How can we help you?

The ring is on your finger.  Your happy tears have all been wiped away, but now the panic starts!  All of these thoughts start flooding your brain like a speeding car in the Indy 500: When should we get married? How many guests should we invite? Where should we have the wedding?  Should I hire a planner?   

One thing that we can do to help you is remove that panic or “stress” that comes with planning your own wedding day.   Have you ever dreamed of having your own chauffeur?  Well, we will become your Bentley, your personal wedding planner chauffeur who will take the wheel and drive you safely to your wedding day.   There will be no stress or concerns, flat tires or ever getting lost in the planning process.  We will guide you to the right venue and vendors that will fit within your wedding budget. 

Our goal is to make your vision and dreams come to life in your personal event or city.  Think of your wedding day as your very own personal city where your family and guests will come to celebrate the joy of your union.  You have the plans and the ideas and we know how to build your “city”. 

Every wedding is a personal event.  I have been planning weddings for over 15 years and I have yet to have two weddings ever be the same.  Sure, the process is the same, but it is based on your personal ideas and thoughts, your blueprints.  Maybe your “city” is a charming little town that only holds about 60.  It has a beautiful cabin with the earthy charm.  You don’t have the need for a lot of lighting or glamour, because it is set in a beautiful, natural setting.   The road map or invitation is earth friendly and personal.  What could be better than this!   

Maybe your “city” is a tall penthouse.  This penthouse has all of the modern amenities that you could imagine, décor, lighting and expensive linens.  Your road map might be an elegant boxed invitation with crystals and wrapped in a satin ribbon. 

Whatever your “city”, we will make sure that it will be designed, built and constructed the way you like it to be on your wedding day.  We will become your architect, designer and your friend.  Your personal wedding planner chauffeur is waiting with Champagne and strawberries and even a red carpet.    All we need are the blueprints to get started. 

Give us your blueprints and let us create your city today!

Oh where, oh where should the ceremony be?   What type of style are you looking for?

There are three types of wedding ceremonies: formal, semi-formal and an informal wedding.  There is also the style of the wedding to consider: traditional or non-traditional ceremony.  How do you decide which one is best for you?  The best way to decide is by the location of the ceremony, the number of guests you want to have and the time of the day you want to have it. 

The first thing that you and your fiancé have to do is to discuss what type of ceremony, formal, semi-formal and informal, you want to have.  The second thing would be to determine what style of wedding you'd like, traditional or non-traditional.  That should be easy, right?  Well, it can be, but for some couples, it is a difficult decision.  You, the bride, might want a very formal ceremony, in a church.  On the other hand, the groom might want a small, intimate or informal gathering with family and a few friends in the great outdoors!   Now what do you do?  Whose opinion do you go with?  

I'd like to say welcome to a taste of being married and doing something you will do many times in the years to come: compromise.    I wish there was an easy way to know what type of ceremony you should have and  what style you will go with and how to do it without any complications.  For some couples, they have this already figured out, because they go to the same church and it is a decision that they both want.  Other couples who are both nature lovers will have their wedding in a natural setting.  It is a unanimous decision.  Then there is a small group of couples that will have their work cut out for them.  So, what are your choices and is it possible to get through this decision without causing any tears?  That is the big question.  I sure hope so! 

I am here to give you some ideas and options for you to consider.   First, this is where you need to be completely honest with each other about what you've envisioned your wedding ceremony to be like.     Second, you may have to be flexible and compromise a little with what you want.  Remember, it is not just the bride's wedding day or just the groom's wedding day but it is “both” your wedding day.

Here are a few options to consider that should help make your decision a little easier:

                The Semi-formal options:

• You can have the ceremony with your family and a few friends in a beautiful natural setting with all of the trees, hills and maybe even a stream nearby and have it performed by a judge.   When you use a judge they will usually allow you to say whatever you want and some will even let you write your own vows.  A very personal option.   Or you can have the ceremony in a beautiful natural setting with a minister from your church (Excellent compromise!)  These options would be a semi-formal wedding.   Keep in mind that there are usually permits to file that can sometimes take up to 60 days to process and don’t forget the fee for the minister or judge to perform the ceremony.  You might also have to consider renting chairs and possibly a tent for inclement weather. 

