How to choose a wedding planner, what are his responsibilities

We are looking for a team

For a wedding that is organized in a short time, the team plays a particularly important role. You need to choose carefully, carefully, but very quickly. Time is not in your favor, since good contractors are usually hired long before the wedding, but luck can smile on you if you act quickly.

Determine the need to engage the following contractors:

— Organizer and/or coordinator
- Photographer
— Videographer
— Decorators
— Presenter
— Stylist
— Artists/show program
— Registrar
— Music group and/or DJ

This is the main list from which you can remove those whom, in your opinion, there is no need to involve. But before you cross someone off the list, think several times and evaluate whether you can cope without this specialist. For example, a wedding planner will help organize the preparation process in a short time so that nothing is missed. And if you are planning not a chamber celebration, but a large wedding, it will be difficult to cope without a decorator.

The sooner you find contractors and agree on working conditions, the more time they will have to search for the necessary materials and decor. But do not forget that it is very difficult to organize themed holidays with a specific style within such a period of time.

If you and your fiancé want exactly this, pay attention to those specialists in whose portfolio you have already seen such celebrations. In this case, the likelihood that they will find the desired decor is much higher, and they already have an understanding of the style

Organizing a turnkey wedding: pros and cons

If you just can’t decide whether to enlist the help of a professional to create the perfect wedding, we suggest you weigh the pros and cons.

The advantages of organizing a turnkey wedding include:

The main advantage is that this person will guarantee your peace of mind during the most crucial period in your life. Preparing for a wedding is often accompanied by panic, nervous breakdowns, and fears, but a professional in his field will help you get rid of the negativity and enjoy your last single days.
An equally important point is that the organizer has extensive connections with photographers, artists, florists and other organizations in the wedding industry. He will help you decide on the choice of the necessary personnel within the framework of your budget, tastes and preferences.
Knowing all the subtleties and nuances of organizing weddings, he will help you find a way out of any current situation.
During the banquet, you will know that you have a reliable assistant behind you who will supervise the waiters, artists and other personnel.
This person will not lie to you about what is good and what is bad. If you have chosen a wedding dress that is not suitable for you, he will gently point this out to you and help you choose the perfect outfit for you.

There are far fewer disadvantages to using the help of a wedding planner than advantages. These include only payment for services and the fact that in our time it is really not easy to find a real professional. But by taking the time to find the right one, you will save yourself time and ensure that your wedding will be a top-notch affair.

If you doubt whether you can afford the services of a wedding planner, we recommend that you first create a budget using a wedding calculator - this way you can decide on the main categories of expenses and decide whether you will need a wedding planner.

Who is a wedding coordinator and what does he do?

Many people confuse the concept of a wedding coordinator and an organizer, believing that they are one person. But in reality these are completely different professions. An organizer is a company or a separately hired person who is with you from the first day of wedding preparation. He will help you find a room, order a cake, decor, invitations, seat guests, negotiate with artists and much more. And after all of the above, the question arises, what does a coordinator do?

A coordinator is a person who works only on the wedding day. His responsibilities include monitoring all aspects of the wedding process. In other words, he makes sure that the stylist and photographer arrive on time. He will monitor the restaurant staff, the arrangement and seating of guests, and give the command to put hot food on or take out the bargain. Coordinates artists and presenter. If your distant relatives get lost on the way to the registry office, this will be his problem. You tear or stain your dress twenty minutes before painting, this is also his problem. The wedding coordinator is the eyes of the newlyweds. And it makes sure that the picture you cherished in your dreams becomes a reality. It will make the sound hide the wires and rearrange the floral compositions the way you wanted.

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Remember, no wedding goes exactly according to the script. There are always issues that need to be resolved during the process. And if your heel breaks, you can quickly change your shoes. What will you do if a sewer breaks in a restaurant?

Wedding planner services

So, the responsibilities of a wedding coordinator include:

Work with all contractors and invited specialists. The wedding organizer helps to find the right people, negotiate with them on the provision of services and prices, makes sure that everyone arrives on time and does not interfere with each other, controls the work of the waiters, preparation for the banquet, and also pays everyone.
Taking care of guests. The phone number of the wedding planner is often indicated in the invitations, because it is he who tells the guests how to get there, in which cars they will sit during the walk, at which tables during the banquet, if necessary, calls everyone for a taxi at the end of the celebration.
Resolving all organizational issues. How the hall and cars will be decorated, what table setting will be, what route to take, where the photography will be, where to put the donated flowers and most importantly, that nothing and no one will be forgotten anywhere, including gifts and food after the banquet.
Keep track of time. The wedding coordinator helps the bride create an hourly plan for the wedding celebration, and on the wedding day makes sure that everything takes place exactly at the agreed time and does not last longer than planned.
Resolve all unforeseen situations. No matter how perfectly everything is planned, problems happen. The organizer is the person who will touch up your makeup, provide you with umbrellas, take care of your car’s flat tire, etc. It’s not for nothing that a good professional always has a first aid kit, a cosmetic bag, a needle and thread, napkins and many other things with him.

