Hey there!  It is hard to believe that it is August already...where does the time go?!  Back to school shopping is in full swing and football season is right around the corner (my favorite time of year).  

You have decided that you are ready to go shopping for the perfect wedding dress.  This is such an amazing and fun experience, if you follow a few simple tips.

1.  Don't take more than 3 people with you.  I know, you want to include all those that are important to you, but have you watched Say Yess to the Dress lately?  Big entourages create big drama.  You are not out to please the masses.  It is not their decision.  

2.  Be open to trying on all different types of styles.  From experience, Mandi and I both can tell you what we thought we wanted and what looked good on us were two completely different things.  

3.  Don't go to more than 2 appointments in one day.  You will get tired and won't remember what you tried on and where it was.

4.  Dress comfortably, don't be afraid of getting up close and personal with your dress consultant, bring a bottle of water and wear nice undergarments.  You laugh, but you don't want to be wearing the bottom of the barrel undergarments when trying on beautiful dresses.

5.  This is a big one...Do NOT try on dresses that are over your budget.  You will hate yourself for falling in love with a dress you can't afford and then no other dress can compare.  

6.  Most of all have fun and stay true to yourself.  Your wedding dress should reflect your personality, fit in with the type of wedding you are having and be within your budget...PS Don't forget to include alterations and accessories in your dress budget!

Remember,

You Deserve a Fabuluxe Day!

Jen, Mandi, Amelia
jennifer@fabuluxeevents.com
561-254-2041

Hi All,  This summer has been absolutely crazy. We had an amazing family vacation in New York. I got to see the Kleinfeld and Pronovias salons, which were spectacular!

While on planes, trains and automobiles I was thinking a lot about Day of Wedding Coordination, or what we call Month of Wedding Coordination. This type of planning package is what many, many brides choose.  It is a wonderful solution for the bride who is very "hands on" in planning but doesn't want to stress about the actual day of the wedding.

By the same token, it is important to understand what is involved for the planner. We can't just show up the day of the wedding and execute your vision.  It would be impossible.  We will book this package for you as far in advance as you want. And honestly it can give a sense of peace during the process to know that you have someone for your big day.  We are happy to provide a list of preferred vendors and even answer questions along the way.

We start to get super involved in the last 4-6 weeks before your wedding. This is also the time when the stress levels tend to peak for our brides..everyone is getting involved and sharing their opinions.  We can be a neutral 3rd party for you.  This is the time when we will sit down with you and go over your vision for the day. We want to really understand what you see happening on your wedding day.  We will also review all of your contracts with you and start creating your wedding day timeline.  Any gaps or holes in the planning will be identified and solutions presented.  We like to do a final walk through with the venue and photographer to make sure we are all on the same page.

Then we turn our attention to the rehearsal.  We will be there for a maximum of 2 hours for rehearsal coverage and guidance.  Usually it takes 45 minutes at the most.  At rehearsal time (or prior) we like to collect all of the items for the wedding day, such as toasting flutes, cake cutting set, favors, place cards, menus, programs and more. This way you don't have to remember to bring anything on the wedding day.

After all of this, then we get to the wedding day.  We are the first to arrive and last to depart on your wedding day.  We coordinate all of the set up, take down, anything that happens during the day. We gather up all of your special treasures and get them to the right person to take home.  Sometimes we have had to re-do your hair or the bridesmaid hair. We have had to tape and pin girls into their dresses. We make sure you get some of your awesome appetizers while you are taking photos.  We bring your comfy shoes to you so that you can dance the night away.  We make sure people are not on their cell phones during your ceremony.  We keep everyone on time and focused.  And so much more.

It is such a thrill to see it all come together and see the happiness on your face.  Just remember that it is much more than showing up on the day of the wedding.

Remember, you deserve a Fabuluxe Day!
Jen, Mandi and Amelia
www.fabuluxeevents.com
jennifer@fabuluxevents.com
561-254-2041

Hey everyone,  I hope you are all well and have enjoyed this beautiful South Florida weather we have been having.  Wow!  So glad I don't live up north anymore.  I don't think I could handle temps below zero.  

Everyone always asks what does a wedding planner do and why do I need one?  So today, I thought I would share with you a typical wedding day for us at Fabuluxe Events.

Usually our wedding ceremonies start around 5 - 6pm.  So for us that means arriving at the venue around 12:00 PM.  We are there making sure that all of the wedding pros you have hired are arriving and performing as per their contract.  Sometimes, we do a lot of the set up ourselves.  We have had to move 120 chairs across a busy road and onto the beach and then back again at the end of the night.  

We have run through rain storms and gotten hair dryers and dried your dress when sunny South Florida isn't so sunny.

