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Sunday, July 31, 2011

Tip #5 for a Stress-Free Wedding. You Gotta Have Friends!

Who you choose to fulfill the role if maid or matron of honor, could have a big effect on how stressful your wedding planning might be.  Choose someone who will support you but be honest with you when they see a big roadblock or problem.  Choose someone who is open to ideas and brainstorming with you but won't plan their wedding through helping you plan your wedding.  Take some time to just be friends and not mention the wedding.  Above all, be kind!


Wishing you the greatest of days!


http://greatestofdays.com/EVENTS.html

Friday, July 29, 2011

Tip # 4 for a Trouble-Free Wedding. Space! The First Frontier!

The sooner you have a "guess-timate" of  the guest count established, the least likely it will be that you waste money on deposits on venues that won't be large enough or even a waste of space.  Your choices are limited finding a venue that will hold more than 200 people.  Most brides and grooms tell me they are expecting 150 people.  You might think you know how many people will show up until you talk to your parents and they start spreading the word!  

In some cultures, there really is no way to know how many people are going to show up, so let your caterer know about this.  So by all means have a lot of space in this situation.  There's nothing worse than having your event shut down due to exceeding capacity!

This is important!!

Speaking of capacity and those numbers that they put on the walls telling you how many people can be in that room, in industry terms, it means reception style.  Reception style is when EVERYONE is standing and there are no tables and chairs.  I know, it sounds like the opposite just like having to obtain a banquet permit which is actually for serving alcohol that you have bought.  The human form takes 2-3 times as much space seated as it does standing.  There's your first visual on that difference.  The human form also needs a minimum of 18 inches to navigate between items of furniture.  You'll be happier with much more than this at a reception.

Horror stories that I've actually seen and heard about:

1.  A bride sent out her invitations before she put down her deposit on the venue.  They fell in love with the venue and got stars in their eyes.  A wedding coordinator who is hired to do a full-planning would have never let that happen or stand back and think, "What?!"

2.  Don't just think that it will be okay!  Be realistic.  Everyone wants to enjoy the festivities and not be craning their necks to see what is going on.

3.  See if your venue has supporting beams that will block your guests' vision.  Those among other things cannot be changed!

4.  Please have all your guests in one reception room!   This is such a downer!  Your guests will feel like 2nd class citizens in a smaller room.  Again a Wedding Coordinator who would be in on the full-planning process from the start, would never suggest this.  

It is because of these and many other situations that many wedding coordinators, truth be told, dread some day-of-coodinations.  We're stuck with decisions that have already been made unadvisedly by a client and there's no turning back.  Wedding Coordinators in some respects have a crystal ball.  Most of the time we know what might be a problem.  It's not always a problem with a bride's decision.  On the other hand, there are some venues, plain and simple think they can just open their doors for weddings like any other event.  Weddings are different.  I'll say this again Weddings are different!  If a vendor or venue does not live, eat and breathe weddings, perhaps they should reconsider weather or not they should provide services for weddings.

One of my next posts will be about choosing a venue.  Warning!  It's going to be a long one!

Wishing you the greatest of days!!

Janis Flagg
Greatest of Days 
Event and Wedding Planning, Design and Officiating


Feel free to leave a comment so that I know what you are wanting to read.  I'm here to help, but I need to hear from you!  I  U!


Thursday, July 21, 2011

It's the Little Things That Add Up to Make Weddings Special!

Why be ordinary?  It's the little things that add up.  It's the little things that count.  It's the little things that make the difference.  We have all heard these statements regarding many aspects of life whether it be something good or bad.  I love to hear reactions from clients when I've done something special that they didn't expect.

I just had an idea today.  When I get that thought in my head that there has to be some way to make this more meaningful or special, I know I'm on to something.

I like to pack up a little bit of food from the reception while it is still fresh that can be refrigerated and then sent with a bride and groom as they leave the reception to go to their hotel along with a bottle of wine or favorite beverage.  It's fun to put things in a basket and personalize it.  Of course, I put in plates and silverware and a couple of glasses, napkins, but I started thinking about the plates.  Just plain plates seem too ordinary!  Then I thought, I'm going to get one plate that says Happy 25th Anniversary and Happy 50th Anniversary.  To me, it says "I wish for you a long and happy marriage!"  It's not much of an investment but if it becomes a memory, it's priceless.

If you need inspiration, maybe these few words will help you.

Unexpected.

Surprise!

You shouldn't have!

How did you know?

You remembered!

How time flies!

That's my favorite...

I remember that!!

That's our little secret!

I never would have thought of that!


Anyway, have a great time practicing your uniqueness!  Let's never just do what everyone expects!  It's not much different than a random act of kindness!  Try it and have fun!

Wishing you the greatest of days!


http://greatestofdays.com/Resources.html

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Tip #3 for a Trouble-Free Wedding.

When you are setting up your reception, prepare the table for the cake first.  You don't want anyone but a professional cake designer handling the cake.  Also, ask your cake designer to provide a box to put your cake topper in at your reception that you will save for your first anniversary.  Some craft stores have these boxes, too.

Wishing you the greatest of days!


Monday, July 18, 2011

Tip #2 for a Trouble-Free Wedding

Plan in a way that suits your personality.  Do you find it easier to learn by listening, seeing, touching, smelling?  Perhaps you are a person who has to see something to understand it.  Do you prefer organizing with lists or sorting everything by color?  You might find it easier to just create your own system of planning.



Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Tip #1 for a Trouble-Free Wedding

Tip #1

You and your fiance should each pick three things that you individually consider a priority for your wedding.  From there you should be able to narrow it down to 5 with your combined lists.  Focus spending your money and time on those areas.

Wishing you the greatest of days!


Greatest of Days Event and Wedding Planning and Design,