Wedding Photography – Why so Pricey!?
By Tarisha Beniprashad
Wedding photography pricing is a hotly debated subject. If you’ve never planned an event before, hiring a professional photographer for your wedding day can be one of the most shockingly priced items that you encounter. It may seem like your photographer just has to collect some snaps on your big day, print them out, and slap them in an album but there’s a ton of work behind the scenes that needs to happen in order for your photos to come out as flawless as your wedding day. We’ve done some research and spoken to professional photographer Nirvanie Srikishun and got all the dirty details, so if you’re wondering why wedding photography is so expensive, just keep on reading.
Here’s a sampling of shots that Nirvanie has done with our team!
Why is Wedding Photography so Expensive?
Transportation
Typically, photographers need to travel to at least 3-4 different locations on your wedding day. From capturing the moments while you’re getting ready before you say you I dos, to snapping pictures of your first kiss and first dance, your photographer needs to make their way around in a timely manner on your big day. With public transportation being out of the question with all of the bulky equipment they’ve got to carry around, gas, insurance, and car payments need to be factored into their rate.
Advertising
Many photographers generate business by marketing themselves online. From purchasing advertisement space on a popular website to paying the monthly instalments to maintain their own website, marketing their services can get pricey. Professionals sometimes include their online portfolio and create galleries on their website of your photos so your guests have access as well. Because of all the traffic to their site, some opt to hire services to design the layout, which is another additional cost.
Equipment
Photographers are equipped with more than just one camera. Different lenses, batteries, memory cards, filters, lightboxes, light stands, and umbrellas all need to be used to get those perfect snapshots of your big day. Not to mention the backups of all of these items, just in case something breaks or malfunctions. As if buying all of this gear isn’t expensive enough, it also needs to be insured. Chances are, if a wedding photographer is charging too-good-to-be-true prices, they likely aren’t up to date with great equipment. Or even worse – what happens if their camera malfunctions at the wedding? A true professional has backups and extra equipment, and it costs money to maintain it all.
Staff
Unless your wedding is an intimate affair, you’ll probably see more than one photographer making their way around your event. An assistant and/or second shooter may be need to be hired by your primary photographer, in order for them to collect a wide variety of pictures, so that you can remember every last detail!
Labour
Your photographer will likely be with your from the time you get dressed until the population of the dance floor starts to thin out. Spending from 8-14 hours with you on your wedding day alone, (excluding the pre and post wedding festivities in the days before and following) your photographer will spend an additional 20-25 hours just editing your pictures afterwards. That $300/hour rate on the day of is starting to seem a little less outrageous, isn’t it? That rate also has to account for the time it takes to edit and compile your photos afterwards.
Printing
But the work isn’t over once your images are edited. Your photographer must design your wedding album and order any additional prints that you request. Paying for shipping and picking them up from the post office are a few more additional costs.
Education
Chances are, the person you hire to capture the magical moments of your wedding day didn’t just buy a camera one day and decide to be a photographer. Many are still paying off their student loans from when they were initially trained how to create the beautiful images you’ll be admiring for years to come. It’s also important for photographer to regularly attend different workshops and seminars to keep up with new techniques and trends, which can also cost a pretty penny! We swear by professional wedding photography companies who believe in continuous education and self-improvement.
We realize that dishing out thousands of dollars for a photographer can seem a little excessive at first, but we hope this post has helped you understand why their rates are anything but excessive. With all the work you’ve been putting in to plan every detail of your big day, you’ll want to remember it in all of its glory, for years to come! You don’t have to splurge on the most expensive and extravagant package, but don’t be afraid to drop some coin on a professional you believe will do a great job.
Another super, super important point to consider is, if the price is too low – how are they sustaining themselves? If equipment fails the week before your wedding, how will a very low budget photographer replace expensive pieces? Be real with yourself, and we promise, you won’t regret it!