Without a doubt, a wedding planner can provide significant assistance in organizing a wedding, but whether to invite him or not is up to you. Regardless of your choice, www.svadebka.ws wants your celebration to become one of the best days in your life.

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Wedding planners. How many should there be at a wedding?

The profession of a wedding planner or event coordinator has now become quite famous and popular. Even if a couple decides not to contact a professional organizer and prepare their celebration on their own, the services of a wedding coordinator will certainly be needed. A coordinator is an assistant in all organizational matters, your peace of mind and support. Many brides assign this role to their parents, sister or friend. In our opinion, this is not very fair to loved ones. They, just like you, want to relax on your wedding day, want to rejoice and see your happy faces. But instead, they are forced to run around and resolve issues regarding serving dishes, meeting the cake, paying contractors, etc. Now in the wedding market you can easily find a good wedding coordinator who will take care of all the worries. This service costs an average of 10-15 thousand rubles. But is he able to handle all the worries?!

Of course, a good wedding planner can cope with a number of tasks, but, unfortunately, it is impossible to be in several places at the same time in order to properly control everything. Therefore, the way out of the situation is to involve two or more coordinators. Each of them has their own area of responsibility. The number of coordinators at a wedding depends on the size of the event, the day's plan, the number of contractors and areas of responsibility.

Our agency's policy is that at any wedding there are at least two people working throughout the day. As a rule, one is the couple’s personal assistant, who “takes care” of the bride and groom from early morning until leaving the restaurant. According to the classic scenario, this coordinator comes to the bride early in the morning and performs a number of duties:

- brings a bouquet and other accessories for the photo shoot; -meets the stylist, photographer, videographer, regulates their work. A beautiful location for shooting is jointly selected and a scenario for the meeting of the bride and groom is discussed, if it was not possible to solve this previously; - monitors timing; -helps the bride get ready, calms and supports in every possible way; -meets the groom; -goes with the couple to the registry office, takes care of the “safety” of rings, boxes, documents; -after registration, instructs guests on further actions. This could be a tradition of sprinkling petals, a buffet table, etc. Places them in cars. -if a walk is planned for a photo shoot, she accompanies the couple in all locations. The coordinator always has with him: water, plasters, hairpins and hairspray, threads, medicines (essentials) and other things that young people may suddenly need; -always in touch with other coordinators located on the site. -regulates, together with other coordinators, the appearance of the couple in front of the guests. -during the wedding dinner, the bride and groom can always contact the coordinator with any question or request.

The second wedding manager is on the site from the very morning and regulates the work of decorators, technicians, the arrangement of tables and chairs, taking into account the approved seating arrangement, and other issues related to the readiness of the site for the event. Unfortunately, there are always many such moments. Even if you discuss all the details in advance with the restaurant manager, presenter or, for example, a florist, questions will still arise during the preparation process that require an urgent answer. Elementary, only the on-site coordinator can ensure the quality cleaning of the hall after installation of the decor.

The site is ready, the guests are starting to gather. The Welcome area plays a very important role and forms the first impression of the event. If a guest comes and doesn’t understand where to take off his outerwear, where to put the flowers and what to do, his mood will probably not be at its best. Guests must be greeted, guided and cared for! We had a case where a guest's sleeve cufflink broke and he felt very uncomfortable about it. His wife asked for help and we solved the problem by “getting” a new pair of cufflinks. At weddings with a large number of guests, it is better to place two or more coordinators in the Welcome zone.

A separate area that may be worth assigning a person to is banquet services. This manager monitors the appearance and work of the waiters, the timely serving of dishes and the availability of drinks on the tables. At the end of the event, he keeps a record of the remaining alcohol and expensive products, if necessary.

We want to pay special attention to the on-site registration ceremony, which is so popular at the moment. It is almost impossible to conduct a quality ceremony without the help of coordinators. According to tradition, the bride and groom appear from different sides to the sound of certain compositions. In order for everything to be on time and to the beat of the music, the exit of the young people is coordinated by two, and the ideal option is three people.

A separate coordinator can be assigned to the artists if performances by “stars”, cover bands, dance numbers and other show programs are planned. It all depends on the intensity of the scenario and the scale of the event.

As a rule, professional organizers always assess the scope of work in advance and offer the couple the required number of coordinators. Many coordinators are invited literally for an hour or two (for example, to regulate on-site registration or to meet guests), which makes these positions inexpensive, but significantly improves the quality of the services provided.

The price of a wedding planner's services in Moscow depends entirely on experience and the number of weddings held. It is unlikely that you would want to entrust the organization of your celebration to a newcomer. A true professional will definitely present you with photos from weddings and customer reviews. Remember, you can’t skimp on your own happiness!

Everything has to be perfect, right? Then get ready to plunge into a fairy tale with MARMELAD wedding planners!

Selecting a banquet hall

The main item of wedding expenses is the festive banquet. In order not to spend extra money when going to book a restaurant, be sure to accurately determine the number of guests. If you haven’t sent out invitations yet, then simply ask all your future guests: will they be at the celebration? Find out from single friends whether they will come with or without a couple.

