Who Really Needs a Planner- Louis & Nataya

Louis and Nataya were married October 1st, 2011 at the beautiful Club at Key Center.  Their wedding was an intimate affair of close family and friends, who all loved them both dearly.  The most love to be seen, though, was between the two of them.  From the minute I met them, they shared this wonderful friendship together that every couple wishes to have with their partner.  Louis was amazing to watch as a very, strong man, who still had the softest place in his heart for his wife.  They had fun with the planning (even as I gave birth to a son during the process) and when it came time for the wedding day they both glowed.  Everyone in the wedding party cried during their vows and just as quickly everyone celebrated their new love at the reception.  Thanks to Larry Spencer of Spencer Photography for capturing it all!  

Q: What made you decide to hire a wedding planner?
A: Louis said having a wedding planner was a requirement as part of the engagement. I have a tendency to over analyze, and become overwhelmed by minor details. Louis felt that having a planner would make the planning less stressful for the both of us. 

Q: What types of things attracted you to each planner that you interviewed?
A: Honestly, we Googled Cleveland wedding planners, checked out a few websites and decided to contact planners based on the look and feel of their websites, online reviews, price and availability. 

Q: What was something that made you NOT want to hire a particular planner and on the same note what was something you found that made you WANT to hire a certain planner?
 A: According to Louis the first planner we met with was “too agreeable” and seemed to good to be true. We decided to hire All Events Planned because Louis felt like Brandi would “keep it real”. 

Q: What was the best thing your wedding planner did for you? 
A: There were so many things... she kept me from going insane by  entertaining several major meltdowns about invitations and chivari chairs. During the planning process she was informative and enlightening. Brandi was there at every step of the process to remind us that our wedding was about what we wanted for our day. When the vision became blurry she was direct and honest and helped to keep us focused while being professional and respectful of our choices
The day of the wedding she was our peace of mind. We never worried or second guessed whether something would be done. 

Q: What was something your planner did that you would never have thought of doing?
A: There were certain parts of the planning I would not have assumed need so much attention. ex timeline. However because of Brandi’s experience and attention to detail our wedding day went according to plan the wedding actually started on time !

Q: Did you feel that your wedding planner was worth the cost?
A: The level of service we received was beyond what we could have imagined. Priceless would be an understatement
  
Q: Was there anything you would have changed about your experience with your wedding planner?
A: Well, there was this one thing (I'll point out that the ONE thing was me finding out I was pregnant during our planning process and then giving birth to a baby two months before their wedding)........but how that was handled is what solidified our decision in knowing we made the best choice by selecting All Events Planned as our wedding coordinator. Brandi’s professionalism and commitment to her clients is undeniable. 

Q: Is there any situation where you could see why a bride would NOT want a wedding planner?
A: No. I do understand that some brides feel like they can manage the planning process. However your wedding day goes by so fast, as a bride I wouldn’t want to spend a moment of it worrying about details. Even with the smallest budget, a wedding planner is an investment. Brandi helped us stay on track with our budget and helped us save money along they way. Finally, having a planner allows for the bride, groom, bridal party, family and guest to enjoy being part of the overall wedding experience without having to fold napkins, light candles and/or que the DJ.  
Louis and I both agree that selecting All Events Planned was one of the best wedding planning decision we could have made. Brandi is someone that we now call a friend.

Here are a few more pictures of their big day from one of Cleveland's best photographers, Larry Spencer of Spencer Photography.  Megan and the staff at Key Center deserve a ton of credit as they are always so wonderful to work with too!  

Happy Planning!
www.AllEventsPlanned.com 

What I Learned in 2010

Well my wedding season is coming to a close.  I'm sad to say that while I had a busy "regular" wedding season, my off season didn't fill up like it did last year.  So, I end 2010 on October 22nd with a wonderful vintage carnival themed wedding with two amazing people.  I'm excited to start on new adventures during the "off season" and of course, to start the blogging back up.

I always wonder how much information is too much information to share with, well, everyone so I skip sharing info on my clients and try to share information to help you become a better planner or to help the bride, better understand her need for a planner.  This series will do both.

No matter how long you've been in the industry, there will always be things you can learn.  No wedding is the same, no client has the same expectations as another, so you never really "get the hang of it" while working.  You get the basics, but there are never ending changes. 

This year, I'll review what I learned from the new facilities I've worked with, the new clients I've had the wonderful honor of getting to know and any of the mistakes that might have occurred in the planning process.  Yes, I said mistakes, nothing to worry about but definitely found a few things I would have done differently for my benefit, not for the clients. 

First topic will be- "A Bad Vendor is a Bad Vendor"
Look for it soon...

Happy Planning!
http://www.alleventsplanned.com/

The Slow Season

Well, where do I even start.  The season is slowing down and my time is freeing up.  What is happening at this point though, is that people who want to get married next year, want to meet now to plan.  So to consider this "slow season" is a bit of a misrepresentation of what is going on. 

Wedding Shows start at the beginning of October and run through February.  If you choose to market your company that way, the timing is fantastic.  I'm not a fan of wedding shows for Wedding Planners.  If you want a Wedding Planner you find one, but you don't just see the service and decide to invest $1000 in someone you never considered having work with you prior to a wedding show.  That's just my call, they may work for others but I'm not sold.  Of  course, anything to get your name out is a good idea, so if you have it in the budget for your marketing, then go for it.

