June Wedding #2 - Ashley and Drew

I first met Ashley and Drew, Thanksgiving Weekend 2010 and I knew from then that we would work together great!  They were very focused on their dream for a wedding and had all of the plans (organized) to pull it off.  She totally made my job easy!  They were the couple that met in high school, fell in love, finished college, found great jobs, and are finally tying the knot!

She kept everything in theme with colors, dresses, ribbons, decor, and even held "craft days" with her bridesmaids to complete all of the small details for her big day.  For her wedding weekend she started with a pool party at her house with everyone in the wedding!  How Fun!  

Saturday storms arrived but everything was through and perfect time for finishing touches and pictures!  It was such a wonderful time!  Everyone enjoyed themselves!  After dinner, dancing and fun they left the reception in a golf cart through a line of sparklers!  Congrats Ashley and Drew!

Vendors included:
Special Events
Ann's Catering
Richmond Greenhouse
Ben Keeling Photography
Music on the Move

June Wedding #1 - Jimmi Lynn and Tyler

WOW!

After a rehearsal full of rain, wind and hail the clouds cleared and we were able to go over everything we needed done and ready for the night!  We kept a watch on the weather throughout the day on Saturday to get everything together for rain or not.  It looked like it may rain around 4 pm and it did but went away along with the humidity and it turned into one of the most beautiful nights of the year!  

The decor was very rustic.  Everyone in the wedding party wore cowboy boots, including the bride!  It was so cute!  The seats in front of the barn were hay bails with quilts over them for comfort.  Everything was perfectly set.  Due to a missing camera bag I have no pictures because I gave my SD card to the video camera man when his was about to run out.  I can't wait to see some of the shots from the photographers either.  I have a feeling they come out beautiful.  

This was all I was able to get!

Vendors included:

Bryants Rent All

Catering by Ann

Music by Cory Kenton

Bit of Whimsy Cakes

Richmond Greenhouse

First Wedding of the Season - Congrats to Katie and Ben

I am totally behind...............

I had the pleasure of assisting a wonderful planner this past weekend for Katie and Ben's wedding.  We spent 3 days full of laughter, tears and fun getting set up and through this wonderful wedding weekend.

The ceremony and reception were held at the couples church at it turned out beautiful.

Thank you so much Terri Carrell for this wonderful opportunity!  I was able to gain much needed confidence!!!

Terri Carrell, Celebrations Off Main

June Wedding #1 - Preview

Congrats to Jimmi Lynn and Tyler!  I have had a wonderful time with your family working on this beautiful wedding!  It is all starting to come together now.  All I can say is I can't WAIT to see the dresses and the table decor all put together!  More to come........2 more days

Events! - Grad Party

Dear friends of mine contacted me a while ago to plan their sons graduation party.  Let me tell you it was a ton of fun!  They had a beautiful home and opened it up to about 75 people for an "open house" party.  Tricky part was deciding when to have the food arrive and set up in the mix of guests. (On top of getting food items from 6 different restaurants/caterers)  It all went as planned and everyone had a wonderful time!  It was nice to sit and relax at one of my events to visit with friends for a while.

Congrats to Cameron on his graduation.  Good Luck next year at IWU!

Event Season is here......Too bad Mother Nature doesn't agree

As an event coordinator, I have had pretty much all my experience on outdoor events.  It all started with my internship at UK.  I guess I am more comfortable with outdoor events.

At a few of the meetings that I have attended, meeting with other coordinators, and reading blogs I have noticed a trend.  There are a lot of coordinators that prefer to not be outdoors.

I was one of those brides, the one that thought an outdoor ceremony (more rustic for my hubby and more trendy for myself) would be perfect.  We had the perfect day planned and everything.  We checked the weather that morning to find a 10% chance of a pop up storm.  We decided against the printed signs to move the ceremony just in case.  Well as our guests were being seated the sky opened up and down came the rain.  We just moved to the tent and everything went off perfectly.  Actually better.

It is those stories that I love to tell my brides as we are working on their plans.  Always have a plan B!  Thank goodness that is what I specialize in!!

Now onto this season, the weather is crazy.  Usually by now I have been able to meet with dozens of clients to plan out the final layouts for their events.  Not this year.  All of the rain and SNOW that we are still expecting seems to be pushing my calendar back.  Doesn't Mother Nature understand that March and April are big planning and meeting months for me?  I am trying to fit everyone in along with the few events that I have scheduled during this crazy weather!  Oh please spring and summer be good to us!

Good Afternoon!

I have to say that this year will be GREAT!  I have met so many wonderful people through the ABC and I have picked up on so much since completely my certification and attending the meetings.  I am thankful for all of it.

