weddingfurniture

Wedding Invitations 101

If there is one thing your wedding can’t go without, it’s an invitation!

It’s the who, where, when and why of your wedding day. It sets the tone, it communicates and informs, and it gives off a whole lot of happy vibes when it is received by your guests.

Whether your invitation resembles a 3 piece suite of letter pressed paper, or it’s a simple text message with a link to your wedding website, there are a few invitation 101’s that need to be covered before you hit send.

 Let’s dive in…

Photo: @holliandash | Designer @paperfusiondesign

 

INVITATION MEDIUM

Printed or digital?

Before we tackle the must-haves of what to include ON your invitation, we need to discuss your invitation style.

With tradition becoming more of an ‘optional’ term in today’s wedding world, so does the need to send physical invitations. So, what is more your style – printed, or digital, or both!?

No way is it better than the other, it all comes down to personal preference. Let’s discuss the pros & cons of each:

PRINTED

Pros:

– The options are endless – colour combos, paper textures, die cut shapes, letter press, emboss, multiple piece stationery suites, printed envelopes… If you have a creative mind and appreciate design, then this is the biggest pro of all!  

– It’s a sure way to create some buzz about your wedding before the date.

– It makes your guests feel totally special when they see a pretty envelope sitting in their mail box.

– You will have a keepsake for your wedding box or album.

– You can use your invitation in your ‘details’ shot.

– They will take prime position on your guests fridge in the lead up to the special day.

– You can still host a wedding website while also having a printed invitation – it’s the best of both worlds!

 

 Cons:

– It can be a costly item. Printed invitations include the cost of paper, printing and labour of your stationery designer if you are going for a custom suite. And of course we can’t forget the cost of postage! All of these things will need to be factored into your wedding budget if you are considering printed invitations.

 

DIGITAL

Pros:

– It’s a lot cheaper – with less fees involved, your stationery budget can be kept better under control.

– Digital invitations make it a lot simpler to keep track of RSVPs.

– You can easily update your guests with wedding related details throughout the leadup to your wedding date.

– Digital invitations are an environmentally friendly option.

 

Cons:

– You won’t have a physical copy of your invitation to keep as a keepsake.

– Elderly guests or guests that aren’t so tech savvy, may find it difficult to navigate your wedding details and RSVP process.

Photo: @katiegrantphoto

 

INVITATION DETAILS

The must haves, and the optional deets – what do your guests need to know: 

Must have details:

Who: The couple – include your full names, first names or your nicknames, your tone of voice is completely up to you.

What: The occasion, AKA your wedding – include a line to recognise that your invitation is in fact, an invitation to your wedding.

When: The date –  the day of the week is an optional.

Where: Your venue, the location (address and the city). If your ceremony and reception are being held at different locations, be sure to mention both.

Time: Ceremony start time – be sure to make this clear, you don’t want your guests missing the main show. 

RSVP: Your RSVP deadline and where to send it – whether it be an email, phone number or your wedding website.

 

Photo: @emmamacaulayphotography

 

Optional extras:

 You may want to include a separate details card to your stationery suite, or maybe you have also opted to put together a wedding website to collate your RSVPs. Here are some extra details to include:

P.S.: Hosting a destination wedding? We strongly encourage you to include the following details… 

Dress code: Black tie, formal, semi formal, cocktail – let your guests know how to dress for the occasion.

Transport: the ‘getting there’ section. For destination weddings, this one is a biggy! If you are arranging buses to transport your guests to and from the venue, then use this prompt to provide details on pick up locations and times.

Accommodation: Planning a destination wedding, or multiple day event? It’s worth sharing details on local accommodation options for your guests.

Adult only affair? If your wedding is a strictly, no kids event, then this is your opportunity to say it to your entire guest list without having to have any awkward conversations.

Gifts: Opting for a registry, gifts table or wishing well? Say it here.

Dietary requirements: This is a good inclusion to put with your RSVP details, so when the time comes to update your caterers on your guest list, you aren’t left chasing up your guests on their requirements.

 

Photo: @benandebony | Designer @saje.creativeco

 

Invite FAQS:

When should our RSVP date be?

