Pet Peeve #3

Here is a great pet peeve of mine---the bride who tells me that she has everything under control, has found people who will be taking care of certain things and all she needs me for is the day, "just to oversee that everything runs smoothly."

When I get to the wedding---no florist, the musicians are late, no one knows how to run the chocolate fountain, no one is handing out programs, the caterer has no idea where anything is or goes, one of the ushers is AOL, the groom's mother's is upset because she doesn't know where Uncle Arnie is going to sit, the rehearsal the night before was a bust and the bride is stressed beyond her capacity and is yelling at everyone. Oh, yes---everything is under control!

All of the above could have been easily avoided by simple phone calls, follow up, plans on paper and making sure that your wedding planner knows what is going on. Don't think that we can come in at the ninth hour, undo and then save what has been going wrong for months. We will make sure to do what we can, smooth it over, patch it up; and it will be wonderful, but by the time we go home at night from your wedding, we are beat on, chewed up and spit out like old rag dolls on top of the garbage pile.

If we tell you that 1 usher per 50 guests are needed, we are telling you this for a reason. If we advise you to follow up with every vendor one week before the wedding and make sure specifics are spelled out, we know from experience why we say this. If we tell you that every guy wearing a tuxedo MUST try them on BEFORE leaving the formalwear store---we know what happens when they don't!

If you are getting married and spending thousands of dollars on your event, why don't you want the very best? Don't you want to protect your investment?
The average wedding is over $26,000. That is over $2000 an hour for your wedding celebration! You would go to a professional to get your taxes done, pick out a car, or even pay a saleslady to spend time with you getting the right color of lipstick, but you won't spend money on a wedding planner who can help make your once-in-a-lifetime-day as flawless as possible, help you stay on budget, find the perfect vendors, and make sure that you are stress free---all because you think, "I can do my wedding myself."

We do weddings as our careers---how many weddings do you do in a year?

Pet peeves and such

As a wedding planner, I have a lot of pet peeves. Especially when I see that so many of these little things could be avoided with a just a little extra planning before the big event.

A photographer is late. All of the special intimate pictures are gone. The service has started and the photographer just catches the bride walking up the aisle. What about when she got ready? Who shot pictures of the groom as he greeted his mom and dad? This happened at a recent wedding. I was so angry at the photographer that I couldn't even trust myself to speak to him. He was supposed to arrive at 12:30. He didn't get there until the bride was walking up the aisle at 2:05. Now that doesn't seem very professional to me. This is not a dress rehearsal! This is the real deal! It isn't going to happen again, we don't recreate the special moments---they are gone; forever!


Guests who are disrespectful to the wedding couple by dressing down; so down that they must have mistaken the ballroom reception for a beachside hoe-down!
At a recent wedding, along comes a woman in wrinkled khakis, dirty (yes--dirty!) t-shirt and mis-matched shirt over that. Her hair was a mess. I was surprised since this was a very formal wedding held in a beautiful downtown hotel ballroom. The bride and groom were impeccably dressed. The mothers and fathers looked great, the bridesmaids and groomsmen were fancy, and most of the guests arrived suitably attired. So why did this particular guest's invitation say come as shabby as possible?

More pet peeves tomorrow.....

Location and Guests

Many brides tell me that they picture their wedding down by a beautiful lake with their guests looking on while they pledge eternal love. Others want an elegant affair in a marbled Conservatory, complete with orchids and rare plants. And still others dream of a wedding on their parent’s farm, with a gentle wind blowing through the decorated and rustic barn.
All of these ceremony sites are wonderful places to speak your vows and entertain your guests until you look at just who will be coming to your event.
If you long for a lake backdrop with the sun shimmering off the water, then asking families with young children is probably not a good idea. They won’t be listening to your vows so much as corralling children from playing near the water’s edge least one should fall in. Not conducive to romantic peace!
If your heart is set on the Conservatory with its twinkling lights under the hanging plants, then you probably won’t want to invite your fiancé’s side of the family to attend with their history of allergies. And if the great outdoors is more your style complete with hay bales and a barbeque, then please don’t put Black Tie Affair on your invitations. The two are not synonymous.

