Is He/She The One?

6 Signs You've Found The Perfect Wedding Planner

                               

With your wedding day fast approaching, you might need someone to give you some guidance in creating the perfect vision of what you dreamed your perfect day would be. A bride should not be pressured with every aspect and crucial element that goes into planning such a big event. You might want to consider hiring a wedding planner to help you fine tune the details. If you do decide to go that direction, here are six vital qualities to look for in your wedding planner:

1. They make you feel like the 'only one'.

With times being so fast paced, people are always in a hurry to get things done. When working with a planner, chances are you aren’t the only client and they have a million different things on their plate. However, if they make you feel like your wedding is top priority, have meetings that are in full detail of what you will need to accomplish before your big day, and speaks to you with the utmost interest and excitement for what’s to come, the chances are, this is the wedding planner for you .

                                                        

2. Options, options, options.

We all know time is certainly not our friend during this process. There are things to do, vendors to choose and venues to book. If this particular planner is able to help you find multiple top notch vendors working within your budget and has a good working relationship with them, marry them too!

3. Your budget is their friend

The wedding industry is known to drill holes in the pockets of all its blind-sided victims with hidden costs lurking around every corner. If this wedding planner makes sticking to the budget an essential to planning your wedding, refraining from random additions to service fees or suggesting a budget increase then look no further.

                                                                                  

4. A professional planner

Truth be told, there is a myriad of wedding planners out there with varying ranks in the business. It is crucial to judge a wedding planner, not by the time they’ve put in but by the quality of the events they’ve produced so far and the level of professionalism they bring to the table. Choose a planner who takes you and your wedding seriously and handles your big day like a pro, all while making you feel like you two have some sort of friendship. Ensure to choose a planner who is respectful and has a basic understanding of who you are and the boundaries not to cross.

                                   

5. Bailing or smooth sailing

Unfortunately, there are a lot of ingenuine proprietors trying to make a quick buck from unsuspecting clients. As soon as a deposit is made, the promises made are ‘null and void’. Choose a wedding planner who understands their obligation to providing what you paid for while still being willing to add a little pizzazz where needs be. A contract should also be compulsory in order to safeguard the proceedings of your big day. A planner with a plan, is a very good one indeed.  

       

                                              

6.  A man or woman of high regard

If word on the street says this person is the best, there is then there’s no need to hesitate. Be sure to ask past clients and vendors if possible about this planner’s work, event planning skills, craft and how well they are able to give her clients the imagery of what was requested. Check social media pages, tags and testimonials as well and if everything checks out then seal the deal, cut a check and sign the dotted line.

                                         

Expect to Pay This for Your Wedding

When financing a wedding, just like buying a car or doing home renovations, you have to know or figure out what you will be paying for and how much you will have to pay for each item. Ultimately, your budget will determine what you can afford to do,but here's a simple breakdown of what you can expect to pay for each area of your wedding:

Hope this was helpful. As always, Happy planning!

10 Most Common Jamaican Destination Wedding Planning Mistakes

So you've always pictured yourself saying "I do" on a white sandy beach in Jamaica with the sunset as your backdrop, the breeze blowing through your hair and your guests enjoying the time of your life. The planning has started, and already you're feeling overwhelmed with all the logistics suddenly staring you in the face and you're asking one of the most common question we get "What are the things we need to do to ensure we have a memorable Jamaican destination wedding?" Here are 10 things you must consider to avoid making these common mistakes.  

1.  The Budget

We can't say this enough when it comes to weddings, especially for destination weddings. No matter how much you think you can spend, penning a budget is essential. Websites will give costs as low as U$1,000 for a Jamaican wedding and it's easy to get swept away with thoughts of sun, sand and sea. However, this figure does not include hotel stay, airfare, ground transportation or other off-site activities. Craft a realistic budget and be open-minded. Solicit information from other Jamaican destination couples you may know, bearing in mind that each circumstance will be different.

2.  The Date

Before setting your wedding date, check the local calendar of activities for conferences, holidays, sporting activities or reggae festivals that may be happening around the time of your wedding date. These events will affect available flights, hotel accommodation and rates, or choice of venue. You may wish to consider dates before or after these special events and if possible, incorporate it with your destination wedding activities.

3.  The Climate

Nothing is more disheartening to know that you have made all your plans, sent out invitations, and confirmed your bookings only to find out that the time of year is most likely to have rainfall and you're having an outdoor wedding! While Jamaica is mostly sunny all year round, the island does have seasonal rainfall. Some fast facts on Jamaican weather are:

• January through March have the lowest rainfall.
• September and October are the  rainiest and least popular months to visit.
• Temperatures in July and August are often uncomfortably hot.
• March and April have the best combination of low rainfall and warm temperatures.

