What Every Entrepreneur Could Learn from a Bride

What every entrepreneur could learn from a bride as a client could possibly change your perspective on how to serve any client.

I wish that every entrepreneur no matter what field of work they are in, could experience the camaraderie that we find in the wedding industry.  I honestly thought it would be dog-eat-dog when I started my business! It has been just the opposite! 

Ninety-nine percent of the time I see wedding vendors eager to help each other.  Everyone wants to find the perfect match for their client's personality, style and budget.  Wedding professionals work extremely hard working very long hours all week, and are often away from their families for weekend upon weekend.  Most people don’t know how many hours go into each aspect of helping a client with their wedding.

Here are some things that wedding professionals have to consider and I’m wondering if other entrepreneurs would see a difference in how they serve clients if they had to examine their services in the same light.

Customer's Memory of Their Experience.

Wedding professionals are creating a day that their clients will remember for the rest of their lives..for better or for worse!  

Don't Make Assumptions on What Your Client "Should" Know.

Generally a wedding is something that clients have never planned before nor have they experienced anything that will change their lives so drastically. Many times they have no idea where to start and can’t visualize or begin to express what they want.  You have to help them find their own words.  

You Only Have One Shot!

There are no re-do’s.  That wedding day is the wedding day.  

What Has  Possibly Influenced a Client's Perception about What You Do?

Wedding professionals deal with the whole family, on both sides.  We learn the dynamics of both families and often see what has helped shape our clients into who they are.  It gives us an understanding or a feeling of compassion for our clients and their behavior.

Emotions  Expressed Are Not Always Linked to What a Client is Really Wanting to Express.

Brides, grooms, the wedding party, family, friends all can experience a wide variety of emotions.  It can even be very much like grieving.  Fear of the unknown such as a mother wondering about whether she is “losing” her daughter/son or even a best friend fearing that their friendship will never be the same or might end at some point.  Seldom do the emotions get expressed in the right manner, to the right extent or at the right time.  They are just what they are!  We have to prepare our clients for what might happen.

You Can't Please Everyone All the Time!  Expect Monday Morning Quarterbacks.

There’s a time period that is kind of a let down after so much has been focused on the wedding.  This is when wedding professionals are more likely to be “Yelped” whether it is fair or not.  You could say, “The honeymoon is over!”

Customer Loyalty/Referrals.  How Sweet It Is!

Happily ever after for wedding professionals is when we get to help yet one more client create this once-in-a-lifetime event.  Each wedding is different and it feels like we are gaining another friend.  You really do get emotionally involved and always wonder how they are doing.

Greatest of Days feels that planning a wedding shouldn’t feel like a part time job to a bride who is probably already working hard. A bride and groom might have college bills to pay off, have little vacation time accrued, and certainly don’t have time to research for the best prices, hidden costs, or find the venue or vendor that will be the best match for their personality, style and budget.  Time is money!  Especially if a bride or groom have a business to run and a wedding to plan! That gives overwhelm a new meaning!

After being asked if I planned events for a living, it made sense to try doing what I love to do which is to plan and design events. I'm all about inexpensive creativity to make something look better, add meaning or humor to relax a client.

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!


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Helping Brides Plan Weddings Without Stress.: Your Venue Voyage

Helping Brides Plan Weddings Without Stress.: Your Venue Voyage: When searching for a venue for your wedding and/or wedding reception, the better prepared you are the smoother everything will go on your we...

Your Venue Voyage

When searching for a venue for your wedding and/or wedding reception, the better prepared you are the smoother everything will go on your wedding day.  You don't want to receive any unexpected "You can't do that's" in the middle of decorating, or realizing that you have more guests than what the fire department has deemed to be safe.  The list goes on from there.

Here is a general outline of what you should know to ask when you look for a venue. I know I'll forget a few, but these are the ones that come right off the top of my head.  One key thing to remember that is in "venue speak" provide does not always mean something automatically comes with rental package.  It may mean that it can be acquired for you usually with an additional rental fee.  

Here is your list of questions!

