What Brides Should Know

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Weddings can be a minefield. I have asked wedding professionals what they think brides should know before they go in to order services. Here are some fantastic and honest replies to what brides should know.

A Banqueting Manager said 'I wish they knew how hard that my staff and I work for each and every one of them! If they knew this, they wouldn't be so stressed out.'

Another Banqueting Manager said "We find many brides disappointed when trying to find a venue when they set their wedding date before touring venues. We found brides that tour venues and check out dates that are available find their planning process less stressful.'

Another Banqueting Manager said "I also praise those Brides who book well in advance; I believe that there is a certain amount of pleasure to be enjoyed while planning a wedding. Enjoy every meeting, check off the milestones, it's all part of that journey to that special day! I invite my brides and grooms to meet with their planners and other vendors at our facility. Their venue to be a place that they are comfortable in, and know that they are welcome to visit."

Lesson: Plan ahead and once you have booked your supplier, trust them!

An Independent Caterer said "Brides should have a time line. Often they come to me before they have a venue selected. Selecting the venue, garden, home residence sets the tone immediately. Immediately they can deduct from the budget they have. Then seek out a reputable caterer who should do a walkthrough of the venue and get a sense of the bride's style and personality. A good full service caterer can help select a budget friendly menu with a variety of options."

A Professional DJ/Wedding Host said 'I would prefer a bride and groom know and understand the difference between a DJ and a DJ who is also "Professional Wedding Host".

Lesson: DJs can be more than just a DJ. They can MC and save the Best Man's nerves!

Full service Bridal Show owner said 'Brides need a condensed version of things they needs to do and know before talking to their first vendor or trying on their first wedding dress. The number of brides who come into my store thinking they have plenty of time to buy/order their wedding dress with only two or three months before the wedding are under a big misconception.'

Another Bridal Shop Owner said "I wish more brides knew that preowned dresses can help them get a quality gown for so much less, AND that if they can let go of their gown quickly after the wedding, they can recoup one of their major expenses and use the money for something more useful in their new life."

Lesson: Know your timelines (marthastewartweddings.com does a great one and I will have one soon too!) and keep up to date with your 'To Do' lists.

An Event Décor and Floral Designer said 'We wish brides had an idea of what they were looking for in their flowers and decorations and had a budget in mind. That would help us make recommendations that will keep them in their budget and also create arrangements that will provide their desired look for the finished product for their wedding day.'

Another Wedding décor specialist said 'Bring swatches if you want colors to match; bring pictures of things you have seen that you like, but understand that everything you want may not be available given budget constraints. Think about and talk with your fiancé about what is the most important.'

A Florist said "We wish brides knew too many colors can be like a circus...COLOR PHILOSOPHY - Decorating a space in terms of color we use the 60-30-10 rule divided into percentages for example 60% Deep Velvet Red, 30% Cymbidium Green, 10% Pink Champagne"

Lesson: Know your budget breakdowns and bring in all those photos you have been looking at in the magazines and take advice!

A wedding videographer/cinematographer said 'I'd like brides to know that years from now, the sound of their parents' voices talking to them as they get ready - and about them, as well, throughout the day, will be priceless. That grandparents' advice for long and wonderful marriages, told in their own words and heard in their own voices will be blessings heard again and again;'

Another Wedding Videographer said 'I'd like brides to know that most wedding videographers haven't shown your what's possible, because you've been advised to spend far less on a videographer than on your photographer, so that they really can't offer you all that they can do.'

Lesson: Discuss and think hard about your priorities when doing your budget.

A Wedding Planner (not me!) said 'I wish brides knew how important wedding planners really are!! Brides just don't understand how much stress we can take off a bride, especially on the wedding day.'

Another Wedding Planner (not me either!) said 'I would like them to know that we put a lot of time into helping them clearly communicate the vision for their weddings, and in making suggestions to accomplish what they dream before we even start charging a fee. I would like them to know that when we have an initial consultation with them it takes a lot of skill and time on our parts to be able to listen and envision what another person sees. I would like them to know that most of us do this job because we love it.'

