Starting at the beginning, pulling together a vision. My first photoshoot - LOVED IT!

When the lovely ladies of New Orleans Weddings Magazine asked me if I wanted to design a tablescape for one of the issues coming up, I was over the moon excited. Of course I want to do a tablescape! A tablescape is an artistic arrangement of articles on a table (according to Wikipedia). So often as a planner I get to pull together your vision of your wedding. With my own tablescape I get to be creative and pull together my vision.

Like many events, there were central colors and a venue. That's where you start. I was given the colors coral, cream and gold and the Champagne Palace as my location. That's it....an open canvas, if you will, to pull together my vision in this awesome location with some gorgeous colors.

Who knew coral, cream and gold had so many options???!!! To narrow it down I went to my favorite color palette creating website to create my palette. I love playing with colors but narrowing it down was kind of hard. So I kept at it and below is the finished product. It doesn't have to be perfect, because just giving your florist and other vendors actual colors is a great help!

After getting my color palette together I then went straight to Pinterest to start my inspiration board! I looked up coral, cream and gold weddings, tables, decorations, etc. There was so much to see and use! But I fell in love with one in particular from Style Unveiled. Not the same exact colors or an even close on the setting, but I loved the inspiration!

So far I loved what I was seeing online and on my board. You can see more of the Inspiration board on my Pinterest board. I was beginning to see my vision....my tablescape. I then went on to see my venue - Champagne Palace. It is gorgeous and has a gorgeous courtyard.

 

After seeing the courtyard, we knew exactly where to do the shoot! But we also knew we wanted to bring in current trends like vintage style. And while vintage is in right now and the inspiration comes from a vintage style, I couldn't very well do a true vintage style in this setting. Champagne Palace is grand, gorgeous and lavish, and if I wanted vintage at all, it had to be subtle and in smaller ways. So I used bits and pieces. The multi-shaped and mercury vases and vessels added touches of vintage while the gold overlay, brooches, and gold lanterns provided the opulence to match the environment.

We loved the way things were coming together and we could see the coral, cream and gold as well as touches of vintage and opulence working together.





(LESSON ALERT: ALWAYS HAVE ALTERNATIVES AND PLAN Bs) When working an outside space, you have to be ready to adapt to what you have and what you can do. The day of our photoshoot it was raining....and rained for at least an hour.

We scouted Champagne Palace and knew we could move inside if we needed to. But luckily it stopped and we set up outside in the courtyard. When working with Event Rentals, it's important to know your "punch list." This is a list of items they will pull to deliver to your event and this is what will be on your contract. For this "event" or photoshoot we needed the following: drapery, poles to hang drapes, bases, chandelier, dinner settings, chairs, etc.

(LESSON ALERT: ALWAYS DOUBLE AND TRIPLE CHECK YOUR CONTRACTS EVEN IF YOU ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE VENDOR AND KNOW THEM. THE CONTRACT IS THE FINAL SAY ON WHAT IS ACTUALLY DELIVERED.) 



We created a Sweetheart table for our lovely hypothetical couple. And it was sweet! The table was set off and intimate by framing it in front of the fountain. Overhead, we used a crystal ball chandelier to enhance the intimacy by lowering the ‘ceiling' and creating its own space in the courtyard.

Keep an eye out in the future New Orleans Weddings Magazines for the finished tablescape as well as all the detailed shots of our tablescape by Oscar Rajo. I can't wait to see them! Thank you to the following vendors for working with me on this:

• Firefly Ambiance Candles & Decor
• Stationery Studio
• Grow With Us
• Event Rentals
• Sweet Life

This tablescape was planned and designed by It's Your Time Events. If you are interested in working with It's Your Time Events to plan and design your event, please contact Erin@It'sYourTimeEvents.com or call 985-234-9757.

Getting to know your vendors - Galvez Restaurant

I'm going to preface this by saying, I'm not a food critique. I am just me, and these are my opinions and thoughts on a nice visit I had getting to know one NOLA Vendor. 