If you are hosting a sit down reception, we recommend your RSVP date be set 6 weeks prior to your special day. This will leave you with enough time to finalise other stationery items such as your seating chart and place cards, and will provide you time to coordinate your menu requirements with your caterer.

When should we send out our invitations? 

Destination weddings (interstate or overseas) / multiple day celebrations – send a save the date! We suggest giving your guests as much notice as possible so they can book flights, accommodation, request time off of work and plan. You can do this as early as you see fit, especially if you are planning a long engagement. 

For local weddings, aim for your guests to receive their invitation 4 months our from your wedding date.

How can we avoid people asking for a plus one?

Make it clear on your invitation who is actually invited – clearly state who is receiving your invitation on the envelope by including your guest names only (avoid using terms such as ‘Thompson Household’ unless you are inviting everyone in the household! Or, include your guests names on the invitation, OR RSVP card itself. 

What are some nice ways to say we aren’t having kids at our wedding?

 Here are some examples for your details card or website:

“We love your little ones! However, to allow all of our guests, including parents, the chance to have an evening of relaxation, our wedding will be an adults only affair.”

_

“As much as we love your little ones, this will be an adults-only celebration. We hope this notice means you’re able to let your hair down and celebrate with us on the day!”

_

“Unfortunately, our venue is unsuitable for children under 16. We hope this will allow you a much-deserved night off to celebrate with us!”

 

One last final tip:

Your invitation is the first impression your guests will have of your wedding, so make it pop! Work with your stationery designer to create something totally unique that compliments your wedding style.

Photo: @emmamacaulayphotography

 

 


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Dress Codes Explained

Have you ever rocked up to what you thought was a smart casual event in jeans and boots, yet everyone is in a dress and heels. Not a vibe…

Dress codes are confusing, they seem simple and straightforward, but we do admit, sometimes you are left guessing ‘WTF am I meant to wear?!’.

When we think smart casual, our mind automatically jumps to relaxed vibes with a ‘help yourself’ drinks table, opposed to black tie which paints the picture of bow ties and tuxedos, saxophones and caviar.

So, what do black tie, cocktail and semi formal dress codes all have in common? Well, other than the fact they are a description on what you should be wearing to the event on your social calendar, they don’t have a whole lot in common! Especially when you throw a ‘formal fancy garden party’, or ‘boho-chic cocktail’ dress code into the mix.

Image @alicemahran

Wouldn’t it be great to have a cheat sheet which tells you point blank, the do’s and don’ts for the dress code we see on our social calendars? 

We have put our fashionista hats on to brainstorm what we think falls under the socially acceptable dress standards for the typical dress codes you hear on the daily. So, here you have it, our dress code cheat sheet.

Image @_westerly

BLACK TIE

Meaning: the epitome of formal. In other words, as fancy as it gets. This is your opportunity to dress to the nines in your finest threads.

What should I wear?

Guys: Tuxedo, bow tie and dress shoes. Stick to a black and white palette, or dark colours and skip the trendy colours and patterns, black tie is not the time or place. Don’t forget your suit jacket!

Gals: Full length gown, heels, and bling. Go all out – when do you ever get the chance??

Image @adamlevibrownephotography

 FORMAL

Meaning: Sophisticated and fancy, otherwise known as a black tie optional event. A formal dress code tends to have the most wriggle room. The classic tux, bow tie and full length gown is acceptable at a formal event, though you can still get away with a three-piece suit or cocktail style dress. The one key piece to remember: Formal is still formal! 

What should I wear?

Guys: Stick to the classic suit and white shirt combo, tie (or bow tie) and dress shoes. opt for darker colours such as black, navy or grey and keep the bright colours for a cocktail dress code. 

Gals: Full length gown, midi gown, or formal dress, just steer clear of casual materials and patterns – in other words, no cotton or palm trees. A two peice suit combo is acceptable as is a bold pattern or bright colours. Dress it up with heels and accessories to match.

