What does a Wedding Consultant really do?

As I have started this journey into the world of flowers, cake and wedding dresses I am finding that many people out there don't really know exactly what a Wedding Consultant (aka planner or coordinator) does so I thought I'd outline some of the amazing things us planners do.

It's quite amazing really, how this once untouchable person who you only thought worked with the rich and famous has become somewhat of a necessity when planning your big wedding day.  I don't just say that because I am a Wedding Consultant either. Think about it; It's a beautiful summer day, your hair is done, you've just put on your gorgeous bridal gown, all your best girl friends are all dresses up ready to walk down the aisle by your side and all of a sudden it starts raining ... or .... the cake is missing in action.  You thought your fiance took care of it and he thought you took care of it.  I know, I know a brides worst nightmare.  

Believe it of not, these things happen.  Who are you going to look to make things right?  This is were a Consultant comes in.  Not only will she be wearing flats to run from bridal suite to reception space to relay exactly how each table is being set, but she'll have a bag of tricks up her sleeve so you can relax.  She would have made sure that cake was ordered and confirmed it the week before.  She would be standing by with umbrella's for the rainstorm and have a bad weather back up ready with staff ready to put it into action.  On your wedding day she is your go to gal to make everything run as smoothly as you dreamed.  All you have to do is focus on that one true love you've been waiting your whole life to marry.  Leave the logistics to us, we'll leave the love to you.

The Wedding Consultant is more than your day of stress reliever though.  There are actually a variety of ways you can take advantage of them with out worrying about breaking the bank.

Option 1 - Full Service Wedding Consulting
       This is the big ticket item and what I think most people see as a Wedding Consultants job.  If you want someone there every step of the way, this is the way to go.  Many times, when couples don't know where to start and really don't have time to even think about a wedding, they go this route.  Your consultant will do the research for you, but you still have to make the decisions.  Consultants really get to know their couples throughout this process which makes the big day run even smoother since she'll know what your reaction will be before asking the question.

Option 2 - Month of or Day of Wedding Consulting
       This seems to be a popular choice for couples because you get the onsite and pre-wedding attention without paying for the full service.  This is a great choice really for all couples. It allows you to hand off every little detail a month out from your wedding so you don't have to worry about it.  Your Consultant will take care of making sure your vendors have what they need, arrive at the right time, and are paid accordingly.  She'll take care of the on site logistics and details just as she does in the Full Service without being involved with the bulk of the planning.

Option 3 - As Needed Consulting
       This is an option that I don't think a lot of people know about.  With this you can get an experts advice on the specific item you may need help with of have a question about.  You pay the consultant by the hour so there are not strings attached.  Call them as needed and pay for the exact number of hours worked.  This option tied with a Month or Day of Consulting is a great combination if you can't afford the Full Service Option.

Option 4 - Vender Referrals
       Think about it, a Professional Wedding Consultant has relationships with people they have worked with closely.  They know their work ethic, price point, personality.  Use them as a resource to find vendors that match what your looking for instead of spending all your time browsing wedding websites aimlessly.

Full planning mode with mother of the bride
at the Hayes Mansion, San Jose

So many choices to make your Wedding Planning experience a good one.  Make sure you hire someone that clicks.  There are a lot of companies to choose from which can be intimidating.  Ask friends who they've used and do your research on your Coordinator so you don't have to research your vendors.  Such an amazing investment you wont even know how much until after your big day is over and you realize how much of it you actually remember.  You'll save time, money and your sanity.






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The Engagement Party; keep it simple and fun

Jason and I recently had our engagement party at my parents house.  I think it ended up being a good time had by all.  Here are some of the tips I used to keep our costs down and keep it simple but still have the party we wanted:
First we defined our purpose.  Besides just celebrating with our dearest family and friends we also were using this chance for everyone to get to know each other.  What's the best way to do this? Name tags.  We didn't just have the names of guests on the tags though, we had each person include their relation to the bride.  This helped break the ice with conversations between family and friends.
Keeping the cost down for my parents, who were hosting the event, was extremely important to us so we utilized their backyard for the venue and made the party a potluck.  The potluck is a great cost saver for the hosts and it's always fun to see what interesting dishes people come up with.  You're sure to set up with a buffet you would have never put together on your own.  * One word of advice, either have people tell you what they're bringing prior to the event or assign groups (ie, A-F bring Appetizers, G-O bring Side Dishes, P-Z bring desserts). This will keep from 10 potato salads from ending up on your table.

Our massive Potluck display

To keep the evening casual, we used tables, chairs, and linens my parents already had (we had about 40 people, so we definitely pulled out our entire stock pile) and borrowed from friends what we didn't.  It created a casual backyard BBQ feel without using cheap card tables and paper tablecloths or spending a lot of money on renting everything.

For our centerpieces I went to Costco and picked up a a few mixed floral bouquets.  Instead of just plopping them into vase, my sister and I created our own arrangements by split the flowers up into many smaller vases and mason jars we found around the house.  We set them out on the tables along with pictures of Jason and me to again, create a conversation piece during dinner.

Lastly, we included an activity to create some interaction among people, my fiance's favorite; Beer Pong.  Of course you could include something like horseshoes, frisbee toss, or even cards and board games, really anything to get people moving is great.  It allows your guests to interact without feeling like they are being forced to talk to people they don't know.

The guys enjoying a game of Beer Pong

The best advice I can give with all of this really is, good food and drink makes any party a great one.  Don't over think it and remember why you're all there; to have fun and celebrate!