All photography in this article is provided by Lovelee Photography
• When selecting your venue be sure to ask the venue coordinator what services they provide on the day of your wedding. Communicating clearly from the very beginning of yoUI relationship is always a great idea!
• When choosing an officiant the first, and often only thing couples think about is religious denomination. Now a days it’s less about beliefs and more than that, comfort. Will he/she be someone that can make your audience smile. While religion is not less important it is no longer the only aspect. Weddings can be stressful look for someone you feel comfortable with and can ease a potentially tense few moments.
• Wedding flowers need to look their fully-opened best on the day they are arranged, which makes arranging them very different than producing the long-lasting bouquets sold in retail shops. Make sure your florist has experience with the scope and special timing of weddings or you may be disappointed in the results.
• If you will be using a caterer ask about the average ratio of servers to guests. Find out if the caterer provides china dinnerware, drink-ware and flatware and whether or not it is included in the quoted price. If china is included ask to see some samples.
DIALOGUE
Selecting your wedding vendors is one of the most important aspects of planning your wedding! You want to choose vendors whose work you love, that you trust and that you enjoy working with. Of all your vendors you’ll spend the most time with your wedding photographer … but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t carefully select your florist, cake baker and other vendors with the same level of care. My number one recommendation is that you communicate very clearly with your vendors. The best way to start a relationship with a potential vendor is to meet with them in person {or at least have a phone conversation with them). Get a feel for their personality and how they interact with you. If you get an uneasy feeling … trust your instincts and continue searching until you find a vendor that you feel you can trust and work well with! Choosing vendors that you love for both their work and their personalities will definitely make wedding planning a more enjoyable experience!
TIMELINE
Your timeline is extremely important and all of your selected wedding vendors must adhere to the developed timeline accordingly. Lucky, Lovelee Photography goes the extra mile when planning your wedding and creates a supplemental timeline to go along with the wedding planner/coordinator’s or DJ’s timeline. This timeline is meant to coordinate with the original wedding timeline by intertwining with it. It ensures that the photography gets precedence when and where it is needed. Believe me, this is going to help your day flow much smoother and create gorgeous photos for you to enjoy for many years to come!
1. Experience! First and foremost, before ANYTHING else, find a photographer experienced in weddings. Experience matters way more than the number of years they have been a photographer. Capturing a wedding and not missing an important moment takes a lot of experience. You need to make sure that your photographer knows the in’s and out’s of how a wedding is ran and what to expect ever second of that day!
2. Research, Research, Research! During the hustle of wedding planning, steer away from simply hiring cousin Susie’s photographer or the preferred photographer of your venue. Although easy, you may risk hiring someone that does not fit your style. Take the time to find the Photographer who not only fits your needs but, also embodies your vision.
3. Ask the right questions! So often, we come across articles and blogs in respectable wedding magazines that advise Brides on what questions to ask prior to hiring a Wedding Photographer(s) Such as, Is it okay for other people to take photos while you’re taking photos? What do you wear to a wedding? What equipment do you use? and the big one, Why should I hire you as my wedding photographer? All important questions sure, but these questions leave you without valuable information about who the photographer really is. Personality does matter. To ensure you love the photographer just as much as you love their portfolio, here are a few questions to think about while you’re “interviewing” wedding photographers …
Quesitons & Answers
4. You absolutely have to click with your photographer. The truth is, you will not spend more time with any of your wedding vendors than you will with your photographers. They are there for you in the beginning when you’re deciding on the perfect fit, they’re there for you before your wedding to help plan your expectations, they’re with you the entire wedding day, and they’re there for you long after too (at least they should be!). It’s not only important to simply like your photographers because you’ll be with them for an extended period of time but having a photographer that you genuinely like, someone who makes you smile and helps you relax will bring out the best in you, creating the best photos!
5. Timelines & Trust! Now that you have chosen a photographer, it is important to keep your photographer up to date on the timeline of your day. Be open to feedback and valuable insight. Communicate your wants, needs, and concerns openly. Please, by all means, have a vision of how you would like your day captured & Never forget, we’re here to help you succeed, so allow our expertise to guide you. After all, you’ve hired a photographer with experience, right?“Once the food is gone, the party comes to an end, your flowers wilt, and you take off your beautiful dress for the very last time, all you will have left to remember the most important day of your life is the photography”.
