If you're a mom and worried that you don't know how to get involved in your daughter's (or son's) wedding tune into this week's episode of From "I Will" to "I Do" where we're going to talk about tasks that are perfect for mom, how to look fabulous, and above all avoid wedding-planning stress.
This week we're talking to Anja Winikka of the knot, Mark Ingram of New York City's Mark Ingram Atelier and Xochitl Gonzalex, a wedding and event designer and planner with Aab Creates.
Showing posts with label wedding planner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wedding planner. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 05, 2014
Thursday, January 09, 2014
Just Engaged!
Find out what the first tasks to complete on your wedding checklist should be in this week's episode of From "I Will" to "I Do" with our special guests: Jess Levin of Carats & Cake, Hope Weis of Hope Weis Consulting, Terry Hall from Kleinfeld (because we know shopping for your dress is at the top of the list!) and Emily Reifel from CPS Events at The Plaza. Watch the show below or over at Google+:
Monday, January 09, 2012
How Do We Know If We Need a Wedding Planner?
A wedding planner can help you find your vendors, manage all the logistics on the big day, take care of your wedding to-dos (there are over 150 of them) and in many cases act as your BFF when your mom, fiance and friends stop replying to your emails.
Some experts will suggest that you hire a wedding planner early in the process but you can book someone at any time. You may start planning on your own and then decide a few months in that you need some help or decide the month before that you need help the last few weeks and on the day of. Just know that great planners book up fast and not everyone offers day-of services.
Talk to friends who have worked with a wedding planner about their experience and schedule appointments with a few planners to learn more about their services, prices and how they can help you.
Make sure to check references and view portfolios. Don’t hire someone who you don’t feel comfortable with and make sure you can afford their services. Read the contract carefully so you understand what they will and won’t do.
If a deal seems to good to be true, such as a really low price, it may be someone with limited experience. That doesn’t mean he or she can’t do the job, but double check their references and try to learn as much as you can about their background/experience before signing a contract.
Some experts will suggest that you hire a wedding planner early in the process but you can book someone at any time. You may start planning on your own and then decide a few months in that you need some help or decide the month before that you need help the last few weeks and on the day of. Just know that great planners book up fast and not everyone offers day-of services.
Talk to friends who have worked with a wedding planner about their experience and schedule appointments with a few planners to learn more about their services, prices and how they can help you.
Make sure to check references and view portfolios. Don’t hire someone who you don’t feel comfortable with and make sure you can afford their services. Read the contract carefully so you understand what they will and won’t do.
If a deal seems to good to be true, such as a really low price, it may be someone with limited experience. That doesn’t mean he or she can’t do the job, but double check their references and try to learn as much as you can about their background/experience before signing a contract.
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
Do I Really Need to Buy a Wedding Organizer?
No, but it’s important to keep all of your wedding information and inspiration in one place and a wedding organizer will help you do that, as well as help you plan along the way with planning advice and checklists. If you don't buy one you can use a folder and notebook that you keep your vendor notes, ideas and contracts in.
There are a variety of wedding organizers and each one has pros and cons but here are a few things you should look for in one:
Three-Ring Binder: It’s important that you can easily add and remove information and a bound book will not allow you to do that.
Folders & Pockets: Make sure they will fit 8.5” x 11” paper since most notes you’ll be taking and contracts will be printed on that size.
Checklists & Timelines: It’ll be helpful to you to have planning guides to keep track of all the wedding to-dos. You can print them from websites and add them but if they’re already there it’s one less thing for you to do.
Sturdiness: Buy an organizer that will be able to carry all the paper, ribbon, invite samples and other items you want to hold on to. You want a binder that’s strong and not made of paper, plastic or other weak material that may warp or break with the weight.
I recommend The Wedding Organizer by russell + hazel that I co-authored, but if you visit your local book store you can see a sample of other organizers by Martha Stewart Weddings, Emily Post, Mindy Weiss (available Jan 15th) and theknot.
There are a variety of wedding organizers and each one has pros and cons but here are a few things you should look for in one:
Three-Ring Binder: It’s important that you can easily add and remove information and a bound book will not allow you to do that.
Folders & Pockets: Make sure they will fit 8.5” x 11” paper since most notes you’ll be taking and contracts will be printed on that size.
Checklists & Timelines: It’ll be helpful to you to have planning guides to keep track of all the wedding to-dos. You can print them from websites and add them but if they’re already there it’s one less thing for you to do.
Sturdiness: Buy an organizer that will be able to carry all the paper, ribbon, invite samples and other items you want to hold on to. You want a binder that’s strong and not made of paper, plastic or other weak material that may warp or break with the weight.
