Wedding Wednesday - Consider Your Pets

If you're considering including your 4-legged friends/family in your wedding ceremony, you need to take a few things into account.

Venue: is your venue pet-friendly? Is there someone your doggy can hang out before and after the ceremony?
Responsible Party: just like you'll be hiring a wedding coordinator/planner to take care of everything on the big day so you can just relax, you'll need to designate someone as the responsible party for your furry friend. Your dog might get nervous and have an accident or need to be walked - who's taking care of this while you're getting in your dress/tux? And if your reception is going late, who'll take the little (or big) guy out?
Excitement Levels: just like kids, animals are unpredictable, especially in large crowds. Be prepared that your pet might not cooperate and have a back up plan (e.g. responsible party grabbing the pet in case he/she starts running in the opposite direction).
Dress Code: just like the rest of the family members, with their boutonnieres or posies, consider getting a little something for your pet. A bout for the collar or a little flower collar are always a nice touch.

Images: Audra Wrisley

We're On The Road

This week we're thrilled to be heading back to the Bay Area to do some venue scouting, vendor meetings, and of course family+friend time. We're excited to be building up our SF office once again and can't wait to work with all the amazing, creative talent that the bay has to offer. We've got more big announcements re: this office coming later this summer, but in the meantime, looking forward to everything ahead!

SO, if you're a couple looking for a wedding planner or coordinator in the San Francisco area, our team is ready to meet!

AND, if you're a wedding professional looking to join an amazing planning team, we're looking for you. Email us.

Man Monday - Wedding Details

The wedding planning process doesn't have to be all about flowers, ribbons, linens, and candy bars. Chat with your significant other about adding elements of you in the reception. How about a cigar bar to enjoy after dinner? Or a local craft beer bar displaying your favorite brews? Remember - you should enjoy your wedding, so add in elements that represent you and create an atmosphere that is truly authentic to you and your partner.

Image: Procopio Photography 

Image: Paired Images

Wedding Planner as Your Advocate

It goes without saying but if you're planning a wedding, you should really consider a month-of coordinator at a minimum. Weddings are detailed and unless you've planned one before, chances are there are many things you just don't know because you've never had to think about them. When hiring a wedding planner or a month-of coordinator, look for someone who's ready to be your advocate. Your planner should be proactive about getting you better deals and fight for you when a vendor pushes back.

So how do you know if your potential coordinator/planner will fight for you? Ask them hypotheticals (unless you already have a brewing issue - e.g. a dj is being pushy about doing certain traditional things, such as parent dances) and see how they would handle these situations. Don't be afraid to bring up your planning concerns at your initial meeting and see what that planner suggests. If the answers are passive, red flag. Also ask what their relationship is with their referred vendors. Some planners get kick-backs or commission from specific vendors - avoid those planners. They are not sending you to vendors that are the right fit for you - it's the right fit for their wallet. You're already paying them a fee, which should automatically include being honest and doing what's best for you and your wedding.

This is one of the qualities that makes our team standout. If you talk to any of our past planning clients, they'll say we've gone above and beyond and fought for them the entire time. We listen to our clients needs/priorities and make sure all other vendors address these. Whether a vendor adds on "extra" fees that we know can be removed or a caterer is swaying a layout that is convenient for them but not necessarily for the flow of your dream event, we step in. We look at every wedding as if our brother/sister/best friend were getting married, so we're always on the lookout for the best deal, best fit, and best decisions for you and your priorities.

Image: Rachael Foster Photography

Post Consult - How To Choose The Right Vendor

Now that you've met with your vendors and have collected all the quotes, how do you make the right decision? First, see if the vendor addressed all your needs and included everything you discussed. If they missed a big chunk of what you talked about - red flag. Their lack of attention to detail will most likely reflect on the rest of the planning process and you don't need to add anything else to your checklist.

Reviewing the quote closely is also important - a few things to watch out for:

• Delivery cost vs product cost: different companies price out their services differently. Some have higher delivery costs, but lower pricing and vice versa. Make sure you're comparing apples to apples.
• Additional fee: ask about what services the quote doesn't cover. For example, some florists might charge you to move décor from ceremony to reception. A caterer might charge a cake cutting or champagne pour fee. A vendor might look like an amazing deal but they might be hiding fees that will be tacked on to your final invoice.
• Negotiable Items: if you really like a vendor, but find that they are coming slightly over budget, don't be afraid to discuss what can be done to adjust the quote. Make it clear you want to work with them - most vendors will appreciate this and be super receptive. Also, remember that great talent is worth the money - like 'em, book 'em.
• Gut Feeling: if you clicked with a vendor and your gut is telling you that it's the right fit, book. Having a connection with a vendor will go a long ways. They will work extra hard to make sure your day is amazing and worry free.

