What Industry Professionals Say About Hiring A Wedding Planner

We are often asked how we can enhance your event experience, and one of the ways we do this is by bringing in the team that is best for your wedding.

To see how wedding planners can play a role not only in your experience, but the experience of everyone involved in your special day, we reached out to some of the best professionals in the industry to get their thoughts.  Here is what they have to say about working with a wedding planner!

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When we have a couple who has meticulous details, has little time for planning, or needs the assurance of that extra hand to be sure everything is going exactly according to plan, a wedding planner is a wonderful asset.  Having a point person who knows every detail of the wedding (that isn't the bride or groom) alleviates the stress of planning for some couples and allows them to enjoy the entire process from booking their vendors to saying "I Do".  As we approach a wedding, having a planner as our contact who can answer questions about floor plans, seating charts, rental deliveries, vendors, etc. is a great line of communication to be sure come the day of the wedding, everyone is completely  informed and prepared.  Lisa is always a pleasure to work with and her level of professionalism and attention to detail has resulted in happy couples, beautiful weddings, and a smooth planning process from start to finish.

Jessica Hess

Director of Events
Wadsworth Mansion at Long Hill Estate
www.wadsworthmansion.com/home.php

Working with a wedding coordinator, such as Lisa from Creative Concepts, is invaluable. From the beginning stages to your final day, a wedding planner is always by your side. When we create a vision of your special day, working closely with a wedding planner insures that no detail is overlooked. Chair Affair always welcomes the expertise and constant communication which comes with the use of a wedding planner. In our experience over the last 20 years, not all wedding planners are created equal. Lisa from Creative Concepts is a step above and we highly recommend her services.

Lisa Standish

Owner

A ChairAffair

A wedding planner works as a liaison between the photographer and the client. If a wedding planner is involved (especially Lisa) most of the detail and conversations with the client are handled ahead of time. The wedding planner gets to know the client better then you can since they are constantly in contact when planning their wedding.  A good wedding planner will provide insight as to what the clients want, the vision is for their wedding, their photography style as well as knowing their family situations or complications ahead of time. The day of the wedding a good wedding planner will help assist with making sure everything goes smoothly and stays within the timeline so that the photographer can just worry about capturing all the special moments.

Angela Garofalo

Owner

Angela Maria Photography

A Wedding Planner is extremely helpful in so many ways.  Generally, wedding planners are very organized and can expedite answers to questions and payment that might otherwise take several days to complete working with the bride directly.  Wedding planners can be a helpful sounding board to bounce ideas off of before presenting to the bride. 

Hope Looney

Owner

J-Cakes

A strong wedding planner helps their clients in so many ways. They help the bride see the big picture, in other words, help them enjoy the biggest day if their lives stress free. They help them by setting them up with reliable vendors, people they have strong working relationships with, safe in the knowledge that the contracted services will be delivered on time and as promised. They can pull a rabbit out of the proverbial hat on a moment’s notice when a bride sees something at another wedding they "absolutely must have for my wedding". I have worked with many, and I truly appreciate working with a good wedding planner, and I always hope these brides appreciate when their planner has made their day special.

John Hines

Owner

Bartenders Express

I think the single most useful thing a wedding planner brings to the table, is the ability to correspond with wedding couples. In today's world, it is very hard to spend quality time with a prospective client, and since the client has already engaged the wedding planner they become a conduit for information. The other benefit is the increased trust a potential client gains with the recommendation of a professional that they have hired.

Mark DiChiara

President

Gateway Limousine Inc.

Working with a wedding planner like Lisa is invaluable in so many ways.  In addition to all the up-front help with planning, coordination, timelines, and locations, a talented planner can make my images pop.  For example, Lisa is super creative and has access to some amazing vendors and resources.  With Lisa’s vision, these professionals have created some extraordinary backdrops with stunning detail.  My customers love my shots that include the creative lighting, flowers, decor, furniture, etc.   Lisa helps me and the other vendors deliver more for our clients as a team than we could ever do on our own.  She also makes the entire day more fun than it could ever be without her.

