It’s time for another fabulous wedding vendor interview, and this week we’re joined by the lovely and talented Jamie Sears of Simply Chic Events!  Jamie is a fantastic wedding planner, and contributed to last week’s post about why you should hire a wedding planner.  We’ve done several weddings with Jamie, and they’ve all been great!  Jamie, I hope you’re ready — here come the questions!

How did you get started in the wedding business?
I majored in Event Management in college and always imagined how exciting it would be to plan weddings.  I never actually thought it would become a reality, though!  I began my career doing corporate events but knew that weddings were my passion.  It truly was the planning of my own wedding which inspired me to pursue my “dream job.”  I fell completely in love with the planning process and didn’t want it to end once I got married.  The rest is history! 

What do you do when you are not working?
I love spending time with my family and friends.  Lately, I’ve been enjoying going to the pool with a good book and relaxing in the sun.  Trying new restaurants, traveling, Pilates and pedicures also make me happy.  I have a bit of a J. Crew obsession so it’s always fun to indulge in a little retail therapy! 

How would you describe your approach to weddings?
If I had to pick one word to describe my approach to weddings it would be… personal!  It’s so important that the wedding is a reflection of the couple and their own personal style.  I really take the time to get to know my clients; their favorite foods, hobbies, where they grew up, how they met, the proposal.  These are the things that help me in finding ways to make the day unique and all about the bride and groom.  

What inspires you in your work?
My clients inspire me!  I love meeting them for the first time and hearing all about their vision and seeing their excitement.  I also find inspiration on blogs and in magazines.  It’s fun to see creative details and find ways to expand on them and make them your own.  Colin Cowie inspires me – he’s a genius and his events are always fabulous.  I would love to be a guest at one of his parties!

What do you find the most rewarding about your job?
This is a tough question.  There are so many rewarding aspects of being a wedding planner.  The personal relationships I have with my clients and with vendors is definitely one of the best parts of my job.  Getting to know my clients and seeing their emotion on one of the happiest days of their lives is amazing.  Being surrounded by so much love and happy people- who wouldn’t love that?!   

What’s the one thing you wish everyone knew about you or your business?
I wish everyone knew how beneficial hiring a wedding planner really is.  A wedding planner will save time, provide peace of mind and will assist in creating a realistic budget and time line.  I have wonderful resources and a large network of talented (and dependable) vendors.  I work hard to help my clients find the best vendors to fit their needs; those who compliment their style and can work within their budget.   

What do you think sets your company apart from other wedding planners?
I’m not sure how other planners approach their business but I’m really devoted to personal attention.  My goal is for each of my clients to feel as if they are my priority and for them to be able to really enjoy the planning process.  I want them to be able to look back on their wedding day and feel as though they wouldn’t have changed a thing.   

What do you love about weddings?
The details!  I love seeing the way a space is transformed with lighting, flowers, lounge furniture, and fun linens.  I also love seeing the groom’s face as the bride walks down the aisle.  It gives me butterflies every time!  

What do you hate about weddings?
I hate when they’re over.  Seriously!  I get attached to my clients so the wedding day is bittersweet for me.  I’m happy for couple but at the same time, a little sad because I know I won’t be able to talk to or see them as often.  I also hate how sore my feet are by the end of the day!  

What is the coolest thing you’ve ever seen at a wedding?
I have a few.  A bride who wore a short dress with hot pink shoes, a professional mixologist behind the bar and a live painter capturing the entire reception.

What’s the best piece of advice you can give to couples planning a wedding?
Enjoy your engagement and the planning process.  It goes by so quickly and is such an exciting time.  Have fun and remember that everything really will come together and your day will be all that you imagined and more.   

Who is your favorite artist or band?
I go through phases.  Something about the summertime makes me want to listen to Dave Matthews.  I love upbeat music – Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Britney (guilty pleasure!)… anything that makes me want to get up and dance!

What is the worst song of all time?
“Who Let the Dogs Out?” by Baha Men.  Maybe not the worst, but it’s pretty bad!

Open mic, final thoughts:
I can’t say enough how important it is to have fun and not lose sight of the reason you are planning a wedding.  Don’t be afraid to step outside of the box and do something a little different.  The special personal touches are what guests will remember long after the day is over.

[EVAN] Thanks, Jamie!  It seems like we share the same passion for our clients, and that really comes out in your work.  Fabulous advice and insight here, and everyone can check out what Jamie’s up to on her blog.  Adios!

Yesterday afternoon, we got an email from our pals over at WeddingWire, and I was invited to play for the Filene’s Basement Running of the Brides in Washington, DC this morning!  I’ve always wanted to check this crazy event out, and I got a front-row seat this time…  It was crazy! 

I got there to set up around 5:45 am, and there were already at least 400 people in line — apparently some had started camping out at noon yesterday.  That’s dedication!  The line was already down the block, around the corner, and almost to the end of the block again.  More and more brides (and their friends) were showing up by the minute. 

