To Choose a Wedding Planner or Not to Choose a Wedding Planner
When I was the owner of a major wedding facility, I was able to observe the results of more than 300 weddings. I've seen exceptional events that will last forever in the memories of the participants. I've also seen total disasters. The difference was always in how the event was planned and managed.
It's like if you're building a house. Would you select electricians, plumbers, and carpenters, and then just turn them loose and hope for the best? Never! This is the way to sure disaster. Without overall guidance from you and/or the contractor and a clear, written contract in place, the house would be a monstrosity. Yet many people plan their weddings in just this haphazard way.
One wedding at my facility featured a seven- course meal costing well over $12,000, but there had been no time-limit clause imposed on the caterer. When it came time for dancing, only three courses of the meal were completed. The lesson here is: If it's not in writing and signed, it may very possibly not happen as planned.
Planning guides
To start your planning process, you'll begin with the overall concept of your wedding. You can get ideas by talking with friends and remembering details of weddings you've attended, then you can throw in your own ideas. Consider supplementing all this information with a wedding guide containing a variety of creative concepts. You'll find many good guides online and at your local bookstore.
Next, determine how much money you can realistically spend on the wedding. A budget-related wedding planning guide will come in handy. You'll learn many things you definitely need to know, including how to control your budget.
Finally, you'll want a planning guide that will show you how to write and understand contracts and proposals, so you can insure that your event happens the way you expect it to happen.
The planning process
Planning a wedding can be a complex and time- consuming process, and the end result can be expensive. Fortunately, 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, spend some time visualizing what will be necessary to create each element of your event, and start taking notes. The following outline will help you.
1. Event ideas
* Come up with the overall wedding theme and any unique aspects.
* Determine the setting, length, and size of the wedding.
* Decide on the maximum number of guests and who they will be.
* Decide on the type of food and service, music, wait staff, parking, carriage ride, etc.
* Be very clear on your budget - it controls all aspects of the elements listed above. Start thinking about priorities, in case you can't afford everything. For example, can you make do with a buffet if a formal dinner is too expensive?
2. Organizing
* List specific details for each element such as music, food, service, and any special requirements.
* Know the type of facility you want: A hotel ballroom? A special event center? A historic facility? Each is unique, and pricing can vary considerably.
* Contact key vendors such as event sites, florists, caterers, and DJs, and obtain ballpark prices and the level of service you'll get for each price.
* Make your choices within your budget, and make note of all related costs and services.
* Finally, when your vendors are in place, make sure your exact specifications are stated in enforceable contracts. Not doing this leads to most event problems. Good written communication is the key to success. Detailed written contracts benefit both the client and the vendor, eliminating all misunderstandings prior to the signing of the contract and, most importantly, prior to the wedding. Keep in mind that a typical vendor may conduct many events per week, so if what you want and how you want it isn't in writing, something can easily be forgotten.
The topics we've covered here are only the "tip of the iceberg," but they should give you a feel for the process necessary to make your event special and successful. Your results will always be directly related to the amount of effort you put into the process, the level of detail you focus on, and your thoroughness in communicating well through written contracts with your vendors.
Putting on a great wedding may seem like a daunting task, but there are many tools available to assist you in your planning. My own planning tool, The Wedding Saving System, is the result of my ownership of a major wedding facility and my experience as a government contracting officer. These two experiences strengthened my belief that a major event will be successful only if a detailed plan and budget is developed and then followed up with excellent written communication (contracts) with all vendors for the event.
The Wedding Saving System is all about your exact written specifications with vendors, using competitive bidding to control costs while obtaining the quality you expect, and then putting it all into enforceable written agreements. Don't forget that if it's not in writing, there's a high probability that it will not happen as you planned.
In conclusion
Your wedding should create memories that will last a lifetime, so invest the time and effort to find the books and guides that will supply the information, strategies, and techniques I've written about here. And one final observation: A self-planned wedding will be a very rewarding experience for all attendees when the joy and self-satisfaction of the happy couple envelopes the entire event.
I wish you the very best and will be happy to assist you in planning your special day!
