Friday, May 17, 2013

What is A Wedding Planner: One Month Before the Wedding

  Around one month before the wedding, the real work gets started.  This is when we start doing the stuff that every bride needs help with...the backbone of coordinating the wedding.   At this time, we will visit the venue and put all the eliminates that we've been spending months preparing together.  The first thing we'll do is go over your vendors and make sure I have the correct contact information.  The next item on the list is to create a wedding day agenda.  I have an example of one below.  It typically begins the day before the wedding, we'll then go through your pre-wedding beauty preparations, your vendor arrival times, pre-ceremony photography schedule, your ceremony details, and finally the flow of your reception.
   We then will take a little walk around the venue and discuss set-up and floor plan.  A week after this meeting takes place, I will send over a tentative copy of your agenda, your floor plan, and your set-up checklist.  It is then the bride's task to make sure that I have a completed copy of these documents one week from the wedding date at the latest.


Vela/Pence Final Agenda
Friday, May 10, 2013: 
10:00am-         Bridal Party arrives at Allure for mani’s and pedi’s
                        Afterwards they head to The Grove for lunch
12:00pm-         Rentals arrive at Stonewall Ranch by this time
3:30pm-           Participants arrive at Driftwood Estates Winery (4001 Elder Hill Road, 78619)
                        Chris collects final vendor payments
4:00pm-          Rehearsal begins
5:00pm-           Rehearsal is complete
                        The Fairytale Effect staff set-up for rehearsal dinner at Stonewall Ranch (Rachel
collects rentals and décor for wedding)
6:00pm-          Salt Lick catering arrives at Stonewall Ranch to set-up food
7:00pm-          Guests arrive for the rehearsal dinner at Stonewall Ranch (10301 Wagon Road
West, 78736)

Saturday, May11, 2013:
2:30pm-           Bride and bridesmaids arrive at Driftwood Estates to relax and get ready for the
day
2:45pm-           Cassie Speck arrives at the venue to fix the bride’s hair
                       
3:00pm-           The Fairytale Effect staff arrive at the venue and check in with bridal party before
setting-up.  Set-up begins with cake table.
                        DJ RJ with Music for Life arrives on site and begins setting-up sound for
ceremony music
3:30pm-           Sweet Treats arrives and sets-up the cupcakes
4:00pm-          Groom and groomsmen arrive and begin getting ready
Becky with Bouquets of Austin arrives to set-up florals
Tyler Schmidtt arrives
4:30pm-           The Fairytale Effect staff begins pinning boutonnières
                        Bride Sarah is dressed and ready for first glance
4:45pm-           Bride and Groom first glance in the vineyard
5:00pm-           Bridesmaids are dressed and ready for photos
5:15pm-            Family members arrive at the venue and The Fairytale Effect staff pins flowers
5:20pm-           Bridal party photos
5:40pm-           Family photos
6:00pm-          Full wedding photos
                        Flores arrives and sets-up the buffet
6:10pm-           Grooms party photos
                        Sarah returns to the bridal suite to relax before the ceremony
6:15pm             Cody Vela and Regi Huber arrive at the ceremony site to run through sound
check and set-up for ceremony music
6:30pm-           Photos are complete
                        Prelude music begins for early guests
                        Rick and Anderson are stationed at the ceremony entrance to escort guests
and handout programs.  Amanda Reedy is stationed at the sign-in table.
                        Judge Rex Baker arrives at the venue
                        Flores arrives to set-up the buffet
6:50pm-           Participants line-up for the processional in this order:
1)    Grandmother of the Groom, Margie Anderson ushered by Dana Smith
2)    Step Mother of the Groom, Sonya Pence ushered by Dana Smith
                                      Followed by Father of the Groom, Bert Pence
3)    Mother of the Groom, Serene ushered by Rick Shirley
4)   Grandmother of the Bride, Erica Vela ushered by Justin Hillhouse
5)    Judge Rex Baker followed by Groom, Hunter Pence
6)   Bridal Party
Chelsea Wilson escorted by Zac Morgan
Lindsey Orlando escorted by Justin Hillhouse
Lenae Shirley escorted by Rick Shirley
Royale Price escorted by Anderson Price
Laura Nienkerk escorted by Dana Smith
Maid of Honor, Sara Betts escorted by Best Man, Chris Betts
7)   Flower Girl, Sienna Shirley
8)   Bride, Sarah escorted by Grandfather of the Bride, Eddie and Father
of the Bride, Harry
7:00pm-          Processional begins:
                                    ___________________________________ plays for the wedding party
                                    ___________________________________ plays for the entrance of the bride
7:30pm-           Ceremony is complete
                        “Walking on Sunshine/Halo” plays for the recessional
                        Guest are invited into the reception area for drinks and hors d'oeuvres
                        The Fairytale Effect staff moves chairs over to the reception area
                        The Fairytale Effect Staff delivers bride and groom meals for the private dinner
Couple eats dinner
7:45pm-           Guests are invited to buffet
8:00pm-          Bride and Groom are in place and ready to be introduced
8:05pm-           Guests are directed their attention to the tasting room as Bride and
Groom are introduced to the dance floor as:
Mr. and Mrs. Hunter Pence
                   “Can’t Help Falling in Love” (Ingrid Michaelson) is played for the first dance
                        “What a Wonderful World” is played for the father/daughter dance:
                                    Sarah dances with Harry
                                    Sarah dances with Eddie
                        _______________________________________________ is played for the mother/son dance:
                                    Hunter dances with Serene
                                    Hunter dances with Sonya
8:30pm            Hunter and Sarah thank the guests
                        Toasts are given by Bert, Chris and Sara
                        “The Way I am Plays” plays for the cake cutting
8:40pm            Anniversary dance
                        “I Gotta Feelin’” plays for the wedding party dance
                        Open Dancing- Hunter and Sarah greet the tables
10:15pm-          Bouquet and Garter toss
10:45pm-         “Don’t Stop Believing” plays for last dance
10:50pm-         Line-up for the send-off.  Bird seed is passed out by Sara Betts, Laura Nienkerk
and Lindsey Olsen 
11:00pm-          Send-off with birdseed
                        Clean up begins
12:00am           All vendors are off site

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

As Seen On Thumbtack

Since I've finished this semester at school, I've been taking a little time to launch The Fairytale Effect.  One of the sites I've just registered for is Thumbtack.  Go ahead and clink on the link to check the site out.  Former brides, while your there, you can leave a review.  Seems like a pretty cool site to get some honest reviews.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Sarah and Hunter

This weekend, we were out at the beautiful Driftwood Estates Winery managing an equally beautiful wedding.  Sarah and Hunter were truly one of the sweetest couples I have had the pleasure to work with.  Sarah was such a laid back bride and she created a fun festive atmosphere for her special day.










Wedding Ingredients:

Venue- Driftwood Estates Winery
Photography- Tyler Schmitt, The Mill Photography Studio
Cupcakes- Sweet Treet Bakery
Flowers- Bouquets of Austin, Becky
DJ- Music 4 Life, DJ RJ
Rentals- Austin's World of Rentals
Catering- Flores
Coordinator- The Fairytale Effect, Rachel Stepanov