ABC's 20/20 Speical Wedding Confidential

1 Elegant Event's blog post are usually full of great pictures, but in light of the airing of the Wedding Confidential special that aired January 18, 2013 on 20/20  that pictured wedding professionals as untrustworthy, price gouging, people out to con more money out of engaged couples we decided to do a blog rebuttal. Don't worry it is very nice and very informative.

Rebuttal in italics written by: Cossie Crosswhite

National Event Speicalist and Owner of 1 Elegant Event Wedding & Event Planning Based in Mobile, AL

I wrote a rebuttal to this ABC special not to offend, but to set a few misconceptions straight.

To find out more about 1 Elegant Event Wedding & Event Planning Visit www.1elegantevent.com

The average wedding costs around $27,000, according to theknot.com. In Los Angeles, it's $37,000, and $65,000 in New York City. It's no wonder the wedding industry is a $30 billion behemoth.

It's common sense that such a special occasion -- involving venues, food, beverages and flowers -- wouldn't come cheap, but there are ways to realize your dreams at a price that works for you.

Watch the full story on "20/20: Wedding Confidential" Friday at 10 p.m. ET

(This aired Friday January 18, 2013)

 

1. Strive for Fun, Not Perfection

"The industry sort of tries to encourage you to have the 'perfect' wedding," said Denise Fields, the co-author of "Bridal Bargains." "Instead, we try to tell people, you need to have a fun wedding, because perfection just doesn't exist. In that striving for perfection, there's this tendency to think that money will get you exactly what you want."

Yes we do believe that couples should strive for fun and nothing is ever perfect but if you hire an experienced wedding planner who is entrenched in there field and knows many professional experienced wedding professional to fit into the budget parameters you set at the beginning of your process, you can have a fun, near perfect dream wedding that you are wanting. Having your cake and eating it too!

2. Pick Your Season

The most expensive time to get married is summer. "If you get married in April, that's the off-season, and you can save 20, 30 percent," said Alan Fields, co-author of "Bridal Bargains." In addition, flower prices fluctuate widely. Roses are outrageous in February; tulips can be pricey in their off-season, which is summer. To stay on budget, stick to in-season blooms.

We also tell couples, to pick wedding colors and not wedding flowers! Many of the floral designs pro-traded in platiumplatinum wedding photo's can and have been recreated with less costly flowers without the look of the design suffering. This can cut 100's of dollars off per centerpiece!

3. Avoid "Wedding" Shops

"Don't shop at stores that have 'wedding' [or 'bride,' etc.] in their name," Alan Fields said. "You can find lots of wedding-related products at other places. I mean, even Costco sells engagement rings."

"White shoes are white shoes," added Denise Fields. "Why do you have to buy them at a bridal shop? You can buy them at PayLess."

This is true when trying to save. Know one knows wear your ring was bought, maybe not even you. Cosco offers a great selection and high grade of wedding rings and bands at phenomenal prices! The only thing you should really purchase from a wedding specific store is your Bridal Gown. By buying your gown in a bridal store and looking for deals check out the sample sale gown area which has gowns at great percentages off. Almost every bridal store has one (even Kleinfields).

4. Don't Succumb to the Mercedes Syndrome

Don't drive your fancy car and wear your designer clothes to your vendor appointments. "We've actually spoken to florists, for example, who say that the price of flowers that they quote to a bride can change depending on what the bride drives up in," said Denise Fields. "Take the bus!"

While this may be true for some wedding vendors, we at 1 Elegant Event pride ourself as an upstanding wedding planning service who keeps a track on the prices of the vendors in our area. We make our clients appointments for them and sit with them at the appointments acting as their advocate and sometimes negotiator of prices to make sure our clients get the best possible price available for the things they are wanting. We keep our vendors records updated regularly and are able to do this because of the relationships we have built with our wedding community.

5. Check Your Emotions at the Door

"Any time you throw emotion into the mix, things can go wrong," said Alan Fields. Realize you are vulnerable and don't let a salesperson convince you to spend more than you can actually afford.

As wedding planners, many feel very uneasy able how up front we are about getting clients to tell us their budget parameter. We can not be your advocate and negotiate to get you your ideal wedding if we do not know up front if the dreams you have can anyway be brought to life in the budget you have. Creating a realistic budget for your wedding from the beginning and hiring a planner that will keep you in that budget while being upfront with you on what you can afford and what may need to be modified will keep you from being vulnerable to up-selling by other wedding vendors.

6. Nix the Engraving

According to "Bridal Bargains," it costs $700 or more for engraved invitations. Thermographed ones are 50 to 70 percent cheaper and look just as elegant.

Shop around period for invitations. You can even buy invitations from department stores that I have seen in the invitation catalogs and have your local copy center print them for you. Also if you have a great printer at home or (at work, but you did not hear this from me) you can print them yourself.

7. Do Lunch

According to "Bridal Bargains," you can save 30 percent or more on your reception by serving lunch or brunch instead of dinner. Save even more money by having an afternoon reception with cake and light hors d'oeuvres.

