What does a wedding planner actually do?
Planning a wedding can be an exciting journey, but as you start thinking about all the details, decisions, and research involved, it can quickly become overwhelming. Many of you have demanding full-time jobs or other commitments, and finding the time and energy to plan a wedding can become challenging, even with a helpful family member. And what happens when a family member’s opinions become too much or the wedding weekend arrives and they want to enjoy the fun instead of decorating your ceremony space? Many of these situations will happen and this is where a wedding planner can step in and alleviate the stress, guide you through the decision-making process, and ensure that you and your loved ones can fully enjoy the day.
Wedding planners are industry experts who can offer invaluable resources to create a personalized, beautiful, and seamless event while respecting your budget. A planner allows you, and anyone else involved in the planning process, the chance to focus on the overall details and what most consider the “fun” parts of the planning process (menu tasting, design, etc.) while they handle the logistics and back and forth details with the vendors involved.
Different types of wedding planning packages or services are offered to inform you that wedding planners can assist you at any time during your wedding planning journey. These wedding planning services will vary between different event planning companies, some offer services by the hour, others limit their assistance and then there are some that just want to do it all for you. It is best to have a conversation with the wedding planner, read their reviews and let them describe to you in detail what they can offer to you based on your budget.
Strings & Champagne Events will always make sure, that…:
you are heard
you are aware of the next steps
you know how to make the best decisions for you
you feel confident and trust my professional suggestions
you are having the best time
you have time for a glass of bubbly
Check my availability here, if you are ready to let go of that stress.
And here are just a few examples of situations that happen but are also handled by your wedding planner:
make an extra boutonniere when one breaks
bustle your dress when no-one knows how
make sure you get appetizers while you are off taking pictures
make sure that you have a plate and fork when you cut your cake, cupcake or donut
call a Lyft for intoxicated guests
carry your lipstick
take care of your furry friends when the pet service doesn’t show up
hold your veil to assist your photographer for epic shots
guide guests when they do their toast (and cut off those that are speaking too much)
Ultimately, a wedding planner is an essential investment that brings expertise and experience as well as peace of mind to your special day. Trust your planner and know that they have your best interest at heart.
Wedding power session
When you think about hiring a wedding planner, it doesn’t always have to be for the typical day of coordination or the full service wedding planner. After having served the greater Sacramento area as well as the Lake Tahoe area as a wedding planner for many different scenarios, I realized that couples need to have more options when it comes to hiring wedding planning assistance. Budget constraints or just not knowing, are holding you back from getting expert advice that you deserve.. Offering wedding power sessions will change this. It’s basically wedding therapy but more fun. You can also book a wedding power session without actually knowing what to ask. Because that is one of my biggest points, YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW!
A power session can be used to cover many different topics. If you have no idea how to get started with your wedding planning journey, we will create a helpful guide for you that will give you a great overview of best practices. But we can also visit and research a variety of wedding venues and discuss which one would be the best fit after we discuss their offerings and costs and envision how your wedding would play out at these venues. Deciding on a venue just by the look may not always be your best option. You will also want to look into the services that are included.
During another wedding power session, I can also provide you with helpful questions to ask when you hire your wedding professionals. I am part of negotiations all the time and when it comes to finding out what is included in the photography or DJ services, it’s really important that you learn what to expect. Not all professionals are very good about communicating this and that’s when you hear about… “but it thought you would be doing this or that…”. You need to know exactly what is included when you hire wedding professionals, you don’t want to have any surprises on your wedding day or when the invoices come rolling in. Don’t know how to put a budget together or create a timeline? No worries, you can book more than one power session to cover all of your questions. The goal is that you feel ready and confident after a wedding power session or two, so you can finish planning your wedding day like a pro!
