Top 10 Reasons to Hire a Wedding Planner
10. Saves time – Planning wedding takes enormous amount of time. In fact, the average couple spends well over 200 hours planning their special day. A good wedding planner will save you time and energy by researching vendors, taking care of the many, many details, and coming up with various creative ideas to make your wedding amazing!
9. Saves money – Weddings can be extremely expensive. However, by hiring a wedding planner, couples can save a great deal of money. Because wedding planners provide so much business to vendors, they are often able to negotiate discounts for their clients. Wedding planners are also well-versed at helping couples set budgets and sticking to them.
8. Saves relationships – Weddings are very stressful. This stress often results in many arguments for couples as well as with family members and friends. Wedding planners have been there time and time again and know how to avoid such problems before they begin as well as act as a buffer when there are conflicts. Wedding planners are also able to take on the responsibilities often assigned to loved ones so that everyone is able to enjoy the wedding. Remember, you still want a relationship with your mother well after your wedding!
7. Ensures dreams are made realities – Most have been dreaming of their wedding day their entire life. Wedding planners work for the couple and ensure that all desires are met (and often surpassed)!
6. Offers advice – Wedding planners have planned countless weddings and know exactly what works and what doesn’t. They are also knowledgeable on wedding etiquette. Furthermore, wedding planners are able to recommend competent vendors, based on personal experience.
5. Acts as the “go to person” – The average wedding has at least 22 different vendors. Combine that with the entire wedding party and all of the guests and that is a lot of people with questions and concerns! By hiring a wedding planner, couples can simply tell others “talk to the wedding planner!”
4. Creates schedules – There are so many events leading up to the big day! Couple that with the many things that happen during the wedding and who can keep track? The wedding planner can! Wedding planners are well-versed at making detailed itineraries for all involved (including other vendors) and making sure that everything happens on time!
3. Handles crisis – Whether we like it or not, most big events involve crisis. Who really wants to deal on their wedding day with the bakery not delivering the cake on time or the flower girl throwing a tantrum? No one! Wedding planners know how to handle all unforeseen circumstances.
2. Orchestrates from rehearsal through the end of reception – Do you want to be responsible for organizing rehearsal or making sure the bridal party is properly lined up? How about making sure that the guest who had a little too much to drink departs safely? Wedding planners orchestrate from rehearsal through the end of the reception, ensuring everything goes off without a hitch!
1. Minimizes stress and maximizes fun! – Hiring a wedding planner ensures that you will have a worry-free and stress-free day, thus, allowing you to enjoy your day like your guests!
How Much Does It Cost?
The cost of hiring a wedding consultant depends on the services you want. Expect to spend about 10 to 15 percent of your total budget for full wedding planning. However, you can also request hourly consultations, usually $40.00 per hour, if you only want advice and referrals for a specific aspect of your wedding. Or you can hire a consultant only to coordinate the actual wedding day, this is typically between $1000.00 and $1500.00 and should include the Rehearsal Dinner.
Stay away from consultants who claim their services are "free." They usually get kickbacks or commissions from vendors, which means they’ll pressure you into hiring those vendors they stand to benefit from the most. Also beware of consultants who charge a percentage of your total budget for their services. The more you’re willing to spend on your wedding, the more money they make. Your best bet is to go with a consultant who offers fixed-rate packages or a flat fee based on the services you want.
Hope you find this helpful and please pass our blog on to anyone who could use some wedding advice! AND...come see us at Open House, , this month for 20% off all special order Wedding invitations.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Is a destination wedding right for you?
There are many reasons to consider a destination wedding...some of the most common are the following.
* Logistics. With extended families so spread out, most every wedding involves some travel for the guests. Sometimes a "meet in the middle" destination wedding actually simplifies the process of bringing together two groups of family and friends.
* Wanting a personally significant location. Sometimes couples choose to share the place that they met, or a place of cultural/heritage significance, or a place that they particularly love, with their loved ones.
* The romance of travel. This is a large category with differnt kinds of people and different expectations. I planned a wedding on top of Mount Kilimanjaro for one particularly adventurous (and fit!) couple.
* A desire to save money. Destination weddings can be expensive, but with careful planning, a realistic budget, and a modest guest list, they don't have to be.
