Archive for the ‘Advice’ Category

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What I do on a Wedding Day.

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

I recently met with a bride that asked me a very simple question that really got me thinking. She has a great team of vendors in place for her wedding day but asked me what I would do on the wedding day that the vendors she already hired wouldn’t do for her.

While the question was easy for me to answer, I was a bit surprised, it’s never been something a bride has asked before.

So, my answer: I am the Team Captain of the day. On top of making sure that all the small details of the day are as you planned them, it is also my responsibility to ensure that other vendors are fulfilling their contracts and are present for the events that they need to be. For example, it would be really disappointing if your photographer missed you cutting the cake, or if you the ceremony musicians began playing processional music before your bridal party was ready, or if the DJ announced the Father-Daughter dance and your Dad is nowhere to be found. You see, I keep everyone on time, remind other vendors of their roles, and most importantly ensure everything goes according to the way you have planned.

You may have a great team of vendors but a Wedding Day Manager is really  the only vendor who is familiar with all aspects and details of your wedding day .

Posted in Advice | 1 Comment »

Wedding Planning Q&A

Tuesday, May 10th, 2011

I’ve decided that I should re-introduce a series I started way back last year, Wedding Planning Q&A. The idea of Wedding Planning Q&A is to give brides an opportunity to get answers to the questions or dilemmas they may be encountering during their planning. [It's also a way to prove that my advice is better than the Knot's] So, if you have a question or you need someone to chat with, leave a comment or send me an email and I will answer it here on the blog.

Just to help you with some guidelines….well, that’s the thing, there aren’t any. Your questions can be as simple as, do I need to have a ceremony program? Is a cash bar appropriate? Or as elaborate as, how would you execute a 45 person processional? Don’t be shy, remember your old elementary school days- no question is a stupid question, especially when it comes to planning your wedding!

Ask away and we’ll debut the series next week!

Posted in Advice, Wedding Planning Q&A | 63 Comments »

You need to hire a Wedding Day Manager if…

Tuesday, April 12th, 2011

Your friend recently got ordained online and is planning on marrying you, but has never performed a ceremony (or rehearsal) before.

You’re 1 month into planning and are already having anxiety attacks and nightmares about the logistics of your wedding day.

You have a total of 5 hours of decor setup to do before your reception and the venue manager is only allowing you in an hour before cocktails start.

You wedding day vendor lineup includes more friends than “hired” professionals. Yes, friends can be more difficult to work with than strangers.

You understand the importance of the day to your family and friends and don’t want any of them lifting a finger.

Your wedding day festivities are being hosted outside. (Yes, even though it hasn’t rained on your wedding day in 100 years, you need a plan B and someone to execute it!)

Your wedding day involves more-than-usual interaction from your guests, such as lawn games or a scavenger hunt.

You feel like you are getting too much help from your friends and family. This may sound odd but sometimes it is really helpful to brainstorm ideas and discuss your wedding with people who aren’t personally close to you. This way no feelings can be hurt and your day can be a true reflection of you and your fiance.

Why are you considering hiring a Coordinator or Wedding Day Manager?

Posted in Advice | 2 Comments »

Why Are Wedding Dresses So Expensive?

Thursday, March 3rd, 2011

I would bet that this question crosses every bride’s mind at least once during her planning process. From the outside it is sometimes hard to understand why a simple wedding dress may cost more than an intricately designed one. Below are a few things to consider when you are attempting to evaluate the cost of a gown.

Designer: Just as every piece of clothing we buy, the designer really affects the cost. If you’re interested in a Monique, you’re paying for the name just as much as the quality and design.

Fabric: A gown made of synthetic fabrics will certainly cost less than a gown made of real silk. Like I mentioned above, a simple sheath dress may cost more than a detailed gown due to the fabric used to make the dress.

Details: A gown that has intricate hand-cut and hand-sewn details will be more expensive than a gown that has been sewed on a machine.

If your budget doesn’t support a dress made from the highest quality fabric or the most intricate design, try and consider where you can do without. From experience, most brides decide to lessen the quality of the fabric before choosing a different style or design.

Any other tips for buying your wedding gown?

Posted in Advice, Attire | No Comments »

A Colored Wedding Dress? Why not!

Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011

Recently a bride expressed some concern about the appropriateness of wearing a colored wedding dress rather than a white or ivory gown on her wedding day.

It took me a moment to respond to her (I had to catch my breath after jumping for joy at the thought!) but once I did the answer was simple. Of course you do not need to wear a white or ivory dress on your wedding day. Your wedding should be a reflection of your personalities and really, you can wear anything that you’d like.

While I love the thought of thinking outside of the box and wearing a bright color or pattern, I caution you to ensure the color is complimentary to you and that you really feel comfortable rocking a “non-traditional” look.

Also, my best advice for searching for the perfect colored dress is to head straight to a bridesmaid boutique. Most designers offer dresses in a variety of colors and it will certainly help you narrow down your search.

P.S. If you’re concerned that wearing a colored wedding dress might be too trendy, read this!

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Posted in Advice, Attire | No Comments »

Why My Advice Is Better Than The Knot’s.

Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

I realize this post is bold and you know what, I’m okay with that. I often censor what I write on my blog out of fear of what people might think but today, I’m taking a little stand.

I know the drill. A bride is gifted a beautiful ring, she calls her best friend to share the news, and then immediately she becomes a Knottie. Why? I was never a Knottie but I am going to assume here that most sign-up for the free advice and inspiration from fellow brides.

