by Diana Warner | Jan 26, 2018 | Wedding Planning Tips
Wait a second, isn’t a personal assistant something that powerful CEOs have to help run their days? A person that only business owners need, I mean really. The answer is no. First lets take a second and be honest, wouldn’t you want a personal assistant to help you now in your every day life? I know I would. Add to that the normal stress load of a wedding planning and then the craziness that is the wedding day. That is prime time for a Personal Assistant.
I have a wedding party that will help me with everything I need. That’s great news, but let’s talk for a second. As a wedding planner I have had the experience of seeing a lot of wedding parties in action. Not to say they are all alike, but I tend to see a lot of wedding parties being more interested in themselves and having fun, then the couple they are standing for. Many times they’re busy getting themselves ready, or having a few too many drinks. More often then not it is just the wedding party not really knowing what they are supposed to do or what is happening throughout the day.
That’s where hiring a personal assistant for your wedding is such an added bonus. When you hire a personal assistant through Eventistry, you get someone that knows weddings in and out. More importantly, they know YOUR wedding. I handle the assignment of your assistant and give them all the information that they need for the day. The have a copy of your wedding timeline in hand. They know how to tie a corset and bustle a dress. The know that you’re not focused on eating or drinking, so they make sure you do. You want them to bring breakfast to you and your attendants? They can do that. They also come prepared with emergency snacks and drinks just in case there is nothing to be found nearby. They make sure you are running on time and that you don’t leave your emergency kit in the hotel room.
A lot of couples just hire a personal assistant for the morning, since that’s really the only time that I could potentially not be near you to help and answer questions. Plus your personal assistant is a direct line to me. They know how to communicate with me and they know the right questions to ask to get you the answers they don’t already have. Some couples find that they want a personal assistant throughout the entire day. As I am working with your vendors to keep things running, checking in on you to make sure you are comfortable, your personal assistant is right by your side for everything you need. They can keep track of your personal belongings and making sure they are packed in your get away car.
Now I should also mention that a personal assistant is an a la carte item that I offer to couples. What this means is that even if you don’t wish to use my wedding planning services, you could still utilize one of my assistants to get you through the day. Prices are based on distance and travel needed and the general scope of responsibilities that you need them to perform. So please let me know during your consultation if you are interested in having an assistant, or send me a message to get more information.
by Diana Warner | Jan 12, 2018 | Wedding Planning Tips
Wedding planning entails a lot of pieces and parts that are put together over a course of time. Things that are discussed in length before making a decision on. Things that are thought about over and over again. Here’s something that tends to fall to the wayside: the pieces and parts that are specifically needed on the day. I’m not talking about your flowers, or dessert or even your transportation. (Though sometimes that is overlooked as well.) No, I’m talking about the small things that couples will want to have on the big day, but won’t unless they pack an emergency kit. It doesn’t have to be very big, especially if you have hired me as your wedding planner. I bring my own very large rolling suitcase turned emergency kit. Within it I hold some tricks up my sleeve to help in all those moments of crisis. For instance, I have white chalk to remove stains from wedding dresses. Pluck that nugget if you will.
So here is a small list of items that I recommend couples pack in their emergency kit for their wedding day.
- Gum/breath mints
- Clear nail polish- for runners and touch ups
- Chapstick
- Bobby pins
- Safety pins
- Small first aid kit- bandaids at a minimum
- Nail file
- Tissues
- Q-tips- great for cleaning and mascara runs
- Hairspray
- Lotion
- Deodorant
- Hand sanitizer
- Fashion tape
- Tylenol/Advil/etc.
- Dental floss
- Granola bars (or protein filled snacks)
- Water, water and more water
- Suntan lotion (if outdoors)
- Bug spray (if outdoors)
- Mini bottle of favorite liquor – you know you want to.
by Diana Warner | Dec 6, 2017 | Real Couples
Cleveland Botanical Gardens and Manakiki Golf Course
Photos by: Laura Dempsy
When I first met with Lauren she said that she didn’t think she needed a wedding planner for the day. Then about 3 months before the wedding we were talking again and Lauren, her fiance and her family were starting to feel the stress of the little things all coming together. That’s where I came in. I was able to sit down with her and go through everything together, and really she had it all there it just needed to be organized. Then of course there were the few things she hadn’t even thought about, but hey, that’s what she hired a wedding planner for! On the day itself everything ran smoothly and was just exactly how they wanted it to all be.
