Do you think that this bride needed a bridal consultant?  She thought that she could have done everything herself.  Now she knows she couldn’t.  Read this true story.

They became engaged after a few short months of dating.  They knew they were meant to be together after their first date.  The bride had always envisioned being married on her parents’ wedding anniversary which was only 6 months away.  The groom of course didn’t care as long as they were married.  From the moment he asked her, the bride started to plan every little detail. 

The bride and her mother began with researching venues, especially since most of them are booked at least a year out.  The bride and the mother of the bride decided that first they would start in their own hometown since they would have a lot of out of town guests.  They never dreamed that the venues that they were looking at would have a hard time hosting as many guests as the bride wanted.  Finally, they found exactly what they were looking for - a place that could hold 300-325 comfortably - but it was not located in the same town.  The bride wondered, is it proper etiquette to ask their guests to drive to the location of the wedding and then to drive another 30-40 minutes to the reception?

Her next plan of action was to decide her theme for the event. She wondered what to do.  After researching different themes over a period of time she decided she would like to have every woman that walked through the door feel that this was their special day also.  From that moment on she did everything so that this would be achieved. 

With the best of intentions what could possibly go wrong?  The bride only envisioned a beautiful wedding with joy for everyone who would attend. With a positive outlook who could foresee all the things that could possibly go wrong?

Such as:

• The photographer who promoted his business but couldn’t produce five decent pictures for the album.
• The Hair stylist not only didn’t show for the wedding day but didn’t even have the decency to cancel.
• The name cards for the seating order that the venue was supposed to put out on the table caused confusion for the guests instead of order.
• At the reception the venue did not put out enough chairs for the bridal party and no one realized it until the party was there.
• The DJ played the music so low so as not to disturb the guests conversing.  When the bridal party arrived he neglected to turn the volume up so the guest continued to converse.
• The bride special ordered her flowers from Honduras and when she delivered them to the florist –the florist neglected to put them in water so the flowers started to wilt sooner then they should have.

What would have a wedding consultant have done for this bride?  A consultant confirms with all vendors as to their duties.  A consultant is solely there to make sure that everything goes smoothly for the bride and their day.  This bride did not realize she needed a consultant. Now she tells everyone if they want the wedding that they have always been dreamed of DO NOT TRY TO DO IT ALONE. 

Q. Do I really need a Wedding/Event Planner?
A. There are big advantages to utilizing a Planner.
We will:
- Assist you in setting and maintaining your budget
- negotiate and procure the best vendors for your event.
- alleviate the stress that accompanies the planning of major life events such as weddings, parties, family reunions, or corporate events.

Q. What is the difference between a wedding director, consultant and a planner?
A. These names have been used interchangeably. However, to provide a definition, a Wedding Director is one that assists the couple and family on the wedding day. A Wedding Planner/Consultant is one that can provide expert guidance to assist you in making your wedding day a success by assisting the couple and family throughout the wedding planning process.

Q. Will I receive a consultation to check out the services of an Event Planner?
A. Every client will receive a initial complimentary consultation to discuss the type of event being planned, as well as development of a budget, and suggestions for the location of the event.

Q. Can you assist with demanding but "well-meaning" parents and family members?
A. Yes! We act with your interests in mind. You are our customer, and we will create your dream wedding or event according to your specifications. Remember, we are here to relieve the stress!

Q. When should I begin booking vendors for my wedding day?
A. You should book your wedding vendors 8-12 months prior to your wedding day. After you select a wedding date, it’s important to secure your wedding location; then other wedding professionals should be secured. If you do not have 8-12 months to secure your wedding professionals, don’t stress! We can help by providing you with a list of trusted vendors.

Q. What are “Save the Date” cards?
A. A "Save the Date" cards is an announcement of your wedding celebration and is typically mailed out 6 months to 1 year prior to the event. Save the date cards can match your invitation or they can be something unique like a magnet, a mini-calendar or a photo of you and your fiancée. Whichever your preference, just remember to keep the wording simple. The card should state your name, the wedding date and location.

Q. I would really like to have an outside wedding, what do you advise?
A. When considering an outdoor wedding always consider the season. Remember, in Cental NY , the weather is always unpredictable so having a ceremony in August with 250 guests outside might not be the best idea. Always consider all of the costs, will you need wiring for the caterer or band, is there enough parking, will you need a tent, or a dance floor, not everyone likes using a port-a-pottie. Most importantly, always have a backup for weather problems.