Ask not what your bride can do for you but what you can do for your bride.
(picture from Ena's florist, Bournemouth)
Before I head off to my second wedding this bank holiday weekend, I wanted to share some thoughts with you. I am always asked (by suppliers and brides) what exactly a wedding planner does, I know I've spoken of this before and discussed the many wonderful ways a wedding co-ordinator can help you with your wedding plans, but more and more I come across situations - mainly with caterers or venue organisers I have to say - that leave me having to prove in many ways how a wedding planner can actually support them not work against them.
I think the fear that many couples have is that they might be doubling up if they have a great venue organiser AND a wedding planner, of course that also means double the expense so why bother?
Hmmm.
Many a venue organiser or caterer will have wonderful skills and are perfectly able to be your event organiser, they have tons of experience and will ensure the main part of your day will go as planned, job done then no?
No. Whilst they are making sure the food is prepared and served on time and perhaps your rooms and tables are as they should be and guests have something to drink. Who is going to chat to the bride at 7am when she is in tears having forgotten something, who will remind the bride gently to eat (and her mum!) who will help the groom with the button hole that he's put on upside down, who will give the father of the bride a helping hand with his speech at the last minute because nerves are taking over him. Who will spot a lost guest who is looking for somewhere to make a quiet phone call because her friends are lost, who will pass the groom a tissue because his emotions have gotten the better of him as his beautiful bride enters the room. Who will rock a baby to sleep because it has started crying during the ceremony and the mum is the brides best friend so doesn't want to miss the vows, who will help the photographer gather the lost guests because the ushers are a little to tipsy to help out.
Who will discreetly remove a guest who has had one too many champagnes, give him coffee and a place to nap them pop him back onto the table he came from before anyone notices he has been missing. Who will call every supplier in the morning to ensure they are on time and avoiding the accident that has happens ten minutes ago. Who will dim the lights in the evening when the band starts to make sure the ambiance is perfect. Who will quickly make a bow tie out of a waiters black tie because someone has forgotten the dress code. Who will repair the cake when the younger guest members decide to decorate it with table crystals, who will set your venue up in one hour (when the venue organiser has decided to call in sick) without anyone knowing, who will be there at midnight, every night for a week because you have such bad nerves and your life is a little stressful right now, who will take over any task if it is getting too much.
Who will watch everything and be your eyes and ears the entire day, before and during, and spot any problems before they happen and rectify them without you ever having to know. Who will ensure you don't have to worry about a thing.
I will. Whilst a venue organiser or a caterer can do so much, they won't do all the above, they won't be able to because they have plenty of other tasks to carry out. A wedding planner is there for you, not the venue, not the catering, not the flowers, but all of this and more. I have done all of the above and more and have plenty of reasons for you to hire a wedding planner.
Having a wedding planner there on your wedding day isn't something some all brides think they need, but what about if it is something you want? Have the day you want and book Isabella Weddings to be there on your wedding day.
Thanks for listening! Have a fab Sunday, I'm off to smash plates!
www.isabellaweddings.co.uk
marie@isabellaweddings.co.uk
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