Reality TV Wedding Shows vs. Weddings in Reality!

Reality TV Wedding Shows vs. Weddings in Reality

I'll admit that I don't make a habit of watching the "Reality TV" wedding shows. Honestly, I find them to be stressful to watch.  It's similar to a scary movie as a little kid.  You're afraid when that monster might appear out of nowhere!  It's like...drama down everybody, please!  But it's TV so that's the way it will be. However, truth is stranger than fiction and sometimes reality is strangest of all. As a Wedding Planner we can only hope we don't have to experience too many of the things we see on TV.  That's not to say that we don't see our fair share of unbelievable moments or actions!

I hear this all the time from people I run into.  "Is being a Wedding Planner like it is on TV?"  "I suppose you have to deal with a lot of Bridezillas!"  "Is it like Jennifer Lopez in the movie?"  "Do you have that movie...  ....uh.... The Wedding Planner?"  "Do you wear a headset?"

Now and then, I'll admit to being drawn into watching the shows.  Sometimes I almost want to watch the show with my hands to my face and peeking through my fingers!  It's better if I'm alone when I'm watching unless someone doesn't mind me yelling, "What the heck?"  They might hear, "Well, of course!  What did you think?"  Maybe it's just a long drawn out "NO!"  That's about the time that my husband walks in and asks "Did something break?  "Who were you talking to?"  I'll respond with, "Oh, never mind, it's just....you wouldn't understand!"

Here's what I'm really thinking when I watch some of these shows depending on the drama meter for a particular episode.  Now you'll see why I don't make a habit of dropping everything to watch these shows!

Remember this is to people chosen to be on TV for effect!

Referring to the TV Bride:

~ Uh, oh!  You shouldn't have brought so many people to shop for the dress!

~ Wow!  This one has probably been a spoiled brat all of her life!

~ That's the dress!  I can tell!

~ Remember to think about your guests at your wedding!

Referring to the TV Bridal Party:

~ I thought you were her friend?

~ I wonder if they will still be friends after the wedding?

Referring to the TV Mother of the Bride:

~ I bet your mother never let you have any say in your wedding?

~ I can't believe you're taking this!

~ Be nice!!

~ What does your daughter want?

Referring to the TV Sister of the Bride:

~ It's not your wedding!

~ Hang in there.  She really loves you!

Referring to the TV Host:

~ Did you really think she would like that?  You know what you're doing and it will turn out!

~ I would love to design something like that, but what bride could afford all that?

~ I've said those exact same words!  Do I ever know how he/she feels!!

Referring to the TV Wedding Dress Consultant:

~ Who is the designer?

~ That's too much like the last one!

~ You're a miracle worker!

~ Good Luck!

Referring to the TV Cake Designer:

~ Well, that's interesting!

~ I want to learn how to do that!

~ Is this a kid's birthday party or a wedding?

TV show or not there's always a chance for drama, but one thing is certain...each wedding is different!  I've only had one wedding in 7 years that I ended up hating, well maybe 1-1/2.  Crude, rude and socially unacceptable are words that come to mind. If someone is rude or mean to vendors or me while working with me at an event, all ties are cut.

5 Reasons Why Brides Hire Wedding Planners

I will keep this short and sweet.  These are things I hear most often.

1.  Save money planning their wedding because of a Wedding Planner's relationships with vendors.
2.  Less stress planning because of a Wedding Planner's relationships with vendors.
3.  Don't have enough time to plan a wedding.
4.  Don't want to worry about a lot things on the wedding day.
5.  Mother of the bride wants to be able to enjoy the wedding day.

Recently I was talking to someone in a non-related profession and it was music to my ears what she said.  She said, "I thought that everyone knew that Wedding Planners could save brides money!"  I wanted to take her with me to every networking meeting, or wish that I could plaster that message on every billboard around!  Yes, I love saving brides money...absolutely love it.  I also like to shorten engagements by doing just that!  That alone is less stress.  It's not my goal to change wedding dates, if that makes sense.  I just have been able to make it possible for people to get married sooner!

