Reruns: Some of my favorite blog posts from 2009
A few of our favorite blog posts from the 1st half of 2009…just in case you were bored at work or something.
Chinese Tea Ceremony Traditions
Simple Table Manners for the Wedding Guest
The Roles of the Wedding Planner & Coordinator, Catering Manager, and Banquet Manager
Bling H20 and other specialty water
Great Ideas for Summer Weddings
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website * Email: juliet@greenorchidevents.com
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Top Ten Tips For Your Wedding Day
I love these Top Ten Tips from The Wedding Chicks for your wedding day! Great advice from the pros that every bride should listen to!!
Happy planning,
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website * Email: juliet@greenorchidevents.com
Further reading:
Wedding Planning Tips from Wedding Pros!
Planning a Wedding on a Budget
Wedding Venue Site Visits: The not-so-obvious questions to ask
Wedding Day Timeline Tips from a Professional Wedding Planner
Bridal Tips: Enter Wedding Contests & Giveaways
Attention all brides and brides on a budget: Let’s win some free stuff!
While scouring The Wedding Chicks blog and their “sweet deals” section, I was amazed to find pages and pages of talented photographers doing giveaways for full wedding photography services. Many of these photographers are willing to travel to your city as long as you cover the cost of travel and accommodations!
I remember that while I was a high school student applying for college scholarships, we were all told that there are so many scholarships out there that go to waste because people simply do not apply. I’m sure the mentality is, “oh, I’ll never win anything so why should I bother?”. But there ARE people out there getting scholarships (I didn’t pay a dime for college) and winning contests and giveaways (check out a recent winner of ours and her spectacular wedding day!). So what’s the harm in trying?
Besides The Wedding Chicks, read the big wedding blogs out there and do a search for any wedding contests or giveaways. And then I challenge you to enter a few contests!
So have you ever entered a contest and won? I’d love to hear your story!
Happy planning,
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website * Email: juliet@greenorchidevents.com
Wedding Day Emergency Kit Items
Wedding day emergency kits. Every time I mention to a bride that I will be providing an emergency kit on their wedding day, I always get a chuckle. So what exactly is in this famous/infamous wedding day emergency kit? I have a whole list in alphabetical order and I’m still constantly adding to my kit. Obviously, I don’t suggest brides put a kit together with ALL of these items! Brides have enough to think about!! However, if brides have not hired a wedding planner or wedding coordinator, I would suggest a few of these items for their condensed version of the emergency kit. My suggestions for brides are in bold but I suggest you pick and choose what is right for you.
Ace bandage
After shave lotion
Aisle runner
Aluminum foil
Antacid (Tums or Rolaids or Zantac)
Antibacterial gel
Antihistamine
Antiseptic cream
Baby formula
Baby powder
Balloons
Bandages
Band Aid for Blisters
Barrettes
Batteries (AA, AAA, 9 volt)
Bible
Black socks for men
Black tie
Blister protection
Blotting paper
Bobby Pins (black, brown, blond)
Boombox
Bottle opener / corkscrew
Bottled water
Bowtie (4 to 6) – clip on
Bra cups – assorted sizes, nude color
Broom – for broom jumping and one for cleaning (smaller one) and dustpan
Bug spray
Bungee cords
Buttons (black)
Cake box
Cake knife/server
Calligraphy pen
Candle “buttons”
Candle – tealights
CD of wedding music
Chalk
Clear Nail Polish
Clips (table skirting)
Clothespin
Club Soda
Collar extender
Collar Stays
Cologne
Congrats cards
Contact Solution / lens drops / case