Once you know the number of guests, go book a banquet hall. There is no point in delaying this matter, because good restaurants with delicious cuisine and quality service are booked several months in advance. Give preference to establishments with good reviews or your favorite restaurant. If the establishment is unfamiliar to you, you should visit it several times and try its signature dishes to evaluate the quality of the cuisine.

Why do you need a wedding planner?

Few brides can boast of outstanding wedding planning skills. And not at all because she does not have the necessary abilities or qualities. But because this is her first wedding. Problems may appear immediately, because the idea of where to start preparing for a wedding is also usually very vague. This is where a wedding coordinator comes in.

He knows all the most common mistakes when organizing weddings, what you need to pay attention to first, where it is better to hold a banquet and photography, get decorations for the hall and order a car. She can also give advice on wedding fashion and dress style. And these are not all of its functions

And this is not all of its functions.

Even if you think that organizing a wedding on your own is quite possible for you, you should at least use the services of a coordinator before the wedding day, because at a minimum he can tell you how to choose a wedding host, videographer and photographer, on whom the impression and memory largely depend everyone will have leftovers from their wedding day.

But no matter what outstanding organizational skills you have, you should seriously consider the help of a wedding planner if you are planning:

organize on-site registration - this involves a lot of additional hassle, you may not take into account many nuances;
a wedding where more than 50 people are planned to be invited - a large number of guests and contractors means a high probability of difficulties arising;
save your nerves and not hate everything connected with the wedding long before the X-day - your holiday should be the best day of your life, and not the cause of many days of stress and insomnia;
enjoy your wedding and give the same opportunity to your relatives and friends - they also experience and feel a lot of emotions, don't make them feel at work.

When can you refuse the services of a coordinator?

After everything described, you may get the impression that any wedding without a coordinator is doomed to failure. But this is completely wrong. Thousands of events take place without this kind of helper. And here it’s not even a matter of luck, but a number of factors.

Proper organization of the holiday. If you had an organizer who helped resolve all the main issues in advance, then the likelihood that something will go wrong is minimal. Yes, small current issues may arise, but they will not be difficult to solve on your own.

Organizational experience. If you or one of your family members have experience in preparing events and have enough free time, then you can do without a coordinator. The main thing is to answer the question: are you or this person ready to take responsibility for all coordination issues? If yes, then spend the holiday calmly without the participation of a specialist.

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Small quiet wedding. You are planning a small number of guests and a minimum of artists. Calmly refuse the coordinator. Especially if there is a good host at the wedding. As a rule, he takes responsibility for monitoring the staff and the program.

As you can see, a wedding coordinator is a very necessary person at a wedding. His experience will help resolve complex emergency issues that arise on the day of the holiday. And also relieve you and your relatives of unnecessary responsibilities. Often, a wedding coordinator is hired by the parents of the newlyweds to help them relax during the celebration. But don't get hung up on this fashion trend. If you understand that you can completely manage on your own, feel free to refuse the services of a specialist.

What are the features of working as a coordinator?

Free schedule. As everyone knows, weddings most often take place on weekends. This way, you can work as a wedding coordinator in addition to your main line of work. Or you can become the master of your weekend!
Your own dream team. To help your couple organize or to resolve any force majeure situations, such a list with a small list of wedding contractors whom you consider professionals with whom you feel comfortable working will always play into your hands.
Working with a couple for no more than a month. As a rule, guys come to a wedding coordinator for help in less than a month: usually 1-2 weeks before the wedding. As a result, less workload and less stress, unlike the organizer.
High level of responsibility. It is the coordinator who, in the absence of the organizer, is responsible for all payments to the venue, contractors and everyone who took part in the wedding.

Timing is the main guideline. The coordinator sets the timing of the event so that everyone can do everything, no one interferes with anyone, so that the wedding goes perfectly.
Working with contractors. It is the coordinator who not only monitors the work of all wedding contractors, but also helps them by bringing props to the host, ordering tea for a DJ or photographer who does not have a single free minute for this.
Force majeure is inevitable. No matter how ideal the timing is, force majeure will still arise, accept them as a given and learn to solve them.
Logistics coordination. The coordinator must schedule time for the movement of all guests, couples, and monitor the operation of the transfer. If there is accommodation (the rooms are booked by the couple or the organizer, if there is one), its organization and control is also the responsibility of the coordinator.
Magic handbag. Each wedding coordinator should have a small handbag that will not get in the way, and will also contain: a band-aid, a needle, threads, plasters, pills, a phone, a portable charger, the bride and groom’s wardrobe numbers, payment balances and all other items essentials.
A favorite of guests. The coordinator begins to help and take care of guests a few days before the wedding: reminds them by phone about the event, orients them on the site, helps them find their place in the hall, and provides all operational assistance.
Complete control over the wedding. A lot at a wedding depends on the coordinator, because he controls the work of all contractors, the venue, the banquet manager, resolves conflicts, copes with force majeure, and makes the holiday brighter and better.
End of the evening. After the ceremonial presentation of the wedding cake, photography with sparklers, fire shows and other options for completing the wedding celebration, the coordinator does not leave the site. He controls the arrival of decorators for dismantling, transfer for the couple and guests or their accommodation.
The outcome of the holiday largely depends on the coordinator. He works with the couple throughout the evening, and a happy and relaxed couple is the key to a successful wedding.

