Do I really need a planner?

The insightful and oh-so-talented Preston Baily, recently published this article that we thought 'hit the nail on the head' - click here or read below.

"Let me ask you this: do you need a doctor to deliver your baby? Or would you prefer doing it yourself? Okay, that is a bit of an exaggeration but you get what I’m saying…

If you are giving a small, intimate party, have lots of time and you enjoy entertaining then no, you do not need a planner. However, having a large event (at times) is similar to producing a play or show and this requires time and experience to produce.

I have interviewed more than one client who has mentioned that hotel or location managers often insist they don’t need a planner–well, these folks are wrong. There is a lot that happens before the day of the event that needs to be managed.

Now comes the bad news: there are great planners and then there are the planners who give the business a bad name. Being also a part of the planning industry, I have had the joy and pain in working with both good and bad. Here is my humble opinion on how you can tell the difference:

Good planners: They make the process as easy and painless as possible, respecting the client’s time and level of involvement.
vs.
Bad planners: They think they are the show. They create drama were there should be none. They over-involve the client, and they need lots of attention.

Good planners: They give their clients realistic budget expectations, telling them what things really cost.
vs.
Bad planners: They unrealistically promise clients they’ll get quality for less and drive all the vendors crazy asking them to lower their prices.

Good planners: They get their normal fee from their clients and they do not accept commissions from vendors, which puts them in a better position to negotiate.
vs.
Bad planners: They collect a fee from clients and also quietly blackmail vendors into paying them commissions. (For example, they say something like, “If you don’t pay me a commission, I won’t use you or your services.”)

Good planners: They are very open to creativity, yet respectful of the vendors and artists they work with.
vs.
Bad planners: They are frustrated designers and seem to think they know what is best for the design. (Though, to be fair, they have seen a lot of designs, which gives them the right to have an opinion.)

So yes, I do think having a good planner is a very essential component to having a successful event. I have often found myself explaining this (and why) to my clients. What do you think?"

and two become one - introducing cloud 9

As many of you know, I have owned Nancy Chase Weddings & Celebrations and the stationery company, Pampered Papers, since 2005. These wonderful companies have brought my two passions together, weddings and paper products, and I am honored to be part of the great history which these two entities posses.

With that, I am thrilled to announce our new name and look to you – cloud 9! We have merged the businesses and now have two divisions: Weddings and Papers.

cloud 9 Weddings
There is nothing better than two people in love and hosting a wedding to celebrate with family and friends. With over 300 weddings under our belts, we are excited to continue planning magnificent weddings for the Denver community.

cloud 9 Papers
We have added additional lines to our already extensive collection and are offering 100% recycled papers, letterpress, seeded papers and invites, invitations for all holidays (all yearly), designer wedding invitations, adorable baby announcements, personal stationery and so much more. For your convenience, we have added our stationery books in a second location in the Denver Highlands at StudioWed located at 4500 West 38th Avenue #100, Denver, CO 80212, or 303-455-0969.

Please find us on our website: http://www.cloud9bliss.com/ (official full debut next week), our blog: http://cloud9bliss.blogspot.com/ (official full debut next week) and on Facebook and Twitter. This is a fun way to keep in touch and stay updated on the latest and greatest from cloud 9.

Click here for the recent news in the Denver Business Journal.

Wedding Etiquette Wednesday...How To Write A Thank You Note

Ann Marlin, owner of Cloud 9 Papers is continually asked about thank you notes. She puts it best, "A personal thank you note is the only appropriate way to say 'Thank You!' At one time, notes were not considered necessary when you thanked someone in person. Today, with guest lists being longer and guests busier, a personal thank you note is the only way to make sure sincere appreciation is expressed. Just telling someone who has given you a gift, how much you appreciate it, does not 'cut the cake!'"

Thank You Do's and Don'ts

1. Never, Never, Never, send a pre-printed thank you card. When you send a pre-printed card, you are telling the person receiving the thank you that their gift didn't mean enough to you to even receive a mention in your note. A warm personalized, handwritten note, regardless how brief, tells the guest how much you appreciated the gift and how it will be cherished for years to come. Handwritten notes express sincerity.

