Julie Blanner is the owner of Coordinately Yours, a Kansas City-based wedding and event planning company

Company: Coordinately Yours
Business type: Event Planning and Design
Website: www.coordinatelyyours.com
Owner: Julie Blanner
Phone: (913) 956-8030

Enthusiasm is a big deal. I considerate to be one of the biggest secrets to hiring the right people for your big day. Always look for people who communicate passion and excitement at the thought of being a part of your wedding. That’s why we are happy to introduce you to Julie Blanner of Coordinately Yours. She brings a terrific energy to her work and professon. We met Julie while working the wedding of Sarah and Jacob this summer. What a star! We sat down and asked Julie some questions about her work, wedding planning in general. Here’s the interview!

Q: What’s usually the greatest challenge when helping clients plan their wedding?
A: Accommodating not only the bride and groom, but their families’ wishes as well-they often conflict with the bride and groom’s.  While a challenge, it’s also why I love what I do!  I enjoy finding solutions that appease everyone.

Q: Why are you a wedding planner? What about it is calling for you?
A: I love getting to know a couple and their families during the months of planning.  I am invited to share in one of the happiest days of their lives-nothing replaces the gratification I receive by seeing the joy in their smiles at the conclusion a reception.

Q: What’s the strangest client request you have received?
A: I receive a lot of unique requests, often fueled by impulse and emotion.  It’s my job to help them refine their ideas to deliver their overall aesthetic.

Q: Why should a couple consider hiring a wedding planner?
A: Hiring a planner is like hiring a mediator between both vendors and family.  It can alleviate a lot of stress in addition to helping you make wise selections, providing savings to brides to be.

Q: What makes your services different from others providing similar services?
A: Wedding planning and design is constantly evolving-more brides are interested in diy options.  To accommodate, we now offer ala carte services to guide them and provide only the services they truly want/need.

Q: What are some common misconceptions about what it is you do?
A: Jennifer Lopez provided a lot of misconceptions in the movie “The Wedding Planner.”  It’s not nearly as glamourous!  I’m often crawling on the floor, lifting, engaged in stressful negotiations, etc.  It’s definitely not all design, in fact, that accounts for less than 30% of what I do.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself, (what do you love ot do in your freetime, favorite tv shows, movies, music, tell us a little about your family life and your background)
A: The months of March through October are primarily consumed with events/planning.  I find a lot of free time outside of those months to connect with family and friends, hosting intimate gatherings, going for a walk, an afternoon at a winery and seeking Kansas City’s best restaurants with my husband Chris and daughter Adalyn.  I find music to be one of my greatest inspirations and stress relievers.  From time to time, I even share some of my favorite songs on my blog.

Q: From your experience, is there any secrets or tips you have discovered to making a wedding truly wonderful for the couple, their guests and families?
A: Think of your reception as hosting guests in your home.  When you have guests in your home, you want them to feel welcome and comfortable.  Offer them a place to sit, food and a drink.
Keep everything in perspective, including your emotions and your budget.  Remember that little factors such as a friend who is unable to attend, a lopsided cake or another little glitch in the day doesn’t change the fact that you are marrying the love of your life and it’s official with only two witnesses and your officiate!

An image from a wedding we worked with Julie recently. Click the photo to see more!

Q: If I don’t have a large budget what are some ways you can help us plan and enjoy our wedding day?
A: Establish a firm budget and guest list before looking at gowns, venues, etc. The easiest way to trim your budget is by trimming your guest list.  In addition, doing so creates a more intimate and less stressful day while providing you time to speak with all of your guests.  Bigger isn’t always better.  We offer an ala carte Budget Development session where we create a realistic budget based on your allotment, style, number of guests, any predetermined factors and of course, cost in Kansas City.

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We did two wedding receptions at the Scarritt Grand Ballroom last year and all I can say is wow! This location at 819 Walnut is remarkable in so many ways and it comes with the very best surprise you wouldn’t expect! That surprise is not the wonderful ceiling work, the marble interiors, the beautiful chandeliers, the spacious ballroom nor is it the ample parking. The Scarritt Ballroom has all of these wonderful things, but those aren’t the surprise. The greatest surprise is the energy and enthusiasm of the venue manager Shilah Anway. What a lady!