Lauren looked stunning in her dress. It was just the right amount of bridal, so that it was a perfect wedding dress for her. Just look at how happy she was when she was smiling at her Father walking her down the aisle at the beautiful Cleveland Botanical Gardens.
Their reception was set at the Hanna Mansion on Manakiki Golf Course with touches of an art deco Gatsby theme. Gold sequin runners, candleabras and feathers all pieced together with great food, dancing and donuts. What more could you ask for?
One of the small touches that was added was the favors for their guests. Little bags of gummy bags that I was informed was the best type of gummy bear out there. Of course I was like, “Aren’t all gummy bears just gummy bears?”. No, they are not, and I was proved wrong that day.
The day ended with the arrival of the gorgeous old fashioned car (if I knew anything about cars I would tell you what it is, but alas I do not) for some portraits to fit their theme. And then a grand exit full of bubbles and cheers for the newlyweds.
This amazing wedding could not have been possible without the help of these amazing vendors:
Photography: Laura Dempsey Photography
Ceremony Venue: Cleveland Botanical Gardens
Reception Venue: Manakiki Golf Course
Catering: Dino’s Catering
Rentals: Julie Elizabeth Event Styling
Donuts: Biagio’s Donuts
Wedding Dress: CLE Bride
Flowers: Eco Flowers
by Diana Warner | Oct 25, 2017 | Being a Wedding Planner
As you can probably guess, I get asked a lot of questions about wedding planning. So I added a new page to my website to cover my most frequesntly asked questions and I thought I would also share them here in blog form. So here you go!
Q: Why should I hire a wedding planner?
A: The easiest answer to this is that chances are you have never planned a wedding before, or even an event of this size. Wedding planners have. It’s what they do for a living. They have knowledge and expertise that only someone who has planned a wedding before can possibly know. We have been there before and can help point you in the right direction and save you some time and money in the process.
The more detailed answer is that wedding planners do so much more than you think they do. Budgeting, venue searching, vendor selection, contract reviews, creating a timeline that works for what you want but also what your vendors need, corralling your wedding party and sending them down the aisle, even things behind the scenes that you won’t know about and probably never will. (If you get the chance to ask me about the “Pinterest Fail” cake, please do.) Wedding planners are also the point of contact for everyone on the day and can make decisions for you so you don’t have to because they know exactly how things should be and how you would want them. On top of all of that, you need to look at the time involved. Research shows that it takes an average of 250 hours to plan a wedding from start to finish. That’s a lot to add onto your everyday life, no wonder people get so stressed with wedding planning. Just with my wedding management package alone I spend an average of 35 hours on each couples wedding day.
Q: What is the difference between a planner, consultant and coordinator? And which one are you?
A: A wedding planner is there from start to finish. They help you with everything that has to do with your wedding and keep things organized and progressing as you plan. Depending on what you want they can be involved every step of the way or serve as more of a consultant throughout your planning process.
A wedding consultant is just that. Someone that you can reach out to and ask questions of while you are planning your wedding.
A wedding coordinator is someone who generally comes in closer to the date of your wedding to help finalize the details and run your entire day. But it does get a little tricky really defining it as every coordinator does things differently. Some only come in two weeks before, take the reins and run the show. Some come in a month before and get a little more involved with the last month of planning to make sure things are set up right for the day. Then there are coordinators like me who dread the term “day-of” or “month-of” because I firmly believe that someone cannot come in a couple weeks before you wedding and take over one of the biggest days of your life and have it run smoothly. On top of that, I wouldn’t want to because that would be entirely too stressful. The profession of a wedding planner is always listed in the “Top 5 Most Stressful Jobs”, why make it more stressful? Back on topic, coordinators who offer wedding management generally come in two months before your wedding to finalize all your details, create you timelines and then run the day.
