Many couples are often shocked at the costs that are involved with planning a wedding. Looking for ways to reduce these inflated expenses and control their wedding budget, brides and grooms have discovered that using a well designed wedding planning software package can be the answer to reducing costs, alleviating stress, and gaining control over the entire planning process.
However, not all wedding programs are created equal. In addition to budget control, you will need a program that covers all the many areas of planning a wedding – many of which couples either forget about or tend to ignore. This can prove even more costly down the road.
So before you purchase a wedding planner software package, here are some tips on what you should be looking for within the program.
Wedding Budget Calculator - The program should contain a flexible budget calculator which allows you to group your costs into specific categories. You should then be able to split that category into various sub-costs that you need to cover.
Check List – Although you may not use everything included within a checklist, it is still a good idea to have one. This will remind you on what needs to be done and helps you to keep control of your wedding planning.
Seating Arrangement Planner – This is especially important if you are having a sit down dinner. You will need to make sure there is room enough for families and friends to sit together. Arranging the tables within the room is also a task that needs to be carefully planned out. You don’t want people crowded together at your tables, plus there should be sufficient space between tables so staff can serve the dinner easily.
Guest List Planner – Keeping track of who you are inviting is very important so that you can budget for food, bridal favors, the amount of space needed for the ceremony and reception, etc.
Ceremony Service Planner – This handy tool will allow you to work out and organize your wedding ceremony program. Things such as when songs and music will be played, who will be giving any special readings, plus the timing of who does what and when they need to do it.
Music Planner – You will need to organize the music for your ceremony and the reception. What music will be used during the processional, recessional, during the ceremony? What will be your first dance song? How about when you cut the cake? You may be very surprised at how many instances specially selected music will be played.
Wedding Party Planner – Who is going to be in your wedding party? How many attendants will each of you have? This part of the program will help you keep track of such details.
Although there are many other aspects that need to be organized and tracked while planning your wedding, the above list should give you a good idea on some of the more important parts of what should be included when choosing a wedding planner software package.
About The Author:
Are you at a loss on what you need to do to plan a wedding? Looking for some help, advice and suggestions to reduce your wedding budget or purchase wedding planner software? Rose Smith owns First Step Wedding Planning where brides and grooms can find the resources needed to plan a dazzling, yet inexpensive wedding. Visit us at: http://www.firststepweddings.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rose_Smith
Rabu, 23 Desember 2009
Selasa, 22 Desember 2009
Learn How To Become A Wedding Planner
Getting down a wedding planning occupation is like embarking on some different occupation. To become a wedding planner you may want to be extremely discreet, coordinated and diligent. You are able to begin by setting upward a business program, bumping a place to abide your agency, begin a internet site and as well begin promoting all but your services. It would be an added advantage if you can[2] ensure a lot of credentials in wedding planning. A lot of universities do accept classes to aim you in event planning and wedding planning. You could always call for a class and complete it to bestow many more appraise to your services.
To be a dependable wedding planner you require to hold a full eye for detail. Communication skills are as well of uttermost importance because you'd accept to convey with another types of people. Whenever you're kid-glove you'll be able to act as as a contact between family line members who'd accept a difference inward belief with a few of the affairs in the wedding. In short you need to be a good folks individual as the entirely business of wedding planner is established on people. Your uttermost destination had better be to delight everybody who'd live affected in that one and the same special day.
Marriages are costly affairs now and it's been identified that the fair price of a wedding is around $30,000. The fee of a wedding planner is generally placed along the overall consumption and the usual pay is 20% of the consumption. This demonstrates that the earnings is pretty fine in this business but as said before you will accept to fortify the calibers asked to be a successful wedding planner. You're call for to discover about wedding too. The points demanded in planning a wedding and reception is tremendous. From choosing the wedding locale to the wedding favours
you'll bear a lot obligations to execute and you ought be gear up to accept up obligation for the same. Before you start it is suggested to go through with other wedding planner sites and visit the shops and dress shop that sell items needed for a wedding. Adept cognition about the products acquirable for weddings is all of the time a good idea.
To be a dependable wedding planner you require to hold a full eye for detail. Communication skills are as well of uttermost importance because you'd accept to convey with another types of people. Whenever you're kid-glove you'll be able to act as as a contact between family line members who'd accept a difference inward belief with a few of the affairs in the wedding. In short you need to be a good folks individual as the entirely business of wedding planner is established on people. Your uttermost destination had better be to delight everybody who'd live affected in that one and the same special day.
Marriages are costly affairs now and it's been identified that the fair price of a wedding is around $30,000. The fee of a wedding planner is generally placed along the overall consumption and the usual pay is 20% of the consumption. This demonstrates that the earnings is pretty fine in this business but as said before you will accept to fortify the calibers asked to be a successful wedding planner. You're call for to discover about wedding too. The points demanded in planning a wedding and reception is tremendous. From choosing the wedding locale to the wedding favours
you'll bear a lot obligations to execute and you ought be gear up to accept up obligation for the same. Before you start it is suggested to go through with other wedding planner sites and visit the shops and dress shop that sell items needed for a wedding. Adept cognition about the products acquirable for weddings is all of the time a good idea.
Minggu, 20 Desember 2009
Your Own Personal Mary Poppins - The Wedding Planner
The bridesmaids' dresses and your dress...you got it. Picking out the wedding invitations...no problem. Booking the honeymoon...done. Everything else...what else? If this is the way your wedding planning is going, then you might consider hiring a wedding planner. The wedding planner is the super hero to the wedding world. They have the eye for detail that you may be lacking, and they love to picking out the linens, floral arrangements, and center pieces that you may find extremely boring. They can assist you in finding the perfect cake, and even help your mother pick out an appropriate dress. If you are having trouble getting organized or just don't know where to start, the best thing you can do to make your wedding the most beautiful and memorable day of your entire life, is to hire a wedding planner. Here are some tips for selecting the person that will work for you:
1.) Word of mouth is a great way to pick a wedding planner. Talk to your married friends and see whom they used and if they would recommend using the same person.
2.) The phone book! If all else fails, just start calling every wedding planner listed in the phone book. But be sure to have a list of what you are looking for in a wedding planner handy. That way you can check off your list as you interview them to make sure you are getting the planner that meets your specific requirements.
3.) Enlist the help of an extremely organized friend or family member. Sometimes you don't really need a professional. Just someone who knows quite a bit about weddings and wedding etiquette who can help you get organized and make major decisions.
After selecting the wedding planner, you will need to meet with them to discuss things like your budget, what things you need for them to do specifically, and what ideas you have and how they feel they can improve on them and make those ideas work for you.
Another tip you should keep in mind is that you need to let your wedding planner do what you hired them to do. A good wedding planner will keep you, and your tastes and opinions involved throughout the entire process, so don't worry...that's why you hired them in the first place. You need to just leave all the tedious and organizational details up to them, and trust their intuition. Their job is to make your day go off perfectly and without a hitch, and that is exactly what they will do.
If you are about to get married and are suddenly in a panic about all those little details, then you should really considering hiring a wedding planner to help you take care of those things. Most brides that have used wedding planners will tell you, that when their big day arrives, they are more relaxed and are able to actually enjoy themselves. Remember...it's your day and you need to do what is best for you and what will make your wedding truly the happiest day of your life.
Ashley Rader is the owner of Moments of Elegance, an online wedding boutique specializing in beach wedding favors, summer wedding favors and a huge collection of unique wedding favor ideas that will say thank you with style and will truly make your event unforgettable. Event planners can receive 10% off their order with coupon code: saveonfavors10.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ashley_Rader
Is A Wedding Planner Necessary?
Many brides don't want to relinquish control of any part of their wedding planning. However, they find themselves stressed by all the details. Though it's oftentimes a tough decision to make, you should consider hiring a wedding planner.
With the costs of planning a wedding on the rise and so many vendors to choose from, a wedding planner can help make things a whole lot easier for the bride and groom.
Do you need a wedding planner? Ask yourself these questions and find out.
Are you stressed out?
With financial concerns and pressure from all the wedding planning decisions, you may find that you are always frazzled and not enjoying your engagement. A wedding planner can help by taking off some of that pressure and handling all the details.
Are you having a hard time finding vendors?
If you have called banquet hall after banquet hall only to find that your wedding date isn't available, it's time to call a wedding planner. A professional planner will have contacts in the wedding industry and know of vendors that you might not even consider.
Do you hate planning?
No one says you have to love planning your wedding. Maybe you just aren't a planner. If that's the case, don't feel pressured. Instead you can turn over the duties to someone who loves wedding planning and has years of experience doing it right.
The best way to find the perfect wedding planner is through referrals from other brides. If you know anyone in your area that has gotten married in the last few years, ask them which wedding planner they used. You should also go online to various bridal websites and talk to women in your area to find referrals.
After you have a few wedding planners in mind, conduct an interview to be sure your personalities are compatible. Explain how much input you would like to have in the wedding decisions ... after all, it's still your wedding. Don't be worried that the wedding planner will override all your wishes. You are paying the planner to help create your ideal wedding and all the final choices will still be yours.
Throughout the process, check in with your wedding planner often. Meet with the planner every few weeks and talk on the phone weekly to make sure you are still on the same page. If there are any snags in the wedding planning, you'll want to find out early.
| Enjoy your engagement! Trying on dresses, tasting cakes and choosing wedding favors are all fun parts of planning your wedding. When looking for wedding favors, make selections that incorporate your personality, as well as your wedding style and theme. Truly Wedding Favors offers hundreds of wedding favors that are beautiful as well as affordable. Learn more about planning your wedding on a budget by reading the Truly Wedding Blog. This and other helpful articles are sponsored by Truly Wedding Favors. |
Jumat, 18 Desember 2009
Get The Best Wedding Planner To Plan Your Wedding
When a couple is prepared to tie the knot a lot is put in the wedding preparation. Deciding on who will play some of the major roles in a wedding is one of the top objectives of an engaged couple equivalent on deciding where and when the event will take place. Although it is usually the bride and groom that make all of the decisions regarding their wedding, it is often the friends and families that run the show during the event. Many individuals decide to use the services of wedding planners, though this often incorporates large expenses and limits placed on wedding plans. It is up to the bride and groom to not only establish who will fill the major roles of the wedding party but also pick individuals that they can rely on during the turmoil's commonly found during a wedding event.
Finding the appropriate individuals to fill the roles of Best Man and Maid of Honor are often the most important roles hat a groom and bride need to decide upon. The important roles related to Best Man and Maid of Honor impact the wedding preparation as they act as additional or supportive wedding planners. The Best man is responsible for events such as the bachelor party as well as helping to keep the groom focused during this time of married development. Helping to manage the emotional rollercoaster that most brides go through while also planning the bridal shower are a few of the necessary responsibilities of the Maid of Honor. Together the Best man and the Maid of Honor help to plan the event, produce toasts during the reception, and help smooth out any bumps during the wedding preparation proceedings in order to limit the bride and grooms stress.
The establishment of the Best Man and Maid of Honor are important in wedding preparation although they do not always represent the best support necessary for the marrying couple. When it comes to the Best Man and the Maid of Honor the individuals destined to fill the roles are often not up for debate so adjustments of support can be found in the roles of the bridesmaids and groomsmen. These individuals act as a private team of wedding planners that are there to support the bride and groom by helping out the Best man and Maid of Honor. The wedding preparations can be overwhelming to any individual and the experience is not just stressful for the marrying couple. The position of groomsmen and bridesmaid is more open in selection then the Best Man and Maid of Honor so it is best to assemble the best team available to assist the couple as additional wedding planners. Finding individuals with limited personal negativity is useful in order to keep every individual in the wedding party working in the best interests of the engaged couple.
Wedding preparation is a big deal in any couples life and having the best support team available to you is important. Remember to try and include these individuals in as many aspects of the wedding preparation as possible so that they have a clear understanding of your expectations.
About the Author
Dreaming of having the perfect wedding, but don't think you have the knowledge or time to plan it properly. At http://www.planningmyweddingday.com you will information that you won't find in any other free wedding planner. Log on to the site and save yourself time, frustration and money; and have a wonderful, fun-filled wedding day!
Finding the appropriate individuals to fill the roles of Best Man and Maid of Honor are often the most important roles hat a groom and bride need to decide upon. The important roles related to Best Man and Maid of Honor impact the wedding preparation as they act as additional or supportive wedding planners. The Best man is responsible for events such as the bachelor party as well as helping to keep the groom focused during this time of married development. Helping to manage the emotional rollercoaster that most brides go through while also planning the bridal shower are a few of the necessary responsibilities of the Maid of Honor. Together the Best man and the Maid of Honor help to plan the event, produce toasts during the reception, and help smooth out any bumps during the wedding preparation proceedings in order to limit the bride and grooms stress.
The establishment of the Best Man and Maid of Honor are important in wedding preparation although they do not always represent the best support necessary for the marrying couple. When it comes to the Best Man and the Maid of Honor the individuals destined to fill the roles are often not up for debate so adjustments of support can be found in the roles of the bridesmaids and groomsmen. These individuals act as a private team of wedding planners that are there to support the bride and groom by helping out the Best man and Maid of Honor. The wedding preparations can be overwhelming to any individual and the experience is not just stressful for the marrying couple. The position of groomsmen and bridesmaid is more open in selection then the Best Man and Maid of Honor so it is best to assemble the best team available to assist the couple as additional wedding planners. Finding individuals with limited personal negativity is useful in order to keep every individual in the wedding party working in the best interests of the engaged couple.
Wedding preparation is a big deal in any couples life and having the best support team available to you is important. Remember to try and include these individuals in as many aspects of the wedding preparation as possible so that they have a clear understanding of your expectations.
About the Author
Dreaming of having the perfect wedding, but don't think you have the knowledge or time to plan it properly. At http://www.planningmyweddingday.com you will information that you won't find in any other free wedding planner. Log on to the site and save yourself time, frustration and money; and have a wonderful, fun-filled wedding day!
Wedding Planner Tools
Getting Married? Congratulations! You just set the date for the most important day in your life. Your wedding day. Imagine...It is your wedding day. Your very own wedding day! It will be fun.
Here are ten essential steps that will make the preparation fun too.
Keep within your financial limits. Budget your wedding. You do not want to start your married life in debt. If you are organized have a plan and are creative, whatever your budget, a "wedding to remember" will be yours.
Now Visualize. That's right, visualize. Close your eyes and look at the tasks at hand. The list may SEEM overwhelming but it isn't.
Don't try to do everything all at once. Start by gathering information. Use the Net to gather ideas from around the world. Make an extensive list of "things you LIKE", "things you WANT" and "things you MUST HAVE" (see the difference?)
Now you are ready to make a Top Ten (or top eleven or twelve) list.
Break your list it into small manageable portions that you can successfully accomplish. Use categories like... Before the wedding - During the wedding - After the wedding.
Now use sub categories. Include ideas for related events such as, showers, receptions, and honeymoon.
It is YOUR wedding. It reflects YOU. No one should dictate to you what to do and how to do it. You may seek advice, ideas and wisdom but in the end each final decision is yours.
What this means is don't be shy! Accept assistance when offered and solicit involvement, help and ideas from those you believe will be an asset.
9.Add your personal touches. For example; if you have children you may consider making them an important part of your wedding.
Pick a few aspects of your wedding and make them personalized. A personal touch makes a wedding meaningful to the bridal couple, their attendants, family and all invited guests.
In summary, your wedding is a serious moment for declaring your love and commitment to each other. Make your wedding truly a one-of-a-kind event. Fill it with cherished moments and keepsakes. Whether you choose a favorite theme, a special setting or an intimate gathering of friends and loved ones, enjoy the journey. Perhaps, the memories and keepsakes may stay with you forever. Treasure them! And may you have a Happy, Happy day!