1. Who is the contact person that I will need to speak to the most.
2. Who is the backup person I would speak to in case that person isn't available?
3. What are your business hours?
4. Do you have 2 phone numbers (landline & cell) that I can call if I have a question?
5. When do you not want me to call?
6. What is you Fax number?
7. What is your mailing address?  (Is it different than your street address?)
8. Is your facility handicapped accessible?
9. Do you have an elevator to get to the reception?
10. What is included in the price of the rental?
11. Is AV equipment and or sound system available?  If so how much does it cost?  Is it maintained properly?
12. Do you know of any other community events taking place on the day of our wedding?
13. Do you know of any road construction that might be happening around the time of the year we want to have our wedding?
14. Are there any competing noises such as planes, trains, sporting events, or concerts?
15. What if you rent some of your space out to a group that might not like being near a wedding reception?
16. If I get a professional Wedding Coordinator do you give them discounts that they can pass on to me?
17. Rental of Venue:
1. How do you determine the cost of the room fee?
1. Do I need a minimum amount of food ordered?
2. If I meet the minimums, can I get the room for free?
2. Rehearsal:  Does that cost extra?
1. What day do you usually schedule rehearsals?
2. How much time do you allow for a rehearsal?
18. Catering:
1. Do you allow outside caterers?
2. What if I want to bring in my own cultural cuisine?
3. We have our own restaurant, does that make a difference?
4. Is gratuity included in the price?
5. What about feeding my vendors?  What are my options?
6. Do you make cakes or a can you do a dessert bar?
7. Does a dessert bar cost extra?
8. Will you cut the cake?
9. Do you provide the knife and server?
10. Will there be plates there when we cut the cake?  Can we bring our own?
11. Do you have a container that we can put our cake top in?
1. Bartenders:
1. Can I have an open bar?
2. Can I have a closed bar?
3. Can I bring in my own alcohol?
4. What types of alcohol can I bring?
5. Do you have and how much is the corkage fee?
6. What will you do if someone appears to have too much to drink?
7. What about event insurance?  Do I need that?
2. Tables
1. How many and what sizes do you have?
2. Do you have special tables for the gifts, guest book, DJ and other vendors?
3. Will the guest book table and gift table be outside of the room?
3. Tablecloths and Napkins
1. What color?  
2. What size?
3. Black, white or tan only?
4. What if I want another color you don't have?
5. Do you have napkin rings?  Colors, costs, etc.
4. Do you have all of the glassware that we will need?
1. Water glasses
2. Coffee cups
3. Toasting glasses
4. Do any of these have to be rented?
5. Do you provide beverage napkins?
5. Flatware and China/Dishware
1. What does it look like?
2. What if I would rather have another pattern?
3. Can I bring in my own dessert plates?
6. Do you have a dance floor?
1. How big is it?
2. Does it cost extra?
3. Can the DJ be close to it?
7. What can I do for decorating?
1. Table Decorations:
1. Open-flame?
2. Votives?
3. Enclosed flame?
4. Floating Candles?
5. Party-Lite Candles?  Any particular type?
6. Battery operated only?
7. Can I have confetti or glitter?
8. Do you have any other limitations on table decorations?
2. Walls
1. Can I use:
1. Tacks, 
2. Tape, 
3. Nails, 
4. Putty, 
5. Quake wax, 
6. Glue,
7. Staples 
8. Magnets?
3. Ceilings
1. What can I hang up?
2. Am I allowed to do anything on a ladder?
3. Will you decorate for me?
4. If so, how much will that cost and how soon would it be done?
5. Can we hang anything from the chandeliers? 
6. Can we drape anything across the room?
1. Do you have hooks already set into the walls for this?
2. If so, what type of fabric is allowed?
4. Floors
1. Can I use a runner?
2. How will you let me attach it to the floor?
3. Can I tape our monogram (removable) to the floor?
4. What else should I know?
5. Balloons
1. Are they allowed?
2. What types?
3. What if some get lost up to the ceiling?
4. Can I have an arch if you won't let me have other arrangements?
6. Chairs
1. How many come will fit into the room for the size of the tables that you have?
2. How much do extra chairs cost?
3. Can I rent chairs that I like better?
4. Do you have chair covers that fit them?
5. Do you have chair sashes?
7. Signage:
1. Will there be signs outside?
2. Will there be signage and directions inside?
3. Can I make my own signs?
4. If so, are there any restrictions
8. Parking:
1. Do you only have street parking?
2. Is there a fee for parking?
3. Do you have handicapped accessible parking?--(some don't)
4. Do you have access to a parking lot close by?
5. Do you offer valet parking?
1. Music:
1. When is the cutoff time for the music?
2. How soon can a DJ set up?
3. Can we bring in our own music and just use an iPod?  I have to insert an Eeeks! here.
2. What is the amount of the damage deposit?
1. When is it due?
2. Will you do a walkthrough with someone to make sure we get our deposit back?
3. How soon would we get a damage deposit back?
4. Do you just keep a credit card on file and then charge it in case there is damage?