Image @_thelovediaries

COCKTAIL

Meaning: Fun, flirty and fabulous. AKA ‘Semi-formal’ or ‘After five’. We are talking party dresses, bold ties, pocket squares. A Cocktail dress code is still an opportunity to dress up  – in other words, effort is still required! Just with a shorter hemline that isn’t too revealing and a tie is optional. 

What Should I wear?

Guys: Suits are still encouraged, however feel free to mix it up. Opt for chinos and a blue suit jacket, colourful shirts and patterned ties, or if ties aren’t your thing, you are free to ditch it! Brown shoes, boat shoes and loafers are acceptable.

Gals: Fun, but still elegant, dress, pant suit, jump suit or separates. Heels or wedges and accessories are encouraged. Cocktail means you can break out your favourite mini, floral patterns, or bold details that will turn a head.

Image @nickwhiteweddings

BUSINESS / CORPORATE

Meaning: Classic, ‘professional’ and more on the conservative side, something that can turn from 9 to after 5. In other words, something that isn’t uniform or overly formal.

What should I wear?

Guys: Think, a well-dressed day at the office. 2 piece suit, shirt, tie and dress shoes. Basic colours – black, brown, grey and blues.

Gals: Something a little more on the conservative side. Pants, classy midi skirts, a button down shirt and blazer, or a midi pencil dress. Hem lines should be kept below the knee and a sensible heel height should be your heel of choice, ideally with an enclosed toe. Muted colours or neutrals are your best friends for a business/corporate. 

Image @tessaeckersley.photo

SMART CASUAL

Meaning: Your classic, jeans and a cute top dress code. Relaxed, neat, and ‘informal’, otherwise more on the comfortable side. Denim is acceptable when paired with something classy, though keep the active wear at home. Our advice, consider the occasion and venue before choosing your outfit. A casual wedding will have a different dress vibe to a casual backyard BBQ.

 What do I wear?

Guys: Jeans, chinos or dress shorts with a long or short sleeve shirt. Boat shoes and loafers are given the tick of approval.

Gals: Your nicest pair of jeans, or dress pants, jumpsuit, dresses and skirts are also encouraged. There really aren’t any rules other than, ‘dress with a degree of polish’. When in doubt, add a blazer, jewellery or cute pair of heels or flats.

Image @marikimedia

Our top rules to live by:

  1. When in doubt, always over-dress.
  2. Use your common sense – in other words, if the dress code says formal attire,  don’t wear a Hawaiian shirt.
  3. Always remember to include a dress code on your invitation!

Just married? What’s next?

What to do after you have said ‘I Do’

You’ve planned, you’ve partied and said ‘I Do’. Together, you and your partner have just gone through one of the most spectacular experiences of your lives. Months of planning, many decisions have been made, and chances are your pockets may be feeling a little lighter.

Whether you have or have not yet taken off on your honeymoon, or have had a little downtime to soak it all in, or maybe you are still riding the post marriage high, this is a reminder to you that your work is still not yet done…

With so many resources out there on how to plan a wedding, we thought it would be fitting to put together some info on what to do after your wedding. So here you have it, our ultimate newlywed checklist; covering all the things you should be ticking off of your checklist after your magical day has come and gone.

 

Image @alannahliddlell

 

The Thank You’s

Spread the love and give a big thank you to all that were involved in your day. This includes:

 

– Your guests:
Send thank you cards, hand written notes, an email to a text to all those who came to celebrate with you. Don’t forget to include an extra thank you for any wedding gifts you were gifted.

 

– Bridal party, parents & those who went above and beyond:
You will know who they are! Whether you buy them a thank you gift, or maybe regift them the floral arrangements and leftover champagne from the day, showing your gratitude will not go astray.

 

– Your vendors!
Send them a message or write them a review! Reviews are what you used to narrow down your vendors, so why not give future couples the same helping hand by leaving your venues with some love?!

 

Image @_thelovediaries

 

The Clean Up

– Dry-clean your dress:
If you are reading this prior to your wedding date, we suggest you add this item to your wedding budget pronto!

 

– Return anything borrowed:
The Groomsman’s suits, your Aunt’s cake knife, or your mum’s earrings, whatever you borrowed for your big day, be sure to give all items back before life gets the better of you.