Matching your guests to your ceremony & reception location just makes good sense. If your reception venue has a myriad of stairs and no elevator, then asking Aunt Jane to attend will be impossible since she is wheelchair bound. Having Uncle Bob attend your ceremony in a hilly outdoor park may be impossible since he relies heavily on his walker to get around.
Careful planning for all of your guest’s needs will ensure a well attended and wonderful event.

This is not to say that you cannot have the dream Lake wedding, just provide babysitters for the very young while you speak your vows. As to the conservatory, choose a location that is plant free: a museum or art gallery perhaps if allergies run rampant on either side of the families. If your heart is set on the conservatory, maybe you can have your ceremony there with a small gathering of friends and family and invite the majority of your allergy-prone guests to the reception. Playing a DVD of the ceremony at your reception will ensure that no one feels left out. If you absolutely must have a black-tie affair on your parent’s farm, then securing a beautifully draped tent with waiters and serving staff will fill the gap quite nicely. Just make sure to provide sturdy walking paths from the parking to the reception site; no one likes getting dirt and sand in their Chanel sandals.

Going the extra step in deciding location verses guests, will certainly help guarantee that your event will last far into the night with its celebrations and joyous atmosphere.

The reception is a celebration

Your wedding ceremony should set a mood, gather people together and join you as man and wife; let your reception be a celebration.

Mingle with your guests beside a pond filled with candles and flowers if
you love the outdoors.
Dance the night away under a canopy of paper lanterns and paper love note
streamers if you are a writer.
Do you share a love of horses? Have your guests transported to the reception
site in horse-drawn buggies.
Have your reception in a wine cellar if you have a passion for wines. Serve
simple foods to pair with wine samplings.
Love art? Have your reception in an art gallery. Have a guide available
for impromptu tours. Serve dinner off a colorful collection of plates and
line the tables with single flowers in single vases. Connect the table into
one long line throughout the gallery.

Remember why you are asking friends and family to share in this wonderful time in your lives. You are pledging your lives together; sharing an intimate
moment with witnesses. Make it special. Make it as individual as you are. Make it lasting.

Start with a great ceremony

The ceremony is the start to a beautiful and memorable wedding....

Was your first date at the movies? How about sending out your wedding invitations in a popcorn box and greeting your guests to a video montage of special photos on a wide screen when they first arrive?
Getting married in winter? Present paper chain favors to all your guests;
as the chain unfolds, it tells the story of how you met.
Let your vows be a reminder of your love for each other. Involve your guests
by letting them read with you from the programs that are infused with the history of your courtship, fun childhood photos of the two of you, memorable poems or quotes---these treasured keepsakes help make your guests a valuable part of your lives.
Share a love of music? Send out invitations on a scrolled music parchment.
As guests arrive for your wedding, have a favorite band/orchestra/musician playing.
Want something simple, yet elegant? Have your friends and family surround you as the officiate performs the ceremony. The closeness of the action will create an instant bond.
Since your ceremony sets the mood; let your reception be a celebration.

(More tomorrow)

Now what?

You have said “I do!” Now what?

Everyone has their own ideas and ways to do things.
Many so-called experts will be giving the soon-to-
be bride and groom all sorts of advice---
“Hold your reception here...”
“You must hire a DJ...”
“You have to have a sit down dinner...”
“You have to, have to, have to...”
Everyone has an opinion! Pretty soon, your wedding has turned into a
media, free for all three ring circus and you and your mate are wondering
why you didn’t elope!

Want some tried trusted advice? Calm down, take a deep breath and start
from the beginning. Why are you having a wedding in the first place?
What do you really want to share with your guests?

Your wedding day should be as unique and special as you are. You want to
create an eventful memory of the beginning of your lives together as you
exchange vows of love and promise before friends and family.
To do this, incorporate those elements that define your lives together as a
couple---creating an event that creates lasting memories.

Your guests probably won’t remember the vials of bubbles that they were
suppose to blow at you as you walked down the aisle. They probably won’t
remember whether you served pork or chicken at the reception, but they
will remember the mood that you created. The ambience of romance for the
day that they shared with you. After all, your guests have gathered to celebrate
this special occasion with you; give them something to celebrate.

