It's Been a Long Time

… I shouldn’t have left you (without a dope beat to step to LOL). Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. As soon as I started typing the title, the song came to my head.

Where have we been? What have we been up to?

Well… You know how life happens and you lose touch with people for a little while? That’s exactly what happened. We had weddings and special events to plan and execute. We had bridal shows to produce. We also moved our office to a new location (that was bittersweet… I loved our studio in Hatboro). Trilogy Event Design is now operating from 610 Old York Rd in Jenkintown. We also have the flexibility to meet with our clients and creative partners in other locations, like Center City Philadelphia, NJ, and DE. That’s pretty damn convenient!

Now with the COVID-19 Pandemic looming over us like an eerie demonic spirit, the Trilogy Event Design team is working remotely (safe at home). We are building a stronger business foundation so we can withstand the long-term impact of this worldwide crisis. We are testing out new systems and processes to continue to provide our clients with high-class event management services. We have reengaged our email newsletter. And now we are giving this blog a little jumpstart.

In the midst of all of this, we continue to update our social media pages several times a week. We are spotlighting our community of creative professionals. We are showcasing recent weddings and events. We are providing tips and resources for all who follow us. If you are not already a follower, please do so right now… on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

If you need any assistance with your wedding/special event plans, we are here for you. Take a look at our calendar to schedule a free 30-minute call with us. Our clients have said they feel much less overwhelmed and anxious afterwards.

As always, I leave you with Glitter Wishes & Unicorn Kisses! Stay well.

Seating Charts

Seating charts have become trendy over the last few years. They are a more picturesque way to tell your guests where to sit for dinner than the traditional escort cards. They are often so beautiful, they become a featured part of the decor.

However, I have worked with many couples who have not thought out the design very well… or their hired designer didn’t. Take a look at these 2 examples of seating charts:

Image #1 - Sorted by Table Number

This looks great because there are probably the same number of guests at each table. The layout is a linear grid with even spacing. However, it takes longer for guests to find their names and table assignment. This becomes especially problematic when you have a large guest list.

Image #2 - Sorted Alphabetically by Last Name

This is also a beautiful design with the headings printed in large font to make it easy for guests to find their names and then the table number next to their name.

We recommend sorting alphabetically to get your guests seated quickly (with minimal confusion) so the rest of your agenda can continue without delay.

If you like the wedding and event planning tips provided in our blog, please come back often to read more.

If you need individual attention and guidance to plan the event of your dreams, please contact us to schedule an initial meeting to discuss how we can help you. Call us at 800.941.2770. Email us at info@trilogyeventdesign.com. Or use our online calendar at https://bit.ly/2InCnAj

Until next time…

Glitter Wishes & Unicorn Kisses!

Day of Coordination Tips 7 thru 9

We’re back with the final installment in the Day of Coordination series.

Please note that many of these tips can be applied to any type of special event, not just weddings.

TIP #7 - ADVANCED DELIVERY

If you have place cards, favors, guest books, etc. to deliver to your ceremony and/or reception venue, have them delivered no later than the day of your rehearsal (based on the venue's policy).

Terrica Skaggs of Cocktails & Details  once told us: "All items that need to be setup need to be in the room or at the very least, the same building, as to where they need to be setup, if you haven't given them to me the night before."

Final payments to vendors should be sorted in sealed, marked envelopes and given to your coordinator as early as possible. I suggest handing these over at the rehearsal. This eliminates the chance of leaving the payments in your hotel room or in the limo. Your coordinator should handle the distribution of these payments to your hired wedding professionals so you don't have to be concerned with it during the course of your reception.

NOTE: The above suggestion also applies to your marriage license. At a recent wedding, the bride left the marriage license in the hotel and only trusted her mother to go back to get it. So the ceremony officiant had to wait after the ceremony for the mother of the bride to return with the license. Meanwhile, the bride's mother had to miss out on many of the formal photos.

TIP #8 - OPEN COMMUNICATION

As with any relationship, it is best to keep the lines of communication open. Without it, there is too much room for misinterpretation. Does your silence equal satisfaction? Or does it mean you called off the wedding and forgot to tell your coordinator?

Make sure your coordinator's emails are not being filtered into your junk mail/spam folder. If this is happening, she may think you are ignoring her emails while you are thinking she has terrible customer service.

