Why Hire a Wedding Planner? - From Someone Who Didn’t

As each of my interns start working weddings, I like to ask them to write a blog post about their experiences.  One of our newest interns, Tara Close, is also a recent bride.  After the last wedding, she and I were talking about all the behind the scene's work and would she had hired a wedding planner if she had it to all over again.  Here is Tara's take:

Ten months ago I was knee deep in all of the wedding planning stresses that often grace the doorstep of each “do-it-yourself” bride. My mother and I were taking on all of the odds and ends that make up a wedding ceremony and reception, tackling each hurdle as it came, hoping things would go smoothly on the big day. From picking vendors, ordering decorations, sending out invitations, and dealing with various venues, the list of things to do and my stress level just kept growing and growing. By the time the big day came around, the last thing either of us wanted to do was worry about the details that may fall through the cracks, but when you “do it yourself,” you just take that risk. Although no major problems happened that night, having someone there to relieve the small jobs my mom was in charge of throughout the day would have been a great relief. Your loved ones, especially the ones who play a huge part in your big day, shouldn’t have to “work” at your wedding. Not only were my parents hosting the biggest day of my life, but they were also busy making sure everything turned out the way we planned.




Hiring a wedding planner is something that many people don’t find necessary, because they simply think they can handle it all themselves. Why add to the growing list of expenses? But wedding planning should be at the top of your list when it comes to preparing for your big day. The reassurance that you have a team of people working to make your wedding the best day of your life, should be reason enough to put it into your plans. Who wouldn’t want someone to take some of the burden of planning such a huge event off of their shoulders. Why wouldn’t you want to have that great feeling of knowing that someone is working just as hard as you are on your wedding, and that they do this for a living. That’s right! The wedding planning company that you pick is a professional! Attention to detail, flawless execution, and multitasking are their specialties.



Most wedding’s don’t go off without a hitch, and I think that is a concept most brides don’t understand because we are all focused on the fact that our day will be “perfect,” whatever perfect is to that individual. Often times, the flowers and cake are late, it’s to windy outside making setup of an outdoor wedding a nightmare, the caterers aren’t ready to serve dinner on time, or you forgot the unity candle you are using in your ceremony, and realize just moments before you walk down the aisle. That’s when you need a team there who is looking out for you and your guests. Ensuring that your vendors are there on time, that you have all of the elements you need in your ceremony on sight and ready to go at a moments notice, and most importantly handling the problems that will always come up so that you don’t have to stress and worry, and work on your wedding day.



So the big question is, if I could go back and do it all again…. would I hire a wedding planner? Absolutely! If peace of mind is all a wedding planner could give me on my big day, it would be more than enough. Just to know that someone is paying attention to the details, working behind the scenes, and ensuring that my friends and family don’t have to lift a finger on my big day is reason enough!

Through the Eyes of an Intern

I recently asked one of my interns, Kristi Riley, to write me an article about the last wedding she worked with us through her eyes.  This is how Kristi saw the day:

The last wedding that I interned with Southern Charm Events was anything but dull.  The wedding and reception took place at Palm Valley Gardens in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.  It was elegant and absolutely beautiful with deep red and silver colors in keeping with the Christmas theme.  There was rain in the forecast, however, it turned out to be a sunny and beautiful, warm winter day.  From the first moment we arrived on the wedding site we were hopping.  

The first hurdle of the day was the bride’s father.  He had fallen the night before the wedding and was taken to the emergency room with a very large gash in his leg.  Nobody was sure he would be able to walk his daughter down the aisle.  Luckily, he was able to pull it off….thank God for prescription drugs!

One of the groomsmen had lost weight since the last time he had tried on his tux.  We had to pin him up to prevent any accidents.  The grooms vest was too big….luckily Tanya has a HUGE emergency kit.  This kit has everything imaginable! It has Pepto, antacids, safety pins, panty hose, make up remover and everything you can think of.  About 10 minutes before the bride was to walk down the aisle, one of the bridesmaids ripped her dress.  Of course, Tanya had a sewing kit and was able to sew her in her dress (which stayed in one piece all night.) 

After the groomsmen and the bridesmaids walked out, it was time for the flower girl.  The little 4 year old girl had a very long walk from the house to the garden by herself.  Once she realized that everyone was looking at her she got embarrassed and decided that it would be best to cover her eyes.  With her eyes covered, she could not see the pond beside her that she fell right in to.  Other than being wet, she was fine.  The wedding went on and was a success.  

During the reception, the bartender came up to Tanya and told her we were running out of beer.  With an open bar and a drinking crowd, this did not make the bride’s dad happy.  I made a run to the liquor store and stocked up just in time.  Nobody even knew that there was almost a bar disaster.  

As the band started up and everyone danced and greeted the bride and groom, we helped the catering staff clear tables; we loaded gifts in the appropriate cars, passed out bubbles and cookies, and stayed BUSY! I heard so many people tell Tanya what an amazing job she did.  It was so much fun and so much work at the same time.