One Source Weddings Blog

www.OneSourceWeddings.net

The past month has been really busy.. Jeremy updated our computers.. and I had to have all my programs reinstalled.. and he upgraded the web design software… which is something I dont know how to use… so I’ve been watching a training video… It would be so much easier if he would just do it and then show me… but he is being stubborn on this… so … very sorry for no updates yet on the website.. I will have this learnt shortly and update the 6 weddings and the workshop pictures waiting to go on the web soon as I learn…

Since my last blog…Jeremy and I and Breanna also got a new boxer puppy… we are going to wait till she grows up and teach her how to unload the van for weddings… she will be our new muscle! lol

The workshop…. we did several things differently and it did go better… but we are making some changes for the future ones.. making it better still.  We are going to do just draping and lighting only workshops, flower arranging and table setup / bouquet arranging.. .mixing fresh and silk flowers only workshops, coordinators only workshops with a real wedding to assistant and observe the coordinating…  and we will be limiting the amount of people to only 10 per workshop instead of 20. Thats what we did for this one…. and it was so much easier with the full hands on attention that I was able to give to each person.. and to answer all the questions that they came with. But we went 2-3 hours over each day… because of all the information we were trying to get out… and so the solution was to focus more on what they were coming for….. they all came for draping.. so I let them tell me what they wanted to learn how to create… we taught the tunnel design, the chuptahgon, the tent setup, backdrops, different ceiling techniques and lighting.. and that practically took the entire 2 days…  what they created was stunning!  … I was impressed.. and they all said it was worth it! Another successful workshop!

So…. because of the more focused workshops on 1 or 2 subjects instead of 10… if you have already booked with us with a workshop … you may want to change to a workshop of what you want to focus more on..  Also, if you have questions on anything at the workshop we will try to get to the answers.. but the hands on training will be what is more focused..  We will be looking at the calendar to add in more workshops and the update on what the workshops will be.. should be posted and website updated in the week!

OSW fans havent blogged in a few…  so here is an update on whats been happening in my life.

Sometimes the phones ring off the hook and I cant get to everyone.. so I’ve taken the next step in business and hired an assistant! It has already made my life so much better..  But I’ve kept the office number and she has that phone and I got me a new personal cell phone.. its an iphone.. now I had just a normal cell before this.. and I have to give “thank you iphone people for inventing this!”  credit.    I love it!   Its the absolute perfect phone for a wedding planner…  I love all the apps… I love being able to process credit cards over the phone… emails go directly to my phone… I’m much more connected with the brides.. and I’ve got my to do list… my lose weight app.. my food tracker app.. my airplane and hotel searches… translator.. weather… and oh yeah…. facebook… I’m now a facebook junkie… thats probably been the reason for not much blogging! 

May is a super busy month.. and we are all getting ready for all the weddings coming up!  Cant hardly wait..

Also we are working on “how to” videos.

I think thats it for now!   I’ll keep you all updated!

Today I had an email,  I thought I would share.. We have a lady that is coming to one or more of our workshops because she is decorating her sisters wedding next year… and they both believe that she can do it herself.  By coming to the workshops she will get plenty of direction and “know how” from us.

I’m excited about this… because you DONT have to be in business already, to come to our workshops… Like this lady.. she’s wanting to know how they can do it themselves, create high quality looks and maybe save a lot of money in the long run…  Not sure if she will like her sister or not afterwards… but I’m sure we can teach them what needs to happen…

When you do it yourself.. the biggest thing you’ve got to make sure is.. Do you have enough and the right kind of products? Do you have the correct “small” things to contruct it?  And do you have enough help to pull it off?