• Maybe it would be better to have your ceremony held in the location where you are having your reception.  (There usually is a small fee with this option).  Keep in mind that this is the option where you will have the largest number of guests at your wedding ceremony.  You ask why?  Because it is convenient for your guest to go to one location vs. two.  You will still have to pay for someone to marry you, but it is convenient.  No worry about fallout from the ceremony to the reception.  Something to think about.  Your next thought pattern with this option is to make sure that you have enough room for all of your guests to sit during the ceremony.  The ceremony will last anywhere from 20 minutes to 30 minutes depending on how detailed you want it to be.  This is something you can discuss with the person that is holding your ceremony or your coordinator if you hire one.   Some venues only have enough room for about 60 guests and others only allow you to have the ceremony in the same room as your reception.  Your guests will then be all cramped in the room if you have ceremony chairs set up with the tables.  Other venues only allow your guests to be seated at the tables during the ceremony.  The “wow” factor that your guests would get if you had your ceremony held at another location will not be there.   There is always the option of having your guests stand in a circle around you if it is a small space, but you have to make sure that you have at least some chairs available for those who can’t stand for long periods of time (Grandparents or handicapped guests). 

So, what other options are there?  There is always the Formal Ceremony:

• Another option is to go with your idea of a very traditional ceremony where it will be held in a church.  The formal ceremony.   There you will have plenty of room for all of your guests, but you will most likely have a small turn out.  There are a few cases that I have experienced where about 80 % of the guests showed up.  That is wonderful!   There are always fees involved in any choice you go with.  The church will charge you fees for the organist, singer, readers, minister and for clean-up after your ceremony.

Now that you have read about the semi-formal and formal ceremonies there are still two more options for you to consider:  using a Justice of the Peace or having a destination wedding!

• Maybe the great outdoors is not something that either one of you wants or the option of a church ceremony is out of the question.  A very inexpensive way to get married is to go to your city hall.   There you will be given a number and be in a room with a lot of other beautiful brides and grooms and share your wedding day bliss together.  Your ceremony will be performed by a Justice of the Peace.  The state of Illinois does not require you to bring any witnesses with you. (Check with your local city hall  for the requirements in your state) 

• Last, but not the least uncommon option is a destination wedding!  It sounds so exciting!  This is a very romantic, beautiful and personal ceremony.   It can also be one of the most expensive ways to share your vows and your love for each other with your family and maybe a few close friends.   The reason why, is because the beautiful warm locations like Punta Cana, Bahamas, Porto Viarta , Italy or France usually involve airfare, hotel stays for several nights plus the cost of the small reception with the friends and family after the ceremony.  Please keep in mind that if you are a DIY bride, you will not be in control of this event.  You will have to rely on the resort planner to give you the options and then design your wedding day for you.   There is always email and the phone to communicate with each other, but you are not there to put it together because you won’t arrive until the week of your wedding.  This is something you really need to consider before booking any flights.  The best part about this option is that you are already at your honeymoon location so there are no delays with having to wait in an airport.  Most couples after having their “weddingmoon” like to throw a huge party after they return home for all of their other family members (Grandparents) and friends that were not able to make attend.   Is it the most practical option?  Probably not, but it is, from what I have experienced, the most exciting and memorable way to get married.  The disadvantage of a destination wedding is if you choose to go foreign, you need to be sure that the ceremony abroad will be legally recognized in the US. You’ll also need to check the legal requirements of your destination country. Some places, especially those in Europe, require residency for as many as 30 days before you can even apply for a license. You'll also need to have the correct paperwork, such as birth certificates, passports, and other notarized documents.  There are wedding destination packages that can help a little with the cost, but it all depends on how big you want your “weddingmoon” to be.

Whichever type and style of wedding you choose, I know it will be memorable.   You just need to keep in mind how much money you have set aside on your budget for your ceremony and don’t deviate from it.  It is the main reason for getting married, but there has to be an agreement you can come to that will satisfy both of your needs for your wedding ceremony and stay in line with the costs. 

(Disclaimer: Information provided in this article is based on laws and practices in the state of Illinois. Please always check your local jurisdiction for any changes in laws for which the state that you want to get married in.)

Top 10 reasons to hire a Wedding Planner

10.     We save you time!  Your time is valuable.  On average a wedding takes at least 1200 hours to plan start to finish.  How many hours do you and your fiancé have left in your day after working your full-time job?  With a planner, your wedding becomes their full-time job, dedicated to making your day special.

9.       We offer advice and guidance!  There are many vendors who offer many different options with their packages.  Since this is the planner’s job, we will look at the whole picture of your “wedding day” to make sure that the right vendor and the right package are selected.