Tell your coordinator the best time of day for her to speak with you on the phone. Unless you tell her, she won't know that you have staff meetings on Mondays from 10 am to noon or yoga 3 nights a week.

Provide your coordinator with a copy of your venue/vendor contracts so that we know who we need to reach out to prior to the wedding. This also allows us to find out who our points of contact are for the day of the wedding. AND it helps us to create a timeline for the day.

Speaking of the timeline…

TIP #9 - TIMELINE

Your wedding coordinator is the team captain, show director, time keeper, troubleshooter… The coordinator’s timeline is bible. It is all-inclusive of all of the individual agendas prepared by your hired professionals. It includes delivery, set up, and pick up times. It includes hair & makeup appointment times. It includes the order of the ceremony and reception events. It includes the music to be played and the courses to be served for dinner. It includes off-site photo locations during cocktail hour. It includes everything everybody needs to know about everything.

Hair & makeup always takes longer than you think it will. The coordinator’s timeline will include a time cushion

The coordinator’s timeline may also allow a little extra time for friends & family who typically tend to be tardy for the party.

Your job, as the client, is to make sure your coordinator has all of the information needed to make this possible.

This concludes our Day of Coordination series. We welcome your comments on the items discussed. Feel free to post below.

We invite you to meet with us to discuss your wedding day coordination needs. Our “Wedding Management” services begin 30 days before your wedding day. We recommend you book us at least 3 months in advance. Contact us today to schedule an initial meeting: Call 800-941-2770, Email info@trilogyeventdesign.com, or use our online calendar

Until next time…

Glitter Wishes & Unicorn Kisses

Day of Coordination Tips 4 thru 6

Hi There! We’re back with more day of wedding coordination tips.

TIP #4 - COORDINATION VS DECORATION

Not all Wedding Coordinators decorate and most Decorators don’t coordinate weddings. It is very important to know and communicate what services you need for your wedding day. This will help you make the right hiring decisions and avoid any disappointments on your very special day.

At Trilogy Event Design, we offer both services separately. Check out our service options at http://trilogyeventdesign.com/weddings

TIP #5 - NO SECRETS/ NO SURPRISES

Because the day-of coordinator did not plan your wedding, chances are she doesn't know every detail. It is up to you to make sure you tell her everything about your wedding so there are no surprises.

We asked a few of our colleagues to share their thoughts about this:

"There is no such thing as too much information. Never think to yourself, 'Oh, I'll have a family member handle that the coordinator doesn't need to know'. We are only as good at implementing your plans as you let us be." ~ Sandra Hadley, planning forever events

"Make sure that your family knows that you hired a DOC. You want to be sure that the girlfriends, sorority sisters, and siblings are aware that they are no longer needed to be the Day Of Coordinator anymore. And no, I don't need any of them to be my assistant because I hired my own team for that." ~ Kawania Howerton Wooten, Howerton + Wooten Events

If you told the DJ not to play "Dance With My Father" because you hate your father, then your coordinator needs to know so she can stop the song before Luther sings the first word.

If you insist on having your hair done with your bridesmaids on the morning of your wedding, then your coordinator needs to know the time and location of your appointment so she can realistically judge the timing of later events, such as photographer's arrival.

If you have assigned specific tasks to members of your bridal party, then you should tell your coordinator so she doesn't step on anyone's toes. For example, you have asked your mother and maid of honor to bustle your dress. Unless you tell her, the wedding coordinator may expect this to be one of her duties.

If you forget to buy something that is needed on the wedding day, don't wait until the last minute to tell your coordinator. If she is willing to run out to get it for you, she will have to work it into her timeline.

These are just a few possible scenarios. It is always best to keep your wedding coordinator well-informed.

TIP #6 - GET THE MEASUREMENTS RIGHT

If you rent chair covers, make sure they fit your chairs. If you get the wrong size, then you will have to order 100 new chairs in just a few hours before the ceremony starts. Can you imagine how this scenario would have played out without a coordinator?

The same goes for anything else you are bringing in to the venue as “extra” decor.

• Is there enough space for that flower wall?

• Are your special linens for the sweetheart and cake table going to fit properly?

• Does the aisle runner need to be cut to size on the day of the wedding?
  

Come back for more fabulous tips as we continue this Day Of Coordination series. Until then…

Glitter Wishes & Unicorn Kisses!