This week we are featuring Cheers! Chicago, who is a full-service event planning firm dedicated to providing exemplary customer service based on professional quality, treating clients like family, and truly caring about couples beyond their wedding day.
Sarah is the CEO of Cheers! Chicago. She is an amazing, sweet, friendly and organized planner. We became fast friends when we met last year. Here is a bit about her in her own words.
“Hey! I’m Sarah! I am so blessed to have the most incredible, crazy-awesome job in the world: working with the coolest couples and their families to create the best day of their lives! I’ve been a part of this spectacular industry for six years, and I absolutely adore each and every one of my couples and am notorious for getting choked up after sending my beautiful brides down the aisle to meet their groom! My favorite part of being a planner is continuing to be a part of my couples’ lives after the wedding day- seeing their honeymoon and world travel photos on Instagram, hearing all about married life, buying their first home, and adding new little members to their family!”
I asked Sarah to offer some advice for planning the big day, she offered some great tips on the guest list, which is a stressful part of the wedding planning!!
Advice: One of the most common concerns I see with couples right off the bat is a monster of a guest list. Typically, you can account for about 20% of your guest list to decline to attend your wedding, but there are two basic things I always recommend if your dream venue’s maximum capacity sits uncomfortably close to the number of people on your guest list:
1) Only send Save The Dates to your immediate family and besties, people you absolutely KNOW will be there (or people you WANT to be there!)
2) Etiquette for mailing out your invitations is 6-8 weeks before your wedding day. Mail your invitations out closer to the 6-week mark if you are worried about being over capacity or that space in your reception will be tight. Give people the opportunity to make other plans on your wedding weekend!
If you would like more information about Cheers! Chicago Events or are looking for a wedding planner or day of coordination for your Chicago area wedding you can learn more by visiting Cheers! Chicago here.
I also found this great article on WeddingHappy.com to get you started on your guest list as it can be overwhelming, but once you break it down into categories and lists it can become much more manageable. I hope you check it out!!