 

– Re-sell your wedding décor:
Don’t want the 20 white vases you purchased for your reception tables? Selling them is a good way to make back a little bit of cash.

 

– Put together a keepsake box:
Keep a copy of your invitation, your vow books, or anything you want to look back on in 10 year’s time. Maybe you want to keep your beautiful bouquet alive? Press the flowers into artwork, or if you are extra crafty, maybe make something cool with resin as a keepsake you can display on your bookshelf.  

 

Image @twobirds_and_co

 

Life admin

Changing your name? It’s not mandatory, though if you are planning on changing your name, here is checklist for you to start ticking off:

 

– Drivers Licence & car registration

– Passport

 – Bank accounts – are you joining these with your spouse?

– Medicare, Australian Taxation Office & Centrelink (if applicable)

– Insurance policies (car, health, home and contents, life, income, etc etc)

– Phone and home internet accounts

– Australian Electoral Commission

– Doctor/dentist/health specialists/Australian Organ Register/ or any other health practitioner you see

 – Rates and services: water/gas/electricity/solar

– If you are renting, your Real Estate agent or landlord

– If you are a property owner, notify local council

– Employer or Australian Business register (if you are a director of a company)

– Superannuation

– Lawyer and accountant (maybe even think about putting together a will now you are married) 

– Any investments and shares you own

– Frequent Flyer programs 

– School, university or educational courses (if applicable)

– Your memberships & loyalty clubs, e.g. gym, sporting clubs etc ect

– Subscription services such as Spotify & Netflix

– Personal email if you wish

– Social media if you wish

– And your voicemail! If you have one

 

 

Did someone say canapés?

What kind of catering style do you need for your event?

 

If there is one thing we know to be true, no matter the event, everyone always remembers the food. Whether it was the best arancini you have EVER tasted, if there was too much food (though, is this even a thing? Doubt it!) or whether there was not enough, catering becomes a topic of conversation before, and during an event, while also leaving a lasting impression.

From large corporate functions, to intimate sundowners, catering should be one of the first things you put on your planning to-do list. But what kind of catering is right for your event style? Let us break down your options so you can be sure your guests are left happy, and not hangry.

Before we dive into the different catering styles, here are a few things to keep in mind when deciding which style is best suited for you…

Image: @shannon_stent_images

Type of event:

The nature and formalities;

– The size: Is your event small and intimate or large and OTT?

-The Style: Are you hosting a presentation night, something glitzy like the ARIAS or something still formal, but a bit more low-key like your local Footy club B&F night?

-Are you having guest speakers or speeches?

-Seated or cocktail?

-And we can’t forget about the numbers – how many people are you inviting? 

 

What is the vibe?

Choosing food for the mood;

-Time of day: is it a Lunchtime soiree vs dinner kind of vibe?

-What’s the dress code? Casual, smart casual, formal, black tie?

-The location: Are there onsite facilities for a full service kitchen? Or does your caterer need to bring their own?

-The age group: is your event kid friendly or adults only?

 

We aren’t done yet, here are a few more things for you to consider:

-Dietary requirements. Hint hint*, put this on the invitation so you know well in advance what kind of dietary requirements you need to cater for.

-What’s in season? Be sure to keep in mind that ingredients are seasonal, so your menu choices may have to be a little flexible too.

-Last but not least, keep in mind your set up plan of attack and run sheet. Whatever catering selection you choose to go with, will need to fit into this plan!

Okay, now let’s get into the fun part! What catering style is more your style…

Image: @weareallstardust_

 

COCKTAIL

Includes:

-Roaming canapes

-Grazing tables

-Oyster bar

-Seafood station

-Dessert table

 

Style: The social option. For events where guests are encouraged to mingle and move around the room. Cocktail catering can be more of a budget conscious menu style, with smaller dishes and no hire fees for dining furniture and table wares.

 The downside of cocktail catering? The classic case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Guests may not cross paths with catering staff, or they may be too busy mingling that the grazing table is empty by the time they get around to paying it a visit. We suggest, if you are opting for a cocktail style function with a cocktail menu, that you make this known to guests prior to.  

