Just a note… March 11, 2009

We are going to try and keep up our blog with a host of new ideas! Below is a list of our new categories along with their descriptions. Let us know what you think!
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Motivational Monday – Motivational tidbits sent out each Monday.

Resource Alley – There are many resources regarding your wedding or event, your business, your personal lives, and much more! This is where we like to share our favorites.

Weekly Wisdom – A weekly dose of wisdom for you to ponder.

Meet A Vendor – Each week we will introduce you to a new vendor! Who knows, you just may find a new favorite!

DIY Friday – Friday is our Do-It-Yourself day where we will post projects that even YOU can create to make your event look amazing.

Random Random Bo Bandom – Name says it all! Saturdays are going to be random articles from readers, colleagues, vendors, or just about anyone who sends one in!

Who? What? Where? – This is where we keep you up-to-date on what we are doing here at Genesis Weddings & Special Events. If we had an event or wedding the night before, we will share the amazing stories with you. Whatever we have going on, this is the place to find out about it.

Daily Inspirations – These Inspirational Ideas will be posted on a daily basis at 6pm (CST).

Tips & Tricks – Small tidbits of advice that will be posted ever so often if we deem it awesome info.

F.A.Q.s – We will post information that will help you regarding your wedding and events, or do you have a question, let us know and we will post it here, as well as on our site.

Must Have Wedding Photographs March 8, 2009

With many brides looking for ways to cut wedding costs, they are turning more and more to friends and family to take their wedding photographs. Thanks to the advances in digital photography and computer editing software, the pictures can often be made equal quality to professional work. Professional photographers can be expensive and charge royalty fees; however, they do typically provide photo editing services, compile beautiful albums, and they are sure to take the essential wedding photographs. Should you decide to not use a professional, be sure to bring a specific list of the photos you would like taken. It is amazing how many seemingly obvious poses are easily overlooked in the excitement of the whole wedding event! The following list is comprised primarily of more traditional poses- remember to choose those that are important to you and give them to your photographer!

Before the Ceremony:

Bride/Groom and immediate family
Bride/Groom and siblings
Bride/Groom and parents
Bride/Groom and grandparents
Bride/Groom and both fathers
Bride/Groom and both mothers
Bride/Groom and flower girl and ring-bearer (both together and separate)
Bride and bridesmaids
Bride and maid-of-honor
Bride and her father
Groom and groomsmen
Groom and man-of-honor
Groom and his mother

During the Ceremony:

Each groomsman and bridesmaid as they walk to the alter
Groom waiting for bride
Flower girl and ring-bearer as they walk
Bride and her father as they walk down the isle
Father giving away bride
Exchange of rings
Kiss to seal the vows
Presentation of new couple

After the Ceremony:

New couple alone (at the alter and in front of church)
New couple and immediate family
New couple and siblings
New couple and parents
New couple with immediate family (his, hers, then both)
New couple and grandparents
New couple and flower girl and ring-bearer
New couple and bridesmaids
New couple and groomsmen
New couple and bridesmaids and groomsmen
New couple and extended family (each side separately, then all together)
New couple in car window as they drive away
New couple with bouquet in background and left hands in foreground

Please help develop this list by adding any special photos not listed!

Why hire a wedding coordinator? February 19, 2009

By: Sasha Souza

As couples begin thinking about their wedding, they are often confused as to how much to spend, where to obtain specialized services, and how to choose vendors. These worries often mount as quickly as the cost of the wedding. After the euphoria wears off and the reality settles in, it’s shocking to discover of how much preparation is involved. Couples are faced with decisions about everything from invitation wording to planning their honeymoon. Couples often find they want experienced professional help.

Not long ago, a wedding coordinator was thought of as a luxury, only used by the wealthy. Now a coordinator is essential to the well planned affair. It is no longer “trendy” to engage a coordinator. Being experienced in negotiating contracts with caterers, florists, photographers, and other suppliers, the coordinator saves valuable time and money. The coordinator can take advantage of discounts not available to private parties and avoid costly mistakes, while turning your dreams into reality.

The average wedding can take more than two hundred fifty hours just to plan. With today’s hectic lifestyles, you may not have time to compare all the options, making sure you get the best deal, and make sure all the details are in place.

Wedding coordinators are not here to make decisions for you, but to guide and assist you in making informed decisions. Their training, knowledge, and experience will turn your dreams and expectations into reality. They want you to host a beautiful and distinctive event which you can enjoy.

A wedding coordinator will save you time and enable you to get the most for your money! A wedding coordinator can serve in many other capacities. They can act as the family counselor for apprehensive brides and the mothers, a wedding coordinator can become as close as your best friend.

How do you know you’re hiring the right coordinator? Trust is important in any relationship. You should feel completely comfortable with the coordinator and feel assured that he or she completely understands what your needs are. Your personalities should match. It’s important to find out how long the coordinator has been in business. Be careful of coordinators who are not members of any professional organization. These organizations have a code of ethics that the consultant must follow in order to be a member, some also require some sort of continuing education each year to stay a member.

How Do Wedding Coordinators Charge for Services?

Wedding coordination fees vary greatly from coordinator to coordinator.
Here are some examples:

* 10% – 15% of the overall budget Fee based on amount of wedding coordinated Flat rate for day of services (around $1,500) plus 15% of vendor contract costs.
* Fee based on number of guests
* Flat rate based on amount of work needed
* Hourly Rate (Often greater than $40 per hour)
* “Free!” (beware, though, these services take commissions and kickbacks from the vendors.)

*Download Brochure Here*