So you’ve decided on a planner , and you know what to expect from them, now it’s time for your interview and you need to know what to ASK your wedding planner.

Questions for your planner

• What type of courses have they taken? Educational background?
• What type of experience do they have?
• What makes them a good planner? (Look for words like detail-oriented, organized, great time management skills)
• How long have they been in business?
• Do they have a portfolio?
• What types of eco-behaviors do they currently follow in their daily life?
• What eco-friendly companies have they used in the past?
• What kind of budget have they worked with in the past?
• What kind of packages do they offer?
• Do they have any references?

Questions to ask yourself:

• Did you feel comfortable with them?
• Were they friendly?
• Did they know their stuff?
• Are they within your budget?
• Are they computer literate?

Want to know more about how to choose a wedding planner? Read the other two parts of our Wedding Planner Series.

Part I: Why Hire A Wedding Planner
Part II: What to Expect from a Wedding Planner

To hire a wedding coordinator or not to hire a wedding coordinator, that is the question. If you have been battling the same question recently then we’re here to help! This the first of a three part blog, that will give you everything you need to know about hiring a wedding coordinator.First we’ll discuss why a couple might need a wedding planner. After that, we’ll discuss what you can expect from a wedding planner, especially an eco-friendly one. And last but not least, we’ll cover what a wedding planner can do for you! Bookmark this page, if you think it will be helpful for you in the future!

Part I: Why Hire A Wedding Planner
Part II: What to Expect from a Wedding Planner

If you have any questions, we’re here to help! Email us at info@talenevents.ca with all you questions and comments, and we’ll be sure to answer as soon as possible.

Happy Planning!

Tiffany

Guys always get the credit.. Now its your turn! Learning to plan a night out like a party planner is the best way to make a night super special, and save some $$$ too!

1. Find out how many people are interested… Send out an invitation or evite with a date and location TBD (To be Determined) that way you know exactly how many people you are working with. This will be important when you’re calling around and trying to find the best place for your party.
2. Call different bars and ask them what they can do for you!: Remember, even though you’re planning a night of booze and mischief doesn’t mean that not a CUSTOMER. See what nightclubs, hotels, limo companies, restaurants can do for you. Who knows? They might know someone too - so ask them for references and see if you can work a deal with all the people involved.
3. Make sure that everyone is accounted for –  If you’re going to drink find a designated driver, or hire one…: Every good planner knows that risk management is the only way to be able to have fun, and know that everyone will be okay throughout the night. Plan ahead and find out where everyone lives, what taxis are available and what options they have of getting home.
4. Come up with games to make the night progress faster.. They don’t call them ice-breakers for nothing! Getting a group of people who might not know eachother together can be tough, so make sure you have a couple of little quick fun activities to get everyone mingling with one another.
5. Keep your bride pumped till the Wedding Day… She’s stressed out and has a big day coming up, work amongst your new group of bachelorette party friends to see if you can find different ways to keep her motivation up before and after the party.

5.5 Have Fun! Remember this day is supposed to be a stress reliever for everyone involved in the
wedding day. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and delegate!

We hope your bachelorette party is a huge success!

and as always, Happy Planning!

Tiffany & Amalia

So you might have read our Three R’s of wedding flowers now here’s a little to help you along on your wedding flower search.

Research Your Options

Before you set out to get the roses, orchids, or daffodils of your dreams ask yourself if it’s the right time of year. You’d be surprised what your area has to offer! In fact, besides the internet the best person to talk to is the farmers at the farmers market. The florists there will be sure to know tons about seasonal wedding flowers. If you live in the Toronto area, make sure to check out the wonderful vendors at the St. Lawrence Market. Still Stumped? Look up Wholesale Flower Distributors and ask them for their advice. Don’t be shy, they love it!

Stay Seasonal

• Asters
• Calla Lilies
• Dahlias
• Daisies
• Delphinium
• Geraniums
• Hydrangeas
• Iris
• Jacobs Ladder
• Larkspur
• Queen Anne’s Lace
• Roses
• Shasta daises
• Stock
• Sunflower
• Zinnias

Seasonal Fall Flowers

• Asters
  
• Chrysanthemums
• Zinnias
• Gerbera daisies
• Marigolds
• Roses
• Sunflowers

Seasonal Winter Flowers

• Amaryllis
• Camellias
• Forget-me-nots
• Jasmine
• Orchids
• Poinsettias
• Holly

If you live in the Toronto area, check out our Talen Rated Florist Eco-Flora.

