What Requires 16 Businesses and is 16 Hours Long?

I'm not even sure if it takes 16 or more businesses to build a house.  Well, maybe if you include all of the government agencies involved.  Most weddings take 16-20 vendors.

Couples going through the process of planning a wedding are often shocked at how many businesses they use to bring their wedding day to fruition and well beyond the wedding day.  Wedding checklists often don't list everyone that will end up being hired in one form or another.  There are so many varieties of just about every vendor category and every year we see different aspects added to weddings.  Couples are definitely in to making their day unique.

Yes, the average wedding takes 16-20 vendors.  Most people think of the venue, cake, photography, food, "the" dress or dresses, just off the top of their head.  Soon they find out that there are a lot of smaller choices to be made.  Often they are the things that take a lot of time leading up to a decision such as invitations.  Who knew they could all be so different?  I've never seen a couple not add on aspects to their wedding day beyond what they originally planned.

The people who don't think they need a DJ are often the most disappointed on their wedding day!  I-Pod weddings shouldn't even be compared to the services of a DJ.  They are the eyes and ears to your entire event.  An I-Pod cannot read a crowd to keep the party going or announce that someone left their lights on or is parked in a fire lane. 

Some of the more obscure vendor categories that people wouldn't have thought of several years ago are commonplace now.  For example, photo booths! And a photo booth is not a photo booth!  They vary quite a bit in the types of services they offer.  It goes beyond props and pics.

There are some categories of vendors that people wouldn't have even thought about such as a Ben and Jerry's ice cream truck or cart.  I can't even tell you what a hit this is on a hot summer day and it appeals to kids of all ages.  At one of the weddings I was hired for, can you guess who made their way to the cart more than any one else? Guys over 50!  Since when does this age and gender category have a good time at a wedding?  I heard a lot of "I tried that flavor in a cup, now I'll try it in a cone!"  There was a lot of foot traffic mostly from people saying, "I tried that flavor now I'm going to try this other flavor".

Weddings might begin with a ring purchase, but postage stamps, on site childcare, a dog-sitter can often be forgotten as services that are part of building a wedding.  

As far as time involved on a wedding day, 16 hours is not uncommon.  Depending up on how many attendants and couple have needing makeup and hair styling, you could very well start out at least by 8:00 AM and it's not long after that that the seating and tables are being put together and decorated.  Photographers document the whole process and the only thing they don't photograph are the guests eating their meals.  DJ's often are the last ones to leave a wedding....unless there's a wedding planner involved.  We're almost always the last to leave as we drive home at night often smelling like we've have alcoholic beverages when we haven't.  How does that happen?  It's because we have the wine soaked linens in the back of the car around midnight or 1:00 AM.

I'm attaching my notorious vendor wheel in which I have purposely left out some crucial vendors that every wedding needs.  Tell me if you can discover who is missing!  OKAY, you don't need Santa Claus, event surveys or incentives.  Hint:  Suffice it to say that a wedding as represented by this wheel would not be happening, and some guys might be a little embarrassed.  Rentals alone can sometimes be more than one vendor.

Wishing you the greatest of days!

"Wedding Day Tour Guide", Greatest of Days Wedding Day Timeline

Here's our video on our "Wedding Day Tour Guide!"

You won't miss any information if you turn the sound off because there isn't any narration, but there is music. 

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Why Should Newly Engaged Couples Hire A Wedding Planner?

Why Should Newly Engaged Couples Hire a Wedding Planner?

1.  Within a month or two, even couples who have resisted hiring a Wedding Planner say it's the best decision they made.

2.  They will generally get back in savings what they pay for a Wedding Planner.

3.  Wedding Planners have many ways to help couples with any budget.

4.  Weddings can be planned from a long distance through a Wedding Planner.

5.  Wedding Planners reduce stress, save relationships and help a couple get the wedding they really want.

6.  Many Wedding Planners have years of experience and have to know about every aspect of a wedding's details.  Beware of venues or vendors who can say they can plan your wedding.  The experience is like comparing apples to oranges!

7.  The most common time that couples and their families wish they had hired a Wedding Planner is just before and just after a wedding.

Wishing you the greatest of days!

Greatest of Days

Event Planning

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Wedding Officiating

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If You Can't Afford A Wedding Planner, Try This!

Here Comes "The Wedding Day Tour Guide!"