While that may seem like a good idea, a full meal is actually cheaper than several different hors d'oeuvres. Caterers will charge you $4 - $12 per person (and this is on the low end) for each type of appetizer you may want and many want at least 5 or 6. For that $24 - $70+ per person you can have at the least a basic 1 meat, 2 veggie, 1 starch, house salad, bread, fruit and cheese tray and veggie tray without looking as though you are having cocktail hour without dinner or lunch.

8. Park It

According to "Bridal Bargains," many cities and towns rent out parks and other civic-owned sites for wedding receptions at affordable rates. A city park clubhouse might rent for $125, while a comparable private site would be $750.

This is true, also your parks department may also own Historical homes and rent them for that price and nice community centers have big , blank open spaces to rent with table and chairs included, and they usually have nice kitchens for caters to use.

9. Deal to Die For

The Fieldses suggest you check out funeral homes for the best deals on limousines. Many have limos that sit idle on weekends, available to rent out at good prices.

While this may seem like a good idea, if they get a last minute rush on funeral (because they cannot predict how many people will die that week) they will cancel you maybe a day or a week before your wedding leaving you stuck without transportation. I know this, because a client couple tried this and our company had to pull a in a few favors to reserve a limousine 4 hours away.

10. D.J. Over Band

Instead of a live band, hire a disc jockey. Denise and Alan Fields say bands can cost $1,000 to $2,000, while a D.J. can cost as little as $400 for four hours, can play a wide variety of music -- Sinatra for the Father-Bride dance, James Brown for when the party really gets going -- and doesn't take breaks.

Dj's are great, and a very inexpensive option for wedding entertainment. I would not recommend the cheapest DJ at $400 unless you had seen them in action at another event. While many can just play music, and good professional will play the right music that you suggested to them in your play list given to them weeks in advance to insure that they have what you are wanting. Also a great DJ will have your first dance and other special music queued up so when its time, it is available and have ways to get the crowd up when the dance floor is clear.

11. Be Nice

"Be nice" is the main suggestion from "The B-----less Bride," a wedding planner who provides incognito etiquette advice to brides-to-be on her website. "[For amiable clients] I've been known to throw in top-shelf booze, upgrade the wine...get special linens," she said. "We just want to go the extra mile for the people that treat us with respect."

Being nice does get you far , we have been known to go the extra mile when we can and get things for our couples items or upgrades they really wanted and could not afford, so we pull some strings and surprised them at the wedding. Also being a mean girl may keep many wedding vendors from wanting to do business with you at all. Your local wedding industry is in essence a very small community of professionals and word does get around quickly.

12. Ask Away

"You have to ask the right questions," suggests The B-----less Bride. "You have to ask at the venue, 'Is this inclusive or exclusive of tax and gratuity?' Because if you don't ask that question, you're tacking on between 27 and 30 percent."

When going to venue meeting tours or signing the contract for venues, the venue coordinator as policy reads with you the contract you are about to sign and discusses the fees, taxes and gratuity and then asks you if you have any other questions before said contract is finalized and signed. You should not have any confusion of venue pricing and fees unless you are cold calling for quotes over the phone.

13. Negotiate

"You absolutely should negotiate," said The B-----less Bride. The venue is the most negotiable expense, she said. But "you have to know when to stop," she added. "You can't expect to pay medium prices for a high-end product."

Many venues will not negotiate the price of their venue but will negotiate on the extras like rentals if offered, bar pricing, catering etc. If the venue does offers catering, bars and etc owned by them that the couple has to use as part of the rental, they may wave the room cost when a certain budget level of the other items are meet.

14. Get It in Writing

Chris Evans, the founder of Evans Sales Solutions, trains wedding professionals to grow their business. "You want to get everything in writing," he said. "I mean, every single thing. And anybody who won't put it in writing, run."

This is true. Make sure you have copies of everything and make any and all changes in writing or if you have hired a wedding planner they will have copies of all of your receipts and contracts on hand for you to view at anytime in your wedding planning process.

15. Get References

"And don't just take the ones they give out," said Evans. "If you're looking at images in a [photographer's] book, you say, 'What's her name and what's her phone number, I'm going to call her.'"

This may seem like a good idea, while wedding professionals keep a list of number of references to call they keep these because many do not have any other services to refer to the past clients to keep up with changed contact information. A great idea is to call other random wedding professionals in that area not in their field to see what they say or heard about that vendor. (If they are a photographer call a florist or wedding planner about them or if they are a wedding planner call caters or photographers to ask about them and so forth.) Other wedding-related vendor tend to be honest about who they refer and do not refer because they do not want anyone's with a bad reputation staining their image.

16. Less Is More

Don't be afraid to edit down your jewelry, for instance. Julie Sabatino is the owner of The Stylish Bride and The Stylish Dresser, a bridal fashion styling company. "Earrings highlight your face more than a necklace," she said. "Pick one piece and make it your statement." Consider skipping the handbag as well. "Some of my brides like having a handbag," said Sabatino, "but others find they don't even use it."

Less is more , even when you look at the celebrates on the red carpet many opt out of necklaces. Do concentrate on a great pair of accent earrings and you only need a purse to hold touch up face power and lipstick unless you hired a make-up stylist to be with you all night. Even though your dress may be long people will and do see your shoes. So if you like splurge on them or at the very least make sure they are very cute while being comfortable.