Corn pads
Corsage Pins
Corsage Wrist bands
Cottonballs
Cough drops
CPR disposable mask
Crayons / pads of paper
Crochet needle/hook
Cuff links
Curling Iron
Dental Floss
Deodorant
Diapers
Disposable camera
Disposable gloves
Double-sided Tape
Earrings
Earring Backs
Electric adapter
Emery Board
Envelopes
Extension cords – small and heavy duty
Eye drops
Eye wash
Eyeglass repair kit
Eyeglasses (reading)
Fabric and lace scraps
Facial Tissue
Fans (battery operated, hand)
Fashion Tape
Feminine Cleansing Cloths
Film
First Aid Kit
Fishing line
Flashlight (small, solar non battery operated)
Floral pins
Floral tape
Floral wire – green and white
Floss
Foot powder and spray
Garter
Gel packs – hot and cold
Glue (regular and super and fabric)
Goo Gone
Guestbook
Gum eraser
Hair Brush/comb
Hair clips
Hair Dryer
Hair pins
Hair Spray/gel
Handkerchief
Handwarmers
Hand sanitizer
Hem tape
Highlighter
Hole punch
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Index cards
Inkpad
Interior Mirror
Invitation – original
Iron
Jewelry cleaner/cloth
Kiddish
Knee Highs
Knives – X-acto, cutting
Lightbulb
Lighter (2)
Linen napkins
Lint Remover
Lip balm
Lotion (facial and hand)
Lysol wipes
Magnifying glass
Makeup basics and brushes (eyelash comb, eyeshadow, mascara, lipstick, eyeliner, foundation)
Makeup remover cloths
Maps (local and regional)
Meat tenderizer (bee stings)
Medicated Patch
Men’s Grooming Kit
Mints
Mirror for makeup
Mouthwash
Nail Clipper
Nail Glue
Nail Polish (bridal, clear, and red)
Nail Polish Remover (pads)
Napkin – cocktail and dinner
Necklace – pearl
“Non Skids” for shoes
Notepad
Pain Reliever (Midol, Advil, Tylenol)
Pantyhose (nude, white, ivory)
Paper towels
Pencil Sharpener
Perfume
Pipecleaners
Pitcher and cups
Placecards
Playing Cards
Plastic wrap
Pocket knife
Q-tips
Radio
Razers – disposable
Reserved signs
Ribbon – ivory and white
Ringpillow
Robe – lightweight
Rope/string/yarn/twine
Rose petals – dried and assorted colors
Rubberbands – clear and regular
Rubbing Alcohol
Safety Pins (large and small)
Saltine Crackers
Sanding block
Sand paper
Scissors
Sewing kit
Sharpie
Shaving cream
Sheckel (Israeli coin)
Shoe horn
Shoe and heel inserts
Shoe laces (men)
Shoe polish/mitt
Shower cap
Sippy cup
Sixpence (British coin)
Smelling salts
Snacks (fruit snacks/cheese its/Balance Bar)
Stain Remover/Shout wipes
Static Remover
Stool or chair
Straight pins
Straws
Sunscreen
Tampons/pads/regular and thong pantyliners/menstrual cramp heatpad
Tape (fabric/regular/duct/packaging/scotch)
Teabags (peppermint, green, and ginger)
Thank you cards
Tiara
Tissue
Tobacco patch
Tool kit (mini)
Toothbrush/mouthwash/floss
Toothpaste
Toothpick
Toss Bouquet – fake
Toupee Tape
Trash bags
Tulle
Tweezer
Twinkle lights
Umbrella (black)
Vaseline
Velcro strips
Visine
Wedding bands
Wet Naps
White Manicure Pencil
Yamulka
Water mister
White Kosher Wine (with screw top)
White Out
White Sandals (for bride)
Wicks
Wine glass
Wine Off
Wrapping paper and tissue paper
Ziploc bags (small and large)
I love the website Minimus for travel sized items. Recently, I purchased a splinter remover as well as an eyeglass repair kit for my wedding emergency kit.
Don’t forget your wedding dress, shoes, jewelry, undergarments, rings, and marriage license of course! Have I left out anything?
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Wedding Planner, Wedding Day Coordinator Revisited
I’m a big advocate of education. As a wedding professional, it is my job to constantly learn and continue my education as well as educate brides, grooms, and other professionals in the industry. Back in February, I wrote a post about the roles of your wedding planner, catering manager, and banquet manager after repeatedly hearing people mistakenly say “wedding coordinator” when they mean “catering manager”. If you missed it, check it out here.
