Last weekend we had the pleasure of having our very first winter wedding and I absolutely loved the color palette—black and white with splashes of a rich, velvety red! Absolutely loved working with this fun couple to plan their wedding at the new Shadowland ballroom on Silver Beach…thank you for letting me be a part of your special day!
For more fabulous photos check out the Parker Photographic blog—Chris did an amazing job capturing the day!
It’s the time of year when we have a lot of newly engaged brides contacting us, as they come across their first issues while planning their wedding, and as I get these questions, I’ll be sharing them on the blog as well, because they are issues that 99% of brides will come across at some point. If you’re a bride, mother-of-the-bride, or groom who has a question, feel free to submit them to jessica@stellaeventdesign.com!
Q: I found a photographer, and really liked their work online, but I left them a voice mail and an email over a week ago, and have not heard back from them. Should I book them, or is this a bad sign?
A: Unfortunately, there is no clear yes or no here. Unfortunately I know some vendors who do a fabulous job, but aren’t prompt with answering emails (and that doesn’t just apply to photographers). You need to consider your own personality & expectations…if you are the kind of person (like me) who likes a prompt response to messages (I consider less than 24 hours prompt, and less than 48 acceptable) then you’ll want to hire wedding vendors who have similar expectations. For you, hiring a slow-responding-vendor may cause more stress than it’s worth.
On the other hand, if you yourself rarely check your email, and aren’t at all unnerved by a response that takes a week, then this won’t be an issue for you. The key to having a good wedding planning experience is hiring vendors you trust. So whether they respond quickly…or slowly…make sure they have great references, a stellar portfolio, and address all of your questions and concerns. It never hurts to get a first-hand professional referral, so reach out to a local wedding planner for trustworthy vendor referrals. Whether you need a fantastic florist or the perfect photographer, a professional wedding planner can match you up with vendors that fit your personality, budget and style!
Now, I’ll be honest, if a vendor doesn’t respond to you for weeks—after multiple messages and emails—I would personally cross them off of my list. Think about it this way—if this is the level of customer service you’re receiving BEFORE even putting down a deposit—then what will the service be like once you are committed to working with that vendor? It’s your wedding day, and you deserve to work with vendors who communicate with you and value your business!
Last fall we were contacted to contribute to a “Weddings Across America” article featured in the newest March 2010 issue of BRIDES Magazine, and I was blown away to be able to contribute to one of my favorite wedding magazines. The magazine came out this week, and after months of waiting to see it, I was thrilled to receive my copy in the mail!
We shared some of our favorite things about Midwest weddings, including where Midwestern brides are getting married, what food & drinks they’re serving their guests, what personal favors they love, and what they do to make their weddings unique! I really enjoyed reading the articles on what unique elements make up each regions dream weddings, and you can find the article on page 363 of the March issue of BRIDES!
February 16, 2010 - 4:51 pm - Thanks Rebecca, I was so thrilled to be included!
February 16, 2010 - 12:07 pm - yay! a great mention!
I received a phone call recently from a bride who had an excellent question, and one I think a lot of other brides could probably use the answer to as well. She was considering hosting her wedding on a piece of family property, and wanted to know what things she should consider when deciding between her property, and an actual reception venue/building.
The key to creating a tented wedding on your own property (or even a rented space), is keeping in mind all of the rental costs you are going to incur. While a tented wedding may seem like the budget-friendly option, let’s take a look at how the numbers break down in comparison to a local venue that has a flat $2800 rental fee:
| TENTED | RECEPTION VENUE | |||
| Tent Rental (main tent & catering) | $1,600 | Room Rental | $2,800 | |
| Tent sides, in case of rain (10) | $350 | |||
| Lighting | $200 | Lighting | included | |
| 12×12 Dance Floor | $60 | Dance floor | included | |
| Guest tables (19) | $165 | Guest tables | included | |
| Tables: Cake, gift, food, bar (8) | $68 | Tables | included | |
| Basic white linens for all tables | $216 | Basic white linens | included | |
| Chairs for reception (150) | $565 | Chairs for reception | included | |
| Restrooms | $500 | Restrooms | included | |
| Total | $3,724 | Total | $2,800 |
I am not by any means saying you shouldn’t get married in a backyard or on a beautiful piece of family property—that can be a very meaningful and beautiful option for your wedding location—the thing you have to consider is if you are choosing that option only because it seems like the cheaper way to go. Because in most cases, bringing in all of those rental items will cost you much more than renting a venue (not to mention all of the extra work for you and your family), and that’s something you should realistically consider when choosing between a tented wedding on private property, versus a reception venue.