I love what I do. To have the impact I do on such a singular event in the lives of others with my talents… it leaves me at a loss for words. What an honor! I don’t think becoming tremendous at your job is possible if you doesn’t speak to something deeper inside.

Now, we’ve all worked with people who do a decent enough job but they don’t necessarily communicate a passion or spark for what they do. It’s just a job. If they had their choices of places to be and things to do at that very moment, you know it probably wouldn’t be working with you.

Once in a while you’re lucky enough to meet someone who truly loves what she is doing. Enter Shilah of the Scarritt Ballroom. She brings a sense of fun, purpose and enthusiasm to Scarritt’s events that is contagious to everyone else. People like her make everything thrilling. The funny thing about working with someone who believes their work matters is they make you feel like you matter.

We’re honored to work with you Shilah!

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John Petrovic is an associate photographer for Glow Imagery

I first met John a few years ago while we were both slaving away photographing friday night football games for Kansas City area newspapers. John would invariably have to leave in order to photograph another football game for The Olathe News, a semi-daily serving the suburbs of Kansas City. Over the years our friendship and respect for one another’s work grew.

Anyone who knows me and my studio knows I have a strong leaning towards wedding photographers with a background in daily journalism. Why? There’s a lot of reasons. But primarily I believe the experience of creating front-page worthy art of out of what is usually very challenging, dull subject matter on a daily basis is a an amazing boot camp for photographers looking to branch into wedding and portrait photography. After a few years working for a daily newspaper I know a photographer will have the creative skills, resourcefullness and people skills that are mandatory for making a successfull wedding photographer.

If a photographer can make an amazing front-page image while standing in freezing rain with police officers bossing him or her around while staying calm, friendly and patient then they can handle your wedding pretty smoothly!

Since we met, The Olathe News has become a casualty of the great newspaper meltdown of 2008-09 and John has moved on to greener pastures. We sat down for an interview with John to share a little about himself with our current and future clients.

Q: How long have you been a professional photographer?
A: I have been a professional photographer since Jan. 2002.

Q: What is it you like most about working with Chris Cummins and his studio Glow Imagery?
A: The thing I like best working with Chris is that he is very approachable when having questions and he is willing to give constructive criticism. He is also very fun and great to work with.

Q: What is it you love most about wedding photography?
A: The thing I love most about wedding photography is being able to experience the couples big day and being able to provide them with something memorable they can enjoy the rest of their lives.

Q: What is your background in photography?
A: I started photography in high school as something that was just fun to do. But in college is where I really started to enjoy and it and I feel in love and new it was something I wanted to continue to do as a career. After college I worked in Junction City , KS at The Daily Union for almost three years. I moved back to the Kansas City metro area and worked at The Olathe News for five years.

Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
A: In my spare time I enjoy relaxing at home with my wife and 17-month old boy and occasionally trying to catch a sporting event or concert.

Q: What’s the wildest/craziest thing you have experienced as a photographer?
A: The craziest thing that has happened to me as a photographer I think was when I worked at The Daily Union in Junction City. The city is the close neighbor to the army base Fort Riley. I was photographing one of the entrances/exits (at the time I didn’t know it was illegal) for a story and when I was done and about to get in my car, the guards came running at me and made me put my hands up. They then called the local Junction City cops and I was let go.

Q: How do you feel your background in newspapers has prepared you for wedding photography?
A: My background has prepared me for wedding photography in a way that I can see/look for things in a different way than non-journalism trained photographers. I do the traditional posed type photography but will also get photographs that show the emotion that comes with the big day.

Q: Do you have a website where we can view your work?
A: You can view my work at http://jdpetrovic.carbonmade.com/ and http://johnpetrovic.instaproofs.com/

Click the photo to see a gallery of portfolio images from John Petrovic

Q: How would you describe your style of photography?
A: I would like to say my photography can be categorized as “in the moment.”

