Economics Or Smart Planning?

There is an article posted on the Time Magazine website entitled, Downsizing Your Wedding that talks about ways in which couples planning their upcoming wedding celebration, have cut costs because of the so called "recession" we're in. (I'm not convinced that we're in a recession yet...but I'll leave my political views out of this post.)

"According to the Wedding Report, a research firm that compiles stats on the wedding industry, the average cost of an American wedding rose to $28,732 in 2007, as the festivities have grown increasingly elaborate and personalized. But for the first time in almost a decade, that number is forecast to drop slightly this year, to $28,704."

Anyway...it occurred to me while reading the article that wedding planners have been using these exact same spending cuts to save couples money on their weddings even before the economic downturn began. We're trained to take our clients vision and turn it into a dream wedding...no matter the cost.

Plus, many brides have latched onto the "Do-It-Yourself" craze which allows more creativity and personalization as well as cost savings. I think this is a better indicator of the reasons for the drop in the average cost of a wedding.

What do YOU think? We would LOVE to know!

Win Bridal Show Tickets and a Wedding Planning Binder!

I was just given a pair of tickets to the upcoming Bridal Fashion Debut at the Phoenix Convention Center and I would LOVE to give them to YOU!

All you have to do to win is leave me a comment, telling me about the greatest challenge you've faced with planning your wedding thus far. Has it been finding the right venue? Photographer? Finding the right wedding dress?

I'll choose a random winner next Wednesday, June 4th. I'll leave the tickets for you at Will Call and I'll even throw in a Bravo Wedding Planner for the winner!

Katie and Torsten Get Married!

Hi there!

Just getting back into town from my assistant's wedding weekend in Salt Lake City! The weather was perfect (even though the wind was a bit uncooperative), the bagpiper leading the wedding party and guests through the streets to the reception and the 7 course meal was FABULOUS.

Katie was a super glamorous bride! Here is a video from her bridal shoot a few days before the wedding:

Katie's bridals from Davey Orgill on Vimeo.

I can't wait to post the professional pictures! As soon as the super talented Kate Benson publishes her awesome photos, I'll share them with you! Torsten was one of the most handsome grooms I've ever seen! Isn't he darling?


(Forgive my crappy digital...I left the picture taking to Kate and Davey!)

In the meantime, the videographer they hired, Davey from Pointe Digital Videography and Photography, created an incredible video that they showed at the reception. He condensed some of the footage down to a 4 minute video that he has posted on his blog:

Katie and Torsten's Wedding Day Video - Click Here

...Oh yeah, and here is their engagement video:

Katie & Torsten from Davey Orgill on Vimeo.

Congratulations Katie and Torsten! Enjoy your honeymoon!

Win $10,000 and a Trip to New York!

{Please note: the contest is void in CA, TN and UT and you must be 21 years or older at time of entry}

Last month I told you about a really great contest over at Mirassou Wines where one lucky bride will win $10,000, expert advice for planning your wedding AND a trip to the Big Apple! Well the contest is ending soon...May 30th to be exact!

The prize includes hotel and round trip airfare to New York City for two days and one night, during which time the winner will meet with Senior Editor Anna Pezik for a one-day consultation about the winner's wedding.

Ms. Pezik will showcase the very latest bridal trends and offer personalized suggestions for the winner's wedding. What a way to begin planning your big day! To get a preview of the kinds of things Anna will share with the winner during their planning day in New York, take a look at the vidoes below.








May 30th is right around the corner so head on over to the Mirassou website to register for your chance to win!

{Please note: the contest is void in CA, TN and UT and you must be 21 years or older at time of entry}

Bridal Show - June 8, 2008

We've been given a GREAT opportunity to exhibit at the Bridal Show being held next month. It's an opportunity we couldn't pass up! We're planning some fun surprises for you so please stop by and see us! We promise to have lots of eye candy for you plus we'll be giving away the latest and greatest wedding planning book, personally autographed by the author!!

An autographed copy of the new Mindy Weiss book, "The Wedding Book"


We also have 2 Bravo Wedding Planning Binders to give away. They have everything you need to keep you organized while you plan your wedding!



