First Things First - Getting Started on Planning for a Wedding

Even though I work with a variety of events on a daily basis, knowing where to start with my own wedding planning was still a bit overwhelming.  The real 'start' were conversations that Mark & I have had in the past about how we would like our wedding to feel.  What do we want our guests to see and experience?  What do we really want to focus on and what themes are important to us?  We started with those preferences which included - incorporating our love for the outdoors and respect for the environment, an intimate and personal feel, nice weather in Alabama, and conveniences like having the ceremony & reception in the same location - and started from there to build our "wedding vision".  I feel like it was really important to discuss these basics before we got into the nitty-gritty of the who, what, when, where, and of course, how, so we could come back to them if things started to get off-track.

Next, we started exploring the insane amount of resources available to brides.  There is a lot of information available online but I would also suggest visiting or calling any vendor that interests you to get more comprehensive and personalized information based on your specific needs.  I'll be honest - I'm an avid internet researcher and I know a lot of brides do their legwork online but websites don't always do the best job of getting the right information across to the bride.  I'm also a big fan of perusing the aisles of the bookstore or library for anything that catches my eye!

Want to make it easy from the get-go?  Talk to a professional event planner!  These people are unbelievable resources of information! There are different levels of planning assistance, so don't feel like a planner has to have control over the entire weekend.  These event experts can save you a lot of time and money by letting you know what will work and what doesn't and who is the best vendor to make it happen!  (I'll do another post soon on planners in the Birmingham area.)

Let's note here that a wedding can be as simple or as detailed as your prefer it to be.  If you start to get overwhelmed with all of the options, then the process is no longer fun, and it may be time to go back to the basics.  Enjoy this experience as much as possible - hopefully this is the only time you'll be planning a wedding!  But if nothing seems to be working out, just breathe - at the end of the day you will still be wed to the one you love!

Resources for Brides and Grooms: 

I really love the idea behind the Engaged! Library by Perfect Wedding Guide.  This is an actual location in Homewood where they have samples and idea books from hundreds of different vendors for you to look through.  Green Bonus: Less driving around town and wasting gas!  Just keep in mind, that while there is plenty to look through, not every vendor in town is showcased at the Engaged! Library.

**PRO Tip: Not everyone who picks up a camera, or a flower, or a microphone is a wedding professional but there are plenty of people who will say they are!  Do your research and get referrals before signing a contract with a vendor, especially if their pricing is much lower than others.  Your wedding day is NOT the day you want to get what you pay for!!

Professional organizations are a great way to find reputable vendors.  Each wedding industry - florists, photographers, bakers - all have their own certifications and organizations that will help you know who has the real credentials. Also, for a local source, check out www.ALWEP.com - this is a group of event professionals in Alabama that have plenty of experience making wedding dreams come true!

Print: 
Birmingham Bridal Directory, Tuscaloosa Bridal Directory, North Alabama Bridal Directory, etc.
Perfect Wedding Guide 

Local Magazines: 

Alabama Weddings

Birmingham Magazine - Bi-annual Bridal Edition

Books: 

Hmm... I need to do more research on this one!

Online: 
FindAlabamaWeddingVendors
Alabama Bridal.com
Green Bride Guide

Wedding Wire

Martha Stewart Weddings - I <3 their daily inspiration emails!

The Knot
Blogs (like this one!) and endless online resources

Bridal Shows: 
Southern Bridal Show, Perfect Wedding Guide, or just search for one in your area

Podcasts:
Get Real! with Alabama Wedding Vendors - interviews about wedding planning with local wedding vendors

Once you find a vendor that you like and trust, ask for their recommendations of other vendors based on your needs.  These professionals work together every weekend and they see how events come together (or not) firsthand.

Repost: Great Bridal Show Tips by Wedding Planner M. Elizabeth!

It's Bridal Show Season!

Posted by Meghan E. Cease

For all the newly engaged brides and grooms out there, you do not want to miss The Bridal Market presented by Perfect Wedding Guide on Sunday, February 28 from 1pm - 5pm at The Wynfrey Hotel.  This will be an incredible event with some fantastic vendors (including yours truly!)

It's a known fact that in the wedding world that the period between THanksgiving and Valentine's Day is known as engagement season.  Due to all the holidays and love in the air, 19% of engagements happen during this time.  And with engagement season comes bridal show season!

Most of the year's biggest and best shows and bridal events happen early in the year, so even if your guy just slipped a ring on your finger, go check out a show to get tons of great information and ideas.

Click below to read our tips on what to do at a bridal show!

What can you do at a bridal show?

- Learn what colors and trends are going to be hot this year.

- Meet a variety of vendors and put names with faces of those vendors you've already started researching.

- Stay for the fashion show to see what dress styles are in and to get a feel for which designers you love.

- Sample a variety of cakes all in one location, then pick your top two favorite to set up a consulation with.

- Meet other recently engaged brides.

Here are some other tips on how to make the most out of your bridal show experience:

- Know your budget before you go!  You do not want to fall in love with a particular vendor only to realize later you can't afford them.  Bring a list of which vendors and services you need and how much you've budgeted for them.

- Bring a camera and notebook to capture your favorite ideas and to take notes on which vendors you spoke with and what you learned.  You may meet 6 photographers, 4 bakers, 5 florists, 7 DJ's, etc.  It's helpful to write things down or you won't remember who's who.

- Print labels with your name, wedding date, email, and mailing address to enter contests or attach to vendor information forms.  It's much faster than writing his information 30 times.

- Don't book vendors on the spot at a show!  A five minute conversation with them is not enough.  After visiting the booths, pick 2 or 3 in each category to set consultations with.  Do more research or hire a wedding coordinator (hint, hint) to find out if that vendor is reputable.

- Wear comfortable shoes and bring water.  There's a lot of food and cake offered but rarely do vendors offer anything to drink.

- Relax and enjoy yourself!  You'll probably feel completely overwhelmed especially if you're just starting the planning process but try to just take it all in.  You don't need to make any decision right away, just learn as much as you can and have fun!