Wedding Coordination Services Explained and Why it Might be Important to You!

16 Dec

Here is another edition in our Ask an Expert Series. Sarah Hawley is a longtime personal friend of mine. We have recently reconnected at Bridal Shows and I asked her to explain some of the services that are offered by a Professional Wedding Planner. She is based in the London Area and her portfolio is steadily growing. The photos featured in this blog were taken by Ben Benvie Photography and are from one of her weddings.

Ben Benvie Photography

Consultation Services:

What are Consultation Services? ~Consultation Services should consist of a complimentary phone “interview” to assist the coordinator plan for your initial appointment. Since consultation services are charged on an hourly basis a pre appointment interview can help direct what your needs are more specifically and is a more efficient use of everyone’s time.

With one session, or multiple sessions throughout your planning, consultations can cover any wedding related topic you may wish to discuss from budgeting to guest list management or seating plan assistance.

Ben Benvie Photography

Who Benefits?
~Consultation services can benefit couples who want to plan their own big day but are unsure of where to begin, or get overwhelmed at some point throughout the planning and need a little outside assistance.

Weddings come with a lot of opinions and emotions. Diplomacy isn’t always easily achieved. Seeking outside, professional advice can help navigate these situations and help to find solutions and compromises that sometimes are overlooked in an emotional situation.

“Day of” Services:

What are Day of Coordination Services?~Day of, or Month of, Coordination Services include a meeting with the coordinator in the weeks leading up to the Wedding. The intention of this appointment is to give the coordinator a picture of your plans, vision, details of the day so that on the day of your wedding the planner is ready to be your eyes and ears when it comes to the details so that you can enjoy your day. The coordinator is then available at the ceremony rehearsal, for set up on the wedding day, ceremony and reception.

Ben Benvie Photography

Who Benefits?
~EVERYONE. A day of coordinator should be considered an essential service. It is an “insurance” policy of sorts. Armed with necessary paperwork, contact information, décor details, and an emergency kit, your coordinator is ready to advocate for you should anything go amiss.

Having family on hand to help out is great, but it is unfair to rely on them when they are in attendance to celebrate with you, not to work for you. They aren’t generally trained to notice little things amiss, or how to amend an issue quickly and quietly without troubling the bride and groom.

Ben Benvie Photography

My personal wedding regret is not having someone in this role for me – and partially why I became an Event Planner. Nothing went tragically wrong by any means, but there were questions that I would have much rather had someone else on deck to handle so that I could just relax and enjoy the day – and my new husband!
Full Coordination Services

What is Full Coordination Service?
~This is sort of a combination of Consultation Services and Day of Planning and can involve arranging and attending vendor appointments as well. Your coordinator is on deck to help you every step of the way.

Who Benefits?
~People are busy, engaged people are spectacularly busy. Engagement parties, bridal showers, bachelorette parties…work, and family. Having full wedding coordination minimizes the amount of legwork and research that a couple has to do. While some find this part of the fun – others may not enjoy it as much. It means help with the things you need, when you need them and advice throughout the entire process. It also means that your coordinator on the day of has had a hand in your day from the beginning.

The important thing to consider is your needs. How much assistance do you want? How much help do you need? Any package should be customizable to suit your needs, so talk to planners, ask questions, and find a good fit for you and for your day.

For more information on packages and what can be included take a look at my website www.sarahhawley.ca.

Ben Benvie Photography

Sarah Hawley, WPICC
Sarah Hawley Events
sarah@sarahhawley.ca
519-520-2255
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What should I know before choosing a wedding photographer?

29 Nov

This interview was conducted in 2009 and is reprinted from the Weddingfavours.ca Website.

Trish Roberts Wedding Photography

Melanie from Weddingfavours.ca (WF) met with Trish and Trevor Roberts of Custom Concept Photography (CC) in Ingersoll Ontario to get some answers.

WF: How should a couple begin their search for the right wedding photographer?
CC: Couples should begin narrowing the field for photographers by asking friends and family members for referrals. Look through their wedding collections and family portraits and ask them about their experiences.