* A desire for a non-traditional wedding. Destination weddings often appeal to couples who are not drawn to the traditional wedding model. These couples fit very nicely with what has been called, "the generational quest for individuality." They want their weddings to be memorable, and most of all to reflect their own personalities and uniqueness.
* A need to escape. I've planned a few estination weddings for couples who began on a more traditional path. One bride called when she realized her budget was approaching six figures, 100 hundred invitations were addressed to people she did not even know, and everyone from her dentist to her next-door neighbor were offering her advice. This is how her call began: "Help!"
You can probably relate to one or more of these motivations if you are considering a destination wedding. But how do you know if a wedding far from home is really right for you? I'm sure that you'll agree that one couple's fantasy ideal can be another couple's nightmare. In fact, depending on your situation, personality, temperment, and style, most anything can be seen in positive or negative terms.
A destination wedding promises a memorable experience. As long as you don't mind facing the unexpected. If unforgettable is just what you're looking for, or...you'd rather control every aspect of the experience rather than risk the "wrong kind" of memorable then a destination is not right for you.
A destination wedding is often a longer celebration, lasting a few days. It typically will begin with a welcome dinner t welcome all of your guests and set the tone for the weekend; in some cases this will double as the Rehearsal dinner or party depending on the day the festivities begin. The next day will usually be the ceremony and maybe the bridal party luncheon. Finally, you will close the weekend with a farewell lunch or brunch...depending on how late the party is to go on the night before! When will this group be together again? You love the notion of spending some time together! Or you may feel that one day is plenty for the "group portion" of the festivities.
A destination wedding typically involves fewer guests. You are either OK with the notion of having only your closest family and friends. This is certain to give you wedding a very intimate feel...which you as a bride will either love or hate.
Because of the element of travel, a destination wedding typically is more challenging to plan. I would always suggest hiring a wedding planner to help with such a large process. You see the difficulties of planning as a fair price to pay for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Most of your guests will use this as an opportunity to make a vacation out of the trip so this is important when choosing the location for the destination.
This list is offered as a springboard to conversation as a couple. First and foremost, you need to consider your own priorities. I always suggest that after you ask each other some of the questions above, you should also ask the really important people in your lives - the "must haves" on your prospective guest list - whether they would be agreeable to the idea of a destination wedding. If any of these make it or break it guests would be unable to accommodate the travel then you may want to reconsider your wedding plans.
It is true that destination weddings are more complicated to plan than weddings at home, but there are resources - wedding planners, the Internet, books and magazines - that can help you. However, there is something magical about them. What is at the heart of a destination wedding is an absolutely unique opportunity for the guests to get to know each other. It is a combination of the travel, the uniqueness of the locale and the bonding of such a select guest list that make this type of wedding so special and memorable.
I hope that I have given you some food for thought in choosing whether of not to have a destination wedding. And if your do choose one, I hope that it will prove to be a life long memory and exceed all your dreams and expectations.
* Logistics. With extended families so spread out, most every wedding involves some travel for the guests. Sometimes a "meet in the middle" destination wedding actually simplifies the process of bringing together two groups of family and friends.
* Wanting a personally significant location. Sometimes couples choose to share the place that they met, or a place of cultural/heritage significance, or a place that they particularly love, with their loved ones.
* The romance of travel. This is a large category with differnt kinds of people and different expectations. I planned a wedding on top of Mount Kilimanjaro for one particularly adventurous (and fit!) couple.
* A desire to save money. Destination weddings can be expensive, but with careful planning, a realistic budget, and a modest guest list, they don't have to be.
* A desire for a non-traditional wedding. Destination weddings often appeal to couples who are not drawn to the traditional wedding model. These couples fit very nicely with what has been called, "the generational quest for individuality." They want their weddings to be memorable, and most of all to reflect their own personalities and uniqueness.
* A need to escape. I've planned a few estination weddings for couples who began on a more traditional path. One bride called when she realized her budget was approaching six figures, 100 hundred invitations were addressed to people she did not even know, and everyone from her dentist to her next-door neighbor were offering her advice. This is how her call began: "Help!"