And one final note - don't wait to book vendors you really want. If you want them, the chances are others do as well.

Image: Nancy Anderson Photography

Vendor Consults - What To Ask

Now that you've done your research and found some great vendors, time to setup your consults. Use your consult to get to know the vendors' style+personality, their services, and who else they like to work with.

STYLE+PERSONALITY - this is key. Whether you're working with a vendor for a month or a year, personality and similar working style go a long way. Vendors who truly understand your vision will not only bring your ideas to life but also build on them, for one ultimate wedding.

SERVICES - see the full list of services that your vendors offer. Your DJ likely has uplighting, and  many times at a significantly lower price than a professional lighting company. And your photog might provide photo booths. If you don't ask, you'll never know.

REFERALS - if you vibe with a vendor, ask who they work with. Your caterer might know a great florist or your photographer might have great transportation company suggestions - again, just ask!

Next Wednesday we're talking post-consult - how to compare quotes, what questions to ask, and how to make the right decision.

Image: Zac Wolf Photography

How To Get the Most Out of Vendor Meetings

Whether you're looking to book a florist, a photographer, or a caterer there are a few steps you can take to make sure you get the most out of your meetings. Think about it - you're getting ready to spend 20-30 minutes on an intro call or an hour+ in a face-to-face consultation with at least one vendor per category. That's a lot of time if you're not properly prepared, so focus on researching Price, Vision, Priorities, and Reviews prior to your meetings.

PRICE RANGE - just like buying a car, you need to do your research about pricing. Yes - it is a bit more difficult to get clear pricing in the wedding industry but with a little google magic and a few simple calls, you can get a good idea of what your vision might cost in your geographical area (the cost of your sister's wedding in Ohio will be much different than your own wedding in DC). Now, why is this important?

1) Budget - allocating your wedding budget based on realistic costs can save you the heartache of going over budget, as well as help make an educated decision about what to spend on each service. Doing this based on some formula you found online can be frustrating, as it doesn't account for your priorities or actual cost of items in your area. Having budget guidelines also is a huge help to vendors, especially those putting together custom proposals (designers, florists, caterers).
2) Vendors - finding vendors in your price range is important. If your photo budget is $4k but you're reaching out to photogs starting at $10k, you might be disappointed when they send you a proposal for $10k. We also highly advise against meeting with three vendors from three different pricing categories (low, medium, high) because you'll be comparing apples to oranges. Pick 3 vendors in your style and within a similar price range to get the most out of your vendor search. And if your planner is sending you on low/medium/high consultations ask them why - your planner should be working for you and not for the vendors they've cut deals with.

VISION - I think this portion scares many of you because someone out there labeled "vision" as "all of the tiniest details of wedding". When we say "vision" we don't mean tell us the details of the menu cards, exact color of your linen, or the tone of uplighting you want to have. What we mean is give us an idea of what kind of event you're looking to have. Will it be a relaxed family-style meal or an all-night rager with one of the top DJs in the country. As wedding vendors, we need some parameters to be able to narrow down and give you the proposal that will encompass both your budget and your needs - which we won't know if we don't get any vision direction. We need to know who we're designing for and what role we will be playing on the big day. This will also help you narrow down your search to vendors that fit your style, which is super important.

PRIORITIES - knowing what's important to you can help vendors put together the best package for you. For some it's food, for some it's photography, and for some it's décor. We are never offended when someone says "hey - we're dropping a lot on our photographer, so we'd like to scale down the flowers". This is actually super helpful - we know that flowers are taking a back seat, which impacts the floral selections and overall design (tall elaborate centerpieces vs. low floral accents).

REVIEWS - this goes without saying but we'll say it anyway. Do your research on vendors you meet PRIOR to the meeting. If you're looking at established vendors, there should be plenty of reviews on WeddingWire, Yelp, Facebook, etc to help you find not only trusted vendors but ones that fit your style. Another thing you can do - pick up the phone and inquire if your vendors have biz licenses and/or liability insurance. This will help you understand who's not only good at their job but is also good at running a legit business (if they're not approaching their business seriously, they'll most likely not approach your wedding seriously - beware "brides turned planners").

Join us next Wednesday for how to make the most of your consultation - what to look for and ask when meeting with vendors.

Rainy Days Are For Catching Up

We know we've been neglecting the blog, so we're spending these next few rainy days to update content and bring you some of our latest projects+events. Stay tune!

Image: Mantas Photography

Wedding Wednesday - Getting Ordained in the DMV

Having a friend or family member officiate your wedding is an awesome way to make your wedding unique and unbelievably special. Couples often choose to have a friend or family officiate their wedding because they have different religious affiliations, no religious affiliation whatsoever, or just because it’s kind of a neat thing to do. Make sure that the person you ask to officiate is a good public speaker, and is just as excited as you are to have him/her take part in your wedding, as it will be up to you and your officiant to write and construct the ceremony.