Sunday, June 8, 2008
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Bridal Fashion Debut
Phoenix Convention Center
3rd Street & Jefferson
Phoenix, AZ

Come visit us in Booth 1025E and you'll receive a 20% discount on our Essentials "Day of" package AND a free engagement shoot by one of our preferred photographers if you book with us the day of the show!

Be sure to stop by to hear ALL the details!

And the Winner Is...

Our May contest didn't get the response that I expected but we did get several comments about favorite styles and what they meant to their respective readers.

We had two comments that chose "Traditional" as their style of choice and we chose ths one as our favorite...

"maryclaireb said...
Traditional is my favorite. You can still make your day your own but there's a reason traditions stay in style--they're fun and help make the day meaningful."

Contrats maryclaireb! Please email us at info {at} sacredmomentweddings {dot} com so that we can get your CB2 gift certificate to you right away!

Stay tuned for more exciting tidbits about our fantasy couple, Amy and Kevin and what their wedding style is shaping up to look like!

What If I've Hired The Wrong Planner?

One of Arizona's favorite wedding planners...and someone who has really helped me to become a better planner, has written a VERY informative post that deals with the dilemma of hiring the WRONG wedding planner. Doing your homework and interviewing several planners before deciding to hire one is essential to having a fun and supportive wedding planning experience.

Liene gives some sound advice to a bride who isn't happy with her planner's lack of enthusiasim and apparent inexperience. Click here for all the details!

"Define and Design" Wedding Style Contest Ends Friday at Midnight!

Don't forget about our contest which ends this Friday, May 16th at midnight!

In order to win we need your help to choose a wedding style for our fantasy couple, Amy and Kevin. Read all about it here. One lucky winner will receive a $50 gift card to CB2!

Here are the wedding styles:

Traditional
Hollywood Glam
Southern Charm
Sophisticated Vintage
Natural and Green
Modern Chic

Just leave a comment on this post, stating which of the styles listed above appeals to you the most and why. Deadline for comments is midnight, May 16th. The winner will be chosen randomly from all the posts of the style that gets the most votes. We'll announce the winner on Monday, May 19th. It's that simple!

We really want lots of votes on this one so pass the word and encourage all your friends to vote for their favorite style too.

Good Luck!

He Did It Again!

Preston Bailey is an amazing floral designer. He creates the most awe inspiring floral sculptures I have ever seen...EVER! And he isn't afraid to think outside of the box...in fact, he thrives on it!

Well...he's done it again!



Visit his blog for more! Amazing...simply amazing!

{Reminder: What's Your Wedding Style contest ends at midnight on May 16th. Pass the word and don't forget to vote for your favorite wedding style!}

"Define and Design" Wedding Style Series

Last week we told you about a series of posts we'll be publishing in June to take you on a journey to define and design the perfect wedding for our fantasy couple Amy and Kevin. I had a brainstorming session with my friend Jessica yesterday and now this thing has taken on a life of its own!

The first thing we'll do is choose the venue. From there we'll create a color and content palette that will help us choose all the little details that Amy and Kevin's guests will discover on their wedding day.

We're also going to throw in a few "monkey wrenches"...you know, those obstacles that come up when planning any event? We'll solve them, hopefully with your help, so that our couple's wedding day goes on without a hitch!

We'll take you step by step through the planning process...ask for your opinions along the way...and hopefully at the end leave you with a great road map to begin the creative process of planning your own fantasy wedding!

To launch this process we're having a contest to determine what wedding style we'll use for Amy and Kevin's wedding. (Read about the contest here.)

The wedding style choices are as follows:

Traditional
Hollywood Glam
Southern Charm
Sophisticated Vintage
Natural and Green
Modern Chic

To get started, we need your help! Amy and Kevin need a wedding style! We gave you a few hints into their background in our previous post so be sure to vote for your favorite wedding style and you may just win a $50 gift card from CB2.

Contest ends midnight, May 16th!

Happy Mother's Day!

I found this picture on Michelle Rago's blog awhile ago, and it reminds me of all the flowers my mom used to get on Mother's Day from my dad. Always pink and always fluffy looking.

