Personalizing Your Wedding Ceremony

We see a lot of short and simple, get-the-job-done wedding ceremonies. In all honesty, it takes about 10 minutes to actually "get married." But what if you want to incorporate some personality or pizzazz to your wedding?

We've had several ceremonies recently where the bride and groom traveled to Ponte Vedra Beach for their weddings.  But rather than hiring a local minister, they brought theirs with them! When an officiant has a personal connection with the couple, the ceremony is so much more meaningful. They can offer little anecdotes, and put the bride and groom more at ease during one of the more serious parts of the wedding day.

Lots of couples chose to include a unity candle or sand ceremony into their wedding. But there are also other options - rose ceremonies, handfasting, seashell/stone blessings, wine ceremonies, to name a few. Ask your officiant if they have suggestions. Also look to your religion or culture for ideas. Even if you aren't have a "religious" ceremony, there may be little nods to your heritage that you can include.

Of course, the best way to personalize your ceremony is to write your own vows! If you decide to do so, be sure to give yourself plenty of time! This isn't something to be rushed. Also, discuss the tone of your vows with your significant other. You don't want to make yours funny while his are super serious. You may also want to ask a close friend or family member to read both sets of vows (if you plan don't plan to read them to each other before the wedding) to be sure they match in tone and length.

However you chose to personalize your wedding ceremony, remember that you are promising to love, honor and cherish your fiance til death do you part. Make it a special and meaningful time for the two of you!

Selecting The Perfect Church For Your Wedding

One would think choosing a church for one's ceremony would be simple, but I found it to be a bit more complicated than expected. It was very important to me to have our wedding in my hometown, Orlando, FL. Picking our reception location was easy; my godparents live on a beautiful property in the Gotha area of Orlando. They have seven and a half acres on a lake, and I knew it would make for an ideal tented, rustic/chic reception location.

I grew up Methodist, and still belong to a Methodist church in Orlando, but Charles was brought up Catholic, and we both decided that we wanted our ceremony to be Catholic. I had to basically start from scratch when it came to selecting our Catholic ceremony location.

I started by looking up all the Catholic churches that were near my godparents' house. The closest church totheir home was a very large and well known Catholic church in the Orlando area. My mother and I attended the Christmas Eve mass to examine the size, look and feel of the church. It was very voluminous and grand, and all of the people who were there seemed to truly love their church. I thought “This could very well be the church!” After Christmas settled down, I emailed the church to gather all the information for having a ceremony there, and what the pricing situation was. I’d always assumed that a church rental for a ceremony wouldn't be more than a couple hundred dollars; this church started at $1,200.00 for non-members. There was also a complication in booking the church. For a Catholic ceremony, you have to take pre-marital classes that last 6-8 months, and this church wasn’t going to allow me to reserve my date until after my classes were complete. I didn’t want to take the gamble of someone else stealing my date, so I decided that church just would not do.

After researching a few more Catholic church options, I stumbled upon a charming little Catholic church that I often passed when I lived in Orlando. The church is also close my reception location, but I overlooked it at first because it was a Maronite Catholic Church, asopposed to a Roman Catholic Church. I did my homework and found that there are many types of Catholic Churches, and that they’re all recognized by the Pope as equal. My fiancé, mother and I attended a mass one Sunday and absolutely fell in love with the people, charm, and most importantly the priest. Everyone in the congregation made us feel at home. We all knew right away that we’d found our church.

Finding the all-important perfect church location for your ceremony can be overwhelming, but just remember to do your research early, attend a service before-hand, and get on the churchcalendar/marriage class roster as soon as your decision is made.  Once these steps are underway, you can feel excited that you are well on your way toward your perfect church wedding!

The Most Important Day Of Your Life (And Why Your Wedding Day Isn't It)

I'm about to type something that many people will find controversial.

I know - I spend my days surround by all things wedding. How can I possibly say this?! Because it's the truth. I've had some wedding reality shows playing in the office lately as I've been stuffing envelopes and assembling welcome gifts for some of our spring/summer weddings. I normally don't watch them, and now I know why. They insist on perpetuating this mantra that "your wedding day is the best day of your life" and creating the hype that everything must be perfect. So much emphasis is put on the party that the marriage part tends to get overlooked.

