Since weddings all begin with the engagement ring, Ginger has helped with planning thousands of weddings. One day a customer told her she should be a wedding planner. Ginger shares her knowledge as a complimentary service to her customers.
When selecting a florist, look at the actual pictures of previous weddings they have done, not magazine pictures. Do the bouquets fit the size of the bride or bridesmaids? Is it too large for the bride or too skimpy for the bridesmaids? Are the canopy flowers, which are seen in every picture something to remember? When standing by the main flowers, are the flowers too sweet looking? Some people love Asiatic Lilies, but some people are allergic to them and the red stamen centers stain anything they touch. If you love hydrangea “snowballs” and they are out of season, request some silk ones to be mixed in with all the fresh flowers. Florists are artists, if you like a particular style, request that particular person working for the florist be part of the crew that comes to the wedding. Please see that the florist provides the service of moving the flowers if they on the aisle and you need them to move them to sit in the middle of the dining tables. You, the bride and groom are far too busy that day to have to ask someone to move the flowers. The bride and groom should be able to enjoy the family and friends and have the best party that you have ever had.
When picking a photographer, select one that you have a good chemistry with. Look at some wedding pictures they have already taken. Do they take pictures of the bride, mother and grandmother before the wedding? Does the photographer go out to eat when all the guests are sitting down to dinner? Dinner is the only time when you can get all guests as a captured audience. So many brides told Ginger that the photographer never got pictures of the guests because the bride did not specifically say they wanted pictures of each table. Also a must, photographers must come with an assistant. Since the bride is the last to walk down the aisle, she needs someone to straighten the back of her gown. Get permission from clergy for pictures to be taken during the ceremony in front of the bride and groom, the little tear, the special hand clenching: Photographers don’t ask if they can take pictures during the ceremony and they take them when the couple would typically like these special pictures. Also, make sure no cameras are under the white carpet where you are standing. Sometimes the ceremony is long and brides find out that their gown got scorched from camera wires. Request a picture of the bride and groom alone outdoors, perhaps the groom holding the bride. It may be fifty years later when he can no longer lift the bride, but for tonight it’s magical and a camera preserves these special moments.
When ordering invitations, request the largest size prints possible. It is always too small. Also, request an approved copy. It is worth paying for. Make sure parent’s names are spelled correctly, especially since nowadays weddings are so expensive, the groom’s family usually helps with some of the expense, not like the olden days.
When getting gifts for the bridesmaids, silver is very popular in bracelets, but pearls in earrings or bracelets are the number one most traditional piece of jewelry. When getting ushers gifts, they are usually engraved, so find out what their middle initial is, it looks great with three initials.
Good planning makes a good wedding, so relax when the day finally arrives. Enjoy your wedding!
For more helpful hints, stop by Jewelry World at 26530 Bouquet Canyon in Saugus and say hello to Ginger.