Tips for planning your wedding

Think of how you want your wedding to feel, not look.

Now I know your Pinterest boards are beckoning, but stay with me here. A question I ask all my couples early on is “How do you think your wedding day will feel like?”. It doesn’t have to be terms you’ve probably heard such as “modern chic, vintage, contemporary” - none of that. Instead I like to think of scenes from movies, shows or their themes. Some concepts that’s stuck with me are:

• The storm wedding scene in About Time

• a glamorous wedding entrance from Crazy Rich Asians

• a cozy holiday dinner party underscored by Studio Ghibli soundtracks

• the royal ball from Cinderella

When you start to think beyond colors and linens for example, you start to really, and I mean really visualize how you want things to be. Then suddenly, things like your venue choices start to become clear and you start looking for photographers and videographers that really hone in on that vision. So whenever I ask about a favorite movie, scene or maybe even a song or film score, it’s to paint a bigger picture

What if it rains on the wedding day?

Pivot. If there is one aspect that’s completely out of anyone’s control, it’s the weather. This is particularly important if you are looking at a venue with any outdoor areas. Ask your venue to see what options there are as contingencies for inclement weather.

Breathe.

Arguably the biggest piece of advice I tell all my couples is to take a second and breathe - Be present. Wedding days can be extremely overwhelming and it’s easy to get caught up in everything. Your vendor team is there for you. Trust in your team to keep things on track and it’s your job to live out the day.