Taking care of your vendors

Attention almost newlyweds! We know that a wedding is a major expense, and the planning process can be a major pain in the you know what – but, you should be sure to think about how you’re going to treat your vendors.

Sure, they are there to provide a service for you, and they are being paid for that service, so what more do we want, right? Well…there are a few things that vendors are very appreciative of.


There is no such thing as too much information.

Especially if you have a Wedding Coordinator. We want to know all of the details, the timing and your big picture plans for your special day. We want to know who’s where, when and for how long. We want to know who needs to be paid, how much and for what. We want to know your weather back up plans, your set-up plans and your tear down/clean up plans. We want to know it all – and please, tell us!

We will provide you with helpful tools to keep you organized and to help you relay this information to us, but I always tell all my clients – “there is no such thing as too much information.”


Tips.

Tips aren’t always manageable, especially if the couple is on a tight budget, but they are always welcomed.
Be sure to check your contracts as most vendors roll in gratuity in the final bill. If not, it is always nice to say "thank you" to the vendors that go above and beyond your expecations.

Here is a guideline from Real Simple, and if you're still unsure, ask your Wedding Planner/Coordinator:

Bartenders: 10 percent of the total liquor bill (to be split among them)

Catering manager: $200+

Coat check attendants: $1 to $2 per guest

Hairstylist: 15 to 20 percent

Hotel chambermaids: $2 to $5 per room; $10 to $15 if you used a suite as your dressing room

Limo or bus drivers: 15 percent

Makeup artist: 15 to 20 percent

Musicians: 15 percent of fee for ceremony musicians; $25 to $50 per musician for reception

Photographer/videographer: If you’re paying a flat fee with no overtime, $100

Wedding planner: 15 percent of fee

Fuel the engine.

Your vendors are working hard for you, so be sure to give them the fuel they need by providing them with a meal. If your vendors are on site during dinner, then they should eat too. You don't have to serve them the same meal as you serve your guests, but do provide them with something. Also, make sure they know how they can get a drink (non-alcoholic, any good vendor will not drink while on the job) so that they can stay hydrated and alert and execute fabulous services for you.

Also, note that your Wedding Coordinator will most likely want to sit in the room that your dinner and speeches are occuring in. We know that this isn't always possible as seating is limited, but it is beneficial to help us keep a watchful eye on the time. So, it's best to have a vendor table for your DJ, Photographer, Videographer and Coordinator. But, like mentioned, if you don't want them in the same room, be sure that there is a lounge or somewhere they can sit and grab a bite to eat.

Saying Thank You.

Yes, you gave them a tip, and you fed them, but a really great way to say 'thank you' is to include your vendors in your list of cards to be sent out. A lot of vendors use these cards in their portfolio or display them in their office/showroom/store. If you don't want to mail them an actual card, send them a nice email telling them how they helped you on your special day and include a photo too if you have one!
Saying thank you the old fashioned way goes a long way.


Referrals.

In keeping with saying 'thank you', one of the biggest ways you can do this and show your appreciation is to recommend them to a family member or friend that is getting married. We always love booking new clients who've been referred to us from previous clients. It's a pat on the back and confirmation that we left a positive impression and did a good job.
Plus, we always love seeing clients from the past at the wedding of the referal.


*Blog post is generated from personal opinion. Picture provided by Diane Morris from Kelly & Mike's wedding 2010.
*Tip list formulated by Real Simple. Visit their website for more suggestions as some were removed for this post.

Good manners go a long way....

We're all brought up to know the difference between good behaviour and bad behaviour. It's amazing how a little good manners can go a long way....they can make someones day!

In one day, I was thanked by two previous clients and it made me feel great! Everyone wants to hear that they did a good job - that they helped someone achieve a goal, and that they were successful. It's the "thank you's" that I hear and read from my clients that is the icing on the cake for my services. Sure, seeing the details come together, the guests having fun and the Bride & Groom laughing are fantastic -  but to actually be thanked is another way I  feel rewarded.

Brides, I encourage you to send an email, card or even extend a phone call to all of your vendors after your wedding day to let them know how much you appreciated their efforts. Say "please" and "thank you".
Help others and let others know how they have helped you..because a little good manners goes a long way.

Bridal Shower Etiquette (for hosts)

This seems to be the time that many Brides are having Bridal Showers gearing up for their July, August & September weddings. A Bridal Shower is another festivity that is held to celebrate the marriage, much like the Stag & Doe, Bachelorette & Bachelor Parties and Rehearsal Dinner. The Bridal Shower is typically just for the Bride, although some couples now are having co-ed showers so the Groom can be 'showered' with gifts as well.

If you're a family member of the Bride-to-be or in the wedding party and are hosting a Bridal Shower,
here are some etiquette tips to help you:

1. Immediate family members should not host the event

Mothers, Future Mother-in-laws and sisters should not host the event. A cousin, Aunt, family friend or best friend should be the ones to host. Usually a Bridesmaid, or the Maid of Honour hosts the Bridal Shower.
The reason why this is frowned upon is because a Shower is given with the expectation of receiving gifts and it's in poor taste to host a party that between the lines is read as "give my daughter/sister some gifts please".

