Wedding Planning Jitters?

One thing I find exists in all my clients is that element of fear. You can’t wait to get engaged. When you meet that certain someone you dream about it for days, weeks and even months- maybe sometimes years. Then he finally proposes. You jump around the room, for 10 minutes screaming you hug you kiss and then…

Once the ring is on and all the calls are made you either go for it full throttle and plan your wedding in a whirlwind or you sit back and wait and then you wait some more. For me, when I got engaged all those years ago I was afraid to make those first phone calls- who do I call, where do I start? Back then Wedding planners were the people in the banquet halls and hotels. We didn’t have the internet.

Today, the world is so different; with the internet, twitter, facebook, etc… the influx of wedding stimuli to your inbox can be so overwhelming. Then you have to deal with all your fears about spending too much money, the fear of finally finding out what things costs, not having a vision or worse yet having an idea that you can’t fulfill because you don’t know how or can’t afford to.

I just find it so interesting that as women we all have that little girl inside us that screams look at me! Till you start to plan your wedding and then that little girl goes- Uh Oh! And wants to just shrink away and run away and hide.

So, to start, I am going to suggest for you to just jump. That’s right take the plunge and just start. Waiting is only going to increase the tension and anxiety. You want to get married right? You want to have a wedding? So what are you waiting for?

“Leap and the net will appear”.

If this was helpful or interesting to you please let me know. Leave a comment. I would love to hear from you and please know I am here to be of service.

Grace, Gratitude and Happy Planning!

Why Hiring a Wedding Planner is a Good Idea

This post is based on a true event.

Last weekend my neighbor’s son got married. The wedding took place at his parent’s home. This is just a taste of what we got to experience as their neighbor.

Saturday afternoon I arrived home to my cul de sac at around 3pm to be greeted by massive chaos on my street. There were cars and trucks parked everywhere; making it difficult to drive down the street.

No big deal, right? People have parties, do construction create chaos and mess all the time. You just get used to it, take a deep breath and move on. Especially in a city like Los Angeles.

Around 6pm my husband and I leave to meet with friends, my son is off to Santa Barbara and my poor daughter, a junior in High school is home studying for finals. We get back home at around 10pm. The street is still crazy, music is still blaring. Wow, 7 hours later- must be a great party!

We go into our house and get ready for bed- around 10:30 the music dies down and as we are drifting off to sleep we are shocked awake by footsteps coming up our back deck stairs and in a flash there is a giant shadow of a man standing in our bedroom window. We both scream and jump out of bed, I have seriously never been so scared in my entire life and am shocked that I was able to pick up the phone to call the police.

We soon discover that the large male intruder, the one who scared us awake, worked for the DJ company that ran or played at the wedding next door. Apparently he got drunk and managed to get lost and ended up in my backyard- which is completely enclosed with a wrap around wooden fence… In addition, the next day- my husband lets me know that our backyard was covered in beer bottles.

You are probably wondering how this relates to my topic of why you should hire a Wedding Planner for your wedding?

Because, when you hire a planner you are going to have qualified, professional vendors with work policies regarding how their employees are allowed to behave at your party. I know, our work is fun- we create atmosphere and energy for your event. But, the key word is we are working! We are there to provide a service, not party like a guest.

Furthermore, I absolutely know that at the end of one of my parties or weddings my vendors will not be wandering the neighborhood casing out the homes and opening you (the client) up to a possible lawsuit. When the party ends they will be loading their stuff into their trucks and leaving- and they are leaving your home and your neighbors homes the way they found them- no one’s lawn will be strewn with beer cans or empty wine bottles. I think a little peace of mind and tranquility for all are wise choices when it comes to planning your next home wedding.

If you found this useful, helpful or interesting, please let me know. I would love your feedback. If there is something you want to learn about just let me know. I would be more than happy to oblige.

Grace, Gratitude and Happy Planning!

Wedding Planner- Why you want one!

In my opinion one of the many reasons you would hire a wedding planner is to help you create and execute a vision for your wedding that will make it different than everyone else’s wedding.

I don’t know about you but I love to look at wedding pictures and photos from other special events. I can do this for hours and never get bored. They are a great source for inspiration and ideas.

However, I think it is my job to listen to my bride and actually hear her, get inside her head and then help her find just the right location for her dream wedding. Then when we find that magical location it is up to me to show my bride the possibility of what she can have. I inspire my bride to see the room in a different way then the venue may be used to doing it.

