Mangelsen's Interview

For many brides the steps necessary in planning the perfect wedding can become an overwhelming task. You might find yourself asking, “How can I save time, get everything done that needs to get done, avoid pushing the panic-button, and yet keep my costs under control?”
 
OmahaBrides.com interviewed Nancy Bachmann, Floral & Wedding Manager of www.mangelsens.com to find out her thoughts and suggestions as to how you can keep both stress and cost under control, while saving precious time in the process of planning your wedding.

Omaha Brides: Nancy, as you and I know time is always of the essence.  It seems we never have enough time to get important things done.  This is also true for the bride-to-be while planning her wedding. As the bride searches for vendor services, do you have any suggestions as to how she can save some shoe leather, gasoline, and time without the need for pushing the “panic-button?” 

Nancy: We’ve all found ourselves looking for the answer to getting more done in less time. We know how busy a bride can become…so we save her time by offering everything from giftware to supplies for the do-it-yourselfer. There’s no need to shop all over town looking for certain items, when all you have to do is drop by Mangelsen’s Wedding Department.  Brides tell us our complete inventory of products and services makes the overall planning process much faster and a lot easier.  
 
Omaha Brides: Could you identify some of the items you provide for a bride or do-it-yourselfer?

Nancy: Our accessories include wedding veils, tiaras, garters, invitations (including custom designs), toasting glasses, candles, unity candles, memory vases, mint molds, party goods, guest books, party goods, and bachelorette party supplies. For your further information, bachelorette parties have become quite popular with 73% of brides nationwide. We also provide cake-decorating materials and cake tops if you wish to create your own wedding cake. Oh, I almost forgot. As an alternative to the “unity candle ceremony”, we offer “the unity sand ceremony.” If you want to find out more about this ceremony or other items we stock, I would suggest you give us a call or stop by our wedding department. 

Omaha Brides: I also noticed an attractive display of flowers. Do you have your own floral designers?

Nancy: Yes, our three designers have an accumulated experience of 81 years. They provide a bride with fresh flower arrangements as well as custom silk.  These range from low to high-end in price, depending upon your budget and needs.  We have noticed more brides either combining fresh flowers with silk or choosing all silk.  Custom silk flowers eliminate the “perishability” factor, and depending upon your choice, can also save you money. You would be amazed, as these flowers are made to look and feel like real flowers…it’s almost impossible to tell the difference.  The other nice thing about silk is that you can purchase them several months in advance of your wedding and spread out the payments on your credit card.  This might help those on a tight budget. In addition to floral arrangements, our designers also create bridal and bridesmaid bouquets, flower girl baskets, mother’s corsage, boutonnieres, and alter bouquets.

Omaha Brides: Nancy, what if I have a special wedding need? Could you help me?

Nancy: Well, we’ll try our best.  If you want to match colors, just bring in a fabric swatch and we’ll see what we can do to make the match.  Maybe you’ve seen a picture of a floral arrangement or centerpiece you would like to recreate. If that’s the case, bring in a photo so we can work from that. We’re a good source of information, so if we can’t handle it, we’ll recommend an alternative. 

Omaha Brides: Can you give me any examples of some of the special requests that have come your way?

Nancy: I sure can.  Just recently a mom of the bride brought in a stem from her daughter’s wedding five years ago.  Her other daughter is now getting married and would like to recreate the same flower.  Odds are, we won’t be able to locate the exact stem, as floral varieties are constantly changing over time.  However, I think we can work with her to create a pretty close match.  In fact, we have several options and alternatives we will discuss with her next week.  I think she’ll be happy with what we have come up with. 

Omaha Brides: Have you ever had anyone unexpectedly move up their wedding day and add to the pressure of meeting a crisis deadline?

Nancy: Preplanning is good…the unexpected is not.  We always suggest you give us as much time as you can.  However, I do remember a military wedding that really got us moving.  The groom received orders that he was being sent overseas within a matter of days.  The wedding was moved way up, and boy did we have a rush order to meet.  When it was all said and done, the wedding went off without a hitch, and we met our deadline.  As I said earlier, preplanning is good, not only for you, but it also helps us keep our own sanity. (Laughter) That one gave us all a few more gray hairs.

Omaha Brides: I understand preplanning is good, so do you have any other insights a bride should be aware of? 

Nancy: I always advise our brides to take a realistic approach when dealing with the numerous details involved in planning their wedding. I hate to burst anyone’s balloon, but expect a few things to go wrong.  Even if you could control all the detailed factors yourself, there are always some unforeseen bumps in the road.  For example, a few years ago a father was waiting at the altar to give his daughter away to the groom.  But somehow, the recorded music didn’t end when it was supposed to. The music went on and on…but finally to everyone’s relief, it eventually ended.  The bride then turned to her invited guests and said, “I hope you all enjoyed the beautiful music.” Everyone gave a laugh of relief before the ceremony resumed. I sure give credit to the bride…she really made the most of an embarrassing moment by relieving her guests and getting the ceremony back on track. So as I said before, be prepared for the unexpected.

Omaha Brides: Nancy that’s good advice to give anyone. Do you have any final thoughts for our brides?

Nancy: Only this. Take the necessary time to plan for your special day.  Consult with experienced wedding vendors you come to know and trust.  When you tap into their knowledge and experience, they will make the planning process so much easier.  Ask a lot of questions, and make sure you get the answers you are looking for.  Whatever decisions you make along the way always remember this.  It’s all about your special wedding day and what makes your heart sing! So live, love, and be happy…

Omaha Brides: Thanks for everything Nancy…it’s been a joy to share this time with you.

Nancy: I also want to thank you and Omaha Brides for providing helpful information to our new brides.