Planning a wedding is a daunting task, to say the least. With pinterest, instagram, facebook, and the overall proliferation of ideas and beautiful imagery, it’s so easy for a new bride to become overwhelmed and wonder where to even begin! As a Charleston and Annapolis wedding photographer, I see some of the ins and outs of my couple’s planning processes, and I’ve been through it myself as a bride, so I understand the pressure well.
After having my own wedding and photographing hundreds of weddings, I can say that one of the best things a couple can do to ease the stress of pre-wedding coordination is to hire a wedding planner. I have a list of planners that I absolutely love working with; who always produce the best work and receive rave reviews from our mutual clients. Megan at Mingle Charleston plans incredible, classic Southern affairs, and Jessica with Cruz Coordination has such an exciting and varied portfolio. I have also had amazing experiences with Beth from Wildflower Inc. All of these amazing ladies are in Charleston and would love to help you bring your dream to life.
For a majority of couples, budget is a huge factor in wedding planning, which only makes sense. And this is the number one reason couples opt out of hiring a planner—they think that it’s going to be too expensive. But I’m here to tell you that wedding planners can actually end up saving you money in the long run, and you will end up with a much more luxurious wedding in the end!
Wedding planners can help you come up with an appropriate budget, allot that budget to various vendors, and stick to it. They know tricks and tips for cutting corners when possible and also know where it is most important to invest. They often can also sometimes help cut costs by finding discounts with vendors they are connected with.
A large role of your wedding planner will be helping connect you to trustworthy and talented vendors to establish the perfect vendor team! As a wedding photographer, I love working with planners because I know that the various vendors I will be collaborating with are top-notch. Your wedding planner will help you establish timelines, guide your vendors and guests on the wedding day, and keep everything organized. I firmly believe that a well-organized wedding is one of the best ways to help a bride stay stress-free on her wedding day.
My favorite Annapolis planners always put together the most stellar vendor teams and keep the events running so smoothly. Elle of Elle Ellinghaus Designs curates timeless and soft events for detailed-oriented brides. Hitched by Heather pulls together trends and timelessness, like in this Southern Maryland wedding. I have also had the best experiences with Nolo Weddings and Wedding Savvy Consulting; they make sure that their weddings go off without a hitch! A final favorite Annapolis wedding planner is Adriana Marie Events, who creates feminine and nature-infused affairs.
Style is another major reason to book a wedding planner. Most planning firms have stylists on hand to help make your wedding vision come to life! It can be hard for non-professionals to articulate exactly what they want their wedding to look and feel like stylistically, but a wedding planner is trained to help you narrow your vision and pull all the details together beautifully. A perfect example of this is this gorgeous Charleston wedding at the Governor Thomas Bennett House with Wildflower Inc.
Planners can also help you with the more tedious tasks, like RSVP collecting and seating arrangements; so really, it is a no-brainer for that reason alone! I love working alongside talented planners and have recommendations I would love to share with you, so just ask! Here’s a condensed list of my go-tos:
Charleston Wedding Planners:
Megan with Mingle Charleston
Beth with Wildflowers Inc.
Jessica with Cruz Coordination
Annapolis Wedding Planners:
Elle with Elle Ellinghaus Designs
Heather with Hitched By Heather
Lorinda and Nora with Nolo Weddings & Events
Raquel with Wedding Savvy Consulting
Adriana with Adriana Marie Events