Most brides often wonder how they're going to keep everything going smoothly for their wedding day. Perhaps they like the planning aspects but are not quite sure how things are actually going to fall into place on the day of their wedding.  Perhaps they don't feel that they can afford a "Day-of" Coordinator.  Greatest of Days is pleased to pull out the stops and introduce "The Wedding Day Tour Guide!"  It's a timeline created for a 16-hour wedding day divided into as little as 15 minute increments.  Vendors, the bridal party, friends and family who have an integral part to play on the wedding day will be able to know exactly what is to take place and when.

And what is the best part??  The entire wedding day is mapped out 30 days before the wedding (we insist) and then our clients can enjoy the month before their wedding. Well a little bit at least. There will be plenty of activities taking place as it is without the unnecessary worries of tying up the loose ends together of the wedding itself.  That's the time to enjoy a bridal shower, greet friends and family members who might be traveling to the wedding, or just to take in a deep breath and put your feet up.

"What does Greatest of Days do for this service?"

1.  We have a 60-90 minute complimentary consultation over the phone to really get a vision of what a couple wants for their wedding.

2.  We take a glance (not a legal review) of contracts to look for trouble spots.

3.  We contact the vendors and determine what they need to do their jobs most effectively.

4.  We create a timeline with all the vendors' contact information and assign a special color for them on a spreadsheet.  Their arrival time, alerts to their upcoming tasks, the tasks themselves and then their tear down and departure times are noted on the spreadsheet at specific points during the day with their specific color.

5.  We contact the people involved in the wedding day well in advance of the 30-day cutoff time (bridal party, parents, etc.) so that they can all be on the same page throughout the wedding day.  There will be plenty of time for them to come up with questions and concerns.  We do not listen to everyone else's opinion about what your wedding should be like.  We design a timeline with what a couple wants for their wedding.  Outside suggestions are not listened to if it seems to go against what a couple has planned for their wedding.  Our couples are notified if there seems to be a problem.

"Why did Greatest of Days even create this planning option?"

We don't mean to be insulting but we rarely if ever saw a couple's wedding day timeline that didn't have a problem or a lack of information.   

"Why is the 'The Wedding Day Tour Guide' loved so much?"

1.  A bride, groom or parents are not constantly being bombarded with questions.  Many other people will know the answers to those questions and will probably clue other people in on what they are supposed to do.  Everything is in black and white.....we actually more than every color in the rainbow!

2.  Vendors love it because they were not hired to coordinate your wedding!  They get to stay with their tasks at hand and serve you in a way that best reflects on their business. 

Here's something I observed about developing a "Tour Guide" for clients!  On their wedding day, I look up at the clock and say to myself, "Now they're having the toasts, now they're cutting the cake!"  That surprised even me, but that is how much your wedding day gets into my head!  

Wishing you the greatest of days!

                                   

Greatest of Days Planning Packages

Here are the Greatest of Days planning packages (geared towards weddings), but they are applicable to many events.  Every event is personalized or focused in such a way to reflect the voice of a couple getting married, someone planning a milestone birthday or special social occasions including Celebration of Life events (uplifting memorials) and last but not least businesses or associations!

Wishing you the greatest of days!

Be sure to look at our website and enjoy finding a different event planning tip on each page.  You might have to search a little on some of the pages!

Handling Guests Who Don't RSVP But They Show Up Anyway!

This will be short and sweet!

First I would say, if you haven't received an RSVP from a guest prior to the week before your event or wedding...don't stress yourself out buy double-checking to see if they are attending.  Your caterer needs to know around this time how many people are going be attending to be able to order and prepare food for your event.

How do you handle those people who are inconsiderate and don't RSVP in any way shape or form....but then show up for your event expecting a seat and to be fed.


Here's my recommendation!  

1.  Set up one more table in the far back corner especially reserved for those who didn't respond with a yea or nay.  Don't bother having a centerpiece for this table!

2.  If you have an emcee, or DJ in the case of a wedding, instruct him or her to release that table last to go through the buffet line.   

3.  If you make it the highest number that is easier to keep track of.  Hmmm....I'm trying really hard not to call it Table #0.

4.   Instruct the people serving anything during the event to serve table last.  Same with the cake and champagne for toasts!

Chances are those unexpected guests won't notice what is happening.  Most importantly, if you take these actions you will make sure that the people who did RSVP will not be the ones scraping the bottom of the chafing dishes.  If anyone has to do that, it should be those who didn't RSVP!  

Wishing you the greatest of days!


Greatest of Days
Event Planning & Design
Officiating
Celebration of Life Events

Destination Weddings? Are They Your Ticket?