Besides the actual cost, you also need to consider logistical issues like where everyone will park, if your music will effect neighbors or cause the police to be called, and what you will do in the case of inclement weather (ie. renting heaters), etc.! If a tented wedding on private property is something that is definitely the right choice for you, you can take a lot of stress off of yourself and your family, by hiring a wedding planner. A professional and experienced wedding planner will be able to ensure you aren’t forgetting or overlooking any of the key elements needed to make your tented wedding a success, and will help you and your family to actually enjoy your beautiful wedding day!
February 9, 2010 - 3:59 pm - Wonderful post! We love doing home weddings, but most couples get sticker shock when they see the initial budget. There are so many details that need to come together for a successful home event.
February 9, 2010 - 12:00 pm - Thank you for highlighting the costs of having a backyard / tented wedding! I come across many couples that are fixated on this idea for their day, but who don't appreciate all the logistics that it takes to produce - you don't just throw up a tent and call it a day - you bring in bathrooms {since the house doesn't have plumbing that can't handle 100+ visits}, generators {since the house doesn't have electricity to run lighting, a band and a cook tent} and you have to build a kitchen for your catering company in order to serve food. There is also alot of wear and tear to the property, which many people don't think about either. It can be done, but it takes logistics and wherewithall to make it a success. And, it normally costs more than a standard venue space as everything must be brought in and rented.
February 9, 2010 - 11:51 am - Fantastic post, people don't realize how much work goes into an offsite wedding. I think they believe it will be easier. One thing I've heard people mention too is all the yard work that goes into it before the big day too.
(Invitations by Earthly Affair)
You may not realize all of the paper used in the process of your wedding. Save the dates, invitations, response cards, menu cards, place cards, escort cards, table numbers, programs, wedding announcements, thank you cards and all of those envelopes can add up to a huge tower of paper that will go to waste after the wedding.
Here are a few suggestions to lighten the paper load of your wedding:
Save the Dates::Send out a postcard-style Save the Date so you can ditch the envelopes
Invitations::If you make your invitations you have a whole array of earth friendly products available to you from partially recycled papers to 100% recycled! If you’re purchasing, use an earth-friendly company such as Earthly Affair who uses recycled materials and has green business practices! Set up a personal wedding website where guests can rsvp online and you’ll cut down on fuel usage by cutting out the mail drop for that RSVP card!
Place Cards::Use alternatives to paper such as beach glass, river stones or reclaimed wood with guests names! This isn’t only earth-friendly, but also unique and beautiful!
Programs::You can make a big dent in your paper pile by cutting out programs all together!
Planning::You can use a huge amount of paper just in preparation for your wedding. We’ve all seen a bride with a 4 inch thick binder of printed materials! If you’re thinking about printing it, save it instead! Think twice before printing out pictures, emails or spreadsheets and make sure everything is a final copy before it hits the printer!
Have your own green wedding tips? Share them by leaving a comment below!
LEARN MORE AT BRIDE2BE UNIVERSITY:
Class: Green Weddings 210::Creating an Eco-Friendly Wedding
Class Description: Planning a “green” wedding doesn’t have to mean growing your own flowers or wearing a gunny sack dress. We’ll go over creative, chic AND realistic ways to make your wedding day more eco-friendly, and it’s easier than you think! Class will include an additional 15-30 minute Q+A portion!
How to Register: Visit the Bride2Be University website, and click RSVP!
February 17, 2010 - 5:44 pm - I just saw this! Sorry, I'm really behind on my blog reading. Thank you so much for mentioning and linking to Earthly Affair! I am honored! And great article too!
One of the things I was most excited to see this year at the Wedding World bridal expo, was the brand new Mod Photo Booth, created by Jennifer Mayo Studios. Now I know there are a lot of photo booths out there, but I have yet to come across one that can compare to the beautiful look and quality of this one (check out the picture below)! It’s not your black, boxy photo booth—it’s elegant, sleek, and sexy (go figure, a sexy photo booth!) The picture quality is also fantastic—I have several recent strips from photo booths, and the pictures I got from the Mod Photo Booth when I tried it out at the bridal expo were fabulous (you can see my less-than-stellar posing skills on the left!)
