Whether you choose a hotel ballroom or a tent in your parent’s backyard, you want it to be a memorable setting that matches your vision and will fit your budget and . . . → Read More: Reception Ideas]]> Where to hold your reception is a huge part of creating your wedding vision, and selecting the perfect venue is an important choice.

Whether you choose a hotel ballroom or a tent in your parent’s backyard, you want it to be a memorable setting that matches your vision and will fit your budget and the size of your guest list.

When considering the cost of the ideal spot, keep in mind what will be included. Some locations, such as hotel ballrooms, offer all the amenities you will need, while other locations may just provide the space and you will have to include costs for the rental of chairs, tables, basic linens, china, glassware, silverware, and everything else.

What about reception styles?

You may choose a cocktail reception. They usually last from one to two and a half hours – depending on whether or not dinner is to follow. If you choose to have passed drinks and food, you can better control the amount of food and refreshments that are being consumed.

If you choose a buffet, be sure to have two lines to keep things moving. A modern reception version combines these two and offers waiter passed drinks and canapés with the addition of a couple of food tables set up with specialty items like a sushi bar, a pasta station, a cheese/fruit display or coffee bar.

If you see a more formal wedding for yourself, you’ll no doubt prefer a sit-down dinner. Guests tend to remain seated until after the wedding speeches and toasts. Generally wine is served at the table so there is even less guest movement.

Whatever your wedding style, think through your options. Here are some money-saving tips to consider:

Schedule the wedding for a Friday or Sunday, rather than a Saturday, the most popular day for weddings. Many reception sites may have greater availability, offer lower rates, and be willing to work within your budget.

Book the reception far ahead, more than a year if possible. You may be able to negotiate a better price.Ask about reduced rates in off-peak months (November through April) and during off-peak hours.

Remember that people tend to take less food if it is passed by the wait staff rather than placed on a buffet table. You can order less food and guests still feel pampered.

Choose foods carefully.

Chicken is less expensive than beef or veal, broccoli more reasonable than asparagus.

Serve foods that are in season and avoid luxury items.

If you have no time constraints, consider a morning wedding and a reception brunch. Accompany entrees and brunch offerings with juice, tea and coffee. This will certainly keep the cost of alcohol out of your budget. Or you could have waiter passed champagne or mimosas if you prefer.

If you really want a bar set up, consider serving just wine and beer or creating a customized drink (alcoholic and non alcoholic) that is offered or served.

written by www.plannedwithlove.com

Whether you plan to have an intimate wedding ceremony or a grand soirée, your friends and family members will likely have a desire to get involved or contribute to the planning process in some shape or form. While you may not want them to offer too much advice, . . . → Read More: Involving Your Friends and Family Members]]> Involving Your Friends and Family Members

Whether you plan to have an intimate wedding ceremony or a grand soirée, your friends and family members will likely have a desire to get involved or contribute to the planning process in some shape or form. While you may not want them to offer too much advice, there are fortunately some fun and easy ways to keep them included. And who knows, you may even find that you receive some helpful information along the way.

First, if you have a wedding website, consider including a music request form. Not only will your guests be able to provide you with their song wish list, but you will also be able to get a sense of what will keep the party hoppin’.

Consider also offering an address book form on your website, so your guests can add or update their mailing address information. Allowing your guests to do this on their own will not only free you up to stay focused on the other aspects of your planning, but it will also provide you with a means of obtaining the information you will need when it comes time to send out your wedding invitations.

Many couples have opted to include poll and quiz questions on their websites. Some questions may even relate back to the planning decisions they need to make. While some couples use the responses to actually help them make their decisions, such as where to go for their honeymoon, others take the advice with a grain of salt. Either way, your guests will have fun and will feel as though they are contributing to your experience.

Many brides also benefit from blogging about their wedding planning experience. Planning a wedding, as we all know, can be quite stressful. For many, a wedding blog provides an opportunity to share thoughts and feelings with friends and family members. You may find that you receive both helpful advice and much needed support via the blog entry comments. However, if you are not one to share your thoughts, your blog is great for updating your guests about any changes to your wedding plans.

If you want to allow your guests to receive regular updates regarding your wedding plans, consider including an optional mailing list on your wedding website. That way, you can alert your guests to changes with one simple email.

