So here’s the thing… not everyone can afford a $30,000+ wedding, let alone a wedding planner or coordinator. A tight budget or the desire to DIY should never mean that a newly engaged couple is on their own when it comes to the wedding planning process. There’s no doubt, the planning process can be overwhelming, stressful, confusing, and sometimes downright

Who am I?? That’s a bit of a loaded question. Here’s what you need to know: I am a wedding and event planner that has been in the industry for 20 years. Prior to the launch of WedUcation Workshops, I spent 2 decades earning my stripes and learning from incredible professionals in a variety of different event settings. To ensure

Interested in a workshop but don’t know which is best for you? Let’s break it down: Snag your introductory rate by booking early! Helping YOU say ‘I-DO’, Your WedUcator

Best way to minimize stress during the first few steps of wedding planning? Don’t put the cart before the horse. When starting the planning process, I strongly recommend completing your first 3 steps, in the order below: This absolutely needs to be figured out first. Without a budget, you don’t know how many people you can afford to host. You

Too early? No such thing. Early planning offers several perks! Helping YOU say ‘I-DO’, Your WedUcator

I promise, there really is a difference between a wedding planner, coordinator, and designer. Can one wear multiple (or all) hats? Absolutely.  Let’s see if these analogies will help clear up the confusion, when you come across a wedding _____ (fill in the blank): Helping YOU say ‘I-DO’, Your WedUcator

A wedding is a wedding, right? Ehhh, not exactly. While all types of marriage celebrations are based around the marriage, there truly are differences between them.  In everyday conversation, using the phrase ‘wedding’ may be appropriate. When talking to vendors, or asking advice on social media forums (where vendors such as myself might comment), it is important to differentiate between

Have your heart set on a specific photographer because you love their style? Been dreaming of a specific venue since the day you realized your partner was “the one”? Don’t. Wait. When selecting your vendors, take into consideration that some vendors can take on several weddings in one day (florists, bakers, rental companies, most caterers). Others will not book any

Let’s chat about the phrase “budget”. I mentioned in workshop #4 that budget can be defined in two ways. It may mean the total amount you have to work with, financially. Or, it may mean that funds are tight and cost effective decisions are going to be key. No matter the size of your budget, once you have determined that

Though I never intend to, I’m sure this one will ruffle a few feathers. Post one, of many that I will preface with “not everyone is going to agree with me, and that’s okay.” I’m a stickler for certain wedding manners, etiquette, and protocol. I’ll touch on these hot buttons of mine in future posts (handwritten thank you’s and no

Setting up your wedding day timeline can be just as confusing as trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube. How do you know what amount of time is needed to get everyone ready? How do you know if it’ll take 20 minutes or 45 minutes to get everyone through a buffet line? How early should the wedding cake be set out

Hands down, this exercise is my favorite way to help brides and grooms lower those budgeting stress levels. Tight budgets may require some cost cutting. The smaller details are just the place to make those cuts. Dinnerware, favors, and programs are the top 3 items that I find can add major costs, but really aren’t as big of a deal

If you haven’t already been thinking about your wedding aesthetic before getting engaged, I’m betting it’s one of the first things you started thinking about as soon as that ring slid onto your finger! I’m not the one getting married, and I still scroll Lemon8 and Insta for HOURS looking at wedding décor ideas. And yes, of course I have

This is going to be another one that I should preface with “this might be an unpopular opinion but I’m going to say it anyway”… I am bringing this topic up early because in the last few months, the dozens of planning groups that I am part of on Facebook have become overrun by requests to help generate a hashtag.

WhoooooWeeeeee is this one a hot topic on wedding forums! I’m going to preface this post with “not everyone is going to agree with me, and that’s okay.” I give advice based on 20 years of experience and over 200 weddings. It’s food for thought, not anything I force a client to do. If you are on the fence about

Short one today, but this is one topic I cannot stress enough!  For every vendor providing a service on your wedding day, you should have a contract. And, that contract should be signed before you place a deposit (or at the same time).  Without a contract, there is no proof on the services agreed upon, the cost of those services,

Looking back at workshop #12, I asked if you remembered the favors you were given at the last 3 weddings you went to. If you do remember them, what about them stood out? When wedding funds need to be stretched like Go-Go-Gadget Arms (yes, I’m well aware I just aged myself), favors are the very first thing that can be

Wedding cakes are expensive, right?! Understandably so. The cost of butter and eggs are atrocious. Not to mention the hours upon hours upon hours it takes to decorate multi-tier cakes (wedding cake cost is more labor than ingredients). If an ornate wedding cake is not in the budget or you’re just not a fan or cake, but still want to

