Category Archives: wedding reception planning tips

Wedding planning

Wedding Planning: Hiring One Company to Handle Multiple Tasks

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Wedding planning can be an exhilarating yet overwhelming experience. With countless details to manage, from selecting the perfect venue to coordinating with various vendors, it’s easy to feel stressed and stretched thin. One way to simplify this process and ensure a seamless experience is by hiring a single company to handle multiple tasks. By consolidating your needs under one roof, you can enjoy a more streamlined wedding planning process, reducing stress and ensuring that every aspect of your special day aligns with your vision.

Advantages of Hiring One Company for Multiple Tasks

When it comes to wedding planning, consistency is crucial. By hiring our team to manage multiple tasks, you can rest assured that your wedding will have a cohesive style and theme from start to finish. We work closely with you to understand your vision, ensuring everything—from the décor to the lighting—reflects your style. This unified approach helps avoid the disjointed feeling that can sometimes occur when working with multiple vendors.

Simplified communication is another major benefit of working with a single company. Instead of juggling calls and emails from different vendors, you’ll have a single point of contact who will manage all the details for you. This makes it easier to coordinate your plans and reduces the chances of miscommunication or overlooked details.

Additionally, bundling services through one company can save time and cost. We offer a range of services that can be combined into a single package, often at a lower rate than if you were to hire each service separately. This not only saves you money but also reduces the time spent searching for and coordinating with different vendors.

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Services That Our One-Stop Wedding Planning Company Offers

At An Enchanted Evening, we pride ourselves on offering a variety of services that cover many aspects of your wedding day. Our goal is to make your wedding planning process as smooth and enjoyable as possible, so you can focus on celebrating your love.

  • Photo Booth Service: Our photo booth service adds a fun and interactive element to your wedding, allowing guests to capture memories and take home personalized mementos. It’s a great way to keep the energy high and give your guests something to talk about.
  • Room Décor/Uplighting: We transform your venue with custom room décor and uplighting that enhances the ambiance and sets the perfect mood. Whether you’re going for a romantic, elegant feel or a vibrant, lively atmosphere, our team can create the look you envision.
  • Ceremony Service: We provide comprehensive ceremony services, including audio and video equipment, to ensure that every word is heard clearly and every moment is captured beautifully. Our team handles the technical details so you can focus on the vows.
  • Audio/Video Equipment Including Video Montage Production: From sound systems to video montage production, we offer everything you need to create an immersive experience for your guests. Our video montage service allows you to share your love story in a meaningful way, adding a personal touch to your celebration.
  • Name In Lights/Monogram and Other Lighting Options: Personalize your wedding with our custom lighting options, including Name In Lights/Monogram designs. These elegant touches add a unique element to your décor and make your wedding truly unforgettable.

Contact Our Team Today

Hiring one company to handle multiple aspects of your wedding planning can significantly reduce stress and ensure a seamless, cohesive celebration. At An Enchanted Evening, our team is dedicated to making your big day as perfect as possible by offering a range of services that cover all the essentials. 

To learn more about how we can help with your wedding planning, contact our team at An Enchanted Evening by calling (847) 490-1000 to request a free estimate. Let us take care of the details so you can focus on enjoying your special day.

chicago wedding reception with couple and guests taking selfies

10 Tips for Planning an AMAZING Chicago Wedding Reception

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An amazing Chicago wedding reception is the highlight of the day. The dancing, unforgettable photos, and memories all add up to a day your friends’ll be talking about for years!

That’s the good news, but it does come with a disclaimer. Wedding planning can take any numbers of twists and turns—but it’s sure to be a lot less stressful if you use these tips for planning an amazing Chicago wedding reception!

Where to start planning your Chicago wedding reception

ALWAYS start planning with some important questions.

Before you start going wedding dress shopping or setting a dinner menu, sit down with your fiancé and ask some key questions. The answers to these questions can help you as you make decisions on big details, plus your fiancé’s answers might surprise you!

https://bloganenchante.wpengine.com/2020/10/08/6-big-questions-that-kick-start-your-chicago-wedding-planning/

Don’t wait to set a wedding budget.

Planning a wedding is a marathon, not a sprint. A set wedding budget ensures that you set funds aside for aspects that make the biggest impact. Plus, it keeps you on track as you check off items on your wedding planning checklist.

https://bloganenchante.wpengine.com/2020/10/23/wedding-planning-in-chicago-how-to-manage-your-wedding-budget/

It’s worth it to hire a strong team of wedding vendors.

Wedding planning can be incredibly stressful, but a strong team of wedding vendors make it easier. An experienced caterer, wedding planner, DJ, and photographer can help you solve problems and coordinate wedding details into a smooth and incredible wedding reception.

