Are linen shapes & sizes driving you insane? We don’t blame you. Sometimes WE even get confused, and linens are a major part of our job! That's why we want to help you, who doesn't look at this every day, in finding an easy solution to measure for the proper linen fit. We'll run through this exercise for rectangle/square tables, and also round. And at the very bottom of our blog, we'll show you how those different shapes lay on the tables.

How to measure a rectangular table for floor-length linens

We'll start with a rectangular table (as seen here) and you can scroll down for a round table. This is how you calculate the size of a floor-length linen.

To calculate measurements on your own, you need to convert everything to inches. We’ll do a few table sizes here:

8 feet = 96 inches

6 feet = 72 inches

5 feet = 60 inches

You need to add the height on both sides of the table. Most banquet tables are 30” tall. So you’re usually adding 60” to your measurements (unless you don’t want a linen to be floor-length).

Now we're able to calculate the LENGTH:

96 inches + 30 inches + 30 inches = 156” long

You calculate the length for this rectangular table, but now you need to calculate the width.

Most banquet (rectangular tables) are 30” wide.

Again, you need to add the height on both sides of the table.

Now we're able to calculate the WIDTH:

30 inches + 30 inches + 30 inches = 90” wide

This means, a floor-length linen for an 8’ banquet table

is 90” x 156”

How to measure a round table for floor-length linens

This is how you calculate the size of a floor-length linen for a round table.

Measure the diameter of the table.

Now add the height of the table on both sides.

Now we're able to calculate the Floor-length linen size:

60 inches + 30 inches + 30 inches = 120”

This means, a floor-length linen for an 5’ round table 120”

1. Square linens come in sizes like 90”x 90” and 54”x 54.” Both numbers are the same (hence the square), but there are two numbers.

2. Round Linens have one measurement (diameter). So you’ll see numbers like 90” or 120”

3. Rectangular linens come in sizes like 90”x 132.” Obviously the shorter measurement for the width of the table and the longer measurement for the length.

4. Table runners typically come in 8” or 15” widths, and a length of 9 feet.

So now that I know how to measure, what does it look like on the table?

Look at our handy dandy pictures below to find that perfect linen for the style you’re trying to achieve! We’re not going to go through ALL sizes, but we’ll go through the most popular options.

I honestly think that the beginning phase of your wedding planning should involve diagramming the event space. With that information in hand, you can easily rent the correct tent size, know your number of tables needed, tell the florist how many centerpieces you need, and visually see where large decor pieces should go, amongst a lot of other things!

Table shape and size dramatically changes the number of guests you can fit into an event space. Also, different table shapes require different linens, and the price difference can be hefty. So although you may love the idea of square tables, they may cost a lot more than you budgeted for (it takes 2 linens to cover them in most cases). So keep all of this in mind when selecting your table arrangement! Also, in our local Montana wedding market, the only swag tents you'll find are the rope & pole tents, and as you'll see below, your table layout must be changed to accommodate the center support posts.

I'm going to use the 150 guest count as an example and show you some different diagrams and things to consider! I'm using a 40' x 60' tent in all the diagrams below, so we can compare apples to apples, and all layouts show 6' round tables (10 people per table). Also, There is no space in any of these layouts for a gift table, guest book table, DJ table, etc. So when you add tables for these purposes, guest seating needs to be removed accordingly.

DIAGRAM #1: Plated dinner in a canopy tent (with no poles).

In this layout, to make the head table prominent (as it should be, we've left if on the East side of the tent. You can seat 160 people according to this diagram, but keep in mind that the tables in this diagram are TIGHT. Guests will be using the dance floor as the open space to navigate the room.

Table shape and size plays a HUGE role in how many people will fit into your tent. This same size tent with 5' rounds in this same layout will only accommodate about 145 people. With Rectangular tables, in "Bier Hall" seating (as I call it), will seat nearly 185 people.

Also, when you have over 150 guests aged 21+, and you're offering a full bar (liquor, wine & beer), it's a smart idea to have 2 bars. One can close after cake service, when some guests leave, but to accommodate that initial rush during cocktail hour & dinner, we strongly suggest having 2.

DIAGRAM #2: Plated dinner in a rope & pole tent (with center poles & ceiling swag).

Although you may like the layout above, it cannot be duplicated when you use a rope & pole tent. The red circles indicate center poles, which support the ceiling in this tent style. This means the dance floor must be smaller, and the head table should move so it's in a more prominent position. Simply moving a few tables around to accommodate those center posts means that you can only seat about 150 people in this setup.

DIAGRAM #3: Buffet dinner in a canopy tent (with no poles).

Serving a buffet style dinner IN your tent dramatically reduces the amount of seating available. When guests are expected to get up and move throughout the tent, you especially need to make sure there's ample room to walk between tables. You also need to leave plenty of space for your buffet tables, not only so a line can que, but also so the buffet servers can efficiently service & refresh the buffet. Keep in mind, just like the bars, when you reach 150+ guests, you typically want to add a second buffet for more efficient service. But because this layout dramatically reduced the seating in the tent (to about 130 people), we're able to stick with one bar and one buffet with a properly sized dance floor.

DIAGRAM #4: Buffet dinner in a rope & pole tent (with center poles & ceiling swag).

This last diagram is the least ideal of all the setups. Yes, it fits 150 people into the event space with a buffet, but we had to reduce the dance floor size due to the poles, there's only one bar, and there's only one buffet. We managed to increase seating by moving the head table to the north side of the diagram, but just because you can fit all your guests according to a diagram doesn't mean you should! If a client were interested in this diagram, I'd strongly suggest going up one more tent size, so the tables could spread out a little bit, and we could add a second buffet and bar.

Want to experiment on your own? Go to www.weddingmapper.com and check out their free online tools for mapping out your own wedding! Be sure to leave plenty of space between your tables, and add in all your important elements, like the cake table, gift table, bars, buffets, escort card table, guest book table, etc.

I had the honor of working with Marla Rutherford of Cake Knife Photography twice last season. I’ve been waiting for a break so I could sit down and do Marla justice on my blog!

First of all, there are a lot of photographers out there to choose from – how do you know which one is the right one for you? Do yourself a favor and look through their website & portfolio. Do you like their style? ar they capturing all the "good moments?" Make an appointment to meet with them. Do you like their personality? How long have they been in business? How many weddings have they shot? Is this a fulltime job for them? You want to make sure you LIKE who you hire, because you’ll be working closely with them when it comes to your wedding day!

Anyhow, I cannot tell you how many times I am told by a photographer that the “room is too dark. . .can you turn up the lighting so I can shoot some images?” Well, no. . .that’s called ambiance. . .and it’s the romantic candle-lit vibe the bride wanted. Not to mention, if we turn up the lights, you’re not going to capture what the event truly looks like.

So flooding the room with light to take a picture is not the answer. Then what is?

