A Week in the Life of a Wedding Planner – Monday

The first day back from a long, relaxing vacation sucks, there’s no way around it. The best way to take the edge off of it? Go dress shopping with one of my brides.

Ally is marrying Brian next July, so, she’s got some time. But she’s looking at dresses with her Mom and sister in a couple of weeks, but she wanted to try on different styles before that. So, off we went to Lili’s Bridal in Tarzana.

Form-fitting lace mermaid dress #FTW. Although she did enjoy twirling in the fluffy princess one.

 Meanwhile, back in the office…

I have three weddings coming up in August – one officiant and two coordination gigs. It’s always best for me to take them in order, so Shaunicie and Sinclair’s wedding was up first. It’s Timeline time. We’d had a long conversation on Sunday about how the day was going to flow, and I whipped up a preliminary timeline given that. The first time you do a timeline, it’s always more “Reds” (unconfirmed times and questions) than “Blacks” (this is DEFINITELY happening at this time), but oh, over the next two weeks, it’s going to feel good to change those colors. The venue manager won’t be back in the office until Wednesday, so I’m going to have to work from the outside in until then. Can their photographer start shooting at 1pm instead of 2pm? Is 45 minutes enough time for him to shoot all the wedding party pictures at Pasadena City Hall, but still get everyone to the Altadena Country Club by 4:15pm?

2014 is my 10th year as a wedding planner, and I’m about to start my first coaching program for wedding planners, so I’m really paying attention to my process, and exactly how I get my clients from point A to Point B, and make sure that they’re getting everything that they need – and have paid for – to create the wedding they want. Prioritizing is key.

Communication with vendors, especially photographers, is that you have to let them know if there are any changes. Odds are that pushing his arrival time up isn’t going to be a problem, but the picture time is going to be tight. What will he need to make it work? It might be a matter of making sure that everyone leaves on time, to and from. That might be a matter of giving him one of my assistants to help cat wrangle. Stay tuned.

And, if you’re interested in finding out about my wedding planner coaching program and my first introductory group call, email me at liz@weddingplannercoach.com or weddingplannercoach@gmail.com, or call me 323-592-9318. It’s open to all wedding planners in Los Angeles, that are in their first two years of business, which are usually the most stressful time. You’re trying to figure out how to build a business while becoming the expert that your couples are hiring to be. No one is born knowing how to plan weddings, not even wedding planners. Maya Angelou said, “When you know better, you do better.” I want to show you how what to know, to do better. And most of all, to feel better. Give me a call. Programs start at $28 a month.

Tomorrow? Amy and Mary Ann’s Beach ceremony. See you there.

See you at the end of the aisle,

Liz Coopersmith
Silver Charm Events
www.silvercharmevents.com
323-592-9318
liz@silvercharmevents.com