Being a certified wedding and event planner means that you’re up on all the trends, and you can guide couples in any direction they want to go. As the wedding industry expands on television and the Internet there are literally hundreds of thousands of ideas out there. Sifting through all of this information can be overwhelming for couples - especially those whose idea of the perfect wedding may be less formal and/or less traditional. This is where a wedding coordinator comes in: It’s your job to help them form their idea of the perfect day then make it a reality.

According to the Wedding Report, traditional, formal weddings continue to be on the decline. Surveys of real couples in 2008 and 2009 found that brides and grooms are looking for less opulence and more focus on the family. Sure, crystals and sparkles are fabulous, but in today’s economy couples are putting more focus on their vows, their families and each other on their special day. Some wedding planners disagree with these findings, saying, “I’m getting my price, planning the right wedding for the budget. It’s all about knowing your market and providing the right service– and caring,” according to eWedNews. But that’s where we think experts are right: Being a wedding planner doesn’t mean you only work with couples who have huge budgets and big dreams. Being a wedding planner means you help all brides, regardless of budget, bring their fairytale to life. If this means a more intimate ceremony and a smaller reception that’s okay because all brides need help with the details.

Brooch Bouquet

Among the more popular low-key wedding ideas are ceremonies on the beach or at other outdoor locations and those with DIY touches. Some other ideas for low-key weddings may be receptions with more home-style food and personal touches during the ceremony such as a bouquet made of brooches that belonged to the bride’s family members.

What are other ways a certified wedding and event planner can help a bride and groom have the wedding of their dreams but make it a more simple day? The idea isn’t to cut their budget; it’s to make their budget work better for them. That’s where you come in. Start a folder of ideas for simple weddings. Show brides with smaller budgets that a wedding planner can still be their best friend. A good planner makes every wedding special, no matter the cost. And we all know that if you do a good job and make a great impression the referrals will start to flow in!

According to The Wedding Report, and as expected, “the average cost of a wedding in 2009 dropped 10.2% over 2008.” 2009 was a rough year for everybody, and while 2010 is already starting off stronger brides are still finding that planning their wedding is a challenge with a small - or shrinking - budget. This is where certified wedding and event planners can step in and, in essence, save the day.

Spending was down the most in 2009 on jewelry, gifts and invitations. But couples were less likely to cut costs when it came to their music and photographer, and brides were still intent on finding the perfect gown no matter the cost. As certified wedding and event planners you are the person every bride should turn to simply because you’re In The Know when it comes to vendors. More couples are using certified wedding planners to help them get the most value for their wedding budget. In fact, statistics show that in regard to a-la-carte planners, getting-started coordinators, and day-of planners couples spent more in 2009 than 2008. A good planner is worth his or her weight in gold, and that’s what you need to let brides know. How can you do that? One way is to hit bridal shows.

According to eWedNews, “Bridal shows across the country are reporting a steady rise in both attendance and vendor participation over last year, signaling a better 2010 season.” Experts suggest that events that were put on hold in 2008 and 2009 are now in planning mode again because couples are putting job losses behind them. Couples are still being cautious about their spending, experts say, but in many cases they believe the worst is behind them, and they’re ready to move forward with planning the happiest day of their lives. As the economic climate improves, so will couples’ attitudes and with that will follow increased spending.

Any uptick in the economy is a positive right now. And as things improve more and more couples will go ahead with their engagement and weddings. It’s a great time for those interested in becoming wedding and event coordinators to pursue their dream. Getting certified through Lovegevity’s Wedding Planning Institute is a great way to get started, and it may even give you a leg up when it comes to being The Choice for brides in your area. Interested in a course? Check our listings to see if there is a class opening soon in your area, or give us a call if you’d like to take the course online. Don’t let the opportunity pass you by! Brides are SUPER ready for something bright and happy in their lives after the winter and economic doldrums!

Emily Meyer has always loved the idea of planning the most important day of peoples’ lives. She was the go-to person for friends and family when it came to planning social events and birthday parties. Each event was executed beautifully and flawlessly. It is when she began planning her own wedding that she knew this is what she was meant to do. With everyone around her getting engaged, she took it upon herself to offer them wedding-planning services by researching vendors within their budget and coordinating the processional for the ceremony. This is when Emily took a more serious approach to wedding planning and design.

She enrolled in the Wedding Planning Institute as her passion grew deeper for creating a fairytale ending.  After researching the best wedding vendors in Oklahoma City and completing the necessary training, the Wedding Planning Institute proudly recognized Emily as a certified wedding planner.

After six months of working closely with other wedding planners, Emily opened the doors to a whole new wedding experience. She started her own business in September of 2009. Her company, Chandelier Weddings, was a huge hit in the Oklahoma City area. After executing three weddings in her first month of opening, a high reputation and word of mouth from clients and vendors became her best marketing tools.

