IM ENGAGED NOW WHAT? 10 THINGS YOU NEED TO CONSIDER BEFORE YOUR START WEDDING PLANNING

Congratulations, you’re engaged! And what an exciting time.

You’re on Pinterest pinning or maybe revising your wedding board with all your ideas of how you envision your wedding day, looking at wedding dates while considering a dash of unsolicited advice from all your married friends;) and family members.

Slowly you start feeling overwhelmed with how to make this all happen. What you do know though- is that you want to truly enjoy your wedding day without interruption. As you should!

You’re at a pivotal crossroad and before you hit the ground researching, interviewing, requesting pricing, booking etc you need to consider these three things.

BUDGET

It is arguably the toughest and most important conversation to have. Before you can start dreaming and planning, you’ll need a realistic view of what to expect.

1. How involved do your family members want to be?

   • Do they have any special requests for the wedding day…

   • Do they want to be involved in anything specific…

2. Whom would like to contribute financially to the wedding?

   • How much woud they like to gift monetarily…

   • Do they have an expectations on how they would like you to spend that gift, for example towards food and beverage or nice flowers…

3. How do your family members envision the event leading up to your wedding and how they foresea your wedding day.

   This is THE BEST way for you to gauge how your family will react to the decisions you make while you plan your wedding and how to expect how they emotionally react. It also helps you identify where your family would appreciate being involved in a special way without being overly involved. I always advice to assign tasks to family based on these conversations. They have a focus. This could be a cute well executed DIY, a well-planned event menu, the perfect bridal shower you would be happy to allow your mother-in-law to plan etc.

prioritiES

Once you have gathered all the facts, let them sit and simmer for a bit, you’ll be able to establish:

YOUR PRIORITIES AND THE PRIORITIES OF OTHERS

When these two things come together you’ll be able to clearly see and understand how to move forward. Make a list.

For example:

MY PRIORITIES

A fun party with all my family and friends

Stunning bridal fashion; shoes, dress, veil + accessories

No bridal party

Short Timeline so that we can party

Untraditional venue with great ambiance and decor

Champagne tower instead of cake

FAMILY PRIORITIES

Mother in law wants to plan her own bridal shower for all her friends

My mum wants to make a really cute DIY and have our wedding photos in her garden

My sisters and friends want to get ready with me even though I dont have a bridal party

Dad wants open bar

Fiance wants really good steak for dinner

Mom wants a band if possible

See how great of a picture that paints?! Well for a wedding planner- this is all we need to know. From this we can plan your whole wedding expertly. For you, it provides tangible goals- how to get there and where to start is another dilemma which brings me to my final question; Can you do this on your own?

Support

It a question no many brides can answer for themselves, sometimes much latter in the planning process when they realize they’re over their head or feel overwhelmed. Or even in hindsight after the wedding. So many married couples have said how after the fact, now knowing all that was involved and how their wedding day actually happened- they wished they had at the very least hired a planner for the day of.

Now that you have an idea of your wedding it’s time to take stock of how much support, if any you’ll need to pull of the biggest and most expensive party of your dreams while also being able to enjoy every minute of it.

1. Are you inquisitive?

Be prepared for the steep learning curve knowing that there are is not enough information out there in the blogsphere to properly tell you how to plan a wedding, what to expect cost wise, how to gauge if a vendor is actually great or if they just have a flashy instagram, confidence and a good price? Sure you can ask your friends for recommendations- but they have also only planned their own wedding and yours will likely not be the same. So to be successful in planning your wedding you will need to be forever inquisitive, seeking out information to help make the best decisions.

2. Do you like research?

Never take anything at face value. Pay attention to personal recommendations and continue to inquire as to why that person is recommending them. but keeping in mind- what good for them is not always good for you- you’ll need to do your own vendor research; photographers, musicians, makeup artists, hair stylists, transportation, planners, cake bakers, caterers, stationers, florists, decorators, rental companies, venues etc.

There is a lot out there and if you don’t have a well seasoned planner to listen to your previously made priorities list- then you won’t have the privilege of the planner shortcuts where we give you all the recommendations and advice needed.

You’re researching prices, value, comparing vendors, creeping their instagram, understanding what makes each vendor unique and does it truly line-up with what you're looking for, reviewing contracts, google reviews, vendor affiliates etc- Then re-assessing priorities based on the data your gathering and hopefully coming to a conclusion.

3. Do you procrastinate?

Hate the word and the feeling. But sometimes it a product of being fed too much information, becoming overwhelmed and then stalling not knowing what to do next. Or ignoring, because you have time right?! But you’re wrong. Wedding planning goes by within a blink of an eye and you could be missing out on key opportunities or deadlines unbenounced by you. With a wedding planner you only need to be involved in the fun parts. You have the power at anytime to say- i’m too busy and i’m leaving this in your hands to bring to fruition.

Having planner allows you to enjoy the journey on your own terms and not feel guilty if work commitments take over your work while your trying to plan.

4. Do you have trouble asking questions or are shy when communicating?

Your ultimate happiness depends on your ability to ask questions and not be shy about your own feelings. If you don’t ask, you’ll never know, and if you don’t ask for what you want- you’ll likely never get it. Don’t be fooled, your vendors will not tell you what they ultimately need to do their job until the week before the wedding. Wether is be specific power, space, delivery needs, sign-off etc, rest assured they are focusing on events with a lead-time of week to week. If you wedding is not happening that Saturday- likely you’re not a priority and any email to you will be delayed until the vendor really needs to know. And sometimes they don’t give you the courtesy and simply show up on the wedding day demanding certain things that just aren’t attainable when your in makeup hair having your hair done.

A wedding planner’s job is all about foresight and understand how every vendor does their job, anticipates their needs and has it all organized for them before they need it. And it takes years to learn this art.

5.Strategy

There is no right or wrong way to host or plan a wedding but your success will be in your ability to make order of the chaos. Strategy is what planning is all about. First you establishing your end goal, then list all the things that need to be done…then strategize the order of what needs to be done first; right up until the wedding day. But if you’ve never planned a wedding before, how are you supposed to know what needs to consider in order to formulate this master plan. Even the most organized person can have trouble navigating these waters. Which vendors to book first, which vendors work well together, will building your timeline before booking be important etc etc. The perfect analogy I alway fall back on is cooking. You can have all the best and freshest ingredients, a fairly good cook, but that doesn’t necessarily ensure you’ll have a wonderful meal in the end. Same thing goes for wedding.

You can choose and book all your vendors, but how they all come together as a team is masterfully orchestrated which takes extensive experience for best results.

6. Risk Taker?

Without a planner you are constantly taking a risk with every decision you make. But do you truly understand what that risk is? It can be as simple as finding a chair rental company. How hard can that be? It’s a simple chair right? Let me share a real life situation an associate of mine went through which will help you understand one of the many risks you take without a planner.

REAL LIFE SCENARIO

You really want those trendy black bistro chairs but you’re seeing most companies with the price of $12 per chair with a $300 delivery fee + $150 pick up fee and most companies can’t do a late night pick up which you JUST by chance have been told is a must from your venue. So you decide to find the cheapest company on facebook marketplace and book for $5 a chair. There is a high probability that your chairs will never show up- but you ignore that, because that would never happen to you. The company you found on facebook marketplace dont have a contracts so nothing is signed legally or legitimately confirmed but you send them a small deposit via e-transfer. You haven’t established a proper line of communication and all you have is facebook messages to fall back on so you continue to communicate through messaging apps and have never spoken too anyone in person. But now that you’ve booked the response time seems to lag and your questions are never fully answered. Finalizing details have been tricky when they’re just not getting back to you in a timely manner- which was stressful. It’s three days before your wedding and the company send you a message to confirm when you would like to pick up your 150 chairs…. um what? Delivery was not included? Why didn’t you mention this before???? But unfortunately the reality is that you assumed it was included and the company never brought it up and you’re not about to rent a Uhaul. So you inquire on pricing and the company says $250 for delivery, $250 for set-up, $250 for late-night pick up. (basically the same price as the other companies)…. so now you’re feeling a little sour. the experience of trying to communicate with them has been difficult, they hid information from you which is costing you extra and you no longer trust this company. But you're financially committed at this point. Fine, you trudge along and focus on other wedding planning things that make you happy. Your wedding day comes and it looks like this.

END RESULT

The company arrives late. What was an AM drop of period confirmed by the company in reality ends up being 30 minutes before your cocktails are due to start and their now wheeling in stacks of chairs through your cocktails and into the reception area. And they’re not being very discrete. From the corner of your eye something looks off but your cocktailing with your guests and think it’s too late now anyway. You have your grand entrance and finally sit down. Your chair has no cushion…… and it’s a hard uncomfortable chair. As you look closer you realise the chair is actually plastic…..and to be honest, not well cared for being all scratched up with missing paint. Suddenly you hear a high pitched yelp, a bit of laughter and a kerfuffle in the back of the room. It’s your uncle and his chair just broke. A one off right? No, it seems as though the company shorted you chairs and you can see you guests standing around their table looking confused at to where their chairs might be. It’s like this all night during dinner- you see wait staff bringing in ugly banquet chairs to replace guests chairs because they’re either wobbly or extremely uncomfortable. The next morning at 8am you get a call from your venue. Your chairs are still here- they were supposed to be picked up late last night and we have a function this afternoon…….you agree and explain that you even paid a late night pick up fee. Now you’re really angry. The nerve of this company! You write to complain but no one ever answers and your chairs are left in limbo. -End to story-

I’ve also heard of companies just not showing up and disappearing or substituting the chairs for another without notice…. I mean over the 15 years of being a planner I have seen and heard it all!

