Yesss, let’s talk about money!!! Everyone’s favorite topic.
I think the real statement here is that parents need to really consider why they are giving money and what they expect from their gift.
If you hand over a check and say “here, we want you to have an amazing day and put this towards whatever you need” that is gifting money.
If you hand over a check and then say “I want to see this done the way I think is best” that’s manipulation. You can word it differently but if you want to control the couples day and you continue to adjust, advise and invite outside of what the couple wants, it’s always just gonna be problematic.
Worse is that the couple will always remember having to accommodate someone else or having to sacrifice what they truly wanted and that’s not ever fair.
#givewithnoexpectations #stoptellingcoupleswhattodo #whycantthisbeeasier
First, I don’t think “more regularly” makes a ton of sense but I’m committed to the 1-take concept here so it’s just gonna stay. 🤷🏼♀️
Second, we will recommend people who care about their clients, who will work hard and who know how important it is to be committed to giving their best to EVERY client, not just the ones who are spending the most.
We aren’t here to be paid by vendors and venues for recommendations. If you think you need to pay us to recommend you, you have the wrong idea about how we work.
Be amazing to our clients and we will forever want to work with you. Better still, be super fun to work with and we will be sure we recommend you to people who don’t even book us, just because we know you are gonna be amazing.
Ask your planner about why they recommend who they do, how they benefit from those recommendations and then decide if you think they are giving you good recommendations or just paid recommendations.
#makeitcooltocare
#committedtotransparency
#makinguphashtagsforfun
First- yes that’s my old cat running up the stairs behind me. I didn’t want to do another take so she’s there. 🐈
Second, if I could sum this idea up it would be that just because you spend a ton on your wedding, doesn’t mean it will be better or more fun. Period.
Be intentional about what you do and why you do it. Make it personal so people can get to know the two of you as a couple and most of all remember-
THERE IS NO ONE CHECKING TO MAKE SURE YOU FOLLOWED THE “rules” OF THE WEDDING DAY so you can do whatever you want!!!!
#havefunplanningyourwedding #yourdayyourway #celebratethewayyouwant #weddingrulesarelame
Let’s be real about kids at the wedding reception….
🛑Stop inviting them and expecting them to behave like proper adults when even proper adults don’t behave well at most wedding receptions.
Either make it an event that allows for kids to enjoy and have fun or don’t allow kids to attend.
Nothing good comes from couples being forced or shamed into allowing kids, only for everyone at the wedding to be annoyed or angry about a kid being there.
😰A wedding reception is overwhelming to even me and I’ve been planning them for 20 years. What makes you think a child won’t feel that but x100.
It’s a new space, new people, loud noises, tons to do and see and a bunch of people in their way or telling them what to do. That’s not fun for a kid and the expectation that they should manage it, is beyond absurd to me.
🤪Make the event “kid friendly” in some ways (we’ve got tons of tips and ideas) or just draw a clear like and just say no.
🫶🏻Helpful advice from your honest and very transparent wedding planner.
(Side note, did this in 1 take and still don’t really know how to edit this sh*t yet, so here ya go)
Setup and getting ready for the guests. Loving the navy and gold.
So excited to finally get to do my favorite thing ever, answering some of our clients, followers, fellow vendors and friends questions about wedding planning!
You’ll be seeing a color coded format by topic so they are easy to find when looking for wedding advice.
We reached out and got about 40 submissions for questions but are always open to any that you might have!
Might as well use these 20 years of experience to share all my best suggestions and assistance because this stuff is way harder than you’d think!
#1 most submitted question- “My parents are helping pay but are suggesting horrible ideas and inviting people I don’t know, how do I ask them to let us plan our own day, our own way?” (It was phrased quite differently tho- haha)
Also- note these random pauses that I have no idea why I took while talking….I’m going to have to learn editing eventually.
Also, also - constant shout out to @kamron_khan for teaching me how to find the best lighting in the house. No filter just walk around until you look your best.
Look, just because someone has a cute Instagram feed DOES NOT mean they know how to shoot weddings.
