A wedding photographer is responsible for taking the formal pictures at your event as contracted by you. In many cases they will also take candid photos throughout your day, and may create artistic and playful shots. Some will also provide video, normally at an additional charge, or as part of a package. Most photographers will either charge you by the hour or have packages that include a set number of hours. If you go over that package limit they will charge you by the hour, and this is normally stated in your contract. 


   In this day and age of creative weddings, photographers have responded with amazing out of the box photo shoots including Trash The Dress.  Many also offer a bridal session as part of their packages, which normally is done on a separate day prior to the wedding day. Whatever you want, whether part of a package or not, put it down in writing with your photographer. Most are very willing to oblige their brides requests. 

​If there is one thing that guests feel is most important at any event, it is what they eat and drink. This detail is a major one, and should really be given a great deal of thought and planning. The question is, do you hire a caterer or not.

That is an easy question to answer for a wedding planner, we will always say yes, absolutely, hire a caterer. We have seen the good and bad in weddings and know how valuable a caterer is to the success of the event and the experience of the guests.

If you are still wondering just how hiring a caterer will make or break your specific event, think about some of your details. When you envision your big day; do you picture a formal event, something more casual, or perhaps a theme comes to mind? Do you have a large guest list? Is the venue for your reception and/or dinner indoors, outdoors, in a reception center, a convention hall, church hall, backyard, library? The possibilities are endless and an experienced caterer has managed them all, knows the potential problems, and has already developed the solutions.

 Let's break it all down into what a caterer does, and  what your options are.
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​Yes, we all have at least one very talented cook in our family, some even make their living at it, and perhaps they have their own catering business, but, let's remember who they really are in this situation . . . guests.

When you ask someone to cater your wedding, you are also saying that you aren't inviting them to be a guest. They are expected to work. Now this raises a couple of questions. Are they actually going to work that day, or are they going to tend to want to mingle, watch the bouquet toss, get into some of the pictures, you know what I mean, be a guest? It's difficult enough to keep some paid staff on task when something as fun as a wedding reception is going on, but, at least in that situation you, or your caterer, are the boss and can tell them to get back to work. Not so with a friend or relative. Are you willing to risk the hurt feelings, or, are you willing to risk a hiccup in the catering? Perhaps everything will go just right, but, are you willing to risk it?

Also, and I have seen this happen far too many times, how will you handle it if your friend or relative backs out at the last minute or admits they just aren't able to fulfill all of your wishes? It's a risk you take when you deal with someone that is not a professional, and does not have a signed contract with you.

Perhaps this friend or relative has prepared food for smaller gatherings, but, do they have the experience to take on a large event? Will they have enough food, too much food, both of which you will pay for in either hungry guests that go away from your reception less than impressed, or an unnecessarily out of control food budget.

Professional caterers will make what you want, for the money you agree upon and put into writing. You will know long before your wedding day exactly what your guests will be eating and that they will have a pleasant experience with regard to the food.

​Option 2: Pot Luck
​Now this one is very tempting when you are having a church hall reception. That said, this is not a church social or family reunion. It's a wedding, and you have thought about it your entire life. When you say pot luck, that is just what you have to expect. If you are lucky, hence the word luck in the title, you will get a nice variety of compatible foods and enough for everyone. If you are lucky, the food will be tasty and presented attractively. On the other hand, how certain will you be of the conditions under which the food is prepared, stored, and then delivered? I could list all of the potential hazards, but, I'm sure you can envision them for yourself.

Another issue I've seen happens when not everyone shows up on time, or at all. If you're having a dinner that needs to have bread or rolls, and the person who said they would bring them is late, then you either have to send someone out for rolls or just eat without them. What about consistency, and yes I could be talking about how runny someones potatoes turned out, but, I am more referring to having different people making the same item, let's say cupcakes. I've seen a dramatic difference in skill levels and often there is at least one person who just should not be baking anything, ever. Again, you have no control when you lean on pot luck.

A professional caterer will pre arrange a time line with you, this assures their arrival at the time you need them to be there, and that the food is set up, ready to be served, on time. The food will be consistent with what you ordered for every single guest.

