Diary of a Wedding Planner

Anniversary

This past Friday, November 17th was Jose Luis and my 5 year wedding anniversary.  To celebrate, we drove up to Sonoma for the night.  We stayed at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa.  I wanted to be able to stay overnight in a place for pleasure this time rather than business.  I do a lot of weddings in Sonoma so that is why I usually stay overnight.

The Fairmont is such a beautiful property.  I highly recommend it for any occasion.  The service is amazing, the rooms are charming, the property is so peaceful and well maintained.  The spa is to die for!!  I was able to get a great package that included a Jr. Suite, 50 minute spa treatment and a late check-out the next day of 2pm.  I really enjoyed my aromatherapy massage.  The room was newly renovated and had a King size Bed, plasma TV, Fireplace and a huge whirlpool bathtub.  Very romantic!

For dinner, my husband took me to a really great restaurant called La Salette.  La Salette is a Portuguese restaurant located right in the square downtown Sonoma.  I highly recommend it.  It was extra special for me because I am Portuguese and the owner is from the Azores Islands as was my great grandparents.  The food is outstanding and the price is extremely reasonable!  The next time you are in Sonoma and want to eat at a great restaurant you must go.

I had a really great Anniversary with my husband.  The last 5 years have gone by so fast and I have loved every minute of it.  I am blessed to have him.  :)

What's the Difference?

I don't only plan weddings, I also provide Day Of Coordination.  It's funny because some people call me a Wedding Coordinator, Wedding Planner or Wedding Consultant.  So what am I you ask?  Well, my official title is a Certified Wedding Consultant (CWC).  I went to school in order to receive that title.  I worked very hard to get that title. 

What's the difference between a Wedding Coordinator, Wedding Planner and Wedding Consultant you ask?  Hmmm...that's a tough one.  You can call me any of these titles, I won't mind.  Here's my take on it. 

When someone hire's me for my Day Of Service, call me a Wedding Coordinator. 
When someone hire's me for any of my Planning Packages (there are 3), call me a Wedding Consultant or Wedding Planner.  I am all of the above, so any will do.
My Partial Planning Package is more of a Wedding Consultant Role because in that package, my clients are doing all the planning and I am there to give them the tools and consult with them along the way.

So that's the long and short of it.  Call me any of the above, just don't call me late..."for a wedding"  Ha-ha!

P.S.  My new website is in production now and will be launched by December or January, so please look out for it.

Thank You and Goodnight

Well, the wedding season here in Northern California has finally come to a close.  Our season is April thru October.  This was a very, very busy season for me.  I had some really great clients and had the opportunity to plan some really beautiful and fun weddings. 

As this season comes to a close, I would like to give a special thanks to all of my couples who honored me by allowing me to be a part of their weddings.   I had so much fun and loved every minute of it!  Even after being up until 3am answering emails and revising Wedding Day Schedules and Diagrams and reviewing contracts.  Even after 15 hours on my feet all day and night.  Even after gettting home and falling asleep before my head hit the pillow.  I LOVE what I do and I wish you all the most luck, love and happiness in your marriages.  Oh and don't forget to send me baby announcements ok??

I would also like to thank my "family" of vendors.  I take great pride and hold the utmost respect for the vendors I  recommend to my clients.  I could not have done all of this without you.  Your hard work, drive and passion for doing the best job possible for our clients is truly incredible.  I am so lucky to be surrounded by and able to work with you all.

xoxo,

Michelle