Clients start coming in during wedding season and keep coming through March.  It seems a rush of people get engaged around Christmas/New Year's Eve so you can always expect that rush of emails/calls around your holiday time.  You don't get a break when you are a Wedding Planner, usually the most important dates to other people are just as important to you.  It is your call whether you'll take calls on Christmas Day to book clients though. (I'm joking, sort of)

Another fun thing during slow season is catching up on your books.  That means finally logging all the miles from each appointment, event, rehearsal, networking event and lunch.  It also means finally entering all of the receipts from this year.  If you don't have a professional accountant, get one, this is NOT the time to figure things out on your own as there are too many "myths" about owning your own business and what you are and are not actually able to write off. 

Then there is blogging.  I'll finally be able to catch up on all things wedding.  I've learned so many things this wedding season that I can't wait to share.  I've even changed my ideas on somethings that I thought I knew everything about!  That's saying a ton since I thought I knew everything about everything!

I can't wait to get started, hope you are excited to start following along again.

Happy Planning,
http://www.alleventsplanned.com/

Pay Attention When Hiring your Planner...

While I think that every bride needs a planner, I KNOW that not every planner is right for every bride.  Just as much as you wouldn't hire a photographer that you don't like, or a bakery without tasting their work, you shouldn't hire a planner without getting to know them.  I don't many people that hire a planner on their first email, but just in case you are wondering how the process should go, here are a few tips from a wedding planner on hiring your planner.  Good planners know better than to tell you what you want to hear, during the interview process but planners who just see you as "money" will tell you whatever they think you want them to say.  So this will help in paying attention to little things.

How do they communicate?
If you are strictly an email girl and the wedding planner you are talking to, really only communicates on the phone, that's going to be an issue along the way.  If don't enjoy technology and your planner insist on emails, the planning process is going to be difficult.  If they can't even meet you on your terms to schedule a meeting, then you may want to reconsider.

How timely are they?
This is pretty easy, but sometimes overlooked.  If your planner is late in returning calls, emails or meetings then you will need to be prepared for that during the planning process.  If you are more of a laid back bride and a few minutes here and there don't bother you, then go for it, but if you schedule by the minute, this type of planner will not "fit" into your plans.

Where do they want to meet?
This isn't always easy for a planner.  When you are busy, it is sometimes hard to travel an hour to meet with a potential client, given they haven't booked you yet.  However, trying to meet you in the middle or giving you options is a better idea than if they insist on meeting you where they are located.  I'll always meet with a potential client at her wedding site, since that really allows you to see more of their vision, which in turn will give you a really good idea of how your styles will work together. 

When do they want to meet?
If you hire a planner that can only meet in the evenings or in the weekends, it usually means she has another job during the day.  While this isn't usually an issue for planners, it does mean that she won't be available 24-7 for you.  If you aren't in the search for a 24-7 planner, than this won't be an issue for you, but if you want someone dedicated solely to the planning of weddings, then you'll have to look elsewhere. 

What did they wear?
Yup, even this will say something about your planner.  While, I'm not implying that planners should be in gowns for all appointments, it isn't a good sign if your planner shows up in sweats or anything dirty/wrinkled.  Beyond the obviously, your planners style will be expressed in how she dresses, so you should get a good idea of whether you'll have the same style in planning.  If you aren't a cardigan and pearls kind of girl, then the planner who shows up in them, might not be the right fit for you. 

What did they bring?
Do they have wedding magazines to give to you?  Examples of their work to review with you?  An example of a contract to show?  A notebook to take notes?  Showing up with nothing, is a bad sign that your planner isn't prepared.  Showing up with poorly done materials or old/out of date items, is another bad sign.

Who do they recommend?
I have a HUGE issue with this one.  If your planner immediately says to you "Oh, I have GREAT vendors that I love working with" when you tell her you need recommendations, then you should head out of that meeting.  No planner should be able to recommend vendors to you until they get to know more about your style, budget, timeline, date and any other detail that would matter when hiring a vendor.  It shouldn't matter who SHE likes to work with, it should matter who YOU would work well with.  Of course you will want recommendations from your planner, and we all have them, but they shouldn't be able to give them to you until they know you and know more about your wedding. 

How do they leave?
Did they tell you they would follow up?  Did they insist you book on the spot?  Did they give you documents to review at home?  How they go is just as important as when they show up.  Pay attention to these small details and you'll make a better choice on hiring a planner.

These details are small, but will give you a really good idea on how your planner is and how you'd like working with her/him.  These details are small enough that they can't be "faked" typically.  Anyone can "say" they've been in business for years and done hundreds of weddings but few can convey that level of experience in their meeting ability. 

When all else fails, you can just email me and I'll let you know what I think about the planner you are about to hire. 

Hope you all have a wonderful summer, post will be limited during wedding season but I thought now was a good time to give some information on hiring since I've seen lots of articles that, I wasn't sure, covered, all the details.  Really, this one doesn't either, I could get more into the meeting and how it is run, but that's for another post!

Planners, if you aren't sure how you run your meetings or how you come across, ask a few friends to "pretend" to be brides and then give you feedback.  You might be surprised at how good/bad people think you are in a wedding meeting.  And, even if you think you are amazing during your potential client meetings, it doesn't hurt to hear that feedback from someone.  I've even asked people to sit in and listen to meetings that I have with potential clients.  There is no thing as too much constructive criticism, at least I don't think so.

Happy Planning and for most of you Happy Weddings for the 2010 Wedding season!!!!

www.alleventsplanned.com

Your Site Manager ISN'T Your Wedding Planner.

I enjoy this industry (if you haven't been able to tell) and I enjoy all the wonderful people that I get to meet.  So, I try not to be too disappointed of how some people view Wedding Planners.  We get a pretty bad rap, especially here in the Cleveland area.  I don't mind so much because, as you'll see from any planner's reviews the clients that do work with us, LOVE us.  As well they should, we help make their most stressful/anxiety-filled day calm and magical.  Who wouldn't love that?  Well the answer, sadly, is not everyone.