Hiring Marla. No joke. She comes fully equipped. There is no lighting situation this gal can’t handle. She brings specialty lighting and is prepared for really any scenario. Not only that but she understands the lighting, and captures some great images that play off of it. I honestly think I overheard her say “lighting is my bitch” . . .and she means it. She knows what she’s doing, loves what she does, and makes my job so much fun! (I enjoy it when I work with people I LIKE!)

Understanding lighting is key to being a professional photographer, and she produces some amazing, one of a kind images. And her photography captures all the great moments, and produces magazine quality prints. I’d like to share a few pictures below from the weddings we worked on together. But I invite you to check her out at: www.cakeknifephotography.com

And for those Montana brides of mine. . .she DOES travel!

All photos courtesy of Cake Knife Photography

I compiled this list of top wedding planning tips for a blog I wrote on the Bitterroot Wedding Association page.

10. GET A GRIP ON YOUR BUDGET

We beg you. Please do not even BEGIN spending money until you know how much you have to spend. All those little things add up quickly and before you know it, you're over budget. Autumn strongly suggests using a wedding budget program (her company provides one to clients). To many people, $30,000 is a whole lot of money. But you would be completely surpised at how quickly those funds diminish when planning a wedding! So even if you personally feel your budget is healthy, you should STILL use a budget program to stay on track.

9. MAKE A TOP 3 LIST

Has your family paid for parts of your wedding? Does that make you feel like you "owe" it to them to do what THEY want you to do? We definitely encourage you to compromise on as many items as possible and incorporate the family's wants. BUT, this is also YOUR wedding day. If you're struggling to reach a compromise, the bride and groom should make a top 3 list. Put your absolute MUST HAVES on this list. These will become the "untouchables." These are the 3 things you don't have to compromise on (but we willing to compromise on other items). Ask your family to do the same. Often we find that the issues with compromising spring from miscommunication on wants. The top 3 list really does help!

8. YOUR WEDDING STYLE

What's your personal style? What's your groom's personal style? We love putting together the "5 senses of your wedding." That means you close your eyes, relax, and define how your wedding tastes, smells, sounds, looks and feels. Bride and groom can do this separately for best results. Once your visualize all these categories and then take a step back, you can actually give a definition to your combined style!

7. PLAN THE DETAILS, BUT DON'T SWEAT THEM

Not everything will go exactly according to plan. But that does NOT mean you should panic if something isn't perfect... Event planning is all about handling change. As a wedding planner, we work closely with the bride & groom so we can make decisions in the moment, on their behalf. As an example - one of our brides told us she wanted lots of candlelight in the reception room. She bought votives & tealights for the wedding and then left them at home (5 hours away). As her planner, we spoke with the venue, pulled their votives, and just happened to bring a bag of tealights as a backup. . . problem solved, and the bride never needed to panic.

6. RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY

Montana is known for its unpredictable weather, no matter what time of year. So we encourage all of our brides to plan for anything. For starters, never plan an outdoor wedding without shelter! That includes shelter from the heat AND shelter from bad weather. And items like shawls & heaters for a fall wedding are smart to have on hand. When you aren't prepared, it's like taunting the weather to act up. . . and when you plan for weather, you're less stressed when it happens.

5. ALTITUDE = HYDRATION

Remember, we're at a higher altitude here than many other parts of the country. Whether it's supposed to be hot outside, or you're serving alcohol, make sure your guests have access to plenty of water!!!

4. TIPS

Make sure you do your research on which vendors are supposed to be tipped and which vendors just charge a flat rate with no expectations of tips. You would tip a server at a restaurant as part of the cost. We understand that a wedding is a huge expense, but that just means you should budget for the tip - not just skip it. CLICK HERE for a great link to who you should tip.

3. LIMIT YOUR ENTOURAGE

When shopping for wedding dresses, visiting the venue, etc., limit the size of your group. Too many opinions can lead to emotional overload. Not everyone has to approve of your wedding decisions. Only invite a few people to attend, who you know would make your appointments ENJOYABLE.

2. WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF THE WEDDING?

There's no such thing as a bride and groom who WANTS to stay until the end of their wedding to clean it up. If you aren't hiring a planner and you're instead delegating this responsibility to someone else, PLEASE follow these tips.

First, pick someone who isn't going to be so inebriated that they can't get the job done.

Second, have an inventory checklist, so your helper knows which decor is yours, and which belongs at the venue.

Third, whoever is responsible for cleaning up needs to know how to box it up. For example, if you've got a linen on your cake table, you can hide boxes under that table. Mark right onto the box what the contents were so they make sure to get everything!

And lastly, make sure whoever is putting items away understands their job. If linens aren't supposed to be wet or dirty, make sure that person doesn't shove soiled linens into the laundry bag. . . just have a heart to heart with the person you've delegated to, so they understand clearly what you need them to do.

1. ENJOY YOUR RELATIONSHIP - AND THE PLANNING!

You know yourself best. Some people can just power through the "annoying" parts of planning to get to the enjoyable parts. Others need to work on it when the mood strikes them. Do what's best for you. But no matter what, put down the planning every once in a while, and take a break to enjoy time with your fiance. We've seen quite a few brides go through "withdrawls" when the planning is over because it completely consumed all their time. Take a break and enjoy your relationship! It's the reason why you're planning a wedding anyways!

Well, I am wrapping up building a massive new workspace, which means it's time to part with my old desk. That desk was a fun project, and I'll share how I turned someone else's "junk" into a little treasure.

STEP 1: Sand off that icky old paint. I love my orbital sander. And make sure to wear a mask during projects like this - no telling how old that paint is, or how much lead is in it. Man, this desk was UGLY!

STEP 2: All sanded! I feel much better about this look! Now that all the paint is off, I take my awl and I scratch in lines, cracks, and worm holes all over.

STEP 3: Stain that baby! I chose a really dark color. Once the stain has dried, I coat the whole desk with 3 coats of eurothane. Then add the knobs of your choice! And VOILA! You have a brand new desk (which looks MUCH better than the original desk!)

Everyone has a personal preference on whether or not to have a seating chart, and a bride just asked this question, so I thought it was a good idea to blog about it! I've pulled some helpful imformation from The Offbeat Bride's blog, because I can't say what they said any better. But I did add a few of my own thoughts. ;)

Why you might not need a seating chart:

Your reception does not include a sit-down meal. If you are having a cocktail reception, tea, cake and punch, dessert, picnic-style or other party format, then there is no reason to have a seating chart. These formats are flexible enough that people can more freely move around.Your reception is very small and not in a typical reception hall. If you're having your reception at a restaurant with ten or twenty people, there is no need to assign seats.You have various tables and seating options of different sizes. If your venue has a mix of large tables, small four-seaters, couches with coffee tables, bartops and other more lounge-like options, you can safely skip the seat assignments.If your wedding is on the small side and everyone genuinely knows each other (and their relationships are mostly drama-free).

