How Important of You? PT2

Once you have carefully picked your bridal team determine their roles. Each bridal member plays an important part in the planning process and on the wedding day itself.

 

1.      Maid (Matron) of Honor- She is the bride’s right-hand person. She and the bride goes shopping together, make sure the bridesmaids have all their dresses and accessories together, makes sure the bridesmaids are informed about wedding tasks and events, organizes the bridal shower/ bachelorette party, witness and sign the couple’s marriage license, hold bride’s bouquet and groom’s ring during the ceremony and helps the bride with her attire on the wedding day. Also, they give an important toast during the reception.

 

2.      Best Man- He is the groom’s right-hand man. He is usually the grooms best friend or brother. The Best Man is the groom’s advisor and personal support system. He makes sure the groomsmen have their tuxedos and accessories, he plans and hosts the bachelor party and makes sure the groom/ groomsmen are on schedule and informed about recent tasks and events. The Best Man also gets the groom to the ceremony on time, witness and sign the couple’s marriage license, holds the bride’s ring and gives the first toast at the reception.

 

3.      Bridesmaids- ‘The Bride’s Entourage’ are trustworthy and responsible female friends. They are also the bride’s support system, helping with pre-wedding tasks, with the bridal shower/ bachelorette party and spreading the love at the reception. They can also help spread the word as to where the couple is registered.

 

4.      Groomsmen- ‘The Groom’s Posse’ are his closes friends and/or family. The groomsmen are the groom’s support system and helps with the bachelor party. The groomsmen can also be used as ushers and can help decorate the getaway car.

 

5.      Junior Bridesmaid- A tween/teenage girl (9-16 of age), who has the same duties as the bridesmaids. They can wear the same dress or different dresses. They walk down the aisle before the bridesmaids. These are also the responsibilities of the junior groomsmen. Except they wear tuxedos similar to the groomsmen.

 

6.      Flower girl- A young girl (4-8 of age), who walks down the aisle with a basket of flower petals to scatter before the bride walks down the aisle.

 

7.      Ring bearer- A young boy (4-8 of age), who holds a pillow with rings and walks down the aisle before the flower girl. The rings on the pillow do not have to be real.

 

8.      Ushers- They help escort guests inside the ceremony (reception if needed). They can also escort the grandparents to their seat during the ceremony.

 

The Parents of the Bride:

Have you ever wondered what the roles of the parents are? Many parents (especially mothers) get so overwhelmed with the details and planning of the wedding, that they forget they have a role to play and how to enjoy the wedding process.

 

Traditionally, the bride’s parents are to pay for the majority of the wedding. Nowadays, couples agree to split half of the expenses with the groom’s parents to relieve some of the financial stress.

The role/responsibilities of parents of the bride are as follows:

1.      Their daughter’s support system

2.      The mother is her daughter second pair of eyes in the wedding decisions. Ex: picking vendors or the wedding venue

3.      Choosing the mother-of-the-bride dress and sending a swatch/picture to the groom’s mother. The father picks his tuxedo when the groom/groomsmen select theirs.

4.      Meet with the couple to set a budget and decide what they are willing to pay for.

5.      Decide their half of the guests lists. Spread the word about where the couple is registered

6.      Act as host/hostess at the ceremony/reception. Stand in the receiving line and greet guests during the reception

7.      Attend all parties and showers during the wedding process

8.      Father of the bride escorts the bride down the aisle

9.      Perform a father and daughter dance

10.  Both parents do a welcome toast at the reception

11.  Hold the wedding gifts and cards for the couple until they return from their honeymoon

 

The Parents of the Groom:

Traditionally, the parents of the groom are just as involved as the bride’s parents. They are also financially involved too. They pay for rehearsal dinner, attire and transportation. They want to help the bride’s parents with the cost of the wedding. Their role/responsibilities include:

1.      Helping to plan the rehearsal dinner

2.      Write out their guests list for the groom’s family. Help spread the word about where the couple is  registered

3.      Attend any parties given during the wedding process

4.      Both parents give a toast at the rehearsal dinner (at reception, optional)

5.      Help give suggestions or recommendations on vendors

6.      Shows their support and personal aid

 

 

As a wedding planner, I hear brides say “my bridesmaids are driving me crazy.” Either they won’t help out with pre-wedding tasks or they’re never on time for meetings or rehearsal. So I’m going to give you food for thought.

