One of the most memorable moments of a couple’s relationship is their engagement, and that can easily be overlooked by all the pre-wedding talk.
The most important thing to do during your engagement is to walk away from the wedding planning, and just take it all in. Enjoy your time together with your fiancé, go on romantic dates without “wedding talk”. Your engagement will be over before you know it, and after the wedding you’ll realize… “Wow, what do we talk about now? All we have done and talked about is wedding stuff.”
A few things for you and your fiancé to do during your engagement:
- No details date night (regular date nights without wedding talk!)
- Go back to where you first met
- Go for a day get-away to a winery, spa or just somewhere outdoors and peaceful
- Spend time with all of your friends together, have a big barbecue at your soon to be new home.
- Have a casual move night and relax
Are you struggling on deciding whether to hire a wedding planner or not? Well, let us give you some advice as to why we could help you save your sanity, enjoy your pre-wedding activities and most of all spend time focusing on your fiance and not spending every moment with him talking "wedding stuff".
Emily Post says it best... "More and more couples have full-time careers and limited amounts of time to devote to wedding organization. For busy people with hectic schedules, hiring a wedding coordinator is a smart alternative to trying to do it all. Wedding consultants indeed can be of great service: they can scout sites and oversee the budget, the caterer, the band, the florist and any number of service providers. They can snag discounts and bargains from vendors. In short, they can lift the load from your shoulders when you're feeling burdened, simply because they have encountered and solved the same problems you may be facing in hundreds of ways. Their purpose is not to take over your wedding, but to help make your dreams come true and your plans a reality. Plus wedding coordinators can save you money in the long run."
Here are just a few reasons why we personally believe a wedding planner is essential -
- We have the relationships with the top of the line vendors and know how to make your dream come true, while staying within your budget!
- Save you time, energy and stress.
- We also know how to settle disagreements throughout the planning process
- Overcoming road blocks during the planning process or at the last minute
- We specifically hand pick our vendors, allowing you to trust that we will only provide you the best in the industry for your wedding budget
- We are experts in wedding etiquette. Everything from invitation formatting to seating arrangements.
Oh my gosh - this video made me cry! I had to post it, this happened right here in Georgia at Great Escape Theater in McDonough. Wow! Talk about creative proposals! Congrats to this precious Georgia couple!
Have you ever been to an outdoor wedding in Atlanta or an at-home wedding or even a wedding at an event facility that just didn't have adequate restroom facilities? Well, me too! Even my own wedding could have used some help - approximately 350 guests and only 2 bathroom stalls for women at the venue. Well ladies and gents, if you are hosting your wedding or event in the Atlanta area, you no longer have to be concerned about your guests' comfort...
Click on the article title to continue reading and to see lots of fabulous pictures.
So what about the florist, baker, etc.? They've put as much time as those who stay for the entire wedding day, right? My answer: Absolutely. If you are thrilled with their work, give a tip to your wedding planner and tell her it's for the baker/florist/etc. Your wedding planner will mail that vendor their gift. First, let's look at the entire budget. The average bride spends about $29,000 on her wedding. So if your thought is, "I've already spent $13,000 on catering. Why should I tip on top of that?" let's look at your catering contract. If there is a 20% service charge in addition to labor fees and sales tax, that's normal. That 20% goes toward the staff's gratuity at the end of the night. The caterer is responsible for handing out that money to the staff. HOWEVER(and I'm not sure I can write that in bigger, more note-worthy font so I'll say it again)HOWEVER, if you have amazing service, an additional tip is always appreciated. Typically you will have a dedicated server - someone whose only job that night is to make sure your glass never goes empty, that you are alternating between an alcoholic beverage and water, and to make sure you have everything you need. (For example, if your favorite fruit is grapes and your VIP Server sifts through the fruit tray and brings you only grapes, that counts as amazing service.) A good tip for aVIP Server is $50-$100. If the entire service staff rocked, I'd recommend$50 per server. Keep in mind, most of these vendors have been working with you for upwards of 4-6 months or longer and are charging a flat fee. There is no "service charge" in your photographer's contract. So if he/she does a fabulous job, makes you feel comfortable all night, and falls in easily with your guests, he/she is *working* continuously through the day. Here's an easy breakdown: Clergy: $25 - $100 Baker: not necessary, but always appreciated in any amount Caterer: $50 - $100 for VIP Server or $50 per server Florist: not necessary, but always appreciated in any amount Photographer: $50 - $100 Videographer: $50 - $100 (I recommend sending this after you get your DVD!) Wedding Planner: $50 -$100 Here are a list of vendors who will get their gratuity at the end of the night regardless of if you slip them some cash. Venue: (it's not necessary to tip the hotel) Limo Driver: (his/her gratuity is built in to the fee and will not be split among others as in the case of servers and caterers) Site Contact: (the person at your venue who shows up to make sure the lights are on / the Church Lady) Remember, theBESTgratuity you can give a vendor is aletter thanking them for their amazing service. That vendor can post your letter and picture on their website and get more business because of your props. If you've been married for a couple of months, take a walk down memory lane and think about your vendors. If one sticks out in your mind as *phenomenal*, tell them about it. It's not too late. They'll appreciate it.
