As a current intern, I can tell you that there is no better job out there! Don’t be fooled though, all of the fun that we have is only met with working five times as hard! We play hard but work HARDER! Rayna and Mallory are absolutely amazing to work for and it is the most incredible job! Be prepared to have lots of fun but also expect the unexpected and be willing to put in the effort it takes to create such fabulous events!

If you apply, here are some important details:

• Do not call or send an inquiry via our website.  Clients and vendors call me and potential clients submit an inquiry on the site.  If you want to be associated with Always Planned you must MAIL OR EMAIL Rayna your cover letter and your resume. No exception.
• This is a NON-Paid position.  It is best suited for someone working towards a college degree and who will receive credit for the hours or for someone wanting to break into the wedding/event field.
• You MUST be fun, energetic, organized, detail oriented, creative and patient.  If this is not you- please look into other intern opportunities.

Please send your resume and a short note to Rayna at rayna@alwaysplanned.com.  Always Planned is a great company to work for and we look forward to meeting you soon!

But it is y’alls wedding, right? I mean, the BOTH of you are getting married, aren’t you? Therefore, I think it is exceedingly important that he has some kind of role in the planning process, whether he is really interested in the Purple Mountain Majesty’s swatch for your bridesmaids’ dresses, or not.

Before you throw all of your plans for damask linens and cute little pomanders all over him, let’s take a step back and do some evaluating:

i) As aforementioned, leave the hip wedding lingo to conversations with your planner, mother, MOH, etc. Throw a couple of those words at him and he’ll give you that confused look your daddy gave you when you mentioned you spent $4,000… on flowers.

ii) Make a list. Sit down with your soon-to-be hubby and talk about what you think he would be really good at being in charge of. (Be sure to add lots of “well, you’re so talented with this,” or “babe, you would be so much better at that than me”). Let him know how much you would appreciate his help, even if you only need him to do a few things here and there.

iii) If you ask for his opinion, be ready to actually take it into account. And I know most girls will read this and be like, well duh? But really, if you are already leaning heavily toward an option, and you think he may not agree with you, it may be best not to ask him (chances are he won’t notice on your big day).

So, now that we’ve gotten all of THAT out of the way, how about we talk about some ways that your Boo-Boo can help you out with all of this stressful (I mean, uh – wonderful) wedding planning business. I’ve thought of a few things that I would definitely feel comfortable leaving up to my fiancé. Now, feel free to leave comments and tell me about your experiences!

• Have him type up his half (or less-than-half) side of the guest list, and you two can grab a glass of wine for a pre screening of your wedding guests.

• If your betrothed is super creative, ask him to help you choose your invitations, after all – your invitations should tell a story of your relationship, so input from both sides of that relationship should be helpful.

• Put him in charge of selecting the drinks to be served at your reception, maybe have him attend a wine tasting with a few of his buddies to get a better idea of what he likes.

• If you share a common taste in music with your beau, think about letting him choose the music to be played at your reception – but be prepared to tweak his list a bit to add a few more “romantic” songs in there.

• Should you choose to forgo the limo and if your guy were anything like mine, he would LOVE the chance to choose the getaway car. Let him choose the car you all use to make your “great escape”. Make sure you stress to him the importance of HAVING a way to leave your wedding, also.

• While it may be tradition for the groom to plan the honeymoon, I know many brides aren’t 100% comfortable with that, so maybe put him in charge of finding the best deals for hotels near your wedding venue for your out-of-town guests to stay at. He may be able to find some good bargains and also make sure your guests are taken care of.

Now, with all of that being said, if you ask for his help, make sure you’re willing to let go of those responsibilities yourself. I know that I am QUITE the control freak and I want to oversee absolutely everything, but if I were to nitpick Wes’ way of doing things I know that it would really upset him. Remember that you trust this man and realize that he is going to take this seriously because he wants to make YOU happy.

Also, don’t forget that everyone needs a break from their own wedding. Don’t be afraid to take some time away from the planning and the stressing for the two of you to be engaged, your budget sheets and linen swatches will be there for you when you return. Enjoy your time with your fiancé, your wedding day will come soon enough – followed by the rest of your lives.

The last thing you want to do is put one of your amazing friends in the position of really disliking the dress or being uncomfortable in the dress she is wearing on your special day. As the recent trends in weddings have leaned towards personal touches, vintage affairs and eclectic style, new “rules” for bridesmaids’ dresses have followed suit. Consider choosing a color, fabric and length and giving the girls the option to choose their own style that they love. Brides have even gone as far as to pick a style and a few different colors or shades and let their friends choose a hue of their liking, (perfect for an outdoor vintage setting in pale pastels maybe?). Finding a dress that could be worn outside of the wedding would be an added bonus to any friend who is contributing financially to her own dress.

This day is about you and your honey, and your girls getting to stand beside you when you say “I do” is an added bonus and a special moment you will all share forever! Making sure they look AND feel great, while creating the “attitude” you want for your wedding will ensure that they are able to relax and enjoy those special moments with you!