My current issue is Site Managers.  What that term means, in the sense that I'm using it, is the contact person you have at the facility you rent for your wedding location.  Either the Banquet Manager, Chef, Hall Coordinator, Site Director, etc..different names for people that run the facility. 

Now of course I don't mean ALL Site Managers, I just mean some, and it doesn't happen often but when it does it  is totally damaging to a coordinators ability to work at a facility.  Some Site Managers will go so far as to recommend that the bridal client DOES NOT hire a Wedding Planner.  Why, would anyone ever say this?  Well, the Site Manager will claim that they can handle all of the details that a Wedding Planner would normally handle.  They suggest that the Bridal client can save herself $1000's if she just doen't bother with a Wedding Planner who will "just get in the way of their staff" and "try to manage everyone/boss everyone around." 

UGH. 
There goes that client.  I've had a client tell me that she was reconsidering working with me after talking to her Site Manager because as the Site Manager put it she "really encourages her clients to NOT bring along a planner, as they don't like planners getting in the way" OUCH. 
Two things then. 
One, some of the fault of that impression will go to the "bad" and "inexperienced" planners in the area.  You get one planner who either things too highly of him/herself or another planner who doesn't have a clue what she's doing and I'm certain I'd tell people to stay away from Wedding Planners as well. 
The other thing is that we, as Wedding Planners, don't just come on the day of the wedding (at least I don't).  We have prior meetings, planning sessions, detail, layout and design meetings to get the entire day together.  There is no site coordinator who is going to come when you try on dresses, or come to the florist meetings or your tastings or organize your bridal party or help you pick out programs.  Yes, they manage on your wedding day, and they are familiar with the site, but without the proper planning and involvement, it won't matter what they know, since they don't know the details.  I would say that "Day Of" isn't hardly half of what I do.  You work with clients 6 months, 12 months, 18 months prior to their wedding day and you get to know all you need to know about the event, the bride, her family and her friends.  That is what you need to know, to make everything work. 
With all that being said, I was, at one point, one of those people who worked for a hotel and didn't really understand why a planner would come along, so I do have to admit, I understand. 

However, I would never have suggested to a client that they NOT hire a planner as no matter what they did, they always seemed to make my job easier and do some of the tiny detail work that I never seemed to have time for and in the worst case they would jump in and help with the HUGE work that we were running around trying to get done.  I guess I never ran into a "bad" planner while working as a Site Manager.  Maybe that's why I don't understand.  Maybe it is because, no matter how difficult someone is to work with, I would always respect their position in the industry and know that hindering their ability to work, to be successful and to do their best, isn't going to end up making anyone look bad, except, well me.  And, no one should want to look bad.  Right?

Any Site Managers want to chime in?  Any Planners have any stories of Site Managers that you have dealt with or are dealing with?  Love to hear your feedback

Happy Planning,
http://www.alleventsplanned.com/

Featured on Jerry Bruno Blog- 2010 Trends

There really isn't anything more exciting than being asked your opinion on all things weddings.  However, there are a few things and having your opinion featured on a site, that tops the list!  Having it on a site as widely seen/read as the Jerry Bruno site, is TOP, TOP of the list. 
So, do me a favor and check it out!  My ideas for some 2010 Trends for the Cleveland market!

http://jerrybrunoblog.com/

 Jerry Bruno Productions is a widely known entertainment company that offers everything from the top DJ's to some of the most amazing bands and even jazz and ceremony musicians.  You can check out their site here- http://www.jerrybruno.com/

Happy Planning,
http://www.alleventsplanned.com/

Rehearsal Ceremony Tips

Of course, I have tips for all areas of your wedding, but I'll start with the Rehearsal Ceremony.  Not one the most difficult aspects to wedding planning but certainly one that can cause some headaches.

1. Make sure everyone knows what time it starts.  If it starts at 6pm, then it needs to be clear it STARTS at 6pm, not that people should just start arriving at 6pm.

2. Figure out who is in charge.  Does your pastor/rabbi/officiant want to run the ceremony or will your wedding planner be in charge of organizing the ceremony?  Or, do you have a ceremony coordinator on site?  If so, try to meet with him/her before the rehearsal so you will get a feeling for their style. 

3. Have directions to the rehearsal ceremony and then to the dinner after.  This way there is no confusion for the people that have come in from out of town. 

4. This may seem silly, but make sure everyone stays sober.  Depending on your religions and traditions there may be a lot for your bridal party to remember AND to listen to, the last thing you need is someone being tipsy then and missing our on their part the next day.

5. Try to explain what roles each person will have and whether you want them to practice at the rehearsal ceremony.  If your uncle is doing a reading, tell him if he should do the actual reading or if you just want him to stand up to acknowledge he is doing it.

6.  Have all the props that you need, there that evening.  You are going to be nervous and stressed and the last thing you want to do is just "wing it" without something there.  Make a list of items, have someone make sure they are all there, that way they will be there when you arrive the next day as well.

7. Make it clear to everyone that this rehearsal is a BIG deal and that they need to pay attention.  Be sure to explain to your family and friends WHO is running the ceremony so they know who to listen to and follow for direction.  Rehearsals have last two or three hours long because of "rowdy" bridal parties and too many people trying to give direction.

8.  Have opinions on what you want to see.  You will be at the end of your ability to make decisions at this point, but force yourself through one last night of details.  If you don't "care" or it doesn't matter anymore, someone else will be making the decision for you, and you may not be happy with the results.

9. Stay on schedule.  You will more than likely have some type of event scheduled after the rehearsal so keep track of time.  Your guests may have just come from work, or from driving a long way, and they too will want to head out for dinner sooner rather than later.  You'll have plenty of time to catch up with everyone at the rehearsal dinner, so keep on track with doing only what you came for, rehearsing. 