2. Only those that are invited to the wedding should be invited to the Shower

As mentioned above that Showers are a 'required gift' event, it is proper to only invite those that are invited to your special day. Ask the Bride for the wedding guest list, and perhaps go through it together with her to help build the invite list. If the Shower is a surprise, chat with the Mother of the Bride & Groom for guest names.

3. Write the Thank You card envelopes yourself

So many times we see guests arrive to a Bridal Shower and are instructed to write their name and mailing address on an envelope. We get that everyone wants an easy task concerning the wedding, but it's not very respectable to the guests. If the couple has sent, or will send a wedding invite to them, they already have their mailing address, so encourage the Bride to take the time to write the envelopes herself, or make labels. Think about the effort her guests have put into being at the Shower - they have shopped for a gift, wrapped it, signed a card, drove to the event, socialized with people they might not know very well, played corny games, watched her open up gifts and most likely dressed up. Don't you think that after all of that, the Bride (with your help) can write the envelopes?
This is one of our hang-ups...can ya tell? We're just saying that a little goes a long way.

4. Say Thank You

Not only should Thank You cards be sent within the week following the Bridal Shower, but the Bride should make sure that she says thanks to each guest whether it be after she's opened their gift, or as they are leaving. No one likes an ungrateful Bride.

5. Pony Up

If you are hosting the Bridal Shower, be prepared to spend some money. Most likely the Mother(s) will offer to pay for the shower, but you should still offer to pay for some aspects as the host. You can offer to have it at your home, or to provide a few menu items, or to pay for the decorations. No matter what, try to contribute to the cost of the event, even if the Mother(s) won't allow it.

6. Dress and behave appropriately

Do not try to upstage the Bride by any means. Dress according to the season and for the location of the event. If you are a member of the wedding party, keep in mind that you are an attendant to the Bride and are there for her. By no means are we saying you are her slave or lackey, but you should always keep in mind that the Shower and any other wedding related event is for her. Enjoy being the sidekick; the conductor in the background.

Do we have you nervous now about hosting a Bridal Shower? Don't be scared - it should be fun and exciting to host an event for the Bride.

Good manners should come naturally, and because for some they don't - we offered a few tips. Whether you are hosting a Shower or attending a Shower, we'd like to know what you think about these tips. Do you agree? Did you abide them? Have you witness them being completely ignored? We'd love to know!

Newlywed "To Do" List

Now that you've said "I do" there are a few things you have "to do" as a newlywed.

Enjoy being Mr & Mrs

Go on your honeymoon, spend time together, make love and enjoy your new beginning.

Clean & Store your Wedding Dress

Within 6 months get your dress dry cleaned and properly packaged for storing. If you don't plan to keep your dress, put it online for another Bride to use it for her happy day.

Check out sites like Bravo Bride, Yes Bride & Kijiji.

Change your status

And we don't mean just on Facebook! You'll need to change your last name and possibly your home address after you get married. Insurance, Licence, Health Card, Income Tax, etc.

For Ontario Brides, check out the Service Canada website for assistance.

Send your Thank You's

You've got 2 mths before you're considered inconsiderate. Sit down once a week and get through the pile of 'thank you's'. If you need more time, take it - but get those cards out no later than 6 mths after your wedding. You and your hubby will feel really good knowing that your guests are thanked promptly.

Pick your photos

You'll be given a whack load of photos to pick once your photographer has tweaked them. Enjoy this process no matter how stressful it may seem. Enjoy reminiscing about your wedding.

Celebrate your Anniversary

Congratulations!!!



*post inspired by an article found on The Nest

Welcome 2011!

Happy New Year!

We hope that you had a wonderful holiday season with your loved ones.

At this time we want to extend a big "thank you" to all of our Facebook Fans that took part in our "12 Days of Sharing" contest. It was a great way to let others know about us, but also to thank you for your support in 2010. We hope that the Fan Page and our Blog are keeping you intriqued and up to date about what's going on with us, with the wedding industry and with other local vendors.

The winner of the contest was Amanda Knight Kinnard. She introduced us to 12 new members. Thanks!


With each new year, we like to make goals for the following months ahead. This year we plan to:

1) Continue to assist Brides & Grooms with their wedding planning needs. Our popular and affordable "Day of Coordination" package is fabulous for DYI Brides that want to plan all their own details but have a professional onsite to execute their ideas and vision. You can't be 2 places at once.

2) Keep on blogging. We post every 5 days and will continue to do so. If there is something you'd like us to blog about please send us an email. We'd love to answer your questions and discuss topics you want to read about regarding weddings and special events!

