Wedding Corrdinator

[nana]

I am getting married in Houston, TX, in September, 2004. We choose Houston, because that is where we met and where our families live. Since I am in PA, I am considering hiring a wedding corrdinator to assist with planning the wedding. We already have the Church and I am not concerned about the food (his aunt is a chief and can help me plan the menu!).

Both of our families live in Houston, but my mom is very busy with 3 small childern still at home. His mom...well, I love her to death and she will be able to help out with somethings, but we have very different tastes. She likes BIG and Elaborate and I want Small and Simple. She also has no since of a BUDGET! And since I am paying for the wedding by myself the budget is...VERY IMPORTANT!

Does anyone know about how much a wedding corrdinator costs? Is it worth hiring one or should I just start booking flights home to Houston? As anyone hired one?

Help!

Thanks!

[tifferoo]

I haven't hired one yet but I am to the point where I see that I can use one. I have no idea how much a professional wedding coordinator costs but there may be someone who is a family member of yours who would be honored to do it for you free of charge or as a wedding present. I would tell you to set a budget and have that person do all of the leg work and all final decisions must be approved by you and paid for by you. That way, you know you will not go over your budget. If the person you pick doesn't cooperate, pick someone else or if all else fails, get on the plane to Houston like you said. Good luck!!!

[nana]

Thanks for the advice tifferoo! The only person I would trust to help me coordinate the wedding is my fiance's sister, however, she just got married 2 weeks ago and I don't know if she is up for it.

By the way...is your name Tiffany...will call my sister tifferoo all the time and that is her name!

When are you getting married?

[tifferoo]

My name is Tiffiny!! I thought I was the only tifferoo in this world...lol. Anyway, my wedding is October 10, 2004. I have so many ideas but I can't quite figure out how to incorporate them into the wedding. My Aunt and my fiance's aunt are both wedding coordinators but I don't know if they will go for my ideas too well. They are both very traditional and I am the type of person who wants to make a statement. I want everyone to know how much me and my future husband loves God. I plan on decorating Bibles as my bridesmaids bouquets and as my bouquet and I will give my bridesmaids the bibles as my gift to them. When I toss my bouquet, I am going to toss a bouquet made with a Bible so whoever catches it will also get God's word too!!! I want to have praise dancers and I want my bridesmaids to read outloud a Bible verse as they walk down the isle with their bible bouquet!!! I am still thinking about what my flower girls will through to the audience!! My wedding is going to have a main focus to bring our family and friends back to God. What kind of theme are you going to have?

[nana]

That's cool that our wedding dates are so close! I really like the idea of bring God into your ceremony. The bibles are a great idea! How many bridesmaids are you planning on having?

I don't really have a theme, but I have been thinking about using the verse, Love is patient, Love is kind...on my programs and invitations. I basically want my wedding to be a celebration of family and friends. My finance and I have dated for 9 years and by the time we get married, we will have not lived in the same state for almost 2 years! I know a lot of people don't want kids at there wedding, but I say bring them! I am planning on having child care at the reception, with just my five bridesmaids there will be a minimum of 8 childern, at that's just a start. I want to use bright vivid fall flowers and just have fun!

Do you already have your chuch booked? What about your reception site? The reception site is giving the me most problems, there are too many chooses in Houston and how far, is too far for your quests to drive from the wedding to the reception!

What colors are you using?

[veda]

sorry if this is a repeat, I didn't read all of these posts, but here is some info on how wedding coordinators charge... it came from this site (this site has alot of random info, pretty good info)

http://www.wedalert.com/


How Do Wedding Coordinators Charge for Services?

Wedding coordination fees vary greatly from coordinator to coordinator.
Here are some examples:

* 10% - 15% of the overall budget Fee based on amount of wedding coordinated * Flat rate for day of services (around $1,500) plus 15% of vendor contract costs.
* Fee based on number of guests
* Flat rate based on amount of work needed
* Hourly Rate (Often greater than $40 per hour)
* "Free!" (beware, though, these services take commissions and kickbacks from the vendors.)

[nana]

WOW! I knew it was expensive, but I can fly home 5 times cheaper than that! Thanks for the info veda!

[Life201]

Hey, that’s a minimum of nine children! Don’t forget my new bundle of joy! Also, keep in mind, that I’m still here in Texas and Houston is a hop and a skip to stay at my sister’s if you ever need anything.

You do still have friends here who would love to help! As far as the coordinator, personally, I think you’ve got the biggest things out of the way, which are the church and the food.

You need to pick out bridal attire for the bridesmaids, groomsmen and you guys. And you need to decide what you want to do as far as decorations and flowers and decide on a reception hall. The rest is minor details.

Remember, I planned a wedding in 3 months – which turned out pretty well!

With the wonders of the Internet, you can really get so much done without having to be here. You are coming down enough that you can meet Jeremy in Houston every now and then and go and check out whatever you’ve arranged up to that point.

There are lots of ways to keep prices down- silk flowers are less expensive than real flowers – and you can do the arrangements yourself to save another expense. You will have a crew that you can count on for decorating, if you want it, to prevent from having to make that another expense. You can view photographers and videographers and some of their work online, and if they’re any good, they’ll send you a sample video to view.

That leaves the honeymoon. That’s his job, which you’ll end up doing also. And the rehearsal dinner – that’s his parents usually, right?

Of course Pam will help in anyway she can, even if it’s just getting samples and info and sending it to you. That may be a good job to assign to her.

Don’t forget to get the groom’s opinion every now and then, and make him feel like he had a part in some of the decisions, like some things were his idea.

