3 Reasons To Have A Florida Destination Beach Wedding | Timeless Wedding Designs | Miami and Palm Beach Wedding Planners

"In high tide and low tide I'll be by your side."

Photos by Tiffany Danielle Photography.

 I hear so many thoughts on beach weddings all the time being a wedding planner based out of Palm Beach, and some of them are not so great! I personally love a tasteful beach wedding if it is planned perfectly, which is why I wanted to share some reasons to have a destination beach wedding. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or if you need some advice for your own beach wedding!

T H E   L I G H T I N G

This one is also a piece of advice that I think applies across the board for outdoor weddings, but a major influence on the photos of your ceremony is the lighting. If you work with a wedding planner in the destination that you are choosing, that planner can tell you when the sun typically sets on your date; pick a ceremony time during the golden hour and your photos will be gorgeous! On the beaches of South Florida, however, there is an undeniable glow that just feels so bridal behind a ceremony space as a bride and groom seal their vows. During this time, the Earth begins to cool down and the ocean takes on a shade of blue that you will want in every. single. photo. 

S H O E S

Ladies (and let's be honest, gentlemen) this one's for you. No one will blame you if you get married barefoot on the beach, and they may actually go barefoot themselves too. There is something about the way the sand feels on your feet that makes you instantly relax and enjoy yourself. I find that most of my destination brides want their guests to feel relaxed and like they can have fun during their weddings, and there is no more perfect destination for this than the beaches of South Florida.

V A C A T I O N

This is possibly my favorite reason of all! A destination wedding is a vacation in many ways where you can spend a few days with your guests rather than a few hours. If you decide to host your wedding reception in a hotel, your wedding planner can set up a room block for you and your guests so you can all stay in the same hotel together. This means days by the pool and beaches, dinners and brunches together, and so much more of that treasured quality time that we cherish during weddings. Plus, think of the gorgeous tan you will have! (Just remember that sunblock is your friend and sunburn on your wedding day is not easily covered up (-:)

If you are interested in planning a destination wedding to the Treasure Coast, Palm Beach, Miami, Naples, or the Florida Keys, please feel free to contact me by clicking here!

Tips for Writing Your Own Vows | Timeless Wedding Designs | Orlando Wedding Planners

"I vow to help you love life, to always hold you with tenderness and to have the patience that love demands, to speak when words are needed and to share the silence when they are not, to agree to disagree on red velvet cake, and to live within the warmth of your heart and always call it home."

- The Vow

Photo by RJ Hill Photography.

I've noticed a trend in West Palm Beach and much of South Florida recently where more and more couples are shying away from the traditional vows and have been writing their own. The personal touch that it has added to those ceremonies has been unforgettable! The task may seem daunting, but in the end writing your own vows will be nothing short of worth it. Below are some tips to help you write your own vows, too.

Reflect On Your Relationship

What kinds of vows do you want to make to your future spouse?  Every set of vows tends to be as unique as the relationship that they are written for, so reflecting on your relationship and what is important to you for your marriage is critical. Think about the relationship the two of you have had so far and what promises you have made to one another along the way to get you to where you are now. Some questions you might want to ask yourself are:

• Why did you decide to get married?
• What struggles have you two been through together and how did you overcome them?
• What first drew you to them, back when you very first met?
• What do you want to accomplish together?

Keep It Short And Sweet

Make an impact with meaningful, thought-out vows rather than a long speech. Remember that the first draft can be all of the thoughts you have, then make the edits. If you really feel as though you would like to include everything, consider writing a letter to your future spouse for them to read before the wedding rather than putting it all in the ceremony.

Look For Inspiration Everywhere

Some of my all-time favorite vows come from the movie The Vow. Paige's vows make such an impact and have just the right amount of love and humor in them, while Leo's vows are filled with so much tenderness you could cut them with a spoon. Look for inspiration in art, books, poetry, or religious texts. Read all kinds of vows on the internet and change them to fit your future marriage. It is okay to work off of your own inspiration!