The benefits of a seating chart:

You can ensure that everyone's dinner companions share common interests. It is simply good event planning to arrange for guests in this situation to sit with people they either already know and like, or are likely to get along with, so they'll be more likely to sustain engaging dinner conversation. It is true that people will get up and mingle before and after the meal; what you are planning here is mealtime socializing.You can make single guests, or guests who don't know others, more comfortable. This also somewhat alleviates the need for +1s: we had a few single guests who knew only one or two other people at the wedding. By seating them at tables with the few guests they knew as well as others they didn't know, but with whom we felt they shared common interests, we could safely invite them without +1s.You can work around the "standard table size" problem to guarantee that people who will want to sit together can do so. Imagine you and your significant other mingled a little too long at cocktail hour while others were sitting. You enter the dinner area, realize that there is no seating chart, look for a table and don't find one. Every available seat is a single, and nobody seems inclined to move. Finding people to move for you requires complicated cross-table negotiation.It's like a blind date for your loved ones! I love "setting up" my friends with my other friends (not in the romantic way, although that has also happened).It manages drama. Usually. Do you really want your Socialist-leaning lesbian academic friend who just got back from Peace Corps and volunteers for the "Rent is Too Damn High" party to end up sitting with your Libertarian uncle who likes hunting and tells kids to get off his lawn? Probably not. If, however, that's the only open seat your friend can find –- well, that'll just be a box of giggles, won't it?If you’re serving a plated dinner, it’s incredibly helpful for the caterer to know exactly who is sitting where, and seating charts are their best friend! Speaking from experience, service is so much smoother when we’re plating and can call out an order like “table 1! 5 chicken, 2 steak, and 1 vegetarian meal” – it gets set on a tray, and the server comes directly to table 1 with the right meals. To accomplish this, you’ll need to have place-cards that list the menu item that a particular guest ordered. And even better if you can put that place card right AT the seat where that person will sit, so they don’t move seats and create confusion.

Regardless of what you decide is right for you, here is some advice for managing your wedding seating.

If you don't create a seating chart:

Provide more seating than is necessary. Exact ass-to-chair ratios can make it hard for couples to find seats together. Extra seats can alleviate that issue.Try to vary your seating options and table sizes if possible.Consider a reception that doesn't include a full meal. This is not mandatory, simply advised. It opens up mingling and reduces the time when people need to stay in one place.Try to introduce people who don't know other guests around before the wedding. This way, they will be able to seek out familiar faces later, or consider a cocktail hour that will allow them to meet and chat with potential table mates.Consider allowing single guests to bring +1s.Label your tables anyway! When it comes to releasing tables for a buffet, you need a simple way to do it. Whether that’s a number, a funny name, or something personalized to you – make it fun!

If you do create a seating chart:

Avoid the dreaded Singles Table. Varying it a bit helps the social experience.Create "Interest Groups" to keep people together. For example: "older family and friends who like guns," "travelers and expats," "young hippies," "old hippies and academics," "overachieving young professionals," "raunchy friends and relatives." It worked beautifully.Create "Groups of Tables." It's okay if people who are friends don't get to sit together — the best way to encourage mingling before and after dinner is to seat them at tables near each other.Don't assign exact seats, just assign tables. This gives people flexibility even within the structure you create. Of course, this assumes round tables. For family-style events, having a seating chart means assigned seats.Be prepared to make last-minute changes. Even if nobody crashes the party, someone will get sick or have a sudden emergency and be unable to attend. Have some back-up seating cards and be ready for some last-minute re-arranging.Even though you’re assigning every seat, make sure you have a few extra seats. Unfortunately, nowadays, some guests don’t RSVP and STILL show up, and others DO RSVP and then don’t show. This helps that you know there are extra seats to fill.Listen to suggestions, but don't let anyone try to dictate seating to you. Go ahead and hear your Mom or Grandma out on her seating chart ideas, but make the final decision yourself and own it. If necessary, don't share the final chart with them and do not engage in discussions about it after it's finished.This may seem like a lot to consider. Just remember: all you need to do is reflect on what kind of party you are having, what the venue is like, who your guests are and apply these general guidelines to determine of a seating chart is, for you, a useful tool or an exercise in futility.

Here are a few of our event's creative solutions for assigning tables and seats (and we're happy to customize a new idea to your event!)

We couldn't have said this better ourselves, so we're going to share Martha Stewart Weddings' blog post word for word! Read below to find the top 10 wedding planning mistakes. Of course hiring a planner would avoid these issues!

1: Making plans before setting a budget

Picking a dress or wedding venue prior to establishing financial parameters is a lot like shopping without glancing at price tags and then strolling up to check out with your fingers crossed. You risk falling for a gown or location that breaks your heart when you realize that to afford it, you’d have to cut your guest list in half—or cancel the honeymoon. “The three initial hurdles are budget, guest list, and venue, and they should be tackled in that order,” says planner Lynn Easton of Easton Events in South Carolina and Virginia. “Your budget defines your options and drives your decisions.” While drawing one up, “include charges for overtime, gratuities, and car services from the start,” advises New York City planner Marcy Blum. “By doing so, you avoid throwing money at things you weren’t prepared for.”

2: Not having a rain plan

If yours is an outdoor event, rain on your wedding day isn’t just ironic, it’s a game-changer. Too many people are tempted to just hope it won’t happen, which is the planning equivalent of sticking your fingers in your ears and yelling, “I can’t hear you, Rain!” Bicoastal planner Lyndsey Hamilton of Lyndsey Hamilton Eventssays, “People don’t want to put the deposits down for tents, umbrellas, and golf carts they might not need—you pay 50 percent and lose it if you don’t use them. But if you don’t book them early on and are marrying during peak wedding season, tents might not be available when the weather starts to look iffy.” Meet with the tent company six to nine months ahead and think of the deposits as an investment in your peace of mind. “We believe that if you have a good Plan B, it won’t rain, but if you haven’t considered ‘what if,’ it will undoubtedly pour,” says contributing editor David Stark of David Stark Design and Production in New York City.

3: Underestimating the cost of outdoor affairs

Just because the setting may be breezy doesn’t mean the planning is going to be easy. “With alfresco affairs, people think we’re just putting a tent in a field, and it’s going to be beautiful,” says Hamilton. “They don’t realize all the logistics necessary for a tented event to go off without a hitch.” Bear in mind you’ll need to rent bathrooms, kitchen facilities, lighting, fans or heaters, and generators.

4: Planning a too-long party

It’s the event of your lifetime, but it shouldn’t feel like it lasted a lifetime. “It’s tempting to get so excited that you map out a marathon celebration, with pre-vow drinks, a lengthy ceremony, another cocktail hour, a multi-course dinner, three hours of dancing, an after-party, and more,” says planner Calder Clark, owner of Calder Clark in Charleston, South Carolina. “But industry insiders agree that a five-hour reception is the tip-top of what people can enjoy and still exit laughing. The evening should have a natural end.” It should also have a comfortable beginning: Be sure to supply chairs so attendees can sit for the vows (a five-minute ceremony becomes a painful 20-minute wait if you run late).