I am DIY’er when it comes to everything! I’m also the one that spends far more money trying to DIY a project or recipe, than just purchasing it already made. I love the creativity and learning process. Crafting and cooking are my stress relievers. But DIY’ing a Christmas ornament I saw at a craft show is much less work than

When needing to feed a large group on a snug budget, your first thought may be “my family and I can cook”. Before getting too far ahead of yourself and adding immense stress to your plate during what is already a chaotic week, do yourself a favor and price out EXACTLY what it’s going to cost to cook for the

Raise your hand if a previous bride, your mom, your nosy coworker, or know-it-all neighbor have told you to “plan for about 20% of your guest list to decline their invite or not show”. Yep, most of you likely have your hand up. For the sake of your sanity and budget planning, TUNE. THEM. OUT. In my experience, like many

More PSA than advice today. Social media can be an AMAZING tool when it comes to wedding planning. Searching for recommended vendors or seeking vision board worthy inspiration photos? You name it and it’s available on social media or the internet. Don’t even get me started on what AI is capable of. I can’t tell you how many times a

You’ve heard the saying “rain on your wedding day is good luck”? While I do believe this adage, rain (or snow, extreme heat, etc.) can certainly throw kink in the plans for your big day. If you’re the bride or groom that has always wanted the beach wedding, an outdoor garden ceremony, or anything that will require your ceremony or

More than a decade ago, I was asked to be a bridesmaid in a wedding being hosted on the opposite side of the country. Participating in the wedding was costing me nearly $4,500 with my dress, hair, makeup, gift, flight and hotel over a holiday weekend, rental car, meals, etc. I was already in no position to be forking over

Yes, I know I look like a well-dressed construction worker when I arrive on wedding day to begin set up. My all-black ensemble includes a “tool belt” that looks more like a very fancy server apron with 47 pockets, and a “tool box” containing the most random collection of items one would think to tote around. Make fun of me

This post will be one of the many that I write, helping to break down vendor costs and educate couples on why vendors may come with the price tag that they do. With venues consuming one of the larger chunks of a wedding budget, let’s start here (I’ll get to planners, photographers & caterers, later). Are there select venues that

Controversy alert! I know I will stir a bit up with this opinion. And it’s just that, my opinion. Take it or leave it. As a planner that is firm on etiquette and has seen this scenario go south more than a handful of times over 200+ weddings, having a “B-List” for backup invites is a hard NO for me.

For those that have seen the rom-com “The Other Woman”, if you’re not planning to pull a Leslie Mann and wear your dress around the house post-wedding while shooting Redi-Whip straight from the can, this post is for you! The price tag on dresses you will wear once can elicit a heart palpitation or two. It can be a huge

My heart breaks every time I see a post in a wedding group about a vendor that duped the couple by grabbing a deposit and ghosting, not showing for the wedding, or not upholding verbal contract terms. Weddings are expensive and you damn well know the couple forked over a big chunk of money they had been saving, to secure

A question I see pop up in the wedding groups often: is a rehearsal a must? Well, depends on what you’re asking. Do you need a rehearsal? Or a rehearsal dinner? While they are traditionally combined into one event, they are two different activities. The short answer that I partially advise against? No. Rehearsals and rehearsal dinners are not required.

Renting vs. purchasing linens. Oof. I have a very love-hate relationship with this topic.  More often than not, the venue will include either white, ivory, or black table linens. Awesome! Someone else gets to deal with soiled linen clean up, laundering them, pressing them, and storing them for the next wedding.  If your venue does not supply linens, you don’t

For those lucky enough to have access to beautiful private property, a wedding at home may be the perfect solution to finding just the right venue with a very personal touch. If torn between a backyard wedding and a venue, I ALWAYS recommend pricing out both options. A wedding on private property may not be saving you as much as

Full disclosure, I’m still wearing my “I ate too much” pants from yesterday’s gigantic turkey dinner, as I type. In honor of yesterday being Thanksgiving, let’s stir up a little more controversy (and some mashed potato leftovers) and chat about digital thank you notes. I’ve said it before… I’m a stickler for etiquette. And as I’ve clearly stated before, this

When was the last time you went to an Applebee’s type restaurant and escaped for less than $20-$25 per person, and had a beverage, salad, and adult entrée? Pretty difficult, right? There is no way around it, catering can be pricey and just doesn’t work for every budget. Food trucks are an option but may provide a less formal feel