I recommend The Wedding Organizer by russell + hazel that I co-authored, but if you visit your local book store you can see a sample of other organizers by Martha Stewart Weddings, Emily Post, Mindy Weiss (available Jan 15th) and theknot.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
When There's a Month to Go Get Some Help
Today is March 29th, one month to go till Prince William and Kate Middleton tie the knot! And like most brides I'm sure Ms. Middleton has a lot on her wedding planning to-do list.
In the final weeks to your wedding you'll want to make sure your RSVPs are all in so you can finalize your seating chart and give your caterer a headcount, confirm that all your bridesmaids have their bridesmaid dresses and that they're being altered, attend your bachelorette party and finalize last minute details such as wedding program, favors and tosses.
I know being a princess bride means that you have a whole staff of people planning the wedding with you, but every bride should have a team of people helping her in the final weeks.
Your mom, his and your bridesmaids can all be your support staff -- making favors with you, binding programs, helping with confirming last-minute details with vendors. Don't be afraid to ask people to help you. I'm sure they offered already!
But if you want to hire a professional, remember that a day-of wedding planner actually is hired a few weeks or a month before the wedding. They'll assist with the final logistics and details. You can't expect them to show up the morning of your wedding and know what to do, right? So if you are thinking of hiring someone start interviewing potential day-of planners about three months before the wedding so they have enough time to help you in the final stretch.
In the final weeks to your wedding you'll want to make sure your RSVPs are all in so you can finalize your seating chart and give your caterer a headcount, confirm that all your bridesmaids have their bridesmaid dresses and that they're being altered, attend your bachelorette party and finalize last minute details such as wedding program, favors and tosses.
I know being a princess bride means that you have a whole staff of people planning the wedding with you, but every bride should have a team of people helping her in the final weeks.
Your mom, his and your bridesmaids can all be your support staff -- making favors with you, binding programs, helping with confirming last-minute details with vendors. Don't be afraid to ask people to help you. I'm sure they offered already!
But if you want to hire a professional, remember that a day-of wedding planner actually is hired a few weeks or a month before the wedding. They'll assist with the final logistics and details. You can't expect them to show up the morning of your wedding and know what to do, right? So if you are thinking of hiring someone start interviewing potential day-of planners about three months before the wedding so they have enough time to help you in the final stretch.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Being a Wedding Planner Is NOT Like Being the Bride
I'm sorry, but that's the truth. I get emails and meet people all the time who say they want to be wedding planners. Most of the people who have this "epiphany" are brides-to-be or recent brides who are having/had SO much fun planning their wedding that they want to change careers.
What I tell them is that being a wedding planner is not like being a bride. And then I tell them not to quit their day job.
As the bride you make all the decisions and you get all the attention. As the wedding planner you are answering to a client's wishes and dealing with her emotional roller coaster that is her engagement and wedding and in some instances, her mother's issues too.
When you're the wedding planner you don't get to plan the wedding you want or would have planned if you could do it again. You have to plan the wedding your client, the bride wants, even if you don't love her color scheme and ideas.
As the wedding planner you are trying to make a living. You have to charge people money and $1000 or $2000 a wedding isn't going to pay the bills. Trust me, no wedding planner, no matter how successful is booked EVERY weekend of the year.
As the wedding planner you're on call all the time and working weekends. Are you prepared to give up your weekends?
If you truly think that being a wedding planner is your calling in life than here's my advice:
1. Do NOT quit your day job.
2. See if there's a wedding or event planner in your area who is looking for interns or assistants who you can work with on weekends or evenings.
3. Be prepared to work for little money in the beginning because you have no experience and you have to pay your dues. Planning your own wedding doesn't count as wedding planning experience.
4. Look into taking event planning classes. Some colleges offer non-credit event marketing/planning courses or a continuing education program might have a focus on event planning. Or sometimes organizations like the Learning Annex or the Association of Bridal Consultants will hold seminars on the topic.
5. Do your research. Find out how many wedding planners are in your area and talk to other wedding vendors about what services may be lacking. Maybe you don't want to be a full-service planner. Maybe you want to focus on day-of, which is never only a day. More on that to come.
What I tell them is that being a wedding planner is not like being a bride. And then I tell them not to quit their day job.
As the bride you make all the decisions and you get all the attention. As the wedding planner you are answering to a client's wishes and dealing with her emotional roller coaster that is her engagement and wedding and in some instances, her mother's issues too.
When you're the wedding planner you don't get to plan the wedding you want or would have planned if you could do it again. You have to plan the wedding your client, the bride wants, even if you don't love her color scheme and ideas.
