WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY IDEAS

During our interview, Julie Butler shares tips on choosing the right photographer for your wedding day.

Thanks again, Julie! You're FAB-U-LOUS!!!

Ottawa's Wedding Gown Consigment Store

December has become gown month on the Coverall blog! I've had two posts on wedding gowns in as many weeks. I wonder what will come about next...

This week I want to let you know that Ottawa FINALLY has a wedding gown consignment store!! White Haute Bridal is now accepting dresses from past brides (by appointment only) and opens its doors to new brides in January.

The store offers a selection of once loved and never worn dresses at a fraction of the original sale price. All dresses are dry-cleaned and restored to like new condition.

Personally, I love consignment stores for their eco-friendly qualities. Imagine if half of all wedding gowns were purchased on consignment and if every new wedding gown was sold on consignment once used. The impact in terms of materials and chemicals used and the transportation required to get new dresses out to the market would be significantly reduced. (John Lennon's Imagine comes to mind, ha ha).

My dreams of a more socially responsible planet aside, this is a fantastic way for new brides to save some money on their wedding gowns and for newlywed brides to make a bit of money on their once loved dresses. You'll want to call to make your appointment soon as I'm sure White Haute's calendar will be packed in no time!

You can check out the White Haute Bridal website here.

Happy Planning!

Sophie
Coverall Event Coordination

The Bridal Expo 2009

Hi Everybody!

I know I've been a little MIA lately. I came down with a horrible flu and I've been working around the clock getting last minute details together for The Bridal Expo.

Now the show is done and the flu is gone and I'm back (like it or not, ha ha).

This year was the second year of The Bridal Expo which is a unique bridal show for Cornwall's modern bride. The majority of my weddings take place in Ottawa and surrounding area but I still work very closely with the Cornwall market and I use the show as a method of showcasing the city's very best wedding vendors.

Cindy put together a great table setting for the Coverall booth this year.

After the success of last year's show we moved to a larger venue (the Cornwall Civic Complex), designed a brand new website (www.thebridalexpo.ca), and made improvements to just about every aspect of the show. As a result, the show was a huge success again this year and we're looking forward to many more successful shows in the future.

For a list of the year's exhibitors check out the Exhibitors section of the show website. You can also view more images from the show on The Bridal Expo Facebook page.

Cheers!

Sophie

Coverall Event Coordination

The Bridal Expo: A Show for Cornwall's Modern Bride

The Bridal Expo Cornwall 2009

The Bridal Expo is a unique concept in Cornwall. The show is geared at the modern bride; but who is the "modern bride" anyway?

Well... here are a few tips for recognizing her: The modern bride is the bride who is taking control of her wedding (instead of handing the reigns over to her mother or mother-in-law); the modern bride is a do-it-yourselfer and has her hands in at least one creative project for her wedding; the modern bride is budget-conscious because she works and she's contributing a big chunk of her own money into her wedding; and the modern bride doesn't have time to mess around - she wants the best of everything she can afford and she has little time to find it all.

Do any of these descriptions sound like you?

This show is geared at helping brides set a path for their wedding to create the best possible event that they can with the resources at their disposal. The show boasts a roster of the Cornwall's top wedding vendors who you can interview and book at your leisure (this will cut back on much of the research time you would have spent on your wedding). But this isn't where the show is unique - the show is truly unique in it's presentations and seminars. This is where you'll have a chance to learn a bit of DIY info to really put you in the best possible shape to take on the planning ahead.

So keep your calendar open for Sunday, November 8 and ask a friend to keep her day free as well (or hey, you could take your fiance). Doors open at 12-noon.

For more information check out The Bridal Expo Website and Register today!

Cheers,

Sophie

Coverall Event Coordination

Advertising at Your Wedding

I've planned many weddings... and I've been to a number of weddings that I have not planned... and one thing that always drives me crazy is when vendors use your big day as an opportunity to sell their services to your guests (or their potential future clients).