So if you’re in the market for a really fun favor for your wedding or special event–that people won’t throw away–then check out the Mod website, and read below for all of the details on Mod and what makes it unique!
What makes Mod different?
Mod utilizes the same line of Canon EOS professional digital SLR camera equipment that Jennifer May Studios uses to photograph high-end weddings. You will not find any point-and-shoots here. Each 10 megapixel photograph from a photo booth session is saved individually and into a separate file on each event-specific custom print design for reprints that can be made at a later time.
The photo booth also utilizes the same type of softbox lighting used in professional photography studios. The large strobe softbox provides a modeling light so that visitors are never left in the dark during their photo booth session and the light provides soft, flattering light unlike the small flash incorporated into most mainstream photo booths.
How does it work?
Each photo session is controlled by a 21” touchscreen monitor. Visitors can select color or black-and-white photos and choose how many prints they want printed at the completion of the session. The monitor also serves a mirror so guests can see exactly what the camera sees through Canon’s live view technology.
At the completion of each session, prints from Mod’s commercial-grade dye sublimation photo printer are printed in about 25 seconds each and can be retrieved through the photo slot on the exterior of the booth so that the next group of guests can start their photo booth session. Unlike many of the ink jet printers used by some photo booths, the commercial printer used in the Mod booth delivers prints in only seconds, prints are completely dry, prints are archival rated so they will not fade over time, and the specific printer line used by Mod is the only dye sublimation series that can provide a matte finish similar to the luster paper used by most professional photographers.
After each event, the bride and groom or guest of honor receives a disk with all of the original photos and print layouts in full and web resolution for printing, viewing and social networking. Clients also receive a login so guests can access all the images online and place orders for reprints if desired.
Find out more @ www.modphotobooth.com
If you were at Wedding World on Saturday, you may have heard my seminar on how to get your wedding planning on track with the first 3 steps in planning your wedding—determining your budget, creating your guest list, and choosing your venue & date. And you also heard me talk about a fun new program called Bride2Be University, and as promised, we have a special for those who attended Wedding World 2010:
Sign up for one of our Bride2Be University classes for only $15! Bride2Be University Classes are fun & intimate small-group sessions that will get your planning on track! Enjoy a glass of wine, sit back and relax…we’ll help you feel confident in planning your wedding! Spaces are limited, so visit the website to see class topics & RSVP soon! (Please mention Wedding World on your RSVP to receive the special rate! Offer good until March 1, 2010)
If you’re in the St. Joseph/Benton Harbor area, you can come see us this Saturday, January 30th at the Wedding World bridal expo at Lake Michigan College. We’ll be presenting at 1:45 with some tricks to get your wedding planning on track, budget-saving tips, and an open Q+A session. You can also check out all of the booths and a fashion show that starts at 3:00. The show is open from 12:00-3:00 with the fashion show from 3-4:00 and admission is free! Stop by, we’d love to see you!
The deadline is fast approaching for our 2010 summer internships! If you’d like to apply, please submit your cover letter and resume by January 30th—-read the full details below!
What You’ll Do :: Event Assistants will assist with all day-of wedding tasks including: setting up decor at ceremony and reception sites, assisting vendors with deliveries (ie. cake, flowers, linens, rentals), assisting with the ceremony, assisting vendors as needed throughout the day, ensuring time lines are being followed, trouble shooting problems that arise, and much more. Event Assistants are always working alongside an experienced Planner or Event Associate who is there to direct & teach you!
Who We’re Looking For :: We are seeking junior & senior level students pursuing a degree in a related field (public relations, communications, hospitality & tourism, design, etc.), who are excited about learning the ins-and-outs of event planning, work well with a team, and exhibit a high level of responsibility. Weddings can be a stressful and emotionally charged time for a bride & groom and their families—the ideal candidate is friendly, enthusiastic, calm under pressure, and a great communicator! Most of our events are located in the St. Joseph/Benton Harbor/Harbor Country area, which is 60 minutes from Kalamazoo, 90 minutes from Grand Rapids, and 45 minutes from South Bend. You must be able to travel to Southwest Michigan for events.
