RSVP Dilemmas

Handling RSVP cards can be very time consuming and challenging at times. Keep in mind that when sending out RSVP you should have a projected number of guests that will respond to the RSVP card.

Track your cards by having the responses in alphabetical order; an index card box comes in handy with keeping the cards together in one location.

To avoid guests from reserving five seats when you expected them to reserve two you may also prepare RSVP cards based on the specific number of seats you are able to reserve for your guest. To do this you will need to know the person that you are sending the invitation to and the estimated number of seats you will need.

Below is a suggestion on wording the specified number of seats reserved per invitation.

We have reserved two seats in your honor.

M____________________________________

_____ Accept with pleasure _____ Decline with regret

The kindness of your response is requested by September 1, 2010

Shade on a Summer Wedding Day

If you are planning on having a ceremony outside, many people think about the chance of rain…..how about the chance of unbearable sun? Think about your bridesmaids as they stand in the hot sun and your guests while they are seated.

Pass on the boutiques, save on the cost of the boutiques and order personalized parasols for their use following the wedding. Having a personalize parasol can serve as a wedding day necessity to keep your bridesmaids out of the sun, for creative photos, and as a keepsakes. Check out some photos below from http://www.idooriginals.com/ and http://www.pamelasparasols.com/

Oh and don’t forget about your guests! Consider having a program fan to serve as double duty….cooling down your guests and informing them of the details for the ceremony & reception.

Tip: Immediately after the ceremony your coordinator should have water for the entire wedding party while your guests attend the cocktail hour.

"Picture This" - Save the Date Announcements

Now that you have set a date it’s time to let your friends and family know what dates to save for your wedding. A very nice way to let your guests know when you are getting married is to send them a Save the Date card, magnet, or in another creative form.

This will be especially helpful if you have guests traveling from out of town. The courtesy of giving your guest’s time to secure great deals on flights and hotels will be appreciated. Depending on the amount of guests you have traveling from a good distance you may send out the “Save the Date” cards within 5 months or more.

Find your style that you would lke to use as your save the dates....

Unique Escort Cards

This is a really cute, however a very time consuming project for a decorated escort card board for the reception. If you are a very organized and crafty bride I say go for it!

Below are excerpts from a post from a bride Mrs. Eggplant with minor edits from the original post.

The one project I unfortunately didn’t get many photos of on W-Day, was our ribbon board with our decorated escort cards. I say unfortunately, because this baby took hours upon hours of grueling labor. We finished the project the night before our wedding rehearsal!

To make the board and cards, I needed the following materials:
Martha Stewart border punch and EK Success flower punch
Many spools of pink, green, white, and brown ribbon
Six foam boards (to make three ribbon boards)
Sewing pins
Place cards from Paper Source
Metal brads

First, the ribbon boards. My cousin came up with the idea to take a piece of foam board, layer the colored ribbon across it, and use pins on the backside to keep the strands in place. It worked out well. I also think a staple gun would’ve done the trick.

Once we covered the entire board with ribbon, we took a second piece of foam board and pinned it to the back to cover up the unsightly ribbon ends. When pinning the board in place, we shoved the pins in place at varying angles. This kept the second board from slipping off.

If you’re interested in creating a ribbon board for your wedding, I recently found this link with simple instructions on making one.

Next, the escort cards; these were very easy, but very time consuming. To make the cards, I typed out our guests’ names in a template I created in Adobe InDesign, and hand fed the cards one-by-one through my printer. Unfortunately, the printer kept eating our cards when I tried to let the unit feed automatically, so I had no other option than to hand feed.

After printing, I used my Martha Stewart border punch on the bottom edges of the card stock. Then, I applied an adhesive & a small strip of ribbon and a colored flower with a brad. The flower colors were based on the guest’s meal choice.

Green = vegetarian, Dark Pink = beef, Light Pink = chicken.

And here are the finished boards with the escort cards.


Photos by Apertura Photography

Original Blog Post by Mrs. Eggplant Click Here

Happy Planning!

~Kay

Quality over Quantity when selecting your Coordinator/Planner

Don't let the price be the determining factor for your special day, meet with your prospective coordinator to learn about their style and level of service before making your final decision......quality before quantity.

In a recent conversation with industry partners the topic of pricing inquires developed and this was a very interesting topic I must say. I receive many emails requesting prices, while we don’t mind sharing information upon request for pricing we like to get to know the couple and also share our work ethic and style with each couple first.

Shopping based on price is not always beneficial or a good strategy. We clearly understand that when planning a wedding or event on a budget there are specific amounts allotted. You should be careful and know exactly what services you will be receiving for the price quoted. How accessible will your coordinator/planner be? While pricing think about a few other decisions that you have made based on quality over quantity......

Picking up a salad from a fast food restaurant or spending a few extra dollars for the quality and service from a Panera Bread.

Inexpensive deep conditioner that will last for one week in comparison to a quality deep conditioner that will keep your hair healthy for two to four weeks.

Purchasing shoes that are not comfortable but will serve the purpose or investing in good shoes that will last, be comfortable, and will not have any repercussions.

These are just a few things to think about when selecting a coordinator/planner for your special occasion. There are a variety of styles, professionalism, and the ability to envision and carry through your expectations when working with service providers.

Research and meet with at least one to two coordinators or other service providers before you decide to accept an offer. Take the time to review your notes from meeting with each potential candidate and base your final decision on the quality of service and not the cost. Our consultations are complimentary and we give our prospective clients several days to review and accept/decline our offer.

Please keep in mind that most month of coordination packages require at least 80 hours of service, this includes two coordinators on the day of your event (16 hours) and the remaining 64 hours if not more for meetings, emails, telephone conversations, planning logistics and other items, this is an average of 16 hours for 4 weeks. Once you receive your quote for pricing divide the estimated cost by the minimum of 80 hours and this will be the estimated hourly rate that you will pay. Hourly rates without packages are typically higher; we encourage you to investigate before you invest.

Enjoy the planning process and consider taking a good look at comparing services before focusing on the price. Happy planning, we wish you the best success and enjoyment for your event!

Wedding Attendants , The Roles & Duties

Along with selecting your wedding party, be sure to include your ushers and hostesses in the party also. While most brides think about the bridesmaids and groomsmen, the selection of ushers and hostesses should be included and not looked over.

The duties of attendants should be viewed and treated with high importance and responsibility. When selecting attendants think about someone with a friendly charming, energetic persona to assist with seating for the ceremony. This should be well thought out and your selection should be an adult or a responsible teenager. In the event that you have a coordinator this is not a task for your coordinator. The role of your wedding coordinator/planner is contracted to ensure the day runs smoothly and on time.

Ushers & Hostesses should be prepared to provide the following duties and more:
* Escort guests to their seat- This will ensure that the front rows of the church will be filled and you do not have too many guests in the middle or back pews.
* Offer Programs- If you are planning to hand out programs, your guests will be offered a program. This will ensure guests do not walk by the basket and attempt to come back during the service for a program to “keep track” of everything going on.
* Attend to Guest Book- Encourage guests to sign the guest book upon their arrival.
* Accept Gifts and Cards- For the guests that will not be attending the reception this is an opportunity to have attendants accept gifts and cards on behalf of the couple. Tip: Have a card holder at both the church and reception venue.
* Aisle Runner- If the bride plans to have an aisle runner the ushers will be persons to pull the aisle runner for the bride.
* Organized Exit- After the bride and groom begin the wedding recessional to exit the church or to form a receiving line it is beneficial to have an organized exit for all. There will be excitement and guests eager to see the newlyweds, however keep it organized and your guests will typically follow.


Happy Planning!