My job was simple — wake everyone up and get them moving.  Megan, Erica, Sonny, and the rest of the team from WeddingWire were awesome, and they were giving out tee shirts, rings, and gift certificates.  We even did a contest where each bride and her friends made up a “cheer” and competed to win a $249 gift certificate from Filene’s to put toward their dress.  Some of the cheers were really funny, I’m sure that they’ll make it onto the WeddingWire Blog. 

Apparently, pulling this event off is more of a logistical challenge than I had imagined — a huge line of excited brides had to be divided in half and staged at the store’s entrance for the countdown.  I managed to waltz right in to snag a video of the spectacle, I guess I looked official since I was wearing a full tuxedo…  Check it out!

I managed to hide between some racks on the side, and went back to snap some pictures of the ensuing madness!  The racks had basically been stripped by the time I got to the back, and WeddingWire staff were helping brides take down the last few unclaimed dresses. 

This poor guy gets a gold star... Oh, the things we do for love...

It’s Wednesday, and time for our Real Wedding Wednesday feature!  Take a look and see what we did:

Lauren & Theron, 7/18/2009 – Kent Manor Inn, Stevensville, MD

DJ: Evan Reitmeyer

The setting:  A gorgeous afternoon outside on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, with a picturesque ceremony on the water and an intimate reception in the Garden House. 

The first dance:  “Everything” by Michael Buble, surrounded by their bridal party and friends.

Fun highlight:  The couple’s cake featured two very realistic blue crabs as the cake topper — it was pretty amazing!

Outstanding vendors:  Coordinator Stephanie Hughes of Diamond Events and her staff made my job a lot easier, and photographer Brian Slanger was, as always, a pleasure to work with.  Brian even provided some pictures for us!

And, here’s a picture of the crab cake topper that I took with my phone:

Amy & Collin, 7/18/2009 – Historic Oakland, Columbia, MD

DJ:  Jeff Brown

The setting:  The intimate and elegantly appointed dining room at Historic Oakland, a beautiful manor house circa 1811

The first dance:  “Someone Like You” by Van Morrison

A unique touch:  The couple, who met at The Melting Pot, gave out jars of a homemade chocolate fondue mix for their guests to take home

An unexpected surprise:  Amy got on the microphone to acknowledge the 40th wedding anniversary of her parents — it was very touching!

Outstanding vendors:  Christina Hamilton from Hamilton Photography was great to work with, and gave us pictures!

Christina & Nathan, 7/18/2009 – The Carlyle Club, Alexandria, VA

DJ:  Soor Kothari

The setting:  The Carlyle Club and its unique Art Deco style provided a spectacular locale for an elegant celebration

The playlist:  The bride and groom requested a wide variety of songs from disco to old school hip hop, Louis Prima to Aerosmith

A fun highlight:  An 85-year-old guest led a conga line — who’d have expected that?  It was charming!

Outstanding vendors:  Larry O’Connor at the Carlyle Club was hospitable and accommodating as always!

This week, I decided to do a little experiment.  We’ve had a lot of last-minute (for us) requests from brides and grooms in the past few months, and we’re often sold out on their wedding date.  For some of these couples, they know they are “late” in their planning, and are looking for any wedding DJs who are still available on their date.  For others, however, I get the impression that they have no idea that most of the companies they are calling will not be available.  Could it be that they are just victims of bad information?  Are they being told that they don’t need to hire a DJ until later in their planning process?

Curious, I went to the top three wedding planning websites to see what they tell brides.  Some of what I found made sense, but certain parts of each “wedding vendor checklist” didn’t seem to match reality.  I’ve broken them down their advice by vendor type, and added my sage advice as well.  Take a look:

When to Hire a Wedding Planner:

The Knot:  9-11 months
WeddingWire: 9 months
Brides.com: 11 months
My suggestion: 12+ months
Notes:  There is a general rule of thumb that you can follow when booking your wedding vendors, “If it requires a specific person, do it as soon as possible.”  Certain wedding vendors provide products (like cake, flowers, and invitations) and can provide those products to multiple couples in a single day.  Anything else — the services — need to be secured as quickly as you can, because they are a scarce resource.  Wait too long, and the one you want will probably be booked.  A wedding planner will have the greatest amount of utility to you and can help with the rest of your puchases, so start here.  If you’re not sure if you need (or want) a wedding planner or coordinator, read my blog post about why you should hire a wedding planner.  I highly recommend hiring one — you’ll thank me later.

When to Book a Wedding Venue (Reception Site):

The Knot: 9-11 months
WeddingWire: 9 months
Brides.com: 11 months
My suggestion: 12+ months
Notes:  This should also be done as soon as possible.  This is another scarce resource, and reception venues will book up to two years in advance of a popular date.  Contrary to popular belief, simply saying a date is your wedding date does not mean that is your wedding date — unless it doesn’t matter to you where you have your wedding .  You do not have a wedding date until you put down a deposit on your ceremony and reception sites.  Without a firm wedding date, you can’t hire any of your wedding-related services.  Hence, this is the place to start. 

