“There’s more to a wedding than the wedding.” This quote from Gary Bosanek of The Archdiocesan Retreat and Conference Center (ARCC) perfectly sums up what a bride and groom (and possibly their parents) will be feeling months before the special day takes place. While guests will show up the day of the wedding and enjoy the festivities without putting much thought into what it took to get everything prepared for that special day, those involved in the planning know that there is much more involved. In fact, there is so much more involved that it can often get overwhelming, especially if a couple is trying to do all the work themselves.
If you are planning to get married soon or if you are helping a son or daughter plan their wedding, continue reading for some valuable advice from wedding professionals!
Choosing the Dress
When deciding on a dress Lynn Rustad of Ellynne Bridal advises, “A bride should choose a gown that best reflects her style, body shape and personality. The gown should be the crowning jewel of her vision.” Lynn explained that the wedding dress sets the tone for a wedding, whether it will be casual, contemporary or traditional. The dress also dictates the maids’ dresses, because they should complement the bride’s dress. Lynn suggested, “Pick your gown and then show your friends what it looks like.” She recommends that brides begin their search with a mom or sister, but they should remember that it is their day and not let anyone else influence their decision.
Work with a Professional
Working with a wedding planner is probably the one piece of advice that will help brides and grooms the most when it comes to planning their big day. Not only will wedding planners take much of the work off the shoulders of the couple (or the couple’s parents), but they also have extensive knowledge of the wedding industry and can help provide tips, tricks and advice that the couple would otherwise not be privy to. Some reception halls offer the services of a wedding planner (some are included, some are an additional fee) or you can hire the services of an independent wedding planner to assist you.
“A newly engaged couple should follow their instincts when choosing a venue and coordinator in which to trust their wedding reception,” says Dee Hankins of Millard Plaza Ballroom. “It is so important to work with somebody who is passionate about their job, somebody you feel comfortable with and who shares your enthusiasm. What is remembered long after the day of the wedding is the overall experience had by the couple and their guests.”
Plan Early!
“For a full, blow-out wedding, most people start the official planning at least a year in advance,” states Bosanek. “Some spaces are reserved for receptions, dinners and ceremonies several years in advance, especially for the prime summer months.” This means that as soon as the ‘big question’ is popped, you and your fiancée should begin making preliminary plans, especially if you plan on setting the date within the next year. It may seem silly to begin planning so far in advance, but our experts were in agreement that the earlier you start planning, the more likely you will be to secure all the arrangements you want (and the stress level will be a lot lower as the date approaches).
Choosing a Reception Location
“Decide on the style, formality and size of your wedding before choosing your reception location,” advises the Professionals at the Creighton University’s Harper Center. This will help you narrow down choices to only the ones that can accommodate the type of event you plan to have. You want your reception venue to fit your event, not the other way around. Once you have come up with a list of venues that fit your needs, you should start visiting them and asking questions. Do they offer wedding planning services? Do they have in-house catering or can you bring in an outside caterer? How far in advance does their space need to be reserved? “Ask questions!” advises the Harper Center Professionals. “The event specialists will provide you with answers for any questions, no matter how complex.”
“Look for value-added services that will save you money without compromising quality,” suggests Hankins. “At the Millard Plaza Ballroom, we have a large collection of decor available at no extra charge along with providing items such as mint trays, nut bowls, cake cutting knife, card container, toasting glasses, champagne buckets, bouquets on the sign-in and buffet table, candle structures on the bar and so much more.”
While you’re in the decision making process, perhaps you’re wondering how you’ll get everyone from the rehearsal dinner to the wedding to the reception—and still have time to talk to everyone and enjoy your special day! “This is where the ‘destination wedding’ comes into play,” says Gary of ARCC. “This works best with a smaller wedding, second wedding, renewal of vows or milestone anniversary. You would have all the friends, family and bridal party together in one place from the rehearsal to the wedding reception, thus allowing everyone to be together long enough to talk and trade stories. You’re not running from one venue to another, so you can relax and enjoy more personal time with your guests between each event.”
For a destination event that allows you to have additional guests at the wedding or reception, consider a cozy setting (for about 150 people), where the facility is yours alone for the entire span of your occasion. The Archdiocesan Retreat and Conference Center (ARCC), for example, provides a caterer (Pleasure Your Palate Catering), DJ, florist and building staff to make your time truly special. Retreat bedrooms that can accommodate up to 58 people offer a chance to rest between events as well as provide the sleeping quarters at night.
Choosing a Caterer
Once you have your reception hall chosen, you will know if you can bring in an outside caterer or if you are required to use the venue’s catering team. If you are choosing an outside caterer, remember that the same tips apply as when you were choosing your venue. Contact them early and ask lots of questions! You want to make sure the caterer fits into your budget, can provide the type of meal you are envisioning and will be able to work well with the venue you’ve chosen. Food is definitely one of the main things your guests will remember about your wedding, so choosing a caterer carefully is of the utmost importance!
Additional Tips
“Meet with the catering and event specialists early,” suggest the Professionals at the Harper Center. “Contact your event specialist shortly after booking your venue to begin to set up a meeting with the catering department and begin planning the logistics of your big day. Your catering coordinator will plan all of your food and beverage service and your event specialist will work through the room set-up and audio-visual needs.”
“You should also provide a timeline for the reception,” she continues. “This will be a helpful communication tool for the event staff as well as the DJ, band and other members of your wedding party. Having a vendor contact list to provide to the event staff is also very helpful. It will help in communicating delivery times and other set-up details if necessary.”
Attending bridal fairs is always a good idea for brides. Nebraska City Tourism and Commerce will be hosting Nebraska City’s 2010 Bridal Fair from noon to 4pm at the Arbor Day Farm Lied Lodge and Conference Center. Bridal fairs offer prices to look at, coupons, ideas, information about unforeseen details and the ability to interview multiple vendors in one day. Rebecca Turner of NCTC suggests bringing a notebook, camera, walking shoes, waterproof mascara and pre-addressed labels for entering in door prizes. Brides should also try to attend more than one bridal fair if possible – one early in the process and another about six months before the wedding.
Your wedding should be one of the most wonderful days of your life. When you keep these helpful hints in mind, you can keep the worries about your wedding to a minimum and relax and enjoy your special day.