Have Your (Wedding) Cake And Eat It, Too!

Sharon McCool, a wedding planner and owner of MS Weddings in Geneva, shows off a stylish wedding dress at The Crystal Bride in Geneva. (Stephanie N. Grimoldby)

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

Between the holidays and the New Year, the last several months have been full of opportune moments for a man (or woman) to get down on one knee and ask for his lady’s (or her gentleman’s) hand in marriage.

For those who now find themselves happily engaged, a burning question might be tickling the back of their minds.

Now what?

When it comes to planning a wedding, the options are limitless. While that might excite some DIYers, many couples find the task daunting, at best.

Fortunately, the wedding industry comes equipped with nuptial admirals who can steer the wedding party in the right direction.

“I believe couples need a wedding planner because wedding planners help the couple save time, money, and frustration,” says Sharon McCool, a wedding planner and owner of MS Weddings in Geneva. “They keep you on budget and on schedule. They orchestrate the day for you, anticipate issues and put the fire out beforehand. Wedding planners are a comfort to the bride, groom and their family because they know we are taking care of everything. We give them peace of mind.

“I think it’s one of the best investments you can make.”

For those who would like to do the planning themselves, but still need a hand on the big day, wedding planners like McCool offer day-of services, too.

Lori Klems, 39, of Wheaton, married her husband, Jerry, July 30, 2011, and hired McCool to take care of things at her wedding.

“I just wanted [a wedding planner] for the day, just so … I didn’t have to worry about anything, and my friends didn’t have to worry about anything,” she says. “It worked out great. It was nice to be able to just do what we wanted, and if we wanted anything, Sharon was just very helpful. It was comforting.”

What a wedding planner can offer
McCool says her motto for brides and grooms is “Your day, your way, stress-free,” and she starts with helping couples figure out their vision for their special day.

“The first thing I ask is for the couple to tell me about their engagement,” McCool says, noting she usually likes to sit down at a coffeehouse and have a relaxing cup of tea with the newly engaged couple. “That usually tells me about the groom and bride and what is unique to them. And then I ask them what their vision is: What do you want to see walking down the aisle? What do you want others to see? What is most important — photos, food, having a good time, dress/looks?”

While a couple’s budget is one of the first things McCool has to consider when planning a wedding, she likes to understand what their dream is first — then they can work their way back to reality, she says.

And it’s important to remember that, even though today’s average wedding costs $27,000, simple can still be beautiful when couples are on a tight budget, she says.

McCool has planned more than 100 weddings in her nine years as a wedding planner, and her familiarity with local professional vendors helps couples who aren’t sure who to hire for the important details of their wedding.

“For a vendor to work with MS Weddings, they have to guarantee they’re going to go the extra mile for my brides,” McCool says, noting that many of her vendors are fellow members of Geneva Bride — a conglomeration of Geneva wedding venues, boutiques and shops.

Many brides have found McCool’s expertise comforting.

“When you have a wedding planner and you tell her what you want, you stick with the plan, and you get exactly what you wanted,” says Angelika Mackey, 36, of Schaumburg, who hired McCool to help her plan her wedding day, which took place Aug. 27 last year. “If you can afford a wedding planner, I would recommend it because she’s absolutely priceless. You just can’t handle it by yourself, and you don’t want to turn out to be brideszilla.”

McCool says it’s important for couples to be comfortable with the wedding planner they will be working with because they have to interact so closely with that person. She gives potential clients the opportunity to walk out the door if they’re not sure she’s the right person for the job.

But many have found that she is. Mackey said she had interviews with three different wedding planners before deciding to hire McCool.

“She was more mature, more experienced,” Mackey says. “She was a good listener, and just really calm. Other wedding planers tried to tell me what to do; she was the one who listened to me.”  kc

Wedding Timeline

McCool has a loose timeline for brides and grooms to follow as they begin planning their wedding.

“A year is a good, comfortable time,” she says, noting that brides create their own schedule, but planners stay in touch throughout the process to make sure they stay on task. “A year and a half is good, too. Less than that can be rushed. [Brides and grooms] think nine months is a lot of time. When you’re trying to get the best of the best for your vision, it’s not a lot of time at all.”

