Tag Archive for: pittsburgh wedding budget
Interview with Natalie Berger
Wenning's Wedding Tip Wednesday
Hiring a Professional Event Planner can prove to be far more valuable than you may have thought. Imagine, you are planning one of the most important days of your life and you do not want anything to mess that up. You want your venue to be beautiful; your vendors to be on the same page as well as ensuring your guests have a wonderful time! Have you ever taken a moment to think about what goes on behind the scenes and what could possible go wrong on such a busy day? Hiring a family friend to get you through this day may not be the best idea because although they “know how you think” they probably have not done as many events as a professional planner has and they do not know how to handle certain situations that could go wrong! We got the chance to catch up with Professional Event Planner Natalie Berger in the midst of her busy schedule to pick her brain a bit and have her shed some light on some planning do’s and don’ts to help guide you to a very special Wedding Day!
- What separates your services from other Planners?
“I am an event planner that takes care of each client…you meet me, you hire me, you GET ME!!! No associates will run your event that day, I am there for you!!”
- What advice can you give to New Brides and Grooms about planning their wedding?
“Make a budget…..stick with it!!! More does not mean BETTER!!!!”
- What would you say to Brides and Grooms in having their “Friends or Aunt’s” be their Planner?
“Having a relative or friend help plan and run your special day is not fair to them or you…they will not be able to enjoy your day with you and things may come up, that they do not know how to handle. It is much easier to delegate things to do or correct to a paid professional…”
- What’s one of the Biggest Mistakes you see that Brides and Grooms make in planning their wedding?
“The #1 thing to hire when planning your event is great entertainment!!! Having fun at a wedding is what you remember, not the color scheme or food choices, music selections, dancing and having a fabulous time with family and friends is the key to a great event!!!!”
- Anything else you want to add?
“When hiring vendors, get references, make sure they have worked the venue, and they should make you feel like you are their only client!!!”
If you are planning a grand event and want to contact Natalie for her professional assistance you can do so via email at [email protected] or by phone at (412) 298-4638. Check back next week for more Wedding Planning Tips!
Be Flexible in your Budget for the Important Parts of your Wedding!
Have you ever heard someone say they don’t see the need in hiring professional wedding entertainment because they think it’s a waste of money? We don’t think this is an area you should cut costs in. It may not seem important prior to the reception, but we believe entertainment can make or break your special day.
A guest’s top memory about a wedding is the entertainment. While planning a wedding there are many important details to handle, but keep in mind there are also many details that could be a waste of time. Don’t sweat the small stuff! Be sure that you have budgeted 10-15% of the total wedding budget towards your DJ or choice entertainment. Although it may seem that bridal magazines and websites are your guiding light, remember that the price of your DJ will vary depending on your location. Most couples only budget $500-$1000 for a DJ, this is NOT enough! Do your research; find out how much the professionals start at in your area. Most Full-Time Professionals in the Pittsburgh, PA area will start around $1500 and go up from there.
In addition to playing music, make sure your DJ will help keep your reception on schedule with signatures events like the bouquet toss, father/daughter dance, cake cutting, even an anniversary dance. They should also have backups of everything from equipment to personnel and proper insurance! Don’t let a bad DJ ruin your wedding! Try putting yourself in your guests’ seats as you think about how you want your big day to be remembered. Do you think your guests will remember the one of-a-kind hand made centerpieces, or your favorite Uncle following small interactive dances that can be easily taught by our DJs? Your entertainment will play a huge part in that so choose wisely!
Think about that house party or wedding you went to with no music and poor atmosphere. We can only imagine how boring that was; so take our word when we say a party with Wenning Entertainment is like a great house party times 20!