Welcome Everyone! I am thrilled to be part of the Peak Events team here in Northern Arizona. I love living and working here. My journey as an event planner began in 1978 when I coordinated ski vacations for teenagers. My intention at the time was purely selfish. I thought my family was the only one in my town that did not know how to ski. If I coordinated and planned the trips for 25 people or more, I would ski and vacation for free. The most important thing for me was that I learned how to ski.
I loved the planning and organizing aspect of the trips. I loved making the flyers, securing the dates, travel, meals, accommodations and ski packages. It never crossed my mind I would be doing this for a living 30 years later.
I went on to college to study Psychology and Early Childhood Education. I still continued working events through graduate school. I worked for three different caterers and especially gravitated towards the tailored events and private parties. I was a DJ for many parties. I organized and led freshman and transfer orientation for the first week of school 3 years in a row. We organized events for up to 1000 students.
After I landed my first teaching job in New York I still continued working events on the weekends through the 1980s. I always loved it. I just never considered doing it full time.
After years of living in New York and Boston, I moved to Raleigh, North Carolina. In 1998, I took my first job as a Wedding Coordinator. I was also working as a Youth Education Director during the week since most weddings were on the weekends. After 6 years and 250 weddings later, I moved to Tucson, Arizona when my husband took a new job teaching Business at the University of Arizona.
I worked for the Tucson Botanical Garden coordinating Weddings and other events until we moved to Sedona with my three children in 2009. I continued doing social work mostly on the reservations until recently.
I have finally come to accept the importance of doing what you love. I am dedicating myself full time to planning events and weddings because it is so fun and it is what I love to do. I am also trained to assist in childbirth and hospice. Although I really hope those skills don’t come in handy at my events.
When I am not working, I am spending time with my family, gardening, traveling, dancing, or hiking some of Northern Arizona’s incredible trails.
I look forward to working with you and learning more about your special day and how we can make that a reality. Feel free to contact me with any questions.
Sally
sally@peakeventsaz.com
Showing posts with label Wedding Planners. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wedding Planners. Show all posts
October 5, 2011
April 26, 2011
Why Hire a Wedding Planner?
Every wedding is unique and most brides know exactly how their day should look and feel. When a couple begins to think of their wedding day, they want it to be special, romantic and to reflect who they are. Many have ideas of what they want and don’t want, but discovering how much preparation is involved can be daunting. Where to start? How far in advance? How much to spend? Where to find the services you want in your price range? Planning a wedding can be stressful, and hiring a Wedding Planner will alleviate stress from the bride and groom at any stage of the planning process. The average wedding takes more than 250 hours just to plan! Most brides don’t have a lot of free time, regardless of how early they start planning their wedding. Instead of enjoying being engaged, brides will fill their nights agonizing over details, their lunch hours with phone calls and before long, the most wonderful time of their life has turned into a headache.
There is a myth that Wedding Planners are a luxury, only used by the wealthy and not affordable to the everyday bride. Weddings can be very expensive. You might think you are saving money by doing it all yourself and that hiring a Wedding Planner is an extra unnecessary expense. The truth is a bride and groom will save more money when working with a Wedding Planner because planners have the expertise to work within the couple's budget and are experienced in negotiating contracts with vendors and other suppliers, saving valuable time and money. The Wedding Planner has relationships with vendors and can find you the best deals in your price range, while taking advantage of discounts and avoiding costly mistakes.
Wedding Planners do NOT make decisions for you; they assist you in making informed decisions. Wedding Planners advise couples on etiquette, budget, traditions and timelines, allowing the bride and groom time to enjoy being engaged. A Wedding Planner will help you focus on what needs to get done, and do all the research, so you can choose based on your budget and style. A Wedding Planner is a steadying and soothing support, who is removed from the emotions that can complicate decision making for your wedding and tell you honestly what does and doesn't work. By hiring a Wedding Planner, you’re hiring someone who has done this dozens of times; ensuring details won’t slip through the cracks.
If you feel having someone involved with the planning of the wedding isn’t necessary, consider hiring a Wedding Planner to coordinate your actual wedding day. Wedding Planners know how to troubleshoot with regards to the wedding day timeline. Through their years of experience, they know how much time things actually take and how much of a cushion to build into the timeline. A wedding day timeline is essential to creating an accurate schedule that flows well and is the mark of a well-coordinated wedding. It is impossible for any couple to really experience their wedding and coordinate the day as well.