Q: How do you feel you benefit a couple as an associate photographer for Glow Imagery?
A: My background has prepared me for wedding photography in a way that I can see/look for things in a different way than non-journalism trained photographers. I do the traditional posed type photography but will also get photographs that show the emotion that comes with the big day.

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Your favorite photography studio was part of a write-up about wedding photojournalism in KC Magazine’s February issue. Check it out, Glow Imagery is on page 17. (Not our picture on the cover.)

Glow Imagery featured in the February issue of KC magazine. (Cover photo not Glow Imagery's)

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Mike Westerman is the owner of Premier Sound, providing DJ services in Kansas City.

Mike Westerman of Premier Sound | DJ services of Kansas City

Company: Premier Sound
Business type: DJ/entertainment
Website: www.premiersoundkc.com
Owner: Mike Westerman
Phone: (816) 517-1927

Q: How long have you been in the industry?

A: I’ve been in the industry close to 9 years. I started Premier Sound a little over a
year ago because I saw a need in Kansas City for a DJ service that specialized in
weddings.
Q: What size is your music library?
A: I’m approaching 30,000 songs. I have a little bit of everything, and I update my
library weekly. But I look at it this way. Quality is better than quantity. So I
always consult with my clients in advance to make sure I’m playing what they want.

Q: Are you the DJ at the receptions or do you have a team of DJ’s?
A: I’ve DJ’d on my own for years. But I’ve partnered with a great DJ for Premier
Sound, Jeremy Legg. He’s been at this for as long as I have, and has a good read on
crowds. My wife of 10 years, Crystal, also DJs with me. We’ve really tried to
offer a personalized experience for our clients that you just can’t get with some of
the bigger companies. And I want to make sure we stick to that philosophy
regardless of how much we expand.

Q: What equipment do you provide?
A: We have sound systems for smaller parties all the way up to large ballrooms. We also offer lighting solutions for all kinds of events. Lighting has come a long way in recent years with L.E.D. technology, so we’ve started incorporating it into our system. It runs cool, uses far less energy, and has a huge advantage over traditional lighting in that you it provides a near infinite array of colors and patterns.

Q: How much time do you require for set up?
A: It really depends on the event. Most of our equipment can be set up in 30-45 minutes. But any time I can get to the venue and set up earlier in the day, or even the day before, I will. That allows us to make sure that not only all of the equipment is working correctly in advance, but it helps us to tune it for the particular venue.
Q: What is it that you love the most about being a DJ?
A: I love music. I love performing. But the best part is when a previous client tells
me what a great job we did for them, or how their friends can’t stop talking about
their reception. Helping people have a great wedding day is really rewarding.
Q: If a couple requires you to MC, are you capable of doing so?
A: Absolutely. But we typically steer clear of a lot of the cheesy games and jokes.
There is definitely a market for that. But we’ve found that most of our clients are
looking for a more elegant and upscale feel to their wedding.

Q: In your experience, what are some of the dos and don’ts when working with a DJ?

A: Remember that your reception should be looked at like a gift to your friends and family members. So DO work with your DJ to make it fun and memorable for everyone invited. Planning the day out with your DJ in advance is essential to ensure that everything runs smoothly. With that in mind, DON’T make your song playlist all about you. Work with your DJ to make sure music is being played that everybody will dance to. Your guests will thank you.
Q: What’s the craziest thing you have seen as a DJ?
A: Actually what I’ve learned from that is that part of being a good DJ is knowing how to control the event to make sure everybody has a blast, without any problems along the way. They want it to be a night to remember, not a night they can’t remember. But, yes, I’ve seen a lot of crazy things. A professional never discloses the happenings of a great reception though. What happens at a reception, stays at a
reception. Right?