When I talk to brides who have gotten married in Las Vegas or at some other destination foreign or domestic, I'm not surprised with their stories.  For one thing, what they thought was going to be the easy way to go, hasn't always ended up being the easiest path to get to that aisle of "I do".  Perhaps in their minds, they were thinking that it was all just magically going to happen much more easily...someplace else.  I detect a little bit of denial that it's all going to be done by someone else. I'm not at all against destination weddings, but I don't think people are prepared for some of the extra challenges they might face with a destination wedding.

Here are 9 basic things that brides should consider when they are planning a destination wedding.

1.  Brides are likely going to be spending a lot of money on phone calls depending on their phone plan. They can also expect a lot of emails, even more so than planning a wedding near their home.

2.  Not only is there often a difference in time zones between countries, sometimes there just isn't the sense of urgency that we are accustomed to which can add to delays.

3.  Laws in other countries can put stipulations on how many days you have to be there before you can have a wedding ceremony and sometimes the hotel/wedding venue can make people wait even longer.  It has changed in Tahiti, but a bride and groom were required until rather recently to be there for the 30 days in advance of their wedding.  

4.  Brides and grooms are quite possibly going to be taking a lot of flack from family or friends, who would normally be within miles of where the wedding is, but are suddenly facing major travel expenses. Members of the bridal party, who are probably not yet as financially established as they would like to be, can really feel the pinch. Their normal investment would only be the standard gift, bridesmaids dress and so forth, and a plane ticket can feel like the cost of a flight to another planet.   Especially with the economy being what it is for the millenials.

5.  A bride would be doing well to be prepared for friends or family who can't afford or feel able to travel, to feel like they are nothing more than a solution to trimming a bride and groom's guest list. It's doubtful that that would be a bride's intention and she would probably feel horrible!  Brides just need to be sensitive to issues that are going to appear more prominently with a destination wedding.

6.  We all know that traveling is more of a challenge than it used to be.  Preparing to travel for a destination wedding is much different than taking a vacation or even for a business trip. It can make packing for any other trip seem like a picnic.  Brides should think seriously about this when purchasing a wedding gown for a number of reasons that I'm sure you can think of in just a few seconds.  It's also much easier to return home to pick up those forgotten items when you are within a short driving distance of your wedding.  If this happens, brides should make sure that they have a trusted someone back home who can arrange to ship items to your destination ASAP.  

7.  Destination weddings are the perfect solution for many brides and grooms and their friends and family.  It's absolutely wonderful when this sounds like a piece of heaven on earth for everyone. Often they are a wonderful vacation and an opportunity to get away to be with so many of their loved ones and get acquainted with their new family and friends especially if everyone has to wait a few days before the wedding.  However, this waiting time has caused some brides to be more stressed out before their wedding.  

8.   I've been to wedding receptions where people showed the video of their destination wedding and I'll tell you that people will often cry as much as if they were actually there.  That's actually good news!  You can try to have a very small intimate destination wedding followed by a reception back home which will make everyone feel included.  It all depends on what your reason is for having a destination wedding.

9.  I've save what I think is the most important for last.   For destination weddings, my biggest suggestion would be to find an independent bona fide travel agent! The ones that give you personal service.  Believe me, an agent like this is worth their weight in gold!  It's a completely different traveling experience when you do this! 

Okay, a little trivia here.  Did you know that 50% of the brides that fly to Hawaii to get married are from the Seattle area?  This is according to a very experienced Wedding Coordinator I know in Hawaii.  I would trust her to any of my clients and would say don't get married in Hawaii unless you speak with her first! Seriously!  

Wishing you the greatest of days!

You May Be Seated But How?

"Welcome!  Are there 150 of you dining this evening?  Would you like reception, plated, classroom, buffet or theatre?  One might be safe for you and one might not."    

You might be thinking, "She's really lost her mind now!"  But this is important information.  What I'm referring to are the different types of seating options for events.  Depending upon the type of event, you will have to decide which one best suits your needs.  I'm really trying to avoid puns here, but we'll see how long I can do that!

Let's say that you're having a wedding reception.  Reception style might be what you would assume, but in this case, you would not find a place to plant it!  Picture in your mind what it looks like when you're waiting for the doors to open for an event.  Everyone is standing around and there might be a few people sipping coffee, others not and you can see a cocktail table or two here and there.  That is what reception style is like.  Standing is the key word.  In fact if you've noticed on the walls a sign that reads "Maximum Capacity  150 people", they are referring to the number of people allowed with the reception style.  You would be disappointed if you were thinking it is perfect because you're inviting 150 people to your wedding reception, banquet, fund raising dinner, etc.  With Reception style seating think of S.R.O.- Standing Room Only. Taken out of context, but I hope you understand what I'm trying to say.