And only when all the wedding chores are completed, then the work of the wedding coordinator will end. Learn more about the work of a wedding coordinator in the course “Wedding Coordinator from Scratch”

Tasks of a wedding coordinator on a wedding day

If you can still cope with organizing a wedding, then not a single wedding can be imagined without a wedding coordinator! In this article we will tell you why.

A wedding coordinator, or manager, is a person (or an entire team) who, on the wedding day:

Monitors adherence to wedding timings
Helps newlyweds, stays nearby all day
Resolves emerging force majeure
Interacts with wedding specialists and venues
Interacts with guests and assists them

Perhaps these are the main groups of tasks that are the responsibilities of a wedding coordinator. Now let's look at them in more detail so that you can see the full scale of the work.

Following wedding timing

Imagine that the photographer did not arrive at the required time or is delaying the shooting at the hotel, and you need to go to the registry office. Photographers and videographers rarely keep track of time, and therefore the chances of being late increase. The coordinator will hurry the specialists where necessary, make sure that you get into the car on time, arrive at the registry office or restaurant, and tell the specialists how much time they have to work.

Or, for example, you decided to relax before check-in and retired to your room. But the work of a field registrar also costs money, and therefore a long wait will result in an extension for an additional fee. The coordinator will contact the registrar and tell you how much time you have to rest and how long it is possible to reschedule your registration.

Here's another example. The host says in the program what time the wedding dance should take place. But for some reason he decided to move it and hold a couple of competitions. But you have ordered heavy smoke, the launch time of which has been agreed upon and paid for. As a rule, the facilitator does not have the opportunity to discuss changes with other specialists. It is the coordinator who will go to negotiate with the one who brought the smoke, tell the presenter how much time he has and make sure that the dance takes place at the right moment.

These are just a few examples of situations that arise at a wedding without the knowledge of the newlyweds (of course, if there is a coordinator!). Otherwise you will have to decide all this yourself.

Help for newlyweds

Let's imagine that you took care of your friends, witnesses, mothers and did not hire them as personal assistants on your wedding day. Who will button the dress then? Help with packing at the hotel? Carry a suitcase with the necessary things - napkins, pins, cosmetics bag, etc.? Who will help you change out of your dance dress and bring your replacement shoes to the restaurant? A wedding coordinator is, first of all, a personal assistant, most often to the bride, because she so needs support and a calm, sober mind on this exciting day. And we know from experience how grateful the girlfriends are that they have been freed from this burden and can have fun from the heart!

Resolution of force majeure

If you contact a wedding agency to organize a wedding, then the likelihood of force majeure is minimized. However, even in this case, there are unforeseen circumstances, let alone self-organized weddings!

Is the driver or taxi late? Did the witness forget to bring petals? The host doesn't answer the phone? The slide of champagne hasn't arrived? Need a first aid kit urgently? We think you can imagine that newlyweds simply have no time to solve problems, and most often brides are driven into panic by such situations! It’s better that you don’t find out about force majeure at all, and a person specially designed for this will solve them.

Interaction with the venue and wedding specialists

No matter how thoroughly you prepare, the banquet manager and other contractors will have a million questions on your wedding day. Where to put a table for flowers? What time should hot appetizers be served? The presenter will want to check the video from the aunt from Saratov. The musicians will not be able to find the back entrance to the restaurant. When the cake is delivered, you need to pay for delivery. Decorators don't know where to put the seating chart... These are simple examples of questions that come up at almost every wedding. Imagine that they will call you or your loved ones for every reason. Or, even worse, they won’t ask you at all and will do what NOT to do!

The coordinator is the link between you and the contractors. He will ask you all the necessary information in advance, and on the wedding day all questions will be sent to him.

Guest interaction

The organizers at our wedding agency insist that the invitations include the coordinator’s number and ask that you communicate only with him on the wedding day! If this does not happen, then expect questions in the morning about what time registration will be, how to get to the restaurant, whether a bus will be ordered... Transfer the task of communicating with guests to the coordinator.

In a restaurant, guests also need help. Waiters and managers do not always have the opportunity to meet guests and answer their questions. And there will be many of them! For example, where to put gifts, where to leave things before registration, how to find a host, when you can congratulate the newlyweds... For this, the restaurant needs a wedding coordinator who will calmly answer all the guests’ questions and let them know that no one has forgotten about them, They are welcome here and will always be helped!

We have tried to briefly describe to you the role of a wedding coordinator and, we hope, successfully! Some employees of our wedding agency themselves have gone through the experience of organizing a wedding on their own and very much regret that they did not know about the existence of a coordinator or saved on it.

Please don't make mistakes. Entrust all the chores to the coordinator, and enjoy your own wedding!

Responsibilities of a wedding planner

The work of a wedding planner includes two stages:

PREPARATORY The manager will help you choose absolutely everything for the upcoming celebration: he will recommend a photographer and a restaurant, create a menu, convey to the toastmaster all your wishes regarding the wedding evening, order invitations, and if the bride wishes, he can even go with her to wedding salons. All you have to do is approve (or disapprove) of his ideas and wait for the wedding day.

