Integrity. We talk a lot here at L'Evento about how our professionals are all pre-screened. That's because we truly do want every client who comes to us for assistance to receive the best possible service. We depend on each of our independent vendors to provide that stellar service, and most of the time, they come through with flying colors, and more.

Sometimes, people and businesses miss the mark. They fall short of expectations. Sometimes we're lucky enough to have this happen before the event, so that there is time to make a change. Sometime, disaster strikes.

What to do? Insurance? Maybe - but if a vendor flakes out on the day of the wedding and doesn't show, there may be no one available to fill-in, no matter how much insurance you have. Use only vendors from the Venue's list? Perhaps; those are probably people who have worked at that site before - a good thing - but that does nothing to ensure their level of professionalism.

This is why we screen each of the Professional Members at L'Evento. We also monitor them, making sure they continue to provide excellent service. Because, ultimately, their reputation is completely tied up with ours. If a vendor you select from L'Evento's membership messes up, we're just as much responsible, and that's exactly how we feel.

It's not about liking someone - it's business. And, it's your event on the line. We cannot allow the success of that to be at risk. Please know that we are always looking out for our clients, to make sure you receive the utmost in service.

Cheers!
Heather
The Events Conciergetm

The top 5 stress-causing things in wedding planning from my perspective are:

1. Budget: Issues arise where there are disagreements on how to allocate the available funds, or when the amount available to spend is not sufficient for the style or services desired. To avoid this, make sure you have conversations with every person who will be contributing before you start making decisions. If you get your heart set on a lavish five-course meal in the city's swankiest venue with a guest list of 300, and then find out your budget is $10,000 - you're going to be disappointed. Know what's available to spend first, and how those contributing feel about how it gets spent, before you start planning.

2. Family: Planning and paying for weddings has shifted to fall on the couple and both sides of the family, creating more opportunities for confrontation. Additionally, "difficult" family dynamics can create a great deal of stress. This is just like to #1 - talk first, plan later. Figure out what the expectations of all the top figures are (like your parents), and do your best to be accommodating. You won't be able to make everyone happy about every aspect of your wedding, but people usually respond better to things not being as they'd like when they feel they've at least been heard. Remember, it is your wedding, but it's not just about you.

3. Unrealistic expectations: Most couples enter into wedding planning without a frame of reference for the typical cost of a wedding in their area. Therefore, they often mis- or under-estimate the amount that will be needed, or begin to make plans that will not be attainable. Do a little homework before you have that money conversation with everyone - that way, you'll have an idea of whether the rough figures are adding up or not. And, if they're not, start adjusting.

4. Vendor concerns: Couples must put a great deal of trust into each of their wedding professionals. The process of finding and hiring people to perform these services can be nerve-wracking, at best, and devastating should the vendor fail to perform as promised. In this situation, some kind of assurance of a vendor's professionalism can be invaluable. This is where L'Evento Event Resource Boutique or a qualified Wedding Consultant or Planner can really help out. We investigate and hand-select all our preferred vendors at L'Evento, so you can be certain the pros you find here will perform as agreed. An experienced planner will have an address book full of professionals with whom they've worked and were pleased with before, too.

5. Too much DIY: The trend today for many couples is to DIY their wedding - from invitations to flowers to music, couples are choosing not to hire professionals and instead do-it-themselves, sometimes to the detriment of the event. When a couple takes on too many projects, or tries to do things they are not familiar with how to do or the level of ability needed to complete, couples cause themselves additional stress in trying to complete these projects. Before planning to DIY, take stock of your own skills and those of your friends, your patience threshold, as well as the free time you have available. If you are a graphic designer by trade, then creating your own invitations makes sense. However, if your only experience with design is a two-week module on Microsoft Publisher in high school, then you may want to rethink that plan. Remember, too, that DIY projects often take more time than originally planned, so allow for that as well.

Finally, remember that we're here to help at L'Evento, in whatever way you need. From budget to design advice, to helping you find the prefect professional, we'll give you our best answer, or find someone who can!

Cheers!
Heather

Got questions? See something we missed? Comment & let us know!

With the multitude of wedding magazines, websites, blogs, television and more out there today, it's easy to become overwhelmed by the choices available to you. My suggestion? Before you look at the first wedding anything, look around your home. What magazines and books do you already own? What draws you to them? What colors are on your walls, your furniture, your accessories? What kind of style - contemporary, country, classic...? Whether you have a passion for fashion, gardening, home decor, or something completely different, think about how these natural "likes" could be reflected in your wedding.

It's easy to flip through a wedding magazine, and find many, many beautiful things that you love - and you will love them - but if you haven't already determined what you love outside of wedding design, you could very easily end up with either: A) a wedding that does not reflect your genuine style, or B) a hodgepodge of ideas that get tossed together, regardless of how they coordinate.

Finally, check in with your other half. Each of you should make a list of two-three favorite colors, plus activities and hobbies. Think of things you share - perhaps you have a sport you enjoy together, a favorite shared hobby, or perhaps a special vacation spot? What is it you each adore about the other? What makes your bond unique? Answering these questions can create a firm foundation on which to create your signature wedding look. (This isn't to say you should use everything on your lists - edit accordingly. However, you just might learn that your second favorite color is the same on both your lists - an obvious place to begin a wedding palette.)

Just remember to start with who you truly are first, then layer the wedding look on top of that. You'll be thrilled with the end result!

Cheers!
Heather
The Event Concierge