What am I you ask? Well that all depends on what you need. I serve as a planner for some couples and a coordinator for the rest, but I ALWAYS serve as a consultant for each and every one.
Q: My venue has a coordinator, why do I need a wedding planner?
A: Venue coordinators are wonderful and can really be beneficial to your wedding planning. But they only handle the items that are directly related to the venue. The will not create your wedding day timeline, confirm with your vendors the week before, run your rehearsal or keep everyone running on time throughout the day. A wedding planner works together with a venue coordinator to make sure everything is done right at the venue and then your wedding planner handles all the rest.
Q: I need help but I want things a certain way, will a wedding planner take over?
A: No. This is your wedding and it SHOULD be exactly how you want it. A wedding planner is there to help you get that and guide you along the way. They may have ideas and pointers, but in the end what you says happens and a wedding planner will make sure it happens just that way on your wedding day.
Q: I see the packages you offer but I need something in between, is that something you do?
A: Yep! The two packages listed under my wedding planning services are my most popular packages and what most of my couples end up choosing, but if after your consultation we determine you need something else I am more than willing to create a custom package based on your needs.
Q: Do you only refer certain vendors?
A: Nope. When a couple asks me for a referral for a certain type of vendor I ask determining questions to help me better understand what exactly it is they are looking for. It’s at that point that I know exactly the best vendor for them, send them a few options or I do a little research and find one. Even if it’s someone I have never worked with before, my job is to help you find what you need.
Q: My MOH is worried that you will boss everyone around on the wedding day, is that what will happen?
A: No, that is not what I will no. I am a manager and I will do what I need to do to get things done, but as a manager I know how to get it done the right way and kindly. Wedding vendors work as a team with one goal in mind; a beautiful wedding for their clients. I will help in getting all of them on the same page and working together. I take all of their needs into consideration but I also look at what you need to happen and meet in the middle. As for your wedding party, I am there to guide and help them. Not only should the wedding be stress free for you, but it should be that way for all parties involved.
Q: What types of weddings do your wedding packages accommodate?
A: Any and all – we cater to all types and religions.
Q: Do you charge for my first consultation?
A: No. Your first consultation is free. It usually takes an hour and we will sit down and talk about where you are in the planning process and what I can do to help. If you need more than one consultation before booking with me, there will be a fee invoiced.
Q: Why should I hire Eventistry to be my wedding planner?
A: On the logistical side, I’m extremely organized and will help keep you on task. You also get access to me from the moment you book, even for just wedding management, to ask me questions and get advice as you plan. In the end, helping you helps me. You also get access to an online planning portal where you can keep everything having to deal with your wedding planning in one place. Lastly, my pricing includes my assistant that comes with me on the day and I also have a la carte services that can be added on, some are listed on my website some are not as it really depends on what is needed. But if I can help, I will.
On a more personal side, I am transparent. I tell you how it is and I get things done. I like to drink whiskey and bake cookies. Halloween is my favorite holiday with Christmas as a very close second. I’m interesting and like to have fun with my clients and get to know them on a personal level. Also, I hate heels and avocados.
Q: How far in advance do I need to book you?
A: It all depends on what you are looking for me to do. If you are looking for wedding management, then no less than two months, but I have worked with less. For full service I recommend one year minimum. Now that doesn’t mean to wait to book with me as my calendar fills up. I ALWAYS recommend booking me the moment you decide you want to work with me. That way your date is marked in my calendar and no one else can book me in your place. Plus, like I said before, the moment you book with me is the moment you have access to me for help as you plan your wedding.
Q: How long have you been planning weddings? Are you insured?