MAIN Begins early in the morning on the wedding day and ends after all the guests have left. The manager will quietly be next to you, solving all emerging issues and eliminating problems. He will supervise the timely arrival of the make-up artist, hairdresser and room decorators, organize the departure of the newlyweds to the registry office, answer all the questions of the invitees (which car should I get in, where is the toilet, etc.), and supervise the work of the waiters.

Looking for the positives

1. Save time

. One of the main advantages in our time. You don’t have to take time off from work to approve the restaurant’s menu, you don’t have to set aside time on the weekend to buy candles to decorate the table, and you don’t have to worry that you won’t have time to pick up your seating cards from the printing house. The manager will recommend you a wedding photographer, a toastmaster, a videographer and much, much more. All that remains is to choose from the proposed candidates.

2. Peace of mind

. Communication with service providers in the wedding market is not as simple as it seems at first glance. It requires tremendous endurance and calm. And all the preparation for a wedding is stressful. After all, you really want everything to be at the highest level! A wedding planner will save you from unnecessary worries.

3. New ideas

. A planner will help make your wedding special. He constantly works in the wedding industry, knows all the current trends and has experience in organizing a wide variety of celebrations (which cannot be said about you).

4. Taking into account all the nuances

. In the pre-wedding bustle, it’s so easy to forget about some details! The manager will not let you do this. You will definitely have rose petals ordered to sprinkle on the newlyweds, prizes for competitions will be purchased, and a song for your first wedding dance will be recorded on disk.

5. Peace of mind on your wedding day

. All questions and misunderstandings will be resolved not by you (and not by witnesses and parents), but by a professional.

The terms wedding coordinator and planner are sometimes confused.

It's not exactly the same thing

A wedding planner is a specialist who not only performs coordination activities on the wedding day, but also takes an active part in the preparation for the event itself. He can recommend reliable specialists to future newlyweds, accompany the young couple to a restaurant and help with drawing up a wedding menu, give advice on cutting costs, etc. That is, the functions performed by a wedding planner are much larger than those of a coordinator.

A wedding planner is usually not an individual specialist, but a company that provides services for organizing a wedding event from the very beginning to the end. Usually, wedding agencies do this. Their activities extend to all stages of preparation for the celebration; at the request of the couple, the organizer can select the theme of the wedding, specialists who can implement all the planned actions (and the organizer is responsible for the quality of the services), develop a script, recommend a coordinator, etc. If for some reason the future spouses cannot participate in the preparations for the wedding themselves, the ideal option is to contact a wedding planner and all problems will be solved.

Preparing for a wedding: what to buy

So you are about to start organizing your wedding. First of all, you need to buy a regular notebook and make a complete, detailed list of everything that might be useful. It is better to divide the list into points: ransom, ceremony, banquet, entertainment program, force majeure situations.

In the traditional version, the wedding is celebrated according to the scenario: bride price - marriage registration - outdoor photo shoot-banquet in a restaurant complex or cafe. Each stage requires careful planning. You must take care of those things without which it is impossible to hold an interesting event.

What do you need to prepare for the ransom and solemn registration of marriage?

List of items that need to be prepared for the bride price:

A case where money, candy, alcohol, fruit are placed (this is a ransom).
Costumes for bridesmaids taking part in a costume show.
Target and darts (for accuracy competition).
Several blank sheets of whatman paper in A1, A2 format.
Pencils or markers.
Pump for inflating balloons.
Inflated balloons containing the words ransom and key. If the groom bursts the balloon with the inscription key, then it goes to the bride's house.
A plate where the ransom is placed.
Hearts cut out of colored paper, garlands, inscriptions such as “Tili-tili dough, the bride lives here” (for decorating the entrance and door to the entrance)
A musical instrument (guitar, button accordion), if the groom knows how to play and sing.

Here's what you need to buy in order to register your marriage at the local registry office:

Limousine decorated with ribbons and flowers (for witnesses, bride and groom).
Several cars or a minibus for guests.
Wedding dress or bride's outfit.
Clothes for the groom.
Two wedding rings.
Passports.
Champagne, box of chocolates and plastic glasses.
Baskets with contents: rice, rose petals (for sprinkling those leaving the registry office)
Camera or video camera.
Wet wipes.
Folder for marriage certificate.
Firecrackers, two glass goblets or two white doves.

So the climax of the wedding celebration came, and the young people took the oath of allegiance in front of the civil registry office employee. Now the festive part of the wedding begins. The newly-made husband and wife sit in the wedding cortege. Where the former bride, groom and their guests go next depends only on the imagination of the organizers.

Necessary details for organizing a wedding banquet

The banquet in the restaurant is organized by the toastmaster, a team of waiters, cooks and pastry chefs, as well as invited guests, the bridesmaid, the bride and groom's parents. The success of the celebration depends on their hard work.

