Your Venue Manager is Not Your Wedding Consultant

I have said it before, and I will say it again, I love catering/venue managers. We work together all the time. They do a magnificent job of taking care of event details that pertain to their property. They do their job, and as a planner, I do mine, and they are not the same thing.

Brides, you need to know, that your venue manager is NOT your Wedding Consultant!
(or Planner, or Coordinator, pick your favorite title, we like Event Architect!)



Here are some differences in what you should expect from a Venue Manager and a Wedding Consultant:

Tasting:
A Venue Manager will schedule a tasting. At that time you, your fiancé, and maybe a few others, will sample food and make selections for your event. A Venue Manager will provide you information on cost and service. She will detail your decisions into directions that will go out to the kitchen staff, servers, etc.

A Wedding Consultant will also attend your tasting with you. She will photograph each plate of food to document the presentation and portion size of your final selection. She will make sure that your bar and menu choices fit in with the overall ambiance of your event.

Inventory:
If you are lucky a Venue Manager might let you drop off your inventory supply a couple of days (no more than 2) before your wedding. They will put out your place cards, cake knife and toasting glasses.

A Wedding Consultant will also take your inventory from you. (Our policy is that we will take it 3 days prior to your event.) We will make sure that your place cards or scroll are displayed. We will also keep a copy of your guest list so that if someone can’t find their name, or shows up without having sent a response, we can place them at an appropriate table. A Wedding Consultant will be sure that each piece of inventory is available to you for its intended use. A Wedding Consultant will also make sure that your inventory is returned to you, or more ideally your designee, before the end of the wedding.

Vendors:
A venue manager will most likely speak to the other vendors you have hired to provide them with load-in and load-out instructions. They will make sure that the vendors follow the policies and procedures of the property.

Your Wedding Consultant will coordinate the arrival and set-up of each vendor that will make sense for your overall timeline. She will review their contracts, and any special instructions you have for them. A Wedding Consultant will serve as a central point of contact for all vendors, and will step in to prevent a problem.

In the end a Venue/Catering Manager’s job is to represent their property. They will provide you excellent service, in the scope of their property. A Wedding Consultant’s job is to take away stress from the Bride and Groom, to make sure that your event is executed above and beyond your expectations, to bring your vision to reality.

Not sure what to look for when hiring a Wedding Day of Coordinator? Click here

Think wedding planners are overrated? We don’t. To see why, click here

BBFN (Bridal Bliss for Now),
Olivia

Torn Between Place Cards and Scrolls?

This week our guest Blogger is Mahvish Bhatty, Event Architect.

You’re getting close to your wedding date, responses are in, and you are now ready to develop a seating chart for your guests, but you cannot decide on which method is right for you. Well you have two options, 1st the boring method, Place Cards, which has been used for many weddings or 2nd, the new and exciting method, Scrolls, which hasn’t been used by many couples.



(Special thanks to Timothy Whaley & Associates for the picture)

Now you are thinking, what’s the difference between the two? Well, a Place Card is a small card with the name of a guest(s) on it, placed on the table, to indicate where he or she is to sit. Place Cards can be enhanced by being set in a special holder, and they can be served as a favor as well. However, some of holders can take quite a bit of space on the Place Card table. This can be a problem if your guest count is exceeding 300 or more guests. When deciding on a Place Card, the sky is the limit on your options, and when intermixing with Place Card holders, this can be the more expensive option.

As for Scrolls, they’re an elegant, and preferable, alternative to Placecards. The seating scroll, or wedding seating chart, can be hung from a beautiful stand, and is displayed at the entrance of the reception venue. It contains the names of all the guests, along with the table they will be seated at. The names are in alphabetical order, and split into letter sections, in order to easily find a guest's name. The seating scroll is also a great keepsake of your wedding. You get to keep it as a wonderful reminder of your special day and all those who attended! Another benefit is that you don’t have to deal with developing 300+ cards, and alphabetizing them by last names.

A scroll can be developed by simple software and given to the décor vendor or printer to print and display outside the reception space. Another great benefit is that you don’t have to deal with guests who have picked up their Place Cards but then lose it while having a great time during the cocktail hour.

If you are looking for something trendy, choose the Scroll. Your decorator should have several great ideas for incorporating the scroll into your overall room design. By placing it on a wall of candles it will become a great décor piece for the cocktail hour and the sweet table. Best of all, the scroll will be displayed all night and if anyone forgets their table number, then they can always get back to the scroll to verify. Not only that, you’ll know where your family and friends are sitting so after dinner you can quickly find them.