I've been thinking about my Mother lately (she went to live with Jesus in 1989), and how she taught us to honor the "mother's" in our lives. She taught us that we should honor her, but to also honor all mother's that touch our lives every day. Grandmothers, aunts, sisters, Mrs. Henderson down the block...especially since Mrs. Henderson would treat us just like her own children and tell us when we were good AND when we were doing wrong!

Whenever a mother sees a child, it's impossible not to lock in on the needs of that child. It's such a strong feeling!! Maternal instinct is part of our natural makeup and God has bless us with a wonderful gift. Mother's are natural multi-taskers!!! :)

So honor all the mother's in your life this weekend...because what they do for you comes easy to them...

It's natural!

Thanks Mommy!! I Love You!

What's A Kickback?

{Reminder: What's Your Wedding Style contest ends at midnight on May 16th. Pass the word and don't forget to vote for your favorite wedding style!}

Check out this GREAT post from a new photographer friend of mine...Patrick Lockwood out of San Diego. He has given me permission to reproduce it here on my blog and to encourage others to read it. It's long and directed mainly at photographers, but worth the read. He makes a good case and I learned some things I didn't know. Sit back, grab a cup of tea and educate yourself. Then leave me a comment and tell me what you think.





To My Fellow Photographers, A Word On Kickbacks In Our Industry

This is a message to my fellow photographers, but brides and grooms might want to know this information, too, so I am posting it on my blog:

* * * * * * * *

So you are a photographer, and you are faced with a wedding planner, or some vendor who is asking you for a commission if he or she is to refer you business.

Now, first off, the vast majority of planners do not do this, but, occasionally, there is one who might.

So, what is wrong with this arrangement, you ask? What is the harm in it, you ask? Is it any different than a salesman who earns a commission on a sale?

Well, that depends.

When the bride or groom goes to a booking agent (say, for example, they want to hire a musician), they know that he or she is an agent, which is to say, any referrals they are given from such a person it is understood that the agent is working on commission, and by virtue of the title, it is obviously the norm for a booking agent to receive a commission. With this information known up front, the bride and groom can properly judge the value of the referral. Let me state that more accurately, we (in the wedding industry) have given the bride and groom the proper information, and the bride and groom are not being deceived as to the truthful relationship between the booking agent and those the agent refers to the bride and groom.

If you were to ask a doctor, whose specialty was diseases of the foot, if the doctor knew of a good eye doctor, you’d expect that the referral was based on pure merit, and that type of referral will be weighed quite differently than the referral given by someone you know upfront who is a broker for others, who gets a commission.

There is nothing wrong with either set up, as long as the bride and grooms know, up front, what is going on, so the whole idea is honesty in the relationship.

Enter the wedding planner who asks for a commission on weddings from the photographer she gives the referral to.

Often the photographer will raise the wedding fee by the amount of the commission so as to be left with the same amount that the photographer would have charged had the photographer not paid a commission to the planner.

This is a kickback. This is definitely NOT a commission. This is a unethical act committed on the bride and groom.

How so?

Two unethical acts have been committed on the bride and groom in this circumstance.

The bride and groom believed the referral to be on merit, since there is nothing about the wedding planner’s title, nor is it a particularly generally accepted practice for a wedding planner to act as a broker. Thus, if the wedding planner refers a photographer, the bride and groom have every reason to believe it was based on merit.

Therefore a deception is taking place.

Some wedding planners might argue that, although they are accepting a commission, they wouldn’t work with any photographer who doesn’t meet a reasonable standard.

It doesn’t matter if the argument is true or not, the wedding planner is depriving the bride and groom of the opportunity to make a more informed decision. Surely, a bride and groom would weigh a referral based on pure merit differently than one that was fee-based; the bride and groom would be more cautious towards the fee-based referral. Let the bride and groom make this determination, not the wedding planner, about the quality of the referral, and let all facts pertaining to the referral be known. It’s in the bride and groom’s best interest.

That’s the first unethical act perpetrated on the bride and groom.