17. Rent A Dress

Julie Sabatino specializes in helping brides select their dream designer dress. If you are determined to have a designer dress on a tight budget, she says one idea is to rent a wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses. "It saves your wedding party some money," said Sabatino.

While renting may be an option, going to a sample sale, tag sale, upscale consignment stores, on-line and at Discount Luxury Designer wedding gown outlet stores like “Vows”, you can purchase your luxury gown for the price it may cost to rent. Then you can sell it a week after the wedding to the next cost saving bride. Also with bridesmaids gowns, try your local Upscale department stores like Macy's, Dillard's, Von Maur. They sell formals all year in many sizes, carry the same product all over the US for your out of state maids to find, and offer incredible sales and coupons!

18. Build Up a Plain Dress

"A great way to save money is to buy a more plain dress and then accessories it," suggested Sabatino. "With a simple nice blank canvas, you can add your spin and style -- adding belts, accessories, a really cool hairpiece."

Adding a great bridal belt, a cool hair piece, adding applicate or brooches to plain wedding gowns styles will upgrade your dresses look if that is what you are wanting, but just because you picked or see a plain dress does not mean the tag on it will be cheap. Also make sure you look at the tag of the bridal belt or other accessory because while it may look like a perfectly innocent belt or brooch it could cost you well into the $1000+ for each!

19. Cheaper May Cost You

Don't buy a wedding dress just because the price is attractive. "There are people who buy something wrong for them for the price," said Sabatino. "Then they hate it and have to get another." Even if you keep it, that inexpensive dress might require pricey alterations.

This a a very true statement and should not only be for wedding attire but this policy should carry over into your own wardrobe. Just because it is cheap you do not need to buy it if its going to sit in your closet unworn or if it looks really bad on you! Aways try it on first, because these super sale items are usually non refundable items!

20. Quality Not Quantity

If you can't afford a top photographer for your entire wedding day, hire one for less time. Jason and JoAnne Marino, destination-wedding photographers for imaginephotoaz.com, said it's important to hire a photographer you trust and whose company you enjoy -- even if it's for less time than you wanted.

"Maybe we can't get the early-morning wedding photographs or the drunken antics after the reception," said Jason Marino. "But we'll get the meat of what is going on."

I so totally agree with this! Never ever skimp on the photographer the holder of all of your wedding memories. Hire the best photographer you can possibly afford and just cut down the time they will be there. Then to get all of the “ early-morning wedding photographs or the drunken antics after the reception” as Jason Marino stated, get everyone to download one of the many free or low cost phone apps that consolidate all of you guest pictures into one big wedding album to print or view for years to come.

Venue Coordinator verses an Independant Coodinator. Do I need both?

Many articles have been written about the differences between a venue coordinator and an independent wedding planner/coordinator. Simple stated, a venue coordinator is the sole advocate for the venue they work for or own and do things based on the venues best interests. Whereas an independent planner/coordinator is the advocate for their client’s, you, (the bride and groom) and what is best for you and creating your dream event.

Couples say all the time that their venue provides a wedding planner or a wedding coordinator so I don’t need to hire one… this drives me crazy.  Venue coordinators should stop to think about how much assistance they’ll receive from the bride and grooms independent planner, realize it’s a mutually beneficial relationship and that the wedding would run smoother for the venue and the so-to-be married couple.

Independent professional planners oversee the big picture items such as room set and design aspects, helping you find the right vendors to give you  your dream day in your budget parameter. Venue coordinators may have a vendor list, but they many be out of your budget range or do not provide they style of service you want. Your independent planner also will handle vendor deliveries, schedules, problems and changes that happen throughout the planning and on the wedding day, as well as little details such as guest seating arrangements and place cards, favor ordering and placement, gifts, guest book, hotel reservations and guest arrival among many other things that a venue coordinator will not do.

Running and overseeing weddings is a big job, sometimes with complex logistics so why wouldn't the venue coordinator want to work side-by-side with the independent planner whose been working closely with the couple and knows all the fine details of the whole event? It can’t hurt can it? Besides, is the venue coordinator going to help pick out stationery, wedding cakes, linens, floral, centerpieces, decor, manage the  budget and guest list, run a rehearsal, oversee the ceremony and provide discounts and complimentary upgrades? 

Blog written by National Event Planner, Cossie Crosswhite

Visit our website at: www.1elegantevent.com

Browsing wedding venues visit: www.alabamaweddingvenues.webs.com

Top 7 Mistakes Brides Make When Planning Their Wedding

After much debate and conversations with newly married couples of 2012 1 Elegant Event has comprised out Top 7 Mistakes Brides/ Couples make when planning their wedding! We hope buy learning from others, this helps you in your planning process. Here we go, feel free to share!

1. Spending more than you can afford.
   I am a luxury wedding planner and enjoy all the details that go into making such weddings happen, but many brides tend to overspend in a big way. I have witnessed wedding budgets double even triple over the course of a long engagement and that is a strain on even some of my wealthiest clients. Don't start your marriage in “the red”. Plan ahead, in these times of real estate mayhem make sure you won’t need the money a for home down payment, a car, or to pay your bills before it's spent.