10. Relax.  This is the one part of your wedding day you get to "practice" and it doesn't get much better than that.  You actually get to run through this process one, maybe even two times so trust me, you will be ready by your wedding day.  You'll be too nervous/excited/anxious the next day to remember much anyhow, so just enjoy the night before your wedding day. 

Hope those tips help!  Keep on the lookout for more to come!

Happy Planning!
http://www.alleventsplanned.com/

Secrets Behind- Photography

One of my favorite things about wedding day is the beautiful wedding day photography.  Photographers have become amazing artist and it isn't because of the digital camera.  It is because the wedding industry has been blessed with very talented, artistic, creative and unique people.  It is filling up with them actually.  Thankfully, for my brides, it is easy to know good work from the bad, just look at the pictures.  Compare good photographs to bad and then compare GREAT photographs to good, the difference is tremendous.

With that being said, I am once again, featuring a photographer on my "Secrets Behind" series.  I don't think there will ever come a time when I run out of good photographers for this series.  

Now SECRETS BEHIND- PHOTOGRAPHY by Julie Hahn of Sugarbush Design

We were introduced to Julie through one of our 2010 bridal clients.  Our bride found Julie and fell in love with her work.  We are very excited to work with her and to see the great results from her photography.  The ceremony is being held at Cleveland Botanical Gardens and reception at Signature of Solon, both will make for great backdrops for the wedding photos.

And now for the "secrets"
Q: What is the biggest misconception about your industry?
A: That all photography is the same.  I don’t think people know that people can specialize.  Landscape photography is different from sports photography which is different from architectural photography which is different from street photography, etc.  There are different techniques, skills and equipment that apply.
For wedding photography specifically, I think the biggest misconception is that you can save money by asking a family member or friend to shoot the wedding. There are a few things I would advise wedding couples to consider if they want to go this route:
•    Ask yourself if you want your family and friends to be your guests.  It is very hard for your friend to do both and he/she will still think of themselves as a guest even if they are supposed be taking pictures.  For example, if they want to have a drink or catch up with out-of-town friends, then that's time that they’re not taking pictures.  Also, if they're drinking, the photos will be blurry.
•    If your friend isn’t a professional, you might not save any money.  I spent several months this year fixing wedding photos for a bride who had a family friend cover the event.  The time, expense, frustration and heartache that it took to bring these photos to a place where we were both comfortable with them was substantial.
•    If you have a professional photographer as a friend, consider what you are asking them do. Are you expecting your other friends to give you a $3,000 gift for your wedding? 

Q: What are a few mistakes brides sometimes make when choosing their photographer?
A: Not having an opinion.  The best thing a couple can do is have a well-considered, unified, heartfelt opinion.  I think everyone is so deathly afraid of becoming a ‘zilla of some sort that they think the best position to take is one of “Oh, I’m easy.  I don’t care.”  But if you don’t have a clear vision of what you’d like to see happen, then everyone else will be guessing and will be influenced by their opinions, not yours.

Q: What things should a bride look for, look at, when selecting a photographer?
A: Compatibility – both in terms of style of photography and personality.  I cannot imagine having someone whose company I didn’t enjoy following me around all day with a huge camera.  I’m sure my smile would be less than genuine
Consistency – every one of us is capable of taking a stunning picture…once in awhile.  It’s a different situation to be able to take really good, quality photographs (in addition to the “great” ones) over the course of 10-12 hours straight under a wide variety of conditions.  In checking out photographers, I would ask to see complete wedding galleries of a few different weddings to make sure your photographer can cover the entire event.

Q: What is the one thing a bride should save on when booking with you?
A: Well, I’m an all-inclusive kind of gal.  I book for the full day so that I don’t have to worry about looking at my watch wondering if they are going to start the first dance on time. Wedding couples are really saving on the potential added costs of needing extra time when they book with me.  

Q: What is the one thing a bride should splurge on when booking with you?
A: Ordering prints and albums.  Most wedding couples want their images on disc so that they can print them out themselves which is totally understandable.  However, no photographer can guarantee how the images will look when printed at Costco, Target, Walgreen's, etc.  All of those printers are different machines with different specifications.  Professional photographers calibrate their monitors to match their photo labs’ printers to ensure that what we see on our computer screens will match our prints.  Also, the photo paper will be professional grade which makes for better quality, longer-lasting photographs.

Q: What is the worst mistake a person in your industry can make?
A: For people starting out in the photography business, I believe it is a big no-no to “borrow” images from another photographer, with or without their permission, to build a portfolio or start a website.  That might sound like common sense, but it happens and it’s yucky.
I have a friend who was second shooting (not the primary photographer) at a bar mitzvah and the main photographer was scolded by the rabbi, during the ceremony, for moving around too much and being too intrusive.  Yikes!

Q: If you had a client who had endless funds what unique ideas and products/services would you offer them?
A: Well, I would love to travel and do a destination wedding, but I’m sure everyone says that.  With unlimited funds, I would do a full-on, magazine-style shoot complete with every kind of stylist I could think of.  Scout some crazy locations (and these places would probably charge serious money to shoot there), have some fun wardrobe changes, maybe a few wind machines, I don’t know…it would be great.
One thing I don’t think I’ll ever offer, but would love to see is for the wedding couple to hire really trustworthy and fun babysitters who can care for and entertain kids at the wedding…maybe in an adjoining smaller room.  I think it’s always a difficult thing to exclude kids from weddings and I think the parents would appreciate having their kids invited to the event, but also free to enjoy the evening.

