Hi!
This past Fall, the incredibly talented gals over at Simply & Forever asked if I could do some fun “headshot-y” type photos of them! I’ve been saving the photos to share on the blog with a fun and quick Q + A session. We all know how much love, time, creativity and not-to-mention moolah goes into a wedding. So have you thought of hiring a brilliant wedding planner to help?
Before my own wedding I was juggling creative mood boards (Pinterest was about a year too late, darn it!), tearing pages from magazines and shopping online like crazy. All while managing a busy end-of-year portrait + wedding season. I was a real hot mess… excited, but a hot mess. I liked soooo many different things! Plus I was trying soooooooo hard not to be influenced by all the pretty, pretty things that have already been done. and done. and done. It’s so hard not to get caught up in all the planning, that we get so consumed in it all that we forget the real reason for the day – the ceremonial rite of marriage! I’m having a Downton Abbey moment, “I’d rather have the right man, than the right wedding.” – Anna
I definitely don’t want to tell you where to spend your $$ or where to save, but hiring a wedding planner can be a HUGE help! Some planners even offer just ‘day-of’ help, if you are a control freak like myself. 😉
So meet Katie and her fabo side-kick Jaci! I’ve had the chance to work with Katie several times! I love that she is this quiet, smiley girl. I can look at her and know her brain is swelling with something good! Like myself, she is a perfectionist. Need I say more?! So moving on to the questions…
How do you and your team work together on the wedding day?
We have a fabulous team that helps make each day run very smoothly for each of our clients. Jaci and I both lead wedding days for our fabulous brides, and we have a great group of event assistants who assist us on the wedding day with setup, coordination, and making sure the families have everything they need to enjoy the day stress-free.
What do you like about designing for brides?
Katie – We love that every bride has their own unique style! I grew up surrounded by art and photography and have always had a love for details. We love coming up with fresh ideas that reflect the couples so that when their guests walk into the venues, they see the couple in every detail that they come across. We approach every wedding design with a questionnaire that the couples fill out that tells us more about them in their personal lives, their likes/dislikes, and so much more that puts us on the right path as soon as we start their design boards for them.
Does social media and sites such as Pinterest help you with the wedding planning?
Katie – It certainly does, we love Pinterest! It can be easy to lose focus on your design using a site like Pinterest with so many options to choose from, but we like to use it to show a bride specific images to get their feedback on design elements we are pulling for them. As a designer, I can learn a lot from a client’s Pinterest page about their style and what they are drawn to the most.
What trends are you seeing for 2013?
Soft, Romantic colors is still a huge trend in St. Louis for 2013. I am also seeing jewel tones this year as well which I love! I hope to see some weddings use the classic new pantone color emerald this year as well.
What is the best advice you can give a couple when planning their wedding?
Katie – I always recommend that the couples take an evening or two a week where they are not talking about the planning. It is very important to focus on growing your relationship together and still going out to enjoy St. Louis activities during this time.
To learn more about Simply & Forever and the services they offer visit their site here. I just love their branding phrase – Simply stylish, Forever elegant. So true, Miss Katie!
xox
HSR
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