Happy Planning!!

When thinking of your new home, a million and one things may come to mind that you would love to decorate with, add to the kitchen and so on and so forth. It is important to keep in mind the important things and not forget the special things! Using wedding registry checklists you can find online is a great tool to help you pick and remember the basic things you would need but also stay true to yourself and your couple style! For example if you love to be outdoors more than inside cooking, add more sports or camping equipment for those romantic hikes or weekend getaways.

This registry is about you as a couple so it is most important to take your time, do this together and remember to stay true to who you are!!

I met Jeremy at the wedding professional conference, Eventology, last year.  When he told me that he specialized in Awesome, I knew we would hit it off and we have been great friends ever since.  Check out a few of his images!

Jeremy Gilliam is a destination wedding photographer and travels to any location around the world. This is totally awesome and means that wherever you are or whatever location you decide upon you have have the most amazing, romantic and ultra-fabulous images that swiftly become the most gorgeous heirlooms and should instantly go on your largest wall!  I know, I went on and on there for a moment.   Anyway, you get my point.  He really does specialize in Awesome! Investments for his services begin at $4,500.  I totally think he is worth every penny!

You will always here me say that great design deserves a great photographer.  We love working with Jeremy!  Stay tuned for special collections involving Always Planned, A Perfect Posy and of course Jeremy!

Andrew and I decided to whisk away to the romantic and lush mountains of North Carolina.  We found ourselves in Asheville and every visit to Asheville requires a visit to America’s largest home, the fabulous and amazing Biltmore.  With the royal wedding recently I know we are going to see a push for weddings to become more of a formal affair and I could not be more excited!  The Biltmore is the ideal location for your wedding ceremony and celebration.  Could you just imagine your guests arriving to this venue being personally greeted with Champagne!!  There is a winery on property that makes it just like in France.  Oh la la!

Are you interested in having your wedding at Biltmore Estate?  I would love to talk to you!  They do have catering minimums, but I have found they are very competitive to most hotels and ballrooms.

Do you need inspiration?  Check out these drool worthy Biltmore weddings!

Style Me Pretty

Alisha Silver Photography

Hindsight Bride

]]> http://www.alwaysplanned.com/biltmore-wedding/feed/ 0 http://www.alwaysplanned.com/keeneland/ http://www.alwaysplanned.com/keeneland/#comments Wed, 20 Oct 2010 18:17:37 +0000 Rayna http://www.alwaysplanned.com/keeneland/ Life and wedding season is in full swing for us and wow have we been busy. So today we decided to take the afternoon off, we still have a few meetings but until then we are enjoying a day at the races!

There are many types of wedding planners and they are called many things – from Bridal Consultant and Event Planner to Event Designer, Event Coordinator and many more.  It doesn’t matter what your wedding planner is called – what matters is what your wedding planner does and their background.

When you meet with a wedding planner there are a few questions you need to ask.  Here is a great list to get you started.  This list would also be great for almost any vendor.  Please do not leave your entire wedding day to be dependent on someone who is not 100% qualified.

• How long has you been doing weddings?

Make sure this does not include their own wedding and that of a few friends.  This could be one of the most important questions to ask any vendor.

• How long will you be with me on my wedding day?

Some planners know that your wedding day could be a 16 hr. day.  Others may only be there to get you down the aisle and start your reception.  It is very important to know what type of service you will receive on your actual wedding day.

• What made you want to be a wedding planner?

I love this question.  No Joke- I love when a bride asks me this!  I think it shows in the way that my face lights up that I love what I do.  This is an important questions because an answer like “I planned my own wedding, my sister’s wedding or a friends wedding…. ” could spell disaster!  Why?  Just make sure you are not their first wedding outside of family and friends.

• What makes you stand out from other wedding planners?

Everyone should know their competition and have an answer waiting for this at all times.  There are plenty of wedding and event planners out there, but only one that is perfect for you!

• Are you certified? If so, with what organization?

This will show that the vendor you are interviewing is serious about what they do and this is not just a glorified hobby.

• Have you won any awards? Been recognized throughout your industry?

This will indicate his/her concern for staying on top of the latest trends and styles, as well as recognizing the importance of continued education.

Hope this little list of questions to ask will help you in your search for the perfect wedding planner.  If you happen to be looking in the Lexington, KY or Louisville, KY market then give us a call.  I am sure you will not be disappointed!

So I ask, why would you skimp on the most important day of your life? A Quality wedding vendor can and will save you time, money and worry. When you purchase a designer handbag you do not worry about the threading coming undone, but you may if you skimp and buy the knockoff. Understand?

Everyone knows that the economy is not in the best place right now, but this is not a time to “bargain” with your wedding vendors. It is time to know and appreciate their value. You would never think to ask Gucci for a discount on their latest and most popular design. Nor would you ask Macy’s if you can receive an additional discount because you got there first.

Realize that every wedding vendor does this because they love the business AND because they have a family to support, business expenses to cover and other employees that must be paid.