I'm not saying you shouldn't have a gorgeous wedding, but don't forget that there are many more "best" days to come.

The day you close on your first house. The days your children are born. The day  your spouse returns home safely from a military deployment. The day you beat cancer. The day you get that big promotion you've worked so hard for. The day you save someone's life. The day you win the lottery. (we can all dream, right?)

Hopefully, your wedding day means marrying your best friend, surrounded by friends and family that mean the world to you. Anything beyond that is just gravy.

Tips From A Recent Bride

Even as an experienced wedding planner, there were still things I learned from my own wedding! Here are my tips for brides-to-be:

• Print out labels for your RSVP cards and put them on the back of the card, or write numbers on the back. You WILL get RSVP cards back that do not have return address on envelopes and the stamp from the post office from where it shipped from will only go so far.

• Go to wedding expos! See what and who your choices are first hand and in person. Bridal shows give you a chance to see everyone in one place whether you are looking for one vendor or all of them, and you don’t have to drive all over town to find out they are what you are looking for. Hint: Take your fiancé! If he/she isn’t a part of the wedding planning, they sure will appreciate you after a bridal show experience!

• Please, oh please, don’t buy a dress that weighs more than you. I had a light strapless dress and the only thing I could think about 30 minutes until the end of the reception was taking it off! (And no, not only for that reason). You don’t realize how much a heavy dress can interrupt your night.

• Do schedule a little nighttime photo shoot with your photographer. We did pictures around 10:00pm when everyone was comfortable on the dance floor. We snuck away and took some great shots, along with having a little breather and a few minutes of sweet alone time.

• If you choose to wear a veil, as much as you love that veil and won't have another opportunity to wear one, let me just share my experience before you make the decision to wear it the whole day. Everyone that hugs or dances with you will tug on the veil (without knowing, of course) and whatever style your hair was at the beginning of the day will look torn up! If I were to do it again, I’d take it of after dinner!

• Do a fake cake! The bottom layer of our 5-tier cake was the only part of the cake that was real so we could cut into it and get those priceless pictures of smashing it in each other's faces. The rest of our cake was in the kitchen already sliced and put out right after we cut into it. Instead of having waitstaff at your cake table for 30 minutes making a mess, it was already done.

• Make an email address only for wedding correspondence. I had (my name)2B(future last name) and it worked great! If you want to stay in contact with any of your wedding vendors after the big day, send an email to specific people politely asking them to update their address book.

• Do eat! My hubby and I didn’t make it around to everyone’s table. If that’s rude, we sure didn’t get any complaints. We noticed as we were eating, people came to us that were going to leave early or knew they weren’t going to run into us on the dance floor later.

• I worried up until a few weeks before the wedding about what “Our Song” was going to be. It's really easy getting frustrated finding a song if you don’t already have one when you’re listening to every word making sure its perfect. However, not you, your hubby, or your guests will hear every word like you did listening by yourself. My advise, pick a song that’s just special between the two of you.

• Do make sure your in-laws and parents have a speech planned. Our wedding was pretty traditional. The groom's parents threw the rehearsal dinner, where his parents said a little something, and my father had a toast at the wedding. I know it sounds very traditional, but it really sets the tone for two families becoming one. Everyone could feel the love our parents had for us and our new spouse with the words they spoke.

Do you have any tips you'd like to share? Leave them in the comments below.

As Seen In Destination Weddings Magazine

Check out the latest issue of Destination Weddings & Honeymoons magazine, featuring my Expert Picks for three of North Florida's hottest wedding venues!

Pinterest Is Not Your Wedding Planner

We've been hearing a lot of comments lately along the lines of "I don't need a wedding planner, I have Pinterest!" And while Pinterest can be a handy tool, it definitely should not replace any wedding professional - planner, florist, photographer, cake baker, or otherwise.

We wrote a blog post back in 2012 about the dangers of the Pinterest/DIY wedding movement. But we thought we'd point out a few things that we've noticed over the past year as Pinterest has gained popularity.

1. Don't become pin-happy. You may have 10 different boards with 10 different themes. Which is great, if you are comparing the options. But don't expect to merge those 10 themes into one wedding. Pick one, and stick with it. It's easy to become overwhelmed with all the options. Plus, not every idea is feasible for your venue or time of year. Don't just pin for the sake of pinning.

