As some of us already have seen there was a local vendor who claimed ot be a rental company/decorator and a wedding planner who scammed several area brides out of money. It is a sad occurrence but it something that happens all to often. Here are a few tips on how to protect yourself!

1. Never pay money until you receive a contract
2. Read your contract
3. Contact previous clients or vendors (references) who have worked with them
4.  Never pay the entire amount, a deposit/retainer is up to 50% of the service/product price
5. If it sounds to good to be true, or they are several hundreds or thousands of dollars cheaper, there is always a reason why. Either substandard service or they are swindling people.
6. I cannot say it enough, google the company – do your research. If there are unsatisfied customers they usually take to the internet to say so. Now, take that with a grain a salt, as with every company not every customer can be satisfied as much as one tries.

Here is the video from the Global Trouble Shooter about the swindling decorator

If you’re looking to see a few posts by local wedding planners on the Royal Wedding check out what they had to say:

Royal Wedding – Duke & Duchess of Cambridge – Once Upon Your Day

Will + Kate – A Modern Proposal Event Planning

Will + Kate Tie the Knot – Sweet Bliss Weddings

Royal Wedding Trends – Jennifer Bergman Weddings

Prince William + Kate Middleton – Awespiring Weddings

By: Julianne Cragg, A Modern Proposal Event Planning

Well, the Top of the Inn in the Delta South was completely revamped this early spring and we had a first look. The changes are stunning. I cannot decide what my favourite part is, the glass bead backdrop wall, stunning light fixtures or the tile choices in the bathroom/entrance/and bar area! The fantastic twinkle light celling was kept as well! The current capacity was 200, but a new maximum capacity with the added spaces has yet to be determined. This is one of the most beautiful spaces in Edmonton as you have an almost 360 degree view of the city, with all windows on both facing the south and north side!

This is the backdrop up close. Yes. Beads. I just about died.It is going to look phenomenal with a colored light backdrop…

Back bar/buffet area. These buffet tables are movable and they will move in bars in front of the ‘back splash area’ if that’s what your function requires.

The ceiling. This was my best photo – sorry you’ll have to wait for a professional to take photos that do it justice! All the holes were drilled by hand, but they were also drilled out in the constellations! The pillars will also have beautiful navy fabric panels on them shortly.

This is the entrance looking back – the washrooms are the the left (right if you’re walking in)

Rachel + Chris were married at the lovely Winspear Centre in downtown Edmonton. She wore gorgeous Pronovias gown, that suited her just perfectly!

They incorporated, from her culture, the cord and veil ceremony which was very beautiful and symbolic.

The theme of the wedding was a ‘travel’ theme, they had sent out invites that resembled boarding passes, and had “Passports” as wedding programs (no picture sorry!), the wedding favors were luggage tags, tables named after places they had traveled, and these postcards were put on the tables so that guests could send them a message.

This beautiful, seven layer, and tasty cake was created by Cakes by Trina.

This was the first time I have had the honour of working with Just Married Photography and it was a blast. Elaine + Kenneth definitely know what they are doing, here are two photos from the wedding from them – more to come for sure!

This one made my heart drop, but then again, I love vintage cars.

Myself, Kenneth + Elaine- they’re crazy (awesome)I told you!

Julianne Cragg | Edmonton Wedding Planner
A Modern Proposal Event Planning
o: 780.760.1466 | c: 780.901.5630

They can be very exciting and extremely overwhelming. Bridal shows come to Edmonton in September and then again in January.

Here are some tips on how to survive bridal shows if you choose to attend:

1. Go early. Earlier you go the less line ups and there will still be ‘freebies’ and fliers, also vendors have more time to talk to you. Also if you plan on booking a vendor at the show (not recommended) then your date may still be available.

2. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes; it’s not a fashion show.

3. Pre plan. Pre plan your route through the halls, and your transportation to the event. They tend to hike up parking prices and parking can be very limited.