Option 3: Store Bought Snacks
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Okay, if I'm being honest, and I always try to be, some stores have great food, and it seems like a reasonable option. Not so fast. We're forgetting what a real caterer does. They bring the food, set it up, and clean up afterwards. If you are buying food from the store it will be up to you or someone else to do all of that, including the serving items, the table setting, just everything to do with it. Again, you may be leaning on a friend or relative for this task which takes us right back to the problems with option 1. Plus, your guests will know the food is from a store and will not feel terribly special. Let's reserve the grocery store snacks for the Super Bowl party.

All in all, choosing the food for your wedding day boils down to how you want to treat your guests and how much you want to be able to enjoy your day. All of the above options have been done again and again, so, if you choose to take one or more of them on, at least now you know the pitfalls.  If you choose to work with a professional caterer, that does not mean you will be breaking the bank.  Caterers know many brides are on tight budgets, and have developed options and menus that can work with pretty much any situation. There is no harm in checking with a few of your local caterers and weighing that option.  In the end, the food you serve is one of the most important ways you are saying thank you to your guests.

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The various floral professionals are:

Florist-To become a florist just takes either owning a floral shop or working in one.  No specialized training is required, and you may or may not get someone who has worked on wedding flowers before.  It's a risk, but, if you are willing to take that risk, you could save yourself some money.  Just be aware that you may not get the look you are envisioning.  Now, don't get me wrong, many florists are highly qualified and can create amazing floral designs.  It is just important that you understand that there is no accreditation required to be a florist, so, if you are looking for the skilled and experienced type, ask questions and to see examples of their previous work.  Have the florist create the design you want for your bouquet or centerpieces to give you a visual example of what your day will look like under their hand.

​Again, as always, bear in mind that floral professionals, with the possible exception of the event/floral designer, focus on the skills they bring to the event, and do not handle any other elements in your event, such as setting up tables and chairs, or creating specialized lighting, which will be our next topic in this series

Wedding Professionals-who does what? Part One-The Wedding Planner
   Attend just one bridal fair and you quickly realize the number and variety of professionals that can be and often are hired to work the average wedding.  From printers, to designers, to planners, to caterers, and on and on.  So who are all these professionals and what exactly is their role in the biggest day of your life.  Well, let me take you on the magical mystery tour of the average wedding and we'll find out.

We'll start with the very first steps in putting your wedding together.

The Wedding Planner-   Whether they call themselves a wedding planner, wedding coordinator, or event planner, they can be basically the same thing.  The only difference lies in what they do for you.  The wedding planner, on average, does just that, plans weddings, while an event planner can plan any type of celebration or event including weddings.  A wedding coordinator may or may not plan your wedding as they are more involved in the orchestration of the event and in many cases are employed by a planning firm.  They may, however, pull together the final details near the end of the planning process, or simply orchestrate the event working through other professionals and never actually show up on the day of your wedding.  Whatever they call themselves, the degree of involvement they have in your wedding will be dictated by their contract you sign, and if you find a professional that does not require a signed contract, you may want to consider finding someone else. 

sThat's a pretty long list, and while not all wedding planners include all of those items in their list of services, when you see what you typically get from a basic planning package you can imagine the value of a good planner.  Wedding planners often do many more tasks, and as more work is involved the cost generally goes up for more items, but, it's well worth it.  As you can see, dish washing, cooking, food service, non of those types of tasks are included.  In the case of items listed as "assisting" this simply means the wedding planner sees that these items are accomplished, and as said before, if the planner is expected to complete these tasks themselves, this should be clearly stated in the signed contract.  Otherwise, the bride will potentially be expected to complete the task with the planner scheduling and following up to insure it is done on schedule. 

Losing a detail in the vast amount of large and small tasks that need to be taken care of can be a huge problem if not caught in time. If the wedding planner you hire prevents you from having a hiccup in your wedding day schedule just once, the value of their service will be well worth the cost. Imagine having your guests waiting around for the music to start because the DJ was not updated to a change in the schedule, or he charges you for an extra hour of play time at an overtime rate because the schedule change required he be there later than originally planned. Just one detail can easily be lost in an event as large as a wedding.  

