Should I hire a Wedding Planner? Absolutely!
I have been asked this question for many years and the answer is absolutely yes, you should have a ‘day of’ planner (and maybe more). My opinion on this subject has changed overtime and that’s because weddings have evolved.
When I started shooting weddings, there was little need for wedding planners. The weddings and receptions were managed by the families and friends. In the Greek community for instance, Priscilla Zerbos, a church member managed every wedding detail. Her husband Chris, the organist, managed the ceremony. They were church volunteers and very professional. At one point the florist was the ‘day of’ planner. In the past wedding day planning responsibilities may have been handled by the venue or even the photographer. But wedding are no longer the same and they require real coordination pros to ‘stage manage’ them to perfection.
Today it is essential to assemble a detailed timeline for the wedding day. The planner can ensure that everything comes together and all of the professionals know the bride’s vision. From replacing missing attire, to removing party crashers from the bar, to blotting a drop of perspiration from a bride’s forehead, to locating lost vendors or tying a bow tie, these professional coordinators are ready to serve. Reduce your stress and choose a professional wedding planner!
If you are interested in working with us, please give us a call at (419) 882-1984 or contact us about wedding photography.
Toledo is fortunate to have four great wedding planning groups. They are all top of their game and deserve a look. I’ve had the opportunity to work with them all. In no particular order, I present:
Bee for the Day is likely the largest and most successful wedding planning group in the area. It was humbly started by Brooke Lauber-Cobb 23 years ago as sole woman owned business. She now leads a team of 17 professional planners. Each of these woman have been personally groomed by Brooke to perfection. A Bee for the Day wedding runs as smooth as silk and right on the time-line. All of the wedding day vendors are well briefed and know their roles. It is said about her, “Brooke’s upbeat and optimistic energy is contagious! She keeps the day light and fun to ensure that you, your family and friends can enjoy all the hard work that was put into planning your wedding. With Brooke’s ability to stay calm under pressure, she is able to handle any potential problem without inducing panic. And, in most cases, you won’t even know about it.” Bee for the Day offers pre-event and ‘day of’ services. They help with vendor recommendations and refer designers.
It all began as a vision of a mother and daughter eight years ago when April Gladieux Campbell began Your Perfect Day. April was playing women’s professional football and traveling all over the Great Lakes region as her friends came to marrying age. She saw the need to assist in planning events and realized a business opportunity. Her mother, Diane Gladieux, is a professor of Art Education at the University of Toledo, and is the lead designer in the operation. Your Perfect Day has locations in Findlay, Bowling Green and Toledo. They offer one-stop shop for your wedding needs. Vendor referral, wedding management, floral design, centerpieces, chair covers, lanterns, ceiling décor and custom-made backdrops are just a few of their services. Everything that they rent includes setup and teardown. April said, ” One of our favorite parts of this job is working with our clients to brainstorm and create whatever is necessary to make their weddings extra-special and tailored to their personalities, likes, and desires.”
Nikki Wolfe is the Creative Director of Elite Events Event Design & Coordination, LLC. They operate a party planning boutique at 1113 Adams St. in Downtown Toledo. They are described as an inspiration station and a one stop shop for all party needs. Offerings include floral design and decor, invitations, accessories, cake, specialty table backdrops, glassware and platters. Nikki is a professional interior decorator and designer. She said, “I have my dream job! I love every aspect of event planning, designing, styling…whatever you want to call it. Elite Events is my passion, my hobby, my pride and joy and has further solidified the fact that this is what I was meant to do!” Elite Events is in its 9th year of business.
Brittany McMahon Craig began her career in the special events business while studying as a fibers artist at Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana. She started her company, Crowning Celebrations, with the drive for creativity and project management. Now in her 17th year, she continues to plan a limited number of events each year, thus allowing her designs to be tailored to her client’s style and originality. Brittany prides herself on giving her clients completely personal party planning expertise to make the experience memorable and the planning fun. The most glamorous weddings are planned from ‘soup to nuts’ by Brittany and her very select team of wedding day professionals. It is not unusual for her to devote several hundred hours of pre-planning allowing her to deliver a picture perfect and elegant wedding day. Brittany said, “Budget, big or small, the quality of the details matters more over the number of events we manage. It’s our goal to give you the event you’ve envisioned and dreamt of.”
Grand Lubell Photography has also worked with several out-of town planners including: Adrianne Elizabeth, LLC, Columbus; i-do Weddings and Events, Cincinnati; Utsav Planners, Detroit ; Gail Ball Events, Detroit; The Wedding Library, New York; Weekend Wedding Warrior, Louisville; SNQ Events, Chicago; Purple Cover Events, Royal Oak, MI