About the Author
Did you find this article useful? For more useful tips and hints, points to ponder and keep in mind, techniques, and insights pertaining to Internet Business, do please browse for more information at our websites. http://www.adsence-dollar-factory.com http://www.100earningtips.com
Here are ten essential steps that will make the preparation fun too.
Keep within your financial limits. Budget your wedding. You do not want to start your married life in debt. If you are organized have a plan and are creative, whatever your budget, a "wedding to remember" will be yours.
Now Visualize. That's right, visualize. Close your eyes and look at the tasks at hand. The list may SEEM overwhelming but it isn't.
Don't try to do everything all at once. Start by gathering information. Use the Net to gather ideas from around the world. Make an extensive list of "things you LIKE", "things you WANT" and "things you MUST HAVE" (see the difference?)
Now you are ready to make a Top Ten (or top eleven or twelve) list.
Break your list it into small manageable portions that you can successfully accomplish. Use categories like... Before the wedding - During the wedding - After the wedding.
Now use sub categories. Include ideas for related events such as, showers, receptions, and honeymoon.
It is YOUR wedding. It reflects YOU. No one should dictate to you what to do and how to do it. You may seek advice, ideas and wisdom but in the end each final decision is yours.
What this means is don't be shy! Accept assistance when offered and solicit involvement, help and ideas from those you believe will be an asset.
9.Add your personal touches. For example; if you have children you may consider making them an important part of your wedding.
Pick a few aspects of your wedding and make them personalized. A personal touch makes a wedding meaningful to the bridal couple, their attendants, family and all invited guests.
In summary, your wedding is a serious moment for declaring your love and commitment to each other. Make your wedding truly a one-of-a-kind event. Fill it with cherished moments and keepsakes. Whether you choose a favorite theme, a special setting or an intimate gathering of friends and loved ones, enjoy the journey. Perhaps, the memories and keepsakes may stay with you forever. Treasure them! And may you have a Happy, Happy day!
About the Author
Did you find this article useful? For more useful tips and hints, points to ponder and keep in mind, techniques, and insights pertaining to Internet Business, do please browse for more information at our websites. http://www.adsence-dollar-factory.com http://www.100earningtips.com
Choosing a Wedding Caterer - 6 Tips for the Perfect Wedding Reception
Choosing a wedding caterer can be a stressful process. Be sure to leave plenty of time in your wedding planning schedule to interview caterers, choose your menu, and pay the costs. With these few tips you can be assured that hiring a wedding caterer will go smoothly.
# Be aware that many wedding venues provide a catering service. These venues often require you to use their services. If you already have a caterer in mind, you will need to contact your potential reception locations to make sure that you can hire an outside catering service. Many venues that hold a great deal of weddings will probably have a wedding coordinator. This coordinator will help you chose either the menu that their service will provide or will help you chose from a list of catering services that they work with.
# Ask friends, family, your wedding planner, and the wedding venue coordinator for recommendations for a caterer in that area. Both the wedding planner and the venue coordinator should be very familiar with local catering services. If the venue does not provide a catering service, and you don't like any of the local caterers, you may be able to find a catering service that is willing to travel. Depending on far they have to travel, there will probably be an extra charge for this service. You will have to decide if the price is worth it.
# Price ranges can vary widely among wedding caterers. Much of the cost depends on the size of the reception and the chosen menu, however, the education and reputation of the chef may also play a part in the price. It's best to know your catering budget limit before you being to talk to caterers. This way you can eliminate those that are well out of your range. It's easy to go over budget on your reception menu. Stick to your budget here and you won't have to give up something else because you are out of money.
# Be sure to tell potential caterers about any special dietary needs, food allergies, or special menu items that you require for your wedding reception. Some caterers have a fixed menu plan that they do not want to deviate from. A good caterer will be able to accommodate any special requests. If you are dealing with food allergies, make sure the caterer understands about cross-contamination in the kitchen and while serving.
# Any decent caterer should schedule a tasting so you can sample their food. Most will give you samples of your chosen menu before the menu is finalized so you can tell ahead of time what items will taste like. If a caterer refuses to do a sampling, it's probably best not to hire them.
# Create a list of potential caterers where you can keep note and rate their food, price, menu, etc. This will help you remember each caterer and will help you decide which one is right for your wedding reception.
Give yourself time to interview several wedding caterers before your wedding date. With the right caterer and menu, your wedding reception will be remembered for a lifetime.
About the Author
Jenna Regan has enjoyed being a wedding consultant for the last 2 years. She has featured some of her ideas at her site, Wedding Decoration Ideas, where you can find ideas and information on wedding themes, handmade wedding invitations, and bridal hairstyles.
# Be aware that many wedding venues provide a catering service. These venues often require you to use their services. If you already have a caterer in mind, you will need to contact your potential reception locations to make sure that you can hire an outside catering service. Many venues that hold a great deal of weddings will probably have a wedding coordinator. This coordinator will help you chose either the menu that their service will provide or will help you chose from a list of catering services that they work with.
# Ask friends, family, your wedding planner, and the wedding venue coordinator for recommendations for a caterer in that area. Both the wedding planner and the venue coordinator should be very familiar with local catering services. If the venue does not provide a catering service, and you don't like any of the local caterers, you may be able to find a catering service that is willing to travel. Depending on far they have to travel, there will probably be an extra charge for this service. You will have to decide if the price is worth it.
# Price ranges can vary widely among wedding caterers. Much of the cost depends on the size of the reception and the chosen menu, however, the education and reputation of the chef may also play a part in the price. It's best to know your catering budget limit before you being to talk to caterers. This way you can eliminate those that are well out of your range. It's easy to go over budget on your reception menu. Stick to your budget here and you won't have to give up something else because you are out of money.
# Be sure to tell potential caterers about any special dietary needs, food allergies, or special menu items that you require for your wedding reception. Some caterers have a fixed menu plan that they do not want to deviate from. A good caterer will be able to accommodate any special requests. If you are dealing with food allergies, make sure the caterer understands about cross-contamination in the kitchen and while serving.
# Any decent caterer should schedule a tasting so you can sample their food. Most will give you samples of your chosen menu before the menu is finalized so you can tell ahead of time what items will taste like. If a caterer refuses to do a sampling, it's probably best not to hire them.
# Create a list of potential caterers where you can keep note and rate their food, price, menu, etc. This will help you remember each caterer and will help you decide which one is right for your wedding reception.
Give yourself time to interview several wedding caterers before your wedding date. With the right caterer and menu, your wedding reception will be remembered for a lifetime.
About the Author
Jenna Regan has enjoyed being a wedding consultant for the last 2 years. She has featured some of her ideas at her site, Wedding Decoration Ideas, where you can find ideas and information on wedding themes, handmade wedding invitations, and bridal hairstyles.
A Romantic Wedding in Italy
Italy provides one of the world's most romantic wedding venues, and is fast becoming a favorite place to get married - the romance, the food, the climate - and it's easily accessible for family and friends traveling from the UK.
But the most important thing to remember is - it's easy!
If neither of you speak Italian, it's a good idea to find a wedding planner - somebody who can liaise with all the right people to make sure that your wedding is a day to remember.
There are two aspects to your day - the wedding ceremony, and the party - whether that be a simple meal in a restaurant, or dancing the night away to whatever type of music takes your fancy.
Most people come to Italy for a civil, rather than a religious, wedding - and in most areas this has to take place legally in the town hall. But many people keep this to a very low key affair, and then choose a lovely location - such as a beautiful old villa, an outdoor location or a seaside venue - for their 'wedding'. Some local councils are very accommodating. They will invite the bride and groom with a couple of witnesses into the mayor's office, and without too much ceremony, they will marry the couple. The next day (or another day of their choice - even the same day) the mayor will come to the 'wedding' location and repeat the whole ceremony - only this time, the bride is dressed for a wedding, the venue is full of flowers, there is music, readings or specially written vows exchanged by the couple. This is the wedding that the guests are invited to, and everything - from the arrival of the bride to the party at the end of the evening - can all take place in a single location.
But then some people just love the idea of getting married in one of the delightful town halls, usually situated in a wonderful old piazza, and more often than not they are historic buildings in their own right. The guests come to the town hall and experience real Italy - and then back to the venue of choice for the celebration.
The legal proceedings are quite straightforward - but if you don't speak Italian, this is when you do need some help. First of all, you have to get a Certificate of No Impediment from your local registrar. This is very straightforward - you only have to ask. You need to get this about three months before your wedding. It's simply a document that says there is nothing to prevent you from getting married. If you send this to your planner, she will arrange for the appropriate British Consulate here in Italy to issue something called a Nulla Osta - which is the Italian equivalent of the Certificate of No Impediment. This is then taken to the town hall, and they create all the paperwork before your big day. In some cases, you might be told that you need to be in Italy a few days in advance, but normally if your planner has everything in hand, that isn't strictly necessary. At the end of the marriage ceremony, you will be presented with a marriage certificate (which is far more elaborate than a British one) and - if your planner has done her job properly - you will also get a number of copies of a translation document. You can use this if ever you need to present your marriage certificate in England.
Once you are married - it's on to the wedding party!
Weddings in Italy - for Italians - are very elaborate affairs. It's not unusual to have two hundred or more guests, and the food goes on forever. It really is the meal that is the highlight of the event, and until you have experienced an Italian wedding, it's difficult to describe the incredible quantity and quality of food on offer. Non Italian weddings tend to be smaller - but no less romantic.
In the summer months it can be hot - and so weddings normally take place in the late afternoon. As soon as the ceremony is over, the Prosecco and canapés are on offer. Guests mingle, choose from the numerous trays of delicious nibbles - stuffed olives, marinated salmon, crispy fried cheese, tiny vegetable tarts - the list goes on. Photographs may be taken at this point, and the photographer will probably mingle with the crowd, taking pictures 'reportage' style together with any formal shots that the bride and groom would like.
Then it's on to the antipasti. When we organise weddings ourselves, the antipasti is always in a slightly different part of the gardens - perhaps on a pool terrace. Tables are heaving with plates of meat, fish, cheese and vegetables - perhaps an individual glass of Italian gazpacho with a skewer of roasted vegetables, or smoked turkey with a pepper and melon salad. Depending on the number of guests, there can be ten or more different selections on the antipasti table, and they are normally served buffet style, with guests finding a table by the pool or in the shade of a tree.
And then ... dinner! The formal part of the meal might be served under an open sided gazebo, but normally at large round tables, beautifully decorated with flowers and candles. The dinner starts with pasta or risotto courses - and often both. It is a leisurely affair, and the wine flows freely. The main course can be meat, fish, or vegetarian - and in some cases there are two main courses separated by a sorbetto. If, by then, you haven't eaten enough - dessert isn't just a single plate - it's another feast, with a buffet table laden with a mouth watering choice of options - semifreddo, ice cream cake, mousse, tiramisu, fruit. This is what a wedding in Italy is all about. See the wedding gallery at for an idea of the food, the setting and the ambiance of a romantic wedding in Italy.
And then there is a chance to dance the night away - but it will, without a doubt, be a wedding to remember in a country which, above all, loves romance.
About the Author
Sheila Rodgers is the owner and manager of Real Italy Limited, a company dedicated to providing holidays and romantic weddings in the stunning Le Marche region of Italy. The wedding venue is a large Italian villa in the heart of Le Marche, and weddings take place in the small chapel adjoining the villa.
But the most important thing to remember is - it's easy!
If neither of you speak Italian, it's a good idea to find a wedding planner - somebody who can liaise with all the right people to make sure that your wedding is a day to remember.
There are two aspects to your day - the wedding ceremony, and the party - whether that be a simple meal in a restaurant, or dancing the night away to whatever type of music takes your fancy.
Most people come to Italy for a civil, rather than a religious, wedding - and in most areas this has to take place legally in the town hall. But many people keep this to a very low key affair, and then choose a lovely location - such as a beautiful old villa, an outdoor location or a seaside venue - for their 'wedding'. Some local councils are very accommodating. They will invite the bride and groom with a couple of witnesses into the mayor's office, and without too much ceremony, they will marry the couple. The next day (or another day of their choice - even the same day) the mayor will come to the 'wedding' location and repeat the whole ceremony - only this time, the bride is dressed for a wedding, the venue is full of flowers, there is music, readings or specially written vows exchanged by the couple. This is the wedding that the guests are invited to, and everything - from the arrival of the bride to the party at the end of the evening - can all take place in a single location.
But then some people just love the idea of getting married in one of the delightful town halls, usually situated in a wonderful old piazza, and more often than not they are historic buildings in their own right. The guests come to the town hall and experience real Italy - and then back to the venue of choice for the celebration.
The legal proceedings are quite straightforward - but if you don't speak Italian, this is when you do need some help. First of all, you have to get a Certificate of No Impediment from your local registrar. This is very straightforward - you only have to ask. You need to get this about three months before your wedding. It's simply a document that says there is nothing to prevent you from getting married. If you send this to your planner, she will arrange for the appropriate British Consulate here in Italy to issue something called a Nulla Osta - which is the Italian equivalent of the Certificate of No Impediment. This is then taken to the town hall, and they create all the paperwork before your big day. In some cases, you might be told that you need to be in Italy a few days in advance, but normally if your planner has everything in hand, that isn't strictly necessary. At the end of the marriage ceremony, you will be presented with a marriage certificate (which is far more elaborate than a British one) and - if your planner has done her job properly - you will also get a number of copies of a translation document. You can use this if ever you need to present your marriage certificate in England.
Once you are married - it's on to the wedding party!
Weddings in Italy - for Italians - are very elaborate affairs. It's not unusual to have two hundred or more guests, and the food goes on forever. It really is the meal that is the highlight of the event, and until you have experienced an Italian wedding, it's difficult to describe the incredible quantity and quality of food on offer. Non Italian weddings tend to be smaller - but no less romantic.
In the summer months it can be hot - and so weddings normally take place in the late afternoon. As soon as the ceremony is over, the Prosecco and canapés are on offer. Guests mingle, choose from the numerous trays of delicious nibbles - stuffed olives, marinated salmon, crispy fried cheese, tiny vegetable tarts - the list goes on. Photographs may be taken at this point, and the photographer will probably mingle with the crowd, taking pictures 'reportage' style together with any formal shots that the bride and groom would like.
Then it's on to the antipasti. When we organise weddings ourselves, the antipasti is always in a slightly different part of the gardens - perhaps on a pool terrace. Tables are heaving with plates of meat, fish, cheese and vegetables - perhaps an individual glass of Italian gazpacho with a skewer of roasted vegetables, or smoked turkey with a pepper and melon salad. Depending on the number of guests, there can be ten or more different selections on the antipasti table, and they are normally served buffet style, with guests finding a table by the pool or in the shade of a tree.
And then ... dinner! The formal part of the meal might be served under an open sided gazebo, but normally at large round tables, beautifully decorated with flowers and candles. The dinner starts with pasta or risotto courses - and often both. It is a leisurely affair, and the wine flows freely. The main course can be meat, fish, or vegetarian - and in some cases there are two main courses separated by a sorbetto. If, by then, you haven't eaten enough - dessert isn't just a single plate - it's another feast, with a buffet table laden with a mouth watering choice of options - semifreddo, ice cream cake, mousse, tiramisu, fruit. This is what a wedding in Italy is all about. See the wedding gallery at for an idea of the food, the setting and the ambiance of a romantic wedding in Italy.
And then there is a chance to dance the night away - but it will, without a doubt, be a wedding to remember in a country which, above all, loves romance.
About the Author
Sheila Rodgers is the owner and manager of Real Italy Limited, a company dedicated to providing holidays and romantic weddings in the stunning Le Marche region of Italy. The wedding venue is a large Italian villa in the heart of Le Marche, and weddings take place in the small chapel adjoining the villa.
