Facts About Wedding Planners

The responsibilities of a wedding planner are some of the most important leading up to and on the day of a wedding. These professionals often juggle coordinating multiple rehearsal dinners, weddings, and receptions at one time. As many weddings are typically planned up to a year in advance, the wedding planner must be an extremely organized and time-oriented person. For those interested in becoming or learning more about wedding planning, here is some information:

There are many steps involved in coordinating a wedding with a planner. The planner must meet with the couple to plan out the events that will happen preceding, during, and after the wedding, as well as the budget, colors, and general style of the couple. This initial meeting is very important for the planner, as it will begin to outline the wedding events and all the details that must accompany this special occurrence.

Some wedding planners choose to "specialize" in a certain area. While they are well-rehearsed in all areas of wedding planning, some may be extremely organized and detail-oriented, while others have fantastic style taste that will help with choosing the wedding gown, bridesmaid dresses, groomsmen tuxedos, flowers, lighting, invitations, etc. Still others may have experience in counseling and negotiation, which may be useful if the bride/groom/parents are having trouble agreeing on certain aspects.

Many planners have favorite vendors they like to recommend to couples. Listening to these recommendations could be a good idea, as the vendors are likely to have a good relationship with the planner. Even if you don't choose a specific vendor due to cost or a date conflict, asking for other recommendations could lead to an even better vendor arrangement.

On a side note for couples: you should always make sure your planner is or can become very acquainted with your wedding venue. If they don't take the time to visit the space and talk to the venue manager/person in charge, they won't understand specifics such as who can be used as vendors, what time they can set up, when people need to leave, and exactly how much space can be used. To planners: visit the venue! Ask a lot of questions, and maybe read up on the venue beforehand.

For those who are considering becoming wedding planners, understanding a few desirable characteristics may be very helpful. When looking for a wedding planner, many people ask other married couples for recommendations. Always end an event-driven relationship on a good note! Be attentive, responsive, and accessible.

While there is no mandatory education for becoming a wedding planner, special training can be extremely beneficial. Taking a course to become a certified wedding planner can help others to feel more comfortable about your experience and credibility. Many courses may also be available through elearning, which will allow for flexibility and easy accessibility in obtaining certification.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Cee_Rose/1891090

Destination Wedding Planning

So, you're beginning to plan your wedding. Exciting, isn't it? First you have to pick the venue for your ceremony. Luckily you chose one that won't break the bank. Next there's the venue for the reception. Uh-oh, the bank's starting to bulge around the seams. That's okay; everything will be fine as long as you keep the guest list down. Hopefully Aunt Gladys' branch of the family won't mind if they're not...

Oh, they do mind.

And so does your cousin's ex-girlfriend's brother and his family. And your boss and her husband and three kids. Pretty soon your dental hygienist is perturbed that she's not invited. Don't look now, but your wedding budget's going to explode. It's about this time you wish you could just skip the wedding and go straight to the honeymoon on some tranquil island somewhere. Right?

Hm...maybe you can. It's called eloping. Or, in some circles, a destination wedding with just the two of you.

It seems more and more people are foregoing the traditional big wedding for a smaller affair in some exciting destination with just the bride and groom, or perhaps a small number of close family members. And, why not. With the high price of wedding planning these days, a destination wedding or eloping just makes sense.

Of course, just because you've opted for eloping or a small destination wedding doesn't mean you can throw your wedding planning checklist away. It's just a smaller checklist. Let's review what might be on your destination wedding planning checklist:

1. Choosing a Destination

This is the fun part. You have many fun choices before you. You can get married:

In a hot-air balloon over Colorado.

At Disneyland.

On a beach in Southern California with just you, your partner, the wedding officiant, and a million dollar view that's costing you nothing.

On a roller coaster in New Jersey.

While snorkeling in Maui.

Overlooking Niagara Falls.

While bungee jumping in Las Vegas.

At a historic inn in Vermont.

While planning the location for your destination wedding or elopement, do keep in mind the time of year you'll be getting married. You can keep the costs down considerably if you go during the off-season of the chosen location.

