I am writing this as a result of receiving my FIRST one star review since opening our doors, It was like a knife in my chest! I read it over 10 times trying to make sense of the incident. We believe bad reviews are a teachable opportunity, so we take them seriously, but this was a total bash fest.

How do you know when a review is biased? The honest answer is, we never really will. The best advice I can give, is to do your homework. I know I say that ALL the time. I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it.

If you're like me, when deciding where to eat, see a show, find a place to crash... {especially when traveling} I look to yelp, the bbb, trip advisor and other sites dedicated to business reviews. For the most part, I look at the pictures and the first 3 or 4 reviews. If a review intrigues me, I dig in, so to speak, Narrowing down my choices to 3 or 4 helps me decide. Then all that's left is to experience it myself.

Testing the waters is not an option when it's your wedding. Reviews become our window into a company's soul. Having said that, reviews tell us three things, 1-who the consumer is, 2-who the business is and 3-what customers SAY they have experienced. It is your job to find out if the gripe is real, perceived or was handled satisfactorily.

I say... TRUST that you can find intel from reviews. Prepare your questions and contact the business. Express your concern over negative reviews and listen to what they have to say. Sometimes a business won't even know the review exists until you tell them about it. Like in my case. 

For the record I disputed that review and it was subsequently taken down by the blog it was submitted to. It was determined that the reviewer was never a customer of ours, nor did they have proof they ever contacted us. They also mentioned in their review how wonderful our competitor was and that everyone should go to them instead. OUCH!

What goes  IN to your event is what you get out of it.

Event service providers are springing up everywhere these days. How do you know what or who is right for you? This is where doing your due diligence is key. It IS a lot of work but you'll be thankful you did it.
Anyone can look good on paper (regardless of the atrocious spelling and deplorable grammar...sorry a pet peeve of mine), their reviews can even be glowing, but are they prepared and armed with a good plan, insured against mishaps or even seasoned enough to be a good source of knowledge? 

-How long have they been in business?
This should not be the deciding factor, as there are some vendors who are the      
epitome of professionalism and have only just opened their doors. While the
other side of the pendulum is a polar opposite.
-Insured?
This IS the deal breaker. You'll want to be certain the business you use, is insured,          but even more importantly is their staff or sub-contractors insured? Putting up              lights is not just a plug and play responsibility. YOU could be faced with a major 
liability if something goes wrong.
Most venues don't permit uninsured vendors on site. To discover the day of your           event that you have hired an uninsured vendor, and they won't be given access to         your site  is already too late to do anything about it.
-Familiar with venues?
 Knowing the power need and areas that require special attention or preparation, is      vital to the health of your event. It's not in your best interest to hire a vendor with a      just wing it attitude.
-Are they educated/experienced?
 There is more than one way to skin a cat, so to speak. While traditional education        means going to school, there are other ways of learning and perfecting a trade. Pay    close attention to the continuing efforts of the vendor.

• Do they know it all or seem jaded? .
• Do you suspect they may be exaggerating their capabilities or                     experience? Don't be    shy...ask for proof
• Can they produce certificates or evidence of said education?

-Bad Reviews?
Any business who's been around long enough, has had their fair share of bad reviews. In my best Abe Lincoln voice "You can please some of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time". THEN there is the time when a business really DID mess up. YES it happens to the best...ALL of them. No single business is immune. The question here, would be how did they handle it. 

​Ask the tough questions, your event (although kind of cliche) is a once in a lifetime event. You don't have the luxury of lessons learned. Paying close attention from the get go will help you find and TRUST the right professionals for you. 

Favors
     Our momma's and momma's friends all had them. We fondly remember opening the sweet little treats, as if they were our own personal gifts. The trend seems to be making a comeback in the form of homemade and organic.  This translates into costly.  "Gifting" your guests, is not just an added expense, it is an added chore. Don't get us wrong, we ADORE favors, done tastefully and of course if the budget allows.

Unnecessary Decor
       How many candles and little trinkets do you really need on the tables to  make it really pretty and uniquely yours? Surprisingly not as much as you're told... or should I say...up sold? 

RSVP Cards
       Include a phone number, email or evite. Designate someone from your bridal party or your planner to receive the electronic rsvps and calls. The paper trail is not necessarily worth the additional cost. Especially since we have all this technology at our fingertips.

Save The Dates
       Ditto on the evites for this one.

Menus
       A nice touch in lieu, would be to have the chef give you a quick table side presentation on his wonderful meal. It's interactive and may cost you a lot less than the printed pretties. 
       If you DO have the means to add this to your wedding collection

Programs
        Let it flow! Personally, I don't like programs. Your guests could become anxious with with expectation if something is out of order or not on time. You could become a slave to a script that almost never goes off without a hitch. 

Rehearsal Lunch/Dinner
         Sure you need practice, we understand. A big hoopla is not the way to go. Spend the money on your big day. Your wedding party and compulsory staff need be present. 
          Keep it informal. Hit a trendy sandwich shop and go Dutch. Even if you want to pay for everyone, it still won't cost you as much as another event. 

Venue
        Get the right size space. Don't go big and then struggle to make it intimate. Sure you LOVE that one location and have always dreamed of having your wedding there, but with a smaller guest list it will put a strain on the budget and force you to add decor items and details you wouldn't need with the right size venue

Signature Drinks
        His and Her special cocktails are the rage. A good chocolate martini is not only expensive but doesn't go a long way. I'm salivating just thinking about it! If I were at your wedding, you could pay me over $200 to drink up all that Godiva chocolate, multiply that by 50-60 people. Ouch. 

Small Cake-Big Dessert Table
         Not so new idea, great savings. With a smaller cake you can opt for a prettier design without the price tag. Your caterer usually has a dessert selection your guests will love. Cupcakes are also a nice alternative to cake slices.

No...that's not the word I was looking for, ARTIFICIAL ...there you go.
How can you design elaborate flower stories with blooms that are out of season?
Silks and other artificials, that's how!
This also helps with sensitive sniffers. I have family members who are fragrance intolerant. They shy away from events, where there would most likely be an abundance of flowers or heavy scents just because of their allergies. If you have that same issue, or have guests who suffer from allergies, consider artificial flowers or even just LED candles and other decor
elements to compliment your design.
The professionals at Hawaii Island Events are waiting to liven up your event with Silks!

    We've rounded up the top 10 MUST haves in a planner,
according to our awesome clients and top ten checklists everywhere.