Still having trouble? Email me at Mandy@TimelessWeddingDesigns.com with the subject, "Vows," and I will send you some examples of my favorites of all time!

6 Things To Think About If You Are Considering Having Your Wedding At A Private Estate | Timeless Wedding Designs | West Palm Beach and Orlando Wedding Planners

Private estates have become increasingly popular as wedding and event venues these past few years. Undoubtedly they are gorgeous and add an unique element to your wedding that few others will get to claim! Here are a few tips you should keep in mind if you are considering having your wedding at a private estate.

Photo by Tiffany Danielle Photography.

B A T H R O O M S

As the only wedding professional who will be at your wedding venue all day long, I tend to find out where my "essentials," like bathrooms and fire extinguishers, are right away! If you are planning to have more than 100 guests attend your wedding, it's a good idea to rent extra bathrooms because most private estates cannot accommodate the needs of that many people. If the first thing that comes to your mind is a port-a-potty, try thinking more along the lines of luxury bathroom rentals! They tend to be much more comfortable than the green outhouses you see at construction sites. 

C A T E R I N G   A N D   G A R B A G E   C A N S

Catering space can become a huge issue for some caterers who are not equipped to work out of small (or no) spaces. Make sure to let your catering team know beforehand what kind of kitchen they will be working out of - and don't forget to include how much refrigerator space they will have! They may need that space for chilling cheeses or champagne. 

Bringing extra garbage cans and garbage bags is also a good idea! You'll be surprised by how much will need to be thrown away on the day of your wedding.

R A I N   C O V E R A G E

I always recommend having a tent rental company on stand-by for weddings at private estates because the Plan B for rain tends to be not-so-comfortable! Fitting that many people into a house when it's raining tends not to work out as wonderfully as you could envision it. Plus, it's just not very safe, which brings us to my next point...

L A W S   A N D   O R D I N A N C E S

Double-check with the home owner and the local police station for 

• sound ordinances regarding what decibels are allowed at what times for the DJ.
• how many people are allowed on a property at a time before it becomes an issue with the Fire Marshall.
• what options are available for legal parking.

Photo by Tiffany Danielle Photography.

I N S U R A N C E

Always get wedding insurance, even if you are not hosting your wedding at a private estate. Should anything happen at all, you might be covered and you won't have to pay for the broken window that one of your guests' plus ones accidentally fell through. Plus, the home owner's insurance may not cover it, and that could mean major cash out of your honeymoon budget.

L I G H T I N G   

With all of your guests outside and with most receptions happening after the sun has set, lighting tends to become an important issue. Warm lighting tends to work really well for professional photos, and market lighting has become very popular! Stringing market lights over the reception space can greatly transform the "mood" of your wedding space. However, never make any changes to someone else's property without their prior permission, and I always recommend hiring a professional to install event lighting!

Photo by Tiffany Danielle Photography.

E: Mandy@TimelessWeddingDesigns.com

Find out why wedding day coordination is a must!

Wedding Dresses To Obsess Over | Timeless Wedding Designs | West Palm Beach and Wilmington Wedding Planners

The best part of being a wedding planner? Why, I'm so glad you asked!

W E D D I N G   D R E S S E S !

I don't just get to receive iMessages with photos of my gorgeous clients trying on dress after dress, searching tirelessly to find "the one;" NO, I get to spend a ton of time looking at styled shoots with drool-worthy gowns and - to be quite frank - I love all of them. Below are some designer gowns that I thought I just had to share with all of you, like now.


Y A S M I N E   Y E Y A   C O U T U R E

             

I have been head-over-heels for Yasmine Yeya Couture for years and have secretly cyber-stalked her every design since I discovered her pretty wedding dresses in 2013. Just the shapes of the gowns alone are enough to make the Egyptian designer stand out from the crowd, but they don't come cheaply... You can get your own Yasmine Yeya gown starting at just $8,000.