As the wedding planner you are trying to make a living. You have to charge people money and $1000 or $2000 a wedding isn't going to pay the bills. Trust me, no wedding planner, no matter how successful is booked EVERY weekend of the year.
As the wedding planner you're on call all the time and working weekends. Are you prepared to give up your weekends?
If you truly think that being a wedding planner is your calling in life than here's my advice:
1. Do NOT quit your day job.
2. See if there's a wedding or event planner in your area who is looking for interns or assistants who you can work with on weekends or evenings.
3. Be prepared to work for little money in the beginning because you have no experience and you have to pay your dues. Planning your own wedding doesn't count as wedding planning experience.
4. Look into taking event planning classes. Some colleges offer non-credit event marketing/planning courses or a continuing education program might have a focus on event planning. Or sometimes organizations like the Learning Annex or the Association of Bridal Consultants will hold seminars on the topic.
5. Do your research. Find out how many wedding planners are in your area and talk to other wedding vendors about what services may be lacking. Maybe you don't want to be a full-service planner. Maybe you want to focus on day-of, which is never only a day. More on that to come.
Friday, February 05, 2010
Learn How to Be a Wedding Planner from Bailey & Blum
I get emails all the time from people who want to be wedding planners. I try to give them the best advice I can but I usually suggest that they reach out to wedding planners in their area who they can possibly work for and if a job isn't available they can ask for an informational interview, which will allow them to learn more about the job.
If you're thinking of becoming a wedding planner, or are one and looking to grow your business, here's my advice to you: Consider taking the Bailey & Blum weekend mentoring program in New York City next month. I had breakfast with Marcy earlier this week and she was telling me all about it. It sounds amazing!
A select group of wedding and event planners will get a behind the scenes look at what Preston Bailey and Marcy Blum (both celebrity wedding professionals, as I'm sure you know) do to create an amazing event. The interactive workshop will be held at Preston Bailey's studio and includes a networking event with some of the event industry's top talent.
To learn more and to register visit BaileyandBlum.com. And by the way, the fee to attend is $5,000 but if you're serious about wedding and event planning it's well worth it.
If you're thinking of becoming a wedding planner, or are one and looking to grow your business, here's my advice to you: Consider taking the Bailey & Blum weekend mentoring program in New York City next month. I had breakfast with Marcy earlier this week and she was telling me all about it. It sounds amazing!
A select group of wedding and event planners will get a behind the scenes look at what Preston Bailey and Marcy Blum (both celebrity wedding professionals, as I'm sure you know) do to create an amazing event. The interactive workshop will be held at Preston Bailey's studio and includes a networking event with some of the event industry's top talent.
To learn more and to register visit BaileyandBlum.com. And by the way, the fee to attend is $5,000 but if you're serious about wedding and event planning it's well worth it.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Now Open: The Bridal Bar Atlanta
Attention Atlanta-area brides: Hollywood's one-stop wedding resource, The Bridal Bar, is headed your way!
With an amazing eye for detail and a long list of A-list wedding vendors, Rebecca Hansmann and Harmony Walton have created a one-stop shop for brides and grooms getting hitched in or around Atlanta.
The Bridal Bar is a complimentary service that allows couples to browse wedding vendor products and services, which have been pre-screened and edited to ensure a diverse group of the most talented vendors in the area.
Brides and their guests (mom, bridesmaids, even the groom) are invited to lounge on a couch, sip champagne, view videos, flip through albums, taste cakes and ask The Bridal Bar team your specific planning questions.
When you visit, ask about their new VIB³ Program: The Pink Card, which offers couples discounts, special offers and freebies at wedding venues and vendors, including thank you cards with custom invitation designers, complimentary cake toppers and complimentary prints and album credits.
You can also visit the Bridal Bar Atlanta Blog to learn about local wedding products and services. And if you're not getting married in or near Atlanta, you should check out the blog for ideas that are sure to inspire you!
Photo Credit: David Murray Weddings
Friday, March 02, 2007
Pocket Book
Smythson of Bond Street makes the most fabulous leather notebooks, and each book has a subject. There's one for shopping, restaurants and of course, weddings.
The Wedding Planner book has several tabs so you can keep track of invitations, the dress, service, reception, guests and gifts, flowers and more, going away and honeymoon.
At $75 it is quite an expensive gift you can give yourself, or someone can get you, but for a little bit more you can have it personalized with your name and or wedding date. Either way it makes a great wedding keepsake, and ensures that you'll always have your wedding ideas at your fingertips.
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