2. Don't just copy everything. Make it your own. Everything on Pinterest has been done already, that's why there are photos of it. Your wedding should be a unique reflection of you as a couple, not what it popular or trendy. Ask yourself if that pin is something you really need/want, and does it make sense?

3.  Keep your boards private. Now that Pinterest has this option, use it. Share only with those who really matter - otherwise, you'll get input from so many people, you won't know what you want anymore. (Plus, isn't it fun for your guests to be surprised at your wedding?)

4. Photos can be unrealistic. As I mentioned in my previous blog post, styled or inspiration shoots are not real weddings. And in most cases, there is no way to actually recreate a majority of those looks for a wedding of 150 people. For a real-life look at Pinterest inspiration vs. reality, check out this great blog post called "Why Pinterest Gave Me Unrealistic Expections For Wedding Photos."

5. A Pinterest board cannot be there on the day of your wedding. Makeup artist Paulina Perez recently shared a story about a bride who spent hours crying on her wedding day because her mom was missing out on all the special moments that happened while she was getting ready. Her mom was at the reception venue, setting up all those DIY projects, and all the other things a wedding planner might be doing. "It was heart breaking," Paulina said. "You knew the mother was not there because she was too busy trying to make the venue look perfect for her daughter, but all the bride could think of is 'how could my mom not be here?' It was a lose-lose situation on both parts."

Pinterest is great for showing your team of wedding professionals what you like. Just be sure to edit your ideas and hire pros to make them happen!

Pantone Announces 2014 Color of the Year: Radiant Orchid

Yesterday, Pantone announced the 2014 Color of the Year: Radiant Orchid. According to the press release,

"Radiant Orchid blooms with confidence and magical warmth that intrigues the eye and sparks the imagination. It is an expressive, creative and embracing purple—one that draws you in with its beguiling charm. A captivating harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid emanates great joy, love and health."

If you don't work in a design-related industry, you might wonder what the heck the "color of the year" is exactly.

"For more than a decade, Pantone’s Color of the Year has influenced product development and purchasing decisions in multiple industries, including fashion, home and industrial design, as well as product packaging and graphic design."

So next year, as you are strolling through the mall and see lots of this color everywhere, think back to this blog post and say, "Ahh, I get it!"

The photo on the right is an example of a bridesmaid's dress from Dessy in Radiant Orchid. Will you incorporate this color into your wedding? Share your ideas in the comments section!

Charitable Donations as Wedding Favors

"What do you mean, you aren't having wedding favors?" We hear it a lot, usually from the parents of the bride and groom. The history of the wedding favor isn't really well known, but party favors in general have been around since the 16th century. Think back to your birthday parties as a child - didn't you always give your friends a little sack of goodies to take home?

While there are lots of great wedding favors out there, many couples are choosing instead to donate cash to their favorite charity instead of buying little chocolates or scented candles. There are so many reasons to choose a donation over a physical favor:

• A specific charity or cause is near and dear to your heart.
• It's more environmentally friendly.
• Remember a family member with a memorial donation.
• It's more personal.

So how do you do it?

First, contact the charity (or charities) you would like to donate to.  Most charities have websites where you can make a donation via credit card, however if it is a local charity you may need to mail a check.

Next, find a way to let your guests know about your donation. You may chose to have a card placed at each place setting describing your charity of choice, or have two or three placed on each table. If your cause is environmental in nature, consider printing your message on plantable paper - seeds are embedded in the paper, and flowers will bloom when your guests take it home and plant it.

As an alternative, you can make a little framed sign and place it somewhere in the cocktail hour space, rather  than having cards on the tables. Most people attending your wedding will know why you chose the charity you did, so long explanations aren't necessary.

Multi-Cultural Wedding Tips

I had the pleasure of attending the Association of Bridal Consultants' Central Florida East luncheon yesterday. The guest speaker was Yehudit Steinberg, the founder of the Jewish Interfaith Wedding Network. She specializes in creating ceremonies blending religions and cultures, incorporating both families' traditions and beliefs. Yehudit shared some tips that you may want to consider when planning an interfaith wedding.