A: I started planning weddings in 2009 and am fully insured.
by Diana Warner | Sep 27, 2017 | Etiquette, Wedding Planning Tips
So working with past clients I field a lot of questions on wedding etiquette. Who is supposed to pay for what? Where does this person stand? The thing I get asked about a lot is invitations. So for your reading pleasure, here is a very simple rundown of wedding invitation etiquette. These are questions that I have been asked personally or have known to been asked of invitation designers I have worked with. Of course, not everything is covered here, but if you wish to receive more help on your invitations, reach out to the designer or even myself. I love to help my clients go into meetings with designers with a game plan so that they run smoothly.
1) When do we send out our wedding invitations? I always recommend that your invitations go out 6-8 weeks before your wedding date. This gives people enough time to make travel arrangements and take time off work if necessary. If you are having a lot of out of town guests, make sure you do save-the-date cards and send them out 6-8 months in advance.
2) When should we set the RSVP deadline for? It is important to give yourself some time to reach out to those guests who do not RSVP, there are always some that don’t. So I recommend setting your RSVP date to be 3 weeks before your wedding date. That gives you a week to make phone calls and then be able to give final numbers and finish final details in the last two weeks.
3) Where should we put the information about our wedding website? You can include the web address in the formal invitations with a seperate insert, or added to an already created insert.
4) Where should we put the information about our registry? Your wedding website. To put it on your formal invitations is looked at as a big no-no. You also should make sure your bridal party and immediate family members know where you are registered because they may field that question. The registry information can go in your wedding shower invitations if you are having one.
5) How do you make it clear to our guests that the wedding is adults only (aka no kids)? There are a few ways you can head this off. First, make sure to address the invitations precisely, as in each persons name is written out on the envelope. On the RSVP card you can have “X seats have been reserved in your honor” and then write in the number of seats for each invitation. Lastly, make sure this information is written on your wedding website. In the end you may still have people adding their children. You should give them a call and let them know that it is an adults only reception and that you hope they can still join you.
6) How do we let guests know our dress code? Easiest way is to include the dress code on the lower right-hand corner of the invite or on an included insert. On top of that, the style of invitation will help your guests determine the type of event you are hosting. It you have a calligraphy artist address everything, that sets the tone for a more formal event. An invitation of a more fun nature will point to a more casual event. As always, this information can also be posted on your wedding website.
7) Do we have to give everyone a plus one? Nope. If someone is in a serious relationship then it is nice to extend the invitation to their partner, but make sure to address the invitation as such. Otherwise it is perfectly acceptable to only invite them. If for some reason they decide to add someone to their invitation, you should call them up and explain that either your venue only fits so many people, or that you are trying to keep it intimate and that you hope they can still join you.
8) Where should we write the return address on the envelope? It should be written on the back flap of the envelope. Make sure that the address used is the person that will be recording and updating your guest list. Make sure the RSVP envelope is addressed to the same person and that postage has been paid.
9) What information should be included on the invitation? In short: Who, What, Where and When. You can include a variety of other information like maps, menus, schedule of events,etc. But that is also information that you can put on your website and instead just have once simple insert with the address.
10) How do we word the invitation itself? Traditional wording where one set of parents are financially responsible:
Mr. and Mrs. Bob Jones
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter/son
Sarah
To
Brian Smith
etc.
If you still wish to include the other set of parents on the invitation then in would be listed after the second persons name as such “son/daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Smith”. If both sets of parents are co-hosting:
Mr. and Mrs. Bob Jones
and
Mr. and Mrs. John Smith
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their children
Christopher Jones
and
Thomas Smith
etc.
If you don’t wish to list any parents:
Heather Renee Jones
and
Julie Laura Smith
request the honour of your presence
at their marriage
etc.
In the end there are so many different ways to word your invitations. I can assist with this personally, or talk with your stationer as I am sure they have run into many different forms of weddings.
I hope that I have answered a few of your questions related to your wedding invitations. Remember that your invitation sets the mood and style of the wedding that you are having and so you need to make sure that not only is your event style but that your own style is reflected in them. Happy planning!
Special thank you for your invitation imagery (in order of appearance):
Adore Paper Co
Eventistry
Up & Away Designs
It’s All Personal
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