• The first thing to do is locate a venue for the ceremony and reception, McCool says. “More and more, brides want to combine them both in one spot, and they want outdoor weddings,” she says.
• Also in the first few months, brides should purchase their wedding gown. “Four months is not enough time,” McCool says, suggesting that brides buy their dress at least six months before the wedding to leave enough time for the dress to be ordered, delivered and altered.
• Bridesmaid dresses should be ordered at least four months in advance for a similar allotment of time. “If you have the dresses sitting in a salon, that’s a sense of relief for you,” she says. “The earlier you can order these things, the more sane you’re going to feel.”
• After those essential items are taken care of, brides can take a small break from making major decisions, McCool says.
But they still should be narrowing down their choices because when the sixth month period hits, it’s back to the grind. This is the time to tie in all major vendors such as DJ or band, an officiant and a florist.
• Don’t forget about transportation and a videographer, McCool says.
• Invitations should be selected and ordered three months before the big day, and mailed to guests six to eight weeks before the wedding, McCool says. The couple should request that replies be mailed back three weeks prior to the wedding date so that the total head count can be sent to the appropriate vendors on time — two weeks usually is required.
• Three months also is when brides should start thinking about attire details: what shoes she’ll wear, whether hair and makeup will be done at home or at a salon, etc. Remember, a trial run for hair and makeup is vital to make sure the bride and stylist are on the same page.
• The one month mark should be a time of finalization, McCool says. Touch base with vendors — which, if you hire a planner — will automatically be done for you — have thank-you gifts made/purchased for bridesmaids, groomsmen and parents, and make sure other details — such as gloves, hair accessories, etc. — are ready to go.
• One week before the wedding, check back with vendors and reemphasize the times they need to arrive. Have a list ready — with extra copies available — that dictates who is bringing what to the appropriate venues, as well as what time things will be picked up and by whom. Also lay out everything that needs to be ready the morning of the wedding: the gown, the essentials that go with the gown, accessories, etc.
• The day of the big event, make sure to eat something, McCool says. Have that important detail planned into the schedule — no one needs to faint.
 

What are the trends for 2012?
• Bright colors — think teal and violet, and yellow and gray — are on the up and up, McCool says.
• Flower girls and ring bearers are making more of a statement as they walk down the aisle, with boys donning top hats and girls accessorizing with angel wings.
• More and more ceremonies are taking place outside, and when they do, friends and family are sitting in the round instead of on either side of a traditional aisle, McCool says.
• Aisle runners are not as big as they once were, but for the brides who choose to use them, many are having them monogrammed to personalize the walk down the aisle, McCool says. For those who’d rather not use a runner, many opt to sprinkle rose petals down the aisle or to garnish chairs and pews with other flowers.
• More grooms are buying ties for their groomsmen to wear, and doubling the item as a thank-you gift for their best mates. Other popular groomsmen gifts include cigars, money clips or subscriptions to magazines. Traditional mugs are on the way out, McCool says.
• Boutonnieres also have retained their popularity, but some men in weddings McCool has helped plan have worn pins from a charity the couple has donated to, such as a pink ribbon to represent a breast cancer charity.
• Bridesmaid gifts usually double as items the girls wear for the ceremony and reception, such as jewelry and pashmina scarves, McCool says. Canvas bags also are nice to give away, as they can be used to store personal items during a wedding reception.
• Square tables are a new trend for weddings, and more often, parents are seated at the head table with the bride and groom, and bridesmaids and groomsmen sit with their own significant other.
• While wedding cakes still are popular, they’re not as grand as they have been in the past, McCool says. Cupcakes or pies are fashionable replacements, as well. Cake pops — shaped like lollipops, but topped with cake instead — also are a newer trend.
• During the cocktail hour, couples are starting to rent sofas and chairs to provide a cozy feel for guests. It’s something Klems made sure to have at her wedding last year. “I knew I wanted to have separate areas for each part of the wedding,” she says. “I watch a lot of wedding shows, and I like decorating. I designed the space, and it turned out really good. [My guests] were impressed … I don’t think a majority had seen that before.”
• Photo booths are showing up at receptions, giving guests the opportunity to snap a few pictures with which to remember the special occasion.
• At the end of the night, many couples are offering late night snacks, such as mini hamburgers and hot dogs. After parties also are becoming popular, as guests and wedding party members continue the celebration into the evening.
• McCool has seen fireworks cap off a wedding event, too. Klems said it was one thing she knew she had to have at her wedding. “I actually didn’t tell anyone what I was doing, so it was a huge surprise to my husband, my parents and everyone,” she says.    kc