7.Time for emails?

Know that when you confirm a detail with one vendor by email you will likely need to confirm it with multiple other vendors and your venue.

It’s like a domino effect. Each vendor is connected and relies on the other to do their job in a timely and effective manner or a chain reaction unbenounced to you will occur.

And when this does, without a planner, once this happens it’s already too late and you’ll just have to come to terms with the end result.

8. Patience

Be prepared to wait for responses when emailing vendors or requests for quotes. You aren’t a number but you are in a lineup of 60+ brides that’s a mile long, also with questions. With a established wedding planner, you get to butt in at the front ;).

Vendors are more apt to working with couples if they have a planner

because they know it will be organized, communication will be packed with all the appropriate information, process is seamless as the planner can guide the client and explain things which alleviates the vendor and its easier to work as a team throughout the whole process since the planner knows what everyone needs.

9. Are you a go-getter? Are you a good communicator?

You gotta be on those vendors!!! Multiple follow ups to make sure you’re at the top of their in-box. Better yet are you a good communicator? Can you speak the vendors language when describing what you want and what your expectations are? Do you know how to organize visuals to get your wants and need across to a vendor? Mood boards, design visuals and descriptive paragraphs, multi- layered floor plans for design, catering, food & beverage selections, seating charts etc? If this overwhelms you- planner. You gotta be a self starter… and motivation when the going gets tough is very real.

10. Can you work under pressure?

How responsive are you to deadlines and effective at gathering the information needed for particular vendors with little notice? It all leads back to being organized and having the know how to have the information handy for when it’s needed. A wedding planner already does this along the way but if you have a hectic work or life schedule and all of a sudden your asked for your final catering numbers, individual meal selections and you forgot to ask on your RSVP exactly what each person is eating…then your left scrambling. It’s a THIS VS THAT.

If you can’t tell the difference… You need a planner.

And lastly,

11. Do you have time?

Planning a wedding is like a second job. On average I send over 1200 emails and send over 500 hours planning a simple wedding. If your planning a tent wedding- double that.

If after reading this article you still feel confident or simply don’t care, you don’t need a planner.

If some of this leaves you feeling overwhelmed but up to the challenge, you would benefit from a partial plan.

If considering your busy life and work commitments that this is just too much and you really want a nice wedding or just dont like planning- you are a perfect candidate for a full plan.

If you love the challenge of everything I mentioned above but want to make sure your plans come to fruition on the day, a day of coordinator is the right decision for you!

And now you’re ready to start planning your wedding.

xo Elise

TOP 5 PLACES TO ELOPE OR HOST YOUR MICRO WEDDING IN ONTARIO & QUEBEC

Yesterday on my Instagram Live I spoke about my top five places to elope or host a micro wedding in 2021. And to be honest I have a long list of adventurous niche spots that didn’t make the list but are amazing options for couples who crave that unique intimate wedding or ceremony spot. If you’d like to hear the full Live, click this link, select my profile and click the little IGTV button. There you will see all my recent lives including “Ontario Covid Restrictions for Weddings in 2021”, “Quebec Covid Restrictions for Weddings in 2021”, “My Predictions for Covid and Weddings in 2021” and so much more….

I absolutely love micro weddings. It allows us vendors to really create something truly unique and detailed to our clients which is unreplicable. There is no other experience like small micro weddings and elopements. It allows you to really slow down, live in the moment and truly enjoy being a guest at your own wedding. My hope, even without a pandemic, small intimate weddings are here to stay. So without delay, here are my personal top 5 places to elope or host your micro / petit wedding in Ontario and Quebec.

OTTAWA ART GALLERY": ALT/AR Luxury Wedding Ceremonies

IMAGE: Lace & Luce

YOU DESERVE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL You've found the love of your life, you're read to say "I Do". But the world had other plans. ALT/AR - is a new collaboration between Ottawa's top luxury wedding vendors, offering everything you need for the unique, intimate, wedding ceremony of your dreams. A complete wedding ceremony package for you and up to 20 guests. A stunning, award-winning venue, design and styling by with editorial-worthy photos are just the beginning. The best part? All you need to do is show up and let their dedicated team take care of the rest.

THE ALT/AR ceremony package: INVESTMENT: $3600 + HST

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IMAGE: Joel & Justyna

FAIRMONT CHATEAU LAURIER

I’ve been planning weddings at the Chateau Laurier for over a decade and I am privileged to be one of their preferred wedding planners. During the pandemic I experienced the Chateau in a completely new light. With the halls empty and not a guest in sight, for an elopement- it felt as though our couple had the castle to themselves. We planned their elopement in Suite 458, which design wise has not been changed since the hotel was built. Dark wooden paneled walls, asian patterned wallpaper, deep burgundy curtains, antique furniture and a gorgeous fireplace gave way to a beautiful transformative Victorian Era experience for the bride and groom. The ceremony for two took place in the Suite’s living room with pictures in the seemingly abandoned ballroom and dinner back in their suites dining room. The Chateau also has The Karsh Suite which is more creamy colored and newly furnished, The Prime Minister’s Suite and also the Quebec Room which is perfect for a micro wedding. The presidential suites I have mentioned all have a living room and dining room which can seat up to 10-12ppl. Depending on restrictions you are able to order your dinner from Zoe’s and have the wait staff drop-of your f&b just outside your door. Currently they are not permitted to enter any guest rooms. Since I was already present, I set the dinner table for my couple. Another note to consider is that the hotel will always be open, so if we fall into a red or grey zone, though your service may be different- you likely will never need to cancel or postpone your elopement. If you are having a micro wedding with guests, additional restrictions would apply.

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FOREST & STREAM CLUB

For over 130 years, The Forest & Stream Club, one of Canada’s premier clubs invites both members and non-members to host their weddings on their beautiful property on Lake St. Louis in Dorval Quebec. The Club is a 20-minute drive from downtown Montreal. This Mansion was built in 1880 and offers the capability to have your wedding elfresco, tented or indoors with bridal suits for getting ready. I haven’t planned any events at this location, however it checks all the boxes for a private lakeside mansion elopement or petit wedding. All the english countryside charm is sure to transport you to feeling as though you’re in Europe.

IMAGE: cepstudio.com

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IMAGE: The Wander Resort Website

WANDER THE RESORT, PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY

Imagine it’s your wedding day, you’ve scheduled an early morning yoga session with your bridal party on the sandy beach. As the Club House prepares your breakfast charcuterie boards and mimosas you take your pup to their DOG PARK!!! Your private modern scandinavian cabin and beauty team awaits for you and your bridal party to get ready. Ceremony beach side, dinner alfresco, in your cabin or at the Club House, ending the night with a bonfire, live music and smores. Your weekend micro wedding retreat in Prince Edward County. This newly built resort is beautiful all season round. It’s the perfect setting for a modern alternative couple looking to escape the everyday.

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IMAGE: Julia Garciaprat

LE PONT COUVERT

I have fallen in love with this quaint boho wedding venue quite literally built atop a bridge. Nested in the heart of the Bucolic village of la Conception, Le Pont Couvert is located 10 minutes from the renowned Tremblant Resort. With a ceremony outside the venue or a quick flip inside, this venue would be perfect for a micro wedding under 30 ppl. Imagine all the possibilities. Hanging florals or twinkle lights… Le Pont Couvert also has a green policy in an effort conscious waste reduction, plastic straws, water bottles plastic , the confetti non-compostable , the floating & flying lanterns are prohibited. If you’re an eco-friendly bride, this might just be what you're looking for!

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IMAGE: The Wakefield Grand Website

THE WAKEFIELD GRAND

30 mins or so from the Ontario border, in Wakefield is a precious and unique boutique hotel owned by le Belvedere. It’s swiss and scandinavian aesthetic provides and intimate getaway in a charming village. It beautiful pergola lends itself for the perfect ceremony backdrop or outdoor dinner. Complete with a firepit and indoor dining space. The Grand is the perfect place for small weddings of 10 to 20 persons. This is the closest you’ll find to a close retreat like wedding within the Ottawa area.

Intimate Wedding Package Includes:

• Overnight Accommodation

• On-site Ceremony

• Complimentary Champagne Toast

• Post Ceremony Canapés

• 5-course Gourmet Plated Dinner

• Late night Fireside Snacks

• Complimentary espresso, coffee, tea and non-alcoholic drinks

• Price Includes 15% Service Charge

Price per person is $375 (+ tax)

IMAGE: Paul Sanderson Photography

Q & A: WHAT WILL MY WEDDING LOOK LIKE IN 2021 WITH CURRENT RESTRICTIONS

A few days ago I innocently asked my Instagram followers if there was any intrest in sharing my predictions for 2021 weddings and how covid will likely impact them. At the start of this Pandemic we all thought this would be a simple 2 week to a month quarantine and the tail end of Summer and fall would be likely on schedule as per usual. And as we sunk into our first lockdown it became evident that planning weddings was going to become a logistical nightmare. The number one thing I have learned is that a lot can change within a few days AND being strategic about your planning isn’t a thing.

In the first few days of the Pandemic I made a point of not addressing our current situation via social media because I didn’t want to add to the fear factor. Everyone was already overwhelmed with their own life situation- now was not the time to scare all my clients by getting on Instagram and projecting my worries for their weddings. What I did do was reach out to all my clients on a case by case basis with a narrative that would change based on when their wedding was scheduled to take place. My communication was positive, I reassured my clients that I am 100% here for them in any capacity and that I would do my absolute best to advocate on their behalf. My goal was and always has been to provide as much information and insight as possible so that my clients can make their own informed decisions.