1. Don't rush. Long engagements aren't a bad thing, especially when it comes to blending two cultures or religions. You'll want to explore your families' traditions, and decide as a couple which traditions to incorporate into your wedding, and your marriage.

2. Open communication. Encourage your families to be a part of your wedding preparations, especially in terms of the ceremony.

3. Address ceremony options first. Especially when you are considering marrying in a house of worship, you will want to secure the date with your officiants before planning any other aspects of the wedding.  In other words, don't book your reception venue and then find out it's Yom Kippur and no rabbi will marry you!

Be sure to visit the Jewish Interfaith Wedding Network website for more great information!

How Long Should My Wedding Reception Last?

We often meet with clients that think their wedding reception should last ALL night long. And in some cases, they are right. But more often than not, less is more when in comes to wedding receptions.

Here in Jacksonville, the typical wedding reception lasts between 4 and 5 hours.  There are some factors that will influence your reception length:

• The type of meal being served. If you are serving a 5-course meal, your dinner will last longer than an hors d'oeuvres reception.
• How long your cocktail "hour" will last. Many couples have a "cocktail hour" that lasts longer than an actual hour.
• Your guest list. If most of your guests are from out of town, and are staying at or near the reception venue, they may be more likely to party later.
• Venue restrictions. There may be sound ordinances you need to comply with, or your venue may have a limit on the number of hours in your rental fee.

Some reasons to end your reception a little earlier include:

• The send-off. If you'd like to have a grand exit, you'll want to leave before all your guests do.
• You'll be exhausted. You've spent a year planning every detail of this day, and the butterflies in your stomach may not let you sleep the night before!  Plus, you'll usually be up very early on the wedding day to start hair and makeup.
• It's easier on the budget. The longer your reception lasts, the longer you will have to pay for food, drinks, and entertainment.

If you'd like a longer reception, consider staging an "after party" in a different space at your venue. Create a unique setting, and have different entertainment. Or, keep the post-reception casual by meeting at a nearby bar. Just be sure everyone has safe transportation home afterward!

Beach Wedding Tips

Even though summer is winding down in most parts of the country, here in Florida it is still perfect beach weather! I personally don't recommend having the ceremony on the actual beach, for several reasons: the on-looking public, noise, wind, sand everywhere, not to mention Speedo-guy in the background of your photos. We have several lovely locations here in North Florida and South Georgia that overlook the beach while minimizing some of these issues. But, if you do choose to have your ceremony on the beach, here are some things to consider:

• Always have a backup plan. Weather in Florida is so unpredictable, and the soft ocean breeze can easily become a tropical storm force wind in a matter of hours. While a tent may be an option, it may not be the best solution.
• Think about access for older guests. Can your grandparents walk easily in the sand? If not, designate a family member (not someone in the bridal party) to help them.
• Warn guests that ceremony will be on the beach. Make it clear on the invitation that guests should be prepared to remove their shoes or wear sandals for the ceremony. Nothing is worse than high heels and panty hose on the beach.
• Have water available for your guests. Even when the temperatures are in the 80's, it can be hot in the sun. Remember that your guests will begin arriving about 30 minutes before your ceremony time, so have a water station to quench their thirst. Add some cucumber to the water for a fun treat!
• Have towels to wipe off feet. As I mentioned previously, there will be sand everywhere. It's a nice touch for your guests to be able to clean up before entering the reception.
• Rent a sound system. The sounds of the surf are romantic, but they make it difficult for your guests to hear what is being said during the ceremony. Be sure to ask about battery-operated systems, since chances are you won't have a power outlet nearby.
• Provide sunscreen in welcome bags. Some of your guests may be sensitive to the sun, even if your ceremony is at sunset. Add some sunscreen to your welcome bags, or have it available at your water station.

(photo from Shanae and Marlon's wedding at The Lodge and Club at Ponte Vedra Beach, by Naturally Photography)

Planning Your Wedding Menu

When you begin planning your wedding menu, there are many more decisions to make that just sit-down or stations/buffet. Here are some tips to consider: Think about what foods are in season at the time of your wedding. In-season fruits and vegetables are more budget friendly too!

Choose foods that will pair nicely both in flavor and in presentation. Monochromatic may work as a wedding color scheme, but it doesn't work well on a plate. Be sure to choose a variety of colors and textures for your meal.