3. Bring a bag. Not only a bag but a bag with bottles of water, and some snacks. The food at these events is usually price, not healthy and poorly cooked.

4. Create a free email account prior to going to the event, and use that email address to enter into draws. You will be spammed by vendors, sometimes even two years after you attended.

5. Pre-do little labels with your name and email address (refer to point #4), and mailing address. If you put your phone number, they will call you.

6. Bring a camera or iPhone to take photos, but remember to ask the vendor if it is okay for you to take pictures, that way if you see something you like you won’t have a hard time explaining it.

Finally only take fliers from companies you are truly interested in because it will only cause a headache for you to sort through at the end.

Upcoming Shows:
Fall
Bridal Conference ; September 19, 2010; Edmonton Expo Centre
Love Story Expo; September 26, 2010; Transalta Tri-Leasure Centre
Edmonton Bridal Expo; October 3, 2010; Shaw Conference Centre

Spring
Bridal Fantasy; January 23, 2011; Edmonton Expo Centre

Company: Awespiring Weddings and Design
Location: Edmonton and area
Website: www.awespiringweddings.com
Blog: www.awespiringweddings.com/blog

What made you get started in wedding planning?
I’ve always been on an event planning committee, no matter what job I was working at.  I love being behind the scenes.  When it came time to help my sister plan her wedding followed by planning my own, I loved it!  My sister also felt the same way; we looked up how to get certified in the industry and took the Wedding Planner course offered by the Wedding Planners Institute of Canada.  I haven’t looked back since!

What type of wedding planning do you specialize (Full, Day of, Design)?
We do it all.  We offer a variety of services to our clients.  We also customize packages to meet a clients needs.

What is your favorite part of a wedding?
When the bride and groom see each other for the first time, it’s a magical moment!

Do you have a favorite style/theme of wedding?
I don’t have a favorite style/theme.  I love when a couple has a vision of what they want their wedding day to have, and we can make that vision come to life for them.

What are some of your hobbies?
scrapbooking, card making, reading and spending time with my husband.

What is one word of advice you would give to a bride?
Its your day, make decisions that will make you happy.  You are the one that has to live with the decisions made.

Company: High Culture: Weddings & Special Events Inc.

Location: Edmonton and area & further destinations

Website: http://web.mac.com/high.culture/

Blog: High Culture Blog

What made you get started in wedding planning?
I have always been a planner. The source of inspiration to plan weddings and special events came to me at a very young age. For as long as I can remember, I have always been inspired by Preston Bailey and Colin Cowie and when I was younger, I absolutely loved to watch Giada de Laurentiis television program Behind the Bash. I grew up in the hospitality industry – my father a Food & Beverage Director and my mother a pastry chef (former). From there, I worked part time at events for my dad and in grade ten, I was a student in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme where I completed a personal project about weddings – what they consist of and how to plan one. After I had finished my project which I had been fully consumed by, I felt like I was missing something in my life – wedding planning, so I completed a Wedding & Special Event Planning course directed by Milena Santoro, a former wedding & special events coordinator from Vancouver. It was an absolutely incredible experience. After I received my certificate from completing the course, I slowly began to gain clients (while still a high school student!).

What type of wedding planning do you specialize (Full, Day of, Design)?
I do it all – I plan other functions as well but weddings are what I choose to specialize in. In regards to weddings, I do full coordinating, day of management, and design. I enjoy working on events both locally as well as other destinations. I love to travel – I have a passport that is always ready to be used!

What is your favourite part of a wedding?
This is a tough one – I have a lot of favourites! When I complete full coordination, I absolutely love going through the planning process ensuring that a couples vision will be executed as well as being able to see everything unfold on the day of! I find it so gratifying to see my clients wowed and to go beyond their expectations. A few favourites: the beginning of the ceremony, the first kiss, speeches (I love listening to sentimental and heartfelt speeches)… I LOVE knowing that I have been a part of one of the most significant days of a couples lives.