 

Ask yourself this one question, “Do they support and respect our friendship and my relationship with my groom-to-be?” If they do, then they will take their role seriously and do everything in their power to make this process special and memorable.

 

You and the groom are the only ones who are important during the wedding process and especially on the day of the wedding!

How Important Are You?

How Important Are You?

Choosing the right bridal team.

 

 

 

Hello bride-to be,

 

Are you pulling your hair out yet? I’m here to help and guide you in the right direction. At this point in your wedding planning process, you’re deciding who you want on your bridal team. I call them a team because this group of people is going to be your support system throughout the entire wedding process.

 

Picking your bridal team is an important job and something you want to do carefully. Why pick your bridal team carefully?

 

·                     He/she has a big role to fulfill

·                     They need to be financially able to pay for things

·                     Their schedules have to be flexible

·                     They need to be there for you emotional and mentally

 

Things the bridal team has to be prepared for:

 

1.      Bridal shower

2.      Bachelor/ Bachelorette party

3.      Purchasing their own attire (dresses/tuxedo)

4.      Maid (Matron) of Honor/ Best Man responsible for holding and passing out tips to vendors. (Ex: DJ)

5.      Help with pre/post wedding duties

6.      Help with rehearsal dinner

7.      Bridesmaid’s Luncheon

8.      Holding the bride/groom rings

9.      Best Man/Maid (Matron) of Honor witness and signs the marriage license

10.  Best Man/ Maid (Matron) of honor makes important toast at the reception

Wedding Style 101

Wedding Style: 101

What type of wedding will you be having?

 

Are your ready to start planning your wedding?

 

Well, first let’s figure out your wedding style. When you go to your family/friends weddings are they elegant/traditional or modern/non-traditional?

 

If you can clearly recognize the difference that’s a good thing because now you’re starting to figure out your likes and dislikes when it comes to your wedding.

 

Let’s explore Four important wedding style categories:

·                     Religious - A ceremony in a church or a place of worship.

·                     Civil - A ceremony outside of a church, officiated by a      Justice of Peace, judge or a marriage commissioner.

·                     Military- A full military wedding for military soldiers and their partners.

·                     Destination – A ceremony and reception that takes place in another state or country.

 

Other category styles include: double weddings, various non-traditional weddings and online weddings, but your style is not limited to these categories.

 

After the wedding ceremony you have to also think about your reception. Now the reception takes a little more thought and attention to detail. Everything from the save-to-date announcements to table linens and centerpieces have to have some relation to each other.

 

Wedding attire must also be considered to bring you wedding style full circle. For example if you want your groom to wear a morning tail coat tuxedo (daytime wedding tuxedo), you must consider what style/theme his tuxedo will fit into such as a classic, modern or an outdoor style/theme.

 

Here are the small details you have to think about:

 

ü  Classic- A classic theme is for the traditional bride. Ex: black tie/bow tie, black tux/white dress, with a church ceremony/ sit down dinner.

ü  Modern- A modern theme has a contemporary and unique touch to the ceremony/reception. This theme uses bold and stylish colors and décor.

ü  Rustic- A rustic theme usually has a “country” theme to it. Common décor includes cowboy boots, hats, barns decorated with lights and the main course and desserts are usually homemade.

ü  Vintage- A vintage theme is a “theme of the past”. This wedding will feature various styles from the past and could include family heirlooms.

ü  Beach- A beach theme is a ceremony/ reception on the sand or close to a beach. Decorations for this wedding typically include: seashells, colorful umbrellas and/or white/tan attire from the bridal party.

ü  Intimate- An intimate theme is a small ceremony/ reception with about 25-75 close family and friends. This type of wedding is usually decorated with elegant and simple décor because this couple has managed to keep their budget low.

