Help Me, Help You

This line was made famous by the hit movie "Jerry Maguire" back in 1996. Gasp! 21 years ago.
Man, I feel old.

Anyhoo...this blog post is titled "Help Me, Help You" because we're offering a referral program from now until our 5th Anniversary on July 15, 2013.

We're going through a few changes behind the scenes with our logo, website, blog and services, but before our big reveal and celebration, we want to "show you the money!"

With each new Day of Coordination booking you send our way*, we will give you $50. Not only are you making money, but you are helping a friend or family member stress less on their wedding day. Our Day of Coordination services are the most popular for a reason - couples don't want to fret about the fine details, timing logistics and overall coordination of their big day.

Please tell anyone you know getting married in the Hamilton or surrounding area about us, and tell them to join us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram, and be sure to tell them to tell us that you referred them!

Thank you! We look forward to seeing you at your friend's wedding!!

*new bookings for 2013 or 2014 weddings only. Must be Day of Coordination services currently offered by The Bride's Butler (until July 15/13). Services must be booked at regular price ($900) and referral will not be paid until a deposit has been received.

Another peek at our NEW look!

We gave you a sneak peek at our new logo in this post, and now we're going to reveal what the new homepage of the website will look like!

Taking my personality and love for rustic chic decor, country music, romance and chalkboards (I have one in my kitchen that I write an inspirational quote on daily), this is what my lovely and talented friend Ashley from Ashley & Malone created for the homepage.

I'm totally in love!!

Clear and easy tabs like "Meet Diane", "Services" and "Gallery" will give you information and insight on who I am, what Bride's Butler can do for you on your special day and a look back at some of our most memorable weddings.

We might be re-launching earlier than expected, but will definitely have much celebration on and around our 5th Anniversary on July 15th. Stay tuned to the blog,Twitter and Facebook for more updates on the re-brand and also on how we plan to keep you in the know about weddings, tips, trends and coordination services!

How NOT to ruin your wedding photos

Your wedding photos will be one of the most important mementos from your wedding day. The day will go by so quickly, and you'll be having so much fun that you'll need good, quality photos to refresh your memory of what a fabulous day you had!

Choosing a Photographer is a tough decision. I always tell my clients to go with who they feel most comfortable with and who's style they prefer. Do not try to cheap out on your photos. This doesn't mean you have to spend $5,000+, but it surely means you shouldn't be spending less than $500 or asking a friend to do it for free. I saw a fabulous and oh-so-true quote the other day; "If you think it's expensive to hire a professional, wait until you hire an amateur." This quote is bang on - let the professionals take care of you on your wedding day. We have many reasons to call ourselves such.

You've hired a professional and you know they will deliver, but what can you do to make sure that you don't ruin your photos?

Here are some tips on how NOT to ruin your wedding photos:

Create a wish list

Work with your Photographer via email or a face-to-face meeting to discuss the kind of photos you want. Most times you've selected them because of their style, poses, layouts, etc - but if there is a certain pose or location you want, be sure to tell them!
Some popular shots on a wish list are; gown on hanger in window, picture with grandparents, photo of rings/invitation and your something old/new/borrowed and blue.

Have your Photographer stay 

To save money some couples will send the Photographer home after the receiving line or just before dinner. This is a mistake if you want to capture emotions from you, your groom, wedding party, family and guests during dinner, speeches and when the party starts. They don't need to stay all night if money is tight, but have them stay at least until you've cut the cake and had your first dance.

Book in advance

Photographers and Coordinators are two of the first vendors to get booked early. We advise you to do your research and book with your selected Photographer at least 12-14 months in advance. Some times you can get away with as little as 9 months, but don't be surprised if our #1 choice is booked already.

Schedule enough time

Chat with your Photographer and your Day of Coordinator about how much time is needed for your photo shoot. We will be realistic with you and factor in travel time, set-up, people management and weather (sunlight, etc). You want to make sure you have enough time to be relaxed and having fun, but not too much time that your guests awaiting your arrival back are bored.