Planning a wedding is exciting and fun, but no one ever said that you have to do it alone, so don’t hesitate to provide your friends and family members with a way to help you with your choices and decisions. They will likely enjoy feeling involved and in the end, you may benefit from getting some helpful advice. 

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DO consider the ages of your young attendants. There is nothing like the sound of a wailing child during your ceremony. A good guideline is ages 4 to 10 for ring bearers and flower . . . → Read More: Having Children in Your Wedding Party]]> Want to enjoy the charm of having children in your wedding party while avoiding disaster? Here are a few tips:

DO consider the ages of your young attendants. There is nothing like the sound of a wailing child during your ceremony. A good guideline is ages 4 to 10 for ring bearers and flower girls, and 11 to 15 for junior bridesmaids and ushers.

DO include the children in the rehearsal so they can practice their parts and become familiar with the setting. Plenty of rehearsal will help relieve any anxiety on the part of the child, (and yours too!)

DO invite the children to the reception, along with their parents. Have them bring a change of clothes so they can eat and run around without ruining their nice clothes.

DO seat the parents of the children on the aisle, in one of the front pews so they can intervene if something goes wrong. And let the children know where the parents will be sitting.

DO assign a relative (or hire a baby-sitter) to supervise young attendants at the reception.

DO choose outfits that will be comfortable for the children to wear.

DO thank the children for their participation with a gift. Thank their parents, as well, perhaps with a nicely framed photograph of their child in the wedding.

DON’T invite children to attend an evening rehearsal dinner or other pre-wedding parties.

DON’T insist on a cummerbund, bow tie, or other accessory if a child resists wearing it.

Whatever happens, be patient with the children. Even with the most well-behaved children things can go wrong. And although their performance may not be perfect, it will give you and your guests something to remember.

Written by www.plannedwithlove.com

To truly value and enjoy the gifts to be received, we at Love Wedding Planning suggest that brides make excellent use of their bridal registry.  . . . → Read More: Bridal Registry Hints]]> We know that the giving of gifts celebrates a marriage union. Those gifts also help the couple stock up on the things needed to make a house a home.

To truly value and enjoy the gifts to be received, we at Love Wedding Planning suggest that brides make excellent use of their bridal registry.  We offer these suggestions.

Don’t hesitate to register. Your guests want to buy something you really want and will enjoy. Registering saves your guests time and keeps you from having to return duplicates.

Don’t wait until the last minute to register. Most guests buy gifts well before the actual event and some buy engagement and shower gifts as well.

Do include your partner in the selection process so you’ll register for gifts you’ll both enjoy. Take inventory of what you have, consider the lifestyle you’ll be living and register accordingly.

Don’t overlook the details! Check out how the store will handle your gift selections. Will they deliver, ship, or hold the gifts? Be sure to ask for a written store policy that explains delivery of gifts as well as exchanges.

We encourage you to register for things in a variety of price ranges for the convenience of your guests.

Written by http://www.plannedwithlove.com

When considering whether or not to hire a wedding planner, consider the services your venue will be providing.  Ask questions and educate yourself.  At minimum, a day-of or month-of wedding planner is encouraged (and sometimes required by an event . . . → Read More: Catering Managers vs. Wedding Planners]]> Knowing their role and having appropriate expectations is important before starting a relationship with either!

When considering whether or not to hire a wedding planner, consider the services your venue will be providing.  Ask questions and educate yourself.  At minimum, a day-of or month-of wedding planner is encouraged (and sometimes required by an event site).  However, at first look, you may not see the need for the additional expense.  We’ve broken down the basics of wedding planners versus your catering manager to help you decide if one is right for you. 

This list of guidelines we’ve included are of typical duties, though not necessary the case for all locations.  So be familiar with your specific situation and make the best, educated decision for your event that you can.  

