Please check out our photographers Elizabeth Wertz blog. She's great and I am so happy that we've found her. She's the best! Always remember the number one rule to the photographer is you MUST love he/she. They spend the most time with you. Her photojournalist approach is amazing and exactly what I was looking for. I love the excitement she has for the day. I know she's going to absolutely amaze me with the final product. My Fiance and I had the opportunity to spend a nice summer afternoon drinking lemonade and eating coffee cake with her at her home. Which I thought was completely amazing to offer us to meet there. We also had the opportunity to meet her two little ladies, which are so incredibility adorable. I knew instantly that Elizabeth and I would mesh perfectly. So in this case I got really lucky. I love my photographers work as well as her personality and passion. What more could I ask for?
http://elizabethwertzphotography.blogspot.com
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Everyone wants to know...
Yes, I have a wedding planner. Of course I do, even though I'm a wedding planner and know everything that needs to be done. I still believe that its necessary to have a wedding planner for day of planning. I am watching my budget like a hawk, but I was still able to fit day of planning in and so can you.
I know that some people use their maid/matron of honor to be the contact person for their vendors on the day of, but why? They are there to be with you and celebrate your day with you. Not to be there to talk to your vendors if they have any last minute questions. The very last thing I would want to happen is to watch my matron of honor deal with some emergency or issue while she's supposed to be taking her photos with me and the rest of my bridesmaids. Also, I have a planner to ensure all of the decor and little details are perfect for what I'm looking to create. If I was not a wedding planner, I would not understand the absolute importance of having one, but since I am, I can only pass on to my readers the importance of getting one.
I know that some people use their maid/matron of honor to be the contact person for their vendors on the day of, but why? They are there to be with you and celebrate your day with you. Not to be there to talk to your vendors if they have any last minute questions. The very last thing I would want to happen is to watch my matron of honor deal with some emergency or issue while she's supposed to be taking her photos with me and the rest of my bridesmaids. Also, I have a planner to ensure all of the decor and little details are perfect for what I'm looking to create. If I was not a wedding planner, I would not understand the absolute importance of having one, but since I am, I can only pass on to my readers the importance of getting one.
Fitting the planner into your budget
I thought that this entry would go perfect with my previous one. If you really want a wedding planner and you're on a tight budget here are some suggestions when searching.
1) when searching online don't call the planning firm with the amazing website that looks like the fee is your budget, the pricing can be shocking and steer you away
2) have your planner for "day of" planning only, it ensures everything will be handled and not kill your budget
3) shop around, call everyone you can find that looks to be in your budget
4) if the quote is too high tell them and ask for recommendations
5) some firms have a la carte items to create your own package and can cut cost
6) if a destination wedding, try to create a package where they help with vendor selections and then "day of" planning and skip the middle, this will help with costs
7) remember wedding planners are here to help with your budgets and can cut costs
If you call the right planner they will be willing to work with you and your budget. I hope these help.
1) when searching online don't call the planning firm with the amazing website that looks like the fee is your budget, the pricing can be shocking and steer you away
2) have your planner for "day of" planning only, it ensures everything will be handled and not kill your budget
3) shop around, call everyone you can find that looks to be in your budget
4) if the quote is too high tell them and ask for recommendations
5) some firms have a la carte items to create your own package and can cut cost
6) if a destination wedding, try to create a package where they help with vendor selections and then "day of" planning and skip the middle, this will help with costs
7) remember wedding planners are here to help with your budgets and can cut costs
If you call the right planner they will be willing to work with you and your budget. I hope these help.
Planners vs Coordinators
I'm so sorry it's been so long since I've written. I've been relocating my life and that has put a delay on some areas in my life. I'm sure all can understand. I have attended many weddings where I had people say to me "we really needed a planner", so I thought this topic would perfect to help educate brides and grooms. Here's an extremely educational blog about the planner vs the "on-site" coordinator. I understand that most brides and grooms believe that this person is all the same, however there's a huge difference in the work we do. Please be aware that I'm not in any way discrediting the coordinator at all, I'm just passing on my knowledge about the difference between the two(since I've worked on both sides). Also, I want to help all brides and grooms understand the importance of having a wedding planner. When booking your reception venue or caterer, included in their packages are an "on-site wedding coordinator." Most people think "this is great we don't need to hire a wedding planner." I understand that couples love this feature of the package believing that it will save them money, but it does not save them on stress.
The "on-site coordinator" manages the staff at the venue which includes the food and bar. They ensure that the food will be served on time and hot as well as the bar being stocked appropriately. So if all you have is the on-site coordinator who will handle the vendors? Who will ensure they arrive on time, make sure they know how to get to the venue, where they can load their items, tell them when to eat, manage the time line of events to be followed, make sure all payments are taken care of (trust me a lot of brides and grooms leave them to the last minute) and overall make sure the bride and groom are getting the services that they're paying for. If you only have the on-site coordinator you will be the person taking care of this. On average the coordinator will never talk to your vendors prior to the reception. A wedding planner will talk to your vendors at least 3 times prior to reception to ensure everything is being communicated and understood properly. Now to the most important factor, the bride and groom. If the coordinator is busy with the staff and food who handles you? The wedding planner does 100% and the entire day from hair in the am to putting you in the get away car, we're there. I've done weddings where the coordinator has said that they love having wedding planners there to help, simply because they're never able to attend to the bride and groom. This does not mean that every two seconds we're in your face asking if you need anything or how everything is going. We're in the background making sure that you're both smiling and enjoying your day. If anything out of the ordinary arises the vendors come to the planner first instead of the bride and groom. The absolute last thing you need to be dealing with on your wedding day is any issues! Wedding planners ensure that every little detail is handled which creates a flawless day for the couple and their guests. Endless issues can arise on your big day. Cd's can skip, Ipod's can be forgotten or malfunction, noise ordinances can create issues and finally a guest can lose a button on a jacket. Your wedding planner has back up cd's, a plan for technical difficulties, has spoken to the local police months before your wedding and carries a sewing kit in their pocket. And those are just some the basics of the job. Typically the on-site coordinator is too busy with everything on site that they can not be there to fix those issues. I could go on and on about the importance of having a planner but I will leave you with this "unfortunately, all weddings are unpredictable and planners are there to immediately fix any unpredictability."