In my opinion, your wedding day should be all about you. Placing business cards on your guest's tables or putting up a sign with the company name and contact info is not only tacky, it's completely disrespectful to you as the client.

Liene Stevens, from Blue Orchid Designs in Arizona, made a post about this topic on her blog 'The Smart Planner' today. You can read that post here.

While this continues to be a controversial topic I feel very strongly about the fact that when a vendor is hired by a client to provide a service for their wedding the vendor's focus for the duration of the event should be to do the very best job they can for that client. If they do this, they are sure to get more inquiries from the couples' guests (who will surely be impressed with the quality of service they witness) than they would from cheap advertising.

Demand more of your vendors. In fact, add this to the list of questions you bring with you to your vendor interviews.

Happy Planning!

Sophie
Coverall Event Coordination

Vendor Selection: The Venue

Venue selection can either "make" or "break" an event. The same goes for your wedding. With a vast number of hotels, golf clubs, halls, museums, and other venues to choose from, visiting and researching every venue is simply not an option. Your venue should be your first booking. This will allow you to solidify your wedding date so that you can move on to selecting other vendors. You'll want to book your venue as soon after your engagement as you can... but don't be too hasty. Here are a few tips to help focus your research and narrow your list:

Consider

1. Style/Ambiance

2. Size

3. Budget

4. Location

1. Style/Ambiance: What kind of atmosphere are you trying to create? Do you want a chic upscale event in a trendy part of the city? Do you want a comfortable backyard feel? Do you want your ceremony and reception at the same location? Do you want a small intimate gathering with close family and friends? Or would you prefer a big party where everyone you've ever know is welcome to join in? Different locations cater to different types of atmosphere. It would be difficult, for example, to hold a small, intimate family affair in the middle of a dance club.

2. Size: The guest list will play a role in narrowing your choices. Select a venue that will hold your guests comfortably but that's not so spcaious that your reception seems empty (even 300 people can seem lost in a room that can hold 600). You also don't want to cram your guests into a room like a bunch of sardines. When asking how many people a room will hold be sure to clarify whether the number is based on a banquet set up and whether it accounts for dance floor space.

3. Budget: On average, about half of your total wedding budget will go into your venue (including rentals, food, alcohol, fees, and gratuities). Don't rely on menus to help you determine cost (the cost for room rentals and other fees can vary greatly from one venue to the next). Instead, request a quote from a few venues that you're interested in and compare costs.

4. Location: Do you want a destination wedding or an intimate country gathering. Be mindful of the unique considerations that comes with different venues. For example, for a downtown venue consider parking restrictions. When considering a remote country venue consider nearby accomodations for your guests. Also, bear in mind that the most sought out locations tend to book up pretty quickly so you may have to book two or even three years in advance.

Whether you'r booking a prime location or not you'll want to book your venue as soon as you can. At the very least, book 1 year in advance. The longer you wait the fewer options you'll have (not only in venue selection but in vendor selection too).

Good luck!

Sophie
Coverall Event Coordination

Vendor Selection: The Photographer

Your wedding photography should be given due consideration - quite possibly, above all other vendor decisions. Your wedding photos will be the only tangible record of your wedding day and you want to make sure that the day is captured the way you want it to be. Here are some points to consider:


1. What is your style?
Notice that I'm not asking what the photographer's style is? First, you need to figure out your own style, what kind of photographs really speak to you? You want to make sure that the photographer's photos suit you. Every photographer views the images through their lenses in very different ways so your day can be captured from any number of styles and points of view. Here's the technical jargon to help you sort through the styles:

Photojournalistic
Photojournalism is the most popular type of wedding photography. This approach aims to capture the feelings and energy of the wedding day. The focus is on the "moments" instead of the poses. This would be anything from the bride's nervous anticipation just before walking down the aisle to the father's teary expression of love during the father-daughter dance.