Top 5 Wedding Planning Books
Wedding planning is an overwhelming experience. One minute you are high on emotion the next your are tearing your hair out because the caterers you so badly wanted are fully booked or that dream dress is not available anywhere.
Little wonder then that many brides will seek solace & advice from wedding planning books. For some these books can become their wedding bibles! Never far from view, with marked pages, scribbled notes on sticky pads & lots of loose cuttings falling from every page. For others they are nothing more than a reference in times of need, nevertheless, a valuable one at that
The following is a list of the top 5 wedding planning books according to Amazon.
1.The Step-by-Step Guide to Planning Your Own Wedding by Linda Wright
Synopsis
A self-help wedding planner with countdown calendar, step-by-step action plans and a comprehensive checklist section.
2. Wedding Planning for Dummies by Marcy Blum & Laura F. Kaiser
Synopsis
Wedding Planning For Dummies, 2nd Edition demystifies and simplifies all the details that go into the Big Day, providing inspiration and innovative ideas to personalize your wedding celebration and, of course, make it fun for everyone-especially you! This one-stop guide is all you need to:
- Design a comprehensive schedule for a snag-free wedding day - Keep track of expenses with a wedding budget - Negotiate contracts and surf online for deals - Get those pesky financial technicalities out of the way - Plan a weekend wedding, a themed wedding, and other celebrations - Select a suitable wedding party - Plan for various customs and rites - Get the decorative effect you want - Throw a great reception with music, food, drink, and cake! - Handle gifts, registries, rings, photos, and the honeymoon
Packed with tips for saving money and common kitsch you should avoid, this is the ultimate guide to satisfying everyone on the Big Day. You'll discover the confidence you need to make the wedding of your dreams come true with Wedding Planning For Dummies, 2nd Edition!
3.Planning Your Wedding: A Step-by-step Guide That Will Take You Right Through to the Big Day By Judith Verity
Synopsis
An up-to-date guide to wedding planning, providing advice on what's traditional, what your options are, how to manage tricky social situations, how to plan the wedding your way, stay inside your budget and cut down on stress.
4.Planning a Wedding Reception at Home by Carol Godsmark
Synopsis
With this book you'll be able to event manage the day yourself so that all the details are covered and everything runs smoothly with the minimum of stress. Alongside all the more general advice and tips you'll find information on: Preparing a budget and getting quotations for the marquee or village hall. Choosing the menu, including a selection of sample menus. If you're cooking yourself, how to prepare and shop for the chosen menus. Buying alcohol, planning the bar and finding staff to man it. How to hire equipment and gauge quantities of plates, cutlery, serving dishes, and tablecloths. How to find good staff and instruct them on their duties. Organizing the music and ensuring sufficient electrical power. Planning the big tidy up afterward!
5.Easy Wedding Planning Plus, 5th Edition: The Most Comprehensive and Easy to Use Wedding Planner by Elizabeth Lluch
Synopsis not available.
About the Author
Georgina Clatworthy is a dedicated full time writer who composes informative articles related to wedding favors and wedding. She is connected with 1WeddingSource, today's leading wedding social networking planning site.
Little wonder then that many brides will seek solace & advice from wedding planning books. For some these books can become their wedding bibles! Never far from view, with marked pages, scribbled notes on sticky pads & lots of loose cuttings falling from every page. For others they are nothing more than a reference in times of need, nevertheless, a valuable one at that
The following is a list of the top 5 wedding planning books according to Amazon.
1.The Step-by-Step Guide to Planning Your Own Wedding by Linda Wright
Synopsis
A self-help wedding planner with countdown calendar, step-by-step action plans and a comprehensive checklist section.
2. Wedding Planning for Dummies by Marcy Blum & Laura F. Kaiser
Synopsis
Wedding Planning For Dummies, 2nd Edition demystifies and simplifies all the details that go into the Big Day, providing inspiration and innovative ideas to personalize your wedding celebration and, of course, make it fun for everyone-especially you! This one-stop guide is all you need to:
- Design a comprehensive schedule for a snag-free wedding day - Keep track of expenses with a wedding budget - Negotiate contracts and surf online for deals - Get those pesky financial technicalities out of the way - Plan a weekend wedding, a themed wedding, and other celebrations - Select a suitable wedding party - Plan for various customs and rites - Get the decorative effect you want - Throw a great reception with music, food, drink, and cake! - Handle gifts, registries, rings, photos, and the honeymoon
Packed with tips for saving money and common kitsch you should avoid, this is the ultimate guide to satisfying everyone on the Big Day. You'll discover the confidence you need to make the wedding of your dreams come true with Wedding Planning For Dummies, 2nd Edition!
3.Planning Your Wedding: A Step-by-step Guide That Will Take You Right Through to the Big Day By Judith Verity
Synopsis
An up-to-date guide to wedding planning, providing advice on what's traditional, what your options are, how to manage tricky social situations, how to plan the wedding your way, stay inside your budget and cut down on stress.
4.Planning a Wedding Reception at Home by Carol Godsmark
Synopsis
With this book you'll be able to event manage the day yourself so that all the details are covered and everything runs smoothly with the minimum of stress. Alongside all the more general advice and tips you'll find information on: Preparing a budget and getting quotations for the marquee or village hall. Choosing the menu, including a selection of sample menus. If you're cooking yourself, how to prepare and shop for the chosen menus. Buying alcohol, planning the bar and finding staff to man it. How to hire equipment and gauge quantities of plates, cutlery, serving dishes, and tablecloths. How to find good staff and instruct them on their duties. Organizing the music and ensuring sufficient electrical power. Planning the big tidy up afterward!
5.Easy Wedding Planning Plus, 5th Edition: The Most Comprehensive and Easy to Use Wedding Planner by Elizabeth Lluch
Synopsis not available.
About the Author
Georgina Clatworthy is a dedicated full time writer who composes informative articles related to wedding favors and wedding. She is connected with 1WeddingSource, today's leading wedding social networking planning site.
Wedding Planning Made Easy - Top Ten Tips
Your wedding day is one of the most exciting days of your life, but for many it can also be the most daunting. Instinctively knowing everything that needs to be arranged, for something you have never done before, is a rather tall order. Therefore knowing where to start can be tricky. Most brides will immediately think of the ideal venue and dream wedding dress, but there are a few things that need to be considered prior to this. Having this information to hand will save you stress at a later date and ensure your wedding planning process runs smoothly, on time and very importantly to budget!
1. First things first, make a list of everyone you would like to invite to your special day (remembering to check with both of your families). Then revisit it and decide if it is an acceptable number to you all. It is worth bearing in mind that the larger the venue you need, the fewer options there will be available to you and naturally your budget will increase.
2. The wedding party. Decide who the best man, maid of honour, bridesmaids and ushers will be and ask them.
3. The budget. This can be a sensitive subject but it must be considered so that you can establish what your limits will be. If you are managing your wedding yourself, make a comprehensive list of every item that will cost you so you can work out what you want to prioritise. If you have a wedding planner, they will do this for you and make sure nothing is forgotten whilst helping you stay within budget!
4. Choosing the date. Things to consider: season and weather, bridal party availability, religious limitations, ideal honeymoon location, day of the week (weekdays are usually more cost effective).
5. Wedding insurance. This is something that many people do not consider and it is extremely important. The sooner you can get cover the better, as your policy can cover eventualities such as losing the wedding rings, damage to the bridal gown and venue double bookings. Find out exactly what your policy covers and try to get recommendations from friends.
6. Contact a wedding planner for either full management or for certain aspects or just consultancy to go through a detailed plan of action and provide advice. It is worth knowing that planners have many contacts and can usually negotiate better rates than if you go direct.
7. The service. Consider if it will be religious or civil and if you would like everything to be held in the same venue, or for example a church plus reception venue.
8. The venue. If you wish to have the ceremony and reception in one venue, find out if they have a wedding license. Things to consider: cost, capacities, number of rooms, space for dancing, late license if required, music license and time restrictions. For separate venues also consider distance between the two.
9. Suppliers. Work out if the venue will provide the suppliers - florists, caterers and decorations. Some will insist on using theirs, others will be more flexible. This is important if you have a local florist or caterer you wish to use. A wedding planner will also be able to advise if their suppliers are costly or not - you do not want to get a great venue rate only to find your suppliers cost an arm and a leg!
10. Time line. Most people spend on average one year planning a wedding. This is because of the planning involved and also to get venue availability - believe it or not, popular venues can be booked up well over a year in advance! Think about how long each item takes to organize and prioritize accordingly.
There are many elements to planning a wedding, but hopefully you will find these top tips useful to get you started. Working with a wedding planner will not only mean you have a professional to guide you and often negotiate better rates, but will also save you time and give you that much needed support. Good luck!
EventAngel is a wedding planning and event management company with a personal touch. Based in North London we offer the support you need to suit your budget. We produce completely bespoke weddings ensuring your personal stamp is made.
EventAngel wedding planners work in harmony with you to create the perfect wedding day of your dreams. We provide a full wedding planning service where we suport you on the whole process, or we can simply manage certain aspects for you. If you would just like a planner on the day this is no problem either. We have an extensive list of suppliers from beautiul cake designers to personalised, handmade stationery producers and hair and makeup artists.
We also offer a wedding consultancy package to give you the most flexible service possible. We are here to help, so please contact us or visit the website for more information and a list of all of our services. EventAngel does the hard work for you and lets you make the important decisions, taking the stress out of the planning process.
http://www.event-angel.com
1. First things first, make a list of everyone you would like to invite to your special day (remembering to check with both of your families). Then revisit it and decide if it is an acceptable number to you all. It is worth bearing in mind that the larger the venue you need, the fewer options there will be available to you and naturally your budget will increase.
2. The wedding party. Decide who the best man, maid of honour, bridesmaids and ushers will be and ask them.
3. The budget. This can be a sensitive subject but it must be considered so that you can establish what your limits will be. If you are managing your wedding yourself, make a comprehensive list of every item that will cost you so you can work out what you want to prioritise. If you have a wedding planner, they will do this for you and make sure nothing is forgotten whilst helping you stay within budget!
4. Choosing the date. Things to consider: season and weather, bridal party availability, religious limitations, ideal honeymoon location, day of the week (weekdays are usually more cost effective).
5. Wedding insurance. This is something that many people do not consider and it is extremely important. The sooner you can get cover the better, as your policy can cover eventualities such as losing the wedding rings, damage to the bridal gown and venue double bookings. Find out exactly what your policy covers and try to get recommendations from friends.
6. Contact a wedding planner for either full management or for certain aspects or just consultancy to go through a detailed plan of action and provide advice. It is worth knowing that planners have many contacts and can usually negotiate better rates than if you go direct.
7. The service. Consider if it will be religious or civil and if you would like everything to be held in the same venue, or for example a church plus reception venue.
8. The venue. If you wish to have the ceremony and reception in one venue, find out if they have a wedding license. Things to consider: cost, capacities, number of rooms, space for dancing, late license if required, music license and time restrictions. For separate venues also consider distance between the two.
9. Suppliers. Work out if the venue will provide the suppliers - florists, caterers and decorations. Some will insist on using theirs, others will be more flexible. This is important if you have a local florist or caterer you wish to use. A wedding planner will also be able to advise if their suppliers are costly or not - you do not want to get a great venue rate only to find your suppliers cost an arm and a leg!
10. Time line. Most people spend on average one year planning a wedding. This is because of the planning involved and also to get venue availability - believe it or not, popular venues can be booked up well over a year in advance! Think about how long each item takes to organize and prioritize accordingly.
There are many elements to planning a wedding, but hopefully you will find these top tips useful to get you started. Working with a wedding planner will not only mean you have a professional to guide you and often negotiate better rates, but will also save you time and give you that much needed support. Good luck!
EventAngel is a wedding planning and event management company with a personal touch. Based in North London we offer the support you need to suit your budget. We produce completely bespoke weddings ensuring your personal stamp is made.
EventAngel wedding planners work in harmony with you to create the perfect wedding day of your dreams. We provide a full wedding planning service where we suport you on the whole process, or we can simply manage certain aspects for you. If you would just like a planner on the day this is no problem either. We have an extensive list of suppliers from beautiul cake designers to personalised, handmade stationery producers and hair and makeup artists.
We also offer a wedding consultancy package to give you the most flexible service possible. We are here to help, so please contact us or visit the website for more information and a list of all of our services. EventAngel does the hard work for you and lets you make the important decisions, taking the stress out of the planning process.
http://www.event-angel.com
Wedding Planner Marketing Tips
The wedding planner life is the only one I'd like to lead. I love to see couples find the ways to have their perfect day, and I absolutely love being able to help them do it on their own budget. Solving problems, working with people, and just being around weddings is a great career, so I love what I do. The only problem wedding planners have is marketing. There aren't too many wedding planner marketing tips that are just floating around there. But there are a lot of wedding planners, and it can be hard to make myself stand out in the crowd. If I was going to give advice about wedding planner marketing tips, there are a couple of things that I would be sure to say.
First of all, as a wedding planner, one of the biggest wedding planner marketing tips that I can come up with is making sure that you've got a solid business plan and you are professional. You've got to know what you are doing right off the bat so that you'll be able to do it well. You also have to always present yourself in a professional way. Remember that part of wedding planner marketing is making sure that you can work with all kinds of people, from couples getting married to in laws, to florists and DJs. You are going to have to plan this whole thing out, so be sure that your people skills are up to date. One of the biggest wedding planner marketing tips you can have is to always, always be friendly and polite. You have no idea how far a good word can go. If one couple likes you, they'll recommend you to a friend. Business is easy, that way.
But you've got to get your name out there. I learned that the hard way, having no work for quite some time. Finally I realized that a web site is a great idea, because couples who are getting married like to see what I've done before. I put up photographs from weddings I've planned, and testimonials from couples who like me. I've also put up lists of what I do and what I charge for those services. With this information online, it is super easy for couples to decide that they'd like me. The hardest part is making sure that they know my address. I got an easy to remember website address, and started plastering it all over town. I took out ads in magazines that catered to brides and grooms, and made sure that I stuck it at all sorts of places. I even got some florists and DJs to say that they'd keep some of my cars and recommend me. In turn, I usually use them when I need those services for a wedding. That kind of networking can be the best of the wedding planner marketing tips because not only does it help you get business, it also helps you during your own business. No matter what, I always remember that if I want to be a successful wedding planner, I've just got to get out there and do it.
David Ledoux is an author, speaker, trainer and mentor to entrepreneurs. His newest report The Small Business Death Sentence can be downloaded for free at [http://bigmoneyfreetime.com]
First of all, as a wedding planner, one of the biggest wedding planner marketing tips that I can come up with is making sure that you've got a solid business plan and you are professional. You've got to know what you are doing right off the bat so that you'll be able to do it well. You also have to always present yourself in a professional way. Remember that part of wedding planner marketing is making sure that you can work with all kinds of people, from couples getting married to in laws, to florists and DJs. You are going to have to plan this whole thing out, so be sure that your people skills are up to date. One of the biggest wedding planner marketing tips you can have is to always, always be friendly and polite. You have no idea how far a good word can go. If one couple likes you, they'll recommend you to a friend. Business is easy, that way.
But you've got to get your name out there. I learned that the hard way, having no work for quite some time. Finally I realized that a web site is a great idea, because couples who are getting married like to see what I've done before. I put up photographs from weddings I've planned, and testimonials from couples who like me. I've also put up lists of what I do and what I charge for those services. With this information online, it is super easy for couples to decide that they'd like me. The hardest part is making sure that they know my address. I got an easy to remember website address, and started plastering it all over town. I took out ads in magazines that catered to brides and grooms, and made sure that I stuck it at all sorts of places. I even got some florists and DJs to say that they'd keep some of my cars and recommend me. In turn, I usually use them when I need those services for a wedding. That kind of networking can be the best of the wedding planner marketing tips because not only does it help you get business, it also helps you during your own business. No matter what, I always remember that if I want to be a successful wedding planner, I've just got to get out there and do it.