I hope that these help you or give you some insight on what you can expect.  Again I know that I've probably missed some points, but this will get you ahead of the game.  Assumptions are made on both sides that can cause problems.  Those being the venue and also the client.  Don't be afraid to ask questions.  They love it when you know what to ask.  In this situation when I've been hired as a Wedding Coordinator, I've found that the client loves it when they don't have to ask the questions and just have their Coordinator ask the questions.  Chances are a Coordinator knows a lot about many different venues as far as what they allow and how any particular venue operates.

Wishing you the greatest of days!

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Weddings Equal Eight, Yes Eight Reunions in One

Sorry to take the romance away for a minute from the mental visual of a wedding but only for a minute.  If you think about it, a wedding is much like planning 8 reunions all at once.    In some families it is more complicated than this but here is a general line up!  


Bride's immediate family
Bride's mother's family
Bride's father's family
Groom's immediate family
Groom's mother's family
Groom's father's family
Bride's "Class Reunion" and Groom's "Class Reunion" (friends from school and work)


Ready for one more?  Like it or not?  All of these divisions seem to find other people to invite!


Here are the caveats!  Everything is boosted to a level of higher expectations and a lot more emotions are involved.  Rightfully so!  Beginning from invitations to the send off at the reception, everything is on a grander scale.  Why wouldn't it be?  When you realize that all of the people who have been most important in your lives or would have your back, even though you've only met them a couple times in your life, are all going to be together for that very special day? 


With families and friends spread out so far, even across the globe, you really want to be able to enjoy your time with your guests and to give them a day to remember.  They are not only celebrating your new life together, but they are more than likely having their hearts warmed by seeing friends and relatives for the first time in years.  Your wedding reception could be the first occasion where the blending of both of your families really begin.  That is why I think that having a Wedding Coordinator is really one of the smartest things and kindest gifts you can give to your guests for your wedding.  You shouldn't be working or worrying on your wedding day!  I actually think that a very nice engagement or shower gift to include as part of your "wedding registry" items is the opportunity for people to contribute to a Wedding Planning Fund and really feeling invested in your wedding.  Imagine the feeling they would have knowing that they helped you to put on the wedding of your dreams or you were able to have elements you wouldn't have been able to afford otherwise. 


Wishing you the greatest of days!


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Autumn Wedding Show - Wedding Forums @BridalTweet

Autumn Wedding Show - Wedding Forums @BridalTweet

Free admission and free parking! October 1 & 2, 2011

Saturday 10-5, Sunday 11-3

Weddings, Dog Gone It!

First I have to say that I love dogs and can't imagine living without them.  My husband and I have pampered them for years!  Everything from a Yorkie-Poo to an Old English Sheepdog and many mutts in between including one that was considered "Most Deserving of a Double-Take" on a local TV show. We loved that dog, and he goes down as my favorite of all time!

So why would I bring up dogs on a wedding blog?  They can be a great part of the ceremony if it is allowed and planned for.  What makes me want to howl is something I've seen a lot of this past summer.  Guests are bringing their dogs to weddings!  Even if it is at an outdoor venue, I think it is inconsiderate to not see if animals are allowed on the venue property.  If there is one day that you should be considerate of everyone else, it is a wedding day!

Here are some things to consider.

First of all, is the weather going to be cool enough to leave a dog in the car?  Not just what you consider cool enough, but what a veterinarian would recommend.  Cars are not dog houses!

Are other people who attend the wedding allergic to dogs?