When to hire a Wedding Caterer:

The Knot: 9-11 months
WeddingWire: 9 months
Brides.com: 6 months
My suggestion: 10-12 months
Notes:  Once you have your reception site booked, it is imperative that you hire your caterer as soon as possible, unless catering is included at your reception venue.  Every caterer has a limited number of events they can do on any given date, and booking early ensures that you will be able to choose the one you want.  I would also advise you not to wait for a tasting if it’s more than a month into the future — you should be able to get a clear picture of a caterer’s quality and their style of food from their website and WeddingWire reviews.  This is another area where a wedding planner can help a lot.  They have probably worked with every good caterer in your area and know who is good, who is not, and who will fit your budget.

When to Book a Wedding Photographer:

The Knot: 6-8 months
WeddingWire: 6 months
Brides.com: 6 months
My suggestion: 10-12 months
Notes:  I was actually surprised by the “expert” timelines on this one.  Six months?  Really?  Most couples think the photographer is an important part of their wedding, and I can tell you that most of the top-tier wedding photographers in a major metro area are going to be long gone at 6 months to go.  In my opinion, you should include the wedding photographer in the group of vendors you hire immediately after setting your wedding date.  The top talent will book first, so hiring a wedding photographer close to a year before your wedding is a good idea. 

When to Hire a Wedding Disc Jockey:

The Knot: 9-11 months
WeddingWire: 9 months
Brides.com: 6 months
My suggestion: 10-12 months
Notes:  This was one of the services that the timelines didn’t seem to agree on.  The same rule from above applies to your wedding DJ as well — you are hiring a specific person to be your disc jockey (and if you’re not, you really need to read our DJ Shopping Guide), and the top talent in your area will be the first to get booked.  At our company, a lot of brides and grooms seem surprised that we are completely sold out at 6-8 months before their wedding date.  Waiting too long to book your wedding DJ will leave you with a limited number of available DJs to choose from. 

When to Book a Wedding Videographer:

The Knot: 6-8 months
WeddingWire: 6 months
Brides.com: 6 months
My suggestion: It depends.
Notes:  This is a tricky one, so I’m going to give a slightly nuanced answer.  If you’re going to hire a wedding videographer, you need to decide early in the process how important the wedding video is to you.  If a fabulous, amazing wedding video is a high priority for you, then you need to treat the videographer the same as the photographer and the wedding DJ and book them as early as possible.  If it’s a low priority and you’re just going to hire the cheapest person you can find, it can probably wait until later.  For the top wedding videographers in any area, the same scarcity rule will apply and they will get booked very early. 

When to Hire a Ceremony Officiant:

The Knot: 9-11 months
WeddingWire: 6 months
Brides.com: 11 months
My suggestion: 9-12 months
Notes:  Another area where the timelines didn’t agree.  I personally think that finding the right ceremony officiant is crucial, assuming that your ceremony site doesn’t come with a pastor/priest/rabbi included.  A really good officiant can make your ceremony magical.  Since you’re hiring a specific person, the same rule applies and I recommend booking them early in the process.  This is yet another area where a wedding planner (as well as your photographer, videographer, and disc jockey) can really help – we’ve all seen great (and not-so-great) ceremonies and can offer suggestions based on what type of ceremony you want.

When to Book a Wedding Florist:

The Knot: 6-8 months
WeddingWire: 6 months
Brides.com: 6 months
My suggestion: 6-9 months
Notes:  Now we’re getting into the wedding vendors who can do multiple weddings in one day.  Most florists can handle a few weddings at a time depending on the size of their shop, so booking one at a year before your wedding isn’t as crucial.  That being said, I think that it also depends on how important the flowers are to you.  If you have your heart set on a certain florist or a certain style, then I say pull the trigger and put down a deposit.  The really good florists in our area still sell out during the busy season, so you can’t wait too long.

When to Hire a Wedding Cake Baker:

The Knot: 6-8 months
WeddingWire: 6 months
Brides.com: 6 months
My suggestion: 6-9 months
Notes:  Most wedding cake bakeries will do multiple wedding cakes on any give date, so you’re safe waiting for a little while.  I highly recommend visiting multiple cake shops and sampling their cakes – this is a fun date night for you and your spouse-t0-be.  You can’t beat free cake!  Plus, you’ll end up making a better decision if you shop around a little bit.

When to Purchase Wedding Invitations:

The Knot: 6-8 months
WeddingWire: 6 months
Brides.com: 5 months
My suggestion: 6 months
Notes:  Since you’re not going to be mailing your invitations a year before your wedding, you don’t need to buy them that early either.  However, I do recommend sending “save the date” cards to your guests as soon as you secure your reception site and wedding date.  Find a good stationer in your area that carries the styles and brands you like, and use them for both. 

When to Book Wedding Transportation:

The Knot: 2-3 months
WeddingWire: 2 months
Brides.com: 6 months
My suggestion: 5-6 months
Notes:  Ok, I thought this one was ridiculous.  If you are going to hire professional transportation (limos, shuttle buses, whatever), then you need to hire someone good and you need to do it more than 2 months before your wedding.  Any wedding planner will tell you that the wedding vendor they have the most trouble with are limo drivers.  The good ones will provide you with a clean, great looking ride and get you to the church on time.  The bad ones will show up late (or not show up), get lost, and make you late for the wedding you’ve paid so much to plan.  My advice is to do this about 6 months before your wedding, and pay a little extra to hire the best company you can find.  Ask your wedding planner for advice on who to hire, chances are she’s had a bad experience with more than one of the limo companies in your area. 

