Below is an interview with a phenomenal planner in our area, Mackenzie Spalding of One Fine Day!

What are the most helpful things for
a client to come prepared with when they first meet with you?

¨ What they are
looking for in a wedding planner… someone to pull together all the details to make the day run
ultra-smooth so that they and their family can enjoy the day to the fullest?(as
every bride should!)or as much help as possible from a wedding planner? Also
the bride/groom may have some thoughts of what additionally they might like
help with…a few key meetings with vendors so they don’t forget to ask important
questions. Or maybe they want help with
the whole she-bang and are ready to hand things over to have someone plan and
check in with them on the details of what has been done and what is left to be
done…knowing that all of their wedding plans are going to be taken care of by a
professional.

¨ Anything
they’d like to share to show what type of wedding they’d like to have…it depends on where they are at in the planning
stages- if they are deep into the planning I’d love to know what vendors they
have hired and where it will be and all of the fun things in store for the day.
Some people have pictures of things/flowers/table settings/dresses that are fun
to share so that helps me know if we’re talking about an ultra-formal ballroom
wedding or a simplistic casual wedding with the bride walking barefoot in a
field of sunflowers. Also, on the same note, it’s good to bring pictures of
things you don’t care for about a wedding and don’t want implemented at your
wedding. I like to know your favorites and fears.

¨ Decision
Makers…often times a
Mother or Father of the Bride or the Groom might be the key player in making the decisions (of course in cahoots with
the bride) but it might be good for them to see the benefits of a wedding
planner that you get to see when we discuss the day and meet to hash out a fun
plan, rather than you having to relay all of the information. Sometimes it’s
easier, sometimes Bride’s prefer to come alone- it’s totally up to you. 

what are some of your favorite
‘trends’ that you’re seeing?

¨ Sit-Down
Served Dinners

¨ Big Bands
with a mixture of a DJ on the band breaks so there is never-ending
entertainment

¨ Bride’s and
Groom’s seeing each other before the wedding to complete ALL of their wedding
pictures so they are able to enjoy every minute of their wedding day without
being in a rush and without losing precious party time with their guests.

¨ Late night
snacks/treats…often this is a change in the party to give it a second wind. The
serving of your favorite comfort food- McDonalds Cheeseburgers, or warm
Beignets (in remembrance of the bride and groom meeting at Mardi Gras), to a
fun butler-passed bite of something sweet like a mini derby pie tart or a
chocolate dipped strawberry. A dessert Buffet is also fun when it’s customized
with cakes and candy items the bridal couple love (ie Homemade Bourbon Balls or
Buckeyes if that represents your regional flavor). Then of course you can’t go
wrong with some bon voyage goodies like Krispy Kreme Donuts or Cookies and Milk
or a popcorn stand with individual bags of popcorn for the ride home for
guests. Or you don’t have to personalize it with food- maybe bring out the late
night party favors- glow in the dark necklaces or Hawaiian Leis(if that is your
honeymoon destination) as the Band/DJ plays an appropriate tune to get the
dance floor packed again. Whatever makes it fun and personal!

¨ And of course
my favorite trend…not the stuffy “portrait” photography of the olden-days. Now
brides and grooms are choosing FABULOUS photographers (ie Melanie Mauer
Photography J ) to “capture” the day rather than create it. Yes,
it’s pretty sad when a photographer asks a bride and groom to “do that again”
so they can get a picture of that…with MMP that would never happen, she doesn’t
miss a beat…I don’t know how but she “is” that good! You won’t be sorry!

 what are your tips for
brides for incorporating their personal style into their day?

¨ The biggest
thing to remember is that there aren’t any do-overs so if you have your heart
set on a something bold and out-of the box…go for it! There will always be a
great aunt sally or someone that will think it’s odd but for the most part the
less you conform to “that’s the way it’s always been done, so that’s what I
have to do” mentality the more personal the wedding will be for you & your
guests. For instance if having a unity candle ceremony at your wedding just
doesn’t make you feel comfortable, don’t have it…no where is it written in
stone you need to. Also, many bride’s and groom’s are “tossing” out the
traditional bouquet/garter toss…not many people like them, so why make your
guests (single or not) live through it! It just depends on you, if you aren’t a
big “cake” fan, don’t serve wedding cake- have cheesecake or pies or an
elaborate candy buffet if that’s what is more “you”. Most personalized weddings
leave their guests saying that was “so them”…rather than comparing your wedding
cake to suzy-Q’s wedding cake last week. Thinking outside the box will be what
people will remember forever.

how do you work with clients from
out of town?

¨ Email, Email,
Email! It’s a great invention and it has allowed me to plan weddings from
overseas, New York   and  California to name a few. I can email
location site pictures, scan documents or pictures of unique ideas etc., no
matter if the time zones or work schedules make it tough to have phone meetings
or face to face meetings- we’ve always got email!

what are the top three reasons (in your
opinion) that couples should consider hiring a planner?

¨ A planner
should give you peace of mind about your most important day taking much of the
burden/worry off of you. You will be able to pass over all of the tasks for
your wedding day to a professional to handle and care for rather than your
friend, aunt, sister or mother to handle so that you AND your family and
friends can enjoy every minute of your wedding day.

