I Thee Wed Up Close

Today is day 5 of us answering your most frequently asked questions! Here are questions 7 and 8. Question 7: What Should I Know About Venue Contracts?  First and foremost, make sure you know what time set up can begin and what time you need to be out by at the end of the night. Are there additional charges like coat check or restroom attendants? Does the venue require that you use exclusive vendors? Is gratuity built into the contract? Is the venue insured? Get a detailed list of all items included in the contract, such as tables and chairs, linens, staging, extra tables needed for gifts/cake/escort cards/favors, dance floor, sound equipment for a ceremony. If a full bar is part of the contract, find out what is included and if accompaniments are part of the bar. Find out what the payment schedule is and when you need to have your final head count turned in. Photo Credit:  513 photography Question 8: Is a Seating Chart or Escort Cards Necessary? Absolutely! This will ensure

Welcome back to day 4 of answering your most frequently asked questions! Here are questions 5 and 6. Question 5: What Decor Options Will Help Pull Off the Ambience We're Looking For? Without a doubt, lighting is the first that comes to mind. You don't have to spend a small fortune to get nice lighting. If your budget allows, you can work with a lighting company who can provide uplighting around the room, as well as pin spotlights on the guest tables and an accent design for the dance floor. But if this kind of lighting doesn't sound like your cup of tea, string patio lighting, chandeliers and candles, just to name a few, are other options to achieve the ambience you desire. However, lighting isn't the only thing that will help create your ambience. The decor you choose for your tables and accent pieces such as a table runner, unique china or a simple decoration placed on each napkin, can help set the tone for your wedding. Photo Credit:  Geri Ciulla Quest

We are on day 3 of answering your most frequently asked questions and here are questions 3 and 4! Question 3: I have my date and venue selected, what's next? If you are able to hire a wedding planner, they will guide you through the process with providing you with a monthly planning timeline so that you know what you should accomplish each month. If you are unable to hire a planner, there are resources such as theknot.com that offer more generic planning timelines of what you should accomplish every few months or so. Keep in mind that some vendors book more quickly than others, so hiring your band or DJ and photographer should be the first two vendors to focus on after selecting your date and venue. Question 4: Open Bar or Not? While it's not a requirement to have an open bar, it's certainly a generous gesture to your guests. If you know that a majority of the guests on your list enjoy a beverage or two,  then there's no question as to whether you should hav

Today is our second day of posting about Couple's most frequently asked questions when it comes to planning their weddings and here is the 3rd question. Question 3: How do I process all the information given to me? Well, if you are a really super busy couple with demanding careers, hiring a wedding planner would be the easiest way to help you sort through all of the information out there. But if you're uncertain about your budget and whether you can afford a wedding planner, then try not to get too wrapped up in all that's available and follow your heart on the things that will make your wedding unique to you both. Of course, you are going to have many people tell you what they think you should do and how to plan your wedding, but try not to let them derail your focus on what the two of you really want! #itheewedplanning #cincinnatiweddingplanner #personalizedweddings Photo Credit:  Loft 3 Photography

Shortly after you become engaged, we know that you have a ton of questions whirling around in your head and before you know it, you're having anxiety attacks over the planning before it's even begun!! So, we thought we'd put together a series of blog posts to answer your most frequently asked questions! Question 1: How much do weddings cost? If you are unsure of what a comfortable wedding budget for you is, or don't know how much weddings cost today, a great way of learning is to contact a few venues that are of interest to you and find out what their food and beverage minimum is. Keep in mind that 40% of your entire budget will be for food and beverage. So, after learning what your local venues are charging, you will be able to come up with an overall budget that you can work within. Question 2: How to Find the Best Venue? If you have an idea of the size of your wedding and location, as we mentioned above, begin calling local venues to find out how large they are

Many couples may feel they do not need a wedding planner if there is an on-site coordinator at their venue. So we've listed some differences of each role to help clear up this misperception. The bottom line is that you need both!! 1. When it comes to coordinating the big day, an on-site coordinator can do so much up to a certain point. The wedding planner will be the one with you throughout the entire day, as well as coordinating your the rehearsal. 2.  On-site coordinators sometimes give vendor referrals which is what an independent wedding planner will do too. But, the wedding planner will attend meetings with you and handle most of the communications with your other vendors. 3. An on-site coordinator is at your venue to represent the property but not represent the bride and groom themselves. 4. An on-site coordinator will make sure that you are getting what was promised in your contract, that the kitchen is fully staffed, that the food is coming out on time and

Are you planning on serving your guests something later in the evening to satisfy that late night craving and help work off the buzz from too many spirits? Well, here in Cincinnati there are more to late night snacks than the traditional candy station or skyline buffet. Take a look at some ideas we gathered to put a creative spin on your late night offerings! No matter what you decide, your guests will appreciate and enjoy having a little something to nibble on late into the evening, not to mention having something to help absorb the libations from earlier in the evening! Graeter's Ice Cream Sunday Station Mini Grilled Cheese Dippers with Tomato Soup Donut Station Smore's Station Mini Milkshakes! Popcorn Station Sweets Station full of Tarts, Mini Cheesecakes and Other Mini Sweets Soft Warm Pretzels with Soda Chocolate Chip Cookie with Milk Shot Dipping Station with Chips Mini Pizza Slices Mini Burgers with Fries