A huge thank you to Nirvanie Srikishun Photography for speaking with us about her industry! Drop us a line and let us know what you think about wedding photography pricing.
xoxo,
The Whimlets
- Published in 2016, Budget, Uncategorized, Vendors, Wedding Planning, Wedding TIps
Toronto Wedding Entertainment
By Tarisha Beniprashad
Deciding on what type of entertainment to hire for your big day can be a tough decision- but worry not, Whim is here to help you with all of your entertainment woes! Most couples opt to hire vendors to charm their guests during cocktail hour and/or dinner, so you’ll find that many of our suggestions will fit flawlessly into your reception program. If you’re interested in learning about some wedding entertainment ideas that are sure to leave your guests in awe, keep on reading!
Toronto wedding entertainment sure to wow your guests
Popular Toronto violinist, G Pinto
Violinist or Pianist
Hiring a musician that’s open to taking song requests is a great option for both cocktail and dinner time entertainment. We recently attended the WPIC Kick-Off at The Forth, and G.Pinto did a fantastic job providing pre-dinner entertainment!
Wine/ Liquor Tasting
Setting up a wine a liquor tasting is perfect if you’ve got a few wine and liquor connoisseurs in your clan. Consider fun stationed ideas like a scotch or martini station.
Caricatures
We know caricatures are not necessarily everyone’s cup of tea, but they can actually be a fun addition for your guests. What better way than a larger-than-life portrait for your guests to take home with them, to commemorate your wedding? One of our favourites is Michael McDonnell – he has experience with large corporate events and intimate weddings alike! Toronto wedding entertainment.
Showgirls/ Dancers
Hiring a few showgirls to do a number on the dance floor during dinner can be an awesome way for your guests to cleanse their palate between the main course and dessert! You can also opt to go with some cultural dancers; this would be a great touch to incorporate some of your (or your SO’s) culture into your big day. A surefire way to please your guests! One of our favourites is RS Divas – ask for Jana and tell her Whim sent you :). Toronto wedding entertainment.
Singing Waiters
What’s more entertaining than being serenaded while snacking on shrimp toast? Nothing, that’s what. – just ask the talent from the Three Waiters! Toronto wedding entertainment.
Photo taken from The Three Waiters website
Flash Mob
You can either hire some faux wedding guests to burst into dance during cocktail hour, or you can enlist your bridal party to learn a routine to surprise the rest of your guests! This option is sure to shock everyone, and can be a great bonding experience for you and your bridal party. Toronto wedding entertainment.
Guest Video Box
Photo taken from the Living Tables website – Carmen Miranda.
We’ll be honest, this option is more for your entertainment than your guests. Instead of a guestbook, you can opt to rent a video booth for your guests to leave you a special message. You’ll probably find that the video messages get more entertaining as the night goes on!
Living Tables
A living table is a great way to wow your guests while serving hors d’oeuvres during cocktail hour. Your guests can be served a refreshment while taking in the sight of an expressively costumed performer. Check out Carmen Miranda from Living Tables!
We realize what a daunting task choosing entertainment for you big day can be, but remember: your guests are there to join in the celebration of your love, and will undoubtedly enjoy anything you choose!
Have you ever been to a wedding with any of these forms of Toronto wedding entertainment? Think we missed an exciting option? Leave us a comment below and let us know! Contact us today to get started on designing a wedding or event that will keep all of your guests entertained all night long!
- Published in 2016, GTA, Wedding Planning, Wedding TIps
Intimate Wedding Venues in the GTA
By Tarisha Beniprashad
Having trouble finding the perfect venue for your intimate wedding? Did our Unique Venues in the GTA post not help you find the ideal spot for your nuptials? Fear not, we’ve come up with a new list…
Intimate wedding venues in the GTA
These spots are ideal for a cozy ceremony and a reception just for you and your closest loved ones. Keep on reading if you’d like to find out more about some of the most popular intimate venues in the GTA!
Old Mill Inn & Spa
With a variety of rooms to choose from, the Old Mill offers class and Victorian style like no other. They also have an on-site 16th century candlelit wedding chapel with stained glass windows that would make for some amazing photographs. With amazing in-house catering and luxurious outdoor gardens, Old Mill is an ample choice for any small event.
Camera Bar
Located next to the Stephen Bulger Gallery, the Camera bar is decorate with beautiful art pieces. However, the majority of the space had been left raw, which allows for you to run free with your creativity and create your ideal room. Capacity is 30 for a seated dinner and 110 for a cocktail reception.