Another Wedding Planner (still not me although I agree!) said 'That there is a difference between the wedding coordinator provided by a venue and one that you hire separately to work with you throughout the planning process of your wedding.'

Another Wedding Planner said "That there are many cases where if you do the math the wedding planner is actually making less then minimum wage and often the planner actually ends up working harder on those lower budget weddings then they would on a higher budget wedding. We do it because we love our jobs.

Yet another Wedding Planner said "I would like brides to know that hiring a planner has to be looked at other than as just another expense. A planner goes the extra mile for their brides; they make sure that everything is getting done, not overlooked. When something goes wrong we are there to assist and make it go smoothly instead of them being so stressed as issues do arise. If the facility is having issues and the bride is dealing with only the facility planner, the planner is obligated by their employer to do what is right for the facility, not the bride. Sometimes it is nice to have a planner to be the buffer and a sounding board to offer suggestions and alternatives. We are a great resource."

And Another Planner "wishes that they knew that as a planner I am not going to take over their wedding but add my expertise to help them have the day they dream of."

Lesson: Be realistic about the time and energy you have to plan your wedding and bring your dream together. This should be the happiest time of your life!

A wedding photographer said 'A couple should choose their photographer and videographer according to STYLE, and not price (alone). It is jarring to work with a videographer with a completely different (more traditional) style than my own as a photographer.'

Another Wedding Photographer said 'I wish brides understood that photography is not a commodity, but Art. What it really takes to shoot a wedding. How many obstacles (weather, mood, time constraints, health issues, drunk guests..etc) a photographer has to overcome to deliver beautiful wedding photographs.'

Lesson: Coordinate your vendors and suppliers well and know what your style is!

A Wedding Invitation Designer said "I so wish brides would follow their own hearts! Friends/Family members really complicate things when a bride consults too many people and then becomes confused. That is the one thing I wish that brides knew... Make your wedding YOURS!"

A Wedding Favour Supplier said "...that unforgettable wedding favors make a huge impression on guests without spending a lot of money. If they shop wisely, favors are a small expense and complete the overall wedding experience."

A Photobooth Provider said "That they can share their pain, if they have any. Often times brides and grooms struggle to keep the planning going. I always recommend a wedding planner if things are overwhelming. Our job as vendors is to fit our clients' needs not to have them fit our needs. So if a bride is hands on I allow her to be, if she wants no worries I take the ball and run with it. If we work through a coordinator, no problem. When the bride is honest and lays out her expectations a good vendor will follow suit and create a plan that is mutually beneficial." My response to this, that is a good one!

A Musician said "That the price they are quoted for a musician includes thousands of hours of practice, the purchase of equipment and amplifications systems, stands and sheet music, advertising, many supplies like reeds, strings, drum heads and gaffer's tape, set up and warm up time, consultations and meetings, professional memberships. It is a very common misperception that a musician plays a few tunes and then disappears."

A Jewelry and Accessories Designer said "I would really like when brides come to me with a scrapbook of hair accessories that they like. I have found that only a handful of brides know what they want. This is a bit frustrating for me the designer, when they say to me "You will Know if it suits me", when I have only just met them.

On the whole I believe that Brides should have a good idea of how they would like to have their hair styled around 4 months to the wedding, this then gives not only me the designer and the hair stylist a chance to give them ideas and for me to actually have the hair accessory ready for the final hair trail."

The general consensus: Basically, know the value of the supplier's services and that they care about the outcome of your wedding and the quality they produce.

Lesson: Once you have carefully chosen - and I know you will- trust them and communicate with them!

Aislinn Events is a bespoke Wedding and Event Planning company based on the stunning Dingle Peninsula in the South West of Ireland. We serve all of Ireland and have contacts all over the country while specializing in Counties Kerry, Cork and Limerick as the dream destination for your wedding.
Run by Annie Byrne, an experienced American Wedding and Event Planner and Coordinator who brings new ideas and a fresh perspective whatever the budget, we provide full wedding planning, month of coordination and wedding and event consulting.
http://aislinnevents.com