If I was in charge of your wedding, I would definitely recommend you choose the Scroll. This will definitely be the talk of your wedding, it will be something new, and not the same way of seating your guests that has been done time after time. Now the decision is all yours…

Whatever you choose I hope you are inspired as you work on seating your guests.

BBFN,
Olivia

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Are All Bridal Shows the Same?

Today Melanie Stancampiano is filling in for me again. She assists in coordinating Bridal Bliss events at Oliveaire and is going to share information about Bridal Shows.

You’ve got the ring, you’ve called your family and friends to share your good news, and now, you are going to attend a Bridal Expo to start the journey of planning your big day.

Depending on where you live, and the time of year, you will likely find a wide variety of expos, trunk shows, boutique events and Bridal seminars to attend, all geared to helping you plan the perfect day. Each show has its own unique, creative format for providing this information. Feeling overwhelmed as to which showcases to attend?





Here are some tips and tricks to help you figure out which shows are best for you to attend:

Define your expectation of the show:
What are you looking to get from the show? If you are looking to gather information and special offers from a large number of vendors about their services, then one of the larger shows is a great place to start. If you are looking for design inspiration, be sure to look for a show that is being hosted by a décor company. Wanting a better idea on how to start planning your wedding? Look for a show that features a wedding planner to help point you in the right direction.

Decide how much you are willing to spend on a ticket:
There is a wide variance in the cost of these events, some are free and some can cost upwards of $100. One factor in cost is whether the show is an event itself, what kind of food and beverage, if any, is being served. Another consideration is what you, as the bride, will take away from the event. Will you get a Swag Bag full of goodies? Are the proceeds of the event benefiting a local charity?

Are you looking for an intimate experience or a large crowd?
Some events will draw hundreds of brides and their friends and families. Some smaller shows will only have 10 – 20 brides in attendance and will offer a more intimate experience for the attendees. You have to decide in which setting you will be more comfortable and take it from there.

What shows are your already selected vendors participating in?
Already picked a unique venue, florist with a very modern style or an in-demand photographer? Find out what shows they are participating in. It is likely that you will find vendors with similar style in attendance. This is a great opportunity to meet those vendors in person and set-up appointments to discuss their services.

As you can see, all shows are not the same, but they all have something to offer. Now you just have to figure out the best shows to meet your needs. No matter which show you decide to attend, you will surely have a good time and take away information that will help you plan your day.

Best of luck, and I hope to see you at one of our events!

BBFN (Bridal Bliss For Now),
Olivia

Hiring a Day Of Wedding Coordinator

VS.

Pictures provided by weddingpros.wordpress


If you have made the decision to hire a wedding planner to manage your Day of Wedding Coordination, congratulations, you are now a BLISS bride. More and more brides feel the stress of the wedding day, and elect to let a professional take over to fine tune the details, and oversee the execution of those details on the day of their wedding. Service is subjective. What should you expect from a planner for retaining their Day of Coordination service? Here are some tips:

Define Your Expectation:
Remember they are being retained to oversee your day of details. It means that you, as a bride, will coordinate and plan the details leading up to the wedding. A good wedding planner will organize your details for a flawless execution. Planners work with a plethora of forms that detail every segment of the wedding. Have the planner show you her forms, which will be utilized in executing your event.

Hours of Service:
A Day of Coordination package must include at least 11 hours of service. Typically 1 hr is reserved for rehearsal and 10 hrs are for the day of event. Use the time wisely. Planners are extremely important during the beginning of the day. If your ceremony is planned for 2pm and your make-up hair, vendor set up and pictures are scheduled for 11:00a.m., retain the service from 10:30a.m. to 8:30p.m.. If you are not done with the important details by 8:30p.m. consider adding a couple of hours to the package. An Event Assistant is typically included in the package.

How to Choose the Right Planner:
There are some great seasoned planners, that may cost more, and then there are some planners starting out in the business that charge less. I personally would want the best to take care of my wedding, especially when so much is invested in it. I would want someone with experience, so that when it came time to make hard decisions they can draw from their experience and make the right one. I want them to be a leader, so that clear directions are given to the vendors, and excellent service to my guests. But most importantly, I would want to make sure that they have a well trained event support team, so that my event is not dependent on just one person.