***Additional note:  If you are getting married from late April through the beginning of June, you really need to jump on your limo situation.  Most brides don’t think about it, but it’s prom season — most limo companies will completely sell out on Fridays and Saturdays.

That’s it!  I hope this was helpful.  As you can see, the “experts” don’t even agree on the wedding planning timeline.  The best advice I can give is: a) hire a wedding planner, b) book your reception site and set your date immediately, c) book anything that requires a specific person as soon as possible, and d) do your homework when you hire your vendors and check out their reviews on WeddingWire.  Let me know what you think, and happy planning!

We have quite a treat for everyone today!  An interview with Holly Heider Chapple, florist extraordinaire and, incidentally, one of my fellow WeddingAces.  Holly, I hope you’re ready for some tough questions – here we go!

How did you get started in the wedding business?
I have a inherited love of flowers.  Truly!  My parents have owned garden centers all of my life, and I started helping them when I was a child.  I married at the age of 21, and the property we purchased was loaded with Lilacs, Peonies, Hydrangea and countless other yummy blossoms.  People began asking me to design for weddings, so I started my business.  I wanted a home based business so that I could be home with my children.  It is 22 years later and we are still in the same house, enjoying the same gardens, and we just had our seventh child.

What do you do when you are not working?
I am ashamed to admit that I work seven days a week.  My business requires constant care, and the rest of my time is for family.  I volunteer in the community on several boards, and volunteer in a juvenile detention center when my schedule permits.

How would you describe your approach to weddings?
I approach everything in my life whole heartedly — I give, and I give.  I love my brides and I want them squealing with delight when they see their flowers.  I make certain that I listen to my brides and I decipher exactly what they are looking for.  If they do not know  what they want, it is my job to help them figure it out.

What inspires you in your work?
Firstly it is making my clients happy.  My blog, The Full Bouquet, has been inspiring a lot of new creations and relationships.  In the past, I didn’t play with my leftover flowers, but now I am creating things because the blog gives me a way to share them.  It is causing me to constantly search for new ideas.  I have done several bouquets for photo shoots lately and every blossom was literally off of my property.  The blog is also creating a desire in me to be a photographer and a writer, and making me think about making a piece just for the challenge.

What  do you find the most rewarding about your job?
I love seeing the bridal bouquet come together — sometimes it just feels like magic.  When it is just right, there is a lot of screaming and whooping it up.  It is also amazing to me that my business continues to grow and grow.  I have been designing for 17 years, the work just keeps taking me to new places.

What’s the one thing you wish everyone knew about you or your business?
We can do anything.  Seriously!

What do you think sets your company apart from other florists? 
Although we have become a fairly large business and handle many weddings a year, I remain the primary contact.  This ensures that the bride gets exactly what she wants and leaves so much less room for error.  In terms of practicality, it may mean a bride might need to wait a little longer for a phone call back, but nothing about her wishes and wants will get lost in the translation.  This allows me to develop a true relationship with my brides.  I feel what my brides wants as I create a design, it is magic.  I simply care beyond any explanation.

What do you love about weddings? 
I love my brides, I love working in incredible spaces.  I love creating the desired look a family is going for.  I love putting the last blossom in place and knowing it is just perfect.  I love when my bride first lays eyes on her bouquet.

What do you hate about weddings?
I hate breaking down the event.   After working for four days straight I am usually too tired to stay up until the wee hours of the morning to pick up rentals.  I also hate the fact that the end of the event is often the end of my relationship with the family.

What is the coolest thing you’ve ever seen at a wedding?
One time we did arrangements so large we had to use my parents’ 6 horse trailer to get the flowers to the event.  They were so large I thought they might take down the tables.  The client had a true circus tent, and the arrangements were so tall you could barely see the top of the design.  It was incredible!

What’s the best piece of advice you can give to couples planning a wedding?
Pick vendors that will truly listen to you.  If a vendor is blowing off your wishes in a consultation, you can bet they will continue that behavior throughout the process. From the cake baker to wedding planner, you will want to choose vendors who make you feel as if your wishes are not only heard but honored. 

Who is your favorite artist or band?
Right now, I love Blind Pilot and Colbie Caillat.

What is the worst song of all time?
“Rock Lobster” by the B-52’s.

Open mic, final thoughts:
I just wanted to thank Evan for asking me to share about what I so very much love.  I hope everyone planning a wedding has the day of their dreams.  Remember – it is about the marriage and the life that you will share.  Keep that as the priority, and everything else will be fun.

[EVAN] Thanks, Holly!  Some great advice there, and you’re welcome — it’s obvious that you’re passionate about your clients and your work, and that is a fabulous combination in this business!

I’ve noticed recently that, while most of our clients are pretty active on our online wedding planning system, the vast majority aren’t selecting any particular songs for the introductions of the wedding party, or even just the bride and groom.  We’re always happy to pick something suitable, but it’s great when a couple wants to reflect their personalities and unique tastes through their introduction songs — that’s often the first really “fun” piece of music played at the wedding!