Nicholas Bencivengo

Owner

Photographyby Nicholas

Having a planner such as Lisa makes the event planning process so much smoother and can most often provide myself as a vendor other resources, new ideas and a helpful perspective. At the event more skilled helping hands are always an asset.  

Patty Vary

Events Manager

A Thyme toCook

In the thick of event season, nothing is more golden to the ears of a Private Events Manager than a Wedding Planner advising that they have meticulous details regarding an upcoming wedding or rehearsal dinner. Through constant communication, the Wedding Planner truly “gets” the bride and groom’s vision for their entire wedding celebration, allowing the dining facility to focus and put full effort into carrying out their dream. It is genuinely a joint effort to guarantee that their wedding seamlessly proceeds exactly as they imagined – our ultimate goal!

Lauri Makuck

Private Events Manager

The Griswold Inn

Because a wedding planner is skilled at vetting the needs and wants of the client, she is able to pair the couple with photographers that she feels may have similar styles and compatible personalities, which will lead to a good fit and an overall positive experience. The planner is organized and detailed; she sets up the initial meeting, ensures the contracts are signed, and also coordinates the day-of-event photo list.  During the event she acts as time keeper to ensure all photo events are covered and the event stays on track overall. 

Kristie Conte

Owner

Kristie ContePhotography

The best way for a wedding planner to help me with my Brides is by giving me insight into what she really wants or needs as the wedding planner knows my clients so much better than ever I will.  I often find my brides have difficulty articulating what they really want (even with the help of Pinterest) since a picture on a flat screen can translate completely differently in real life on your face.

Dallas Williams

Owner

Make-Up ByDallas

Wedding planners know exactly which vendors are the best at what they do, who is dependable and who is easy to work with. I am always honored when Lisa refers me to one of her clients.  Lisa is efficient, well organized and I love working with her!  She makes my job so easy!   The client benefits as well. It’s a “win win” for all when the wedding planner and the vendor work well together.

Marcy Zoock

Owner

Invitations!by Marcy

A wedding planner helps us in many ways!  Almost always, the planner has prior knowledge of the venue and a great understanding of what will and will not work when it comes to lighting decor.  Before we even discuss the event, the planner has almost always informed and educated the bride and groom on different lighting techniques and styles to help enhance their venue, whether your wedding takes place in a tent at a private residence or in a ballroom in a major city.  This prior education to the B+G helps make our job of proposing services easier and more efficient, since less time is needed to explain the details of "what an up-light is" or "how bistro lights are very sufficient as your main source of light" in a tent.  The planner also relieves any stress the B+G may come across when it comes to "talking tech", i.e. logistics of setup, power requirements, arrival and setup time, etc...  A couple should not have to worry about this but should rather be focusing on and enjoying their beautiful day together.

Dan Gombs

Owner

ShindigLighting, LLC

When my clients have a wedding planner, I find that in the months leading up to the wedding, the lines of communication are stronger and I'm at ease knowing no stone has gone unturned in the planning process. On the wedding day itself, I know that my clients wedding planner is going to make sure that we as photographers and vendors have the information and time we need to do our jobs, as well as keeping everything on schedule, creating a stress free environment for the couple and their guest to enjoy one of the most important days in one’s life.

Chris Nachtwey

Owner

ChrisNachtwey Photography

We find a wedding planner keeps a bride focused and on track. They give a bride/couple peace of mind so they can enjoy the process and the day of their wedding. It becomes overwhelming for a lot of couples trying to think of where to even begin and having vendors that the planner has worked with several times and knows their work helps the bride/couple know they won't have to shop around to several different vendors in each category.