Q: What are a few things that bridal clients should review in contracts with their photographers?
A: Timelines, cancellation policies and what is expected from the wedding couple/bridal party.  A good example is when there is a group photo to be taken and someone wanders off.  The photographer can’t take the time to go find that person, if we even know who it is!

Q: What is something you wish all of your clients knew, or a certain thing you wish all of your clients would do to make working with them easier?
A: My request is not so much for the wedding couple, but for all of the wedding guests and non-photo/video vendors out there.  Please be aware of the photographer and videographer.  We are being paid to capture this unique day and when we need to compete with guests and other vendors for space, placement, and time, it causes delays and missed shots.

I just want to thank Julie from SugarBush Design Photography for really getting into the interview and giving some thoughtful and VERY helpful answers to the questions we have.  I think these interviews can benefit everyone in the wedding industry by allowing us all to see the event from another perspective.  It will make better wedding vendors and better brides, in the long run.

Happy Planning,

Brandi 

All Events Planned




 

You Don't Want to Hire Me?!?

This post is strictly for the Brides that read my blog, although it can really be applied to any situation where you have meetings with several vendors before deciding on the right one.

Here is the scenario-
We've met, had our initial consultation (which is free) and we reviewed my experience, my skills, my pricing and most importantly, the details of your wedding.  I enjoyed our time together and as I leave, you agree that you enjoyed our meeting and will get back to me as soon as possible to let me know about your decision.  
Then a few days go by so I email you to check in and see how things are coming along.  Nothing.
Then about a week or so goes by and I email/call you to check in and see how things are coming along.
Nothing.
Then a few weeks, and of course, the sales person in me, won't let me just give up so I email/call again and..well, ya, you know
Nothing.

Of course by this time, I should "take a hint" but at the same time, I'm going to want to follow up, just in case you got busy.  I also don't want my lack of follow up to be interpreted as a sign of laziness or bad follow through.  (I'm super critical of myself in business situations, so I worry about everything) 
What happened? 





Well, truthfully, I know what happened, but I would rather hear it from you.  I know that you met with another planner and that you two just "clicked" right off the bat.  I know that because I've been the planner who meets with someone and gets a contract on the spot, when we "click."  
The biggest favor I have, and I'm really begging all of you, is to let me know that.  Tell me what you liked and didn't like about our appointment and why you decided to go with someone else.  You won't hurt my feelings and nothing is better than some constructive critisism from someone who you DIDN'T "click" with.  
You don't have to do it over the phone if you aren't comfortable, just send me an email.  Just say something, even if you don't want to spend the time detailing it out.  Most of the time, when I walk out of our meeting, I know if you are going to book with me or not, so I won't be too surprised about not getting the deal.  However, I will be happy, after spending an hour or so with you, to get some feedback on our meeting.  If you are willing to sit down and share intimate details about your wedding plans, family and friends shouldn't you at least be willing to share some feedback with me on our meeting?  

That's my favor to all you brides out there and I am certain that any planner you meet with will agree that they would love to know why you chose someone else.  How else will we all get any better if we never know what we are doing wrong?  


Thanks in advance, I'm going to go ahead and email you now to follow up.  This time, email me back!  


Happy Planning!
Brandi
www.alleventsplanned.com

Who Really Needs a Wedding Planner- 2

The response from the last interview with a bridal client was HUGE and I am SO glad because I think this might be my favorite series.  I'm really interested in hearing from brides that used other planners, so if you did use a planner (not me) send me your answers so I can post it on the blog in the next edition of "Who Really Needs a Planner." 

To follow up with the series I have an interview with a bride that was referred to me through At Last Event Planning.  Here are a few photos from her wedding.

Photos are all courtesy of the great and wonderful people at Z Media.  

 

 

Q: What made you decide to hire a wedding planner? 
A: I hired a planner within the last month of the wedding planning because the details of the day became overwhelming. It was reassuring to know that she would be there to oversee everything that needed to be done on my day so I didnt have to worry about it.

Q: What types of things attracted you to each planner that you interviewed?
A: I didnt interview planners, only Brandi, and she seemed very organized and professional.

 

Q: What was the best thing your wedding planner did for you? 
A: EVERYTHING!!! Basically, handling the little details that I couldn't do on my actual wedding day and coordinating with each of the vendors to make sure they were where they were suppose to be that day!!

Q: What was something your planner did that you would never have thought of doing?
A: At dinner, she came to the head table, asked the bridal party if we needed anything, and offered to get us drinks!

Q: Did you feel that your wedding planner was worth the cost?
A: Definitely!!

Q: Was there anything you would have changed about your experience with your wedding planner?
A: No.

Q: What was something you wish you would have known before hiring your planner?
A: I only wish that I would of hired Brandi sooner! It would of alleviated a lot of stress on my part.

Q: Is there any situation where you could see why a bride would NOT want a wedding planner?
A: Only if she could not afford it.

The best part of Christine's last answer is that most planners can work with a bride on any budget.  You cut back the areas you don't need more service and you only use a planner during the most important aspects of your wedding planning.  That way anyone, on any budget can still enjoy the expertise and knowledge of a very skilled planner.  I don't ever suggest hiring a less experienced planner because they are "cheaper" unless you are prepared to work with someone, with, well, less experience.  

Bride's send me your interviews, I want to hear about other planners as well!  

www.alleventsplanned.com 

My Interview on Planner Wire

Check out my interview with Serenity Knutson, Editor in Chief of Planner Wire.

Click Here
http://www.plannerwire.com/article_template.cfm?aid=1749&sid=30

What do you think of the interview, have any feedback or even better/different answers, let me know!

What does a "Day Of" Do?

I will follow up on this subject matter throughout the course of the blog, but I thought these were some good perspectives from, all of vendors, photographers! 