With that, here are some widely varying options for introductions — we’ve got very high-quality instrumental tracks for each of the following songs, and there’s something to fit just about anyone’s style:

Jay-Z, “Roc Boys” (Instrumental)

Timbaland feat. Keri Hilson, “The Way I Are” (Instrumental)

Franz Ferdinand, “Take Me Out” (Instrumental)

Booker T & the MG’s, “Green Onions”

Lady Gaga, “Poker Face” (Instrumental)

Kevin Rudolf feat. Lil Wayne, “Let It Rock” (Instrumental)

The  Ting Tings, “That’s Not My Name” (Instrumental)

Dave Brubeck, “Take Five”

Kanye West, “Touch the Sky” (Instrumental)

Smashing Pumpkins, “Today” (Instrumental)

Akon, “Beautiful” (Instrumental)

Down to the Bone, “Staten Island Groove”

Flo Rida, “Right Round” (Instrumental)

Cake, “Mahna Mahna”

Welcome to our newest feature, Real Wedding Wednesday!  After two months of doing our post-wedding recaps as separate posts, we’ve decided to consolidate them into one mega-post.  This should help those of you who have subscribed to our blog, now you won’t get hammered by 10 posts in a single day – thanks for the suggestion!  We’re also doing them on a one-week delay, which gives our photographer pals some extra time to provide us with pictures.  Enjoy!

Kristen & Nat, 7/10/2009 - Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Annapolis, MD

DJ:  Evan Reitmeyer

The setting:  Perfect weather, a ceremony on the beach, and reception in the most eco-friendly building on earth. 

The first dance: Iron & Wine – “Love and Some Verses” was a perfect choice for this bride and groom, they are really into music and very creative!

Unexpected surprise:  The best men (the groom’s brothers) ambushed Nat with a childhood video during the toast.

The playlist:  The bride and groom put a lot of work into it, and it covered everything from disco to indie rock to punk – it was very diverse!

Outstanding vendors:  Chris Gorri from Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Eileen from The Main Ingredient (caterer), and photographer Evan Bishop, who shared some photos with us:

Katie & Matt, 7/10/09 - Chesapeake Bay Beach Club, Stevensville, MD

DJ: Anthony Simpson

The setting: Spectacular weather, with a gorgeous waterfront ceremony and cocktails on the rooftop bar.

The first dance: Sister Hazel’s “This Kind of Love” was a beautiful piano ballad, and guests were commenting on it throughout the night.

Fun highlight: At one point during the reception, the bride’s uncle Jack and his partner Amy led a rousing sing-a-long performance of the B52s’ “Love Shack!”  It definitely was a hit among the guests!

Outstanding vendors:  Erin Janes with the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club, and photographer Carol Masica, who gave us some great pictures from the big day:

Meredith & Damian, 7/11/09 - The Center Club, Baltimore, MD

DJ: David Johnson

The setting: The elegant Center Club featured a breathtaking view of the city from the 16th floor, and was appointed with gorgeous flowers and a truly stunning wedding cake.

The first dance: “Always and Forever” by Heatwave.

A unique touch: The bride and groom provided a basket of colorful flip-flops for the ladies to wear while dancing, and from what I could tell, they were most appreciated!

Outstanding vendors: Everyone on the team was amazing, including coordinator Elizabeth Bailey, Bonnie Duckworth from The Center Club, photographer Arthur Remanjon (who provided the pictures below), and florist Rennie Friedlander of Simply Beautiful Flowers.

Amanda & Amol, 7/11/2009 - Westfields Marriott, Chantilly, VA

DJ: Evan Reitmeyer

The setting:  One of the area’s most elegant resort hotels, with cocktails in the lobby’s giant rotunda and the reception in a beautifully decorated ballroom.

The first dance:  The couple picked “Better Together” by Jack Johnson, which fit them perfectly. 

Fun highlight:  Three of Amanda and Amol’s friends did an 8-minute Indian dance presentation at the end of dinner, and were amazing!

The playlist:  A pretty even balance of East and West, with classic American tunes mixed with plenty of Indian bhangra and Bollywood hits.

Outstanding vendors:  A HUGE shout-out to goes to Kelly Andrews, their event manager at Westfields.  In ten years in this business, I have never seen a hotel coordinator put more time and effort into a wedding – she was amazing!  Photographer Amy Czelusniak and her team were fabulous and easy to work with as well!

Nina & Brendan, 7/11/09 - The Oaks, Royal Oak, MD

DJ: Soor Kothari

The setting: One of our favorite venues, The Oaks, offered gorgeous views of the Chesapeake Bay, beginning with the waterfront ceremony and carrying through cocktails and dinner near and inside the beautiful ballroom.

The first dance: “I’ll Catch You” by The Get Up Kids reflected the bride’s and groom’s love of alternative rock and country music.

Outstanding vendors: One of our favorite planners, Raquel Shutt of Wedding Savvy, and Erin Neely, innkeeper at The Oaks.  Old friends Mark and Christina Hamilton of Hamilton Photography even gave us some pictures from the day:

Mary & Michael, 7/11/09 - China Garden, Arlington, VA

DJ: Anthony Simpson

The setting: China Garden Restaurant hosted the traditional Chinese banquet style dinner and reception.