Our crew is around 6-13 crew members for most of our average weddings.. we charge anywhere from $3,500-$6,000 for our crew — depending on how long the event will take us to setup..  But most of our weddings we start working around 9 or 10 oclock on Friday morning.. … (The last wedding they left at 4:00 in the morning)… we normally start again on Saturday at 9 or 10.. depending on when the wedding starts.. and we normally are right down to the wire on every wedding..  Most times we feel like passing out even before the wedding begins…we of course dont… and during the wedding the crew normally takes a break and will eat supper.. then come back to the wedding approx 4 hours later— this is normally in the late evening — and it takes anywhere from 2-4 hours to tear down and load up… (the last wedding they pulled out at 4:30 in the morning)

Now I told you all that… to make sure .. make sure.. MAKE SURE…. you’ve got people helping you.. Dependable and Reliable people to help you..  …. I do not want any emails saying.. you said we would be able to do this… now we are in a mental institution…!       

I’m saying now.. You will have the ability to know how to design and what it takes to make it happen… but I highly recommend against trying to do the whole thing by yourself… you might be making a call to the doc and asking for “I’ve went crazy from this wedding” pills for sure… Be prepared! Be prepared! Be prepared! I cant say that enough.. 

I’m sure you can do it by yourself and I will be more than willing to share how we do it, but it will be up to you on how you make it happen!

You go!!!  All you “doing it yourselves” because you were drafted by your relatives peeps!  (Hey if your drafted make sure you make the deal that the family has to be your crew… try not to make the bride do it.. a stressed out bride.. bad, bad, bad…..but just think you get to tell them (the family crew) all what to do! )

There is a new song by Brad Paisley that I’m sure will be a great “First Dance for Weddings” hit.  I’m not a big country music fan.. but I do like the song.. thought I would share.  Go legally download it from Itunes.. or whoever you LEGALLY download it from….!

The song is called “Then” By Brad Paisley (and on itunes its actually listed as “Then(single edit)” )

Enjoy, I’m sure I will be hearing it somewhere soon..

So, I’ve had quite a few people call me or email me and ask if there was any way to do a workshop in April because their weddings that they are needing to make sure about draping is in May and before the next workshop.. I wouldnt have considered it if only 1 person was asking…. but several of you have.. and sooo

I’m considering a 1 day - Saturday Only -  Only talk about Draping and Lighting - It would be in a different location that you can practice hanging drapes from the ceilings.. but still in the area..

The cost would be $400 for the Saturday Only - Draping Only - Workshop..  Lunch Provided. - a 10 hour workshop..

Are you Interested?????

Email Me if you are!

 I just might add in the last minute Draping Only Workshop..  onesourceweddings@comcast.net

www.onesourceweddings.net

We’ve had a few emails that had wanted to attend the March workshop and when we posted the other workshops we had made a price increase on the workshop registration.  So we thought we would post it here the reasons why..

The March Class was our first workshop. 

We asked the attendees to fill out comment cards after it was over, and they all said they wish they could have had a mixer event for the first evening to get to know everyone and see Nashville.  We now have that added on with a party bus that will take everyone downtown Nashville and there is a DJ that is on board - Tour Downtown and get to know everyone… Fun Fun Fun…  They all wanted the food to be catered in because they kept getting lost at lunch, so we have added on fully catered meals for both days…

There will be more wholesale information handed out at the event. We had thought we could provide wholesale products with just a small increase of price on the product for the wedding planners. But now we will be giving all of our attendees the lowest wholesale costs and who our vendors are directly - that way they do not have to go through us.. this is the benefit for the higher registration costs…  for us to hand out that kind information…. sometimes you cant put a price on it. We have our crew that we paid to setup and cleanup the event, and it took a lot more time and more workers than expected.. So some changes will be done there.   The last attendees also wished for an additional day.. which we are also trying to figure out a way to include that also.. most likely it will be offered on Thursday evening as an optional class if desired.  As with weddings sometimes you have to price lower at first to actually see what its going to cost… then adjust accordingly.. and that is what we did with the workshop..  Trust me, to all who get to make it.. it will be worth every penny spent.. We are very aware of the economy.. But it took us almost 9 years to get to where we are today.. and it didnt come cheap.. and the knowledge and information we will share… will be very beneficial to you in the long run.. and hopefully save you a lot of money, and MAKE you a lot of money!!!    Hopefully it makes sense, but if not just email me your questions! 

