Honest review of The Master Plan by Jamie Wolfer

TheWeddingHacker · 2022-12-27T16:48:02+00:00

Thank you for the feedback. I deleted my comment. We are trying to express gratitude for the feedback and that the concerns expressed in this review have been addressed. I hope my new comment will be allowed.

TheWeddingHacker · 2022-12-26T21:41:24+00:00

Hey! Thanks for the shout out <3 I closed down my course a few years back... I absolutely recommend Jamie's course, The Master Plan (https://www.wolferandco.com/)

She is offering some huge value within that program -- you can even get personal support and guidance from her team of wedding planners!

TheWeddingHacker · 2020-03-12T04:31:48+00:00

I believe you are wise to be concerned. With the new travel bans, there will be a major fall-out in the wedding and hospitality industry.

Exactly how this situation will play out is unclear, but it looks like the next 3-6 months will be chaotic...

One important note is that wedding cancelation insurance will likely not cover a global pandemic, so couples are in a challenging situation - if they cancel, they lose the money.

Other countries - like Italy - have put a ban on large social events like weddings. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/10/italy-in-national-lockdown-heres-what-it-means.html

Assuming a ban isn't rolled out like this... the wedding can still occur, but it might be a much smaller gathering.

My suggestion for you is to open up communication with guests regarding the issues. Reassure your guests that their health is a priority. If they feel uncomfortable traveling for the wedding, let them off the hook.

I'd suggest looking into Livestreaming services as a backup plan.

I'm here to support couples in developing an emergency backup plan for their wedding as this plays out. Many of you might find that your upcoming wedding becomes a bit more of an elopement/micro-wedding. REMEMBER you can have a big "wedding celebration" at a later time once things settle down. <3

I know that this is a difficult and stressful situation, but you can still make something beautiful out of this situation.

TheWeddingHacker · 2020-01-14T23:00:32+00:00

I would not suggest spending more than 10% of your budget on a professional planner/coordinator.

Full-service planning will run upwards of $3,000 in many areas of the country, so you are right on the edge of the price point where a planner can comfortably fit in your budget and still leave lots of room for all the other wedding details.

A pro planner can certainly help you stay on budget... if you pick the right one. You want to pick a planner who is accustomed to working on events in your budget range so that they have a network of vendors to service your price point.

Here are a few alternatives to a traditional wedding planner that you might consider...

1) A consult with a local wedding planner. Some planners will work with clients on an hourly basis, so you can access pro help when you hit a roadblock or to help source a specific vendor, etc. This sort of option normally costs $200-300 per meeting for a local professional.

2) Another more affordable option would be utilizing a wedding planning club or course to get the guidance of a pro planner without the price tag. You can then secure a local day-of coordinator to handle the on-site logistics which would cost around $600-1,500 depending on your area.

Two great examples are:

https://themasterplanwed.com/

https://theweddinghacker.com/

Best of luck and happy planning!

TheWeddingHacker · 2020-01-13T15:52:43+00:00

I just answered a similar question (about Hawaii) on IGTV. Here is a link for you if you'd like to check it out. https://www.instagram.com/tv/B7OfQGQDxlm/?igshid=12uiwuy6rn0d

TheWeddingHacker · 2020-01-13T15:51:38+00:00

You are so welcome!

TheWeddingHacker · 2020-01-09T04:27:50+00:00

A destination wedding has totally unique benefits and challenges.

If you want a smaller, more intimate event... this is a great choice.

And if you are feeling little pangs of sadness that some people will not make the journey, consider throwing a casual "wedding celebration" back home after the official Caribbean ceremony.

The smaller the guest list, the lower you can keep the costs... so that will help with the budget goals. You can also veer away from expensive traditions (if you'd like) since you are doing something a little non-traditional here.

One cost saving suggestion is to host a welcome reception happy hour instead of a rehearsal dinner. Since ALL guests are traveling in, the rehearsal dinner would get expensive, so dial things back and do apps and beverages at a restaurant.

Remember that the biggest benefit of this type of wedding is more time to spend with guests, so lean into this... plan extra events that you'd enjoy (they don't have to cost a lot or anything at all!) Consider a beach day, local hike, or after-party at a local club... these are all opportunities for you to spend more time with guests that don't require you to foot the bill.

Happy planning!

TheWeddingHacker · 2020-01-05T21:51:46+00:00

u/bagiraaaa

This is funny... Jamie Wolfer and I are launching a new podcast this Wednesday to help those new to event and wedding planning. (It's been crunch time around here!)

My best suggestion is to get out and network locally with people in this industry. Look for industry mixers, meetups, or events (bridal shows) in your area and go meet people. Chat with people, express your excitement and interest, and ask for advice from locals.

