Feb 19, 2018 | Weddings
I don’t know about you, but I never get tired of looking at wedding photos. Here are some from last summer. It was at one of my all-time favorite venues, The Grove in Glenview. Refined Dining did the catering, including the cake. Flowers were by Morning Glory. The fabulous Rev. Darrell Jones was their officiant. All photos are by Mike Staff Productions, who also provided the DJ and the videographer.
The beautiful bride, with her bouquet from Morning Glory.
The bride was accompanied down the aisle by her two brothers.
The ceremony was in The Grove’s gazebo, with Rev. Darrell Jones officiating.
The unity candle ceremony.
Cocktail hour was on the terrace of the historic house.
And the reception was in the covered outdoor pavilion.
The gift table.
A better view of those adorable mini-chalkboards used for place cards.
The guest book.
Floral centerpieces from Morning Glory.
The simplest wedding cake I’ve ever seen.
There was plenty of dancing!
The pavilion at night.
Feb 12, 2018 | Budget Planning
Even a very small wedding can benefit from having a coordinator.
There are two major reasons people don’t hire a wedding planner or coordinator: First, they think they don’t need one. Second, they think they can’t afford one. I’ve addressed the first issue in the past. Today, let’s talk about how a wedding planner or coordinator has an impact on your wedding budget.
Hiring a day-of coordinator for your wedding can add a few thousand dollars to your budget (depending on which coordinator you hire). It’s usually less than 10% of the budget, unless you have a very small budget. Is that the end of its impact on your budget? Hardly!
When you hire a coordinator, you can actually save money. And the earlier you hire, the more likely your coordinator will be able to help you save money. One of the things that makes weddings expensive is the fact that a great many people getting married have never planned a wedding before and can get trapped into spending more than necessary.
That is one of the reasons why I encourage my clients to keep in touch with me as they plan. Let’s say you hire me to coordinate your wedding as soon as you have a date, maybe a year in advance. You can always drop me a note or call me up when you have a question or problem. Chances are, I have an economical solution.
I was talking to a woman recently who was a couple of months away from her wedding. She was thinking about hiring a coordinator, but before we were able to have a discussion about it, her budget blew up and she decided she couldn’t afford me. I kept thinking what a shame it was that she hadn’t hired me much earlier and given me a chance to prevent the budget blow-up in the first place.
So, when you’re making your budget, include a reasonable amount for coordination. In the long run, your budget will thank you.
Feb 5, 2018 | Weddings
I worked on the loveliest little wedding last summer. The two people who got married are in science, with a lot of friends who are also in that field. They are both also handicrafters. The bride knitted the gorgeous lace shawl that she wore on her wedding day, and the groom crocheted all the flower decorations–including the bride’s bouquet! I’ve never seen anything like it. Take a close look at these beautiful photos from Allison Williams Photography for all the ways that science and hand crafts had a part in their very special day.
The ceremony was at Berger Park in Edgwater. The reception was at Bistro Campagne in Lincoln Square. Guitar music was provided by John Behling. Truffles came from Katherine Anne Confections. And the trolley was from 2nd City Trolley.
Jan 28, 2018 | Weddings
Someone has to keep track of all the little things. Photo by T & S Hughes Photography.
I was at a wedding show a while ago talking to couples who were about 15 months away from their weddings. What I heard from them, over and over, was, “Oh, I don’t think we need a planner.”
What they didn’t know yet is that I get a lot of calls from couples who are about 3 months away from their weddings, saying, “We had no idea we would need a coordinator!”
If you’re in the very beginning stages of wedding planning, let me help you out. Here are a few of the reasons you will likely say, “We need a planner/coordinator!”
Reason #1: Wedding schedules baffle most people. While I find them a breeze, about 95% of my clients need help making up a schedule for their wedding day. It’s nothing to be ashamed of: It’s a specialized skill. If you don’t know how to create a wedding day schedule, your planner or coordinator does.
Reason #2: Someone has to keep track of all the stuff. You’re probably dreaming about all the little things that will help make your wedding day special and unique. There are the place cards, the guest book, the favors, the centerpieces, the card box, the programs, the candles, the flowers, and so many other things. Who is going to make sure that every item is in the right place at the right time? Who will keep track of things and make sure that everything is set beforehand and packed up at the end of the night? There’s one easy answer: Your day-of coordinator!
Reason #3: A planner or coordinator is an insurance policy with your vendors. You’ve hired all these terrific vendors to help you entertain your guests. You have a caterer and a DJ and a florist and a photographer. Chances are, they will do a great job, since most wedding vendors are dedicated professionals. But what if someone is late or forgets what you want? Having a coordinator who works only for you can make all the difference between a good wedding day and a great one.