If you decide that you would like to move forward with my full service wedding planning services after completing a power session, your power session investment will be 100% applied towards this service.
confessions of wedding guests
The wedding guest experience
I love it when I get true feedback from guests. The only way to learn how your wedding guests truly feel after attending your wedding, is when you can observe their reactions, listen into some of their conversations or straight out ask them how they are doing and if they are enjoying the music, food and ambience. Guests want to feel included. They attend your wedding to support and celebrate you but they want to be acknowledged. Some guests may have traveled quite far to attend your special day, others may have been your best friend since childhood and then there are some you just can’t live without but you haven’t had much interaction over the years. This is the time to thank them, spoil them and send them affirmation of your friendship. Personal notes, welcome letters, informational ceremony programs, heartfelt welcome toasts by family or the couple, entertainment that is for everyone and pay attention to dietary restrictions. It’s the simple things that go along way!
Things to look out for on your wedding day:
Create a ceremony that tells your story, don’t just have a 5 minute I do situation
Keep your guests hydrated and fed, arrival beverages and snacks are appreciated!
Guests want to be part of your story, ask them for guidance or well wishes instead of just signing a guest book. Who wants to look at signatures in 10 years?
Introduce your bridal party, what’s your connection to them?
Seat guests together that don’t know each other but match them…
Don’t single out the single ones! Bouquet and garter toss are not very enjoyable for your guests..
Talk to all of your guests and thank them for coming!
If you are renting portable restrooms, don’t choose the construction type portables…
If you are on a budget, hire a food truck instead of offering a buffet dinner with plastic dishware
Guests should be comfortable, if it’s hot, provide fans, if it’s cold, offer blankets, if the shoes are getting tight, have flip flops available – don’t seat guests in front of speakers or close to doors where it’s drafty
Inform your toasters to keep it short!
Spreading out your ceremony and reception time makes your guests feel lost in between
Pick a good day to travel! Holidays are expensive, weddings during the week make it hard to take off work..
A delicious dinner goes a longer way than an elaborate centerpiece
Host the night, don’t have your guests pay for drinks at the bar! It doesn’t have to be a full bar.
bridesmaids’ dresses
Bridesmaids dresses, Azazie wear
Being a bridesmaid means that you are included in all of the pre-wedding celebrations and you are special to the bride but it also means that you need to have a flexible budget to pay for the bachelor/ ette party, the travel, the gifts, the hair and make up and the attire for the wedding day (and/ or for the rehearsal). Having hand selected attire for the entire wedding party sets the stage for a formal celebration and it looks great on photos. But it’s also a lot to ask for your bridesmaids and groomsmen to pay for shoes, dresses, suits, socks, etc. Some couples offer to pay for some of the expenses, often times they cover costs for hair and make up, send a gift that is a piece of jewelry, robe or shawl but sometimes bridesmaids are left to pay for everything on their own. It’s worse when you are told to purchase a dress that you will never wear again, combined with shoes that you only wear for photos because they end up hurting your feet and only to find them at bottom of your closet for the next few years taking over space you don’t have. But if your bride has done her research well, she will have found a dress, a company or a store that provides not only dresses/ outfits for any occasion but also for a reasonable price and you may just want to wear that outfit more than once…
The wedding attire industry has changed and fashion companies are making it easier for all involved. Try on your dresses in the convenience of your home, invite your friends and family and have a dress party! Azazie is one of those companies. You can order a bridesmaid’s dress for $10, have it shipped to your house, return it for free via mail and then choose which color and size are right for you and order. All dresses are made to order and there are so many choices. Colors and trends are constantly changing and Azazie does a great job of keeping up with it all.
Azazie also offers accessories, veils, bridal gowns, Mom’s dresses and more. It’s also a good idea to have them ship you some color swatches to make sure you are trying on dresses that match your color palette.
I’ve had a couple of my brides purchase dresses for their bridesmaids on this site and what they all loved, was that their dresses can actually be worn again because they don’t scream “bridesmaid dress” and they have so many different designs. When you have friends living in different places, the “at-home-try-on” option is ideal. Best of all, all dresses are around $100 each!
lake tahoe wedding venues
Lake Tahoe Wedding Venues
Weddings in Lake Tahoe have a special place in my heart. I’ve been visiting the Lake Tahoe area for many, many years and it doesn’t matter if it’s spring, summer, fall or winter, it’s always beautiful in Lake Tahoe and weddings at every season are beautiful. This location will never disappoint, no matter how large or small your wedding is, Lake Tahoe offers many different wedding venues that fit multiple budgets. Hopefully, you and your guests will have some more time to spend here than just the wedding. Maybe you can spend the entire weekend with your wedding guests by hiking, swimming, skiing, walking, bird watching and more.