2. Be sure to send thank you notes to friends and relatives who arrange showers and parties for you. It is appropriate to thank them for the party or shower in the same card you send thanking them for their gift.

3. When you receive more than one gift from someone, each gift must be recognized with its own thank you card. If you receive a shower gift from a friend or relative and then, three weeks later, receive a wedding gift from the same person, it is not appropriate to thank them in one card. Shower gifts should be acknowledged within ten days of the party and wedding gifts within two weeks after returning from the honeymoon. Wedding gifts arriving in advance of the wedding, should be responded to immediately, so that an extended period of time does not pass between receiving the gift and it's thank you.

4. Be sure to put your new return address on all thank you cards. Your guests will appreciate having your current and correct address.

5. Although colored ink is readily available in your favorite stationery store today, it is still more appropriate to write your notes in dark blue or black. It is more easily readable.

6. When writing thank you notes, never start the note with "I." Always use "you" more than "I" or "me" in the note.

Ask the Expert...Carissa Passerella

Every bride wants to look her absolute best on her wedding day. We asked our 'go-to' beauty expert, Carissa Passerella with Carissa Beauty for a few of her wedding day make-up tips. Carissa is the master mind behind the incredible blog Hooked on Beauty and is also the Beauty Expert for WalMart. Carissa is on the cutting edge of all trends, is a leader in her field and is an all around fantastic person to spend time with! We love her and know you will too!

1. What is your best tip for finding a wedding day make-up artist?

Investigate them the same way you would any other vendor. Make sure they offer a trial run and see what they’re using, especially for foundations. If they’re using lines like MAC or Bobbi Brown, move on. I use lines that are truly for professionals, stuff you’ve never heard of like Kett, Kryolan, Koh Gen Do, Eve Pearl, Graftobian, and two different lines for airbrush makeup too. Lines like this are made for photography and offer the best looking coverage. Foundations aren’t the only important part, but it’s a good barometer to see what the rest of their kit offers.

2. How should brides get gorgeous pre-wedding skin?

Plenty of water and watch the alcohol intake especially on rehearsal night. I’ve met with so many girls who have zero dark circles and perfect skin which is all shot after too many cocktails the night before the wedding- and looking fresh isn’t something makeup can help. Get a facial if your skin looks congested, but you can probably just get by with being faithful to a good exfoliant. Sloughing off old skin clears the way for new vibrant skin which will look gorgeous in pictures.

3. Why should brides hire a professional make-up artist?

For the same reason you hire a hair stylist, you probably can do it yourself but the professional result is so much better. Girls who don’t wear makeup especially need a Makeup Artist because they don’t know the tricks to ‘no-makeup makeup’ so they either completely over-do it thinking they need ‘more color’ or they wind up looking pale because they didn’t use enough. More than amount used though, it’s the products themselves that makes it all worth the fraction of your budget to hire an artist.

4. What is your tried and true go-to product?

La Femme eye shadows

5. False eyelashes – yes or no?

Absolutely. I have an arsenal of lashes that fit all eye shapes and lash lengths. What I use isn’t detectable in person and most grooms can’t even tell. It’s the best way to dress up your eyes without adding color, they’re the natural girl’s best friend.

Monica & Stephen...and an outrageous cake adventure...

Last Saturday, Ann and I were in Winter Park for the wedding of Monica and Stephen at the gorgeous Sunspot Lodge at the top of Winter Park. The day started with the hilarious adventure of us carrying a three-tier wedding cake up the mountain on the open-air chairlift. The cake box was so large that we were unable to put down the safety bar; as I held on to the cake box for dear life, Ann held on to me - as it felt like we could slip off at any moment, especially as the lift stopped and swayed many times throughout our ride. We were laughing so hard tears were flowing and more so we were freezing - note to self: suits and heels are definitely not appropriate chairlift attire!

Putting the silly story of our cake adventure behind us - we were so happy to see Stephen and Monica get married. They had been together for over six years and traveled with family and friends all the way from Florida for a week of wedded bliss in the snow. Congratulations!

The photos are courtesy of Adam Houseman with Adam & Imthiaz Photography.