Which leads me to my innocent IG of seeing if any one was interested in what I was seeing in my crystal ball. I had quite a few responses to do a set of stories- and so I did. The reaction I received was, well, extremely overwhelming. My stories went viral, shares were rampant and dm’s we’re off the hook. I received so many messages of thanks, for being honest and open. May people said that they needed to hear my message even if it made them cry and re-evaluate their current situation.

All I ever want is to help people in a positive way. To empower those who seek knowledge by sharing a real perspective unfiltered and share my knowledge. I like making people feel better about their situation while keeping that realistic view point. In life, I find it’s a waste of time to beat around the bush and a disservice to everyone is you gloss over the facts. The most important thing to me is to not be insensitive of other people’s feelings or unfairly judge a situation based on personal opinions. It’s a tricky role to play that I work on constantly because I can come across sternly… thank you Oma Schmitz for that. LOL

Before I answer your question here is a link to our current restrictions

So without further ado, here are the answers to some of the questions asked you’ve all asked me yesterday. My initial stories have been saved on IG under the bubble “Covid + 2021 =”. I have also answered all these questions in a live as well and have saved it on IGTV for future reference.

Should couples be considering setting up a BACKUP date for summer wedding to fall?

What we learned in 2020 is that things can change quickly. Weddings postponed too quickly missed the opportunity to have their wedding when restrictions were more relaxed. This put couples in a position they didn’t expect and added more stress to their current situation. My advice, wait until 1-2 months before you make a solid decision. Prior to that, explore all your options and implement them when the time comes.

What have couples done for entertainment where dancing is not possible?

This is a great question. One client of mine decided to focus their evening on a food and wine pairing. Mini courses paired with delicious wine which kept guests in their seats for most of the evening. Others have included entertainment such as dance performances, live singers and also changing locations throughout the evening with food & beverage served in seperate locations so that guests didn’t feel like they were stuck in one place for too long. For example, cocktails in their backyard on the water, dinner in the tent at the side of the property, dessert, entertaining performances, first dance and speeches to finish the evening in the backyard again with fireworks. Guests will stay longer if the environment is comfy: seating, lounges etc. and if there is good food and side entertainment.

Do you think it’s wise to push a July wedding later in the year like December 2021?

This answer depends on the roll out of the vaccine which we cannot comment on yet. Keep in mind that come mid September, we’re officially in “flu season”. This could increase cases with restrictions increasing. To better set yourself up to make the call on postponement, wait until late April before you consider anything. By then we should have a good idea if our vaccination program is rolling out well or not. Keep in mind we will not have heard immunity until 70% of the population is vaccinated. That means BOTH vaccinations. We also don’t know yet even if we are fully vaccinated if we can still transmit the virus, thus masking will be in effect for some time.

What to do with min spend food/drink when you can’t reach that amount with the # of guests allowed now?

This is a tough question to answer and you might not like what you’re about to hear. In most f&b contracts when a venue is providing these services, they likely lock you in to a minimum guest count or “x” of minimum spend in food and beverage. Why is this? This minimum is calculated based on what that venue needs to make in order to cover their overhead. Staffing, heat, hydro, property taxes, rent/mortgage, water bills, venue repairs etc etc + a small profit margin. If they make any less then this- they would shortly go out of business. When you sign that contract you are essentially agreeing to spending that minimum amount. Now say you have 50 ppl and your shy of meeting that say 10k mark. You simple add more food. A better cut of steak, adding a lobster tail, hosting an open bar, upgrading your dessert, adding additional food courses. You can also ask if they have a baker in-house that can make your wedding cake, does this venue provide any additional decor services? Sometimes venues will be flexible and open up their min spend to not just f&b but services all together. Pull from every resource that venue has to offer, and it doesn’t hurt to ask- can you do this? Ask them if they can make small take away food baskets which can be delivered to guests who can’t make it to your wedding. Like a little charcuterie board and champagne all packaged up.

What can we as venues add as a covid clause for refunds and date changes?

This is a question I’m not qualified to answer in any formal way. I can’t even begin to explain what it has been like for some venues that have had to reschedule 200+ weddings this year alone. The amount of time it takes to communicate with one client on a date change is unreal. Then for that same client to come back and ask to reschedule AGAIN a second time!??!?! It’s really unfair for venues and the amount of money they are spending on staff just answering emails and doing admin work is astronomical and isin’t accounted for in their pricing at the time of that client booking. For this reason venues have had to drawn a hard line in the sand to keep clients from rescheduling multiple times. This takes shape in additional fees for moving dates and increase in food pricing.

Does live music have to wear a mask and shield outside?

In August 2020 (green code) we were allowed to have a singer perform behind a standing plastic plexiglass shield. In September we were permitted to have a singer without a shield 15ft away from any guests. Best bet is to wait until your wedding to see what is allowed and what isn’t.

Was October 202 for 200, now May 2021 for 50-80. When should we send invites?

Since times have changed I would suggest an E-save the date and a paper invitation only 1.5 months prior to your wedding date. it always advisable to have a website so that you can communicate any changes as they come.

Are you returning deposits to couples who decided to cancel or had to move their date and didn’t have the new date available?

Non-refundable booking deposits are always non-refundable. For us planners, we typically have deposits throughout the planning process based on work completed. Therefore all deposits are non-refundable.

What would a timeline for the day look like when no dancing? How do you entertain guests?

Timelines are still the same except, depending on our color code for the area where additional restrictions are inplace. For example when food & beverage must cease. If you have alcohol ending at 9pm- you may want to move your schedule back and hour or so.

Can you still gave first dances?

Yes you can! As well as parent dances- and they do not need to be masked. Same with speeches and whomever is walking down the aisle

Can you still socialize with guests?

Outdoors- masks on if you can not maintain 6ft distance. Indoors- masks on at all times unless you sitting down with your buble at your table. In August if you were drinking or eating you needed to remain seated. This means cocktail hour with alcohol was seated. Some couples opted for an beverage free first 30 mins as they greeted all their guests. Then asked everyone to find their seats and the bar opened.

DO you think a May wedding can happen?

Right now, if I were to make an educated guess, 25ppl.

I needed to hear this! Oct 2, 21 date, outside but worried about dancing restrictions- thoughts?

I think 2021 will always have a dancing ban unless your wedding is outdoors and in QC

Have you worked with a venue who isn’t accommodating a couple who wants to cancel?

Cancelling and postponing are very different. likely if you consciously cancel your wedding- you will loose your initial deposit. Depending on how close your wedding date is, you may lose additional deposits.

I really want to get married in 2021, but everyone is urging me to wait until 2022. Should I?

If your wedding was scheduled to happen in 2020 and you postponed to 2021- have your wedding. If you were planning on a 2021 wedding from the get-go, postponing to 2022 may be a good idea if you haven’t already booked any vendors. If you have booked vendors, commit to 2021.

What are your thoughts on cross border venues? AKA if you’re in ON & want to get married in QC

Historically QC has always come out of a lock down faster and has had looser restrictions for gatherings. If you haven’t chosen a venue yest., QC will likely be a better bet. But don’t swap venues due to the added risk it may not work out as you had anticipated.

Vendor and also 2021 bride..if we have out of country guests, should we just livestream and not wait for a covid-free life? ALso I’m thinking of cancelling the venue as we are required to pay 4K for food and bev for 50 ppl...which seems steep now.

There will never be such a thing as a covid free life. We will always have some sort of protective measures in place depending on our current state. Live stream.

If somebody decides to postpone their wedding now, are you considering it a conscious cancellation of contract and regular cancellation fees apply, or are you allowing them to move to next year with no admin fees?

Conscious and fee apply. If you are steadfast and your wedding is scheduled and the day of or a few days before your wedding is cancelled by the venue due to a lock down, you may not have an postponement fees as this was a government shutdown and completely out of your control. HOWEVER, you’re initial deposit may not be transferable to a new date if you postpone again.

I’m getting married and I booked a pre-covid wedding in 2019. That being said, the venue told me that regardless of how many ppl are competing, I have to pay for the full amount, let’s say 10k for the venue because it’s a Sat and its a minimum is 85 guests. Are they allowed to still do that if covid permits only 50 guests. Are they allowed to make me pay for 85 guests or should they have covid modifications?

Yes they can. The monetary amount they list is the guiding principle. This represents what it costs for their overhead to ensure they can simply exist when your wedding rolls around. It’s not about profit margins. It pays the bills. A venue only makes money once that benchmark is hit and higher.

So then those weddings that were cancelled due to the complete lockdown in 2020 that have re-booked within 6 months as per their contract will or will not have administrative charges if this second lockdown extends through to their second date picked?

There shouldn’t be another charge as you’re not “consciously” postponing again if the lockdown is extended- it’s the government and you have no say, nor do you have a crystal ball to predict the future.

I would love some real talk from you about dancing. I don’t care about reducing numbers and masks, but dancing was such a key part of my Spanish wedding. I wanted Flamenco performers and to dance with my friends most of all. I’m having a hard time envisioning just dinner as I wasn’t keen on speeches before. Now it seems like that’s all you can have. Any thoughts? I was hoping to postpone until September but that doesn’t mean dancing will be allowed?

Dancing will likely not be allowed until 2022. We can’t keep waiting with a hope and a prayer. Get married now. If you wait, you’ll likely still have some restrictions and be disappointed in the end.

Is the trend that you’re seeing that fees are increasing for 2022? Or just those who cancelled/postponed from 2020/2021?

Fees will certainly increase in 2022 across the board. Some vendors have had slight increases depending on the services they provide.