Miller Lash House
Featuring high arched ceilings, fireplaces, antique furnishings, and wooden trim, the Miller Lash house is both versatile and beautiful. The University of Toronto owned spaces allows for 50 seated guests, and a cocktail reception of 100.
Le Select
An authentic Parisian bistro in the heart of downtown Toronto, Le Select features a beautiful rear garden equipped with heaters for the cooler months, and a wine cellar with 1,200 different labels. This bistro would be a great option for a slightly more casual affair.
Ancaster Mill
The Ancaster Mill is a little oasis in the scenic suburb of Hamilton. With a waterfall complementing the exquisite exterior, this is the ideal location for a small outdoor wedding. There are also a number of rooms inside of the inn to choose from, if you’re interested in an indoor ceremony. You can choose from rooms with a more modern feel, or go for something a little more rustic. intimate wedding venues in the GTA
Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory
This location might be the most unique amongst our suggestions. You have the opportunity to exchange your vows amidst free-flying butterflies, serene waterfalls, and lush tropical foliage. The conservatories facilities may accommodate up to 200 reception guests. intimate wedding venues in the GTA
The Arts and Letters Club
Established in 1908, this club features a Tudor style hall, baronial fireplace, cathedral ceilings, and gothic stained glass windows. In-house catering features seasonal flavors, and local tastes. The largest room in the club had the potential to accommodate 112 reception guests. intimate wedding venues in the GTA
Sassafraz
Offering exceptional French-inspired Canadian cuisine, Sassafraz is set in an array of Victorian row-houses in the historic city of Yorkville. Despite having been around for decades, the interior of this intimate wedding venue in the GTA has a refreshingly modern twist. intimate wedding venues in the GTA
We hope that this collection of intimate wedding venues in the GTA helps narrow down your search, and gets you closer to finding the perfect venue for your wedding! Are there any venues you think should be on our list? Contact us today so we can get started on finding the perfect intimate venue for your wedding!
xoxo,
intimate wedding venues in the GTA
- Published in 2016, GTA, Rustic, Trends, Uncategorized, Venues, Wedding, Wedding Planning, Wedding TIps
A Modern Romance at Liberty Grand in Toronto
Liberty Grand is a beautiful spot. Seriously gorgeous.
We never get tired of weddings at Liberty Grand in Toronto. It’s such an elegant spot, with great modern features set against a historic building. Naturally when one of our August 2015 couples contacted us and said their venue was Liberty Grand, we were seriously stoked.
Meet Valerie & Jon. Adorable, right?
Valerie & Jon’s Liberty Grand wedding, shot by Memory Video Productions
Valerie & Jon’s Liberty Grand wedding, shot by Memory Video Productions
Apart from their obvious cuteness, these two were such a delight to work with – so laid back and genuinely excited about getting married and showing their guests a great time. Michelle and I were more than happy to get involved and help them with their finishing touches. This wedding had a lot of fun features to keep guests entertained all day and night!
Valerie & Jon hired a very talented group of vendors to help pull their wedding together, and based on their review of us, it’s safe to say that they are happy with the end-result :). Check out a few more of their photos, and a full vendor listing below. Thanks again to the fabulous Memory Photo and Video based out of Woodbridge. You guys rock! Guests walked away with hand-rolled cigar favours, individually wrapped. Michael McDonnell and a team of two arrived on site after dinner to provide caricature sketches for guests to take home.
This cake was a huge hit with us and all of the guest. This delightful confectionary creation was created by the Wedding Cake Shoppe in Toronto :).
This crowd had a blast from start to end. There was a ton of audience participation and everyone clamoured to be involved!
Is this a bridal party or a magazine spread? Valerie & Jon’s beautiful bridal party!
This is the beautiful bride with two of her bridesmaids and the most adorable little flower girl in the world. This shot was taken in the courtyard of Liberty Grand
Rose gold and blush head table. Isn’t the backdrop stunning? Wedding Wows Toronto provided the beautiful decor.
