ComputerHunter.org |
|
|
|||
|
 |
To Choose a Wedding Planner or Not to Choose a Wedding Planner
When I was the owner of a major wedding facility, I was able to observe the results of more than 300 weddings. I've seen exceptional events that will last forever in the memories of the participants. I've also seen total disasters. The difference was always in how the event was planned and managed. It's like if you're building a house. Would you select electricians, plumbers, and carpenters, and then just turn them loose and hope for the best? Never! This is the way to sure disaster. Without overall guidance from you and/or the contractor and a clear, written contract in place, the house would be a monstrosity. Yet many people plan their weddings in just this haphazard way. One wedding at my facility featured a seven- course meal costing well over $12,000, but there had been no time-limit clause imposed on the caterer. When it came time for dancing, only three courses of the meal were completed. The lesson here is: If it's not in writing and signed, it may very possibly not happen as planned. Planning guides To start your planning process, you'll begin with the overall concept of your wedding. You can get ideas by talking with friends and remembering details of weddings you've attended, then you can throw in your own ideas. Consider supplementing all this information with a wedding guide containing a variety of creative concepts. You'll find many good guides online and at your local bookstore. Next, determine how much money you can realistically spend on the wedding. A budget-related wedding planning guide will come in handy. You'll learn many things you definitely need to know, including how to control your budget. Finally, you'll want a planning guide that will show you how to write and understand contracts and proposals, so you can insure that your event happens the way you expect it to happen. The planning process Planning a wedding can be a complex and time- consuming process, and the end result can be expensive. Fortunately, the whole process can be broken down into smaller segments so that the expense and performance elements of each can be more easily controlled. Before you start planning, spend some time visualizing what will be necessary to create each element of your event, and start taking notes. The following outline will help you. 1. Event ideas * Come up with the overall wedding theme and any unique aspects. * Determine the setting, length, and size of the wedding. * Decide on the maximum number of guests and who they will be. * Decide on the type of food and service, music, wait staff, parking, carriage ride, etc. * Be very clear on your budget - it controls all aspects of the elements listed above. Start thinking about priorities, in case you can't afford everything. For example, can you make do with a buffet if a formal dinner is too expensive? 2. Organizing * List specific details for each element such as music, food, service, and any special requirements. * Know the type of facility you want: A hotel ballroom? A special event center? A historic facility? Each is unique, and pricing can vary considerably. * Contact key vendors such as event sites, florists, caterers, and DJs, and obtain ballpark prices and the level of service you'll get for each price. * Make your choices within your budget, and make note of all related costs and services. * Finally, when your vendors are in place, make sure your exact specifications are stated in enforceable contracts. Not doing this leads to most event problems. Good written communication is the key to success. Detailed written contracts benefit both the client and the vendor, eliminating all misunderstandings prior to the signing of the contract and, most importantly, prior to the wedding. Keep in mind that a typical vendor may conduct many events per week, so if what you want and how you want it isn't in writing, something can easily be forgotten. The topics we've covered here are only the "tip of the iceberg," but they should give you a feel for the process necessary to make your event special and successful. Your results will always be directly related to the amount of effort you put into the process, the level of detail you focus on, and your thoroughness in communicating well through written contracts with your vendors. Putting on a great wedding may seem like a daunting task, but there are many tools available to assist you in your planning. My own planning tool, The Wedding Saving System, is the result of my ownership of a major wedding facility and my experience as a government contracting officer. These two experiences strengthened my belief that a major event will be successful only if a detailed plan and budget is developed and then followed up with excellent written communication (contracts) with all vendors for the event. The Wedding Saving System is all about your exact written specifications with vendors, using competitive bidding to control costs while obtaining the quality you expect, and then putting it all into enforceable written agreements. Don't forget that if it's not in writing, there's a high probability that it will not happen as you planned. In conclusion Your wedding should create memories that will last a lifetime, so invest the time and effort to find the books and guides that will supply the information, strategies, and techniques I've written about here. And one final observation: A self-planned wedding will be a very rewarding experience for all attendees when the joy and self-satisfaction of the happy couple envelopes the entire event. I wish you the very best and will be happy to assist you in planning your special day! Tishawn Merritt
Google News - Top Stories
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
How to Recognize and Cope with an Emotional Affair Did you know that an emotional affair can be just as dangerous to a marriage as a physical affair, and sometimes more so? And that spouses who never had any intention of cheating can unwittingly become enmeshed in an emotional affair? Planning Your Outdoor Wedding Reception An outdoor wedding reception can be host to an almost unlimited number of guests and has the aura of nature that can never be duplicated in an indoor ballroom. Some of the following outdoor wedding reception ideas should help to get you started with planning this special day, including avoiding some of the dangers involved with an outdoor setting. Negotiation Strategies Especially for Couples These guidelines will help you avoid the three most common negotiating mistakes couples make: 1) Failure to prepare before the negotiation with your partner; 2) Caving in too quickly to avoid tension or to keep the peace; and 3) Stubbornly pushing too hard for your own solution. Wedding Jewelry Tips Tricks and Helpful Hints So your not one of those fabulous actresses or models who has the luxury of the finest gems and diamonds being loaned to them by the likes of Harry Wintson. No matter, you can add a little sparkle and look extra-ordinaire in your gown on your wedding day. Here's some helpful tips on how to shine on your most important day! Bridal Shop Owner Reveals Insider Secrets Every Bride Should Know Your wedding is nine months away and you decide to start searching