Start with a theme. Build your wedding day around something near and
dear to your hearts. Create a story. Involve your guests. Make memories to last
a lifetime. Whatever your individual passions may be, these are the starting
points for a memorable event.

The ceremony is the start...

(more tomorrow)

Having it all

I spoke with a bride a few weeks ago who was inquiring into using me as a florist. She talked about the flowers that she wanted, the style that she envisioned, and the day as it unfolded. She had beautiful ideas and I could tell that she had dreamt of this special day for a long time. Unfortunately, when it came time to order the flowers and the decorating items, she had to tell me that her mother decided that she didn't need fresh flowers at the the wedding and that whatever the hotel had was good enough!

Good enough; a mirrored tile, small rose bowl and one lonely floating candle? My heart just broke for this young lady. She was clearly crushed and walked away with such a sad look on her face it was heart-wrenching! The mother did so much damage that day with her daughter, that only time will heal this wound.

Now many of you will say; it is only one day, flowers are expensive! I don't blame the mother for not wanting to shell out big bucks, you are just upset because you didn't get the order!

First off, I am not upset because I did not get the order. I did end up doing a small bouquet and corsages. I have enough business to keep me busy for the next 3 years!

Second, it is a shame when couples or parents these days don't understand the commitment that a marriage takes and laying a good foundation is a good way to ensure longevity in your marriage. All of this from a flower order? Consider this---couples that spend time planning their weddings together, meticulous in the every little bitty details that will make the day perfect; orchestrating their nuptials together and consulting each other for the decisions are 10 times likely to stay together longer than those couples with an "I don't care attitude."

I don't know about you, but if I am going to spend the money to get married and want to celebrate with family and friends, then I am going to do everything in my power to make it beautiful and spectacular right down to the little bitty details whether it is for 10 or 1000. You can be sure that I will do the same for my marriage as well.

Instead of discouraging couples to have it all, let's encourage couples to have everything in their marriage with each other. Let's go for marriage longevity instead of a glamorous party show-off affair. Let's go for love and commitment instead of a drunk fest. Let's get rid of the "whatever's" and work to make it past a 50th wedding anniversary.

A plan to succeed

As it is so often in life, it only takes one bad apple to spoil an entire basket full.
This is true for almost every aspect of life--and very true for a wedding or event. Planning or at least having a contingency plan for just such happenings is the difference between a ho-hum event and a spectacular event that makes your guests leave with a smile on their face.

Planning for everything that may happen at your wedding might be impossible, but at least being prepared is one sure way to have a smooth going event. A planner does this very sort of thing for their clients. We plan for the wrong, the right and everything in between. We look at an event from every angle and try as hard as we can to strive for perfection--smooth sailing throughout the entire day. It doesn't always happen as planned, but at least, we are prepared.

The wedding couple should be prepared for anything as well. They should actually prepare their minds to know that whatever happens on their special day, nothing should dampen the spirit of the day---their wedding day. The bad may happen, but knowing that something may happen and not sweating the small stuff will ensure that you both have a more pleasant day filled with memories to last forever. Just knowing that you will be able to look back one day and laugh about cousin Eddy falling into the cake helps. It didn't seem so great at the time, but at least you were prepared. It is only a cake, your guests didn't starve and you did save the topper!

Plans are best when made in advance, but quick thinking also counts for over 30% of successful events. Plan to succeed, but without a plan, you will plan to fail.

Are we having fun yet?

Planning a wedding can be a very daunting process for some wedding couples. There are so many choices to choose from, so many ideas and personalities to deal with, and in most cases, a limited budget to pull everything off with.

Do where does a couple start?

Referrals from friends and family members are often a great place to start. So are bridal shows. Bridal shows are a great way to meet vendors, solidify vendor-couple relationships, sample the latest and greatest int he wedding industry and gain new ideas. They are also a great place to book your wedding services.