Cost:
A traditional Day of Coordination package can cost from $2500, for an experienced planning company, to $1200 for a novice. If your event is a sophisticated, detail driven and vendor loaded program, I would opt for an experienced planner. The $1300 will be well worth paying for, if it means the best are orchestrating your event. Some ethnic events, with traditions and cultural influence, may require longer hours and multiple days. For such events expect to pay slightly more, the size of the event can impact the price.

What not to expect from a planner:
Planners are there to oversee your vendors, making sure that they are performing as they have been contracted to do. Also making sure that Aunt Mae gets her low sodium vegetarian meal, and your Bridesmaid is not lost when it comes time to take pictures. Resourceful planners are experts in all arenas of wedding planning. However, they are not florists, photographers, cake decorators, chair cover installers, butlers or bellman. They are quick to get a team that will deliver these types of service, but cannot be expected to put together your centerpieces on the day of your wedding. However, some planners may be able to offer such services for additional cost. Remember, you are paying at least $1200 to your planner. If you are using her to add flowers to the table, or move wedding inventory from church to reception venue, you are definitely overpaying for those tasks. Let your planner manage the other vendors to most effectively execute your vision.

Your wedding day is about you and your groom. There should not be any need for a bride to micromanage her vendors, or stand by the placecard table assisting guests to find their escort cards. If your budget allows, at a minimum hire a “Day of Coordinator.” I promise you that you will look back at your wedding day and know the second most important person on your big day was your Wedding Planner.

BBFN (Bridal Bliss for Now)
Olivia

Is Selecting Linen for Your Reception an Art?

Today's guest blogger is Melanie Stancampiano, Sr. Account Executive from Oliveaire. I am excited for her to share some tips with you on how to select your linen...

There will be a time during the planning of your wedding when the colors in your flowers and table linen will meet. Combining fashion forward colors can result in a beautiful Fairytale Wedding. Or something that goes terribly wrong, as far as the color palette is concerned. As more brides and grooms are choosing bold color schemes for their wedding, selecting linens has truly turned into an art.

If you are looking to “Glamorize” your wedding, a Linen Stylist can help play with color and texture. Satin Lamour can add elegance, while an organza overlay will add a romantic and whimsical effect. Fabrics with prints and sequins can add a designer aspect that will certainly bring a strong sense of style to your reception.

Start by thinking about the overall feeling you want at your wedding, and specifically your décor. Spend a few minutes talking to your designer to let them get a feeling for who you are as a couple. Are you looking for bright fun colors? A room full of romance? Is there a theme to your wedding? Don’t be afraid to talk about what you like, and just as importantly, what you don’t like.

When it comes to color think about more than one color you want to see at your reception and don’t forget to have your florist and linen designer coordinate their efforts. You may envision your best girlfriends all wearing a pale pink bridesmaid dress. Unless you are the Steel Magnolias “Blush and Bashful” (i.e. Pink and Pinker type), you will want to see other colors in your linen, and probably your flowers. You can easily pair pink with black, white or platinum and create different, but really beautiful, looks. An eggplant tablecloth can be a great rich background for a pop of fall color in flowers. Or, a black and white tablecloth can be a great focal point with red floral centerpieces.

Be honest about your budget. It does no good for a designer to put together a look that costs $100 per table if your budget is $25. A good designer will find the best option available within your price range.

Whatever colors you choose, whatever your budget, whatever your needs, linen is a very budget friendly was to personalize your event. It will make the reception space uniquely yours, and leave a lasting impression on your guests.

As you start selecting linens for your big day have fun. Take a sneak peak before you open the doors to your guests and enjoy your stunning vision come to life.

Stay tuned next week for how to enjoy your wedding day as much as possible.

BBFN (Bridal Bliss For Now),
Olivia

Wedding Photography’s Hidden Costs

I am still busy putting together the I Do Rendezvous so Sr. Event Architect Adel Domingo will be sharing some tips on making smart decisions when it comes making decisions on selecting a photographer. Special thanks to Misha Media for the photos they provided to us...


Excuse the pun but I am about to “expose” the hidden costs of wedding photography. When I say “expose,” I don’t mean to sound mysterious, just to make you aware of the extra costs that brides and grooms should inquire about with their photographer.

Your wedding photos should capture the beauty of the big day. It’s not a big surprise that wedding photography is one of the top expenses an engaged couple is willing to add to their budget. The cost is worth it when you see the guests’ smiling faces and, of course, the joyful expressions of the newlyweds!