Wishing you the greatest of days!


P. S.  If you would like to sign up to receive the Greatest of Days weekly E-zine you will receive a complimentary Wedding Vision Questionnaire.

What Happens When You Hire a Wedding Coordinator? Part 4.

Okay, you've got the dress and the venue and you should continue from there with bridesmaids dresses and bring in the guys so you can determine what style and colors of tuxedos or suits and so forth will go well with what the bridesmaids are wearing, etc.

Not every wedding is going to be planned in the same way as no two weddings are alike.  Okay, I have to inject my biased, and possibly unpopular opinion.  I personally hate checklists just for the sake of having a checklist.  I find it overwhelming to see 500 things to do.  I think they are useless until I have really gotten into my client's head.  I feel that a wedding should be planned only to the degree you need it to be.  Sometimes those checklists make you spend more money because they will give you a sense that "have" to do this or that!  I would say, let's make your own schedule, not a checklist.  Checklists do not a wedding make!  There are so many styles of planning that can be used.  You have to use what works for you!  Those checklists would lead you to think that you can't even plan a wedding in less than a year!  Give me three months and I will more than likely be able to have a wedding planned.  Not suggesting that I want to plan all of the summer's weddings in just the three months prior!  That's is scary!  My point is that I can surely shorten your engagement time by months!

From here on out it is the time for the "make it your day" fun stuff but it's also serious stuff!  Everything from "this day forward" is pretty much going to have your name written all over it and will make your day most memorable.  It's where you get to show your style as well as your love and respect for your guests.  This is when you are able to tell your story through words, pictures, music and objects.

At this point in time, I would say a Wedding Coordinator really pays off for you financially and for your peace of mind!  Your Coordinator is willing to go with you to all of your vendor appointments after searching for a variety that will match your budget, personality and style.  Your Coordinator by now has spent hours listening to what you want and you benefit from their thousands of hours of networking, marketing and education that they have invested in trying to learn as much as possible about each and every type of vendor you might be looking for.  This is something that other vendors for your wedding do not have to do to the same extent.  They will place their concentration on their own particular field and trends.  We have to know as much as possible about each type of vendor!  It's impossible to know everything, but we will match your vision with the right person for you!

Save the Dates and invitations are really your guests first clue as to what your wedding is going to be like.  I suggest that you incorporate your wedding colors into your invitations because often your guests will take that as guideline of what color of clothing they will want to wear to your wedding.  If you are planning on having an outdoor wedding be sure you include something that clues them in and helps them prepare for the elements.  If you are registered somewhere for gifts, do not include those cards in your invitations.  There are more subtle and discreet ways of giving them this information.  It's much more palatable in writing.

Whether its the photography style you like, the food and beverage that you think you and your guests will like, you are beginning to make your own unique wedding.  You can say it with flowers, music, favors, programs, your colors, your theme, decorations, guest book (not always a book), your cake (or other dessert), down to your mode of transportation to and from your wedding.  There are hundreds of choices to be made.  If you are guided through them gently with a Wedding Coordinator, it won't be nearly as overwhelming or costly!  Yes through getting you in touch with quality vendors who have good prices or offer discounts unavailable except through a planner, you will save a lot of money!

In summary, you're setting the tone for your wedding and beginning to plan your wedding in a way that feels most comfortable for you!

Wishing you the greatest of days!

Janis Flagg

Greatest of Days

Event and Wedding Planning and Design

27111 167th Pl. SE, Suite 105-242

Covington, WA   98042

206-604-1908

http://greatestofdays.com/

www.greatestofdaysweddingsandevents.blogspot.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkKIjSu9dbA

Featured in: Not My Mother's Wedding, blog for Mothers of the Bride

Founder of South King County Event and Wedding Vendors

The 7th largest Wedding Vendors networking group in the world through Meetup.com.