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Wedding Tip Wednesday – Wedding Planner vs Venue Coordinator
Thanks to romantic comedies like The Wedding Planner and Father of the Bride, you probably have a general idea as to what a Wedding Planner is and what we can do for you. However, with many venues now providing an on-site venue coordinator, many couples are often left asking themselves if they really need to hire a professional Wedding Planner/Coordinator as well. The simple answer to this question is yes but before you say “well of course she would say that,” let me explain why these two professions are not one and the same.
If you have booked a venue that provides on-site coordinator, they will no doubt be a valuable asset to you and your fiance along your planning journey. In all honesty, I enjoy getting to know the on-site coordinators myself because when we work together for you, the couple, we can make the other person’s job easier. It is important however, to understand the key differences between an on-site coordinator’s role and what an outside professional, like The Wedding Pixie, can do for you. By understanding these differences you will be sure to avoid frustration and disappointment down the road.
VENUE COORDINATORS
- Work for the venue
- Will advise you of the venue’s policies and procedures
- Liaise between you and the venue’s operations staff
- Are primarily focused the day-of your wedding on managing and fulfilling the venue’s responsibilities as outlined in your contract – i.e floor plan is executed correctly, ensuring proper set up of tables and chairs at each table and overseeing food timing
- Typically leave once dinner is served turning the evening over to the venue manager
Another important consideration to keep in mind is the person you book and plan with at a venue may not be the coordinator working on your actual wedding day!
INDEPENDENT PLANNERS/COORDINATORS
- Work for you, the couple
- See to the finest details of creating your dream wedding
- Supervise ALL aspects of the wedding day itself (Psst…we will even make sure Aunt Edna and Uncle Bob keep their distance from each other since divorce proceedings aren’t going well)
- Will communicate with the venue and ALL your vendors before the wedding day to create a master timeline ensuring everyone is on the same page
- Are focused the day-of your wedding on you and work with ALL your vendors striving to give you what is most important…the best wedding possible!
- On the wedding day, arrive before your ceremony starts and leave after the late night table is served
WHAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE?
Take time to consider your needs throughout the planning stages and of course, on your wedding day and be sure to weigh all your options accordingly. On-site venue coordinators are indeed valuable but since they work for the venue, they have boundaries in fulfilling duties to the Bride and Groom. Hiring an outside, independent Wedding Coordinator/Planner is the best way to guarantee the most organized and stress-free wedding experience.
Happy Planning!
Eye Candy Galore – Beautiful Brooch Bouquets
For most couples, the bridal bouquet is considered a wedding day staple but what happens if you, or your fiancé, have an allergy to beautiful blooms? Or maybe you just want to wow your guests by taking an unexpected yet personalized approach with your bouquet? Whatever your reason, I say no problem! From feathers to paper to ribbons, there are so many chic options that are not only gorgeous but also truly unique and one-of-a-kind. Oh and let’s not forget a favourite around here, the brooch bouquet, which is easily customized to suit your theme and colours. Whether you treasure it forever as a keepsake (psst…use it later if you renew your vows!) or pass it down to the next bride in your family for that ‘something old,’ brooch bouquets are simply stunning and add that touch of elegant sparkle to your big day.
For more Eye Candy Galore, be sure to follow the link below the image to the talented individual behind the creation.
Post image via Mademoiselle Artsy
Post image via Forever After Bridal Brooch Bouquets
Post image via Mademoiselle Artsy
Post image via Mademoiselle Artsy
Pantone Colour of the Year 2015 – Marsala
With this being the first post of the year, let me first start by saying Happy New Year!!!!
As the holiday season has now come to an end, I thought it was fitting to make my first post of 2015 highlighting the Pantone Colour of the Year just in case you missed it between all the Christmas parties, shopping and wrapping presents. So here it is, the 2015 Pantone Colour of the Year is (drum roll please)… Marsala!
Dramatic yet elegant, rich and warm, when I see Marsala I immediately think of a fabulously satisfying glass of red wine. What I love most about it though is it’s equal appeal to both men and women.