Do you have a favourite style/theme of wedding?
I adore classy and elegant weddings. Candlelight and flowers are two of my favourite items in the area of decor. I also love it when a wedding is unique to the couple – when a couple adds their own personal touch(es) to their wedding, it feels more real, more them.

What are a few of your favorite blogs?
Preston Bailey
Edmonton Wedding Photographers – there are so many gorgeous images to view!
Wedding Obsession

What are some of your hobbies?
I love to travel! I am constantly intrigued by trends and traditions within each culture and I think that traveling is the perfect way to gain cultural knowledge. Cooking & baking (I am a total foodie), painting & decorating, and reading are also some of my favourite pastimes.

What is one word of advice you would give to a bride?
Well, I think that the advice can be shared between the couple – your wedding day is a stepping stone to spending the rest of your lives together and I think that this process is really the precursor to what you can expect from your life together. Enjoy the moment!

Wedding Components
Planner: A Modern Proposal
Services Used: Partial Planning
Couple: Feyi & Tony
Ceremony Venue: Festival Place
Reception Venue: Derrick Club
Photographer: McMaster Studios (not the photos below)
Rentals: Exquisite Creations
Florals: Laurel’s
Cake: Bake-Me-A-Cake
Transportation: Champagne Limosines 

(photo by: ENV Photography; Planner – Julianne Cragg)

Written by: Julianne Cragg, WPICC

A wedding planner’s main job is to save you time, money, and stress. The largest difference of a wedding with a wedding planner is that you will see the bride having a good time and the bride and groom will be guests at their own wedding instead of having to tend to every little detail that goes array.

Wedding Planners/Coordinators will:
- Obtain lower prices
- Assist you in finding the best vendors
- Negotiate contracts
- Coordinate a schedule with your vendors
- Confirm arrival times and locations, obtain emergency numbers
- Compile a detailed schedule for you, your wedding party, and vendors
- Review contracts from your vendors
- Ensure you receive the services detailed on your contracts
- Ensure your vendors have everything they need
- Set up your ceremony and reception décor
- Transport your ceremony décor (as necessary)
- Direct vendors where to go
- Assist your guests (provide direction/fix attire/obtain high chairs etc.)
- Cue vendors when events are starting/need to end
- Fill in where necessary (i.e if an usher leaves or a guest book attendee does not arrive)
- Keep the event on schedule
- Distribute final payments
- Attend to emergencies

(please note: these are a few applicable tasks, and this can vary from planner to planner, and from package to package)
A big misconception is that your venue coordinator or your relative can take care of everything. A venue will have not contacted the cake person or the florist to ensure they have the correct address and when they are delivering. They also will not call the florist/baker/dj when they have not arrived on time. Will your relative have a back up contact to have another cake delivered or what will happen your bridesmaids pearls go all over the floor, or the ring bearer forgets the rings in the limo, are you going to send them to pick them up? Those are some of the many typical situations that happen at a wedding.

You will also have to be prepared to answer many questions on the day of your wedding, perhaps while getting hair or makeup done while your relative tries to decipher your hand writing or your vendor has a last minute questions. Wedding planners usually will have asked this in advance, have a back up copy, or have a contract/email in hand to answer the pending question.

A wedding planner will give you a list of great vendors to work with, it might not be a direct recommendation for you (as you would receive with full wedding planning), but reputable vendors that they have worked with. Remember they want your day to go as smoothly as possible as it will only make them look better, plus it’s less stress for the planner!

Wedding planners also know what is absolutely necessary to carry out your vision. Some vendors may try to up sell you and tell you need more than you really need. Their goal is to sell you as much as possible; where as the wedding planner is on your side, to ensure you receive your vision, on your budget.

When couples who took on the whole wedding by themselves were asked “what would you have done differently”? The majority say “hire a wedding planner” – ask a friend you’d be surprised!

In short, couples who hire a wedding planner will find that it is the best money they spent, and will enjoy their wedding.