| Often when you are looking for wedding vendors who | | | | make sure that the right linens are on the table and |
| suit your needs, you will run across a vendor that | | | | that everything seems to be running smoothly. If you |
| advertises that they also will coordinate your wedding | | | | ask for vendor referrals, you will usually get a list of |
| - FREE! These people generally do not have the | | | | companies who have done weddings at their site |
| extensive training or association memberships that | | | | before. They do not check references of these |
| professional wedding designers or bridal consultants | | | | companies and may have only worked with them |
| have. | | | | once or twice. |
| Be aware that there are different types of vendors | | | | Florist |
| who offer wedding coordination services: | | | | Again, this person is trained in how to do fabulous floral |
| Concierge Service | | | | arrangements for your wedding day. If you ask for |
| There are concierge services that also do wedding | | | | wedding coordination, you will receive a list of vendors |
| coordination. While they are running errands for | | | | who have used their services in the past and |
| executives (scheduling lunches, picking up laundry, | | | | references will not be checked. |
| buying gifts) they are also planning your wedding. | | | | Caterer |
| Wouldn't you feel better to choose a company who | | | | Caterers are a wonderful addition to your wedding. |
| caters strictly to event planning -- not wrapping | | | | They create imaginative menus best suited to your |
| packages while trying to find your site? | | | | wedding style and budget. However, caterers are not |
| Free Wedding Coordination Services | | | | wedding coordinators. Situations have come up where |
| You must ask yourself how these companies stay in | | | | a caterer has told a bride not to waste her money on |
| business if they aren't charging you for their services! | | | | a wedding designer. When the day came, details were |
| Simple. They are provided with an incentive payment | | | | not complete and one of the suggested vendors did |
| (usually a percentage of the package you purchase) | | | | not show up. They also do not help you with |
| from the vendor that they refer to you. Since the | | | | complicated questions on wedding etiquette and they |
| vendor will raise their prices to cover the amount going | | | | aren't at the church to make sure that all the details |
| to the "free service", you could actually end up paying | | | | are completed. |
| much more in commissions for what is supposed to be | | | | A True Wedding Designer Works For You On Every |
| a "free" service to the bride. One important note is that | | | | Level |
| a lot of the more reputable vendors will not subscribe | | | | Let your vendors do what they are best at. Spreading |
| to a service like this, so you could really be missing out | | | | themselves too thin can, in the end, can cause you to |
| on a vendor who matches your style and has | | | | not get the wedding you hoped for. When you are |
| extensive skill and talent. | | | | choosing your designer, make sure that they belong to |
| Ceremony Site Coordinator | | | | a reputable organization and that you feel comfortable |
| Often hired by the church/ synagogue /wedding site to | | | | with the services that they are offering you. They |
| make sure that their rules are followed -- such as no | | | | should only have your best interests in mind! |
| lights on the video camera, no throwing of rice or | | | | The above information should simply reinforce the fact |
| birdseed, who can and cannot stand on the alter. | | | | that a Professional Wedding Designer has your |
| Professional wedding coordinators always work with | | | | personal interests at heart, not their own. Invest wisely |
| these people to ensure that your ceremony is as | | | | in your wedding and make sure that you are being |
| individual as you are, while still following the guidelines | | | | taken care of so you can relax and create wonderful |
| set up by the church/synagogue/site. | | | | memories. |
| Reception Site Coordinator | | | | ©2004, All Rights Reserved, Sasha Souza |
| This person is usually a salesperson who works in the | | | | Events, Do not reproduce without permission from |
| catering or sales office of the site. Typically, they are | | | | author. |
| NOT trained wedding coordinators. It is their job to | | | | |