Your Initial Consultation with your wedding consultant
by Shanetta Olive

Here are a few things that you should know before meeting with your Wedding Consultant.

DATE AND TIME: realize that this is important. The time of year and the time of day can affect greatly what type of wedding you will have. Winter weddings will need heavier and darker material and night weddings are usually more formal.

BUDGET: To make sure that you won't have to worry about debt on your honeymoon, honestly figuring out how much you'll be able to spend on the caterer, the reception, the consultant, etc. Drawing up a budget will greatly affect if you'll be able to afford those extravagant extras (such as a horse drawn carriage.) Improvise is always wise; having an outdoor wedding in your parents back yard allows the money that would have went towards the country club, can now go towards another aspect of your wedding.

GUESTS: Knowing how many guests you want at the wedding will affect how you choose your reception site. The 300 guests that you all have decided to invite will not fit comfortably in that affordable hotel ballroom which only sits 200.

WHO'S PAYING FOR WHAT: Though many couples are paying for their own weddings these days, parents may also lend a helping hand in financing your wedding. If you know now how much your dad is willing to spend on the photographer, you'll be less likely to go overboard on extravagant and sometimes unnecessary photos.

SPECIAL SITUATIONS: Let the consultant know if there are any sticky situations in your family, such as divorced parents who will not speak to each other or the mother who hates your fiancé'. This allows your consultant to be aware of these situations so they may be able to provide solutions on how to get around them.

WANTS AND DESIRES: If you have always dreamed of having your wedding near a lake , tell your consultant. This also helps her to cater to your needs and give you the special wedding of your dreams.