What do you think? Want to know more about Marsala? Check out Pantone’s site here
Post image via Pantone/Colour of the Year
Eye Candy Galore – Captivating Cakes
Did you know according to tradition and etiquette, the bride and groom are only required to serve their guests a drink to toast with and a piece of wedding cake? How about these ones; did you know the wedding cake dates back to the Roman Empire when cakes were made of only flour, salt and water? Or that the traditional Western wedding cake is fruit cake?!
Mmm…I love a good wedding cake. I really do so it’s hard to believe that the light, fluffy and superbly decorated wedding cakes of today were once thick, heavy and baked with dried nuts and fruit. Oh, how wedding cakes have (thankfully!) evolved over the years. Gone are the days when your wedding cake was just a dessert served to your guests at the end of a great reception. With endless colour, flavour and shape options to choose from, wedding cakes are truly a form of art these days and have become the exclamation point on the whole wedding; a gorgeous and yummy finale!
With 2014 coming to an end, the team at Colin Cowie Weddings has come up with a list of the 20 Prettiest Wedding Cakes. These cakes will surely inspire and show you there are no boundaries and the sky is the limit when creating the symbol of your new union as husband and wife.
I love, love, LOVE this three-tier cake creation by Artisan Cake Company. With vintage flare, sheer uniqueness and perfect execution (to resemble a chalkboard), there’s nothing left to say but what a creative show-stopping masterpiece!
For more Eye Candy Galore, check out the full feature here. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed. Warning: These pretty cakes will probably awaken your sweet tooth too 🙂
(Blog Source: WPIC – The Professional Wedding Consultant and Coordinator – Edition 13)
Post image by Artisan Cake Company and Hazelwood Photo via Colin Cowie Weddings: The 20 Prettiest Wedding Cakes
Your Wedding and the New Rules of Etiquette
When planning your wedding, one of the most important factors you and your fiance need to consider is etiquette. In today’s technology-based world where posts, tweets and hashtags are the norm, new rules of wedding etiquette are emerging. Today I’m sharing some of the most common social media related wedding faux-pas and how to steer clear of them.
Announcing your Engagement
To keep it personal, do share the exciting news in person or by phone with the people nearest and dearest in your life. Your family and friends will want to hear the news straight from you. And let’s not forget that the older generations will probably not have Facebook or Twitter accounts and could miss out on the news altogether. Once these folks are covered, it’s OK to “post” or “tweet” to spread the news because let’s face it, it’s probably the most efficient way to do so. You can even indulge in posting or tweeting a photo of your engagement ring because once the news is out, everyone will want to see the ring and this will make it easy for them to admire from afar. Psst…before you start snapping though, you may want to consider a manicure first:)
Planning your Wedding
Yes, planning your wedding can be stressful at times but taking your frustrations to social media is a no-no. Venting about family drama and annoying bridemaids will only lead to hurt feelings and animosity towards your big day. When you get the urge to “post” or “tweet,” pause for second and instead confront those issues directly, privately and politely either in person or by picking up the phone.
Keeping your “post” and “tweet” positive may seem like a no-brainer, but I’m here to tell you even those should be carefully considered. Do you really need to update everyone on your search for the perfect dress? And just how necessary is it to post a wedding countdown? Do resist posting constant updates because even though you are sharing with positive intentions, over-sharing will only give your guests wedding fatigue before they even get to your wedding.
And of course, keep the best wedding ideas you and your wedding planner have come up with for your big day a secret. Look at it this way, do you really enjoy a movie as much when someone has spoiled the story for you? Chances are the answer is no so as excited as you may be, don’t give your guests wedding spoilers and ruin the surprise for them.
Your Wedding Day
We’ve really gotten to the point where almost everyone (except maybe your older relatives) know what a hashtag is and how to use it so do ask guests to use a special hashtag for wedding posts, tweets and pictures. To have a constant feed of posts, tweets and photos throughout the day, be sure to spread the word about your hashtag ahead of time. Have a wedding website? Awesome! This is a great place to start spreading the word.
Your Thank-You Notes
The rule when it comes to your thank-you notes is quite simple and there are no ifs, ands or buts about it – handwritten only.
Happy Planning!