 

Image: @alexcohenphotography

 

FOOD VANS

Includes: 

-Yep you guessed it, food vans! Paella, pizza, soul food?

-Psst, did you know you can also hire cocktail vans?! Check out some of our faves @mintevents  @caravanandtonic  @thefrosecart  @allurechampagnecart

 

Style: Social, casual and relaxed. Another option for a cocktail style event, with food choices designed to be easily devoured while mingling. Food vans are a great option is your event is taking place at a venue where there isn’t a service area, as the kitchen literally comes to you.

 

Image: @victoria_barker_photographer

 

BUFFET

Style: A ‘relaxed’, sit down affair. If you are wanting a catering menu that is a little more hearty, than a canapés, but your budget may not stretch to include table service, then a buffet might be a good fit.

This catering style works well on a ‘seats yourself ’  basis, where your guests can easily serve themselves up a plate from the buffet, and seat themselves. Another pro, buffets tend to include more food options, meaning more variety for fussy eaters.

 

Image: @madlovenation

SIT DOWN TABLE SERVICE

Includes:

-Banquet style

-Alternative drop

-A la carte

Style: A more formal affair; formal, black tie, gala style vibes. Whether your event is a fundraiser with an auction, a formal presentation night or awards night or a wedding, a sit down table service catering option will totally elevate your overall event. Think beautiful table styling, seating charts and place cards, and waiters to match.

Seated table service also brings efficiency to your event, allows for conversation between your guests, and of course your desired table service.

 

Image: @oviscreative

For a more modern take on traditional, a banquet style menu might be more up your alley. A bridge between a full-plated service, and a serve-yourself option, your guests will still experience the formal, seated dining style, yet they have the option to taste it all!

This catering option is a great conversation starter, we can guarantee the table dynamics will change when you have to ask someone you have just met to ‘pass the carrots’.

Image: @annimariaphotography

Are you hungry yet?

Here are some of our favourite catering suppliers in the South West: 

Tiller Dining @tillerdining

Supper Road @supper_road

Formaggio @formaggioformaggio

Hide & Feast @hideandfeast

Yallingup Cheese Company @yallingupcheese

Kirby’s Atelier @kirbys_atelier

Pepper & Salt @pepperandsaltrestaurant_wa

Wood Fired Catering Co Instagram: @woodfiredcateringco

Mint Event Collective @minteventscollective

Your Turn Events @yourturnevents

 

 

Real Weddings | Matt & Sam’s Private Property, Country Italian Affair 

Golden paddocks, olive trees and a charming old school country hall was the setting for Matt & Sam’s country Italian affair. A country style farm wedding, minus the hay bales, the couple’s brief for their big day was ‘make it formal, but make it fun’. With no phone reception, and the option to sleep under the stars, their guests were welcomed onto the family property with lots of love, laughter and limoncello. 

We interviewed the couple to get the inside scoop on how they went about planning their private property wedding.  If you also have decided to wear your own wedding planner hat, then keep scrolling for all of the inspo!

THE VISION

A modern Italian garden affair with a splash of country wedding fun.

We spent some time in Italy together early on in their relationship, which is something that we both value as part of our story. That, along with Matt’s Italian heritage and the family farm in the ‘Italian’ part of town where Matt grew up and where we now live, our ‘modern Italian affair’ vision came to life.

Sam has a creative brain and a DIY attitude (Matt), so pitching the idea of a DIY farm wedding to her was a sure thing. 

We developed a palette which drew on inspo from Italy, as well as the natural environment of the farm. Think golden paddocks, olive trees, and a mixture of terracotta, natural stones and raw edges. Tied in with warm whites, soft natural linens and touches of yellow and blue throughout.

 

THE VENUE

Our ceremony took place in a paddock on the farm, overlooking the gorgeous country scape. We kept our ceremony styling minimal, and made the natural elements the focus. When you see the view you will understand why!

