If you have already begun the process of looking for vendors to assist with your wedding, then you know how overwhelming it can be. Hands down this is the #1 mistake my M. Elizabeth Events clients make when planning their wedding. The reason for this is because if you pick one unprofessional, unreliable, unexperienced wedding vendor it can ruin your whole day. So here are some tips on how to avoid this.

#1. Hire a knowledgeable and experienced wedding planner and this is not just because I am one;)  Wedding planners are the best referral source a couple can have. Unfortunately, these days most of my clients are hiring me after they have booked the majority of their vendors and the damage has already been done. This process needs to be in reverse. Hire a planner first then they can refer you to the best suited vendor for you based on your budget, personality and individual wedding needs.

#2. Referrals are key!!  For those of you who don’t listen to #1 then please make sure you get referrals from other reliable wedding vendors. If you have a photographer, venue or florists you trust then ask them for their vendor list.

#3. Don’t choose a vendor solely based on price. YOU PAY FOR WHAT YOU GET!!  I understand everyone is on a budget but you need to think of quality not quantity.  Figure out what is most important to you. If it’s photography and entertainment then you should allocate more of your budget on these vendors instead of getting surf n’ turf for all your guests.  So many times clients blow their whole budget on the venue and food and beverage costs and then skimped on everything else. This is a recipe for a disaster…trust me.

#4. Interview three vendors per category. If you are searching for vendors online you need to make sure you have an in-person consultation with them. Never book someone over the phone because you don’t know who you are getting.  Here are  some preliminary questions to ask on your initial phone consult:

• How long have you been in the business
• How many weddings do you do per year?
• Are you a member of any wedding associations?
  
• Will you be on-site at my wedding?
• How is the pricing established and what is it based on?
• Can you provide three references of past clients?

Just because you want to have a fabulous wedding doesn’t mean you need to break the bank! There are many ways to pinch those pennies, but the key to having that fabulous wedding is knowing where to spend and where to save. Here are some ways from M. Elizabeth Events that you can keep your costs down without compromising the integrity of the event:

Trim that Guest List: Your cost per head is the biggest expense, so cut out those friends whom you just haven’t seen in awhile.

Choose a Naturally Beautiful Setting: This will help cut down on the cost of additional decor. Enough said.

Find an All-In-One Reception Site: Try to get a place where you can host your ceremony, cocktail hour and reception as it will include the tables, chairs, staff and flatware so you don’t have to bring it in separately.

Have an Early Wedding: Serve breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea or hor d’oeuvres. Plus events earlier in the day mean your guests will drink less and lower your cost.

Speaking of Alcohol…limit your offerings. A simple menu or beer, wine and specialty cocktail are all you really need to get the party going!

Look at Other Dates Besides Saturday: Fridays and Sundays typically run a cheaper rental fee at most locations.

Say Bye-Bye to the Bubbly: Most will be thrown out and some people just don’t care for the stuff, so let them toast to what they are drinking instead.

Find a Great DJ:Swap out a band for DJ. Bands have multiple people they need to pay (not to mention more you’ll pay for the vendor meals) but a single DJ is usually going to be a lot cheaper!

Opt Out of Expensive Printing: Be creative in your design and offset printing will save you tons more than letterpress or engraving.

Skip Favors: How often have you left a wedding without another wine stopper or coaster of the couple? Write a personal note instead!

One of the services M. Elizabeth Events offers is our Day of Coordination Package. But it’s a common misconception that couples believe our service will only include the actual day of their wedding. Day of Coordinators do a lot more than show up on the day of your wedding and we’re here to give you a little more information on what Day of Coordination involves.

Brides who choose our Day of  Package are often hands-on type of gals who need a little guidance along the way. Now, being crafty, creative, practical and the “hands-on” type ourselves, M. Elizabeth Events can totally appreciate the DIY Bride.  If you are planning on doing most of your wedding planning yourself then a Day of Coordination Package is perfect for you!

A Day Of Wedding Package means the bride is responsible for doing the majority of her own planning.  Please remember, in order for your planner to do her job  – and do it well -  she will need to know every detail you have planned.  No detail is too small here! After all, it’s ALL in the details, right?

So, if your Aunt Sue suddenly decides to sing a solo during the ceremony, your planner needs to know.  If you are considering including a sand ceremony with your vows or want to surprise your new Scottish family with a special bagpipe performance in the middle of dinner, the planner needs to know that, too!  A good planner will be asking LOTS of questions about your planning, maybe even asking you to fill out some forms, as sometimes details can fall through the cracks.  Remember communication is key.

A reputable planner starts coordinating the final details of your wedding at least a month or two out.  We have timelines to create, vendors to contact, coordination of deliveries, confirming of  final payments and of course going over every little detail with a fine tooth comb to ensure nothing has been overlooked.

Speaking of timelines your planner should also be creating a detailed itinerary for you, your wedding party and all your vendors; and this too takes time.  Scheduling all the “major players”, letting everyone know where to be and at what time, contact names, cell numbers and emergency backup contacts…these things can’t be gathered on the “Day Of.”    It all takes a lot of time!

Trust us, you don’t want a planner who is just going to show up on your wedding day and make sure everyone is doing what they are supposed to be doing, when they are supposed to be doing it.  By then it will be to late and much more difficult to fix any problems.

Another point to remember,  there are at least 30+ hours going into this “Day Of” coordination, so while you may want to lean towards the lowest price planner you came across, a ridiculously low price quote would tell me this planner is not doing all she is supposed to be doing.  This applies to all wedding vendors, you better believe you get what you pay for and I don’t know about you but I would not want to risk this on such an special day in your life.

For more information on our Day of Coordination package please visit us at www.melizabethevents.com!  HAPPY PLANNING!!