It's All in the Details

Event planners have a lot of pet peeves. A LOT. We're perfectionists to a certain degree so when we walk into a venue we are automatically "on" and evaluating everything. Even when it's not our event. So, when you are setting up your own event or helping out a friend or relative, keep in mind that you are bringing their vision to life and every little detail matters.

1. Table numbers should face the entrance of the room. If one is to the left of the centerpiece, then they all should be.

2. Favors should not just be thrown on a table in a heap. Take the time to arrange them nicely. Or if they are at each place setting, be sure they are all placed the same way.

3. Chair covers and ties only look nice when they are put on the right way, hugging the chair with no metal legs showing and with the ties all tied nicely. There is no room for sloppy in this area as often times these details *make* the room.

4. Escort Cards (place cards) - It's amazing how many people don't alphabetize these. Be sure the table that these are placed on is in an area that is suitable to the number of people that will be gathered around it looking for their name. There is nothing worse than a cramped place card table 10 minutes before dinner is supposed to start.

5. Lighting of candles. If a wedding is using a lot of the small votive candles, do not light them too early. These candles do not last very long and often times they are lit so early that they are extinguishing themselves just as salads are placed in front of guests. There went that vision!

6. Coat closet. It's something that everyone forgets about and while it's not typically a coordinator's job to oversee it, I always make sure that I take a peek in there during the winter months to ensure that there are enough hangers and no trip hazards. It is amazing how often a coat closet will have a couple dozen hangers for a group of 150. Notify someone at the venue and they'll be sure to thank you for bringing this to their attention!

A wedding photography giveaway

Vendors in the industry are always letting us wedding planners know about their latest & greatest things they have going on. This one is too good to pass up for all you bride-to-be's out there!

Andy Stenz Photography and Jamie M Swanson Photography, both Wisconsin photographers, have teamed up once again for their spirited annual contest. You can check out the details here to enter! I'd be tickled if a reader of my blog won it. Good luck!

http://andystenz.com/weddings/2011-free-wedding-photography-giveaway/10/2010/

What Makes a Great Wedding?

Someone asked me this question over the weekend and I must have really raised an eyebrow or something, because the person went on to say she really just wanted to have the BEST wedding possible and how do you go about getting it?

I'm honest with my clients. Probably a little too honest sometimes. Those former clients reading this are most likely nodding their heads up and down feverishly. :)

A great wedding is what YOU make it. It's not about how much money you spend, it's not about your location, it's not about having 400 of your "closest" friends in attendance. It's simply about designing your wedding to be a reflection of who both of you individually, and together as a couple, are.

Don't try to copy someone's dream wedding you witnessed. Take the pieces from it that you liked and make them your own.

I also always try to really dig deep with my clients - are we talking about the actual wedding or the reception? More often than not the wedding part of the day gets lost in all the planning. Why not put just as much effort into making that part of your day just as beautiful, just as meaningful, just as dreamy as the reception part? After all, it's the wedding ceremony part of your day that is the reason behind the big party anyway.

So, yes. When my clients drag out their five inch wedding binder that they've been putting together since high school, I gently close it and say "Let's talk about YOU before we even open up this book."

I'm excited right along with them, but I just want to try to draw out some other elements that may not have been considered yet.

So, what makes a great wedding? Every single thing that you, the couple, has put into it. It's as simple as that.

New website!

It's time to unveil the fresh new design of the Dreams & Designs website. Since there's no sound on this blog, go ahead and do your own drumroll...I'll wait. {{{{drumroll, please!!}}}}

I present you with www.dreams-designs.com . All of the same information you expect from Dreams & Designs, but with a new and improved look. It is tailored much better to my own personal self and what I believe the company represents. The old website was soooo 2005. :)

A huge thank you to Keara Harris Designs who put it together. I highly recommend their work - quick, efficient, works well through email and needs minimal direction. Which, when you're technologically and website challenged as I am, is so important.

Thank you all!

Special Savings

If you are getting married anytime between January 2010 and March 2010, you are in for a great post holiday gift from Dreams & Designs!

Please contact me to talk about your wedding day setup and coordination needs and inquire about $50 off services.



*This special does not apply to weddings already booked. This special is subject to change and is based on availability.

Winter Weddings 2010

Surprisingly, winter weddings for 2010 are not nearly as busy as 2009. Which makes me sad...I love winter weddings! Probably more so than your typical planner. There's just something about the sunshine on the snow as a backdrop, the early evening dusk and the faux furs that so many brides wear now. There's an element of class that I can never quite explain to people. Of course, the weather is always unpredictable, but here in WI, when isn't it?!

I'm hoping some last minute planning needs has my email inbox filling up because right now I just don't have my winter fill!

Stay tuned for a FUN and unique wedding that I'm setting up a week from today. It is sure to raise some eyebrows...in a good way! The reception is being held at Cuvee, located in the Historic Third Ward of Milwaukee. It is a fabulous space with some quirky areas to work with, but this bride has it all figured out. I can't wait to see it all come together!

I hope everyone is enjoying an extended holiday weekend and giving Thanks for all that you are fortunate to have. It has been quite a year for Dreams & Designs and I'm excited to see what the upcoming year has in store.

Finally. A Post.

MIA. Again. Don't ask, I'm not sure where the time goes or why on earth I can't manage to post to my blog, but can spend endless hours doing nothing on Facebook. Yes, I'm that girl. I'll admit it.

It's October. Which means, it is high season for Weddings in Wisconsin. So many people are surprised that this is the second most popular month to get married in Wisconsin (behind June), but it all makes sense. The colors are in the process of changing, the weather is (supposed to be) nice, you're pretty much guaranteed to not sweat in your gown at 100 degrees nor are you most likely not going to get caught in a blizzard. But yet every year, those last minute inquiries come in for Day of Coordination a month before October and brides are SO surprised that someone else is getting married on THEIR wedding day and that I'm already booked. If you want a coordinator for October, I would suggest jumping on it a year in advance.

Two weekends ago, I had the great pleasure of doing a wedding at the Delafield Hotel. It really is a gorgeous location, overlooking much of the quaint town. Waukesha Floral outdid themselves with this event also. It was a magical blend of white flowers that towered over half the tables. So pretty. The only sore spot was that the venue booked back to back events so there was literally an hour or so to get this room broken down and set up for the wedding. It always makes me nervous, but it always gets done.



This coming weekend is going to be FAB.U.LOUS. Amanda & Charley are getting hitched. They are one of the most awesome couples ever. I have helped them for the past year or more (I can't believe it's been that long!) and I honestly can't even believe that it's already here. They will be saying their vows in their backyard overlooking Lake Michigan on a deck that Charley built. Then they will be off to the Villa Filomena downtown Milwaukee for a unique reception with stations and an array of seating arrangements. Think cocktail reception and not sit down dinner. Saz's will be catering so its guaranteed to be good. I'm in the middle of finalizing all of their details today and hope to have every single vendor confirmed by tomorrow. This is always crunch time. But with amazing vendors on board for this event, there's not much to have to worry about. Such a nice feeling!

Stay tuned for a recap of this wedding for sure! I promise!

Oh, one more thing. A wedding that I did was featured on Style Me Pretty. Check it out. I did all of their setup and I must say that Jeremy Lawson captured it perfectly!

And one other thing! Profile Magazine is talking with me to do a feature editorial on Dreams & Designs. So much fun!