2. Make the Travel Plans

Making your travel plan far ahead of time will also cut down on costs. Also, be creative when considering the mode of travel. Maybe you could travel by train instead of by plane. A train can add some more romance to your wedding plans.

3. The Legal Issues

You need to check on the laws governing marriage in your chosen location. If you're a U.S. citizen and you plan on getting married in another country, for example, be sure to research what documentation you might need. There might also be a longer waiting period from getting your marriage license to actually marrying. Also, make sure you have your passport up to date.

4. The Wedding Officiant

5. The Photographer

6. Cake and Champagne

Whatever location you choose, be it a New England inn or bungee jumping in Las Vegas, you will probably find a company which will provide the wedding officiant, photographer and cake and champagne, as well as limousine transportation to the ceremony site. Be sure to ask if they're included in your package. If not, make sure you have them all lined up before your ceremony.

An elopement or destination wedding can be good for your budget and your stress level. And, if your Aunt Gladys is mad because she's not invited, bring her back something from Maui. That should keep her happy.

Shari Hearn is a writer and creator of Destination Wedding and Ski Vacation [http://www.skivacation411.com] websites.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Shari_Hearn/29586

Benefits of Hiring a Wedding Planner

Every couple wants their wedding to be perfect and they take all the measures to ensure that it is the most beautiful day of their lives. But it might be possible that the stress and burden of wedding preparations can ruin your dream wedding. This is the reason many couples are opting to hire the services of a professional wedding planner.

A good and professional wedding planner can relieve you of all the stress. They can help plan small, medium or large scaled weddings based on your budget. They ensure that the whole wedding takes place without a hitch.

There are several benefits of hiring a professional wedding planner:

- Ideas- A professional can offer you with new and imaginative ideas to stage your wedding. He knows all the ways to efficiently utilize your budget and won't make the common mistakes that people usually do. You can turn to them at any point for advice and discussions to make sure that your wedding is exactly the way you dreamt it to be.

- Less Work and Stress- To have someone who can take care of each and every aspect of the wedding right from beginning to end can take a lot of stress off your hands. He will plan everything as per your wishes adding his own imagination to make it better. He will also supervise everything on the wedding day so that you can focus on other important things. They are aware of all the problems that can come up during the wedding and know ways to deal with them.

- Connections- Professional wedding planners have connection with all the local services that are required for the wedding. They have contacts with caterers, reception hall owners and other service providers and can get you discount for these services. This way you can get food and reputable services and saves you from the trouble of testing different companies.

- Saves Time and Money- Professional planners can arrange weddings in shortest time period and can get you good deals and discounts on various services. Budget remains a very important factor in every wedding and a good event planner will make the best use of the given budget in planning the wedding.

It is important to take into consideration the reputation while looking for a wedding planner. You can look at the testimonials and also the photos of the weddings that have been managed by the planner. Having a wedding planner ensures that you don't have to run around making arrangements.

A wedding planner [http://whisperevents.com.au/] can help arrange your wedding in the best possible manner. Visit our website for more information on wedding planner Sydney [http://whisperevents.com.au/].

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Brandon_A/1200316

Past Great Recommendations for Brides

Don't be overwhelmed with all of the posts that have been made over these past few months. I will highlight them below, with explanations of what each are about to make it easier for new followers.

• I just got engaged... now what? 
• For brides that are currently soooo confused when it comes to what to even begin with when starting to plan.
• Wedding Timeline... What's That?
• For anyone who has no clue what a wedding timeline is and how it could benefit them.
• Review on The Knot: Ultimate Wedding Planner and Checklist
• My take on why I believe The Knot is so awesome.
• 3 Reasons Why a Wedding Timeline is Important
• You're probably wondering what the point is for a wedding timeline.... well check this one out. 
• Lisa Vorce- The Legend 
• Check out how amazing Lisa Vorce is. 
• Interview with Bri Driggers, a Wedding Coordinator
• Find some interesting interview questions and answers with Bri Driggers!
• Wedding Planning: Top 10 Do's and Don'ts
• Here are some of the most important do's and don'ts while you're planning your wedding
• "Happiest Day of My Life"... yeah, right
• A rant about how stressful weddings really are and the truth about planning them.
• Wedding Planning in the Future
• What will the future be like?? Find out what I think in this blog
• Sparkler Send Offs--- NOT as good of an idea as ya think
• Although they may be super awesome, find out why I don't think sparkler send offs are a great idea
• The Problem with RSVP's 
• They're supposed to be super helpful, find out why they sometimes aren't in this post
• Destination Weddings v.s. Weddings near Home
• Debating on destination v.s. a wedding in your hometown? This will show some of the positives and negatives of both
• "Your wedding couldn't have been any more perfect!!"
• How great would this feel? Read this one to find out how to get all your guests to make this comment.
• First Look- Do I have one or not? 
• Check out some positives and negatives of having a first look
• What if my wedding sucks? 
• How to not be worried about your wedding not going how you think it will according to other people's comments/ opinions.