Ask the Experts: What Does a Day of Coordinator Coordinate?

by Marta

Ask the Experts is your chance to get wedding advice from a panel of wedding professionals. If you have a question for our panel write asktheexperts@onewed.com.
Dear Ask the Experts,
I see a lot of articles suggesting that I get a Day of Coordinator. But, I’m a little confused about what exactly a Day of Coordinator does. What does she coordinate? I’d love to hear from some caterers/florists/photographers/musicians if they prefer it if a bride has a day of coordinator.
Thanks
Possibly Uncoordianted
Mark at VideoMagic Productions says:
Strangely enough, one of the first questions I ask my prospects when meeting with them (even before they reserve our services) is who they hired as their coordinator. Too often the response is "nobody", and I highly encourage them to consider hiring a "Day of Coordinator". The reason for this is simple. You are planning the biggest event of your entire lives and (probably) not only with no experience, but without the ability to ensure things run smoothly. When you host a party at your house, I don't imagine you mingle around like a guest. Typically a host will make sure drinks are filled, food trays don't go empty, things are organized and much more. Thus, although your wedding is different than a house party, it is MUCH bigger in scale. You want the comfort and knowledge that someone is with you throughout the entire day to ensure things run smoothly, particularly if things deviate from the original plan…and believe me, most weddings encounter issues that need to be handled. Good luck in your planning!
Rebecca Enslein of the Studio B Photography:
First off, I think the name “Day of Coordinator” is a misnomer of sorts. For anyone to have an idea of what is going on the day of your wedding, they need to be involved in the plans before that day so everything can run smoothly. They typically spend about 10-20 hours before the wedding day getting all the necessary information together like getting in touch with the other vendors, visiting the venue, and speaking with you about your vision for the day. The day of coordinator is basically there to make sure that you don’t have to worry about a thing when your wedding day rolls around. There are so many behind the scene things that have to happen to prepare for a wedding like accepting delivery of the cake, setting up all the chairs for the ceremony, setting the tables for the reception, helping the florist with decorations, etc. that if you had to do them on your own, you’d never have the time to get ready!
As a photographer, I LOVE to work with brides who have coordinators. We both like to keep things running on schedule, and when the bride isn’t stressed about all the tiny details, she’s able to be much more relaxed and that makes for better pictures. If you are getting married somewhere that has a person that acts like a coordinator (for example, country clubs usually have very helpful and able staff in this department) you might not have to hire an outside person to handle things. However, if you are getting married in a park or another location that doesn’t traditionally do weddings, you’re better off hiring a coordinator to make sure everything goes according to plan.
About the Experts:
Mark Salloum is the owner of VideoMagic Productions based in Canton, MIchigan. He has traveled the country producing weddings for nearly 2 decades while earning countless awards for the quality and creativity of his cutting-edge wedding movies.
Rebecca is the owner of The Studio B Photography in the Atlanta, Georgia area. As a recent bride herself, Rebecca is able to better understand what her clients need and enjoys providing them with images that capture the joy of their wedding day.

Secrets Behind a DJ/Entertainment Service

The "Secrets Behind" series has been a huge success and I have really enjoyed learning new things from different vendors.  Certainly a vendor that everyone has looked into at some point, is the DJ.  The stereotype has long passed, hopefully, but I will still say that there are some stragglers holding strong to the DJ image.  I'm grateful to have an interview from someone who has never had the stereotype and has been around long enough to have proven how good a DJ Service really can be. 

Without further delay I present:
Secrets Behind DJ Service by Rich Siebert of Beach Boyz Entertainment

Q: What is the biggest misconception about your industry? 
A: That all DJs are cheesy, they play music too loud and that all we do is just press play on an
i pod or CD player.

Q: What are a few mistakes brides make when choosing a DJ? 
A: They only worry about their music interest, forgetting about the 150 other guests attending the reception. Also many brides don’t dance & that’s big no-no.  Guest take the lead of the bride and groom and if they dance their guests will too but if they don't, well then you'll end up with an empty dance floor. 

Q: What things should a bride look for when hiring a DJ? 
A: First and foremost look for professionalism. Look for a DJ who will give the bride and groom exactly what they want, not what the DJ thinks is best.  Find a DJ who is not going to try to steal the show and who knows who’s day it ultimately is!  

Q: What is the one thing a bride should splurge on when booking with you? 
A: Lighting has come a long way and uplighting that can transorm any room into a glowing room with style or a monogram light with the brides initials or names projected on the dancefloor.

Q: What is one of the worst things that can happen when booking a DJ?  
A: I hear it all the time, the DJ overbooked and cannot do the wedding.  This not only causes the bride and groom undo panic, it is totally irresponsible of the DJ service.
 
Q: What is the worst mistake a DJ can make? 
A: Not properly training their DJs.  Weddings are the hardest events to DJ and while it is the DJs job to juggle the bride and grooms requests along with their guests, they need to make sure the timing is flawless and that everyone is fully entertained while communicating with bride, groom and parents so everyone is on the same page.  Several DJ services don’t properly train their DJ and this greatly effects the reception.  Proper training with scripts, troubleshooting, music knowledge, and overall flow of a wedding reception are crucial elements any DJ should be well aware of.

Q: If a client had endless funds what unique idea/service or products would you offer them? 
A: I would offer them a LED dance floor for their first dance.    This floor like the one at the Union Club in Downtown Cleveland is amazing and as soon as it’s turned on, all the guests gasp in amazement.  Every hall needs one of these.

Q: What is the one thing bridal clients should Review in contracts with their DJ? 
A: What the DJ is wearing, setup time, extra fees for overtime, really there are an endless amount of details to cover in a contract with your DJ.