Alright, I’ll give The Knot some credit, they do offer some great advice and inspiration, but then again sometimes not, and I know that wedding planning can be overwhelming and some find it a great place to start to find vendors. Here’s a secret you might not know, vendors who are listed in their directory are advertisers. They aren’t  necessarily the elite wedding professionals of Milwaukee… remember they pay for that listing. Now, before I get a ton of hate email and death threats, there are many really awesome vendors that advertise on The Knot (some of my favorites in-fact!) but unfortunately you have to sift through the bad ones to find the good. Just a warning.

And, now, those community boards. Please remember that the brides who are offering up advice and vendor referrals aren’t married yet. Just because they hired someone and enjoy their personality doesn’t mean they are going to produce a stellar product or service. Just do your research and don’t rely solely on other brides, please.

Finally, here is my point. There is value in seeking the advice of a professional. We’ve worked with many different professionals and are happy to share our experience with you. Not only can we share our experiences but we can also save you some time. You don’t have to sift through a million threads to get an answer and I can also suggest vendors according to your budget, something most brides can’t do.

For the recond, I am happy to (complimentary) hand out vendor referrals. No, I don’t get a kickback. I simply want your day to be as awesome as it can be and truly, that starts with hiring the right vendors. Please, if you need a recommendation just send me an email. It’s FREE!!

P.S. If you’re a Knottie reading, I in no way intend to discredit you. You all offer great support to each other in dealing with wedding day woes and stress and I think that’s really awesome. I simply am reminding you to not believe everything you read.

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Posted in Advice | 3 Comments »

For the New Brides in Town.

Tuesday, January 4th, 2011

With engagement season upon us and new brides popping up almost every second, I thought it was appropriate to rewind and share some previous posts that will help you get started with your planning process. If you aren’t a new reader, don’t worry, I have fresh new content for you this week!

You’re Engaged, Now What?

Be Prepared For Your Initial Consulations

Choosing the Right Vendors.

Ditch the Pre-Made Timelines.

For Grooms Only.

Enjoy your engagement!

Posted in Advice | No Comments »

Invitation Etiquette 101.

Tuesday, November 30th, 2010

Some of the most frequent questions my clients ask are in regards to their invitations. Most of the time it is the same questions that every couple has asked before them so I figured I should share them and save everyone some time.

Can I email my invitations? No, in my opinion, under no circumstance is it appropriate to email your wedding invitations. If you are concerned about budget there are plenty of simple, budget friendly options available. If you are concerned with going green, again, there is recycled paper available.

My parents aren’t contributing financially to our wedding, can we still include their names? Of course you can! In most cases your invitation wording can be anything you’d like it to be, even if it includes or omits your parents’ names. Stylist and I chose to simply write “together with our parents” instead of separately listing our parents’ names and that is totally acceptable, too.

Can guests RSVP online? This question is tough to provide a straight-forward answer to. If you are allowing your guests to RSVP online because you think it is easier and more convenient for them, then I say go for it. However, if your 80 year old grandmother is going to be stressed out about using the computer than you can’t expect her to RSVP online. Also, I caution you to make it an all or nothing thing… you can’t have some people mailing in their response and some doing it online, it will cause some type of organizational disaster for you.

How should I handle guests being invited to the reception only? If your are hosting a wedding where not every guest is invited to all wedding-related events I would handle this very carefully. For reception only guests, send them a ceremony invitation and also a card outlining the times of the reception. For guests that are invited to all events send them the same ceremony invitation as the reception only guests and also a dinner and RSVP card. Again, this can be a little tricky so make sure the wording on the reception only card is clear so the guests don’t also show up to the dinner.

Any other invitation questions? I am happy to answer them!

Posted in Advice, Etiquette, Stationery, Traditional Weddings | No Comments »

Be Prepared For Your Initial Consultations.

Thursday, November 18th, 2010

With planning season upon us, it is my guess that you will be attending many initial consultations in your near future. I know these first encounters can be intimidating and a little bit uncomfortable but if you are prepared, you will feel so much better. Here is what I suggest bringing or thinking about beforehand.

A budget. No matter what type of initial consultation you are attending it will be incredibly helpful to have already discussed your budget. Looking around at your fiancee, family, and fidgeting when the vendor asks, “So what is your budget?” is way more uncomfortable than talking about it with those who are paying for your wedding. I promise.

Your style. Hopefully by the time you are at the place in your planning that you are meeting with vendors you have a distinct style in mind for your wedding. Again, no matter what type of vendor you are meeting with, this will most likely come up in conversation. If you are sure about your style it will also making choosing vendors much easier.

A timeline. I understand that it is completely unrealistic to have your entire day planned out before you choose any vendors. However think about things like:

  • Around what time will your ceremony occur? Morning, afternoon, or evening?
  • Will there be a first look?
  • Are you serving a dinner? Having food stations? Desserts only? (this will influence reception timing)

Thinking about these aspects will help you decide approximately how long you need to hire a vendor for, especially your photographer.

Your expectations. This is especially important when you are meeting with a Planner or Wedding Day Manager. If you are unsure of your expectations or what specifically you need assistance with, it will be difficult for us to create a proposal for you.

Any other advice you’d like to share for preparing for an initial consultation?

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Posted in Advice, Hiring Vendors | 1 Comment »

For Grooms Only.

Wednesday, November 10th, 2010

Dear Grooms,

Congrats! You are about to embark on the journey of a lifetime and I have some simple advice for you.

Play an active role in the planning- the planning of your wedding day and also the planning of the rest of your lives together. Make decisions. Ask questions. Give your honest opinion. Be present. Help remind yourselves what is really important. Appreciate every moment. Be grateful. Have fun. And, most of all…

Break tradition and decide to speak up and say something other than, “whatever you want, sweetheart.”

Posted in Advice | 1 Comment »

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