The reception took place at the Changerup Hall, an old country hall with a lot of character, only a few kilometers from the farm. The hall holds a special significance to Matt’s family, so it was only fitting that we add to the milestone events that have taken place there over the years, and turn the hall into a dreamy haze of natural linens, golden hues and fluffy baby breath clouds to compliment its rustic bones.

STYLE

(Sam) I’m a graphic designer by trade, and I didn’t hold back when putting together our mood board and brief (it was probably a little OTT looking back at it now) BUT, I think this definitely helped when it came to our styling – hint hint, to all of you our there planning your own wedding, take the time to put together a detailed mood board and styling brief!

Our country Italian theme was present in all aspects of the day, from the menu, to the décor and even the music. We planned for our DJ to play ‘That’s Amore’ by Dean Martin (one of our faves) after the first dance to get all of our guests up on the dance floor, and boy was it a hit!

 With the setting and venue drawing on the rustic, natural influence of Italy, we brought in a hint of modern through our furniture selections. Our cocktail space was styled with Hire In Style’s natural ribbed bar, rattan bar chairs & bar tables and wicker lounge package, and the reception showcased their gorgeous natural rattan dining chairs, ribbed glassware and gold accents on the table-scape.

Our legend of a florist Prue, from @thegoodbatchco incorporated lemons and lemon branches into our bar arrangements and the stationery drew on the classic European flair style of handmade paper, travertine table numbers, linen signage and a big, obnoxious linen seating chart which hung from the roof of the hall.

We worked with Supper Road to create a banquet style menu that showcased Italian inspired ingredients and dishes, our bar menu featured our favourite Italian beers, wines and of course a limoncello spritz as our signature cocktail. We wanted to bring a wholesome family touch to our day, so we asked our families to help us create a family dessert table, which featured the Italian family recipes we love.

DIY

THE LOT (well nearly)

 We did nearly everything ourselves, with the help of our friends and fam. It was so humble to see how many people wanted to contribute their time and energy for us – SO spesh!

Everyone really rallied around us. From keeping 50 petunia plants and rose bushes alive over the summer months, to sewing linen curtains, and spending 2 separate weekends cleaning AND painting the hall. Not to mention collecting ornate vases, stocking the cool rooms, cooking, and of course the week long set up and pack down the next day. It was mammoth act of love, that’s for sure.

Matt is pretty handy with woodwork, so he made our cake stand and dessert table grazers from wood on the farm, plus our signage stands and a few extra bits and bobs for the day, and I’m a wedding stationery designer so all of the stationery was on my to-do list. We even made our own wedding cake, it was no picture perfect job but it tasted good.

INVOLVEMENT

 We were 100% involved in the whole process, from planning, to set up and styling. (Matt) Sam is a self-proclaimed control freak when it comes to organisation, so she was always going to be in the driver’s seat when it came to planning our wedding!

Being a private property wedding, we had to do pretty much everything ourselves, from prepping the venue, organising power and water connection and coordinating the logistics of transport for our guests. We put together the run sheets, timelines and floor plans ourselves.  

What we didn’t hire, we brought ourselves, like the terracotta pots, vases, posy vases and décor items, and what we didn’t buy, we made. We were lucky enough to have Hannah from Hire In Style as our On-The-Day Coordinator so we didn’t have to worry about much the day of, she also set up the reception space for us turning the old hall into a soft n chic, candle lit dream!

BEST INCLUSIONS / FAVE DEETS

We were set on having our bridal photos down by the olive trees, which were of course at the opposite side of the farm to the reception. So we decided to ride in style on the back of the truck for our bridal photos, chauffeured by Matt’s dad. Everyone said to us that our bridal photos will be one of the highlights of the night, and boy they were not wrong!

We decided to put disposable cameras on the tables – a risky decision, but they turned out a treat! We wanted some BTS content of our guests, you know the silly stuff the camera doesn’t always capture. We developed these a few days after the wedding and were so over the moon with how they turned out.

Oh and our dog surprised us at our reception! We were just about to sit down to eat when he showed up at the hall. Obviously he didn’t want to miss out on the party!

