Say Yes To The Dress: Bridesmaids

I am so excited to share that one of our March clients weddings was just featured on Say Yes To The Dress: Bridesmaids on TLC!  After weeks of watching every Friday night, we finally made it into the Season Finale!  Not to worry, however, the show was renewed by the network and other Atlanta area brides & bridesmaids are currently being filmed for a great new season!

FAVOR Events clients, Sineat & Joe Vilichay were married on March 13, 2011 at Atlanta's historic Trolley Barn in Inman Park.  The weather was wonderfully warm for March and it was such a beautiful day!

If you'd like to take a look at the episode, follow the link to TLC above.  Our episode was #6 of Season 1.  The title is: Groomzilla.  (No, that isn't titled after my client!)

And here's a sneak peek from the wonderful Thu Tran of 2TPhoto.  I'll post more images soon!

UPDATE - FAVOR Events Availability for 2011

I am so pleased to announce that FAVOR Events is fully booked for 2011 with the exception of two remaining dates:  October 15 or October 22 are still available for our "Month Of" Package Offering only.  These are Saturday wedding dates, but we are available on either the Friday or Sunday of these weekends.

Per our policy, we do require a five week minimum involvement for our Month of Package.  The two available dates would need to be booked as follows:

Wedding Date of October 15 - services contracted by: September 10, 2011.

Wedding Date of October 22 - services contracted by: September 17, 2011.

These dates will only be available on a first come, first serve basis.   Unfortunately, we do not work back to back events, so if one of these dates goes under contract, the other date will become unavailable as well.

Also, I am very excited that the 2012 inquiries are rolling in!  As of this time, we have an open calendar for 2012, but remember that we only book two weddings per month, so please contact us today for your initial consultation!

Warmly,

Jeannine Kennedy

Owner, FAVOR Events

Wedding Planners Save You Money!

I've been saying this for years.  I honestly hate being in a position to have to explain why a couple needs a wedding planner.  Recently, I just decided to let it go.  I won't debate with anyone anymore.  If someone cannot see the value of the service that we provide for themselves, then chances are they won't hire me, and I am wasting my breath trying to explain why they need me.

Then again, I have provided proposals for people who chose to get started with planning on their own, and three months later they call me desperate for help.  I recently monitored a twitter feed from brides discussing their wedding regrets.  The top thing that was mentioned over and over was that brides would have hired a planner so they would be less stressed, and that they would not have imposed on family and friends so that they could have enjoyed the wedding day as well.  Amen, twitterverse, Amen.

Anyway, it is very nice when others appreciate our efforts enough to write about it.  I wanted to share this article from a great wedding website I enjoy reading:  One Wed article: 5 ways a wedding planner can help save you money

I would like to add a few thoughts of my own:

Negotiations:  It just so happens that I am a former paralegal.  Add that to my wedding planning experience and I can tear apart a contract like nobody's business.  All of our full service clients receive complimentary contract reviews for everyone of their vendors.  Sidenote: I almost always ask for a change - sometimes minor issues, sometimes MAJOR issues.  This is a great benefit we provide to our clients.

Discounts:  I receive a standard 10% discount from my preferred rental companies, and typically, I receive up to 25% on lighting contracts.  Some bands even discount my clients up to 10% because they know that I take good care of them and listen to their input.  I definitely have my favorite vendors that throw in extras and go the extra mile because we have formed a relationship over several years.  Guess what?  Every penny that is discounted is passed along to my clients - I do not accept kickbacks.

Budget Help:  By far the most difficult aspect of planning is working with clients on their budgets.  I prefer to have a face to face meeting when we discuss this.  People are always surprised at how much things cost, and I have seen brides cry when they think they have a good size budget to work with and they begin to realize they may need to change some things.  I like being there with them in the moment to offer suggestions on other ways we can achieve their vision.  Believe me, I am married to a Dave Ramsey wannabe, so I understand budgets.  I think we do a fantastic job of honoring our clients budgets and talking them through choices that will still give them a beautiful wedding that their family and friends will enjoy.