A unique aspect of Emily’s business is catering to not only high-end weddings, but also to weddings of couples who cannot afford an extravagant wedding. Emily says, “Every little girl dreams of that day where she will walk down the aisle to meet prince charming. For rich or for poor, I feel that every girl deserves to not only dream that wedding, but have that wedding.”

Emily was excited to find that the Wedding Planning Institute was looking for instructors in her area. She knew this was something she needed to pursue. With her ambitious attitude and strong passion for wedding planning, teaching what she loves would be an absolute joy. Emily was offered the position at the University of Tulsa and is eager to begin this endeavour as a new instructor with the Wedding Planning Institute. She looks forward to other teaching opportunities and sharing her knowledge and passion with other soon-to-be wedding planners.

“Becoming a certified wedding planner is one of the most rewarding jobs that could ever exist. Because you are certified, a bride and groom can trust you so much more. The best part of the job is when you see that bride walk down the aisle and the look on the groom’s face the first time he sees her. It is priceless. It is at that moment when you know that you have just turned a little girl’s dream into a reality and created a fairytale ending where this couple will begin a new chapter in their lives.”

The next Wedding Coordinator Certification courses taught by Emily Meyer at the University of Tulsa will be held from Feb. 8, 2010, to March 31, 2010, on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuition is $795 and includes text book, online access in addition to classroom instruction, testing and national certification from the Wedding Planning Institute. To register, contact Frances Najera at the Office of Continuing Education at frances-najera@utulsa.edu or 918-631-2937.

We’ve probably all heard of the Make A Wish Foundation, a non-profit organization that grants the wishes of children with life-threatening conditions. It’s a lovely way to help the parents of these children, too, because we all know how sky-high medical bills can rocket in a short amount of time. Plus, taking sick children to Disney World, or the Super Bowl, or some other event can be taxing because of the organization and stress it requires and involves. Make A Wish does an awesome thing, and it’s a great organization to support.

Weddings can be super-expensive, too, and planning a wedding when you or your partner are sick can be almost impossible. That’s where the new Wish Upon a Wedding Foundation comes in. According to the foundation’s Web site, it is “America’s only wedding wish granting organization” and it “produces weddings & civil union ceremonies at destinations across the United States for individuals facing terminal illness. By celebrating the courage & spirit of these couples, it is our hope that others facing similar situations will find hope, strength, and the promise of eternal love.”

With the exception of Make a Wish, have you ever heard of something more lovely?

At this point there are only five chapters open, and they are of course tied to some of the major metropolitan areas in the country: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orlando, New York and Chicago. New chapters are in the works and opening up all the time, however, and you can sign up to receive an email if one opens up near you. The success of organizations like this one depends on the hospitality of the wedding industry and that means you, Lovegevity wedding and event coordinators! We know that by simply signing up at Lovegevity’s Wedding Planning Institute you were born to help people (brides need a lot of help, and you enjoy being the one to do it!) Have you considered using your gift as an organizing super-power to help others less fortunate? Wish Upon a Wedding is a fabulous idea and a wonderful way to help wedding planners bring fairy-tale weddings to reality.

We’re excited to announce that Pam DuVal, a Certified Wedding Planner and Instructor at Carteret Community College in Morehead City, North Carolina, has been given a 2010 Bride’s Choice Award! Pam’s company, Promised Hearts Inc., has been chosen for this award, which recognizes the top 5 percent of local wedding professionals from the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service and professionalism. The Bride’s Choice Awards are determined exclusively by recent newlyweds through extensive surveys and reviews, which means Pam’s past clients have spoken on her behalf and chosen her to receive this honor.

“We are excited to recognize and honor the success of the top wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “The annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program has given us the unique opportunity to highlight the best wedding professionals in each region as reviewed by brides and grooms who have utilized their services in the past year.”

Everyone at the Wedding Planning Institute is extraordinarily proud of Pam for the excellent work she is doing for her wedding planning and rental clients, as well as the incredible lessons and example she provides for Carteret’s certification students. It is especially impressive that this award was determined exclusively by surveys and reviews from actual newlyweds.

You can contact Carteret Community College about upcoming sessions at 252-222-6204 or learn how to become a wedding planner online. For more information for interested vendors or brides, you can contact Pam DuVal at 252-671-6939. Congratulations to Pam on her much deserved recognition and continued success in all of her endeavors.

Navy Seals are used to overcoming adversity. The wives of Navy Seals are used to sacrificing for their country.

Engaged, but not rushing to the altar, Timothy Schlappi and Lacey Vollentine were content to save their money toward the type of wedding most Certified Wedding Planners are used to planning. During a skydiving exercise last week, fate, and a parked car, intervened.

Timothy, a 13-year Navy veteran with over 800 jumps, had misjudged a turn when landing his parachute, violently hit the car, and broke his heel, neck, and both legs. When Lacey got the news, she jumped on a flight from Virginia to Arizona, bypassed the baggage carousel, and arrived bedside just before her fiancé went in to surgery.

