.... frequently asked questions
.... frequently asked questions
Being confident in asking the right questions relating to an idea of how you’d like your day to run, is the key.
Connectivity between each other, compatibility & fun. Friendships are formed whilst working so closely for a long period of time. Trust & honesty is extremely important to build solid relationships & this must be reciprocal.
I would expect you to select several & compare ‘like for like’ when looking over proposals.
My focus is The Armed Forces Community, Military Weddings.
My admiration for past & present serving personnel displays through my energised & passionate personality, along with my wealth of experience across different fields, which makes planning with me, serene.
I am flexible, professional, have respect for everyone I meet, including my surroundings. I work as a team player alongside all suppliers to ensure everyone has the best interests in making the day run smoothly, flawlessly & the Bride & Groom feeling, Happy.
This can be quite confusing & is asked often.
The most important thing to remember is that the Venue Coordinator is employed by the Venue & they act as liaison between yourselves (the couple) & the in-house Operations / Management Team. They are mostly just as lovely as we are, they do everything they can to showcase their Venue as being the right choice for you. They will perform show rounds, discuss packages, organise Chef menu tasting sessions, take payments & run through numbers nearer to the day. They oversee the Ceremony set up & pass on valued information to the Front of House Manager for details relating to layups, table plans, Chefs prepping with the Kitchen team & Bar set ups etc.
On the Day they will ensure everything is in working order with relation to the Venue. They will fulfil the Venue contractual obligations. Some go above & beyond to make sure you & your guests feel at ease, although the majority don’t stay for the entire Wedding Day including to the end of the Reception / Party. On occasions when assistance is needed, reliant on waiting staff or bar staff, sometimes isn’t ideal. Having your own Wedding Planner / On the Day Coordinator means we have eyes on everything. We are probably the best investment of the day to ensure any hiccups (if any happen to bubble up) are eliminated ASAP.
We know exactly who’s arriving, what needs to be where & when . . . . We are the central point of contact for everyone supporting & involved in your special day. Venue Management, suppliers, including yourselves; would all be given a copy of the timeline. We oversee the process coming to life as you envisaged it.
Imagine . . . . The sun’s just up, your day arrives, we are poised & ready as suppliers begin to arrive, ticking off the check lists as sites are styled & dressed, the cake is delivered & being placed, the flowers are looking beautiful, there’s a lot happening all at once. Joining forces, we know who’s who & who’s where, having what done! The bride is being pampered, fizz is already flowing (don’t forget to eat!), hair & makeup – Who’s first? Bride / Bridesmaids – The Photographer is ready to snap away – No filters needed; you will all look sensational. The Groom & his Best Man are calm, cool & looking very dapper in their uniforms; just a little nervous as they enter the Chapel . . . .The Photographer has already captured some fabulous shots of the duo. Cue the music, the Bride walking down the aisle, the Groom waiting to catch the first look of his love radiantly approaching. The ceremony now complete. The guests are ushered outside & with a roar of good spirits as the Toastmaster welcomes in Mr & Mrs Newlyweds, they pass under the raised arch of swords for the traditional Guard of Honour. Jubilation, big smiles, Photographs, more fizz! Time for the Wedding Breakfast. We’ve checked the seating plan earlier, behind the scenes, to ensure everyone is catered for & the allergen alerts are monitored. Drinks are flowing, guests having a great time knowing we are there to answer any of their questions or assist if needed. The service is impeccable, the meal is delicious – Are the microphones on? We’ve covered it. Time for the speeches. Again, behind the scenes, the presents are ready to be handed out, the bouquets for the mothers once presented, will be safely put to one side until it’s time to leave . . .
As the evening guests arrive for the reception, we are on hand to help with anything, from answering questions, showing where to hang coats in the cloak room to coordinating that special moment for the cake cutting & first dance. Then, it’s over to the DJ & dance the night away! When everyone bids you farewell & you make your way to your accommodation, we ensure the guests are looked after until the end. “No one gets left behind”. The Wedding Day Coordinator is a vital role when it comes to ensuring it’s a complete success & runs stress free. (These have been just a few tasks amongst many for you to imagine how we would get involved).
No, we work with a large network of very talented professional Wedding Suppliers.
Our role is to find the right ones to compliment you & your day, with your budget in mind. If you have a choice of suppliers, you prefer us to work with, we will absolutely make contact & invite them to be part of this special celebration.
Sometimes we do.
We have a wonderful list of suppliers, that we have been fortunate to be introduced to & work with. We will always negotiate on your behalf to receive their best price, without devaluing their work or service, causing them to feel offense when being asked.
We will ensure quotes received are fair & in conjunction with their Terms.
Yes! We are fully insured with Public Liability & Professional Indemnity.
We also advise & request you confirm that you have taken out Wedding Insurance which covers Military Weddings yourselves. For example, in an event of unforeseen deployment, dates, suppliers etc which have been secured, would need to be rearranged.
Having your own insurance would offer you valued security rather than financial loss.
We are fortunate to work alongside a trusted network of fellow Wedding Planners / Coordinators. We are all professional & passionate in our field. We support one another & if in the event, for whatever reason, Banns & Plans are unable to attend your booked Wedding Service, the reserves will step in & take action. By no means will you be left unsupported.
Firstly, complete the questionnaire in the ‘Happily Ever After, Starts Now’ section & get in touch. We will confirm receipt & arrange a convenient time for a complimentary call. This will be an evening or weekend. We will work together as a team & at no stage will Banns & Plans make decisions without your input.
My time as your Wedding Planner / Coordinator is to support you, to be your confidant, your go to friend, the one who keeps things real, yet passionate to the core & excited with you as we take this path together.
Please do take on board the following minor details not undertaken:
Moving your cake: Please request your cake maker action this. Respectfully, they would be aware of the weight & structure, as well as familiar in manoeuvres.
Childminding: Leave this to the professionals who are security checked. ‘Wedding Nanny’ supplier details are available upon request - Must be booked prior to the Wedding Date.
Ironing, pressing Uniform / Suits or Wedding Dress Steaming: This task is advised to be actioned the night before due to the length of time required. Please request or volunteer one of your Bridal Party or friends do this for you.
Running personal errands: Please request or volunteer one of your Bridal Party or friends do this for you, especially if it is on the Wedding Day, as we will be pre-occupied ensuring everything is running smoothly for you & not able to leave the site.
Although we liaise & arrange Suppliers options for you, it is yourselves who have the final say & securely book their services. The contract signed is between yourselves and the Supplier. Therefore, you pay the Suppliers directly.
Banns & Plans’ role is to look after the Wedding Budget, keep track of your spending & let you know when payments are due. We consolidate all the Supplier Contracts to ensure deadlines for payments are kept & the timeline for your Wedding Day is managed proficiently.