Feed your vendors

Vendors that get fed are happy vendors, and happy vendors will work better than hungry ones. If you have vendors working over your dinner hour (Photographers, Coordinator, DJ, etc) we highly recommend that you have a vendor table for them and feed them dinner as well. Your wedding day is a long one although it seems to go by so quickly and most of your vendors will be working well before you start to get ready and long after you've gone home.

Look fresh

On your wedding day you will look so radiant and happy because it's your wedding day, but do yourself a favour and eat and sleep well the day before. Same goes for your wedding day, stay hydrated, eat throughout the day and don't get intoxicated.

Have fun

Stuffy photos are a thing of the past. Sure, you'll have the traditional family and wedding party shots, but make sure you're having fun, laughing and enjoying yourself. Don't worry about the small things - this is your Day of Coordinators job. A smiling Bride looks best from all angles.


*Photo by JClay Photography from Helen & Jason's big day

Save 10% on Day Of Coordination!

Time is running out to save 10% on Day of Coordination services! Book your 2013 wedding before March 1st to save and stress less on your wedding day.

The awesome wedding party for Brooke & Richard's wedding, Sept 2012

It's extremely reassuring to know that a trusted professional has your best interests in mind and will go above and beyond to execute your plans and fine details. This service is our most popular and allows for the Bride and Groom to enjoy their wedding day to the fullest. 

Services include, but not limited to:

• A complimentary coffee & chat to discuss your wedding day requirements
• An hour long meeting to finalize all details, logistics and plans for your wedding
• Continuous support via phone or email 2 months prior to your big day
• Timeline preparation & execution
• Rehearsal coordination
• Wedding party & family management
• Vendor coordination
• Use of our wedding day emergency kit
• Wedding Day Management (set-up, ceremony coordination, photos & reception)

Day of Coordination provides approximately 35 hours of service, with 8-12 hours being executed on your wedding day. 

Send us an email or give us a call to book a coffee and chat meeting to discuss your plans and how we can work together on your special day.


The Bride's Butler
info@bridesbutler.ca
905-516-9060

Tick tock...don't watch the clock!

When I meet with clients for Day of Coordination meetings to discuss all of the plans, logistics and requirements for their wedding day, I always tell them there's no such thing as too much information. I want to know every single detail, your vision for the day and the timing of the event. It's always best for your Coordinator to have more information than not enough. Part of DOC services includes assistance with formulating your wedding day timeline. This is the document I will use the most that day and it helps me stay organized while executing the wedding. It tells me when items/services are being delivered or dropped off, when vendors are starting/finishing, how long dinner will be and so on. I'm a big believer that the vendors and myself should be the only ones that have this timeline. We're the ones making the magic happen, so we need to work together in a timely manner to ensure that the wedding goes off without a hitch!

What I'm not a fan of is this:

The only times your guests need to be aware of is your ceremony start time, cocktail hour and when dinner is to be served. All other things like photos, cake cutting, bouquet toss, first dance, etc are not necessary. Things will change throughout your big day - this is a guarantee. Anytime you are executing a large event with lot's of people the timing will not be exact. This is my job to concern myself with - not yours or your 100+ guests. Remember, 'what they don't know, won't hurt them'. I'll make sure to give you heads up when it's time for your speech, to cut the cake, have your first dance and toss your bouquet.

So my advice, leave the timeline with me and let everyone else, including you and your Groom enjoy the day.

Lights, camera, action!

I'm so excited to be the Day of Coordinator for Lizzie & John's big day in February! They've planned a movie themed wedding and I can't wait to hear all of their fine details when we have our final meeting in a few weeks.

I was connected with Lizzie through Twitter (man, I love Twitter) when looking for bartenders for an August 2012 couple. Lizzie & John were on hand for Mary-Anne and Anthony's wedding and they were fantastic! They are such a cute pair - they are they type of  kind, genuine people that go above and beyond for others. Since the August wedding, they've also provided bar services for a Holiday Party I coordinated for my full-time gig at Mabel's Labels. Simply put, I adore these two and am so looking forward to assisting them on their most special day!

Photos captured by Lindsay Taylor Photography

Love in Print x 2!