Lake Tahoe is a fabulous wedding destination for friends that are just an hour away or for others that will travel a few more hours or fly in. Once you decide to have your wedding in the Lake Tahoe area, most couples choose to make an entire weekend or week out of it. Wedding rehearsals are followed by dinners and welcome parties, wedding day celebrations are followed by tubing down the river, yoga on the water or breakfast events at the lake. You have so many options when it comes to Lake Tahoe. Just keep in mind to book your events at least a year in advance. Accommodations are very popular and to keep all of your wedding guests close by, let them know ahead of time to reserve their AirBnBs, so everyone can join in on the festivities and not miss out. Connect with me if you need more information on rehearsal dinner locations or activities around the lake.
Not all Lake Tahoe wedding venues offer lake views, they each have their own personality and if you choose a wedding venue without a view, maybe you have a picnic by the lake the day after.
The weather can surprise you in the Lake Tahoe area, so when you reserve your wedding venue, please make sure that you have a back up plan for rain or snow. Don’t trust your weather app, ask the locals about their weather forecast and reserve that tent when they tell you to. Planning an indoor wedding with an option to have a cocktail hour outside or just the ceremony are great combinations and provide you with the best of both worlds.
Here are my favorite wedding venue suggestions around the lake.
sacramento wedding venues
Sacramento Wedding Venues
You don’t have to go far if you want to get married in downtown Sacramento. Sacramento hotels and historic buildings offer unique spaces for Sacramento weddings and the proximity to many places that provide accommodations, make this city a great place to hold your wedding celebration. Roof tops, gardens, wineries, golf courses, ballrooms, courtyards are all part of exhilarating venue spaces to consider when reserving your wedding location. There are also plenty of churches from different denominations that can be reached in under 15 minutes to hold your ceremony. Different locations for ceremony and reception do extend your wedding day but you also get more photos with diverse backgrounds and guests get to see more of the city. Just remember to reserve transportation to take you from A to B. The wedding shoes you selected may look good with your dress but are not likely to be great walking shoes.
When you start visiting Sacramento wedding venues, do some legwork before you make the time and tour them. Ask about availability and pricing and if these two criteria are satisfactory to you, then schedule your visits. Some brides have a certain vision of their wedding day and when they find the venue, they just know. However, I challenge you to look at all of the pieces. Ambience is not everything. The wedding venue should also offer everything you are looking for in regards to set up, rental items, catering options, access, customer service and more. It all has to make sense Once you select your top 3 wedding venues, do the math, sleep over it and the decision will come to you. This is just one of the simplifying paths you will explore when you purchase The Wedding Plan Reception Guide in my store.
Check out my favorite venues here:
wedding planner packages
Sacramento wedding professionals, Sacramento Wedding Vendors, Sacramento Wedding Photographer, Sacramento Wedding Videographer, Sacramento Wedding Caterer, Sacramento Wedding Barservices, Sacramento Wedding Limousine
It’s funny, when you browse several wedding planner websites, you will notice that the tag line doesn’t always include wedding planner packages. Us wedding planners don't want to offer packages, we want to offer services and experiences… And since every client has different desires, our wedding event services are flexible and custom. But nevertheless, our clients always ask for our common wedding planner packages. And I, as a planner, understand. If you are looking for a day of wedding coordinator, a full service wedding planner or a wedding consultant to receive some guidance, every wedding planner is able to provide you with all of the services you need but not all include everything. So when you start browsing all of the different options of hiring either a wedding day coordinator or wedding designer or full service wedding planner, you will realize that the sky is the limit.