What if my wedding sucks?

A lot of people are always so worried about what other people think, not about how they see things. This is just part of how humans are and behave. The issue with this is that we worry about things that are completely irrelevant because of this. Some people may worry that their wedding “sucks”. Which I don’t even know why this should be a thought, because they are marrying the love of their life… why in the world would it suck?

They may just be thinking about what others think about it. Maybe the DJ won’t play enough music that so-and-so likes so they won’t have a good time, maybe the food isn’t good enough for your grandma who is an amazing cook, etc. These things should not worry a bride and groom one bit. This is THEIR DAY, nobody else’s. They should not be worried about anything besides being happy and enjoying the company of their loved ones.

The thought, “what if my wedding day sucks” should never, ever, come into a bride or grooms mind at any part in the planning process. They should only worry about themselves, and not about the hypothetical “if”, because the reality of it is that the day hasn’t even happened yet and they should be looking forward to it, not dreading it. If they are really worried about something, then I am 100% sure there are preventatives to make them feel better about whatever they are worried about. There can always be a preventative measure. Bottom line is that their wedding day is about them, nobody else.

First Look- Do I have one or not?

Would you want to have a “first look” on your wedding day? There are positives and negatives to this, but I think that it is the most convenient way to plan you day. Reason being that you can get all of your bridal party photos done early in the day before the ceremony even begins. That way you can just get photos with the wedding party during the beginning of the cocktail hour and enjoy the rest of cocktail hour with your guests before the reception begins and start to mingle.

Although, there are negatives too. It removes all of the suspense of waiting to see your husband/wife until they walk down the aisle. This suspense is part of the huge reveal, and it makes for a spectacular moment once you two lay eyes on each other- it all begins to feel so real all of a sudden.

But- you can still have that suspense before the first look, am I right? So that’s the same thing! But no… it’s not, because nobody else is around besides your photographers. When you wait to see each other until the ceremony, all of your guests are embracing that moment with you. If you have a first look, it is just you two and is very private. So, you’d think everyone would want to be more private about it right? Might as well, since you’ll save so much more time getting those photos out of the way so you can enjoy the day after your ceremony! I don’t know, I suppose it depends on the person but there are huge positives and negatives of both!

"Your wedding couldn't have been any more perfect!!!"

“Your wedding couldn’t have been any more perfect!” is a sentence that every bride wants to hear after her wedding day. After all of that planning, that’s all that truly matters- that she had the perfect day, and others thought the same. You never want people to know that anything went wrong or some things didn’t go as planned. Everything needs to always be known as being perfect.

I have seen many weddings since becoming a wedding coordinator. Almost every single one of them, I have had guests come up to me saying “this couldn’t have been any more perfect! You guys did such an amazing job.” This is what it comes down to at the end of the day. It doesn’t matter how much work or time you put in. When it’s all said and done, all you want is that end wow factor.

If you follow the posts I have made about some key things you need to remember to consider on your special day, everyone will be saying how perfect everything was. It isn’t hard, and it may seem like a lot but if you put your time and effort where it needs to be, it will all be worth it in the end and everyone will consider this to be the most perfect wedding they have attended. After all, isn’t that the end goal? You want the perfect day, and you want your guests to think it was just as perfect as you did. It is all going to be worth it in the end, I promise!