The "on-site coordinator" manages the staff at the venue which includes the food and bar. They ensure that the food will be served on time and hot as well as the bar being stocked appropriately. So if all you have is the on-site coordinator who will handle the vendors? Who will ensure they arrive on time, make sure they know how to get to the venue, where they can load their items, tell them when to eat, manage the time line of events to be followed, make sure all payments are taken care of (trust me a lot of brides and grooms leave them to the last minute) and overall make sure the bride and groom are getting the services that they're paying for. If you only have the on-site coordinator you will be the person taking care of this. On average the coordinator will never talk to your vendors prior to the reception. A wedding planner will talk to your vendors at least 3 times prior to reception to ensure everything is being communicated and understood properly. Now to the most important factor, the bride and groom. If the coordinator is busy with the staff and food who handles you? The wedding planner does 100% and the entire day from hair in the am to putting you in the get away car, we're there. I've done weddings where the coordinator has said that they love having wedding planners there to help, simply because they're never able to attend to the bride and groom. This does not mean that every two seconds we're in your face asking if you need anything or how everything is going. We're in the background making sure that you're both smiling and enjoying your day. If anything out of the ordinary arises the vendors come to the planner first instead of the bride and groom. The absolute last thing you need to be dealing with on your wedding day is any issues! Wedding planners ensure that every little detail is handled which creates a flawless day for the couple and their guests. Endless issues can arise on your big day. Cd's can skip, Ipod's can be forgotten or malfunction, noise ordinances can create issues and finally a guest can lose a button on a jacket. Your wedding planner has back up cd's, a plan for technical difficulties, has spoken to the local police months before your wedding and carries a sewing kit in their pocket. And those are just some the basics of the job. Typically the on-site coordinator is too busy with everything on site that they can not be there to fix those issues. I could go on and on about the importance of having a planner but I will leave you with this "unfortunately, all weddings are unpredictable and planners are there to immediately fix any unpredictability."
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Bride and Grooms Portraits Before Ceremony
This is definitely a new concept for some couples. I love the idea of having the bride and groom portraits taken before the ceremony. If you think of all the benefits, you'll see why it's a great idea and your photographers will love you. Trust me!
First, when your groom first sees you, you want him to be able to tell you how he feels about you, the love you have for one another and share the sheer excitement of the day. You will be able to share all of the emotions together with doing the portraits before, which can make great photographs. It gives you time to spend together alone before all the chaos starts.
Second (this is not the case in all ceremonies) the lighting can play a big factor. If you're having a 5pm ceremony in September or October (now are high demand months) you loose light earlier. By having your portraits taken before it helps your photographer with timing and lighting for the bridal party formals. Sometimes the bridal party formals can hold up the process as far as making sure all parities involved are there, making sure that they all listen and changing locations can take some time.
Third, your best photographs will be taken during this intimate time together. The first look when the groom sees his bride, the look in the brides eyes and just the perfect captures of the couple together. Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life and expressing that love into great photographs can truly be priceless.
Fourth, it relieves some of the nerves. Half of the reason for the nerves between the bride and groom is seeing each other for the first time. Spending that time together before will help calm down any nerves you may have.
Finally, it gives you a chance to spend time together as well as a chance to start the party early!
My fiance and I will be having our portraits before the ceremony. I want him to tell me everything he feels when he first sees me and I don't want 150 people standing in the way of him doing that.
First, when your groom first sees you, you want him to be able to tell you how he feels about you, the love you have for one another and share the sheer excitement of the day. You will be able to share all of the emotions together with doing the portraits before, which can make great photographs. It gives you time to spend together alone before all the chaos starts.
Second (this is not the case in all ceremonies) the lighting can play a big factor. If you're having a 5pm ceremony in September or October (now are high demand months) you loose light earlier. By having your portraits taken before it helps your photographer with timing and lighting for the bridal party formals. Sometimes the bridal party formals can hold up the process as far as making sure all parities involved are there, making sure that they all listen and changing locations can take some time.
Third, your best photographs will be taken during this intimate time together. The first look when the groom sees his bride, the look in the brides eyes and just the perfect captures of the couple together. Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life and expressing that love into great photographs can truly be priceless.
Fourth, it relieves some of the nerves. Half of the reason for the nerves between the bride and groom is seeing each other for the first time. Spending that time together before will help calm down any nerves you may have.
Finally, it gives you a chance to spend time together as well as a chance to start the party early!
My fiance and I will be having our portraits before the ceremony. I want him to tell me everything he feels when he first sees me and I don't want 150 people standing in the way of him doing that.
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