I am hosting a wonderful show this Sunday at the Meskwaki Convention Center. Their new facility was completed in March of this year and we are debuting, so to speak, with a spectacular show. Great vendors, fantastic cuisine, mini seminars including Iowa's own butterfly lady and a fashion show to rival anything on the east coast. The vendor show starts at 11 am, the seminars start at 1:30 and the fashion show is at 2:30. You don't want to miss this one, as we plan on having a lot of fun!

So come visit us, stay for the vendors, book your wedding services and rest assured that you will have the greatest wedding that you possibly can, because you did your homework beforehand!

See you Sunday!

Don't leave out the BestMan

I don't want to leave out the best man, so here are some hints for him.
Please remember that when you are asked to take on the role of bestman or Maid (Matron) of Honor, think twice, because not only is it an assignment of honor and special privilege, but it also involves work and dedication on your part!

Best Man’s role:

· Assist groom with wedding and reception arrangements.
· Host the bachelor party
· Attend pre-wedding parties
· Make sure groom’s attire is selected and picked up
· Remind groom of wedding details
· The best man stays with the groom throughout the entire wedding day.
· He accompanies the groom to the ceremony and acts as a calming force.
· He carries the marriage license and bride’s ring
· He carries the officiates donation. He also presents this donation on behalf and in the groom’s name to the officiate.
· He signs the marriage certificate as a witness
· Acts as Master of Ceremonies during the reception, if needed
· During the reception, he makes the first toast
· Help in newlywed couple’s departure from the reception
· He is responsible for returning the groom’s rented clothes as well as his own.

What does the Maid of Honor do?

I have had a lot of brides tell me that their Maid of Honor does nothing to help them plan the wedding. "Are they supposed to help me?" "Can't I ask someone else to be my Maid of Honor? I am not close to her anymore."

Fist of all, once you ask someone to be your Maid (Matron) of Honor and they accept, that is it. You are "stuck" with them, so make sure you choose wisely. This person will be by your side for the next few months of wedding planning.

And speaking of wedding planning--yes, your Maid of Honor is supposed to help you throughout the wedding planning process. No, she is not "cheap labor," but rather a calming force and person of action as you seek to create the perfect wedding.

I will give a list of Maid (Matron) of Honor responsibilities here. I am sure that some of you will disagree, but for the most part, your Maid of Honor is very instrumental is helping the wedding day go smooth.

Maid or Matron of Honor’s role:

· She is to assist the bride in planning the wedding. She should be willing to pitch in wherever needed.
· She is to stay with the bride at all times during the day of the wedding to keep the brides calm and assist with whatever help the bride needs.
· She helps the bride get ready. She helps to arrange the bride’s dress, veil and train. However, once the bride gets to the altar; she should not be fussed over, as it is distracting.
· She carries the groom’s ring for the bride
· She holds the bride’s bouquet during the ceremony
· After the ceremony, she stands in the receiving line
· She signs the marriage certificate as a witness
· Help bustle the bride’s gown for the reception
· Help bride when she changes into going-away clothes
· Make sure no personal items are left at the wedding or reception locations
· She may offer a toast at the reception if she wishes
· Help organize activities during the reception such as bouquet toss, dollar dance, first dances, and the newlywed couple’s departure
· She is responsible to host a shower for the bride
· The maid of Honor should bring a few things with her to the wedding---a “wedding day emergency kit” if you will. She can include such items as hairspray, a curling iron, nail glue, make-up kit, tampons, a small sewing kit, etc.

Father of the Bride

A very kind reader reminded me that I have not addressed the father of the bride and his role towards the newly married couple. He is correct, I do often overlook the father of the bride and for that I am sorry. Fathers play a very important role in the wedding. Many times, the industry has reduced their role to signing checks and walking the bride down the aisle, but in reality, they do so much more than hand over money.

They are the stalwarts of the wedding planning process. When all seems to be stressed and running amok, the father of the bride often steps in and restores calm and order. I have seen fathers step up to the plate, calm an entire audience with a certain superior air and then hand the event back to the newly married couple as if this was something that he did everyday!

I have seen fathers calm their daughters and speak reason when reason had seemingly taken a hike. I have seen them hang flowers, drape balconies, climb ladders, light tiki torches, figure out the electrical system, and chase after wayward ring bearers. Fathers are the backbone of the family and as such carry on with a quiet but determined force that has everyone calm and back in order.

