Eight Reasons to Hire a Wedding Planner

An etiquette and protocol expert explains why hiring a wedding planner will help you avoid some dreadful mishaps…

Article contributed by Luxurious Wedding Etiquette & Protocol Expert, Claudia Lutman

Congratulations! You are engaged and you are elated. Your wedding day is going to be the most important day of your life and you envision everything is going to be perfect.  You want to be involved. You have planned parties that have wowed your friends. You want to take a hands-on approach to the planning of your wedding and the prospect excites you.

Yes, the thought of planning a wedding is very exhilarating. But in reality, it is like solving a Rubik’s Cube. Getting all the pieces to work together and fit together precisely to complete the design is the objective.  It may look like a seamless process but it is not easy. A wedding requires Synergy – the interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.  Much like a movie, a wedding has to be produced, scripted, edited, and directed. As a visual feast for the eyes, a wedding has to have a flow and a tempo. It needs to be as pleasing for your guests as it is for you.  As the star of your movie, can you envision yourself being the central character, producer, editor, director, and run interference for all minor details on your wedding day?
If you are having more than 25 guests, the idea of working with a wedding planner should appeal to you. As the creative director for the most important day of your life, your wedding planner will help you avoid some dreadful mishaps that could ruin your day.

Reason # 1:
A Theme Is More Than A Hodgepodge of Great Ideas
Your ideas are fabulous. But they are only the foundation of your theme. Remember: They are only ideas and pictures ripped out of magazines. Brides have ended up blowing their budget on one item to the detriment of the whole wedding. This is where your wedding planner becomes your magician. Knowing all the tricks and resources, your wedding planner can create a theme that runs through the whole event. They see the whole picture. If budget is a constraint, they will advise you how to economize and still achieve a similar look.

Reason #2:
Is Your Budget A Guideline Or A Blueprint For Bankruptcy?
A budget is an essential part of your wedding planning. Even a million-dollar wedding has a budget. A budget will give you perspective and it will center you. It will be a great comfort to you when you want to know where you stand financially. Expenses tend to mount up quickly, and your budget will always give your a realistic assessment. I have witnessed brides being so out of control that they end up randomly buying items that have no rhyme or reason. That money could have been spent elsewhere to make the wedding a better experience for the guests. Being realistic about your budget is essential. Don’t fool yourself with a figure knowing you can go over it. You will only be hurting your chances of selecting the best possible vendors. Your wedding planner is your accountant and will believe the budget you give them. They honestly try to work within your parameters. Therefore, decide on a realistic figure so your wedding planner can recommend the vendors who will deliver the best work within your budget.

Reason #3:
The Venue Event Manager
When the event manager from your venue tells you they can do your wedding planning, they are not lying. They will do everything under the sun to oversee everything they are responsible for; however, they are not responsible for 90 percent of the details that go into your wedding. Some brides are shocked when things go wrong. They thought their venue person would be on top of things. Not necessarily. If they have several events that day, they can’t be held responsible for letting you know your flowers haven’t arrived or your best man is held up in traffic. Imagine walking into a bald room instead of the floral intensive ballroom you paid for. Your wedding planner is your overseer. Their job is to make sure everything arrives on time and complete. If you have 15 tables, 13 centerpieces just won’t do. They will get the florist to fix it. If the videographer does not show up, they should be able to find a replacement for you. Things happen, but it is your wedding planner’s job to see that things are fixed and end up perfect. Your wedding planner is your fairy godmother.

Reason #4
Timelines And Other Annoying Details
Checklists. Do we know anyone who likes them? And timelines. “Who has time to think of these boring things? I’m getting married!” I recall one bride saying. Actually, you might not be getting married after all if the minister does not show up. Timelines are critical. Timelines are necessary. And timelines keep your wedding planner sane. They thrive on them. You, however, should never be subjected to them. These are the things a bubbling bride should be kept far away from. They will certainly kill the excitement.

Reason #5
Synergy Applies To Vendors Too
There are vendors who work so well together you almost get double your monies worth. Having a vendor with an attitude can affect everyone. Your wedding planner knows these things and will steer you in the right direction. By involving your wedding planner in the selection of vendors from the invitations on, you will be guided down the path of success. After all, synergy is what we are striving for!