You just got engaged and you can't stop looking at the ring on your hand. Your mind is reeling with thoughts about your wedding. Every person you meet asks the same question, "Have you picked your date?" "No, not yet," you mumble. You're feeling pressure from all sides and you just want to get it decided so you can move on.
Freeze. Take a breath. This decision means more than you think.
Believe it or not, what date you choose can determine how much stress you experience in your planning and how much money you spend as well...
Click on the article title to read entire article.
There are a myriad of decisions to make when a couple decides to marry.Aside from setting the date and determining your style and budget, one of the biggest decisions is deciding who your wedding vendors will be. I suggest using professionals in as many areas of wedding planning as possible!
My wedding was planned in just two short months.Due to time and budget constraints, we chose to cut costs where we could.My wonderful cousin Robin offered to stand in as photographer and I gratefully accepted her proposal.After all, she was a journalist by trade.What could go wrong?I had no worries as she shot endless photos, capturing family, friends and the festivities of the day.It was not until later that I found out that there was a problem with her equipment and the photos were unusable.Now, my wedding was still lovely, my cousin still wonderful but I have no professional photos of my wedding.Why? My cousin is not a professional photographer.
Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life and you want your guests comfortable, the emotion captured and the food delicious with fun music to bring them out of their chairs.The reason we hire professionals is for their expertise, their experience and for their vast knowledge of the industry and connection to other vendors that a lay person does not have. Enjoy your wedding day, let the professionals do what they do best.
Are you planning to get married on or near a holiday?There are a myriad of reasons why couples would want or need to get married at this time.Maybe it’s because you desperately want to have a theme wedding near the fourth of July or because you’ve always dreamt of saying your vows in that certain church~ only available on or near a holiday.Maybe your fiancé is soon to be deployed and you want to be married prior to departure…
Getting married on or near a holiday carries with it the likelihood that there will be a number of guests that will not be able to attend.Choose your wedding date with care. First, look into the schedules of your close friends and family members; inquire into their vacation times, school calendars, etc.Check where all of the holidays and special or religious observances fall on the calendar, etc. before you make your final determination.
Remember, you just may have to be flexible regarding your list of “must-haves” and choosing your wedding date.With time and preparation, it will come together!
I have a theory: When you keep the right attitude and you’re prepared, there’s hardly anything that will be a real “emergency” on your wedding day. True, you can’t plan for EVERYTHING but, despite the horror stories you hear, most weddings go off without a hitch.
Here are some tips to help you create an “Emergency-free” wedding:
First and foremost: attitude is everything! There are going to be small things that need to be tweaked and adjusted as you get ready for your day. There will be wrinkled dresses, tags that need to be cut off, missing nylons and other minor dilemmas that will appear. Relax and take everything in stride.
I once had a bride whose dress tore at the zipper, making it impossible for her to zip it up; she calmly got the sewing kit out, worked out the kinks, and 10 minutes later we were back in business. This event really could have been a crisis if she had lost her cool, but she stayed calm and worked the problem out like a champ.
IF an emergency comes up during your wedding day, breathe, relax and stay focused. There is a remedy to almost any situation, and it can be discovered much easier if you remain calm.
Secondly, I discussed this in another blog posting, but I can’t stress enough the inherent value of having plenty of time. IF an emergency comes up, it allows you to be able to find and complete a solution without delaying your day.
Another tip is to be sure to appoint the most level-headed bridesmaid to be in charge of last minute tasks. If something is missing, needs to be completed, or needs to be fixed, she will be in charge of making that happen without stressing you out.
In addition, if you don’t have a wedding coordinator, designate one family member to be the “go to” person for all of your family members’ questions and concerns. This will allow you the freedom to focus on your day.
Also, have a time line or agenda for your wedding day so that everyone knows where they need to be and when. Your wedding coordinator or photographer may have one readily available for you to use, so ask them for a copy to distribute to your bridal party and family.
Finally, be prepared! Pack an “emergency” kit, including:
Antacids Aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen Band-aids Bobby pins Bottled water Cotton balls and pads Crazy Glue Deodorant Double-stick tape Eye drops Feminine toiletries Lighter Lint roller Lotion Makeup remover Men’s black dress socks Mints Moist towelettes Mouthwash Nail file, emery board and clippers Nail polish — clear and one matching color Nail polish remover Nylons Paper towels Phone list with bridal party, immediate family and wedding vendors listed Power bars and other protein-packed snacks Q-tips Razor Safety pins and straight pins Scissors Sewing kit with matching thread for bridal party’s wardrobe Shoe polish, black Stain remover (Shout wipes or Tide pen) Static Guard Straws Tissue Toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss Tweezers
In all of my years in wedding photography, I’ve never seen a prepared bride have a problem that couldn’t be remedied. If one arises on your day, stay calm and rely on your bridal party, family and wedding vendors to help correct the problem.