Danielle Farrer

Owner

Flowersby Danielle

A wedding coordinator is able to stay by your side throughout the day and night. They are there to tell you when things will be occurring throughout the night, such as the cake cutting, bouquet toss, toasts, etc.  I am unable to stay by the bride’s side throughout the day and night. Although the I will do my best to keep you happy, I will not be involved if your bustle breaks, when it comes time to load up your gifts, or tracking down your lip-gloss.  A wedding planner is able to tend to all of your needs and be there for all the non-service issues. I will be here for all your service, food and beverage wants and needs.

Christina FitzGerald

Director of Sales/Marketing

Union LeagueCafe

Not only does having a wedding planner provide peace of mind for our couple by keeping the day on track and making sure everything goes according to plan, it also helps us to do our jobs.  When our couple is stress free, we are enabled to capture them as beautifully as possible.  It’s a win – win!

Erik Souza

Owner

Vicki and Erik Photography

I can't thank our industry friends enough for taking the time to explain how a great planner can be a Team Member on your big day! I hope this information shows you, the bride or groom to be, how having me on your side can help make your wedding run more smoothly, and allow your professional vendors to truly focus on their specific jobs and allow you to ENJOY the day!
 Happy Weddings!
Lisa

The Little Details Make the Difference!

Let’s face it: planning a wedding can be a lot of work, and it can be easy to lose sight of the finer details in exchange for a big-picture mindset.  While it is absolutely important to know what you want the end result to look like as a whole, at Creative Concepts by Lisa, we think it is equally as important to pay attention to the little details that will pull it all together.  Today, we are highlighting three major details that often get only a little attention, and ways you can highlight them at your event.

Favors – Favors are often a last minute thought, typically because couples wait to see what money is left in their budget before deciding on a gift for their guests.  It is important to spend time thinking about the practicality of your favor –  you want something that your guests will be able to enjoy, and not something that you are going to spend money on that is going to become covered in dust in the back of a drawer.   We suggest giving edible items that your guests can enjoy immediately, perhaps specialty chocolates or pastry from a local company, which can also highlight another local small business.  One of our favorite small businesses is Kennedy Kitchens; she has made our clients some wonderful popcorn treats!  When you give a completely tangible gift, such as a picture or a glassware, your guests might feel obligated to show it in their house, whether or not it matches their style or if they want it out. Additionally, it can be very fun to give out something that is thematic.  If you have a garden wedding, you can give people seeds to plant and remember your wedding, small trees or tiny potted plants. This is a place to truly be creative and have fun so take time to consider all the options! Of course two of the most popular favors today is the Candy Bar and the Photo Booth! You can personalize these too! Candy bar can be easily created with specific colors and décor to match your theme and even your photo booth stripe can be personalized today! With your personalized scrap book! So have fun!

 

 

 
 

 
 

Printed Materials – create, edit, order, delivery can take a long time!!! And you want them to be consistent – do them all with one designer/company.

·         Hotel Welcome notes/itineraries – just because you know all of the intricacies of the wedding week/weekend, your out of town guests might not!  Be sure to provide them all the info they need with a welcome note and their wedding itinerary.

·         Ceremony Program, Place Cards, Table Numbers – almost every wedding these days has a ceremony program, and every wedding has place cards and table numbers.  These can require a lot of time to create, edit, order, and have delivered.  You also want them to be consistent, so it is important to do it all with one designer.  Since they can take a long time, you want to be proactive in figuring out your ceremony and in creating a list of people to invite to your wedding so the RSVP’s can start coming in.

·         Menu Cards –  in order for this to get done, you need to select your menu in a timely fashion – you also need to decide if a menu card is necessary – or is it an expense you don’t need. Either way keep the them or color scheme and font as consistent as you can in order to maintain the event design.

·         Specialty Signage – include welcome sign, hashtag sign, outdoor pointers to ceremony, reception etc.  if you don’t think about them from the start, it can quickly become a week or two before your wedding until you remember how badly you wanted them, resulting in a last minute scramble. Make any signs you have part of the overall design elements to keep your décor and color palate seamless!