On the big day, who wants to worry where the flowers need to be placed, if the DJ has enough power while you’re trying to get dressed? By hiring a Wedding Day Planner, you can hand over all the details, so you just have to show up, get dressed, get married and enjoy the day with family and friends!
Debbi
There is a myth that Wedding Planners are a luxury, only used by the wealthy and not affordable to the everyday bride. Weddings can be very expensive. You might think you are saving money by doing it all yourself and that hiring a Wedding Planner is an extra unnecessary expense. The truth is a bride and groom will save more money when working with a Wedding Planner because planners have the expertise to work within the couple's budget and are experienced in negotiating contracts with vendors and other suppliers, saving valuable time and money. The Wedding Planner has relationships with vendors and can find you the best deals in your price range, while taking advantage of discounts and avoiding costly mistakes.
Wedding Planners do NOT make decisions for you; they assist you in making informed decisions. Wedding Planners advise couples on etiquette, budget, traditions and timelines, allowing the bride and groom time to enjoy being engaged. A Wedding Planner will help you focus on what needs to get done, and do all the research, so you can choose based on your budget and style. A Wedding Planner is a steadying and soothing support, who is removed from the emotions that can complicate decision making for your wedding and tell you honestly what does and doesn't work. By hiring a Wedding Planner, you’re hiring someone who has done this dozens of times; ensuring details won’t slip through the cracks.
If you feel having someone involved with the planning of the wedding isn’t necessary, consider hiring a Wedding Planner to coordinate your actual wedding day. Wedding Planners know how to troubleshoot with regards to the wedding day timeline. Through their years of experience, they know how much time things actually take and how much of a cushion to build into the timeline. A wedding day timeline is essential to creating an accurate schedule that flows well and is the mark of a well-coordinated wedding. It is impossible for any couple to really experience their wedding and coordinate the day as well.
On the big day, who wants to worry where the flowers need to be placed, if the DJ has enough power while you’re trying to get dressed? By hiring a Wedding Day Planner, you can hand over all the details, so you just have to show up, get dressed, get married and enjoy the day with family and friends!
Debbi
April 11, 2011
Tipping and weddings
Tipping and weddings – I’ve been asked a few times now about whom should the bridal party tip and how much, so I did some research online and have come up with the following. I should say that I have gleaned this information from David Tutera and also Martha Stewart Weddings, so I’m thinking if Martha said it – its law, and if David is doing it – it’s got to be fabulous.
All tips should be in cash. If you’re tipping an employee of a company because they have gone above and beyond for you, their tip needs to be in a separate envelope. Also, no person should receive more than a $100 tip. Make sure you wait to tip your vendors until just before your vendor leaves so you can judge just how much to tip.
So, who should you tip and just how much:
Parking Attendants – this is something you need to arrange previous to the wedding. Guestimate how many cars will be arriving and plan on anywhere from $.50 - $1.00 per car. If you decide to take care of this – you should put a sign up for your guests letting them know you’ve taken care of the gratuity.
DJs – if you have one DJ – usually plan on $25 - $50, if you have 2 DJs (DJ and MC), giving each person in separate envelopes $50 should be sufficient.
Wait Staff – this one can be tricky. Usually it’s included in the contact, but if you have a wait staff or a member of the wait staff who just knocks your socks off with their service, figure 10 – 15% of the total catering bill.
Bartenders – If the venue has a tip jar out – don’t bother with tipping bartenders. I know of some venues that automatically put that out – even though they include gratuity with the bill. If your venue hasn’t included the gratuity and hasn’t set out a tip jar – then it’s usually 10% of the total bar bill.
Makeup artists or Hair Stylists – if you are paying for them to come to you, tips are not necessary. However, if you are going to the salon, you should tip them 15%. Remember, if they come to you – they make the money, if you go to the salon, the salon makes the money.
Now the following are optional. In other words – only tip if you feel they did an outstanding job.
Wedding Planner – If the planner owns the company it’s optional, but most wedding planners are tipped 10% of the contract.
Ceremony Musicians - $5 per hour, per person – give this to the musician in charge and remember – if they are at your rehearsal – you owe them for this also.
Banquet or Catering Manager – This is only given if they’ve thrown in extras or saved you a few hundred dollars on your bill – they usually get tipped between $25 - $50.
Photographers and Videographers - Again, this depends if they own the company. If so, then it’s optional. If they are employees then it’s 10-15% of the package price and it goes to the head photographer and they can distribute portions to any help they bring.