S T E L L A   Y O R K

What girl hasn't seen a flowy Stella York gown in any bridal magazine and immediately starting swooning over her own wedding day? There is something whimsical about the photographs of the smiling brides that just makes you gush over the beautiful dresses they are wearing! Before I became a professional wedding planner, I actually picked out a Stella York dress for my own pretend wedding.


M A G G I E   S O T T E R O

If you pretend that you don't watch Say Yes To The Dress religiously, I'm calling you out. If you pretend that you don't secretly always vote for the bride to choose the Maggie Sottero dress, you've got to me kidding me! Maggie Sottero is the epitome of sophisticated and feminine style, and that's why her designs definitely made my list.


A N Y   F L O R A L   W E D D I N G   D R E S S

When Belle came out at the end of the live action version of Beauty and The Beast in a floral wedding dress, I about lost my mind! I have been a huge advocate for floral wedding dresses for years, and I am sooo happy that they are becoming a thing. I can't wait to plan a wedding where the bride wears a floral wedding gown, and these two are some of my favorites.


What are some wedding dresses you obsess over? What did your own wedding dress look like? Share with me in the comments below!

Tips & Tricks For Attending Bridal Shows | Timeless Wedding Designs | Orlando Wedding Planners

If you are newly engaged, the idea of getting to attend your first bridal show can be so exciting! A few of my favorites include The Big Fake Wedding, the Perfect Wedding Guide Wedding Show, and smaller, local shows. Here are a couple of things that you will want to keep in mind for visiting your first bridal show, and I even included a cheat sheet of questions to ask potential vendors at the end!

H A V E   A N   I D E A   O F   W H A T   Y O U R   V I S I O N   I S

At most bridal shows, you will see a plethora of different styles of vendors! Most vendors cater to a niche market but will work with all types of visions, so keep that in mind when you are looking at booths. For example, when Timeless Wedding Designs did our first bridal show, we catered to the vintage market, but worked with all kinds of brides and grooms. I set up our booth to reflect what I had to offer to the market at the time. You will find that you are attracted to booths that match your vision, but remember to keep an open mind when you are wandering the lanes of vendors!


G E T   T O   K N O W   E A C H   V E N D O R ' S   P E R S O N A L I T Y

It can be overwhelming walking into a bridal show, like any trade show! Spend time at each booth, talking with each vendor and understanding their personalities; if you choose to work with this person, you will want to ensure that they are friendly and professional, and can conduct themselves in a professional way when being approached by several people at one time. In addition, the vendor's booth should be a reflection of who they are as a professional and the vendors themselves are a reflection of who they are as a person. A great connection could save you a ton of stress down the road!

G I V E A W A Y S   A N D   S H O W   S P E C I A L S

Because I was new to the industry when I did my first bridal show, I decided to do two giveaways: a gift certificate for a spa day at a local spa and percentage off of my Day Of Management package. Many vendors will do similar giveaways and show specials at their booths, so visiting each booth could save you some mega money in your planning process! It is important to follow the guidelines given when entering a giveaway, however, as vendors will check to ensure that the winner followed the rules!



C O L L E C T   B U S I N E S S   C A R D S   A N D   P A M P H L E T S

Remember to collect business cards and pamphlets from vendors that you really felt you connected with and organize them so you don't lose them later! This could save you sooo much stress later on when it comes time to choose!

Q U E S T I O N S   T O   A S K

• How long have you been [insert vendor-specific item, such as planning] weddings?
• How many weddings have you done?
• Is there a place where I can look for reviews of your past work?
• Do you have a portfolio that I could look at?
• What is the average investment that couples can expect to make on your services?
• Do you offer a complimentary one-on-one consultation? If so, how do I set one up?

Remember to keep your questions precise and not to ask too many questions, as the vendor will need to split their attention between the many guests to their booth! The final question regarding complimentary one-on-one consultations will invite the vendor to reach out to you and sit down for more in-depth questions later on if you are interested in their work.

