Pablo Abulaik Photography

I often get asked the question:

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A WEDDING PLANNER, WEDDING COORDINATOR, AND DAY-OF PLANNER?

Professionals in the wedding business all have the same intention of providing you with a seamless, stressfree day, however it is important to know the difference between the roles when researching assistance.
All wedding planners are coordinators. Not all coordinators are wedding planners.

Wedding Planners
Despite what you may have heard, did you know that hiring a wedding planner (also called a wedding consultant) can be a huge help and save you money? If you’re planning on hiring a wedding planner, you’ll want to do so as soon as you start planning. They’ll help you search for the perfect venue and find great vendors that will fit within your planning budget. (In fact, a great planner will have relationships with vendors and will often be able to introduce you to professionals that maybe you could not find on your own.) Once you’ve booked your vendors, they’ll oversee the relationships with each, and help pull everything together. The wedding planner generally steps you through every process ranging from invitations, bridal gowns, tuxedo rentals to guest accommodations, welcome gifts, and total design of the event.

Wedding Coordinators
A wedding coordinator is a lot like a wedding planner, in that they help you organize and pull together your wedding details, but they may not handle quite as much as the traditional planner would. For example, your planner will sit down from day one to help you dream up the wedding colors, style, and decor theme and help you negotiate contracts and book vendors, whereas the coordinator may just stick to finalizing all your vendor business after you’ve made the major decisions. They will most likely handle contracted work primarily, but are not always limited to this only. Be sure you’re clear on the extent of the services they’re willing to provide when you interview them to make sure you’re going to receive all the support you’re expecting.

Day-of Coordinators
A day-of coordinator helps you get everything done on your actual wedding day, but isn’t really involved before the big day. You meet beforehand to fill them in on who’s who and what’s what and exactly how you’d like the day to play out. They will then be in charge of handling all of your vendors and set-up on the day of your wedding, as well as any type of clean-up or post wedding duties needed, so that you and your family members can just relax and enjoy the day. A bride who plans to be very hands-on in her planning process will love the idea of a day-of coordinator. It allows her to enjoy all the ups and downs of the planning, without having to worry about seeing it all through until the very end.

Smells of wondrous cuisine, Scharffenberger Champagne, and  the essence of fragrant lilac’s,  topped off with one of the most stunning sunsets on the Mendocino coast. These were a few of the elements that set the mood for Brianna and Phil’s private dinner for two in the rustic cliff house this Saturday night.

This was the finale of their weekend Romantic getaway that the couple won during our March giveaway for choosing Mendocino as their wedding destination.

 We are so excited to offer this great package for small dinner parties, elopements, or just a great girl’s night out!

Congratulations to Brianna and Phil that will be married on July 10, 2010.

Cassandra Young Photography

Perlman photography

We have drawn the winners to our Romantic Getaway. Congratulations Phil and Brianna!

This super sweet couple will be spending an amazing weekend packed full of exciting adventures including:

An engagement shoot offered by  J Perlman photography http://jperlmanphotography.com/ ,

A make- up session with Amy before the shoot that is sure to make Brianna sparkle http://www.mendocinobeauty.com

An exclusive dinner for 2 in the cliff house with a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean at the botanical gardens http://www.gardenbythesea.org/

A savory meal prepared by Karina’s catering http://www.karinascatering.com/

The décor of the cliff house will be provided by Matt Rowland Events http://mattrowlandevents.com/ along with the floral arrangements provided by Mendocino Floral Design http://www.mendocinofloraldesign.com .They finish off the feel of this private, romantic evening for Phil and Brianna.

And after a fun filled, romantic day, they will tuck into the Glendeven inn http://www.glendeven.com/  to rest up for their upcoming wedding on July 10 2010. How exciting!

Enter to win a Romantic Getaway package valued at $1500.

Book a Mendocino Weddings site tour and you will have a chance to win a Romantic Getaway package valued at $1500.

• Candlelight dinner for 2 in the Botanical Gardens Cliff House including live music, beautiful flowers by Mendocino Floral Design and a fantastic meal by Karina’s Catering at sunset.
• Engagement shoot by J.Perlman R.Lutge Photography.
• Complimentary make-up by Mendocino Beauty for the engagement shoot.
• One free night stay at the Glendeven Inn.
• Sponsored by Mendocino Weddings and Events.
• Mendocino Weddings specializes in weddings that you will remember for a lifetime.

Rules.