-Lovelee PhotographyFlowers can be a tricky part of planning your event. Unlike rentals, catering or other vendors with “fixed” costs, your floral design will depend on a number of factors. Pricing depends on seasonal availability, the complexity of your floral designs and the flowers themselves. This is the usually the largest portion of your cost-there are hundreds of flower types and each ranges from $1.00 a stem to $15.00 a stem! So what can you do to determine your floral budget and get the most beautiful designs for your budget?
1. Fall in love with a look, color scheme or overall feel rather than a single flower type. Talk to your florist about the look and feel you want- is it romantic? Bohemian? Desert? Knowing your design parameters means we can suggest flowers that will suit the time of year, the climate and your budget. There are hundreds of flowers in the world and if you’re open we can pull in interesting textures and colors that will make your wedding stand out.
2. Another good idea is to think about where the floral will have the most impact. If you’re having a very short ceremony and your guests will immediately leave the ceremony area for cocktail hour and reception, your floral budget might be better used toward centerpieces as opposed to a massive floral arch.
3. Be prepared for Mother Nature. We do our absolute best to bring in blooms that fit your specific color choices but sometimes flowers just don’t cooperate. They may come in lighter or dark than planned or the color may not be available at all. Sometimes flowers come in affected by nature-frost, drought, etc. and these blooms just aren’t going to hold up for the big day. We only want to use flowers that will last and look beautiful so sometimes we have to make substitutions. All of these are great tips but my favorite piece of advice is to find a vendor you trust. Meet with several florists and get a feel for whether they “get” you and your vision for your big day. It’s important to feel listened to throughout the design process.– Tips by Mandi at Butterfly Petals
A WEDDING PLANNER IS A SHORT-TERM BEST FRIEND SO MAKE SURE THAT YOU LIKE THEM!
When choosing a wedding planner, it is important to find someone that you entirely trust and get along well with. This person will be responsible for turning your dream wedding into a reality and has a lot of control over where your money gets spent. Choose wisely! Remember that throughout your planning time, you will be meeting them often, going places together and emailing back and forth, so it is essential that your personalities compliment one another. Make an appointment to meet them face-to-face to see if their style suits yours. It’s almost like dating all over again!
SET CLEAR EXPECTATIONS AND HAVE THEM WRITTEN IN A CONTRACT
After you have found your planner, sit down with them and go over your contract clearly, point by point and in person. Each planner is different and some are willing to do more and some less. Make sure that they know exactly what you are expecting of them so that there are no disappointments later on. Communication is everything!
TYPICAL WEDDING PLANNER DUTIES
Although each person is different, below are some pretty typical wedding planner duties.
Establish a timeline of tasks.
Help manage your budget and keep track of all spending.
Mail invitations and maintain the guest list (if you want).
Set up dress fittings and alterations.
Recommend vendors and set up appointments with them.
Give her honest opinion.
Return your calls and emails.
Coordinate set-up and clean-up at the event.
Carry an emergency kit with her (tape, pins, hairspray, bandaids, needle and thread) before and during the wedding.
Keep the ceremony and the reception running smoothly and according to schedule.
Remember to choose wisely, communicate, read your contract and set clear expectations. If you end up with a one-stop-shop or just someone who manages on the day of, your planner is there to help and will be your backup in ensuring that everything runs as smoothly as possible. One less thing to worry about! Allow up to 8 weeks to order your stationery allowing time for the proof process, printing and delivery of your wedding invitations. Consider when you would like to send them to your guests and how much time it will take you to stuff, stamp and send them out. We recommend making an evening of this with your bridal party, Mom, or partner. Grab some champagne, stick, seal and repeat. Save the Dates – anywhere from 6 months to a year before Invitations 8-12 weeks before the wedding RSVP’s -Ask for your replies back 4 weeks before the wedding. Make it clear on the reply card the date you would like them returned. This gives you time to get a headcount to your vendors (caterer, venue, rentals, etc) and time to order your other paper goods for your wedding day.1. Skip printing labels at home and opt for envelope address printing or even hire a calligrapher for your invitation envelope addressing. This will save you a considerable amount of time and will always result in a much more beautiful addressed envelope.
2. Invitations can be anywhere from $1 – $100 per invitation. Consider what you want to spend and share your budget with your stationer. Print method is going to be the thing that influences this most. Digital printing, foil stamping, letterpress printing, are just a few of the printing methods you will see while shopping invitations. If you want to splurge on something make it the invitation.