The Key Players
Wedding Planners: Whim Event Coordination & Design
Photography & Videography: Memory Photo & Video Productions
Venue: Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex
Decor, Floral & Rentals: Wedding Wows Toronto
Transportation: Lucid Limos
Cake: The Wedding Cake Shoppe
Ceremony Music: Duo D’amour
Hair & Makeup: Brush Boutique
Entertainment: Michael McDonnell Caricature
Favours: Frank Correnti Cigars
Are you dreaming of your big day? OMG we are too! Contact us today and we’ll show you how we can make it happen together!
- Published in 2015, Real Wedding, Wedding, Wedding Planning
Royal Canadian Yacht Club – Venue Spotlight
The Royal Canadian Yacht Club hosted a Wedding Planners Banquet
Michelle and I were invited to attend the Royal Canadian Yacht Club’s wedding planner’s banquet on Monday September 21st 2015 on the Toronto Island. It was a great opportunity for us to get to know a venue we haven’t visited before. We arrived by ferry from the Cherry Street port, and were delighted to see the view of the Toronto skyline on the way to the yacht club. [insert skyline view photo?] The Royal Canadian Yacht Club arranges private ferry transport for wedding guests. There is also regular ferry access back to the parking area for those who wish to leave before festivities are at an end. There are over 300 parking spots, and the walk from the docking area to the manor house is short and easy to navigate for all guests, even those with mobility issues.
The Royal Canadian Yacht Club is a beautiful old building – it looks more like a manor house or mansion. The front, side and back lawns are beautifully manicured with gardens and large old trees. There are a few spots on the lawns that make lovely wedding ceremony spots with the manor house in the background and the water and skyline in the foreground.
View from the beautiful lawns of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club
Once we entered the reception, we were served yummy prosecco cocktails with raspberries, sangria and other lovely cocktails at their generous open bar. We were also treated to several delicious appetizers that left us wanting more! Any couple who values great food for their wedding would certainly enjoy the selection.
We were treated to Malpeque oysters with fresh horseradish and vinaigrette, lobster bisque with crème fraîche served in chic white spoons, beef tartare with breadcrumbs and egg yolk, seared tuna, beets with goat cheese, and an assortment of pastries, macarons and chocolates for dessert.
Prosecco cocktails at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club
We had the opportunity to view the wedding hall, with its lovely high ceilings and elegant nautical feel. We viewed the incredible bridal suite – perfect for getting ready with the bridesmaids on the day of the wedding. We really loved that the Royal Canadian Yacht Club boasts something that few venues do – the ability to have it all: great food, a stunning venue, both waterfront and garden photo opportunities and indoor and outdoor ceremony spaces. We also love that the space is so naturally pretty that minimal décor is required.
As we left on the ferry to head back to mainland, we couldn’t help but dream of coordinating a wedding there next season! We can’t wait to go back! A very special and heartfelt thank you to the staff at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club – we had a great time and we are excited to work with you in the future!
To learn more about this venue or any of Toronto and the surrounding GTA’s finest wedding spots, contact us today!
Wedding Venues in the GTA: Volume 1: Unique Wedding Venues
Unique Wedding Venues in the GTA
If you’re in the process of planning a Toronto wedding, I’m sure you know how endless the possibilities are when it comes to choosing a venue. Planning a wedding in a city brimming with stunning wedding venues to choose from can become overwhelming very quickly. A wedding planner often comes in handy when it comes to this aspect of the planning, but if you’re on your own the options can seem endless. With all of these choices, how do you know what to look for?
Worry not, we’ve created a comprehensive list of wedding venues in the GTA to help you decide where to have your big day; this is only the first post of a new series where we will list a number wedding venues in and around the GTA. Focusing on the aesthetics of each venue, we’ve linked the website to each respective site below, so that you and inquire about pricing and decide which works best for your budget. For our first addition to this series, we’ve chosen unique and “artsy” venues that would likely be best suited for those who aren’t fond of garden gazebos and banquet halls, and who would like something a little different for their nuptials. Keep reading to find out what are some of our favorite wedding venues in the GTA!
Imagine the insane wedding pictures you’d be able to get, having your nuptials inside Toronto’s aquarium that houses jellyfish, stingrays, and a variety of exotic fish.
The only thing cooler than saying your I do’s alongside sharks is doing it beside dinosaurs. Choose to get married in your favorite exhibit at the ROM!
