Planning The Wedding Of Your Dreams With The Help You’ve Been Looking For
-Special Thanks to Veronica and Delphine, owners of The 530 Bride for sharing their knowledge.
Congratulations! You’re engaged and over the moon about planning one of the most important days of your life, the start of your future with the person you love the most and let’s be honest, it’s a bit overwhelming. Where do you start, and how do you avoid the stress when you already have a lot on your plate? That’s where a wedding planner comes in.
You want everything perfect, every guest to enjoy it, and for everything to flow in perfect harmony. There are so many details to think about from the flowers, to the bridesmaids dresses, the colors, guest list, ceremony processional and much more, all to be ready in time for that special date. A wedding planner can handle the logistics, and the timeline details so that you can celebrate with your guests.
We asked Delphine Winter, Co-Owner and Senior Planner at The 530 Bride to give our brides (and grooms) some tips. The 530 Bride team handles weddings of all sizes and customizes each one. Delphine explained how important it is to treat every wedding differently with a customized approach. “There really are no cookie-cutter weddings,”. Attention to detail is key for the perfect day so choosing a wedding planner is a great way to insure your that each element is taken care of.
After meeting with Delphine we knew we had contacted the right person. Her organizational abilities and calm demeanor are skills evident, even during the interview. Photos and testimonials for the company proved to show off her attention to detail. One testimonial stated, “Despite having multiple clients at a time she had that special skill of making you feel like you were the only ones.”
Whether you have a busy schedule with work or school, or that you just need a professional’s guiding hand, consider hiring a planner. A planner can assist you with planning the creative wedding of your dreams while staying within budget. The 530 Bride offers couples a custom online planning dashboard with 24/7 access to their timeline, design boards, guest list tracking, planning checklist and budget.
No matter what stage of the planning process you’re in, The 530 Bride encourages couples to book a planner to help manage the to-do list. They understand that no two weddings are the same and are excited to create a custom proposal to meet your specific needs.
Check out their website for information on their services, client testimonials and blog topics like “How to choose the right caterer” and real weddings from the Northern California area. http://www.the530bride.com
More Important Questions From Jaime’s Interview:
When should couples book their venue?
Booking a venue is an exciting step for couples, it’s important to discuss a budget for your wedding first and to think about the type of atmosphere that you are looking for. Then narrow down a list of venues to tour and review the amenities of the venues as well as the guest count capacity. We recommend booking the venue and setting the date 9-12 months out but it depends on how long of an engagement the couple chooses as well.
What is included when renting a venue?
Amenities vary quite a bit between wedding venues, the majority do provide tables and chairs and some have additional amenities including a bridal suite, mobile bar, sound equipment, cafe lighting etc.
What else should couples consider before choosing a venue?
“Great question; when choosing a venue, you want to know if there will be multiple weddings held at the venue over the weekend. Will you be able to have rehearsal the day before and possibly set up or bring some of your decor items? If not, it can feel like a more stringent timeline for set-up and breakdown and often add more labor fees for delivery and pick-up of rentals for example.
Think about what time you want to end your party, depending on venue location and city limits. Cleaning up the day of the party or the day after will be another factor you’ll want to keep in mind, as some venues don’t offer next day clean up.”
When should you mail the invitations?
Invitations can be mailed 4-6 months out depending on if there are a lot of out of town guests, but try to give yourself enough time to track your RSVPs before you need to have your final guest count to your caterer and rental companies.
What is the average cost for a wedding officiant?
The cost can vary quite a bit depending on factors such as their religious affiliation, and if the ceremony will be held outside of a church. For example, if the officiant will be present at the rehearsal, it can vary in our area from $150 – $450 for a
non-denominational ceremony.
How far in advance should you order flowers?
We recommend determining your floral budget and style and reaching out to florists for a consultation 6-9 months out because florists can only take a limited number of events per weekend. Tip: If you aren’t sure on the exact style of florals that you are interested in, take a look at what will be in season during the time of your wedding.
What are the most popular wedding menu trends?
While a Barbecue menu such as tri-tip and chicken is the most common, we’ve seen food trucks become a popular and fun option. Interactive food stations like taco bars or potato bars are a crowd pleaser as well.
Why hire a wedding planner?
Planning an event where 100+ people will attend can be a bit stressful for anyone, especially if you’re trying to manage it on your own on top of your normal day-to-day schedule. Your wedding will
go by so fast so try to make every effort to be present in the moment and take it all in!
Hiring a wedding planner allows for more efficient time management and the reassurance that all of the logistics to execute the details of your day will be handled by a team rather than your friends, family or wedding party. “Whether it’s helping with referrals for local wedding professionals, reviewing contracts and timeline details or just needing extra hands on your special day, we’re there to help!”
How far out should couples book a wedding planner?
Couples choose to hire a wedding planner at various stages of planning. For couples who are excited about their engagement and aren’t sure where to start, booking a wedding planner can save a lot of the extra steps such as researching venues and putting a budget together. While we love to be on board from the beginning and assist with the design process, many couples do start the planning process on their own and then decide to book a planner 6-9 months out when they start feeling like they need help with fine tuning the details.
Any tips about choosing the music/entertainment?
“We highly recommend booking a professional DJ for your ceremony and reception.” Having quality sound equipment and an experienced emcee makes a huge difference in how well the event flows according to the timeline. Guests look to the emcee for what is happening next and this will ensure they don’t miss your cake cutting or first dance because they weren’t aware it was happening. If you are hiring a band, make sure to ask if they offer any assistance with announcements as well.
When selecting your music, think of the types of genres that you love to listen to and keep a notebook with you to jot down a new song that you love on the radio or if you think of a song that brings back a fun memory. Your DJ can help you curate the playlist to create the perfect atmosphere for your wedding and to keep your guests dancing through the night!
Who usually pays for Wedding Planner?
The majority of our couple’s are paying for the wedding themselves but may have family contributing to the budget.
How much does a wedding planner cost?
This will vary based on which package is the best fit for the couple, but for Event Management (also known as Day-of services) couples can expect to pay anywhere from
$1095 to $1,500 in the local area.
TOP 5 FOR WEDDING SPENDING
1. Venue
2. Food & Beverage
3. Photography and Videography
4. Rentals, Floral & Decor
5. Transportation
It’s no joke when people say that the best piece of advice they ever received after getting engaged was to “get a wedding planner.” It’s your day and you deserve it.
Good luck to you on your special day and lots of love from all of us here at Mountain Valley Living. Cheers!
530 Bride is a Chico based planning and design company specializing in weddings in the Northern California area. They enjoy working with couples who want to experience their wedding and not stress about the logistics happening behind the scenes. Whether you are planning a large wedding or an intimate backyard bash, your vision is their focus!