Images from Style Me Pretty

Traditional
Traditional photography refers to the posed photos of the wedding. These typically consist of shots of the wedding party, the groom and his family, the bride and groom looking lovingly into each others' eyes. Wedding albums can contain anywhere from a handful of traditional shots to pages and pages of posed images.















Images from Style Me Pretty

Artistic
The artistic approach is a sort of catch-all category that includes everything from soft-focus lenses and filters to hand-coloured images and unusual camera angles. These images can be fun, modern and edgy but you also run the risk of "dating" the photos once some of the trends disappear.

Images from Style Me Pretty


Many photographers offer all three types of styles. You can get a really good sense of a photographer's dominant style by perusing a few of their wedding albums paying close attention to the type of photo that pops up most frequently.

2. Check in with the budget.
Once you decide on the style you love you'll have to find a photographer that your budget can love too. Most photographers will offer packages and various ranges, choose one that has everything you want and nothing that you don't. Try to negotiate out the things you don't want for a cheaper package price or more of what you do want.


3. Check references!
A photographer's website will give you a great idea of their style but it won't tell you how they'll interact with you and your guests on your wedding day. Check with other brides who have used them. Ask how the photographer managed the photo session. Ask how he/she interacted with the wedding party and the guests. How did the couple like the end product?

Choosing a photographer may be one of the most time-consuming research projects of your entire wedding. But if you invest the time you're sure to be much happier with the results.

Happy Planning!


Sophie
Coverall Event Coordination

Vendor Selection: The Wedding Planner

Wedding Planners go by a multitude of names; Wedding Planner, Wedding Consultant, Wedding Coordinator, Bridal Consultant... you name it. In addition to assuming a variety of titles Wedding Planners also vary in styles, services, experience, fees, and so forth. For this reason, it's very important to determine what you want from your wedding planner so that you can find the person that's just right for you. Make a list of questions and expectations and bring it with you to your meeting. Here are some things to consider:

1. Is the Wedding Planner tied to a venue: Many wedding planners work for a particular venue. This means that when you book the venue for your reception the wedding planner is typically thrown in as part of the package. This type of planner will be able to help you sort through the logistics of your reception, recommend local vendors (such as DJs, Musicians, Florists, Photographers, etc.), and they will also help with meal selection, wine selection, and generally anything that has to do with the venue. Other wedding planners work independently of a particular venue. This means that they will work with you regardless of the venue you select and will help with all point of your wedding planning (such as the ceremony, reception, invitations, guest list management, budget preparation and management, etc.). It's important for you to determine what you want your wedding planner to do; this will help you determine which type of planner to work with.

2. What will the Wedding Planner do (or more importantly, what will they NOT do): I once heard a wedding planner state that if there are things a Planner is not willing to do for their clients then they are in the wrong profession. I don't believe this to be the case. As with everything in life people set their own boundaries. Some florists will deliver flowers, others will not. Some photographers will provide you with a CD of your photos with full printing rights - others will not. Some Wedding Planners will answer their cell phones at all hours of the day and night - others have business hours and will only answer within those. There's no right or wrong way; just as every couple is unique so is every planner. It's important that you determine your priorities and expectations. Make sure that the person you select is able and willing to meet these expectations.

3. How does the wedding planner determine their fees: There are three popular methods used for determining fees in the wedding planning industry. A planner may charge based on a percentage of the couple's budget (usually 10-15%), others will charge an hourly rate for their services, and others will work based on a flat fee. It's also possible for planners to use a combination of any of the three methods. Make sure that you are comfortable with the pricing methods of the planner you select. If you're not, you may be able to negotiate another method. (Never be afraid to negotiate).

4. How much experience does the planner have? How many weddings do they plan a year? Is this their full-time job?: These are all questions that you should discuss with your planner. Every planner is at a different stage in their career. Typically, you pay more based on the level of experience a planner has and the amount of individual attention they're able to give you. Some planners work on their planning business on a part-time basis while holding down a full-time job. This is not necessarily a bad thing as some planners manage to balance this very well. But it could also mean that you may wait a little longer for responses to calls or emails.