You can probably relate to one or more of these motivations if you are considering a destination wedding. But how do you know if a wedding far from home is really right for you? I'm sure that you'll agree that one couple's fantasy ideal can be another couple's nightmare. In fact, depending on your situation, personality, temperment, and style, most anything can be seen in positive or negative terms.
A destination wedding promises a memorable experience. As long as you don't mind facing the unexpected. If unforgettable is just what you're looking for, or...you'd rather control every aspect of the experience rather than risk the "wrong kind" of memorable then a destination is not right for you.
A destination wedding is often a longer celebration, lasting a few days. It typically will begin with a welcome dinner t welcome all of your guests and set the tone for the weekend; in some cases this will double as the Rehearsal dinner or party depending on the day the festivities begin. The next day will usually be the ceremony and maybe the bridal party luncheon. Finally, you will close the weekend with a farewell lunch or brunch...depending on how late the party is to go on the night before! When will this group be together again? You love the notion of spending some time together! Or you may feel that one day is plenty for the "group portion" of the festivities.
A destination wedding typically involves fewer guests. You are either OK with the notion of having only your closest family and friends. This is certain to give you wedding a very intimate feel...which you as a bride will either love or hate.
Because of the element of travel, a destination wedding typically is more challenging to plan. I would always suggest hiring a wedding planner to help with such a large process. You see the difficulties of planning as a fair price to pay for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Most of your guests will use this as an opportunity to make a vacation out of the trip so this is important when choosing the location for the destination.
This list is offered as a springboard to conversation as a couple. First and foremost, you need to consider your own priorities. I always suggest that after you ask each other some of the questions above, you should also ask the really important people in your lives - the "must haves" on your prospective guest list - whether they would be agreeable to the idea of a destination wedding. If any of these make it or break it guests would be unable to accommodate the travel then you may want to reconsider your wedding plans.
It is true that destination weddings are more complicated to plan than weddings at home, but there are resources - wedding planners, the Internet, books and magazines - that can help you. However, there is something magical about them. What is at the heart of a destination wedding is an absolutely unique opportunity for the guests to get to know each other. It is a combination of the travel, the uniqueness of the locale and the bonding of such a select guest list that make this type of wedding so special and memorable.
I hope that I have given you some food for thought in choosing whether of not to have a destination wedding. And if your do choose one, I hope that it will prove to be a life long memory and exceed all your dreams and expectations.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Today I would like to introduce you all to one of our very special brides, Brooke Dixon. Brooke is 29 and she has been engaged since September of 2009. So for our blog toady Brooke has agreed to answer a few questions that our followers might find helpful, entertaining and interesting.
Bridecents : Brooke, how did your fiancé propose to you?
Brooke Dixon: It was a surprise….I had the LONGEST day ever and just wanted to come home and “veg out” and catch up on the DVR. OS I jump in the shower, throw on baggy clothes, no makeup and seriously lounge on the couch. I am relaxing and finally take a breath…when Will (my boyfriend then) and Toddie, my dog, come around the corner. I notice that Toddie is scratching at his neck and when I look closer and see an engagement ring tied with a ribbon. I look at Will, with my non-concealer, bug eyes and say, “What is going on”? He moved the coffee table and got down on one knee and asked “will you marry me?” It was so romantic, just me, Will and sweet Toddie. We got dressed and went out on the town with his family and friends. It was the perfect proposal!
Bridecents: Wow….that sounds amazing. When is your Wedding Date?
Brooke Dixon: We choose New Years Eve 2010 (12-31-2010).
Bridecents: Why New Years Eve? I am sure you get that question a lot….
Brooke Dixon: I get that question all the time. Honestly, it is the only time I can use as much glitter as I want to and not seem tacky! Everyone laughs at that response and thinks I am joking…but I am not!
Bridecents: That is hilarious…you must really love glitter J
Bridecents: When you started planning this Glitter-Fabulous event did you have a budget in mind?
Brooke Dixon: My parents said that they were only giving us a certain amount of money, which I am very appreciative of, but we wanted to contribute as well so that we would be able to have all of the things that would make our wedding “PERFECT”!
Bridecents: Have you been able to stay on budget with your planning?
Brooke Dixon: Not at all…I feel that everything in Charleston is a lot more expensive than I ever would have imagined. From the first day we started planning I always thought this wedding is going to be a once in a lifetime experience so why not “GO BIG OR GO HOME”!!!