Tishawn Merritt
CEO of Tristarlimo.com
Tristarlimomiami.com
Tristarlimochicago.com
(866) 632-5466
tishawn@tristarlimo.com
Taking you to the highest limit of service!
 Google News Updated : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 02:07:34 GMT Dodgers overtake first place - MLB.com
MLB.com - By Michael Schwartz / MLB.com LOS ANGELES -- Manny Ramirez's five RBIs propelled the Dodgers into first place in the National League West for only the second day all season Saturday after a 7-2 win over the D-backs at Dodger Stadium. Ramirez, Billingsley lead streaking Dodgers into first place Dodgers move into first place Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 23:14:26 GMT European space probe completes asteroid fly by - Reuters
Reuters - BERLIN (Reuters) - The European Space Agency obtained on Saturday the first images of an asteroid 360 million km (224 million miles) from earth, part of a space mission which scientists hope will help them understand the origins of the planets. Rosetta spacecraft takes asteroid photos Spacecraft flies by remote asteroid, camera stops Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 14:13:31 GMT Report: Samsung working to acquire SanDisk - San Jose Mercury News San Jose Mercury News - AP Samsung was reported Friday to be considering buying Milpitas-based SanDisk, whose revenue has diminished and stock has plummeted in recent months due to the saturated flash-memory market. SanDisk Shares Soar on Samsung Interest SanDisk Shares Surge as Samsung Considers Acquisition (Update3) Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:19:13 GMT Jenkins: Murray willing to play the spoiler - San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle - (09-06) 18:24 PDT New York -- Andy Murray must feel very alone just now. He's a long way from his native Scotland. He's carrying the hopes of British tennis, but the London press would really prefer him to be English. Federer beats Djokovic to reach US Open final Split stadiums for US Open semis ruffles crowd Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 01:44:27 GMT Gates outacts Seinfeld in Back To The Future - CNET News
CNET News - Which is why Crispin Porter Bogusky, the agency responsible for the otherworldly new Microsoft TV spot featuring the clowning Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld, is already happy. Microsoft's Renewed Vista Strategy You Thought Vista Was Bad? Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:01:52 GMT Movies opening this week - San Jose Mercury News
San Jose Mercury News - By Mercury News "Burn After Reading" (R): The Coen brothers follow "No Country for Old Men" with a dark comedy about two inept gym employees who get hold of a CD-ROM containing a CIA operative's memoirs. Toronto Review: The Coen Brother's Burn After Reading Pitt Rocks to Madonna Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 20:56:32 GMT Palin and McCain’s Shotgun Marriage - New York Times
New York Times - By FRANK RICH SARAH PALIN makes John McCain look even older than he is. And he seemed more than willing to play that part on Thursday night. An Apostle of Alaska 'Sarah Palin Is Wasilla': Town Stands Behind VP Pick Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 01:18:29 GMT More Web Site Traffic |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Movies, sitcoms and soapies made in the United States could... Read More Let's face it retirement is a time of great transition... Read More There's an important question that you need to ask the... Read More The most enjoyable part of the wedding reception is the... Read More Wedding cake bakeries will have a cake portfolio to look... Read More The great day has come and gone, and you are... Read More Planning a second wedding? Prevent favorite guests comparing your second... Read More If you are actually planning your Las Vegas wedding reception,... Read More From the book Spider's Big CatchAs June wraps its arms... Read More The design of the traditional wedding cake has varied greatly... Read More Your wedding flowers cover all button holes, all the bouquets,... Read More One of my favorite parts about the wedding, is the... Read More Despite all the fashionable theories of marriage, the narratives and... Read More With so many ways to ask your closest friends and... Read More This is intended as a guide to help you plan... Read More You can rest assured that the charm of your Maui... Read More Too many wives with cheating husbands put up with their... Read More "Presently, 40% of all first marriages in this country end... Read More Asian-themed weddings are on the rise, and at first this... Read More How do you handle arguments that lead to heated exchanges... Read More White is traditionally a symbol of purity and as it... Read More The wedding service in the Greek Orthodox faith is an... Read More The beginning of the journey of two souls begins with... Read More Weddings are memorable events couples and their families want to... Read More Games for a wedding shower are the best ways to... Read More