Officiate – Well, this one is a tricky one. I’ve heard that to tip them is an insult and considered bad etiquette. I’ve also heard to NOT tip is bad form – Martha seemed to believe that if you wish – you should make a contribution to the church and at a minimum should be $75. If you using a judge or someone who has no church affiliation, then a tip isn't necessary.
Florist – If you have a florist who isn’t charging you for set up and delivery, then an extra tip for that is acceptable. Usually $5 per delivery location is sufficient, although with gas prices exploding Martha may need to update that one.
Wedding Cake Baker – You usually don’t tip the baker, however, if like the florist they don’t charge a delivery and set up fee, then $10 is enough.
Remember, if you’re using a wedding planner, they should be the one responsible for delivering all the tips and payments due on your wedding day. If you’re not using a wedding planner, then your best man or the Father of the Bride will do – try not to have to take care of this yourself, this is your day – ENJOY IT! And if you don’t give tips, remember a thank you card is awesome to receive.
Debbi
Limo Drivers – 15% of the limo bill – hand this at the end of the service.Alter boys or girls - $5 or $10 each.
All tips should be in cash. If you’re tipping an employee of a company because they have gone above and beyond for you, their tip needs to be in a separate envelope. Also, no person should receive more than a $100 tip. Make sure you wait to tip your vendors until just before your vendor leaves so you can judge just how much to tip.
So, who should you tip and just how much:
Parking Attendants – this is something you need to arrange previous to the wedding. Guestimate how many cars will be arriving and plan on anywhere from $.50 - $1.00 per car. If you decide to take care of this – you should put a sign up for your guests letting them know you’ve taken care of the gratuity.
DJs – if you have one DJ – usually plan on $25 - $50, if you have 2 DJs (DJ and MC), giving each person in separate envelopes $50 should be sufficient.
Wait Staff – this one can be tricky. Usually it’s included in the contact, but if you have a wait staff or a member of the wait staff who just knocks your socks off with their service, figure 10 – 15% of the total catering bill.
Bartenders – If the venue has a tip jar out – don’t bother with tipping bartenders. I know of some venues that automatically put that out – even though they include gratuity with the bill. If your venue hasn’t included the gratuity and hasn’t set out a tip jar – then it’s usually 10% of the total bar bill.
Makeup artists or Hair Stylists – if you are paying for them to come to you, tips are not necessary. However, if you are going to the salon, you should tip them 15%. Remember, if they come to you – they make the money, if you go to the salon, the salon makes the money.
Now the following are optional. In other words – only tip if you feel they did an outstanding job.
Wedding Planner – If the planner owns the company it’s optional, but most wedding planners are tipped 10% of the contract.
Ceremony Musicians - $5 per hour, per person – give this to the musician in charge and remember – if they are at your rehearsal – you owe them for this also.
Banquet or Catering Manager – This is only given if they’ve thrown in extras or saved you a few hundred dollars on your bill – they usually get tipped between $25 - $50.
Photographers and Videographers - Again, this depends if they own the company. If so, then it’s optional. If they are employees then it’s 10-15% of the package price and it goes to the head photographer and they can distribute portions to any help they bring.
Officiate – Well, this one is a tricky one. I’ve heard that to tip them is an insult and considered bad etiquette. I’ve also heard to NOT tip is bad form – Martha seemed to believe that if you wish – you should make a contribution to the church and at a minimum should be $75. If you using a judge or someone who has no church affiliation, then a tip isn't necessary.
Florist – If you have a florist who isn’t charging you for set up and delivery, then an extra tip for that is acceptable. Usually $5 per delivery location is sufficient, although with gas prices exploding Martha may need to update that one.
Wedding Cake Baker – You usually don’t tip the baker, however, if like the florist they don’t charge a delivery and set up fee, then $10 is enough.
Remember, if you’re using a wedding planner, they should be the one responsible for delivering all the tips and payments due on your wedding day. If you’re not using a wedding planner, then your best man or the Father of the Bride will do – try not to have to take care of this yourself, this is your day – ENJOY IT! And if you don’t give tips, remember a thank you card is awesome to receive.
Debbi
Limo Drivers – 15% of the limo bill – hand this at the end of the service.Alter boys or girls - $5 or $10 each.
March 9, 2011
Creative Wedding Invitations
Our intern Belle, came across this great creative wedding invitation. We just had to share it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)