Wedding Wisdom

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When you reach out to potential event planners, you may not initially know what level of assistance you are in need of. Many event planners offer both coordination and planning services so it is important to understand the difference between the two so you can determine the level of assistance that best suits your needs and budget.

The terms "coordination" and "planning assistance" are often used interchangeably in the context of wedding and event planning, but they refer to distinct roles with different responsibilities.

  1. Planning Assistance:

    • Planning assistance typically involves helping the couple with various aspects of the wedding planning process from start to finish. These aspects may include guidance on budgeting, venue research, vendor selection, creating overall wedding design and theme, coordinating appointments with vendors, creating a timeline, managing stationary and RSVP’s… the list goes on and on.

    • Planning assistants often work closely with the couple to understand their vision and preferences, offering...

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Finding the perfect wedding venues is an important step in planning your big day. A venue can set the stage for the entire event and is one of the larger budget items as well. Here are three important factors to consider during your search:

Capacity and Layout: Before visiting potential wedding venues, consider the number of guests you expect to invite. Look for venues that can comfortably accommodate your guest count. Consider the layout of the venue, including indoor and outdoor spaces, ceremony and reception areas, rental timeframes, dance floors, and amenities such as restrooms and dressing rooms. Ensure that the venue's layout aligns with your vision for the flow of your wedding day events. Ask them about exclusivity on the day of your event. Will you be the only wedding taking place that day or do they hold multiple events per day?

Services and Amenities: Inquire about the services and amenities offered by each wedding venue to determine if they meet your needs and preferences. Ask about packages and pricing options, catering...

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Venue

Here’s an age old question - what’s the difference between a wedding coordinator and a venue coordinator? They both play crucial roles in your wedding day.

The role of a wedding coordinator:

A wedding coordinator is responsible for managing so many different aspects of your wedding. Every single vendor you’ll have at your wedding will be managed via the timeline provided by the wedding coordinator. They act as a liaison between the couple and the many vendors such as the photographer, florist, caterer, musicians. The detailed timeline that they’ve created will help everyone stay on schedule during the day so the couple won’t need to lift a finger.

Wedding coordinators are trained to handle any and all situations that may arise throughout the day. If sauce is spilled on the wedding dress, if a sibling to the groom shows up drunk, if the florist doesn’t have the correct color of florals, etc. your wedding coordinator is there to handle every minute detail and problem solve. The bride and groom’s experience is the wedding coordinator’s number one...

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Bride and Groom

A wedding day can be overwhelming and honestly, a very long day even if it was the best day ever! It’s so important to take the next few days and reflect on the marriage you get to build and take it easy. Jumping into life as a newlywed may feel a bit strange.

Most likely there have been months (or years) spent planning for the big day and it’s finally over. It’s ok to grieve. I personally cried a bit after my wedding because even though the event was fantastic I had to let go of the event that I had poured so much of my heart and emotion into. It’s normal to feel a bit empty without a big project such as a wedding to stress about and plan in one’s free time. Feel these emotions without judgment. On the opposite end of the spectrum, feelings of ecstasy may arise after having the day over with and it may feel freeing and joyous to be married with nothing else to think about besides a new life together. After taking a few days or a week to honeymoon and be alone, there are a few things to start thinking about.

The first thing on the list (and it really should be thought...

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Top Banner

Meeting with prospective florists is an exciting step in planning your wedding decor. Before you set up a meeting with a florist, here are four things to know:

1. Know Your Vision and Budget: Before meeting with a florist, have a clear vision of the floral aesthetic you want for your wedding. Browse through magazines, Pinterest, or Instagram for inspiration and create a mood board or list of specific flowers, colors, and styles you like. Additionally, have a realistic budget in mind for your floral arrangements. Knowing your budget upfront will help your florist suggest options that fit within your budget.

2. Venue Details: Provide your florist with detailed information about your wedding venue, including its layout, setup timeframes, and any restrictions or guidelines related to floral decorations. Share photos or floor plans if possible, so your florist can better understand the space and make appropriate recommendations for floral arrangements.