Find out why wedding day coordination is a must have!

5 Unique Guest Book Ideas | Timeless Wedding Designs | Orlando Wedding Planners

Photo provided by Maryel Rivera Photography.

Is the idea of having guests sign a book that - let's be honest - you probably aren't really going to look at again making you feel queasy?

I get why guest books are important, and I am sure you do too! Of course you want to remember who attended your wedding and collect words of wisdom and advice from those you love oh, so much. I have seen some pretty awesome guest book ideas over the past few years, and I've put them all together here to get your little thinker thinkin'!


P O S T   C A R D S

Photo by RJ Hill Photography.

Are you a travel aficionado dreaming of a wanderlust themed wedding? Or are you traveling abroad to tie the knot? Karyn & Bryan were! Even if you have only dreamed of traveling to far away places to start your happily ever after, having your guests sign post cards is always a favorite. Often your guests will write you messages on the back, too! For an added bonus, have your wedding planner collect them at the end of the night and mail them to your house while you are on your honeymoon! Who doesn't love getting post cards in the mail?


A   G L O B E

On another traveling note, having your guests sign a globe is a fun way to remember your wedding and your wedding guests while adding to the decor of both your wedding and your office! Plus, globes come in many, many different colors, sizes, and metals, so there is no doubt that you can find one to match your style.


W A L L   D E C O R

Photo by Maryel Rivera Photography.

Naomi & John had their guests sign this pretty anchor at their seaside themed wedding! Guests left them fun and loving messages as a reminder of their wedding day that they will get to see every day. Other items that have caught my eye are records, custom pieces with the bride and groom's names, and maps!


B O O K S

Is Belle from Beauty and The Beast your spirit princess? If you're a bookworm like me, having your guests sign an actual book could be right for you! The wonderful thing about this one is that it will fit into almost any vision for your wedding. The older and more antique-y the book looks, the better it will be!


P O L A R O I D   P I C T U R E S

Another unique idea that will also entertain your guests is a Polaroid Picture album! Leave out a Polaroid camera, some colorful pens, and stickers for your guests and the result is endless fun and a book full of memories for you to look at for years to come. Plus, imagine looking at this book at your 50th wedding anniversary! Ha!

Photo by Tiffany Danielle Photography.

What kinds of interesting guest books have you seen at weddings?

Learn how to create your own wedding day emergency kit here!
Or discover some great ideas for entertaining kids at your wedding here!

What Are Vendor Meals? | Timeless Wedding Designs | West Palm Beach and Wilmington Wedding Planners

W H A T   I S   A   V E N D O R   M E A L ?

In short, a "vendor meal" is the food you supply to your hired vendors on the day of your wedding, usually the same food your caterer is serving to your guests but not always the same depending upon what is available at the time.



W H Y   D O   I   N E E D   T O   I N C L U D E   V E N D O R   M E A L S ?

Most of the time, a vendor meal is required from each vendor who will be there for the entirety of your event. Even if some vendors have neglected to include the meal in their contract, it is common courtesy and good practice to feed those who are providing a service to you. Your vendors are working hard and will probably start getting hungry!



W H Y   D O N ' T   V E N D O R S   B R I N G   T H E I R   O W N   F O O D ?

Actually, some vendors do if they have special dietary restrictions. However, imagine if your Planner and their staff, your DJ and their staff, your Photographer and their second shooter, your Cinematographer, and your Bartenders all brought their own lunchboxes to your venue and put them in the Caterer's refrigerator. Essentially there would be no room left for the Caterer to store what needed to be kept cool for your guests, and all of that money you just spent on each individual guest would be losing it's value.

So why not bring items that don't need to be refrigerated? ...Because the likelihood that your vendors are going to be able to find a place to put their food where the guests won't see it but where it will be safe and in the view of the vendor is very, very unlikely.



S O   W H O   N E E D S   A   M E A L ?