5: Packing them in

You want your wedding to feel chic and elegant, not “crowded elevator.” “Being cramped makes meal service and dancing difficult, and it really inhibits the guest experience,” says Hamilton. Ask your venue how many attendees can comfortably fit, then reduce that by 10 percent, she suggests: “You don’t want to get to the max of what your site can accommodate.”

6: Mis-timing vows

Schedule your ceremony to get the best photos. “Figure out when the sun goes down, then chat with your photographer about the ideal start time,” suggests Easton. “There is a ‘golden hour’ just before the sun sets that photographers love to take advantage of.” Think of it as nature’s airbrushing; you just have to make an appointment for it.

7: Not supplying enough information

No one likes feeling confused, and your guests won’t know the wedding locale the way you do. Offer suggestions of things to do and information on getting around, “and if you’re having a destination event or weekend-long celebration, hand out itineraries telling everyone where they need to be and when,” says Hamilton. “That way, the buses won’t be late to the vows because no one knew when or where they needed to be picked up.” Speaking of buses, give the drivers their fair share of need-to-know info too. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve told a transportation company what the address is, and they still get lost,” adds Hamilton. “Now we print out directions describing exactly the way we want them to go so we can estimate how long it will take to move guests from place to place.”

8: Micromanaging

Drawing a map for the bus drivers is a great idea. Plotting out bathroom breaks and a second-by-second schedule for your coordinator, waitstaff, and DJ? Not so much. “Folks forget they’re dealing with seasoned professionals who can forecast—down to the nano-second—how the party should go,” says Clark. “Be clear about what you want, but know that offering trust and creative license to your team produces a better end result for all involved.”

9: Skipping video

Yes, the movie version of your big day will go months or even years between viewings, and videography is a tempting place to cut costs. However, “Nothing compares to being able to relive your wedding in real time; it goes by in a flash,” says Easton. “Our clients always call us to gush over the details the next day, and it’s hard to hear when their only regret is not having hired a videographer.”

10: Sweating the small stuff

Your brother may forget to bring the programs you spent last weekend hand-stamping, your mom may insist on leading a conga line at the reception, and your father-in-law may call your boss “honey” when they’re introduced. But who cares? You’re marrying the love of your life! “Too often we see couples get so wrapped up in the details that the focus shifts from the celebration of a marriage to a fixation on the ‘stuff’ of a wedding,” say Maria Baer and Kelly Seizert, co-owners of Ritzy Bee Events in Washington, D.C. “It’s hard to have fun and be present in this once-in-a-lifetime moment if you’re worried the peonies in the centerpieces are one Pantone shade off.”

I spent a lot of time as an "on-site" coordinator for weddings at 3 different national brand hotels, and all handle wedding rooms the same. Some small mom & pop hotels may not operate this way, but you'll certainly learn how to avoid common frustrations. Here we go:

Definitions you'll need to know:

BAR: Best available rate. This is the lowest rate a hotel is willing to sell an individual guest room. When you walk into the front desk, BAR is the lowest they'll go!

Room Block: This is a group of rooms, booked with a contract, at a contracted rate. Typically a discounted rate under what the BAR for that specific date is selling at.

Attrition: This is the penalty you pay if you don't fulfill a contract. Typically a percentage of the price for rooms you didn't fill.

Courtesy Block: This is typically the type of room block hotels use for weddings. A courtesy block means that there are no attrition penalties. It's a small block of rooms that are held until about 30 days before the wedding, then any unbooked rooms are released. If you fill this block before the "drop" date, you typically can add more rooms a little at a time.

A few options:

The Courtesy Block. It's better to be safe than sorry. Most weddings prefer the courtesy block, because you just don't know how many of your guests will actually need accommodations. With most weddings, the number of guest rooms is totally a shot in the dark. If you don't fill the rooms 30 days out from the wedding, the block dissolves, and you're not financially responsible to pay for those rooms that weren't filled. Usually hotels start with blocking 10 rooms, and if you fill them, they'll add more rooms, IF more rooms are available.

A Contracted Block of Rooms. This is what corporate businesses use to hold rooms. You can usually get a great discount on rates, depending on the availability that weekend. The problem is, if you don't fill your obligation for a number of rooms, attrition applies, and you, PERSONALLY, have to pay penalties. And trust us - you just don't know how many people will need a room. (We'll go through issues below that are factors WHY you don't know that you might not have considered).

Things that affect a hotel's rates:

Sometimes this happens in the "off" season also, when conferences take up large blocks of rooms. The hotel is pretty much guaranteed to fill all their rooms at a higher rate. Don't get angry - they are just running a smart business. Instead of booking a block of rooms, you can list them as an option to your guests, until their availability runs out.

What is happening in town that weekend? A hotel may be competely open at the time you call in, but the hotel is probably aware that a big event is taking place that weekend. They know that they're going to sell out. So sometimes they won't offer a discount because they don't need to. Consider what's happening in town before you choose your wedding date. This affects more than hotel rooms - often a busy weekend means higher transportation rates for flights, less availability for rental cars, and more traffic!

Are you hosting an event at the hotel as well? Consider a "scattering party" breakfast the morning after your wedding. Adding events sometimes gets you a lower rate! Or consider hosting your wedding at a location that has guest rooms on site.

Common issues:

Guest rooms are booked on all different floors and wings. You'll need to verbalize to your sales person at the hotel that you want ALL your guests on the same floor, or at least the same end of the hallway. (At least the party guests!!!) Otherwise, rowdy weddings often get complaints when placed on the same floor with elderly hotel customers, or those with children. Putting everyone together helps avoid these issues.

Sometimes the online rates are cheaper. There are 2 reasons why this happens:

ordinator. I've seen this happen at every hotel I've worked at, that the hotel's advertised BAR is cheaper than the blocked rate. Call the hotel if this happens. They will usually fix it immediately. This is a mistake on their end. The online BAR should never be less than a booked group rate.

2. Hotwire, orbitz, etc. may advertise a cheaper rate online. Don't get too excited - that doesn't mean your hotel will make your courtesy block at that lower rate - these booking agents have strict stipulations. You must pay immediately, it's a non-refundable rate, and it's only for a limited quantity of rooms. Your "courtesy block" means people don't pay until they get there, and can cancel if needed.

Rooms booked outside of your block. When someone finds a cheaper rate online, they may book that instead of booking your contracted rate. Others may get a friends & family discount for their rooms, and also won't make reservations within your block. Or better yet, people won't even ask for your block, and just book a full price room at the hotel. If you're trying to get hotel planner "points" or you're in a legit contract, you want to make sure you're getting credit for ALL the rooms you've brought to the hotel. Give the hotel your list of guest names, so they can compare against their reservations. Make sure you talk about this with your room sales coordinator BEFORE you sign your contract.