 

 

2. Ordering your wedding gown too small and buying expensive uncomfortable shoes!
   Unfortunately ladies too many brides buy dresses that are a size too small and instead of buying a designer shoe that is kinda comfy, we go just on how it looks! In most situations wedding dresses tend to run small because the European cut is a smaller than the American cut, so if you wear an 8, you might need a 10. I know that it would boost your confidence to squeeze into a smaller size, but just remember only you will know what size it is anyway. Also with shoes, get to know your feet shape and buy a shoe that won't squeeze all 4-8 hours. That is a long time to suffer and you don't want to run around an elegant ballroom barefoot all night. So ladies 1st buy the right size gown, if you loose weight (not too much) they can take it in and buy the RIGHT shoe! You want to be able to dance the night away with your new hubby an not have in the back of you mind all night how uncomfortable you are.

3. Inviting way too many guest!
   Many Brides tend to go crazy inviting too many guest or having too many people in the bridal party which is a bad idea for several reasons. Let's began with postage. When you invite people you know have no intention of coming or when your mother or future in-laws invite people who really don't know you that is 50 cents or more wasted per person not to mention the cost of the invite itself. That little amount may seem very trivial at first, but is all adds up in the end. Secondly, you are paying for a plate of food for each person you invite which can be $30 - $200+ each, plus extra chair covers. more linens and the list goes on and on hence the adding up. Third, you don’t want to waste an hour of your reception (especially if you are limited on time) greeting people whose names you don’t even remember!

4. Trying to save money by cutting the cocktail hour.
   Planning Couples tend to forget about that time between the I do and when they arrive at the reception because they and their bridal party have things they are doing like photo's, second line's, and maybe a bridal tailgate. After the ceremony guest arrive at the reception location waiting patiently for your arrival, many are a little hungry, thirsty or just need something to do while they wait so they won't constantly be watch checking or tweeting about how long they are waiting. Many couples at all price points and some point look for something to cut, but the cocktail hour is not it even if your are having a dry event. You can limit what you serve. Have a signature drink, a limited bar, simple appetizers. Think out of the box, you may want to hire some entertainment like the dueling pianos, dancers or a harpist. This will give your guest something to do and will make for a better experience your guest will truly appreciate and will make your wedding stand out from the others! 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Stressing to make a perfect wedding and not enjoying the wedding planning or wedding day!
   Most couples tend to put a lot of pressure on themselves and everyone involved, when planning their special day because they are wanting it to be absolutely perfect. Remember, even though your wedding is one of the most important days of your life, it’s just ONE day. Make it an important point to experience fully and enjoy all the days leading up to your wedding as well. Your engagement is a very special time. Don’t spend it stressed out and anxious! Enjoy the experience with your family and and friends. In the end, it will make for a even better wedding day!

6. Not hiring a wedding planner.
   I'm sure you are thinking, we'll of course you would say that, you are a planner! While that is true, your wedding is one of the most important memorable days of your life, even if you have done it a couple of times, with so many elements to it, why are so many going at it without an experienced professional? I hear over and over, “I can save by doing it with friends and family.” Unfortunately that is not a true statement at all! Professional wedding planners work with you to get you the wedding you want in your budget realm and know the prices for the best vendors your range and can negotiate for you to make things happen for you that would have had to been cut. They may not be about to make magic happen like David Tutera (because the network pays for those weddings), but great wedding planners have an abundance of tricks up their sleeve to give you the best wedding of dreams in the parameters given to them by their clients. Usually in most cases, what you saved by hiring a planner covers more than was charge by the service! Feel free to ask planners at your consultation how they can bring more to your wedding than you can by yourself, and they should be very proud to tell you and give you past examples!
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. Last minute ceremony preparation!
   Getting married is the main reason for the wedding, but time and time again brides-to-be wait until a month before to write vows, find wedding ceremony music, and even to find an officiant!
   Many who plan on their own at this point are exhausted and pick whoever is available or says I'll do it and that is how you got so many bad versions of Luther Vandross and Ave Maria. Choose these elements early, even hold auditions or have them send you a sample if you haven't heard them before. The ceremony should be a focal point and not an after thought. It is the reason for the entire day! 
   
   
   
     Congratulations, wishing you many blessing and wedded bliss! 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   visit our website:  www.1elegantevent.com
   blog written by: National Event Specialist Cossie Crosswhite 
   Owner of 1 Elegant Event Wedding & Event Planning

Reasons to Hire a Wedding Planner!

Why having a Wedding Planner, Coordinator or Event Specialist

is a necessity and not a luxury!

 

 

I can’t afford a planner. It’s just not in my budget.

Think about the amount of money you allocate to feeding your guests, hiring the photographer to take the perfect photos, picking a DJ that will get the party started, yet couples tend to skimp when it comes to hiring a planner that will orchestrate the whole day! It’s like having a car and all the passengers but no driver (or GPS in a place you never visited)! So why stop at hiring the planner. In reality a planner can SAVE YOU MONEY & TIME! Planners have relationships with vendors and venues since they work on many weddings not just one and may get a better price verses you going to them on you own also planners can give you economies of scale. They will also help you put together a realistic budget for a wedding/ event you'll love and can afford. In the end, the money and time saved most likely will be greater than the cost of the planner, so you basically got the planner for FREE!

 

I have family and friends who have volunteered to help me day-of. It should be fine!