ü   Eco-friendly/ Green- A eco-friendly theme is becoming more popular among those who want to protect the world and who love locally grown food farms. Decorations may include: potted plants favors, recycled stationary paper and using elements from nature.

Other styles in addition to these may include: outdoors, offbeat, vineyard and a second wedding

 

As I close this blog here is some food for thought. Consider these questions when thinking about your wedding style.

·                     What type of location am I looking for? Hotel, banquet hall, outdoors?

·                     What style fits me and my fiancé personality?

·                     Do my wedding colors go with my theme?

·                     Is this my personal style? Is this my fiancé’s personal style?

 

We’re only steps away from making your dream wedding come alive.  I would love to hear your feedback and comments.

Afraid to Hire a Wedding Planner… Think Again!!

Afraid to Hire a Wedding Planner… Think Again!! Pt2

The first question you may be asking is what is a wedding planner?

A wedding planner is a professional organizer, who plans and executes those plans during the wedding process. He/she is involved in every aspect of the wedding (from budgeting to acting as a psychologist). A wedding planner is passionate about their work and achieves the greatest satisfaction when they see the smiles on their bride and groom’s faces. That happiness from their clients is what makes a wedding planner pat themselves on the back.

Now that we understand the definition of wedding planner, let’s discuss the cost of their services. There are two myths that come to mind concerning the cost of a wedding planner:

·         They are expensive-- beyond what my budget can handle.

·         Wedding planners are only for couples who have busy schedules and/or those who have a more expensive budget.

Here’s the reality—a wedding planner will work within your budget. They will manage the established budget, locate the appropriate vendors and construct creative ways to make your dream wedding come alive within your budget.

Each wedding planning company or individual planner is unique regarding their prices, packages and style. My advice before hiring a wedding planner is to look at your overall budget and subtract 10-15% of that budget for a wedding planner. Many wedding planners charge this percentage after the amount of the entire budget is established. You also have options to pay a flat rate or an hourly rate. For example, a wedding planner who uses a flat rate would command  $1,200 for a wedding with a $12,000 budget and so forth.

At this point you’re screaming at the computer “How do I know if I’m picking the right planner?” Choosing the right wedding planner is not difficult when couples know the qualities that a great wedding planner should encompass. First let’s look at the three types of wedding planners:

·         Same-Day Planner- He/she executes the wedding day (ceremony/reception). This planner is your go-to person for your special day.

·         Part-time Planner- He/she works one to six months before the wedding to make sure that all the final details are done right. They also execute the ceremony and receptions for their clients.

·         Full Service Planner – This planner executes everything from start to finish. From finding the vendors to helping get your Thank You cards out to your guests.

o   Event Designer-He/she will creatively design your ceremony and reception. They do not participate in the organizing/planning aspects of the event.

When interviewing a potential wedding planner these are a few qualities to look for:

·         Communication –strong listening skills and how they articulate answers to your questions are a must. A wedding planner must be able to respectfully express their opinions and also interpret anything they may be confusing to their clients.

·         Creativity – viewing a potential wedding planner’s portfolio and website can reveal their creativity skills regarding a variety of components such as flowers, stationary or DIY crafts. Another aspect to look for is if the potential planner can fill in the blanks as you describe your wedding in detail.

·         Organization/Availability -- knowing whether the wedding planner will be available to give you one-on-one treatment is very important. The planner should also have a natural ability to make you feel comfortable in their presence.

·         Courtesy – He/she should represent you positively and honestly relaying proper etiquette tips and serving as an intermediary between you and the vendors.

·         Professionalism – the wedding planner should represent themselves professionally in speech and attire at all times. They must also articulate to vendors well and have an extensive knowledge of the wedding industry.

o    Tip #1. Before meeting your wedding planner write down a list of questions to ask them. This will ensure that you're prepared to make an accurate decision in determining the wedding planner's ability to make your wedding dream come alive.

Now that I have provided the definition of a wedding planner, the cost of their services and how to choose the right wedding planner, what role/ responsibilities does a wedding planner play?