I’m going to preface this one since I know it will ruffle some feathers. This is OPINION. There is no right or wrong here. Is there an element of politeness, tradition, and appropriateness? Of course. Do all planners have this same mindset? Nope. As a bride or groom, only YOU know what works best for your budget, your guest list,

I said it in workshop #34 and I’ll say it again. Catering can be expensive. As the former GM of a catering & events company, I can understand both sides. It is a LOT of work to pack up every supply needed to cater a large event on site, especially when no prep kitchen is available. Add in the cost

Prepare yourself for another one of those “there is no right or wrong answer” posts. My advice below is based on 20 years in the wedding & events industry, paired with all the weddings I have participated in as a bridesmaid. More so brides than grooms, the “who will be in my wedding party” thoughts begin once you realize you’ve

Working on your budget and trying to determine how much you’re willing to spend on your wedding dress? Be sure to include the costs below (if they apply to you), in your calculations! Short and sweet today! Helping YOU say ‘I-DO’, Your WedUcator

Need to do some budget trimming, but not sure of what could be cut from your ceremony expenses, that guests won’t miss? Helping YOU say ‘I-DO’, Your WedUcator

The guide on the Knot says this. The guide on Zola says that. The plethora of guides on Pinterest are allllll over the board. So… when do you send save-the-dates and invites? The quick answer is that there is no definitive answer. Below is my take on when to send, and most importantly, WHY I recommend sending in these time

Oooooooo this is a tricky one and I’m sure to stir up a few nay-sayers (and that’s ok, I’ve said it before… we don’t all have to agree). For whatever reason you may have, it’s absolutely okay to not have a gift registry. What I’m not on board with is treating your wedding like a fundraiser to recoup your wedding

Just as wedding décor, color palettes, and wedding attire trends evolve, so do many of the long-standing wedding traditions that your mom and grandma are asking you to build into your timeline. Are these traditions a total faux pas? Not necessarily. Do your thing. If I’m being transparent though, it’s been years since I have planned a wedding that wanted

There is no doubt, weddings have evolved in recent years, especially for couples trying to stretch their budget. I’ve watched trends come and go over 20+ years in this industry. Yes, there have been trends I didn’t love. And yes, there are trends I realllllly didn’t love and hope like heck will never come back. I know of plenty of

*Disclaimer, much longer post than usual.* HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY! Fun fact; there are an average of 220,000 weddings hosted each year on Valentine’s Day. Now to think about this fact logically (wedding planner brain, sorry)… Let’s assume there is an average of 100 guests per each of these weddings. That means 22 MILLION guests may be entering a reception on

PSA of the Day Pinterest; full of beautiful ideas for the DIY bride! Instagram; photos galore of dreamy wedding décor and gowns that can be viewed without getting sucked into comments. Wedding Facebook groups; a plethora of DIY wedding ideas to trade amongst fellow brides-to-be… and a plethora of negativity, rudeness, and bride bashing. Yes, I’m sure this happens in

As a follow up to blog/workshop #41: Before departing the 150+ Facebook groups mentioned in the previous blog post, I took note of how often couples posted for advice, asking how to let their guests know they only want cash as a gift. I’ll be politely blunt with this one but will explain as you read. Short answer: you don’t

Back to those Facebook wedding groups, again! Negativity aside, there have been some GREAT ideas and DIY projects to come from the groups I was a member of. Though I left the groups, I’m still a big fan of localized wedding pages and groups for one specific reason. Groups local to either where you live or where the wedding is

Even the best laid plans can hit a snag or two on the big day. Check out the list below for the most commonly forgotten wedding items or tasks: Items: Tasks: **These notes usually only apply to weddings on private properties or parks Helping YOU say ‘I-DO’, Your WedUcator

I absolutely LOVE that non-alcoholic beverage options for weddings are becoming more of a norm vs. an afterthought. Don’t get me wrong, I love tasty cocktails or cold beer on a hot day. But fact-of-the-matter is, after I turned a milestone age that I will not publicly mention, my body stopped being a fan. One or two are usually enough

We’ve all done it. Cruised Zillow to check out houses far beyond a manageable mortgage payment. Scrolled travel sites, day dreaming about a lottery-winning-worthy vacation. You get where I’m going with this. Though social media, influencers, and the bombardment of advertisements make it nearly impossible to avoid, wedding planning is not the time to fall in love with options far

Let me preface this post before I drop the list of my top budget wasters. There may be items on this list that are important to you or the aesthetic you’re hoping to create on your wedding day. This list is by no means meant to offend, but it does include items that I can promise your guests do not