Reason #4: Your planner or coordinator will solve problems–and often can prevent them in the first place. My primary job, as your wedding coordinator, is preventing and solving problems. I doubt there has ever been a wedding since weddings began where something hasn’t gone wrong. Sometimes it’s something large; sometimes it’s a few small things. But there’s always something. If you don’t want to have to worry about that, you need someone there whose job it is to make things right. Hiring a professional means you have a designated person for exactly that purpose–someone who is focused on the job alone and not also emotionally involved in your wedding day.
There are lots of other good reasons you might consider hiring a planner or a coordinator, but these are a few that you might not have thought of yet. So, in addition to the financial benefits of hiring a coordinator, there are many practical reasons to do so. What are you waiting for?
Jan 22, 2018 | Weddings
I bet you want to see some more photos from last summer’s weddings. Here are the pictures from one I really enjoyed. There were some interesting challenges to this wedding, starting with the fact that it was at the Notebaert Nature Museum the same weekend as the Air and Water Show. (Think about that for a second!) And then the weather was not nearly as cooperative as we would have liked. So, there were some obstacles, but, with the help of a fantastic, dedicated group of vendors, we overcame everything that was thrown in our way and there was a wonderful wedding of an equally wonderful couple.
You’ll notice that there are a lot of photos of dancing in this group. Because the bride is a professional dancer, it was obviously important!
Catering was from the most excellent George Jewell Catering. Flowers and decor were by Anna Held Floral Studio. Stu Hirsh Orchestra provided the music. All photos are courtesy of Gold Grid Studios.
Jan 15, 2018 | wedding planning
A sample from last year’s show. Photo by Genevieve Lauren Photography.
Okay, this is it! The Green Wedding Alliance’s annual wedding show, Committed, is coming right up on Sunday, January 21. That’s next Sunday! Don’t wait. Buy your tickets now.
The show is from noon to 3:00 p.m. at Greenhouse Loft, 2545 West Diversey Ave. 2nd Floor.
And why should you buy a ticket today and go on Sunday? I’ll tell you! Committed is a mellow gathering of the multi-talented vendors belonging to the Green Wedding Alliance. Every vendor is committed not only to high quality service to couples getting married, but also to the principles of environmental sustainability. It’s a win for everyone.
So, if you’re committed to someone and looking for a terrific collection of wedding vendors, check out Committed. There will be food and beverages to sample; photographers’ work to admire; florists and bakers with their wares; music and maybe even dancing. Bring your partner or a friend or your mom and enjoy an afternoon exploring wedding vendor possibilities. Get your tickets today!
Jan 8, 2018 | About me
Photo by Ryan Timm Photography.
I’m very pleased to announce my new 2018 pricing for day-of (“month-of”) coordinating services. For 2018, coordinating services will be priced at $1,350.
My coordinating package includes set-up and coordination on the wedding day for up to eight hours, along with one assistant; pre-wedding vendor confirmation and coordination. up to one hour of wedding rehearsal; timelines, schedules, and layouts for you and for your vendors; one one-hour meeting at the venue; and unlimited phone calls, texts, and emails from contract signing through the wedding day.
That, of course, is just the flat fee for the standard package. I am always willing to craft a custom package to suit your particular circumstances. My only caveat is that I don’t give discounts.
Okay, I just lied!! I do give just one particular discount. When you get in touch with me, if you mention a friend(/acquaintance/co-worker/neighbor/relative/etc.) of yours who used my services in the past, I will be happy to give you the 2017 coordinating rate in 2018. Past clients, please take note: Your friends can get a discount on my services if they mention your name. Let them know they can get a good deal. This offer is good until the end of 2018.
Finally, due to to circumstances beyond my control, the prices on the Money page of my website are out of date. I would update them if I could, but it’s not possible right now. So, please take note of the current prices here. As always, I’m happy to answer questions if you want to get in touch.
Jan 1, 2018 | Uncategorized
Happy New Year! Courtesy of sprungphoto.com.
Happy New Year to all! If you just got engaged, please accept my congratulations. Enjoy your engagement. There’s no time like it. And remember to leave plenty of time to spend with your spouse-to-be, even while you are busy planning your wedding.
Dec 25, 2017 | Uncategorized
For those who celebrate holidays right around now, I’d like to offer my best wishes for your holidays. May all your dreams come true!
Dec 18, 2017 | Weddings
The summer wedding photos are starting to come in. Today is the first of the batch. I’ll be posting more in the coming weeks.
This was a sweet wedding at Firehouse Chicago (one of my favorite venues!) This couple wanted a fairly casual wedding and a fun party with their friends and family. Catering was by the Big Star Taco Truck. All the flowers were from May Floral. Cage+Aquarium provided both the DJ and the photographer. And, because this couple are socially responsible people, the dessert buffet of Middle Eastern pastries came from an organization that uses the proceeds to help Syrian refugees.
All photos are courtesy of Cage+Aquarium.
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