What Do Wedding Planners Really Do?

We’ve all seen the romantic comedy The Wedding Planner. There’s Jennifer Lopez living a glamorous life as a wedding planner in San Francisco. She’s working high end weddings with her wedding planner emergency jacket and pack. Now, flash forward to real life. We cannot tell you how many times someone has asked if our jobs, as wedding planners, were just like JLO. Guests will stop us, ask who we are and then the questions begin. Do we have an emergency pack? Are you the secret services? Are you like a “wedding woman?” We always giggle when we get approached with questions, or references to Jennifer Lopez, but in reality what we do goes far beyond paper. Today, we’re going to explore what our team, Elegant Affairs, is all about and what we really do. 

As wedding planners we’ve seen it all. And no matter how many weddings we’ve planned and coordinated, seeing a couple say “I do”, well – you can’t beat that feeling. We still get chills when the bride or groom walk down the aisle towards their partner and we can’t help but tear up during the father/daughter dance. But, for us, it all starts with meeting and connecting with our potential clients. We offer an initial consultation, where we are able to meet with the prospective couple. During this consultation, we not only discuss their wedding visions, budget, wants, and needs; but we also discuss ourselves and how we can support them. For us, it’s not just signing a contract. It is way more than that. We are forming a partnership through this wedding planning journey. Once we’ve discussed our different packages and how we can best realistically support the couple, we begin the process. 

We always tell our couples that we can do as little as you need, to as much as you need – depending on the package that you choose. Sometimes, we have couples that choose our day of coordinating a package only, but then decide they want more. We can always upgrade as we go, or do additional add-on packages. Let’s say you're the couple that wants support just the wedding day. We’ve got you! But, that doesn’t mean we just ghost you until your big day. We are still an active part of your wedding planning process no matter what package you choose. If you’re looking for more of a day of coordination package, so your family and friends can sit back and relax we can provide services for that. For instance, our day of coordination package includes some the following:

• Creation of wedding day timeline 

• Venue Final Walk through

• Coordination of your big day

• Check all the fine details for your day (ex. Did Aunt Betty actually pack your toasting flutes?) 

• Communication and confirmation with all of your vendors prior to your wedding day 

For the day of coordination package, it provides all of the support you need to make sure your wedding day goes smoothly. We’ve got our timelines, emergency kit, and we are ready to support you, your partner, family, and friends have a relaxing, but memorable day. Now, if you want more of a partner within the planning, but don’t need a full-time wedding planner for all the nitty gritty details - we’ve got you, too! We even offer partial planning which is the best of both worlds. This includes everything in our day of coordination package and offers more. Our partial package includes: 

• Three planning meetings 

• Assisting in set-up outside of vendor services

• End of day arrangements (ex. Who is going to clean up? Where do the gifts go?)

• Review of vendor contracts

• Site coordinator for set-up and take down. 

This isn’t everything our package includes, but it covers the major services we provide. And of course, if you’re needing a wedding planner to assist, plan, and support for the duration of planning and your wedding day, we even offer a full planning package. This package provides unlimited access to your planner and/or planning team throughout the whole process.

Even though our service packages give you a good outline of what services we offer, it doesn’t even begin to describe what we actually do in the wedding planning trenches. Throughout these years, we’ve worked with hundreds of couples, assistants, and vendors. We’ve worked with so many clients with different needs or wants and we always do our absolute best to make their vision come true and provide support. Individual support can vary from couple to couple , and trust me we’ve seen quite a bit. 

We’ve coordinated and planned small weddings, large weddings, and even a wedding with 500 guests. Our team has put together 40+ floral arrangements in an hour and hung about 50 strands of lights down a walkway path in the 100 degree heat. We’ve had weddings where the DJ was unable to make it and panic set in. But our team handled it with grace. Our team were DJs for a while with an iPod, while another assistant was calling all of the DJs in town explaining our emergency situation. Yes, there was an emergency, but guests had fun, the couple still had their first dance song, received a refund from their vendor, and danced the night away. We’ve accompanied brides to find their dream wedding dress, attended countless fittings, held their hands through hardship, and were even there for the occasional late night, anxiety filled call. 

So, here at Elegant Affairs, we are more than just the “sign on the line”, “here’s your contract” wedding planners. We are here for you, not just for those eight hours, and not just for a few meetings. We pour our hearts into making your day come to life. We form life-long bonds with our couples that continue far after the wedding day. Our world may not look the same as Jennifer Lopez’s version of the wedding planner, but we’d have to say that our job is the best job ever. And if you’re reading this and want to learn more about what we do, give us a ring, e-mail us, or check out our portfolio. Whatever you need, we are here to help. 

