Your Planner: The Best Wedding Decision You'll Make

As the #1 bridal brand, The Knot speaks to an audience of 8 in 10 US brides. What's one of our key messages? Wedding planners are essential.

In the 2010 The Knot Real Weddings Survey, we asked our brides about wedding planning. Here's what they said.

• Brides spend an average of $1,700 on their event planner – with half spending between $500 and $7,500
• Roughly 40% of brides that hire a wedding coordinator, choose a full-service planner
• Average spend on professional event planners is highest in the New England, Middle Atlantic and Pacific regions of the US



Tres' Magnifique

In all the world there is nowhere as gorgeous as the French Countryside. The words "charming," "quaint," "romantic," and "elegant," just don't summarize it's beauty and grandeur. If I could pack up my things and move there tomorrow i'd do it in a heartbeat.

Til then, all I can do is daydream and get swept away by videos like this.

The Bride & Bloom :: Spring 2011 Shoot from bliss* productions on Vimeo.

Video courtesy of Bliss Productions

Whitney Wing Drake answers "What is a Coordinator?"

Over the next few weeks we'll be posting videos from a new series we filmed based on conversations with the Owner and Lead Coordinator of Wish Wonder Dream, Whitney Wing Drake. Hopefully these will answer some of your most important questions as well as help you get to know us as a company a bit better.

So here is our first excerpt, which responds to the question "what exactly is a coordinator."

Enjoy!

A REALLY extensive timeline

Here at Wish Wonder Dream we pride ourselves on how extensive and thorough our wedding timelines are. We include pre-wedding details, post-wedding details, and every single bit of information pertaining to our client's weddings. But even that pales in comparison to the timeline Buckingham Palace has created for William and Kate's upcoming wedding. WOW! Check out this timeline - it has departure and arrival details timed to the minute! And you can bet no one will be late to this historic event.

Of course, our whole team will be tuned-in at our  homes watching every moment (at 3:00am!) Tissues please!

Between 8:15 a.m. and 9:45 a.m.
The general congregation will arrive at the Great North Door of Westminster Abbey.

From 9:50 a.m.
Governors-General and Prime Ministers of Realm Countries, the Diplomatic Corps and other distinguished guests arrive at the Abbey.

10:10 a.m.
The Bridegroom and Prince Henry of Wales leave Clarence House. They arrive Westminster Abbey at 10:15 a.m.

10:20 a.m.
Members of Foreign Royal Families arrive at Westminster Abbey from Buckingham Palace.
Mrs. Michael (Carole) Middleton and Mr. James Middleton leave the Goring Hotel. They arrive Westminster Abbey at 10:27 a.m.

10:25 a.m.
Members of the Royal Family (except those listed below) leave Buckingham Palace. They arrive Westminster Abbey at 10:30 a.m.

10:35 a.m.
The following Members of the Royal Family leave Buckingham Palace. They arrive Westminster Abbey at 10:40 a.m.:
The Duke of York
Princess Beatrice of York
Princess Eugenie or York
The Earl and Countess of Wessex
The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence

10:38 a.m.
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall leave Clarence House. They arrive Westminster Abbey at 10:42 a.m.

10:40 a.m.
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh leave Buckingham Palace. They arrive Westminster Abbey at 10:45 a.m.

10:48 a.m.The Bridesmaids and Pages leave the Goring Hotel. They arrive Westminster Abbey at 10:55 a.m.

10:51 a.m.
The Bride, accompanied by Mr. Michael Middleton, leaves the Goring Hotel for Westminster Abbey.

11:00 a.m.
The Marriage Service begins (and will be relayed by audio speakers along the route).

12:15 p.m.
The Carriage Procession of the Bride and Bridegroom with a Captain's Escort of the Household Cavalry, followed by The Queen's Procession with a Sovereign's Escort of the Household Cavalry, leaves Westminster Abbey for Buckingham Palace.

12:30 p.m.
The Bride's Carriage Procession arrives at Buckingham Palace.

12:40 p.m.
Members of the Royal Family and Members of Foreign Royal Families arrive at Buckingham Palace.

From 12:40 p.m.
Other guests for the Reception arrive at Buckingham Palace.

1:25 p.m.
The Queen and the Bride and Bridegroom, together with their Families, appear on the Balcony.

1:30 p.m.

Fly Past by the Royal Air Force and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Top Ten Registry Must-Haves (and a new way to get them)

We regularly hear our clients say they're not interested in setting up a traditional wedding registry with Crate and Barrel or Target because they already live together or just have all the standard homegoods they need. So i'm often asked for alternatives to the typical registry. If you're going on a honeymoon then a honeymoon registry is a brilliant idea (and i'll blog more about that soon) but i've also been thinking about how nice it would be for couples to be able to register for things they really want. I've also been thinking about how helpful it would be for couples to be able to think outside the box so their wedding guests could gift them with fun newlywed items or activites that they'd really enjoy. After all, you're only a newlywed once so why not forego the napkin holder and have a bit of fun together instead?

So I searched the web and found A Great Affair. This idea is brilliant! Couples can make a list of the items they really want and then register for them all in one place.

And now that i'm going on 4 years of wedded bliss, I feel like i've learned a few things about how to spend time quality time as newlyweds and what items and activites are great foundations for a happy marriage. So here is my list of 10 Must-Have Registry Items.

1. Sentimental Gifts which can be saved for special milestones - a bottle of champagne to pop on your 10 year anniversary, baby shoes (in a neutral color) to keep for your first baby, a beautiful keychain for  keys to your first house.

2. Cooking lessons - make sure all your meals as husband and wife are delicious, spend some quality time in aprons, and meet fellow newlyweds. Learn to make a favorite like Sushi or Italian or satisfy your sweet tooth with a baking class. It'll guarantee your house is the place to be for Thanksgiving dinner :)

3. Games - Board Games are an American pasttime for newlyweds and their friends. Or if you're looking for something more interactive, how about a Nintendo Wii system?

4. Tickets to a Favorite Venue or Show - Is your favorite performer coming to the Staples Center? Looking forward to an upcoming exhibit at LACMA? Ask for tickets and savor the memories forever.

5. Big Ticket Electronics - Invest in a new family computer or buy a nice camera for all the pictures you'll take during your new and exciting lives as Mr. and Mrs. Guests can team up to make these purchases so the high dollar price tag doesn't make them out-of-reach.

6. Couple's Activites - Tickets and supplies for some of your favorite couple's activities are always great. Ask for golf lessons or tennis rackets and make sure you stay in shape and have fun doing it.

7. A Pet - What better way to get started than with a special addition to your new family? A puppy, kitten, or even a guinea pig would be a great way to bond as a couple and maybe even practice for future parenting together. Supplies like leashes, toys, and obedience lessons are also helpful.

8. Movies - Who doesn't love curling up on the couch with a good movie? Spend quality nights in with a subscription to Netflix. I recommend signing up for the 2 discs at a time plan so you can each maintain seperate ques and take turns picking films.

9. An Annual Passport to a Favorite Place - Disneyland, Sea World, Hollywood Bowl, the Zoo. Pick your favorite and go. It will be your go-to venue for special date nights.

10. Outdoor Sports - Love high action activites? Celebrate the great outdoors and bond as adventurers by getting involved in activities like surfing, hiking, kayaking, or ATVing. Tell your guests you'll send them pictures from the road.