What does a "Day Of" Coordinator do?

You have to sometimes wonder what could possibly come up during your wedding day to justify the hiring of a wedding planner.  These are just a few and without a planner, some of them could have turned into minor catastrophes.

·       Purchasing sheet cakes for backup wedding cake when, after cutting, it was realized they were short almost 100 pieces of cake

·       Pinning and sewing torn dresses, straps and even shoe buckles

·       Giving directions to reception site to lost vendors

·       Quickly moving indoor ceremony, outdoors due to rain and then with only 20 minutes to spare, moving ceremony BACK outside at bride’s request

·       Reviewing setup to find that certain tables were missing chairs, silverware and napkins BEFORE any guest noticed

·       Setup of “Kid’s Area” for children who attended the reception and became bored with the long process of a 6 course meal

·       Setting up DVD/TV player for a surprise video provided by sister of bride, who forgot to mention to anyone that she wanted this viewed at the reception

·       Locating last minute seating for elderly parent who realizes they are unable to stand for entire service

·       Speeding up slow service and organizing an unorganized staff at reception site

·       Curl and up do of bride’s hair when salon was unable to create the look she had wanted (I'm not a hairstylist, I am only to be utilized in emergencies.)

·       Placing wood pieces underneath food tables when (because of excessive mud and weight of food) the tables began to sink into ground

·       Guiding lost and or slightly intoxicated guests to the site, back to their seat or to a cab (without anyone noticing, including said guest)

·       Last minute call to Limo Company who had provided wrong vehicle and wrong driver

·       Waiting at the hotel to escort 2 sets of great grandparents to transportation to the ceremony as well as the reception (after all other transportation methods had left and were unavailable)

·       Removing of an intoxicated/disruptive guests without any type of disruption the Bride or Groom (yes, this is a different example beyond the assistance with slightly intoxicated guest)

·       Purchasing specific bread (alcohol, napkins, dessert, appetizer) that Bride/Groom had requested that was found to be not available at the reception site

·       Pinning down table linens when an unexpected wind storm occurred (wind was strong enough that linens were blowing off, as well as centerpieces, which were then breaking.)   

·       Arriving at site to find set up/linen colors wrong and then fixing the entire site before bride, groom OR guests noticed

·       Organizing last minute song lists for wedding when groom “forgot” to handle (you'd be surprised how often the groom "forgets" to do things for the wedding)

·       Delivery of special items to bride/groom and placement of surprise/secret items and gifts for some of the special people involve

·       Calming jittery brides, grooms, family members (this happens every single time)

 The Wedding Lady recommends you make a consultation appointment with any of the following coordinators working in Northern California.

An Occasion to Remember  (530) 589-5900   

JKiendra Productions  (206) 617-2243 

Your Perfect Day  (530) 521-7539   

Before Booking Your Wedding Entertainment

Good entertainment is instrumental when it comes to keeping the party flowing. 

I thought it would be helpful to go back to basics and discuss the must-ask questions to review with any entertainment before you book them. This will ensure you have all the information you need to make the right decision about who to hire for your wedding day.

The first and most important step is to find someone with a great personality, that will light up the crowd by curating the right music selections. The music should tell a story and create a rhythm: upbeat cocktails, more subdued and chic music for dinner and then dance sets moving into house music and beyond.
As with everything, hiring and negotiating successfully has most to do with how you approach people. Remember, creativity is not a light switch. You want to make sure you really gel with your talent. If you are hiring a DJ, spend several hours over a bottle of wine and go over the music selection making sure he or she understands what you like and what you don't like. Tailor the playlist with them and never think of them as a Juke Box and ask them to change direction after every song. And let them know what your policy is with requests.

Here are some basics to remember when you are meeting talent:
Verify their skills…
    •    It is important to ask detailed questions about the performer's skills and resume: How long have they been in business? Training? References? (Ask if you can see a video of a previous performance. It will help you assess more thoroughly.)
    •    What exactly will they need for their performance? (Staging? Equipment? Is it rented or do they have their own?)

During the wedding...
    •    While you may be focused on what your bridal party is wearing, you must also ask your entertainment these questions so it doesn't throw off the vibe of your party: What will they and their assistants be wearing to your event and when they set up their equipment?
    •    Do they have a wireless microphone that guests can easily use during the wedding for speeches, etc.?

Scheduling/technicalities...
    •    Are you guaranteed that you will have the performer of your choice at your event? Are you guaranteed a backup DJ or performer if they get sick?
    •    When do you need to submit your playlist and event details? Can you submit a "do not play list"? How will they handle guest requests during the party?

It's all about the money…
    •    This can be the "make or break it" category for most, so be careful when asking these questions because you can really save money (or lose it) depending on the answers: What is the complete breakdown of cost? What is required for a deposit? Does it include everything (the assistants, cancelation deposits, transportation or delivery fees etc.)?
    •    Do they carry liability insurance?
    •    What is their overtime policy? Are they prepared to play overtime if the party is going strong? What's their rate for overtime?

Remember, there’s nothing wrong with being straightforward and requesting the information you need. It’s important to be inquisitive now, when you have a world of options in front of you.

To discover the musical entertainment options in Northern California, we invite you to visit: WeddingsNorthValley.com

Content of this blog posting is from http://lifeandstyle.colincowie.com/notes/0078p.asp