Any vendor who is providing a service to your wedding and will be there for more than four hours needs a meal.
 - the DJ (and staff)
 - each Band member, if you have one
 - the Planner (and staff)
 - the Photographer (and staff)
 - the Bartenders
 - the Cinematographer
 - the Venue Coordinator



Do you have any questions? Please feel free to comment below or email me at Mandy@TimelessWeddingDesigns.com!

How To Create A Wedding Day Emergency Kit | Timeless Wedding Designs | West Palm Beach and Wilmington Wedding Planners

Creating a wedding day emergency kit is a lot easier than you might imagine it to be and can really save you in a pinch on the biggest day of your life!

I am a professional wedding planner, so my emergency kit is HUGE. I carry around practically everything for anything than can happen, and most wedding planners will so if you are hiring a wedding planner or a day-of coordinator, find out if they will bring an emergency kit with them so you don't have to make a whole new one. Just another way hiring a wedding planner can save you some money!

T H E   E S S E N T I A L S 

Shout Wipes To Go - $1.99 | I got my travel-size pack of Shout Wipes in the travel section at Target for $1.99 but you can get them on Amazon in multi-packs as well! These work wonders on stains (think lipstick stains... ugh!) and I personally prefer these over Tide To-Go Pens.


Dove Spray-On Deodorant - $5.00 | You may not think of this one right away, but when it comes time to walk down the aisle and your getting a little nervous... Well, it would be too late at that point but if you went through the process of buying it and putting it in your emergency kit, you'll probably remember it! A major plus is that more than one person can use this is a sanitary manner, meaning you won't have to buy a bunch of deodorant sticks.


Puffs Plus Lotion Tissue Pack - $0.99 | If you are anticipating a ton of teary eyes at your wedding, I recommend buying these little guys in bulk. Something cute that I like to do is put a pack on the chairs in the front row of the ceremony - you know, where your mom and dad might sit, watching their babies say, "I do." I found that the travel section at Target also had a variety of colors and patterns, so you may be able to find a pack that almost matches your wedding.

Safety Pins - $1.99 | These are by far the most asked for things at weddings! They really help with everything, including faulty zippers on dresses, pinning floral bouquets, holding drapery together, and fastening together the bottoms of table clothes when the wind is just a bit too crazy.

Lemongrass Hand Lotion - $12.00 | Depending upon where you are and where your ceremony is being held, bugs can be a real issue for you and your guests. Interestingly enough, the scent of lemongrass acts as an insecticide without all of the chemicals and the horrible smell. My favorite is Southern Life Creations Lemongrass Lotion because it's all-natural, organic, and makes your skin feel so soft, which is always a great bonus!

Altoids Mini-Pack - $0.99 | Because, ya know, you may kiss the bride and all that jazz.

Manicure / Beauty Kit - $2.99 | I got the Trim All-Purpose Nail Kit from the travel section at Target. It has tweezers, two nail clippers, an emery board, and a cuticle stick.

Hairspray - $0.99 | Also from the travel section at Target (don't judge my love for Target!), I got a mini can of Tresemme Extra-Hold Hair Spray for emergencies!