Bridecents: I like where your head is at…that is a great way to look at it. Most brides want to make it memorable for not only them but for their guests as well. What do you think has been the most challenging step of planning your wedding?
Brooke Dixon: Definitely making every part of the wedding cohesive. The decor, invitations, flowers etc.
Bridecents: What have you done to jump over that hurdle?
Brooke Dixon: I just decided to go with simple elegance. Trying to use too many different elements can overwhelm you. The simpler the better…but with glitter J
Did you send a Save the Date since your wedding is on a very popular Holiday?
Brooke Dixon: Yes, and I am obsessed with them. Stephen at Open House did an amazing job. It was very unique. The front t of the Save the Date included about 40 different small pictures of Will and I through the 4 years we have been dating. In the center of the card there was a large picture of us from New Years. It was absolutely perfect.
Bridecents: Did you include accommodations for your guests with your Save the Dates?
Brooke Dixon: I included a link to our website, www.mywedding.com/willhankelbrookedixon. I felt that was easier because then our guests could have all the information about this very big day!
Bridecents: What did you find were the easiest hotels to work with?
Brooke Dixon: I picked my favorite hotels in Charleston and then also included on that would fit people with a budget.
Courtyard by Marriott Charleston, Waterfront
Holiday Inn ~ Riverview
Charleston Place Hotel
Bridecents: What have you found has been the most costly expense in planning your wedding?
Brooke Dixon: food and Beverage. since our wedding is on New Year’s Eve we decided to have a sit down dinner due to having to break up such a long night of entertaining our guests. Since we are having a sit down dinner at the reception, we are not having a traditional “Rehearsal Dinner” the night before and that allowed Will’s parents to pay for the alcohol at the wedding. This has been a huge help with the cost and allowed us to throw an extravaganza.
Carolina Yacht Club
Bridecents: Did you hire an event planner to help you with all of your planning?
Brooke Dixon: Not yet, but definitely considering it for the day of the wedding/reception. Hard to pull everything together when there are all eyes on you. We are setting up the night before the reception and that will be another way for us to cut costs and save money. When in doubt, do it yourself!
Bridecents: That sounds like a good plan. Know that many event planners offer week of and day of services. Here are just a few that we have worked with…
A Charleston Bride
Open House
Luke Wilson Events
Bridecents: Thank you so much Brooke for sharing your experience with our readers. We hope to catch back up with you as you go through the next phase of planning for your big day. If you have any questions for BrideCents or for Brooke please feel free to email us, info@openhousechalreston.net subject line BLOG! If you have a question chances are another bride does too!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Save the Dates and Invitations
Hello Brides....Since my family and I have an invitation and stationery business I thought it only fitting to make my first blog about Save the Dates and Invitations for your wedding. I will touch on some of the hot trends for 2010 as well as a little "Save the Date" etiquette. I am very aware that selecting the invitations for your wedding can be very overwhelming with all the choices out there and hope that this will help at least a little....
Let's start with some of the latest trends that will help make your invitations and save the date cards as special as your day. Big bold colors and bright patterns paired with sleek and sophisticated designs have been big for 2010. Colors like orange, green, yellow and vibrant blues are some of the colors I have worked with. To make sure that you are setting the right tone for your wedding you should select a color combination that you will be able to carry throughout your entire event. Destination weddings are becoming more and more popular for brides. If you are planning a destination wedding let the destination determine the look and feel of your invitation or save the date. This creativity will inspire your guests to attend your wedding wherever it may be. If you are planning an outdoor event it is nice to add some natural elements to the invitations or save the dates. Bring some outdoor charm to your entire celebration. Of course the traditional trees, leaves and flowers are always in style but some of the newer outdoor themes include summer camp, classic picnics or seaside motifs. Finally, consider the season that you are having your wedding during and incorporate this into your invitations and save the dates. If you are having a winter affair think snowflakes and mittens and for the upcoming summer brides the bright colors and sunny invitations are a good bet. Seasonal invitations offer the ideal way to make your wedding date the central part of your celebration. Perfect for "Save the Dates" not to be forgotten!
