Why do you need a planner?

A professional wedding consultant is a wealth of creative ideas and insider's know-how. She's got connections with the best vendors in town and has learned to become an ace negotiator to get you the best value or 'deal' for your money. She's oozing with imagination, and knows where to find all of those unique and dazzling touches to transform your wedding into an absolute fantasy. She knows the tips and tricks to avoid trouble - but she also knows how to trouble-shoot when the need does arise. She knows what needs to be done when, and she knows the "whos" and "hows" to make it all happen. She's an organized, people person with a penchant for detail and a superb sense of style. She is the bride's advocate and adviser, her counselor, and her buddy, all rolled into one.

Ask anyone who has been involved in planning a wedding and they'll quickly tell you that the process can be like a full time job. So much to do, so much to learn - and so little time to do it all! Few brides-to-be are experienced in orchestrating an event as large and important as a wedding. There are endless details to arrange, many logistics to organize, large numbers of vendors and service providers to hire, schedules, time-lines and budgets to manage... and as a result, so much room for oversights to occur and for things to go wrong. The reality is that few couples have the level of time in their schedules required to successfully plan, manage, and execute such an event effectively.

Many brides and grooms run themselves ragged in the months leading up to the wedding. Equal numbers of couples tell tales of a wedding day that went by in a blur because there was still so much for them to attend to and worry about that they had little time to relax and enjoy the moment. The wedding coordinator can help alleviate these situations by being on hand to take care of time consuming tasks and trouble shoot for you when required, making it all so much easier and more enjoyable for you.

Wedding Style - Personalized!

Personalizing your wedding is the way to really set your day apart. To help make your wedding unique (and to make it feel like it's really your wedding), here are five creative ways to give your day a personal touch.

The Invitations

Your wedding invitations are one of your first chances to introduce your event -- from color to motif and overall style, this mailer will leave your guests with an impression of what's to come. When it comes to personalizing your invites, think beyond simply your color palette. Go one step further by including a personalized map card of the area where you're getting married, with cute illustrations to indicate where the pre-party golf outing will take place, the bridesmaid luncheon will unfold, and (of course) the ceremony and reception sites are located. Marrying in a city you love? Include arrows to all your favorite hot spots on the invite. If you're marrying over a long weekend, out-of-town guests will likely be making a minivacation out of it -- let them know where the best park is, how to find your favorite bar, and where they can indulge in the most amazing ice cream sundaes.

personalizing how-to

Incorporate hints of your heritage or hometowns in your wedding day -- whether it's in the attire, with a musical medley, at the cocktail hour, or in the welcome bags.

Your Vows

One of our favorite ways to personalize a wedding: writing your own vows. The promises you make to your loved one are the reason the wedding day is happening after all. That said, not all officiants or houses of worship allow couples to speak their own vows. If you're unable to pen your own promises, think about doing so in the wedding programs. You could write something together and have your words (whether they're vows, a favorite poem, a quote, or an inside joke) printed onto the programs.

Your Transportation

While renting a limousine definitely makes an occasion special, you can personalize your wedding wheels by leaving your ceremony or reception in a vehicle that speaks volumes about you as a couple. Ideas: Take a ride in a vintage school bus; scooter away on a super sleek pale blue vespa (for your something blue); or say your final farewells from aboard a sailboat.

Your First Dance

We applaud anyone who has the courage to get out on that dance floor in front of a ton of people. But if you're going to step out, consider taking a big step. Take the time to think about your song choice and go for one that really means something to the two of you. And don't stop there! Your wedding dance can be even more meaningful if you put a little tango into that two-step. Take dance lessons and have an instructor help you choreograph a totally unique first dance that'll be a true showstopper.

The Menu

Many brides and grooms are using candies (like monogram M&M's) and cocktails (anything ending with "–tini" usually sounds and tastes good) to incorporate their wedding day colors into their menu. You can also personalize your meal by serving solely local cuisine, or a certain specialty dish (like a family recipe).