F I R S T   A I D   &   M E D I C I N E S

Tylenol Extra Strength Travel Packs - $1.99 

Aspirin Extra Strength Travel Packs - $1.99

Midol Complete Gelcaps - $4.75

Tums Chewables To-Go - $2.99

Glucose Tablets To-Go - $3.99

Benadryl Non-Drowsy - $4.75

Johnson & Johnson Mini First Aid Kit - $5.00

Up & Up Band-aids - $0.99 

Vaseline Mini - $0.50

Visine - $2.99

Gold Bond Mini Powder - $0.99

B E A U T Y   P R O D U C T S

Up & Up Non-Acetone Nail Polish Remover - $0.99 

Mini-Pump of Perfume - Various

Disposable Razors and Shaving Cream - Various

Travel Toothbrush and Toothpaste - $0.99

Travel-Size Listerine Mouthwash - $0.99

Axe Body Spray - $4.25

Travel-Size Not Your Mother's Clean Freak Dry Shampoo - $1.99

Travel-Size Not Your Mother's Whip It Up Mousse - $1.99

Reach Dental Floss - $0.99  

O T H E R   N O N - E S S E N T I A L S

Durex Condoms - $0.99

PureMoist Opti-Free Contact Solution - $1.99

Febreze To-Go - $0.99

Wet Ones Antibacterial Wipes - $0.99

Lysol To Go - $0.99

Up & Up Cotton Swabs - $0.99 


Altogether, I spent just less than $65.00 on these basics! If I total up everything in my professional wedding day emergency kit, I come in at a smidge more than $600.00, so total that awesome value into hiring a Day-Of Coordinator! You can read more about why hiring a wedding coordinator is a must by clicking here.

3 Ideas For Children's Activities At Weddings | Timeless Wedding Designs | South Florida Wedding Planner

Photo by Mandy Billings.

Having children at your wedding can be a wonderfully innocent addition to your big day in sooo many unexpected ways. You never really can predict what children are going to do and when, so having activities already prepared for them can hinder any kinds of boredom that little ones can experience at adult festivities! Because yuck, did they just kiss?!  How disgusting!

1. Customized Activity Kits For Kids
   As a teacher-turned-wedding planner, this one was a no-brainer for my company. If there are two things I know, they are kids and weddings! Creating customized activity kits for kids is so super easy and can be a cost-effective way to entertain the youngin's while the adults are mingling and enjoying themselves. These kits often include things like these customized coloring books that I found on Etsy for just $3.33 for a download! Tie together some crayons with ribbon that matches your decor and cover the childrens' table in butcher paper for the kids to color on. Bubbles are a soft and feminine addition to an outdoor wedding for adults and children and can be found at almost any drug store. Whatever your vision for your wedding is, you can surely find small things to match it.
    
2. Yard Games
   Here in the South, this one is kind of a given. Almost all outdoor venues have some type of yard games included in their packages at no additional cost! Two of my personal favorites are Corn Hole and Horse Shoes, and the great part is that if your venue doesn't already include these types of games, you can build them to suit your personal theme and keep them as a memento of your wedding day. Win-win!
   
   
3.  Dance Contests
   One of the most awkward parts of the evening is that dull fifteen minutes or so after dinner when everyone has a full tummy and the first round of exciting activities (read: bouquet tosses and garter removals) has yet to begin. As a wedding planner, I never worry too much about the dance floor because the flow tends to be the same for every wedding, but our clients always get a little nervous about whether or not their guests are having a good time. Trust me, they are! After people have eaten and before they've gotten that first stroke of fun confidence, most of your guests are just waiting for a que about what will happen next. Children rarely wait for ques! In fact, they tend to be the very first ones to hit the dance floor during wedding receptions, so why not get the evening going with a children's dance off? The winner gets a little bouquet of flowers, and the adults don't have to feel so awkward about their dance moves! 

Do you have any other ideas for children at weddings? What kinds of activities did you provide for the kids on your big day? Let us know in the comments... You could get a shout out!

Want more ideas for a flower girl or ring bearer at your wedding? Check out these cute options!

Why Wedding Day Coordination Is A Must-Have | Timeless Wedding Designs | West Palm Beach and Wilmington Wedding Planner

When you were a child, did you ever pretend to get married? What did your wedding day look like to you?

I know I envisioned every single person I loved watching me walk down the aisle with a big, beautiful bouquet of flowers in my hands, on my way to spending the rest of my life with the one person that I knew I would love forever. The setting was always very natural, probably somewhere outdoors, on a brisk day sometime in the Spring where not a single cloud dotted a perfect blue sky. I always saw myself being as calm as ever, smiling the entire time along with all of our guests.

If I am being honest, the child part of me probably didn't come up with that vision as much as the adult part of me did, but that is all part of my job as a wedding coordinator. It is what I want for my own wedding some day as much as it is what I want for all of my clients' weddings.