Adsense
websites
Renewing Your Marriage Vows - On the Right Side of the Law
5 Tips To Keep Marital Bliss Alive After You Retire!
Before You Begin Marriage Counseling, Ask This Question
Dance Music for the Wedding Reception
Wedding Cake - Bakery Tips
Displaying Your Wedding Bouquet
For Second Weddings Only - Eight Tips
The Loveliest Las Vegas Wedding Reception
June Weddings
Wedding Cake Design Through History
Wedding Flower Ideas
How To Choose Your Wedding Cake
Family Cycle (I) - Euphoric and Dysphoric Cycles in Marriage
Send Flowers and Liberate Your Bridal Party From the Shackles Of Monogram Hell
Your Wedding Countdown
Choosing a Maui Wedding Photographer
How Wives with Cheating Husbands Can Gain the Upper Hand
Marriage: Where is the Fairy Tale?
Spotlight on the Asian-Themed Wedding
Marriage Counseling Tips: 7 Ways to Handle Conflict in Marriage
Should You Wear White?
Whats in a Greek Wedding?
Atlanta Wedding Receptions
Nine Ways to Save Money on Wedding Photography
Games For A Wedding Shower
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Are You Fully Present in Your Marriage?
"Presence is more than just being there," states Malcolm S.Forbes.... Read More
New Trends for Wedding Favors 2005
Wedding favors have evolved over time. Wedding favors today combine... Read More
Cookie Wedding Favors
Cookies as wedding favors, create an unique twist on the... Read More
What Goes Into Wedding Preparation From Your DJ?
Exactly what should your disc jockey be doing in the... Read More
An Ethical Alternative to the Conspicuous Excess of the Average Wedding
Many happy couples are turning their backs on the traditional... Read More
Wedding Planning: Benefits of Online Wedding RSVPs
Want to manage your wedding guests with style and ease?... Read More
Wedding Favors: A Brief History
For many centuries wedding favors have been a part of... Read More
Get Organized for Wedding Planning!
You've had friends to your home for dinner. Maybe you've... Read More
Creating a Realistic Wedding Budget While Still Having the Wedding of Your Dreams
Perhaps the single most important thing that must be accomplished... Read More
Wonderful White Gold Wedding Rings
The elegant and sophisticated look of glittering, gleaming gold. There's... Read More
Free Wedding Planning Guide and Checklist
With so much to do, every bride needs a surefire... Read More
Signature Frames - Your Guestbook and Wedding Frame Together At Last!
So you have been invited to a wedding. Whether you... Read More
The Charm of a Gatlinburg Wedding
Nestled in the beautiful Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg's romantic and beautiful... Read More
Saving Money on Wedding Music
When it comes to wedding music, there are some choices... Read More
How to Have a Sizzler of a Honeymoon! Article No.5
Every woman in the room agreed that Crichton was a... Read More
Shopping For Elegant Mother Of The Bride Dresses
There are many places to shop for elegant mother of... Read More
How To Choose The Right Wedding Bouquet Style
Basically, there are three wedding bouquet styles. The cascade, round... Read More
Love on the Internet
People are looking for life-long relationships in the most peculiar... Read More
Caribbean Honeymoon Vacation - a Fancy Trip!
This season, a Caribbean honeymoon vacation will give you unlimited... Read More
Florida Honeymoon Vacations
Celebrate your marriage by planning a Florida honeymoon vacation with... Read More
Wedding Vows
The vows you take to become husband and wife are... Read More
The (American) Bride Wore Red
Increasing numbers of American brides are thinking about doing the... Read More
How to Choose a Marriage Counselor
You have made the decision to contact a marriage counselor.... Read More
Low Budget Wedding Reception
The reception alone will bust your wedding budget if you're... Read More
The Planning of a Bridal Shower!
Planning a bridal shower? Maybe a dear friend or even... Read More
Marriage & Wedding |