This list can help you find and hire the best wedding vendors so you have the best on your team. (Don’t wait. The best wedding vendors’ calendars fill up fast!)

https://bloganenchante.wpengine.com/2020/11/06/first-chicago-wedding-vendors/

Never hire a wedding vendor without asking a few questions and doing some online research.

It’s one of the biggest—and most common—wedding planning mistakes couples make: hiring a vendor without vetting them. It may be tempting to hire a wedding vendor because it’s your friend’s relative or a family member recommends them. You should never hire a vendor without doing your due diligence. Start the process with a few questions that tell you if they are experienced and the right “one” for your big day. Then, head online and look for reviews so you know what other couples have thought of them.

https://bloganenchante.wpengine.com/2020/03/05/28-must-ask-questions-for-every-wedding-dj/

Wedding Reception Tips

Choose the best wedding reception entertainment right away.

Your wedding reception entertainment is the focus of your reception, which is why it’s important of find and hire the best for your big day. This decision should be one of the first steps of planning a wedding reception in Chicago, and starts with answering the question: DJ or band?

https://bloganenchante.wpengine.com/2020/01/17/10-questions-that-get-you-the-best-wedding-entertainment/

Know the typical order of wedding reception events (and feel free to make it your own).

Planning an awesome wedding reception is a step-by-step process, but it starts with taking the typical wedding reception and making it your own. (Ask your wedding DJ for more ideas that put your wedding reception over-the-top.)

https://bloganenchante.wpengine.com/2020/02/14/what-is-the-wedding-reception-order-of-events/

Decide what “other” entertainment you want to add.

Don’t feel confined to one form of entertainment. Sometimes guests need a break from dancing, or just want to hang out and enjoy one of these fun wedding games. (Don’t hesitate to ask your wedding DJ for other ideas too!)

https://bloganenchante.wpengine.com/2020/07/10/chicago-outdoor-wedding-entertainment/

Stay organized.

The best wedding planning tip is: stay organized! It’s important, especially when dealing with different wedding vendor deadlines and trying to pull all the details together. Luckily, there are quite a few wedding planning apps and a wedding planning checklist that can help, plus these tips that help stay organized (and less stressed!)

https://bloganenchante.wpengine.com/2020/06/10/7-solid-tips-for-organizing-your-wedding-planning/

Try to stay one step ahead.

It’s important to stay one step ahead of your deadlines and your vendors as you plan a wedding reception in Chicago, primarily because your vendors need those confirmed details.

https://bloganenchante.wpengine.com/2020/12/04/chicago-wedding-dj-info/

Find ways to take your wedding reception to the next level.

Want to make your wedding reception unforgettable? Start brainstorming with these ideas, and then turn them into an idea that feels completely you!

https://bloganenchante.wpengine.com/2020/05/13/6-ways-to-make-your-chicago-wedding-reception-unforgettable/
shot of people dancing at epic wedding reception

Wedding Planning in Chicago? How to Manage Your Wedding Budget

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A wedding budget is an important part of planning a wedding in Chicago, and one detail that it pays (literally) to stay on top of. That’s why we’ve put together a list of wedding budget tips for couples looking to throw an awesome wedding reception on a set budget.

Talk with your fiancé.

The first step in managing your wedding budget is to set a budget. You can do this by sitting down and discussing finances with your fiancé. This is your chance to have an honest conversation about how much you both have available for the wedding and how you plan on paying for it (i.e. savings, credit card, loan, etc.) If anyone else has expressed interest in contributing to your wedding budget, discuss who it is and how you are going to approach them about their gift.

Use a wedding planning app or budget checklist.

When it comes to wedding planning, organization and budgeting go hand in hand. For some couples, this means setting up a binder with a wedding budget checklist, planning checklist, calendar, and pockets for receipts and various items. If you’d rather use your smartphone or tablet, check out one of these wedding planning apps with a built-in wedding budget checklist.

Allocate funds to the most important wedding details.

As you set a wedding budget, remember to allocate the majority of your funds to items that make the biggest impression on your guests. Plan on spending half of your budget on the biggest items that guests appreciate: venue, food, and entertainment. Be realistic with each budget line item; quality Chicago venues and wedding vendors come with a cost that is typically reflected in their service. Simply, the saying, “you get what you pay for” definitely applies to wedding planning.

Research every vendor.

Planning a wedding is about more than just filling in the blanks. As you plan, research every wedding vendor so you get exactly what you expect (both quality and cost). When hiring vendors, research local vendors by asking friends and family for recommendations or browse reviews online (on these wedding vendor review sites). Once you have a short list of vendors, interview each vendor to determine if they are the “one.” (For your DJ, use this list of wedding DJ questions.)

Read the fine print.

Your vendor interviews serve two purposes: 1) to determine if the vendor is a good fit that offers quality services, and 2) to get a full list of costs. Many wedding vendors have hidden fees, such as travel charges, overtime fees, etc. As you interview them, ask them for a full list of costs or look for wedding vendors that offer a package.