The first dance: A gorgeous and soulful rendition of Ronan Keating’s “When You Say Nothing at All,” sung live by Mr. Harry Wang.

Fun highlights: This group definitely came to dance, and had a blast doing so!  Some of the female guests take Zumba classes — a fusion of Latin and international dance — and showed off their skills, much to the guests’ delight!

Over the years, we’ve had the pleasure of working with some of the finest wedding planners and coordinators in the Baltimore / Washington, DC metro area.  Since we love the teamwork aspect of weddings, we wanted to take the opportunity to answer a question that many brides and grooms have, “Why should I hire a wedding planner?“  There are so many reasons to hire a planner or coordinator for your wedding ceremony and reception, and we decided to put the question directly to the professionals themselves!

From my perspective as a professional wedding DJ, I can tell you that having a wedding planner at a wedding makes our job a lot easier.  When the bride and groom haven’t hired someone to lead their team of vendors (venue staff, caterer, photographer, disc jockey, videographer, ceremony officiant, etc.), it normally falls on us to manage the schedule because we have to make the announcements. 

Sometimes, the reception site contact and (rarely, from what I hear) the “church lady” is on top of things and can act as a coordinator, but this usually isn’t the case.  Having someone in charge – someone to manage the timeline, check all of the details, and be the point of contact for the newlyweds and the bridal party, enables your vendors to concentrate on what you hired them for – be it music, photography, or food. 

Don’t just take it from me; we interviewed some of the area’s very best wedding consultants about the benefits of hiring a wedding planner.  Their answers were enlightening, to say the least, and offer some great wedding advice.  Here they are!

What is the single most important thing a wedding planner can do for a bride and groom?

Jamie Sears, Simply Chic Events:  “Hiring a wedding planner is the wedding gift that you give to yourself!  One of the most important things that a planner can do for a bride and groom is provide them with peace of mind.  With a wedding planner the couple won’t have to worry that something has been over looked or will slip through the cracks.  Hiring a wedding planner will make the planning process stress free and enjoyable.  It’s just as important to enjoy the engagement as it is the wedding day.  A planner will ensure that the wedding day is seamless and will ultimately allow the bride and groom to be guests at their own wedding!”

Trisha Cranor, Working Brides: “The most important job of a planner is to keep the bride and groom stress free.  Hiring a wedding planner can take the pressure off the bride and groom – you’re working with someone who has done this dozens, even hundreds, of times and won’t let anything fall through the cracks.  It’s important that our brides and grooms remember that their wedding is about love, unity and smiles.  Don’t let the money, family, and decision making cause you to forget what its all really about.”

What resources does a wedding planner have to help a bride and groom?

Aimee Dominick, A. Dominick Events:  “That is a tough question to answer because the list is so long! A wedding planner has loads of contacts in every category from cake bakers to bagpipers. But more than that, we have the benefit, in the case of my firm, of having worked on nearly a hundred weddings so we can anticipate challenges that you may not see coming. We also have a team of passionate planners who can brainstorm the unique details that will really set your wedding apart.”

Sara Franklin, Social Scene Events:  “What first came to mind when I saw this question was our vendor relationships.  As planners we have the advantage of working with so many different vendors.  I believe with that knowledge we are able to introduce our clients to the right people for them from the beginning; saving our clients lots of research time and effort.”

What can a wedding planner do to save the bride and groom time?

Maria Cooke, Ritzy Bee Events:  “An experienced planner can help couples save time by helping to focus them in a specific direction when planning. Planners can help sift through the endless list of wedding vendors to recommend those who will be a good match in availability, style and pricing. It’s easy for couples to get overwhelmed by all of the options but a planner can help steer you quickly in the right direction!”

What ways can a planner make the wedding planning process less stressful for the bride and groom?

Elizabeth Bailey, Elizabeth Bailey Weddings:  “After meeting with a bride and groom and listening to their ideas and plans for their wedding, a professional wedding planner will draw on her knowledge of the local wedding market and work with the couple to secure the very best professionals for their wedding “team”. The planner’s knowledge will also include advice on etiquette, budget guidelines, social traditions and event timing so that a bride and groom don’t have to spend enormous amounts of time researching that information for their wedding.  A planner will recognize if a vendor contract needs revisions, will know when a price quoted is fair, and will present a wedding planning check list to keep the couple focused and organized.”

Pam Barefoot, Atrendy Wedding:  “A wedding planner can save a busy couple time and energy, be a support system for couples that need it, help stick within a budget (even Oprah has a budget), and help you create something that shows off your personal style.  Weddings are a huge reflection of the couple so I like to get to know my client’s and help them create something special that will show off their love and personality.  Planning a wedding should be fun and there is a special formula that will help you do that - don’t rush the planning process, take one thing at a time and enjoy being engaged.”

What are some examples of often-overlooked details that a wedding planner would think of?