onesourceweddings@comcast.net

So “Wedding School” is coming back on May 29th and 30th,  The wedding workshop is just so neat!  I was telling someone the other day.. there are different types of learners..  Someone who can just read the manuel and completly understand what it means.. (like my husband, Jeremy) and then there are those of us.. (Ok, I’m not admitting completely to this…) that we dont comprehend the manuel very well by only reading it.. but you SHOW us one time and we’ve GOT it!  Thats what I love about the wedding training workshop …. its not just telling you how to do it.. its letting you get your hands dirty.. and teaching you how to do it yourself.  Catch a fish for a man and he eats for a day, Teach a man to fish and he will never go hungry….I think if a person was just starting a wedding coordinating business, or a decorating business I really think you could almost know nothing about a wedding business… just have the passion to go after it… and I think you could leave the workshop and know exactly what and how you should do it!   There are not too many wedding decorators or coordinators that will let  you train with them.. or watch them.. or tell you their tricks… But guess what… a new wedding teaching facility is in town! And No EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!   Come one, come all.. ok.. not all .. we only accept 20 attendees.. and right now we already have spots filled for the May, July and October workshops…  I also have some people attending that is not in the wedding business they just love taking “how to do it” classes… its a ton of fun and I’m letting them in.. its not just for those only from the United States but from all over the world!  Its such a great creative international business to be in!  Someone somewhere in the world will always be getting married.. and its such a priviledge that we can be a part of it!

You can register for the wedding workshop by going to our website: www.onesourceweddings.net click on the wedding designers workshops!  We look forward to meeting you soon!

Our 2nd wedding this week was on Saturday. Dawn had booked with us about 2 years ago. She loved loved loved pink.. so we created a very pink wedding.. I thought it turned out spectacular.. And we heard compliments all night long about the decor..

The crew arrived at the Hilton Hotel in Nashville around 10ish on Friday morning to start unloading.. and start getting everything ready..Our challenge was to create a Ceremony and Reception in the same room without it feeling like the same room.. There were 3 sections in the ballroom.. 1 of the 3 was the Ceremony and after the Ceremony it would be transformed to part of the Reception.. and we had approx 30 minutes to do that.

I thought the Ceremony was breathtaking.. Dawn liked simple yet she still wanted the drama..  The entire room (Reception and Ceremony area) was draped with 270 feet of pipe and around 3,000 feet of satin drapes we had a section on the left hand side that seperated the reception from the ceremony… over 60,000 silk pink petals for the aisle.. and giant cylinder vases with fresh hot pink and yellow gerberas  lined the aisle.

It was pretty crazy for about 30 minutes after the Ceremony.. they had a cocktail hour in the lobby.. while we cleaned up the ceremony and extended the reception over…  The staff at the hotel helped.. and it was very quick but smooth! 

One of the things we tried new was instead of doing place cards (which drives me crazy).. We did a seating “chart”

Now the reason place cards drive me crazy.. Most brides see cute pictures in a magazine.. oh that looks so neat with all the little place cards in neat little rows… Anyways in real life.. those cute little rows get quickly unorganized.. and people then cant find their names..  they are written so little and normally its dim lighting.. then.. you have 100 people crowded around a table.. waiting for others to find their names… uggg its frustrating.. so we thought of this.. we had printed 9 7X9 prints that had last names initials and their table that they were sitting at…. into a nice 24X36 frame and easel..  and then it told what table they were sitting at.. I had my crew ready to show them to the right table..  It went soooo smoothly..and very quickly, I was so happy.. and it ended up costing about as much or even less than place cards do.

As the guests entered into the reception — we had a lounge area..  

Lounge Areas at Receptions are getting more and more popular.. we wanted to create something here a little different than what we had done before.. Loved the hot pink and black spandex custom linens that created the giant coffee tables.. we painted a matching stripe around 2 of our black wooden box centerpieces.. then we cut different sizes of a hot pink florescent light bulb covers to create the different size “vases” to put flowers and candles in.. I thought it looked so unique.. love it.. Also had custom made top bench covers done in satin hot pink.

