So You Think You Can Plan?

Because we have been asked about this a bajillion times, and I don't think I could sum this up better, I'm reposting an article by Amy Nichols here.  Hope it helps, hope it answers questions, hope it invokes a lot of THOUGHT before you decide to take the leap and hang your shingle :)

And just so you know...I love my job, I love that I can sit in my pj's a lot of the time, I love meeting new people (and usually always happy and excited), BUT it's a lot of work and self discipline...and a lot of other hard things (like bookkeeping and budgeting and balancing...), all of which I have not mastered yet, but I'm getting there!

Style Me Pretty's Backstage Blog

Happy Planning,

Marcy Blum{isms}

I have been following Marcy Blum's *hilarious* new blog for a while now and am just catching up on the last month of blog posts. I particularly enjoyed this one about rehearsal dinners. I have a lot of the same thoughts on this topic and in a nutshell, here are her points:

1. I really do think that if you invite guests from far away to your wedding, you do need to invite them to some sort of night before festivities.

2.Assign someone to M.C. the dinner...Now, of course it helps if the M.C. is witty and charming (and Marcy always thinks it’s a good job for someone who is feeling a little left out.

3. ...they are even more fun if you create a theme or even just a dress code for them that is lighthearted.

4. Pay attention to the seating- whether you want to mix it up so that people are forced to make new friends.

5. Lastly, if the pre-wedding dinner guest list is small, you might decide to treat yourselves and your guests to some extravagances you might not consider for a large wedding

you can read the entire article here Wedhead waxes about rehearsal dinners..., and follow Marcy's blog here!

*On a side note, I had the opportunity to see Marcy Blum speak at Engage 08! Wedding Symposium and she is super down to Earth and a wealth of information and knowledge about weddings. She is speaking at the next Engage Symposium at the Wynn Las Vegas Hotel in October and if you are a wedding professional, you should check that out here. It is quite an investment, but well worth it!

Why Hire a Wedding Planner?

This is a question that I hear more often than not. I came across this great article that really hits the nail on the head as far as the why factor is concerned. I couldn't have said it any different, so check it out here.

Now that being said, I couldn't agree more with the article, BUT there is also the issue of finding the RIGHT wedding planner. A wedding planner WILL free up your time, negotiate the best prices, let you relax and enjoy your special day, but you must have a great working relationship with your planner. I would say that most of the brides Liz and I have worked with in the past have become somewhat close to us - maybe even friends... We get cards and updates, e-mails and photos of new babies, etc. Bottom line is they need to TRUST us, and feel comfortable with us taking care of the details and carry out the vision that they have created for their day.

So, when selecting a planner, and you really should if you can somehow manage it into your budget, make sure you select the right planner, and not just the one that may be the least expensive, or have the most experience, or "seems like" the logical choice because your best friend hired them. They have to really "get you" and what you want for your day.

99% of the time if you hire a planner with great referrals from friends and family, most likely they will be great with you too. But if you are stressing out before your wedding because your not sure the wedding planner has the details under control or isn't executing your ideas correctly, re-evaluate why you hired them and communicate with your planner, or even change planners. A hassle? yes. Will you lose your deposit? probably, Is it worth it - definitely.

You only get to do this once...Why hire a planner? Because you NEED one, and they are their to HELP you.