Mrs. Hancock's Blog

...Hire a Coordinator!

By Mrs. Amy Bacon
Division Head Wedding Planning and Consulting

Do you need a Wedding Planner? The answer is a resounding "Yes!"

Be realistic about the time you really have to devote to putting together the sort of wedding you want. If you have lots of spare time, you may be able to pull it off. Interesting enough, most Brides simply don’t think they can afford a planner (silly Brides!), and it’s the one vendor they WISH they’d spent a portion of their budget on.
Ask a recent bride, she’ll tell you the same!

Here are some good reasons we believe that tell the story of why you should hire a wedding planner:

You’re planning your wedding in another city or state.

You have special needs, such as finding a place of worship that will accommodate a mixed- religion ceremony, or would like to track down a caterer who can prepare a diabetic-friendly, or vegan/vegetarian menu.

Both you and your fiancé work long hours and/or travel frequently for business, and you want a big, blow out event; but who can make the time for all the detail work AND end up a nice woman, when it’s all said and done?

You don’t particularly like hassling with little details; you’re a “big picture” person.

You want someone else to do the leg work for you! As an example: your coordinator/planner, after spending time with you knows what your budget and needs are and sets appointments with vendors they think will be a good match. You don’t waste your time looking for vendors by going on appointments that are a total waste of time based on price points, or your budget/vision.

You’d like to be able to purely enjoy your day with no worries regarding any issues that will undoubtedly transpire.

A wedding planner can actually SAVE you money – Most planners will be able to get you discounts with different vendors that they work with on a regular basis (baker for your cake or cupcakes, catering, photography, flowers, videographer, officiates, and even at venues)!

Brides: You need a “Day-Of” coordinator; you just don’t realize it!

Why? Well firstly, you're hosting the biggest party of your life! (How many people can you imagine would throw a formal, sit-down party for over 50 people and not hire help? Exactly!). Secondly, we know how perfect you’d like everything to be and we know after years of experience, a Bride cannot sanely be in 8 places at one time and truly enjoy her day. Thirdly, your choice of reception site may have a Catering Manager, but it’s really not her job to be sure you stay on schedule or to wrangle!

Our “Day-Of” Wedding Consulting Service will afford you a sense of control and ease, allowing you the opportunity to relax, enjoy and be in the moment:

Complete oversight for your Rehearsal and Wedding Day

On-site meetings prior to the Wedding to ensure placement of flowers, gift books, etc

We'll keep you completely on Schedule the Day-Of

We'll make sure each attendant knows their role for the ceremony

Ring Bearer and Flower Girl Tutoring

We communicate with every contracted Vendor prior and the day of, ensuring all requirements are met. They will know exactly where to be and what the bride’s and grooms expectations are.

We'll make sure your photographer and videographer get the Photos and Reel from your Shot Lists, etc.

Cuing the music, the procession and more.

Why Hiring a Wedding Planner is imperative…

While you may not need someone to assist with the menu or your dress or color choices or any number of your dream desires for your wedding day, we strongly advise hiring a “Day-Of” coordinator, who at the very least will assist you for some months prior to and the Day-Of; we’re here to assist and as much or little as you like!

What is a “Day-Of” Coordinator? For example: a month out we will meet with you, help finalize contracts and your desires for placement and decoration; the time line on your wedding day and so much more. We make all the follow up phone calls, we do all the organizing so that on the Day-Of your wedding, you’ll have one or two main people (depending upon the size of your wedding), to answer any and all questions, maintain the day’s flow and to be sure you and your groom really enjoy your day.

If you’re thinking you can handle all this yourself; consider that it may sound easy; certainly seems like something you can handle and it very well may be, but if you want people running up to you the whole day asking:

"What time will the limo be here?"

"Aunt Jo and Uncle Charles from NYC are lost; how do they get here?"

"Little Eric, where’s the ring pillow?"

"When are we supposed to line up?"

"Where’s Tiffany; your Mom, your Cousin Ilene, the Catering Manager?"

"What time are you going to throw the bouquet?"

"Should we ask Earl (who drank too much and is disrupting guests) to leave?"

...and more; then by all means, run your wedding day yourself!

If, however, you'd like to be kept out of this mix, free to spend time with your attendants, your guests and your new husband, then please reconsider. Even if you're the "Anti-Bride", there are still lots of things you'll really want help with and with the cost of an average “Day-Of” coordinator being typically less than approximately 10% of your overall budget; it’s really affordable. We can save you money, too! Ask us how.

We will be sure everything runs smoothly, that you are insulated from the stress that transpires on your Wedding day; when it's all about you, not about everyone and everything else.

You will find Mrs. Hancock's Wedding Planners and Consultants, kind, professional, knowledgeable, helpful and excited to be of service. We won’t break your budget either! Please contact our office at 602.234.1200 or call Mrs. Amy Bacons cell at 602.762.1174 and speak with Mrs. Hancock and Mrs. Bacon for a free consultation. We can’t wait to be with you on your special day!

Anna Post on Etiquette: Modern Invitation Rules
By Anna Post/// Source Spring 2009
The great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post tackles wedding decorum for the next generation.

Sitting in view of my desk is a pile of all the wedding invitations I’ve ever received. They’re beautiful reminders of friends whose lives I’m honored to be a part of, as well as keepsakes from the terrific weddings I’ve attended! Many are heavy with the weight of fine paper and assorted enclosures; some have ribbons or appliqués. All of them display the great thought and care that went into their selection. Invitations should convey a sense of what the event will be like, and nowadays, they also tend to reflect a couple’s style and personality. By thinking about which traditions are important to you, and what part of yourselves you would like to express, your invitation can be the first glimpse your guests receive of your journey to the altar.

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The Do's and Do Not’s of working successfully with your Wedding Vendors
by Mrs. Hancock, President/Founder, Mrs. Hancock's, Inc.

Many of us forget the genuinely appreciated niceties that show our genuine level of caring for others. All successful relationships, love or otherwise begin with kindness and respect. So let’s take this to the next step…

As a Bride and Groom we know you have a lot on your plates. Please realize, your vendors do, as well. All wedding vendors want to do the very best job we can for you; it's what we do and what we do depends on making you happy. If you're not happy, any referrals you may have been willing to send will not come our way. As our time is very valuable, it may take us 40 minutes to get to you one-way, or it may be that our calendar is booked for a particular afternoon and when you cancel or reschedule at the last minute and this in some cases, can cause us great professional harm.

Here are a few suggestions that will let your vendors know that you respect their time and their expertise. Keeping these in mind will surely go a long way in cementing your relationship and will ensure you come across as kind and considerate, as well:

1). Always keep scheduled appointments. Emergencies are just that and one may pop up on either side. When you schedule an appointment be diligent about writing it down in your calendar, please. If your spouse-to-be needs to be in your meeting, put it on his calendar, too. Send a text to him the morning reminding him where he needs to be and at what time.

2). Please always return phone calls promptly from your vendors (same day if possible). Our policy at Mrs. Hancock’s is from 6am to 12 midnight (unless it’s an emergency!).

3). When requested to provide information please be thorough and organized.

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We realize you're talented and able to multi-task; head to work, spend time with your fiancee', family, friends, take care of your home or ready to move into a new one; get your car serviced; go to the gym, play with your animal(s), hit the hairdresser, get your nails done....wait! Are you tired yet? This IS your life, correct? How are you possibly going to get your life taken care of and plan a wedding?

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