FAQs

Q: What are the benefits of hiring a wedding coordinator?

A: A Wedding Coordinator is an "expert" at planning weddings because they have planned several and know what unexpected things to think of and plan for before they happen. They also have strong relationships with vendors & have vetted them thoroughly, which can take weeks to months for a couple to do on their own, and they negotiate great rates and solid contracts on your behalf. They are also a stress-saver in that on the day of your wedding they take care of all the details so you and your family/friends can enjoy your wedding.

Q: I am having a hard time figuring out what to do for my wedding favors. Any suggestions?

A: Candy is a traditional choice to use as a favor, either individually wrapped, as part of a "candy buffet" where guests can pick and choose what and how much they want or included as part of a dessert display with various candies, cookies and cake pops on display for your guests to take. Other trends I have seen are mini-alcohol bottles (i.e. mini Patron bottles, half bottles of wine), potted plants (for an eco-friendly wedding) or donations to charity made by the couple on behalf of their guests.

Q: What is a typical wedding timeline?

A: For an evening wedding events usually follow this order: ceremony, cocktail hour, grand entrance, first dance, dinner, toasts between courses, more traditional dances (i.e. father/daughter, mother/son), regular dancing for 20-30 minutes, cake cutting, resume dancing for 30-45 minutes, bouquet/garter toss, resume dancing for rest of reception. Keep in mind this is just a guideline and I personally have done several variations of the above events so feel free to customize based on what traditional elements you want and do not want to have at your wedding.

Q: I want a live music element at my wedding but can't afford a band to play during my reception, what other options do I have?

A: Bands can be expensive for a wedding reception, typically starting at $3500 for a 6 piece band, but you can always hire a solo musician or a trio/quartet for your ceremony and/or cocktail hour. Some of my couples have hired a DJ to do their reception but use an acoustic guitarist for their ceremony & cocktail hour; used a harpist for the ceremony and a string quartet for their cocktail hour; had a string quartet perform the ceremony but used a DJ for cocktail hour and reception. Solo musicians will typically be less expensive than a quartet as they are fewer members being paid.

Q: How far in advance do I need to book at coordinator to help with my wedding? 

A:  It all depends on how much help you need from a coordinator.  If you find that you can't set aside the 200+ hours it usually takes to plan a wedding from start to finish then I would recommend hiring a coordinator shortly after you get engaged so that you can be sure to secure your favorite location as they generally book up 9-12 months in advance.  If you want to do most of the planning on your own but want someone to come in at the end and put into play all the elements you have worked so hard to do, then I recommend hiring a coordinator no less than 2 months before your wedding.  But coordinators are usually pretty flexible in their schedule during the off-season, November-March, and can be booked as little as the week of your wedding for a "day of" package.