What You’ll Get :: This is an unpaid internship and must apply towards college credit. You will walk away from this internship with hands-on experience in event planning & execution unlike anything you can learn in a classroom. This internship puts you in the action, working with real clients, professional vendors and beautiful locations throughout Southwest Michigan.
When You’ll Work :: Weddings are scheduled primarily on Saturdays, with some events on Fridays and Sundays. Interns will be scheduled to work 6-10 events throughout the wedding season (May-September) and we are happy to take schedules into consideration. Interns will also have the opportunity to work in-office during the week (hours flexible) to gain more experience in the planning that takes place prior to the wedding date!
How to Apply :: If you’re interested in joining the Stella Event Design Team for our 2010 season, please email your cover letter and resume (.pdf format preferred) to intern@stellaeventdesign.com. We will be accepting applications through January 30th and will be conducting interviews in February! If you have additional questions, please email intern@stellaeventdesign.com (no phone calls, please).
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“… I learned not only about event planning and coordinating, but also about how to work with vendors, what to do when things go wrong, and how to work with your clients in order to make sure that they get what they want. This internship gives you the opportunity to gain hands on experience as well as the opportunity to learn from a professional in the field.
One thing that surprised me about this internship was how much fun it was, even though I had to work hard. There are a lot of things that have to get done for each wedding and going into the internship I knew that I would have to work hard, but I had to work even harder than I thought I would! However, I also enjoyed the work that I was doing even more than I thought I would! Every day that I went to work, I was excited for what we were going to be doing. The effort we put in always paid off. At the end of every wedding we were able to reflect on the day and see that we had been successful and this was extremely rewarding.
My favorite part of this internship was working with the Stella Team. We had a great chemistry and it was easy to work together. This made accomplishing what we needed to at each wedding possible. The team that we had allowed us to get things done while having fun at the same time. I also loved working with the couples. Seeing them happy and satisfied with our work was exciting. Through this internship I really gained a love for weddings, an even greater love for planning, many new ideas on how to be creative, and great relationships with the women I worked with….” -Brittany Johnson, 2009 Event Assistant
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“…Interning with Stella Event Design was an incredible experience! When I first met Jessica, I fell in love with the passion that she has for planning exceptional weddings and her excitement and willingness to include me in the process. Each wedding that I worked on provided me with the opportunity to further understand what went into planning a wedding in addition to gaining valuable hands-on experience. I was continually surprised with the different experiences that each wedding provided and have learned first hand that no two weddings are the same. From working with other coordinators at churches to making sure every last detail at the reception is exactly what the bride wanted, I was never without something new and exciting to work on.
The most challenging part of this internship was learning to work with all varieties of people. From the delivery guys and caterers, to the mother of the groom, you definitely need to be flexible and willing to adjust to whatever situation may arise. At the end of an exhausting wedding day, the most rewarding part of the internship was being thanked by the bride and groom for such a wonderful experience. Knowing that everything turned out the way they they wanted it, and knowing that I was a direct part of that was incredible! I would definitely recommend interning with Stella Event Design to anyone who has a willingness to learn, can take challenges as they come, and has a passion for event planning!” -Megan O’Hara, 2009 Event Assistant
While many people think that winter must be “slow season” for a wedding planner, this is actually the time of year that we do all of our planning. So while the snow is falling outside, and I’m bundled in my winter coat & scarf, I’m also working on decor designs, color palettes and vendor appointments for some fabulous 2010 weddings. Because we plan so many weddings outdoors & on the beach, it can sometimes be challenging to look past the 2 feet of snow outside and remember what our beautiful SW Michigan landscape looks like underneath! So I love to look at past weddings, and be inspired by the beautiful weddings of summer time!
If you’re like me, and you’re surrounded by white, here are some beautiful summer bouquets to brighten your day! Have you chosen your wedding flowers? What style of bouquet will you carry? Will you choose a traditional white bouquet, or be daring with color?
Photo Credits (L-R): Ben Pancoast Photography, The Open Shutter Photography, Kelly Powers Photography, Kelly Powers Photography, Two Pair Photography, Carlos Ortiz Photo
by Jessica Pennington
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