Other wedding professionals including caterers, venue operators, florists, officiants, videographers and DJs are also invaluable sources as they have worked with photographers and heard feedback from clients and seen them in action. Talk to the experts you already trust.

Search the internet for possibilities, you can view their work online without any pressure. You should also plan to visit them at their studio. If their workplace is professional and organized- they will likely work this way on your wedding day. It is not a good idea to choose a photographer simply from an internet search- do some homework and ask for references.

Hiring a professional is always a wise decision. A professional Photographer is constantly upgrading skills, education and equipment to keep pace with market trends and technology. This is the sort of person you can trust to capture your precious wedding memories. A professional will always insist on a contract. This will lay out all the details and is designed to protect both parties.

WF: How important is chemistry between the couple and the photographer?
CC: Chemistry is extremely important. You are going to spend more time with the photographer than anyone else on the day of the wedding so you want to have a good rapport. Engagement photos are a great way to get used to the photographer and to receive basic posing instructions. This practice will make your wedding day photos more relaxed and natural. By the time you have had a consultation, engagement photos, wedding day and chosen your finished collection- the relationship should feel like a friendship. You trust your photographer to capture your precious memories and it is important that you feel comfortable and confident with one another.

WF: How do you choose the location for a wedding shoot?
CC: It is wise to choose a location that is conveniently located near the ceremony and reception venues. Sometimes there is a place of sentimental value to the couple- the spot they became engaged or a family farm. It is important that you choose a location that is not going to be too busy at that time. You may not want an audience of onlookers and you may not want to have to wait your turn with other bridal parties for a popular site.

It is not necessary that you find THE most beautiful location as the background is not as important as the people. A nice tree, garden or park bench as a background can result in gorgeous images. You do not need to travel miles for a manicured garden or mountaintop view. A professional photographer will be able to help you find a beautiful backdrop in a public park or backyard.

It is a becoming more common that wedding shots are taken in unconventional locations. Train tracks, urban architecture, industrial and rustic backdrops are being used as a background with stunning results. What was formerly viewed as “ugly” can be beautiful when handled with skill and shot with artistic vision.

Trish Roberts Wedding Photography

WF: How much time should be scheduled for bridal party and family pictures?
CC: You should schedule 2-3 hours for the wedding pictures. The length of time required depends on the family size and dynamics. It is becoming more common that pictures are taken prior to the ceremony. It is a more relaxed time of day and you do not have a hall full of guests waiting for you to finish. Makeup and hairstyles are fresher and there is less chance of spills and wrinkles on the formal wear. This will not appeal to a couple who wish to follow the tradition of not seeing one another prior to the vows but it is a good option logistically for those trying to streamline the wedding day.

WF: What can a couple do to prepare for wedding pictures? Is there anything that makes it run more smoothly?
CC: The photographer needs to understand the family dynamics before the event. If we know about “sticky” family situations we can help alleviate the tension by not placing certain people in the same picture or positioning them far apart for group shots.

Also the photographer should know of any physical limitations that exist. If there is someone who has difficulty walking on rough ground or cannot stand for an extended period of time, we can make sure there is a assistance for them or modify the poses. Family shots involving children or elderly relatives can be taken first.

In some cases, there are restrictions imposed by a profession- we work in Ingersoll which has a large agricultural community and sometimes family members need to go home to milk cows between the photos and the reception. We can work around all these situations if we know of them in advance.

WF: How much can a couple expect to spend on wedding photos?
CC: Wedding photos are an investment and roughly 10-15% of the wedding budget should be allocated to photography. The post-wedding service is an essential part of the photographer’s job. After the images are captured- the photographer heads back to the studio to craft the images using colour correction, editing techniques, artistic enhancement and image selection. This is an area where you get what you pay for and hiring a professional will ensure that the finished wedding collection is something to be treasured for years to come.

WF: How can a couple prepare for bad weather on an outdoor wedding shoot?
CC: This is a situation that we had to deal with many times in 2009 since it was such a wet summer in Ontario. We always bring backup studio lighting and equipment in case we need to set up to shoot inside the reception hall or church.

