Planning a wedding from A to Z
Planning a wedding from A to Z
The dos, don’ts and wedding day advice from the experts
Writer’s note: The following interviews were completed in November 2009 when I had an online column as the Chicago Relationships Examiner. This post has been repurposed and edited as needed. View the original post here for pages 1, 2 and 3.
You may have planned a birthday party, a Halloween party or even been the host of a Christmas dinner party, but you've never had to plan something as big as a wedding. Now you're the most important person in the wedding: the bride.
Here are some tips from wedding professionals and wedding planners in the Chicago area about how to make your wedding the best wedding it can possibly be from A-Z.
Accessories and Decorations
“How do I find wedding accessories items that fit my personality?”
"One of the things I do is customize wedding accessories — that is the African-American jumping broom, the ring pillows, flower girl baskets. Brides want the colors of their weddings, very vibrant colors. I take a swatch of what they have or some other item to create customized items. I use cowry shells, very beautiful ornate type of beading, fringe, anything that really catches my eye."
-Leeta Liddell, owner of Diamonds & Lace EventScaping
Bridal Shower/Makeup Party
“What are good gift ideas to thank my bridal party for their work or good bridal shower ideas?”
"Upon booking us, the Makeup Bar of Chicago is a mobile makeup party. We bring out the professional makeup artists, the bartenders, as well as the photographers. We definitely want them to come away thinking this is something I'd like to do around the holidays or for me and my girlfriends."
-Relana Johnson, Creative Director of Diamonds & Lace EventScaping, principal instructor and owner of Good Gyrri®
Cash Bar at Reception
“Should I or shouldn't I make my guests pay?”
*The videographers will kill me, but sometimes if you're working with a $5,000 or $10,000 budget, maybe you should not get a videographer. Maybe you should devote that money from your videographer to your food and alcohol so you don't have to have a cash bar. Cash bars are a breach of etiquette. It's like inviting somebody to your house and saying, 'You want a drink? Give me $5.' People do it anyway, but it's a breach of etiquette."
-Geralyn Hopson, owner and principal event designer of Red Carpet Events