Most people don't realize or know that Louisiana has a short but very strong Spanish history. People focus so much on our French and Creole background that our Spanish background gets lost. I mean, come on we have Spanish moss (is that Spanish?). But you can also see our Spanish heritage throughout the Quarter which has many buildings from Spanish era construction. And you can find, down Dutch Alley (where they have the bronze statues I love so much) a restaurant which touches on our Spanish heritage - Galvez Restaurant.

Galvez Restaurant on the river not only captures Louisiana's Spanish, French, and Creole heritage in the food it produces, but it also showcases great views of the river and city. 

Chef Laura Cedillo and Events Coordinator Tara Cartner welcomed me with open arms and a LOT of food. Originally from Ecuador, Chef Laura hails from NY restaurants. She buys all her food fresh and LOCAL. These two make a great pair!

Now, be prepared, I'm going to admit something here...Born and raised in NOLA and I'm a picky eater. I have never eaten ANY of these things before, including paella. But when the chef is cooking for YOU and you're an event coordinator who is supposed to be able to tell others about real experiences, I had to do it. And I have to say I liked it all. I ate muscles and scallops and shrimp and paella....and it was good. Nothing was overpowering or too spicy. It was all good and I savored all of it. And Chef Laura assures me they are very flexible and can do many more dishes including traditional NOLA dishes.

Just a little about the food:

Gambas al Ajillo- Gulf shrimp with toasted and roasted garlic, Spanish Chorizo cooked in white wine, chicken stock and oregano

Almejas o Mejillones a la Mariner - mussels and clams. Mussels are the Mejillones, and the clams are the Almejas. Cooked in white wine, sofrito, choriozo with fresh oregano

I wanted to take the bread and soup up all of the sauce!

Olives Bernardo- Named for our name sake, Bernardo de Galvez, these are Spanish green olives stuffed with Valdeon blue cheese wrapped in Serrano ham. One of my favorites

Vieras al Albariño- This was the scallops dish. 3 scallops seared and placed on top a garlic potato cake with asparagus, and topped with Albarino Buerre blanc, fried serrano ham, sauteed mushrooms and mint and pea pesto.

And the Paella Valenciana- Aborio rice flavored with saffron with chicken, fish, shrimp, mussels, Andouille sausage, Spanish Chorizo, green peas and hericot vers with roaste red peppers, served with house made jalepeno sauce.

Galvez Restaurant is located in the French Market. Dutch Alley and other areas of the French Market can be rented for events (which I am so excited to learn about!). Picture an event where you have rented out Dutch Ally with it's garden lights strung and Galvez Restaurant is catering. You can throw your bouquet from the balcony of Galvez and dance the night away with easy access to the Quarter and so much more. Tara has even been known to go down to Cafe du Monde to get beignets for passed desserts! I'm thinking I need to have an event in Dutch Alley with Galvez Restaurant!!!

This blog was done by It's Your Time Events in an effort to become more of a resource to brides and others looking to have events in New Orleans. If you are interested in having It's Your Time Events plan your big day (or any other event), please email erin@itsyourtimeevents.com or call us at 985-234-9757. 

Why Use a Wedding Coordinator?

You only get one day to make this happen. Having a coordinator can make all the difference in the world. That is why I always recommend having at least a "day of coordinator."

I've heard it said before, weddings are a like a choreographed show or ballet. There are producers (your parents or yourselves), actors (you, your wedding party, and your guests), florists, decorators, videographers and photographers, so many more and there is a director. A wedding coordinator ensures the finished product appears seamless and beautiful to you and to others. But to get this finished product, there is planning and coordination that happens throughout the planning process.

The wedding is broken up into several "acts - planning, rehearsal, make up and pre-ceremony, ceremony, and reception. Within each of these "acts" are scenes being played out. If all the actors and participants are not doing what they are supposed to be doing or where they are supposed to be, unexpected accidents can happen. But with the event coordinator, the event is completely choreographed, so it appears seamless to the outside eye.