Located in Toronto’s quaint yet popular Distillery District, Arta Gallery exhibits world-class pieces from international artists.
Get married in the Gardiner Museum’s Terrace room, where you’ll have a stunning view of Queen’s Park through their floor-ceiling-windows. The ceramic pieces in the actual museum will have your guests raving!
Originally a stone distilling and milling building, the Fermenting Cellar features heavy timber beams and trusses, as well as Kingston limestone walls from its initial construction in 1861.
This multi-purpose lounge and venue space features incredible exposed brick walls, as well as tasteful vintage furniture that will transport you back to the 19th century Victorian era.
Located on Queen Street West and constantly featuring new exhibitions by a variety of artists and photographers, Twist gallery is the perfect venue for a modern, intimate wedding in the city.
Aside from the food, the architecture of this restaurant is the real stunner. High pine ceiling, concrete floors, exposed brick walls, and reclaimed timber bar and tables combine the contemporary style with the historic tradition of the Distillery District.
Originally built in 1907 as a department store, the Burroughes now functions as an event venue, boutique retail spaces, and office suites on the ever-trendy Queen Street West.
The University Club of Toronto
Prestigiously located on Toronto’s University Avenue in the heart of the city, the University Club of Toronto is an inspiring and historical space. To top it all off, there’s access to a treasured wine cellar!
It’s a castle… Need we say more? Doesn’t everyone dream about getting married in a castle? This Gothic revival style house and garden is located in midtown Toronto was built in 1911. It’s now a museum and landmark with decorated suites, secret passages, stately towers, estate gardens as well as luxurious stables
This is only a small portion of the available wedding venues in the GTA. If none of these sites pique your interest, look out for our next addition to this series, where we’ll be featuring more tradition banquet hall styled venues. Wedding Venues In The GTA.
Bridal Party Duties – Toronto Wedding Planner
Bridal Party Duties
What the heck is everyone supposed to do?!
You chose your bridesmaids and groomsmen because they’re the ones you love most, and you want to be surrounded by good vibes and positive people on your wedding day. Although they’ll help you have the most amazing wedding day full of memories you’ll never forget, they also have certain duties they need to fulfill. Here are a few key bridal party duties we think that they should handle:
Make sure the bride AND groom make it to the wedding in one piece.
There are a million and one things that can go wrong on the day of your wedding, but none of those things matter as long as both you and your significant other make it down the aisle and live out your happily ever after. Cold feet, flat tires, hysterical family members, and wardrobe malfunctions are all crises that can be diffused by your loving bridal party. You can choose to prep them before the big day with all of the emergency phone numbers and materials they may need, so that they can take care of all the minor calamities themselves.
Throw the bachelor and bachelorette parties.
Let’s be real, you and your spouse to be haven’t been ‘single’ since you met, but you can both still enjoy your respective parties. Take this chance to go out and really appreciate the friends who have been there for all the upsand downs, and who’ll continue to support you. Let your bridal party spoil you and take care of you on your bachelor or bachelorette party- let free, relax, and enjoy yourself before the big day!
Host the bridal shower.
This job is typically left up to the bridesmaids, but the groomsmen can definitely be enlisted to help with the bridal shower as well! There’s a lot that goes into planning a shower- decor, venue, food, favors, games, and more. This is an important event that requires a copious amount of care and attention to detail- it’s where you’ll get (almost) everything you need to start your new life with your husband or wife to be!
Go to dress fittings with the bride.
Bridesmaids, the most important thing you can do at your bride’s dress fitting is learn how to properly bustle her dress! You know what they say: a dress is only as beautiful as its bustle. Well, they don’t say that… but they should. Many brides will only let their train bask in its full glory during the ceremony, and will spend the majority of their reception with their dress bustled. Since you’ll be wearing your bustle for a while, it’ll likely be in pictures- and you don’t want to be looking at a lopsided bustle in your wedding pictures 30 years from now.
Help with the details.
Tying and curling ribbons on 250 wedding favours is a tedious task, but your bridal party should be prepared to do just that. It’s important that they lend a helping hand to you with all of the little details- you have a ton going on as it is, and we’re sure any help is appreciated. After all, they are your maids and men, they should be doing all they can to make your life easier!