Avoid overly spicy foods. There are few things worse that heartburn during your wedding reception!

Ask your caterer about alternate meals for vegetarians, vegans, and those with food allergies. They will usually offer an alternate entree that will meet all these needs.

Consider printing menu cards that detail the meal and include them at each place setting. If someone does have a concern about a menu item, they can ask their server.

Don't be afraid to ask your caterer about incorporating a family recipe into your menu. Most chefs love to try new recipes, with enough advance notice.

(photo by La Dolce Vita Studios)

Do You Need A Professional Makeup Artist?

YES!

(Ok, I'll elaborate...)

Many brides, especially those on tight budgets, are quick to think, "I look pretty good on a daily basis, I can do my own makeup for my wedding." And while, yes, this is true, there are many reasons to hire a pro:

• Being on time. Think back to your senior prom, when you did your own hair and makeup. Did things go exactly as planned? Usually not.
• Less stress. Why not sit in a chair for an hour and relax while someone makes you more beautiful? Much better than standing in the hotel room's bathroom.
• Play up your best features and hide any flaws. Just because your photographer can photoshop that zit, he or she doesn't want to have to do that in 1,000 photos. A professional makeup artist can hide any little imperfections without making them more obvious.
• Long-lasting coverage. You'll be sweating, dancing, kissing, and eating during your wedding day. And from the time your makeup is done in the morning to the time you leave your reception, that can be a 10-hour day.
• Proper intensity for photographs. We've all seen those photos of brides whose face looks three shades lighter than the rest of their body, or they look like they aren't wearing makeup at all. Just like models have more dramatic makeup, you'll need to step it up a bit for your wedding day too. A professional makeup artist knows how to achieve this while still making you look like "you."

The most important step in hiring a makeup artist is scheduling a trial run. You'll want to be sure you're happy with the results, but long before the wedding day. In fact, having your makeup done the same day as your engagement photos kills two birds with one stone! Then, if you aren't happy with the look, you have time to make adjustments rather than having a melt-down on your wedding day.

Photo from Megan and Vivek's Wedding - Makeup Artist: Kimtasha (be sure to check out the before and after photos on her website!) - Photographer: La Dolce Vita Studio

DIY Wedding Maps

Chances are, you'll need a map to include with your wedding invitations. If you are having your invitations custom designed, you graphic artist will probably create one for you. But what if you aren't? There are lots of websites and artists that can create pretty maps for you. But did you know you can do it yourself? I didn't really believe it either, so I made one for our office location! Here's how it works... {Word of Caution: Don't rush this project! Give yourself plenty of time, and work on it over a few nights. If you lack patience, consider hiring someone instead.}

Step 1: Find your locations in Google Maps, Mapquest, Bing, or another online source. If you will have multiple locations, be sure to zoom out wide enough to show them all. You'll be tracing this map, so be sure you are happy with its size, zoom and position. Use Print Screen to capture the image.

Step 2: If you have access to a drawing program, like Adobe Illustrator, open it up and paste your map into a new drawing. If you don't have Illustrator, you can accomplish the same thing using Microsoft PowerPoint! Paste your image in a new slide to get started.

Step 3: Use the drawing tools to trace the main streets on your maps. If you are using PowerPoint, use the Curve tool to trace most roads. You can also adjust the thickness for major roads, and add text boxes to add labels. Remember, it doesn't need to be exact, as long as all the roads are where they should be. Once you have all the roads traced, delete the original Google map and check out your design!

Step 4: Add icons to your map for your ceremony and reception locations - Google "free wedding clipart" to find some cute images. You could also add rehearsal dinner locations, or any other places your guests will need to find.

Step 5: In PowerPoint, use the Select All command to select all the elements of your map. Once everything is selected, right click and choose the Save As Picture option. A dialogue window will open allowing you to save your map as an image file.  Depending on the size your printed map needs to be, it may be better to save the file as a PDF.

That's it! This is my finished product:

Not too bad for a couple hours work!

Special-Diet Wedding Cakes

Special diets are a hot topic in the catering industry these days - and I'm not talking about South Beach vs. Atkins. Many people have dietary restrictions, including sugar-free, gluten-free and vegan, and why shouldn't they get to eat cake at their own wedding? Many cake bakers in North Florida recognize the importance of dietary restrictions, and have cake options for their clients.

