Ask a Pro: Wedding Planning 101
In today’s blog post we’re asking Desiree, a top wedding planner (who has been in the game for ten years) for some advice, common questions, and fun stories. Being a wedding planner is NOT easy. And, whether you’re planning a wedding yourself or looking to find the right wedding planner, there’s always something to learn from a veteran.
Marriage.com: How did you get into wedding planning?
Desiree: My career started with marketing and event planning with a law firm, so planning successful events for work and play has been in my bloodstream for many years. When I got engaged, it was natural for me to plan my wedding, but unnatural NOT to have a planner to implement my day. Needless to say, I was a crying bride on wedding day because I had to implement my own wedding plans. I vowed not to let another person feel the way I did on wedding day… hence, the initial creation of Dejanae Events.
Marriage.com: What’s the most rewarding thing about your job?
Desiree: At the end of the event when the couple says, “We couldn’t have done this without you!”
Marriage.com: What’s the most important thing a couple should consider when hiring a wedding planner?
Desiree: That you mesh well with the planner you hire. This professional will be in your life for months leading up to your wedding and you need to feel comfortable speaking with her, calling her, meeting with her and asking for assistance from her throughout the planning process. Plus, you must trust the planner you hire.
Marriage.com: What are the TRUE benefits of having a wedding planner? Do they really get cheaper rates?
Desiree: Yes, planners do get special rates from some of their vendors and can pass that savings onto their clients. The couple also gets to enjoy their wedding day with hiring a planner because the stress of implementing wedding day falls on the planner’s shoulders.
Marriage.com: What are the top 5 wedding trends for 2010?
Desiree:
1. Different style dessert buffets (i.e. candy, popcorn, cookies, ice cream)
2. Hosting an “afterparty” with music, drinks, and some food a few hours AFTER the wedding reception ends
3. Letting bridesmaids wear different style dresses that suit their body style
4. Bold colored shoes for the bride
5. “Trash the dress” photo session after the wedding and boudoir photos as a gift for the groom
Marriage.com: What has been the biggest fiasco you’ve dealt with and how’d it conclude?
Desiree: The biggest fiasco was when the wedding cake was about to topple over because it was butter cream and the venue’s air went out. One of my assistants called it out to me, when she started to notice the cake was starting to lean. As we made the mad dash to save the cake from falling on the floor, we were able to push the table up to the wall just as the cake fell. Thankfully it landed on the backside of the wall instead of the floor. We politely informed the bride what happened, but made the cake presentable (at least the good, un-smashed side) so that they could get their photos and share their 1st piece. But no wedding cake was served for dessert because we didn’t want the guest to be pulling paint chips from their slice : )
Marriage.com: What’s the most extravagant thing you’ve coordinated for a wedding?
Desiree: We had African Drummers come into the cocktail hour to move guests to the ballroom for dinner. Once the procession began, it was an awesome sight seeing 300+ guests smiling and some dancing to the drummers. They continued to play inside the ballroom for approximately 10 minutes while all the guests were seated.
Marriage.com: Describe some elements of your “dream wedding”?
Desiree: A small and simple destination beach wedding getting married at sunset in a very simple white form-fitted gown, food stations with both American and ethnic foods, and a HUGE 4 layer cake. The decor would be lots of candles, and florals of various colors including: tangerine, lime green, and purple for some vibrancy. The dance floor would be all white with guests dancing all night long.
Big shoutout to Desiree for helping us out with this interview! Hope it also helps brides and wedding planners out there. Follow Desiree on Twitter @DejanaeEvents