Enhancements

·         Specialty drinks – If specialty drinks are included in your bar package, you should absolutely go for it and have fun with it!  If a specialty drink will require a kind of alcohol not typically carried at the bar or not in your ideal bar package, the costs can quickly add up, and you’ll need to decide if this is an expense worth having.  However, if you do go for it, go for it 100%.  Serve your drink in a fun and unique glass, and give it a pop – a fun straw, a garnish, a bright color.  And lastly, make sure to name it!  Specialty drinks are not something that you want to spring on your venue at the last minute – this should be something early on in the process so they can work with you and make sure it is the best drink your guests have ever tasted!

·         End of night treat (cookie, water) and/or Late night snack stations – It is becoming more and more popular these days to give your guests a late night snack and an end of night treat.  It is important to think ahead when deciding if you want to do this because it will definitely affect your budget, and you want to keep it consistent to your theme.  If you are having a Gatsby themed wedding, you don’t want a late night fajita station that will ruin the 1920’s atmosphere, you might instead choose to serve decadent deserts and tea sandwiches instead.  When your guests are getting ready to leave at the end of the night, it is incredibly thoughtful to wish them goodnight with a little goodie on their way out.  This is also helpful if they’ve been drinking at all throughout the night so they have some food in them before their journey home. 

 

After all the hard work you have put in to planning your special day remember to start with your wedding planner and a list of what is important to you.  This way the tiny elements do not get forgotten and you have a plan from day one to the BIG DAY! And remember a wedding planner can take care of all these details for you! Happy Planning!

The Outdoor Wedding, Rustic Chic or Not So Chic...

Many brides and grooms these days are looking to bring elements of the outdoors into their weddings.  We like to use the term “rustic chic” to describe these weddings that incorporate things such as mason jars, burlap, and a barn-like feel.  In doing a “rustic chic”  or "country chic" wedding clients are looking for non – traditional venues, i.e. tents, barns, farms, camps, vineyards, etc.   Which leads us to think – what are some things to consider when deciding between a completely woodsy wedding versus a woodsy-feeling wedding?

 

1. Hiring the Best Vendors

 

       For some couples and outdoor "rustic chic" or "country chic" wedding is creating venue from scratch, which would typically mean a tent wedding. Having a great crew that can create a venue from thin air is always a great start!

 

 

2.       Mother Nature

If you get lucky enough to have the sun shining, you are already doing great, but you must always have a feasible rain plan that fits all the event needs, photos, ceremony, cocktail hour and reception.  When dealing with Mother Nature remember she is in charge! Humid or Wet Means Mosquitos! Bees, Wasps and Hornets means, possible allergic reactions if stung. Bad rain the night before means mud and puddles, these are all elements your guests must deal with, and you have to remember yes it is your day but you are creating an experience for your guests! What is Plan B and C?

3.      Is this going to work for your guests?

Some brides and grooms have families that spend every waking hour outdoors, truly loving the outdoor experience.  Others have families try to avoid the woods at all costs.  When deciding whether or not to have an outdoor wedding it is important to consider what you want, but also what will create a fun atmosphere for your friends and family.  Also, if you are having some guests with mobility issues that require them to use a cane, be on crutches, in a wheel-chair, etc., having a completely outdoor wedding can become a real challenge for them.  They might not be able to hike up the path in the woods to your ceremony location, or may need to have access to air-conditioning or an outlet. You may loose some of these guests early as they are not entirely comfortable.  Some of these non-traditional venues do not have heat or air conditioning, this is SUPER important to consider when making your final decisions about location and style of your event as well.

4.      Wedding Insurance

We recommend that any non-traditional outdoor weddings purchase wedding insurance – it is a very cost-effective way to make sure that if anything prohibits the event from happening (or mother nature gets in the way) you are covered.  While we suggest always getting wedding insurance no matter the location of your event, it is something you definitely want to get if you are having a non-traditional outdoor wedding (think: camp, vineyard, etc.) so that if mother nature does act out, you are covered.  One option for wedding insurance is Traveler’s.

