Cettina and Bill – Wedding Date: July 3, 2009

Since launching Taylor Nicole Events, I've had the pleasure of being a part of many unique weddings. But Bill and Cettina's wedding was by far one of the most culturally authentic weddings that I've experienced to date.

The Italian themed wedding reception, held at the Aldie Mansion in Doylestown PA, honored the bride's heritage and ultimately her parents. From the ceremony to the reception there were many special touches reflecting the couples past, present and a glimpse of their future.

The following video features highlights from Bill and Cettina's wedding day provided by Therese Farrow of Therese Farrow Films in Egg Harbor Township, NJ captures the essence of this marriage and celebration better than any words on a page. It is also a reflection of two great people who are absolute joys to work with. I am so happy that I had the pleasure to meet them. Enjoy!

Therese Farrow Films: http://www.tfarrowfilms.com/

What is the true cost of an event planner?

All things being equal, in many cases hiring an event planner and/or wedding consultant will result in a net savings benefit for the host or hostess, furthermore, these savings are often significant enough to offset the consultant service fees. How is this possible you ask? The answer comes in the form of industry knowledge (florals [wholesale accounts], venues and vendors [procedures and fees], professional discounts [rentals and invitations] and bulk purchasing. Savings start in the low range of 10% and can go as high as 30% depending on the product. I pass each along to my contracted clients. For example, invitations can be a costly expense but it gives your guests insight into the type of affair they can expect to attend so as the host, you will want to put your best foot forward when choosing them. Check out the invitation selection on the Taylor Nicole Events website and as always they are discounted for our contracted clients. In addition to the monetary savings hiring a planner will eliminate wasted time and effort, alleviate stress and significantly increase the likelihood of you hosting a successful event. Give Taylor Nicole Events a call to see how we can help you host your next successful party and save you time and money in the process!!!

What is your Wedding Style…Does it compliment your Budget?

After the question has been popped and the answer given, the tears shed and the phone calls placed, what is the next step? Brides begin to envision their big day in its totality, Grooms envision the party and Parents envision celebrating with happy guests. How does one begin the process of marrying all of these ideas and thoughts together? It starts with your budget. Unquestionably, the budget is a crucial part of the planning process but after deciding on that magical number, how does one know if it will support your dream wedding? I advise couples on the financial realities of creating their big day and what their budget will support. I understand the costs related to a bride and groom’s selections and can also provide additional viable options that are well suited to “The Dream”. Listening to my clients and clearly understanding what’s most important to them allows me to properly allocate the funds within their budget. Additionally, my education, experience and knowledge of the planning process serve to avoid making costly mistakes while maximizing the budget throughout the entire planning process. Budget Creation & Management is included in some of our offered packages but can also be a stand alone service. Contact us today to see how we can help you have your dream wedding.

Purple Wedding Fantasy…

Here are a couple of photos from a wedding planned by Taylor Nicole Events. The wedding colors involved variations of purple and plum.

• The bride’s bouquet consisted on Lavender and White roses with accents of lavender mini calla lilies while her attendant’s bouquets consisted of lavender and white roses.
• The groom wore a lavender mini calla lily boutonnière while his attendants donned rose boutonnières.
• Each guest table was dressed with custom personalized menu cards and individual single stem orchids for each guest. The center pieces were white hydrangeas, lavender and white roses and purple stock with accents of green grass. Each vase was dressed in Ivory and plum ribbon. The table number frames were hand painted and the numbers printed onto a purple leaf vellum paper. The table runners matched the chairs sashes to complete the look.

Protection…How important is it when planning your wedding?

One of our most basic needs as humans is to feel protected. But as humans, our desires to have particular items are sometimes so great that the very desire itself overshadows the risks that accompany it. This is often true when we feel that this is our one and only opportunity to have or create an experience; such as purchasing a house, buying an ultimate car and yes planning a dream wedding. Knowing what pitfalls to look for in and addressing them upfront will ultimately save you, your finance and family money and grief throughout the wedding planning process. Here are a few pitfalls that I seek to protect my clients from:

• Escalation Clauses
• Inappropriate Substitutions
• Unqualified Fees

I also review the contract to see what client consideration, if any, is offered. Last thought, a typical wedding budget amounts to a down payment on the purchase of a home; one wouldn’t walk into a closing prepared to sign documents without a lawyer by their side and having reviewed the documents. So why would you not seek the same protection when contracting vendors for your big day!!!!

What is your Wedding Style – Ways to save your Décor Budget?

There must be Tulips! The bride wants tulips which are on the pricier side of the flower spectrum and are even more expensive when they are out of season and must be imported. How can you deliver the bride’s floral vision while saving her décor budget? First, the ability to understand that the bride has chosen a modern minimalist approach to flowers will allow you to make the right suggestions. Tulips alone make beautiful hand tied bouquets as well as beautiful arrangements in any shape vase; square, cylinder, rectangular or oval. The same is true of the following floral suggestions; they also compliment or can be complimented by an accent of tulips. They are available in a wide array of colors but also look great in a monochromatic palette and for the most part the prices range from inexpensive to moderately priced. Most important, they are all available when tulips are harder to get. As your wedding planner, I can work with you and your florist to facilitate the flow and vision of your big day.