You should expect your photographer has:
Artistic skills
Experience dealing with a full day of wedding activities
Ability to prioritize the family shots
Grace to handle the family’s demands that the he or she be in two places at once
Pre and post meetings set-up with you

A photographer’s time and skill have a price, like any business. They produce a personal product that will cost you, because you are paying for their professional skills. If you want to save thousands of dollars, just ask a couple of your friends to bring their cameras, or ask everybody for digital copies from your guests. The quality, or even the content, may be questionable, especially after a few cocktails.

It’s not easy to find a good photographer, so when you do, and you find out he or she is available, you are ecstatic! But stop, slow down, inhale, and follow these three assignments to get all of the information you need to make an educated choice.

Your first assignment in finding the hidden costs is to read the large and fine print of your contract. Do you understand the contract?

The second assignment is to ask questions.
• Are your engagement photos included?
• Does your package include the album? (Some packages cost more than others because the album is included.)
• If the album is included, how many pages does it include? How much are the additional pages?
• How many photographers does your package include? Given the size of your wedding, how many does the photographer recommend? (If you have a big bridal party and a huge reception, the photographer may need a second or even third photographer. The extra photographer(s) may cost you extra.)

One very important question:
• How much does it cost to have a photographer stay later than their contracted time?
Imagine, you are running a little behind on your wedding day. Your contract states that your photographer stays until 10:00pm but now you need him to stay an hour later That extra hour might be an extra charge. The photographer may forget to tell you because he is too busy taking photos for that extra hour. And you signed the contract. He will bill you later. So ask, don’t assume!

Finally, your third assignment is to weigh the cost not in dollars but in quality and skill. Do you need to spend an equal amount on your first home and your wedding photographer to have beautiful photos? No. However, I would be leery of any price from a photographer (or any vendor for that matter) that is too good to be true. Ask for recommendations or references from your friends or family. Interview photographers and ask them to show you their own portfolio. Is it worth it to save a few dollars but end up looking at your photos and finding out your photographer forgot to take a photo of your grandmother, that one you specifically asked for?

Are all hidden costs bad? I say no.

For instance, I recommend the extra album cost because, time flies and next thing you know it’s your 10th anniversary and you still have not done your wedding album. Is that extra hour worth the cost of your photographer staying to take more photos? Yes, if he took those priceless, funny photos of everybody dancing to your favorite song of the night. Is that third photographer worth it if you have a large wedding party? Yes, if you can have the best photographer to yourself while the assistant photographers can accommodate your guests.

Most photographers will explain all the costs to you, but with all the excitement, it never hurts to know, and I can’t repeat this enough, to ASK.

Best of luck to you in finding the perfect photographer.

More next week about the big I Do Rendezvous

BBFN (Bridal Bliss For Now),

Olivia

Buffet vs. Family Style and the Winner is ……….

Hello lovely Brides & Grooms, today I am out and about getting things ready for our upcoming “I Do Rendezvous” so Mumtaz Jamal is filling in as our guest blogger.

Mumtaz is the Director of Special Events at Oliveaire, and focuses heavily on our South Asian clientele. She’s got some great advice about selecting a style of service for your wedding reception…

Planning food for your wedding celebration is no small task. Menus for the week long celebrations have to be planned, tastings to be done, caterer to be chosen, and of course, you have to pick the style of service for each event.

When deciding the service style for your Wedding Reception dinner, you want to keep in mind the venue, and number of guests you will have. It is always best to think of the style of service you want before choosing your menu. Buffet or Family Style service keeps the entree selection such that it looks colorful and appetizing.

Buffet style service is what is included in a Wedding package at a majority of the venues we work with, as they already have the serving pieces for this style of service. There is an additional charge for Family Style service from the venue, and you want to make sure the serving pieces are included in that charge, or you will incur an extra charge for renting those pieces as well.

Buffet service gives the guests the liberty to choose what they want, and how much they want, without having to wait. They can go back to the buffet for seconds, and if the food is great even thirds. Buffets give a more casual feel, as guests are up and moving about.

On the other hand, Family Style is no less than a mini buffet on the dinner table. It is a great convenience for the guests, and very elegant.

My recommendation would be… Family Style.

Thanks Mumtaz!

BBFN (Bridal Bliss For Now),
Olivia