 

Regardless of which rustic-chic option you choose, having a wedding planner help you throughout your planning process will make your life way more stress-free, and will insure that every detail is thought of and executed to make your special day perfect.

JP Vs. Ordained Minister, what you need to know!

 

Photo by http://www.happyhaha.com/

Many of my clients come to me to regarding their Wedding Ceremony and they very excitedly announce that "their cousin" or "their uncle" or their "college roommate" will be officiating over their wedding. It is certainly a trend to have somebody you know and love pronounce you "man and wife" on your wedding day.  However, it is very important to know the law in your particular state.

In the State of CT it is very clear, if you are Ordained Online - you must be an actual practicing Ordained Minister for a wedding to recognized, in other words, you can't become ordained simply to perform a friend or relatives Wedding Ceremony, see the CT Statutes below...

 

Sec. 46b-20a. Eligibility to marry.



A person is eligible to marry if such person is:

(1) Not a party to another marriage, or a relationship that provides substantially the same rights, benefits and responsibilities as a marriage, entered into in this state or another state or jurisdiction, unless the parties to the marriage will be the same as the parties to such other marriage or relationship;

(2) Except as provided in section 46b-30, at least eighteen years of age;

(3) Except as provided in section 46b-29, not under the supervision or

control of a conservator; and
 (4) Not prohibited from entering into a marriage pursuant to section 46b-21. (P.A. 09-13, S. 4.)

Sec.46b-21. (Formerly Sec. 46-1). Kindred who may not marry.



No person may marry such person's parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, sibling, parent's sibling, sibling's child, stepparent or stepchild. Any marriage within these degrees is void.
 (1949 Rev., S. 7301; P.A. 78-230, S. 3, 54; P.A. 09-13, S. 6.)
 Sec.46b-22. (Formerly Sec. 46-3). Who may join persons in marriage.



Penalty for unauthorized performance.

 (a) Persons authorized to solemnize marriages in this state include (1) all judges and retired judges, either elected or appointed, including federal judges and judges of other states who may legally join persons in marriage in their jurisdictions, (2) family support magistrates, state referees and justices of the peace who are appointed in Connecticut, and (3) all ordained or licensed members of the clergy, belonging to this state or any other state, as long as they continue in the work of the ministry. All marriages solemnized according to the forms and usages of any religious denomination in this state, including marriages witnessed by a duly constituted Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is, are valid. All marriages attempted to be celebrated by any other

person are void.

(b) No public official legally authorized to issue marriage licenses may join persons in marriage under authority of a license issued by himself, or his assistant or deputy; nor may any such assistant or deputy join persons in marriage under authority of a license issued by such public official.

(c) Any person violating any provision of this section shall be fined not more than fifty dollars.
 (1949 Rev., S. 7306; 1951, S. 3001d; 1967, P.A. 129, S. 1; P.A. 78-230,S. 4, 54; P.A. 79-37, S. 1, 2; P.A. 87-316, S. 3; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-4, S. 27, 58; P.A. 06-196, S. 276; P.A. 07-79, S. 5.

 

Photo By http://www.joannevandalphoto.com/

What this means is, hire a CT Justice of the Peace if you are having a ceremony outside of a church or religious venue, this is the only way to ensure you will be legally married.  As I CT Justice of the Peace and a Wedding Planner I work with over a dozen other individuals throughout the year, we all have a different style and we all love what we do! So get to it and find a JP that will ensure your are married in the eyes of the law!

Photo By http://www.kcontephoto.com/

 

Should you select a holiday weekend for your wedding?

 

2014 Fourth of July Wedding

 

When I first started in the Wedding Industry a Holiday Weekend Wedding as very rare, we didn’t have things like destination weddings, which require guests to take a long weekend.  Perhaps the most we would see them would be with certain cultures/religions as they do have specific dates they seek for wedding dates, I have worked several Jewish Weddings where three day weekends work as they need to marry on a Sunday night and thus allowing their friends to not work the next day.  However times are changing and so are trends.

