Just How Over The Top Would You Go?

I have talked before about how it goes when the pros plan their own wedding. Now most people I know in the industry kind of just run off and do it quietly. Occassionally one of us decides that they want to completely blow the top off of every other wedding they have ever planned.

Today I ran across one of those weddings. A planner that does a lot of event at Atlantis in the Bahamas, Harith Wickrema just got married and did he take it to new levels.

Here are a couple of quotes to give you an idea of the level of obsession that sometimes creeps into weddings.

“The dramatic entrance he had planned for his bride — via barge on Atlantis’ serene lagoon — also brought obstacles. Chief among them was getting the barge to glide over the water without the disruptions an engine or propeller could cause. After input from Atlantis’ in-house aquatic experts, Wickrema decided to have two underwater divers guide the barge from beneath. Add to that a surge of mood-setting music and a wash of light atop the water to create a shimmering effect, and “nobody could see how that barge was floating,” he recounts.”

Ummm. Ya. Divers to escort the bridal barge. You have included that haven’t you??? I think the picture is post barge ride

During planning and setup of the complex event, “I was very involved,” the producer says. “I only relinquished my walkie-talkie a half-hour before the ceremony.”


I can’t even comment on that. Not even the worst bridezilla would admit to that

You can read the whole article here

Wedding Dish: The Column

On a personal note, I now have a monthly column on the website Franklin Is. It is a wonderful site about a thriving local community with wonderful historic roots. It just so happens to be the baby of a dear friend one of my editors Julian Bibb. Because of that he has also posted quite a few of the feature articles I have written for him over the years. If you do a search for “Christine Boulton” on the site you will find more of my musings on weddings, from trends to how to handle Mother Nature. Happy reading and thanks Julian.

Did the iPod Kill the DJ?

Off Beat Bride pointed out an interesting article today about the demise of the DJ.

Many couples are opting to forgo the band or DJ and put together their own playlist. Some venues even seem to be catching on to to this trend and upgrading their sound systems to accommodate these iPod couples. Cool.

Here is where my rant comes in; check this quote from the executive director of the American DJ Association. “An iPod is music, and what brides really want is an eloquent spokesperson that can represent them at their event in front of family and friends to create a once-in-a-lifetime, memorable experience,” Drax said.

That strikes me as more than just a little arrogant and presumptuous. Let me rephrase that for you a bit there Drax: An iPod is music and what brides that choose DJs really want…” Could it really be that every single bride that has ever or will ever plan a wedding really longs only for an “eloquent spokesperson” to represent them?

Why is it that some wedding professionals think that theirs is the only way to do something? Will they never get the message that every couple is unique and the old cookie cutter formula no longer works? Sigh. What are your thoughts?

Why You NEED A Consultant

This is so sad. I can not begin to tell you how badly I feel for this bride.

I spoke with one of my florist friends today and this is the story as she related it to me.

She is doing the flowers for the wedding of a lovely young woman who is marring the son of an old family friend. It is quite the large wedding with over 800 guests invited of which nearly 500 are expected to attend. It is being held at one of the premier hotels in the area. It is scheduled for early June, one of the busiest times of the year. The décor is extensive with draping and a full on cocktail lounge being brought in. A very hot band out of Atlanta has been booked…

As a part of finalizing the details my florist friend asked what time the venue would be available to start decorating. The bride responded that the planner at the hotel had told her she had it all day. My friend suggested she check on that since the hotel had had a turn over in staff. Long story short… the new hotel staffer told her there was a conference scheduled for that day and they could have the room at 6 PM!!!!!!!!!!

OH MY!!! With an 8PM reception that leaves a scant 2 hours to transform this room. In most circumstances that would be a stretch but doable. Not this wedding. Draping, furniture for a lounge, place settings for 500; heck, the band’s contract states they require 6 hours to set up!

I have no idea what this poor thing is going to do. At this late date there is no way she could find a new venue even if she wanted to move her wedding. I will tell you, had she had an event/wedding planner this would have never happened. Even if this girl had already booked all her vendors it is the planner’s job to stay on top of just this kind of thing. She would have communicated with the hotel the amount of set up involved in this wedding. Oh my.

If you are planning a wedding for a hundred at a local hotel or your church maybe you really can do it yourself. Please, please, if you are planning something this big, hire help.

%d bloggers like this: