Love Wins

as well as small businesses

Love Wins! As you have witnessed and heard, The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of marriage equality, making same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states. This triumph, however, is not the only reason Americans are celebrating this weekend. Quartz recently published an article on how marriage equality is predicted to add $2.6 billion to the wedding industry alone.   

So, caterers, florists, planners, bands, photographers, and all others involved in the industry, clear your schedules for the added marriages coming your way! In Texas alone, researchers have estimated that an upwards of 23,200 same-sex couples will tie the knot in the next three years. Those involved in the wedding industry in New York alone reported double the business after the state's passage of same-sex marriage in 2011.

Therefore, love was not the only thing that won this weekend, but small businesses as well :) .

In with the Old and Out with the New!

It is time to break the traditional wedding guidelines and expose a timeless procession. Young ones are cute to feature down the isle, but why stress over it if no one in mind seems to be in the traditional age group?

New York Times recently featured an article about a bride and groom who asked their grandmothers to fill the special role as the flower girl. Other brides have even gone to the extent of asking their grandmothers to be a bridesmaid! Don't believe me? Watch this video featuring three grandmothers who served as bridesmaids in their granddaughter's wedding. Perhaps this idea is too out-of-the-box for some couples, however, the change age could be exactly what your wedding ceremony needs.

Personally, I think each ceremony should be unique to each pair. And, if that means your grandmother is going to be scattering petals down the isle, then so be it!

The Fab-Five Must-Haves

easy ways to make your wedding unique

Below are a few fun ideas and products to add to any special day! Do not be afraid to break current traditions, as these risks will surely pay off. Keep in mind that any of these ideas can be altered to fit your taste.

1) Glass mason jars for water: Why waste hundreds of cups or plastic bottles when you can provide your guest with recyclable mason jars? Offering them at dinner with a pen so guests can easily write their names on them. Not only does this save the environment, but it also provides guests with a favor item to take home!

2) Instagram sign with #hashtag: Instagram has gathered well over 200 million users and can be easily connected to twitter, tumblr, and, most importantly, FaceBook. Providing guests with a unique hashtag name allows them to tag the photos of the wedding when they Instagram the beautiful memory. Not only are these photos easily assessable to view on the app itself, but they are also typically added to FaceBook as well. Gathering photos from guests gives the bride and groom a chance to see parts of their wedding party they may have missed. And, who knows, one of these candid photos could trump any your photographer happens to take.

3) Popcorn Bar: Offering a popcorn bar to guests after the formal dinner or dessert is the perfect way to ensure their bellies are full. This simple snack can be amped up by offering varies spices, cheese, and herbs on top. Guests will also not have to worry about destroying their own gowns when nibbling on this snack, for it is essentially stain-free.

4) Ceremony programs with game on back (either suduku puzzles, crossword, etc.): Running a little late on hair and make-up? Can’t find the flower girl? Or worse, the bride? Don’t hesitate to leave your guests waiting a few moments for the ceremony to begin by leaving a fun and easy game on the back of the program! This would not only entertain guests as they anxiously wait in their seats, but it would also be a fun opportunity to share a few fun facts about the bride and groom.

5) Interactive activities: Activities, such as sketching or even fingerprinting, allow guests to leave a memorable impression to any special event. Yes, guest books allow people to express themselves verbally, but why not give them the chance to artistically do so? Plus, this gives younger children a fun activity to do during the party.

The one, the only … BriDeZilLa!!!

an event planner's worst nightmare

Anyone who has been in the business long enough has come across one. They are aggressive, intolerant, and possibly lethal. Stress is undoubtedly going to strike any bride at some point during the planning process, but as an event planner, it is necessary to avoid this risk with proper precautions and, if one does arise, to handle the situation with ease. Below are a few suggestions:

1. Prepare: There is nothing more obvious than someone who is not on top of his or her duties. If you are prepared, your client will feel prepared. Keep an updated schedule and notes on the details of the event. Even if you are having trouble contacting a client, communicate this to your bride so they know you are making genuine efforts to gather information. If your bride begins to feel nervous as the date approaches, offer to e-mail a weekly update to ease her worries.
2. Delegate: Some demands from the bride or the bride’s mother may be unreasonable. In this case, consider dividing the work to other bridesmaids, groomsmen, and family members to help alleviate your own stress. Likewise, this is a great way to get members involved in the process. Try to include a grandmother or aunt that may be able to incorporate a personal experience with the bride to their duty. Overall, the tasks these members accomplish will be noticed the day of the wedding and each will be able to look around with pride at what they contributed.
3. Posture: Keep a calm and firm posture when meeting with your bride. Even if you are nervous, hide it as best as you can. Confidence is catching, so if you are sure of yourself, your bride will be as well.
4. Negotiate: If you are unable to meet a bride’s unreasonable demands, offer alternative options. This will most likely occur when a client requests something outside her budget.
5. Explain: If there are no other options to offer, be sure to explain why you are unable to accomplish the client’s needs. No person can be in two places at once, so it would be unrealistic for you to be checking the progress of the food during the ceremony procession.
6. Listen: Let your bride vent. It is important that your client feels comfortable speaking with you about their worries and frustrations, otherwise, they may build up over time. Even share your own feelings about a concern. Being a person your client can lean on during the process is crucial, for mother’s can be a weight on any bride’s shoulder.
7. Distract: Have a jar of dark chocolates on your desk or pocket a few in your purse to give your bride when their stress seems to rise. Studies have shown that eating chocolate can relieve anxiety! And besides, who can deny a Dove candy?
8. Stand Your Ground: No event planner is going to drive to the next town over the day of the wedding to pick up a last-second guest. Respect yourself and your client will respect you as well. Assure your bride that you love her and will do anything in your power to execute the perfect day, but Tory Burch flip-flops for every guest to dance in are not in your budget. And no, you are unable to hand-make 150 ceremony programs by tomorrow.

Blog Post Inspired by: TheFrisky.com