Not as many people booked rooms as you thought. Let's say you booked rooms at Hilton, and some family members are loyal Marriott customers. They're not going to stay at the Hilton. People have specific preferences. Or some out-of-state friends may decide to stay with a local friend you didn't know about. All of these issues are reasons to do a "courtesy block" instead of a legitimate contract. Keep this in mind when you choose your hotels - courtesy blocks don't cost anything. So get a few of them! Book these at a few different hotel brands so you give your guests a choice!

Perks to booking a room block:

1. More guests will come to your wedding if you make it EASY for them! Don't be afraid to book a courtesy block! And put together a wedding website with links to YOUR specific block of rooms! People can click one button and make a simple reservation.

2. Get planner points! Sign up to be a "loyalty" member, and earn some points towards another hotel stay. When I worked for a Hilton, I would encourage brides to get these points, to use towards a honeymoon stay at a Hilton property! You can get points for rooms AND for events, so if you book your wedding or a breakfast at the hotel, get credit for what you paid.

3. Having guests staying at one or two locations make mass transportation a lot easier. Send the bus to the lobby to pick people up! It also makes dropping off gift baskets easy too, when you don't have to go to multiple locations!

I attended a special event planning conference a few years ago, and a well-known wedding planner Wendy Dahl (of Chic Productions) taught a class. I attended, not knowing what to expect, but learned one of the coolest tools for getting a bride and groom to define their wedding style!

Frequently a bride (and groom) will get onto Pinterest, and begin pinning away ideas here and there, but they have no correlation to the real theme or style of the wedding – they’re just cute ideas. Instead of putting together a hodge-podge for your wedding, try using this tool to narrow down your style. It truly helps you ask the question, “does this even fit into what our style is?”

Keep in mind this exercise is meant to help you talk your wedding style out! So don’t be afraid to put those high dollar “dream” items on the list, even if you know you won’t be able to afford them. That’s just helping define your style.

#1. Print our worksheet:

to print the PDF version of our planning worksheet! Print 2 copies if you want to get the groom’s wedding style too.

#2. Get a friend!

You’ll want to concentrate on visualizing your wedding (eyes closed if that works best)! So have a friend ask you questions and then transcribe your answers for you!

#3. Describe the 5 senses of your wedding:

Remember to be as descriptive as possible on these questions! The more words you can associate with each question, the stronger your wedding description will be.

-What sights are at your wedding? Describe what you can see.

-What sounds are at your wedding? Describe what you can hear.

-What does your wedding feel like when you touch things? Describe the textures.

-What does your wedding taste like? Describe anything with a flavor!

-What does your wedding smell like? Describe what aromas fill the air.

Voila! Define your style!

Now you can look over all the senses of your wedding and you’ll start to formulate trends that keep coming through – you can use these trends to make decisions further down the road also (like if I’m smelling fresh cut grass and hearing birds chirping, maybe I should consider an outdoor wedding). After you’ve reviewed your written list, come up with a short description of your style. Two to three words maximum. This is especially helpful when approaching vendors, and quickly defining what you want your wedding to look like, since there are so many options out there.

This list of descriptive terms is very helpful, but is by no means the limits to the descriptive wording you can use!

backyard: (adj) located or occurring in a backyard

beachy: (adj) characterized by beaches

bohemian: (adj) pertaining to or characteristic of the unconventional life of a bohemian; (n) a person, as an artist or writer, who lives and acts free of regard for conventional rules and practices

casual: (adj) Being without ceremony or formality; relaxed

chic: (n) style and elegance

classic: (adj) of the first or highest quality, class, or rank; traditional or typical

contemporary: (adj) of the present time; modern

country: (adj) of, from, or characteristic of the country; unpolished; rustic

dainty: (n) something choice or pleasing

dapper: (adj) neat and trim in appearance; very spruce and stylish

delicate: (adj) marked by daintiness or charm of color, lines, or proportions; marked by fineness of structure, workmanship, or texture

destination: (n) a place worthy of travel or an extended visit

elegant: (adj) marked by elegance; of a high grade or quality

eclectic: (adj) composed of elements drawn from various sources

french: (adj) of, relating to, or characteristic of France, its people, or their language

fresh: (adj) having its original qualities unimpaired

garden: (adj) of, relating to, used in, or frequenting a garden; of a kind grown in the open as distinguished from one more delicate

glamourous: (adj) full of glamour; excitingly attractive :: glamour: (n) an exciting and often illusory and romantic attractiveness; alluring or fascinating attraction —often used attributively

green: (adj) relating to or being an environmentalist political movement; concerned with or supporting environmentalism; tending to preserve environmental quality

hollywood: (adj) of or characteristic of people in the American motion-picture industry; of or characteristic of a Hollywood film

homemade: (adj) made in the home, on the premises, or by one’s own efforts

minimalist: (adj) extreme spareness and simplicity

modern: (adj) of, relating to, or characteristic of the present or the immediate past; of, relating to, or characteristic of a period extending from a relevant remote past to the present time; involving recent techniques, methods, or ideas

preppy: (adj) relating to, characteristic of, or being a preppy; relating to or being a style of dress characterized especially by classic clothing and neat appearance

punk: (adj) of or relating to punk rock; relating to or being a style inspired by punk rock

quaint: (adj) marked by beauty or elegance; unusual or different in character or appearance; pleasingly or strikingly old-fashioned or unfamiliar

relaxed: (adj) freed from or lacking in precision or stringency; set or being at rest or at ease; easy of manner

romantic: (adj) marked by the imaginative or emotional appeal of what is heroic, adventurous, remote, mysterious, or idealized; of, relating to, or having the characteristics of romanticism

rustic: (adj) of, relating to, or suitable for the country;

simple: (adj) free from vanity; free from ostentation or display

shabby: (adj) clothed with worn or seedy garment; threadbare and faded from wear; ill-kept

swank: (adj) showy display ; fashionably elegant

tropical: (adj) of, relating to, occurring in, or suitable for use in the tropics

tuscan: (adj) of, relating to, or characteristic of Tuscany, the Tuscans, or Tuscan

unique: (adj) distinctively characteristic

vintage: (adj) of old, recognized, and enduring interest, importance, or quality; dating from the past

whimsical: (adj) resulting from or characterized by whim or caprice; lightly fanciful

*All definitions from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary* Definitions pulled from THIS blog.

"Wedding nightmares" is going to be a monthly topic about things I've learned along the way. When you start planning weddings, you don't automatically know it all. This is a great reason to hire an experienced planner. Every single wedding at the beginning is a chance to learn more. Over 10 years time, I'm confidently equipped with the tools and experience to handle rough family relationships, difficult wedding plans, and much more. So here are some "nightmares" to show you what we've learned along the way!

The Story:

The following is a story about a relationship between a bride and her mom. And just what happens to a bride's brain on her wedding day. This story wasn't funny at the time, but that was about 7 years ago, so now I can look back and laugh, and happily share with you.