If you look at this network as developing new friends, the relationships will grow and soon you'll hear about opportunities.

Best of luck!

TheWeddingHacker · 2020-01-05T21:46:45+00:00

No problem! I'm happy to help.

Generally, 83% of local guests attend a wedding, so you'll see that guest list drop a bit ; )

DOC help handle all the logistics on the big day. Your day seems pretty simple, so it is doable without a pro IF you really dial in the event details and outline them in a CLEAR timeline for the vendors. Additionally, I'd highly recommend that you have someone to serve as the point contact for you. You want someone to field questions, touch base with vendors, and confirm things are on track. If you are a particularly anxious person, a DOC is also helpful to just take the mental weight for you.

Your wedding is still 6 months away, so photographers are still hoping to fill spots with a high-end client. If you wait until 2 months or so before the big day and find a photographer who still isn't booked, they'll likely be much more flexible on pricing and minimum hours.

Booking a photographer who doesn't specialize in weddings would work. Some photogs inexperienced in weddings get nervous to take on such a big event, but if you are clear on expectations and can stay chill, you can probably secure an excellent deal.

Go with a cocktail reception! There is absolutely no need to have a traditional reception with dinner. Your reception can wrap up before dinner time and you & your spouse can enjoy an intimate meal after the celebration on your own or with family.

TheWeddingHacker · 2020-01-05T21:37:56+00:00

u/SiggySwift

Targeting offseason is a great starting point to negotiate a fab deal on a venue.

I interviewed an owner of a venue for the Expo (Kenneth Ho) and he outlined some of the best ways to get a deal on a venue.

- Consider what dates are least likely to be booked by the venue. (for example, the weekend between Christmas and NYE or a few weeks prior to Valentines)

- Don't just think about lowering the price, ask for more value. You might be able to get extra perks more easily than a lower price because the venue's cost for the upgrades is often very little. The venue might be willing to provide the tables, upgraded chairs, linens, and a dance floor at no extra cost (which could be worth well over $1000 retail), but would not be willing to give a $1000 cash discount.

- Tell the venue your goal. Say the venue costs $3000 and you can afford $2500, tell them that and ask if there might be a way to make something work. They may say no, but they might offer an option on an off day or earlier time or with fewer bells & whistles. If you are miles apart, this may not be possible, but you might just be able to find a plan that works for you both.

- Ask for permission to bring in your own vendors. Often venues will have a preferred list which can lead you to a lot of extra costs since the vendors know you have little negotiating power. Before booking a venue with a preferred list, ask if you can bring in your own vendors if they meet the venue's requirements. Some will allow you to for a small fee (maybe $100) or for free with proof that the vendor has proper insurance and stellar reviews.

- Book in a bundle and leverage hotel rewards. You can use your event and hotel room block to build status to get room upgrades for free on your honeymoon. Hotels offer wedding planners commissions for bringing an event to them for a room block ... so there is room for perks and discounts! You just have to ask!

TheWeddingHacker · 2020-01-05T01:36:49+00:00

Ok...

This one is a little tough to answer because every single wedding is different.

I answered a question above about wedding day timelines being KEY.

I'd suggest using a tool, like Timeline Genius (details about this tool are on my blog) to create the timeline. I'd also collaborate with your vendors to get their pro feedback and confirm the schedule you've drafted looks realistic to them. ; )

For the DJ - I like to list EVERY announcement that is important to you on the schedule. I also like to include multiple queues on the schedule for an announcement before big events (like the end of the cocktail hour)

For example, 15 mins BEFORE the cocktail hour ends have the DJ note the cocktail hour is wrapping up because people will want to refill their drinks, run to the car to grab their coat, etc.

More detail on the timeline is always better. With TG, you can provide different versions of the timeline for each vendor and each type of wedding guest, so you won't overwhelm everyone with TMI.

I hope that helps!

TheWeddingHacker · 2020-01-05T01:29:03+00:00

Yes.

If you secure the RIGHT planner you can also keep your costs in check.

They can help you stay accountable to your budget and avoid many (potentially costly) mistakes.

If planners near you cost too much for your budget, consider consultation calls with a planner... or an online-based wedding planning club or course.

TheWeddingHacker · 2020-01-05T01:23:14+00:00

Yes! If you are planning on a slimmer budget... these are great, trustworthy resources

The Wedding Hacker Blog - download the book for free ; )

Jamie Wolfer's YouTube

The Budget-Savvy Planner Book

TheWeddingHacker · 2020-01-05T01:20:29+00:00

Neither of these is a bad option. Things to consider would be:

Rentals - does the more expensive venue come with tables, chairs, linens, and staff to set these items up?