The second unethical act has two components: in the case of the photographer who raises the fee to compensate for the wedding planner’s commission, what is essentially happening is selective pricing, which is to say the photographer is not applying the same fee structures to all brides and grooms across the board (thus treating his non referred clients differently than his referred clients who are charged more), but more importantly, the bride and groom are being charged twice by the wedding planner: Once by the wedding planner’s fee, twice by the photographer’s raised fee (the raised portion of which is the planner’s kickback), a cost which is passed on solely to the bride and groom (and not other photographer’s brides and grooms). What is unethical is that this fact is not revealed to the bride and groom. How would you (the photographer reading this) feel if you were the bride and groom and this was done to you?

Ultimately, if the agency relationship between the planner and the bride and groom is not on the up and up, it is a kickback, and as such, it can only be bad for our industry, and I urge all ethical photographers and wedding vendors to do their best to EXPOSE any planner, any vendor, as well as photographers who are willing to go along with the scheme, who do not publicly announce to the bride and groom that commissions for referrals are being paid and being charged to the bride and groom.

* * * * * * * *

If you are a bride who is asking a vendor or wedding planner for a referral (could be a venue, who sometimes charge vendors for access to the “preferred” list), make sure you ask that vendor whether or not he or she is being paid a “commission” on the referral by the photographer or other vendor. Expose them, and let’s stamp out this practice, it is not good for the bride and groom, nor is it good for the wedding industry on the whole because it is a deceptive practice, and it tends to promote selective pricing to brides and grooms, and double billing, as well.

{Written by Patrick Lockwood of Patrick Lockwood Photography. Reproduced by permission}

Sprinkles Opens Today!

{Photo courtesy of Sprinkles}

Cupcakes...are you serious? YES! Cupcakes!! They're delicious..chic...oh so popular among many celebrities and very expensive!

But...

Oh soooo worth it! Try one...just one and you'll join the sugar coma club like the rest of us.

I'm going to go stand in line now...

What's Your Wedding Style

So sorry this is late...*sigh*...computer issues!

We are soooo excited around here!!! In June, we will publish a series of posts that will attempt to create a fabulous wedding for our fantasy bride and groom, Amy and Kevin.

Here's a brief bio:

Amy is a graphic artist from a small town in New England, where she grew up spending lazy day summers at the beach. She now lives in the big city, where she met her fiance, Kevin. Kevin is a city boy who grew up in a house with 3 rowdy brothers. His summers were spent delivering packages to businesses throughout the city for a messenger service.

These two were created to take you on a journey to "define and design" your wedding style...which is our goal here at Sacred Moment Weddings! We want to give you a glimpse into how we begin to style a wedding for our clients and what steps we take during all the phases of planning along the way.

In order to win and in preparation for those posts, we would like to know what is the most popular wedding style being used by couples today. One lucky winner will receive a $50 giftcard to CB2!

Here are the wedding styles:

Traditional
Hollywood Glam
Southern Charm
Sophisticated Vintage
Natural and Green
Modern Chic

Just leave a comment below, stating which of the styles listed above appeals to you the most and why. Deadline for comments is midnight, May 16th. The winner will be chosen randomly from all the posts of the style that gets the most votes. We'll announce the winner on Monday, May 19th. It's that simple!

We really want lots of votes on this one so pass the word and encourage all your friends to vote for their favorite style too.

Good Luck!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

I walked into my office today and found this attached to my door. Perhaps a not so subtle hint that happy hour can't come soon enough. Monday's are usually hard days for me, especially after a busy wedding weekend!

I get the hint! :)



{Come back later today for details of our next giveaway!}

Feast For Your Eyes

Congratulations to all the brides and grooms getting married this weekend!

Enjoy this wonderful collection of images I found at the Style Me Pretty blog a few weeks ago. I kept going back to it again and again and wanted to share it with you.

The majestic floral work is from a designer in San Francisco by the name of Karen Axel. Her company is called Tapestry Flowers. Chic, unique and OH so SUMMERY!!

Enjoy!



{Image courtesty of Tapestry Flowers via Style Me Pretty}

Bridal Bling

I found these GORGEOUS earrings tonight and had to share them with you!

Anna Bellagio (the name even sounds romantic!) has the most wonderful pieces of bridal jewelry I've seen in a long time. They are made with cubic zirconia, faux and fresh water pearls, crystals and more. With unique character and appeal, these pieces are sure to enhance the sparkle in your eyes and his!

