Lisa's Wedding Planning Tips:
Every wedding planner has a calendar or timeline laying out the important steps
necessary to plan a wedding and reception. The timeline is an important part of
planning your wedding, but there are other equally important things to think about in
order to have the wedding you really want. Here are some of them:
1. Consider the most important things about your wedding day. Right at the top of
your list should be, "Ending up married to each other at the end of the day." Keep that
as your main focus and then, when something goes wrong, you will know that the day
is still a success, as long as you are married by the end of it. Also, if you are throwing a
party, make sure you are inviting people you really want to spend the day with; and then
throw a party they can all enjoy. Remember, it isn't about impressing people or feeling
rich for a day. It should be about having a good time with the people you like best, and
sharing your happiness with them.
2. For everyone, there are one or two elements of the ceremony or reception that will
make you unhappy if they aren't as close to perfect as possible. For me, it was the
food at the reception. The meal I served my guests had to be better than anything I
eat on an ordinary day. Most caterers just weren't up to the job, and I didn't care for
their attitudes, either. I interviewed half a dozen caterers and tasted their food before I
found one whose food and attitude I really liked. With the elements that are most
important to you, take time early in the planning process to find someone to do the job
you will be entirely happy with. See or taste samples of their work. Get at least two
references. Don't settle for second best or feel pressured by any vendor. You know
what you want, and it is always possible to find it.
3. And while we're on the subject of vendors, I can't stress enough how important it
is to find people who are easy to communicate with. Any vendor who implies that they
know better than you what you need is not someone you need at your wedding. Find
people who listen to what you want and are enthusiastic about your ideas. Only hire
people you feel comfortable calling if you have a change of plans or a
new set of ideas. Make sure they are the sort of people you would want to invite to your
wedding.
4. Remember when hiring vendors that this is a business propostion, and deal with them in a business-like manner. Never, ever give any vendor a down payment until you have a written contract and until you understand and agree with everything in the contract. A contract should contain, at a minimum, the vendor's name, business address, and telephone number; an itemized list of services the vendor will supply and dates and times the services will be provided; and the cost for those services and when payment is due. Some smaller businesses, especially busy ones like florists and bakeries, sometimes have minimal information on their contracts. Feel free to hand write missing information on the contract they give you, and get them to initial it. You should also initial any changes. Contracts are also negotiable. You will not be able to negotiate everything you want into a contract, but if there is something important you want, try to get it included. Or if there is a clause you can't live with, you can try to negotiate it out.
5. Hiring a wedding planner is the same as any other wedding vendor. Have an
idea of the kinds of help you need before you call. You probably won't have all the
answers yet, but that is why you are hiring an event planning professional. If you want
someone who knows all about bridal fashion and the latest trends, be sure they are
credentialed by one of the bridal planning associations. If, on the other hand, you have
your own ideas about style, keep looking until you find a wedding planner with an open
mind and innovative ideas. Experience counts, too. It is possible to learn a lot about
event planning from books and lectures, but nothing beats hands-on experience. Also, find
out if the wedding planner you are thinking about hiring has ever been married. I think
that a wedding planner who has been married has a better understanding of the process
of getting married--and a better understanding of the pitfalls along the way.
6. Make your wedding personal. Everyone knows what a wedding is "supposed" to
be like, but some of the nicest weddings I have been to have broken the rules. Brides
don't have to wear white, nor do grooms need to wear tuxes. There is no requirement
that a wedding be a formal affair. If you want to have a picnic in the park, just make
sure you have a rain plan. Wedding cake doesn't have to look like the classic wedding
dress. In fact, if you don't like cake, serve pie or jello, instead. I've never been to a
wedding where there were no flowers, but if you don't like the idea of carrying a
bouquet, there are lots of other ways to work flowers into your day. Everyone from your
mother to the lady at the grocery checkout will tell you how your wedding ought to be.
Listen politely, but if you have other ideas, follow your heart until you get the wedding of
your dreams.
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