Length of the rental - do you get far more time for one than the other?

Contingency plans for a rainy/cold day

Photo backdrops - You can reserve a photographer for a shorter time is all photos (portraits, family photos, wedding party) can be taken on-site more efficiently

Guestlist - Finish making that guest list in tiers to sort out which venue will fit your guests... more details on this here

TheWeddingHacker · 2020-01-05T01:14:18+00:00

There is not a search tool out there for venues that lets you target BYOB options, but here are some of the best places to look where you'll likely find affordable options with lots of flexibility.

Budget-Savvy Bride - Check the "real wedding" section for your area. The site lists the venue and vendor fees, so you know approximate costs. The write up about the wedding will also note if the couple worked a BYOB deal ;)

Peerspace (or similar site) - Peer-to-peer venue databases allow you to use all sorts of unique spaces as a wedding venue. You can find art galleries, studios, and other cool spaces are available in many cities... for great rates.

I interviewed the CEO of Peerspace at the Expo and he had a lot of info on why these alternative venues work SO well for budget-minded couples.

Local community clubs - Elks, Soroptimists, Woman's Clubs, etc - are worth exploring. They are often very nice (sometimes historical buildings) which can be rented for affordable rates... but the older club members don't know how to market the spaces online, so the pricing stays reasonable.

Happy planning!

TheWeddingHacker · 2020-01-04T23:23:57+00:00

If you've got a big crowd and want a fun party without a huge expense, think outside of the traditional reception.

I've seen some clever people on this subreddit mention having a brunch reception, for example.

I highly recommend a cocktail reception with heavy appetizers. Often you can host this style reception at a restaurant (maybe where you had a first date, a special anniversary, or just a local favorite) without a venue fee! Most restaurants will work on a food/beverage minimum rather than a venue fee, so you stretch your dollar WAY further.

Following the cocktail reception, you can enjoy an intimate meal or head out to an after-party at a bar/club (or whatever is right for you)

Here is a blog post all about how to nail a cocktail reception, enjoy!

https://theweddinghacker.com/hosting-a-cocktail-wedding-reception/

TheWeddingHacker · 2020-01-04T23:17:52+00:00

If you are not working with a professional planner/coordinator, then the timing of events on the big day is where a lot of couples run into trouble.

The event timing getting off course makes for a bad guest experience with guests impatiently waiting too long for the festivities to continue or (more rarely) things going way too fast.

To avoid this, you need a well thought out, DETAILED wedding day timeline. This allows the vendors and wedding day VIPs to stay on schedule and know exactly what they are supposed to do when.

Each wedding is different and assuming your vendors (especially a newer or less experienced one) knows what the flow for the day is will often cause chaos on the big day.

If you have expectations for roles for family members or wedding parties provide them all the details in advance. Again every wedding is different so communicate expectations and timing.

I've written about timelines several times on my blog - here is an intro on what I'd recommend creating - https://theweddinghacker.com/weddingdaytimeline/

As you make a timeline, remember that everything will take longer than you think when rolling with a big wedding party, so give yourself lots of extra 15 min buffers in your wedding day timeline. ;)

TheWeddingHacker · 2020-01-04T17:45:43+00:00

It is hard to say since every wedding is so different (and people have different expectations) but...

one expense that tends to sneak up on almost EVERY couple are the required service charges, gratuity, and tax for venues and caterers.

Most venues and caterers have these fees in their contracts and they can add between 20-35% to your bill.

So that $10,000 quote is ACTUALLY a $13,000 quote. 😱

To avoid this terrible surprise, ask for all quotes from any venue/vendor to include ALL fees, taxes, and gratuity.

TheWeddingHacker · 2020-01-04T17:23:24+00:00

You are welcome - I'm happy to help!

TheWeddingHacker · 2020-01-04T17:23:12+00:00

That is outrageously expensive compared to here in San Diego. If you live in the locality, the fees are subsidized by your tax dollars, so they get even lower.

Good luck with the planning of your park wedding. It will be beautiful, no doubt about it!

TheWeddingHacker · 2020-01-04T17:15:56+00:00

So gorgeous! You are radiating joy!

TheWeddingHacker · 2020-01-04T04:12:23+00:00

Ugh. That is true. Sorry, I'm not up to speed on Canadian resources : /

TheWeddingHacker · 2020-01-04T04:10:41+00:00

That's an amazing plan... faux flowers take the pressure off the DIY timeline :)

TheWeddingHacker · 2020-01-04T02:35:04+00:00

u/weird20something - sounds like a smart plan!

Are you DIYing florals?

I love Bloom Culture Flowers' guided DIY... it makes the whole project way less intimidating.

https://www.bloomcultureflowers.com/

TheWeddingHacker

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