Whether you’re a local of New Orleans or simply in love with New Orleans from afar, a wedding in the Crescent City is nothing short of magical. After all, your wedding deserves nothing less. But who will help you make that wedding magic happen? Who knows all of the ins and outs of a New Orleans wedding and the answers to when, where and how to make it come to life exactly as you envision? It’s simple: your ideal New Orleans wedding planner. Here are some good things to consider when you’re sorting through your options.
Knowing which local vendors to choose for YOU
Born and raised here or not, it’s difficult to navigate decisions about which local vendors are the best fit for your style and budget (more in terms of budget next!). There’s no shortage of New Orleans wedding vendors after all- and this is a great thing- however, if you don’t know where to start or whether you’re making the best decision for you, the process can be overwhelming. In steps your wedding planner! You’re going to want your wedding planner to be able to share his/her advice based upon their personal experience in terms of the competencies and quality of local venues, catering companies, event rental providers, etc. It's important that your wedding planner not only know the best of the best in terms of the major aforementioned wedding day vendors, but also every vendor in between- florists, lighting companies, bakeries, second line bands, stationery studios, the list goes on and on. This invaluable expert insight will be based upon how much time your wedding planner has spent in the local New Orleans wedding industry and the connections they’ve made through planning various New Orleans weddings. How long has your potential wedding planner been planning weddings in New Orleans? Who are some of their favorite vendors in a specific vendor category that is very important to you (venues, for example) and do those vendors match your wedding day style?
Respect for your wedding budget
Dreams for the perfect wedding day are as big as they come. It can seem like there is no limit to the possibilities behind each detailed moment. But the harsh reality is that every couple has a budget, and they come in all different shapes and sizes. It’s easy for a bride and/or groom to get a little carried away planning their perfect Pinterest wedding when they have no idea how much wedding vendors cost. However, creating an unforgettable wedding ceremony and reception is way easier with the help of your wedding planner when they can make sure your vision is inline with your budget. From New Orleans venue search to completely understanding your design vision for the day, the greatest wedding planners know how to inject creativity into your plan from the start while taking into account your budget. Does your potential wedding planner offer budget breakdown and tracking?
It’s all about chemistry and trust.
Your wedding is important, it’s delicate, it’s super exciting. It’s the kind of event you would trust only to your closest friends and family. When bringing in a wedding planner, you should feel that same (or similar) level of trust and absolute comfort. Face-to-face chemistry is a major part of it. You and your fiance want to be able to jive with your planner; feeling free to discuss and ideate anything and everything for your special day. Your personalities should mesh like friends. And hey, maybe even keep in touch after the wedding. You won’t hear a planner from Everly turn down a post-wedding cocktail or dinner!
Staying grounded (and keeping you grounded, too)
Six months before your wedding, one month before, one week before, day of (!), it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the countless checklists of wedding planning to-do’s you’ll find on the internet and in wedding planning books. Stress is natural and happens to almost everyone who is about to get married, but a wedding planner can help significantly reduce the wedding planning stress and eliminate the panic. At Everly, we hear it time and time again how New Orleans brides and grooms appreciate a planner who is relaxed, calm, and keeps things in control.
As a soon-to-be married couple, you want to work with a wedding planner who can keep his/her composure in the midst of vendor and venue craziness, but also help you keep your cool as well. Refreshing words of encouragement, professional guidance and good ideas are all in a day’s work for a planner whose goal is to stay grounded and make sure the big day and all of the days leading up to it are perfect.