What are you going to do when it comes to going through the buffet line or sitting at a table when it's time for everyone to get their food?

What if there are little kids at the wedding who are afraid of dogs?

How pleasant do you think it will be for guests to see you walking around with that other variety of a doggie bag?

Appetite lost yet?  I kind of hope so!  It is the reality when you bring a dog to a wedding as a guest.  A bride and groom should not have to include in their invitation, "No dogs, Please!"

One piece of interesting information for brides and grooms! There are dog sitters who will actually come to your wedding and arrange to pick up your dog right after the ceremony if you want your dog to be a part of your ceremony.  Of course, you will have some get acquainted sessions beforehand.  There are places that will make your dog feel like he/she has been on an splendid vacation after the wedding just as I hope you will have a terrific honeymoon!

Wishing you the greatest of days!


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7 Tips to a Happy and Yes, Uneventful Wedding Day!

1.  Have a wedding rehearsal.  It's also nice if everyone who is going to be in the wedding party will be there.  I'd recommend it happen the day before the wedding and not more than 2 days before the wedding.

2.  Don't booze it up before your wedding.  People have been getting married for ages and everyone thinks that people pass out during the ceremony because of nervousness. More often than not it's from a poor judgement call made regarding alcohol consumption before the wedding the night before or the day of the wedding!  I find that many couples really don't want alcohol at their wedding and sometimes there is alcohol at a wedding because family members or friends pressure them into it.  My response would be, "It is your wedding and if someone can't handle a few hours without alcohol, they have bigger problems than you can take care of.  Create your day the way you want it.  Consider toasting with sparkling cider for everyone as an alternative and everyone will actually remember your wedding the next day!  You can consider finding a venue that won't allow alcohol and that will take some of the pressure off of you.

3.  Include a map in with your wedding invitation and make directional signs guiding your guests to your wedding.  So often weddings start late because of late arrivals and we hear this "wait for this person or that person".

4.  Keep hot food hot and cold food cold.  You don't want to be blamed for everyone getting sick.  Leave the food and cake up to the professionals to help eliminate this potential problem.  For instance, I heard of bride who's guests all got very ill and it was traced back to the cake.  The bakery knew it had nothing to do with them.  The mistake was that the bride didn't want to pay anyone to put flowers on the cake.  The guests found out the hard way that you can't just stick any flower into a cake!  Some flowers are toxic and at best should only be inserted into the cake with floral tubes to avoid contact with the cake.  Don't risk it!

5.  Know the venue rules well.  You're probably safe if you just make it a policy to leave it in better condition that you found it!  Have someone else go with you to visit the venue that you trust will be your eyes on the wedding day looking out for your interest and the venue's interest.  Don't be afraid to use signs that can be put in picture frames to set on a counter, or on a table where everyone will see the rules.  The venue should do this, but often they don't!

6.  Plan ahead and anticipate everything you will need for your wedding.  It's very frustrating to find that something crucial has not been purchased.  Listen to suggestions and act on them as soon as possible to avoid any last minute rushes.

7.  Handle those chronically late people differently (and gently).  Tell them you need them 30 minutes to an hour earlier than you tell your other guests!  You know better than anyone who these people are.  If they do show up early, that's okay.

Wishing you the greatest of days!


Greatest of Days 
Event/Wedding Planning
Decor Design and Officiating




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Why Do Wedding Vendors Offer Exclusive Discounts to Wedding Coordinators?

Vendors tell me that they offer discounts to professional coordinators for a number of reasons. When there is a Wedding Coordinator, there will be fewer phone calls to their businesses, they have one person to coordinate with instead of trying to reach a busy bride, or deal with multiple friends and family members.  They know that someone is going to be present for deliveries at a time that is convenient for them and is going to keep a protective eye on their equipment.

At the wedding itself, vendors only have to concentrate on what they were hired to do.  So many times a DJ or a photographer end up adding to their duties things that a coordinator would do but without a picture of the event as it has developed over a longer period of time.  Coordinators can communicate with the vendors to help keep things on a schedule or informing them of changes that are going to have to be made due to key people arriving late and mishaps that are just going to happen because life still happens even if it is a wedding day.  A Wedding Coordinator is there to keep all of them informed of anything that might effect the timeline which has been developed with all of the vendors in mind.  I hear from vendors all the time that their job is made so much easier when a Wedding Coordinator is present.