List of items required to be on the restaurant premises:

Tables covered with tablecloths.
Chairs according to the number of guests arriving at the celebration.
Devices according to the number of guests.
Cloakroom, clothes hangers.
Dance floor.
Musical accompaniment.
First aid kit.
Balloons.
Garlands, posters

All invited persons are seated at tables according to a pre-drawn “Seating Plan”.

What to consider when choosing a menu

When developing a menu, it is recommended to take into account the preferences, religion and age of the invited guests. If there are Muslims among the guests, then pork dishes should not be included in the list. When vegetarians are invited, fresh vegetables and fruits are present on the table. You can also make a separate menu for children.

Planning an entertainment program

Here's what you might need to run competitions:

Original costumes for guests taking part in competitions.
Prizes for the winners.
Bag for collecting money.
Loaf, handbrake, salt shaker for loaf.
Fireworks, star shower, firecrackers, gel balloons.

If you are getting ready to have a wedding, you are probably wondering: how much will it cost? Be sure to read the article on how to properly create and optimize your wedding budget.

A good wedding does not mean an expensive one. With a common sense approach, you can significantly reduce costs without compromising the holiday. Here are some ideas on this matter.

Who is responsible for the wedding

Responsible for organizing the celebration:

florist,
waiters,
administrator,
dance teacher,
toastmaster, children's animator,
cloakroom attendant,
hairdresser-makeup artist,
drivers,
DJ and musicians.

In this video you will find some more interesting ideas on what to take with you on the bride’s registration day:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=biUzN78SCNY

Money

Over the course of a year of work, Lyuba held 15 weddings with budgets ranging from 200 thousand to 1 million rubles. She prepared a wedding for a million for 6 months and received 250 thousand for it. This amount was made up of two parts: a fee from the newlyweds and a commission from contractors.

Lyuba negotiates her fee at the first meeting with clients. It is usually included in the overall wedding budget. For example, if customers are ready to spend 300,000 RUR on a celebration, she immediately outlines an approximate set of services, including in it a conditional 15,000 RUR for her work. The newlyweds will not spend more than the stated amount - this is the main advantage of working with a wedding planner.

Commission from contractors is the basis of the organizer’s earnings. The amount depends on the region and negotiation skills, but on average it is 10% of the contractor’s earnings. Essentially, this is a specialist’s gratitude for the fact that the organizer invites him to his events. Of course, clients can find contractors themselves, but without knowing the market, it’s easy to run into unprofessionals and ruin your holiday.

It is important for a wedding planner to stay within the budget and get a predictable result. Therefore, you need to carefully select the specialists you attract to projects

When Lyuba finally formed a team, her income began to grow. For example, for a wedding with a budget of 200,000 RUR, Lyuba received 57,000 RUR, of which the newlyweds paid her only 10,000 RUR.

Lyuba is just starting out, so she takes on any orders. She is even interested in weddings with an estimate of 20,000 RUR. For example, if the newlyweds want to spend the day together - sign at the registry office and celebrate this in a restaurant - Lyuba will select a good place and tell you where to find live music. For an hour and a half of preparation, she will earn 4000 RUR.

Often, newlyweds want to sit in very specific settings. Finding people who will create such decor is difficult. Photo: Sergey Gribanov

Where should you start organizing a wedding?

When planning a wedding on your own, it is better to immediately draw up a clear plan and take into account all current expenses. Collect stories you find online where newlyweds planned their wedding on their own

Study their experience, paying attention to successful decisions and miscalculations. Take note of every little detail that will come in handy later.

For example, buy wedding rings in the late afternoon. Why? Because fingers swell by the end of the day, and rings bought in the morning may later turn out to be small.

Consult your parents, they know exactly how to organize a cheap wedding, because in the old days all newlyweds organized the holidays on their own. Create your wedding story together. Only in a close-knit team can the wildest ideas and fantasies come true. Feel like one unit in a team called “bride and groom”, and then you will have a memorable wedding!

Budget calculation

Newlyweds who want to organize a wedding on their own are first concerned with the question of how much the event will cost. We advise you to create a wedding cost calculator in advance, which will allow you not to forget about the little things and show exactly where the amounts went. The most important expense item is the bride's wedding dress. A more expensive option is to buy it at a salon. A custom-made dress will cost a little less, and the bride will receive a completely exclusive option. The following are the costs for:

wedding rings;
the bride's bouquet;
ordering a wedding cortege:
car decoration;
decoration of the banquet hall;
organization of a wedding banquet;
services of toastmaster, musicians, photographer;
shoes, accessories, makeup, hairstyle;
other wedding attributes.

You should always add 20% of the amount budgeted for your wedding to your expenses. As practice shows, additional expenses arise during the wedding celebration for all couples. For example, the bride will want to release doves into the sky or ride in a luxurious carriage with footmen in livery through a city park. Even organizing a holiday on your own will not be cheap, but a wedding is a unique event that does not happen every day and not to everyone, so it is worth any financial outlay.

Selecting a date and submitting an application to the registry office

To submit an application to the registry office, you need to come to the Wedding Palace at the place of registration of the bride or groom. It is better to arrive among the first to avoid wasting time in line and choose the best date and appropriate registration time. The application will be valid one month before the appointed day, and then two months after it, if the newlyweds for some reason were unable to appear on the appointed date. Before going to the registry office, take the minimum list of necessary things:

valid passports;
pens for quickly filling out the application;
money for state fees;
great mood.