When people used to consider a holiday weekend wedding it used to be strictly taboo, you were taking people away from Family and their private celebrations, but today with people having extended families with their friends people are much more forgiving, but it is important to realize the Holiday has both positive and negative effects on your special day:  

Possible Negatives:

If you are planning a wedding on the holiday this may affect your overall pricing with your vendors- some charge a Holiday Rate or Holiday Tax that will increase your bottom line.

Your guests may have to pay higher rates in their airfare, hotel rates, and car rentals in order to join you on this special day. Most hotels do not offer room block special rates on holiday weekends, this affects you and your family too if you are staying overnight!

Guests may already have family plans and not attend the event, this means lower guest count which could impact your food and beverage requirements.

Possible Positives:

For families that live far apart it allows more time to celebrate together before and after the “I-DO’s”

Holiday weekends make it much more acceptable to hold the wedding on a Sunday versus a Saturday, which could cut costs significantly. (Maybe!)

Most businesses are closed on major holidays such as Memorial Day, Labor Day and Independence Day. This means most guests will not have to take an extra day off and may enjoy the time away from home.

What You Should Consider:

Will you be upset if people do not attend based on the holiday?

Get your save the date and your invitation out early! This will help friends and family to make plans with plenty of time to book flights, hotels and possible rental cars.

You do not have to allow the holiday to dictate your theme, for example Fourth of July does not mean you have to have a red white and blue wedding.

Does this affect your budget in a positive or negative way?

What You Can Do For Your Guest:

Host a Welcome Dinner the night before for all your guests, or even a Social Hour to Welcome them to town, this will cut back on their expenses and allows them to see how great it is they came out on this holiday weekend.

Create a welcome bag for the hotel complete with local holiday attractions they may wish to check out.

Host a farewell brunch, again this cuts back on their expenses.

In the end all couples need to be happy with the date they choose regardless of when that will be, there are always going to be positive and negatives to any potential date, but if you are happy that is the beginning to a beautiful day for you as a couple and your family and friends!

Wadsworth Mansion, and my DIY Bride!

Meet my Fabulous 2014 DIY Couple, Lisa and Greg. They were married in October of 2014 at the Wadsworth Mansion in Middletown CT. As their Month of Event Coordinator Lisa and Greg utilized my services to provide them with support in creating the final event timeline, the last minute event details, running the ceremony rehearsal at the rehearsal dinner, and of course being their on the day of their wedding to Set up and Break down all the fabulous DIY Projects, and run the ceremony and the day. 

Lisa and Greg were kind enough to review my services on WeddingWire

Here are her kind words:

"Hands down Lisa is by far one of the best- not only is she fantastic at pulling together each detail but she is the only wedding planner we've ever met who will throw down some dance moves and show everyone how to have a great time! In all seriousness, we knew we wanted to "DIY" a good portion of the decor for our wedding and had family dynamics that neither myself or husband knew what exactly to do with, all were weighing on us. We had met Lisa at a show a few months prior but finally decided to move forward a month or so before our wedding, looking back we should have just said yes the day we met her. Lisa was there for every phone call/email and figured out how to make sure family members played nice while we enjoyed every minute of our day. She took our ideas and made them come to life better than we could have imagined and for that we're eternally grateful to her. She worked with each of our vendors flawlessly and cares very much about every thing that she touches. With an awesome personality and unfailing energy, as a bride you need someone like Lisa lock-step with you as you plan such an important event in your life." Lisa and Greg



Check out this photos provided by Shades and Shutters.

If you would like to meet Lisa and find out about her experience working with me come to the Wadsworth Mansion Sunday March 1, 2015 from 11AM to 3PM and attend their bridal expo! I will be there too and you can find out all about my services, from me and from one of my fabulous brides!

The DIY bride and why you may need a wedding planner...