You've dreamt about your wedding day since you were a little girl. The man of your dreams plans the most romantic evening...dinner...dancing...you end the evening with a late night stroll through your favorite park. The air is crisp and the stars are bright. As you're walking through the park, he stops...turns towards you...gently kisses you on the lips...and while looking deep into your eyes starts to bend on one knee. You start to get butterflies because you know what is about to come next. And then you hear those four sweet words...
"Will you marry me?"
Ahh the perfect engagement right? In the beginning you're excited...can't believe that it's happening...and after a few days reality starts to set it...you think to yourself..."I'm really getting married!" Now it's time to plan the perfect wedding but where do you begin? How do you go about selecting the perfect location? Find the vendors that match your personal style and budget? How do you fit in phone calls, vendor meetings, dress fittings, engagement parties, showers, tastings, and site visits while still working, your family responsibilities oh and let's not even think about trying to maintain an active social life all while trying to remain sane.
The first thing that I suggest is that you take a deep breath...and have a glass or bottle of your favorite drink. In other words calm down. Planning a wedding...excuse me YOUR wedding can seem like a overwhelming task but if you break it down into bit size pieces, planning it can be manageable if you take it one task at a time.
Starting the planning process...
First determine your wedding style. To get some insight on your particular style try answering the following questions:
1. When envisioning your wedding, do you see a celebration that is modern/contemporary or classic/traditional?
2. Do you imaging a part of your wedding (ceremony or reception) taking place outside?
3. You envision your wedding taking place in the spring, summer, fall or winter?
4. What would be your ideal number of guest at your wedding?
5. Your wedding colors should be:
deep and passionate
soft and subtle
natural and organic
contemporary and chic
romantic and bridal
unusual and fresh
6. Your ideal wedding meal would be:
buffet dinner
seated formal dinner
seated family-style
cocktail party
brunch
lunch
other
7. At your wedding you want your guests to feel - (fill in the blank)
8. If you had to describe your wedding in a sentence or two, it would be -
9. You don't want your wedding to be - (fill in the blank)
10. Other words that you might use to describe your wedding would be:
This exercise works best if you and your fiancé answer the questions independently and then come together and share your answers with each other. This starts the dialogue on how you both envision your wedding which should aid you when talking to potential vendors and making decisions on the types of products and services you will need in order to make your "dream" wedding a reality.
If you want to take this exercise one step further, then I would recommend that you also create an idea board. Take all of those bridal magazines that you went out a purchased right after he popped the questions, grab a pair of scissors and start to cutting! Cut out dresses that you like, cars that you think it would be cool to ride in and centerpieces that inspire you...cut out everything! Love a color of a dress in a magazine but hate the style? Cut it out too...just make a note to yourself on why you cut it out (for the color) so you can communicate this with those helping you plan your special day.
Determining your style is the first step in planning your wedding. So grab a sheet of paper...answer the questions...and look through your magazines with scissors in hand...and have fun!
Check back later when we look at step 2 in the planning process...creating the wedding budget!
I am really posing this question to you all. In working with couples over the past couple of years, it seems to me that more and more grooms are taking an interest in the details of the wedding whereas a few years ago the groom stayed out of everything except planning the honeymoon.
Then I ran across the above referenced news article on The Arizona Republic’s Web site and I began to wonder – are groom’s really more involved in the wedding planning or is this just an idea that is being written about in the media?
According to the U.S. Census, the median age for first-time marriages is 26.9 for men and 25.3 for women - up from 26.3 (men) and 24.1 (women) a decade ago. This article asserts that, "as the age goes up, so does the level of responsibility and, often, the personal investment in wedding planning".
I guess that makes sense. But I still wonder, are more grooms getting involved and, if so, is it because they want to or because the bride wants them to?
The article goes on to say that couples showers are on the rise and cites a Sears, Roebuck and Co. survey that says 82 percent of grooms get an equal say in the registry process.
I can't quote the entire article so please read it for more information and for some couples shower ideas.
I would like to know if your bridegroom is involved in the wedding planning process, and if so, how? What is he helping with? Are you having a couples shower?
7/27/2006 11:16:43 AM ~ Posted By Lisanne McDearman
When most people think about who enrolls in a wedding planning seminar, they envision a room full of aspiring professional wedding planners. On the contrary, the group is much more diverse than that. Brides, Mothers of the Bride, other wedding professionals (such as caterers and photographers) and college students are also in attendance....
Many couples discover that finding each other in this hectic world actually turns out to be easier than bringing the wedding of their dreams to life. The thought of it is simple, but the planning of it and dealing with the many details that seem to crop up out of nowhere can be daunting.
Before bad decisions and poor planning get you down, step back and make a plan for your wedding that will save the day.
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When most people think about who enrolls in a wedding planning seminar, they envision a room full of aspiring professional wedding planners. On the contrary, the group is much more diverse than that. Brides, Mothers of the Bride, other wedding professionals (such as caterers and photographers) and college students are also in attendance....