During the wedding planning, one thing the bride made VERY clear was that she did not want nuts at the wedding. We carefully prepared her menu, and followed her desired "no nuts" plan for EVERYTHING - salads, rolls, entrees, cake, you name it. Her reasoning for not wanting nuts was not allergy related. It was just a personal hatred of nuts (weird, but I didn't judge).

We'd even reviewed the bride's desire to not have favors on the tables. She thought favors were wasteful, since not all guests take them home. No matter how hard I tried to get her to do something, ANYTHING, she was adamant.

Throughout the planning, her mother was always there, helping make decisions. I just want to state that at NO point in time did the bride and her mom argue or show any signs of stress towards one another. Keep in mind that the bride's mom and dad were paying for the entire wedding, so mom was definintely allowed an opinion. But mom said "yes" to the bride's dreams, never stepped on toes, or shared an opposing opinion during the planning.

And then the wedding day came. And the bride's brain went to mush. I was setting up the wedding, and the mom came into the reception room with a big bag, filled with truffle cups and jordan almonds. JORDAN ALMONDS. Almonds = nuts. I know, I know. A very typical wedding favor. But there were 3 issues with this:

1. The bride said no nuts. (And her mom knew this).

2. The bride said no favors. (And again, her mom knew this).

3. My signed event order clearly stated no nuts and no favors, so I knew not to put them out.

I told the mom "we discussed this, and I'm not able to put those out on the table." So what does the mom do? She starts putting them on the tables herself. I asked her to stop. And at that moment, before I can resolve the issue, the bride walked in. . .

I'll never forget the look on that bride's face. Or the tone in her voice. "What are THOOOOOOOSE?!!!!" while pointing at the truffle cups. The mom stopped in her tracks, looked incredibly guilty, and didn't say a peep. So I spoke up, "your mother arrived just now with jordan almonds and is adamant about putting them on the tables. What would you like us to do?" The meltdown that followed was epic.

"ALMONDS???!!!! ALMONDS???????!!!!!! I SAID NO NUUUUUUUUUUTS!!!!!!!!!" I mean, screaming at the top of her lungs. To which the mother snaps and says "LISTEN HERE. YOU are OUT of CONTROL. You needed favors. It's rude not to have favors for your guests. And these almonds are traditional. We had to do SOMETHING. It's not a big deal."

Well, bride continues to have full on melt-down, and exits the room sobbing. Mother chases her down the hall. I can hear them yelling at each other, even with the door shut to the room. Eventually they made up and the rest of the wedding day went flawlessly.

What I learned:

1. Give parents a VERY clear chance to share their opinion. This includes dad too!

2. If they have an opposing opinion, talk it through until you have a mutually agreeable solution.

3. If you follow steps 1 and 2, you avoid someone changing your plans on the wedding day behind your back.

4. The littlest things can be catalysts for epic meltdown on an emotional wedding day.

5. I now love jordan almonds because of this experience. They make me smile. That and the infamous scene from Bridesmaids:

Let’s set the record straight. A wedding cake is made from scratch. It’s not a light and fluffy “box mix” cake – it’s a dense, moist, rich cake. It’s typically reinforced with small dowel rods inside the cake, to maintain its structure when stacking layers.

I can share horror stories of family members who wanted to bake the wedding cake, and end up making a layered cake out of a box mix. A box mix is spongy and soft, and is NOT made for stacking. If your family member wants to do this for your wedding and doesn’t know about specifically making wedding cakes, PLEASE, for your sanity’s sake, do one of the following things:

If you’re still going do a cake cutting ceremony, you can get a true patisserie to make a small cake for cutting, or your family member can make a small cake that doesn’t need to stack.Have them make a single layered groom’s cake.Or let them make a cake dessert for the rehearsal.

If you don’t hire Events by Autumn, if your caterer doesn’t cut the cake, OR if your caterer charges to cut the cake, the below tips will come in handy! Ever wonder how a patisserie can say “this size cake will yield this many slices?” It’s because there is a proper way to cut a wedding cake. If you don’t follow this plan, a 200 person cake can easily be cut incorrectly and only yield 100 pieces. As we mentioned above, a wedding cake is incredibly rich and dense, so the serving size is conservative.

What you’ll need:

6’ Table with no linen

Cutting board

Latex kitchen gloves

Sharp cake knife

Cake serving utensil

Pitcher with very hot water

A half dozen clean hand towels

A helper or two (Too many is not a good thing!)

The correct number of cake plates (pre-decorated for speed)

Cake topper box

Start here:

We recommend setting your table behind the scenes, where you can cut the cake outside of guests’ view. Number one, you don’t want a linen on this table, so you don’t get icing and cake all over it. It’s a messy job. And a table without a linen is a no-no in your wedding reception. I also personally feel bad when you’ve spent a lot of money on a cake – do you really want to watch someone cut it up? I much prefer to see a beautiful cake, and then miraculously, it becomes delicious served pieces J Following a cake cutting ceremony, I can cut and serve a cake within 20 minutes, no matter the size of the crowd. But that’s only if I can remove it from the reception room and cut it using my method below:

1. WASH YOUR HANDS and then put on service gloves.

2. Place the knife blade in the hot water pitcher.

3. Separate all the layers out on a large table. The top cake layer goes into a separate box and should be labeled and put directly into a freezer (this is your anniversary cake). If you’re at a venue that offers food service, make sure to write the bride & groom’s name on the box, and the date – this can EASILY get misplaced in a large commercial kitchen if unlabeled!

4. Place the first layer you want to cut onto cutting board.

5. Remove all the dowels from this layer. You can typically see them poking out from the icing.

6. Remove the knife from the pitcher and dry it on a hand towel.

Round Cake Cutting FOLLOW THESE DIRECTIONS:

7. Cut it in half. Dip your knife in the hot water, and wipe the knife off on the towel.

8. Cut a “rainbow” arch shape, approximately 2” from the outside edge. Dip & wipe the blade again.

9. Now you’ll begin cutting straight lines, and forming your individual pieces. Most slices should be

about 2” tall and 1” thick to get the correct number of slices from your cake. While you’re cutting your straight lines, if icing starts to stick to the knife, take your time to dip and wipe it!

10. As you’re cutting, your helper (with gloved hands and cake serving utensil), will begin grabbing pieces and placing them on plates. Once you complete one “arch” move on to the opposite side of the cake, so your team can plate efficiently and you aren’t in one-another’s way.

11. TRUST US – don’t be tempted to cut the entire half of the round cake at one time. . .the pieces are

comparatively heavy, and will start toppling over, especially if you have a filling.

Square Cake Cutting FOLLOW THESE DIRECTIONS:

7. Make your first cut approximately 2” from the edge of the cake. Dip your knife in the hot water, and wipe the knife off on the towel.