Don’t stop budgeting.

The key to managing a wedding budget is to develop a system and stick to it. As you plan, add your receipts into your app or on to your checklist. Take advantage of all the wedding budget tricks you can, and plan on adjusting costs if one line item is more than you planned for. If you stick to it, you’ll have a well-managed budget and a beautiful wedding day to show for your efforts.

17 “Must Ask” Wedding Reception Dance Questions

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Wedding planning involves an endless list of questions. It can be overwhelming—unless you remember that every decision gets you one step closer to busting a move at an epic wedding reception dance (and so do these wedding dance tips). We’ve met and talked with many engaged couples facing big decisions about their wedding reception; that’s why we’ve crafted a list that helps soon-to-be newlyweds make the decisions that puts them one step closer to an impressively-planned and memorable wedding reception dance.

If you have any questions, don’t be afraid to put the proverbial shoe on the other foot; use this list of questions to interview your wedding entertainment (DJ!) and get one dance step closer to an unforgettable wedding reception.

Tips from the Pros: Planning the Ultimate Wedding Reception

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wedding where they take requestsWe’ve been to a lot of wedding receptions (6,000+). Needless to say, we’ve been part of some fantastic wedding receptions over the years. Our experience is your gain; we’ve compiled a list of some wedding planning tips that you can use to plan a wonderful wedding reception.

Be picky (and be careful!).

There are (literally) thousands of options for every part of your wedding in Chicago: wedding venues, djs, photographers, videographers, florists, bakers…the list could go on and on. As you research and hire the people that make your dream wedding a reality, be selective and wary of every vendor. Look for vendors that have plenty of experience, back-up plans for those “just in case” situations, and good reviews. Be careful of the low-cost options; you don’t want to scramble on your special day because you hired a sub-standard vendor (use this list of specific red flags to look for when hiring a wedding DJ).

Don’t underestimate the value of a “Cadillac.”

We’ve been around many couples and we know how important it is to stick to a wedding budget. However, don’t get so stuck on numbers that you focus only on hiring the lowest cost option. Vendors that are considered the “Cadillac” of their profession can provide valuable services that are worth a few extra dollars (and don’t automatically assume those vendors are not affordable!). Ask your vendors questions specifically about what they provide to make sure you are hiring the best option for your big day.

Lean on their experience.

Assuming that you hire experienced wedding vendors who have more than a few weddings under their belt (like us with our 6,000+), don’t hesitate to ask for recommendations and suggestions as you plan. Their suggestion may have been done at another wedding, but you can still customize the recommendation into an idea that feels very uniquely you (especially when part of a wedding reception that screams you at every turn!). Put simply, your wedding vendors have been there, done that. Use it. You’ll be glad you did.

Have a plan B.

Anything can happen on your big day. As much as you plan out every detail and minute, emergencies can still arise that can alter your original wedding plan (and we won’t even mention the weather, this is Chicago after all!). Be open to the idea that “just in case” situations do happen, and plan accordingly. Pack an emergency wedding kit. Plan for an alternate venue for your big day or photos if bad weather comes up. Find vendors that can still provide service even if equipment breaks or someone gets sick.

Two-way communication is vital for fantastic results.

There is some give and take when planning a wedding. As much as you need answers from your wedding vendor, be aware that you’ll need to give too (in fact two-way communication while planning leads to fantastic, custom results!). At every meeting, ask your wedding vendor what they need from you and when they need it by. As DJs, we can tell you that we need feedback on songs you want played (and not played), pronunciation help for your family and attendants, vendor information, venue limitations information (possibly not if we’ve worked there before), and any special requests that you may have (more information on what your DJ needs here). Keep track of deadlines, and respond as needed (you’ll be thankful you did!).

Focus on your guests.

Your wedding day is your special day, but make sure you keep your guests in mind as you plan. We’ll give you a few examples. Not every wedding guest wants to dance, so don’t plan on just one form of wedding entertainment. Give your guests choices, such as table games, photo booths, yard (or hall) games, and dance floor games (your DJ can give you ideas) that’ll make every guest enjoy the reception (and talk about it for days or years after-ideas for wedding entertainment here). For guests that are enjoying themselves all night (like those dance floor regulars), plan a late night course that fuels your guests and keeps them going.

Plan surprises!

This phrase sounds like an oxymoron; at a wedding reception it’s a really cool way to make your special day more memorable—and a lot more fun! Plan a surprise at your wedding reception that no one sees coming (and make sure you keep it a secret) for an over-the-top wedding reception (here’s a few fun surprise ideas you can use at your wedding reception). If you’re completely lost, don’t hesitate to ask your wedding vendors for ideas (we can help!) that’ll make your wedding reception feel like a night to remember.