In these meetings I have met many people.  One special one for sure.  She is allowing me to assist in her nieces wedding!  We met and clicked immediately!  The bride and her mom are both very relaxed about the entire planning process and willing to listen to my jabber and think through idea after idea.  I am thankful to this family and this planner for allowing me to take part in this joyous day.  I can't wait for it to be here!  (probably as much as the bride)

I have met with them once already and my creative ideas started flowing.  My goodness two planners trying to design a wedding, yikes!  This sure will be a blast!

Thanks Terri for letting me follow you around and learn.  Thanks for the complements that make me feel more comfortable in my new role as consultant/coordinator, and of course Congrats to Katie and Ben!

What an exciting 2011 this will be!!

Consultant vs. Coordinator

As you start planning for your big day there are a lot of things to consider; venues, food, cakes, dresses, band or DJ, photographer, church, wedding party, favors, etc,  Another major question is do I need a Wedding Coordinator or a Wedding Consultant.

Most people think that we are all the same, consultants and coordinators, and many are.  We are 100% here for the Bride, Groom and their families to make the day as seamless as possible.  When we are wearing our consultants hats we are there every step of the way.  We actually help plan the initial meetings with the vendors, we recommend locations, sites, vendors, everything.  We are there for all etiquette questions from invites to menu cards, moral support when the families all have opinions for the wedding, and we are there to hold your hand every step of the way.  We are your best friend.

As a coordinator we step in at the end.  You have done all of the planning, the deciding, the leg work to make your day special.  After a couple of meetings with us as your coordinator, you hand over your notes and we take over implementing what you have done.  We are like the substitutes coming into class and giving the lecture that was already written for us.  We still make the day easier on the families so they can enjoy and be a guest at their own event.    

Bring on the Weddings!

I have to say that this year will be GREAT!  I have met so many wonderful people through the ABC and I have picked up on so much since completely my certification and attending the meetings.  I am thankful for all of it.

In these meetings I have met many people.  One special one for sure.  She is allowing me to assist in her nieces wedding!  We met and clicked immediately!  The bride and her mom are both very relaxed about the entire planning process and willing to listen to my jabber and think through idea after idea.  I am thankful to this family and this planner for allowing me to take part in this joyous day.  I can't wait for it to be here!  (probably as much as the bride)

Education, Education, Education

I have learned very fast that there is always something I can brush up on.  This past Saturday I enjoyed a day with other planners from all over, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, and Italy!!!!!!  We were able to talk trends, share tips and ideas and bounce business ideas off one another all at one time!  To top it all off it was wonderful to complete a lesson with the Association of Bridal Consultants to earn points towards our next level!

As the instructor asked we all had to mention one thing that we hoped to learn during the days meetings.  I really didn't know what to say, so I mentioned that I would love to learn more about weddings!  As the day progressed we started discussing emergency packs.  What I, the planner, should have and what the bride should have.  One thing that stands out in my mind is smelling salts.  I know you are thinking, smelling salts?  There was a planner there that says she hands out smelling salts to various people at EVERY wedding.  Her and her assistant always have one each, there is one usually on the alter somewhere and then the moms each have one as they are right there in the front in case anything happens.  I guess I never thought anything like that would really happen.  Thats only in the movies right?  WRONG!  She told a story of one wedding where she had to break out the smelling salts.  This has me rethinking what do I really need in my emergency pack.

So based on this new found information I have decided to start my pack with the following;

• bottled water
• breath mints
• needle/thread
• baby wipes
• 100% alcohol,  I found out this will remove almost ALL marks from a dress with no staining
• floral pins
• scissors
• eye drops
• lint brush
• tea lights
• clear nail polish
• static cling spray
• matches
• straws
• safety pins
• krazy glue                         (I am sure I will add to this)

The Bride should have an emergency bag with;

• chapstick
• bottled water
• granola bars
• hairspray
• bobbie pins, hair accessories
• comb/brush
• toothbrush/toothpatse
• ibuprofen, Tylenol, Benadryl, etc.
• lotion
• band-aids
• hand towellettes
• mini sewing kit
• safety pins
• hem tape
• tissues
• tweezers

What are other things that may be needed in these bags?  Any tips and comments would be appreciated!!!!

Happy Planning!!

Happy New Year!!!!

Busy Bees!

I have started to get the calls from brides checking dates and availabilities for their upcoming nuptials.  It is always exciting at the first of the year to get into planning mode.  Everyone has been excited and thinking about the holidays and now is the time to really focus on you, the couple.

As you are planning for your big day, don't forget the moments that you share as a couple.  The decisions and compromises that you come too while planning your wedding are good stepping stones in how you will handle disagreements during your marriage.  Keep an open mind and remember to work as a team!!!

Here's to 2011!  Let's make it a great and wonderful year!!!