Tag : urth studio

It’s funny that the wedding industry comes up with so much jargon and expects our current and prospective clients to just “get it.” You hop in one person’s office they are a “wedding planner,” you head to the next and you encounter a “wedding coordinator,” and you find yourself then meeting with a “wedding designer.” What does it all mean? Some may be mad at me for saying this…but it doesn’t matter. You should never hire someone based on a title…hire someone based on your needs and their mad skills. Sometimes a person has chosen a title because that’s just what best fit and it doesn’t fully describe their box-o-talents.

Here are some great options to consider when thinking about the level of service to be provided from your “planner/coordinator/designer.”

1. “I can do almost everything.” You can come up with your own design, formulate your own budget, research and find your vendors, and take care of all the small details. If you ARE this bride, then you really only need someone to carry out your vision and see that all your hard work and months of planning come to fruition. A “day-of” coordinator has become a must have. The days of getting Aunt Trudy, mom, your bridesmaids, and Uncle Larry to set up for you, tell you how to line up, talk to the caterer, and put out small fires are over. Brides, grooms, wedding parties, and families have made the jump from workhorse to guest. A “day-of” coordinator will jump in the process with you at about 6 weeks prior to help you confirm with vendors, put together a timeline and layout, and tie up all those final details. They will also basically be the CEO or Project Manager for your wedding day. This means you only talk to ONE vendor and not twenty. This also means you are unaware of all the little behind the scenes mini-emergencies that we are able to prevent and fix!

2. “I just need help with the logistics.” You know your colors and have the specific swatches that represent them. You have cranberry, mauve, light pink, blush pink, taupe, and ivory on a color board and have distributed copies to your entire bridal party. You already know the type of paper you are using for your invitations, the number of pintuck vs. crush silk linens you will need, and have a bouquet recipe for the florist. Basically you know EXACTLY what your wedding will look like you just need help finding vendors that will work the best for your style and budget. You need someone to put in research time for you, set up your vendor appointments and communicate with those vendors concerning payments, contracts, and logistics.

3. “Someone please help me…I have NO idea where to start!” The only thing you really know is that you love your fiancé and want to get hitched! You like classic movies, and he likes F-1 racing. You love Mumford & Sons, and he thinks the Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory is where people go when they die. You want a wedding that represents the two of you as a couple, but you have no idea how to make that happen. You my sister need a wedding designer. Someone to help you discover your dream wedding. Choosing your color palette, styling your tablescape, pulling together your personalized out of town guest bags, helping you find “the” dress, and infusing your personality and love story into every last detail of your wedding…THIS is a wedding designer. Nothing less.

Maybe you need a combo of logistics and design. Maybe you need design only. Maybe you need someone to bring it all together on the day of. Whatever your needs are…make sure the professional you hire has the skill set, experience, and overall creativity you are looking for.

hugs & happy vibes,

Brandi Dunagan

Country Sugar Events

Photography by Urth Studio Photography