Reason #6
What Are The Rules?
Brides need a go-to person for etiquette, wedding-related questions, and to keep the planning timeline moving forward. All brides need a liaison to help keep emotions and relationships from straining during planning. Your wedding planner is a combination of Martha Stewart and Emily Post. Do you really have the time and inclination to research, answer, and solve the problem yourself?

Reason #7
Overtime Charges Accrue Faster Than Champagne Pours
One hour of overtime with a location site or photographer can cost you plenty! Everyone is on the clock and so is your wedding planner. The difference is your wedding planner is on your clock. They keep everything in motion so extra costs are avoided. In the end, your wedding planner is the most cost effective choice you can make.

Reason #8
Frazzled Is Not Fabulous
Wedding planning and the events that lead up to your day will be stressful. You should have one job only. Keeping yourself relaxed and living in the moment. You need time to take in and enjoy this special day. Be with your loved ones. Be happy. Be kind. And mostly, be assured that your wedding is going to be the most fabulous day of your life. Yes, all weddings have glitches. And yours will, too. But your wedding planner will make sure you never have to deal with or see them. You may never even know anything out of the ordinary happened. And that is the sign that you are a genius at wedding planning. You started out with great ideas, hired a wedding planner to bring them to life, and sat back like a pampered princess on your wedding day accepting all the accolades that you deserve.

Simply put:  they’re as beautiful as their subject matter.  Thank you Danny.  Thank you for sharing your perspective with the world, and for adding to the chapter of Baby G’s life-book.  We saw these images, and wanted more.  We saw these images, and we all felt what Tara and Michael are feeling…there aren’t too many people in this world that have a gift like you, and we thank you from the bottom of our big gushy EAP hearts.

For the rest of you, here’s a sneak peak of said images…enjoy!

Baby G:  We’re really on pins and needles waiting for your arrival…so hurry up and get here little boy (or girl) because EAP is ready to spoil you rotten.

All images by Danny Weiss

Naturally Tasty Chef Gilda Mulero offers great Natural Cooking classes in the luxury of your home.  Check out the Cooking 101 for Newlyweds services on her website — we’re sure you’ll love every single morsel.

Tunnel to the Towers Run, In Honor of Stephen Siller

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Contest Details: Three of EAP’s Brides!

Congrats to the winners – well deserved!  It was an honor for us to share in your special day!

Today, I come to you with the appeal of Weddings MADE in Hollywood (movies about weddings!)  As moviegoers we thoroughly enjoy when a film is made well, and if it’s not – we make the best of imagination and put ourselves in their shoes.  Here are a few of my favorite wedding-oriented flicks that I’ve enjoyed.

With Bride Wars hitting theatres on Friday January 9, 2009, I realized there have been some great movies with the focus all about getting married!  The plot:  Two best friends become rivals when they schedule their respective weddings on the same day. (source:  IMDB)

Where is that wedding being held, you ask?  Well, none other than the infamous Plaza Hotel in New York.  Could you imagine if your wedding date and location was booked by someone you despised?  It’s bad enough some brides don’t even want to SEE another bride at their venue or even walking the streets…so that’s one point to consider when booking your perfect venue.  How many weddings are held simoultaneously and if there are multiple events, what is the time allocated between events?

Last year, another famous New York location, The Central Park Boathouse was featured in the movie 27 Dresses.  The plot:  After serving as a bridesmaid 27 times, a young woman wrestles with the idea of standing by her sister’s side as her sibling marries the man she’s secretly in love with.(source:  IMDB)

I know while watching this movie, I definitely ran through the amount of weddings I’ve been a part of.  After it was over, I couldn’t help but run to my closet to see how many bridesmaid dresses I had stored…so, how many weddings have you been a part of? I’m a firm believer of quality over quantity.  Involve those that you want to be there, that you are honored to have by your side…not just there because mom said so.  Being in a bridal party has it’s work cut out, and you want someone to be there for the good, bad, and the ugly (dresses.)