Q: What is the one thing you wish all of your clients knew when working with you?
A: I wish all my clients knew how important the DJ is to the success of the wedding.  Several brides and grooms will spend more money on a cheese and veggie tray than they will on entertainment for their entire event.  While food is important, dinner only lasts about an hour.  Your entertainment can lasts for about 5 hours, so you should have wonderful music and a DJ who handles all the details.  That way everyone leaves the reception hall saying “That was one of the best receptions I’ve ever been to!"  That is priceless!  I would also wish that brides would consider this:  your choice of entertainer is an insurance policy against bad memories of a disappointing occasion. (that you will remember for a lifetime)

Thank you again to Rich Siebert of Beach Boyz Entertainment.  Check out their website here.

I hope that my readers are starting to understand that while some aspects of a wedding don't seem to be fun and glamorous to plan, all aspects are important to the success of your wedding day.  Having a planner who knows that and respects vendors for their services is crucial to a wonderful wedding day.  Even without a planner, remember that if even the smallest detail goes wrong, it will be the one detail you will always remember. 

Look forward to more in the secrets series in 2010 and of course, contact your favorite vendor so they can be featured on the series. 

Happy Planning!

Just Turn on the Lights!

I can say, in all honesty, nothing is worse (not even a screaming bride) than staff on-site that do not enjoy working with a wedding coordinator.  Since I came from a background of event planning and do know more aspects than that of just a coordinator (banquets, service staff, management, bartender) I understand their thought process from time to time, but when they make my job difficult, that's when I no longer understand where they are coming from.  
My experience has been that if you go in and help with things, as opposed to demand things, you will always have a better experience for yourself and for the bride.  I have the utmost respect for every single person that works at an event site because even without just one of them, things would go off as well as they should.  Now, with all that being said here is my conversation with an "angry bartender" last evening, that actually gave me a chuckle.
BACKGROUND- Site is beautiful and is decorated (of course) in a Christmas theme with red, golds, ivory and even a little silver.  There are twinkle lights in very strategic places so that the room is evenly and perfectly lit.  However, the bar lights don't seem to be working, so I approach the bartender.
ME- "Is there anyway we can get the lights on before guests start arriving?  I want everything to be ready to go so I can show the bride the room."
BAR- "What lights?" "Oh, these lights around the bar, ya, they don't work" (he walks away)
ME- (when he returns) "Hi, okay, well if those lights don't work, I have LOTS of extra lights I brought just in case, so I'd be happy to set those up in the garland around the bar, I'll even just leave them here so you can have working lights."
BAR- "Okay, no, I just said they don't work." (walks away again)
ME- (now following him) "Well, I have lights that DO work, so I can put them up, you don't have to help or anything, I'll just get them situated myself, just show me the plug."
BAR- (now back at the bar) "Listen, the lights don't work, there is no plug back here for the lights."
ME- (pointing to the lights attached to the extension cord) "Well, here is the extension cord, that should help, right?  If it isn't long enough, I've brought extra extension cords."
BAR- (visibly annoyed) "Okay, I already told you, they don't work, there isn't anywhere for me to plug them in back here."
ME- (smiling, BIG smile) "Well, why is there an extension cord connected to them, if they can't be plugged in, in the first place." 
BAR- (putting closed sign on bar and leaving the bar) "I don't know but I told you they don't work."
WOW, all that time, that whole conversation and he could have just plugged them in for me, but no, it goes on.  Of course, at this point, I'm certainly not allowing this attitude to be acceptable, I hadn't done anything to this man and my job is to make everything perfect for the bride, I can't have anyone get in the way of that.
I approach Banquet Manager to discuss.
ME- "Hi, I know we've talked and everything is great, I just need the bar lit up, everything is light strategically and without those lit, the room doesn't look right."
BANQUET- (rolling her eyes) "Oh yes, I can see it doesn't look right, just let the bartender know."
ME- (totally understanding her eye roll) "I know, I know, I'm being a pain but my job is to make everything exactly as the bride request, so I have to get these lit."
BANQUET- (feeling badly for eye roll) "No, you are fine, you certainly aren't as bad as most of the planners we get in here."  "I'll talk to the bartender for you."
ME- (thankful but still annoyed ALL this had to happen to get lights on a bar turned on) "Thank you SO much, you know I wouldn't be worth what they pay me, if I couldn't manage to get the bar twinkle lights turned on."
At this point the Banquet Manager and Bartender discuss the lighting situation and then the Banquet Manager leaves and comes back with the Utility Manager who goes behind the bar and, yes, plugs in the lights.
I am not posting this to focus on people sometimes having a poor attitude.  My job isn't to worry about anything like that, it is only to make things go well for the bride.  My point is to show, those of you who don't believe in coordinators, how some of the most mundane, ridiculous and absolutely simple task can turn into 20 minutes of work, for no reason other than people like to be difficult.  Which in turn, is why it is sometimes good to have a planner so that you don't have to deal with them, because once you add this in to the hundred other things I do, it is a long and exhausting day. 

New Blog Series- Who REALLY Needs a Wedding Planner?

Something new I've come up with after working on a few ideas and a few different approaches will now become a new series on the blog.

What I've been working on doing is somehow conveying to those unbelievers, why they should hire a planner.  To the furthest extent, even trying to explain to those who have limited (to no) respect for the Wedding Planner career, why, they should in fact have the utmost respect for one of the hardest and most stressful career paths in the even industry. 

What I've come up with, in another interview process but this time it will be with brides who have utilized the services of a Wedding Planner.  These don't have to be bridal clients of mine, they can be from anyone who would like to submit an interview.  We will start off with one of my most organized bridal clients, who was, of course the first bride to get the interview back to me. Here are a few photos from her wedding.