Be sure to also check out these other blog posts from other wedding professionals and wedding planners from around the world:
- Cindy Johnson of Toronto based Platinum Events Group discusses how a bride and groom should choose a destination wedding planner as well as the value of a wedding coordinator & wedding planner. Also read her post on What is Wedding Day Coordination?
- Robyn Bomar of Mix Mingle Glow discusses What “Day of Coordination” Is (and is NOT).
- Liene Stevens of Blue Orchid Designs has a great Wedding Vendor Hiring Guide:: Wedding Planner.
- Sasha Souza:Â How is a professional wedding designer different from other wedding vendors who do event planning?
- Amber from Amber Events and her Top Tips and 10 things to know about Wedding Planners
- Terrica of Fabuluxe™, Inc. discusses Why You Should Let Your Wedding Vendors Do Their Jobs
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website * Email: juliet@greenorchidevents.com
Wedding Planning Tips from Wedding Pros!
I love love love learning from my fellow wedding planners! Wedding blogs can be such a great resource for professional advice, ideas, and tips! Below are some articles I wanted to share with the brides and grooms out there on various wedding day tips:
Amber from Amber Events wrote a blog post on making large weddings feel more intimate as well as a “sanity tip” for brides while they try on their wedding dress or deciding on their floral centerpiece.
Ariel Yve offers her tips on successfully selecting your reception music.
Stuck on table linen sizes? Check out Cindy Johnson’s post on how to set your round table.
Kathryn of Dream a Little Dream Events – Providing Transportation for Guests
Cutting Edge Entertainment Blog:
DJ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 2009
The iPod vs. The DJ for the Wedding Reception
Here’s another take on wedding day schedules and timelines written by Kate Parker Weddings
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website * Email: juliet@greenorchidevents.com
Wedding Venue Site Visits: The not-so-obvious questions to ask
For most brides and grooms planning their wedding for the first time, comparing the different wedding venues available can be an overwhelming task. Here are a few questions to keep in mind while conducting site visits for your dream wedding venue.
Food and Beverage Minimum/Room Rental – Is there a room rental fee? What is the food and beverage minimum and will the room rental be waived if the minimum is met? Besides tax and gratuity, what else is excluded when calculating the food and beverage minimum? If only packages are advertised or mentioned, is an a la carte option available?
Candles – Candles are gorgeous and most brides would love candles all around their reception room. One thing to keep in mind is that almost 100% of venues in Las Vegas will not allow candles with an open flame. This means that tapered candles are not allowed and any candles that are not enclosed in a some type of holder or glass are not allowed. Some hotels in Las Vegas won’t even allow candles without a fire permit. The only exception to the open flame rule is usually a unity candle ceremony. If this is important to you, make sure this is a question you get answered prior to booking your wedding location.
Menu Tasting – Is a tasting included as part of the wedding package? If not, is a tasting available for a fee? Is a tasting available before you book?
Wedding Vendors/Wedding Professionals – Before hiring anyone, make sure you find out if there are any restrictions from the venue. Some venues may only allow you to select from their approved list of professionals. Some venues are stricter than others and will require proof of liability insurance of at least $1 million as well as a business license. Don’t disappoint Uncle Fred as well as yourself when you find out he will not be allowed to DJ and emcee your wedding.
Timeframe/Overtime – How long is the wedding reception? What is the charge for each additional hour if you’re interested in extending the wedding reception? What are the times for a lunch reception? Dinner reception?
Banquet Chairs – Ask to see their standard banquet chairs.
Dressing Room/Bridal Suite – Is there a dressing room available? If so, how early will you have access to the room?
Bar – Are you able to bring in your own liquor? If so, what is the corkage fee? If you choose an open bar package, is a signature cocktail included or will it be available at an additional cost? What are their house wines?
Candy Buffet, Popcorn Bar, Cookie Station, etc – What are the restrictions? Are you allowed to bring in your own candy, popcorn, cookies, etc?