So why is it that when it comes time to say a few words to his daughter and her new husband, that many men shy away from this honor task? Please don't! Your toast to your daughter and new son-in-law set the tone for the reception, puts everyone at ease, gives thanks where thanks is due, and elevates you to beyond hero status in the eyes of your little girl. It will melt the heart of your wife, bring a tear to your parent's eye and remind yourself of just how fortunate you really are in this particular moment of time.

So when asked if you would like to say a few words to the new couple, stand up, proud and strong and speak from the heart. This is not a time for funny punch lines, making fun of anyone, or even worse, airing vendettas. This is the time to say thank you, God bless, and let the couple know that you are there to support and love them as they mature into marriage together. See how important you really are?

Toasts; not roasts

I have been neglecting a very important aspect of the wedding reception---the toasts.

Giving a great toast is actually an art form in itself. It is a way to bring an entire audience together to give well-wishes to the wedding couple, bring good cheer to a room, and bless the happy bride and groom. Unfortunately, not a lot of people know how to give a good toast and more often than not, the toast actually turns into a roast; something to be avoided at all costs at a wedding.
Remember that everyone is equal at a wedding; this is not the time to bring our old vendettas, air grievances, or show partiality to family and friends. All guests are to be treated on an even basis, with courtesy and respect. Keep your ill wills for another day; another event---not at your wedding.

Below are some tips to ensure a well-received toast that will have your guests remembering what a great reception you hosted.

1. Be sure you have everyone’s attention. All eyes will be on you, so stand tall
and proud.
2. Start with a smile. It will set the tone for the room.
3. Look your audience in the eye; establish eye contact with the person or persons you are toasting first, and then let your gaze rove around the room, ultimately returning to the individuals you are mentioning in your toast.
4. Speak in a distinctive, clear tone; don’t rush your words.
5. Breathe. Take logical breaks in your speech for emphasis and to help maintain your composure. Avoid fidgeting and fussing.
6. Make sure to keep it semi short and to the point. If you find yourself emotional during your speech, take a moment to compose yourself. No one will think ill of your abilities when your true inner feelings come through.
7. Unless this is a roast, leave the funny sillies to the comic and definitely mind your language! If something that you say does bring a laugh, just enjoy the moment and wait for the noise to die down before you continue.
8. Don’t loose steam before your finish. Be sure you are ready to raise your glass and end your toast on an energetic upswing.
9. Relax and be natural. It’s a toast, not the firing squad!

Passing the bar - part 2

I am sorry, I couldn't resist. This blog has garnered so much attention that I just had to post a second reply to what seems to be a growing issue here in the Midwest; bar-hopping after the wedding ceremony.

I say a growing issue because it is the height of bad manners to make your guests wait for your entrance while you and your attendants are out cruising the bar scene. I understand wanting to celebrate is one thing, but going to bar after bar while your guests are waiting for you, is just not a very graceful thing to do.

I realize that not every wedding is going to be patterned after a ballroom affair, complete with white gloves and tails, but there are certain etiquette rules that should be followed for the sake of the entire wedding celebration. The number one rule should be the comfort and feelings of your guests.

I cannot seem to emphasis this enough---if you are inviting guests to your wedding, whether in town or out, then you owe them a certain amount of respect and obligation to see to their needs and enjoyment. Otherwise, what is the point? Why are you spending thousands of dollars to entertain and then the star attractions are late to their own party or worse yet, have moved the party somewhere else!

I don't care if your guests are eating the finest caviar and drinking the best champagne during the cocktail hour while you are out gallivanting around; the bottom line is this: you invited them to your party---you need to show up and show them a good time.

Can wedding couples not wait one day longer to hit the bar scene while guests are checking their watches, wondering when the happy couple is supposed to be arriving? After all, they traveled over half a day just to see the married couple---doesn't the wedding couple want to see them? Poor manners---you bet!