GUIDE TO WEDDING PLANNING DURING COVID-19

During these times it’s hard to even think about starting to plan your wedding even if it’s in 2021. But with our current state of social distancing and working from home, this can give you a one-up on your wedding planning. Though it might not feel right or exciting, with 2020 Brides postponing to 2021, this will certainly provide a shortage of availability for key wedding vendors you’d potentially like to work with.

BABY STEPS

But you can, and should take a few baby steps to test the waters. If anything this provides you time to research, pin and really curate your wedding. So here is what I personally suggest you start doing now:

1. You probably have a vision of your wedding in mind. So now is the time to start pinning inspiration, if you haven’t already. Once you have exhausted Pinterest, you should create a NEW board with only 25 curated images from your original wedding research. These images should represent the essence of your wedding and the vibe you’d like to achieve. All images should start looking more cohesive. The BIGGEST MISTAKE you can make is pinning images that have filters. STOP! The best way to create your board is in true color because that’s how your wedding day will look to the eye. I’ve had clients turn down gorgeous mood boards because it was too “light and airy”, having forgotten that once I put a filter on all those images- it’s what they want and envisioned in their own minds!

Having a clear vision of your wedding is key. If you have 100 + images to show your vendors it’s much harder to communicate your ideas. It’s better to focus on the main elements than 1000 misc details. The details come later once a design style has been established. Then you can create another board for those elements.

2. Start researching. Get on instagram and start looking for vendors in your area which seem to reflect the same esthetic as yours. Start and IG file so you can keep track of your faves. Cross reference their websites and Pinterest pages. If your styles don’t match but you like them for some other reason, forget about it. Asking a vendor to do or create something they aren’t specialized in - leads to disappointment. Now is not the time to think about costs or budget - that comes later! ;)

3. The vendors which you should “invest in” and pay the little extra- are your Planner, Venue and Photographer. I say this because your Planner is your biggest key to success in considering: design, budget, organization, communication and management. Venue and Photographer secondly, because they will be your emotional ties that will bring back all the feels when you look back on your photos and drive by your wedding venue in the future. Decor and Florals can be a big part of your budget - BUT, you can design beautifully in all the right ways to make it look gorgeous and within a reasonable budget.

4. Now that you have your curated Pinterest folder and a wish list of vendors- it’s time to reach out to those wedding vendors for pricing and availability. Keep in mind, in this day and age Thursday-Sunday weddings have never been more acceptable. Unless you live in Europe - they happen any day of the week. Bottom line, your guests will want to be present on your wedding day whether it’s a Thursday, Friday etc etc. What we call “off-dates”, can lead to more availability and vendor price flexibility. I rather have a 60k wedding on a Thursday than spend 80k just for a Saturday date, catch my drift ;)

5. Once you have compiled your vendor pricing for Venue, Photographer and Planner, your going to want to book your Wedding Planner first. This is important because they’ll review your vision board, consider your choice for venue and photographer as well as other vendors and may have a few cost saving suggestions or advice you haven’t yet considered.

6. Your Wedding Planner will then negotiate your Photography contract and your Food & Beverage quotes / Venue pricing.

Then you can Pause!

Why pause? Because you’ve just booked the key vendors that can’t take on more then one client a day! Once these stages are complete your wedding planner will guide you through the rest of the process. it’s just that simple!

Hopefully we’re on your wish list!

XOX Elise

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MORE INFORMATION

LATEST WORK

EXPECTATIONS

NEW SERVICE: DAY OF COORDINATION DURING COVID-19

It’s been a tough few weeks for all of us. I’ve seen my whole wedding season deferred to fall 2020 or even more, summer 2021. These are tough times to navigate the world of wedding planning and even more so if your in the process of postponing your wedding day.

We want you to know that we are here for you.

Which is why we took our Day of Coordination out of retirement so that we can help as many brides as possible. We’ve also added a few perks!

Day of Coordination

• General consultation to review where you are in your wedding planning 1hr

• In depth wedding audit and contract review

• A comprehensive personalized guide if you are currently experiencing a postponement or potential future postponement

• Access to our planning platform for the duration of you wedding planning which includes tools to help keep you organised. Floor plan creation, guest management, timeline build, budget, task sheets etc.

• Pre-Wedding month-of consultation with a personalized guide of next steps for you to follow in your final planning stage

• Assistance in building your Day Of Timeline

• Ceremony Rehearsal facilitation 1hr

• Day of coordination by one of our Planners for 10hrs
  
  

  INVESTMENT
  Saturday & Sunday 2,000
  Monday - Friday 1,500
  
  This service will only offered to clients getting married in July - December 31st 2020.

  *Limited dates available

5 THINGS YOU NEED TO DO BEFORE YOU START WEDDING PLANNING

Before you start planning your wedding there are 5 things you should do before announcing your engagement to the wider public! Too often I see brides getting ahead of themselves and hence left feeling overwhelmed or upset that what they want just isn’t realistic . But if you follow these 5 steps you’ll surely be on the path to success! Just think of me like that pesky lifeguard at the pool…No Running! lol

Compile your guest list

Before you begin dreaming of your wedding plans it’s important to lay down some ground work starting with your guest list as this will help you gauge the size of wedding you will be having and the investment you will likely be making. When considering your guest list it’s important to consult with your parents on whom they believe should be included and if children will be permitted to attend. There is no shame in having an adults only reception.

Establish a budget

Once your guest list is established it’s time to address the elephant in the room, budget and who will be contributing. If your unsure of what is realistic I tend to provide the following statistics.

Catering Costs $120 - $150 per person

Open Bar Costs $80 - $100 per person depending on if you are working with a per-consumption bar where you pay for drinks as they are consumed or if your venue provides a flat fee

Decor Costs can be a huge variable, but for a simple but impactful design you could be looking at a minimum of $100 per person. For a more lavish wedding $250-$400 per person

This does not include vendors such as: Hair & Makeup, Transportation, Cake, Venue Fees, Officiant, Invitations and Photography.

In my experience most beautiful Pinterest worthy weddings with a guest list of 150ppl start at around $60,000 CAD

I also suggest couple have a budget reserve of 5-10k for extras and unforseen costs.

One thing I tell all my clients is that whatever design image your looking at, any dollar figure that pops into your head- should be tripled. Meaning if you see a gorgeous centrepiece and you think it’s worth maybe $50, it’s likely $150.

Discuss your vision for your wedding day

Now that your budget parameters have been set you can now start dreaming big or small. Let the countless hours of pinning begin. Once you believe you have pinned to your heart’s desire, narrow down those pictures to your top 25. This will help you narrow down the most important artistic elements.

Develop your wish list

With all the inspo you need under your belt it’s time to start dabbling into a little bit of research. Take your freshly married friends advice with a grain of salt and blaze your own trail in your quest for finding vendors you think match your vibe. But be careful! Many companies out there may be great at advertising but horrible in client care and execution. Things are always cheap for a reason and you need to ask yourself why!

Consult a wedding planner

Which leads me to the most important and final step. Book a meeting with a planner. It’s not a case of whether you think you need one or not. It’s a given that you will need some sort of assistance leading up to your wedding day without asking your friends and family who most likely have no idea how to properly help or guide you. The four steps I listed above will set you up to perfectly to be able to communicate your overall vision and appropriated investment. This will enable the wedding planner to help guide you in the right direction in terms of how they may be of assistance or help educate you on unrealistic expectations etc. At the very least you should hire a wedding planner for the final months leading up to your wedding day to help you organize all your final details.

Whether your local to Ottawa or Montreal or planning abroad or from abroad in Canada- we can help! Our clients are located all over the world and we would love to help bring your wedding vision to life. You deserve to feel like a guest at your own wedding. So call on us!

xoxo Eliza

WHY DAY OF COORDINATION IS A SCAM

Planning a wedding can seem daunting, intimidating and downright confusing. It’s also as equally hard to gauge if you need help and when you think this help should begin. In the age of Pinterest, Instagram and blogs- it’s easy to think that you CAN plan your own wedding and it WILL look like all your inspiration pictures you’ve posted on your boards. Social media has a sneaky way of showing you the nice shiny end product, but not the technicalities, logistics and the people behind the scenes you require to get you there. So I’d like to shed some light on one of the biggest misconceptions brides have and why I feel the notion of having just a “day of coordinator” is pretty much in my eyes- a scam. A term that puts a veil over your eyes leading you to believe- I’ve booked all my vendors so I’m basically done my wedding planning because the “Day of Coordinator”will do the rest.

Back 10 - 15 years ago clients either had a wedding planner for the duration of their planning or a day of coordinator, there wasn’t really an inbetween. This was also the time of match your table linens to the color of your bridesmaids dresses… Now, to help you visualize this period of time, this was back in the day when Facebook just started having business pages, Instagram wasn’t really a thing and Pinterest was just launched. Basically, weddings were very simple back then. So naturally a day of coordinator could be reasonably all you needed. But nowadays, perceptions and expectations of brides have completely changed. Now most weddings have complicated logistics, intricate tailored designs, jam packed schedules and twice the amount of vendors to manage than back in 2007. (the year I started planning weddings ;)

I should preface this by saying you DO need a wedding planner on your wedding day. What you DON’T need is someone flying in a week before your wedding to try and organize your details which they can’t completely grasp since they weren’t part of your planning process from the beginning. Here within, lays the problem, and the problem has real repercussions.