[nana]

I already counted your new little one, Nichole - 5, Jaycee - 1,
You - 2. As long as Melissa doesn't get the baby bug, it will be 8.

I know you and Jaycee are there, I think I am going to go ahead without a coordinator. I can make trips and get things set up, with help from family and friends, like you!

I ordered 4 books about Houston Weddings from the Internet today and hopefully I will be able to find a reception site! As far as the videographer, Jeremy's 2nd Cousin does this for a living and has already agree to film our wedding for about a third of the cost!

It will all come together...eventually!

[Life201]

See, it’s coming together and you’ve got plenty of time. There are so many different things you could do for a reception. You could do indoors, outdoors, on the lake, on the beach…

There’s so many cool places from restaurants to museums to theaters to churches and country clubs. Mike might have some ideas too, since he was born and raised there.

If money wasn’t such a huge deal, a reception at the place at the history museum where they do the stars on the ceiling would be cool. ( pregnancy is making me forget words)

There are beautiful parks with gazebos and sunset views.

You could go a little more casual than your sister in law and do Texas style barbeque or something more along your’s and Jeremy’s styles. You could do a buffet with sweets and breakfast foods and dedicate it to the love of your life! And have fruits and fresh veggies and finger foods for your taste!

Sorry, I’m getting excited!

[nana]

ME TOO!

I have had the wedding planning bug! I like the idea of the history muesum. Jeremy's mom suggested an art gallery...I just don't know if that is Kid friendly! Ask Mike!

I would do breakfast food...BUT THIS IS MY DAY...NOT HIS :) :p

I am so excited!

[Life201]

You do have to make him feel somewhat a part of it. Do we need to put some of the guys in charge of not letting him get plastered at the reception?

You know the bachelor party will be a lost cause, right? Just look at their track record! Remember when they called “massage parlours” in college and asked for the student discount?

I think we should have a couples bachelor/bachelorette party, in addition to the traditional parties. You know, for old times sake!

[nana]

I told Jeremy to choose his best man carefully! I have already told his cousins if he shows up to the wedding drunk...I will kill all of them. The same goes for Mike and Alfred.

I think we should have a couples bachelor/bachelorette party, in addition to the traditional parties. You know, for old times sake!

Do you mean combining them? :eek:

[Life201]

Have one last party/night out as all the couples and then also have the traditional girls only and the traditional boys only parties separately.

[nana]

That sounds great! As long as we can still have our seprate ones!!!:D

[Life201]

Of course, we would never deny you that. Besides, since i didn't have one, I'd be living vicariously.

[nana]

I am not worried abou us ...there are some thing that I never want to see...and you know how our guys are when they get together :eek: :eek:

[Life201]

I honestly think they should be forbidden to have their own party. I know how they are and it's bad! Especially yours and mine!

They get stinking drunk, as though they need to be bigger :moon: clowns than they already are. Then, they have to go to a strip joint and spend money on who knows what and they want to come home and climb into bed with us afterwards. I don't Think so!

[tifferoo]

Originally posted by nana
How many bridesmaids are you planning on having?


Do you already have your chuch booked? What about your reception site? The reception site is giving the me most problems, there are too many chooses in Houston and how far, is too far for your quests to drive from the wedding to the reception!

What colors are you using?

I haven't gotten a final count on my bridesmaids yet. So many people have asked me to be in my wedding but I don't want to have 20 bridesmaids standing up there. I think I will be able to weed out some of them when I ask them to read a bible verse. Some people just don't like to do that kind of stuff. I don't want no more than 10 though. Our church doesn't have a "church" bldg. yet so that's a big problem for me right now. My fiance' is thinking about booking his family's church but it is in the process of being remodeled. It's a problem for us though especially since we live in two different cities. We don't live that far apart, but I live on one side of the Mississippi River and he lives on the other side. So I was thinking about getting married in his hometown and having the reception in my hometown. I don't think people should have to drive more than 30 mins to get to your reception but that's just my opinion. I don't know for sure about my colors. I picked Burgandy and Champagne but I am constantly changing my mind. Well, you be encouraged. You have more planned than I do!!

[nana]

Tifferoo, I would strongly encourage you to stay under 10 bridesmaids. My future sister in law got married 3 weeks ago and she had 9 and 1 junior. The front of the church was not small but having that many bridesmaids and groomsmen made it look very cluttered. In addition, she had a VERY hard time coordinating all of their schedules! I am trying to stay with 5 but I might have to add a 6th, my fiance has several cousins and serveral friends that he wants to be a part of the ceremony...we are still waiting to hear if 2 of them are willing to fly in for the wedding...one lives in Germany, the other in CA.

I am not sure about my colors anymore...do you think I could get away with fall colors even if it is not yet fall according to the calendar. Plus most of my bridesmaids are very fair...like me, and I am afraid a dark color may complement them. Lots to do!

I was thinking 30 minutes, as well! That shouldn 't be to hard to do in Houston.

How far apart do you and your finance live? Is there a place in the middle?

Good luck with your planning! If your like me you can't wait to see this all come together!

[tifferoo]

We live about 15 mins away only because I live near the Mississippi River Bridge. Once he crosses the bridge, in 1 min he's at my house. There is a place in the middle and we may have our reception in the middle but it's really not that big of a deal because our families live all over the place anyway. They won't mind driving.

You are right on the bridesmaids and I think I am going to shorten my list considerably. I might make others candlelighters or something.

Everything I have read about colors basically says that you can have whatever colors you like. It is YOUR wedding.