My favorite response

When I'm working with a couple and I say "Did you still need a day of coordinator?" and they reply "Oh my pastor is taking care of that part." Of course I always smile and say "Oh good." but really what I would like to reply is "Please call me when you realize your pastor doesn't have super powers to be in two places at once."  

Wedding Planner Confessions.

The engagement period is such a beautiful time, full of love and passion with an exciting hint of fear. Engagement is a time to enjoy your future spouse and get to know each other. I will never forget

the day my amazing husband proposed.  I have gotten home from work a little late, we lived in an apartment building and upon entering the building I found a taco bell packet that said "Will you marry me?" I thought someone had dropped it! But when I started up the stairs I found another, and as you may have guessed walking to our door I found yet another. Upon opening our apartment I found I line of "Will you marry me?" Taco Bell packets leading to our bedroom. Where I found Alex on one knee with a ring in his hand. He was so nervous he was sweating!

 

Maybe not the most romantic but original at least! Since then we've got five years of happiness.

 

There's two times I notice that a woman is positively glowing.

 

1. When she's talking about her wedding.
2.  When she's getting married.

 

Now I highly recommend to engaged couples to have an engagement party. Even if it's just a backyard barbeque, it's about getting everyone together and excited about the wedding. It's a chance to have everyone together and celebrate, and who can complain about an extra memory?I know a lot of couples choose to skip this step to save a few dollars, however I would encourage to save money do a potluck or picnic. You're only engaged to the love of your life once so enjoy every moment!

 

Engagements though so full of love can very easily become stressful and over whelming. That's why it's important to hire some help. Though friends and family willing to help with the wedding are such a blessing I would highly recommend at least doing the free consultation from a wedding planner to get a better idea of what they can do for you. A recent survey shows that 80% of brides if they could get re-married would hire a wedding assistant.

 

My last recommendation is to try on a gown. Even if you're not getting married for another 3 years putting that dress on really gives you the "I'm going to be his wife" reality. If you're in central Wisconsin, I highly recommend Jill at With This Ring on 3rd Ave. Jill completely understands if you just want to try on a gown to get a feel. Enjoy this time. You're going to be married for the rest of your life, so take it for what it's worth!

The Start of The Bridal Bug

Our Wedding Day

Starting my business journey was a challenge in its self. My own wedding was such an inspiration for my future. Planning was so natural to me, however if I were given a "do over," I would in fact hire a wedding planner! Marrying the man of my dreams was the best day of my life next to becoming a mother. But oh how inexperienced I was.

I figure there's three things I can do as a wedding planner -

1. Save money.
2. Save time.
3. Make couples wedding planning easier by eliminating stress.

My fear of hiring a wedding planner while I was getting married was that I wouldn't be able to afford the services. In becoming a wedding planner, I thought "How can I eliminate this fear?" After extensive brain storming I figured the only way I can eliminate the fear is to save couples more then they spent hiring me and prove it repeatedly. 

So began my quest to find deals. What I learned from meeting with vendors and venues is that the best bet is to find package deals. Often couples see the first "package deal" price and get scared of the high number, when in reality it's the low number you should fear. A huge marketing scam is to first offer a low number to get a booking, then nickle and dime the rest out. "Your room rental fee is only 500$" come to find out "Your chair rentals are 2 dollars a piece, your bartender is $300 for the night" Ext. As a wedding planner I can honestly say I despise this marking scam.

What I look for is wedding venues and vendors that are upfront about cost, I look for integrity. I am about giving the wedding day back to the bride and groom. It's time to switch the "Pick your package." to "What do you want for your wedding day?" After all, this is your day. 

During the planning of my own wedding, I didn't feel like it was about making the day of my dreams come true, but rather about what the wedding vendor had to offer.

I have a list of the five most memorable moments of my wedding:

• Hearing all those glasses clinking
• Seeing all my family and closest friends smiling and laughing
• That “I do” kiss, so full of passion and love.
• Throwing the bouquet to my friends.
• Leaving in our get away car. 

I also have a list of the most stressful moments in my wedding:

• Decorating with no help.
• Coordinating my maids
• Final calls with venues and vendors
• Getting payments made

I will never forget sitting on my bed crying from all the stress I was put under from planning my wedding without the help of a wedding planner. If I could take that moment away from future brides and grooms and leave them with nothing but happiness, then my job will be successful. I have a strong passion for this industry, and I look forward to the years ahead in this field.