Congratulations, you have been working so very hard on your DIY Wedding! You have an amazing Pinterest Board to inspire you, the wedding has taken over the dining room table and your living room is full of labeled boxes filled with all your hard work. You have  been making daily trips to the craft store and the UPS Driver knows you by name. It is all coming together!

So now what? Have you thought about how to execute your terrific ideas and your design concepts on the wedding day?

Many couples think, "this is no problem I will ask a friend or family member to be in charge of setting up my DIY Projects". But have you considered that, you are asking people you love and trust to work on the day of your wedding and most often this means missing out on some of the most wonderful moments, sometimes that is to completely miss your ceremony.

 

Then, IF the items are not set out exactly the way you want will you be able to simple step back and enjoy the day, or will want to fix it the minute you walk in the room?

 

Over my many years working in the events industry I have seen it all, literally, how about a Bride and her Bridesmaids and her Mom the morning of Wedding setting up a Hall? Often with a Hall you can get in early in the day and go go go. So the bridal party is asked to dig in and get it done, however, a Venue is sometimes different and will often only allow one to two hours to set up.  So if you are setting up how can a Bride and Bridesmaids and Mom be getting their hair and make-up done, or their photos taken or be at ceremony location? 

 

Other DIY Couples will say, "no worries the venue has a Wedding Planner to do it," however with the ever changing wedding industry and with all the DIY projects many venues are not able to ensure the extra man power and time to do this work on your behalf.  Many locations are even going so far as to place a bullet point in their contracts that they do not have staffing to completely set all these items up for you, they don't want to be responsible for your personal projects, in case anything breaks,  or to be blunt, it is hours of labor they are not being compensated for so they will not be able to set up for you.

So this is when couples start to contact me to ask about my Day of Event Management. At this time I offer what is referred to as Month of Event Management, so what is the difference and why is this great for the DIY Bride?  Day of Event Management is phasing out, imagine you did a year of crafting and work on your wedding and you have somebody show up that day with no real knowledge of the event, no connection to you as a couple, and you say, "here you go, do all the work, all the important work I have stayed up night after night to make my wedding perfect". Really, you can trust somebody with a one day package? I prefer to get to know you and your wedding style and meet with at the venue and help with all the final details, timeline, and execution. My package is 20 hours and the time is YOURS we create a special package to fit your event needs, and ensure the final day is a huge success!

 In short, if you are a DIY Wedding I would highly recommend that you contact me to ask about my Month of Event Management Package, so we can discuss how I can help to make your special day come to fruition.  

 

Enjoy your DIY Projects, but give me a call to execute the work, relax and be the bride the day of your wedding and allow me to do the labor for you! You deserve it!

  

 

In 2014 I worked with a talented DIY Family, the centerpiece per their request was as follows:

Large Piece of Tree Slab

Vase, to be put together day of the event with Leaf, Water and Babies Breath

Small Vase, to be put together with candle

Two, Votive Candles

3 to 5 Hand Made Paper Flowers Per table

3 Signs, 2 with Games about the couple on one side and menu on the other, and one with table name to be inserted on home made stands, made of trees slabs and stanchions

5 Small Golf Pencils for the Games

Light all Candles

 

That is a lot of steps and we haven't set a table yet!

In the end the event looked amazing and they were super talented but thankfully realized they needed extra hands to execute the day!

 

Contact Creative Concepts by Lisa today and mention this blog and find out about our special offer for 2015 open dates!

Some Wedding Planner Comments during a snowy day!

I get a lot of questions from potential clients, current clients, venues, vendors, etc... here are just some of my thoughts that I put on paper on a cold snowy January Day...

I am often asked if people ever tell you they wished they had hired a wedding planner after it is too late and why?
Absolutely, I hear that all the time, but by then it is too late.  People often think this process is “fun” and easy and truthfully there are some great fun moments but this is hard work.  I have been told by people that, they want to handle all the preparations and vendor research, but a good wedding planner can guide them in this process, allowing them to have their wedding style shine through without starting the process from scratch and perhaps, reinventing the Wedding Planning Wheel!