5. Do you feel comfortable with the planner?: This is perhaps one of the most important questions of all. You should always meet with at least 2 or 3 planners and make a note of how you get along with each of them. Do you connect well? Are you looking for a planner who is fun and bubbly, or do you prefer someone who is more business-like? Whatever your personal preference you're usually pretty safe to go with your gut feeling. After all, this is someone you could be working with over the course of a year or more.

Keep in mind that most planners view your initial meeting as a two-sided interview. They're interviewing clients just as much as you're interviewing them. So go in prepared and ask questions.

In addition to these five important points make sure to ask the more technical questions. These include: How many hours will you be available on the wedding day? Do you attend the rehearsal? Do you require a meal at the reception? Most of these questions should be addressed by the planner in your initial consultation. Refer to your list to make sure you've covered all your questions.

What kind of things are you looking for in a wedding planner?

Happy Planning!

Sophie
Coverall Event Coordination

Vendor Selection: Where to Begin

Sorting through the yellow pages, search engines, and endless business listings for local wedding vendors can be overwhelming to say the least. This new series will be geared at helping you determine your priorities and selecting the right vendors for your big day. Here are a few basic steps to get you started:

1. Setting your priorities and your budget: Before you start looking at vendors you need to set your budget. And in order to set your budget you need to decide what your priorities are. Are you more concerned about the decor than you are about the food? Perhaps having a fun reception is higher up on your priority list than having magazine quality photos? Every couple will have a different set of priorities so there's no right of wrong answer. You simply need to decide what you want out of your day.

2. Cut out vendors that don't fit your budget: Once you've set your priorities and you've made up a budget that reflects them it's time to start narrowing those enormous lists of vendors. Your lists will be narrowed significantly once you start cutting out those vendors that are not within your budget.

3. Check out your local wedding forums: Most wedding forums contain lots of vendor reviews. Read through and see which names are popping up often and what others' experiences have been.

4. Check out your local bridal shows: Bridal shows are another great way to narrow your lists. Although these exhibitions can sometimes be overwhelming if you take your time and speak with vendors you can get a lot out of them. Check back for our post on making the most of bridal shows.

5. Set up meetings: The next thing you want to do is choose two or three vendors from each category to sit down and meet with. You'll want a chance to speak with them one-on-one and to go through some of the questions we'll be outlining for each vendor category.

Keep checking back for updates to this series.

Cheers!

Sophie
Coverall Event Coordination

Selecting Vendors

Today's bride is savy. She treats every aspect of her wedding planning as a business transaction. Today's bride is also computer smart and she does much of her wedding research online. It's no wonder, then, that many of today's wedding vendors are found through google. However, selecting the key players who will either make or break your day should not be left up to the quality of their website.

I'm horrified at how many brides tell me that they found their vendors online and hired them without even speaking with them over the phone (let alone sitting down to meet with them in person). Taking the time to meet with your vendors is a crucial step to ensuring that you are selecting the right people for your day. Sometimes the DJ with the top-notch website is not the most charismatic person... which would be a big problem if you plan for your DJ to provide some fun and entertainment at your reception. You could find a fantastic website for a florist only to learn later that all of the images on her site were purchased from iStock so the arrangement you selected may not turn out the way you'd anticipated.

Taking the time to interview your vendors and their references is key. You want to make sure that you "click" with the vendor and that they really understand your vision. You want solid assurance that they are taking an interest in your wedding as a unique event and not just treating it as another pay cheque.

Don't leave the success of your wedding up to fate. Know who you're hiring and make sure that you feel good about your decision.

There are some key questions that you should be asking your vendors. Check back for tips over the coming weeks.

Cheers!

Sophie
Coverall Event Coordination