3. When you order don’t confuse your headcount with the number of households you will be sending invitations to. Remember most addresses you will be mailing to have 2 or more of your guests.
4. Make sure your envelopes are addresses very clearly to explicitly name who is invited. For example, if you’re inviting your favorite couple friends, Julie and Ben, make sure to address the envelope to Mr. and Mrs. Ben and Julie Chaet vs. The Chaet Family. That way we don’t bring our two kids, Aunt Peg and our occasional house guest Shirley.
5. Don’t forget your thank you stationery! To round out the event and continue your theme and style to the very end, purchasing coordinating thank you stationery is a must. This can be done very affordably and will often times include the return address printing or a return address stamp. Ettiquette says you have up to 3 months to send out your thank you’s. I would recommend doing them sooner or later to make the best impression.
When Hiring your Photographer, Don’t Make the Mistake of Overlooking the Photographer’s Personality. Their photos might be great, but remember that your photographer is going to be a very substantial participant in your wedding day
Tip 1: Starting Point Picking your venue should be the first step in your planning process. Use wedding websites such as Theknot.com to research venues in the area. These sites also allow you to read reviews from past clients. Once you selected the venues you like, reach out to them for information and setup times to visit the venues.
Tip 2: Ask questions Before going out to tour a venue make sure to make a list of questions you want to have answers to. Sometimes touring multiple places can get overwhelming and remembering details can get hard, so bring a list where you can write down the answers to the questions you have. If you have any special requests for your event such as a special exit you want to do or specific decor, make sure to ask if the venue allows this.
Tip 3: Required Vendors & Payment Structure Each venue is different in what vendors they require or are flexible with, make sure to ask each venue what vendors they require in house and what vendors you are able to bring in. The payment structure for each venue is different and so you will want to ask how the payment schedule is and what they require up front to secure your date.
Tip: 4: How much are you willing to take on? Make sure you know what service is provided by the venue and what you would be responsible for doing when it comes to setup/cleanup and decor. You want to enjoy your wedding day so this is a BIG factor to consider, the goal is to be STRESS-FREE.
Tip 5: Think you found the right venue, how do you know? Remember this is your special day and you want to be happy with the venue you book. Make sure the venue is a fit for you and your fiance. You should feel comfortable and confident in your choice. Understanding what kind of venue look and feel you want will help you know when you find it, you will feel a connection and can picture your wedding there.– Tips by The Venue at The GroveAllow up to 8 weeks to order your stationery allowing time for the proof pro-cess, printing and delivery of your wedding invitations. Consider when you would like to send them to your guests and how much time it will take you to stuff, stamp and send them out. We recommend making an evening of this with your bridal party, Mom, or partner. Grab some champagne, stick, seal and repeat. Save the Dates -anywhere from 6 months to a year before Invitations 8-12 weeks before the wedding RSVP’s -Ask for your replies back 4 weeks before the wedding. Make it clear on the reply card the date you would like them returned. This gives you time to get a headcount to your vendors (caterer, venue, rentals, etc) and time to order your other paper goods for your wedding day.
1. Skip printing labels at home and opt for envelope address printing or even hire a calligrapher for your invitation envelope addressing. This will save you a considerable amount of time and will always result in a much more beautiful ad-dressed envelope.
2. Invitations can be anywhere from $1 -$100 per invitation. Consider what you want to spend and share your budget with your stationer. Print method is going to be the thing that influences this most. Digital printing, foil stamping, letterpress printing, are just a few of the printing methods you will see while shopping invitations. If you want to splurge on something make it the invitation.
– Tips by Champagne Press3. When you order don’t confuse your headcount with the number of house-holds you will be sending invitations to. Remember most addresses you will be mailing to have 2 or more of your guests.
4. Make sure your envelopes are addresses very clearly to explicitly name who is invited. For example, if you’re inviting your favorite couple friends, Julie and Ben, make sure to address the envelope to Mr. and Mrs. Ben and Julie Chaet vs. The Chaet Family. That way we don’t bring our two kids, Aunt Peg and our occa-sional house guest Shirley.
5. Don’t forget your thank you stationery! To round out the event and continue your theme and style to the very end, purchasing coordinating thank you statio-nery is a must. This can be done very affordably and will often times include the return address printing or a return address stamp. Ettiquette says you have up to 3 months to send out your thank you’s. I would recommend doing them sooner or later to make the best impression.