David Ledoux is an author, speaker, trainer and mentor to entrepreneurs. His newest report The Small Business Death Sentence can be downloaded for free at [http://bigmoneyfreetime.com]
Always a Wedding Planner, Never a Bride
If you enjoyed the movie The Wedding Planner with Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey, you'll get a real kick out of Stand-In Groom by Kaye Dacus.
Anne Hawthorne resides in Bonneterre, Louisiana, a fictionally "real" town with lots of equally "real" characters. A successful wedding planner, Anne has everything she needs--except, of course, her own groom.
Through her cousin, she meets handsome Englishman George Laurence, and feels an instant attraction. But the next day, he shows up at her office with his fiancee in tow. Let the conflict begin.
George feels the same way about Anne. (He's actually just posing as the groom for his employer, but has signed a contract of confidentiality.) His deception eats away at him. How can he remain true to his heart, his Christian beliefs and his employer at the same time? And how will Anne ever forgive him when she learns of his deceit?
Here are a few of the things I enjoyed about this book:
The Character of Anne Hawthorne - She is calm, cool, collected and organized on the outside--a rock for her brides in distress. But on the inside, she longs for a groom of her own, a godly man who won't take advantage of her like the last man in her life.
The Character of George Laurence - I love the way he talks! (What is there about a British accent that is so appealing?) Obviously, the author does a great job of bringing this Brit to life on the page.
The Conflict - It oozes from between every line. How will the characters ever extract themselves from this mess?
Tight Writing - Kaye Dacus knows how to make every word count. (Maybe if I sleep with her book under my pillow, that ability will rub off on me. Oh, if it were only that easy!)
The Strong Spiritual Thread - This story shows us two characters who are honestly seeking to follow God's direction in their lives.
The Setting - The author does a wonderful job of turning Bonneterre into a character in the book. The hometown feel gushes over you as you see Anne relate with family and friends that live in and around Bonneterre.
Sacrifice - Don't you just adore love stories where the main character makes a sacrifice in order show her man how much she loves him? I won't spoil it for you, but be prepared.
This is a wonderful romantic comedy that you don't want to miss. I feel so privileged to have read Stand-In Groom by Kaye Dacus. Not only is it a great story, but a great study of how to write!
Cathy Bryant
http://wordvessel.blogspot.com
Anne Hawthorne resides in Bonneterre, Louisiana, a fictionally "real" town with lots of equally "real" characters. A successful wedding planner, Anne has everything she needs--except, of course, her own groom.
Through her cousin, she meets handsome Englishman George Laurence, and feels an instant attraction. But the next day, he shows up at her office with his fiancee in tow. Let the conflict begin.
George feels the same way about Anne. (He's actually just posing as the groom for his employer, but has signed a contract of confidentiality.) His deception eats away at him. How can he remain true to his heart, his Christian beliefs and his employer at the same time? And how will Anne ever forgive him when she learns of his deceit?
Here are a few of the things I enjoyed about this book:
The Character of Anne Hawthorne - She is calm, cool, collected and organized on the outside--a rock for her brides in distress. But on the inside, she longs for a groom of her own, a godly man who won't take advantage of her like the last man in her life.
The Character of George Laurence - I love the way he talks! (What is there about a British accent that is so appealing?) Obviously, the author does a great job of bringing this Brit to life on the page.
The Conflict - It oozes from between every line. How will the characters ever extract themselves from this mess?
Tight Writing - Kaye Dacus knows how to make every word count. (Maybe if I sleep with her book under my pillow, that ability will rub off on me. Oh, if it were only that easy!)
The Strong Spiritual Thread - This story shows us two characters who are honestly seeking to follow God's direction in their lives.
The Setting - The author does a wonderful job of turning Bonneterre into a character in the book. The hometown feel gushes over you as you see Anne relate with family and friends that live in and around Bonneterre.
Sacrifice - Don't you just adore love stories where the main character makes a sacrifice in order show her man how much she loves him? I won't spoil it for you, but be prepared.
This is a wonderful romantic comedy that you don't want to miss. I feel so privileged to have read Stand-In Groom by Kaye Dacus. Not only is it a great story, but a great study of how to write!
Cathy Bryant
http://wordvessel.blogspot.com
Wedding Planners - Why Couples Prefer Them
More and more couples are opting to pay that extra fee and leave the wedding planning and execution to a professional. They trust that their wedding planner can make their day very special and that leaves them worry free and enjoy other celebrations that are part of their wedding. Now days couples work many hours due to most are professionals.
They understand that wedding planners manage all areas of the wedding and reception by hiring other professional to do the catering, flower arrangements and entertainment. Leaving the couple to decide on theme and preferred colors.
There are many other important reasons but the most important ones are; getting the best for your money, be able to rely on a successful wedding, be able to give expert advice, getting all done in time and most of all the peace of mind that brings with knowing that a professional is handling your wedding.
The wedding planner will know many vendors for having worked with them on previous wedding and will be able to bring you the best for your money; and the most reliable vendors too. They can rely on their wedding planner to meet all their needs that otherwise they could handle it by themselves. The couple understands how hectic and time consuming a wedding can be and by hiring a wedding planner they can ensure that all problems or any emergencies that arises will be swiftly and properly handle and making their wedding a joy and stress free experience.
Every couple dreams of the perfect wedding and most have some ideas what their theme they would like to have but like most of us; we are not all creative. That is where the wedding planner is majorly hired for; their creative gift. The couple will rely that the wedding planner best trait will be the creative part; they will put their total faith that their wedding is going to be the most beautiful and eventful day of their lives.
Leaving all the details to a professional the couples will be assured that they will have a great wedding day and fabulous event. The peace of mind that a couple gets by hiring a professional planner is one of most important reasons there is, they will leave all areas of their wedding to be handle with great details and will hope that this day will turn out to be one of their most precious day one; their wedding day.
Angel S. likes to write articles about wedding career, visit her website at http://www.weddingplannerjobs.org for more information.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Angel_S.
They understand that wedding planners manage all areas of the wedding and reception by hiring other professional to do the catering, flower arrangements and entertainment. Leaving the couple to decide on theme and preferred colors.
There are many other important reasons but the most important ones are; getting the best for your money, be able to rely on a successful wedding, be able to give expert advice, getting all done in time and most of all the peace of mind that brings with knowing that a professional is handling your wedding.
The wedding planner will know many vendors for having worked with them on previous wedding and will be able to bring you the best for your money; and the most reliable vendors too. They can rely on their wedding planner to meet all their needs that otherwise they could handle it by themselves. The couple understands how hectic and time consuming a wedding can be and by hiring a wedding planner they can ensure that all problems or any emergencies that arises will be swiftly and properly handle and making their wedding a joy and stress free experience.
Every couple dreams of the perfect wedding and most have some ideas what their theme they would like to have but like most of us; we are not all creative. That is where the wedding planner is majorly hired for; their creative gift. The couple will rely that the wedding planner best trait will be the creative part; they will put their total faith that their wedding is going to be the most beautiful and eventful day of their lives.
Leaving all the details to a professional the couples will be assured that they will have a great wedding day and fabulous event. The peace of mind that a couple gets by hiring a professional planner is one of most important reasons there is, they will leave all areas of their wedding to be handle with great details and will hope that this day will turn out to be one of their most precious day one; their wedding day.
Angel S. likes to write articles about wedding career, visit her website at http://www.weddingplannerjobs.org for more information.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Angel_S.
The Wedding Planner's Daughter - Book Review
Finally, 12-year-old Willafred Havisham, or Willa as she likes to be called, believes with her whole heart and soul that she and her mom, Stella, are finally in the right place at the right time? Willa's dreams of her first best friend ever and the major connection between her mom and her English teacher, Sam clinch it for her. Could it be her thirteenth birthday wish just may come true this time around? But as long as she can remember Willa dreads the day the armor of steel surrounds her mother. It could only mean one thing, another move.
In the efforts to secretly help the weddings that her mother Stella organizes, Willa always includes a secret thirteenth ingredient until the day everything comes to an ending no one ever suspected.
"Mother, your weddings were perfect, but you were sewing your sadness into them, like a spell. I know you didn't realize it, or do it on purpose, but the day after the wedding your brides would start crying and..."
The hopes and dreams of Willa will cast a spell over the reader. Add in co-conspirators, you will cheer Willa on with every action she takes for the one thing she ever wanted. However, sometimes what you wish for is not actually what you are looking for.
There is no wonder "The Wedding Planner's Daughter," has sold 1/2 million copies and is now a series. Visit Coleen Murtagh Paratore at: http://www.coleenparatore.com to learn more about her exciting writing career.
Title: The Wedding Planner's Daughter
Written by: Coleen Murtagh Paratore
Soft cover: 200 pages
Ages: 8-13
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
ISBN-13: 978-0-689-87340-9
Publication: February 2005
Donna's publishing credits include Stories for Children Magazine, Stories for Children Newsletter for Writers, Kid Magazine Writers, Long Story Short, Institute of Children's Literature Rx for Writers, SCBWI Metro NY Newsletter, Once Upon A Time, Mom Writer's Literary Magazine, and Cross & Quill ~ The Christian Writers Newsletter. In addition, forthcoming non-fiction articles with Boys' Quest to be published in December 2012 and Hopscotch For Girls to be published in April 2014. She is also a children's book reviewer for the Muse Book Reviews, The National Writing for Children Center, and the Stories for Children Magazine.
Visit her at: http://www.donnamcdine.com or http://www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com
In the efforts to secretly help the weddings that her mother Stella organizes, Willa always includes a secret thirteenth ingredient until the day everything comes to an ending no one ever suspected.
"Mother, your weddings were perfect, but you were sewing your sadness into them, like a spell. I know you didn't realize it, or do it on purpose, but the day after the wedding your brides would start crying and..."
The hopes and dreams of Willa will cast a spell over the reader. Add in co-conspirators, you will cheer Willa on with every action she takes for the one thing she ever wanted. However, sometimes what you wish for is not actually what you are looking for.
There is no wonder "The Wedding Planner's Daughter," has sold 1/2 million copies and is now a series. Visit Coleen Murtagh Paratore at: http://www.coleenparatore.com to learn more about her exciting writing career.
Title: The Wedding Planner's Daughter
Written by: Coleen Murtagh Paratore
Soft cover: 200 pages
Ages: 8-13
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
ISBN-13: 978-0-689-87340-9
Publication: February 2005
Donna's publishing credits include Stories for Children Magazine, Stories for Children Newsletter for Writers, Kid Magazine Writers, Long Story Short, Institute of Children's Literature Rx for Writers, SCBWI Metro NY Newsletter, Once Upon A Time, Mom Writer's Literary Magazine, and Cross & Quill ~ The Christian Writers Newsletter. In addition, forthcoming non-fiction articles with Boys' Quest to be published in December 2012 and Hopscotch For Girls to be published in April 2014. She is also a children's book reviewer for the Muse Book Reviews, The National Writing for Children Center, and the Stories for Children Magazine.
Visit her at: http://www.donnamcdine.com or http://www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com
Kamis, 17 Desember 2009
Wedding Planner: How to Choose the Right One for Your Wedding
If you watched “Father of the Bride” with Steve Martin, the wedding planner played by Martin Short was a hilarious interpretation of a job that many now consider serious business. “Frahnk” (or Frank), as he was called, flitted about managing all of the details of the elaborate wedding. But, a real wedding consultant or planner can be an invaluable tool in making your special day a real joy instead of a real headache.
Some people opt for a wedding planner in book form which outlines all of the necessary tasks to plan a wedding and gives you a time line, but it will not do any of the jobs for you. A wedding planner can take care of all of the legwork for you so that you can go on with your work, school and other responsibility.
How do you shop for a wedding planner? Just as you should do when you look for any type of service professional, you can ask friends and family for recommendations. If you can get a word-of-mouth referral, this is better than all of the advertisements and glowing referrals provided to you by the wedding planner. If you don’t know anyone who has used a planner, you can always look in the phone book or the classifieds in the newspaper.
Once you have a few potential leads you will need to interview the wedding planner candidates. You are hiring them for an important job, and you need to have confidence that they share your “vision” for your special day. See how willing they are to take suggestions and see what they will do with the ideas that you already have. Do they have doubts about their ability to fulfill your needs? This is a yellow flag, but see why they have concerns before you make a judgment. Once you have interviewed a few planners you are ready to make your decision and get to work.
Most wedding consultants charge a fee of around 10 percent of the cost of the wedding. This is standard-and it is worth it for the peace of mind it will give you.
Eriani Doyel writes articles for and about Weddings. For more information on a wedding planner [http://www.fleckwedding.com] visit fleckwedding.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eriani_Doyel
Some people opt for a wedding planner in book form which outlines all of the necessary tasks to plan a wedding and gives you a time line, but it will not do any of the jobs for you. A wedding planner can take care of all of the legwork for you so that you can go on with your work, school and other responsibility.
How do you shop for a wedding planner? Just as you should do when you look for any type of service professional, you can ask friends and family for recommendations. If you can get a word-of-mouth referral, this is better than all of the advertisements and glowing referrals provided to you by the wedding planner. If you don’t know anyone who has used a planner, you can always look in the phone book or the classifieds in the newspaper.
Once you have a few potential leads you will need to interview the wedding planner candidates. You are hiring them for an important job, and you need to have confidence that they share your “vision” for your special day. See how willing they are to take suggestions and see what they will do with the ideas that you already have. Do they have doubts about their ability to fulfill your needs? This is a yellow flag, but see why they have concerns before you make a judgment. Once you have interviewed a few planners you are ready to make your decision and get to work.
Most wedding consultants charge a fee of around 10 percent of the cost of the wedding. This is standard-and it is worth it for the peace of mind it will give you.
Eriani Doyel writes articles for and about Weddings. For more information on a wedding planner [http://www.fleckwedding.com] visit fleckwedding.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eriani_Doyel
Always a Wedding Planner, Never a Bride
If you enjoyed the movie The Wedding Planner with Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey, you'll get a real kick out of Stand-In Groom by Kaye Dacus.
Anne Hawthorne resides in Bonneterre, Louisiana, a fictionally "real" town with lots of equally "real" characters. A successful wedding planner, Anne has everything she needs--except, of course, her own groom.
Through her cousin, she meets handsome Englishman George Laurence, and feels an instant attraction. But the next day, he shows up at her office with his fiancee in tow. Let the conflict begin.
George feels the same way about Anne. (He's actually just posing as the groom for his employer, but has signed a contract of confidentiality.) His deception eats away at him. How can he remain true to his heart, his Christian beliefs and his employer at the same time? And how will Anne ever forgive him when she learns of his deceit?
Here are a few of the things I enjoyed about this book:
The Character of Anne Hawthorne - She is calm, cool, collected and organized on the outside--a rock for her brides in distress. But on the inside, she longs for a groom of her own, a godly man who won't take advantage of her like the last man in her life.
The Character of George Laurence - I love the way he talks! (What is there about a British accent that is so appealing?) Obviously, the author does a great job of bringing this Brit to life on the page.
The Conflict - It oozes from between every line. How will the characters ever extract themselves from this mess?
Tight Writing - Kaye Dacus knows how to make every word count. (Maybe if I sleep with her book under my pillow, that ability will rub off on me. Oh, if it were only that easy!)
The Strong Spiritual Thread - This story shows us two characters who are honestly seeking to follow God's direction in their lives.
The Setting - The author does a wonderful job of turning Bonneterre into a character in the book. The hometown feel gushes over you as you see Anne relate with family and friends that live in and around Bonneterre.