In Part Two we will see what a florist or floral designer contribute to a wedding. ​

Don't forget to include the little details in your wedding day checklist.

When creating your checklist of the big details you need to handle for your wedding day, remember that it is often the little things that are remembered most.  Take this photo for instance. If having quirky socks is part of your plan for the groomsmen, then great, but, what if they aren't?  Many photos are taken in such a way that socks are visible, and if it is a formal shot, no matter how great everything else in the photo turned out, your eye will always go to the mis matched socks, even if only one groomsman wears them. 

The best way to prevent a situation like this is to include little details in the checklists.  For the groomsman, make sure someone brings them every item of clothing they are to wear, including socks, and provide clear instructions regarding piercings, hair (including facial hair), watches, and shoes.  You know the look you are trying to achieve, and you know what you don't want.  It's your wedding, you should have some control over the outcome.  My advice for gaining some level of control is to have a planning meeting where you give everyone the run down of your vision, and the part they play in that.  If a groomsman, or any member of the wedding party, expresses disagreement with your plans, then, if you do not want to negotiate on the point of conflict, consider replacing them before your wedding day gets much closer. 

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And lets not forget the printed items.  Depending on the scope of your event, you will be dealing with invitations at the very least, and then add to that any RSVP cards, directional inserts, announcements, place cards, menus, etc.  Everything should be neatly printed and spelled correctly.  

Always check the spelling of people's names.  You might be surprised at how they prefer it to be spelled, and, what name they would prefer to use.  At the very least, you are letting them know that you respect them enough to make sure their name is correct.  

Watch out for abbreviations, too.  Not everyone understands what you may consider to be a common abbreviation.  It's always best to spell everything out.  When providing directions, try to avoid naming landmarks that not everyone on your guest list is familiar with . 

Fancy lettering can be an issue, as well.  I suggest having a few people in your wedding party read a draft of your invitations to see if anything is difficult to read and how best to correct that problem before you have five hundred of them printed up. 

In planning the food for your reception, always consider the potential  dietary restrictions of your guests or a member of the wedding party. On your RSVP cards it's always helpful to include a question to cover that issue, giving you plenty of time to advise your caterer of any special situations and how many of those they can plan for.  

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If you have been imagining your wedding photos and have a specific pose or setup that you really want, make sure it is on a list for your photographer, and that you have talked with them about it.  

Forgetting small details won't be a tragedy.  You will still be married whether you spell your mother in law's name correctly on the announcements or not, but the memories will be so much sweeter if you take a little extra time to secure those details.  Of course, a wedding planner has seen enough of these little things get away from a bride that they have a keen eye and can help prevent them falling through the cracks. 

Spring is just around the corner, and the time is now for getting those Spring wedding details hammered out.   

The possibilities for venues opens up with the easing of cold, wet weather, and that means brides have to decide between an outdoor or an indoor event.  With all of the amazing outdoor locations, that decision won't be easy.

So, what's a bride to do?  Maybe we can help.




First and most important, always have a secondary location.

 When booking locations, look for venues that have an option to offer should the weather not be cooperative on your wedding day.  Most venues have a "rain location" and will hold it for a deposit that may or may not be refundable. In the event of rain, or wind, or what have you, being able to move the event indoors at the last minute can be well worth the deposit when you consider the alternative.  

I've seen brides in a state of panic when their plans were entirely centered on an outdoor venue and they did not want to pay for a rain location, and then their wedding day brought heavy rain all day long.  There were no locations available at the last minute, so we moved the reception into a local church hall, but, since the decor was nearly entirely dependent on the trees and flowers of the outdoor venue, we had to scramble to come up with a whole new look to her event.  She was happy with the outcome, but, her dream wedding was not possible.  Had she put a deposit on a location that offered that green look and flowery feel, perhaps a conservatory at a local nursery, or a resort ballroom that overlooked the mountain valleys, she would have been able to just relax and still realize her vision.  