¨ You won’t
forget the details. There are so many details that go into a wedding day and a
good planner should help you think through every possible detail so that you
have thought the whole day or weekend through completely so you don’t look back
on your wedding day saying…”I wish I would’ve done…this or that”.

¨ Your guests will leave saying, that was the “best”
wedding…you may have stunning flowers, tasty cake, a lively band etc. but the
flow of the event makes people happy, when there aren’t major periods of
standing around time wondering “what’s next?”. A wedding planner should be able
to make your wedding day flow exactly as you want it to or at least it should
look that way, everything won’t always be perfect but it should still look
perfect and that is where a professional wedding planner earns her keep.

what do you consider your specialty?

¨ I’d say my
specialty is probably full service weddings- with lots of details. I love to
leave no stone unturned when it comes to personalizing your wedding day.

¨ I also tend to plan my fair share of tent weddings-
there are so many more details involved with a tented reception- from
restrooms, to power, to heating or cooling and lighting that I love to plan all
of those intricate details and make sure they all coordinate appropriately.

Marci & Nathan

event notes:

location: Spindletop Hall

cake: Martine’s

coordination contact:

website: www.onefinedayky.com

email: info@OneFineDayKY.com

phone: 859.536.6229

love this stuff and it’s been just about the only thing I’ve worn lip-wise for years!  so very un-lah-ti-dah but it’s kinda like target, mr. bubbles and drew barrymore – you just can’t not like it :) -m-

one week at home and every day has been an adventure…and honestly, the night time is getting better (knock on wood).  she does goofy little things and Jason and I find that we’re already doing Audrey impressions :)  Here’s our darling daughter!  -m-

For the past few Wednesday’s I’ve posted an interview with a wedding planner…my hope is that if you’re a bride, you’ll seriously consider adding a planner to the list of vendors you’ve arranged to make your day great.  I think often, the feeling is that a planner is for a HUGE affair (or for celebrity weddings) and really, the planners I work with on a regular basis are amazing in their versatility.  They can certainly make a big formal wedding grand but they seem to make *every* wedding look like it has a bigger budget than it has.  Below is an interview with Great Expectations founder & owner Alicia DeBoor:

What are the most helpful
things for a client to come prepared with when they first meet with
you?

Before our initial face to face
meeting, I encourage the bride to spend some time thinking about her day and
what’s most important. By priortizing the must haves, this will put her
wedding day into perspective. From this list we can talk about budget, a rough
number of people they are expecting

and different locations for
ceremony and reception. Many brides have never planned a event before and don’t
have any idea how much things cost.  By starting with the basics, I can start
them down the right path and let them know how I can best help. A planner is
many different things to many different brides.  I tell my brides to take on
tasks that they enjoy and let me do the one’s they do not.  This is a huge
stress and sanity saver and they know they can always call me for help or
support!

What
are some of your favorite ‘trends’ that you’re seeing?

• after parties
• brown with just about
  anything–pink, blue, lilac
• a lot of personalization and
  whimsical touches-don’t be afraid to be different–keep them
  guessing..
• no veil–but a beautiful tiara or
  hair combs
• logo or symbol–like a dragonfly
  or quote, monogram
• signature drink–like mint julip,
  cosmo or kir royale
• anything out of the ordinary or
  unusual
• mini desserts passed –after the
  cake is cut

 What are your tips for brides
for incorporating their personal style into their day?

I would say to again think about
things are important and meaningful to the couple.  There are no rules that say
you can’t have a bagpiper lead the recessional out of the church, or to ask
their children (or children from a previous marriage) to join them at the altar
to light the unity candle together.  It’s your day and what makes it unique are
the added personal touches that put your stamp on the day.

 
How do you work with clients
from out of town?

The internet and email have
made this a breeze.  I’m working with a bride now that lives in Australia–we
have never meet and haven’t even spoken on the phone.  We have planned her
wedding entirely through email-.  Being able to find items online and send her
to that website and of course a digital camera. She takes pictures of her
magazine clippings and emails them to me and does a great job of putting her
thoughts and ideas in her emails to ensure I know what she wants. I have been
able to book her vendors and have taken care of the details and face to face
meetings.  She will not arrive until 3 days before the wedding, so at this point
there will be nothing left to do, but relax and enjoy the time with her
family!

What are the top three
reasons (in your opinion) that couples should consider hiring a
planner?

1.To be able to relax and enjoy
their engagement

2. Bridal couples are first
time buyers–they need guidance and support in choosing vendors. Who they choose
will determine if they have a great day or some disappointments along the
way.

3. To reduce the stress and
save money.

Thanks, Alicia!

Contact: Great Expectations Alicia DeBoor

email: greatexpectations@insightbb.com

web: http://www.greatexpectationsky.com

phone: (859) 361-0463

mobile: (859) 539-7137

so excited…a super fun client of mine, Susannah has moved here from NYC and is opening a funky children’s clothing boutique called Dragonfly (4371 Old Harrodsburg Road Suite 170 Lexington, KY 40513 dragonflykidsky@yahoo.com)! Can’t wait to check it out and wanted to let you in on the ‘dish’ since anticipation of something great is half the fun!  -m-