Making a guest list

One of the first to be compiled is a list of invitees, because during the time of independent preparation for the wedding, the plans of the intended guests may change several times. Usually the list is divided equally: relatives and friends from the bride and groom’s side. To do this, you need to choose a time, take a piece of paper, a pen and together write down those relatives and friends whom you want to see on the main holiday of your life.

After determining the final line-up of guests, send wedding invitations to the selected people. This event is organized at least 2-3 months before the celebration. When inviting a married couple, use two invitations, in which the names of each spouse will be written separately. To feel comfortable on your wedding day, invite only those people you really want to see at the reception, and not those you “should” invite.

When do you need a wedding coordinator?

The main advantage of a wedding supervised by a coordinator is that you and your guests can relax and enjoy the holiday. If you are planning a large-scale event, with several hired artists, an outdoor ceremony, a photo shoot on your wedding day, a wedding and much more. There is no need to hope that everything will go smoothly. Yes, you can involve a friend or parents as a coordinator. But, if you want your guests to relax during the holiday, and not run around with a phone in their hands and solve all the issues, then it is better not to skimp on a professional.

Another advantage of the coordinator is his experience. Your parents and girlfriend are quite capable of resolving simple everyday issues. But to solve some problems they may not have enough experience, character or, simply put, connections. A wedding coordinator is a person who constantly cooks in this kitchen. He knows the ins and outs of how restaurants and their staff operate. He will be able to make sure that everything you buy ends up on the guests’ tables and does not end up in the waiters’ bags. He will easily understand when to invite artists and when to let guests chat. And will also be able to quickly find a replacement for any hired personnel, photographer, stylist, DJ and many others. After all, every coordinator will always have the necessary contacts.

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Therefore, if you are planning a big noisy wedding, do not skimp on a professional. Moreover, his services will cost you about 10% of the wedding budget. Believe me, this is not as much as it might seem at first glance.

General information

For an experienced specialist, especially if he has been working in this field for a long time, it is not difficult to make this process easier and more enjoyable. The main responsibilities of a wedding planner:

— rational distribution of funds allocated for organizing the holiday (the organizer will try to fit within the budget that the client has, but you need to understand this and realistically evaluate what you want to see at the end);

— assistance in finding a convenient and beautiful wedding venue;

— selection of professionals for the wedding, from a makeup artist to a pastry chef;

— design of areas for relaxation and entertainment of guests;

- drawing up an entertainment program (selection of artists, show program, musical and technical equipment), taking into account the fact that it should fit into the framework of the chosen wedding theme;

— coordination of all issues with the administration of the event venue;

— choosing a place for morning photography of the bride’s preparations;

— solving transport issues and scheduling the wedding day, as well as its coordination;

— choosing an image that matches the wedding style for the bridesmaids;

— meeting and coordinating issues with contractors on the day of the event;

— control over the order of removal of wedding dishes, as well as maintaining the evening program;

— organizing the farewell of the wedding party participants, monitoring the collection of hall decorations and the departure of the newlyweds from the banquet.

List of things to do for the bride

Most of the organizational issues related to the wedding rest with the bride

It is important for girls to arrange an unforgettable wedding, celebrate this day with family and friends, and prepare everything at the highest level. To avoid forgetting anything and to avoid having to urgently decide something at the last moment, make yourself a monthly wedding preparation plan

One to six months before the wedding

Decide on the wedding date and submit an application to the registry office.
Calculate the budget for the celebration.
Choose the theme of the event, the color scheme of the banquet hall, and the decor of the motorcade.
Book your celebration venue.
If you want to use the services of an agency, hire an organizer.
Make a guest list.
Choose your bridesmaids, decide on your witnesses.
Find a pastry chef and decide what style you want your wedding cake to be.
Agree with the photographer and operator.
Book the services of a host, toastmaster and florist.
Order or buy a wedding dress and accessories for it.

4 months before the wedding day

Finalize the list of invited guests.
Make a plan for your wedding day: write it down minute by minute.
Inform witnesses about the theme of the wedding (if there is one).
Order dresses for your bridesmaids (if they are made in the same style).
Make an appointment with a makeup artist and hairdresser.
Order printing of invitation cards.
Select and purchase wedding rings.
Start rehearsing the newlyweds' wedding dance. Take dance lessons if necessary.
Decide on the music for the celebration, order a band, choose a composition for the first dance.

In 2 months

Send invitation cards to guests.
Discuss the details of the shooting with the photographer and operator, express your wishes.
Order a wedding cake.
Decide on the menu for the banquet.
Clarify all aspects of the scenario with the presenter and toastmaster.
Final preparation of all wedding decor.
Book hotel rooms for out-of-town guests staying for your holiday.
Order vouchers from a travel agency for a trip to the island as a honeymoon.

In 1 month

Try out your hair and makeup at a salon to see if it suits your chosen style and to see how long it will take you on your wedding day.
Conduct the final fitting of the bride's dress.
Buy suitable wedding accessories.
If you want to give your guests memorable souvenirs at the end of the celebration, order them no later than a month before the wedding.