You think that I am too hard on the wedding couple? Think back to the worse wedding you have been to---how did you feel about the couple and their poorly planned event? Now you know how your guests feel.
Everyone processes information differently--some will agree, while some will disagree, but this is true---etiquette rules were designed to care for the comfort, social grace, and fairness of everyone in any situation.

Want your guests to take away fond memories of a loving couple and a happy occasion? Then be the host and hostess at your own party. Skip the bar and pay attention to your guests. Good manners always makes a good impression!

Passing the bar

There seems to be a new twist to the time old tradition of getting married.
Many of my couples are now visiting a bar in between the ceremony and reception. I have to ask why? Since when is saying "I do" a prerequisite for "Let's get drunk?" I don't understand the whys nor do I want to. There is no way around this etiquette--bad manners is just bad manners.

Keeping your guests waiting while you are taking shots in a local pub; getting your dress filthy with spilled liquor, grabbing hands, and staining food is not the way to start married life. You have guests and family waiting for you and you are starting the party without them? Driving around town, acting like fools while your guests wait for the newly married couple to make their entrance? And then when they do get to the reception site, they are drunk!

Now there's an entrance for you; the bride is so drunk that she promptly throws up upon entering the ballroom. I was mortified, the bride's mother was in tears, the groom completely wasted & laughing at his bride, and the mother in law disgusted with her new daughter. I can tell you that this was a rocky start and it only went down hill from there. Guests were very sad and mad. It didn't take them long after the dinner was served before most cleared out and the only people left were those too drunk to care.

It would have been better for the couple to spend their money eloping to
Las Vegas than to embarrass their guests and themselves.

Ottumwa Bridal show

For a first time show in the area, I think that the Bridal Show in Ottumwa yesterday went fairly well. Many vendors booked business, which is the whole reason for a bridal show.

The brides that came seemed to be appreciative of the vendors and what they had to show. The winner of the $2500.00 wedding planning and decorating package was very appreciative. She said that she was excited and seemed genuinely grateful. I love working with brides like that. They seem to "get it."

What is "it?" "IT" is the part of the wedding planning process when a wedding couple understands what a wedding is all about: their love for each other, the day and memories that will be made, the guests and their comfort & enjoyment. It is so exciting to see a couple want to relish in their special day. They don't worry about the hummer limousine, the bar hopping between ceremony and reception, or the endless little favors that clog up the janitor's dustpans. No, this couple understands that their wedding is built of memories of loved ones dancing and laughing. Of shaking hands, hugging guests, and thanking each one for coming to spend their time and day with them. For good food and good music. For decorations that tell a story and create a pleasant touch to the style of the day.

Wedding couples who "get it" make the most beautiful of all brides and grooms. They don't need the fancy trappings; they have each other and their guests. To them---it is a perfect day!

Bridal shows

Tomorrow is a great bridal show in Ottumwa.

Bridal shows are important to a bride so that she can plan her wedding in person. Even though over 65% of today's brides plan most of their weddings online, they still like seeing their vendors face to face.

Come to think of it, most of the population still likes the one-on-one service that we look for when making a purchase or seeking a service. We like to see who we are talking to. We like the human contact and knowing that we are important to another person. So it is very sad to me when I hear brides that go online to order their dresses. They miss that human touch; the pampering and fussing over when a girl tries on a wedding gown for the very first time. It is a magical moment to be sure. You can't get that when you move your mouse to click on sold!

Vendors like bridal shows as well. Even though the internet is a great way to get out your company's information, it is seeing, feeling, tasting and touching the final product that often makes the sale a done deal. Vendors like displaying their talents. They like the ooh and awe---just like the rest of us do. It is a lot of hard work, but in the final hour, when a bride points to a cake and says, "Mom, I want one just like that!" then that vendor knows he has done a good thing.

So take a beautiful drive tomorrow and come visit us. The vendors will love you for taking the time to see what they have done and the wedding couple can plan their dream wedding, knowing that it will be just as perfect as they have thought it should be.

Getting ready for a bridal show

I have a bridal show in Ottumwa Sunday. It promises to be a great show with some wonderful vendors and lots of brides and their guests.