Laura Weatherly, Engaging Affairs:  “Wedding planners know how to troubleshoot with regards to the wedding day timeline.  From years of experience, we know how much time things really take and how much cushion time to allow. This helps create an accurate schedule and one that actually flows well on the wedding day.  Great flow that seems effortless is the mark of a well-coordinated wedding.”

Raquel Shutt, Wedding Savvy:  “A few things come to mind, there are so many!  If you are offering a choice of entrees, that choice needs to be offered on the invitations so the caterer knows how many of each meal to prepare.  Also, if a client is not getting married in a church, they may not have thought about the small details of a ceremony: who will escort the mother of the bride down the aisle?  Who will sit in the front row with your parents?  Those details are very personal and should be thought about prior to the wedding rehearsal.”

How can a wedding planner’s knowledge and expertise help make planning easier?

Katie Martin, Elegance & Simplicity:  “An experienced wedding planner helps mesh together quality wedding professionals with your budget and style.  Ethical wedding planners have long-held relationships with other like-minded wedding professionals.  Combining all of the above, makes the job of all the professionals working on your wedding day easier and your job as an engaged couple is to just enjoy your engagement and your wedding day!”

How can a wedding planner help with your budget?

Cate Buscher, Plan It Perfect: “The familiarty a planner has with an area’s venues and event vendors allows her to appropriately pair up a bride and groom with professionals who complement their budget, style, and even personalities. This, combined with the planner’s knowledge of current trends, common misconceptions, and wedding etiquette, can save a couple valuable time and money, and can certainly reduce stress!”

Vicky Choy, Event Accomplished:  “Using our knowledge of pricing specific to this area, we can establish a realistic, achievable, and comprehensive event budget.  We can also help you determine how to get the most value out of your budget and to avoid unnecessary expenses.  By working with you closely, we can identify the aspects of the wedding that are important to you — and other, less important aspects where costs can be cut.  As you make purchases and sign vendors, we can help you monitor your spending and make suggestions on adjustments to keep you on track.”

How can a wedding planner benefit couples who enjoy doing things themselves?

Candice Owens, Holy Matrimony:  “Wedding Planners can benefit DIY couples by helping to bring the couple’s vision to fruition.  Planners are merely arms and legs that are there to assist them in the mechanics and logistics of the planning process.  A planner does not neccessarily have the emotional attachment to an event as the bride and groom, allowing them to give an unbiased opinion – helping to prevent uneccessary headaches for the couple.  It’s also impossible for a couple to truly enjoy their wedding and “run” the day as well; it’s rare that you see an actor also serve as the director too.”

Linnyette Richardson-Hall, Premiere Event Management: ”It’s okay to be “invested” in the planning process – but remember that while you are putting your loving, individual touches on this celebration, you cannot manage all aspects of it.  A great wedding planner will help you marry your ideas and thoughts into the overall process as well as ensure that what you’ve worked so hard on comes to fruition in a seamless, flowing manner.”

How can a wedding planner help mediate potential conflicts with family?

Sara Bauleke, Bella Notte:  “Wedding planners can be a great asset in terms of mediating differences that arise during the planning process.  It really helps to have someone involved who is removed from the emotions that can complicate decision making for your wedding. As planners, we’re able to help you step back and consider how important a particular issue is to you, so that you can determine if it’s an issue worth taking a stand on or if it’s something that, in the grand scheme of things, you don’t mind compromising on. We do the same thing with your family members, as well!  Our experience enables us to take two differing points of view and create a compromise that reflects what both parties want, so that everyone ends up pleased with the final result.”

What things can a wedding planner do to help the bride and groom stay on track and organized?

Lisa Nelson, Elegant Event Planning and Design:  “A good planner will have multiple timelines to keep the bride and groom on schedule, but will never bother them with the timelines.  The planer will ensure that everything is done in the correct order — for instance, the registries and websites must be done before the “save the dates” are mailed.  The timeline is the wedding planner’s bible as it tracks what needs to be done when, so nothing is overlooked.  Everything gets accomplished according to that document, it’s very very important!”

Fran Aycock, Forrach Event Planning:  “Especially for busy working brides, secure online document sharing services (such as Google Docs) are a great way to keep everyone organized and on the same page.  Contracts, budget sheets, and payment schedules can be shared and revised without worrying if anything is being missed.  I’ve also used calendar reminders through Yahoo! to send clients reminders on dates when things should be done, such as selecting the DJ, booking rooms at hotels, and so on.”

What’s the biggest benefit to having a “day-of” or “month-of” coordinator if you can’t afford full planning?

Laura Auer, Wish Special Events:  “During the planning process, brides are able to deal with spreadsheets, contracts, negotiations, logistics, and the ‘business’ end of planning a wedding.  On the big day, though, they want to just show up, get dressed, get married, and have fun!  Wedding day coordinators take over the ‘business’ side of the wedding, allowing brides and their families to relax, let go, and have a wonderful stress-free day.”

Are you convinced yet?  If not, here’s the clincher — Jennifer and I hired a wedding coordinator for our wedding in 2002, and I can honestly say that it was the best money we spent on the entire wedding.  You might think that we’d skip the planner, with both of us being in the industry and all (Jennifer used to be the wedding coordinator at several hotels and reception sites in the Baltimore area, including the Lord Baltimore), but no!  Having a planner there on the wedding day took the stress off Jennifer and let her relax and enjoy everything.  We gave Heather (our coordinator) a gigantic packet of information on every excruciating detail we had planned, and she made sure everything was perfect.  And, it was! 