Why have everyone else’s wedding? Why stay inside the “box”? You hired a wedding planner. It is up to us to help you dream and create and to show you how to see what isn’t or hasn’t been seen or done yet. An experienced wedding coordinator should be able to see the space in a different way. They should be able to have a vision and know the right people to hire to execute that vision. After all, if you could do it yourself then why would you hire us? If you could create your own unique style and party and celebration then why would you hire an experienced wedding professional? I think it is so important to understand that a true wedding coordinator should be able to take your ideas wish list and thoughts and spin it into something that stands out. - If you want cookie cutter than have the venue do the party. They are more than happy to tell you how they do it week after week, month after month and year after year.

Get Inspired! This is your special day! It is amazing to see what you can have and receive! Just be willing to play and have some fun!

Top 5 Alternatives to the Traditional Guest Book

Top 5 Alternatives to the Traditional Guest Book

Where to Begin When Planning Your Wedding

So you just got engaged. The excitement wears off and you think to yourself: Now what? Where do you begin when you first start planning your wedding? Do you begin by getting your venue? Do you begin to plan your wedding by picking a date? What is that first step?

Personally, I think that one of the first places to start with when planning your wedding is your budget. I know, it isn’t the most fun place to begin but it is the most important place to start.

Dreams, ideas and images of the perfect day are great. They are important- but they all cost money. So start with the nuts and bolts and learn how to move your money around and you just may end up with everything you ever wanted.

Wedding budgets are like a giant jigsaw puzzle with a hundred or more little pieces. The number of pieces to this puzzle depends upon the level of detail that you want or must have at your wedding ceremony and reception. So, before you get started you have to really think about a lot of factors such as: what you must have in order for the day to be perfect in your mind. These are the things, no matter how small, that if missing on your day will cause you to think that your wedding is not going to be perfect.

So, I suggest you make a list, have your fiancé make a list, have your parents and his parents make a list. That’s right, the parents get to make a list and yes both sets of parents should make their own list. Especially, if they are helping to pay; cause you know that if they are paying they are going to want to have a say.

Then when all your lists are done, sit down together and discuss them as calmly as possible. I know you have been dreaming about this day since you were a little girl, but don’t forget, your Mother and his Mother have also been dreaming all that time and maybe even longer. If you are afraid of this meeting turning into a screaming match then come up with a plan. Either meet in a restaurant where you have to maintain some level of calm or hire a coach to help you sort through these lists in a calm and neutral way. No matter what- you have to know what you must have at your wedding in order for it to be perfect. In order for your dream to come to fruition. You may have to make some compromises along the way, but, you may just get it all.

Has this been helpful? I would love to know. What are your concerns or fears in planning your wedding. Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts.

Grace and Gratitude and Happy Planning!

Your Wedding day Countdown

Are you obsessing over all the details that go into planning your wedding?

Are you worried that your party won’t be fun?

Are you stressed out and taking it out on everyone around you?

Does this sound like you?

Believe you me I know how stressful it is to plan your own wedding. You stay up at night thinking about all the things that could go wrong. When you wake up the next day instead of being fresh you are anxious and worried and exhausted. Your nerves are frayed and you can’t stop crying.

Well you need to stop this behavior and you need to stop it now. All this fear and craze is not good for you, your fiancée your family or the energy of your party.

On the day of your wedding your guests will pick up on your energy and feed off of it. They take their cues from you the Bride! So if you are experiencing worry your guests will feel it the minute they walk through the door. Trust me this is a huge energy drain on your day for both you and your party.

No one chooses to be around pain and suffering. In fact, one reason to attend a party in the first place is to escape your own life; similar to going to the movies, reading a good book or taking a vacation. Your wedding reception should be engaging and fun.

So, practice being “in joy” in the final days leading up to your wedding day. Do things that make you feel happy and relaxed. Get a massage, do your nails, run a bath with candlelight and soft music. Shut off your phone. Remember, things do go wrong but that is not what you or your friends and family care about. They are there for you. They want to embrace you and celebrate and share in you and your happiness, love and joy. As long as you are happy they will be happy and they will not notice what is wrong unless you point it out.

So, remember happiness is infectious. Embrace your day and don’t pay attention to what went wrong only focus on what is right. You get to walk down the aisle and say “I do” to the man of your dreams. The one you have been waiting for!