If you want inspiration for your wedding you can look to weddings you've attended, search through blogs, or hunt of ideas on Pinterest. There are lot's of ways to get ideas for your big day, but nothing compares to flipping through the pages of a Wedding Magazine.

Grab the 2013 edition of Hamilton Halton Wedding Magazine, make yourself a tea and cozy up on the couch for a good read filled with local vendors, ideas, inspriational shoots and real weddings.

We are over the moon excited to have 2 of our Day of Coordination weddings featured in the magazine!

On the cover you'll see Morgan & Adam, their wedding was in August and the photo was captured by the lovely and talented Beth Kay. Big thanks to Morgan for the shout out to us in the blurb about their beautiful day! xo

Mosey on in a little further and you'll find a two-page spread of Natalie & Jason's June wedding. This wedding was full of romance, pink, fine details and of course, cupcakes! Thank you so much to Nat & Jason for inviting us to be a part of your special day and for the kinds words. Here's what Natalie tweeted about working with us; "Our vision for our wedding day would not have been brought to life without you!" For more about their wedding check out the feature in the mag, or our re-cap here.

DISCOUNT Alert! Book with us before May 1st, 2013 and tell us that you saw these Real Weddings in the Hamilton Halton Weddings Magazine and save 10% on Day of Coordination Services!

The Maid/Matron of Honour

A few weeks ago we chatted about the Best Man, so now it's the ladies turn. The Maid or Matron of Honour is the Bride's right hand gal, and is with her through all of the good, and dare I say it bad times during the planning and celebrating.

Weddings are stressful. The Bride is making a huge life change by becoming a wife, and they're planning the biggest party ever - so they're bound to feel overwhelmed. The Maid/Matron of Honour is likely her best friend, sister or cousin - someone that they love and trust. This is the person she can vent to about how overbearing her future Mother-in-Law is being, or how her hubs-to-be is simply nodding his head at all of her suggestions. She is also the person that will tell the Bride she's beautiful on her wedding day no matter the weight she wishes she had lost - because it's true. All Brides are stunning on their wedding day, and the MOH will make sure that her friend knows it too.

If you've been asked to be a MOH it is just that - an honour. The Bride has chosen you to be by her side on her special day - to help her get ready, socialize with her family and friends at the wedding and assist with all of the pre-wedding festivities.

Here are some key things a Maid/Matron of Honour will do:

- Assist with planning the Bridal Shower(s)
- Show up on time for the Bridal Shower(s), help with the food, mingle with guests & record the gifts
- Plan the Stag & Doe (if the couple want one) with the other members of the Wedding Party
- Participate in choosing the Bridesmaid dresses
- Join the Bride when choosing her dress, or at least attending the final fitting.
- Help the Bride get ready on her wedding day
- Give a speech at the reception
- Assist with any tasks that may be required of you at the wedding (and or aiding the Coordinator)
- Make sure the Bride is enjoying her wedding - be positive, be happy and stay sober!

If you've been asked to be a MOH, congrats! It's an important role - so be sure to take it seriously while still having fun!

*Photo by Elizabeth in Love

Set Up Services

This past August we had the pleasure of working with Mary-Anne and her hubs Anthony for their summer wedding (a post featuring their special day will be coming up as soon as I get some pics from the Photographer). 

As part of their services, we assisted with the set-up of their venue, Ruthven Park in Cayuga. This is a beautiful historical site that offers an outdoor ceremony location and a fabulous reception area.

If you're a Bride that doesn't feel Day of Coordination services are necessary, although we beg to differ - read our take on that here...and here - you can hire us for Set Up Services. This service is perfect for couples that need set-up of tables, chairs, linen, dishware, etc on the day of their wedding. No need to ask your family or wedding party to haul furniture and decor prior to the ceremony when we can do it for you!

Save yourself and your family/friends the stress and sweat and book with us. Here's proof of what we can do in about 3-4 hours.

Venue: Ruthven Park
Rental Company: Special Event Rentals

Morgan & Adam Part I

In August I had the pleasure of working with Elizabeth from Elizabeth in Love. I had heard about this awesome and lovely gal many times through the wedding grape wine, and then had the pleasure of meeting her at a friends wedding in June. At that wedding we were able to chat briefly about how excited we were to be working together for Morgan & Adam's big day.