{Our next giveaway will be announced on Monday...be sure to check us out!}

When Things Go Wrong On Your Wedding Day

Let's face facts...There are things that are bound to go wrong on your wedding day. No one is perfect and wires get crossed because of how people interpret OR don't interpret things. We are all unique creatures and we don't always see things the same way that others do.

But...

You CAN avoid blips in your wedding day festivities if you follow a few simple steps. Of course hiring a wedding planner like me, ensures that you won't be dealing with those mishaps. I'm not suggesting that things will go wrong if you don't hire a wedding planner; I'm simply saying that having one allows you to enjoy your celebration without dealing with the photographer that didn't show up or the wedding cake that's falling over like the Leaning Tower of Pisa!

That said, here is some advice, courtesy of the folks over at WeddingChannel.com, on how to "Avoid" and "Cope" with disasters that may happen on your wedding day.

How To Deal With Wedding Disasters

Don’t worry – those nightmares you’re having about your wedding going wrong are perfectly normal. While it’s impossible to predict everything that might go awry on your wedding day, you can take steps to prevent some of the most-common major upsets ahead of time. So, check out our tips on avoiding wedding disasters, and dealing with them head-on if they can’t be avoided... and start sleeping better at night.

DISASTER: Somebody spills something on your wedding gown before the ceremony.
AVOID IT: Ban anything colorful like juice, wine, or dark lipstick from any room you’ll be in while wearing the dress.
COPE WITH IT: White out the stain as much as you can with chalk, and remind yourself all eyes will be on you, not your gown.

DISASTER: It’s raining and your ceremony will take place outdoors.
AVOID IT: Have a back-up plan already in place.
COPE WITH IT: If the venue doesn’t have an indoor space available, get your wedding party to start calling tent companies in case a vendor can accommodate you at the last minute. If this doesn’t work, send your groomsmen out to buy dozens of umbrellas (preferably in white).

DISASTER: Your ring bearer or flower girl refuses to march down the aisle.
AVOID IT: Do several walk-throughs at the rehearsal until they’re comfortable with the routine.
COPE WITH IT: Have the child’s mother stand discreetly at the end of the aisle – preferably with candy -- and tell him or her all he has to do is walk straight to her.

DISASTER: The best man forgot the rings.
AVOID IT: Bring the rings yourself and hand them over to him before the ceremony starts.
COPE WITH IT: Do the ring exchange with your parents’ rings; you can have your permanent rings blessed by the officiant later if that’s important to you.

DISASTER: Your guests exceed the final guest count by about 10 people, so you’re short on food and space at the reception.
AVOID IT: Contact people via telephone who haven’t RSVP’d two weeks before the wedding (feel free to pawn this task off on members of the wedding party, your mom, etc.), and then pad your final guest count by five people.
COPE WITH IT: Tell your catering manager and/or venue manager about the problem and ask them to arrange seating either by squeezing extra chairs around existing tables, or slipping extra guests into a cocktail area where they can munch on appetizers (and vow to each other that they’ll never again neglect to RSVP).

DISASTER: Your band or DJ doesn’t show up.
AVOID IT: Confirm all dates and times the week before the wedding with every vendor you’ve hired, and have a list of contact numbers with you.
COPE WITH IT: Hook an iPod or MP3 player up to the stereo system, and let the dancing begin.

DISASTER: The wedding cake melts, falls to the floor, or never shows up.
AVOID IT: Confirm in advance there is a cool place to store a butter cream cake to avoid a meltdown, and go over transportation, set-up, and back-up plans with the cake designer.
COPE WITH IT: Call local bakeries to see if one will let you ‘borrow’ a wedding cake for photos, and then slice up a sheet cake behind closed doors to serve to guests. If you can’t swing that, send someone out for cupcakes, and act like that was the plan all along (cupcakes are nowadays very fashionable at weddings).

Whatever happens, keep in mind that even if the details may not go as planned, if you carry it off well, the guests often don’t know the difference. And above all else, remember what’s really important – if you are married at the end of the day, the wedding was a success!