I don't only work with vendors that give discounts, because many vendors have a great product or talent as well as great pricing.  I enjoy being able to pass on discounts to clients from vendors because it can sometimes make the difference in them getting the wedding they've dreamed of as compared to one they feel they have had to settle for. Clients consistently say that they were reluctant to hire a Wedding Coordinator, but later say hiring a coordinator was one of the best decisions they made.

Wishing you the greatest of days!

Greatest of Days Event and Wedding Planning

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!


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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

http://greatestofdays.com/services.html

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!

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

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!

http://greatestofdays.com/services.html

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.

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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,

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

Founder of South King County Event and Wedding Vendors

What Every Entrepreneur Could Learn from a Wedding Professional! - Marketing & Sales

What Every Entrepreneur Could Learn from a Wedding Professional! - Marketing & Sales

DIY Weddings. Everybody's Cooking but Not a Caterer?

This is an introduction at the beginning of each topic in this series.  Look below for the new entry in this series.  We all want to save money whenever we can, but if we end up paying more in the long run or creating a bad experience, what are we really saving?  Everything boils down to what you don't know can hurt you.  Here are just a few things you should know about various aspects of your wedding if you don't use professionals.  This is just the tip of the iceberg!  If you hear yourself say any of these statements, you might want to really stop and take the time to consider the costs in time and money.  Stop and be honest with yourself first to make sure that you aren’t making a decision you will regret weeks or years later.  

“I can do that!”  

“I have a friend who does that!”  

“That looks easy enough to do!”  

“I don’t think that will matter”. 

“I don’t have the money for that”.

“I think that _____ would enjoy doing that!”


Unlike in the past when you weren't expected to feed your guests anything more than cake and beverages, it's common place to be expected to feed your guests a meal in some style.  Here is just a little Catering 101.  The three main styles of serving a meal at a reception are what the industry refers to as plated, family style and buffet. Simply put, the most expensive is a plated meal.  A plated meal is when the food is going to be served by staff to your table.  Family style is when the food is going to be on each table in adequately-sized serving containers to be passed around as you would at the family dinner table.  The last and most common is a buffet style where everyone goes through a line and selects from a choice of food that you and your caterer have determined to be a good combination.


For DIY weddings, your most common option is where a select group of friends to family members cook food to provide in a buffet line.  The second option is to have a potluck.


This post, in a series of DIY wedding posts, is focused on what you might need to know before deciding on having food provided by someone other than a caterer, if your venue is one that allows outside catering.  In this case, outside does not me outdoors!!  Outside means that they allow someone else to come in to provide food other than their own catering facilities, or caterers from a preferred vendor list of people they have probably worked with many times.


Here is a list of things to consider that could pose a greater risk if you are not using a caterer and having a DIY reception.




1.  Food-borne illness is probably the biggest concern.  You've undoubtedly heard the declaration of "Keep Hot Food Hot and Cold Food Cold".  Nothing could be more important.  A caterer is equipped to do that.


2.  Do you know if your guests who are bringing food prepare food in a safe and sanitary way?  
Beware of having Aunt Mary bringing food is everyone complains of getting sick after eating at her house!


3.  Do you know how much food you should prepare without their being a lot of wasted food.  This added cost could have been applied to hiring a caterer and would be one less worry for you.


4.  Back to keeping things hot or cold as necessary.  Bluntly put, let's talk leftovers.  


5.  Do you have containers to give to guests?  


6.  Do you know how long their trip is before they get home? 


7.  Is there an adequate way to refrigerate food where your reception is taking place?  


8.  Do you know how long food can be set out over Sternos?  


9.  Do you have an adequate way to keep the food chilled?  


10.  Do you know how long it takes a guest to arrive to your wedding and how long something might have sat on their counter, in their car and then in a buffet line and has their been adequate refrigeration?


Again this is just the tip of the iceberg as far as considerations when you are not using a professional caterer.  There are a zillion things that would be helpful to know before hiring a cater.  You can also go to my link below to sign up for my newsletter to get a lot of information on a continual basis.