It's best to do your research and have a contingency plan in place such as tents or an indoor alternative.

4.  Legalities

It's really not hard to get married in Jamaica. Rest assured that your Jamaican wedding is legal and recognized internationally. But before saying "I do" there are a few things you need to do to make sure it's official. A Marriage License is required most of all. You must also arrive in the island at least twenty four (24) hours before the marriage ceremony. Your travel agent or wedding planner can help you to complete all the legal requirements.

5. The Dress

We'll say it again. Jamaica is sunny most of the time and it can be especially humid in the resort towns that are popular for destination weddings. Nothing is more uncomfortable than standing on the beach (which is why you want a Jamaican wedding) in a dress made of heavy fabric (or a suit for that matter!) in humid weather with beads of sweat running down your back. Choose your dress carefully and also determine how you will travel with it to avoid damage. When booking your airline ask if it can be hung in the business section of the plane.

6.  Your Guests

Planning for your guests and bridal party is a must! Remember they will be spending a lot on airfare and hotel accommodation to attend your wedding, so make it worth their while to come all this way for you. Arrange for welcome bags with items from the island to be placed in their hotel room on arrival. Keep them informed and entertained with the various activities that the hotel or surrounding town has to offer. These should include activities they can do with you as well as on their own. Well thought-out gifts for your bridal party is a winner.

7.  Travelling

There are a few things to consider here.

• Avoid doing too many DIY projects. It can be really difficult to travel with them plus they may get damaged.
• Information needed for yourself and your guests such as visa requirements or any travel restrictions. Send out Save-the Dates early so your guests can take advantage of specials such as 'Early Bird' booking.
• Check ahead to ensure that the hotel will have enough rooms for your family and guests or that there are options near to your wedding venue. Hotels usually offer blocks of rooms for reduced rates.
• Travel with confidence by getting travel insurance for medical services, your wedding dress, jewelry, and any high price items that could get lost or stolen.

8.  Services Available

When planning your Jamaican destination wedding, it is ideal to have the services of a local wedding planner who can give expert advice on vendors and services available.  A classic example is a bride who has her sights set on a particular type of flower for her big day, only to discover that it's not available on the island with no time to get it imported. Some services, such as a henna artist or a vintage car, are becoming popular and may need to be booked well in advance. Knowing these little details beforehand can save a ton of stress!

9.  A Wedding Website

Next to your budget, a website for your destination wedding is a definite must. A wedding website can save you so much time and stress with having to answer the host of questions that your guests will be sure to ask. With your wedding website, you are able to post every detail pertaining to your destination wedding, it can be updated easily and you can create links to the various services such as travel agent, airline, hotel, information about the island and so on. Our recommended FREE wedding websites are available on The Knot, WeddingWire and MyWedding.

10.  A Local Wedding Planner

This consideration is worth repeating. Enlisting the help of a Jamaican wedding planner is priceless. This should not be confused with the hotel's wedding planner who will coordinate limited services for your hotel wedding. A full-service Jamaican wedding planner will have the connections and expertise at their fingertip and can liaise with travel agents and hotels, and negotiate better rates on your behalf. Daunting matters such as currency, vendors, permits and licenses can all be handled by your local wedding planner. 

Get married in Jamaica and "feel alright". As always, happy planning!

10 Absolute Wedding Planning Don'ts

Wedding planning can be very challenging and stressful. However, it doesn't have to be that way by avoiding some very common mistakes couples tend to make. If you're planning your wedding, scroll through and make sure you're not doing any of the following.

·        Don’t break the bank! You must have a budget for your wedding and stick to it. 

Know your priorities and use your money wisely.

·        Don’t DIY everything. If you are a crafter choose one project that you really want 

to have your personal touch or you will get stressed out to glue, cut, fold, assemble, 

count…you get the idea.

·        Don’t try to be a super bride. So you are super skilled at crafting or on a tight 

budget and decide to DIY everything. Don’t go crazy doing it all by yourself. 

Seek out your friends. They will always be willing to help.

·        Don’t let parents determine your guest list. Yes, they will want to invite uncle Jimmy 

whom you’ve never met before. However, unless they are paying for your wedding, 

the budget you’ve crafted will determine how many persons you can invite.