Imagine that……. you believe you’ve planned your wedding in full, have finally tied up all those loose ends and are ready to meet with your Day of Coordinator just 7 days shy of your wedding. What you’re not prepared for is your seasoned planner to audit your wedding and provide you a long list of things you need to correct or change before the wedding day- because you forgot this, didn’t consider that and was never told “x”. Now you have a long “to do” list that you can’t quite grasp, can’t understand nor have the time for. Or Even worse- a newbie planner smiles and says nothing and figures “It is what it is, whatever happens- happens, because, hey-I’m not really truly responsible anyways.” It’s sad, but this is a real thing and it can happen to you.

Now let’s keep imagining, because the narrative isn’t over yet……

It’s still the week before your wedding and you start getting messages from those vendors who have been ghosting your emails asking questions you’ve already confirmed, don’t know how to answer, can’t answer or questions regarding logistics you know nothing about. But how could you possibly know you needed to be informed of these things if you’ve never planned a wedding before? So to you, it almost feels like you’re re-planning your wedding all over again. Your vendors have forgotten your details and/or have confused you with another wedding. The anxiety is slowly creeping in because the wedding you worked so hard to plan seems like it’s fracturing. There are so many balls in the air that you don’t know where to start…… But wait, you have relatives flying in, appointments, a dress to pick up, a pending ceremony rehearsal…. and your brain literally stops working. Wait, was there something I was supposed to remember? ….. Where’s that to do list?……… Slowly when anyone asks you about your wedding, you dread the conversation because you just want the day to come and be over with.

Unfortunately what I am telling you is reality. Simply having a day of coordinator is not going to ensure your not stressed during your wedding planning or closer to the day, it does just the opposite- adds a layer of anxiety. A day of coordinator simply makes sure vendors show up and you’re running on time. There is no pre-organization with day of coordinators. I should also note that most planners that feature this service and not a Month Of or Partial Planning service in lieu is probably within their first year or two of business and is limited in their knowledge and aren’t fully equipped to plan a wedding from start to finish.

At the very least you should hire a planner to step in a month or so before your wedding to ensure they are properly briefed on your details while auditing your prior arrangements and take over management of all those final details before your wedding day. I always say- think of your brain like a chalkboard with all sorts of scrambled wedding scribbles. Now after your sit down with your planner a month before your wedding, you can wipe that chalkboard clean and NEVER have to scribble on it again!

Hiring a planner in advance is peace of mind. Priceless. And I can tell you, you’ll only completely understand the full benefits after your wedding day is complete.

Always here for you,

Eliza

xo

Photography by Joel & Justyna

WHAT'S THE "T" ON WEDDING PLANNERS?

Last week we played a little IG game. We asked you 5 questions and answered 3 of them in our last blog post. Two remain. And so i’m here again to break those down for you.

should you take your wedding planners advice as suggestion or fact?

If you do your back-ground homework, interview and find the right planner for you- you should take your planners advice as FACT. After all why would you choose to work with someone you don’t trust? A good planner will have the experience to help you understand what you want, how to get it or at the very least let you know why something isn’t attainable. It’s also your planners job to educate you in why things work the way they do, why things cost what they do and so on. I humbly request complete trust from my clients if they’re going to move forward in planning and designing with us. The advice I give is based on facts. But if you choose to sway another way and make decisions counter to our advice, you at least have the proper information to make an informed decision and we can course correct as needed on the fly. It’s all too familiar to us when clients have ideas and requests we know just wont work because we’ve tried them before- and it was a mistake we’ve learned from. Many clients forget the “human element” in events. There is always an organic flow to the days events and the ideas you may want to incorporate or timing you think something will take- changes when we include the “human element”.

I only have a small wedding of 50ppl, im super easy going about everything so I don't need a planner, right?!

Wrong! Even the smallest wedding has all the same basic logistics as any large 200 + guest list event. You might think your wedding may be less complicated but you still need all the same basic vendors everyone needs. Hair, makeup, decor, cake, transportation, dj, photographer, videographer, musicians, officiant, invitations, catering, venue, flowers, etc etc which all takes intentional planning. Don’t kid yourself, on your wedding day you’ll be stuck in a makeup chair or in front of a camera which mean you won’t have time to deal with any issues which may arise. I guarantee you won’t be able to find your cellphone to answer any vendor calls anyways;) Sure you can hope to rely on family members, but when the stakes are high and you’ve taken so much time in preparing the details, it’s best not to be disappointed if Aunt Becky forgot to put your placecards out or couldn’t find the box with your favors…

These insights really just scratch the surface of what wedding planners do. The tip of the iceberg. Each wedding planner is different so it’s important to understand how involved they will be on your wedding day and during the planning process.

So that officially wraps up “What’s the T”. Keep scrolling down to see last weeks Part 1 if you haven’t already had the pleasure ;)

Always keepin’ it real for you,

xox Eliza

TRUE OR FALSE WEDDING MYTHS

So we played a little game on Instagram that I like to call “What’s the T”, by questioning some of the industries misconceptions about wedding planners!

⭐TRUE OR FALSE?! ⭐

1. Planning a wedding can take over 500 hours 

2. Because I hire a planner- I'm gonna get all the deals

3. You should take your wedding planners advice as suggestion not fact

4. I only have a small wedding of 50ppl, im super easy going about everything so I don't need a planner.

If you have a "myth" or "question" you've always been curious to ask, comment bellow.

So here we go-

DOES IT TAKE 500 HOURS TO PLAN A WEDDING?
More. That's right, It takes more than that! 😱
When you factor in research, pinteresting, attending appointments, communicating with vendors, more research, budget preparation, timeline building, staying organized, double checking invoices and contracts, chasing vendors etc etc.. the hours pile up and before you know it. Then you get to start from scratch again 2- 3 months before the wedding since your vendors have forgotten all the details you’ve pre-organized. But that’s reality - they have probably done dozens of weddings since your last discussions with them. It’s easy for everything to become a blurr.

PLANNING YOUR WEDDING IS A SECOND JOB!😭

The process is fluid- meaning you have 50 balls in the air at any given time and with one misstep you could create a detrimental domino effect. God forbid you "forget" something. I've always said- it's unfair to put that burden on yourself and still expect to have fun planning your wedding or even enjoying your actual wedding day. You've never planned a wedding before so how can you possibly expect not to become overwhelmed and anxious during the process. Let me add another layer here. Say your wedding costs $60,000 and your wedding day is 12 hrs. That means your spending $5,000 an hour on your wedding day. Insane right. So would you rather invest in a planner to make sure your making the right choices or just spend 60k based on a few wedding planning blogs you read?!?!

BECAUSE I HIRE A WEDDING PLANNER- I’M GONNA GET ALL THE DEALS

Ummmm sorry- not really! 💥FALSE 💥
This is a HUGE misconception in our industry and if thats the only reason your hiring a planner- you're in for a big surprise. And the fact that our own industry haS led you to believe this- is a huge dis-favour to planners as it devalues what we actually do. 💔
So let me pull the wool from everyones eyes and tell it like it is. 😱

Some wedding planners structure their business on racking in the kick-backs for themselves which allows them to discount their own planning fee structure. And don't think this isn't happening right here in your own backyard- because it is. Some businesses will also only work with vendors providing kick backs. (cue quality compromise). For the record, at this very moment I can guarantee there are some eyebrows lifting 😵- but I'm here to educate so you can make informed decisions.

I believe in passing along preferred pricing if it exists, which is seldom. Instead, the vendors I like to work with will add more value instead of showing you a discounted dollar figure at the end of your invoice. They'll add more blooms to your floral designs, charge fair pricing, purchase new unique rental inventory just for your wedding, and really go above and beyond your expectations.

Where a good wedding planner can also save you money is in making sure you don't make costly mistakes like overpaying for something because you didn't know any better or even worse cheaping out and paying for something that never shows up on your wedding day.- Again this is a very real thing!

So when you consider a planner, I hope this helps broaden your horizons on expectations and pitfalls.

I love the game of 💥 TRUE OR FALSE.💥 Earlier this week we played that game and asked 3 questions and today we've been answered three of them. Two more to go! “You should take your wedding planners advice as suggestion not fact” and "I only have a small wedding of 50ppl, im super easy going about everything so I don't need a planner.” That’s next week on the blog ;)

xox Elise

THE REAL COST OF WEDDING DECOR

Photo by Lace & Luce

Do you ever look at gorgeous wedding inspiration and wonder- what does this actually cost?

Our industry is full of over the top unattainable design ideas which are outrageously costly. One of the top three questions I’m asked in my consults is:

“How much is the average wedding? ”

That’s such a tricky question! There are so many things I could address by answering this one question. The first thing I tell brides, is that you should be thinking of your wedding as a pie. Now cut that pie in three. One part is decor, one part is food & beverage and the third part is everything else. Now, depending on where your actually priorities lay- those three pie pieces get bigger or smaller and adjust accordingly. Then I tell my clients, whatever image you’re looking at… whatever dollar figure pops into your head, times that by 3.

BUT! There is a big BUT here. I have designed and planned absolutely stunning weddings for budgets from 20k which can look as beautiful as a wedding you might see in a magazine with a 50k decor budget only. The secret lies in years of experience and a few tricks of the trade.

In todays blog post I’m going to breakdown the cost of my last styled shoot with Lace & Luce and Lavish Decor at the Ottawa Art Gallery.

Before we begin, here is a great behind the scenes clip pulled from my instagram account. This will give you a better perspective of the scale of what we created. You won’t believe what it costs!

In this shoot we set a head table for two and two “honour” reception guest tables for a total of 18 guests. It’s important to note that we also re-used the large white standing art structures for the ceremony and again behind the head table. In this design we also used minimal florals and greenery with an emphasis on candles.