8.       We save you money!  We have established relationships with many different vendors who will “work with us” to ensure you stay on budget.  Some will even offer you a discount because of our referral.

7.       We organize your entire event!  From choosing your save-the-date cards and invitations to the bridal gown, church and reception (venue).  We are with you every step of the way. 

6.       We take your dream and make it a reality!  With countless options available for your decorations and style, your planner can help you narrow down an option that will be cost-effective and fit within your budget while still giving you your dream wedding.

5.       We bond your puzzle pieces (vendors) together!  With the countless hours and money that is spent in planning a wedding, we will make sure that every puzzle piece will fit together smoothly.  We make sure there are no missing pieces.  On your wedding day, we make sure that all of your puzzle pieces (vendors) will stay on track and in place to make you your beautiful wedding day picture.

4.       We manage the manners!   There are many ways to plan a wedding, but one thing that is a factor in every  wedding is etiquette.  Wedding planners have experience and knowledge necessary to advise bride and their family on how to invite guests, on how to deal with difficult family issues, on how to create a processional order at the ceremony, to assign seats at the reception, and when to send thank-you notes, and so on.

3.       We provide you with security!  Hiring a wedding planner means less risk of something to go wrong or be forgotten.  We will make sure that all your bases are covered.

2.       We remove the stress!  When you have a planner, it is like having a life insurance policy.  You can sit back and enjoy the planning of your wedding day knowing that every detail will be covered without disturbing your joy.

1.       We provide you with peace-of-mind!   We become your wedding day investment broker.  Your wedding day is a huge investment in you.  There is nothing better than knowing that the investment you made in your wedding day was well worth every hour and dollar spent.  We will make sure that your investment will give you many years of joy and happiness so that when you look back at your memories, you will remember that you were not stressed and enjoyed your wedding day to the fullest.

wedding ...

Mawage is wot bwings us togeder tooday. Mawage, that bwessed awangment, that dweam wifin a dweam.. This is a line from a classic love store “The Princess Bride” (1987).

Unique, creative and hilarious! This line was used as the opening of the ceremony at one of my client’s weddings The bridal couple wanted a very unique, light-hearted and non-traditional wedding ceremony. They wanted it to reflect their personality, humor, likes and love. Trust me, a traditional ceremony just would not have done them justice! To know them, you would understand why I said that. They were the most fun-loving, easy going and creative couple I have had the opportunity to work with. The room broke out in laughter and the mood was set to their ceremony. They carefully chose specific family members and friends to contribute to their ceremony. Each one was given a card that had a movie excerpt, poem, favorite quote or line from some of their favorite writers, politicians and movie stars. While the readings were taking place, their wedding rings were passed from guests to guest as a “Ring Ceremony”. There were18 readings in total. Once the rings were passed to every guest, the rings were then given to the Officiant and their personal vows were read. It was just beautiful. They even got an sigh from their guests.

More and more couples are leaning towards the idea of having a non-traditional wedding ceremony. There are several reasons why this is so popular in today’s trends. One reason is because of the cost involved in renting a church, all of the rules (more don’ts than dos) and a vow that is not personal. Some religions don’t even allow other religious denominations to get married in their church unless you become a member. The most common reason is because of a difference in religious preference. With the United States being one of the biggest melting pots for culture and religious differences, there are more and more couples who are falling in love and were raised in different religious denominations. So, whose religion/church do you get married in? It is a tough decision. The parents usually get involved and feelings are hurt. Tears start to flow and now there is stress!!

One of the most important things that I can remind you, as the bridal couple, is to remember whose wedding it is. If you have to make a decision as to where to have the ceremony, make sure it is a decision that is made between you and your fiancé. Once you have made your decision, stick with it! Remember, your wedding day is just that; YOUR wedding day. If you can remember the main reason why there is a wedding, it is because of the ceremony. There are still many couples that have their traditional ceremony and it is performed in a church. I had my wedding in my church, and I still remember how beautiful it was. Some couples incorporate both of their religious preferences in their ceremony. They are beautiful and memorable. There is absolutely nothing wrong with either option. That is the couple's choice. So make it one that your guests, and more importantly you, will remember forever. Whether the location be in a church or a private venue, make sure that your ceremony is one that will reflect your personality, your love for each other and your devotion.

So in closing, I will share with you the last reading from this fun-loving couple’s wedding:

And wuv, tru wuv, will fowow you foweva.

I wish that for you and wish that your wedding will be as beautiful, creative and unique as your love is.