Catering Manager Duties: each venue and each department vary in specifics, typically, your catering manager will be included in the cost of the food and beverage or location contract, and oversee and/or be responsible for the following: 

• Catering managers plan, organize and develop food and beverage services, while meeting customer expectations, food and hygiene standards and financial targets.
• The role varies according to the size and nature of the establishment: in a small operation, the catering manager has more of a ‘hands on’ role and will be involved in the day-to-day running of the operation.  
• In contract catering, the catering manager will spend time negotiating with the client, assessing requirements and ensuring that it is satisfied with the service delivered.
• Organizing and overseeing the catering team.
• Planning menus in consultation with chefs.
• Ensuring health and safety regulations are strictly observed.
• Monitoring the quality of the product and service provided to you and your guests.
• Keeping financial and administrative records, including all your contract agreements.
• Act as liaising between client and caterer and/or venue.
• Negotiating contracts with customers (in contract catering). 
• Setting and agreeing upon budgets. 
• Overseeing the management of facilities, e.g. checking event bookings and allocation of resources/staff to ensure your event is booked and staffed properly. 
• Keeping abreast of trends and developments in the catering industry such as menus, consumer tastes and management issues. 

Typical Duties of a Full-Service Wedding Planner: Each planner will vary in the services they provide.  Each planner will also offer different packages to fulfill your needs without the added expense of paying for services you will not use or want.  This list is a broad scope of an event planner’s duties, though yours may not offer all such services or he/she may offer additional perks.

• Assist with etiquette and protocol for invitations, family matters, ceremony and toasts. 
• Assemble, stuff and mail invitations and by request, receive all rsvp’s for accurate on-going guest count (can be additional fee). 
• Recommend special event professionals to provide music, floral, photography, ceremony officiant, invitations, amenities, and any other niche services. 
• Create and follow a comprehensive budget and payment schedule for all wedding related vendors to ensure timely payments and accurate costs of event. 
• Create a timeline for your entire wedding day, including the ceremony and reception.  To be consulted on and forwarded to your catering manager prior to wedding date. 
• Work with you to organize and coordinate your ceremony rehearsal (rehearsal dinner is usually an additional charge).  Remind bridal party of all pertinent “call times” and “don’t forgets” for the wedding day. 
• Create and run the walk-through at the church or ceremony site for family and bridal parties during rehearsal. 
• Act as church or ceremony site liaison to coordinate all timelines and be aware of all venue and religious restrictions.  Confirm officiant desired ceremony text. 
• Confirm call times and details with all vendors several weeks prior to the wedding day. 
• Create a sample session with florals, linens and rentals to see actual tabletop design for your event. 
• Recommend necessary lighting needs and rental needs based on your specific event, venue, and guest count. 
• Be a liaison with your family, bridal party, band/DJ, florist, photographer and other vendors to create seamless operation. 
• Assist the bride and bridal party with dressing and prep. 
• Ensure the ladies have their corsages and bouquets, etc, and assist with the pinning of boutonnieres. 
• Deliver and arrange ceremony programs, escort cards, place cards, favors and any personal items requested. 
• Assistant guests find place cards and get their appropriate seats. 
• Coordinate your actual ceremony (line up bridal party, assist bride with dress) and keep ceremony on schedule and following properly, including any music cues or dove releases, etc. 
• Coordinate your reception (grand entrance, first dance, toasts, cake cutting, etc). 
• Making sure all vendors are cued as the appropriate times for all of your pre-established “events” during the evening.  Make any on the spot changes as needs arise. 
• Coordinate with vendors and banquet captain to ensure timeliness of event and meal. 
• Collect any personal items you may have brought to the church, bridal suite, receptions, at the conclusion of each event. 
• Count and collect all wedding gifts and deliver them to appropriate location at the conclusion of the event.  Protection from possible theft. 
• Assist you with full service coordinating from your engagement to your honeymoon itinerary; should you include it in your package. 
• Assistants on site at the event to cater to your every need (find the groom, get you a drink, etc…).
• Make sure favors are put out where and when you requested and assist guests in getting their gifts at the end of the night. 
• Oversees all vendors in their duties (makes sure photographer is getting the shot list that was requested, that testimonials are taken by videographer if requested, etc…) 
• Works with the catering manager and the banquet captain to ensure flawless food service and constant clean up during the event.
• Make sure all family members and bridal party needs are tended to. 
• Oversee, assemble or order and deliver welcome baskets to out of town guests. 
• Arrange transportation and create precise schedule for all bridal party members requested. 
• Book room blocks for out of town guests at multiple locations with different price ranges. 
• Provide design expertise and consultation if and when applicable. 
• Come prepared with an emergency kit for any stains, tears, missing items that may be needed or need to be tended to on the day of the event.

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