Unfortunately, though, we are sometimes presented with obstacles that turn our seemingly perfect wedding day sour. What if it had rained on my dream wedding day and I didn't order a tent? What if the florist never showed up (Heaven forbid!)? What if my family and I had just spent the entire morning of the best day of my life setting up my wedding day and we were ready to simply crash? These are all things that I deal with as your wedding coordinator so that you and your loved ones don't have to, and I wouldn't have your wedding day any other way.


W H A T   D O E S   A   W E D D I N G   C O O R D I N A T O R   D O ?

The great thing, in my opinion, about having a wedding coordinator is that your wedding day can truly be the best day of your life without all of the added stress of hosting a large event. I have heard all different kinds of things from brides about this idea, but the one that stands out the most to me is this: why would it not still be the best day of my life if I don't hire you? The truth is, your wedding day should be the best day ever no matter what because you are joining your partner in a vow to love one another forever. Whether or not you have a wedding coordinator, no one and no event can take that away from you. However, with a wedding coordinator, you have someone who will set up and clean up your wedding, someone who will do all of the stressing for you if they need to, someone to manage everyone who you've hired already, and someone to take a final deep breath with you before they send you on down the aisle. You get a best friend who you do not have to feel guilty about giving a job to on your wedding day, and that's the best thing ever.

Let me put it this way - suppose you start a business and you are preparing for your grand opening where there are going to be some very important people coming. You hire six employees to do various tasks and you decorate the store beautifully; you are fully prepared to greet the important people as they arrive and mingle and network. As the time comes and your guests are arriving, you find that you are very busy managing your employees and keeping the shop clean, and are missing out on the opportunity to network and grow your business. If you had hired a manager to do these things while you were busy, the manager could have taken care of these things for you.

Day-Of Wedding Coordinators are those managers. And we are more than happy to make your wedding the very best version of your wedding possible.


M Y   D J   /   V E N U E   I S   P R O V I D I N G   A   C O O R D I N A T OR

The first thing you need to understand is that your vendors are there to advocate for themselves and the companies they work for, not you. (I'm not saying they don't care about your wedding - they've spent a ton of time with you and they probably love you!) What I am saying is that you can't expect your DJ to show up to your venue and start setting up your final details, or your venue coordinator to call your limo driver when they don't show up on time. They are there to do a job that is not about managing the entire wedding, but managing their own smaller aspect of a bigger picture. Can your DJ or venue coordinator create a timeline for your wedding day or try to que the bridal party to go down the aisle at the correct time? Sure! However, don't expect it to be the same as if you hired a wedding coordinator.

On another note, lets say something goes wrong with the venue. The venue coordinator has to go deal with the issue and can't manage the rest of the wedding day because they are not there for you, they are there for the venue. That's why they are called venue coordinators. In addition, venues are known for having high turnover rates, so the likelihood that the person you booked with at the venue and the person that coordinates your wedding day will be the same person is pretty slim.


W H A T   I S   T H E   I N V E S T M E N T   F O R   A   W E D D I N G   C O O R D I N A T O R ?

There is no one answer for this question because every wedding coordinator charges something different, but you can expect to pay somewhere between $900.00 and $1,500.00 for Day-Of Coordination. Like most things, you get what you pay for, so be weary of wedding coordinators who charge significantly less than that.

So now you might be thinking, "Wow, I really see the value in hiring a wedding coordinator but why do you charge so much?" Think about all of the planning and all of the hours you have put into your wedding day... There are a ton of moving pieces and last-minute adjustments that have to be made, right? We take care of all of that, but we have to start at least 30 days before your big day so that we are sure we know every single piece of what you have created! This means hours upon hours of contacting your vendors (and possibly sitting down for a meeting with them), setting up your timeline, making checklists and contact sheets, getting to know your bridal party, getting to know you and your vision, and then coordinating your rehearsal and your wedding day (which by itself could be more than eight hours of work). We do a lot! You can read here about a great emergency kit that my clients get to use on their wedding as well, which is also built into a wedding coordinator's cost!