• Giant Begonia
• Calla Lilly
• Dahlia
• Easter Lilly
• Cyclamen
• Amaryllis Belladonna
• Lisianthus
• Chrysanthemums

What is your Wedding Style – Floral Decor?

When planning your big event, at what point should you seek the assistance of a wedding professional? The answer is... at every juncture necessary. A wedding planner can help avoid costly decisions during the planning process; likewise, hiring a professional photographer or videographer provides additional assurance that the day will be documented perfectly. The same holds true if you are looking for a wedding cake, a wedding band/DJ or a florist.

What if your wedding budget doesn’t allow for a particular wedding professional? Turn to your wedding planner for assistance. Often, planners have lists of professionals that can accommodate your budget. Also you, as a client, can be proactive by hiring a planner trained in a particular field. The planner can then serve in that capacity, in addition to planning, to help salvage your budget. Floral design is one such example.

Above are photos of prototypes that I created for a lovely couple on a budget. Professional training to understand floral design allows me to assist my clients with their floral designs and/or match them with a complimentary wedding florist. For couples on a budget, I can serve as their florist. In addition to the altar arrangements and centerpieces, I will create all of the bouquets and boutonnieres. As always, the couples’ wedding colors, reception venue, wedding style and budget were taken into account when I created these prototypes. Best of all the couple salvaged their floral and décor budget. The point is that although you may be on a budget, fresh flower décor is still attainable…just ask your wedding planner for suggestions.

Love the Reception Space; Hate the Hideous Carpeting?

Okay, you absolutely love your reception space, the grounds are beautiful, the views are gorgeous and the chandelier is exquisite but the carpet is hideous? The carpet does not match your wedding color scheme in addition to a hideous print pattern. At this point changing the reception location isn’t an option, either due to timing or cost. How do you ensure that your guests will focus on the pleasurable aspects of your wedding reception and hardly notice that hideous carpet? Here are three simple suggestions; as your wedding planner I will give a list of distraction options that work well with your budget and show you how to take these suggestions up a notch.

• Utilize uplighting in the reception space.
• Have a candlelight reception.
• Use tall, full centerpieces on the guest tables.

Every Detail Counts…Sardines vs. Wedding Guest!

Have you ever attended a wedding and felt more like a packaged Sardine rather than a wedding guest? Getting to the restroom, bar or dance floor entailed strategic maneuvers aimed at protecting yourself and causing your fellow wedding guests the least amount of stress possible. If you’ve been in this situation you surely wouldn’t want to repeat the same mistakes at your wedding. When planning a wedding reception, the comfort, pleasure and sensory experience of your guests is always top of mind. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind throughout the planning process.

• Choose the “right” size reception space - Guest lose the feeling of intimacy in a space too large and gain an inappropriate level of intimacy in a space too small
• Guest Tables should have at least 6’ space between them
• Guest Seating spacing should be 2-3’, use an adult arms length as a gauge
• Remember that tables come in various shapes and sizes….in spaces where it is difficult to achieve proper spacing with oblong or rectangular tables, try using round tables.
• Below is a standard seats per table guideline to keep in mind when creating your seating chart

6' Rectangular, 6-8 seats/8' Rectangular, 8-10 seats/48" Square, 8 seats/60" Square, 10 seats/60" Round, 8 seats/66" Round, 8-10 seats/72" Round, 10-12 seats

· Additional flare can be added to your reception space by using a variety of tables; try mixing square tables and round tables in the same space To avoid the dreaded Sardines vs. Wedding Guests syndrome contact a wedding planner…we can help!

Wedding Planning Salvation…does it exist?

If you are in the midst of planning a wedding these words must conjure up thousands of scenarios. Some from your experiences and others that come to you in the middle of the night as you sweat through every wedding decision you’ve made and those still to come. Did you know, on average, there are 177 decisions to be made during the wedding planning process? Well, there are. Decisions ranging from the size of your guest list to should your hire a band, DJ or both and what does your budget realistically allow. Wedding planning decisions can become massive and a growing budget can be a reflection of this fact. How does one navigate the wedding planning process? Research, if you have the time and patience or Resources, if you don’t. And at what stage do you employ either Research or Resources or does one employ both simultaneously? One thing is for certain, if you are working with a wedding consultant you’ve employed both and so much more. A personable and knowledgeable wedding planner can help you at any stage of your planning process from right after you say those magical words, “YES, I WILL MARRY YOU” to mid way through the planning process and thankfully at the very end stages of the process. “Day Of Coordination” is one of the most popular services offered to today’s savvy brides, at a cost that will prove to be priceless. With this service anytime from 60 to 14 days out from your wedding date, your planner will step in and ensure that every last detail is taken care of, every vendor confirmed and coordinated, rehearsal run smoothly and the your wedding day is the day of your dreams. So, I would venture to say that wedding planning salvation does exist…..in the form of your wedding planner