• Gluten-free cakes require that equipment and supplies be kept separate from gluten-containing products, and the work surface must be sanitized thoroughly.
• Diabetic cakes often replace sugar with agave nector, fruit purées, honey, maple syrup and evaporated cane juice.
• Vegan cakes will not have diary or egg products. Alternative dairy products are used, such as soy, rice, oat, coconut and almond milk, soy butter, and coconut oil.

If you have a special dietary restriction, you may consider ordering a small cake that can be placed near the traditional wedding cake.

Or, ask your cake baker about a dummy cake! Many cake bakers can make a cake of Styrofoam and fondant, making it look very real. Then they can add a small layer of cake made especially for you, which you can cut during the reception. Then, the guests can be served from sheet cakes that are stored in the kitchen. This way, you get to cut your wedding cake and eat it, and your guests can enjoy a more traditional cake recipe.

If you have close family members or friends that have dietary restrictions, some may recommend having special cupcakes for them. While this is nice, it often draws attention to the fact that they have a special need. Consider having a small cake in the back and alerting your caterer to those that should be served the special cake.

The pretty cake featured here is from one of our past weddings, and was created by Simply Delicious! Cakes - they offer a variety of special diet cakes in North Florida.

Wedding Insurance - A Good Idea, Always!

Did you know you can insure your wedding?  With the recent news of a popular wedding venue closing today, we are reminded that EVERY wedding can be protected by wedding insurance.  Lost Deposits can provide coverage if a vendor goes out of business, declares bankruptcy before your event, or simply fails to show up. For example, if your band or your limo provider fails to show up, this coverage can reimburse your lost deposit. We thought we would re-post an article we wrote on the subject not too long ago on the other benefits on wedding insurance.

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There are several companies that provide wedding insurance, but here is some information from Wedding Protector Plan.

Some of the things that can be covered by wedding insurance include:

• No Dress. You can get repair or replacement cost if the bride’s wedding gown or groom’s tuxedo is lost or damaged.
• Lost Rings. You can receive repair or replacement cost if the bride or groom’s wedding bands are lost or damaged.
• Severe Weather.  If severe weather (such as a hurricane) forces you to postpone your wedding, we can provide reimbursement for non-recoverable expenses.
• Call to Duty.  If the bride or groom is unexpectedly called up to active duty, or has her or his military service leave revoked, forcing you to postpone the event, we can provide reimbursement for non-recoverable expenses.
• Damaged Gifts.  You can get repair or replacement cost if your wedding gifts are damaged.
• Sudden Illness.  If the wedding needs to be postponed because sudden illness prevents the bride, groom or their parents from attending, you can receive reimbursement for non-recoverable expenses.
• Venue Requires Insurance.  As an additional option to your policy, you can add liability coverage to protect yourself in case a guest is injured or causes damage to property.
• Liquor Liability. As an individual liability option to your policy, you can add this coverage to protect yourself against liability arising from alcohol-related occurrences (subject to policy conditions and exclusions).

Rates start at $165 for this company, and other companies offer similar prices.

If you would like to see a brochure, click the link below: http://www.protectmywedding.com/pdfs/Wedding_Insurance_Information_Wedding_Protector_Plan.pdf  And for rates, click here: http://www.protectmywedding.com/pdfs/wedding_event_insurance_rates_liquor_liability.pdf

Wedding Day Do's & Don’ts

Everyone wants their wedding day to run smoothly, so to insure that everything goes accordingly, it’s important to plan ahead. Here are some tips to be aware of to guarantee  a successful day:

• Don’t consume alcohol before the ceremony. If you do want to partake in the bubbly before you walk down the aisle, only drink  half a glass. If you drink too much your buzz will show on your face for all your guests to see and will show on your wedding photos.
• Arrive early to your venue. If it’s possible, get ready at the venue, because if something were to happen and you’re late to your wedding site, it could cause the whole schedule to run late.
• Don’t forget to take any regular medications. It’s easy to forget taking a pill when there's a hundred things going on.
• Make sure to eat and drink plenty of water. You need to be hydrated to prevent headaches and fainting. Make sure to eat foods that won’t make you feel bloated.
• Don’t go crazy and start taking your stress out on others. If you’re yelling at your vendors, wedding party, or family because things aren’t going your way, that’s all anyone will remember when the day’s over.