I offer an all inclusive wedding day of coordinator service. There are certain things that I need from you in order to be successful. But my ultimate goal is to make things happen for you. There is no need to leave you behind to collect all of your personal belongings or make sure your father is ready for photos. I want you to be swept off your feet as you get married. Leave all the planning details behind and go about enjoying your day to the fullest! Be sure that when you review all of the different wedding coordinators in Sacramento or wedding coordinators in Lake Tahoe, that price is not the only decision making factor. Confirm all of the services that are included and what’s not included. It will give you a better understanding of what you are left to do.
This thinking process is also applicable towards full service wedding planners. Although it’s called full service, there are often times lots of tasks that still need to be performed by you. Knowing this before you hire a wedding planner, is very important. Ask all of the questions and communicate what kind of needs you want to have covered and what wedding details you could possibly tackle on your own but with guidance.
wedding emergency kit
Your Wedding Emergency Kit
Some couples have never heard of wedding emergency kits, others follow all of the blogs and wedding pages to be in the know. Is it a must have? I don’t think so, is it helpful to have? Sure. A lot of the items that can be part of the emergency kit are typical items that you can find in your purse. From hand sanitizer to mints, hair bands, brushes, tissues, allergy medicine and Advil. If you have a sensitive stomach, you will add some tums, if you sweat a lot, you will have a smaller version of your regular deodorant available. Don’t confuse this emergency kit with the trendy restroom basket that some brides create. This restroom basket can include similar items such as mints, tissues, hair bands, female toiletries, hair spray and bandaids. It’s a fun gesture, it looks cute and your guests will appreciate it.
BTW, don’t forget to unlock your phone incase some else will be in charge of it..
No matter where you end up having your wedding celebration, you will need to pack certain items and be prepared. From decor items, to gifts to your attire and honeymoon outfit, there is a lot that needs to fit into your car! Here are some ideas on what not to forget to pack:
Sewing kit, fashion tape, safety pins
Earring backs, lash glue, nail glue, heal guards, nail file
Tide to Go Pen, crochet hook for dress buttons
Zip ties, anti- wrinkle spray, steamer
Bobby pins, hair ties, tweezers
Advil, band-aids, floss, deodorant, sunscreen, bug spray, dramamine
Clear nail polish
Hand lotion, foot gel inserts
Extra pair of dancing shoes
Cosmetic bag filled with lipstick, chapstick, mints, comb, travel perfume, pocket mirror, make up wipes and perfume!
Static Guard, lint roller, tissues
Phone charger, handheld fan
eye drops
The men could also use some items in addition, such as:
shoe polish
liquid IV
hair gel
sample wedding timeline
Sample Wedding Day Timeline
Creating a timeline is a comprehensive task and as you fine-tune all of your wedding details, this timeline will evolve. Begin with your start time of your ceremony and list the end time of your reception. Most weddings are 6 hours long, some are 4 and 5 hours, not too many exceed the 6 hour mark but if they do, it’s a long day of celebration, so add some late night snacks or transportation to take the guests home! If you hire your photo and video. team for 8 hours, they will be able to cover most everything of your wedding day. If you prefer to have a videographer with you from start to finish, reserve your team for 12 hours and every detail will be captured. If you want your DJ to cover the ceremony music and the reception music you should hire that professional for at least 6 1/2 hours. This way you can include music during arrival time.
You will receive more expert advice on how to create a timeline when you purchase The Wedding Plan Timeline Guide in my store.
Everyone tells you this, your wedding day will go by so quickly, so you want to make sure that every minute is planned with purpose! Check out this sample timeline. The events can all be in a different order but this gives you an idea of how much time is needed for traditional events.
If you have a wedding with a lot of details for your guests or are offering a welcome cocktail, a rehearsal dinner, activities after the wedding and more. I would like to recommend an amazing app. Follow this link: The Wedding Plan Timeline App. The app is very user-friendly. You can create all of your wedding events and invite your guests to join and view them as needed. If you don’t have time to set up all of the information on the app, I’m happy to help. Just connect with me here Contact me
I’m happy to customize the wedding timeline for you, just shoot me a message!