Sacrifice - Don't you just adore love stories where the main character makes a sacrifice in order show her man how much she loves him? I won't spoil it for you, but be prepared.
This is a wonderful romantic comedy that you don't want to miss. I feel so privileged to have read Stand-In Groom by Kaye Dacus. Not only is it a great story, but a great study of how to write!
Cathy Bryant
http://wordvessel.blogspot.com
Anne Hawthorne resides in Bonneterre, Louisiana, a fictionally "real" town with lots of equally "real" characters. A successful wedding planner, Anne has everything she needs--except, of course, her own groom.
Through her cousin, she meets handsome Englishman George Laurence, and feels an instant attraction. But the next day, he shows up at her office with his fiancee in tow. Let the conflict begin.
George feels the same way about Anne. (He's actually just posing as the groom for his employer, but has signed a contract of confidentiality.) His deception eats away at him. How can he remain true to his heart, his Christian beliefs and his employer at the same time? And how will Anne ever forgive him when she learns of his deceit?
Here are a few of the things I enjoyed about this book:
The Character of Anne Hawthorne - She is calm, cool, collected and organized on the outside--a rock for her brides in distress. But on the inside, she longs for a groom of her own, a godly man who won't take advantage of her like the last man in her life.
The Character of George Laurence - I love the way he talks! (What is there about a British accent that is so appealing?) Obviously, the author does a great job of bringing this Brit to life on the page.
The Conflict - It oozes from between every line. How will the characters ever extract themselves from this mess?
Tight Writing - Kaye Dacus knows how to make every word count. (Maybe if I sleep with her book under my pillow, that ability will rub off on me. Oh, if it were only that easy!)
The Strong Spiritual Thread - This story shows us two characters who are honestly seeking to follow God's direction in their lives.
The Setting - The author does a wonderful job of turning Bonneterre into a character in the book. The hometown feel gushes over you as you see Anne relate with family and friends that live in and around Bonneterre.
Sacrifice - Don't you just adore love stories where the main character makes a sacrifice in order show her man how much she loves him? I won't spoil it for you, but be prepared.
This is a wonderful romantic comedy that you don't want to miss. I feel so privileged to have read Stand-In Groom by Kaye Dacus. Not only is it a great story, but a great study of how to write!
Cathy Bryant
http://wordvessel.blogspot.com
Wedding Planners - Why Couples Prefer Them
More and more couples are opting to pay that extra fee and leave the wedding planning and execution to a professional. They trust that their wedding planner can make their day very special and that leaves them worry free and enjoy other celebrations that are part of their wedding. Now days couples work many hours due to most are professionals.
They understand that wedding planners manage all areas of the wedding and reception by hiring other professional to do the catering, flower arrangements and entertainment. Leaving the couple to decide on theme and preferred colors.
There are many other important reasons but the most important ones are; getting the best for your money, be able to rely on a successful wedding, be able to give expert advice, getting all done in time and most of all the peace of mind that brings with knowing that a professional is handling your wedding.
The wedding planner will know many vendors for having worked with them on previous wedding and will be able to bring you the best for your money; and the most reliable vendors too. They can rely on their wedding planner to meet all their needs that otherwise they could handle it by themselves. The couple understands how hectic and time consuming a wedding can be and by hiring a wedding planner they can ensure that all problems or any emergencies that arises will be swiftly and properly handle and making their wedding a joy and stress free experience.
Every couple dreams of the perfect wedding and most have some ideas what their theme they would like to have but like most of us; we are not all creative. That is where the wedding planner is majorly hired for; their creative gift. The couple will rely that the wedding planner best trait will be the creative part; they will put their total faith that their wedding is going to be the most beautiful and eventful day of their lives.
Leaving all the details to a professional the couples will be assured that they will have a great wedding day and fabulous event. The peace of mind that a couple gets by hiring a professional planner is one of most important reasons there is, they will leave all areas of their wedding to be handle with great details and will hope that this day will turn out to be one of their most precious day one; their wedding day.
Angel S. likes to write articles about wedding career, visit her website at http://www.weddingplannerjobs.org for more information.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Angel_S.
They understand that wedding planners manage all areas of the wedding and reception by hiring other professional to do the catering, flower arrangements and entertainment. Leaving the couple to decide on theme and preferred colors.
There are many other important reasons but the most important ones are; getting the best for your money, be able to rely on a successful wedding, be able to give expert advice, getting all done in time and most of all the peace of mind that brings with knowing that a professional is handling your wedding.
The wedding planner will know many vendors for having worked with them on previous wedding and will be able to bring you the best for your money; and the most reliable vendors too. They can rely on their wedding planner to meet all their needs that otherwise they could handle it by themselves. The couple understands how hectic and time consuming a wedding can be and by hiring a wedding planner they can ensure that all problems or any emergencies that arises will be swiftly and properly handle and making their wedding a joy and stress free experience.
Every couple dreams of the perfect wedding and most have some ideas what their theme they would like to have but like most of us; we are not all creative. That is where the wedding planner is majorly hired for; their creative gift. The couple will rely that the wedding planner best trait will be the creative part; they will put their total faith that their wedding is going to be the most beautiful and eventful day of their lives.
Leaving all the details to a professional the couples will be assured that they will have a great wedding day and fabulous event. The peace of mind that a couple gets by hiring a professional planner is one of most important reasons there is, they will leave all areas of their wedding to be handle with great details and will hope that this day will turn out to be one of their most precious day one; their wedding day.
Angel S. likes to write articles about wedding career, visit her website at http://www.weddingplannerjobs.org for more information.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Angel_S.
Wedding Planner Jobs Are in High Demand
How To Save Money - Even If It's Your Own Wedding
Wedding jobs are in demand if you are you good with people and enjoy planning and organizing. Do you prefer not to be stuck in an office working 9 - 5? If so there are wedding jobs available and becoming a wedding planner may be an option for you to consider. Even if you've never thought about this as a career option before, you might consider these data before you discard the idea:
UK Wedding Statistics
* There were 270,000 weddings in the UK in 2007, a fall of 2.7 per cent since 2006
* The average overall cost of getting married is £22,858 (up from £21,901 in 2007)
* So... about £6 BILLION is spent on weddings every year in the U.K.
USA Wedding Statistics
* There are about 2.5 million weddings every year in the United States.
* The average budget for a wedding is now estimated to be $28,000+.
* So... about $40 BILLION is spent on weddings every year in the U.S.
The Market For Wedding Jobs
This sounds to me like a whopping market for wedding jobs! You could be part of it if you enjoy planning and organizing.
Because planning a wedding can be a complex and time-consuming process and the end result is often expensive, more couples are turning to help from wedding planners to ensure everything is covered and to get the best value. Wedding jobs, or specifically wedding coordinator jobs are mostly about helping people to realize and achieve their dream wedding event by taking the workload off the couple and removing many of their stresses.
Even if you haven't done this before, the whole process can be broken down into smaller segments so that the expense and performance elements of each can be more easily controlled. Before you start planning your clients' weddings, spend some time understanding what will be necessary to create each element of their event, and start taking notes about their preferences.
There are plenty of suitable wedding jobs you can create for yourself in your own area with a little imagination and some determination.
Wedding jobs are in demand if you are you good with people and enjoy planning and organizing. Do you prefer not to be stuck in an office working 9 - 5? If so there are wedding jobs available and becoming a wedding planner may be an option for you to consider. Even if you've never thought about this as a career option before, you might consider these data before you discard the idea:
UK Wedding Statistics
* There were 270,000 weddings in the UK in 2007, a fall of 2.7 per cent since 2006
* The average overall cost of getting married is £22,858 (up from £21,901 in 2007)
* So... about £6 BILLION is spent on weddings every year in the U.K.
USA Wedding Statistics
* There are about 2.5 million weddings every year in the United States.
* The average budget for a wedding is now estimated to be $28,000+.
* So... about $40 BILLION is spent on weddings every year in the U.S.
The Market For Wedding Jobs
This sounds to me like a whopping market for wedding jobs! You could be part of it if you enjoy planning and organizing.
Because planning a wedding can be a complex and time-consuming process and the end result is often expensive, more couples are turning to help from wedding planners to ensure everything is covered and to get the best value. Wedding jobs, or specifically wedding coordinator jobs are mostly about helping people to realize and achieve their dream wedding event by taking the workload off the couple and removing many of their stresses.
Even if you haven't done this before, the whole process can be broken down into smaller segments so that the expense and performance elements of each can be more easily controlled. Before you start planning your clients' weddings, spend some time understanding what will be necessary to create each element of their event, and start taking notes about their preferences.
There are plenty of suitable wedding jobs you can create for yourself in your own area with a little imagination and some determination.
Why You Need Wedding Planner
Most couples have full-time jobs or you may live in one destination and plan to marry in another - all of these leaves little time to plan your wedding. Whether it is a fairytale party or a beach affair, a planner can dedicate time needed to attend to every detail including venue locations, booking suppliers, managing the budget, gift lists and picking up dresses. A wedding planner can offer independent advice and support to help defuse tricky family situations and make it a fun experience for you and your loved ones. What can a wedding planner do for me? Here are a few duties you can expect from your planner:
- Plan the wedding of your dreams. They will source for the venue, vendors, themes and music for your celebrations.
- Create a budget sheet and keep track of your bridal finances.
- Suggest vendors that fit your budget and ideas.
- Create a planning schedule to highlight things to do.
- Save you money because of their industry connections.
- Take care of any emergency that should arise.
What type of packages do wedding planners have? Each wedding planner differs from the packages they offer; here are some of the most common packages:
Consultation & planning only: This is lie a mini-wedding planning course, best taken at the beginning of your planning. The coordinator will not be at your wedding but will teach you the skills to plan your own day. Some will charge by the hour, others by the meeting. You can book one meeting only or go back as many times as you like.
Coordination only: You will have the wedding planner at your wedding and a consultation a month prior to the wedding. But, all bookings, sourcing and concept development will be done but the couple. For the couple who wants just an extra helping hand on the wedding day, this package is suitable.
The Full Works: Consultation and planning are only the baby steps in planning a wedding; the hard part comes with the execution. Here the coordinator will guide you from the planning, right until you leave for your honeymoon. But, remember a coordinator is here to guide and orchestrate but not take over.
Will the planner be with me throughout my wedding day? Depending on the package you take, the planner will be there from early morning - with the makeup artist - all the way to your banquet celebration. Most planners will have a team of people to coordinate, organize and execute the entire flow of the event from the lights to the music, from the flowers to the shoes.
You could do more survey on your wedding or even helping your friends, colleagues or family members on their wedding by online visit http://absoluteweddingguide.com to find out more about wedding preparation.
- Plan the wedding of your dreams. They will source for the venue, vendors, themes and music for your celebrations.
- Create a budget sheet and keep track of your bridal finances.
- Suggest vendors that fit your budget and ideas.
- Create a planning schedule to highlight things to do.
- Save you money because of their industry connections.
- Take care of any emergency that should arise.
What type of packages do wedding planners have? Each wedding planner differs from the packages they offer; here are some of the most common packages:
Consultation & planning only: This is lie a mini-wedding planning course, best taken at the beginning of your planning. The coordinator will not be at your wedding but will teach you the skills to plan your own day. Some will charge by the hour, others by the meeting. You can book one meeting only or go back as many times as you like.
Coordination only: You will have the wedding planner at your wedding and a consultation a month prior to the wedding. But, all bookings, sourcing and concept development will be done but the couple. For the couple who wants just an extra helping hand on the wedding day, this package is suitable.
The Full Works: Consultation and planning are only the baby steps in planning a wedding; the hard part comes with the execution. Here the coordinator will guide you from the planning, right until you leave for your honeymoon. But, remember a coordinator is here to guide and orchestrate but not take over.
Will the planner be with me throughout my wedding day? Depending on the package you take, the planner will be there from early morning - with the makeup artist - all the way to your banquet celebration. Most planners will have a team of people to coordinate, organize and execute the entire flow of the event from the lights to the music, from the flowers to the shoes.
You could do more survey on your wedding or even helping your friends, colleagues or family members on their wedding by online visit http://absoluteweddingguide.com to find out more about wedding preparation.
The Benefits of a Wedding Planner
"Do I Really Need A Wedding Planner?"
That's a question many brides ask themselves. In the past, wedding planners were thought of as an extravagant "extra", meant only for the wealthy. Today a wedding planner has become more of a necessity. Many couples are so busy with work and other aspects of life that they need someone to help them plan their special day. A wedding planner can ease your stress and also save your sanity! Using one will allow you to enjoy the engagement period leading up to the wedding day.
There are many reasons to use a full service wedding planner, or at a minimum, a day-of coordinator. Here are just a few of those reasons:
Day-of coordinator - so you can enjoy the day...not work it!!!
A day-of coordinator is an invaluable asset to your event. You've done all of the planning up to this point and want to enjoy it. Without her, you will end up working at your wedding!
A Day-Of Coordinator will...
Be there to direct the rehearsal so that the bride and groom know what to do and when to do it, the bridesmaids and groomsmen know their duties, the parents know when to walk down the aisle, and the ushers know who to seat and where.
Confirm with all vendors the week before the wedding to make sure they know where to be and when to be there, and to confirm any outstanding balance. The coordinator will often deliver the final payments to vendors on the wedding day.
Keep a list of all vendor contacts and phone numbers in case of emergency (for example...the cake is to be there at 1:00 and it's 1:30 and no cake...it's happened).
Create schedules for everyone to keep the day running smoothly and on time:
-Bridesmaids: when to be at the hairdresser to get their hair/make-up done
-Groomsmen: when they need to be dressed so they can have pre-ceremony pictures taken
-Parents: when to be lined up at the back of the church/room
-Vendors: so they know the order of the day
Create a detailed timeline of events for the day so the DJ/band know when to start the dances (first dance, Father/Daughter dance, Mother/Son dance, etc.), when to do the cake cutting, and more. She will let the DJ/band know what songs you definitely want played - and those you don't (like the Chicken Dance).
Let the DJ/band know the order to announce the bridal party and how to pronounce all names correctly. Nobody wants to be announced at a wedding reception with a mangled pronunciation of their name!
Help pin on boutonnieres and corsages, which is an often missed detail. Minutes before the wedding everyone is running around scrambling to pin them on! The coordinator will ensure that boutonnieres and corsages go on the left lapel or wrist (because that is closest to your heart).
Keep a copy of the seating chart and assist people who can't find their tables.
Keep a copy of the photo list to make sure that the photographer doesn't miss any must-have pictures. And speaking of photos... she will make sure that the necessary people stick around after the ceremony to get their pictures taken. You'd be surprised how often people wander off and can't be found for a picture!
Have on hand a wedding day emergency kit containing things you would never think of (like WD40 - you'd be surprised by all it does), sewing kit (in case of rips or tears), oil blotters (for that shiny face) and much, much more!
Please note: many couples think that since their reception venue has a wedding coordinator that they don't need to hire one. The venue coordinator is a great asset to have, after all, the more people working on your wedding the better! However, when you hire your own day-of coordinator she will work with ALL of your vendors, she will work out the timeline for the day's events, as well as work out the logistics for what you want. She will be at the rehearsal to direct everyone. She'll be your go to person for anything you need on your special day.
Full service wedding planner - so you can enjoy the engagement period!
Wouldn't you like to enjoy the time leading up to the "big day"? A full service wedding planner will allow you to relax by helping with every aspect of your wedding. In addition to all of the things a day-of coordinator does, she has existing relationships with vendors, from photographers to florists and more. She knows who's good and who isn't. Choosing vendors that your planner has built relationships with will save you time. She already knows the quality of vendors and won't direct you to someone who does poor work.
A Full-Service Wedding Planner will...
