The Importance of PLANNING

I use to tell students that were getting ready to graduate from college that it is a weird fact of life... but most people spend more time planning a two week vacation than they do their lives! Think about it... for a vacation you decide where you want to go, how you're going to get there, when you have to be where you have to be to see and do what you want to do... and THEN you "lock-in" your reservations for planes, hotels, cars, show tickets, etc. so things will go as smoothly as possible.

You'll spend weeks doing it... and if you're driving you'll pour over maps and guide books figuring things out to the last detail... BUT if I ask you about planning your life, Do you know where you want to be (and how you're going to get there) next year? ...or in 5 years? ...or in 10?I'll generally get something like No, I haven't thought much about it... My life just sorta "Happens"...

Well... you can do it that way, and the journey may be interesting, if unexpected. But if you want things to go smoother (like that two week vacation did), ya gotta take time to plan things out... Make a "road map" and a "time table" so you know where you want to go and how well you're progressing. As the Cheshire Cat said to Alice "How can you know where you're going if you don't know where you're at?"

The same thing applies for weddings (and parties too just not to the same extent). Your wedding is one of the high points of your life... And you can just sorta "let it happen" and at the end of the day you probably will be married just the same as if you'd planned everything out. But it won't go as smoothly.

If parents and other relatives will be in attendance keep in mind that THEY have been thinking about this event since you were born! ...and although in the end the vows you take only really have to mean something to you and the person you are marrying, the "pageantry" of the day is for your friends and loved ones.

So think of the day as a "one time" two act play (Act II is the reception).

Before a play is performed in front of an audience, a whole lot of planning has to take place. The actors (ahhh... that's you) in a play don't generally do all the behind-the-scenes work. They have enough to do!! The Director (wedding coordinator) and the Producer (wedding planner) take care of all that. They set the script, hire the necessary people... set design (location), lighting (the photographers), sound (the band or D.J.), caterer (Cake, etc.). They go over the script, work out the timing, determine what "bit players" will be involved (No, you're the Stars!!) and how to work them in and THEN they go into rehearsal so that everybody knows what they have to do, and how/when they are going to do it. ..And the directors job doesn't end when the curtain goes up... the stress just begins!! It's the director that keeps everything on track and running smoothly till the curtain comes down... They don't have time to enjoy the performance.

Which brings me to my final point... if you want someone to enjoy your day with you DON'T ask them (or let them if they volunteer) be your Director/Wedding Coordinator. Your guests (the audience) are there to enjoy the event... everyone else is (or should be) working.

We at Uncle Fred's Music Machine will work with you, and coordinate with the other professionals you've hired to give you the best and most memorable event possible!

Pre event planning meetings and coordination are ALWAYS included at no extra charge.