Wedding Planning Made Easy

Wedding planning tips from planners in Dallas, Fort Worth, and Austin Texas. How to make wedding planning less stressful!

In planning my own wedding back in 2008-2009 I thought I had it all down. I envisioned every detail from my dress, the flowers, cakes, and coloring booklets we desgined for all of our little guests. However, the one thing I didn’t think about at that time was a wedding planner. I look back at my own wedding and think, if I would have had “a day of coordinator” I wouldn’t have messed up in walking down the aisle too soon. Lol. Yes, I made that mistake, but had I had someone directing me on the correct timing it would have all run a lot smoother. I’m sure we all try to save money when planning for our weddings, but sometimes it’s just best to have fun and truly enjoy our wedding day being stress free.

Now as a wedding photographer, I must say that a wedding planner or day of coordinator is very important. Having someone to guide you through your wedding day is a stress reliever. Plus, the coordinator/planner can be the one to work along with all your vendors to ensure everything runs smoothly on your special day. Plus, having a timeline helps in knowing what the next step is on your wedding day. It also helps in not having any vendors tapping you on the shoulder and asking what’s next, when are you cutting the cake, are you doing a bouquet toss, etc.

Planning tips from by local Dallas and Fort Worth wedding planners.

The two featured planners are Ashlee Voda from Mrs. Planner and Lottie Fowler from Grit + Gold. There will be two other featured planners in a part two to this post.

Advice from Ashlee Voda

It truly takes the work of many professionals working together to provide the best result for the client. This special moment that takes place on one day, that goes by so extremely fast, is worth planning with a good team of vendors. This way, all guests and bride and groom themselves get to really enjoy all the moments that occur, since these make for some of their favorite memories later…

via Ashlee Voda – “Starting out many begin with the budget. Although planning a wedding can get expensive, there are many ways to become creative, or work with referred vendors that your wedding planner can direct you on. Sometimes hiring a wedding planner actually can pay for itself, just by the advice and direction you are given, but not to mention the time that is saved. It’s easy for everyone to forget how much their time is worth, but I think the main point to remember is the time that goes into the details of planning the event, the time that goes into coordinating all details of the event, and the time that slips by so quickly during the event, it is all such quality time. With a planner on your team there is more time for you to enjoy all aspects of your wedding, and less time to stress.

There are so many great resources at the modern day bride’s fingertips. There are amazing online sites, beautiful, informative magazines, and blogs and pictures that go on for days. With all of the great resources out there it may become a tad overwhelming on what will work for your unique event.  Hiring a planner allows you to continue to pick specific details that you want, to continue to create your unique vision, but having someone there to make suggestions and tie it all together making it work in a successful way. – Ashlee Voda

When the day does arrive when you walk down the aisle, the job of your hired wedding planner really takes new shape. A trained planning professional begins that day before everyone, and ends it after all have finished. Your hired planner can act as greeter, concierge, taxi, cleaning staff, maintenance, emergency florist, time keeper, seamstress, voice of reason, but most importantly is your one source that can trouble shoot an issue and work with the team you all built together, to continue with a perfect wedding where you enjoyed everything and everyone, and woke up the next day so thankful for the efforts by your hired planner, and friend. – Ashlee Voda

 Words of Wisdom to brides and grooms from Lottie Fowler

*Never look at a planner as an additional expense. Planners create business relationships with most wedding industry professionals therefore are given in network discounts for returning clients. So… Couture Events passes on these savings directly to our clients. In most cases, you get back in excess of what you paid for your planning package on items such as flowers, invites or the venue.

*Hire your planner FIRST. Understanding your theme and feel for the wedding is imperative. Guidance from your planner is crucial when selecting your vendor lineup. Having a disconnect between the people you hire will be obvious on your big day. To ensure a cohesive look that you want, hire people with the same style and look.

*Don’t settle for cheap. If it sounds like a duck, well then… (you know the rest). Be leery of cheap impersonators. They CAN ruin your day! People who are not well trained can be disastrous. Planners will make sure to send you to the right people who they know are reputable and will do an outstanding job. This does not mean the most expensive in their field. We have our favorites that meet any bride’s budget.

*Planners are like magicians. We all have tricks up our sleeves. 🙂 I always say “this isn’t my first rodeo”. Ha! What I mean is that I have been doing this long enough to know tips and tricks on where to scrimp and where to splurge. Let’s face it! Most everyone is on a budget these days but there is no need to sacrifice things completely. Knowing where to cut corners in unobvious areas will alleviate money that can be splurges are the more noticeable areas.

*Think about all the little things. We always challenge our brides to really personalize their day. Don’t pull it out of a box and slap your names on it. Boring! Instead, bring elements to it that evoke what the two of your are all about. Start at the beginning and tell your story. From fun engagements at your favorite place or where you first met, to Save the Dates crafted by hand. All the little things leading up to your big day should build the excitement that your guests share with you.

*We let you relax. Don’t stress. Enjoy your time. These moments are fleeting so… slow down… enjoy that cake tasting… or the first time you step out for the dressing room audience in “the dress of your dreams”. We give you that time to just breath and not worry about being a planner. You are NOT a planner. You are a bride and you deserve to enjoy being one. 🙂

In summary, there are more reasons to give on why hiring a professional wedding planner is beneficial to you, than there are reasons to not hire one. There are several blogs out there on the things that go wrong with events and what bride’s would do differently after the fact. But, there are quality wedding planners within your reach, so be sure to meet with a few before you decide. You deserve a perfect wedding day, and it is our job and our pleasure to deliver just that.” – Ashlee Voda