Q: What makes you different from other DJ companies?
A: We are all about building good relationships. With our clients. With other vendors. I’m a firm believer in building a great network of high quality people around me, and not stepping on others to get ahead. I think that philosophy
benefits everybody involved. Also, being a smaller local company allows us to be very accessible to our clients. I give every client my personal cellphone number and email address, and they know they can reach me 24/7 directly anytime they need something.
Another great aspect of our company is that 99% of what we do is weddings. So clients can have complete confidence that we know what we are doing, and will treat their special day with the respect and professionalism it deserves.

Check out a gallery of images from this Kansas City wedding DJ’s work at a recent wedding.

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Amy Cason is the owner of Victorian Gardens, a Kansas City wedding florist business.

Company: Victorian Gardens
Business type: florist
Website: www.victoriangardens.com
Owner: Amy Cason
Phone: (816) 835-9791

For a few years now we have been big fans of the wedding florist creations at Victorian Gardens and its owner Amy Cason. Amy has done the flowers for a number of our clients and all have been very pleased with Amy’s work. No drama, no hassles, and only good surprises is what you can expect from this Kansas City wedding florist. We spoke with Amy recently to learn more about her and her services and to introduce her to our current and future clients.

Q: How long have you been in business?
A: I have been a floral designer for 14 years.

I’ve had a passion for flowers and natural elements for even longer though. I remember picking flowers from my mothers garden, taking time to place each flower in its special place until the flowers looked perfect. I dreaded the first frost because it meant I’d have to wait until spring to see the little heads of daffadills and crocus poking through. The desire never subsided and I knew that this is what I was designed to do.

Q: What are your artistic sensibilities, the styles you love, you favorite flowers and palettes?
A: I love the variety and addition of taboo flowers. Years ago certain elements would have been unheard of. Thistle was a weed and grasses and branches were never added. Now pods, mosses and many other elements are adding textures and details. Nothing is off limits and floral design is now more of an art form and an expression of ones self. Picking a favorite flower, for me, would be like picking one of your children as your favorite. I love to use each one in its own form and design style. I love the power of monochromatic, the effect of one color in a grouping is quite striking.

Q: What is it you love about being a florist?
A: Every bride has a vision of what her day is to look like. Some since they were a young girl or others that have just started to plan the day with their new love. I love bringing that vision to life and helping their dreams come true.
I also enjoy the artistic design of bringing several element together to create a complete and finished look. Transforming a blank space into a breath taking venue or complementing an already lovely location by magnifying or accenting its beauty.

Q: What are some popular trends, styles right now?
A: What I love about this era of floral design is that anything goes. There are no traditions and making your wedding day more of your style is what is in. If you love punk or want to wear a short sun dress with guys in suits or have your ceremony in a theater , whatever depicts you is what make this your day. Popular styles are using your personal collections and incorporation them into your design.

Q: Do you offer rental items, such as vases, potted plants, arches, trellises, candelabras or urns?
A: We can rent whatever your needs or wants are. Candelabras, urns, vases, plants, arches, chuppahs, mandaps , pillars and anything you might need. just let us know.

Click on the images to view a gallery of photos featuring the floral creations of Victorian Gardens

Q: Do your preserve bouquets after the wedding?
A: No, we do not preserve bouquet but we have a list of people who do.

Q: How many weddings do you service per day? Do you have a maximum number you’re willing to do?
A: We try to only book one wedding a day. You do not need to worry about your florist being late or problems occurring. However if we do have weddings that have only personal flowers that they need and no setup is required then we may book two on a day but never more than that.

Click on the images to view a gallery of photos featuring the floral creations of Victorian Gardens

Q: What makes your service and products different?
A: My personal touch to each bride and attention to detail. I love when a bride adds any sentimental items, or heirlooms from her collection. The more creativity brought in the more personalized and unique each wedding becomes. We’re also different from those vendors that don’t deliver or instead require the bride to make arrangements to pick-up their own flowers or those vendors that just drop them off at the wedding. Those vendors have no personal attachment to the brides and It seemed to make their day much more hectic.
I realized that I could supply better product without the mark up, while offering a personal touch with the delivery, set up, and helping remove items for the clean up afterwards. This helped to personalize each wedding for each bride. Each bride is different and should be treated as such.