The highest level of service:  If anything is repeated over and over from our clients, it is our organization, our calm demeanor on the wedding day, and our willingness to help.  FAVOR Events views the entire family as our client, regardless of who signs the contract.  Would you like return calls and emails within 24 hours? Check.  First to arrive at your wedding venue? That would be FAVOR Events.  Last to leave your wedding venue?  Yep, us again.  If the caterer forgets to take our the trash - we do it.  All in a days work, and it is truly our pleasure to serve our clients on this momentous occasion.

Are you thinking you will tackle your wedding planning yourself?  Or maybe you will have dear Aunt Edna helping you?  We would love to sit down for a complementary consultation with you and Edna to talk about how we can help you.  At a minimum, you should check out our Month-Of Coordination Offering.  We look forward to speaking with you!

FAVOR Events Availability - 2011 & 2012

I am so pleased to announce that FAVOR Events is fully booked for 2011 with the exception of two remaining dates:  October 15 or October 22 are still available and per our policy, we do not book weddings two weekends in a row.  These dates will only be available on a first come, first serve basis, and at this point in time, we could only offer partial planning services for either date.

Also, I am very excited that the 2012 inquiries are rolling in!  We currently have an open calendar for 2012 and look forward to meeting you for your initial consultation!

Warmly,

Jeannine Kennedy
Owner, FAVOR Events

TOMS Shoes at Weddings

Two years ago at my church, our Pastor shared a video from a guy named Tom who was making a difference in third world countries by selling shoes.  Yes, shoes.

As the story goes, while on a mission trip, Tom realized that a very basic need was not being met on the mission field.  Many children did not have shoes to wear and went barefoot in freezing temperatures, flood season and when traveling over rough terrain.  He started a campaign and a company.  For every pair of shoes that are purchased, TOMS will give a pair of shoes to a child in need.

Fast forward, and you'll find me spending a Sunday afternoon on my sofa, catching up on my wedding blog reading.  I came across an article in which the bride and groom gifted all their wedding party members a pair of TOMS shoes.  Then I came across another blog post - same idea.  Wow, it's a trend, a wonderful, pure, unselfish, unique trend and I love it!

Check out this image and post from my sweet friend and talented photographer, Jeremy Gilliam from Dallas, Texas:

Or how about this great post from The Wedding Chicks ?

I love this trend - I hope it is here to stay!  One for One - TOMS shoes.

The (Free) Honeymooners

So, I'm back from the beach but still don't have the vacation bug out of my system.  Unfortunately, my budget can allow only so much wining, dining and lazy beach days.  As soon as I got back to the day job, I received a call from my uncle, needing my help (and my discount) picking out a wedding gift.  

Looking through the registry got me thinking about people (me) who already have too many bar accoutrements (don't judge), have already decorated their bathrooms or just bought a great set of everyday china on sale.  And what about others (me, again) who want a honeymoon full of wining, dining and lazy beach days but are on a strict wedding budget.  What are their registry options?

Then, I found the Marriot Honeymoon Registry, a service that allows couples to register for accommodations, spa services, meals and golf outings... even hotel bathrobes are available!  A quick Google search confirms that honeymoon registries aren't hard to come by - Disney, Carnival Cruises, even the Aruba Travel Authority has one.   Alternative registries like these are a great way to provide guests with the opportunity to help you and your groom create memories, not just more household clutter.

To start your registry, think first about what kind of honeymoon you want.  Is an all-inclusive resort your style, or are you more of a road-trippy hippie?  Want a luxe stay full of pampering or an adventure trip filled with excursions?  Then, pinpoint a honeymoon service like HoneyLuna or Honeymoon Wishes and scan the sample registries.  Compare these with registries from hotels and resorts to determine which is most suited to your needs while also being diversified enough in price to fit your guests wallets.  

