The World According to Weddlady

Wrapping Up 2008

With last night's wedding of Julie & Tim, our 2008 wedding season officially ended.  While the year presented challenges familiar to anyone trying to run a business in this economy, it was still a grand year full of happy couples and beautiful weddings.

A quick look back over my files reminded me of how many special weddings we were priveleged to coordinate in some capacity this year.  We traveled to new venues, like the Fred Heutte Center in Norfolk and Legacy Hall right here in town, and we revisited old favorites, including the Williamsburg Winery, the Lodge and the Williamsburg Community Building.  We helped break new "ground" at the Williamsburg Inn, and pulled off daring design feats in the grand ballrooms of facilities as wonderful as Colonial Heritage. We worked with couples of many different ages ranges, and were even selected to coordinate for a very good friend.

2008 also ushered in the welcome addition of Lauralee Eason to our wedding coordinating family.  She is someone for whom I am very grateful.

Sometimes I'm guilty of letting the politics of this business get me down.  However, I realize that I am very blessed to have both an outlet for my talents and passions, and to have wonderful people around me, clients and colleagues alike, who "get it".

I don't know with complete certainty what 2009 has in store for us, but I hope that the moments that we share with our clients and friends are even half as fulfilling as the last four-plus years have been.  Then we shall be happy to call the year a rousing success.

From our family to yours,

Merry Christmas!

Shayna

Save Valuable Set-Up Time with a Few Quick Tips

Event setups can take a lot longer than anticipated.  For example, our October 18 wedding with the splendid candy buffet?  That took me 10 hours on Friday (alone) and as many on Saturday with Lauralee to setup and I still would have liked more time to polish.

If you're not prepared, setup can easily get out of hand and timing can become critical.

Your best shot is to be super-organized going into the setup and have lots of help. 

And remember...place cards go on tables and should be pre-sorted in the exact order in which they will be set out (so make a plastic baggie for each table, and stack them so you can start at one seat and go around in a circle without making adjustments).  Throw in a well-labeled diagram or twelve just to be sure everyone is clear.

Escort cards are the little ones that guests pick up to FIND their table - they need to be alphabetized except in the rarest of circumstances. 

Don't make your set up crew (hired or volunteer) alphabetize on your wedding day.  You will save them vast amounts of time and energy, which can be spent enjoying themselves and thinking all nice things about you!

Happy planning!

Shayna Walker

Williamsburg Wedding Design

Engagement Season is Here

Statistically, the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas witnesses the most engagements every year (tis the season!).

Practically, most of those newly-engaged couples will wait until January 2 to start planning in earnest.

You have a choice - you may do the sweet (and possibly sane) thing and choose to enjoy the newness of your engagement over the next three or so holiday weeks ("I just want to bask in the glow of our love").

Or, you can have your first choice of venues and vendors and start planning now. 

If your heart is set on being a June 2009 bride, I'm going to suggest you sacrifice a little romance for the moment and start your pursuit of the perfect venue and A-list vendors right now.  A nice possible side-effect is that in certain cases you may actually be grandfathered in on 2008 rates if you book before December 31.

Vendors have families to feed and kids who want expensive toys at Christmas too - leverage your willingness to do a little work during this mad season and you may benefit in lots of ways in the long run.

Just some sage advice...

Happy planning!

Shayna Walker, Owner

Williamsburg Wedding Design