Some gardens have sheltered areas that can be used if the weather is uncooperative. We often shoot at the Elm Hurst here in Ingersoll and there are several interesting and beautiful locations that can be used in the rain.

We also enjoy the challenge of using the rain for inspiration. What a great opportunity to get creative with funky rubber boots and umbrellas. Some of our favourite wedding shots were captured because we were working around the weather.

This is another reason to hire a professional, an amateur will have difficulty handling rainy day conditions.

WF: How soon should a couple book their photographer?
CC: As soon as possible! Do NOT wait to book the photographer if you know who one you want. Weddings are sometimes planned several years in advance so you need to act fast to reserve the services you want. This should be one of the top priority decisions along with booking the venues, officiant and caterer.

WF: What questions should a couple ask before contracting a wedding photographer?
CC:Are you available to shoot on my wedding date?
To what professional associations do you belong?
How would you describe your style?
Have you shot a wedding at this location before? (look at samples)
Do you bring an assistant?
Do you have backup equipment and is it the same quality as the primary equipment?
When will the images be ready?
Do you offer a copyright released image disc?
How do you archive your digital files?
How do you accommodate working with a videographer?
What information do you need to create a photo checklist?
Do you think you are a good fit for our event?

WF: Trish and Trevor, Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions.

For more information or to view more of Trish’s photography, visit her online at: Trish Roberts Wedding Photography.

Trish Roberts Wedding Photography

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Artificial Wedding Cake Rental as an alternative to a Real Wedding Cake

29 Nov

One of our favourite things about exhibiting in Bridal Shows is that we get the opportunity to meet with interesting wedding professionals and see their products. At the September 2011 Bridal Show at the London Fairgrounds we were pleased to meet Denyse from Denyse’s Specialties and learn about her artificial cake rental services. She made us a sample for our showroom and we use it to display some of our cake toppers. Seen below featuring the Bianca Cake Topper.

Sample Cake can be seen at Weddingfavours.ca Ingersoll

Artificial Wedding Cakes –An Elegant, Affordable Option

In today’s economy, cost-conscious brides need to consider the option of an artificial wedding cake in their wedding planning.

There are many advantages of having an artificial wedding cake:

~It looks the same as a real cake or better for about half the price
~No cake cutting fee
~A beautiful cake centrepiece that is displayed for the whole evening
~No worries concerning food allergies
~Perfect for outdoor or tent weddings
~No leftover cake
~Easy to transport long distances

Since most halls include dessert in the menu package, the bride and groom can’t have their wedding cake for dessert even if they wanted to.

The bride and groom then have to serve the wedding cake later in the evening, when many of the guests have gone home. Most brides have told us they have too much cake leftover when it is served at this time of night.

Inexpensive slab cakes can be purchased if the bride wishes to serve cake to her guests later in the evening.

Our lighted cake stands, as well as my handmade sugar flowers, greatly enhance the presentation of the artificial wedding cake.

No one will know whether the wedding cake is artificial or not. It is covered with the same fondant icing as a real cake and custom decorated to the bride’s specifications.

After the cake cutting ceremony, the bride and groom can serve each other with a plated piece of cake, which is placed behind the cake by the chef.

The artificial wedding cake can create that wonderful memory as much as a real one.

Information taken from an article by Denyse of Denyse’s Specialties

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New to Weddingfavours.ca- Stag and Doe Supplies

24 Oct

Wilton Nut and Party Cups

Now available in store from Weddingfavours.ca- Wilton Nut and Party Cups. Perfect for snacks, candy, Jello Shots and Pudding Shooters. Visit us at our showroom in Ingersoll or call to order (they are not yet online but they are coming soon) Pricing: 24pk of 2″ cups/ 36pk of 1.24″ cups for $2.90.

Easy Jello Shots Recipe
Ingredients:
•3 oz Jell-O (any flavor)
•6 oz water
•6 oz vodka

Directions:
1. Pour gelatin into a bowl.
2. Add boiling water, stirring until the gelatin is dissolved.
3. Stir in liquor.
4. Refrigerate until cool.
5. Pour into shot glasses, molds or a baking pan for a sheet of Jell-O to cut up once set.
6. Refrigerate until the liquid sets. (At least 2 hours, but overnight refrigeration is recommended)
7. Serve cold.