To be eligible to win, the client must book a $150.00 site tour with Mendocino Weddings by February 28, 2010. The site tour takes about 3 hours and you will tour 8-12 sites. These sites are secluded and private and range from the rocky coastline, majestic forests, scenic vineyards and many places beyond. The drawing for the package will be March 1, 2010 and the package must be used no later than by March 31, 2010.

Contact: Mendocino Weddings & Events | 707.937.3109 | email@mendocinoweddings.com

Cassandra Young Photography

I often times receive wonderful words of gratitude from couples after being a part in creating their special day, I  reflect on the fact that I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to assist them in such a blissful time of their life.

I will share some testimonials from 2009 that I do hold dear to my heart.

Craig Evans Photography

 Sonya, There are not enough words to express the thanks I have for you! I never thought I would be the girl  that dreams of a big wedding or worries about the little details, but I became that girl when I got engaged. I started dreaming of this perfect wedding… 16 months later you made my dream wedding come true. I would have never been able to do this without you. You are this bride’s fairy godmother!        ~Kyle and Kelly

Dick Whetstone photography

Thank you for organizing such a beautiful celebration for us with our families and friends. I could not have dreamed of a better place than the overlook for our ceremony. Everything was perfect without much effort or worry on my part. Thank you again for the excellent work that you did ~ David and Lisa 

I just wanted to thank you so much for all of you hard work.  You were awesome…to say the least….couldn’t have done it without you.

                                                            ~Gordon and Christina May 2009

Cassandra Young photography

Thank you so much for the everything! You have been such a pleasure to work with, and have made this experience so beautiful,meaningful, and joyous. We are so grateful to have had your guideance during such a special time in our lives.

                                                                                    ~Philip & Lisa

Perlman Photography

Perlman Photography

Dear Sonya,

We are so grateful for your love and support in putting together a wonderful wedding over this past year. You have been so incredibly thoughtful through every moment and we both know we could have never pulled this off without you! Your tireless work and effort means so much. ~ Lincoln & Amy

Thank you so much for your help with our wedding. You were the backbone who brought all the pieces together. You are a beautiful generous friend.

                                                                                    Ling and Alise

Ahh… all the details to the big day! What about when the celebration is over and you are now husband and wife, how do you continue to relive and tell your story for generations to come?

 Photos are such an important element to retelling your Fairy Tale for many lifetimes, but what else can you take as a keepsake to share?

Tucked in our extremely talented artistic community of Mendocino California there are many great ideas to take home a piece of your wedding weekend.

Memory wedding scope crafted by: Beverly Forester

Visually save and record memories of your cherished wedding through the magic of a custom kaleidoscope.

Items are only limited by your imagination and creativity. What about the location? Was it on the beach, in a vineyard, or tucked deep in the redwood forest- collect sand and some shells, grape leaves, flowers or even redwood sprigs. So many textures to choose from, add to your collection fabric from the brides gown, veil, decorations such as napkins, confetti, and bird seed are great too. Once the collection is complete, a talented artist will combine your treasures into a unique kaleidoscope finished off with a plaque labeling the couples names, as well as the date of their special day.   http://www.reflections-kaleidoscope.com

Couples who elope often do so because they want a small wedding. They want to keep things simple, intimate and trés romantique.

Mendocino Weddings offers a Small Weddings and Elopements package for weddings up to 20 people. We take care of all the organizational details for small weddings. You choose and reserve the B&B or Hotel, bring the marriage license, and we will do the rest. We offer many locations to choose from for the perfect ceremony.

A small earth-friendly wedding was the goal of this bride and groom. David and Lisa stayed at the Stanford Inn for the fabulous vegan fare. They chose a vegan cake from Melinda Ellis Cakes and

selected flowers grown locally by Susy Kitahara. The bride went to Mendocino Beauty where they offer all non-animal products; Amy Wall at MB is well-known for her natural Mendocino look.

They held their ceremony at The Overlook so that they could walk, forsaking motorized transporta

tion.

Mendocino is a great location for elopements all year ’round. In the winter there are cozy indoor settings in front of a fire, spring is delightful with gardens coming to life, summer vows on the

headlands or beach are idyllic and autumn on the coast is known for its exquisite weather.

Another couple eloped to the charming, little town of Elk on the coast south of Mendocino.

The vendors for this simple yet elegant wedding were: Cake by Jennifer Arana, flowers by Rosa at L&R Farms and photos by Cassandra Young Photography. The couple lodged and dined at the delightful Harbor House in Elk.