Morgan & Adam got married in the beginning of August on a nice, warm (okay, kind of hot) summer day at one of my favourite venues in the Hamilton Area - the Tamahaac Club. Their theme was vintage romance, and they planned their big day with such detail. Morgan knew exactly how she wanted the venue to look, and it turned out beautifully.

Using baby's breath (the Groom's favourite), roses and hydrangeas, the tables welcomed guests for a dinner that was simply mouth watering. The bridesmaids wore white, and the groomsmen grey. The Bride & Groom had a first look photo session prior to uniting in a Jewish ceremony.

Here are some photos that display just how beautiful their wedding was.

It was so nice to have worked with Beth, and I hope that we'll be able to work together in the near future to capture and execute more weddings that are beautiful.

Next blog post will feature Part II: the details.

Don't miss out!

Did you know that planning and hosting a wedding is the 2nd most stressful life event? Ranking right up there with the loss of a loved one is what's supposed to be the happiest day of your life. Doesn't make much sense, does it?

We're offering 30% off Day of Coordination services for 2013 weddings booked before November 30th, 2012. Having a dedicated Coordinator on site for your wedding will help reduce the amount of stress you and your hubby to be might be feeling.

Finishing off the evening with a photo
with newlyweds Brooke & Richard.

Here's what you'll get with DOC services:

• A complimentary coffee & chat to discuss your wedding day requirements
• An hour long meeting to finalize all details, logistics and plans for your wedding
• Continuous support via phone or email 2 months prior to your big day
• Timeline preparation & execution
• Rehearsal coordination
• Wedding party & family management
• Vendor coordination
• Use of our wedding day emergency kit
• Wedding Day Management (set-up, ceremony coordination, photos & reception)

Day of Coordination provides approximately 30 hours of service, with 8-12 hours being executed on your wedding day. 

Other than your DJ & Photographer, no other vendor will spend that many hours with you on your wedding day. We are there the whole day to ensure that all of your hard work planning pays off.

Don't miss out! Call or email us today to set up a date for the complimentary chat!


* Photo by Unveil Photography

Paying for an intangible service

Okay, I've got to give a little talk here - no soap box, no mega phone - just me hoping to shed light on my perspective, why we charge what we do for our services and how Day of Coordination isn't a tangible service, but is well worth placing it in your list of vendors to hire for your wedding day.

When potential clients contact me, it’s typically because they've:

a) been referred from pleased past clients

b)  heard good things about me through the grapevine

or

c) searched online and found that I come up on top for "Hamilton Wedding Planner (or Coordinator)"

Once I get an inquiry, I get back to them with details about Day of Coordination, the length of time required to execute the services and the fee. Brides that know the value in having a certified professional on site to execute their details will reply back fairly promptly and take up my offer to meet to see if we’re a good fit. Most of my Brides are organized, detail oriented and your typical Type A personalities – and I love them for it! They know what they want, and they know how to get it – by hiring a Coordinator to do all of the tasks they can’t on their wedding day. But then there are the Brides that want to have a Coordinator, but don't want to pay for our quality services. This bothers me.

On location during the photo shoot for
newlyweds Brooke & Richard.

Day of Coordination services are typically 35-40 hours of service, with 12, sometimes 14 of those hours being executed on your wedding day. Other than your DJ and Photographer, who else works for you that long on your wedding day? Brides will pay more for their flowers and cake than they will for our services – so this is where my tangible and intangible piece comes into play.

You'll pay big bucks for a DJ, and for your investment you will hear the tunes pumpin’ all night.
You’ll pay more than enough for your cake, which will be dropped off, displayed and likely not eaten.
You’ll pay hundreds, sometimes thousands for your flowers, which yes, are beautiful - but at the end of the night end up thrown out, or given to guests during the famous centrepiece giveaway.



So, when I inform Brides about my fee and they want to negotiate or flat out say I'm too expensive, I think this (and maybe I should start saying this too)....

