Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/171645
from years of experience there were surprises no-one could have predicted. One was that the vintage car that was supposed to escort Erin and her father from West Vancouver to the Terminal City Club would break down before it got there. "We sat in a broken car on the Lion's Gate Bridge until the driver told us we should probably get out," Erin says with a laugh. "So we stood on the side of the highway with people driving by and waving, asking us if we were doing a photo shoot. Then a nice little Toyota full of hikers pulled over and asked if we needed a ride," she recalls. "My dad and I piled into the backseat and they whipped us downtown to the ceremony, me trying desperately not to let my dress touch the muddy hiking boots. It made for an amazing story at the wedding later that day, and we all got to laugh about it!" The monogrammed aisle runner at the wedding reception, which was laid down just before the ceremony, was another example. "Nancy, Burke's mother, had come upstairs with me to inspect the room before the ceremony, and just before she walked in I noticed that the monogram we'd ordered for the aisle runner had Burke's name spelled wrong," McNally groans. "I ripped it away just before she entered the room, then discretely trimmed the carpet back so no-one would see the misspelled name. Thankfully, when I later told Erin about it she Venue – Ceremony & thought it was hilarious." Reception Every wedding planner wants their bride to feel Terminal City Club www.tccclub.com like she spent her money well when she hired orgaBridal Consultant & Planner nizational help for her big day. Looking back on her DreamGroup Productions www.dreamgroup.ca wedding, Erin says hiring DreamGroup Productions Photographer was the best decision she made. Small fiascoes like Josh Bowie the broken vintage car and the misspelled aisle runwww.joshbowie.com ner did nothing to colour her impressions. What she Bride's Dress Barbara Allen, Bisou Bridal does remember is McNally's recommendation that www.bisoubridal.com she and Burke spend some time together before the Bridesmaid Dresses wedding, to give their day a special start. "It was a Frock's Modern Bridal www.frocks.ca wonderful, intimate moment of our day that I will Groom's Outfit cherish forever," she says. Calvin Klein Tuxedo, "Geneve listened to exactly what I wanted and The Tux Store www.thetuxstore.com took it to the next level by making everything more Décor spectacular than I could ever have imagined," she Upright Décor continues. "She never let one detail of the wedwww.uprightdecor.com ding slide by and she was always five steps ahead of Stationery InspirAsian Creations me." Erin felt a real bond with www.inspirasiancreations.com McNally and the two became Disc Jockey close friends as they planned the Rhythm Nation www.rhythmnation.ca wedding. "I always felt like I was Music the special one to whom she was Musical Occasions giving all her attention," Erin www.musicaloccasions.ca r View more says. "Geneve was incredible and Entertainment images from Photobooth Vancouver Josh Bowie I simply could not have done it www.photoboothvancouver.com http://goo.gl/1hwm7 without her." rw A nice little Toyota full of hikers pulled over and asked if we needed a ride. DreamGroup's Tips on Working with a Planner Hire a planner that will represent your style well, and ensure you feel a positive connection toward the planner. "You'll be spending a lot of time with that planner over the course of a six-to-18-month period," McNally says. "It helps if you respect their style and enjoy the look of their past work." Hire for the right reasons. Wondering what the 'right' reasons are? Ask yourself if you're looking for expert advice, direction and assistance in cultivating a memorable and efficient wedding experience. "Hire a planner you trust so that you can hand over details like vendor research and behind the scenes work and allow yourself to enjoy the more fun aspects of planning the wedding," she says. Do your homework before you hire. The longer someone has been in the industry, the more experience they will have in being able to maximize your wedding vision, style, and budget. Obtain references from past brides and at least one reputable vendor and make sure, when comparing planners' fees, that you're comparing apples to apples. Trust Your Planner: "A planner's power in the industry comes from their relationships and connections," McNally says. "This means that when working with a planner's preferred vendor you can expect to receive an above-andbeyond level of service, as these vendors want to maintain a positive relationship with the planner and do so by taking extra special care of their clients." Don't Micromanage. Make your vision known to your planner through discussion and a sharing of ideas, and be honest with the planner about what you like and what you don't. "Wedding planners are not mind readers," McNally cautions. "The time to 'get it right' is in the present, not after the fact when it's too late." 56 RW21_part 1.indd 56 The Dream Team r ea l weddings 9/19/11 3:24:36 PM