Jun 29, 2015 | Weddings
The forest preserve in a downpour
It was a beautiful summer day, the perfect kind of day for an outdoor wedding in the forest preserve. My assistant and I arrived early to set up 150 vintage wooden folding chairs in a clearing near a picnic shelter–along with games and vintage living room furniture on the patio and picnic tables in a rented tent.
The ceremony was beautiful. The reception was fun. And then, around the time people were thinking about leaving, the sky darkened and one of those intense summer thunderstorms was coming toward us.
We sprang into action: Patio furniture came under cover. Decorations came down. And my assistant and I carried 150 vintage wooden folding chairs and stacked them under a large tree.
The wind was fierce. The rain fell hard. Vast puddles formed on the ground. But the rentals were all safe–a little damp, but not ruined. And the guests who remained had a very memorable end to the day.
Jun 22, 2015 | Reviews
A wedding or party should be fun!
I’ve been fortunate to receive some really wonderful reviews and recommendations over the years. There’s one that has been posted on Yelp for a while, but I just ran across it again and have to share it.
I just love this part of it:
They say that every wedding has a few things that go wrong, but we didn’t even know about any hiccups with our wedding till at least a week afterward and I credit Lisa’s skill and talent with keeping everything together and moving right along.
That’s always my goal: No one should ever know that anything went wrong! (And, believe me, something always does.)
You can read the whole review here. And, if you’re a former client of mine, grab your 15 seconds of fame and write your own review! I love hearing from you.
Jun 15, 2015 | Weddings
This should never be a surprise for the principals. Photo by Ann Oleinik.
A friend of mine posted on Facebook something about surprise weddings never being a good idea. The discussion that followed was, well, surprising.
My friend was thinking it would be a bad idea to have a wedding where one or more of the people getting married was surprised. I couldn’t agree more about that. It reminds me of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest when Lady Bracknell says, “An engagement should come on a young girl as a surprise, pleasant or unpleasant, as the case may be.” Although there was a time–and there still are places–when that was standard operating procedure, I’m glad to live in a time and place where it is rare.
On the other hand, two different people involved in the discussion talked about surprise weddings they had officiated at, and a third had friends who had had one. In all cases, the couple planned it for a time when their friends and/or family were already present but they didn’t tell anyone except the person officiating (and maybe the host). The consensus on this kind of surprise wedding was that it was a wonderful, sweet, happy kind of surprise for all the guests and the right way for some people to marry.
While this kind of wedding may or may not be right for you, I think it’s important to be aware of the whole range of options when you’re planning a wedding. So, is a surprise wedding a good thing? It might be.
Jun 8, 2015 | Weddings
The bride and groom at this recent wedding insisted that everything be as simple as possible. They didn’t want any fuss, just a nice time with their family and friends. They did keep it simple, and it was also beautiful. The guests kept commenting on what a lovely wedding it was. Here are a few photos I took to give you an idea.
Horticultural Hall at the Garfield Park Conservatory is a good reception space.
The Show House worked well for a cocktail hour.
All the decor, except the flowers, was in simple black and white.
The only flowers were the bride’s and the bridesmaids’ bouquets.
Here, a bouquet brightens the water table near the door.
But who needs a florist when you’re at a conservatory?
Jun 1, 2015 | Day-of Coordinating, wedding planning
Let me sweat the details so you don’t have to. Courtesy of sprungphoto.com.
I’ve run this one before, but I think it is still helpful.
If you are planning a wedding, you are probably thinking about hiring a wedding planner or a day-of wedding coordinator. If you’re getting married this year and are not thinking about any such thing, may I recommend that you do so before the best planners get booked up for the busy summer and fall seasons?
It’s not difficult to hire a day-of coordinator. Once you have found a handful of prospects (by searching or asking friends or any method you like), it’s time to interview them. I recommend that you meet them in person before hiring. Sometimes this is impractical, of course. In that case, be sure to have a detailed telephone conversation before signing a contract. Some of the things you may want to consider are: the planner’s experience and expertise; the planner’s personality and how it fits with yours; the kinds of ideas she or he can bring to the table; the fee charged and what you will get for what you pay.
Sometimes the person with the lowest price is the best one for the job, but other times someone with a very low price may not offer as many important services as someone who charges a little more. Get enough information on the services included in the fee so that you can tell the difference. Find out what the price range is by asking several coordinators. You don’t have to hire the most expensive one, but you will probably find one in the middle of the price range who has all the characteristics you want.
Before you hire, get references. Call recent clients or e-mail them, and ask them questions about their experience with the coordinator. Ask them if they would recommend the person. Ask them if they think they got value for their money. Ask if there were any unresolved problems.
Finally, get a signed contract with the coordinator before paying anything. (This is actually good advice for hiring any vendor.) Don’t be intimidated by legalese in the contract. If there’s anything you don’t understand, ask to have it clarified. And only sign the contract once you are sure you understand everything and agree with it. It takes some work, but it is always worth while to have a good contract in place. It protects both parties.
And once you have hired a wedding coordinator, keep them informed of your decisions. If they ask for information, get it to them as soon as possible. They are looking out for your best interests and need to know what you want and what you are doing so they can take care of all the details while you are busy getting married and enjoying yourself.
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