My dream registry?  One filled with pampering and a healthy dose of fashion - like this one to Fiji from Honeymoon Wishes. 

Sara

Notes on a beach wedding

Right now I'm drinking a cup of coffee, looking out my window at this:

And I couldn't help but think, "What a perfect venue for a simple, chic beach wedding."


I've been at Amelia Island Plantation for a few days now, sunning and drinking a margarita or three while my poor beau sits through boring conference classes.  The time alone to explore the beach, the resort and the surrounding island has further confirmed that this would be the perfect venue for a wedding, or even a low-key bachelor or bachelorette party.  


As with most beach resorts, the Plantation has an array of wedding and event services, but I wanted to get down to the nitty gritty, so I broke away from my beach chair and took a moment to chat with a Katherine Bean, one of the resort's wedding coordinators. (Katherine was chock full of great info, so I've paraphrased her answers below.) 


Sara: So, really, how much does a wedding at the Plantation run? 
Katherine: Weddings can be as big or small as needed.  We have packages ranging from the  intimate "Just the Two of Us" to much larger gatherings.  One great option for the more budget conscious bride is to coordinate from our A La Carte wedding options.  This way, the bride can choose a venue, menu and coordination services individually to fit her price range. 


Sara: Can you use your own coordinator?  Say, like Favor Events of Atlanta?
Katherine:  Of course!  In fact, we have several outside event planning and decor companies listed among our preferred vendors.  When using your own planner, we suggest you book through the A La Carte services.  This will keep your costs down and allow for more personalization from your planner. Keep in mind, however, that both set up and clean up are the responsibility of the outside planner.  But, our friendly bell staff is always available with a helping hand.  (Ed. note: Not only is the bell staff friendly, but very cute as well!) 


Sara:  How about decor?  How much is too much for a beach wedding? 
Katherine: I usually suggest one focal point for any beach ceremony.  The natural beauty of Amelia Island, along with one sturdy canopy or arch is really all that's needed.  A few tips when planning beach wedding decor at Amelia Island: 
- No rose petal aisle!  The petals are costly and usually blow away before the ceremony begins.
- No silk florals are allowed at Plantation beach weddings.
- Make sure canopies/arches are sturdy as the Atlantic winds are sometimes unforgiving.
- Finally, remember that because we are on the Atlantic, there is no such thing as a sunset beach wedding!  The sun sets on the other side of the island, and is framed by the beautiful intercoastal waterways.  If you are interested in a sunset wedding, Walker's Landing would be a beautiful venue.  


Sara: Beside the beach, what's the most popular venue for a wedding at the Plantation?  
Katherine: Our Oceanview Room and Terrace, an elegant ballroom and terrace overlooking the ocean, is one of the most popular spots.  The other, Walker's Landing, is a completely different, but equally as beautiful, lodge-like venue with gorgeous intercoastal waterway views.  For the bride that can't decide which venue she prefers, we suggest a rehearsal celebration at Walker's Landing and the ceremony and reception in our Oceanview Room and Terrace.


Sara:  In my opinion, a couple rowdy guests are a must at any good wedding.  Are there any hopping after-party spots, on the resort or the island?  Do you offer a tram or taxi service?  
Katherine: I suggest that the bride and groom encourage guests to stay at the resort unless the rehearsal dinner is held in town (Fernandina Beach).  However, coordinators here can suggest travel options for guests should you desire.  My suggestion is to buy out our local nightspot, The Falcon's Nest, for the evening and provide it as an option for fun and dancing after the rehearsal and/or reception.  The buyout only costs $4000 (food and beverage minimum) and is a safe and fun alternative to heading into town. 


Sara:  How does a bride learn more about your services?
Katherine:  She can feel free to visit our website or contact me at bean.katherine@aipfl.com.  


Okay, so who wants to have their wedding at the Plantation so I can go back again as soon as possible!?


Sara