There are a wide range of roles and responsibilities that a wedding planner can have regarding a wedding but I will list a few:

·         Learning your wedding vision

·         Helps you budget and stay within your established budget. The planner also books keepers for deposit due dates and keeps track of when it’s time to pay vendors.

·         Helps shape your wedding. Gives suggestions, vendor recommendations and assistance in various ways.

·         Creates a blueprint to help map out the wedding process. Creates a timeline for the wedding party and vendors ensuring that you maintain your schedule. Supervises all last minute details of the wedding.

·         Supervises vendors during setup and clean up. Counsels on proper etiquette and keeps you updated on the newest trends.

·         Serves as your spokesperson during the wedding process. Finds vendors that suit your budget and helps to interpret the wedding contracts.

If you are still questioning whether you need a planner, consider if a family member or friend can manage the roles and responsibilities I listed effectively and  to your standards.

When problems arise can your friend or family member adjust their schedules to be constantly available for all the details and processes required for a wedding? Most weddings require six months to a year to plan and several decisions must be made, budget must be considered and the appropriate vendors and venues must be secured and accounted for. You should place your important day in the hands of an experienced wedding planning professional.

I hope my blog has given you detailed insight on the definition, roles and value a wedding planner can add to your wedding planning process. Thank you.

Afraid to Hire a Wedding Planner… Think Again!!

Afraid to Hire a Wedding Planner… Think Again!!

Congratulations on your engagement and embarking on a new journey in your life!

This life will be filled with happiness and joy, but first, we have to get you and the groom-to-be to the altar.

The first step after announcing your engagement to your family and friends is realizing that you will need help with the wedding process. The wedding process can potentially cause headaches, sleepless nights, unfriendly attitudes and disagreements between couples on decision making.  And, as you may know, these reactions are not healthy or enjoyable for newly engaged couples. Wedding planning should be a time when engaged couples grow closer together and discover the creative aspects of each other’s personality. Nevertheless, the wedding process can potentially be a stressful time.

As a wedding planner, I have discovered that several couples are afraid to ask for professional help. They would rather go to a family member, a friend who recently went through the wedding process and/or social media for answers to their questions. And, while those choices can be helpful, a professional wedding planner has significantly more experience, problem solving skills and extensive knowledge about the wedding industry that is instrumental is creating the ideal wedding day.

Three concerns that are most common among engaged couples are as follows:

·         Budget—is hiring a professional wedding planner a necessary expense?

·         Selection—how do we select the right wedding planner for our needs?

·         Planning—what exactly is the role/responsibility of a wedding planner?

These are legitimate concerns and the reason for this blog. I will provide key reasons why during one of the most important days of your life…you will need the professional help of a wedding planner.

Welcome 'I Said YES' bloggers,

Welcome!

Newly engaged couples, mothers of the bride/groom and members of the bridal party to the “I Said Yes” blog, where I will be giving wedding advice through expounding upon wedding etiquette, the wedding process and posting inspirational boards.

As a wedding planner as well as a business owner, I have encountered several confused and frustrated brides who were almost ready to pull their hair out. Some brides were  afraid to even start the wedding planning process because they didn’t know where to start. Well, I’m here to assist you and guide you with the best wedding planning advice that will give you a thorough understanding of the wedding planning process.  

My name is Pamela Edgeworth, IWPP, proprietor of Unique & Complete Designs Co. I begin planning weddings in 2009 and opened my business in 2011. I started like most wedding planners with family and friends as clients; however it was during this time that I realized that I had a passion for wedding planning and that this was a career I would like to excel in. I have one mission for my business—to help create a special day for my brides and grooms and to make their vision for their dream wedding come true.

As you continue to read these blogs, I hope each topic helps you understand the wedding process and answer any questions or concerns you may have. As I blog about different topics, I would love to hear your feedback, wedding planning experiences and questions. Hope to hear from you soon.

Thank you,

Pamela Edgeworth

Unique & Complete Designs Co.

www.ucdesignsco.com

Welcome to 'I said Yes'.