Any large scale event is a big investment.  Its an investment of your money, time and emotions.  So when it comes time to making decisions during the planning process, there are typically several issues that you are weighing.  Do you go with the least expensive option because you’re on a budget?  Do you pick the option that came with the most recommendations because you can’t decide?  Do you pick the most expensive option because that has to mean its a quality choice?  I say that at the end of the day, it boils down to Comfort and Confidence.

Let’s say you’re selecting a florist.

First, make sure you’ve asked all the questions of your vendors.    Try to get the quotes you receive from each florist as similar as possible in terms of the product you are receiving or the price you are targeting (comparing apples to apples is better than apples to oranges).

Make sure you have done your research on each company’s track record.  If you found this vendor through recommendations, then ask the folks that made the recommendation what their priorities were (because they may be different than yours).

Then consider how important that vendor is to you.  This is key. Budget, Your Vision & Quality go hand in hand, but your decisions will usually be based on one pulling rank over the others and how that vendor is able to make you comfortable and instill confidence in their abilities.

• If maintaining Your Vision is critical to your florist selection, then the florist that is best able to translate Your Vision (sometimes regardless of budgetary concerns) will take the lead.
• If Budget is critical to you in this category, then the concept of “You Vision” will probably take a back seat to Budge & Quality.
• And if just straightforward Quality of product is key, then Budget and Your Vision are at the bottom (A vendor can have a great Quality product that does not necessarily match Your Vision)

Whichever key is critical to your decision, the top priority is that you should have a comfort level with the vendor you are hiring and confidence that they will deliver the product you two have agreed upon.

If you don’t feel comfortable telling your florist what you like and what you don’t like about the options they have presented to you, then you may end up with something that you are not completely happy with.  And if you are not confident that your florist can deliver on the ideas you have discussed, then you’re going to be concerned the entire time.

But if you are comfortable and confident, then it makes the entire planning process much less stressful and much more enjoyable!

Happy Planning!

You have a 2pm ceremony at the church, but your cocktail hour doesn’t start until 5pm.  What do you do?

This is a common problem for many couples planning their wedding.  Churches can be pretty strict about the times they conduct ceremonies and that doesn’t always work with YOUR plans for the reception.  Or you just happen to be the last person to book that date at the church so you don’t have your pick of the time that best suits you.  No matter the reason for the situation, you have a couple of hours where your guests have nothing to do.  So what do you do?

First, try to close the gap by adding 30 minutes to the front end of your cocktail hour or by bumping up the entire evening by 30 minutes.  It may not seem like a lot of time to you, but it will to your guests.

If your group is game for a laugh, try a mini-scavengar hunt for your guests based on the route from the church to the reception.  Make it easy though!  Have them take silly pictures with their digital cameras at spots designated by you along the route.  The couple (or group) that completes the hunt with the best pics wins “the prize” (like a nice bottle of wine or champagne or gourmet chocolates!).  Makes for added fun for you as you go through the pics and see the silly faces made!

Another option is to have a map of “hot spots” along with way.  Restaurants, lounges, must see landmarks…the nearest mall or department store (runs in pantyhose, shawl for a chilly night, broken heel, numerous reasons for such a pit stop).  Let your guests amuse themselves until cocktail hour begins.

You will have folks that arrive too early and will wait until they can enter the cocktail hour, but at least you’ve given options to those in need of something to do!

Happy Planning!

There is a HUGE trend towards using iPods as a way of saving money for weddings.  People tend to go this route because they would rather their their music played and they feel they don’t need to spend money on a DJ.  But I tend to go to bat for the DJ for a few reasons.

1. You need someone to be the emcee.  Yes, you may have an outgoing friend that can do the job but it is just not the same.  Besides, your friend may be a few drinks in and that mixed with a mic is never a good idea!
2. You still need sound equipment.  And someone to set it up!  So you are still paying for your music needs in one way, shape or form.
3. Your iPod cannot “feel” the crowd.  The role of a DJ is to make sure the party keeps going!  To keep the energy of the party, to bring it up and back down at the right times.  As magical as Apple has made the iPod, it cannot alter the pace of the party.
4. A good DJ will take your musical tastes into account.  And a good wedding planner will make sure they find you a DJ that fits you too!

After all this, if you still feel an iPod is the best route for you, then don’t forget the following.  You need:

• An audio system to play the music.  You may also need an additional system for the ceremony (a DJ would normally re-purpose theirs for you).
• Someone to not only setup the system, but to break it down at the end of the night.
• Someone to be your emcee.  Preferably someone funny and a non-drinker.
• Someone to gauge your music throughout the night (if no one is dancing to the fifth song of the night by your favorite 80s hairband, you need to change it up).

Happy Planning!

I met with a bride yesterday who is planning her wedding for 2010.  Like many people, she postponed her 2009 wedding because of the economy and also because she and her fiancee wanted more time to spread the spend (smart move!).

So in our conversation we got to talking about the guest list.  Her fiancee wants to invite everyone they have known throughout their lives.  She would prefer to keep the guest list to a minimum only inviting those they both know.  “I don’t know what to do!” she said.  So here was my two cents on the matter!

Make a guest list of those people you absolutely HAVE to have at your wedding.  Then make a list of those people you would LIKE to have at your wedding if budget, location, etc, make that possible!  So now you have your minimum and maximum, which is a good place to start in the planning process.

These numbers will allow you to weigh all the pros and cons of locations, caterers, florists (cause 10 centerpieces will be less than 20!), so that you can make smart decisions on the things that are important to you!  If the caterer says they can do a wedding for 150 and a wedding for 200 with the same bottom line, then maybe you do go big and invite everyone (keep in mind that the style of service and type of food would be different though).  Or perhaps you find a location you absolutely love but it only accomodates your HAVES guest list.  Then you make the decision on your priorities there.  But at least you are making those decisions together, and taking each other into consideration.

AND if you have hired a full service wedding planner then they can mock up budget scenarios and tell you how realistic your guest list combined with your budget and all the other special requests you have match up!

Happy planning!

Courtesy of Your Wedding Day Magazine

Last night, I had the honor of attending the Your Wedding Day Magazine Launch Party for San Diego.

The event was held at the exquisite Grand Del Mar, which provided yummy drinks and tasty food! Chameleon Chairs and Wildflower Linen were some of the sponsors for the decor as well as Kathy Wright & Co.!

I must say that YWD picked a great location that complimented their style and what they are all about and made quite the entrance to the San Diego scene! Wayne Foster Music & Entertainment provided a great ensemble for the evening, Plush Impressions’ lounge furniture was a hit and San Diego Stage & Lighting Supply did an impressive logo display on the lawn below the Manchester Terrace. And did I mention the food?  Mushroom Risotto, Mini Goat Cheese Pizza Slices & Pumpkin Profiteroles…delish!!

Centerpiece with Pomegranate....love love love!!

Chandelier of Flowers!

Belly Bars with Chamelon Chairs

Capella Chapel - Photo does not do it justice!

Vendors:

The Grand Del Mar - Del Mar, CA
Chameleon Chairs - Los Angeles & San Diego
Kathy Wright & Co. - San Diego, CA
Wildflower Linen - Orange County & Los Angeles
Plush Impressions - San Diego, CA
San Diego Stage & Lighting Supply - San Diego, CA
Wayne Foster Music & Entertainment - Carlsbad, CA