Photo Source- Cheftomcooks.com

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Weddingfavours.ca (favourgirls)~ Wedding Planning with Pinterest

18 Oct

What is this Pinterest?? It has just been in the past few weeks that I have been lured into the world of Pinterest while surfing the net for interesting ideas and wedding projects. I must admit that it is reminding me of the wonder I felt when discovering Google back in the 90′s!

Pinterest is a virtual pinboard where you can pin ideas, inspirations, photos and tips. It is like the”favourites” on your computer but you can organize them, share your accumulated wisdom with others and access them from any computer.

I am still figuring out how it works but I can foresee it being the next BIG thing. In addition to amusing yourself for hours, you can plot a trip, organize your home, keep track of all your future projects, find cleaning tips, discover valuable Blogs, share your finds and yes- even plan a wedding. A bride can lose herself in ideas such as Mason Jar centrepieces, DIY jewelled bouquets, experimental hairstyles, planning tips, cost-saving measures and any other lessons that have been posted by other brides! You will find inspiration at every turn emerge brimming with excited creativity. WARNING- you may find yourself spending hours scouring Pinterest as you plan your dream wedding.

Let’s stay tuned to see how this latest social media trend pans out but I see that it willbe HUG in 2012 and will become part of our lexicon before too long much as “Google it” has!

Follow us on Pinterest as we (re)discover the wealth of ideas that hard-working and creative-thinking bloggers have generously shared with us! This is not an advertising thing- we are going to be posting items of interest for us personally and also things that we think will interest our brides and followers.

Follow us on Pinterest at favourgirls.

pinterest

Sample Wedding Board

Pinterest is still by invitation only. You can request an invitation on the homepage or send us an email at info@weddingfavours.ca and we will send you one.

Happy Pinning!!

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Wedding Dress Cleaning Tips

15 Oct

A wedding Gown is likely the priciest, most ornate and sentimental article of clothing that you will ever possess. Proper care of it will ensure that it will stay beautiful- whether you want to keep it as a memento, donate it to a charity for another bride to use or you hope to pass it on to your daughter. You can ask the gown shop where you purchased the dress whether they can recommend any qualified dry cleaners. You should think about this even before the wedding to ensure that your gown will stand the test of time!

Clean your wedding dress before storing

Oh No!

TIPS
~ You should aim to dry clean your dress as soon as you can after your wedding. This helps avoid the danger of untreated stains becoming oxidised and increases the likelihood of successful cleaning.
~ Always have the dress dry cleaned prior to storage, even if the dress looks clean stains such as perspiration and drinks stains can evaporate, but over time begin to affect the fabric.
~ On the day avoid rubbing stains, if you spill something on your dress blot it gently, rubbing can damage the fabric permanently. As far as stain removal goes – give the dry cleaner the first chance to remove the stains.
~Experience is the most important factor in the successful cleaning of your dress – entrust your dress to a specialist dry cleaners. Only through experience can a wedding dress dry cleaner obtain the best results.
~Ask to see the dress before it’s packed, even if the cleaning results are not perfect it’s best for you to inspect your dress after it’s been cleaned. Then you can discuss the possibility of further treatment. No dry cleaner can be 100% successful 100% of the time (any dry cleaner who offers you cleaning guarantees over the phone should be a magician not a technician), however experience and the latest techniques can help deliver the best results
~Find a dry cleaner before the event – in case disaster strikes on the day you can have the dress attended to quickly. Also in the event that you are going away for a long honeymoon you can send a friend/relative in with your dress.
~Labels are important to the professional dry cleaner, if you remove them – keep them so you can supply the dry cleaner with the necessary information
~Trimmings and beads – often wedding dress makers will embellish dresses with additional items. This may cause a number of problems for the dry cleaner. Some beads are not suitable for dry cleaning and may melt/dissolve during cleaning; a reputable dry cleaner will test before cleaning. Other items such as glitter can be glued on; often the glue will dissolve during dry cleaning removing the adornments . One way to minimise these problems is to speak to the wedding dress maker before cleaning and confirm the care instructions for the dress.

