When our dear friends at Alison Events asked us to design their most recent wedding planner book All the Essentials we couldn't have said yes any quicker. This talented group of women knows all there is about planning a perfect wedding, and their eye for design is off the charts. Some of our lovely ladies attended the book party and it was a ball, as expected.
The book, filled with prime planner advice, offers check lists, templates, and gift trackers - all to make your wedding day a dream.
We asked Alison herself a few questions about the process and here is what she had to say!
What's the first step for any bride planning a wedding who wants to stay organized?
Getting organized and staying organized is always such a daunting task. We designed this book with that in mind. We modeled it after a binder because that's exactly what we use with our own clients. We make a client blinder that stays with us in the office and we send one to our couples. Month by month we make a "to-do" list with things we are working on and things our couple should be completing in that month. Taking it one step at a time is the only way to go at it and not get completely overwhelmed. It's also super helpful to have one place where you keep everything and can reference that so easy.
What inspired you to create this wedding planner and to share all this helpful info?
We've been lucky enough to be doing what we love for over 12 years now and have learned so much along the way. Trends change, design shifts but the core of planning more or less stays the same. This planner is set up to guide couples through the process and keep them on track. Everyone will need a place to keep those important contracts, hotel information, menus, registry, and seating charts etc. With this wedding planner, you'll be able to hole punch and put them right in the binder with the added bonus of some advice on how to go about these monumental decisions.
In all your wedding planning experience, what's the most important tip you've learned along the way?
Surround yourself with a solid team. This is true in my business as well as couple's hiring on help. Couple's should be reaching out to vendors that have great reputations and speak to their personal style but they should also be someone you click with and trust. You have to follow your instincts and this will make the process all the easier.
What's your best advice for a bride who is feeling overwhelmed and stressed out while planning?
Hire a planner! The amount of money & stress you will save will be worth it in the end if planning just isn't your thing! Some couples really enjoy the process of finding unique ways to incorporate their story or things they enjoy into their special day, while others might need a little help getting there. Don't let it get to a place where it just isn't fun anymore and you're dreaming of eloping. You can always turn things around by either getting a professional on board or just getting some advice on how to attack intimidating tasks.
The day of the wedding can often be hectic. Do you have advice for a bride and groom for when the big day arrives?
When the big day arrives…it's time to party and celebrate major milestone accomplishments! By that time, the two of you have already made executive decisions together and come out on top. Stay focused on what that day will represent for years, decades to come and enjoy being surrounded by your closest friends, family, and most of all, the person you're meant to spend your life with.
To get your copy of All the Essentials, published by Chronicle Books leave a comment below telling us your best wedding tip or your dream wedding location. We'll pick three winners on Friday, February 22nd.