While this is a nice gesture, unless your family member is a professional event planner, I’m pretty sure it won’t be fine. They are your guests and should not be working on your wedding day. They will be so preoccupied with socializing, drinking a little too much champagne, ooh’ing and ahh’ing over how beautiful you look, taking hundreds of photos, and not focused on the important details that make the event run smoothly. Who is making sure the gifts and cards are being accounted for? Who is setting the event up and making sure all the vendors you hired have arrived and have set up correctly? Or how about someone to find the cake knife and server when they disappear just minutes before its time to cut the cake? Most of the time the answer is nobody. Friends and family are left scrambling to solve these mishaps while also trying to enjoy the wedding as guests. They will not be informed on important decisions (i.e. telling the catering manager that although the bar tab has been exceed you insist the bride and groom said its fine to keep it open, leaving the couple with a few thousand dollars more to pay). Almost every couple these days is working within a budget, but everyone seems to think they can save on costs by "doing it themselves or having a good friend to do it." So they will invest in a great photographer to capture the moments, a floral designer to make everything look pretty and money is spent on linens, favors and a dessert bar. However, when it comes to getting a professional wedding coordinator to pull together all those details, often times couples decide to skimp on that and the execution of everything is pawned off on an aunt, family friend, catering manager, or bridesmaid. Paying to bring someone on board who knows what they are doing puts the day at ease no matter the scale of the wedding. Even if there are beautiful decor elements and photos to capture it all, if the bride and groom and their guests didn't fully enjoy it, that's what will be remembered.

The venue coordinator & catering manager assured me that I don’t need to 

                                                hire a planner because they can handle it.

The bottom line is: a venue coordinators are there because they are hired by the venue to maintain and manage the venue only (i.e. food, rentals, staff, etc…. They work for the venue and not for you. Their main goal is to ensure the facility runs smoothly. So if you arrive and all your flower arrangements are wrong and the guests can’t figure out where they are supposed to sit, don’t look at the venue coordinator to help you out because they won’t have any idea on what you wanted and it is not apart of the job they are being paid for. There are many venue in-house coordinators who do a great job managing the venue. However, it is not their job to assist you with all the details that go along with planning your wedding. If in doubt, just ask the in-house coordinator what services they will be providing for you. Listed below are just some of the things wedding planners help with that venue coordinators do not.

Attending vendor meetings with you and asking the right questions.

Reviewing all your vendor contracts for errors or potential problems.

Helping you combine all the ideas that you have to create the wedding of your dreams in your budget.

Creating extensive time lines for you.

Staying in touch with your vendors and making final confirmations.

Having back-up reputable vendors to contact in case of a problem.

Assisting you with invitations and stationary etiquette.

Providing you with custom planning resources.

        Shouldn’t the vendors be able to manage themselves since they work weddings all the time?

According to feedback from vendors I have worked with, I have heard more times than not, there is a huge difference between a wedding with a planner vs. one without / with a venue coordinator. Not only are the finishing touches and design usually better but also the flow of the event and communication between the parties (i.e. the photographer will be ready for photos and not out in the cocktail area when the DJ plays the song for the Grand Entrance because the coordinator will have given both a warning). Although it’s your day, think about the vendors you have hired. What will help make both your lives and their lives easier? A wedding planner!

                            I read all the magazines and blogs. I have all the resources I need. 

                I don’t want a wedding planner to take away the fun of planning my wedding!

When you first get engaged, wedding planning is a novelty. You buy every magazine and bookmark every blog out there to help plan your big day. However, with hundreds of wedding blogs, magazines, photographers, videographers, venues, etc… it can get overwhelming and stressful trying to narrow down who/what is the best fit for your style, budget and needs. Once the wedding comes the couple is so worn out with decisions that the process is no longer fun. Wedding planners who do this every day will help bring you the resources that best fits your needs so that you can “ENJOY the Experience” and have fun during the process until the end! They are educated and knowledgeable in all things wedding related from etiquette to getting a marriage license and are a huge accessible resource!

                            My family & friends want to help me with the planning process.

Except when your future mother-in-law has a completely different vision for her son’s wedding and your brother insists that his band play a medley at your reception and your parents decide to invite all their friends as if it was their party. Think about the movies “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” You need a MEDIATOR. A planner is a good third-party mediator in tricky family situations. It is impossible to please everyone; however, at least a planner can give an unbiased opinion to help navigate problems.

Not convinced? Below are accounts from actual couples who didn't hire a professional planner! Don't let this happen to someone you love.

1. Transportation nightmare: The shuttle may forget to stop at one of the hotels and leave guests behind before the ceremony is about to start... so now what?


2. Stranded at the altar: The couple may forget to designate someone to cue the musicians to know when the wedding party and bride should walk down the aisle. The groom and guests wait while nothing happens, but the same song plays over and over again.

3. Family Feud: Family members, who are helping run the day, may have a different vision than the bride and groom. With no third party mediator offering an unbiased opinion, the disagreements may escalate leaving the couple less than enthused about their wedding day.

4. Communication Meltdown: The bar tab may exceed the allotted budget, but no one checks in with the bartender so drinks are continuing to be served leaving the newlyweds with an unexpected bill at the end of the night.

5. Budget Blunders: Most couples overspend on their budget and waste a lot of time researching vendors within their price point. Planners are used to working within the confines of a budget, they do it every day. They already know which photographer is going to be in your price range and which caterer will give you the most for your money.