Speaking of "Save the Dates"...haha, smooth transition. Save the date cards are not necessary or required in all situations but they are a wonderful way to generate excitement for your big day. They are very important if you are planning a destination wedding, have a great deal of out of town guests, if your wedding day falls around any holidays, or if your wedding is taking place in a popular travel destination. Save the date cards should be fun and creative. We have been doing a lot of photo save the dates as well as magnets. If you are going to send out save the dates you should do this at least 5 months before your wedding date, and if you have a great deal of travelers 6 months is best. This time will allow your family and friends to make travel arrangements and hotel accommodations. I suggest that you send an accommodation card of a few hotel choices near your event to make this easier for your guests. Hotels will normally reserve a block of rooms for wedding parties and also give discounts based on the number of rooms reserved. This will make it much easier on your traveling guests. Your wedding invitations should follow about 2 months before your wedding.
I hope that you will find this information helpful and will pass it on to anyone you know who is embarking on this wedding planning journey. Please feel free to ask me any questions I didn't answer or visit me anytime at Open House where I am happy to help make this overwhelming decisions a lot less stressful....fingers crossed I am not over promising! Stay tuned for our next blog and we will introduce you to a bride who will blog with me from the beginning of the journey to her walk down the aisle!
Hope to hear from or see you soon....
Let's start with some of the latest trends that will help make your invitations and save the date cards as special as your day. Big bold colors and bright patterns paired with sleek and sophisticated designs have been big for 2010. Colors like orange, green, yellow and vibrant blues are some of the colors I have worked with. To make sure that you are setting the right tone for your wedding you should select a color combination that you will be able to carry throughout your entire event. Destination weddings are becoming more and more popular for brides. If you are planning a destination wedding let the destination determine the look and feel of your invitation or save the date. This creativity will inspire your guests to attend your wedding wherever it may be. If you are planning an outdoor event it is nice to add some natural elements to the invitations or save the dates. Bring some outdoor charm to your entire celebration. Of course the traditional trees, leaves and flowers are always in style but some of the newer outdoor themes include summer camp, classic picnics or seaside motifs. Finally, consider the season that you are having your wedding during and incorporate this into your invitations and save the dates. If you are having a winter affair think snowflakes and mittens and for the upcoming summer brides the bright colors and sunny invitations are a good bet. Seasonal invitations offer the ideal way to make your wedding date the central part of your celebration. Perfect for "Save the Dates" not to be forgotten!
Speaking of "Save the Dates"...haha, smooth transition. Save the date cards are not necessary or required in all situations but they are a wonderful way to generate excitement for your big day. They are very important if you are planning a destination wedding, have a great deal of out of town guests, if your wedding day falls around any holidays, or if your wedding is taking place in a popular travel destination. Save the date cards should be fun and creative. We have been doing a lot of photo save the dates as well as magnets. If you are going to send out save the dates you should do this at least 5 months before your wedding date, and if you have a great deal of travelers 6 months is best. This time will allow your family and friends to make travel arrangements and hotel accommodations. I suggest that you send an accommodation card of a few hotel choices near your event to make this easier for your guests. Hotels will normally reserve a block of rooms for wedding parties and also give discounts based on the number of rooms reserved. This will make it much easier on your traveling guests. Your wedding invitations should follow about 2 months before your wedding.
I hope that you will find this information helpful and will pass it on to anyone you know who is embarking on this wedding planning journey. Please feel free to ask me any questions I didn't answer or visit me anytime at Open House where I am happy to help make this overwhelming decisions a lot less stressful....fingers crossed I am not over promising! Stay tuned for our next blog and we will introduce you to a bride who will blog with me from the beginning of the journey to her walk down the aisle!
Hope to hear from or see you soon....
Nice to meet you....
My name is Melissa Mills and I am the Wedding Professional at Open House in Charleston , South Carolina. Together with Sandy, Jeffrey, Stephen and Sarah, Open House works hard every day to ensure our brides have the best experience while purchasing or designing their invitations, registering for their china and gifts, getting all their shower and hostess gifts, and everything in between. It is one of the happiest jobs I can imagine having. Over the past 4 years I have built relationships with so many brides and wanted to share my knowledge and expertise with all the brides who haven't yet ventured into wild world of weddings....happy learning!
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