I do not care if they have done 100 styled shoots (I won’t even get started on those) the chaos of the wedding day, managing family members, coordinating a schedule, trying to navigate stressful situations and how to work well with other vendors on a wedding day is so incredibly critical to you getting what you need from them. And it’s just not something that someone “new” has yet to fully master.
I fully understand that sometimes you can’t budget for the best of the best, but if you are working with someone new or inexperienced they had better offer to show you that they are invested in not just using your wedding day as a learning experience. Cause yikes.
🥸Side note- my makeup always looks way weird on the reels as opposed to how I look in the mirror. Im definitely starting to see why people use filters.
Venues want to sell out their space but you need to know what that looks and feels like from your guests standpoint so be sure to talk to someone else who had the same guest count.
This is the same if you are having a smaller group in the space. You always want a realistic idea of how your event will function so talk to people who have already used the space with the same setup.
It isn’t even about the event being good or bad, it’s more to get an idea of how it will really feel and what will or won’t fit.
The last thing you want to do is have an expectation for a certain flow and style and once all of your tables are setup and ready, you realize you don’t really have room to even get around.
Easy tip and yet another for guests of weddings and events.
You don’t rsvp, you don’t come. Period.
You didn’t get a +1 on your invite? Don’t bring someone.
There are so many working pieces to the day that need your final count, it is not ok to just randomly show up and expect (or worse demand) to be seated.
Please, just rsvp. And rsvp on time. If the coupe has to call you because you didn’t rsvp on time, that’s rude.
First and foremost. Do not be late. Period.
If you are, please understand you are disrupting a very important moment and act accordingly.
Please just wait in the back until there is an appropriate moment to quietly enter and seat yourself in the closest row/seat in the back.
There is no reason to enter as if you are the center of attention or as if you are now part of the bridal party. Please. I can’t stress this enough.
But also- account for travel, traffic, parking and your familiarity of the location so that you plan accordingly and are able to show up BEFORE the ceremony begins.
Okay! Another tip!
Wedding invitations can be tricky and we have many more tips on how they work but this is the #1 issue I run into.
One solution that regularly gets offered is to “lie” about the start time so guests show up on time.
Not. A. Fan.
If there is room on the invite you can say;
“Doors open at 5p and ceremony promptly begins at 5:30p”
I’ve just never liked the idea of having to “trick” your guests at your wedding. Better still to keep everyone aware that things will run promptly and you hope they can be there.
Next tip- what do you do when you are late to a ceremony (obviously you just shouldn’t be late, ever, but if you are……?!?)
And yes, I had to use a filter. I was not feeling my post yoga, no makeup, tired face today. 👹
I stand by this. 100%
I’m not a heavy drinker so this isn’t even for me but if you throw a bash that typically revolves around an open bar but you don’t want the open bar, then try something else.
💡Have a brunch wedding
💡Have a picnic wedding
💡Have a themed wedding
💡Have an outdoor wedding with games and activities.
💡Have a wedding at an art gallery
No, not every wedding requires alcohol, but most PARTIES do have it, so don’t bother to make it work without one of the main elements, just think outside the box.
Side note- if most of your crowd doesn’t drink, this doesn’t apply since they already know how to have a good time without alcohol 😉
Cash bar?
Nope.
Also- just found sound effects so that’s going on here. Bear with me as I learn as I go and just post some really poor quality videos in the meantime.
Beautiful wedding from this past weekend. Such a fun couple to work with!
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#Repost @eliteohioevents
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Stephanie & Eric!!
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@alleventsplanned @brittanyserowski @renaissanceeventhall #militarywedding #eliteohioevents #weddingbands #todaysbride #ido #clevelandwedding #weddingvideography
Guess whose a @ceochicks #alleventsplanned #ceochicks #kickinass #awesomeattractsawesome
Ohhh. This one got me. ❤️❤️😭😭😍#cutestcouple #engaged #engagement #proposal #headsup #theellenshow #heproposed #tearsofjoy #love #weddings #alleventsplanned