When it comes time for you to select the entertainment for your reception, one option is a dj. But how do you know which DJ is right for you?
When interviewing a DJ, a few things to keep in mind is how do your personalities mesh, and what sort of style do you want for your reception? Are you looking for a club-like atmosphere, where the DJ is a prominent personality throughout the evening? Or do you want someone who is more in the background, playing music and only introducing important dances? Do you want someone who will involve all of your family and friends with Conga lines, giveaways and dances? Talented DJs can adapt to the type of crowd you have at your reception in order to get them up and dancing, and having a good time. I've worked with 1 DJ many different times and each time he seems like a totally different person -- he adapts to the party rather than having the party adapt (which it won't!) to him.
Once you've hired your DJ, you need to make out 2 lists. One is of all the important dances -- your first dance, parent dances, bouquet and garter tosses, cake cutting, etc. The other list is probably even more important: the do not play list! Here, you write down all the songs that you absolutely, positively do not want to hear on your wedding day. You can be specific, such as "Chicken Dance," or more general, like "all organized dance songs." One list that you do not, and actually should not, prepare is a play list. I've had couples try to give their DJs a play list of songs, in order, that they want to hear -- this is not a good idea for several reasons, not the least of which is that a DJ is a live person and can read your crowd and will know how to get them up and dancing. If the DJ is limited to playing the songs you selected, there's no room for the human touch. You hired the DJ, so you should let him or her do the professional job they are trained to do!
Until next time, happy planning ...
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Monday, February 19, 2007
Why hire an independent wedding consultant?
When you go to a wedding facility, such as a hotel or a hall, many times they have someone designated as a "wedding consultant" on staff. So, why should you consider hiring an independent wedding consultant such as myself? There are many reasons to think about!
An independent wedding planner (or wedding consultant, or bridal consultant, whatever title is being used) is your advocate from the day he or she is hired until your wedding day. That person will recommend to you the best vendors for your style and budget, and will guide you through the planning process -- keeping you on track with all of the many details such as ordering favors, designing guest books and creating programs as well as keeping you on budget. Also, your independent wedding planner will create a wedding day timeline and coordinate with all of your vendors prior to your big day. On the day of your wedding, that person will be at your house (or wherever you are dressing) to keep to the schedule, will fluff your dress as you walk down the aisle, will make sure your ceremony and reception sites are set up just as you envisioned them, and will run interference among your vendors, your families and yourselves throughout the day.
By contrast, a facility's "wedding coordinator" is in charge of making sure the food and beverage service runs smoothly during your reception. If you are having your ceremony at that venue, the facility's coordinator will make sure the chairs are set up and also may assist in lining you up to walk down the aisle, if she or he is in attendance on your day. Prior to your wedding, the facility's coordinator may give you a generic list of some vendors and meet with you to discuss the hall's menu options, linen choices, cake styles, and so forth.
In corporate terms, your independent wedding coordinator is your wedding's "project manager" and is in constant contact with with the facility's coordinator, band leader, florist, photographer, videographer, stylist, bridal salon, officiant, invitation designer, favor maker, baker, etc., in order to bring your wedding dreams to reality. The facility's coordinator is an important team member for your wedding, as that person is the in-house liaison between you and the facility. But your independent wedding consultant is the point person for all of the vendors; that person filters the many inquiries, gathers required paperwork/insurance certificates, disseminates timelines and directions and, in general, reduces your stress levels by taking care of the tiny details.
Until next time, happy planning ...
An independent wedding planner (or wedding consultant, or bridal consultant, whatever title is being used) is your advocate from the day he or she is hired until your wedding day. That person will recommend to you the best vendors for your style and budget, and will guide you through the planning process -- keeping you on track with all of the many details such as ordering favors, designing guest books and creating programs as well as keeping you on budget. Also, your independent wedding planner will create a wedding day timeline and coordinate with all of your vendors prior to your big day. On the day of your wedding, that person will be at your house (or wherever you are dressing) to keep to the schedule, will fluff your dress as you walk down the aisle, will make sure your ceremony and reception sites are set up just as you envisioned them, and will run interference among your vendors, your families and yourselves throughout the day.
By contrast, a facility's "wedding coordinator" is in charge of making sure the food and beverage service runs smoothly during your reception. If you are having your ceremony at that venue, the facility's coordinator will make sure the chairs are set up and also may assist in lining you up to walk down the aisle, if she or he is in attendance on your day. Prior to your wedding, the facility's coordinator may give you a generic list of some vendors and meet with you to discuss the hall's menu options, linen choices, cake styles, and so forth.
