I know first hand how hard it can be to plan a wedding, to know exactly what to do when and more importantly what services are included with each vendor! One vendor that is often overlooked until brides are already in the thick of it is a Wedding Planner! Many brides think, well I have a venue coordinator, that counts, right? Honestly? It doesn’t! Having a wedding planner makes a HUGE difference in the way your wedding day runs. Your wedding planner is most concerned with YOUR stress and is working to alleviate that. Anyway, today I asked Lora of Laurel and Elm Events to cover what the difference is between the different types of services a wedding planner offers!
Take it away Lora!
Hi I’m Lora and I’m a wedding planner based in Philadelphia specializing in event design, day of coordination, full service planning and anything that your heart desires in between!
Every wedding planner includes different items in these packages and specializes in different areas so it’s important to read carefully to get what you really need!
Day-Of Coordination
As far as Laurel & Elm services go, our day-of coordination package is geared more towards couples who are planning their weddings themselves but want the added security of the Laurel & Elm team on the day of to make sure everything runs as smoothly as they’ve envisioned! I start by familiarizing myself with your pre-selected vendors and create an extremely detailed timeline to outline your day. We have a venue walk through for both ceremony and reception sites to go over the timeline and finalize any details and then meet again to direct your rehearsal and run the show on the day of! Although you are the primary planners of the event, I never limit any communication, so as long as you’re a Laurel & Elm couple you can ask for guidance, vendor references or just call me to vent any time you want! I love hearing from you all and getting to know you better throughout their planning process!
Overall Wedding Planner
An overall wedding planner helps with everything you can think of – and everything you didn’t think of – which is the important part ;) Full service planning clients can expect conceptual development + event design, sourcing and ordering of decor, monthly to-do lists, budget management, detailed floor plans, 10 in person meetings, invitation assembly, hotel block coordination, welcome bag delivery, vendor management, online planning portals, day – of coordination and the list goes on.. This is definitely the “soup to nuts” package and the combination of both of my loves, designing AND organizing.
Styling & Design
My styling + design package is something that I recently added a few months ago and I’m so excited about it! I learn a lot from my amazing clients and in an effort to always be catering my services towards what I think could benefit clients in the future I created a separate styling package that cuts out some of the planning but also doesn’t come with the same price tag as full-service planning! Styling + design covers everything and everyone aesthetic. That means full event design for ceremony, cocktail hour and reception and the coordination and communication with all of the vendors that contribute to the look of your day. This usually includes as many items as photography, videography, floral, rentals, clothing, jewelry, stationery, and lighting. This package includes setting up of all of the decor and coordinating aesthetic vendor arrival and then returning at the end of the night to take it all down! We style it so that it looks like the weddings you see on Instagram and Pinterest so that all of those details are accented just perfectly! A lot of my couples choose to combine this package with day-of coordination so that our team is there during the whole day as well.
Be sure to follow Lora to get some awesome tips and tricks on her own blog too!
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