Two Myths and a Truth: Wedding Edition – Part 2

Coming at you with a second part of Two Myths and a Truth: Wedding Edition. I am bringing this blog back around because there are so many things that come up during client meetings where I am thinking “who told you that?” or “yep, that is absolutely true”, so I feel like it is important to put out accurate information and squash the misleading posts! With that said, let’s get right into it…

If you book a wedding venue (versus being at a private residence), you don’t need a planner or day-of coordinator. MYTH. There is a difference between a venue manager and an event manager. It is true that some venues have a manager with all encompassing duties to cover the venue needs and the couple’s needs, but most of the time that is not the case. Typically, venue managers are there to handle the items associated with the venue itself… set up and take down of the tables and chairs, starting the ceremony, making sure food is served in a timely manner (or work with the caterer on this task), and make sure music is cut at the contracted time. An event manager is hired by the couple to be there for the couple. Making sure the layout is set up correctly, all the décor is placed in the appropriate spots, make sure the bridal party is drinking enough water and not too much alcohol before the ceremony, helping with the timing of the formal dances/bouquet toss/garter toss, all the little details that are at the venue, but don’t necessarily involve the venue. To read a blog post more about the differences between a venue manager and an event manager click HERE.

DJs aren’t worth the money because you can just create a playlist to play and rent a couple speakers. MYTH. Oh my gosh this is such a myth! A DJ is not just there to play some bumping music and walk away. This person is also your MC, helps me manage the timeline, and essentially creates the party atmosphere. They say music can kill a party faster than anything else, so you want to make sure the person managing that aspect of your wedding day is on point! If you are still thinking that a DJ isn’t worth your money, just make sure you also have someone there to run the music & switch songs for your processional and recessional. And someone to manage the sound and microphone for the officiant during the ceremony. Oh, and someone to help MC & direct people from the ceremony to cocktail hour to dinner to dancing. Don’t forget about making sure you have someone to help release tables if you are serving a buffet because you don’t want it to be a free-for-all and have a line down the street to get food. And you are wanting people to know when the first dance is happening? When the cake cutting is happening? When the bouquet and garter toss are happening? Better make sure you have a sober person in charge of announcing those things too. See where I am going with this? Being a DJ involves way more than just pressing play on a laptop. They quite literally keep the event moving and make sure the party is hopping!

Wedding rehearsals are very beneficial and necessary. TRUTH. There are a few important things accomplished at rehearsals. Introductions… It is highly unlikely that I will have met everyone in a bridal party prior to the rehearsal date, so this is a perfect chance for me to introduce myself and make sure everyone understands my purpose for the wedding day. Connecting with the officiant… Again, it is unlikely that I will have had a chance to speak with the officiant prior to the rehearsal since most officiants now are family/friends of the couple. This is a great opportunity for them to ask me any questions, but also for me to walk them through the ceremony process (if they haven’t officiated much previously) and let them know if there are any announcements I need them to make following the recessional. Lastly, this is the time for your bridal party to practice when to walk, how to walk, where to stand, how to stand… everything involved in conducting a successful processional, ceremony, and recessional. Wedding rehearsals are done prior to the wedding date! Only on one occasion have I run a rehearsal the day of a wedding and that was because the ceremony wasn’t even starting until 8pm. Typically, rehearsals are scheduled the Thursday or Friday before a weekend wedding. But it depends on your venue’s schedule and the schedules of your bridal party if they are traveling in from out of town. No matter what, this is not something that should be overlooked and skipped prior to the wedding day.

Alright folks, that is what I have for you this time around. If there is anything you have questions about or are not sure how to differentiate truth from myth, contact me! Part of our job is to guide you in the right direction and to be your own personal wedding resource. You may not have done this before, but we have… several times! And if you would like to go back and read about the other wedding truths and myths that I have debunked click HERE.

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