3. Other Décor Elements: Consider how your floral arrangements...

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Venue

When initially discussing a budget with clients, a common question is if the total budget they’ve allocated is “realistic” or not. This can be a hard question to answer unless you have knowledge of the general costs of the vendor you are wanting. There are also a lot of variables that come into play with a wedding budget as well.

Building a realistic wedding budget involves reviewing multiple factors to ensure you cover all necessary expenses without overspending. A local wedding planner can be a huge asset to determine if your budget is realistic or not. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you:

Determine Your Total Budget: It’s important to start by figuring out how much you can afford to spend on your wedding. Knowing the maximum you are willing to spend on your wedding will help allocate the total budget into your prioritized expenses. Remember to consider contributions from family members as well.

Prioritize Expenses: Once you know your total budget, you can now go through and outline your top priorities for the wedding....

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Details

Invest in your guest tables. To get right into it, the table is one of the only places where your guests will be up close and personal with your florals and decor. It’s the place where guests are not only sitting and looking for a while but also where they’ll be exploring the event through their sense of touch. This experience should add to their impression of the event and give them pause to think about the beauty of the day.

Creating a wedding tablescape involves a combination of decor, design, and personalization to complement the theme of the wedding. There are so many different ways to create and think about the design of this aspect of the wedding.

Prerequisites for creating a tablescape: a theme/style and color palette must already be chosen. These tables should exude the chosen style and give guests an aesthetic to admire. If the wedding theme is highly colorful, think about choosing some neutral bases and then adding the pops of color in various places.

First things first, start with table choice and linens. Does the venue provide tables or will tables...

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Reception

Everyone loves a good band or DJ at a wedding. When the music is produced well, that specific vendor can make the whole event top notch. Don’t imagine that they’ll show up and everything will run smoothly - be sure to check in with them about six key things prior to the wedding day.

First of all, discuss their microphones. Will they provide: cordless handheld mics, a lavalier mic, or microphone stands? Ceremony microphones WILL be photographed so be sure to discuss with the band manager or DJ to verify the microphones they have available so the desired look is achieved for the event. Consider wind or water background noise as a factor in your event and plan your microphone choice accordingly.

Second, a conversation between the DJ/band and the venue is essential. Many venues have restrictions such as noise ordinances beginning at a certain time of night or of a certain decibel limit if the venue is attached to a hotel. Music levels still need to be in compliance with local government and policies. This discussion should also include mention of power limitations. If the...

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Wedding Ceremony

Selecting the ideal start time for your wedding ceremony involves considering all kinds of factors, such as: cultural traditions, season, venue, and personal preferences. Here’s a guide to help you choose the ideal time of day to start your ceremony:

  1. Consider the most important parts of your big day! Do you want 2 or 3 hours of dance time? When do you need to be out of the venue at the end of the event? How long would you like the cocktail hour to last? Those are some of the big questions that help to determine your ceremony time. My top suggestion would be to work backwards on your ‘day-of’ timeline, starting at the end of the night to help determine your ideal ceremony start time.
  2. Consider the season of the year: If you’re having a spring or fall wedding the sun will set sooner than during the summer. In winter the sun will start setting around 4pm and if you’re looking for golden hour photos, you may want to plan accordingly. Here in Utah your venue location will also play a big role! If your venue is in the shadow of a mountain the sun will set sooner...

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Villa Erba | Lake Como, Italy | The Grand Hotel Tremezzo

I have recently been doing site visits in Europe for a couple of clients and thought it would be fun to share, with you, a couple of dreamy wedding locations.

Today let's talk about Villa Erba, a beautiful Villa that was built in 1894 with amazing views of the lake.

Imagine your ceremony with these stunning views of Lake Como in the background. There are 2 areas to choose from for your ceremony. The first location, which is my favorite, is best for weddings of less than 120 people. Your guests have the opportunity to sit and look at the Lake and Mountains in the background while celebrating your wedding ceremony. The second location can hold up to 200 people and has a built-in Gazebo that can be decorated with flowers to suit your wedding aesthetics. The reason I love the first option is that you truly are on the lakefront and the area feels more intimate.

You can hold your cocktail hour in several areas, the first is the back staircase of the Villa. There is ample room to set-up music, a bar, tables and a lounge area. As your guests are enjoying a wonderful...

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Bride and Groom

There are so many spectacular wedding locations to host your wedding around the world. Be it Stunning Lake Como, Italy, the beautiful mountains of Park City, Utah, a castle in Ireland and so many more.

When hosting a destination wedding one of your best investments is a great International Wedding Planner. Below are some reasons an international wedding planner is priceless:

Budget Management: Everyone has a budget be it $150,000 or $5 Million. A great wedding planning team will be able to assist you in determining what your budget number needs to look like for the location and type of wedding you are looking for. They can be realistic with you, that you probably cannot do a wedding for 150 guests at a Villa in Lake Como on $150,000. They can also guide you when making decisions that will help you to stay within your budget.

Wedding Logistics: Planning a destination wedding involves many logistics, including finding the right venue, hotels for your guests, transportation,...

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Details

There are many venues that require that you hire a wedding coordinator. You might ask why, especially if the venue’s package includes an onsite coordinator. The reason is the venue's site coordinator is typically responsible for the items pertaining to the venue and the venue only. They are not responsible for coordinating your outside vendors, making sure your ceremony is queued or that your speeches happen on time.

When hiring a wedding coordinator different companies will offer slightly different packages. But in general you should expect to receive the following services from your coordinator:

1 - Creating or reviewing your wedding day timeline. It is important your wedding coordinator takes the time prior to the wedding to either work with you to create your timeline or review your timeline with you. A great coordinator will let you know if they see any issues with the timeline and assist you in making adjustments that will allow your day to run smoothly.

2 - Connect with the vendors at least a week prior to ensure they have and understand the timeline....

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DJ Cam Reeve

Music is an essential part of the wedding as it sets the tone for the event and helps to create a lively and celebratory atmosphere. This is where a great DJ comes into the picture. As a wedding planner I believe, hiring a great DJ is crucial to ensuring that the wedding runs smoothly and is a memorable experience for the couple and their guests. Here are the things I believe make a DJ great.

Professionalism

A great DJ brings professionalism to the table. They are experienced and know how to conduct themselves at weddings. They know how to interact with the guests and create an atmosphere that is fun and engaging. They are always on time, and know how to dress for each particular event. A professional DJ is reliable, they will always have a backup plan in case of any unforeseen circumstance

Versatility

A great DJ is versatile and can cater to different musical preferences. They know how to read the crowd and play music that will keep everyone on the dance floor. They can play different genres of music, from oldies to...

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DJ Cam Reeve

Tell me a little about yourself?

DJ Cam's Story

Cam Reeve was born and raised in Logan, UT. Cam attended Logan High School and could often be found at local events throughout Logan like the Logan Country Swing Nights. It was there, while he was dancing and having a good time with friends, that his interest in music and DJing were piqued.

“I quickly found out that I was good at recognizing different styles of music, and when we would hang out as a group of friends I would be placed in charge of the music for our random dance parties.”

Down the road, Cam found himself as the DJ for a friend's party, and it was there that he fell in love with the idea of being a DJ for a living. After High School, Cam spent his college savings on a car and a DJ setup. He spent all of his free time finding parties to DJ at and attending any dance or event that had either music or a DJ.

“For about a year I attended Country Night on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday...

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Details

Why You Should Hire a Wedding Planner:

Engagement Season is in full Swing! After the excitement of the engagement settles, stress levels rise as couples contemplate the full scope of planning their dream wedding. A common question among newly engaged couples is “should I hire a wedding planner?” and being a wedding/event planner myself, my answer is always going to be, “yes, you absolutely should!”

But in case you need a little more convincing, here are a few of many reasons why I believe you should hire a wedding planner:

Wedding Planners Make it so You Can Enjoy the Planning Process and Your Wedding Events:

Your wedding is a special day and you should be able to experience each element without having to worry about the details. In 2019 it was reported that the average wedding took 528 hours to plan. Most of us lead very busy lives and we can’t always take time off work and life to fully dedicate ourselves to the planning process. A great wedding planner can take a lot of the time and stress of wedding planning off your...

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