Wedding design is my favourite part of wedding planning. It is actually one of the reasons behind my decision to quit my full-time job and become a planner. Each client brings their own unique set of ideas and we marry their vision with our signature style. It’s like a meeting of the minds! As amusing as it may be, this is in fact the hardest part of our job. Funnily, many couples have never heard of it before and ask me “Jenn, what is event styling?” I, then, often find myself going through a long winded explanation about design, so I thought why not write a blog post and solve the mystery behind designing an event. People will be able to make a more informed decision about paying for a service when they fully understand what it entails.
Even before signing a contract with a potential client, I always have a discovery call. This allows me to get to know my future couples beyond the wedding. Knowing them as people is a key factor in designing a perfect celebration for them. For example, couples who are more casual usually want to sit back and enjoy the evening, while others want their wedding to be filled with memorable dances and speeches. Another important factor is our shared aesthetic. It is important to stay true to who I am as a designer in order to do my best work and I think this applies to any creative person. I’ve said this before: always look at a wedding planner’s portfolio before contacting them. Many people contact me and ask for designs that I do not specialize in. It’s the equivalent of walking into a Chinese restaurant and asking for a falafel! Being a good fit between client and planner is #1. Work with the planner that sees things the same way you do. More importantly, work with someone you like and trust, because wedding planning is a long process. It’s easier when you do it with a person whom you relate with, as this is what fosters a great working relationship.
Once we have sorted out if we are a match-made-in-heaven and the contract has been signed, we visit the venue or wedding location. I am a strong believer in respecting the integrity of the space. I never try to make it something that it is not. Work with what you have and enhance it, don’t cover it up, unless you have to. I have seen great venue transformations, so I’m not completely opposed to covering up a space but that’s an entirely different discussion.
At this point, the venue, the images from the clients, and the discussions we have shared about the wedding act as my launching pad to conduct research. I can’t emphasize enough how important research is. During my fashion design days we always carried out trend research before putting together a collection. Another perfect example are scientists: they are constantly researching and reading about their topic even before writing their paper. Basically, I have to do a deep dive into the style I want to achieve to get my juices flowing. Once I have collected all the pieces for the design proposal, I present it to the clients to ensure that we are all on the same page. The design proposal is composed of inspiration pictures and detailed explanations into one document that acts as our design bible. It becomes the point of reference for the entire wedding.
After the proposal, the shopping begins. I obtain quotes from my preferred furniture rental companies and, if the clients are in town, I make a mock-up of the tablescape so that they can see everything in person. This is an important step, because the photos in the design proposal are inspirational only, and there may be slight differences between the photos and the actual rented furniture. Additionally, the clients or myself may see something at the rental company that we did not think of before. These are two instances that may cause a design revision. When we have accounted for the cost of flowers, candles, table top decor, linens, tableware, furniture, lighting, stationery, other decor items, and possibly a tent, we will then review the design to make all the moving parts fit into the budget. This is where my biggest expertise lies; only someone who has done a certain number of weddings can pull this off. As my experience grows, so does my creativity for weddings and juggling numbers.
Finally, one last review takes place two months before the wedding. I have a “speak now or forever hold your peace” moment, since this is the couple’s last chance to make any minor changes before the wedding day. I know most planners would disagree, but I feel it’s important to look at the design one last time. I usually do the designing earlier in the wedding planning process as it is a big ticket item and I want my clients to be able to manage the cost associated to it. It is much easier to manage your finances and make sure you can pay for everything when you plan ahead, and this is the reason I review all the details before no more changes can be made.
The design process can take a few months and it is a quite a large task. If you are thinking to yourself “I’m having a simple wedding”, be warned that even the simplest of weddings encounter logistical and design challenges. No one is exempt from the many details that surround weddings. To summarize, this is just a brief description to shed some light on the design process; it does not explain reviewing rental contracts. You would be so lucky to get all your items in one place, but more often than not you are visiting several places to obtain quotes and then narrowing it down to three or four vendors. And let’s not even talk about all the emailing and following up that is involved! So my advice is: if you want to enjoy the process, do it with a planner whose work you admire and reflects your own personal taste, because if you love everything they have to offer, you’ll know with certainty that your wedding will be a success!
Love xoxo
Jenn
