August 12th 2008, Volume 27, #7
 

Tips and helpful hints from the experts in planning and executing an artful California gay wedding
 

 

THE COUPLE

Chuck Ansel is Vice President of Operations for Universal Music Publishing's Production Music division and Brian Gordon is Operations Manager for Countrywide Bank, FSB. Living in West Hollywood, they met at the Burbank Taco Bell during a crowded lunch hour; 18 years and one day from that meeting, they will legally exchange their marriage vows.

I spoke to Chuck and Brian about the wedding experience they want for themselves and their guests. These are the basic starting points for their wedding day: 1. Setting: California semi-formal attire. Let guests interpret what that means. 2. Art Direction: Every table will be unique using the Small Masterpiece Collection. 3. Colors: White with blue or purple. 4. Logistics: Oct. 4 at 4 p.m., sunset ceremony at a private home for 75 guests. (An at-home wedding will save you thousands in renting a venue and can be extremely effective in creating warmth, intimacy, and privacy.) [...]

EVENT COORDINATOR

I turn to Craig Kraynick, owner of 4C·foresee, with 14 years of [experience], and well versed in "foreseeing" any problems that a client would normally not think about. Craig is the maestro, organizing all the parts and syncing them together. An experienced coordinator will help advise of the possibilities, deal with timing and flow, support, advise of shortcuts, answer questions and deal with any troubleshooting, and help a couple achieve as close to their vision with what they can actually afford.

According to Craig, a walk-through of the site with all involved vendors is invaluable to ensure everyone is on the same page and where ideas are shared and confirmed. And on the "day of" it is crucial that vendors arrive on time, stay on schedule, and follow through every last detail as discussed. Get everything in writing and thoroughly read the contract, advises Craig. Never assume anything. A coordinator has experience with many vendors at many levels and has a vast scope of what things cost.

(view full article here)

 

September 9th 2008, Volume 27, #9
 

Further tips, helpful hints from the experts in planning and executing an artful California gay wedding
 

ONE MONTH HAS PASSED SINCE PART II OF "YES, WE DO!" Since then, we have had introductory meetings interviewing new vendors and establishing solid relations with existing vendors. Craig Kraynick, owner of 4Cforesee and our wedding coordinator, says "having Chuck and Brian as clients has been easy. I take my cues from reading their faces to steer my suggestions. They know what they want and that helps save time!" Ideas may evolve but having a good base of likes and dislikes is very important. Watching Craig conduct business as the wedding coordinator is like watching a diplomat carefully balancing the interests of two countries.

(view full article here)

 

Auguest 19th 2008, Volume 11, #14
 

Understanding and agreeing upon a realistic budget is the surest way to alleviate stress.
 

In the first installment of "Happily Ever After," we posed some tough questions that any couple should consider before deciding to marry. In this article, we cover the basics of how to budget for your big day. Being realistic about budgeting plays a critical role in every topic being discussed throughout this series. Wedding topics to be covered in future issues include invitations, staffing, food, tabletop decor and flowers.

The budget is the first issue that needs to be addressed when planning a wedding. Agreeing to and understanding a realistic budget will help relieve stress. Craig Kraynick, owner of 4Cforesee Event Coordination, Production & Management, agrees that no wedding cost is too small to not be added to a budget. Twenty dollars on an item multiplied 20 times equals $400, which could be the total budget for a particular cost. The major wedding expenses are food, bar, venue, rentals and staffing. Creating a budget need not compromise having a stylish wedding—it could actually nurture the creative imagination. In addition, breaking the mold of having a traditional wedding actually complements a tight budget.

An at-home wedding saves thousands of dollars when it comes to venue. Wattles Mansion "walk-in" charges are around $5,000. Don't be fooled: An at-home wedding is more work. Everything needs to be orchestrated separately. The payoff is having the control of every aspect of your big day. Venues sometimes have a selection of resources which can be limiting. Kraynick mentions that some locations don't have a kitchen site, which could add a huge bill on top of the location fee. A kitchen at home may or may not fully fill all the requirements of a caterer. It is important to have the caterer check out the kitchen beforehand so adjustments can be made to menu or rental order. One menu adjustment for a limited size kitchen is considering whether food will be served at room temperature or not. If living in a condo prevents having an at-home wedding, ask parents, extended family members or friends if their home is available. Homes provide privacy, intimacy and personal warmth. The number of guests should be dictated by the available space of the home. Guests should feel comfortable moving through the house, and all guests should be able to comfortably congregate for the ceremony—whether inside or outdoors.

(view full article here)