Q: Do you decorate the cake with flowers or should the cake baker?
A: I usually decorate the cake but if the person is there that made it and wishes to place the flowers, I am fine with that. It is their form of art and if they have a vision and wish to finish it I respect that as a fellow artist.

Q: What’s the craziest experience you have had as a florist?
A: The craziest experience I have had was having to almost completely cover a cake with flowers because it was dropped on the way into the reception and had to be pieced back together.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: In an effort to better serve our clients, we will be running a series of blog posts throughout 2010 profiling various Kansas City wedding vendors we have worked with before and we feel offer excellent services to couples planning their wedding.

Our first vendor spotlight is of Elite Sounds, a Kansas City wedding DJ. Elite Sounds is owned by Craig Loftis and they can be contacted at (816) 305-7291. We worked with Craig at an event in early August of 2009 and were impressed. One of the main criteria I use to judge a DJ is if they have a feel for the reception, can keep the dance floor pumping and actually make the effort to learn the correct pronunciation of the wedding party’s names (this is kind of a biggie for us.) Elite Sounds succeeded on all counts.

Here’s what the bride from that evening, Amanda Durnal, had to say:

I really enjoyed Craig. He was organized but flexible and kept my dance floor full. His reception plan sheet is very detailed and allows the couple to practically design their night and then he sticks to the plan. He helped us think through some of the things that we may have overlooked (special songs, announcements, etc) with his planning.

THE INTERVIEW:

• How long have you been in the industry? I have been in the industry since 2001
• What size is your music library? Our music library features tens of thousands of songs.
• Are you the DJ at the receptions or do you have a team of DJ’s? Elite Sounds has four DJ’s all of which have roughly 10 years of experience in the business. Our DJ’s have not only performed for thousands of wedding guests, but have also opened or worked with nationally touring artist such as Jessica Simpson, LL Cool J, Mya, Christina Millian, Tone Loc, Vanilla Ice, & C & C Music Factory. Each client has the opportunity to meet their DJ before booking if they would like.
• What equipment do you provide? We provide PA, microphone and lighting.
• How much time do you require for set up? Our set up time is 1.5 hours.
• Do you take requests? We take requests that fit into the music guidelines given by the bride and groom.
• If a couple requires you to MC, are you capable of doing so? Our DJ’s have experience working for local radio stations such as Jack FM, 95.7 The Vibe, and Magic 107.3 so we pride ourselves on the ability to be able to offer great emcees when needed.



• Will you get every song a couple wants, or do they have to provide you with the ones you don’t have? We offer what we refer to as an “endless music library” meaning we will get any song that a client wants with no additional cost to them.
• How will you be dressed? We prefer to dress just like a guest.
• What makes you different from other DJ companies?
  Since 2001 Elite Sounds Entertainment Group has set the standard for DJ entertainment in Kansas City for wedding, corporate, school, and nightclub clients alike with their eclectic song selection, mixing, and versatile style.

  Ask any previous client, and they will tell you why Elite Sounds was voted Kansas City’s Best DJ Company during KMBC’s A List competition this past year! Elite Sounds has found their niche in the market by providing technically polished Club DJ’s skilled in the art of seamlessly mixing records spanning from the 60,s , 70’s, and 80’s all the way to current Top 40, Rock, and Club. Although most guests don’t understand what the DJ is technically doing, they do understand and appreciate how Elite Sounds differs from the competition!

  Elite Sounds Entertainment Group has quickly become the go-to company for clients such as Ralph Lauren Fragrance, Sprint/Nextel, The Buckle Inc., Harrah’s North Kansas City, Cumulus Media, as well as hundreds of brides looking for a modern vibe not achievable by most. Once you experience Elite Sounds you will understand why they are considered the premiere DJ company in the Midwest.

Visit a picture gallery of dance floor images from a wedding in which Elite Sounds provided the reception’s entertainment. If you have a vendor you feel deserves a spotlight on this blog let us know about them!

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