the fluff.
Lastly, your fourth step should be determining a budget. Who is going to pay for this awesome wedding you are going to plan? Its not the best discussion to have, but its a must do, you simply can't avoid talking money. Determine who is paying for what and the amount of their contribution. Having a budget is going to help keep your wedding organized. In these tough economic times, it is completely possible to have an amazing wedding that won't blow the bank, you just need to be creative and hire vendors that are willing to work within your outlined budget and who will think outside of the box.
Planning your wedding should be a time of fun, creativity and excitement! It shouldn't become a chore or too overwhelming.
In the current issues of Brides Magazine, there is a really nifty and helpful pull out guide that outlines what you should do post engagement in terms of planning. Check it out!
Happy Planning!
-Lisa
Firstly, relax. Once you're engaged, you don't need to jump onto the planning. Its perfectly fine to take some time to let the proposal and engagement seep in. No need to become a stressed out bride who can't relax. Start the planning off slowly and in a calm manner. If you let the wedding and the wedding planning take on a life of its own, it'll wear on you too much! Instead, be practical, be resourceful and most of all, be relaxed!
When you finally manage to come down from Proposal Cloud Nine, there are two things you should think about: when and where. When do we want to get married? (What season of the year, what date, what holds the most significance for you as a couple?) Where do we want to get married? (Is there a specific place you've always dreamed of, or a place that holds a lot of meaning for you as a couple, or for your families?) ... With those answers taking shape, you can tackle anything regarding your planning.
The next step ... guest list. Make your ideal guest list - don't worry about size, numbers or amount of people. Once you get this Master Master guest list (this would include all your parents choices too) you can sit down and narrow down the list to the most important people in your lives while eliminating the fluff.
Lastly, your fourth step should be determining a budget. Who is going to pay for this awesome wedding you are going to plan? Its not the best discussion to have, but its a must do, you simply can't avoid talking money. Determine who is paying for what and the amount of their contribution. Having a budget is going to help keep your wedding organized. In these tough economic times, it is completely possible to have an amazing wedding that won't blow the bank, you just need to be creative and hire vendors that are willing to work within your outlined budget and who will think outside of the box.
Planning your wedding should be a time of fun, creativity and excitement! It shouldn't become a chore or too overwhelming.
In the current issues of Brides Magazine, there is a really nifty and helpful pull out guide that outlines what you should do post engagement in terms of planning. Check it out!
Happy Planning!
-Lisa
Monday, December 15, 2008
To Hire or Not to Hire ...
You've met with a planner or planners. You've received proposals regarding their services ... whats next?
After each meeting, write a pro / con list of sorts. What was positive about the planner, their firm and their services? What was negative about their offerings? Take note of presentation, communication style, did they seem engaging? Does this person seem to be a good fit for you as a couple? Does this person seem like someone who is going to be a good advocate for your wedding? The one aspect that shouldn't wind up on your pro / con list is cost. Even if the proposal comes back with a quote that is beyond your expectations - don't use "overpriced" as an option to not hire that planner. You want to use this pro / con list as a basis to choose which planner is truly going to be great to work with and help create your dream wedding.
A planner is traditionally flexible on pricing - let them know if you were expecting to spend less or a lot less or let them know if this quote is in the right range. While you want to stay within your budget, be open and honest with the planner about what you are prepared to spend. My personal mantra is to work within a budget and be flexible and willing to negotiate.
Once you selected your planner and agree to a price and a package, sign the dotted line and begin on the great adventure that is wedding planning!
Tomorrow's post ... A little love for Anderson Green Events!
Happy Planning!
-Lisa
After each meeting, write a pro / con list of sorts. What was positive about the planner, their firm and their services? What was negative about their offerings? Take note of presentation, communication style, did they seem engaging? Does this person seem to be a good fit for you as a couple? Does this person seem like someone who is going to be a good advocate for your wedding? The one aspect that shouldn't wind up on your pro / con list is cost. Even if the proposal comes back with a quote that is beyond your expectations - don't use "overpriced" as an option to not hire that planner. You want to use this pro / con list as a basis to choose which planner is truly going to be great to work with and help create your dream wedding.
A planner is traditionally flexible on pricing - let them know if you were expecting to spend less or a lot less or let them know if this quote is in the right range. While you want to stay within your budget, be open and honest with the planner about what you are prepared to spend. My personal mantra is to work within a budget and be flexible and willing to negotiate.
Once you selected your planner and agree to a price and a package, sign the dotted line and begin on the great adventure that is wedding planning!