These are just some general guidelines of what your bridal party should be handling throughout your wedding planning process. Don’t be afraid to enlist them to some heavy lifting- they’re honored enough to be an integral part of your big day, and they should help make it come to life!
Do you have any fun memories of your bridal party, or of being in one yourself? Leave us a comment and let us know about your bridal party experiences!
- Published in 2015, Trends, Uncategorized, Wedding, Wedding TIps
Rose Gold Themed Style Shoot at Ashbridges Bay
Rose Gold Style Shoot at Ashbridges Bay – Shot by Thomas Zitnansky
A warm sunny day at Ashbridges Bay
Last week we had the pleasure of working with a number of amazing vendors on a rose gold themed style shoot at Ashbridges Bay. We collaborated with makeup artist Sonia Kang, photographer Thomas Zitnansky, florist Therese Guidolin, and Sinfully Sweet by Sonia J. With the combined efforts of these vendors and the entire Whim Event Coordination and Design team, the outcome was nothing short of stunning. The day was sunny and beautiful, and Ashbridges Bay was packed with people, all enjoying the gorgeous weather. The team arrived in the afternoon and quickly put together a simple, but stunning sweet table.
With the initial theme development by Whim, event coordinators Alisha and Michelle decided to execute their vision in a park-like setting at Ashbridges Bay in Toronto. The table decor and beautiful mock invitation made by Michelle was meticulously set up underneath a large oak tree near the beach, with Thomas Zitnansky expertly using the natural light to complement his photographs. One of the table setups included a soft rose coloured satin tablecloth with a delicate pink lace overlay. The second table setup featured a white satin tablecloth with a rose-sequined tablerunner down the front and sides of the table.
Despite the number of passersby and disruptive wind, the team of vendors managed to pull off a phenomenal shoot. The shoot was a wonderful experience, with many spectators stopping to say hello and ask about our shoot. By the end of the day, we all enjoyed some of the yummy sweets, had fun taking many photos, and had tons of ideas for our next collaboration. We couldn’t be happier with the outcome, and we have many great photos for the new version of our website (coming soon!). Stay tuned for more pictures from this lovely styled shoot, and please check out our awesome team of vendors!
- Published in 2015, Colours, Styled Shoot, Trends, Wedding, Wedding TIps
No Obligation Initial Meetings – Toronto Wedding Planner
Today on the blog we want to give you insight into what happens during initial meetings with prospective clients. We get this question a lot, so we figured there was some merit to writing a post to shed light on the topic. Many wedding professionals offer an initial consultation or meeting to discuss details pertaining to the wedding. This first meeting is usually free, and requires no contract or obligation at the end of the meeting.
Are we a good fit?
We do a lot of hands-on work, like this styled engagement shoot, so it’s important that we are a good fit for you and your fiancé!
Here at Whim, we use initial meetings to get to know our potential clients and see if we are a good fit for one another. Michelle and I believe strongly in fit, and we think that all couples should have initial meetings with every vendor to determine the same, especially with a wedding planner. Fit is incredibly important because we end up spending a ton of time together during meetings, and we’ll spend some time corresponding about the wedding. We want our clients to be comfortable with us, and we want to feel comfortable with you, too! We like to start off by inviting you to our office to talk about how we got into weddings and events, our backgrounds in education and professional life, and why we love what we do. We want to hear about you and how you met, too!
Initial Meetings – What Happens?
We sit with you to discuss your wedding vision and determine if we’re right for each other.
Initial meetings are a great chance to learn more about what we actually do. It’s easy to say that we plan weddings and events, but what does that really mean? We take the time to show you examples of client binders that we have created for our past weddings, and these binders are offer a comprehensive view of the time and effort it takes to plan a successful event. Our binders contain everything from our notes at our first meeting, colour schemes and storyboarding we create to fit your colours and theme, examples of budgets, vendor questionnaires and answers, copies of our correspondence with clients and vendors, copies of all contracts, vendor contact lists and itineraries.
We also take the time to introduce you to our emergency kits and the contents within. If you have any questions at all about what the items are used for, we can explain it. We offer some fun anecdotes about our favourite products and how they came to have that status.
