By Patricia O’Connell
Correspondent
What should a bride expect on her wedding day?
“She’s going to expect that everything is going to go flawlessly,” said Michelle Rattanavong, an event planner based in Fitchburg. “You’re going to be a guest at your own wedding.”
Rattanavong, president of Precise Event Planning, said her clients don’t have to fret about details of any sort when the big day arrives.
“If they need something as simple as a bobby pin or a lint roller, they’re not going to have to worry about it,” she said.
Allowing the brides (and their mothers) to relax is a top priority, according to Rattanavong.
Rattanavong said people may hire her for part of the wedding planning. Or, they may include her from start to finish. Some people, she noted, want you to handle “every single detail.”
Three years ago, Rattanavong became a full-time event planner. Before that, she worked in the hotel industry. Her face is familiar to residents of the Twin Cities. She’s been featured on billboard advertisements for Mount Wachusett Community College, earning her degree at night on the Leominster campus.
Through the years, Rattanavong said she has done “hundreds and hundreds of weddings” as well as many corporate seminars.
“I love weddings,” she said.
It’s probably safe to say, when it comes to weddings, Rattanavong has pretty much seen it all, near-disasters included.
She strongly advises brides and grooms to hire
professionals.”Don’t ever have a friend do it,” she warned.
One couple insisted upon a particular DJ, who happened to be a friend. When he didn’t show for the reception, Rattanavong needed to find someone else fast.
She saved the day by calling someone she knew from previous engagements.
“It was a time for introductions, but there was no DJ there,” she recalled, noting that, in the end, the couple was very happy with the replacement.
Rattanavong has also seen cakes topple over. There’s usually a common factor. This happens when a friend bakes the cake.
Friends shooting wedding pictures often ends in disaster as well, she said.
“Don’t hire someone who’s not a professional,” she said. “Those are your memories for the rest of your life.”
Rattanavong acknowledges event planners are expensive. Her rates range from $50 to $75 per hour. Hiring her from start to finish will run $3,000 to $4,000.
She notes this is in addition to the $20,000 or so typically spent on food, flowers, wedding dress, tuxedos, invitations, rehearsal dinner, gifts for the wedding party, hotel and transportation charges.
Rattanavong estimates, nowadays, about half of brides hire a wedding planner. She said much of her business is out of the immediate area. She frequently travels to Worcester or Rhode Island.
Occasionally, she’ll have to say no to a bride if she thinks the chemistry isn’t right, if the proposed plans spell disaster or if the two of them can’t work together.
“I truly want them to be happy,” she said of her clients. “It’s one of the happiest days of their lives.”
Meet the Author!
Come and celebrate the launch of local author Wanda Pothier-Hill’s debut novel, “The Road Home.” Enjoy light hors d’ouevres and drinks while Wanda reads an excerpt from the book. Have your new copy signed by the author.
Wednesday, September 14th, 4:30pm-7:30pm, Destare-320 Main Street, Fitchburg, MA
To RSVP contact Carol Cullins at 978.257.3008 or carolcullins@comcast.net
Join the Ayer Business Networking Group on Thursday, August 18th at the Thirty-One Main Cafe, located at 31 Main Street in Ayer. The Networking Group will begin with opening networking from 8:00am-8:10am and then a structured meeting from 8:10am-9:00am.
The last meeting generated 10 leads that were passed between members of the group. The event is open to all types of businesses from any location in the surrounding area.
If your looking to generate business and boost revenues, this is the place to be. For more information email michelle@precisevent.com or call 978.407.5778.
See you on Thursday, August 18th at 8:00am – Bring LOTS of Business Cards!!
As couples begin thinking about their special day, they are often confused as to when they should start booking specialized services, where to obtain specialized services and what the costs are that are associated with planning a wedding.
These worries often mount as quickly as the cost of the wedding! After the excitement of being engaged wears off and the reality settles in, it’s shocking to discover how much planning is involved. Couples are faced with decisions about everything from invitation wording, planning their honeymoon and contracting musicians. Couples often find they want experienced professional help doing so.
In the past, a wedding coordinator was thought of as a luxury, something that only “rich” people could afford. Now a coordinator is essential to the well planned affair and can be contracted for an affordable price. Being experienced in negotiating contracts with bakeries, Disc Jockeys, Function Halls and other suppliers, the coordinator saves valuable time, money and un-needed stress. The coordinator can take advantage of discounts not available to private parties and avoid costly mistakes.
The average wedding can take more than a hundred hours just to plan. With today’s hectic lifestyles, you may not have time to compare all the options, making sure you get the best deal or you may overlook details critical to your big day.
Wedding coordinators are not here to make decisions for you, but to guide and assist you in making informed decisions. Their training, knowledge, relationships with vendors and experience will turn your dreams and expectations into reality.
A wedding coordinator is an informed and experienced expert in your market area of vendors. A wedding coordinator determines your needs, preferences, and vision for your wedding while working around your budget. Having a wedding planner gives you the liberty to be as involved with the planning as you would like. A wedding coordinator’s job is to work around a budget while incorporating a couple’s style, preferences, and traditions into a timeless and unforgettable event while keeping your stress level to a minimum.
How do you know you’re hiring the right coordinator?
Trust is important in any relationship. You should feel completely comfortable with the coordinator and feel assured that he or she completely understands what your needs are. Your personalities should match. The coordinator should realize that the final outcome of your wedding is your vision, not theirs. It’s also important to find out how long the coordinator has been in business.
So when you are ready to plan your big day, leave it to the experts and remember that the Best Events are Precisely Planned!
Welcome to the brand new Precise Event Planning website! Please be sure to frequently check back to see what we’ve been up to!