If your intended officiant is not already ordained, then they will need to become so (obviously!). Via the internet is by and far the quickest and easiest way. Take heed, even with the many websites out there, becoming ordained online can be a project in itself, and many states have varying requirements for an individual to legally be able to perform a wedding ceremony. Do you your homework, and make sure you have all of your ducks in a row well in advance of your wedding date. We’ve gone ahead and done some of the legwork for you!

Some top sites for becoming ordained online are listed here. The costs differ depending upon the length of the license or ordination package. The length of time it takes to become ordained varies from site to site, as well. Some are instant, while
others may take several weeks.

Universal Life Church Monestary http://www.themonastery.org/
American Fellowship Church http://www.amfellow.org/
Rose Ministries http://openordination.org/

Before getting ordained it is crucial to confirm your state’s requirements for performing a wedding ceremony. Each jurisdiction is different. Here are some of the requirements for officiating a wedding in our area:

DC
In the District of Columbia, any ordained minister can perform a wedding ceremony, but they must first have approval from a superior court judge. The application must include an endorsement from someone within the same religious society already authorized to perform marriages in DC. If there is no endorser, additional documents must be submitted with the application. For a list of the required documents go to http://www.dccourts.gov/internet/documents/register_clergy.pdf

Officiant Application Fee is $3500
No resident requirements
No expiration date

If the officiant is not ordained, and has no plans to officiate any other weddings in the future other than yours, then an Application for Temporary Authorization to Celebrate Marriage can be filed. This gives an individual temporary status as a civil celebrant to perform one wedding only.

Temp. Auth. to Celebrate Marriage Application Fee is $2500
No resident requirements
You can contact the DC Marriage Bureau at (202) 879-4847 with any questions or go to http://www.dccourts.gov/internet/public/aud_marriage/marriage.jsf for copies of both applications and requirements.

MD
In the State of Maryland, a marriage ceremony may be performed by “any official of a religious order authorized by the rules and customs of that order or body”. This means that as long as an individual has been ordained they can perform a wedding ceremony. No applications to the state or county are required. Although, they may at times be required to show proof or credentials. Easy peasy.

VA
In Virginia, it is much more difficult for a minister ordained online to officiate a wedding in the Commonwealth of Virginia, but one can try!

All ordained ministers must complete registration at the County Clerk’s office and be approved by the Circuit Court. There are no resident requirements and certification is for life. The needed forms and registration fees can vary by county, as can the processing time. The average turn time in this area is approx 10 days. Please note that officiants ordained online often do not get approved. Be sure to
register well in advance of your wedding date, in case you need to go with a plan B.

It doesn’t hurt to check with the County Clerk’s office for alternative options. Fairfax County, for instance, offers a “One Time Civil Ceremony Authorization” to Fairfax County Residents for a hefty $500 + filing fees.


Good luck!

Vendor Spotlight - Simple Flare

A few weeks ago, we had an Open House at our Alexandria Studio and Simple Flare was there to capture everything on video. This super sweet Husband+Wife team were so great during the planning process and delivered a fabulous product. Check out their video of our Open House below and click here to head on over to their website to learn more about them:

https://vimeo.com/90673504

How To Updated 2012 Flower Trends We're Sick Of

While 2012 had a few good wedding trends, it also had many no-so-good trends. Today we're going to give you some pointers on how to update these trends for 2013/14.

Corsages: if the women in your wedding party are not too keen on corsages one of my favorite alternative options is providing the mothers, grandmothers, aunts, etc with a posy to replace the corsage. A posy is small enough where the women won't feel like BMs but enough to highlight the woman holding them as important. Additionally, a large single bloom works as well (peony, hydrangea, dahlia).
Submerged Florals: a simple update is removing water from the vessels (which at the same time removes the floating candle element). By removing water from the vases you can now virtually put any greenery/flower inside the container (water submersion limits the types of flowers that can go in the container). This creates a modern terrarium look and adds a twist to a simple flower arrangement. Anywhere way to spruce up this look is to bring in a height element to balance out all the submerged flower containers. 
Tall Ridiculous Centerpieces: some large venues require some sort of height element but who said this had to be on the reception tables? How about suspending something over the tables rather than placing a piece directly on top? We did this for a May wedding - we suspended custom glass globe/fresh flower chandeliers over the tables (image above). These added a unique element to the wedding - and they were definitely a conversation starter.

Do you have questions about how to update a trend from 2012 in your 2013 wedding? Shoot us an email and we'll blog about it.