Our services are not tangible like those mentioned above. You can't touch, eat or smell what we do – but we're there working for you the whole time. We’re the ones that keep you calm and organized, and keep your wedding party and guests on time for key events. We’re the ones that pick up garbage from photo shoot locations, and make sure the washrooms are always clean and stocked. We fix your hair, veil and dress. We set-up your details, and take them down. We coordinate timing and services with all of your vendors, and make sure they're providing the services you're paying for. We coordinate your rehearsal, ceremony, photo shoot and reception. We communicate with your DJ and MC to make sure the speeches occur on time and in order. We work together with the catering staff to ensure dinner is served promptly and correctly. We wear many hats during the execution of the services, and we are always working. We trouble shoot, solve issues and above all, do all that we can to give you a memorable event.

So, do you see the value in having a Day of Coordinator? Check out our Applause page for what some of our past clients have to say. An experienced Day of Coordinator is worth the cost, and worth adding to your list of vendors to make your day magical.

I guess in the end, you can consider our tangible item to be the amount of stress we take away from you and your future hubby. Now, I think that's better than any song, slice of cake or flower.

* Image taken by Unveil Photography

Sarah Danielle Photography

A while ago I connected with Sarah on Twitter and we went out for drinks to chat weddings, work and photography. I told her that I was in need of some new head shots for use on social media and my website and she agreed to spend some time with me...and that's just what we did this past weekend.

The fall leaves were our backdrop, and the sunlight light up our outdoor studio. The wind was a bit much at times, but we managed to have a good time and capture some great shots!

Here are a few of my favs from the shoot.

From Bridesmaid to Bride

When I met Erin in November 2011, she was a Bridesmaid for her sister Leigh's wedding.
Now, she's engaged to her longtime boyfriend Jeff and will see me again in September 2013 when she is a Bride!

We often get referrals from past Brides and Grooms, and typically it's their friends or co-workers - so this  is the first time that we're going to be executing another wedding for the same family! It will be such a pleasure to see Leigh as a Bridesmaid, and now Erin as the Bride! I'm so excited to be able to work with these two gals again, and to help Erin & Jeff keep calm on their very special day.

Stay tuned next year for a teaser post about their wedding and then for a re-cap after they've said "I do."

Erin as a Bridesmaid for her sister Leigh's wedding.
Photo by Red Lotus Photography

That's a wrap!

Our 2012 wedding season has come to an end, and we are very pleased with how this year rolled out.

We executed a total of 9 weddings, with 3 being Full Wedding Planning services - so for this part-time business, we're giving ourselves a little pat on the back for a job well done.

All of the weddings we executed were memorable in their own way, and there were aspects and details from each that were very note-worthy. To share just a few, we'll start with Natalie, our June Bride who had a sign displayed for her guests that detailed the meanings behind her flower choices. We thought that this was very unique and gave purpose to her flowers rather then them just being simply decor.

Another neat thing I saw this year was the use of Scrabble letters to form the table names for Porsha & Will's big day. Or the fact that Mary-Anne, our August Bride had not just one cake, but three! She got on the trend wagon and had a cake trio for the day she married her hubby Anthony.

This year was our busiest to date, and we couldn't have been as successful without the help of my fabulous Assistants. Big hugs and thank you to Brittany, Melissa and Teresa. You guys rock!

Also thanks to some of the fabulous vendors we had the chance to meet and work with for the first time, and to those that we've worked with before and some more than once just this year. You guys help in making my job so enjoyable - thank you!

Stay tuned for blog posts in the next few weeks and months that will show Porsha's, Mary-Anne's, Margarita's and Brooke's wedding day in a recap with details and photos.

Cakes by This Chick Makes Cakes

Now, we're in planning mode for next year by meeting with Brides. If you're getting hitched, or know someone that is, feel free to give us a call. Even in the off season, we're still eager to keep talking about and executing weddings!!

4 days to go!

4 days to go until Brooke & Richard are Husband and Wife!

Since last year I've been working with this awesome couple to help them plan their wedding. They have been wonderful to work with and I can't wait to bring all of our ideas, plans and hard work to life on Saturday!

Getting hitched in Paris, Ontario, this couple chose some of the finest vendors to work with, and I will definitely be posting pictures and details about their big day in the upcoming weeks.