8. Make your next cut parallel to the first, another 2” into the cake. Dip & wipe the blade again.

Continue making parallel cuts, until you’re halfway into the cake. Dip & wipe the blade again.

9. Now you’ll begin making individual pieces, by making long cuts in the perpendicular position. Most slices should be about 2” tall and 1” thick to get the correct number of slices from your cake. While you’re cutting your straight lines, if icing starts to stick to the knife, take your time to dip and wipe it!

10. As you’re cutting, your helper (with gloved hands and cake serving utensil), will begin grabbing pieces and placing them on plates. Once you complete cutting one side of the cake, move on to the

opposite side of the cake, so your team can plate efficiently and you aren’t in one-another’s way.

Tips:

If your cake layers are a variety of flavors, you may consider cutting half of one cake, and then moving to another layer, so you are able to begin serving all varieties while you’re still cutting.

This question was just posed to me the other day by a friend. She asked if it was ok if her fiance's mom wore a cream colored lace dress to the wedding. The bride was wearing a cream colored lace dress. Ummmm. . .that was an easy question - NO, IT'S NOT OK!

I'm going to make this short and sweet and I hope my moms out there aren't offended, but this is how it goes: If you match the bride, the bride will likely be upset. You have to admit that's understandable. And your guests will notice too, and think it's in poor taste. Here are my tips for picking the perfect outfit for the wedding:

1. Pick a color.

Preferably pick a color that doesn't completely clash with the color scheme of the wedding. And definitely NOT an attention grabbing color like red. If you're going to wear black, please add a pop of color (like an statement jewelry piece) so you don't appear to be attending a funeral. Jewel tones are current, and a safe bet! But if you MUST go with an off white or cream color, please make it in a completely different style from the bride. (See image below). If the bride is going with a long white tulle skirt on her dress, you can get away with a short length lacy dress in champagne. . . but that's about as close as I would call "safe" (see #2)!

2. Don't match the bride.

It doesn't matter if you're fully paying for the wedding. It is still your daughter's/son's wedding, and you're not the guest of honor. Yes, you'll know more people on the guest list than the bride likely will, but it's still "her" day. So please don't compete for attention by wearing a dress that matches the bride. You can have your say in how the money is spent for the wedding, but let her shine on her day in a dress that stands out.

3. Pick a dress that makes YOU feel great!

After all the planning that goes into the wedding, you deserve to kick up your heels and dance the night away too, so please pick a style you can move in. You can be absolutely stunning in a dress that doesn't resemble anything bridal, while still showing off your fabulous personal flair!

Here are some great examples of stunning dresses, perfect for a mother of the bride. We love the ruffled collars, stylish jackets, color options, and flattering fits!

We take our slogan “reduce your stress and not your expectations” very seriously. We feel strongly that part of reducing stress is helping cope with any emergencies that may arise, by quickly diffusing them, and moving on. That’s why Events by Autumn provides a bridal “survival kit.” As a planner, this is part of our responsibility to our clients.

In all, the contents include over 100 essential items, and over $300 worth of products. We make sure it’s stocked for every single wedding we work, so you will always have access to a full kit. It contains things like: a complete first aid kit, stain fighting solutions, hygiene items, tape, pins & glue, beauty products, and even a faux diamond ring!

Still want to make your own kit? Let us ask a few questions:

How do you know what to pack?

Trust us that there is no one list online which includes the full contents of what you might need in the event of an emergency! We have created our own kit based on a decade worth of wedding planning experience. To be honest, we looked online as well, but needed to combine over a dozen “complete” emergency kits to create our version.

What are you going to do with these items after the wedding is over?

Just as an example, we provide all colors of bobby pins in the kit. Your bridesmaids may need a few pins to repair an up-do at some point during the evening. Granted, it’s only a few dollars for a bunch of bobby pins, but if you’re a blonde, what are you going to do with 500 black bobby pins after the wedding day? It does add up quickly when you’re talking about 100+ different items.

What kind of “emergencies” would you prepare for?

I’ve seen the best man forget his socks when he packed his tux; so I now include black dress socks. I’ve seen the groom break his shoelace 20 minutes before ceremony starts; so I now include extra shoelaces. The kit continues to evolve as I see a need for additional items. But the real question is - do you really want to buy all these items “just in case?” Just let us bring the kit and you won’t have to worry about it.

Does your planner provide this?

When comparing planners, you need to look at ALL the services they offer. In addition to all the planning we do, we also provide access to over $300 worth of products, and save you the time required to make your own kit. If your planner doesn’t come prepared to diffuse an “emergency” situation into a “no big deal” situation, what services are they really providing you? The point of a planner is to make the wedding run smoothly. Yes, that includes managing vendors, setting up, and running the timeline, but it also includes being prepared AND equipped to handle any unexpected occurrences on the wedding day too. We are fully prepared and equipped!

Why not save that money and spend it on something else?

What would you do with $300 extra dollars towards your wedding? Why not create baskets of essential items in the restrooms? Or maybe now you can splurge on moving lights from the DJ company, (which we strongly recommend!). Or maybe $300 more will allow you to add prime rib to the menu? There are so many options, but the answer is up to you!

But one thing is for sure – we’ve got a bridal survival kit that’s like no other. Brides and bridesmaids oogle over it when I show them. . . Even vendors love it. It’s flattering when a very successful wedding photographer tells you they’ve never seen anything like it before, and proceeds to take pictures of it! That just means we’re doing something right. And it’s just another reason why we stand out from the rest.

Photo credit: Cake Knife Photography

This is one of my favorite topics to talk about. Who is going to clean up after your wedding is over? Either people just don't want to think about this, or they think their family/caterer/friends/venue is going to take care of it. After planning weddings for almost 10 years I've compiled some seriously amusing realities of what happens when you leave your wedding for others to clean up. I'll only list 3 here:

1. Your Wedding Reception will end early.

Here's the scenario: your older relatives think they're going to be really helpful and clean up for you. And they're tired at 8:30pm, so they start cleaning up at 8:30pm. But you've booked your reception space until midnight.

I was at a friends' wedding when an uncle literally removed the centerpiece, candles, AND LINEN from the table I was still sitting at. I was really confused, because it was very early in the evening. But sure enough, the reception ended very shortly after that, because the room was stripped bare.

Or how about the time I left a reception room for 5 minutes to prep sparklers for a sendoff, and in that 5 minutes, an Aunt decided to start packing up the centerpieces. Thankfully, she started on a few tables in the back of the room before I caught her! I politely told her I was being paid to do that, and she should just go back to enjoying the party. The candles she was blowing out was providing the ambient lighting in the room - she was going to make the room completely dark before she realized she shouldn't have done that.

If someone strips your reception room of decor while the party is still going on, it will kill the ambiance and end the party early. I promise. So be smart and hire a planner to clean up.

2. You will be charged penalties

Think about this - you've signed an agreement with a rental company. Likely, the agreement's fine print states that you WILL NOT put wet or soiled linens into the linen bag. But if you aren't physically there to clean up, who else knows that fine print on the contract?