You’ve had your dress cleaned – now what?

STORAGE

~ Don’t leave your dress in the plastic from the dry cleaners – over time plastic can give off chemicals which discolour fabrics
~ Remove the safety pins – over time they can oxidise and mark the dress with rust marks
~ If you are having your dress boxed, make sure it is being packed in acid free tissue paper. This helps prevent yellowing of the dress (remember that even with proper care it may be impossible to prevent all yellowing over time).
Check the dress periodically while in storage, in case the dress is deteriorating through inappropriate storage. It’s good to refold the dress to prevent permanent creases.
~Don’t use plastic storage boxes – while these are great for seasonal storage, they are not suited to long term storage. If any moisture develops inside the box the fabric can develop mildew
~It is important that the textile can breath – if so the humidity around the dress remains constant and the likelihood mould/mildew is reduced
~Ideally the dress should NOT be stored in an area which is prone to high humidity (like your attic) or damp (like your basement), fluctuating temperatures increase the risk of deterioration. Often a wardrobe or under the bed is the best place.
~If the dress is not boxed make sure it is stored away from sunlight and artificial light, in the long term they can cause degradation and fading of fabric

Tips originally published by www.themastercleaners.com

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Tips for Wedding Car Decorating

12 Oct
Wedding Car Decorating

Car Pom Poms

Decorating the “getaway” car of the newlyweds is a fun tradition. This is done to draw attention to the fact that the couple was just married and the task often falls to the male members of the bridal party. Decorating the married couple’s car should be done with taste and common sense to avoid damaging their car and avoid putting their safety at risk when driving home from the wedding reception.

Do not decorate the car’s window so heavily that the driver’s view out of the window is obstructed, as this is an obvious safety hazard. Decorating a car with items such as confetti or glitter inside the car might seem to be funny, but it can take weeks or more to get all of those little pieces out of a car. The newlyweds will not appreciate this!

Also avoid tying cans or boots to the back of a car as they can come loose and harm other people, vehicles or cause an accident.

Focus on cheerful and non-invasive decorations that will be easily removed and will not cause harm should they come off in transit. You never want to damage the finish on a car and especially on one that is special enough to have been selected as the vehicle for the bride and groom.

Products that are designed to safely decorate a car include:

Liquid Chalk
Plastic Pom Poms
Cardboard Cutouts
Just Married Window Clings
Car Decorating Kit
Personalized Window Clings


Items such as Window Clings can be safely applied to a clean car. Either on the windows or on the body of the car. They can be removed and re-used and are a quick way to decorate. You want to avoid using tape of any kind so any add-on items such as pompoms and Cardboard Forms sould be affixed with twine using natural secure-holds such as the trunk, tailgate or spoiler. Pompoms can be attached safely to windsheild wipersm antennas, door handles and around the window frames.

If the couple is going to be driving on a highway to their hotel or off to the airport it is recommended that you limit the decorations to Liquid Chalk, Clings and maybe a few pompoms. Cardboard forms, balloons, and streamers will not survive highway speeds and will immediately become more hazardous than humourous!

Visit our Showroom in Ingersoll for you last minute card decorating needs. We generally stock the Just Married Clings, Car Decorating Kits, liquid Chalk and Coloured Poms.]

Car Clings Just Married

Personalized Just Married Cling

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Frequently Asked Wedding Questions

7 Oct

Our Customer Services Reps spend their days answering Brides’ Questions over the phone, via Email and Facebook as well as at our Wedding Showroom in Ingersoll Ontario. Here are some common Questions:

Do I need to have Wedding Favours?
~No- of course not! The point of a favour is to say Thank You to your guests. If it is not something that you want for your wedding- you can skip it. Nobody is going to leave your wedding saying “Nice day but it would have been better if I received a bag of almonds.” There are many ways to thank your guests for coming and you can add your personal touch to the wedding without giving favours.