Do not be frightened by the words "schedule" and "choreography". I hear it all the time, brides do not want a wedding planner because they just want to "have fun" and do not want to be regimented so much so that they aren't able to have fun and enjoy it. Once you and your wedding coordinator have worked together to place all of the moving pieces and parts in their roles, you can let go and live in the moment. Much like an artist on stage, her dance may be choreographed, but on stage she is able let go and it is beautiful and flows and the director can sit back and watch to cue others in the dance.

It costs money to put on a well choreographed wedding. You have to dress yourself and possibly others. You need a setting/venue. You need to feed yourself and those attending. You need to a photographers and videographers that work best with you. Figuring out who you should use to fill these roles can take a lot of time. Time is valuable. Your director, or wedding coordinator, will work to present you with options and suggestions on how to fill these roles to fit within your budget and to fit your personality.

Thinking about not having a coordinator?
Some couples choose to forgo a day-of coordinator because their reception venue includes a coordinator. Although this may sound similar to a day-of coordinator, beware: It is not exactly the same. It's important that you identify exactly what your needs will be on wedding day and know ahead of time exactly what your venue coordinator is able and willing to do. Keep in mind that they may not be able to call the limo driver who is running late, or assist the groom who can't find his shirt.

If it's cost, reach out anyway. Talk to the coordinators and see who can work with you on your day.

"Day of" Coordination
No matter if people hire me, my first recommendation when planning a wedding is to get a wedding coordinator, even if it's just for the day of the event.

When your day-of coordinator comes on board, she or he will be the new point of contact for your vendors. They will introduce themselves to your vendors and get an idea of what to expect on the wedding day. Also, the coordinator will review your contracts and understand exactly who is doing what and when. She will create your day-of timeline, which will break down all the details regarding arrival times, setup and breakdown. This one is very important: Your coordinator will do a site visit with you, and discuss all of the details you have planned, to get an idea of how you envision the space on your wedding day. The day before your wedding, your coordinator will run your rehearsal, and on your wedding day, she will be there to run the show! For me, it's sometimes a 15-hour day, and we're there to make sure that each hour of your wedding day is worry-free and seamless. Depending on your arrangement with your coordinator, she will pack all of your goodies up at the end of the evening (cake knives, flutes and gifts), distribute the tips, and ensure the hotel has "romanced" your bridal suite, if she was not able to do it herself.

I do want my clients to be aware though of things they shouldn't expect from their coordinator. We coordinate, we aren't there for manual labor. Your vendors have been hired for a reason. We want to use them. If you're expecting more than just coordination you can probably expect more costs.

As solution oriented people, once we are on board we usually want to do any and everything we can to make the last moments of planning a breeze. If you hire your day-of coordinator a month before the wedding and you still do not have major planning details in place, such as a photographer or caterer, you should anticipate an additional planning charge to get these last minute details in place. If your coordinator is gracious enough and does not charge for this additional planning, then consider that when you're tipping on wedding night.

Getting to know Coordinators
When looking for your director, or wedding coordinator, there are several items to consider:

• are they available for your date?
• are they flexible with your needs and wants? 
• how do they communicate with their clients? are they reliable and responsive to your emails, phone calls or in person? 
• do they have experience with many types of people and places?
• can they manage a budget? 
• are they personally going to be at your wedding or are they using a team? (and then ask yourself what do you want - for them to be there or are you okay with the assistant.)

What are you going to do? 
Who is going to be your director on your big day? Can you tell that family member who volunteered that things are not the way you want them? Will your friend who volunteered also enjoy the wedding while she is working to ensure the timeline stays on track? Let your mom, your friend or you family member enjoy your day with you. Hire a coordinator. Let a professional direct your wedding so you and your family and friends can just enjoy the day.

Still not sure if you want or need a coordinator or planner? Take this quiz from About.com.

I don't just say it because I am one  (It's Your Time Events), I say it because I used one (thanks Ms. Cathy with Fleur De Lis Weddings and Events). And I'm not the only one who says it. You can find many other vendors in the industry saying it - a wedding coordinator can help you, guide you and make sure you have the day of your dreams (Cat Guidry, photographer).