Everyday I feel bombarded with the notion of the recession and the economy. The tabloids will have you believe that the wedding industry is recession proof, however, I for one have had many Clients delay their weddings, to allow for the securing of additional finances. I also notice that many couples are trying to "save a buck" by taking the cheaper route and hiring an inexperienced planner or paying a family friend.
I'm always saddened by this. Not because I believe that weddings can not be planned without the assistance of a Coordinator, but because I believe that with your wedding, moreso than any other time, if you're going to do something, do it right.
I can't reiterate it enough.
So, in honor of Monday and the start of a nerw week, I went into the archives and pulled out two of my absolute favorite posts. True Life: I am a Wedding Coordinator and Not Looking to Pay for Advice . If you are newly engaged and consdering hiring a Planner or a newbie to the industry, I hope these articles provide some insight into the life of a Professional Coordinator verses a "weekend warrior" (as some may call it) and illustrate that the dollars invested will be well worth it in the end.
Happy reading!
Showing posts with label Wedding Coordinator. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wedding Coordinator. Show all posts
Tuesday
Good company and good times!
As you grow in the wedding industry, you quickly notice a trend in the "company" you keep. As you become more comfortable with publicly admitting you are addicted to all things wedding, quite naturally you begin to gravitate towards other like-minded and obsessed people aka wedding coordinators.
I'm fortunate in that over the last few years this business has fostered some of the most incredible relationships in my personal and professional life. From brides to vendors to people I now call friends, as I've evolved I've met great contacts along the way.
This weekend I took a much needed drive down to Baltimore to visit my colleague and friend Lakendra Kennedy of Affairs with Elegance for two days of business, eating, relaxing and of course shopping! I couldn't have picked a more perfect time to go because the weather was absolutely gorgeous!!!!
It's always nice to see weddings from the perspective of another market. Though not far, Maryland and NJ/PA certainly do things differently. During the trip, I was fortunate enough to meet up with some of my "virtual" Coordinator counterparts from my online networking forum.
11 Coordinators from all over the country, great weather and lots of mimosas...what could be better?
Below are a few pictures from my visit courtesy of some of my new friends!
Liene Stevens, Myself, Lakendra Kennedy and Laura Auer
And here's the entire group! We thought it would be fun to do an "old school" bridal party along the stairs shot. The waiter was a little confused however.
Front Row: Sara Bauleke (Bella Notte), Liene Stevens (Blue Orchid Designs), Andrea Hansborough (A&H Events)and myself
2nd Row: Vicky Choy (Event Accomplished), Kawania Wooten (Howerton+Wooten Events) Maria Cooke (Ritzy Bee), Lakendra Kennedy (Affairs with Elegance)
Back Row: Letetia Nicole (Simply Beautiful Concepts), Laura Auer (Wish Special Events), Stephanie Aspinwall (Ayr Hill Events)
I'm fortunate in that over the last few years this business has fostered some of the most incredible relationships in my personal and professional life. From brides to vendors to people I now call friends, as I've evolved I've met great contacts along the way.
This weekend I took a much needed drive down to Baltimore to visit my colleague and friend Lakendra Kennedy of Affairs with Elegance for two days of business, eating, relaxing and of course shopping! I couldn't have picked a more perfect time to go because the weather was absolutely gorgeous!!!!
It's always nice to see weddings from the perspective of another market. Though not far, Maryland and NJ/PA certainly do things differently. During the trip, I was fortunate enough to meet up with some of my "virtual" Coordinator counterparts from my online networking forum.
11 Coordinators from all over the country, great weather and lots of mimosas...what could be better?
Below are a few pictures from my visit courtesy of some of my new friends!
Liene Stevens, Myself, Lakendra Kennedy and Laura Auer
And here's the entire group! We thought it would be fun to do an "old school" bridal party along the stairs shot. The waiter was a little confused however.
Front Row: Sara Bauleke (Bella Notte), Liene Stevens (Blue Orchid Designs), Andrea Hansborough (A&H Events)and myself
2nd Row: Vicky Choy (Event Accomplished), Kawania Wooten (Howerton+Wooten Events) Maria Cooke (Ritzy Bee), Lakendra Kennedy (Affairs with Elegance)
Back Row: Letetia Nicole (Simply Beautiful Concepts), Laura Auer (Wish Special Events), Stephanie Aspinwall (Ayr Hill Events)
Thursday
Coordinators and Taxes-Who knew?
I was having a very candid conversation with my accountant (who I adore by the way) the other day. We were discussing how there has been a shift towards people using automatic programs such as turbo tax to process their taxes now. He was saying how he just doesn't understand why people don't see the value of having a live person to walk them through something as important as filing their taxes-and why people don't get that if there is a dramatic price difference, there's more to it than meets the eye. I inadvertantly laughed and explained to him that this is a battle that is ongoing for myself and colleauges in the industry.
