Aisle Walking 101: Picking a planner

Not all wedding planners are a good fit for you.

You heard me right. I am a planner myself letting you know that we are all not created equal. We all are so different. Hopefully this article will help you recognize the best planner for you.

Picture courtesy of One Memory At a Time.

Article seen in The Spectrum Neighorhoods section.

Once you get engaged it can be hard to know where to begin planning your wedding. This is where your wedding planner and designer steps in to take your vision and create it so you can relax and know a professional is handling everything.

Choosing which planner to use is a big decision since they will be the one executing your wedding, keeping you on budget, referring other professional vendors and negotiating contracts for you.

Personality is one of the most important things to consider when picking out a wedding planner and designer. You will be spending a lot of time with this individual going over contracts, information and ideas. If you do not feel completely comfortable talking with the planner, this is not a good match for you.

Talking to someone about budgets or family interactions will make the experience uncomfortable and stressful if you feel like you have to withhold information because you do not have a good rapport with your planner.

Make sure the planner you are talking with is accessible. The planner needs to be prompt at answering your phone calls or messages. Making sure they are easy to get a hold of will put your mind at ease if an emergency occurred and you needed to talk with them immediately.

A wedding planner's style will also let you know if this is a good fit. Their style of work can be seen in their portfolio pictures, their office and how they present themselves. Their style will help you know if your wedding will visually turn out the way you want.

Wedding planners will charge either a flat fee for their services or a percentage of the total budget ranging from 15 to 20 percent. Usually a percentage is charged if the overall wedding budget is larger than average.

Read through the planner's contracts to know exactly what you will be getting and what is included in your planner's services for the price you have been quoted. Always sign a written contract to ensure you have a binding agreement of what services you will be getting.

Referrals are another great way to know if you will be working with someone reliable and dependable. You can always ask a planner for references, but know in advance they will usually all be positive because they were given to you by them.

Another way to find references is word of mouth. Start asking around about that planner. Ask friends, family or even other wedding professionals you trust to know if they will be a good fit for you.

Finally, make sure the company you are using is registered, licensed and an insured business. This separates a professional with a person who plans and designs as a hobby.

Wedding: Do it Yourself Centerpieces

This is a fun project for brides who are hands on and oh-so thrifty!

These branch centerpieces for your wedding are super easy to make.

Start with a branch.

I choose a set of branches that had been in a recent fire. They had a whimsical look, so I drove a full hour to get them. Ha. What I won't do for the right look! Any branch will do though.

Next spray paint your branches whatever color you want them to be. 

I chose a dark brown for this particular wedding.

Next you will need Plaster of Paris and disposable containers. 

I got the Plaster of Paris at my local craft store for around $6 and the disposable containers five for $1 at the dollar store.

Mix the plaster as described on the back of the tub. All it takes is water. I mixed everything right in the container with a plastic spoon so clean up would be easy.

Once the plaster has begun to set, take your branch and push it to the very bottom of the container. Make sure you do this quickly so the plaster will set up around the branch. You may need to hold it there for a few minutes so the branch sets up straight.

And WALA, centerpieces all ready to be decorated all for $1.50 each.

(I made 5 in all)

The last thing you need to do it find is a decorative container for them to be in to hide the plaster base. This particular centerpiece was covered in Spanish moss and had orchids and crystals hung from the branches. 

Be creative there are lots of options that can be done to decorate these fun centerpieces. 

See our links on

Which One?

I am just about to design my office space and need your help!

I love wallpaper and have picked out my top 5.

1. The Seashell

2. Apple Green

3.  Geo Metric

4. Metallic Celadon

5. Silver Damask

I wish I could put everyone of them on my wall, because I see an awesome space in all five. That is why I need your help! :)

Which do you like most?

Sneak Peak: For anyone who missed the Wedding Showcase in St. George

Ok, so lets be serious. These pictures were taken on my digital camera. So please forgive the quality! I wish I could carry around a professional photographer in my pocket to call on in important times, but unfortunately they do not come that small. :) So my digital sneak peak will have to do for now until I can find somone with better pictures.

I had such a great time meeting all the "Brides-to-be,"

picking out their wedding colors,

and hopefully will be seeing many of you again soon!

The expo was so much fun and we can't wait to get started on all the amazing weddings this upcoming year! Congrats to all the engaged couples.

Stay tuned in later posts for (hopefully) some more awesome expo pictures! hehe.

Bests,

Jewls

Put a Feather in your Cap for Marriage

Try a different alternative to the traditional cake topper by having little feathered friends. I just love these bird cake toppers found on Etsy. Make sure to check out their other collections of bird 

cake toppers at their links below. 

I would especially love to see these toppers placed on a cake anywhere but at the top. Try a side step of even at the base of the cake to mix it up.

 

Little Vale

 

Red Light Studio

 

Shea Chic Designs