A Day To Remember: 3/10/13

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Happy Pi Day!

{Photo Credit: A Day To Remember}

π = 3.14159265.....

While the mathematicians are celebrating the mathematical constant of Pi {Greek letter “π”} today, the non-mathematicians...like me...are celebrating PIE!

So....Happy Pie Day everyone!!!

So, how are YOU celebrating Pi day???

{www.daytoremember.net}

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Wednesday, March 13, 2013

{Wedding Planning 101} Feeding Your Wedding Vendors

{Photo Credit: Nicole Chatham Photography, Joey T Photography}

Many times, when planning a wedding, couples ask the awkward question of “Do we feed our wedding vendors?” The simple answer is YES, but nothing in life is really simple, right? Our goal is to give you some insight and answer the most common questions.
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{Photo Credit: Nicole Chatham Photography}

“Which vendors should we include?"
Rule of thumb, any vendor that will be with you for at least 8 hours, should be included in this category. For example, your florist or baker will only be there for a limited time during set up, but will be gone during the reception, so needless to say, you don’t have to provide them with a meal. On the other hand, your photographer, cinematographer and your wedding planner will be with you pretty much all day. Well, they won’t really have much time to get away for a meal, so you want to be conscious of this and provide them with one.

“Why can’t vendors just bring their own food? Aren’t they responsible for their own meals?”

Technically, yes, vendors are responsible for their own meals, and many often times, they come with snacks or small meals to keep them going throughout the entire day.

When you’re at work, you get at least a thirty minute lunch break, so while your employer won’t purchase your meal, you have the opportunity to leave and pick up something. Now, if your employer requires you to stay all day for a special project, we’re pretty sure they will have meal provisions set up for you. Same rule applies here, so unless you are OK with your photographer, cinematographer or wedding planner leaving for about an hour or so, unavailable to you, so that they may go out to eat, well…you may want to make sure you provide them with a meal.

“What should we feed our vendors?”

Your vendors would be most appreciative if they enjoyed the same meal as your guests, but of course, that isn’t a requirement. In my professional opinion, I don’t see why caterers can’t provide a complimentary meal to your vendors, or at least at an at-cost price, as a courtesy to their client and their fellow industry colleagues. Talk to your caterer about this, or if you actually have a planner, have them discuss this with the caterer.

Some caterers/reception venues will provide a basic “vendor meal" of a club sandwich, chips and a cookie. If that is all that is available, hey, your vendor will eat it, but in all honesty, it would be really sweet of you if you provided your vendors with something more than a boxed meal. Many of our brides and grooms, if not all, usually insist on their vendors to partake in the same meal as their guests. Oftentimes, many caterers prefer to provide the same meal, as it is one less entrée choice to create.

So, if you really love your vendors, be sure to include them in your count as you are getting your final numbers out to your caterer.

{Photo Credit: Joey T Photography}

“When should our vendors eat?”

Depending on your wedding timeline, the answer may be a tad tricky; however, we strongly recommend your vendors eat while you and your guests are eating. It is during this time that not much is going on, and I’m sure you and your guests won’t appreciate a camera in front of them as they are chewing. Food in your mouth is not a flattering picture for anyone!

Some venues may disagree on this next point, but as a wedding planner, I prefer that all wedding vendors be one of the first to be served {after the couple of the hour, of course!} to ensure they finish up sooner and be ready for the upcoming events of the night. Many times, if vendors don’t eat during this down time, there is a strong chance they won’t really get to eat.

“Where should our vendors eat?”

If only we had just one answer for this question but alas, again, it depends on what kind of wedding you will have, the room layout, etc. Some couples actually designate a table exclusively for their vendors, others are in a separate room nearby. The recommended choice would be to stay in the same room, in an effort to still be present during dinner and be prepared for anything which may arise. Having vendors on a different floor or down a long hallway isn’t the best idea, as it will be difficult to go back and forth to check on things. Many times, venues will have a designated room for vendors that will be nearby.
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We truly hope this helps answer your questions and have a better understanding in terms of feeding your vendors. It’s a detail that many times gets overlooked, but we encourage you to add it to your Wedding Checklist!

Do you still have additional questions regarding this issue? Feel free to ask in the Comments section and we'll be happy to answer!

Happy Planning!!!

{www.daytoremember.net}

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Tuesday, March 12, 2013

{Photo Credit: Gary Guy Photographer}

You witnessed a beautiful film of Sherrena+Dexter's wedding, now enjoy the gorgeous images from this amazing wedding, beautifully documented by Gary Guy Photographer.