Q: What made you decide to hire a wedding planner?
A: I felt like I was overwhelmed and needed reassurance. It also dawned on me that if something happened the day of, I was the only one that could handle it because I got ZERO help from anyone.

Q: What types of things attracted you to each planner that you interviewed? 
A: For Brandi- I felt she understood our situation and didn’t just shake her head and pretend. For the other- not too much, as nothing comes to mind.

Q: What was something that made you NOT want to hire a particular planner and on the same note what was something you found that made you WANT to hire a certain planner? 
A: Showing up in khaki cargo pants with Converse All Star shoes and then telling me that he really didn’t plan the amazing wedding I heard so much about, but simply organized what the bride wanted. Yep, pretty much crossed him off my list from there.
Also, although I might think it is cool that you are a personal assistant to Super Nanny, it isn’t going the get you hired as my wedding planner.

Q: What was the best thing your wedding planner did for you? 
A: Took everything to the hotel from the reception. Couldn’t have imagined doing it ourselves that night all dressed up and being utterly exhausted

Q: What was something your planner did that you would never have thought of doing?
A: I have no idea? She was on top of everything and I’m sure there were things but I never had to know.

Q: Did you feel that your wedding planner was worth the cost?
A: Absolutely! She earned every penny of it!


Q: Was there anything you would have changed about your experience with your wedding planner?
A: None.

Q: What was something you wish you would have known before hiring your planner OR what was something you wish you would have hired your wedding planner to do?  
A: RSVP Management from the get go, including them being mailed directly to her.

Q: Is there any situation where you could see why a bride would NOT want a wedding planner?
A: Only because she needed her head examined!?  One will never fully understand unless you have a smooth wedding and have brief updates about it throughout the day vs. attempting to micro manage everything the day of.

And there you have the unedited answers from an actual bride.  I'd love to hear more from any bride that hired a Wedding Planner for their wedding.  You can email me or contact me through my site www.alleventsplanned.com and I'll send you the interview to fill out.  I think this is a great series to show all brides, why they need a planner and also to give up and coming planners an idea of what brides expect from a Wedding Planner.   

Secrets Behind- Videography by red Bicycle Media

One of the most underutilized vendors in the wedding industry is the videographer.  Somehow the perception is that you'll end up with a grainy, 3 hour long video of every single minute of your wedding day, that you'll never watch again and that no one will want to see in the future.  That might have been the case before (a special thanks to America's Funniest Home Videos for proof of how bad wedding videos can be) but that is not the case now.  Videographers offer amazing work and artistic, funny, fun and even journalistic styles of videos.  After seeing some of the work of the videographers in the industry, I wish I would have hired one to capture my day.  

So, of course the following interview is with, yes, a videographer.  I've had the honor of talking with a few people at this company and their vision, their work and their dedication is definitely something to be impressed by, but if you don't believe me, you can just check out their site.  

http://www.redbicyclemedia.com/index2.php

Or you can click here and check out some of their latest work

And now I present you with- Secrets Behind- Videography by

Q:What is the biggest misconception about your industry?    
A: In our particular branch of videography, which is cinematography, people may think that creativity is "dead" and that all we do is "record" the event.
 
Q: What are a few mistakes brides sometimes make when choosing their videographer?
A: Brides may falter in their choice because of financial constraints and go for the company that charges less and produces a "recording" of the most important day of her life.                                                                                                                                       Brides spend more on other elements of her wedding such as a $2000 cake and fail to see that her wedding film will last for generations.                                                          
Brides need to find vendors who are willing to work with her in terms of payment plans, especially in these trying times.
 
Q: What things should a bride look for, look at, when selecting a videographer?
A: She needs to look for clear verbiage and accurate description of their work and examples of their work.
 
Q: What is the one thing a bride should save on when booking with you?
A: Their savings will be in getting more quality work than what they will actually be paying for.
 
Q: What is the one thing a bride should splurge on when booking with you?
A: Booking our company will actually be splurging, she will appreciate all the face time she will get with us in our effort to get to know the bride and groom and what is important to them and their story.
 
Q: What is the worst mistake a person in your industry can make?
A: Professionals should never get into disagreements with the client or members of the wedding party, this is often a product of miscommunication .  This is where clear verbiage is essential both on what is expected of the client/bride and the vendor.                      
 
Q: If you had a client who had endless funds what unique ideas and products/services would you offer them?
A: We have been in beautiful locations abroad and if funds are not a factor for the client, destination weddings are always fun.  
 
Q: What are a few things that bridal clients should review in contracts with their videographer?
A: Again, clear verbiage of what is expected from both parties before , during, and after the event.
 
Q: What is something you wish all of your clients knew, or a certain thing you wish all of your clients would do to make working with them easier?
A: Be themselves.  They have to know that their love for each other is what led them to this special occasion.  They should remember that they have special traits and qualities that their partner sees in them and knowing this should encourage them to be themselves and enjoy their special day.  That is what we will be there to capture, and that is why we take on fewer events so that we are able to spend a lot of time getting to know them and focus on the process of weaving together their unique love story.  

And with that, we now know a little more about what to expect when booking a videographer, so maybe it is something you can feel confident and comfortable looking into for your wedding.  As they said, this video can last for generations to come and if done well, will be something everyone, through each generation will cherish. 

Do you know of any good videographers?  Anyone have any feedback on their experience with a videographer?  This is definitely a subject that I'd like to continue posting about, since I'm very interested in seeing more videographer work done with the weddings I am working on.  All that work and money dedicated to the special day, why not always have the video for memories.

Email me or visit my site www.alleventsplanned.com to leave your suggestions!