Why Hire a Planner? Our Top 5 Reasons!

Almost there! Moments right before marriage. Photo by Annie Hall Photography.

One of the main questions I hear from nearly-weds is: “Why should we find a planner to be part of our day?” It’s usually followed by: “We totally got this…” and here’s the thing…I agree!! You got this!
And a planner doesn’t just support with planning…that’s not where the wedding ends…that’s where it all begins…so here is why it’s important to have a planner:

❤️ Planners have tons of connections that have been established and fostered over time. Knowing where to start when it comes to planning is like coming up with a thesis statement for your final term paper. Trust me…get you a planner with some connections (I got lots of those).

🧡 Planners help you stay grounded. There are lots of moving parts that sometimes can get a little overwhelming. Many planners have spreadsheets and documents already created that can support you along the way. Trust me…don’t let your desk get covered in contracts! Find you a planner that has a system already in place (it me).

💛 Planners are in it for you! Do you already hear the backseat folks asking you why you aren’t doing this or that? It can be challenging to filter out the chatter and make a decision that is solely about you! Find you a planner that centers you and your person and can serve as your filter (just me waving enthusiastically wanting to sit at your table).

💚 Planners handle the details and the day of! Getting everything booked feels amazing! And also…who is gonna make sure it all comes to life on the day of and who is gonna make sure your rehearsal runs smoothly? Also what happens if something is missing from the rental company or a vendor hasn’t arrived yet and it’s 10 minutes to go time? Yea…trust me…find you a planner that has all this on lock (hey! You looking for me? 😎)

💙 Planners LOVE what they do! So let us do the things! We love seeing the vision come to life, the first looks, trying new food, laughing with guests, revealing stunning reception spaces, most of all we love love and seeing yours shine brightly! So please…trust me…find you a planner who loves what they do and sees you for the people you are…

Let’s do this!

We did it! A happy wedding planner hugging their even happier bride after the couple said “I do!” - Photo by Annie Hall Photography.

Dearly Beloved: A Prince Inspired Sacramento Wedding Shoot

Inspired by the soul moving sounds of musician Prince, this styled shoot brought vendors together to celebrate his life and legacy through a display of love. When Gina from Inspirations by Gina, and Sandra, from Sparkle Bridal Couture, approached me with the idea of a Prince inspired shoot, my heart skipped a beat. Prince's music had an impact on each of us in profound ways and with 2021 being the 5 year anniversary of his transition, it was important to celebrate his life and legacy. We chose to focus on ways to incorporate Prince's signature purple while not letting it overwhelm. It was also important to incorporate lyrics, songs, and parts of his life which you can find in the vow books, menus, number of table settings, escort cards, and welcome sign. We chose to honor Prince's legacy of empowerment, sensuality, and vitality through stunning floral installations by Gina, beautiful black gowns from Sandra, and an authentic motorcycle we wish we could have all ridden into the sunset.  

My approach to bringing this vision to life was rooted in collaboration and love for the musical genius, Prince. Each vendor that was part of this shoot had a passion for or some connection to Prince's music. This really allowed for the creativity to flow and vision to come together seamlessly. 

This shoot took place in a gorgeous photo studio in downtown Sacramento and was captured beautifully by photographers Adrienne & Dani. Being in the studio allowed for the urban grittiness of Prince's music to be paired with the softness of his signature color, throughout the shoot. It presented an opportunity to play with creativity just as he did in his music. 

Shades of purple flowed throughout this shoot; from the locally grown lavender from Araceli Farms, to the deep purple satin on the back of the suit vest, to the soft swirls of the marbling in the cake, vintage glasses, and stunning florals. Each purple detail popped when placed against the contrasting neutral colors of cream, black, green, and gold. 

Prince's sensuality was evoked by the gorgeous black wedding gowns chosen by Sandra from Sparkle Bridal Couture. The black lace brought the frills of Prince's concert wear to life while the smooth black satin of the second gown flowed perfectly and was paired with a white motorcycle jacket with Prince's lyrics, as if ready for a motorcycle ride into the sunset. 

Gina, from Inspirations by Gina, brought the magic of florals to life through her magnificent wall installation. Wanting to transform the simple black room into a gorgeous and intimate reception space, Gina's floral arrangements and wall installation brought the space to life and truly captured the vibrant life Prince led. It was important for the florals to complement the tabletop place settings and allow for the beautiful vintage china, delicate gold rimmed glasses, and deep purple goblets from Frances Lane, to sparkle. Hand picked and curated, each dish, glass, and item of flatware has a story that is brought to life the moment it is set. Combine that with a beautiful linen from Napa Valley Linens and you have absolute magic surrounded by a garden of locally and sustainably sourced floral arrangements. Cozy, soft pillows and a specially made low farm table served as the foundation and added to the intimacy of the reception space.

When working with Janae from Matinae Design Studios on invitations and other paperie. I wanted to make sure that we captured some of the more nuanced details about Prince. Janae brought the paperie items to life by placing gold foil by hand and creating menus that incorporated lavender wax seals. We went with 7 guests, menus, and escort cards as 7 was Prince's favorite number. The menu selections were inspired by Prince's favorite foods and a signature mock-tail (Prince did not drink alcohol), created by Te from 5 Star Bartender Catering Co., inspired by one of my favorite Prince songs, Raspberry Beret.  

To bring everything together, the beautiful wedding cake designed by Dena from Kalani Kakes, incorporated delicate doves and gold buttons in homage to Prince. The cake itself was purple velvet with ube cream cheese filling and Tahitian vanilla buttercream. This inspired cake was placed perfectly atop a vintage black cake stand from Frances Lane, on a beautiful gold tower stand.

My wife and I were the real couple featured in this shoot. Being a part of the shoot in this additional way, was so special for us. We celebrate 5 years of marriage in 2021 and find ourselves dancing to Prince, with our pup, in the living room. Prince challenged society's ideas on gender and gender presentation and to be a part of honoring him in this way as an LGBTQIA+ couple, was beautiful. 

It was an honor to have my hair and make-up done by Zoey from All Dolled Up. She did a wonderful job making sure the subtle purple on my eyes tied in with my wife's custom Saint Harridan suit she wore on our wedding day. It was a joy to have the sounds of Prince's music surround all of us as we brought this vision to life. 

If I could give advice to future couples as they plan it would be this: do not be afraid to push the boundaries, be creative and think outside of the box. Find vendors that are as much in love with your vibe as you are. Magic happens when people come together to bring a vision they are all passionate about, to life. 

If I could share advice for couples on marriage: don't be afraid to have fun and do things you never thought you would do. Communication is key and inviting each other to share in things as a couple is so important. Do "new" together and don't forget to dance in the living room as much as possible.