Help you create a budget. Who knows better how much wedding vendors and items cost than a professional planner?
Save you money. She often has a network of vendors and can get you discounts or freebies added to the contract. The wedding planner represents your best interests.
Negotiate with vendors. Many people are not comfortable with "haggling". Wedding planners are; that's their job. They will negotiate with vendors to get you the best pricing and deal possible.
Have access to a wealth of knowledge and creativity. She has planned other weddings, read tons of bridal books and magazines, taken planning courses, knows what works and what doesn't.
Give advice on etiquette. This would include how to word invitations and place cards, how to seat people, and more.
Be up to date on current style trends. Wedding planners are often fashion "addicts," staying current on style trends. They can give you ideas on colors, favors, place cards, flowers and more. Whether you want a very unique wedding or a more traditional wedding, your planner can give you ideas and show you how to make it one that people will remember for years to come.
Act as your advocate, counselor and friend. She will be there to give you advice, she will listen when you need to vent about the parents insisting you invite all of their friends (it will happen), when you and your fiance argue about the centerpieces, or when your bridesmaids decide they don't like the dresses you pick...
It's worth repeating: a wedding planner can ease your stress and save your sanity! You will find this service an invaluable asset to have when planning - and enjoying - your wedding.
Melissa Miville is owner and event planner of Stylish Occasions by Melissa Miville. Melissa specializes in wedding day coordination as well as full and partial wedding planning. Check out her website at http://www.yourstylishoccasions.com and her blog at http://stylishoccasions.wordpress.com to get more info.
That's a question many brides ask themselves. In the past, wedding planners were thought of as an extravagant "extra", meant only for the wealthy. Today a wedding planner has become more of a necessity. Many couples are so busy with work and other aspects of life that they need someone to help them plan their special day. A wedding planner can ease your stress and also save your sanity! Using one will allow you to enjoy the engagement period leading up to the wedding day.
There are many reasons to use a full service wedding planner, or at a minimum, a day-of coordinator. Here are just a few of those reasons:
Day-of coordinator - so you can enjoy the day...not work it!!!
A day-of coordinator is an invaluable asset to your event. You've done all of the planning up to this point and want to enjoy it. Without her, you will end up working at your wedding!
A Day-Of Coordinator will...
Be there to direct the rehearsal so that the bride and groom know what to do and when to do it, the bridesmaids and groomsmen know their duties, the parents know when to walk down the aisle, and the ushers know who to seat and where.
Confirm with all vendors the week before the wedding to make sure they know where to be and when to be there, and to confirm any outstanding balance. The coordinator will often deliver the final payments to vendors on the wedding day.
Keep a list of all vendor contacts and phone numbers in case of emergency (for example...the cake is to be there at 1:00 and it's 1:30 and no cake...it's happened).
Create schedules for everyone to keep the day running smoothly and on time:
-Bridesmaids: when to be at the hairdresser to get their hair/make-up done
-Groomsmen: when they need to be dressed so they can have pre-ceremony pictures taken
-Parents: when to be lined up at the back of the church/room
-Vendors: so they know the order of the day
Create a detailed timeline of events for the day so the DJ/band know when to start the dances (first dance, Father/Daughter dance, Mother/Son dance, etc.), when to do the cake cutting, and more. She will let the DJ/band know what songs you definitely want played - and those you don't (like the Chicken Dance).
Let the DJ/band know the order to announce the bridal party and how to pronounce all names correctly. Nobody wants to be announced at a wedding reception with a mangled pronunciation of their name!
Help pin on boutonnieres and corsages, which is an often missed detail. Minutes before the wedding everyone is running around scrambling to pin them on! The coordinator will ensure that boutonnieres and corsages go on the left lapel or wrist (because that is closest to your heart).
Keep a copy of the seating chart and assist people who can't find their tables.
Keep a copy of the photo list to make sure that the photographer doesn't miss any must-have pictures. And speaking of photos... she will make sure that the necessary people stick around after the ceremony to get their pictures taken. You'd be surprised how often people wander off and can't be found for a picture!
Have on hand a wedding day emergency kit containing things you would never think of (like WD40 - you'd be surprised by all it does), sewing kit (in case of rips or tears), oil blotters (for that shiny face) and much, much more!
Please note: many couples think that since their reception venue has a wedding coordinator that they don't need to hire one. The venue coordinator is a great asset to have, after all, the more people working on your wedding the better! However, when you hire your own day-of coordinator she will work with ALL of your vendors, she will work out the timeline for the day's events, as well as work out the logistics for what you want. She will be at the rehearsal to direct everyone. She'll be your go to person for anything you need on your special day.
Full service wedding planner - so you can enjoy the engagement period!
Wouldn't you like to enjoy the time leading up to the "big day"? A full service wedding planner will allow you to relax by helping with every aspect of your wedding. In addition to all of the things a day-of coordinator does, she has existing relationships with vendors, from photographers to florists and more. She knows who's good and who isn't. Choosing vendors that your planner has built relationships with will save you time. She already knows the quality of vendors and won't direct you to someone who does poor work.
A Full-Service Wedding Planner will...
Help you create a budget. Who knows better how much wedding vendors and items cost than a professional planner?
Save you money. She often has a network of vendors and can get you discounts or freebies added to the contract. The wedding planner represents your best interests.
Negotiate with vendors. Many people are not comfortable with "haggling". Wedding planners are; that's their job. They will negotiate with vendors to get you the best pricing and deal possible.
Have access to a wealth of knowledge and creativity. She has planned other weddings, read tons of bridal books and magazines, taken planning courses, knows what works and what doesn't.
Give advice on etiquette. This would include how to word invitations and place cards, how to seat people, and more.
Be up to date on current style trends. Wedding planners are often fashion "addicts," staying current on style trends. They can give you ideas on colors, favors, place cards, flowers and more. Whether you want a very unique wedding or a more traditional wedding, your planner can give you ideas and show you how to make it one that people will remember for years to come.
Act as your advocate, counselor and friend. She will be there to give you advice, she will listen when you need to vent about the parents insisting you invite all of their friends (it will happen), when you and your fiance argue about the centerpieces, or when your bridesmaids decide they don't like the dresses you pick...
It's worth repeating: a wedding planner can ease your stress and save your sanity! You will find this service an invaluable asset to have when planning - and enjoying - your wedding.
Melissa Miville is owner and event planner of Stylish Occasions by Melissa Miville. Melissa specializes in wedding day coordination as well as full and partial wedding planning. Check out her website at http://www.yourstylishoccasions.com and her blog at http://stylishoccasions.wordpress.com to get more info.
Become a Top Wedding Planner - Wedding Portfolio Do's and Don'ts
As a new wedding planner, you'll need to create a portfolio of your wedding planning experiences so you can show potential clients what you have done.
Here are some Do's and Don'ts for putting together your first one:
DO's
* Invest in an attractive, high-quality photo album or binder. Remember this is a representation of your work, make it impressive.
* Make sure you use clear, sharp, high-quality photographs taken with a digital camera, not a cell phone. Cell phone photographs are often too grainy when they are printed.
* Take the time to attractively organize the photographs on each page of your portfolio.
* Let the brides and grooms whose photos you use know they will appear in your portfolio.
* Be ready to talk about the photographs and other information you decide to place in your portfolio; for example, favors you created, worksheets you use for planning, etc. Practice what you'll say and remember to highlight the benefits of working with you.
DON'Ts
* Worry if some of the photos are from weddings you planned for free.
* Use photographs of anything you didn't do yourself. If things you didn't handle are in the photos, for instance, centerpieces that you didn't design, give appropriate credit.
* Include photographs from other types of events that you plan. For instance, don't feature photos from corporate events and children's parties, stay focused on selling the benefits of your wedding planning services.
* Just hand the portfolio to someone to let them look at it themselves. Review pages with them and tell the story behind each picture. If you show your timelines and worksheets, talk about how your clients benefited from your highly-organized system of planning weddings.
* Make up testimonials! (Yes, I've seen this.) Ask former clients, even those whose weddings you did for free, to give you testimonials that you can quote in all of your marketing materials, and ask them if they would be willing to be references.
Remember to bring your portfolio to your first meetings with potential clients and wedding vendors whom you want to add to your network. And don't be afraid to brag a little about the fabulous benefits your clients get when they hire you to plan their weddings.
And now I would like to invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to my Special Report on "7 Steps to Becoming a Top Wedding Planner" when you visit http://www.HowToBecomeaTopWeddingPlanner.com
Here are some Do's and Don'ts for putting together your first one:
DO's
* Invest in an attractive, high-quality photo album or binder. Remember this is a representation of your work, make it impressive.
* Make sure you use clear, sharp, high-quality photographs taken with a digital camera, not a cell phone. Cell phone photographs are often too grainy when they are printed.
* Take the time to attractively organize the photographs on each page of your portfolio.
* Let the brides and grooms whose photos you use know they will appear in your portfolio.
* Be ready to talk about the photographs and other information you decide to place in your portfolio; for example, favors you created, worksheets you use for planning, etc. Practice what you'll say and remember to highlight the benefits of working with you.
DON'Ts
* Worry if some of the photos are from weddings you planned for free.
* Use photographs of anything you didn't do yourself. If things you didn't handle are in the photos, for instance, centerpieces that you didn't design, give appropriate credit.
* Include photographs from other types of events that you plan. For instance, don't feature photos from corporate events and children's parties, stay focused on selling the benefits of your wedding planning services.
* Just hand the portfolio to someone to let them look at it themselves. Review pages with them and tell the story behind each picture. If you show your timelines and worksheets, talk about how your clients benefited from your highly-organized system of planning weddings.
* Make up testimonials! (Yes, I've seen this.) Ask former clients, even those whose weddings you did for free, to give you testimonials that you can quote in all of your marketing materials, and ask them if they would be willing to be references.
Remember to bring your portfolio to your first meetings with potential clients and wedding vendors whom you want to add to your network. And don't be afraid to brag a little about the fabulous benefits your clients get when they hire you to plan their weddings.
And now I would like to invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to my Special Report on "7 Steps to Becoming a Top Wedding Planner" when you visit http://www.HowToBecomeaTopWeddingPlanner.com
The Advantages of Professional Wedding Planning
If you are planning to get married in the near future then the likelihood is that you have already started to flip through magazines dealing with wedding planning. You might have also started making lists of all the elements of the big day that you have to cover. If you have then you may be surprised at the extent of your wedding planning necessary in order to arrange the perfect day. There are, after all, so many things to consider that some people choose to leave it to the professionals.
Professional wedding planning services can provide every bride to be with a number of advantages that would be almost impossible to tap into if you choose to plan your wedding yourself. As such, you may want to consider these advantages to see whether or not hiring a wedding planner is for you. Some of the main advantages are outlined below for your consideration.
The first advantage of using professional wedding planner services is the burden is shifted off your shoulders. If you choose to take full advantage of wedding planning services then you will find that your wedding is a much more enjoyable experience. Of course, you will still worry about certain things going wrong but your wedding planner will be able to field any problems that come up in the meantime. If there is any panic then you are not the one dealing with it. You will just be left to relax and enjoy the best day of your life.
You can also benefit from the contacts that professional wedding planner services have. With the phone numbers of all sorts of wedding providers, they can get you the flowers you want, the dress you want, the ideal venue and so much more. In short, they have access to things that you do not have access to and thus can provide you with the dream wedding. This level of wedding planning can only be achieved through a professional.
Of course, the amazing experience of professional wedding planner services cannot be underestimated either! Wedding planners know and understand how to avoid all the common pitfalls. They also know and understand how to deal with brides so that you can simply relax and rely on their years of experience to ensure that everything comes good in the end. As a professional, your wedding planner can pull everything together and ensure that the whole day goes as planned so that you do not have to.
Professional wedding planning services can give you all of the above and so much more. They can really make the wedding of your dreams become your reality by helping you from an unbiased and impartial perspective. You do not need to worry about interfering family. All you have to do is hire someone to do all the hard work for you and then sit back and enjoy!
Missing something for your big day? How about a custom wedding website! You can make your own wedding website in minutes with manageable RSVPs, customizable web templates, and a free planning kit! Visit http://www.weddingjojo.com to get started today!
Professional wedding planning services can provide every bride to be with a number of advantages that would be almost impossible to tap into if you choose to plan your wedding yourself. As such, you may want to consider these advantages to see whether or not hiring a wedding planner is for you. Some of the main advantages are outlined below for your consideration.
The first advantage of using professional wedding planner services is the burden is shifted off your shoulders. If you choose to take full advantage of wedding planning services then you will find that your wedding is a much more enjoyable experience. Of course, you will still worry about certain things going wrong but your wedding planner will be able to field any problems that come up in the meantime. If there is any panic then you are not the one dealing with it. You will just be left to relax and enjoy the best day of your life.
You can also benefit from the contacts that professional wedding planner services have. With the phone numbers of all sorts of wedding providers, they can get you the flowers you want, the dress you want, the ideal venue and so much more. In short, they have access to things that you do not have access to and thus can provide you with the dream wedding. This level of wedding planning can only be achieved through a professional.
Of course, the amazing experience of professional wedding planner services cannot be underestimated either! Wedding planners know and understand how to avoid all the common pitfalls. They also know and understand how to deal with brides so that you can simply relax and rely on their years of experience to ensure that everything comes good in the end. As a professional, your wedding planner can pull everything together and ensure that the whole day goes as planned so that you do not have to.
Professional wedding planning services can give you all of the above and so much more. They can really make the wedding of your dreams become your reality by helping you from an unbiased and impartial perspective. You do not need to worry about interfering family. All you have to do is hire someone to do all the hard work for you and then sit back and enjoy!
Missing something for your big day? How about a custom wedding website! You can make your own wedding website in minutes with manageable RSVPs, customizable web templates, and a free planning kit! Visit http://www.weddingjojo.com to get started today!
Choosing The Right Wedding Planner Is a Matter of the Heart
Your Special Day
Hopefully getting married is the event of the century for you. You have hoped, planned, and waited for your special day to arrive. Maybe you've had time to accumulate dreams of beautiful decorations or ice sculptures. Perhaps your dream day involves exotic foods and themes from distant lands. Whatever your hopes and aspirations include, choosing the right wedding planner can make all the difference. This is your day (and your honey's) to shine like you never have before!
Searching for the Right Wedding Planner
When you have a head filled with wedding dreams it's best to hire a professional whose very life is based on weddings. You want to be free to enjoy your day when it arrives. Searching for the right wedding planner is a crucial piece of the puzzle that can land the rest of the pieces directly into place. When you interview wedding planners it is a decisions of the heart. Here are some things to look for in the right wedding planner for you:
- Someone who loves weddings and is passionate about what they do
- A wedding planner who is strong and can take charge, but is still sensitive enough to take your hopes, dreams, and ideas into account
- A person who seems to have a network of several people to call for ideas in: cakes, photography, halls for the receptions, caterers, floral shops, bridal shops, jewelry stores, invitation designers, professional decorators, disc jockeys/entertainers, travel agencies, and people for unique wedding themes.
- Make sure the person has a sense of organization and purpose in their work
- It may be important to choose someone whose personality is a fit for you. You will be depending on this person to orchestrate the perfect day. The like ability factor does come into play.
- Someone who can give you fairly accurate estimates of how much things will cost
- A good wedding planner will have pictures, testimonials, or references you can draw upon to see their past work.
- This person should have a high-level of energy and excitement about your wedding the same as you do.
- Someone who is flexible and can easily shift gears when necessary
- Find out who helps them or fills in for them in their absence
It's best to follow your gut feeling or since we're talking love, follow your heart. When you meet with your wedding planner you should get a pretty good feeling about their personality and ability to help you plan the perfect wedding. You know what is said about first impressions, if you remember this it will make it easier to follow your heart on the matter.