I would love to put all the details on here.. except the blog would be forever long.. check out more pictures of Dawns Wedding on the website!

See More Pictures on the Website under Recent Weddings - www.onesourceweddings.net

I have to mention my crew.. they worked until 4:30a.m. on Friday night.. and on Saturday left at 4:00 a.m. after cleaning up.. The Setup and Cleanup is probably one of the most expensive parts of our packages.. but they are all worth their weight in gold and more!!!   It just wouldnt happen without them!  Another Great Wedding Completed..  Yesterday (Sunday) I slept for about 20 hours straight.. after the crazy week.. went into a small coma!    :-)   But back up and at em today!  Cant wait until the next one!!!

This past week we did 2 weddings. The first one was for 12 guests on Thursday evening. This one was Ashleigh and Andrews Wedding

Ashleigh had booked with us about a year ago for a wedding in October.. then canceled.. and she called back in Jan and said they had decided to get married March 12th and only immediate family.. they wanted something very magazine style beautiful…and intimate.. but for 12 guests  I searched for about 2 weeks to find a location… and I remembered we had done a wedding at cedars of lebanon a while back.. but I remembered thinking.. it would be a beautiful small area for a small reception.. I sent her pictures and she loved it.. Then she basically said.. Here are 3 magazine pictures I like- something similar would be great, and I want a 6 course dinner.. these are the types of foods I like… and then she said basically do whatever you want… no specifics on decor.. she completely trusted us.. Which to me is the biggest compliment a bride can say to us… Its not very often this happens.. so I wanted to do something different and elegant..

You would think that a wedding for 12 guests wouldnt take very long.. but to create a magazine style wedding for 2 or 150 guests is still a lot of time and work.. our total time spent wednesday and thursday on the setup and day of wedding was about 25 hours

We started by putting up the ceiling drape which took about 5 hours to do.. and I had 2 of my girls hand stringing hundreds of fresh orchid blooms… the centerpieces had 300 fresh eskimo roses and hanging candles.. soft gold iridescent linens with mahogany chivarri chairs.. Beautiful place settings for the reception.. Just gorgeous.

The ceremony was actually in the same room.. to the side.. just big enough for 8 chairs.. Both areas had fireplaces.. and it was sooooo cold outside.. and it felt so warm and intimate inside the room.. Just perfect..

My caterer did a wonderful job.. everything looked and tasted great! Many compliments afterwards..

I had asked Ashleigh why only 12 guests.. and she had said.. she just realized that their marriage was about them and their families joining.. and she didnt want it to be about pleasing all the guests.. but wanted to spend it with just them 2 and the families… and she said this was the first time the families met.. so this was a perfect setting for both families to get to know each other… and she said it was perfect!

My wonderful husband put up the ceiling… and after it was over.. He was taking the ceiling down…I started hearing balls droping.. a gazillion ping pong balls was in the sides of the ceiling… he thought it would be funny to throw them all down… ha ha ha .. BUT we had to clean them up.. and every time you push a broom on a ping pong ball.. it keeps rolling and rolling……. ugggg. I about had his head on  plate after that…  But I laughed the next day.. We spent 25 hours to create and do the small wedding!  Loved every second of it!(except the ping pong balls)

Here is what Ashleigh (The Bride) emailed us:

 Thank you so much Wendy! With a short turn around and very few details/ideas of what I wanted, you came up with a wedding that surpassed all my expectations. You read my mind! My theme was a candlelight retreat with a vintage edge and WOW! You did it! You gave me my dream; a tope notch magazine style wedding. You made my day special as well as stress free. Our families couldn’t stop saying how breathtaking our wedding was. Koodos to you and your crew! You truly made my day special and our families have a memorable experience. Thank you!

