Oklahoma Weddings- Oklahoma Wedding Planner and all the Reasons why you need one!
I recently became great friends with a wonderful woman, Brandy! She is an event planner out of Oklahoma, who knows her stuff. She is Certified Wedding Planner and Owner of Blue Chalk Events serving the Oklahoma Wedding Community. She has a passion in planning and loves guiding and helping with events, especially weddings. I recently worked with Brandy. She assisted and OMG had so many ideas when setting up my recent Oklahoma Wedding Styled Shoot. I can’t wait to create again with here!
I sent Brandy some questions related to what she provides to the Oklahoma Wedding Community and why you may need a planner. She has worked with a ton of Oklahoma Wedding Vendors and can assist in many areas for your event. ENJOY all this amazing information and reach out to Brandy for all your Wedding Planning Needs.
Q: What is your website?
Q: How do clients book your services?
A: Clients may book a free consultation for my services through my website, they may find me on Wedding Wire, The Knot, or they may also message me using my Social Media pages, Facebook or Instagram.
Q: What does a wedding planner actually do?
A: A wedding planner guides their clients through the entire wedding process. Getting engaged is one of the most exciting times in a couples life, yet it can also be a very stressful time, leaving couples unsure where to begin. Hiring a wedding planner helps ease the stress of planning, and really lets the couple enjoy their engagement. Wedding planners help navigate their couple through the entire wedding process. They will help the couple locate venues that really fit their budget and style. Once the venue is selected, a wedding planner schedules and attends vendor meetings, books the perfect vendor team for the clients, and reviews and keeps track of all vendor contracts. A wedding planner works with their couple to design and style the desired theme that reflects their clients overall vision. If desired, your wedding planner can assist with invitation suite selection, budget management, etiquette advisement, favor assembly, schedule alterations and fittings, arrange transportation and hotel blocks.
During the planning process your wedding planner will send detailed checklists, create and communicate a detailed wedding rehearsal and wedding day timeline to ensure your day is everything you had envisioned! ON Wedding Day, your wedding planner coordinates and manages the entire day through vendor checkout.
Q: What do you manage- what many clients don’t understand about your work?
A: There are about 5,000 details that go into a wedding day.
From the moment of our initial consultation, I begin getting all the details about their dream day. I really get a sense of knowing all the ins and outs of what my clients specific needs are, as no two weddings are the same (which is why I love what I do!) I want to know how they met, what their hobbies/interests are, if they have any pets that they want to incorporate, what traditions or customs they may want to include, and what they view as the most important element of their wedding to be. I also want to know their fears or what they may be anxious about. Getting to know my clients story as well as their fears , allows me to begin working on pairing them with the perfect vendor for their style/needs. I guide them through planning checklists along the entire way, setup and attend vendor appointments , create mood and style boards that reflect their desires, and also keep track of their budget. I offer all of my Full Service clients assistance with décor, styling, favor assembly, invitation and menu guidance, setup hotel blocks for traveling guests as well as setup transportation for the wedding party.
After all vendors are booked, I manage all the contracts, set up final walk throughs, and create a detailed timeline for rehearsal and wedding day. The detailed timeline is communicated to all wedding vendors as well as the wedding party. On wedding day, it is GAME DAY, I hit the ground running early in the morning making sure all things run smoothly. If any issues arise, I handle those without causing stress or anxiety to my couple! I offer all of my couples access to my Emergency Kit, in case there is something that arises that was not planned for. From placing the napkins, steaming linens, to placing décor pieces in the appropriate place, it is to my job to make sure both the ceremony and reception space are ready and reflect the clients overall vision. Once the ceremony and reception space is ready, it is time to cue and line up the wedding party , I give them one final touch up, as they get ready to walk down the aisle! As the ceremony ends, my job is to maintain wedding day timeline. I remain in communication with the other wedding vendors and manage both the cocktail hour and reception through the couples exit. The last task of the night as a wedding planner, is to ensure the venue is cleaned up to specifications and that all vendors are checked out.
Q: What services do you provide?
A: Blue Chalk Events offers an array of services and packages, tailored to the needs of each client.
Full service wedding planning and coordination is offered for the couple who wants to completely be present and relish in their engagement, while allowing me to take care of all the planning details. From choosing the perfect venue, vendors, taking care of contracts and creating detailed wedding day timelines. My Full Service Planning Package offers clients unlimited client planner meetings.
All of my packages and services include day of coordination, which ensures that both wedding rehearsal and wedding day are ran smoothly and your dream day is executed as desired.
For the couple who has chosen their venue and booked some of their wedding professionals, but still in need of some guidance, Blue Chalk Events offers Partial Planning and Coordination. This is for the couples who need assistance executing their wedding day vision. Partial Planning offers five client planner meetings and seven vendor meetings.
If clients have planned their wedding and booked all of their vendors, I offer Month of Coordination Packages. This package is 2 client planner meetings and unlimited email check ins this service begins 4 weeks before their wedding day. As mentioned above, all services include wedding rehearsal and day coordination. I also offer Blue Chalk Busy Bags for my little people to stay busy during wedding day!
I also offer hourly rates, bridal showers, engagement party, rehearsal dinner, and any life celebrations/milestones that clients want to celebrate!
Q: How do you help with venue selection?
A: During our initial free consultation, we talk about the couples style and budget. From this consultation we narrow the venue choices to those that reflect their style, overall vision and those that are within their budget. A couple should spend no more than 15-20% of their overall budget on their wedding venue. Once we narrow down their style and budget, I set up at least 3 venue tours for my clients. I highly recommend touring more than one venue, so that you know without a doubt that is where you both want to get married.
Q: What is the difference between a Wedding Planner and a Wedding Coordinator?
A: This is a Fabulous question! A Wedding Planner is with the client every step of the planning process. From venue selection, to vendor selection and everything in between. A Wedding Planner is for the clients who need assistance with booking vendors, selecting wedding décor and design, tracking RSVPs, creating seating charts, assistance with stationary needs, and confirming all contracts.
A Wedding Coordinator executes the clients vision that they have planned along the way. This service is for the couple who have planned their entire wedding and booked all their vendors and just need someone (who is not their friends or family) to execute and ensure their day is ran smoothly. A Wedding Coordinator comes on board 4 weeks before wedding day and executes the clients vision.
Top 5 FAQs from clients:
When do I send Save the Dates?
You should send your Save the Dates anywhere from 6-12 months in advance.
2. When do I send my invitations?
Wedding invitations should be sent 6-8 weeks in advance.
3. Do I really need a seating chart?
Yes! People love to know what is happening and where they are supposed to go next. A seating chart is a great way to ease into your reception with out guests awkwardly standing around waiting on what to do next. I advise my clients to group their guests, and assign a table number to their group so that you do not have 2 people sitting at a table that was meant for 8 guests. There are so many creative ways to incorporate a seating map!
4. Do I need a Photographer and Videographer?
YES. YES. YES. A Photographer and Videographer are two of the MOST important wedding pros you need to hire! They will capture your beginning and it is something you will have forever. I advise my couples to invest in both because you won’t regret having them, you will regret if you don’t! Think of all the sweet moments that happen during the day and all of the planning spent for it. Those memories will be captured and treasured forever. Cue the tears. Happy tears.
5. Do I need ushers for my ceremony?
Again, another YES. As guests arrive, your ushers are there to greet them, and to help them to their seats. This is also a great way to involve those special people in your life that would love to be a part of your day but are not a groomsman or bridesmaid.
Ushers help the flow of the ceremony and keeps the seating balanced as well as makes your guests feel welcome.
Image by Kim King