6. Floral/baskets/pillow misplaced: Right before the wedding begins the brides bouquet is misplaced, or the ring bearer lost the ring pillow, or the flower girl left her basket somewhere? Things happen all the time no matter who is in charge, but the key is how are those problems are managed. When a professional experienced planner is not involved, is there someone designated to solve your big and small wedding issues?

                Now I have called around and there are other planners that charge less than you, 

                                                   why do you charge what you charge?

We always refer to that old saying” you get what you pay for!” The same holds true for wedding and event planning. When you go to an outlet store or a store that sells designer mock ups or last season’s name brand clothes/handbags etc….you have to rummage through stacks and stacks of clothes, undergarments, shoes etc, to find something that’s in your size, your color and without any damage to it such as a stain, or string pulled or the slightest imperfection, to feel like you are getting a bargain. But the reality is that you spent several hours rummaging for something that when you get home, may or may not be to your satisfaction, but it’s too late, you purchased it and it may not be an item that can be returned or that can be exchanged because the racks may or may not have another one like it. All I can say is you’re getting what you paid for. 1 Elegant Event, Wedding & Event Planning staff will manage, coordinate, plan, execute and design your special day and are well trained experienced professionals that work in the industry of wedding and event planning. They do not pay money to a company to obtain a certificate that say “Wedding Planner” and have business cards made out that say wedding planner. Let’s face it; some people do become overnight wedding planners after getting married themselves, but does that make them an expert on planning another’s wedding? Planners that actually service brides as a business and not as a hobby are indispensable and will typically charge a minimum of $2000 and a maximum of $10,000 + depending on wedding location, size, and tasks at hand. Anything less may indicate inexperience. Go ahead, do the research; check out some of the blogs who have credible vendor directories and list wedding planners all across the US and compare.

Wedding planners are affordable and can even get you discounts and special rates by consulting through them. Wedding professionals build up relationships with other wedding vendors and will be your ace negotiator in getting you the perfect one for you. They are your wedding manager who is there to make sure you have the best for your once in a lifetime wedding!

On multiple occasions I have seen free services thrown in by a vendor or a price even deducted in half because they went through a wedding planner. Planners can also help you get more bang for your buck. They know how to cut back on certain expenses to make your event look like a splurge even though you might be on a tight budget. On a wedding day it is not uncommon to have a 16-hour work day, a mop in one hand and an iron in the other. The last thing a bride needs to do is to be steaming linen or polishing silverware before she is about to walk down the middle aisle. Wedding planners are professionals that obsess over weddings, daydream about wedding and are always scheming new trends for weddings. They are full-time wedding guru’s that have been doing this for years, not just for a few months of engagement. By tapping into their skills and involving them from the beginning of your initial planning, you will be amazed at the creations that will come to surface giving you the wedding you more than dreamed of!

How much time do I need to hire a wedding planner?

As soon as the couple is engaged, that is the perfect time to contact a wedding planner to start working on the wedding. By obtaining the services of a wedding planner early on, before any other contracts are signed or dresses bought, it will allow the best planned out wedding because the vendors will be available, and they will be able to negotiate prices that will fit the client’s budget whether abundant or minimal. We have contracted with several busy couples who have given us much less than 6 months to plan their Wedding. However, we would prefer to have more time to negotiate and help the couple select vendors that they have time to preview, if desired.

                          There are many website and TV shows about wedding planning, 

         why should I hire a wedding planner with all the self help books and websites out there?

The self help books, magazines and TV show are not specific to your individual needs and they only give generalities on how to do something. They give you general time lines, general to do list, and general how to's. Nothing specific to you and the writer of the program or book does not come to the event to help you if there is a problem. What it does not tell you is, for example, if you happen to use an IPOD for your wedding music instead of someone who is not an experienced DJ , and what do you do if the IPOD is not compatible with the venue’s professional equipment? If you make the invitations yourself through your printer and they are not centered properly or you start to run out of ink and the print gets lighter and lighter before you realized what’s happening, you already have 100 invitations, what do you do? These are just some examples of what happens to well-intentioned brides and families.

    Wedding are boring to me, but I want to please my family. Can you make my wedding different?

These are our favorite types of weddings, the ones that do not have a traditional theme, because we can spend time with the bride and groom getting to know them and assessing their uniqueness and feelings on things and getting the vision for their special day.

            What if I am getting married out of state or out of the country? Do you come with me?

Most of time but, that would be strictly up to the client. We travel with the client at times and the client would provide the planner and their assistant travel fees or we can plan the wedding and event from here through a destination resort and personal planners we know that handles weddings all the time and leave you in their hands once you leave the country to get married there. Since we are closely affiliated with a travel agency who specialize in destination wedding travel and luxury honeymoon packages we have access to many locations and cruises and are able to give you the destination wedding your envisioned.

                                                 What happens at the free consultation?

Our free consultation will be an opportunity for the bride and groom/ and family to come and share their dream wedding ideas that that they have in mind.  We listen to your ideas, give you a budgetary assessment, then we share a little bit about us and if the client and 1 Elegant Event, Wedding & Event Planning is a good fit for each other, the client then reviews our contract and signs on with us to start working. We like to do this meeting in person but it can and has been done for clients out of our city, state or country by phone or skype. 