Overcome with the desire to marry each other and not willing to wait until their planned 2010 ceremony, the couple agreed to take the plunge immediately. The only problem was Timothy couldn’t leave his bed. And they were on the other side of the country from their home. Oh, and they didn’t have a wedding license, an officiant, a wedding party, wedding attire, or any of the other “necessities”.

Over the next couple days, everything they needed was pulled together by a determined bride and her new friends at the Maricopa County Medical Center and the Forever Courage House, a home for families of long-term patients.

Introducing Mr. & Mrs. Schlappi

One manager of the family care residence worked through the night to create a two-tier wedding cake. Another manager, a former Marine, arranged for the marriage license to be delivered to the hospital. The medical center made their staff chaplain available to officiate.

In the meantime, Lacey picked up her dress at a local David’s Bridal shop and found a suitable hair stylist nearby. Under orders from the US Navy, a shipmate sourced a Men’s Wearhouse for an appropriate shirt and tie for the groom, with Timothy’s doctor fashioning the knot. The fellow Seal even shaved his friend for the ceremony.

For a total of $400 and a lot of love, the wedding was set and hospital staff was ushered into Timothy’s room. A doctor played Lonestar’s “Amazed” on his cell phone and the chaplain pronounced them husband and wife.

“We may not have had the dream wedding that we wanted, but this far surpasses anything that I could have come up with in my own mind,” said the new Mrs. Schlappi.

“It took all the pain away,” said Mr. Schlappi.

For over 60 years, Florence and John Smatusik shared more than a marriage. They shared a dream. Like so many Certified Wedding Planner clients, the couple wanted to be married in their faith. They wanted a Catholic wedding ceremony.

They met 70 years ago, when they were both 12. At 18, John gave Florence an engagement ring on a local “kissing bridge”. Two years later, they were married by the justice of the peace at a town hall civil ceremony.

For the next six decades, the pair raised three children and enjoyed otherwise fulfilling lives, except the overwhelming desire to have a church wedding never died. Last Friday, with family and friends in attendance, John and Florence, both now 82, in wheelchairs and in failing health, were remarried in a Catholic ceremony at the care center where they both now reside.

“I waited a long time,” said Florence. “I feel like Cinderella.”

Sometimes in life, we can make our own happy endings.

Florence and John Smatusik

Last fall, we wrote about the dangers of aligning your business with unscrupulous wedding vendors. In New Jersey, thousands of bridal couples spent years in limbo awaiting their wedding photos while a legal battle against their photography company, Celebration Studios, moved through the courts.

A state superior court judge has ordered the defunct company to pay over $3 million in fines and restitution and directed the state to return wedding photographs and videos seized as evidence in the case to the long suffering brides and grooms.

The company’s owner, currently bankrupt, was said to have committed over 1,800 violations of the Consumer Fraud Act. While some of his former customers will finally receive their wedding photos, it seems that none of them may ever see a penny of the judgment.

Cases like this reinforce for every Certified Wedding Planner the importance of verifying a preferred vendor’s credentials and business history. Although it can be impossible to foresee the events that led to Celebration Studios failure, due diligence can minimize the risk to your clients and your business reputation.

There are some things even the best Certified Wedding Planner cannot anticipate.

On Friday, the soon-to-be Adam and Julie Hatfield were posing for pre-ceremony pictures at Riverside Park in La Crosse, Wisconsin when they heard a cry for help. A young girl had fallen into the Mississippi River and was followed by her distraught grandfather.

Without hesitation, Adam, Julie, and their wedding photographer sprang into action to help rescue the pair and still make it to their wedding on time, although their attire was a little worse for wear. Alas, Adam’s pants were torn in the process. Hopefully, their wedding planner had an emergency kit at the ready.

As for the bride and groom, the park where Adam first proposed to Julie is now also the venue where they celebrated their wedding day by saving the lives of two strangers.

Not a bad way to begin a marriage.

Adam and Julie Hatfield

Tomorrow night, cable television adds yet another entry to the wonderfully ubiquitous wedding-related programming that has been building over the past several years. “Masters of Reception”, airing the series premiere on Discovery’s TLC network at 10pm, stars Robert and Jerry Frungillo, New Jersey caterers-extraordinaire for the last three decades.

Series Premiere Airs August 18 at 10pm on TLC

According to the TLC website, “The Frungillos tend to every single detail of a wedding and ensure that the bride and groom are completely satisfied on their big day. But managing four different facilities and up to 10 weddings at once will naturally lead to drama.”

As any Certified Wedding Planner knows, managing multiple bridal clients on a single day can lead to triumph or heartache. Drama on television is good. Drama for your clients is not.

The Masters of Reception, Staffed for Drama