Think about it - your wedding is likely on a Saturday evening. If you put those wet or soiled linens in a bag, and the rental company picks up on Monday, I guarantee there's going to be the beginnings of mold in there. It's gross. And it happens. And ALL weddings have wet and soiled linens. Trust me.

I heard from a rental vendor last week that she had to charge a $250 penalty because someone was helping a bride pick up after the wedding, and a relative literally took the linen off the cake table, with the cake STILL in the middle, and shoved it into a linen bag. It molded all the linens in the bag, and they couldn't be simply washed clean. The bride was upset she was being charged the penalty, and her defense was SHE didn't clean it up.

But guess what? When you sign that contract, you ARE responsible. Hiring a planner who knows your contracts avoids penalties like this.

3. Who really wants to clean up the next day?!

If you're lucky enough to leave decor up until the morning after, great. But do you REALLY want to clean it up then? I know the answer is no. You do too - you just have to admit it.

Trust us - there are a million things you would rather be doing than return to the reception room AFTER the party is over. An event venue after a wild wedding often looks like a tornado ravaged it. And in the daylight, the disaster area is only more visible. You don't want to remember your wedding this way.

So you should leave it to the pros to clean it up! The most overlooked but valuable part of my services is THIS:

I remove all decor and package it back into the original containers it came in. If you or a family member lives nearby, I'll drop off your decor to a house, or leave it ORGANIZED and ready for simple pickup in the room the next morning.

Actual picture of an actual wedding mess taken on my personal cell phone. Do you want to clean this up in your wedding dress? Do you want to leave this mess for your friends or family?

This summer, half of my weddings had an on-site coordinator, but still hired me to facilitate their wedding plans. When these clients initially called me to ask me about my services, there were a few concerns that seemed to form a trend. So I’ll post them here:

I’m nervous because the on-site coordinator won’t call me back in a timely manner.I don’t feel like the on-site coordinator understands my vision for the wedding.My on-site coordinator hasn’t asked me about anything except the food plans.My on-site coordinator doesn’t set up any of my decorations, or tear them down.I’m just not getting a good vibe from my on-site coordinator – like they don’t have my best interest at heart, only the best interest of the venue.My on-site coordinator shows up later on the wedding day and leaves right after dinner.

I was completely up-front with my clients about their situation. You CAN save money and just use the on-site planner. People do it all the time. But if you’re feeling like the comments above are a reflection of how you’re feeling, you might want to consider bringing in a professional.

I used to be an on-site planner. That’s where my experience comes from, so by no means am I knocking the position. But I strongly believe I was not the same as most. I worked long hours on the weddings because I wanted to open my own event planning business one day. I was getting experience with a company which allowed me to make all the rookie mistakes under someone else’s name – that sounds horrible, but it’s true. A wedding has too many moving parts to leave in the hands of a rookie. You don’t want your wedding to be a planners first rodeo. So if your on-site planner doesn’t meet these standards at a minimum, consider hiring a professional wedding planner:

They are available to you “anytime,” meaning they are willing to give you their cell phone number.They have been through a summer of weddings with their specific venue.AND they have been planning weddings for longer than 5 years, OR have worked on a minimum of 50 weddings.Your coordinator can commit to you that they will be in the room all night. Often, throughout the reception, they’ll leave the room and head back their desk to work on other events (hotel venues are notorious for this). You want your coordinator available to you at a moment’s notice.They are there for the rehearsal, arrive early on your wedding day to oversee your setup, and stay to oversee the teardown.

So my final suggestion is this: if you have a lot of working parts to your wedding day – lots of décor, a complicated timeline, lots of details – consider giving me a call, even if your venue provides someone on site. Sometimes the professional planners are even willing to discount their price if the “on-site coordinator” is strong enough to act in lieu of an assistant.

I have been talking about opening my own business for as long as I can remember. And when I set a goal for myself, there’s no stopping it from happening. Even if the road to get there gets windy and confusing, I always stay focused on the end result.

As a kid, I spent every single summer and winter in Montana, skiing, riding, fishing, exploring, just enjoying everything the state had to offer. When I got the chance to take a job in Missoula, MT at the age of 25, I jumped all over it. I prefer being outdoors if given a choice, and Montana towns operate at a slower pace than the “big city.” That combination makes living in Montana my ideal place, along with the fact I bought my dream home there – a log cabin on some acreage, ready for horses. I’ve owned the house for about 5 years now in Stevensville, MT, located in the BEAUTIFUL Bitterroot Valley.

So when I took the job in Montana, it was with the goal of opening my own business one day. But the job required more than 70 hours a week on a regular basis, and my salary wasn’t enough to save money. So I didn’t have enough time, or money, to take the leap and open my own business. I was good at my job, and was eventually recruited to take a position in Boulder, CO, doing the same thing I was doing previously. I was hesitant to leave MT, but the pay was literally 3x what it was in Montana. So, keeping my goal in mind, I took a leap of faith. I took the job as the Director of Catering, thinking I would work there for 4 years, save some money, and move back to my dream home in Montana, live off the savings, and open my own business.

Well, the plans went awry, like they always do! The new boss at the hotel was changing a lot of things – employees who had been there for 15+ years and were comfortable with the status quo didn’t like the new direction the hotel was taking, so they left in droves. (Whole different topic, but change can be GOOD people, especially when the hotel hadn’t been making money for the past 15 years). The mass exodus of staff alerted the ownership (from a foreign country), that they should take a look at what was happening at the hotel. So they began to take notice of what we were doing, and the first thing they did was review the bonus structure -The same bonus structure that made my paycheck awesome. It was cut completely. So my plans of saving money and moving back in 4 years were up-ended.

It was time to re-evaluate my plans of opening my own business and how I was going to still make it happen. So I took a part time marketing job with another company, and just went ahead and opened Events by Autumn in Colorado. The past year and a half has been spent creating contracts, websites, marketing materials, and getting myself fully prepared to move back to Montana and hit the ground running. And I’ve planned quite a few Colorado weddings as well in my first year, and received the kindest, most amazing positive feedback, which just reinforces that I’m on track. But when you know where your heart belongs, you just feel compelled to follow.

In August, my renters moved out of my dream house in Montana, and I now had to be realistic about paying two mortgages. So my decision was to move back to Montana, rent (or sell) the house in Colorado and get the business rolling where I really wanted it to happen in the first place. Fall is the perfect time to move back, get re-acquainted with vendors & friends, and promote the business, since most engagements happen over the winter months.

I’ve been gone from Montana for 2 and a half years, and had planned on being in Colorado for 4. I’d say that making a dream happen in about half the time is a pretty good feeling.

(A hazy day at the log cabin in Stevi. . .the Bitterroot mountains are barely visible in the background.)

I created my first video portfolio! I hope you'll watch this to get a better feel for my creativity and style.