Platinum Lining Events

Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, not to mention one of the busiest.  After all the planning you’ve put into this special day, the mere thought of another schedule or checklist might make your head spin.  But your wedding day schedule is one of the most important items you will need before you walk down that aisle. If you haven’t hired a wedding planner, you will need to create a time line, to make sure everything has a proper order. It’s never too early to start thinking about how you want the day to flow and start plotting out your day from the time you wake up until the last guest leaves the reception. A good wedding day schedule will help the day run smooth and hopefully on time!

You probably have portions of your wedding day schedule already mapped out.  For example, what time the Ceremony, Cocktail and Reception will start. Now you just have to fill in the blanks. Start thinking about all the events you want to take place on your special day. Don’t forget to fill in the times of your wedding day appointments - hair and makeup, photography sessions for the ladies and men, what time each of your vendors will need to arrive, DJ, Minister, Florist, Cake etc. What time you or your planner is going to arrive to check on your vendors to make sure they are executing every detail you contracted them to do. The more detailed your time line is the better, but make sure the necessary people receive a copy.

Now that you have an idea what to include you can start to pencil in the rest of your day.  Plan your day at least hour by hour or in half-hour increments depending on how detailed you want to be. Try to give yourself 15 minutes of lag time between the next event, things do happen and you don’t want your schedule so off track that you can’t catch back up.  Also don’t forget to incorporate travel time if you’re ceremony location and reception location are different, there is always traffic when you have to be somewhere at a specific time.

The “Day Of” Schedule

Here is a sample outline of what should be included in your timeline. Use this as a guide to help you create your own schedule for your big day.  Keep in mind you will want to send out this itinerary at least a week in advance to all your vendors. Be sure to make copies for your groom, bridal party and parents.

9:00 AM Morning Wake up Call

9:30 AM Eat breakfast

10:30 Am Hairstylist appointment

12:00 PM Makeup appointment

12:00 PM Vendors arrivals (limo, florist, musicians, officiant, DJ, etc.)

1:00 PM Bride’s attendants arrive

1:00 PM Get dressed

2:00 Pm Photography sessions

3:00 PM Groomsmen arrive 

3:15 PM Guest Seating

3:30 PM Groom and best man arrive

3:30 PM Leave for ceremony

3:50 PM Bridesmaids and bride arrive

4:00 PM Processional

4:30 PM Recessional

4:30 PM More Pictures

5:00 PM Cocktail Hour

6:00 PM Grand Entrance

Etc………

Add as many details of your ceremony and reception as you can. Remember this is what everyone will follow to ensure everything goes as planned and on schedule. Happy Planning!

Tags: Wedding Articles by LaDawn
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Whenever you think of wedding music, you automatically think of the wedding march, Canin in D, Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring and other traditional types of wedding music. While a large majority of people still opt for the traditional wedding music ideas, there is a new breed of weddings that is looking for something a little less traditional.

Music is an absolute essential part of a wedding ceremony. Traditionally, music is played before the bride arrives and while the bride walks down the aisle. This music depends largely on the type of ceremony; with a traditional church based ceremony, the music is likely to be from an organ or keyboard.

A more modern style ceremony, brides often choose pre-recorded contemporary music that holds some special memories for the wedding couple, or speaks about the moment. Contemporary music also allows guests to have something to listen to (or even sing along with) while they are waiting for the actual ceremony.

Wedding music should be an enhancement of your day and not simply something that has to be in the background. Consider your theme and try to select wedding music that will go along with this theme.

Be different with your choices, play the unexpected. Wedding music can really help you to make certain parts of your day stand out. Use light background music for the calmer times, with louder more upbeat wedding music for the times that you want to grab your guest’s attention.

Weddings are starting to come full circle again. In the past 10 years DJ’s were the number one choice for brides and grooms, but the latest trend now is to have live performances. Bands playing in a wedding reception are not really a novel idea, but they are becoming the new trend. Some different ideas for live music could be to have them play during the ceremony and during the meal both new and innovative. If you select live wedding music, then it is worth opting for something such as a harpist so that the volume is not distractingly loud.

During the wedding reception, it is quite normal to see traditional songs being played, but many brides are now keen to avoid the standard music offerings and look for new and different ideas for entertaining their wedding guests. Why not have a play list that moves through the years of the couple’s relationship, from the song that was playing when they first met to the song that was playing the night before the wedding, this is a great way of maintaining interest in the wedding music, throughout the evening.