Now, let's go to plated.  More than likely everyone has assigned seating in this situation, but primarily it means that there are complete place settings at a regular table when guests arrive.  Do you see how this changed how many people you can fit into a room?  At most receptions, it takes 100 square feet to seat 8-10 people around a round table with enough room for people to walk between tables, including wait staff.  You would need about the same amount of space for a buffet reception, but you would have to take into account that a buffet line takes up space in a room along with the seating.

Classroom and theatre seating are more common for seminars.  Classroom includes shallow tables to sit at so a person can take notes.  However, sometimes it is an option for a head table where the bridal party sits, or the board members at a meeting. Theatre seating is more like what you would find at a ceremony with one or more aisles separating the seating areas. 

Sorry, but I can't help but think of something we memorized as kids.  It goes like this.  "Ladies and Gentlebeans!  This Thursday which is Good Friday there will be a special fathers meeting for mothers only.  There is no admission, just pay at the door!  Pull up a seat and sit on the floor." Whatever!

Wedding Day Tour Guide.

Hello to all couples getting married within the next 12 months or so!  Yes in Washington State..we are past the one year mark of same-sex marriages being legal.  Time flies!  I want to bring everyone on board to what we offer for services.  

One product has taken a lot of time to develop and we have it included in our wedding planning packages in our "The Inquiring:  Wedding Day Tour Guide"  When I create the "Tour Guide" for a wedding, I always make copies for all of the people who have a role in the wedding.  That would include the venues, vendors, wedding party and participating family members.  Pretty much anyone who is working the wedding or if you think about who is going to be in the pictures taken that day.  The benefit is not having to herd wedding rabbits nearly as much when it is time for toasts, pictures, lining up for the ceremony and so much more.

Due to not wanting other vendors to see exactly what my timeline looks like unless they participate in a wedding I plan, I can't show you what it looks like but I'll do my best to describe it.  The "Wedding Day Tour Guide" provides information on all activities from 8:00 AM - midnight in 15 minute increments or less from setup time to breakdown.  All of the vendors (including those who might not actually be at the wedding) are listed with all of their contact information.  I refer to it as the "Who are ya goin' to call...?" section.  If there are any troubles at all, with one glance you've got all of the information you need.  Each vendor is given a color and the activities that they are involved are shaded with that particular vendor's color in a particular time slot.  It shows how long a vendor is going to be there and also when there's an important moment for them to be aware of.  A bartender wants to know well ahead of time when the toasts are going to take place.  A family member might want to know when he/she needs to be at a particular location for a picture.  I could go on and on.

You might think that you can do this easily enough, but what you don't know can and most probably will hurt you.  We have had years of experience planning weddings, know what needs to be set up first and when a vendor needs to be there so that the cake won't melt by the time the reception is well enough along to start serving cake.  We see trouble spots as we are preparing a timeline.  We even look at contracts to see that what you are expecting is actually in the contract.  

Basically, with the "Wedding Day Tour Guide" you are as close to having a 'Day-of"Coordinator as possible.  If you were to hire a "Day-of" Coordinator for $500.00 you are probably getting someone who is inexperienced.

Our clients are asked to have all of the planning finalized 30 days prior to their wedding day.  If there are changes within the last 30 days, additional charges will be applied.  Each week the "change fees" will be doubled starting at $25.00 per change.  

Here's something that really surprised me when I did my first independent wedding timeline when I was not the actual planner for the wedding.  Every time I looked up at the clock, I found myself thinking, "Now they're cutting the cake" or "Now they're having their first dance!"  That's how much we really get into knowing your wedding day like the back of our hands!  I didn't expect that, but it made me feel good that we had all of the bases covered.

Since I am not actually there on the wedding day, I do have a disclaimer that even with a "Wedding Day Tour Guide", I cannot guarantee how well the wedding day will go.  Everything needs to be executed and I cannot possibly know if there is going to be a power outage or when an unruly little ring bearer is going to send the wedding cake flying!  It is a wedding and you know how they can be sometimes.  They can take on a life of their own!

As always...

Wishing you the greatest of days!

Contact Greatest of Days

Planning Weddings and Events with Less Stress: The Media is Walking Down the Wrong Aisle When it ...

Planning Weddings and Events with Less Stress: The Media is Walking Down the Wrong Aisle When it ...: In a perfect world, there comes a point in time after the news media repeatedly paints an industry with a broad brush (with old dried up pai...

The Media is Walking Down the Wrong Aisle When it Comes to Weddings!