Blueprint for Wedding Success

Announcing our newest seminar, Blueprint For Wedding Success!  Join us for an afternoon of valuable tips and information from Master Bridal Consultant, Heather Canada. Topics include:

Basics:

• Selecting a date
• Themes/color schemes
• Budgeting
• Choosing locations

Ceremony:

• Interfaith weddings
• Traditions

Reception:

• DJ vs Band
• Meal types
• Bar

Extras:

• Favors
• Invitations
• Personalization

Followed by individual Q&A with Master Bridal Consultant Heather Canada. Plus:

• Receive worksheets to help plan (and budget!) your wedding
• Enjoy hors d'oeuvres and desserts by The Perfect Pear Catering Co.

Tickets are only $15 per person, or two tickets for $25.  Plus, clients of First Coast Weddings, Avalon Hall, and The Perfect Pear get a special discount! (Ask us for details.) Seating is limited, so sign up today at http://weddingblueprint.eventbrite.com.

Becoming A Wedding Planner

I hear it all the time: "I just love weddings and want to be a wedding planner. It must be so much fun!"  Usually the people saying this phrase have no idea what it truly means to "be a wedding planner." With the current economy, lots of people are looking for work - and some decide to start their own businesses.  Which is great, if you know what you are doing.  But anyone can print up some business cards on their home computer and call themselves a DJ, photographer, videographer, wedding planner, etc.

A lot of newbie wedding planners had fun planning their own weddings, and decide that it should be their new career.  And there's nothing wrong with that.  But planning your own wedding, with your own vision and your own style, is much easier than planning someone else's wedding with their vision and their style.  It takes a real knack to be able to listen to what a client wants and make it a reality.

It's also much different to juggle 20+ weddings at once, not just one. Staying organized, keeping track of multiple budgets and task lists, and treating each couple as if they are your only client takes a certain skill level.

So how does someone become a wedding planner? The best suggestion  I can make it to take advantage of apprenticeships and internships. There are several great online courses to teach the basics of running a business and helping a client plan a wedding, but there is no substitute for experience.  Even after 12 years of doing weddings and 15 years in the hospitality business, I feel like I learn something at every wedding.

If you are a bride shopping for a wedding planner, take a look at their portfolio.  Is there more than one wedding shown?  Is it the planner's own wedding?  Be sure to ask questions when you are interviewing planners about their experience level; and as a new planner, be honest with prospective clients.  We all had to start somewhere - but if you lie about your experience, it will come back to haunt you in the end.

Why You Need a Wedding Planner - From a Photographer's Prospective

Our friend, Christy Whitehead of Christy Whitehead Photography, wrote an excellent blog post yesterday with her view on wedding planners.  I'd love for you to read the full article here, but here is a little snippet:

And now my two cents as the photographer.

The majority of weddings I shoot do not have a planner. Some have a venue coordinator, but in many cases I find that the event coordinator is gone as soon as the food is done being served. Which is when the bride usually turns to me to ask what to do next.

A wedding planner not only helps make sure you arrive on time and gets you down the aisle but helps ensure that at the reception everything is done in a timely manner. Which can mean money saved to you, because many of your vendors are likely charging you by the hour.

Let me put it this way, say you have to pay 3-4 of your vendors to stay an extra hour (happens ALL the time) that is likely to run you $1,000+ easily (And some vendors may have other weddings to go to and can’t stay!). Many day of coordinators start in that range and could have not only helped the wedding stay on time but have been on site all day to ease the tension of stained dresses, vendors arriving on time, and other emergencies that happen at EVERY wedding.

I hope you will consider hiring a wedding planner/coordinator for your wedding day. Not only can they save you a lot of stress, but sometimes the amount of money they can save you could cover the cost of hiring them. And I don’t know a wedding vendor who doesn’t prefer a wedding that has a coordinator in charge, it makes our day go by sooo much more smoothly. I also have someone to go to, should I have any questions, so that I don’t have to bug the bride who likely won’t know the answer for sure anyway.