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Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Seattle Wedding Planner with over 17 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.

Creating a Sustainable Wedding of Your Dreams

As we know, there is a lot of planning involved with having a wedding. But, at the end of the reception, once all of the guests have left, do you have any idea how much waste is created from one event? Just googling the waste amount reports that anywhere between 400lbs and 600lbs can be produced by a single day of wedded bliss. In the last few years, we’ve seen an upward trend of more eco-friendly or sustainable weddings. Sometimes, even making the smallest changes or swaps can help lessen the effect on the environment. So join us, as we discuss how to implement a sustainable wedding, with it still being the wedding of your dreams.

Choosing an Eco-Friendly Wedding Venue
One of the biggest parts of planning is your wedding venue. Not only will you spend most of your budget on your venue, it will also most likely house most of the waste produced from your event. When looking for a venue there are a few guiding questions that you can research if you’d like to plan a more eco-friendly affair. 

• Are rentals included in the venue? 

• Does the venue have onsite composting or recycling bins for the caterers? 

• Are sustainable operational methods a part of the venue’s day-to-day operations?

• If your venue is outside, is it a conservation area?

A budget-friendly tip is to use nature as your wedding day backdrop. We’ve seen more and more outdoor weddings and weddings that use landscape as their focal point. Couples have hiked to their location, said their vows in nature reserves, or even used a friend’s backyard. Check outside, look at reviews, find a good trail to explore and take the plunge to an outdoor wedding. And if you choose to elope, or use mother nature as your venue, be sure to consider how to reduce waste. A good hiking tip is, you carry out what you carry in. 

Be Our Guest
Not only does having a smaller guest list cut down your wedding budget, but it also helps reduce the waste and carbon footprint produced from your big day! Sometimes it can be nerve wracking creating a guest list. Working together with your partner to be intentional about the guest list is key. Now, when it comes the time to send out save the dates and invites, this is a great way to swap for more eco-friendly alternatives. There are so many different invite companies that have moved towards using recycled paper for invites. One of our favorites is The Minted and Paper Culture. If you want to completely swap out paper, check out invitations, check online to send invitations via text or email. 

Finding the Right Vendors
Vendors play a large role in the overall experience of your day. As you carefully select your vendors, choose individuals that can be sustainable as possible. Here are some tips to help make an eco-friendly decision. 

• Speak with your caterers, baker, and DJ. What are their plans for clean-up, disposing of trash etc.? 

• Working closely with your caterer to make sure it’s eco-friendly. Swap out plastic utensils and plates for washable or biodegradable alternatives. Ask your caterer how they dispose of the left-over food.

• Can catering donate the food to a local organization or shelter? 

• Is your caterer sourced by local farmers or farm to table? 

These are just a starting point for selecting eco-friendly caterers. You and your partner will need to work closely with your vendors through the wedding planning process so be intentional with hiring and ensure that your overall views are aligned for the wedding day. 

Say “I Do” with Ethical Rings 
One of the more trendy ways to make an eco-friendly swap is choosing a jewelry company that has ethically sourced gems. Many couples are choosing to swap the traditional diamond for a gemstone such as sapphire or emerald. Stones such as moissanite have become increasingly popular with its affordability. Moissanite is comparable to a diamond, even down to the dazzle and brilliance. You and your partner can even check out local vendors and small businesses for alternatives to traditional wedding rings. If choosing a conflict-free gem is a swap you’d like to make, Brilliant Earth provides thousands of options to customize your wedding day bling. 

Sustainable Decor
Decor can be one of the biggest areas of waste. Sometimes you can go down the wedding decor hole and purchase odds and ends that you don’t even end up using. Be intentional with what you’re purchasing and look for ways that you can reuse or recycle your decor. A popular way to buy upcycled wedding decor is through Facebook Marketplace and once you’re through with your wedding decor find a new couple that can utilize it. 

Cutting down on flowers is another way to be eco-friendly. Depending on the types of flowers or greenery you chose, flowers can be spendy and can often go to waste. If you have centerpieces, give them to guests at the end of the night or donate them to a retirement home. Think of other options besides throwing your florals in the trash. If you’re planning on using real flower petals down the aisle way, especially if you’re eloping in mother nature, be sure to pick up all of the petals when you’re done. 

If you and your partner want to plan an eco-friendly wedding, start researching and be intentional with hiring your wedding vendors. Be intentional with the items and areas in which you can make sustainable and more eco-friendly swaps and explore your options. Don’t be afraid to ask questions in order to make your wedding day not only beautiful but sustainable. If you’d like to discuss how to incorporate more eco-friendly wedding details, reach out to our wedding planning team! 

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Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Tacoma Wedding Planner with over 17 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.