So here is the breakdown:

DECOR

• 2 Art Structures @ $450

• Gold Fan Chairs @ $12 each

• 3 Glass tables with ornate gold guild legs @ $350 ea

• 1 Round glass cake table with ornate guild legs @ $150

• 5 Crystal Candelabras per reception table @ $75 ea

• 24 Crystal Candlestick holders & candles @ $10 ea

• Gold rimmed scalloped dinner plate & side plate $6 per setting

• Gold cutlery set @ $3 per setting

• Silk linen on head table $40

• Decor installation cost $500

• Table stationary $18 per person

FLORAL

• Greenery and blooms on art structures $150 ea

• Greenery and tables with select blooms $150 per table

• Floral installtion cost $500

DESIGN TOTAL COST $6,243.00 (aprx)

Now you can look at this in a few ways. This design if applied to a full wedding would be $346 per person. You can do the math quite easily if you have 100 guests, granted you keep in mind some costs mentioned above are fixed and not variable by guest count. It can be costly! Crazy how something that looks so simple can be so costly. But let me change your perception for a minute because if you were a real client I would tell you to keep this design for 1/3 of your guests, and the rest of the tables to something simple and tastefull like floating candles in water with a few tossed blooms and greenery. That would reduce your decor cost by 30%. Now if you’re loving this design, but don’t have the budget I’ll tell you think about doing this design for the head table and family “honour tables” only. Leaving simple decor for the rest of the reception tables. Its’ a design principal I’ve been using for years and how with fore-thought and intention we can make your wedding absolutely stunning while being budget conscious.

I had a nice conversation on-set while setting up this styled shoot with Jenny from Lavish Decor. She’s originally from England so our chat naturally ended up being about the differences between our bridal industry vs Europe’s. And she told me something really interesting. She said- in England they keep all the lavish over-the-top decor in the centre of the room closest to the head table. That way when the photographers shoot- their images make it look like it’s a celebrity wedding. All the other tables are plain with only a few candles or a single candelabra. This eludes to what I had mentioned before about being budget conscious. i always find it fascinating what’s seen as the “norm” in other countries. I was first introduced to this when we planned a wedding in Germany. After the ceremony we arrived at the castle for champagne in the gardens followed by cake and coffee. We then moved guests into the chateau courtyard where we had more cocktails and dinner alfresco. A long procession of eating and celebrating. Oh and the DJ plays until the sun comes up…. not the 1am shut-down time we have here!

So next time you look at beautiful decor pictures on Pintrest, keep in mind that it’s probably three times more expensive than what you think- but that it can be possible if you’re open-minded.

xo

Eliza

TIPS FOR GREAT GETTNG READY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

What is the number one things brides almost always overlook on their wedding day? It’s the thing you would least likely expect, but makes a huge impact when you look back through your photographs.

It’s the getting ready location.

I know it seems small and insignificant, but location and tidiness is key to keeping your photography looking great throughout the day. In my opinion there is nothing worse for a photographer than arriving onsite to what might look like a bomb just went off - empty dishes and mimosas from brunch scattered about, a gazillion overnight bags tossed around, misc clothing laying about + the people +the makeup team etc. Chaos! And trust me, it will show in your pictures. Some photographers will do their best to tidy up- but the more they occupy their time with being your maid, the less time they have to get those great getting ready shots. So here are some key tips to making sure your setting yourself up for success. But before we get into all that, the first thing to consider is choosing your getting ready location.

Photography by Laura Kelly Photography

Location Location Location

I always suggest a hotel suite that has a kitchenette/dinning area, a sitting area and a separate bedroom space. This gives you multiple areas for photography and also allows you to order-in brunch and your beauty team can come right to you. This also means there is no rushing around the day before to clean the whole house or grocery shop for brunch the next day.

My Favourite Ottawa Hotel Suites:

Andaz - Large Suite

Le Germain - The Prestige Suite

Chateau Laurier -Presidential Suite or Executive Suite

*** If you live in or have friends that live in a condo building, another option would be to consider checking if you can rent a furnished suite for the day.

Prep Talk

You gotta lay the groundwork. At your dinner rehearsal, reminding your girls of how the day will progress is so so important. This way they fully understand the time constraints and how their actions can affect the overall flow of the day ie: tardiness, forgetfulness etc. Actually, a mini printed timeline with tips would be super helpful. Here is a list of helpful tips i’ve provided brides before:

• It is very important for all bridesmaids to arrive 15 mins before the suggested arrival time. This provides a small buffer period for everyone to get organized before your beauty team begins.

• Bring only one overnight bag and place it in the bedroom once you arrive

• Steam and hang your dresses the night before

• Don’t forget to bring a comfy pair of shoes for dancing

• Have a small’ish purse with all your immediately necessary items you want to carry with you throughout the day.

Photography by Ali & Batoul

Grown Up Babysitter

I know this sound silly, but as a bride, to truly enjoy your day, you shouldn’t be running after your bridal party to keep them on time and in check. Instead, delegate morning tasks to your Maid of Honour such as:

Preparing morning snacks

Making Mimosas

Ensuring endless coffee available

Keeping the getting ready space clean and tidy

Assisting the beauty team with set-up once they arrive

Ensuring there is a steamer for the brides dress

Gathering any items the bride would like photographed for her details (veil, shoes, perfume, invitations, gifts)

Keeping all the girls on-time throughout the beauty process

 

CONSISTENCY

It's always nice to have getting ready robes available for more cohesive images during your getting ready photography.

Photography by: Photography by Emma

TIME CHECK 

30 mins before your photographer or videographer is due to arrive, your Maid of Honour should grab whomever is not in a hair or makeup chair, to tidy and clean all areas to ensure you don't have any clutter which can be seen in photos. I’ve personally gone as far as removing artwork. I know, I know….it’s soooo bad…but if a bright neon blue poppy painted in the 90’s in a speckled gold frame doesn’t flow with your wedding vibe- guaranteed I’m taking it down! You’ll thank me later:) Mind you- I’m not always onsite while your getting ready.

Photography by Laura Kelly Photography

The 5 Minute Rule

If there is anytime in a day where you will loose time, it’s while your getting ready. I have this rule. For every person with you getting ready, you will be 5 min late. Let do the math together:

1 bride + 4 bridesmaids + Mother of the Bride + Junior Bridesmaid = 7ppl x 5min = you will be late by 35 mins

Options

With all this being said, it’s important to be prepared. If you feel like you need additional assistance to plan and coordinate and keep you on time during the morning, you may want to ask your planner if she can provide you with a dedicated attendant to ensure everything runs smoothly and you want for nothing! ;)

xo Elise

BENEFITS OF A WEDDING PLANNER

Life is short and I firmly believe in investing in the best of what you love, and when you do- you better enjoy every single ounce of it because before you know it- it's over. Let me throw some math at you to help gain some perspective. 

 

$40,000 Budget / 12 hour wedding day =

You're spending $3,333.00 per hour.

That number is startling.

Now envision the responsibility in making sure everything you have envisioned come full circle without any issues.....  

Girl- you can't micromanage from that makeup chair and you sure as hell aren't going to leave this burden/responsibility to your mother or maid of honour (they're in the makeup chair next to you). You need a planner, and here's why.

SHORTCUT

Hiring a seasoned wedding planner is your biggest shortcut. They provide you with information that's specific to you and your wedding which you can't find on a blog, in a magazine article or even from your best friend who just got married. Although weddings have the same base strategy when it comes to planning, it's the variables in between that are hard to manage. These variables include things like specialty vendors, rentals, design details, time specific schedules etc etc. The more unique you'd like your wedding to be- the more variables are introduced. It's like juggling - except with 50 balls. If you have a hard time seeing the bigger picture now- having a wedding planner with vision can help you focus on priorities and ensure the bigger picture is planned and executed properly. 

 

EDUCATE

A huge part of my job is educating my clients on why things cost what they do and how much work goes into certain tasks- because it all boils down to perceived value and priorities. The number one question you should ask yourself before you begin wedding planning is, "What is important to me and why?". If anyone tells you the first step to wedding planning is figuring out your budget and ask the rents for money- fire them or burn that article! Everyone is so focused on money, when they should be focused on value. Once you know your priorities you'll instantly see value in the money your spending and your budget will form itself. Only then do you have the power to scale back and re-evaluate said priorities. My #1 non-negotiable term when you hire my firm is: "You can't have it all, so don't spread your money thin and cheap out just to have everything". I refuse to let my clients do this. It's such a waste. #truth 

 

READING BETWEEN THE LINES

As a seasoned wedding planner I have literally seen it all and been around the block numerous time/ I could write a Chicken Soup for Crazy Wedding Stories. (please tell me you remember those books...and yes I just dated myself). Because of this- I've learn't from the past and now instill this knowledge into planning your wedding so that these issues never happen on your wedding day. It starts with quality control. It's our job to know the back end of the industry, like when companies turn-over rental inventory, what vendors are expanding too quickly and their quality is slipping and even the newbies on the block whose work is garnering serious attention. I love taking the "guess work" out of the equation for brides. I am your google- so instead of researching vendors and scouring the internet for reviews- I can give you the real 411 based on my own real-life observations and discerning eye so that you can make informed choices. For example- the chair you're looking at renting is in fair condition....today. But once your wedding rolls around a year and a half later- that chivary chair will likely be on it's last legs with a flattened stained seat cushion. How do I know this? Because the chair is wooden, the paint chips easily because their stackable and not made of metal and the seat cushions are polyester, and I personally know that companies maintenance and turn-over routines. 