As Your Day Approaches
A professional wedding planner is savvy at helping brides and grooms to remain calm during the wedding planning process. They will work to alleviate your fears and help you feel in control of the process. A terrific wedding planner takes the whole family's feeling into account on matters when planning. They will remain open to what you want. If it can't be done they will let you know in a positive manner, but will suggest several alternatives to make you happy. They should be able to organize the music at the church, the decorating of the church and reception hall, and will teach you and the bridal party how to walk down the aisle appropriately. Wedding planners who love their job take a great deal of pride and time with their work. They are often perfectionists that use their attention to detail and organizational skills to coordinate everything down to the finest details.
If your planning any Toronto weddings in the near future you will want to check out the wide selection of Toronto wedding photographers available. The Perfect Wedding Guide has a wide selection of all the major wedding products and services you will need in order to plan your perfect wedding!
Hopefully getting married is the event of the century for you. You have hoped, planned, and waited for your special day to arrive. Maybe you've had time to accumulate dreams of beautiful decorations or ice sculptures. Perhaps your dream day involves exotic foods and themes from distant lands. Whatever your hopes and aspirations include, choosing the right wedding planner can make all the difference. This is your day (and your honey's) to shine like you never have before!
Searching for the Right Wedding Planner
When you have a head filled with wedding dreams it's best to hire a professional whose very life is based on weddings. You want to be free to enjoy your day when it arrives. Searching for the right wedding planner is a crucial piece of the puzzle that can land the rest of the pieces directly into place. When you interview wedding planners it is a decisions of the heart. Here are some things to look for in the right wedding planner for you:
- Someone who loves weddings and is passionate about what they do
- A wedding planner who is strong and can take charge, but is still sensitive enough to take your hopes, dreams, and ideas into account
- A person who seems to have a network of several people to call for ideas in: cakes, photography, halls for the receptions, caterers, floral shops, bridal shops, jewelry stores, invitation designers, professional decorators, disc jockeys/entertainers, travel agencies, and people for unique wedding themes.
- Make sure the person has a sense of organization and purpose in their work
- It may be important to choose someone whose personality is a fit for you. You will be depending on this person to orchestrate the perfect day. The like ability factor does come into play.
- Someone who can give you fairly accurate estimates of how much things will cost
- A good wedding planner will have pictures, testimonials, or references you can draw upon to see their past work.
- This person should have a high-level of energy and excitement about your wedding the same as you do.
- Someone who is flexible and can easily shift gears when necessary
- Find out who helps them or fills in for them in their absence
It's best to follow your gut feeling or since we're talking love, follow your heart. When you meet with your wedding planner you should get a pretty good feeling about their personality and ability to help you plan the perfect wedding. You know what is said about first impressions, if you remember this it will make it easier to follow your heart on the matter.
As Your Day Approaches
A professional wedding planner is savvy at helping brides and grooms to remain calm during the wedding planning process. They will work to alleviate your fears and help you feel in control of the process. A terrific wedding planner takes the whole family's feeling into account on matters when planning. They will remain open to what you want. If it can't be done they will let you know in a positive manner, but will suggest several alternatives to make you happy. They should be able to organize the music at the church, the decorating of the church and reception hall, and will teach you and the bridal party how to walk down the aisle appropriately. Wedding planners who love their job take a great deal of pride and time with their work. They are often perfectionists that use their attention to detail and organizational skills to coordinate everything down to the finest details.
If your planning any Toronto weddings in the near future you will want to check out the wide selection of Toronto wedding photographers available. The Perfect Wedding Guide has a wide selection of all the major wedding products and services you will need in order to plan your perfect wedding!
The Value of a Wedding Planner
You're engaged! Oh, you have waited all of your life to plan your dream wedding and now's your chance. Ever since you were a little girl, you dreamed of being a bride-the details didn't concern you. The only thing you knew was that you had one chance to be a princess and you couldn't wait.
Reality has landed and just making a list of all you need to do overwhelms you and your blood pressure rises. Before you even get started, you contemplate eloping just to make things easier. Before you do something drastic, consider hiring a wedding planner to take the pressure off of you.
But doesn't that make the event less personal for you? Absolutely not! You are very much an integral part of the planning; you just don't have to do all the hard work.
Here are the finer points of what a wedding planner can do for you and your big day!
* Eliminate unnecessary stress-Just the idea of getting married, while exciting, is also stressful and causes anxiety. Top off these feelings with all the running around and decisions that have to be made and you will feel frazzled by the time the big day arrives.
Handing over the reins to a wedding planner eliminates this extra stress. She narrows everything down and gives you just a few options so that you aren't overwhelmed.
* Get deals and discounts on services-Wedding planners bring service providers a lot of business if the planner is happy with the service. This can lead to discounts and special deals simply because they are dealing with a planner they know well. So, the deals she/he can get can offset her salary.
* Frees up your time for more important things-Picking out food, music, photographers, etc. is a time-consuming job. Lots of driving and deliberating keep you from spending time with your fiancé and family. Plus, it's not like you can take off of work or school for months just to plan your nuptials. Life goes on and it is beneficial for you to allow someone else to take some of the load off.
* Take care of special circumstances-Want a destination wedding? Trying to plan something in another city, state or even country can really be complicated. Some wedding planners specialize in destination weddings so find one who does get the full benefits. She has contacts with airlines, resorts, hotels, transportation and other issues that come up
Ask around for recommendations and check references for your prospective wedding planner. Always ask what her experience is and how long she has been working in your area. It is to your advantage to hire someone who is well entrenched in your region because of the contacts the planner has been able to develop.
You don't have to do it all by yourself. Hire a wedding planner to handle as little or as much as you want her to. Be clear about your ideas and then let go. It is very important that you let her do her job; otherwise you are wasting your money.
The wedding will still be yours and will express your personality as a couple because the wedding planner has gotten to know you and what you like. Then she runs with this information to organize and put together that dream wedding you've always wanted.
Don't let the D-day planning leave you with a spinning head. Leave it to your New Orleans wedding planner to create a spectacular event out of your dream wedding. Explore your options here http://www.neworleansweddingsmagazine.com
Reality has landed and just making a list of all you need to do overwhelms you and your blood pressure rises. Before you even get started, you contemplate eloping just to make things easier. Before you do something drastic, consider hiring a wedding planner to take the pressure off of you.
But doesn't that make the event less personal for you? Absolutely not! You are very much an integral part of the planning; you just don't have to do all the hard work.
Here are the finer points of what a wedding planner can do for you and your big day!
* Eliminate unnecessary stress-Just the idea of getting married, while exciting, is also stressful and causes anxiety. Top off these feelings with all the running around and decisions that have to be made and you will feel frazzled by the time the big day arrives.
Handing over the reins to a wedding planner eliminates this extra stress. She narrows everything down and gives you just a few options so that you aren't overwhelmed.
* Get deals and discounts on services-Wedding planners bring service providers a lot of business if the planner is happy with the service. This can lead to discounts and special deals simply because they are dealing with a planner they know well. So, the deals she/he can get can offset her salary.
* Frees up your time for more important things-Picking out food, music, photographers, etc. is a time-consuming job. Lots of driving and deliberating keep you from spending time with your fiancé and family. Plus, it's not like you can take off of work or school for months just to plan your nuptials. Life goes on and it is beneficial for you to allow someone else to take some of the load off.
* Take care of special circumstances-Want a destination wedding? Trying to plan something in another city, state or even country can really be complicated. Some wedding planners specialize in destination weddings so find one who does get the full benefits. She has contacts with airlines, resorts, hotels, transportation and other issues that come up
Ask around for recommendations and check references for your prospective wedding planner. Always ask what her experience is and how long she has been working in your area. It is to your advantage to hire someone who is well entrenched in your region because of the contacts the planner has been able to develop.
You don't have to do it all by yourself. Hire a wedding planner to handle as little or as much as you want her to. Be clear about your ideas and then let go. It is very important that you let her do her job; otherwise you are wasting your money.
The wedding will still be yours and will express your personality as a couple because the wedding planner has gotten to know you and what you like. Then she runs with this information to organize and put together that dream wedding you've always wanted.
Don't let the D-day planning leave you with a spinning head. Leave it to your New Orleans wedding planner to create a spectacular event out of your dream wedding. Explore your options here http://www.neworleansweddingsmagazine.com
Rabu, 16 Desember 2009
Become a Top Wedding Planner - The Do's and Don'ts of Working With Wedding Planner Assistants
Even if you are just starting your wedding planning business, you will need to hire people to help you organize your weddings, especially on the wedding day.
Here are some important DO's and DON'Ts of working with assistants:
DO hire the best people you can afford
Unless you have a lot of time to train someone, you need to hire people who are good at doing the types of tasks that you need. They should be responsible people who can take initiative and who have positive attitudes about their work.
DO make your expectations clear
Remember that no one but you knows how you envision the outcome of a project so clearly explain what you need. Do it in writing if the project is complicated.
DO give praise when praise is due
Everyone enjoys hearing that they have a done a good job. Also, people perform better when they know they are appreciated.
DON'T make the first project the most difficult one
Unless you are really confident of your new assistant's skills, delegate simple ones first. This way they get a chance to do something right and get some praise and you get to see how well they follow your directions.
DON'T be vague about when projects are due
Let people know when you need things done, the date and even the time, if that is important to you. If you are giving someone multiple projects, prioritize them so you get your most important ones done first.
DON'T be afraid to ask for status on your projects
If the project is complicated or takes a long time to complete, ask for status reports. You don't want to find out on the due date that someone didn't understand your instructions and the project isn't done.
The bottom line is that you need to hire responsible people who know what to do, tell them what you expect from them, and treat them well.
And for information about starting a top wedding planning business, I invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to my Special Report "7 Steps to Becoming a Top Wedding Planner" when you visit http://www.HowToBecomeaTopWeddingPlanner.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_Hill
Here are some important DO's and DON'Ts of working with assistants:
DO hire the best people you can afford
Unless you have a lot of time to train someone, you need to hire people who are good at doing the types of tasks that you need. They should be responsible people who can take initiative and who have positive attitudes about their work.
DO make your expectations clear
Remember that no one but you knows how you envision the outcome of a project so clearly explain what you need. Do it in writing if the project is complicated.
DO give praise when praise is due
Everyone enjoys hearing that they have a done a good job. Also, people perform better when they know they are appreciated.
DON'T make the first project the most difficult one
Unless you are really confident of your new assistant's skills, delegate simple ones first. This way they get a chance to do something right and get some praise and you get to see how well they follow your directions.
DON'T be vague about when projects are due
Let people know when you need things done, the date and even the time, if that is important to you. If you are giving someone multiple projects, prioritize them so you get your most important ones done first.
DON'T be afraid to ask for status on your projects
If the project is complicated or takes a long time to complete, ask for status reports. You don't want to find out on the due date that someone didn't understand your instructions and the project isn't done.
The bottom line is that you need to hire responsible people who know what to do, tell them what you expect from them, and treat them well.
And for information about starting a top wedding planning business, I invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to my Special Report "7 Steps to Becoming a Top Wedding Planner" when you visit http://www.HowToBecomeaTopWeddingPlanner.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_Hill
A Wedding to Remember - A Slovenia Wedding Planner Affair
There is a great deal of fun in planning your own wedding. Then one must not forget just how stressful this event can be. After all unless you are an experienced wedding planner then you have no experience at all.
If you are planning to be wed in Slovenia, then first of all you have made a wonderful choice. More and more husband and wives to be are taking this route. Just because you are marrying in a country other than your own does not mean that you cannot entirely plan your own wedding.
If you want to eliminate some of the stress and all of the work though consider a wedding planner. You are still in control, and you make all the decisions. They basically take the guess work out of the planning, and take care of all of the arrangements. You get all the fun of being the boss.
Just to give you an idea of what a typical wedding planner wedding would be like here is a sample. This is for a very simple small wedding. Pretty basic but tastefully done and includes all that a wonderful wedding requires to be a success.
Such as a romantic horse drawn carriage ride that accommodates the bride and groom and their two witnesses to the registry office. Slovenia weddings must be performed by a government official.
This could be followed by a ceremony of love perhaps at the Church of St. Maria.
A trip on the lake on a vessel similar to a gondola
An exquisite 3 course dinner for the bride and groom
Small traditional wedding cake
A small group of photos
Wine and flowers waiting in your suite
For the couple that want no fuss this is the perfect wedding.
For a more elaborate wedding a wedding planner agency may add some wonderful extras to the overall wedding plans, such as
A day before trip to the beauty salon to get a sample of the services offered and the makeup plans.
The day of the wedding the groom and his guests will await in anticipation the arrival of the bride at the registry office. The bride will appear in horse and carriage in the company of her Father.
Next the wedding party will move on for a photo session, with the backdrop being the lake and the castle.
You and your husband will then be transported to the island church. Here your husband gets to carry you up the 99 steps to the door of St. Mary's Church where you will speak your vows. Then you will go on to for the local bell ringing tradition meant to bring Good fortune to your marriage.
These are just a few of the major events that could be in store for you as arranged for your wedding planner. This is just one of many samples and all kinds of other pleasantries are sure to take place.
There is no doubt that your wedding in Slovenia will afford you cherished memories for years to come.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Saima_Sultana
If you are planning to be wed in Slovenia, then first of all you have made a wonderful choice. More and more husband and wives to be are taking this route. Just because you are marrying in a country other than your own does not mean that you cannot entirely plan your own wedding.
If you want to eliminate some of the stress and all of the work though consider a wedding planner. You are still in control, and you make all the decisions. They basically take the guess work out of the planning, and take care of all of the arrangements. You get all the fun of being the boss.
Just to give you an idea of what a typical wedding planner wedding would be like here is a sample. This is for a very simple small wedding. Pretty basic but tastefully done and includes all that a wonderful wedding requires to be a success.
Such as a romantic horse drawn carriage ride that accommodates the bride and groom and their two witnesses to the registry office. Slovenia weddings must be performed by a government official.
This could be followed by a ceremony of love perhaps at the Church of St. Maria.
A trip on the lake on a vessel similar to a gondola
An exquisite 3 course dinner for the bride and groom
Small traditional wedding cake
A small group of photos
Wine and flowers waiting in your suite
For the couple that want no fuss this is the perfect wedding.
For a more elaborate wedding a wedding planner agency may add some wonderful extras to the overall wedding plans, such as
A day before trip to the beauty salon to get a sample of the services offered and the makeup plans.
The day of the wedding the groom and his guests will await in anticipation the arrival of the bride at the registry office. The bride will appear in horse and carriage in the company of her Father.
Next the wedding party will move on for a photo session, with the backdrop being the lake and the castle.
You and your husband will then be transported to the island church. Here your husband gets to carry you up the 99 steps to the door of St. Mary's Church where you will speak your vows. Then you will go on to for the local bell ringing tradition meant to bring Good fortune to your marriage.
These are just a few of the major events that could be in store for you as arranged for your wedding planner. This is just one of many samples and all kinds of other pleasantries are sure to take place.
There is no doubt that your wedding in Slovenia will afford you cherished memories for years to come.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Saima_Sultana
The Need of a Destination Wedding Planner
A Savannah Wedding Planner should have a lot of experience to make your wedding day the most perfect day of your life. There are many things that must be taken care of for a wedding to be perfect. A minor negligence anywhere can result in major set backs, by spoiling the charm of the event. Tackling a Savannah wedding is cumbersome and stressful to the bride, groom and the relatives. But the service of a wedding planner can ease your mind from many overwhelming troubles related to the big day.