In a perfect world, there comes a point in time after the news media repeatedly paints an industry with a broad brush (with old dried up paint), that one of two things happens.  They either realize it's ineffective and unhelpful or they finally revisit their medium to be able to paint something that ends up as a beautiful or informative piece of work.  I'm talking about the "news" media as in the "reports" from the major networks and those that piggyback on those reports about the wedding industry.  I really don't want to call them reports because they aren't supporting fact!  Their concerns are for creating a story, not stating facts or helping consumers that they are preying upon.  Those consumers happen to be the same people that the wedding industry serves.  The media is doing a great disservice to these consumers.

One major point that the media won't point out, is that when a couple is planning a wedding for hopefully the first and only time, there is going to be a huge revelation that is bigger and it comes before sticker shock.  It's the fact that there are so many more details involved in a wedding than they imagined.  Of course, they wouldn't realize that the typical wedding employs from beginning to end (including after the wedding) a total of 16-20 vendors and sometimes more!  This shock is as big as any shock they'll get but when you add dollars to each of those categories of services, a couple very likely is going to be overwhelmed. However, it needs to be remembered to not blame the messenger.

It's time that the wedding industry was represented in a way that truly would help those seeking their services.  It's not even yesterday's news that the media sensationalizes the cost of weddings without analyzing the costs associated with each wedding vendor's services.  Let's remember that people are not forced to seek vendors for any more services than they want.  Want and need can be different to every couple when they envision their wedding.  Dare I be the one to say that this generation of typical brides and grooms has never been taught the difference between want and need?  They tend to want something as if they were entitled to it whether it fits into their budget or not...after all it is their wedding day!  Shouldn't everyone just want to provide their services below cost so that they can have the type of wedding day they want?  Well, welcome to the real world!  You can't have it both ways.  If you want cheap, you can get cheap, but if you want perfection (which is different for every couple) more attention and/or staffing is necessary.   Yes, for those reporters who can probably afford anything they want, this is the world that we and our clients deal with in reality.  FYI!  Not many wedding vendors are living high off the hog.

It goes against most couples' judgment to hire a Wedding Planner to help them work within their budget and help the couple set their priorities.  I'm talking about professional planners who come closest to knowing the wedding industry like the backs of their hands as much as anyone.  For heaven's sake "Media", don't pretend that you know your stuff when you don't!  Wedding Planners live, eat and breathe weddings and have to know a great deal about ALL of the variants of the many vendor categories.

When the media talks about services for a wedding and reception they don't know the difference between apples from oranges.  We're not talking about a holiday dinner nor a nice dinner out.  There's no comparison in the level of service which is required for a wedding.  Do you have a lengthy consultation with the chef or restaurant owner before you dine at their establishment?  Do you have special linens ordered for a dinner out?  Do you request that the background music be adjusted to only the music that you like.  Do you insist that your table have a centerpiece that only matches your favorite colors?  Do you want a deluxe invitation to inform your guests for your dinner out?  Do you insist on place cards being at everyone's special place at the table?Do you basically want the restaurant to not have any other guests there that you don't know?  Do you ask them to replace the chairs with ones that are more to your liking or ask them to cover them up?  Do you have to have a reservation or not?  Do you have to select from the menu or request everything in the kitchen that day to be just what you want?  Caterers are not operating like a grocery store or a restaurant.  It's neither a la carte style nor is it just ordering what you feel like at that moment from a short order cook.  A caterers worst nightmare is to run out of food, but I'll bet you've heard it more than once at a regular restaurant that they ran out of the special for the day. 

I think instead of the media blasting the wedding industry, they should spend 6 months prior and during the wedding season working alongside a wedding vendor and then find time for marketing and taking care of the financial responsibilities for that vendor to see what keeps them working long after the open signed has been turned around or has been shut off.  And while they're at it, don't make any plans for weekends during the entire summer.  Also don't look puzzled when you ask that particular wedding vendor "Why in the heck do you do this?" and their response is "Because I love it!"

As always...

Wishing you the greatest of Days!

Janis Flagg opened and co-owns Greatest of Days in 2007 when asked by guests at a wedding reception if she planned weddings for a living.  This was after she kept excusing herself from the guests' table to go to the kitchen, speak with the bride and groom or check on the delay of the champagne toasts.  She had done numerous events and weddings for friends and families for over 20 years prior to that day, but a light bulb turned on due to that one question.  Greatest of Days still plans weddings on a case-by-case basis, teaches event planning classes to engaged couples, small businesses and organizations hosting events.  Janis founded and organized a wedding and vendors networking group and also officiates for non-denominational weddings.  Greatest of Days has also expanded to planning Celebration of Life events and finds it most rewarding.  Greatest of Days was one of the first Wedding Planners in Washington State to be interviewed and accepted to be listed as a vendor on the www.EnGaygedweddings.com site.  All submissions have to be approved and can be edited before appearing on this wedding resource for the LGBTQ community.