Glad we could take this time out to help explain why having a wedding planner/ coordinator is a necessity and not a luxury for all weddings. Feel free to call 1 Elegant Event, Wedding & Event Planning service to schedule your free consultation 251-289-9451. 

visit:  WWW.1ELEGANTEVENT.COM

This blog was written by Cossie Crosswhite, National Event Specialist and Owner of 1 Elegant Event, Wedding & Event Planning!

For more information about this topic view Alene Gamel's Blog in AL.com news Blog Weddings 911 http/blog.al.com/weddings-911/2012/12/weddings911-do_you_need_a_planner_or_director.html

2014 "Tips to Surviving a Bridal Show": How to get the most out of your bridal show experience!

After much deliberation, Our friends have compiled a top list of things that will have any future bride, groom or couple prepared to walk confidently into any bridal expo and accomplish everything on their to do list without suffering a mild stroke. Enjoy!

1. Dress for the occasion. First off Ladies, I cannot stress enough the need for comfortable footwear! 5 inch heels are just not conducive to what should be a fun and enjoyable day at a bridal show! I saw girls weeble, wobble and almost tumble for two days straight while walking for hours on the unforgiving concrete convention flooring! Flats, boots or sneakers are going to help you get the most out of your bridal show experience! I imagine it would be extremely difficult to have a conversation with what could be the perfect vendor for you, but you can't comprehend anything they are saying because all you are thinking is "I can't feel my toes". If you still feel like you can't part with the pumps, at least throw a pair of cute ballet flats into your bag (you know, just in case). In regards to the rest of your perfectly plotted outfit - keep it simple. Try to avoid the bulky winter coats and sweaters. After about 20 minutes, you will be sweating and your coat will be on your last nerve. I recommend a nice pair of jeans and a light shirt, sweater or jacket to be most comfortable.

2. Part with the entourage. Do you have 8 girls in your Bridal Party? While we at 1 Elegant Event believe it is fantastic that you have such a large support system, we recommend you leave the posse at home. Sticking with Maid of Honor, your Mom or even your fiancée is best! When you have more than a couple of people with you - the experience turns more into a tug of war over what shade of blue you like best, or who is going to sit with whom when the fashion show begins. These show are a great opportunity to see vendors at their best! If you are constantly listening to the opinions of half a dozen people who have tagged along with you, it may be hard to hear your own thoughts or you may not approach that one photographer you think looked great because you didn't want to hurt a friends feelings. So in this case with friends, less is more!

3. Mailing Labels are your new best friend! Before attending any Bridal Show or Expo, take a few minutes to print off mailing labels with your contact information (Name, address, most important a correct EMAIL address, phone number, and wedding date). This will save you much time when filling out entry forms and you won't have to worry about someone not being able to read your handwriting. You wouldn't want to miss out on that free Honeymoon you could have won, just because a vendor couldn't decipher your email address, do you? (Yes, its has happened more than once!)

 4. Use your Vendor List to your advantage:  Lets say you are in the need of a photographer and cake artist, look up their booth numbers on your map and find out where they are located. Grab a pen and walk around, casually strolling by their booth. As you go through, highlight the vendors that spark your interest with their display, photos, personality, etc. Next, go back and have conversations with those who captured your attention. You should view their work, sample their cakes and ask questions that are important to you. Once you have done this,  it will be much easier to make a decision about who you liked best. Their product and personality will be fresh in your mind and as I always say, "Go with your instinct!"

 5. Write notes on the back of your favorite vendors business card! After speaking with over 50 wedding vendors at one time how will you ever remember that you loved "that" florist or "they" were your favorite photographer or this person offered you a special price. Write simple but clear notes to yourself on the back of their business card before you throw it in the bag with all the others. Quick, easy and will save you lots of time in the future!

 6. Put your money where your mouth is: If someone approaches you inside or outside of a show and wants to have a conversation with you about their delectable cakes, visually stimulation cinematography or awesome photo-booth - first ask what their booth number is. If they did not pay to be at the show, RUN! The Wedding Professionals at these shows work tirelessly to create a welcoming and positive environment for all the potential brides in attendance. Someone who is strolling in to try and attract brides without the footwork is no good to you. It shows they are not willing to invest the time, effort or money to solicit the right way. Think of it like the purse vendors in china-town who lead you into an abandoned building where you have to knock three times on the back door and utter a password to get your hands on a shoddy Louis Vuitton? It's just bad business.

 7. Pay Attention to Personality:  I've had couples tell me that it was my personality that first attracted them to come up and talk to me. That is such an amazing compliment! I believe in stress free Wedding Planning and I want all my couples to have the time of their lives, so this means so much! By working with a vendor who matches your personality, you are so much more likely to be satisfied with the end result of their work, no matter what aspect of the industry they are in. So taking a little bit of time and watching how certain vendors interact with potential customers will tell you a lot about their true personality.



 
8. Most Importantly, Have Fun! This is supposed to be the best time of your life! Take a deep breath, smile and enjoy the experience!

BONUS!!! Thank you , since you took the time out to read our very helpful blog, here are 3 more free bonus tips!