There is a lot in getting ready for a bridal show: lining up the venue, visiting the town to put up posters and save the date cards (several times!), finding vendors--getting turned down, then trying again, emailing brides, finding advertising sources, making programs, lining up vendor requests, setting up tables and linens, making signs for the vendor tables, lining up help for the registration desk, and the list goes on and on. Not to mention the decorating of the show, my own table, making sure that I capture every guest attendees' name, etc; I think you get the just of it all.

So it should come as no surprise to say that I invest a lot of myself into each and every show. If you think that bridal shows are money-makers, then think again. Almost every dime that I take in, it goes right back out for local advertising, venue rent, web site costs, etc. To say that a bridal show is good for the local economy would be a fair statement. I try to stay as local as possible with vendors, advertising, etc. This is good for them and good for us.

So......if you are in the mood for a beautiful drive this Sunday, come visit us in Ottumwa and say hello! We would love to have you join us.

Creating a perfect wedding in an imperfect world

How do you create a perfect wedding in an imperfect world?

Start with an attitude; purpose that your wedding will be exactly what you want it to be, and to do that, you need to define your wedding purpose: Formal? Chic casual? Hoe-down BBQ? Beach theme? Country Club gathering? Whatever your style, match it to the venue, your personality, and your guests.

Keep your guest's comfort always in the forefront of whatever you do. Pay attention to the details, because it is in the details that the difference is made. You might not think that anyone but you will even notice the details, but when you have several "details" that are not correct, pretty soon the whole is not functioning correctly and that is what the people notice, so pay attention to the details.

Define your budget and stick to it. Just because you are hosting a wedding does not give you a license to go thousands of dollars into debt. Know what is within your budget realm and plan accordingly. Want the big fancy ballroom reception but have tiny funds available? Learn to prioritize and know which things are important to give you the look that you want; learn to hold fast to those things can you go without to create the overall effect that you are showing to your guests.

Don't be afraid to think outside the box. Just because weddings have been done a certain way in your community, does not mean that YOUR wedding has to be the same way. Be creative, show your individual style off, treat your guests as the treasured friends and family that they are and your wedding will be perfect.

Client Services

As a wedding planner, I am asked to do all sorts of things for many kinds of people and situations. Because of this, I try to excel in the best client service I can. That is not to say that I hit the mark every time because of circumstances beyond my control, but I at least try to the best of my ability.
One way to try and be the best that I can is to anticipate needs before they arise. Anticipating needs means to be on top of your game, paying attention, and thinking on your feet.
Because of the attention to detail, I am more than likely to notice things when I am in the public eye that really cause me to question why some people are in the industry that they are in.

I was out to eat the other day and had to wonder why my food server was waiting on me when it was very clear that they obviously didn't want to. At first I was very upset by the impeccably bad service and even worse foul attitude, but then it got to be quite comical to see how this individual treated other people in the restaurant. If they liked the client, then they had a smile and the schmooze was turned on, if, for some odd reason, they didn't like you, then service was as bad as a muddy river and you were almost afraid to eat the food.

Lesson to learn? If you are in the public eye, then you should be treating people as you would like to be treated. If you show contempt, then that is what you will reap. If you are a friend to all, then your life will be full of friends--some met and some waiting for you to meet.

Bridal show this weekend

I have a bridal show in Ottumwa this coming weekend. It should be a great show with lots of brides. I have newspaper ads, mailed invitations, email blasts,
posters, Save the Date cards, and radio advertising; all designed to bring in brides and their guests.

There is a lot of work that goes into a bridal show and even more work once the day gets here. Set up, decorating, tear down; keeping vendors happy, keeping brides happy, keeping the venue happy. In short, doing whatever it takes to help everyone have a good time, help brides and grooms finish their wedding planning and establish good, solid relationships with vendors.

I like what I do. But I realize that the more I know, the less I know, so it is always a learning curve. A very wise individual pointed out to me recently that as long as we continue to quest for knowledge, our businesses will continue to grow and thrive. The very minute we become complacent, we die. I agree.

Not only with wedding planning and events, but with every business from the photographer to the cake designer, we should be constantly striving to grow our business and personal selves into entities that we care proud to say: I have done the very best that I can. When the majority agrees, then we have done a good thing.