Just Ask Connie
From the Owner: My love and passion of planning weddings and events evolved over time from my first 500 guest wedding for a friend in Detroit to volunteering at my church in Alexandria and doing corporate and social events as a volunteer when I worked for the Federal government. It is very natural and creative for me. I love working with the details and seeing it all come together for a very happy bride and groom. I love meeting and working with my clients. And being a former project manager helps. I decided to take a course and get my Professional Bridal Consultant designation from the Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC), and get certified as a Certified Sandals Specialist, as a natural progression in my field.
Starting my own business was a dream I had several years before it happened. It’s not easy and it’s a big risk. I am blessed to have had, from the beginning in 2007, a great staff of men and women. With the grace of God, we have been in business for over 4 years.
Comment from a Reader: “There are so many different things you need to think about when planning a wedding that it can be quite overwhelming at times. Deciding on the perfect location, caterer, florist, and DJ can lead to some stressful times when you are planning a wedding.”
Answer: We know that a bride and groom can be overwhelmed with all of the hundreds of details that a wedding entails. Adding to the mix are well-meaning family and friends that want to help and may cajol you into decisions that may not fit in your budget or vision for your wedding.
A good wedding planner knows who the best in the business are and can guide the bride and groom into buying just what is right for them and fits in their budget. At Your Service Events Planner works with the top wedding vendors in the Central Virginia area who are ready to assist us in making your dream wedding beautiful and memorable for years to come!
Question from a Bride:
Answer: I am a Certified Sandals Specialist and can book Sandals and Beaches resorts like any other Sandals representative or travel agent that is certified to market Sandals. There are no additional fees for going through my company. We are co-branded on our website with Sandals and Beaches. Call us at (434) 525-1805 when you’re ready to enjoy your Sandals or Beaches Luxury Vacation!
Question from a Bride:
What are some ways to save money on our wedding?
Answer: One of the best ways to save is to reduce your guest list. I know this may be hard to do, but consider looking at your guest list as “Must Haves” first and then divide the list between the bride, the groom, the bride’s parents and the groom’s parents. When your guest list is reduced, you save on invitations, food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, the cake, rentals (linens, tables, chairs, etc.). The reception alone makes up approximately 35% of your wedding budget, so savings can be realized substantially by reducing your guest list.
Another way is to Do It Yourself (DIY) on some wedding expenses. If you’re creative or have relatives and friends who are creative, you may save on making your own centerpieces, flowers, decorations, and favors to just mention a few necessities. Another great idea is getting friends and family (who are not in the wedding) for catering. However, remember to tell your friends and family members that they are guests second. Here’s an interesting article on catering tips for the DIY bride. http://theweddingvendor.com/blog/2011/02/catering-tips-for-the-diy-bride/
Question from a Brides Maid:
How can a bride find good caterers if the wedding is out of town in the groom’s home town?
Answer: It’s always a good idea to search online for reputable caterers and then follow up with a phone call. Have a list of questions ready for each vendor to answer. Select several caterers and look at testimonials if you have never worked with them. Since the groom’s family is located in the city that the wedding is taking place, you can always use them as a resource to recommend local caterers that they know. However, it is important to do a tasting of the menu and cake so there will be no surprises at the reception. If possible, travel at least once to meet the caterers and cake bakers and do a tasting. If the bride cannot travel, by all means rely on the groom or groom’s family to do the tasting. But for peace of mind, I would recommend at least one on-site visit of the venues and all vendors.
Question from a Vendor: Why do I need a contract?
Answer: As a wedding and events planner, I am representing my clients and we need all details of the event legal and according to the client’s requests. There are hundreds of minute details in an event, particularly a wedding and large, corporate event, that it leaves too much to chance without a written contract. And it helps, in the rare case when something goes awry and cannot be resolved by the parties, to have a written contract for court. Clients are paying thousands of dollars for their event, so they need a “go to” person to assist with the details. Given today’s fast-paced environment, with work, school and family demands, having a basic contract drawn up specifying details makes good business sense and protects all parties.
Question from a Bride: If I hire a wedding planner and select a venue that has an event coordinator, what are the responsibilities of the wedding planner?
Answer: It is best to have responsibilities of your wedding planner detailed in a contract or Letter of Agreement between you and the wedding planner. That would alleviate duplication of effort and confusion over who does what. Wedding planners or wedding coordinators perform duties from planning and coordinating full-service wedding services to partial services to performing Day Of Coordinator wedding services. At Your Service Events Planner offers two types of full-service wedding packages: “Enchanted” and “Heavenly”, a “Day Of Coordinator” wedding package and Consultation only. We prepare a Letter of Agreement detailing our role and responsibilities, which is signed by both parties, for all three of our wedding packages.