for your perfect gown. You walk into a bridal store and start talking to one of the salespeople. They ask you for your wedding date and you tell them. They immediately tell you that you will need nine months in order to special order your wedding gown. Is this true? In most cases, this is not true. The bridal shop is telling you that just so you will panic and place your order that day. This also helps them in stopping you from looking at other bridal shops. Don't ever be bullied into buying your wedding dress on any given day. You might have found the dress of your dreams but give yourself a little time to think about it. You are making a big purchase for a special day and you need to make sure that this is the dress. Even if it is one day make sure you really think about it. I have suggested to some girls to go eat some lunch, discuss it with family or friends and then come back to make your purchase. Once you buy your gown that is it. Most shops do not allow returns or money back especially on special orders. Once you put money down on a special order, the dress is yours. Minor But Important Duties For Your Wedding Party, Bridesmaids, and Groomsmen Your wedding party is a major factor in the success of your wedding day. Too many couples assume that once they've selected their brides maids and grooms men that they are finished. Unfortunately, many people don't know what it means to be in a bridal party. Bridesmaids and groomsmen need to do more than just look pretty. Put these people to work! If your wedding party knows the who's, what's, when's, and why's, they will be able to handle many of the details that may derail the enjoyment of what should be your happiest day. Dallas Wedding Receptions The most important day of your life is drawing near and you want to plan it to perfection. Everything has to be just right, the chapel, the dresses, the food and most importantly the wedding reception. Specifically if you are planning a Dallas wedding reception, there are many areas that you need to look into in creating the right theme, the right ambience as well as to ensure that all your guests' needs are taken care of. Tips For A Lasting Marriage My parents gave me this advice about marriage. They have been married since the 1960s and are still happily married to each other. Bridal Shower Games Are Extremely Fun! Bridal shower games are a wonderful way to put your guests at ease and to get the party started! Ideally, bridal shower games should be easy to play and should provide guests with an interactive way to interact with one another in a casual and fun way. Fortunately, there are lots of games you can choose to play. Divorce Rate Plummets As More Americans Shack Up Instead of Getting Married More Americans are taking "til death do us part" seriously. According to the recently released Rutgers University National Marriage Project the number of divorces is declining. But the lower divorce rate is largely because couples are postponing, choosing not to, or are legally unable to get married. Like Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham, and Elton John and David Furnish, these 11 million unmarried couples are in committed relationships and sharing financial obligations, but aren't entitled to the 1,140 federal laws that apply to married couples. A Unique Diamond Engagement Ring ? In Platinum Diamond engagement rings for many years typically came in the traditional form of a gold band with a solitaire diamond setting, but as wedding etiquette has evolved over the years to include the more idiosyncratic tastes of individual couples, so are there now many shapes and makes of diamond engagement ring available. An engagement ring is hopefully something that a bride will wear forever, and as such, it should encapsulate her personality, so that regardless of the shifting of fashions, it will remain something that she loves and treasures. Unique Beach Wedding Themes If you are considering a beach wedding, the ideas are as endless as your imagination! Man Made Diamonds, The Affordable Alternative Diamonds may be a woman's best friend, but modern man made diamonds are so good as to be indistinguishable from real diamonds. And when you look at the huge savings on price, man made diamonds may be a woman's best decision. The History of the White Wedding Dress As a youngster -- or perhaps even as an adult -- have you ever sat dreamily imagining yourself in a fairytale wedding dress, about to marry your very own Prince Charming? And, what colour is the wedding dress? The chances are it's a white one. Millions of girls and women that dream of the perfect marriage have a vision of the perfect white wedding dress in their minds. But why white? Where did this tradition come from? How to Have a Sizzler of a Honeymoon! Article No. 4 When Maria Callas first appeared on the international scene, she sang like a bird, looked like a small whale, and the only people who truly knew and loved her were the perennial ticket-holding opera lovers. Wedding Insurance ? Peace of Mind for Your Perfect Day? With the average cost of a wedding around £17,000 you would think that more couples would take out wedding insurance just in case something happens to spoil the special day. However, an estimated 85% of couples planning to get married do not bother with insurance. Many people are so wrapped up in the romance and anticipation of their dream wedding that the practicalities of what could potentially go wrong do not even cross their minds. But, compared to the high cost of marriage, taking out a premium for about £50 seems a small price to pay for piece of mind. Wedding Planning Ideas and Guidelines Wedding planning is a difficult task for everyone. Unless you have done it before, you don't know all the answers. But, you can find them! Creating A Wedding Budget You Can Afford The most important part of planning a wedding is setting your budget. Your budget is important because it is next to impossible to know what you can afford for each major part of the wedding if you don't set an overall cost that is comfortable for you. You will probably find that deciding the budget is the hardest job to do because, of course, you want to have the best and most memorable wedding you can possibly have. Searching For An Affordable Mother Of The Bride Dress It is absolutely possible to find a beautiful and affordable mother of the bride dress. It may take a bit of an investment of time and effort, but you'll spend that finding the perfect dress for you, regardless of how much money you want to spend on it. It's important to note that paying a lot for a dress doesn't make it flattering, an affordable dress that suits you will always look better than an expensive dress by the best designer that doesn't. Careful shopping will help you to find an affordable mother of the bride dress that makes you look your very best. Marriage Counseling: What Do Wives Really Want in a Husband? Part Two In Part One, we looked at what wives really want in a husband and we identified two things in particular. Wives want a soulmate who they feel deeply connected to and they want emotional support and emotional intimacy. This means that they want a husband who will talk about his feelings and who values having an emotional connection.
|
|
|
|
|