• Don’t micro-manage your vendors. Trust the professional to do the job you hired them to do. That’s why you hired them in the first place! We know you would like to control all the little details of the wedding but you will only run yourself ragged doing so.

 ·        Don’t forget to feed your vendors. Photographers, videographers, wedding planners 

work hard and long on your big day. Make sure to include them when 

booking your caterers.

·        Don’t hide your budget from suppliers. Have them give you a quote and let them know

 what you can afford. See how best they can make it work for you.

·        Don’t hire a friend instead of a professional. Your best friend from high school who was 

always snapping pictures around the campus is not a substitute for a wedding photographer. 

Enough said there!

·        Don’t send out Save-the-Dates too soon or to everyone. You’re excited about your recent engagement and you want to tell all your friends. But friendships can be broken at the drop of a hat. Instead, send them to those close family members who you know will definitely be invited to the wedding.

·        Don’t get hooked on specific flowers. A florist can never guarantee that your favourite 

flower will be available 12 months in advance. Always have a substitute and think in terms of

 colours and shapes to give yourself more options.

Hope this was helpful. Happy Planning!

Exhibition at Fashion of Weddings 2015

We were excited to be an exhibitor at this year's Make Your Day Fashion Show hosted by Helen G Events at the Eden Gardens Wellness Resort & Spa on Saturday, February 13, 2013. Thanks to all the brides, grooms and other visitors who stopped by our display table and for the kind and encouraging comments.

Looking forward to serving you in the future but if not, we wish you all the best for your upcoming nuptials. Take a peek of what we did. All flowers, decor done and stationery done by Always & Forever.

You can contact us for all your wedding planning and decor services. Email: alwaysandforeverja@gmail.com or call 876.834.9492

Get in Vogue with Giant Paper Flowers

Recently we had the pleasure of making a giant paper flower backdrop for a private holiday luncheon. We thought the design was pretty simple, but so many persons fell in love with it and wanted to have one at their next event or even in their homes!

Giant paper flowers are great backdrop idea for weddings, bridal showers, baby showers, special events and just about any occasion.

Here are some photos of the flowers we made and the final result.

They were too lovely to put away so we 'recycled' a few of them in an office!

If you need a giant paper flower decor give us a call at 876.834.9492 or email alwaysandforeverja@gmail.com

Outdoor Wedding Planning Guide

Outdoor weddings are so beautiful. Whether it's a beach, garden or mountainous area, you get to take amazing photographs, take advantage of the natural decor and backdrop and there's lots of room for your guests to move about. However, when planning a wedding, there are a few things you need to consider before deciding on an outdoor wedding.

1.  Plan for Rain. We can try to predict the weather, but we can't control it. If the venue doesn't have an indoor option, you should have a tent set up in case it begins to rain. Tents also protect from the glaring hot sun. Bear in mind that a tent won't be able to protect from a prolonged downpour with heavy winds. The best back-up for rain is to reserve a nearby indoor space. Having a stash of umbrellas is also useful for a light drizzle.

2.  Check for Restrooms. If the venue does not have restroom facilities, you will have to rent portable ones. Make sure to rent enough stalls to handle the number of invited guests. The general rule is, one stall for every 35 guests.

3.  Prepare for Bugs. One way to do this is to have small bottles of insect repellent available for your guests. Some outdoor venues, like a farm, may require professional spraying at least a week before your event.

4.  Check for Electricity. You will have to ensure that electrical outlets or access to electricity is available for music, lighting and other electrical use. A licensed electrician will be required to set-up and verify the proper electrical source and output needed. A back-up generator is also a must!

5.  Think about the Extras. An outdoor venue is a blank canvas. So start thinking about all those items that will be required for the space - tables, chairs, lounge furniture, dance floor, outdoor lighting, linens, tableware. All these, and possibly more depending on your theme and style, will have to be rented.

6.  Accessing the Venue. This should probably be at the top of your list. Will your guests have to drive through miles of country road or walk along a bushy beaten path to get to your idyllic wedding venue? Is there adequate parking, or will you have to shuttle guests throughout the day?

7.  Look at your Budget. By now you should be getting the sense that bringing the indoors to the outdoors will attract additional costs to make the venue as comfortable as possible for you and your guests. Other important costs which you may have to include in your budget are site fees, parking permits, liability insurance, sanitation costs, security and delivery fees.

Still want to have your wedding outdoor? You don't have to take on all that stress. Let Always & Forever help you plan your alfresco dream day. Call us today at 876.834.9492 or email alwaysandforeverja@gmail.com

Happy Planning!