Dance Floor – Is a dance floor included? If not, what is the cost of the dance floor rental? What is the size of the dance floor?Â
Parking – Although parking is plentiful in Las Vegas and often free, this is still a valid question in the case of a country club, private mansions, and restaurants for example. Find out where guests will be parking and if there is a valet available. If there is valet, what is the fee to you?
Number of Events – How many events do they host in one day? In a larger venue, multiple events and often times multiple weddings may take place in one day. Â
Staff – What is the staff’s dress code? What is the server to guest ratio?
Cake - Is there an in house pastry chef? Is an outside cake allowed? If so, what is the cake cutting fee, if any?
Noise Ordinance – Is there a noise ordinance?
Licenses and Insurance – Does the venue have a business license and liability insurance? Is all of their paperwork up to date? A venue in town has recently been shut down for not having the appropriate paperwork on file so don’t be afraid to ask this question.
Preferred Vendor List – What is the screening process for vendors to get on the venue’s list? Is it a paid listing?
Happy planning!
Trust your instincts when hiring your wedding vendors.
In business, it’s a common saying that “people work with people they like…and trust”.  Just last weekend, a bride and groom mentioned to me that they were very unhappy with their engagement session. They were unhappy with both the photographer and the photos. This is a huge RED LIGHT! It’s so heartbreaking for me to hear this but it is not too late for this bride and groom to change their photographer!
A wedding photographer is someone you should feel completely comfortable being around.
I have plenty of wedding photographer friends and most of them say that they try to build a relationship with their clients. Well, they should! I think it goes beyond the wedding photographer for this mentality though. It’s also a good idea to build a relationship with your other wedding vendors. If you’re feeling uneasy in your appointment with your floral designer and feel that he or she doesn’t “get” you, interview another floral designer. The better the rapport you have with these wedding professionals, the better the outcome of your wedding day. People tend to bend over backwards for people they like.
Interview your photographer, floral designer, and makeup artist like a potential employer would interview you. Every time I go to a consultation is like another job interview. It’s great; these brides are doing their research. Viewing a portfolio alone is not enough! And, while we’re all price conscious these days, please do not select a wedding professional based solely on price!
This is a service oriented business so these professionals must enjoy interacting with people!
Happy planning!
Why Hire a Wedding Planner
Written by celebrity wedding planner Sasha Souza
As couples begin thinking about their wedding, they are often confused as to how much to spend, where to obtain specialized services, and how to choose vendors. These worries often mount as quickly as the cost of the wedding. After the euphoria wears off and the reality settles in, it’s shocking to discover of how much preparation is involved. Couples are faced with decisions about everything from invitation wording to planning their honeymoon. Couples often find they want experienced professional help.
Not long ago, a wedding coordinator was thought of as a luxury, only used by the wealthy. Now a coordinator is essential to the well planned affair. It is no longer “trendy” to engage a coordinator. Being experienced in negotiating contracts with caterers, florists, photographers, and other suppliers, the coordinator saves valuable time and money. The coordinator can take advantage of discounts not available to private parties and avoid costly mistakes, while turning your dreams into reality.
The average wedding can take more than two hundred fifty hours just to plan. With today’s hectic lifestyles, you may not have time to compare all the options, making sure you get the best deal, and make sure all the details are in place.
Wedding coordinators are not here to make decisions for you, but to guide and assist you in making informed decisions.
Their training, knowledge, and experience will turn your dreams and expectations into reality. They want you to host a beautiful and distinctive event which you can enjoy.
A wedding coordinator will save you time and enable you to get the most for your money! A wedding coordinator can serve in many other capacities. They can act as the family counselor for apprehensive brides and the mothers, a wedding coordinator can become as close as your best friend.
How do you know you’re hiring the right coordinator? Trust is important in any relationship. You should feel completely comfortable with the coordinator and feel assured that he or she completely understands what your needs are. Your personalities should match. It’s important to find out how long the coordinator has been in business. Be careful of coordinators who are not members of any professional organization. These organizations have a code of ethics that the consultant must follow in order to be a member, some also require some sort of continuing education each year to stay a member.
