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From: PeonyBride
Date: 23 Apr 2006
Time: 15:21:46 -0400
Remote Name: 67.170.250.177
My advice, if you are going to be the planner and don't want to use the venue's package or preferred vendors is, as suggested by EastCoaster, go to LA around the end of the week, like thurs/fri and come back to the bay area at the beginning of the week, like Mon/Tues to take advantage of the weekend and maximize your time there. What I found out was that during off season (i guess from oct to feb - when there's less wedding), vendors are more available to meet with you. However, during the wedding season, which is about now to Sept, most vendors are not available to meet with you over the weekend because are busy preparing for weddings or working on weddings. If they are willing, you'll have to meet at odd hours (like before they go work on weddings). It doesn't hurt to ask them if you can go observe them. Not every vendor will allow you to do that, but some will. Also, ask the manager at the venue if you can go observe their place during a wedding set up, then you'll get a chance to see what that brides doing and maybe get some vendor info while you're there. Tell them you're planning an out of town wedding and they'll be more willing to help you. And, if you can, try to line up as many vendors (that you think you might use) as you can and meet them on the same trip (to minimize the number of trips). And, if you plan a trip on weekdays, you'll find that most of them are available to meet with you. After meeting them, most of our payments, contracts, requests, final decisions are made via email or snail mail. And oh, if you gonna be flying rather than driving to LA, decide where you want to go for your honeymoon, and find out which airline flies there and rack up on your frequent miles. That way, by the time the wedding comes, you and your fiance may have free tix to your honeymoon destination. I think that's all the advice I have for now... Feel free to email me at peonybride@gmail.com if you have questions.