Contact me via e-mail at or by telephone at 214-616-6961.

So he popped the question and you said "Yes!"  And now the reality has set in... You want to plan the perfect wedding, but meanwhile, you have a job, responsibilities, a life.  How do you manage to do it all without tearing out your hair (which would really not do much for your wedding photos)?

Let me help.  My name is Lynnette Lakey Taff, and I'm an experienced wedding and party planner based in Lancaster, TX.  In four years as the Wedding Coordinator for First Presbyterian Church of Lancaster, I accumulated a wealth of experience and contacts that I can now put to work for you as you start planning your wedding.

I can help you with as little or as much of your planning as you would like - whatever it will take to allow you to feel rested and stress-free on your wedding day.
 

I can help you:

• Create a budget.  This is an important first step that many brides overlook, and then later regret when the dollars run out before the wish list is fulfilled.  Rest assured, you can have a wonderful wedding on a low budget.  It just takes creative planning and good organization.

• Find the perfect location for your wedding and reception - even for your bridal portrait!

• Select a caterer and negotiate the best price

• Select a wedding cake that's both beautiful and delicious

• Select a groom's cake that makes him happy without embarrassing you!

• Select the perfect flowers and a florist you can count on

• Select a photographer and videographer and negotiate the best price

• Select music and musicians for the ceremony and for the reception

• Write personalized vows (if permitted by your church)

• Find your way through the sometimes confusing rules of etiquette

• Follow religious traditions for your faith

• Make rational decisions about the guest list

• Select invitations, word them just right, address and mail them, with personalized photo stamps if you desire!

• Create a wedding program that's useful to your guests while still reflecting your personal style

• Select the perfect gifts for your bridal party and wedding favors for your guests

• Organize wedding day transportation for the bridal party, including your "getaway"

• Arrange hotel accommodations and special activities for your out-of-town guests

• Announce your good news (engagement and wedding) via your local newspaper

• Keep track of gifts received and send "Thank You" notes on a timely basis

There are so many details that can separate your wedding from all the rest, that can elevate yours to an occasion that will give you memories to last a lifetime.  Rather than allowing yourself to be stressed by all those details, offload them and enjoy yourself through these momentous days.

If you want, I can also help your friends and family as they make plans to fete you in the weeks leading up to your wedding. I can help them:

• Plan a bridal shower where people actually have fun!

• Organize a day of pampering for the bride and her attendants

• Plan your rehearsal dinner

• Compose the perfect toast for the happy couple

My services are reasonably priced, starting with:

Wedding Week-End Package - $300*

• At your rehearsal, I'll help you arrange the bridal party placement, with consideration to relationships, etiquette, and photographic appeal. I'll help you deal with the minister or officiant to be sure that he or she understands how you would like for the ceremony to flow. Typically, I like to walk through the service at least twice to be sure that everyone knows their places, as well as their points of entry and exit.

• At your wedding, I'll be sure people are in the right place at the right time.  I'll be sure ushers know how and where to seat your guests.  I'll talk to the photographer and videographer to be sure they understand the facility's rules.  I'll talk to the musicians to be sure everyone knows their cues.  I'll help you arrange a receiving line, if you plan to have one at the wedding site.  I'll be a runner, a traffic cop, whatever it takes to ensure things flow smoothly.

• At your reception, I'll work with your caterer to be sure your guests receive superb food and beverage service.  I'll work with your photographer to make sure that all your photo opportunities take place according to your wishes - toasts, cutting the cake, first dance, dance with parents, tossing the bouquet, tossing the garter, etc.

One thing I've learned from experience is that the wedding planner can be an important intermediary between the bride and all others on your wedding day.  If you need someone to be "the bad guy" - I can handle it with grace.  It's important to your peace of mind that you don't allow others to impress their wishes upon you, no matter how good their intentions may be.  For example. you have asked your best friend's darling 4-year-old daughter to be your flower girl, but on the big day, she is having a temper tantrum and can't be mollified.  Let me handle it, so you can remain not only free from unnecessary stress, but also free from blame.  Your wedding won't be spoiled, and your friendship will remain intact - all because the wedding planner intervened instead of leaving such a burden on the bride.

If you prefer a different array of services, including advance planning items such as those listed under "I can help you" or if you need only very specific services such as composing personalized vows, I'll be glad to create a special package based on your individual needs.  Or if you're not sure how much you can handle on your own, we can stipulate an hourly rate.  Either way, I promise to do my very best to make you feel like my fees are the best investment you've made among your many wedding expenses.

Contact me via e-mail at or by telephone at 214-616-6961.

* As a general rule, this package includes one hour of advance consultation, one hour of service on rehearsal day and four hours on your wedding day.  This price applies only for weddings in Dallas, TX.  Services are available throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, but an additional mileage charge may apply for weddings outside of Dallas.  

Wedding Website - $300

In addition to helping you plan your wedding, I can help you announce it to the world via the internet with a personalized wedding website.  Price includes these features:

• Customized URL - I'll register the name of your choice for one year, subject to availability.

• Main Page - Include information about your wedding plans (date, time, location, map) plus links to your bridal registries.

• "How We Met" Page - Tell your story with text and photos.

• "Travel" Page - Include information about arrangements you've made with local hotels (discounted rate for your guests, number of rooms blocked).  You may also want to include links to special airfare deals, along with maps from the airport to the hotel.  In addition, if you have planned special activities for your out-of-town guests, this would be the ideal place to provide details.

• Guest Book - Give your friends and family a place to express their good wishes.

My goal is for your wedding website to reflect your style, so the design and content of each page will be determined according to your wishes.  The features listed above are suggestions based on my experience, but I'm very happy to work with you to design a website that suits your needs and taste.

Contact me via e-mail at or by telephone at 214-616-6961.

My Wedding - May 8, 1999