The services of a Savannah Wedding Planner span from planning to execution with the utmost precision. Taking care of even the minute details, they allow you and the invited guests to focus on the most important thing - the auspicious beginning of the new life with your partner. It is important to have a good rapport with your planner so that they can organize the things according to your hearts choice. Every person has his/her own dreams about their wedding. Having a consultation session with the planner will help you to make them understand your requirements and proceed accordingly.
The advancement of science and technology on the Internet has given us the opportunity of contacting Savannah wedding planners online. The planner will be a thorough professional who gets back to you quickly in a friendly, helpful way. Before you finalize the deal make sure whether you need their services as the coordinator for the day. If they are not hired as the coordinator, but you have some vendors through them, you have to specify what you want the vendors to do. Otherwise confusions may crop up at any time regarding clean up, going to different locations, services provided etc. In case the planner is hired as the coordinator, they will be present at the wedding supervising and managing everything.
The wedding planner is the person whom the caterers will go to and ask when to start with their duties, even if you are hiring your own vendors. If you let the planner know the details, lots of confusions can be avoided. Once you are clear with everyone regarding what you expect, then you can remain peaceful and undisturbed at the time of the wedding and afterward. Some venues demand that their place should be put back in the original condition once the function is over. If the caterers know that they have to do the clean up, then they will do it as part of their responsibility. But if you approach them all of a sudden they may refuse or may charge more. Though it is not part of the planners duty, they will make arrangements if you pay accordingly.
Many couples are interested in opting for a private romantic garden wedding for their Savannah wedding ceremony. A wedding planner can help you immensely in choosing the perfect scenic location for the ceremony and the photos. With their expert help and advice your wedding ceremony will turn out to be an intimate and elegant affair. Remaining etched in your memory for ever.
For More Information on Hiring the Best Savannah Wedding Planner Visit WeddingsbyKristie.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Sutton
The services of a Savannah Wedding Planner span from planning to execution with the utmost precision. Taking care of even the minute details, they allow you and the invited guests to focus on the most important thing - the auspicious beginning of the new life with your partner. It is important to have a good rapport with your planner so that they can organize the things according to your hearts choice. Every person has his/her own dreams about their wedding. Having a consultation session with the planner will help you to make them understand your requirements and proceed accordingly.
The advancement of science and technology on the Internet has given us the opportunity of contacting Savannah wedding planners online. The planner will be a thorough professional who gets back to you quickly in a friendly, helpful way. Before you finalize the deal make sure whether you need their services as the coordinator for the day. If they are not hired as the coordinator, but you have some vendors through them, you have to specify what you want the vendors to do. Otherwise confusions may crop up at any time regarding clean up, going to different locations, services provided etc. In case the planner is hired as the coordinator, they will be present at the wedding supervising and managing everything.
The wedding planner is the person whom the caterers will go to and ask when to start with their duties, even if you are hiring your own vendors. If you let the planner know the details, lots of confusions can be avoided. Once you are clear with everyone regarding what you expect, then you can remain peaceful and undisturbed at the time of the wedding and afterward. Some venues demand that their place should be put back in the original condition once the function is over. If the caterers know that they have to do the clean up, then they will do it as part of their responsibility. But if you approach them all of a sudden they may refuse or may charge more. Though it is not part of the planners duty, they will make arrangements if you pay accordingly.
Many couples are interested in opting for a private romantic garden wedding for their Savannah wedding ceremony. A wedding planner can help you immensely in choosing the perfect scenic location for the ceremony and the photos. With their expert help and advice your wedding ceremony will turn out to be an intimate and elegant affair. Remaining etched in your memory for ever.
For More Information on Hiring the Best Savannah Wedding Planner Visit WeddingsbyKristie.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Sutton
Wedding Planner Business - How to Become Your Best Promoter
Networking is going to be one of your best and cheapest ways to promote your business. If you are already doing this business and you want get new clients then your best bet would be to add social events to your weekly agenda of things to do. You will gain more by socializing then by staying inside in your office or home. The more people you get to tell the type of business you are in the more chances you will have to gain a new client.
Be ready to describe your business in a formal mini speech but with a certain passion; write down your most important asset and tell everyone you meet about it. Yes, it is going to be hard to be your best promoter but unless you have a good budget for this then you are going to do the talking for yourself. Do not present yourself to a networking event without being prepared with some form of marketing material to hand out to everyone you meet. You might think that you will be giving away to many business cards but most of these events you might need to hand out about thirty five to fifty cards or marketing material.
Go to every event that you get invited to and never pass the opportunity to tell as many people as possible about your business or what do for a living. If you are just beginning your business let your family and friends know that you are open for business and email them your website and ask them to forward to everyone they know.
Set a blogging website to reach out to help anyone who is interested in doing what you do; may that be wedding planning or maybe in other areas of your expertise. Join online social and business communities and just remember that when you start a new business you need to attract the client to you and hopefully they will see how good you are at your event planning business and then they will be able to refer new clients to you.
There are many networking organizations that meet for breakfast, lunch or dinner once a month. Be patient when you go to a networking meeting, you might need to meet a few times before someone gets to know you and trusts you enough to hire you; this type of networking works in the long run.
Angel S. likes to write articles about wedding planner career, visit her website at http://www.weddingplannerjobs.org
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Angel_S.
Be ready to describe your business in a formal mini speech but with a certain passion; write down your most important asset and tell everyone you meet about it. Yes, it is going to be hard to be your best promoter but unless you have a good budget for this then you are going to do the talking for yourself. Do not present yourself to a networking event without being prepared with some form of marketing material to hand out to everyone you meet. You might think that you will be giving away to many business cards but most of these events you might need to hand out about thirty five to fifty cards or marketing material.
Go to every event that you get invited to and never pass the opportunity to tell as many people as possible about your business or what do for a living. If you are just beginning your business let your family and friends know that you are open for business and email them your website and ask them to forward to everyone they know.
Set a blogging website to reach out to help anyone who is interested in doing what you do; may that be wedding planning or maybe in other areas of your expertise. Join online social and business communities and just remember that when you start a new business you need to attract the client to you and hopefully they will see how good you are at your event planning business and then they will be able to refer new clients to you.
There are many networking organizations that meet for breakfast, lunch or dinner once a month. Be patient when you go to a networking meeting, you might need to meet a few times before someone gets to know you and trusts you enough to hire you; this type of networking works in the long run.
Angel S. likes to write articles about wedding planner career, visit her website at http://www.weddingplannerjobs.org
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Angel_S.
Become a Top Wedding Planner - 7 Ideas For Blog Posts
If you are a wedding planner who is new to blogging, you might have trouble coming up with ideas on what to write. Here are seven ideas that will inspire you to write blog posts that will help you attract the clients you want.
#1: Wedding Trends
As a professional in the wedding business, you keep up with trends better than brides usually can. Write about current trends in color, themes, gowns, decor, and floral arrangements. If you have a lot of information, separate each category into different blog posts so you don't overwhelm your reader.
#2: Interview Another Wedding Vendor
Talk to the photographers, florists, caterers, or other vendors in your network and ask them questions a bride might ask. Put the interview on your blog in the form of an audio file, video, or written post. (Make sure you gain permission from the vendor to do so.)
#3: Have a Guest Post
Instead of an interview, have a vendor write a post for you. Preface it with an introduction to your readers telling them why you invited this person to be a guest on your blog.
#4: Post a Photograph or Video
If you have recently planned a wedding, show photographs or a short video of it on your blog and explain what you did. If you feature the bride and groom, make sure you tell them in advance.
#5: Explain "How to..."
Explain to readers how to have a green wedding, how to trim catering costs, etc. Make it short, don't go into too much detail, blog posts are meant to be short.
#6: Talk About an Event You Attended
When you attend an industry event, share ideas you learned about planning weddings that you are going to use. Or, if you attended a wedding or party and saw things you liked or things that could be done differently, blog about it.
#7: Post a Checklist
As a wedding planner you probably naturally make checklists when you need to get things done. Not everyone does this so brides will appreciate your help in getting organized. Write a list, for example, of "5 things a bride absolutely needs in a wedding emergency kit." Or, "7 things to remember when going to get a marriage certificate." Again, keep it short and easy to read.
The information you blog about will tell a bride how knowledgeable you are about your business, help her get to know, like, and trust you and encourage her to contact you to help plan her wedding.
And now I would like to invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to my Special Report "7 Steps to Becoming a Top Wedding Planner" when you visit http://www.HowToBecomeaTopWeddingPlanner.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_Hill
#1: Wedding Trends
As a professional in the wedding business, you keep up with trends better than brides usually can. Write about current trends in color, themes, gowns, decor, and floral arrangements. If you have a lot of information, separate each category into different blog posts so you don't overwhelm your reader.
#2: Interview Another Wedding Vendor
Talk to the photographers, florists, caterers, or other vendors in your network and ask them questions a bride might ask. Put the interview on your blog in the form of an audio file, video, or written post. (Make sure you gain permission from the vendor to do so.)
#3: Have a Guest Post
Instead of an interview, have a vendor write a post for you. Preface it with an introduction to your readers telling them why you invited this person to be a guest on your blog.
#4: Post a Photograph or Video
If you have recently planned a wedding, show photographs or a short video of it on your blog and explain what you did. If you feature the bride and groom, make sure you tell them in advance.
#5: Explain "How to..."
Explain to readers how to have a green wedding, how to trim catering costs, etc. Make it short, don't go into too much detail, blog posts are meant to be short.
#6: Talk About an Event You Attended
When you attend an industry event, share ideas you learned about planning weddings that you are going to use. Or, if you attended a wedding or party and saw things you liked or things that could be done differently, blog about it.
#7: Post a Checklist
As a wedding planner you probably naturally make checklists when you need to get things done. Not everyone does this so brides will appreciate your help in getting organized. Write a list, for example, of "5 things a bride absolutely needs in a wedding emergency kit." Or, "7 things to remember when going to get a marriage certificate." Again, keep it short and easy to read.
The information you blog about will tell a bride how knowledgeable you are about your business, help her get to know, like, and trust you and encourage her to contact you to help plan her wedding.
And now I would like to invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to my Special Report "7 Steps to Becoming a Top Wedding Planner" when you visit http://www.HowToBecomeaTopWeddingPlanner.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_Hill
Starting Your Wedding Planner Business
Marketing your wedding planner business after your decision to become a wedding planner or event planner is not that hard. Just imaging that you are working an event and this event is the grand opening of your business. Just like planning and organizing a corporate event or a wedding so you need to plan and organize to help launch your new business.
The first step to any event is the sending out of the invitations or announcement; so you must do the same by advertising that you are open and ready to do business. How are you sending your invitations; online, by regular mail or you can call everyone you know to them of you the launching of your new business.
Word of mouth will be an important part of your business after you have done a few events but for now it will be you who will announce that you are open for business.
One way to get yourself out there is to do an open house to announce that you are open for business; invite everyone you know to a cheese and wine party. Be ready when people arrive by handing out your business card, a postcard or a small memento with your name and phone number; be creative by handing out useful things like pens, lighters, mirrors, etc.
There is a lot to say about Face Book, twitter and other social media sites as this is the preferred method of many people to connect with each and so can you. Build a Blogging site; this is very resourceful as you can say just about anything you wish because it is your site and inter communicate with others to talk about wedding planning. Your own website is a must; as you create more events and work as a wedding planner you will need a place to post all your pictures to exhibit the quality of work that you can do.
If you have already done an event then ask your past client to please write a recommendation letter to post it in your website; future clients love to see that other clients have used your services and that they are happy and are willing to recommend you.
Always be prepared to present your business in brief when asked what do you do? Be ready by writing down in a very brief speech relating what it is that do and practice it in the mirror or ask a friend to listen to your brief explanation of what you do for a living. As soon as you say what it is, ask them what they thought and if they would change anything.
When you are ready then start practicing on real potential clients. Let the person ask you a couple of questions and answer as briefly as possible. Your part is to listen to qualify them as a potential client or someone that are not interested for now and just wants to converse or socialize with you. If by the second question you do not feel they are interested then immediately present them with your business card which will have your phone number and website address, and mention that if they need additional information they can call you or email you. Do not over load them with information because then they will not need your services, leave them curious enough that if they are interested they will call you with the most important question; how much will your services cost me, and that is when you will make an appointment to go and explain your services in person and hopefully get a signed contract from them.
You need to make it a rule that everyone you meet is a potential client; these people will either have or know someone that will eventually have a big event that they might need you. So everyone that you talk to at some point in the conversation you will mention your business and give them your business card, and if they are interested briefly explain what your business is about. Marketing is a numbers game, the more people you talk to on a daily basis about your business will mean that you are getting closer to a potential client. Make it a rule that if anyone stands three feet or less from you they will get a business card and a very brief explanation of what you do, of course you will be friendly and polite all the time and never obnoxious.
You are getting into a business that involves talking to people all the time. If you are shy then might as well go and work for someone else doing something that does not require talking to people as much. Wedding planners or event planners are expected to be vibrant and exciting people. Be on the alert to market your Wedding Planning Business all the time.
Angel J. S. is interested in helping you start your wedding planner business come and visit my website at http://www.weddingplannerjobs.org to get the best information about event planner careers.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Angel_S.
The first step to any event is the sending out of the invitations or announcement; so you must do the same by advertising that you are open and ready to do business. How are you sending your invitations; online, by regular mail or you can call everyone you know to them of you the launching of your new business.
Word of mouth will be an important part of your business after you have done a few events but for now it will be you who will announce that you are open for business.
One way to get yourself out there is to do an open house to announce that you are open for business; invite everyone you know to a cheese and wine party. Be ready when people arrive by handing out your business card, a postcard or a small memento with your name and phone number; be creative by handing out useful things like pens, lighters, mirrors, etc.
There is a lot to say about Face Book, twitter and other social media sites as this is the preferred method of many people to connect with each and so can you. Build a Blogging site; this is very resourceful as you can say just about anything you wish because it is your site and inter communicate with others to talk about wedding planning. Your own website is a must; as you create more events and work as a wedding planner you will need a place to post all your pictures to exhibit the quality of work that you can do.
If you have already done an event then ask your past client to please write a recommendation letter to post it in your website; future clients love to see that other clients have used your services and that they are happy and are willing to recommend you.
Always be prepared to present your business in brief when asked what do you do? Be ready by writing down in a very brief speech relating what it is that do and practice it in the mirror or ask a friend to listen to your brief explanation of what you do for a living. As soon as you say what it is, ask them what they thought and if they would change anything.
When you are ready then start practicing on real potential clients. Let the person ask you a couple of questions and answer as briefly as possible. Your part is to listen to qualify them as a potential client or someone that are not interested for now and just wants to converse or socialize with you. If by the second question you do not feel they are interested then immediately present them with your business card which will have your phone number and website address, and mention that if they need additional information they can call you or email you. Do not over load them with information because then they will not need your services, leave them curious enough that if they are interested they will call you with the most important question; how much will your services cost me, and that is when you will make an appointment to go and explain your services in person and hopefully get a signed contract from them.
You need to make it a rule that everyone you meet is a potential client; these people will either have or know someone that will eventually have a big event that they might need you. So everyone that you talk to at some point in the conversation you will mention your business and give them your business card, and if they are interested briefly explain what your business is about. Marketing is a numbers game, the more people you talk to on a daily basis about your business will mean that you are getting closer to a potential client. Make it a rule that if anyone stands three feet or less from you they will get a business card and a very brief explanation of what you do, of course you will be friendly and polite all the time and never obnoxious.
You are getting into a business that involves talking to people all the time. If you are shy then might as well go and work for someone else doing something that does not require talking to people as much. Wedding planners or event planners are expected to be vibrant and exciting people. Be on the alert to market your Wedding Planning Business all the time.
Angel J. S. is interested in helping you start your wedding planner business come and visit my website at http://www.weddingplannerjobs.org to get the best information about event planner careers.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Angel_S.
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