Next on the list is finishing a book! 

Greatest of Days website

Where you'll find Greatest of Days.

Common Questions Received by an Event Planner

Common Questions Received by an Event Planner

Do you plan other types of events?

I plan many types of events, but primarily I've planned weddings.  I've planned reunions, anniversary celebrations, birthday parties, small business events, seminars, surprise parties, "Silly Suppers", client appreciation events and of course my monthly networking group meetings.  Celebration of Life Events are extra special just to be able to help a family in their grief.

Do you already have a vendor for ____?

Vendors will come up to me and say, "I suppose you already have a fill in the blank so you probably don't need to know about another fill in the blank.  The truth is, I need to know as many as possible and to know as much as I can about the style and quality of their work.  The reason for this is that every client has a different style, personality and budget and I want to match clients and vendors alike with those whom they will work well. That is the hardest part for me when I do a Day-of-Coordination.  Often I'm not familiar with the other "vendor's" work, style or personality if they aren't a wedding/event professional.

 Do you get bridezillas?

I spoke with one wedding expert who is an author and she said that  bridezillas are probably the same girl who at her 4th birthday was allowed to act like a brat and everyone caved into her every wish and demand.  I think she might be right to some degree.  But, honestly, I think zillas can come in any gender, age or role.  Bridezillas don't have the corner on undesirable behavior.  I fully expect that a bride is capable of losing her composure at some point and I give them a lot of slack.  I generally weed out the bridezillas without them even knowing it.  Hint:  Look at my About Page on my website!

How long have you been planning events?

I wasn't even 30 when I planned my first reunion and I was younger than that when I planned my own wedding.  Let's just say that my planning social events of one form or another spanned 20+ years before I even thought about creating a business in the wedding industry.  People will say, "At least now you're getting paid for it!"  I break it to them gently that it is like any other business.  You put in a lot of hard work building it, but it is so true that when you are able to do what you love to do, it doesn't feel like work.  Tiring maybe, but it really has to be your passion to be able to keep up with it.  I love it!  I started this adventure of entrepreneurship in 2007. As a child my favorite times were when we had guests over.  Almost every weekend, I'd ask if we could invite another family over for dinner or just get together to enjoy games or music.  

What is the hardest part about being an Event Coordinator?

Again, I know it's going to sound corny, but the hardest part for me is saying good-bye to your clients and wondering if you're ever going to see them again! As a Wedding Coordinator you spend so much time developing one of if not the most important days of their lives.  You can't help but get attached.  I compare it to teachers who always remember some students and wonder how they're doing. 

Another hard part about being a Wedding Coordinator is the Monday-morning quarterbacking. It can be especially prevalent in the wedding industry.  I think that part of it is that everyone is going through a let-down after the wedding and part of it is that no day is guaranteed to be perfect.  If anyone promises 110% perfection, I'd say run!  I think that the vendors and the clients all go through this Monday QB-ing to a certain extent.  We can be very tough on ourselves, but we soon learn how to recognize it when someone is being unreasonable and/or they were completely unaware of the total surroundings and circumstances taking place. Usually it is the latter.  We get a lot tougher as we go!

What is your favorite type of event to plan?

That's hard to say!  I really like each type of event as far as planning them goes.  Weddings are the most complex and the most fun.  I really enjoy all of the events because at that particular point in someone's life, their particular celebration is usually what is constantly on their mind for a period of time.  It's impossible not to love seeing their vision become a reality.  I have always liked a variety and there isn't any event that I don't get to meet wonderful and interesting people.  I can get bored easily, but varying the types of events that I plan can help that.  

As always...

Wishing you the greatest of days!

Planning Weddings and Events with Less Stress: Dispel Myths About a Day of Wedding Coordinator

Planning Weddings and Events with Less Stress: Dispel Myths About a Day of Wedding Coordinator: Dispelling Myths about Day-of-Coordinator for Weddings! What is A Day-of-Coordinator and What Does A Day-of-Coordinator Do?   Wh...

Dispel Myths About a Day of Wedding Coordinator

Dispelling Myths about Day-of-Coordinator for Weddings!

What is A Day-of-Coordinator and What Does A Day-of-Coordinator Do? 

When I speak to people outside of the wedding industry, the look on their faces says it all when I ask them if they are familiar with what a Day-of-Coordinator (DOC) is.  It's usually a combination of a blank stare or I see in their eyes that "inquiring minds want to know" expression.