*** The Best time to attend a bridal show is when it first opens! The food samples are plentiful and fresh and the vendors have not been worn down from talking all day! 

*** The Best time to talk to vendors is the last hour of the bridal show. The crowd is thinner and many are starting to pack up. So if you want, get the return to event stamp or armband take a break and come back! Feel free to interrupt a packing vendor, they would love to spend that time answering your questions! 

*** No Matter if your budget is limitless or minimal, a great deal from a top sought after vendor would be great, right! A top vendor secret is, the best price you will ever get from a top wedding vendor is if you book them on the spot at the bridal show! Most of these vendors never offer discounts because they are of such high quality ( you get what you pay for right!), but at bridal shows only, they offer deposit deals or percentages off! Many may not have them out, but have new client contracts and mobile credit card scanners on hand for deposits. Bridal shows are the best places to get more bang for your buck, that is if you have bit of deposit money on hand to spare.

Blog Written By Cossie Crosswhite, 

Owner of 1 Elegant Event, Wedding & Event Planning  

and National Event Specialist 

Visit www.1elegantevent.com

www.BrideRide.webs.com 

Design Ideas for Your Ceremony Isle

The most important part of your wedding day is the ceremony, right? But, when it comes to planning and design ideas the ceremony decoration and program is left as an after thought or done in the twilight hours before the wedding for many couples! While the reception is where you want to concentrate most of your budget for design because that is where you and your guest will spend most of your time, your ceremony location does need a little spice. Here are some great design Ideas for your ceremony isle! 

Does your church or location have oddly shaped benches or chairs? Drape tulle and tuck a flower bundle of your wedding flowers for a simple and very elegant look!

Having your wedding ceremony at a modern venue or outside? Line the isle with some or a bunch of flower petals and use the popular height-ed vases for candles or a single flower.

Some churches or venues have strong decoration polices. This pew bouquet tied with a soft ribbon is aimed to please!

Some ceremony sites are so beautiful you really don't want to add anything, others like the purist look of the church or location itself or maybe you need to trim the budget at the ceremony to have a great reception. Whatever it is for you, this very elegant personalized isle runner makes a grand statement without braking the bank!

Flower petal decor has become very popular over the past few years. Guest always love to see the different designs and are always amazed at the detail. Be sure to get a written quote from your floral designer on the cost of the petals needed to achieve your design so that your simple isle won't cost more than you had planned.

Do you have a flare for the grand? Sit centerpieces on high stands and drape the fabric of your color choice up the isle, Fabulous!

Tired of the standard beach setup you see in every beach wedding picture? Try a different setting arrangement!  Who says you have to walk down a straight isle? By walking in this spiral, ever guest gets an up close and personal look at how stunning you look on your wedding day!

 



Visit our website at www.1elegantevent.com

Ideas for your perfect Winter Styled Wedding Dress!

It's the Holiday Season and we all are having visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads, and thinking about all the wonders of Christmas. Despite all the distractions of this great season, in the mind of brides, you are still thinking of things to incorporate for your wedding. Here are are favorite wedding dresses of 2012 that my be perfect for your 2013 Holiday Wedding! 

(P.S. you don't have to wait until December to have a Holiday Themed Wedding!)

This fantastic dramatic wedding dress by Gaultier Paris Couture is trimmed in Tibetan Lamb. This very ornate dress is topped with a very fashion forward head piece. If the head piece is to dramatic for you, it can be substituted with a basic custom Tibetan Lamb head cap or wear your hair in an up do and find a small fascinator to clip to the side. Amazing!

What color to you think of when someone says Christmas, RED! This beautiful red Zuhair Murad couture wedding dress oozes everything great about the Holiday's. The sweetheart bodice and the loose side bow tells your groom here is your gift to unwrap for Christmas! 

A gown for the fun bride for sure, Yumi Katsura a Japanese couture wedding designer created an amazing show piece that lights up! This may not be for every winter bride, but as far as light up dresses goes, we are in love with this design!

While we at 1 Elegant Event love all the shades of white, cream, ivory, and etc... and we suggest that brides pick the shade of white (if you choose such a dress) that looks best with your skin tone, a winter white gown screams winter, Holiday, and snow! We are in love with this snow princess styled gown by Zuhair Murad and if you are having all the snow decor for your wedding, the head piece even though very grand, would be absolutely great. So put on your best model face and "Work it girl!" This is one runway style you could take directly as is down the isle!

 

Maybe you have been tossing around the idea of a winter white wedding theme, but wasn't fond of walking down the isle looking like a snow queen! Well this stunning wedding gown by Shady Zeineldine is the perfect dress for you! This long feathery coat with attached train would be oh so elegant at your classy couture wedding ceremony, Then take the coat off at your reception and reveal the sex gown underneath!

 

 Last but certainly not lease is our very favorite pick for your winter holiday wedding gown. Designed by Stephanie Rolland Couture, this show stopping gown and cape with attached train should win the award for most sophisticated winter gown of 2012! The shoulder accents are just enough to not over power the bride and when you take the cape off at your reception you are left with this irresistibly sexy gown to party in throughout the night!

Blog written by Cossie Crosswhite, 

National Event Specialist & Owner 

1 Elegant Event Wedding & Event Planning

www.1elegantevent.com