Wedding planners reveal the secrets they share with their clients
It doesn’t matter if you hire a wedding planner, but it’s obvious that they are knowledgeable about all aspects of planning a wedding. From setting a budget to managing guests to designing flowers and decor.
Don’t worry if you don’t have the money for a full-service planner. We asked our 12 wedding industry friends to help us get started and, most importantly, have fun with it.
01:- Be honest with your opinions
When communicating your requirements and wishes to the wedding team, be as specific as you can. It’s important to communicate what you don’t like as well as what it is.
02:- Begin with Your Budget
Before you can make any decisions about your wedding, it is important to establish your’must have’ guest list and your budget. Many couples start their wedding planning by choosing a venue that is not within their budget. Lynn Easton founder of Easton Events, says that you must consider the total cost for your event before any other considerations
03:- The Ceremony is the Focus
“Couples put a lot of effort and time into the reception. Without the ceremony, there’s no reception. My clients should put more effort into the ceremony and the vows. I also advise them to think about how to make it memorable and unique. This will set the tone for the entire experience .”–Mindy Weiss owner, Mindy Weiss Party Consultants.
04:- Be Faithful to Your Gut
When it comes to selecting vendors, “Follow your instincts and do your research.” Don’t settle. Do not settle.
05:- Appreciate Wedding Planning
A wedding is a micro view of the larger macro view of life. Wedding planning gives couples the opportunity to determine how they will navigate their family’s traditions, cultures, expectations, and other needs as they move into their new lives. It’s important to see this time can be an adventure, rather than a stressful experience!”–Elizabeth McKellar, owner, The Nouveau Romantics
06:- Self-Care
Planning a wedding is a time-consuming task that can take up to a year. It can also make or break your wedding experience. Practice self-care during your engagement period. You can have date nights when you don’t want to talk about the wedding. Remember that the wedding is over in just six hours or a weekend if things get too stressful. It is amazing to be able to gather your loved ones in one place. Enjoy it .”–Alison LaesserKeck, owner Alison Bryan Destinations
07:- Keep it Personal
A wedding should reflect the couple’s personal style and personality. It shouldn’t be based on ideas from other weddings. I encourage couples to share their stories about how they met, how they got together, and what happened on their first date. It is easy to identify a few details that can be used as unique and fun elements for the wedding. We decided to have a snow machine at the reception for the couple that got engaged in Colorado on a snowy night. As they left the venue, guests were greeted with snowflakes. This was a nod towards the engagement story .”–Allison Jackson (owner of Pineapple Productions).
08:- Prioritize Your Guests
It is important to consider the experience of all guests, especially those who are traveling to the wedding. Do your research on the events taking place in your chosen destination city or town before you make your decision. Hotel and transportation rates .”–Emily Butler (owner, Karson Butler Events) will be affected by parades, graduations and city-wide events.
09:- Save Money on Invitations
A rectangular wedding invitation is better than a square one. The USPS doesn’t accept square envelopes and considers them ‘odd-size’. This is what they call ‘nonmachineable’. As such, these envelopes cost an extra $0.15 each. This is in addition to the cost of postage for the envelope’s weight and dimensions. It’s fine to forgo an actual RSVP card and an envelope and instead provide an email address for guests .”–David Stark chief creative officer, David Stark Design and Production
10:- Repurpose your Flowers
I always recommend that couples donate their floral arrangements to local charities following their wedding. Flowers can brighten someone’s day and make them feel good. We used the florals left over from Julianne Hough and Brooks Laich’s marriage to create over 450 small arrangements. Full Bloom delivers the small arrangements the next day. Full Bloom recycles gently used flowers and donates them to local hospitals, hospices, and nursing homes. It was magic .”–Troy Williams (principal and event designer at Simply Troy Lifestyle + Events)
11:- Make your Guests Feel At Home
“Reach out to guests at the touch points that will allow them to be there throughout the weekend. If your ceremony is too hot or cold, ensure that you have blankets, fans and water available. Always ensure you have enough bartenders and servers for the reception. It doesn’t matter how beautiful and fun your wedding is if guests can’t get a drink or wait too much for their food. Guests will focus on what they don’t have and won’t enjoy the celebration as much as you intended .”–Beth Helmstetter is creative director at Beth Helmstetter Events
12:- Make Marriage Your Priority
Don’t get caught up in the details. The marriage that follows a wedding is just as important as the wedding itself. The wedding is just the beginning. It’s not the end. As you plan your wedding, there will be many points of view and disagreements. You must make your marriage the top priority. The details of the wedding should be .”–Bronson Van Wyck owner, Van Wyck & Van Wyck