Using your Wedding Flowers after your Wedding

You paid for those beautiful flowers, don’t let them go to waste. We’ve found that some flowers can last up to TWO WEEKS after your event, so call around and see if others would appreciate some flowers.Some places you could contact:

• Hospitals
• Senior Citizen Homes
• Orphanages
• Homeless Shelters
• Family

Everyone loves flowers so be creative! Don’t let them go to waste.

That’s all for now! Enjoy your research.. and don’t hesitate to let us know if you’ve found a great eco florist that you’d love to share!

Until next time….

Happy Planning!

Tiffany & Amalia

Bridesmaids are a double edged sword. On the one hand they make your day extra special, On the other they can be added stress right up to the special day. When it comes to Wedding Etiquette, Amalia knows her stuff, That’s why I asked her to come up with some small tips for brides to keep in mind when working with their bridesmaids to make it less stressful and more fun!

1. Be understanding. Be prepared that your request to be in your bridal party might be turned down. Try not to be too offended if one of your closest friends declines your invitation. If she says no, we’re sure there’s a good reason for it. Maybe she’s shy, or a little too busy with her own life to commit. If she’s into it, assign her a different role that’s much more low commitment like reading a scripture at the ceremony.

2. Find them a friend. You want your bridesmaids to look forward to their walk down the aisle, so pair them up with groomsmen who share common interests, goals, or even heights! If you do happen to have an uneven wedding party, and they’re worried about flying solo, have one of the groomsmen escort two of your ladies at the same time.

3. Let them be your conscience. Your girls are there for you and are the perfect people to bounce wedding ideas off of. Though you may think you know everything you desire for your wedding day, a second (or third!) opinion never hurts. Don’t hesitate to ask them for advice—they will no doubt be thrilled to give it to you.

4. Make things affordable for them. Dresses, shoes, accessories, hair and makeup, oh my! Weddings are expensive and not just for you—for your wedding party, too. Since bridesmaids sometimes pay for their own dresses and accessories, you should consider the cost of their outfits. Work with your girls to decide on a reasonable budget for all—one that won’t break the bank.

5. Share the love. There are many tasks to be done to make your wedding successful. Split all the tasks between your bridesmaids equally. Don’t overload one of your girls, not even your maid of honour, with too many tasks. Remember, they have lives, too!

6. Make new friends. There’s a possibility that some of your bridesmaids have never met. Since these girls will be spending a lot of time with each other, it’s important to ensure they all get along. Earlier on in the party planning process, host a casual get-together (going out for drinks is always a good idea) to introduce everybody.

7. Dress for success. Deciding on your own dress is a task and half; then you have to tackle what your girls are going to wear. Be the diplomat and listen to their input of what they do and don’t like in a dress style. After considering their requests, look at what you want and combine the two. It’s important they look and feel fabulous, just like you.

So keep these in mind up to the last few days of your wedding, and let your bridesmaid really make your day the memorable, exciting day you planned.

Happy Planning!

Amalia & Tiffany

Are you having the wedding registry woes? Wish that you can use your wedding to give back in some way?

Changing the Present is a perfect opportunity to do just that. It’s an organization with over 1,000 charitable gift opportunities from many of the world’s leading non-profits.

Couples can use their wedding registry to:
- Protect an an acre of the wilderness
- Provide a child with her 1st book
- or even sponsor an infant chimpanzee

If you’re feeling weird about giving away wedding favors, Charitable Wedding favors are also an option. You can help to supply PB & J sandwiches at a drop in center or healthy treats for rescued animals as well. Whatever you decide, Changing the Present will provide printed favors certified by the Forest Stewardship Council for your guests.

Please check out this amazing website and tell us what you think!
www.changingthepresent.org

Until then… Happy Planning!

Amalia & Tiffany

If you’ve read our article on Why to Hire a Wedding Planner, but are still confused as to what to expect from a Wedding Planner, we’re here to help!

