Real Weddings Magazine-The Planning Guide-2019 - Expert Advice, Guest Lists, Wedding TimeLine, Budgets and the Best Sacramento, Tahoe and Northern California Wedding Vendors!

expert advice
THE PLAN
PLAN
with the
PROS
BY KRISTEN CASTILLO
22
real weddings | realweddingsmag.com | THE Planning GUIDE
Like every spouse-to-be, you’re pulled in multiple directions by many
different people and many different things. How do you decide on concepts,
colors and more? Hire a planner to help you refine your wedding
vision, make decisions, and most importantly, advocate for what you
want despite what others around you may desire.
WHY HIRE A PLANNER?
A planner may seem like a luxury, but it’s becoming a big reality for
busy couples. “Sometimes clients don’t have a lot of time,” says Kate
Whelan of Kate Whelan Events. “They also contact a planner to create a
cohesive look for their wedding.” Whelan continues, “It’s all about finding
the perfect planner for you. Find a planner that truly ’gets’ you.”
Sandy Stringer of Strings & Champagne Events says that professional
planners know the industry and can recommend the right
wedding professionals for their
clients’ specific needs. “Researching
vendors can take forever and
how do you know where to start?
Experienced planners know their
peers, know what they have to
offer, what style they provide and
at what cost. It’s our job to find out
what the client likes and what they
want at what budget, and then we
can match them up with the right
professionals.”
Furthermore, hiring a planner
allows you to actually be a guest at
your own wedding and not feel like
you have to work on your special
day. “From planning and design conceptualization
to getting you down
the aisle, working with a planner will
give you the piece of mind knowing
a professional is in your corner
throughout the process.” Danielle
Roe of Danielle Roe Events says.
DESIGN AND
ORGANIZATION
Planners can offer different services.
Some specialize in organizing your
day from seating charts to menu selection,
while others focus on event
design such as coordinating colors
and décor. Still, many planners are a
mix of both services.
Chef Beth Sogaard of Beth
Sogaard Catering says a great
coordinator can pull together a
stylish event. “It’s easier for us to
TYPES OF WEDDING
COORDINATORS & PLANNERS
Full-Service Coordinator/Planner
From adjusting your bra strap to negotiating contracts, full-service
wedding coordinators do it all. Most offer full-service coordination
that guides the couple, from start to finish, through timelines,
budgets, checklists, design and etiquette. You name it, they take care of
it…or at least, they will tell you who can take care of it. Not only does a
full-service wedding coordinator take care of everything leading up to
the wedding, but they coordinate and execute the wedding day as well.
Hands down, a couple’s best friend!
Day-of Coordinator
A day-of coordinator manages and executes the rehearsal dinner and
wedding day only. This type of coordinator is for the “do-it-herself”
spouse-to-be who enjoys the planning process and is detail oriented.
However, no matter how organized and wedding savvy the couple may
be, no couple should be without some help on their special day. A dayof
coordinator can take care of the little bumps and blunders that arise
throughout the day (and trust us, there will be some). Hiring a day-of
coordinator ensures the comfort of a stress-free wedding day, at least
from a planning perspective.
Venue/Site Coordinator
Many venues have in-house coordinators who assist in planning your
wedding. Although every venue is different, the services these coordinators
offer may not be as extensive as an outside wedding coordinator.
More and more couples are hiring an outside wedding coordinator,
in addition to having one on-site. Typically, these two types of coordinators
work together to make sure your wedding is just right!
Event Designer
An event designer coordinates your wedding theme and décor. They’re
the experts in all the hot, new wedding trends. Event designers can
turn any party into an eye-catching soirée. Many full-service coordinators
offer these services as well.
plan our décor with another professional who knows the couple’s vision
and the details of the venue,” she says. Stringer agrees, “Some couples
have a hard time envisioning their wedding, planners make this vision
real. Professional planners pull your colors and ideas together in a way
you never thought of and add that accent to your design that is, quite
simply, the icing on the cake.”
PLANNERS VERSUS
IN-HOUSE
COORDINATORS
In-house coordinators generally are included with the venue rental, so
it’s an affordable option for many brides. But an in-house coordinator is
not the same as an independent planner. “The major difference between
a planner and an in-house coordinator is that a planner may help in the
entire process from engagement to
the honeymoon,” explains Sandra
Dominey of Arden Hills, a venue that
offers in-house coordination. She
notes that an in-house coordinator
“is usually not as involved with the
overall plan, but is deeply involved in
the day’s details.”
PLANNING WITH EASE
A planner can help not only you, but
your wedding experts as well. “We
are a huge proponent of being there
for clients and other vendors, too,”
explains Whelan. “Once vendors
have worked with us, they’re always
happy to work with us again.”
Photographers, for example,
spend the whole wedding day with
the couple. A planner can help
keep the day’s schedule on track,
including photo sessions. Plus, since
planners tend to be creative, the
wedding photos can be more interesting
and fun! “One huge benefit
of hiring an effective planner is that
you can be sure your wedding day
will be worry-free. They take care of
all the details so you can thoroughly
enjoy the day without worrying
about whether all the participants
are working together and doing
their jobs. “I’m always pleased to
find out that my clients have hired
a professional planner,” says Shellie
Kennedy from Capture Photography..
“Professional planners keep