This my friends is just scratching the surface in regards to the things we do and know as planners which is hard to write on paper on in two paragraphs on our website when we describe a planning package . It really is my job to know everything- and I'm not boasting. It's a fact and it is also the reason you hire a planner:) 

THE ONE THING THAT WILL MAKE YOU LATE ON YOUR WEDDING DAY

Timelines Are In-Place For A Reason!

Let's talk about them for a second.... and imma give you some advice!

These are tricky waters here....because in my eyes-timelines are a loose guideline to keep the day running smoothly. Yes you'll be 10 mis ahead or behind, and it's our job as a planner to gently guide you along without being excessively late.

It's like a science, I know how long certain tasks take and plan for our brides accordingly. By the time your wedding comes, we'll know if @britd (as seen in the photo above) is super organized and on time or not. - B, we love you for being so punctual!

So I'm going to tell you EXACTLY where you will always loose time followed by great advice to make sure you don't let that happen on your wedding day.

It starts with BEAUTY.

 Bellow I'm giving you explicit instructions on what to do and what NOT to do on your wedding day! 

GIRLS! This is so-so very important!!!

1. What's the number one thing that will mess up your whole day from the get-go?.....your bridal party arriving late for hair & makeup. This is so unacceptable ladies- get it together! xox Pack your bags the night before, make a list and check it twice because when the morning alarm hits- you gotta be up, present and ON TIME!! And no! You can not pick up a Starbucks on the way- why? Reason number two.

2. The morning should be relaxing and literally want for nothing. When your beauty team is onsite- it's go time. That means no leaving to pick up something you forgot at home or decide you need that Starbucks after all. To all the Maid of Honours reading this blog. This is your cue! It's your job to set the scene. That includes organizing snacks, making coffee, assembling the brides little curated emergencies kit, curating that itunes play list, helping the beauty team set-up, making sure the place is always neat and tidy etc. The morning is your time to shine. The wedding planner isn't there to micro manage everything- so that's your job now :) and for a limited time. You need to keep all the girls in-check with no extra chit-chatting while makeup is being done- this always slows down the process, because once you move your mouth- your artist has to stop. 

Next.....

3. Someone randomly decided after having their hair done, that they would rather have an up-do than that gorgeous blow-out the stylist just spent 1.2hrs on. For brides, once you make a decision at your trial- stick with it!! There is simply no time for two beauty looks. Same with your bridal party. To avoid this from happening, ask all your bridesmaids to send you a picture of what they would like their hair and makeup style to be in advance. MOH- your job again- make sure those pictures are printed and available for all your artists the morning of. CLICK HERE for my very own Beauty Prep document that I use for all my clients.

And there you have it. My achilles heel for loosing time on your wedding day.

Lastly, I'm going to throw some mathematic at yah! 

Add 5 mins for each bridesmaid and that will equal how late you'll be even if you follow all my advice ;) 

Keep in mind, this is just the tip of the iceberg and there's so much more I could chat about for days!!!

But until then my pretties, stay tuned and visit our blog often for more amazing advice, tips and tricks to help you get through your wedding planning. 

xo

Eliza

101 ON WEDDING CATERING CONTRACTS

There are so many things to consider when signing on that dotted line. But if you've never thrown an event before how are you supposed to know what to looks for or even understand what this contract is actually saying. To help put things into perspective I'm answering my top 6 most asked questions.

 

MINIMUM GUARANTEED DINNER GUESTS 

When you request a catering quote likely you'll provide a potential number of expected dinner, let's say 130 dinner guests. In your contract you may see a statement like " Minimum guaranteed dinner guests of 120." This means that your responsible in paying for that number of guests regardless of what your ultimate number is. Keep in mind that also means 120 adults and does not include children!!! Ultimately if your end up having 115 guests you're still paying for 130ppl. What I like to do is calculate what the cost difference is between 120 and 130 guests and ask if you can use that dollar amount in upgrading your meal or adding a course- that way you're not "loosing" money!

 

RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DETERMINE WHAT (IF ANY) FOOD IS SUITABLE FOR TAKE HOME

This is a health issue. Once food is out in the open and in an unregulated temperature food can spoil quicker then you expect. Most venues and caterers wont allow you to bring ANY food home. But if they add a clause like this- you're very lucky! 

GraTUITY POST EVENT

This means there is not gratuity included in your current bill. If you don't consider this while your comparing notes on various quotes, in the end it can end up in thousands of extra dollars you didn't factor in. Typically %15 grat is standard- for restaurants only. For caterers you're looking at %18 and for luxury hotels it can be upwards of %20+. 

 

CALCULATING COSTS

If you're trying to do your own math here is the formula you should use. Subtotal all the food and beverage. Now add your grat onto that. Subtotal again and then add your taxes. That's right! You read that right, your grat is taxed. Another sneaky way if your numbers don't add up when you get a real revised quote from a caterer.

 

PLANNING & COORDINATION FEE

But you might already have a wedding planner- so why should you pay for a coordination fee to a caterer? Well, it's because there's so much paperwork and time required to ensure your food & beverage team are prepared and ready to perform for your wedding. This includes the following:

• In person appointments
• Multiple emails throughout a 1- 2 year period
• Meetings with culinary team to map out custom menues
• Research for specialty requests
• Tasting
• Food & Beverage timeline prepration for behind the scenes
• Organizing staffing
• Inventory & renatls lists 
• Food requisitions
• Ordering food & beverage 
• Working with your planner on the elements of the day 

And this is just the tip of the iceberg, because a good catering company does so much more! 

 

FOOD & BEVERAGE COST INCREASES

We never really know what the economic climate will be like in the next year or two. For example there could be a Beef shortage and so the price in 2019 vs. 2018 has risen. Typically you can ask your caterer to lock in a max increase of %10. On a side note- this happened in the floral world a few years ago when there was a volcano erupt in Asia. This stopped air traffic and importers were unable to bring in orchid varieties for 2 weeks. So crazy right! This is also a huge reason why you should hire a planner. So we can impart this type of information onto our clients. They type of information that just isn't out there to find for yourself! A great planner will make it their business to know the inner workings of all these things you might never in your life think to consider!

And there you have it. Some of the most sneak hidden costs that can seriously break your budget! 

xox

Elise

ADULTS ONLY

Toast Events Real Wedding Invite by Lafabere

Sorry but your kids aren't invited.....

In 2016 I started seeing a shift in couples requesting kidless weddings. Now in 2018, it seems like it's not even a question anymore. Quite simply- they should stay home. I know it sounds harsh. But that seems to be the way. In 2018 I'm seeing "black tie only"....

So obviously I get this question a lot. "How do I tell my guests their kids aren't invited to the wedding?".

STEP ONE: SETTING THE STAGE

And I feel like I've kinda mastered this one in a two step process. It all starts with the method of your message. The first way I suggest, is to subconsciously hint in the RSVP by adding a line that says " We have __#__ seats reserved for you".

If you don't think your guests will get the hint- add "adult only reception" in small letters at the bottom of your main reception invitation.

STEP TWO: THE BOLD

Likely after you've used the first two initiatives- there will be no need for any additional conversation. HOWEVER! If the "bold" decide to +1 their kid on your rsvp, you have but no choice to address the issue. 

If this guest is close to you, a personal call is in order. Explain that by having an adult only reception, what your really saying is that you want everyone to have a great evening laughing and dancing while having a few extra drinks without having to leave early because of their kids. What you want to communicate is that your wedding is the perfect excuse to take the night off and truly enjoy it. It's really not about you- it's about them. See how I did that ;) ;) 

If the guest isn't close to you, likely it's an invite by your parents- hence they should be the ones to call on your behalf and preach your message. 

CONCLUSION

I've never had any issues with the two-pronged attack ;) 

I would say that most guests no longer expect to bring their kids for the whole or even part of the wedding. So Don't be shy- what used to be a faux-pas is now the norm. 

x Elise 

DON'T FORGET THESE THINGS ON YOUR WEDDING DAY

There are so many things you need to remember on your wedding day. And even though you might have a planner taking care of things on the flip side- there is still a whole host of things you still need to remember for yourself. 

EAT

Don't chuckle at this comment, because I have fed more than my fair share of brides granola bars. I totally get it though, I'm not a big eater either, but on your wedding day eating is the number one thing you need to do since you won't have an appetite. It's not that you'll be nervous all day and not want to eat, instead it's like your adrenaline kicks in for 24hrs and you "feel" like - "Nahhhh I'm good, i'll eat later." WRONG! If you're my client you will be getting that 10 am call asking if you've eaten. 

 

DETAILS

Don't forget to grab the sweet little things you'd like photographed on your wedding day. Your invitation suite, jewelry,veil, shoes etc. Now you might think- who cares what shoes I'm wearing..". But fast-forward 30 years when you're flipping through those photos- .... you'll want to be able to remember those details. I personally wish my parents took more then just portraits on their wedding day...I would have loved to see what her style was like back then.

SUNSET PHOTOS

Have your wedding planner time your golden hour- 30 mins before the sun officially sets. It's the perfect opportunity to take advantage of that warm light, sneak away from dinner and take a few moments to yourselves for some impromptu portraits. With the butterflies gone from the ceremony and the reception kicked-off without a hitch, the golden hour is where I see some of the most relaxed and beautiful photos. 

PAUSE 

During the busy day- consciously take a moment here and there to really soak it all in. It goes so fast, so if you can slow down and really appreciate a few moments throughout the day- do it. 

And there you have it. The most important things you should remember on your wedding day. The rest as we wedding planners- is history!

xoxo

Elise

REAL TOAST BRIDE Christine:                PHOTO CRED: Joel & Justyna Photography

5 THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN HIRING A WEDDING PLANNER

“Time is the new definition of luxury”

— Elise

Choosing your wedding planner will be your most important decision. An investment that can pay of two-fold in saving time, keeping it stress free, and convenience- industry short-cuts. But disclaimer- only if you research and choose the right planner for you. 

