Well, I’m having fun anyway!  So many weddings – so little time – and it’s always a pleasure!

If I were to label myself, and I hate labels, I would say that I’m more of a planner than a coordinator.  Planners excel at being able to take your vision – make it into something that exceeds your expectations – and be able to pull it off with calm, ease, and skill.  They know how weddings work – like the back of their hands.  They do not try to fit you into their mould, but look at what you want to do – and make it work.  This is  the advantage to having a “professional” planner on your side.

A greatly planned wedding and great day of direction are not mutually exclusive.  They feed off one another.  Like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, you need each piece in place to make the perfect fit – to see the perfect picture.

I don’t care how wonderful your wedding is planned.  If it’s not executed correctly – I promise you – it’s not going to seem so great.  Likewise, if the planning isn’t the best, a good day of person will take your visions and “work it” so it seems like it was planned perfectly.

Like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle – baby!

Professional Wedding Day Direction is an essential piece to the puzzle.  Essential.  Unfortunately, many couples devalue it and only see it as luxury.

So – I have put a list together.  It lists all the things we help our couple’s with when they hire us for Wedding Day Services.

Our comprehensive services include the following…

• 1-Initial consultation and 1-final details meeting 2-4 weeks prior to your wedding day
• Unlimited phone and email contact with Lisa
• Advice on all matters of wedding etiquette and procedure
• Access to a vast wedding planning resource library
• Unlimited vendor referrals
• General engagement checklist
• Walk through of your reception site with your caterer, floral designer, photographer, etc
• Personal timeline development and disbursement to family, wedding party members and vendors
• Final confirmations the week of the wedding
• Rehearsal coverage
• Unlimited wedding day coverage
• A knowledgeable and professional assistant on your wedding day.
• Be available for any planning, rental coordination, alcohol planning needs that you may have.

After you hire us, I will complete the following tasks:

• Contact your vendors to introduce myself and let them know that I am working with you to coordinate your special day.
• Ask you to “cc” me on any emails to your vendors so that I know what you want for your special day.
• Stay in contact to make sure everything is happening smoothly and to your satisfaction.
• Maintain an open line of communication so you can contact me at any time with problems or concerns.
• Make a preliminary walk through of your site (if I haven’t previously worked at your venue).
• Attend a walk-through of your reception site, with your caterer, photographer, floral designer, etc.
• Help you to facilitate positive communication between you and your vendors.
• Offer vendor referrals (if necessary).
• Contact vendors again, and work with you to put together a custom detailed wedding day timeline, which will be distributed the week of your wedding.
• Final confirmations with all vendors the week of your wedding.
• Wedding rehearsal coordination

We will complete the following tasks on the day of the wedding.

• Call all hair and make-up providers to ensure they have the correct room number on the morning of the wedding (unless we know the room number the night prior).
• Pick-up lunch for the Bride, Groom and their wedding party members and deliver it to the hotel or location of preparation (if applicable) – or call for delivery.
• Create a calm environment for the Bride, Groom, Wedding Party and Family.
• Complete all general set up (place cards, gift box, favors, table numbers, menu cards, pictures, guest book, unity candle, etc) per Bride and Groom’s requests.
• Be available for tent set up or rental deliveries (if applicable)
• Answer questions and field emergencies.
• Prepare processional – by lining up wedding party.
• Cue musicians for processional
• Cue wedding party as when to walk
• Ensure that everything is happening smoothly and per the timeline.
• Make sure that the Bride and Groom has refreshments (food and beverage) during the cocktail hour – while they are taking pictures.
• Make sure the Bride’s dress is properly bustled.
• Line family and wedding party for announcements (if applicable)
• Ensure that Bride and Groom and immediate family have drinks throughout dinner (so they do not have to get up – or ask).
• Ensure reception activities happen according to schedule.
• Cue caterers, photographer, musicians videographer and other service providers prior to special events (or entrance of the guests) – to make sure everyone is ready and everything is set.
• Work with the catering captain to ensure a smooth event.
• Distribute final payments (in the form of checks’) to vendors.
• Gather all wedding materials (guest book, pictures, client owned votives, vases, flowers, bathroom baskets, left over programs, menu cards, favors, etc) and load into pre-determined cars.

The number 1 question I get from the Washington DC Bride is…

You are at the lower end of the spectrum.  I can pay more.  You get what you pay for so why should I hire you?

My answer is…

If you are in this category – Salut!  I think many Brides would love to say that they could pay more.  My prices speak more to the demographics of the couples’ that I work with, than the level of service I provide.  I love working with Washington DC couples.  I also enjoy working with couples in Baltimore and Frederick.  And couples in Richmond, Northern Virginia, and Minneapolis.  And New England, Kansas City, the islands, etc.  I have always found pricing to be difficult.  I want the opportunity to work with a wide variety of couples – it’s just the way I am.  Variety is the spice of life! What it comes down to – I am low in some places and high in others.

What is consistent is the high level of expertise I bring to everyone.

Based on my level of experience, training and talent – should my prices increase?

Yes.  They probably should, can and will increase.  But, our clients are the first in my mind.  I want to be able to provide professional and excellent services to all of our present and future clients.

Happy planning!

Tags: About Us, Wedding advice, Wedding Inspiration

This entry was posted on Friday, April 23rd, 2010 at 6:32 am and is filed under Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.