So, always, always plan for bad weather, and hope for the best. 

Next,  always visit the site of your event before you book it.  

This may seem obvious, but, many a bride has booked an outdoor venue from pictures or videos, or visited on a day or time that is not reflective of their wedding day and time.  

If you are booking a venue for a sunset reception, but you visit during the day, you won't know if the sunset actually glares off the large windows of the building on the property, making  pictures a challenge, and causing your guests to have to squint to watch your ceremony.  Or if the beautiful brookside venue has a mosquito problem at night, or a bee problem during the day .  If the nearby train tracks have noisy trains going by right at the time you will be saying your I do's.  

So, always visit at the time of day, and day of the week that you will be using the facility.  Walk around to where you will be standing for your vows to get a feel for how the light affects both you and the groom, and then get a guest's perspective by moving around the area where they will be seated.  Can they see you, can they hear you clearly?  Also,  check for hazards like broken sidewalks, or uneven stairs.  These things can't always be fixed, but, you will want to know about it ahead of time before you go tumbling down in your white gown. 

And while you're at it, check out the rain location for the same reasons.  

Check for parking and comfort for your guests.

Nothing will be more appreciated by your guests than easy parking and a comfortable location.

 If your guests are having to walk a distance from where they parked, or they have to pay for parking, you should consider valet parking, or notify your guests ahead of time so they can consider sensible footwear and money for meter. 

When it comes to comfort, the first and foremost at an outdoor venue would be seating, followed very closely by bathroom facilities on site.  

If seating is provided by the venue, you should check it when you visit the site to see how comfortable the chairs are and consider whether or not you want to provide padding or have chairs brought in that are more comfortable.  Most venues have good chairs, but, you just never know until you inspect them yourself. 

Bathroom facilities can range from an on site indoor bathroom all the way to blue porta potties.  It's entirely up to the bride whether or not she wants to provide them if they are not available, but, your guests really should not be expected to do without them.  There are nicer options to porta potties, but, they are not always available in every area, and they are more expensive to rent.  Still, it's an option that you will want to consider.

Outside Vendors.  They have special needs that aren't always easy or free to provide for. For instance, a caterer needs access to electricity, and a place to set up their catering equipment that doesn't impede traffic or pedestrian flow and does not pose any safety hazards. Some may need access to potable water.  You won't know what their needs are until you ask them, and by then, you may have already booked a venue that does not offer those types of access. 

So, before you plunk down any money, ask your vendors what they will need on site, and then check with the venue coordinator regarding those needs. If the venue doesn't provide what you need, many will allow you to pay to bring in generators, and other portable facilities to provide for your vendors, but, sometimes there will be a fee for that, and the additional equipment will cost you more.  Some vendors will have their own extra equipment, but, again, there may be an additional fee. 
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There are always ways to make things happen when you are committed to a vision, but, you should know what you're getting into and if your budget can handle the reality. 

Creating a centerpiece for Fall can be easy.  Just use either silk, artificial or real clusters of fall foliage in a deep orange, and then tuck a cluster or two of yellow and gold into the vase itself.  Tie it all up with a burlap ribbon and you're done.   

     Closed venues can be decorated to mimic the natural look or to compliment the colors of the season, or perhaps Fall colors are simply not what the bride envisions.  


   Some things to keep in mind when diverging from seasonal colors and themes are the floral features and the food.  Many flowers are available year round that are not typically in season in the Fall, but, they will cost more out of season, so a bride needs to take that into consideration when planning for specific flowers.  

There are also options of flowers that are available year round, such as carnations and other mass produced flowers, that can be ordered in specific colors, sizes, and textures.  As at anytime, the more greenery you use in your florals, the lower the cost. Another consideration for decor is the use of non-florals such as feathers, strands of pearls or crystals, just a plethora of options.  

   The other factor is the food at your event.  Seasonal foods are budget friendly, in the same way as seasonal florals, because they are widely available, and in greater abundance.  That doesn't mean you cannot have a luau or barbeque in October, but, it can raise your budget.