We have put the linens on all of the tables and then placed the centerpieces.  

Many times we are handling things that you, the bride, are not aware of.  For example not having the bouquets delivered for Junior Bridesmaids.  We made them out of left over flowers.  

We are constantly checking in with you to make sure that hair and make up are going well and that you have had something to eat.  Recently, Mandi had to completely re-do a bride's hair and 4 of the 5 bridesmaids as well.

We set up ceremony sites and make sure that your unity candle (sand bottles, etc) makes it your table during dinner.  Ask me abou the time I fell carrying the unity candle..but the flame never went out.  :)

All the while we are answering a bazillion, yes that is my word, questions from the caterer - who gets vegetarian meals, the photographer - when are they going to be ready for photos, the venue - where does this table go - the mother of the bride - what can I do to help - the answer is nothing...go enjoy and relax.  

We keep you on time and get you ready to walk down the aisle.  We line you all up and send everyone down at the appropriate times.  Then we help go to the righ place after the ceremony for your photos.  After the ceremony we guide the guests to cocktails and make sure no one is lost along the way.  Then we help get everyone to dinner.  We help everyone find their placecards and their seats (sometimes there are 100 people yelling out names to us at the same time..yikes).  

Then we get you all lined up again and ready for your grand entrance and the first dance.  We make sure the DJ has his schedule for the evening and keeps the party flowing.  We make sure your plate is full and your drink is never empty and do the same for your parents.

We find lost purses (that a typsy girl put at the wrong table- true story). We go back to your hotel and pick p the marriage license that was left lying on a desk.  

When we see that the stress is ovewhelming to you, we take you to a quiet room and give you 5 minutes of peace and quiet (and a beverage, if you want).  

We make sure that all of your gifts, cards, keepsakes and treasures are given to the appropriate person at the end of the night.

Sometimes we deliver payments to your vendors and make sure that they are all taken care of on the day of the wedding.

After you and your guests leave the reception, we make sure that nothing was left behind.  We clean up the venue and make sure that all is back the way we found it so you don't get charged anything extra.

Most of all, we take care of everything so that you don't have to worry.  When I crawl in bed after a beautiful wedding (usually around 1-2am), it is the most satisfying feeling in the world.  We know that we were a part of magic that day and can't wait to do it all again!

So remember, a wedding planner is like a general contractor.  We organize, plan it, execute it and troubleshoot, all so you don't have to on your day!

Remember, You Deserve a Fabuluxe Day!

Jen, Mandi, Amelia
561-254-2041
jennifer@fabuluxeevents.com

Hi everyone,  Today I am doing something a bit different.  I am sharing a blog originally written by Christine Boulton of Wedding Dish.  She explains this so well.  She is sassy, no nonsense and right on the money.

Do You Need a Wedding Planner? Would You Remodel Your Home Without a General Contractor?

I don’t get it. Why would you take on a project that can cost you anywhere from $10,000 to, well, as high as you want to go without having a professional by your side?

Here is the thing, would you take on a major home remodeling project without hiring a general contractor? Of course not. I know, you are asking how are those even remotely the same. Let me ask you,

“How are they different?”

• Both have budgets in at least the 5 figure range. That is a LOT of money.
• In both instances you want a high degree of personalization. In short, you want YOUR dream to be executed.
• Both will require a long list of sub-contractors that you have most likely never dealt with before.
• Both require tight scheduling to make sure everything comes together on time and on budget.
• Both are going to have glitches and unexpected issues pop up that someone is going to have to deal with.
• The results of both are going to be with you for a long, long time.

Am I beginning to make some sense here?

All those things listed above are what a wedding planner does.

• They know which vendors are reliable and match your style.
• They help you translate your dreams to the people who are going to make them come true.
• They know all about how your venue works in terms of timing and convenience for load in.
• It is their job to keep that timeline on track so, for example, the flowers show up after the tables are set up, dinner is served hot and the MC know when to do the first dance.
• It is their job to keep all those sub-contractors working together on the right plan.
• They are there to look you right in the eye and say “Yes you can have that, but you are going to have to give up XYZ”
• They are there to handle those last-minute glitches and issues in a way that you don’t even know they happened.

There is a wealth of information online today on how to plan a wedding, but until you actually do it, you have no idea of everything involved.
Seriously, when you look at it in this light, why would you even think of not hiring a wedding planner for one of the days you are going to remember for the rest of your life.

Sure, I could watch HGTV, DIY Network, House Crashers and This Old House until my eyes bleed but one episode of Holmes on Homes or DIY Disaster will cure my ass of thinking I can remodel my kitchen on my own!  - Christine Boulton

Remember, we can be your General Contractor!

Call us at 561-254-2041 or email jennifer@fabuluxeevents.com