If you haven’t considered hiring a wedding planner or coordinator, you should definitely do so — your vendors will thank you, your wedding will run more smoothly, and you’ll be able to relax and fully enjoy yourself on your wedding day.  Thank you so much to all of the fabulous wedding planners who helped with this article, you have all been amazing and I really appreciate it!

A lot of couples are looking for unique songs to use for their first dance and for cocktails and dinner.  Rather than relying on the standards, they want every song played at their wedding to reflect their music tastes and provide an enjoyable listening experience for everyone in attendance.  Cool cover songs can be a great way to bridge the gap between the familiar and the eclectic, and to make fresh the songs that people love, but perhaps have heard all too often.  (Note that the cover version has to be good — who knew Celine Dion covered “You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC?  Who even wanted to know that?)

Here are a few cover songs we’ve really enjoyed:

Madeline Peyroux, “Dance Me to the End of Love”

Originally written and recorded by the great Leonard Cohen in 1984, “Dance Me to the End of Love,” as performed by Madeline Peyroux in 2004, puts a very jazzy, swinging spin on a truly romantic song.  This would make a fantastic first dance, or would fit in perfectly alongside the classics like Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday.

Cat Power, “Sea of Love”

Phil Phillips recorded the original version of this song in 1959, and it has since been covered by everyone from The Honeydrippers to Robert Plant, Del Shannon to Tom Waits.  Cat Power’s version, from the Juno soundtrack in 2007, is especially pretty, and would work well even in a wedding ceremony.

Adele, “Make You Feel My Love”

Released in 2008, this song has gotten a lot of play in the UK as well as the United States.  It’s a slightly lesser-known version than that recorded by Bob Dylan (who also wrote the song in 1997), Billy Joel, and Garth Brooks.

Pixie Lott, “Use Somebody”

I feel like I know so many people who are into Kings of Leon, who recorded this song in 2008.  Pixie Lott’s version, released just last month, is a cool, less rockin’, more mellow way to incorporate the song as a first dance.

Jeffrey Gaines, “In Your Eyes”

I’m totally showing my age here, but what child of the 80s doesn’t remember this song from their prom, or swooning over the big love scene in Say Anything?  Jeffrey Gaines released his cover version in 1992, while Peter Gabriel recorded the original in 1986.  Just last night I saw the Gaines cover on “So You Think You Can Dance” and was reminded of its general coolness.

Feist, “Inside and Out”

This cover is a few years old (released in 2005) is a very fun remake of the 1979 Bee Gees hit “Love You Inside and Out,” and would work perfectly during cocktails or dinner — or even dancing, for indie music fans!

The Bird and The Bee, “How Deep is Your Love”

We couldn’t very well acknowledge Feist’s contribution to the world of Bee Gees covers without doing the same for The Bird and the Bee, who in 2007 released a very sweet and mellow spin on the 1977 classic.   Their version was included in the Sex and the City movie, as well as a commercial for VH1’s Rock of Love Bus (er, not that we were watching or anything…)

Frente!, “Bizarre Love Triangle”

Anyone who listened to WHFS in 1994 will undoubtedly remember this low-key cover of New Order’s 1986 song.  While the original is definitely standard dancing fare for 80s music fans, Frente!’s version is a great one to use for the more mellow parts of the reception, and hardly sounds like the same song at all.

Eva Cassidy, “Time After Time”

Most people are probably familiar with Eva Cassidy’s versions of “Fields of Gold” or “Over the Rainbow,” but we especially like this one because it takes Cyndi Lauper’s quintessential 1984 hit and makes it a lot less…well, 80s.  The beautiful melody and lyrics of the song really come through on Eva’s cover, released in 2000.

Fiona Apple, “Across the Universe”

We know, a lot of people will probably consider it a sacrilege to even suggest a cover of a Beatles song, let alone one by Fiona Apple.  Yet this one, from the 1998 movie Pleasantville,  is really a very pretty version (we also like Rufus Wainwright’s, though Fiona’s is a little more mellow and mixable for a wedding).

There are definitely a ton of other great covers out there, though we weren’t able to track down Youtube links for all of them.  Consider checking out Quincy Coleman’s understated version of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” (way less dramatic than the original) or Emile Millar’s stripped-down cover of Howard Jones’ “No One is to Blame” (which does for the song the same thing Eva Cassidy does for “Time After Time”).

MyDeejay.com has joined Pink Initiative, a collective of wedding industry professionals committed to funding awareness, outreach, education and research for breast cancer.  Founded by Emilie Sommer, a wedding photographer in Portland, ME, the organization takes donations from wedding vendors and posts the total on their website.

Breast cancer has touched our family and several of our DJ’s families as well, and we are very excited to lend our support to such a worthy cause.  If you are a wedding professional, we strongly encourage you to join Pink Initiative to help find a cure for this terrible disease.