So where do you begin? Well the fact that you know you need a planner means your a million miles ahead the rest. You're already saving yourself hours of research and anxiety. What I can tell you is that the basic questionnaires provided online to interview a planner are, well- garbage. A good planner will most likely have an FAQ page that answers all those questions. But what's most important can't be obtained through blasé questions. So here are 5 things you need to consider.

VIBE 

Does she get you? I always love it when a client does their research about my company prior to contacting to obtain our services. By doing this, it's already been established that they already have a good feeling for who the planner is and what their company stands for. So ask yourself- are you looking for a planner who is more design oriented or one who focuses only on planning and organizational and administrational details? Or do you require a planner that specializes in Day Of Coordination only?

Discovering what type of partnership your looking for first and foremost important. This will help you narrow down your choices. Ultimately you want your planner to vibe on your level. When speaking to them you should automatically feel a genuine connection and be able to establish a good level of trust. 

REFLECTION

Does this planner mirror the style of wedding that your looking to create? Does she inspire you? And most importantly is their marketing and advertising genuine. Are they showcasing they're own clients or just inspirational images that aren't they're actual work? With social media these days, it's sometimes hard to tell. What I can say is "buyer beware". Some companies talk the talk but when push comes to shove- the experience is less than enthusiastic. I'll be writing about this exact subject in the coming weeks so be sure to check back! 

EXPERIENCE

It's not enough to only gauge a planner on how many weddings she's planned or how many years she's been in business or if she's "certified". If you really want to know her standing, ask whom her recommended vendors are, whom she's affiliated with, if she's on any preferred vendors lists, if she's been published and where, lastly, how many employees does she employ. This can provide you huge insight into how she operats her business and the success it's provided her. 

CERTIFICATION

I cringe at this all the time. Some of us dinosaurs have been around before wedding planning was considered a profession. So to now spend money to take a weekend course just to have an acronym behind their name - doesn't make sense. What they teach you in class is a quick crash course and theory. It doesn't prepare you for real-life situations, teach you how to make on the spot decisions etc etc. Because all of that is learn't on the job. The amount of experiences I've accumulated over the years can't be taught in a class, it's impossible. And to answer your question, I do have a degree in Event Management as well as Hotel & Restaurant Management. BUT I am not WPIC certified, and never will be. I personally refuse to take the course for said reasons above. HOWEVER! If you are looking for a wedding planner that's new in the game with less experience then she should at least have a course or two under her belt. Because if not- know that she's learning as she goes ;)

CLIENT ROSTER 

This is a big one for me. How many clients do they take on per year. If your looking for a more attentive planner, their client roster will most likely not exceed 10-16 weddings per year. If their boasting 20+ clients, you can count on delayed emails, details missed and a tinge of stress. If your a chill bride- then perfect. 

All the insight provided in this post is purely so that you're "in the know". A bit of insider insight so that you can make an informed decision. And if I can give you any advice- don't rush, if your going to do any research at all, make sure it's on your potential planner. Because with a good planner the rest should be history! Literally.

xoxo

Till next time lovelies! 

 

WHY A WEDDING PLANNER, HIRED A PLANNER FOR HER OWN WEDDING

Confessions of a wedding planner: Why I hired a wedding planner for my own wedding day. 

Because look at this photo...... a fraction of the team you'll have behind the scenes on your wedding day. Now ask yourself... do you really want to be the go-to person for the day?

I've been in the game for quite some time, and even though I am more than capable of planning my own wedding, I knew on the day-of I needed a team of professionals to see my vision through.  I'm a firm believer that people are best at what they do for a reason. I can humbly digress and say that even as a planner, I can't and won't work on my wedding day. And here's why. 

 

I FORGOT MY CELL

You think I've mastered everything when it comes to wedding planning, but on the day of, I forgot my cellphone and even my overnight bag. Let's be honest- i lost my brain on the wedding day too. #toolegit

 

TIME WARP

For that day I literally lived in another dimension. A time warp that didn't care about the numbers on the clock. And to be honest, I never even checked the time to make sure I, master planner- was on schedule.

 

RECEIVING LINE

I always thought receiving lines were old fashioned. But there I found myself loving every second of The unscheduled and impromptu hugs and kisses as each guest left the church and wished me well. 

 

HOUDINI AKA THE HUSBAND

My groom disappeared and thought cocktails were more important that our bridal pictures. Hah! If it wasn't for my trusted planners I might not have reunited with my newly minted husband on the Chateau Laurier locks for some of the best pictures I hold dear to my heart today. 

 

MIC DROP

At the end of the night, I simply left and forgot to check in with my planners to make sure everything was taken care of at the end of the night. Yeah, I totally did that.

And to finish everything off, my planner actually took off her shoe and said. "Look at the hole in my shoe! I literally ran around like a maniac all night, and this is the result.

So what am I saying? Don't be the bride that works her wedding day and has a hole in the bottom of her shoe instead of her planner. 

10 MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT WEDDING PLANNERS

Myths and misconceptions- they're real. In an industry that fuels unattainable ideas and designs while saturating the market with unfounded wedding advice and information which can be misleading- it's hard to make the distinction in what's actually reality. So here are 5 things we want to shed some light on when it comes to the urban legends surrounding Wedding Planners. 

rban legend #1, You'll get all her discounts

Have you heard the saying "If you think hiring a Wedding Planner is expensive, you have no idea how much an incompetent one can". That's a stone cold fact my friends. So how do we begin to address the notion that hiring a Wedding Planner gets you massive discounts, than if you were to go out on your own. Let me debunk this tall tale- because it drives me crazy. A good planner will help you spend you hard earned moulah wisely, making sure you wont fall into the classic money pit-holes of over-paying for sub-par products and services. This includes DIY's that cost you more then if you were to pay for them, as spending money where your guests wont notice, frivolous delivery charges etc etc. A good Wedding Planner takes the guessing work out of the equation, providing you short cuts- saving you in the long run. So even though you don't see a discount on your invoice, rest assured that your money has been spent with intention and fore-thought. 

 

She's there to do all your running around

Negative. We're here to design and organize your wedding. There is literally no time for picking up your wedding dress, cake or stationary last minute. Your planner should be organizing the drop off of these items so these tasks don't fall on you.

She's your mediator

A much as we love to calm the waters and make things right, we're not trained to be inter-family crisis mediators. A planner must keep professional boundaries at all times and provide unbiased solutions in assistance.

She's a magician

There is only so much we can humanly do to address the issue at hand. Don't expect miracles to happen when in reality, it isn't feasible. Yes, we do have some tricks up our sleeves that will save you in a pinch but that doesn't mean things happen at the click of your fingers just because you hired a planner. 

She knows everything

Lets be real. No one knows everything. But this statement does depends on how many dedicated years your planner has put in and how many weddings she has under her belt. Event planning is a long process of learning as you go. No wedding planning course can prepare you for real-time issues, how to build vendor relationships, make on the spot decisions during a crisis or even how to think strategically. 

So there you have it. 5 expectations you need to check before you hire a planner. 

DO YOU WANT TO WORK ON YOUR WEDDING DAY?

Do you want to work on your wedding day? Or would you rather feel like a guest at your own wedding?

That's the only question you need to ask yourself when considering a planner. I bet I know the answer, and you do too. Don't become the stereotypical bride which after the fact, wishes she had had a planner. And I have to be honest. I cringe every-time I hear those words.

BUT MY GIRLFRIEND JUST GOT MARRIED AND SHE'S GOING TO HELP ME

You aren't your girlfriend. Her wedding also shouldn't be anything like yours. You have different priorities, likes and dislikes. Although your girlfriend is doing you a huge favour, she isn't working for YOU and her advice will only scratch the surface of what a planner really does behind the scenes.

 

MY MOM SAYS I DONT NEED ONE

Mama knows best right? But she won't be hanging up your decorations, checking to make sure your table linens aren't upside-down with the seams showing or making sure your rental company didn't short you on chairs. And if she says she'll step up, I'll tell you right now, everyone had good intentions and thinks they have more time then they actually do. As all the small tasks and oups's add up the week of your wedding, your mother, groom and bridal party may not be taking the added stress with grace. 

 

MY FIANCE THINKS WEDDING PLANNERS ARE TOO EXPENSIVE

A huge benefit in having a wedding planner is peace of mind so you're not constantly thinking- did I forget something? Which has it's trickle down effects to the people around you. Especially those who you naturally go to for support. Cue fiance. Yup, it's normally his job to calm the waters, reassure you everything is going to be okay when it's not. But what happens when he's sick of hearing about your wedding planning? Or has a small tinge of- we should have just eloped, type of vibe. It taints the whole process, and darn it! - wedding planning is supposed to be fun! And with a planner, it's our strict mandate that you ONLY get to do the fun stuff. Our team is here to support you, send you 3d mock ups of your floor plan because your mother in law just can't understand your vision or take that late-night call when you've had a mini bridal party meltdown. 

THE RECIPE 

Stress of that nagging to-do list + the feeling that your always forgetting something + last minute errands to run on time you don't have + family asking you too many wedding questions... NOW throw in a few sleepless nights and a bad dream and voila!

You now wish your wedding day would just be over, before it's even begun.

So I ask you..

DO YOU WANT TO ORCHESTRATE THIS, ON YOUR WEDDING DAY?

Watch the video. You're welcome. And girl, just pick up the phone and call me ;)