MARCH 2023 NEWSLETTER
What's the difference?
Wedding Planner vs. Wedding Designer
Have you ever heard the titles Wedding Planner, Coordinator, and Designer and assumed that all referred to the same type of wedding professional? If so, you’re not alone. On the surface it may seem like they all do the same thing - They are all wedding consultants you can hire to help you plan and experience what you want on your wedding day. This may be true but the similarities often end there. 

The truth is each type of consultant can offer a range of specialty services for weddings. Most couples are more familiar with Wedding Planners (a professional who can help them create part or all of the planning for their wedding) and Wedding Coordinators (a consultant typically starts working with the couple about a month or so prior to "coordinate" all of the plans either they or the couple has created for the wedding).   
Think of it this way, a Wedding Planner is like a Project manager, organizing the different aspects of a “wedding plan”. This may include plans for transportation, ceremony, food & beverage service, and all the contracts associated with each of them. Although there are some planners that can advise couples by the hour, most planner offer either a Full-service (overseeing the planning process from beginning to end) or Partial planning service (where there is less access to the planner but they still work alongside the clients so the couple can play an active role in the planning). Both full-serive and partial planners are organizational experts and usually include the coordination of the plan on the day of the wedding in their service.
Want to plan your wedding but need help seeing it through on the day of? You can do the majority of the planning yourself and simply hire a “Day of Coordinator” to put it into action on the “day of the wedding”. But, the title "Day of" is very misleading. 

Imagine never seeing a plan someone created for a wedding until a few hours before? Who are the vendors? What do their contracts say? What is the final guest count? Do you have a complete timeline? Do you have that vegan meal for cousin Pat? Is there access for Aunt Sophia’s wheelchair? 
In addition to directing the rehearsal, most “Day of Coordinators” will begin working with a couple approximately a month before the wedding to confirm all the details so you don’t have to worry being everything being done the way you want it on your wedding day.
The Design of the wedding is another example of a distinct plan for a wedding and some couples choose to hire a consultant known as a Wedding Designer or Stylist. A Designer is more of a planning specialist who focuses on creating your wedding’s aesthetic plan or “The Look”. 
A designer helps you pull together a complete “Visual plan” for your wedding. Think of this wedding consultant as, "an Interior Designer for your wedding day". And, like an interior designer, they can help you create a functional design plan together for you.

This often includes managing your developing the look, design budget, and securing products. 

A Designer helps you:

  • The venue space
  • Color schemes
  • Selecting flowers and accents
  • Linens and rentals
  • Speciality materials and decor
  • Advise on lighting
  • and more
Designers typically use visual aids and sketches to help present concepts and designs for your approval that goes beyond scrolling through Pinterest. Your designer will also handle the orchestration of your design plan. Because there are so many elements in a curated wedding design, your designer will take care of organizing delivery, set-up, detailing, and later breakdown.  

So, when it comes to bringing your wedding day vision into focus and to life, each type of wedding consultant can offer unique experiences, skills, and talents to help you. But the first place to start is really thinking about what kind of help you need. Next, start having conversations with consultants. Really focus on understanding how their specialties can best help support your needs and vision.
Hampton Roads wedding consultants are among the best in Virginia. 

Is A Wedding Designer Right For You?
So, is working with a Wedding Designer right for you? Have you looked through your Pinterest boards and worried about how it will all come together? Or how to maximize your venue, resources, and budget to create the most breathtaking environment to celebrate your wedding? 
Here are a few things to consider when deciding if you want to work with a wedding designer. A talented designer may be right for you if:

  • The look and feel of your wedding is an extremely important element of your wedding for you.
  • You’re very comfortable with your organizational skill but feel like you lack or could use help with your creative skills.
  • You have a million ideas but are not sure how to narrow them down into one cohesive look.
  • You’re afraid the design will look cheap, tacky, or poorly put together for your big day.
  • You’re trying to pull off a specific look, style, or theme but not sure how to do it
visit our site for our Preferred vendors at hrweddingguide.com
LIVE DIY Wedding Designing Workshop
What if you could...
"Design your wedding in a day."
Are you playing an active, “hands-on” role in designing their dream wedding but is not sure how to create a cohesive, professional design?

Imagine, in just one fun afternoon, creating a complete, custom wedding design plan with an award-winning Wedding Designer, Artist, and Certified Floral Designer in an interactive workshop. So you can confidently bring your dream wedding vision to life.

Register for Vivid Expressions LLC's upcoming Live DIY "Design Your Wedding In A Day" workshop. This intimate in-person creative wedding designing workshop includes:
  • A fun & interactive guided Design Plan Workshop

  • Create your own personalized "Design Guide"

  • See LIVE Demos (ex: “How to build a bouquet”)

  • “How to select rentals” with in-person products

  • Interactive Games, Prizes, and more

Sunday, March 19, 2023
1 pm - 5 pm
Upcoming Bridal Show

Are you ready for spring wedding planning? Showbrides is one of the longest-running premier bridal events in Hampton Roads. Join them for their upcoming bridal event at the Chesapeake Convention Center. Come out to see Bridal fashion, entertainment, and much more.

Sunday, March 26, 2023
2pm – 5pm

Chesapeake Conference Center
700 Conference Center Drive
Chesapeake, VA 23320

Tickets are now available here at: showbride.com

Visit Showbrides for more details about the Spring Engagement Bridal Expo
Want to find the perfect wedding pro for you?

Check out the lists of premium planners, designers, venues, and other vendors on our website!
~"A hundred hearts would be too few to carry all my love for you."~
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