More Wedding Coordinators actually find themselves being hired for DOC's than for the Full-Planning of a weddings.  Every Coordinator is different yet similar in what they offer in this type of package.  It's many a Wedding Coordinator's dream to only do Full-Planning in comparison.  Don't get me wrong!  I do both!

Let's dispel some myths!

Myth #1:  A Day-of-Coordinator is a miracle worker!  According to some!

My mouth about dropped to the floor when I read somewhere that a person should hire a Day-of-Coordinator because they would keep people from getting drunk at a wedding!  Okay!  I'd hate to inform that person that that does not fall within a DOC's responsibility or capability.  Even bartenders can only try their best on this one.  Weddings are so unpredictable when it comes to guests' behavior.   I often say, "Only at weddings and funerals are people so unpredictable!"

Myth #2:  A Day-of-Coordinator only works on the day of the wedding.

Whether it is a request from a lead list or speaking to a bride in person for the first time, the most common misconception is that a Day-of-Coordination (DOC) is only for the day of the wedding.   Usually a bride wants to really make it clear that a Coordinator understands that it is only for the wedding day.  It isn't a case that they wouldn't like to have a Full-Planning package, but it is more of a statement of being afraid of spending the money, but they realize they need some help.  Contrary to the popular opinion, there really is no such thing as a "Day-of" anything for a wedding professional.  For instance, an average of 40-80 hours of work goes into a DOC before the wedding day! 

Myth #3:  A Day-of-Coordinator will find all the vendors you still need.

Seldom is this the case.  This is actually more in line with a Full-Planning option.  For this reason, many Coordinators have a planning package that falls somewhere in between the two options.  It is part of the reason I don't list my price.  No two brides are alike and neither are their weddings.  

Myth #4:  No Coordinator can possibly help a bride within a month of the wedding! 

Wrong!  We can.  The fact is, that we often get requests for DOC's within 3-6 months before a wedding. The closest I've had is about 6 weeks.  It's usually when a bride begins to feel overwhelmed and is honest with herself to realize she needs some help and wants to be able to enjoy her wedding day.  Depending on how deeply she has involved her family to help on the wedding day, many of them can also relax instead of work on the wedding day, too.  Sometimes life situations change and it really is important to hire someone to help.

So What Does A Day-of-Coordinator Do? 

1.  A DOC (from hereon out referred to as a Coordinator) will have a consultation with the bride and groom and really get to know them and their vision of their wedding.

2.  A Coordinator will get all of the contact information for the vendors, professional and non-professional alike and begin communicating with them almost immediately.  A Coordinator cannot do a legal review of vendor or venue contracts but can look for trouble spots or see if what the bride and groom want can happen within the parameters of the contract.

3.  A Coordinator will get the contact information of the bridal party so that they can be reached at any time to make sure everyone knows what they will be doing and they know to contact the Coordinator if they have any questions of problems.

4.  A Coordinator will get the contact information of the family members on both sides.  It is important to know right from the beginning any of the family dynamics such as divorces, step-parents, to prevent any awkward moments later on!  

5.  A Coordinator will almost immediately take a tour of the venue because this is where the biggest surprises can come up.  Assumptions are made that can lead to a lot of trouble.  Also, a layout will be developed for the space as it will be used for the wedding/reception or both.  One instance will stay in my mind forever.  A bride hired me for a DOC and upon visiting the venue, I knew that there wasn't a chair cover on the market at that time that would cover the black chairs at the venue.  Keep in mind that it was culturally undesirable to have black in the wedding.  She had ordered $600 worth of chair covers and sashes to rent.  Fortunately, she got her money back and we found a solution with wooden chairs with seat cushions that matched one of her wedding colors.  The best part is that this solution cost less that the chair covers and sashes.

6.  A Coordinator will create a timeline that will give everyone involved a clear picture of what will be happening and when.  These can vary from one Coordinator to the next as far how detailed they are, but they will allow for cushions of time to help things go according to plan as much as possible.

7.  A Coordinator will be able to handle the disasters and more often than not, in such a way that the bride will not even know that anything happened.  Lets say it depends on the magnitude of the disaster!   A venue I worked at often one summer will not be one that I will work at for a wedding any time soon unless changes are made.  Let's leave it at an electrical fire and 3 weddings with backed up plumbing!  

8.  A Coordinator will pay special attention to guests that she is informed of that might need some extra attention.  It can be as simple as attending to someone who is unable to walk through the buffet line.