I S   T H E R E  A N Y T H I N G   T H A T   A   C O O R D I N A T O R   W O N ' T   D O ?

Again, every coordinator is different so make sure you really get to know your coordinator before you hire them. Your coordinator should have their responsibilities outlined in their contract with a little excerpt about what they will not include in your package. If you hire them and you still have some major pieces missing from your planning that you want your coordinator to help you with, you should expect an extra charge for the planning!

E: Mandy@TimelessWeddingDesigns.com

Unique Ideas For Flower Girls And Ring Bearers | Timeless Wedding Designs | West Palm Beach and Wilmington Wedding Planners

Rick & Jeff served as ushers at Karyn & Bryan's wedding back in February at The Mansion at Tuckahoe in Jensen Beach, but Sebo & Kona (Karyn & Bryan's dogs) served as the ring bearers! Photo by RJ Hill Photography.

With wedding industry trends constantly growing and changing, brides and grooms can go crazy trying to find new and unique ways to make their wedding their own. A recent trend that I have seen is a big change in who gets to be the ring bearer or the flower girl - if couples choose to have them at all.

As I was perusing Pinterest yesterday (okay, every day) I noticed a wedding photo where the flower girls were actually the bride's grandmothers! I thought that this was such a beautiful way to honor the bride's grandmothers; they looked so whimsical and young, like it was also one of the happiest days of their lives. It also came to me that this would be a great way for couples who are choosing not to have children in their wedding ceremony to still have flower girls and ring bearers.

Back in February I had the pleasure of coordinating a wedding at the Mansion at Tuckahoe in Jensen Beach, Florida, that involved a little twist on the traditional ring bearer. Karyn and Bryan have two dogs, Sebo and Kona, that they wanted to involve in their wedding ceremony, so they dressed them up all super cute and made them into ring bearers. The ushers held the dogs at the back of the ceremony until the officiant, the bride's grandmother, said, "Who presents the rings?" At that time, the groom whistled for the dogs and they took off down the aisle to sit next to the bride and groom for the remainder of the ceremony.

Photo by Maryel Rivera Photography.

 If you are a little less than traditional but still want to have a flower girl, consider having her throw something other than flower petals. If you are getting married near the ocean, your flower girl may sprinkle sand or drop starfish on the edges of your aisle, although I do not recommend this for very young flower girls as you will probably be stepping on starfish all the way down the aisle. If you are having an indoor ceremony with a Winter Wonderland theme, consider having the flower girl toss paper snowflakes in the air!

Your wedding is a celebration of love and families coming together as one. Nothing is out-of-bounds at your wedding, so you can keep it as unique or traditional as you like. If you have more ideas for a new twist on the traditional flower girl or ring bearer, feel free to drop them in the comments below! I would love to hear about them.

Want some cute ideas for entertaining children during your wedding? Check them out here!

Wedding Day Financing in West Palm Beach and Wilmington | Timeless Wedding Designs | West Palm Beach and Wilmington Wedding Planners

Photo by RJ Hill Photography.

Well y'all, we have some exciting news!

Timeless Wedding Designs is now offering wedding day financing through Promise Financial! You may not have considered wedding day financing before for whatever reason - your credit score, high monthly repayments, or you didn't know this was even a thing.

Our partnership with Promise Financial has ensured several things for those of you who are interested in financing:

- Flexible loan amounts that work for whatever your needs may be.
- Low repayments at a fixed rate.
- Transparent and clear pricing with no hidden fees.

What's great is you don't have to use wedding day financing for just your wedding day; funds can be used to purchase a wedding ring, secure your honeymoon, and even to purchase your wedding gown!

Financing may not be for everyone. Please feel free to email me at Mandy@TimelessWeddingDesigns.com with any questions you may have and I will do my best to get them answered for you! You can also find out more information by clicking this link.