The initial meeting is also when we talk to you about how you and your honey met, and about your vision for your wedding. We want to hear everything – from what you are most afraid of to which part of the whole process is the most meaningful to you. We want to walk out of that meeting with a good idea of who you are as a couple, and how we can help bring your magical day to life.
At the end of the meeting, we’ll go over the details of our contract. Many clients sign the contract at the first meeting, and some clients are still in the vetting process and want to wait a little while. Like we said, it’s a no-obligation initial meeting. We want to get to know you, and we won’t push you to make a decision if you aren’t ready.
What Doesn’t Happen?
We know you’re super excited to get started on planning, but the real planning gets started after the initial meeting!
Now, what we don’t do at an initial meeting is: provide vendor recommendations, work up budgets, verify vendor pricing, create timelines, etc. That’s the work that happens once you have decided to hire us as your planning team. While we do want to help all of the couples that reach out to us, it would be unfair to our paying couples for us to divulge that information.
We’d love to meet with you to determine if we are a great fit for your wedding vision! Leave us a comment to let us know what you think of our initial meeting process!
Whim Event Coordination and Design provides wedding planning and design services for fun, quirky, and whimsical couples in Toronto and the surrounding GTA. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help you plan your dream wedding!
- Published in 2015, Wedding TIps
Wedding Planner vs On-Site Coordinator
By Tarisha Beniprashad
Wedding Planner vs On-Site Coordinator?!
What’s the difference? Do I need both? What do they do?!
The wedding planner vs on-site coordinator debate is a pretty popular one in the wedding industry, but to be honest, we don’t think it should be a debate at all. The roles of a wedding planner and the duties of an on-site coordinator are completely different- each position has its own merits. If you’re unsure of your stance in this debate, we’ve got you covered- we’ll tell you all there is to know about wedding planners vs on-site coordinators!
Wedding planners:
That’s us! Wedding planners are independent planners that you can hire to help you coordinate all of the little details of your wedding day, and even the days leading up to it. We help you plan everything from the invitations to flowers to caterers to transportation, and pretty much everything in between.
Alisha & Michelle coordinating a styled shoot. Photography by Thomas Zitnansky Photography.
We’re with you on the day of your wedding from the beginning right until the end to ensure that everything runs smoothly from the morning of the wedding to the end of the reception. We aim to build both professional and personal relationships with our clients and really get to know them during their wedding planning journey so that we can do our best to make sure we plan a day they can’t forget, and have a little fun along the way!
On-site Coordinators:
These guys are usually employed by the venue of your wedding or reception, and don’t typically work with you on details outside of that. They’re the ones you meet to sign contracts and go over food and beverage choices, and pretty much anything else that’s going on at the venue. Their main job is to ensure that the festivities run in a smooth and timely manner, and that all of their services are delivered flawlessly. They may also suggest some vendors to you that they’ve worked with in the past, but that isn’t necessarily a part of their job description. You can depend on these guys to be present during your time at the venue, but they’ll likely leave before dinner is over and turn things over to the Banquet Manager, who will supervise things until the party is over.
On-site coordinators work behind the scenes to make sure that the venue delivers everything in your contact.
So now that you know the specific roles of a Wedding Planner vs On-Site Coordinator, we’re sure that you can understand where we’re coming from when we say this shouldn’t be a debate in the first place. These positions cater to different needs, and generate the best results when they work together. If you’re trying to decide between a wedding planner vs on-site coordinator, here’s our advice: why not both? These two can work together to ensure your day goes off without a hitch, and will actually make each other’s jobs a whole lot easier. With a wedding planner you get someone to guide you through the entire planning process from start to finish and manage your vendors, and your on-site coordinator will take care of all the logistics relatingto the venue on the day of. Their jobs are equally important, and you’re guaranteed to have the day you’ve been dreaming of with both of them working together to make your vision a reality!
Whim Event Coordination and Design is a team of Toronto wedding planners who service the GTA and beyond. Leave a comment below and let us know what your thoughts are on the wedding planner vs on-site coordinator debate, and contact us today so we can help you get started on your wedding planning!
- Published in 2015, Wedding TIps