3) Friendor Spotlights. Friendors are Vendor Friends of The Bride's Butler - more on this in our next post. This year we're going to try our very best to feature a selected friendor once a month on the blog. Stay tuned, this feature will kick off in March.

4) Gain more Facebook Fans and followers on Twitter. We'd love you to join us on social media, and be sure to tell your friends!

We have other goals that we'd like to meet - but those 4 are our top "must do's" - and we feel confident that we will be able to achieve them.We've enjoyed our start into the world of Wedding Planning (we began in '08) and we look forward to what lies ahead this year and the many that follow.

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right." ~Oprah Winfrey

Paparazzi

Everyone at one time or another wants to feel like a celebrity. At your wedding, you and your Groom are the celebrities - and your Wedding Party are like your groupies - and your guests are your fans.

A popular trend at weddings and events has been the Photo Booth (or Photo Shoot). A backdrop is set up with proper lighting and a designated photographer (aside from your main photog) to take photos of you and your guests. You can offer these photos as a favour or as an additional keepsake.

Alexis & Kevin had a Photo Shoot at their 'surprise wedding' on October 10th. With a secluded location away from the 'hub' of the party and the red coloured carpet upstairs at Swing Restaurant, their "red carpet + grand affair" backdrop worked wonderfully! Alexis made the backdrop and it really made everyone who got their picture taken infront of it feel like a super star!

 Alexis & Kevin used the Photo Shoot photos taken by the lovely Sarah from Indigo Stars Photography as part of their Thank You cards. Each guest could fill out a ballot size info sheet with their names and select if they wanted a picture of just themselves, or a picture of the Bride & Groom mailed to them. You could select both if you wanted to make sure you got one of the  new husband and wife as they were the 'main attraction' afterall - even though the guests didn't know it! LOL!

Before the event started and guests began to arrive, Sarah captured a shot of me on the 'red carpet' and it helped excentuate the excitment I was already feeling. This wedding was truly one of a kind - and I've got the photo to prove it!!

Thanksgiving

This weekend is the Canadian Thanksgiving, and The Bride's Butler will be really busy with 2 weddings. That's right - 2. One on Saturday, and another on Sunday. Holidays and long weekends are becoming very popular for weddings. Since I'll be absent from being able to have dinner with my family, I thought I'd devote this post to giving thanks.

Pictured is the Angel of Thanks - I have a few of these, but have yet to obtain this one. Perhaps I should, as I have much to be thankful for.

I'm thankful for.....

- my parents...their constant love & support is so appreciated, and I love them with all my heart.
- my brother, sister-in-law & nephew...they always make me smile everytime I see them.

- my best friend, who has supported me, guided me and been by my side through thick and thin.

- mabel's labels....for providing a fun, safe, loving and supportive work environment.

- lessons learned...life will never give you anything you can't handle.

- my awesome car.

- a great pair of jeans, a comfy hoodie and a lived in baseball hat.

- the feeling and smell of fall in the air. The sights, the smells & the tastes.

- my clients....who with their help of positive promotion brings me more clients. I love my job.

- my health, and the health of my family and friends

- fond memories of people and experiences that induce an instant a smile

- buttered toast, earl grey tea, ice cream and chocolate

- a fantastic country song that makes you want to sing at the top of your lungs.

- prayers....the good kind, the wishful kind, and the kind that gives karma a little nudge.

- a glass of red wine shared with friends

- what lies ahead....I'm thankful for each and every day.

May you all be thankful for something or someone this Thanksgiving.

Can you do me a favour?

Wedding favours - also sometimes called 'bonbonnieres', 'thank you gifts' or just simply 'guest gifts' can come in all shapes, sizes and prices.

You may know right away what you want to give your guests as a token of appreciation for sharing and celebrating with you on your special day - or you may not have the slightest idea. Thankfully, there are websites that offer such gifts - like our favourites; Weddingstar and Beaucoup.

Do you want the gift to match the theme of your wedding, your colour scheme, or your personalities? Will it be a practical gift of something your guests can use after the wedding, or simply a decorative gift?
Will it be something to represent tradition or culture? Will it be edible? What about whimsical or nostalgic? The choices are endless - and entirely up to you.

Favours nowadays can be personalized by more than just the favour tag - you can get customized stickers, labels and ribbon with your names, picture or caricature, initials (monogram) or your wedding date on them.

Another question you'll have to ask yourself and your partner - do you want to forgo the favour all together to be eco friendly and green? A good way to do this is to donate to a charity. Many charities offer wedding donation packages - like the Canadian Cancer Society, or Tree Canada.

Still think you want to give a gift, but stay green? Why not give a plant bulb, flower seeds or a tree? How about purchasing from Canadian company TangerineSmile where they make the environment and reducing their carbon footprint a priority?

Do me a favour?

Give your guests a gift that you are happy to send them home with - for at the end of the wedding, when it's all said and done, this finer detail will be the icing on the cake of your fabulous event - so you'll want it to be meaningful and respresentive of you, your partner and the day you said "I do."