Our Top Trend Predictions for 2023

Let’s be real. We’ve all had an interesting last 3 years. We’ve had a worldwide pandemic, closures, and even the wedding planning world was paused. As the clock struck midnight, I knew we were all thinking “This is going to be OUR year.” As 2023 starts, the wedding season is right around the corner. And as wedding planners, we know what that means – wedding planning is in full force and it’s coming in hot. As our couples begin the wedding planning process of creating a timeless affair, they are searching for what's modern, fresh, and new. So, we’ve done our research and compiled some of our predictions for the 2023 wedding season. What will be a flop and must this season?

01 - A traditional affair?

At the top of the list, we are predicting that more and more couples will move away from the traditional, classic wedding. If there is anything the last two years have taught us and of course the living in a worldwide pandemic, traditional weddings are not as popular. Due to outside circumstances, couples had to think outside the wedding box and find their own path. One of the ways couples are breaking tradition is by personalizing their big days and creating weddings that are unique to them. Personalization can create weddings unique and specific to you and your partner. Creating weddings that are unique and personable is the easiest way to move away from the traditional “I dos”. 

02- Let’s travel baby!

Next, our list is a less traditional wedding version, it’s all about hosting destination weddings. Now that travel is becoming safer and more popular, more couples are opting to say “I do” abroad. Having an international affair allows more intimate time with family and friends and who doesn’t love to travel. Additionally, an international affair gives couples and families an opportunity to escape and truly enjoy their big day. But, yes, having a wedding abroad sounds spendy, but often venues and hotels can provide a destination package. Our research shows that some European countries will become popular, such as Greece, Italy, France, and Spain. So, be adventurous and take a look at some of the upcoming destinations for your big day. 

03- The smaller, the better – right?

Having a destination wedding also means that most likely your affair will be in an intimate setting. Due to the pandemic and wedding closures, many couples had to have weddings with just a few family and friends. What we found was many individuals agreed that having intimate weddings allowed couples to enjoy their day with the people they love most. Even though the pandemic has hit the back burner, we predict that intimate gatherings will stick around. One perk of having an intimate wedding advocates spending the day with your closest family and friends. And, it also supports a couple who may be on a smaller budget. 

04- Sign us up for a wedding weekend!

Whether you host a local affair or an international one, there is a high chance that some of your family and friends must travel to attend. One of the trends we’ve seen become more popular over time is having weddings that expand on more than just a day. Venues and/or retreats are offering wedding weekend packages, some including lodging and meals. This allows your guests to not only enjoy your wedding, but create a once in a kind experience. Retreats can hold various classes and events such as yoga, touring, and even cooking classes. It also eliminates the need to provide transportation for your guests to and from the wedding. Guests are able to eat, dance, drink and enjoy themselves. 

05 - Did you say custom?

We predict that fashion will be front and center this upcoming year. More brides are flocking to designers for custom wedding dress designs. Designers offer the chance to have a one of a kind dress, as well as personalized touches. Tik Tok has also introduced various upcoming designers and ways to sew your own wedding dress. We’ve noticed an increase in individuals trying to do it themselves, or finding someone to help with their attire customizations. Customizing your attire, as well as your wedding parties attire can add a creative and memorable touch. 

06 - But, have you seen on Tik Tok…?

Yes, we’re going to mention Tik Tok again. Tik Tok has become an international sensation. During the pandemic Tik Tok brought viewers a chance to explore the outside world and interact with people, even while being on lock down. Today, Tik Tok offers various tips, tricks, and even DIY projects. We are noticing that more people are finding their inspiration for everyday life through this app. Which means couples will most likely find a lot of their inspiration for their big day from not only couples on the app, but wedding planners and coordinators, too! Whether you’re looking for the hottest dance trends, fashion, or reception ideas - Tik Tok seems to be an inspiration for the masses. 

07 - A Formal Affair!

We love a good black tie. And let's be honest, people love a good reason to dress up in their finest attire. We think that this upcoming year will bring us formal affairs, including black tie. Couples love the idea of dressing up and having their guests join in on the fun. Guests can enjoy formal gowns, or cocktail dresses, and debonair suits. So, don’t be surprised if your latest invite says formal attire, and hey – even look towards Tik Tok to find some inspiration! 

We are thrilled to begin the new year with a fresh attitude. We are looking forward to seeing our own couples tie the knot, but also look forward to seeing what the wedding world has to offer in 2023. Whether you want to have a destination wedding, local intimate affair, customized wedding party attire, or even search Tik Tok for inspiration we are here to watch and support your wedding dreams. So happy planning and we can’t wait to see what this year brings. 

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Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Tacoma Wedding Planner with over 17 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.