Wedding Day Timeline
3.30pm Guest Arrival
4pm Ceremony
4.30pm Cocktail hour
5.30pm Guests are seated
5.45pm Grand Entrance for Bridal Party and Bride and Groom
5.50pm Welcome Speech or Blessing
6pm Dinner Service, BG mingle with guests
7pm Toasts
7.15pm Cake Cutting
7.20pm First Dance
7.22pm Father/ Daughter dance, Mother/ Son Dance
7.25pm Open Dance
8.30pm Late night snack
9.45pm Last Dance
9.50pm Grand Exit with Sparklers
10pm The End
lake tahoe weddings
Lake Tahoe Weddings
Lake Tahoe Summer Weddings and Lake Tahoe Winter Weddings and every season in between are incredible experiences to share with your friends and family. Although it can snow in June or September, rain in July and you can have smokey skies in August, Lake Tahoe weddings are special. Couples who get married in Lake Tahoe have roots here. They spent their summers at the lake, they spent Christmases at their family home in the winter. But Lake Tahoe doesn’t only attract local lake lovers, I had clients from Hong Kong that had never been to California but had heard of Lake Tahoe and wanted to have their wedding here! The pictures speak for themselves.
Having a wedding in Lake Tahoe gives you the opportunity to truly be with your friends and family for more than just a few hours. Most often will you spend the entire weekend here, include a beach experience, a tubing ride along the river or a BBQ at your uncle’s house. Guests are in a relaxed space and can celebrate with you in the moment as they leave their busy lives at home.
As a Tahoe Wedding Planner, I have created some fun wedding weekend itineraries. If you already hired a wedding planner to coordinate your wedding day, connect with me to help complete your wedding with some additional experiences. We can discuss options during one of my wedding power sessions or you can hire my services to coordinate these additional wedding events from start to finish. Connect with me here and check my availability and pricing. Coordination of wedding events starts at $1,000.
Here are some ideas on what to incorporate for your friends and family:
Welcome Cocktails at Sunnyside Lodge
Wine Tasting at Uncorked Truckee
Rehearsal Dinner at Jake’s on the Lake
sacramento wedding professionals
Wedding planner packages
I like to use as many resources that come from our area. The wedding planning process incorporates a lot of details and a lot of decision making. It makes it easy when you can keep things close and don’t have to travel too far to just meet with your photographer or check out the colors of some linens. Even in the world of zoom and FaceTime, a good in person meeting speaks more than a thousand words.
Local wedding professionals cam be found at your local wedding showcases. Attending a Sacramento Wedding Showcase is of great value because you can meet a lot of vendors in one location. You can get a good first impression, special deals and lots of information on their services.
As a second step, I would then recommend doing your research and reading up on any reviews you can find on the wedding professionals. Online reviews from current and past brides are one of the best tools out there to help you make a decision on interviewing with potential wedding vendors.
The best local wedding vendor websites inform you upfront about their pricing information. It shouldn’t be a secret how much they charge for their services. Knowing the price structure of wedding services in advance, will help you save time and narrow down wedding professionals that suit your budget and style.
Emailing a vendor first and then scheduling a call are great options when you start connecting with local wedding professionals. You will be able to see how long it takes for the wedding vendor to respond to your email, is it an automated response?, does it take more than 48 hours to hear from them?, what other information is provided? If your interest is peaked, a phone call or meeting will further help you identify what wedding services can be provided and what costs can be expected. Ask as many questions as you feel are necessary.
Here is a small collection of wedding vendor questions to ask:
do you work alone?
what happens if you are sick on my wedding day or can’t provide services?
are there any other costs to be expected?
what do you enjoy most about your working with wedding couples?
how did you get into this wedding industry?
what do expect from us as the couple? is there anything that we can do to improve the experience?
To learn more, head over to my store and purchase The Wedding Plan Vendor Guide and feel confident in your hiring capabilities.
Here is a list of some of my favorite local wedding professionals:
All Seasons All Reasons Catering