Jan 25, 2016 | Weddings
It’s the intangibles that make for great event and wedding planning. Photo by Magical Moments Photography.
When potential clients interview me, they usually have a lot of questions. One of my favorites is, “What sets you apart from other wedding planners?”
There are plenty of obvious things you probably know about me already if you’ve looked over my website. I like working on non-traditional weddings and I’m interested in everything eco-friendly, for example. But the big differences are experience and temperament.
I’ve been working on events, one way or another, since sometime in the mid-1980s. That gives me about three decades of experience. I have also had a huge variety of experiences, everything from cocktail parties to operas to street fairs to (of course) weddings. I won’t claim to have seen it all, but I have dealt with an extensive variety of challenges in my career, and I have learned how to manage them.
I am also fortunate to have a temperament that is suitable for event planning and management. I can handle stressful situations without giving in to the stress. I have excellent, unflappable problem-solving skills. And I know how to deal with all kinds of people.
So, that answers one question. If you have more questions about why you should hire me, feel free to give me a call and you can ask me in person.
Jan 20, 2016 | Weddings
If you tried to read my blog or look at photos on my website in the last two days, you got an annoying error message. I apologize! My dear husband fixed it today in about 1/100 of the time it would have taken me. Ain’t marriage grand?
Jan 18, 2016 | Eco-Friendly Events, Weddings
Bouquets look so much better when they don’t lie flat.
What makes a wedding planner eco-friendly? Among other things, this does:
The night before a wedding I had planned, the florist called. He was planning his delivery of personal flowers for the next day and wanted my input. He could lay the bouquets flat in a cardboard box for delivery, but, he said, that tended to make them come out flat on one side. His preferred method would be to stand them up in vases, which would then be secured into a re-usable crate. The only catch was that he needed to get the vases and crates back if there was to be no charge to my clients. For aesthetic reasons, I thought the vase-and-crate delivery method was superior. Also, it was less waste, which I also prefer. That’s the first thing a green wedding planner does: reduce waste. But it gets better.
A few days after the wedding, I went about the business of returning the items to the florist. I got out my trusty bike and the bungee cords, strapped the crate with four glass vases in it to the back of my bike, and rode–very carefully–the three-and-a-half miles to deliver them. Because that is also what a green wedding planner does. No matter what aspect of wedding or party planning I am working on, I am always thinking about how to reduce waste, reduce emissions, and have a greener party.
Jan 11, 2016 | About me, Budget Planning
Everyone trusts the vendors when they know they can trust the planner.
If you have looked at the page on my website that deals with Money Matters, you might have noticed my integrity pledge there. It says, “I will never take kickbacks from vendors, because I work for you, not for them. When I recommend vendors, you can be certain that I believe they deliver quality services at reasonable prices. I always pass along vendor discounts to my clients.” In case you’re not familiar with how this scheme works, let me lay it out for you here.
When I first hung out my (virtual) shingle as an event planner, vendors started getting in touch with me. They wanted me to refer my clients to them, and, for the privilege, they were willing to pay me–in hard, cold cash–a percentage of what my clients paid them for their work. I understand that this can be quite a good revenue stream for an event planner, but I am not willing to sell out for the cash. I always insist that the vendor give my client the equivalent discount, instead. It costs the vendor the same amount and it allows me to offer my clients a little bonus.
Taking the “commission” (as they call it) is a problem because I work for the person who is paying me. If I were to take both a fee from a client and a payment from a vendor, then I would have two bosses with conflicting interests. I would lose the ability to help my client stay within their budget, since my own personal interest would be for them to spend more. I also might be tempted to refer clients to the vendor who offers me the largest percentage, rather than the vendor who does the best work or gives the best value for money.
I heard a very telling story from a woman I know who makes and sells eco-friendly event invitations. She told me that she had been taking her wares around to various event planners. She was discussing the commission amount with one planner. The planner pointed to a wall of invitation sample books and told her that those vendors all offered her a much higher commission. She clearly expected that this woman would offer her more. That is a situation that can lead to bidding wars, which can not be good for the planner’s clients.
When I first started out as a planner, I was pretty sure I would never take these kickbacks from vendors. But the thing that really gave me the resolve came from a very unexpected place. I took a taxi home from the very first wedding I ever planned and coordinated. The cab driver was an older gentleman, and we chatted on the way home. Of course he asked me what I do and where I was coming from. When I told him that I am a wedding planner, the first thing he said was, “You don’t take those payments from the vendors, do you?” I assured him that I do not take them. And I have never been tempted to go back on my word.
Jan 4, 2016 | Day-of Coordinating, Weddings
I am asked sometimes why anyone should hire a wedding planner or coordinator.
Beautiful wedding day. Photo by Magical Moments Photography.
After all, you can probably do all the planning yourself. With some time, a few organizational skills, and the ability to see the project through, you can plan your wedding by yourself. Of course, it is a large job that takes a lot of time and attention. Most people find the process momentarily frustrating. At the same time, it can be very rewarding. You might even find that it is a lot of fun. (Of course, if you can’t even think about doing all the planning yourself, I’d be happy to help you!)
On the other hand, when it comes to day-of wedding coordination, almost everyone needs someone to do the job. In the past when brides were typically younger, the mother of the bride often took care of the coordinating. Sometimes the Maid of Honor does all the work. These days, though, most couples want to allow their families and friends to enjoy the wedding day and not have to deal with the details.
Even if your wedding is simple and straightforward, if you hire a day-of coordinator, you are also hiring a professional consultant who can help you with the planning. It’s well known that a so-called Day-Of Coordinator is really a Month-Of Planner. When I am working with a couple, I tell them that once they hire me, they can call me or send me an e-mail any time if they need guidance or a vendor referral or just someone to bounce an idea off of. And that’s just a start. You have access to my extensive vendor list and all my experience in planning and coordinating. My true function is to make sure that the wedding goes smoothly, and that means that I start working toward that goal as soon as I am hired. If I can prevent costly mistakes or solve a problem months in advance, then I am doing my job as day-of coordinator.
Also, I have resources that you might not have. Especially if your wedding is non-traditional or if you want to make sure it is environmentally friendly, I have access to vendors and other resources that you might not know about.
Maybe you have been to a wedding and thought it all went so smoothly that there was no need for a coordinator. That is actually the highest compliment you can pay to a day-of wedding coordinator. From the point of view of the guests, it should all look effortless, and that means that someone has put all the details together into a beautiful wedding day.
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