Ashleigh & Andrew

I wanted to write a little more about what happened at the workshop.. and how it went.   Our crew started working on putting the workshop together the week before.. and since this was the first one.. we were trying out some ideas.. and knew it would be trial and error on the first one… but we were prepared for anything! It was all set up very nicely and when the planners came in they could see different ideas with the centerpieces that were already set up.  Some had drove for 12 hours straight without any sleep to get there.. and they were all excited about it!   We started off by telling a little about ourselves, but my favorite part of the workshop was the next part when each of them got up and told “their story” and why they were there..  Most of them, their stories were the so similar.. A funny part was when one of them had said ” I even emailed Wendy and told her I would work for her for free if I could just observe..”  Then another one spoke up and said.. “How many of us sent her that same email?”  And half of them raised their hands.. it was funny.  But it was so touching to see that they had all searched to find people who would mentor them.. or show them how to start their dream business.. and no one in their area was willing to do that… as a matter of fact some of them told me how mean and rude the competition was in their areas and how thankful they were to us for sharing what we knew… and they were all so grateful that we were putting on the workshop.. I felt very honored.

We had attendees there from Maryland, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina.. and a few from Tennessee. Many of them said it was worth the trip. I’ve inserted a few of the centerpieces that were created.. I’ve got more pictures on the Wedding Designers Workshop link on the website..

These were created by Stacy, Jarred, and Staci

When we started the hands on workshop section with Flower Arranging on Friday… I was so pleased.. you could tell they all took the little direction on what to do.. and they got to create something themselves.. and they did tremondous.. One Designer said…. “I knew it was in me, I just havent had the opportunity to work with such high quality products to show that I can!”   We provided all the linens, vases, flowers, candles.. backgrounds..   Jeremy showed them how important it was to take beautiful pictures of your work if you are wanting to sell it.. some did not realize photography was such a big part of the designing process / selling… They learned how to take a great shot with the cameras they brought.. Jeremy really spent time with each of them… Most of them commented that the learning how to take a great picture of their decor was one of the favorite parts of the workshop..

Had a few hilarious moments.. Janet was a lady from Louisiana that had a lot of talent.. she had helped her husband for many years with their catering business.. very professional… what was funny she caught a flower on fire on Friday.. and then later that day when she did her large flower arrangement she caught 2 tablecloths on fire also.. nothing came burning down.. she kept saying.. this has never happend to me before… but It was even funnier the next day in draping.. I had her come up and light the backdrop material on fire.. (which was actually fireproof).. and it was hilarious…

Another great moment, was we were all working on flower arrangements.. and had the backdrops set up on Friday.. and they were extended to 12 feet.. what we were showing them .. is to put a solid color backdrop behind the flower arrangement to get a great pictures of the centerpiece.. I had told Joy to take down some of the black backdrop fabric that was up.. She tried to get the pole down.. and your actually supposed to take the poles down a little at a time.. and I had forgotten to tell her that.. so she let down a pole that was connected to all the other poles from 12 foot down to the 7 foot… and the entire wall fell down on top of everything!  Nothing caught on fire.. and a few flower arrangements fell over.. but It was a lesson learned for everyone.. they will never take them down that way again… It was another great funny moment.. I told them all.. There are never any bad lessons.. there are just great lessons on what to do and great lessons on what not to do!   I enjoyed myself so much.. and I’ve been getting comments that they enjoyed it too! We cant hardly wait for the next one!

It took a little longer on Friday and Saturday than planned so we have edited some things and added things in for the next workshops..  I’ve had a few emails asking what we sell at the workshop.. and pretty much everything you see on our website can be purchased through us…

Well, we are looking forward to the May workshop coming up soon! Remember we only can accept 20 attendees so register soon.  When you register if you choose the selection ” I will be sending my payment in the mail” You will have 30 days to get that in…  So register as soon as you can. 

To register for the upcoming workshops go to our website: www.onesourceweddings.net and click on the wedding designers workshops link — You will see the register link there…. and see more pictures of the last workshop..