1 week before the holiday

If necessary, inform the banquet hall manager about changes in the number of guests.
Hold a final meeting with all people participating and helping to organize the event.
Check the plan for the wedding day: the schedule should be drawn up clearly, without large gaps of time.
Decide on the seating arrangement of guests at the banquet.
Give the wedding rings to the groom's parents for safekeeping until the wedding day.
Decide on a person who will help the bride get ready.
If necessary and possible, conduct a rehearsal of the ceremony and gala evening.
Pack your suitcase for your honeymoon.

Wedding day plan

Another main point that will have to be planned, taking into account all the details, such as: what time will registration be, where will the photo session be, is it included in your plans to ride around the city with guests, etc.

Before going to the registry office, the bride and groom must have time to get ready. If we take a standard wedding day, then the girl and the guy spend the night in different apartments. In the morning, a stylist and makeup artist comes to the bride and prepares her for the celebration. Very often, the mother and close friends of the bride are present, as well as a photographer who captures the moments of the girl getting ready. By the way, before this, photography can take place in the groom’s house and he is also photographed.

Before going to the bride, the man and his friends decorate the wedding cortege, pick up a bouquet and go to the house to pick up his future wife. It is rare, but it still happens that bridesmaids arrange competitions for the groom, which have long been called ransom. Sometimes, the bride gets ready not at home, but at a hotel. It is possible to meet lovers directly at the registry office. In general, what will happen to you is worth thinking about and deciding based on your preferences.

After the painting, the newlyweds go to some beautiful place and have a photo shoot there, but you also have to think about where exactly in advance. Here it is worth considering the time of year of your celebration. In winter, it would be original to go to the skating rink or sledding, in the spring to visit the park, in the summer to have a picnic in nature or ride the carousel, and in the fall to take a walk along the street or visit the botanical garden. Photography can be arranged both before and after marriage registration, with or without guests.

And now, point by point, when you need a wedding planner and when you don’t:

Wedding planner needed:

If you have neither the time nor the desire to organize a wedding yourself. But there is money that you can spend and don’t mind. (below I’ll tell you how to choose)
If you are planning to have a lot of performing artists at your wedding.
you definitely need at least a wedding planner but you need a smart one!! ) so that you don’t have to explain to all the guests and artists how to get there, where is the parking, where to sit, where is the wardrobe, where is the toilet, etc)
If you are planning any non-standard wedding, where no one has ever organized it, in the fields outside, in an estate, etc., then you also need an organizer.

A wedding planner is not needed if:

Your task is not to spend extra money. (but there is an opportunity to spend two to four days off.
If you have a small wedding for 10-80 people, with a clear scenario (in a restaurant, cottage, recreation center) and you want to save money, then you can do without an organizer. Follow the link for a selection of all the “wedding secrets” for organizing your own wedding.
To you NOT necessaryn wedding planner if you just want to find good contractors. You never want any virtual wedding planner who is not responsible and not present on site, but you are paying them for something.
On my website there are many useful articles on how to do everything yourself, and if you choose me as your photographer, then at the meeting I will tell you everything in detail and if necessary, I will help (more about the consultation which is included in all wedding packages)
I am ready to recommend wedding specialists, it will be free
, and all sorts of virtual agencies will take a commission. But you will have to travel, meet with specialists and negotiate with everyone on your own. (This is where most of the time will be spent).
But you will know exactly who will work for you, what he will do and what result you will get.

Alas, most advertisements on the Internet from budget organizers, which write about organizing a wedding, end with the selection of specialists (for a certain commission from these specialists), and they do not appear at your wedding, i.e., in fact, they are not responsible for the result. There are a lot of such people and aggregator sites. And it is better to avoid such organizers.

Miracles don’t happen and for 5-10-15 thousand no one will fully organize a wedding.

Another alarm bell is when the website (Instagram) of the organizer or agency or decorator contains photos from weddings that they did not organize. And there are many such sites, especially in advertising.

Yes, they will tell you that this is for inspiration or an idea for a wedding - all this is nonsense. Just an attempt to show off. If you want a stable and predictable result, then work experience is important.

If you see someone else’s photos in a wedding specialist’s portfolio, leave them.

Well, a little behind the scenes of the wedding.

Spring wedding: what you need to know

Spring is a wonderful season, full of inspiration and romanticism. However, even spring is fraught with serious treachery. A tangible plus is that in early spring there is not yet too much influx of people wanting to get married, so you can afford to select the staff for the wedding with special care, and also get wonderful photos against the backdrop of awakening nature. But a wedding in the spring has a significant drawback and you need to know this.

Be prepared for the fact that it is still very dirty outside in the spring. And the puddles formed after the snow melts carry a serious danger - while walking along the streets, the bride can accidentally step into a puddle or slip, ruining her dress, shoes, and mood. Another significant drawback of spring weddings is that there are practically no vegetables and fruits on sale yet. And those that exist are sold for some crazy money. As a result, wedding celebrations are very expensive.