Why are some Bridal Garters sold as a set of two?
~Many of our Bridal Garters are solet insets of two.  One is more elaborate and then there is a matching one that is plainer.  This is for the bride who likes to keep mementos.  The simple garter is used for the garter toss and will likely end up on the rearview mirror of a teenage boy!  The fancier garter is a keepsake for the bride.  She can wear the toss garter lower on her leg so that this is the one that the groom reaches first.  After the wedding the garter can be stored with the drycleaned gown or kept with other keepsakes such as the dried bouquet, notes from loved ones and a copy fo the invitation.  A crafty bride may choose to make a wedding day shadow box and the garter is a nice addition.  For brides who are not sentimental and do not wish to hang on to a garter can choose a single one.

What is the purpose of Reception Card Holders?
~A Gift Card Holder is a decorative box that is designed for guests to deposit the gift cards for the newly married couple. They can be made from a hatbox, a real or cardboard mailbox, a birdcage or a giftbox. This box is placed on the gift table and is meant to safeguard the potentially valuable gift cards from theft. They are not locked but they do eliminate the possibility that some will fall off the table and be lost or easily pocketed by a thief. Nobody wants to be suspicious of their guests but the reality is that there will be strangers in and out of your banquet hall and you do not know if they are staff, guests at another event or someone looking to steal from you. We recommend that you select a trusted person to monitor the gift table by keeping an eye on it and emptying it discreetly should it become full. It is also a good idea that all envelop gifts be removed to a safe place before the dance begins and the lights go down. There can be thousands of dollars worth of cash and gift certificates in these envelopes and you want to minimize risk of loss. Appoint someone to do this- the bride and groom does not need to deal with this on their big day.

Wedding Gift Box Holder

Silver Gift Box Reception Card Holder


Fairy Tale Carriage Holder

White Fairy Tale Coach Reception Card Holder


Daisy Wedding Card Box

Metal Cream Flower Reception Card Holder


Wedding Birdcage Decoration

Classic Round Birdcage Card Holder

More FAQ’s to come!

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Looking for Weddingfavours.ca Coupon Codes??

2 Aug

We post special coupons in various places each month. We may have a special coupon that will save on Cake Toppers or Garters, last minute essentials or even a flat discount on all purchases.

Where to get Weddingfavours.ca Coupons:

~Join our Newsletter
~Like us on Facebook
~Follow us on Twitter
~Visit us at our Ingersoll Showroom

Thanks for looking and we hope to serve you soon!

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Undecorated Tree Seedlings as DIY Wedding Favours

22 Jul

Weddingfavours.ca has been offering Decorated Tree Seedlings as an eco-friendly wedding favours since 2007. In 2010 we added Undecorated Tree Seedlings as an option for the eco-DIY Bride.

Our seedlings are available in 4 different tree species: White Pine, Red Pine, White Spruce and Blue Spruce. They are grown at a reputable Ontario Greenhouse that supplies the tree planting industry. In fact, the grower was featured on the CBC program Dragon’s Den and the dragons made a deal with her!

The trees ship out to arrive at your location in the days before the event (wedding, birthday, retirement, trade show or baptism) and can be stored for up to two weeks. We recommend shipping to a location where someone is available to receive that package so that it can be placed in a cool dark place as soon as possible. Trees are watered before shipping to ensure that do not dry out during transit.

This is a picture of an order that we received this week. The trees come in a large plastic bag inside a box. The root plugs are moist and the bags and elastic bands are enclosed for assembly. From this point you can plant them in small pots, wrap them in fabric, mylar or purlap and decorate with your choice of colours and embellishments.

Wedding Favour Trees

Undecorated Tree Seedlings

Pictured below is an Undecorated White Spruce Tree Seedling Favour. They include a small plastic bag to package the root ball and an elastic band to

Tree Seedling Favour

Undecorated Tree Seedling Favour

Guests will be pleased to leave your special event with a lasting memento. Visit us at www.weddingfavours.ca for more order details.

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