In 2007 & 2005 I personally enjoyed License to Wed and Wedding Crashers.  Every single person in the theatre was laughing themselves to tears!  The plot:  A reverend puts an engaged couple through a grueling marriage preparation course to see if they are meant to be married in his church. / John Beckwith and Jeremy Grey, a pair of committed womanizers who sneak into weddings to take advantage of the romantic tinge in the air, find themselves at odds with one another when John meets and falls for Claire Cleary. (source: IMDB)

Worried about wedding crashers at your event?  Fear not, someone is keeping an eye out for who belongs and who doesn’t.  If it’s not your planner, coordinator, Maitre’D, Captain, Security, it’s one of your guests that KNOWS someone does not belong there.  Chances are in your favor that that unwelcomed guest is spotted quickly and escorted on their way.

Oh, but who can forget, My Big Fat Greek Wedding?  The plot:  A young Greek woman falls in love with a non-Greek and struggles to get her family to accept him while she comes to terms with her heritage and cultural identity. (source:  IMDB)

How many Greeks, Italians, Middle-Easterners knew exactly what Toula and Ian were going through?  I sure did, and still enjoy watching this flick with my family quite often.

Finally, one movie that we are constantly compared to is, The Wedding Planner, with Mrs. J-Lo herself. The plot:  Mary Fiore is the wedding planner. She’s ambitious, hard-working, extremely organized, and she knows exactly what to do and say to make any wedding a spectacular event. (Source:  IMDB)

There is not one wedding that we’ll attend and asked by a guest:  “So, like your job, it’s like J.Lo right?”  Our response is always “It looks glamorous in the movie doesn’t it?  Well – yes, we’re like J.Lo.”   There are certainly pluses and negatives to this business, but in the end, it’s worthwhile.  We’re always there to share in one of the most intimate events in a persons’ life, and how many people can say their career is based on that?

In the end, there are certainly weddings that share the glamour as portrayed in Hollywood; but let’s just say keep the drama to Hollywood, and keep the weddings in New York because there really is NOTHING like it.

It was a great morning, waking up to an email from Vane thanking the professionals who made it all happen.  Vane and Chad’s wedding was featured in Wedding Style Guide, an Australian wedding magazine, and we’re really dog-gone proud of them!

So get off your bum, and purchase the magazine for a looksie of your own…or just see below – hehe.

I have to admit, I’m dipping into my personal life in writing the title of this post today.  While dancing up a storm a few weeks ago in my gold patent leather CL flats, my friend Christoper stopped me on the dance floor and stated “Ruby Slippers?!?!?!  How DARE YOU!” in his gleeful manner that made me drop to my knees with giddy delight.  Yes, someone realized and appreciated my obsession with anything glitter and glam, most especially when it comes to shoes.

So why the post today?  Well, it was Shelley, my last 2008 bride married on Saturday December 20 at The Garden City Hotel that shared that same obsession with her fabulous glitter tootsies, and now I know that I’m not alone.

I promise to share more details from Shelley and Evan’s special day – and it certainly was a great way to end 2008, very soon.

For now, here are some glitzy shoes that I certainly think are wedding appropriate (if not NECESSARY!)  Enjoy!

Shelley’s Fabulous Juicy Couture’s – aren’t they FABULOUS!!!!????!!!

Zappos.com - Juicy Couture

Flats that say Va-voom:

Zappos.com: Juicy Couture

For the Bride that wants to get down and funky:

Zappos.com: Converse Chuck Taylor

I would have worn these gold ones for my wedding!

Zappos.com: Gala by Coloriffics

And of course, a medley of Euro Couture:

Christian Louboutin

Christian Louboutin

Looking for that Something Blue?

Miu-Miu

View more of this awesome NYE wedding on Cliff Mautner’s Blog. There are so many lovely photographs to view on his blog. I am a fan.

2008 Brides – we still have a few dates left, so book without an initial meeting, and we’ll discount the 2008 pricing 20%

2009 Brides – book without an initial meeting, and we’ll discount the 2008 pricing 15%

Contact Us today for availability, pricing, and additional information.

Sale ends:  October 31, 2008 (applies only to Day of Coordination Services)