As a lasting impression, pass around a personalized treat at the end of the night. Midnight snacks (our favorite miniburgers and fries) are becoming increasingly popular -- keep the dance floor packed by having waiters pass around your grandmother's famous chocolate-chip cookies, or paper cones filled with "Nuts for Each Other" peanuts. Ending your wedding on a sugar-high note is the sweetest way to close out the night.

10 tips to get you planning

1. Set a Date!

First, sit down with your fiancé and look at your work calendars and vacation schedules to see the best date for both of you. Before finalizing the date, review a calendar to see if you can take advantage of a national holiday that would afford your traveling guests a long weekend. If you are having an outdoor wedding or destination wedding, keep in mind the seasons. You don't want to get stuck in bad weather!

2. Location, location, location!

Begin looking at locations immediately, as they book far in advance. Ask the venue if your wedding date is available and get their rates to review. If your heart is set on holding your wedding at a particular venue and your date is not available, you need to be flexible and adjust your date.

3. Set a Budget!

The cost of the location is one of your biggest expenses and now that you have begun looking at them, you have an idea of the cost. You are now ready to set a budget. You need to see how much you and your fiancé will both be contributing to the budget, and how much your parents may be able to contribute as well.

4. Hire an Expert!

Now that you have a budget in mind, it's time to call in the expert! Yes, highly recommend that you hire a wedding planner/coordinator, Wedding planners and coordinators work closely with vendors on a daily basis, so they know whom to use, and they can get you the best prices!

Wedding planners were once thought of as a luxury item. Today, they are viewed as a necessity. What they save you on your contracts alone will cover their fees. Plus, planning a wedding is a lot of work, so they really earn their fees and keep you sane!

5. Purchase Your Wedding Gown.

The wedding gown is the most important aspect of the wedding because it sets the tone. As you look at wedding dresses, keep in mind that if you wish to special order one, you'll need to purchase it 6-7 months in advance, so that the store can ensure it arrives on time for your fittings, bridal portraits and wedding. You can always buy one off the rack, but you still need to give yourself time for alterations.

If you are dieting, you don't want to alter your gown too far in advance because if you lose a large amount of weight, the alteration fees may end up costing you more money and unnecessary stress.

6. Decide the Style and Theme.

Now that you wedding gown is purchased, you can sit down with your wedding planner and decide on the style and theme of your wedding. You'll want to decide carefully if your wedding is going to be informal, semi-formal or formal. Be sure that your style and theme reflect both you and your groom!

7. Book Your Officiant.

Pastors, priests, and other ordained wedding officiants get extremely busy with weddings and other obligations, so book them early so that you can get on their schedule. Plus, many require that you take a wedding preparation class from them before the wedding.

8. Book Your Vendors.

Now that you have your date, your budget and your wedding planner, it's time to start booking your vendors. You'll need to book your location first if you haven't already, as that is the most important vendor. The location sites also have rules on outside vendors, so you'll need to know them before booking anyone else. At this point, let your wedding consultant book your appointments and negotiate fees.

9. Select and Order Your Invitations.

Once your location and date are set in stone, it's time to order your invitations. It’s recommended that you order your invitations at least 3 months in advance so that you have plenty of time to get them addressed and mailed 6-8 weeks prior to the wedding.

10. Select Your Tuxedos.

It is important that you order your tuxedos at least 3 months in advance, especially if you have out-of-town attendants. This will give your groomsmen, ushers and fathers of the bride and groom time to get measured and fitted. Keep in mind the style of the wedding gown, the colors of the wedding; Select a tuxedo that is reflective of both the groom and the tone of the wedding.

The wedding colors or bridesmaids' dress color can be used as the accent color in the groomsmen accessories. This will help tie in the wedding colors and make the pictures vibrant.

Here is another valuable tip. If the wedding gown is white, the tuxedo shirts all need to be white. If the wedding gown is ivory, the tuxedo shirts need to be ivory. In your wedding pictures, you don't want your wedding gown to look dingy next to the tuxedos or vice versa!

Now relax, have fun and Enjoy!

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