10 Pieces of Advice from the Wedding Pros

Over the last six years, we’ve had the privilege of filming hundreds of weddings while working along side the Top Wedding Industry Pros from up and down the East Coast. Having access to their wisdom has been invaluable so we thought we’d pass a few of our favorite piece of advices along to you. 💕

1. Hire a Planner! This vendor should never be an afterthought. Not only can they gather your vendor dream team but they’ll make the most of your time. If you have to worry about when the cake is being delivered, the overflow parking, or what time to get dressed, you won’t be able to enjoy your day to the fullest. A good planner will make sure everything and everybody is at the right place at the right time. They’ll also be there for moral support! Creating a stress-free environment where you can enjoy the best day of your life.
2. Wear comfortable clothes. You’ll be in this outfit for up to eight to ten hours. Whether you decide to dress up or down make sure you can take your normal stride, dance, and, yes, sit down. If you choose one look for the ceremony and another for the reception just make sure you plan enough time to change.
3. Don’t skimp on the things that last forever: videography and photography. You’ve exchanged vows, drank champagne, danced your first dance, and made lots of amazing memories; but will those memories last a lifetime?  Will you be able to remember the look on your partner’s face when they first saw you? Your bestie’s toast? Your grandmother groovin on the dance floor? Or the curated floral design?  You’ll treasure the video and the photos forever. Your children and grandchildren will too!
4. Who’s giving the toasts? Don’t be afraid to do a little coaching. First, choose people you can trust to deliver something concise and meaningful. Request that they write down what they want to say and ask them to PRACTICE! No winging it!
5. Get your jewelry cleaned. Take everything – rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets – to a  jeweler and get them cleaned. If you haven’t had them appraised, do that too. Sparkly gems and manicured hands look better on film and in photos.
6. Save 15 minutes just for you. You’re about to make the biggest commitment of your life. Either clear the room or find a quiet place to decompress and mentally prepare yourself for the big moment in your life. Ask your bestie to make sure this happens or put the planner in charge. I’ve seen too many people walk out to the ceremony rushed, scattered, and frayed! Remember they’re not going to start without you! Your friends and family are there for you, not to see a paid performance!
7. Don’t ask your vendors to do two jobs even if the service is offered. Let each vendor do what they do best! A planner’s forte is the linguistics of the celebration, not floral design, the photographer should not be responsible for getting you to the church on time, and your caterer shouldn’t be in charge of directing the rehearsal. Let each vendor do what they do their best, in their specific zone of genius.
8. Take care of your vendor team. From beginning to end, event planning is all about relationships. The little things make a big difference. Have the planner tell them where to find bottles of water. If you’re providing a vendor meal, let them know when it will be served and where especially for the videographers and photographers. Serve them at the beginning of the meal so they’re ready to go when the action begins.
9. Remember to eat. A bunch of small meals throughout the day will maintain your energy level. Have brunch while you’re getting ready, enjoy appetizers or even dinner when you first arrive at the reception venue, and don’t forget to arrange a late-night snack.
10. The cost of booze. If you’re paying per person, remember not everyone drinks. Subtract children and other nondrinkers off the list.