In corporate terms, your independent wedding coordinator is your wedding's "project manager" and is in constant contact with with the facility's coordinator, band leader, florist, photographer, videographer, stylist, bridal salon, officiant, invitation designer, favor maker, baker, etc., in order to bring your wedding dreams to reality. The facility's coordinator is an important team member for your wedding, as that person is the in-house liaison between you and the facility. But your independent wedding consultant is the point person for all of the vendors; that person filters the many inquiries, gathers required paperwork/insurance certificates, disseminates timelines and directions and, in general, reduces your stress levels by taking care of the tiny details.
Until next time, happy planning ...
Monday, February 12, 2007
"Day Of" Coordinator
I get many, many inquiries from brides for a "day of" coordinator. While this term has been popularized in the media, it really has no meaning -- or application -- in the bridal industry.
What? Of course a "day of" coordinator just can be hired to supervise everything you've planned to make sure your day runs perfectly smoothly. All that person needs to do is look over your notes and contracts, maybe attend your rehearsal so s/he can meet the key members of the wedding party and, voila, your day will be flawless. Oh, and for such magical service (consisting of maybe 12 hours of work), the fee should be somewhere around $500-$800. Right? WRONG!
What I'm about to say may be controversial, but it's true. No one can provide this type of service. Or, rather, those that claim to do so are not professionals, nor do they provide a service.
A wedding coordinator is the couple's advocate on their wedding day. The coordinator "speaks" for the bride and groom on such issues as reception room set up, musical requests, spotlight dances, entree service, etc. Just one of the jobs I do during a wedding is answer a myriad of questions from all of the vendors about how "Sue & Dave" want this particular item carried out. I speak for my clients so that they do not have to be bothered on their big day. Who wants to be taken off the dance floor to be asked whether the main course should be served in 10 minutes?
In order for me properly to be able to respond to these questions, I have to know my client's wishes. The only way I feel comfortable in knowing my client's wishes is to have spent quality time with them going over their dreams for their wedding. Therefore, about 1 month before the wedding, I create the wedding day timeline and meet with my client to go over all the details. I also attend the final meetings with the vendors who will be providing service on their wedding day, such as the reception hall, entertainment, photographer, etc. I then coordinate with all of these vendors the week of the wedding, so that everyone is on the same page. In this way, I feel as if I have learned about my client and am confident that I can speak on their behalf on their big day.
I am not alone in speaking out against the term "day of" coordinator. At the last ABC Conference in Colorado Springs, we had a big brainstorming session about it, and the consensus was that most everyone's "day of" package is really a "month of" service. Keep in mind that professional wedding planners gladly will assist you with the finishing touches for your wedding, but that we need to know your wishes in order for you to receive the best benefit of our services. Which is why "day of" coordination is a misnomer at best, and a potential disservice to you at its worst.
Until next time, happy planning ...
What? Of course a "day of" coordinator just can be hired to supervise everything you've planned to make sure your day runs perfectly smoothly. All that person needs to do is look over your notes and contracts, maybe attend your rehearsal so s/he can meet the key members of the wedding party and, voila, your day will be flawless. Oh, and for such magical service (consisting of maybe 12 hours of work), the fee should be somewhere around $500-$800. Right? WRONG!
What I'm about to say may be controversial, but it's true. No one can provide this type of service. Or, rather, those that claim to do so are not professionals, nor do they provide a service.
A wedding coordinator is the couple's advocate on their wedding day. The coordinator "speaks" for the bride and groom on such issues as reception room set up, musical requests, spotlight dances, entree service, etc. Just one of the jobs I do during a wedding is answer a myriad of questions from all of the vendors about how "Sue & Dave" want this particular item carried out. I speak for my clients so that they do not have to be bothered on their big day. Who wants to be taken off the dance floor to be asked whether the main course should be served in 10 minutes?
In order for me properly to be able to respond to these questions, I have to know my client's wishes. The only way I feel comfortable in knowing my client's wishes is to have spent quality time with them going over their dreams for their wedding. Therefore, about 1 month before the wedding, I create the wedding day timeline and meet with my client to go over all the details. I also attend the final meetings with the vendors who will be providing service on their wedding day, such as the reception hall, entertainment, photographer, etc. I then coordinate with all of these vendors the week of the wedding, so that everyone is on the same page. In this way, I feel as if I have learned about my client and am confident that I can speak on their behalf on their big day.
I am not alone in speaking out against the term "day of" coordinator. At the last ABC Conference in Colorado Springs, we had a big brainstorming session about it, and the consensus was that most everyone's "day of" package is really a "month of" service. Keep in mind that professional wedding planners gladly will assist you with the finishing touches for your wedding, but that we need to know your wishes in order for you to receive the best benefit of our services. Which is why "day of" coordination is a misnomer at best, and a potential disservice to you at its worst.
Until next time, happy planning ...
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