Share and Enjoy:

]]> http://www.mendocinoweddings.com/green-weddings /planning-to-elope/feed/ 2 http://www.mendocinoweddings.com/wedding-cake /express-yourself/ http://www.mendocinoweddings.com/wedding-cake /express-yourself/#comments Fri, 28 Aug 2009 22:50:43 +0000 admin http://www.mendocinoweddings.com/?p=433 Weddings in Mendocino, a region known for its creative individuals with a do-it-yourself style, tend to be unique. The Memorial Day marriage of a mismatched sock tycoon and his socially conscious bride was no exception, an eclectic combination of Jewish traditions with a Mexican theme at an outdoor wedding in the coastal redwoods of Mendocino.

Anya Emerson and Jonah Staw, recently featured in the New York Times’ wedding section, selected Mendocino Weddings to help plan their celebration and help create an unforgettable day.

Jonah, founder of LittleMissMatched, a company that made its fame by selling socks in threes, and Anya, an attorney for good causes, decided to tie the knot at their beautiful Rancho Navarro home, built by hand with their friends.

Mexican flare was a perfect fit for Anderson Valley with its local wineries and outstanding Mexican culture and cuisine. Guests were greeted with a wine tasting of select vintages from the region’s wineries – Esterlina, Husch, Navarro and Greenwood Ridge. Then Jonah and Anya led guests up a mountainside trail to the ceremony site. In a lovely gesture, close friends of Anya each handed her a single flower, which grew into a bridal bouquet wrapped with a ribbon when she reached the destination. The procession of guests peeled off in a Virginia Reel to take their seats, which Jonah coined “The Inverted Sock.”

The bride and groom stood under a chuppah, (signifying their new home together), with a view of the golden hills of Anderson Valley behind them, as a covey of little flower girl sprites strew flower petals along the aisle. After the traditional Jewish ritual of the Bide and groom breaking a glass with their foot (symbolizing that the marriage will last forever) the wedding procession walked back downhill to the romantic wedding reception set in an illuminated tent amidst the forest.

A Mexican feast prepared by Alicia’s Restaurant in Boonville included tortillas made on site, stuffed with spicy taco fillings of carne asada, local fish, al Pastor, carnitas and vegetables, dashed with salsas made from garden ingredients. Margaritas, traditional Mexican sodas and homemade sangria livened up the guests for dancing to the exuberant music of local band “Pura Vida.” Instead of typical floral arrangements, the tables were decorated with grasses from my home and a bright orange Clementine that added a dash of color at each place setting.

Growing up here, I see the region as a jewelry box filled with sites that are pearls, emeralds and sapphires. The pearls are the wineries, historic churches and organic farmsteads tucked away in the forest or in the villages, opening to reveal their secret gardens, kitchens and private reception areas with all the professional amenities that make them long-time wedding and reception destinations for savvy couples. The emeralds are the lush gardens, redwood forests or lakes with tenting for a magical event that the sprites and fairies will grace. The sapphires are the private homes, inns, restaurants and outdoor locations with the blue Pacific in view. Champagne always seems bubblier when complimented by the sparkling ocean.

Here are the reasons I hear most often for why couples choose a destination wedding in Mendocino wine country.

1. Location: A destination wedding takes away all of the distractions of everyday life. This and a wedding planner who knows the region helps you focus on the important events of the day and enjoy the time being with your friends and family and each other.

2. Location: A destination wedding can save money. Yes, there are many ways to actually save money by having a destination wedding. You can get group rates for lodging, activities and even dining. Couples tell me “We can have our honeymoon in the same beautiful place as our wedding, finding our own little private hideaway for our time together alone.” Using natural surroundings as your backdrop also cuts costs and Mendocino has an abundance of natural beauty.

3. Location: A destination wedding is an opportunity to bring all your friends and family together. Another bride pointed out: “I love the idea of having my friends and family around me for a weekend or even a few days before or after the wedding day, making our celebration an opportunity for everyone to have a getaway together.” The North Coast offers a spectacular variety of activities where wedding parties can break out into groups and do together, depending on interest and physical prowess – horseback riding on the beach, kayaking in sea caves or up Big River, touring the botanical gardens, wine tasting, dining around, hiking, biking, and so much more.

Whether your style trends towards classic elegance, a Parisian pâtisserie’s croquembouche or a whimsical cake Alice might find at the Mad Hatter’s tea party, our cake makers are masters at translating your desires into a pièce de résistance.

I love to daydream over the baker’s portfolios of show-stopping cakes. Even better, planning a tasting as part of a special vendor day is a delightful prelude to the cake-cutting moment at your reception. Our bakers can turn your heirloom recipe or the latest fashion into a unique, edible work-of-art, be it four layers tall or cupcakes on parade.