Now don't get me wrong, I've used my fair share of turbo tax myself HOWEVER I have a degree in Economics and a Master's in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting:(If you noticed, I started this post saying I was taking to my ACCOUNTANT, someone else TRAINED to keep me out of jail and on point with my wonderful friends at the IRS.)
So what does this have to do with Weddings?
There has been an influx of "Coordinators" to the industry recently and quite frankly, as a seasoned professional (I think I have finally have earned those stripes), it scares me. When I see advertising by individuals claiming to do EXACTLY what I do for $50/$250 or better yet former/current brides in chat rooms VOLUNTEERING to do weddings because they just "throroughly enjoyed planning their own weddings"...give me a break.
The truth of the matter is coming up with a new business name, a logo and a "pretty" website full of stock pictures, does not qualify you to be a Coordinator. It's just like going to your accountant. Paying a live person to analyze your actual income situation, what qualifies as a write-off and what you owe to the government, as opposed to a "plug and play", there's value in that. Yes it costs more-it should. Just like established Coordinators, we charge more b/c,
"We've got people!"
And people matter.
Especially when your cake doesn't arrive, or your mother's dress rips just before her entrance into the church, or the hem of your bridesmaid's dresses start to unravel, and the bouts don't survive the unair conditioned limo replacement that the limo company sent that finally arrives to the church who forbids your Bridesmaids from wearing strapless dresses down the aisle where the Officiant is standing without his Bible and your father remembers that they both he and the Pastor need white gloves for the ceremony and the Ceollist forgets her cart she needs to transport her instrument into the church where one of your guest suddenfly suffers from diaebetic shock...And all the while, you're sitting in your dressing room smiling and looking beautiful never knowing a thing except that the man you love is here and ready and just as anxious as you and at 3pm on the dot, it will be official.
Yup, that's what having "PEOPLE" will do for you.
(And yes, all of those situations we've encountered and survived :))
Now don't get me wrong, I've used my fair share of turbo tax myself HOWEVER I have a degree in Economics and a Master's in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting:(If you noticed, I started this post saying I was taking to my ACCOUNTANT, someone else TRAINED to keep me out of jail and on point with my wonderful friends at the IRS.)
So what does this have to do with Weddings?
There has been an influx of "Coordinators" to the industry recently and quite frankly, as a seasoned professional (I think I have finally have earned those stripes), it scares me. When I see advertising by individuals claiming to do EXACTLY what I do for $50/$250 or better yet former/current brides in chat rooms VOLUNTEERING to do weddings because they just "throroughly enjoyed planning their own weddings"...give me a break.
The truth of the matter is coming up with a new business name, a logo and a "pretty" website full of stock pictures, does not qualify you to be a Coordinator. It's just like going to your accountant. Paying a live person to analyze your actual income situation, what qualifies as a write-off and what you owe to the government, as opposed to a "plug and play", there's value in that. Yes it costs more-it should. Just like established Coordinators, we charge more b/c,
"We've got people!"
And people matter.
Especially when your cake doesn't arrive, or your mother's dress rips just before her entrance into the church, or the hem of your bridesmaid's dresses start to unravel, and the bouts don't survive the unair conditioned limo replacement that the limo company sent that finally arrives to the church who forbids your Bridesmaids from wearing strapless dresses down the aisle where the Officiant is standing without his Bible and your father remembers that they both he and the Pastor need white gloves for the ceremony and the Ceollist forgets her cart she needs to transport her instrument into the church where one of your guest suddenfly suffers from diaebetic shock...And all the while, you're sitting in your dressing room smiling and looking beautiful never knowing a thing except that the man you love is here and ready and just as anxious as you and at 3pm on the dot, it will be official.
Yup, that's what having "PEOPLE" will do for you.
(And yes, all of those situations we've encountered and survived :))
Wednesday
Free Wedding Magazines
Ok, so my amazing Florida Coordinator friend and inspiration Kelly McWilliams of Weddings by Socialites is having an amazing giveaway- A One Year subscription to a number of Wedding Magazines...Free!
To enter is simple:
Follow this link http://weddingsbysocialites.blogspot.com/2007/06/win-year-of-wedding-inspirations.html
Once you've arrived at her blog, click on the comment link below the giveaway and leave your name & blog address or email Kelly with your name & email address at WeddingTidbits@gmail.com. On July 16, Kelly will randomly pick and announce the winner and that lucky person will receive a one year subscription to all of the magazines!
(BTW, if you enter, be sure to leave a comment here as well and I'll throw in a special prize just for your participation...2 for one; can't beat that!)
Good luck to you all and tell Kelly I sent you!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)