9.  A Coordinator will act as the liaison between the client and the venue and any one working the wedding.  They will also be on the lookout for anything that might potentially keep a client from getting their damage deposit back.

10.  A Coordinator will be available first thing in the day to receive all deliveries until the very end.

One more thing to note.  Rehearsals are not always included in DOC packages.  So be sure to ask if that is included or if it will be a separate cost.

So there you have it!  A glimpse into the life of a Day-of-Coordinator! 

Planning Weddings and Events with Less Stress: Why is Greatest of Days Putting More Emphasis on P...

Planning Weddings and Events with Less Stress: Why is Greatest of Days Putting More Emphasis on P...: That's a fair question since we've primarily been known to plan weddings and small business events.  Many event planners don't w...

Why is Greatest of Days Putting More Emphasis on Planning and Designing Celebration of Life Events?

That's a fair question since we've primarily been known to plan weddings and small business events.  Many event planners don't want to place themselves in planning sad events.  It's not for everyone.  I choose to look at it as one of the nicest things you can do for grieving family or friends of their loved one.  The atmosphere does not lend itself to "bridezilla" behavior which gets old very quickly!

Everything is changing regarding how a person's life is celebrated after they have passed away.  People are even planning their own parties to take the place of a regular funeral for them.  Some people are deciding to not even have a celebration of life event for after they have passed away and making it happen before they pass away.

Funeral directors are being taught how to create a more festive atmosphere for their clients.  Is it just me or is this like mixing oil and water?  You tell me who is more into personalizing events and making them fun.  A funeral director or an event planner?  You know what my answer is going to be.

There are so many logistics to take care of when planning a Celebration of Life Event as with any event.  You need a venue, food and anything else that creates a one-of-a-kind celebration.

There is one thing that I hope never happens.  I hope we never see a competition of people wanting to outdo what other people have done for Celebration of Life Events.  The focus should be about honoring a life.  The best parts of that person's life.

Last but not least!  There's a good possibility that you are thinking the same thing that others have expressed to me about our name Greatest of Days!  Some of said, "You should change your name!"  At first this made me cringe thinking of all that that would entail.  I didn't have to think about it too long before I realized that it really is the perfect name.  The exact thing that Celebrations of Life should be focusing on are the greatest of days in that person's life!  Isn't that why people want this event in the first place?  That's what we intend to do for family and friends who step up and honor their loved one.

Wishing you the greatest of days.


Creating and Remembering the Greatest of Days!

Email Greatest of Days

Visit Greatest of Days Website

Greatest of Days plans the following types of events south and east of Seattle, WA.  

Social Events:

Anniversaries

Bar Mitzvahs

Bat Mitzvahs

Graduation

Sweet 16

Retirement

Bon Voyage

Quinceaneras

Welcome Home

Milestone Birthdays

Celebration of Life Events

Weddings (on a case by case basis)

Business Events:

Employee Appreciation

Client Appreciation      

Product Launches

Grand Openings

Re-Branding 

Retirement

Book Signing

Special Promotions

Community Events:

Fundraising Events

Assist in Planning Festivals

People Who Don't RSVP for a Wedding..or Any Event!

These types of people hold a very special place in my heart.  Not the nicest part.  Definitely not from the bottom of my heart!   

Do they have an idea of the agony they cause for someone planning an event.  Not only does a person planning an event have added stress when they least need it, the RSVP count or lack of is costing them money.  Yes, MONEY!  Guessing on a final guest count is costly.  Nothing pains me more than seeing a couple a week away from their wedding looking like volunteers at a call bank for a fund raising for public television.  "We were wondering if we could count on you for your support?"  Well,  kind of like that!

A tip for those planning an event!  Make sure your last table number is for those who might possibly show up but haven't sent in an RSVP!  It's only fair that they not be served in the same manner as everyone else.  They should be the last ones the DJ calls to the buffet line.  Never should anyone who DID send in an RSVP be scraping the bottom of a chafing dish!  

Enjoy Table #0 for the ______.  Trying not to say "Zero's".

Email Greatest of Days

Visit Greatest of Days Website

Greatest of Days plans the following types of events south and east of Seattle, WA.  

Social Events:

Anniversaries

Bar Mitzvahs

Bat Mitzvahs

Graduation

Sweet 16

Retirement

Bon Voyage

Quinceaneras

Welcome Home

Milestone Birthdays

Celebration of Life Events

Weddings (on a case by case basis)

Business Events:

Employee Appreciation

Client Appreciation      

Product Launches

Grand Openings

Re-Branding 

Retirement

Book Signing

Special Promotions

Community Events:

Fundraising Events

Assist in Planning Festivals