If you want to stress less like Brooke & Richard, book us for your 2013 wedding. We're offering 30% off Day of Coordination services on all bookings prior to Nov 30/12.

The big 3-0!

Yesterday was my 30th (Eeek!) Birthday, and to celebrate I want to extend an offer of 30% off Day of Coordination to 2013 Brides. The last time I had a promotion this large was to commemorate the marriage of Prince William to Kate Middleton. So needless to say, you won't see savings like this come around too often!

My 30th birthday celebration with my closest gal pals.

Weddings are a celebration with friends and family, so be the guest of honour and not the host. Leave the set-up, event logistics, schedule management and all those other finicky details to us!

With Day of Coordination you plan your entire wedding, source and choose your own vendors and personalize your big day however you see fit, but you have the security of knowing that all of your hard work and plans will be executed and come to life by a dedicated professional.




Brides that hire a Day of Coordinator are less stressed, more organized and are able to enjoy their day as they should - as a Bride who needs not to take charge, make decisions or even problem solve.

Book before November 30th to save 30% on our most popular service to not only stress less, but save some of your wedding budget!

*Services are regularly $900, making your total only $630 with the discount!
* Valid for 2013 weddings only in the Greater Hamilton Area. Travel fees apply for Toronto weddings.
* Must be booked before November 30th, 2012.

What a busy season!

Diane, Owner/Lead Coordinator with Natalie & Jason - June 16/12.

Two more weddings to go and then it looks like we're done with our 2012 wedding season - unless of course we get some last minute bookings for October to December.

In 2010, we were booked solid with Fall weddings, 2011 had a mixture of both Fall & Summer and this year it seems like Spring and Summer were the hot seasons to say "I do."

This season we're honoured to have assisted with the execution of 9 weddings - that's a lot of gigs for this  part-time business. Since June, we've had a wedding almost every second or third weekend, with meetings, consultations and rehearsals slotted in between. Whew!

We can't wait to show you pictures from awesome Photographers we had the chance to work with including Ikonica (Porsha & Will), Elizabeth in Love (Morgan & Adam) and some we still have yet to look forward to working with like Unveil Photography (Brooke & Richard).

Congrats to all the newlyweds from this year, and to the remaining couples; we can't wait to be by your side on your most special day!

Save the date for 2013

Most clients book Day of Coordination services with us 9-12 months in advance. If you're getting married in 2013, we suggest you save the date now! Having a professional and certified Coordinator on hand to execute your vision and ensure your vendors are providing the services agreed upon helps you to enjoy your day as a Bride, and not a Bridezilla. Stress brings out the worst in people, and you don't deserve to feel overwhelmed on the most important day of your life.

Our Day of Coordination package is 30+ hours of support and services. We provide you with documents to keep you organized, are with you for up to 12 hours on your wedding day and offer vendor recomendations and etiquette advice. We'll be your go-to gals for any issues that arise, any questions you might have and any mishaps that might occur. Weddings are a grand event, and you just simply can't coordinate all of the logistics yourself. Plus, you surely don't want to burden your family members or wedding party with the fine details and tasks either - they should be able to enjoy your special day right along with you.

Send us an email, give us a shout or even tweet us to set up a complimentary meeting so we can discuss how you can stress less on your wedding day with our popular Day of Coordination services.

* Picture from Backwards Life

Congratulations Morgan & Adam!

Today, my Assistant Brittany and I are coordinating the wedding for Morgan and Adam in Ancaster.

Could these two be any more gorgeous? The lovely and talented Elizabeth Kaye from Elizabeth in Love captured their adorableness and adoration in their engagement pictures. With such a good looking couple, a beautiful venue and a sunny (fingers crossed) summer day - this wedding will be one worthy of a magazine!

When I first met with Morgan and Adam I couldn't wait to hear all about their special day and how they've chosen to celebrate with family and friends. There will be a first look, a delicious meal and lots of dancing!

We wish them much happiness today as they become Husband & Wife. Thank you for allowing us to share in your wedding day! xo

Stay tuned for pictures from their wedding in the up-coming weeks.