Tomorrow's post ... A little love for Anderson Green Events!
Happy Planning!
-Lisa
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Complimentary Consultation ...
You've taken the plunge to hire a planner, you've researched planners and you've decided to meet for a consultation. What should you prepare for your meeting? The consultation is not only a time for you to interview a prospective wedding planner but its also a time for the planner to interview you as a prospective client. You want to be prepared just as much as you want to be yourself and ready and excited to discuss your wedding.
Bring a list of questions you want to ask a planner. They can be as broad or specific as necessary - its not uncommon to want to know how many weddings or events a planner works on per year. Feel free to ask how they got started in wedding planning or event management. You can even ask how they've handled difficult guests or how they've implemented rain contingency plans when inclement weather happens.
During your first consultation with a planner take note of how they answer your questions or how they ask you questions - is this someone you can relate to on a personal level? Are the planners answers logical and in line with the information that you are providing? Does the planner just seem to get it, you, your wedding?
Don't be afraid to ask questions during your consultation - the more information you gather by asking questions, the better perspective you'll get into this planner, and most importantly, how they are going to BE as your wedding planner.
Stay tuned for more .... tomorrow we'll discuss what happens next ....
Happy Planning!
-Lisa
Bring a list of questions you want to ask a planner. They can be as broad or specific as necessary - its not uncommon to want to know how many weddings or events a planner works on per year. Feel free to ask how they got started in wedding planning or event management. You can even ask how they've handled difficult guests or how they've implemented rain contingency plans when inclement weather happens.
During your first consultation with a planner take note of how they answer your questions or how they ask you questions - is this someone you can relate to on a personal level? Are the planners answers logical and in line with the information that you are providing? Does the planner just seem to get it, you, your wedding?
Don't be afraid to ask questions during your consultation - the more information you gather by asking questions, the better perspective you'll get into this planner, and most importantly, how they are going to BE as your wedding planner.
Stay tuned for more .... tomorrow we'll discuss what happens next ....
Happy Planning!
-Lisa
Saturday, December 13, 2008
When thinking about hiring a Wedding Planner ...
It seems that hiring a planner has become a must do when planning your wedding. Why is this? Some couples may think that its a frivolous expense and outside of their budget. Other couples may not realize the amount of work it takes to plan a wedding (regardless of guest list size, weddings take work!). Hiring a planner for any type of package (full, partial, day of or hourly consulting) can make the process much simpler. A good planner will take the time to get to know you as a couple - what you like, what your hobbies are, what you love about each other and use those elements to create a wedding that is truly your own. Our firms philosophy is to create unique events that really represent the couple.
When researching and meeting with planners, write down what strikes you about a wedding coordinators' website. Is it their package offerings? Is it their online portfolio? It is the way they discuss their firms mission? Once you contact a planner to arrange a complimentary consultation, also take note of their communication with you - are they prompt to respond, open to organizing a meeting around your schedule? Even though at this point you haven't met the planner or signed a contract with them - their website and their communication style are indicative of the type of person and more importantly, the type of planner they are. Once you hire a planner, you are in this "relationship" with them over the duration of planning your wedding through your wedding day and its very important to have a good fit. I tell all my potential clients that whomever they finally hire, you want to hire someone who you are going to be excited to meet with. You don't want to hire a planner who you dread seeing - this negative energy will deter from the fun and exciting aspect of your wedding - planning it!
Stay tuned! Tomorrow's post I will discuss important questions you should ask a planner during your complimentary consultation.
Happy Planning!
-Lisa
When researching and meeting with planners, write down what strikes you about a wedding coordinators' website. Is it their package offerings? Is it their online portfolio? It is the way they discuss their firms mission? Once you contact a planner to arrange a complimentary consultation, also take note of their communication with you - are they prompt to respond, open to organizing a meeting around your schedule? Even though at this point you haven't met the planner or signed a contract with them - their website and their communication style are indicative of the type of person and more importantly, the type of planner they are. Once you hire a planner, you are in this "relationship" with them over the duration of planning your wedding through your wedding day and its very important to have a good fit. I tell all my potential clients that whomever they finally hire, you want to hire someone who you are going to be excited to meet with. You don't want to hire a planner who you dread seeing - this negative energy will deter from the fun and exciting aspect of your wedding - planning it!
Stay tuned! Tomorrow's post I will discuss important questions you should ask a planner during your complimentary consultation.
Happy Planning!
-Lisa
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