Your venue has a coordinator, do you REALLY need a Wedding Planner too?

Check out this conversation recently posted on LinkedIn to see how others weigh in on this question:

Question: The venue I chose has a coordinator included in their package, so do I really need a wedding planner too?

Response #1 (from a coordinator):  "Most venues have their own event/wedding coordinator, who by the way work for the venue and not for the bride!!  A wedding coordinator from a venue is generally one whose duties are for the day of the wedding, a wedding planner means that this professional has planned the wedding from start to finish and works only for the bride/bridal couple."

Response #2 (from a wedding blogger): "The venue's wedding coordinator makes sure things run smoothly for the VENUE not you (sometimes these are totally different things). If a bride can afford it I highly recommend at least getting a day of coordinator, it will lower the insanity level considerably."

Response #4 (from a wedding photographer): "The venue coordinater has no stress.  A wedding coordinator guides them and makes them relaxed as all is sorted.  I have been at weddings where the Bride is so stressed out it is not even worth taking photos of her."

Response #5 (from an actual bride): "As a bride my venue co-ordinator didn't even work on Saturdays so had someone I'd never met before on the wedding day - and didn't see them that much either."

Now you've seen the opinions of various people who have worked with both venue coordinators and wedding planners.  Are you ready to meet with a wedding planner in Green Bay?  Contact me at brittney@powerweddingplanning.com or 920-366-7973, and let's set up your complimentary consultation!

Tips For Easily Creating Your Seating Arrangements

I've discussed why a seating arrangement is so important in a previous blog. But making a seating arrangement and chart for your wedding reception can be difficult. How do you meet everyone's wishes, while keeping your sanity??? Here are several tips that can make your task of creating your wedding seating arrangements easier!

1) Make or get a drawn out lay-out of the reception space with the tables where they will be on the wedding night. Many venues can provide this for you.

2) Make a list of all the guests who will be at your wedding. This way you can mark each guest once they are assigned a seat. Use pencil so you can un-mark any guests if you need to make rearrangements!

3) Number each table so that you will be able to stay organized. Make a seperate sheet of paper where you list the tables and can write down the names of guests at each table.

4) First assign all seats at the head table, or bridal party table.

5) Next, start by seating those with special needs. Elderly guests will appreciate be seated away from the DJ, close to facilities, and away from children. Disabled guests should be seated near ramps, exit points, and disability-friendly restrooms.

6) Close family should be kept near the head table.

7) If you are having kids at your reception, consider having a kids' table. Keep this table near the dance floor so that kids can burn off energy.

8) A mix of singles and couples will help make sure no one feels like they are being singled out.

9) When using long tables, couples should be seated across from each other, and alternate male and female on each side of the table. For round tables, couples should be seated next to each other.

10) Make sure all your guests are seated by someone they know and are comforatable with.

11) If possible, group people together based on common interests.

12) Once you have finished deciding where all guests will be seated, make a chart of all the guests in alphabetical order according to their last names. Next to each name, list the table number where they will be sitting. Have this printed on a large board so guests can easily and quickly find their name and table number.

13) For your vendors, make a list according to table numbers so they can easily figure out where to put the place cards.

Of course, making a seating arrangement is time-consuming and can be frustrating. But after all the work, you can relax knowing that all your guests will be comfortable and will truly be able to appreciate the beauty of your wedding!

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Women Planning Their Weddings at Work

I found this article online at Forbes:
http://www.forbes.com/2010/07/22/wedding-planning-the-knot-wedding-channel-websites-forbes-woman-time-working-brides-survey.html?partner=whiteglove_google

With so many women using work time to plan their weddings, I think they should considering hiring a wedding consultant. By doing so, women can still have the wedding of their dreams, but their work will not suffer during the process.

Review of The Modern Bride Survival Guide

The Modern Bride Survival Guide is the most inspiring and practical wedding planning book I have come across. It is without a doubt the most visually appealing wedding planning book available. This book is basically a "best of Modern Bride magazine" display. It has many of the features we already love about the Modern Bride magazine and plenty of lovely photographs that get your creative juices flowing.

This book is packed with tips from experts and fellow brides. Chapters are well-organized and cover every important aspect of a wedding in a simple yet creative format. Author Antonia Van Der Meer, who is also editor-in-chief of Modern Bride magazine, perfectly captures the fun spirit typically found in the magazine so many brides-to-be are already in love with, while delivering needed information to brides to help them through the stress and excitement of planning their wedding day.