Just keep in mind, in today’s modern times, music is the key to a great wedding and there are so many options to choose from, but music can also make or break an event so choose wisely. One of the items most remembered by guest after a wedding is the music/entertainment and how much fun they had!

Tags: Wedding Articles by LaDawn
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Recently I have found that a number of location sites/reception and wedding venues and some catering companies are offering coordination services or a “coordinator.” I just tried to get on a local venue’s preferred vendor list and they told me “no” saying it was a conflict of interest because they offer coordinators in their packages. But there is a big difference between what I offer and what they offer in terms of “coordination.” Let me explain the difference between a venue coordinator and hiring a professional wedding coordinator.

A catering manager or event coordinator is typically employed by the venue and they specialize in the aspects that they offer for example food, beverage hotel rooms and the location.  A professional wedding coordinator is employed by You and and is your personal liaison between you and the vendors and will work with you planning all aspects of your wedding not just the ceremony and reception. Here are some examples of the differences:

Catering Manager/Event Coordinator - Usually they are at the venue on your wedding day and often depart shortly after the first course is served.

Details your event banquet order and contract for the venue.

Sets up your tasting and meeting with the chef.

Creates a layout of the room for you.

Acts as the on-site liaison between you/your wedding planner and other vendors.

Oversee the set up of the ceremony and reception rooms, food and any other items provided by the venue.

Professional Wedding Planner - Usually works with you on all planning stages of your wedding not just your ceremony and location. They are your personal advocate and always have your best interest in mind.

Create a comprehensive time line of the day for you, your bridal party and all your vendors (i.e. DJ, Photographer etc.)

Be available for etiquette questions, suggestions, concerns.

Creates a budget, payment schedule for your vendors and a “to do” time line.

Helps negotiate services from other vendors for you and works with you to create the day you always imagined.

Will research all your vendors to make sure they fit with your style and budget instead of just handing you a list.

Schedules all your vendor appointments and will attend some of those with you.

Assist with decor and design ideas.

Will help you assemble your invitations and package your favors.

Usually only does one wedding per day and will have all their attention dedicated to just you and your wedding.

Will have an emergency kit for all those last minute needs or forgetful moments.

When planning and event as big as a wedding you need both. You need to have a great, proactive, helpful venue manager/catering manager to help you manage the venue aspects, but you will need a professional wedding coordinator working for you to get through the entire planning process and ensure every detail is met right up to the minute you leave for your honeymoon!

Tags: Wedding Articles by LaDawn
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One etiquette question I seem to receive the most is how much and to whom should you tip during the planning of your wedding. Since this is normally a one time event it’s understandable why most people are unaware or are unsure about wedding tipping etiquette! So I decided to blog about it to give you a few guidelines.

You should tip your vendors when they provide extra special service or go beyond your expectations. These are simply customary amounts, but are not mandatory.  These tips are based on the amount of time spent between you and the vendor in the planning process of your wedding. If you are on a tight budget a handwritten note of Thanks goes a long way.

1. Florist $50 to $200
2. DJ $50 to $300
3. Limo driver 20%
4. Officiant $20 to $100
5. Hair and makeup 10% to 20 %
6. Photographer $50 to $200
7. Videographer $40 to $100
8. Musicians $20 to $50
9. Bellman $5 to $20 each
10. Catering Manager $50 to $300
11. Banquet Captain $50 to $200
12. Wedding Coordinator and team $300 to $500

You should plan for these tips in your initial budget, but keep in mind most often caterer’s and venues that provide food will include gratuity in the total cost or they will charge you a service charge for the staff, which essentially is their tip. Always ask if gratuities are included before signing the contract.

Tags: Wedding Articles by LaDawn
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Happy New Year! Even in this tough economy, brides and grooms are still planning weddings and thousands of newly engaged couples will begin to plan their weddings after getting engaged over the holidays and through Valentines Day. To be engaged is what takes you on that path to wedded bliss! So I encourage all those newly engaged couples to start planning now. The earlier you begin to plan your wedding the better choices you will have, but more importantly the better negotiating power you will have. I would encourage all couples who are planning a wedding with 100 or more guest, hire a wedding coordinator.

Today’s power couples have very busy lives and the assistance of a trained, professional wedding coordinator will end up saving you more than money, they will allow you to spend time with each other which is what a lot of brides loose site of in the mist of going down their wedding planning checklist.  Don’t wait, start your planning now!

 

Tags: Wedding Articles by khoffman
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