Here at Talen Events, we’ve made it our mission to help and guide our clients through the whole planning process as smoothly as possible. To make sure that the wedding they are imagining is made into a reality. Every wedding consultant is different, so make sure you ask your planner what to expect from their services. If you asked us, our answer would be five-fold.

What can you Expect from a Talen Wedding Planner?

1. Trained professional who is dedicated to ensuring an elegant, affordable and high quality wedding from the planning process to the thank you cards.
2. A Complimentary Consultation with the bride and groom to share information about the special day
3. An Extensive Vendor list of high quality and eco-friendly alternatives for the couple.
4. A Helpful Hand during the contract process offering advice when asked to make an The Resolve to do whatever it takes to make sure the event runs smoothly.
5. Along with that, the list of duties a wedding coordinator can take care of is endless. But we’ve broken it down and listed the top seven responsibilities you can expect from an eco-friendly wedding planner like us.

What can a wedding coordinator do for you?

• Create the wedding of your dreams with extensive experience and knowledge of different vendors and venues in the area.
• Budget Management: Helping you stay on your budget and keep track of where your money is going.
• Vendor Selection: Wedding professionals have the contacts needed to make sure your vision becomes a reality. Offering vendors and venues they know and trust.
• Wedding Day Schedule: Planning your wedding day to make sure everyone feels comfortable, and you and your partner can enjoy the day!
• Saving you Money: After a wedding, the first thing people say is “If I had known.. I would have saved money here.” You’re wedding planner is the one person who can tell you where to save money without anyone noticing.
• Eco-friendly Tips: A wedding is a fresh start to a new sustainable lifestyle. Talen can provide the tips you need to hit the “green” ground running!
• Wedding Emergency 101: Your wedding planner is your own personal bridal survival kit trained to deal with emergencies instantly.

Remember, your wedding consultant needs to be the perfect match. After all, you’re about to spend up to a year working with him or her. Take the time, to ask the right questions and make sure you have made the right decision.

As always… Happy Planning!

Tiffany

Your life is hectic. Sometimes it’s hard to get through to lunch and still remember what you had for breakfast. And in most cases, a statement like “there are 24 usable hours in everyday..” seems like an understatement.

For those of you who are nodding your head right now, could you imagine freeing up the 250 hours it takes to plan a wedding from scratch? Add about 10 more if you live in a metropolitan area where there are hundreds of vendors to choose from.

Wedding Planners used to be thought of as a luxury item of the “shi-shi” folk, but now it’s thought of as the much needed entourage to your special day. Why? Wedding Coordinators can save you money, take care of an emergency without stress, and be the much needed voice for any vendor, family, or maid of honor disagreement that might come up during the planning process.

Still not sure if you need one? We get it. So we’ve created a questionaire to help you make your decision. We’ve even made it nice and simple: If you answer yes to four or more of the questions, then a wedding planner might be in the cards.

Here we go:
1. Do you work more than 35 hours a week?
2. Is your weekends packed with extra-curricular activities, sports, work-related events, family celebrations?
3. Do you have a strict wedding budget to adhere to?
4. Do you have many family traditions on both sides you’re not sure how to blend?
5. Do you want to find a unique way to celebrate your special day?
6. Do you want access to high quality, affordable vendors in your area?
7. Do you want to have someone around who will stifle any disagreements between family and friends during your engagement period?
8. Do you need someone to help you with negotiations and contracts?
9. Do you want to enjoy your wedding day and not have to worry about every little mixup along the way?

Remember, hiring a wedding planner doesn’t mean you lose all rights to planning your wedding. It’s still your special day, and any qualified wedding planner will make sure your dream wedding is still the main focus throughout the planning process. Even if you wanted to plan your day yoruself, there are always options to have someone around for the week of or wedding day so that emergencies can be dealt with and you can have the much needed calm and solice to enjoy the day you worked so hard to plan.

If you have any questions, about what a wedding coordinator can do for you, ask! There’s no harm and most consultants will even meet you for a free consultation to make sure you’re the perfect match. So it’s risk-free! If you’re interested in a free consultation with Talen Events, email us today at info@talenevents.ca.

Be sure to check out our next article on what to expect from your wedding planner!

Cheers!

Tiffany