As always, wishing you the greatest of days!

http://www.greatestofdays.com/      Click on the link below to get the free Wedding Vision Questionnaire and other information that will help  brides and grooms plan their wedding.

 Wedding Vision Questionnaire.

DIY Fearless Flower Power? Lucky 13 Tips for You!

This is an introduction at the beginning of each topic in this series.  Look below for the new entry in this series.  We all want to save money whenever we can, but if we end up paying more in the long run or creating a bad experience, what are we really saving?  Everything boils down to what you don't know can hurt you.  Here are just a few things you should know about various aspects of your wedding if you don't use professionals.  This is just the tip of the iceberg!  If you hear yourself say any of these statements, you might want to really stop and take the time to consider the costs in time and money.  Stop and be honest with yourself first to make sure that you aren’t making a decision you will regret weeks or years later.  

“I can do that!”  

“I have a friend who does that!”  

“That looks easy enough to do!”  

“I don’t think that will matter”. 

“I don’t have the money for that”.

“I think that _____ would enjoy doing that!”


Let's pretend that everyone was born with an innate talent for flower arranging.  Perhaps every spring and summer they were the ones picking flowers out of the yard and making arrangements to put those flowers to good use.  Chances are that they would only make a couple of arrangements at a time and it was just for the fun of it.  Fast forward!  You're going to do your own wedding flowers!   Let's start with, "I want this, and that, and of course some of these and wow those flowers are the same that were at that wedding we went to last spring.  Oh, Look!  Those are sooooo cool!"  So far this sounds like a lot of fun!

Here are just a few assumptions that people might make and things people might not be aware of when it comes to doing your own wedding flowers. 

1.  Blue flowers are small in number and are often harder to find except for certain times of the year.  So if you love blue flowers, become informed of what is available and when.  You might consider this when setting your wedding date, but you could still be taking a chance.  There's a complete lesson in botany regarding blue flowers as compared to whites, reds and purples.  Apparently some bugs don't think that blue flowers are all that hot!  Even to bugs, it's all in the eyes of the beholder.  


2.  The flowers you may have always dreamed of might only be available for just a few weeks of the year.


3.  Sometimes the greenery is more expensive than the flowers.


4.  If you get flowers at places where you usually shop for groceries, don't assume that you will be able to get all of the flowers you need in a particular color or the type of flower on the day you want.  You really need to plan ahead.


5.  When you buy the flowers at a store, you will probably either buy more than you will use or not get quite enough which can be a waste of money.


6.  Some flowers will begin to deteriorate very quickly when they aren't in water and chances are that unless you are used to working rapidly with flowers, your bouquets and arrangements will look not look fresh.  


7.  Keep it very simple if you are doing your own corsages, wristlets, boutonnieres, bouquets or centerpieces.  They will probably take you a lot longer than you think.


8.  Remember that mother nature doesn't play favorites with anyone.  The availability of product can be changed due to weather conditions around the world.  If some of the growers have been hit hard, you might also be paying more for your flowers.


9.  Valentine's Day.  I heard more than one type of wedding professional say they would never recommend that a client have their wedding on Valentine's Day.  The cost for flowers is going to be higher and that is one of the busiest days of the year for florists.   You just don't want to set yourself up for a budget breaker.


10.  Practice making one of each of the things you want for your wedding long before you would need to be ordering flowers from a professional and multiply that time by about 3 or 4 


11.  Talk to a florist, before you decide to add flowers to your DIY list.  Calculate the costs from buying flowers from a store vs. having a florist designing and arranging things.  Will you need to buy supplies?  What is your time and labor worth when you are having so many other things going on. To keep your flowers fresh, you might find yourself having to buy sprays to keep you flowers fresh. 


12.  Do you have someone in charge of the DIY floral projects that can patiently explain how things are to be done to your whole crew of volunteers?


13.  If you plan your wedding check out school and community calendars.  You're better off not competing with proms, homecoming, and other such events especially for DIY weddings.  There will be some DIY prom goers as well.  

I would strongly suggest that you take classes from a professional before you decide to go the DIY route for your wedding flowers.  Check out your local community college!   You just might find it to be one of the best investments you'll make.

Wishing you the greatest of days!

Janis Flagg




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