People tell me all the time, "your job must be so much fun!" And it is but...
There are of course fun moments, like the moment you find the Dress, that you know is the ONE! The engagement photo-shoot when you think – “This is really happening”! Those moments are great!  However it is never fun  reviewing vendor contracts or keeping track of payments, or talking to the venue about setting up the tables a specific way, when this is not “the way they do it”, the phone calls and emails are plentiful and difficult when you have a full time job or taking classes and can’t do the work during business hours. Plain and simple, wedding planning takes time, lots of it.  If you let a wedding planner handle these details you can concentrate on the fun projects and moments! I remind people planning your wedding with a full time job or grad school classes isn't really all that fun without somebody by your side.

I am often asked exactly what do I do?                                  
I think the movie the Wedding Planner with Jennifer Lopez made it seem like a cool world with Hundreds of Staffers, and swanky ear pieces, like secret service, so they can all communicate easily.  I wish!  Wedding planning is not the made for Hollywood experience you see, ok maybe in LA! We work hard, during the day so that you have a fun, memorable, seamless event. We run around, and sweat the details for months and then of course most important the day of, so you can be the perfect wedding couple and celebrate.

How do I recommend vendors to you clients?                                                       
I have a wonderful list of preferred vendors in all types of categories, and this list grows and changes constantly!   One of two items come up most when choosing vendors for my clients, Budget, it always comes down to budget, and personality, will you as a couple CLICK with a vendor, this is huge!  I want people to focus on meeting two to three people in each category, knowing we can not only make the cost fit the budget but since I know the vendors and their style and personality I can match it to my clients.  However, you need to trust the wedding planner for this to work, I often have people say, but I found this other vendor on google, and google is a GREAT tool but we need to do our homework, especially if your planner has never heard of this person or worked with them.  

On the day of the Wedding do things ever go wrong and how do you handle this?             
Look everybody is human and can make mistakes, and Mother Nature can decide to rear her ugly head during your wedding. I do all I can to prepare with plan A, B and when possible C! I have the timeline, the Banquet Event Order, written confirmation from all vendors, the event is ready to go, but regardless something could go wrong.  It is how you handle these items. Remain calm, know your clients and how they would want things to be fixed, do it for them so they can enjoy the day, but if you do need to go to them for their opinion do so in a calm, and professional manner. You are there to be their event manager, planner, and professional team leader, but also their best friend and surrogate family member for the day, you need to make them happy and allow them to remember this day with positive feelings for always.

Can a wedding planner can help with costs?                                                            
Sometimes, but I never PROMISE I can cut the cost, I can’t control the food and beverage cost, the vendors are allowed to negotiate and I do, but I will not be disrespectful I work for the couple but I also understand the industry and the expenses that go along with planning a wedding.  Since I provide many referrals during the year I like to say my vendors provide me with best price possible for my clients, I ask them for this always.

Can the family take care of many of the couples needs the day of a wedding?           
There is much to do in preparing your special day, so without a planner you either must ask help from others or handle everything yourselves. Recently I met a DIY Bride after her wedding, she remarked that two of her family members missed the church ceremony so they could set up the venue with all her DIY projects, it is important to note that not all venues will set up your DIY projects for you, this is time consuming and they do not want to be responsible for putting together your DIY projects, so again even if you work with a planner for the final month including day of it is a great idea! Remember if something goes wrong you don’t want to blame a friend or relative, this could ruin your relationship for years to come.

What is your closing pitch for hiring a wedding planner?                                                               Wedding planning is fun but stressful, and when you find the right planner to work with you they will help to bring your personalities as a couple to life! There are so many packages and options to the Wedding Planning process I always say let’s just sit down for the complimentary 1 hour consult and allow me to create your one of a kind package for your event.  You should enjoy this once in lifetime experience, and if you are outside the box with a tent, or barn, please don’t go it alone, you have many details that are easy to forget and that is why I am here!