Though the best inclusion was that all of our vendors had a connection to us, which made the whole experience so much more enjoyable! Our photographer was one of our bridesmaids sisters, our acoustic duo, DJ and florists are friends of ours, our celebrant is an ex-local and friend of the families. We were so lucky to have such a talented and diverse group of humans we call friends. 

WORD(S) OF ADVICE

Don’t be afraid to ask for help, and remember to show gratitude to everyone who helps you along the way.  Wedding planning is a big job, but when it all comes together and all of the little details fall into place and you see all of your hard work in action, it’s SO worth it!

Pace yourself – on the night that is. We planned to stay sober enough to remember our day, and we are so glad we did! The day went by so quickly, and we didn’t need alcohol to have fun. We were on such a high we danced ALLLLLL night. 

Make sure you take 10 minutes for yourself as a couple on the day. You hear everyone say it, and we can 100% vouch for it. Step away from the crazy and just chat, take it all in and remember that everyone is there to celebrate you. It’s a truly surreal feeling and something that you need to take in.

 

 

DREAM TEAM VENDORS // Photography @_thelovediaries | Videography @noordinaryloveweddings | Celebrant @jennyfisherweddings | Florist @goodbatchco | Catering @supper_road | Furniture Hire @hire_in_style_wa | On the Day set up & Coordination @hire_in_style_wa | Acoustics @jakeandlaurenmusic  | DJ @kaagramusic | Stationery @saje.creativeco | Hair @amandabarretthair | MUA @torioverstonemua | Sam’s Dress @alexperryofficial @bluebellbridal | Second Dress @natalierolt | Shoes @loefflerrandall | Matt’s Suit @danielhetcherau @brittonsperth  | Matt’s Shoes @rmwilliams

The difference between a wedding planner, stylist & coordinator

Wait, I need a planner, coordinator AND stylist?

Confused?

Don’t worry, we were once too!

Though they may seem like very similar job titles, and it is true that a lot of planners, stylists and coordinators actually do more than one of these roles, some even all three!

They are actually, in fact, three different job titles, and it might not be until you begin to plan your wedding that it hits you, ‘Heck, I really do need a stylist AND a coordinator’.

These wedding wizards know the ins and outs of the wedding world, they have the contacts, the ideas, and the experience, so trust us when we say, they are worth every penny.

So, without further ado, and so we can restore the calm back in your wedding planning, here is our little cheat sheet outlining the difference between wedding planners, stylists & coordinators.

Photo: @stefanieburmaweddings | Stylist @hitchedweddings

WEDDING PLANNER

The Logistics

Think of J.Lo in the ‘Wedding Planner’

 A wedding planner is all about the logistics – they are there from the very beginning to help to navigate the details of your wedding from start to finish and every­thing in between.

On average, it takes about 400 hours to plan a wedding* It’s a full time job, so a good wedding planner is worth every penny. They take on the stress for you; deal with deadlines, plan your plan B’s and tackle emergencies, they even check for typos in your stationery! Literally everything that is involved with planning a wedding they do for you.

A wedding planner’s role:

  • – Refer and assist in choosing vendors, as well as schedule & attend vendor meetings
  • – Overseeing & managing your budget, track deposits and payments for vendors
  • – Attend site tours
  • – Communicate with vendors during the planning stages & in the lead up to the wedding
  • – Create timelines & floor plans
  • – Be there to support you with any questions or queries they may have
  • – Work with the stylist and coordinator

 

Photographer: @tylerbrownphotography | Stylist: @confettiandcoevents

 

WEDDING STYLIST

The Aesthetics

A wedding stylist designs and conceptualises the creative aspect of your wedding, ensuring you have a cohesive theme throughout the event, from altar to dance floor. It is all about the aesthetics for a wedding stylist; from lighting design, furniture selection, flowers, linens, tableware, and stationery. They will literally bring your vision to life!

A wedding stylists role:

  • – Developing a mood board and style concept for your overall wedding
  • – Develop a colour palette
  • – Attend a site visit to visualise where you want everything to go and plan the layout
  • – Develop detailed floor plans of the ceremony, pre-reception & reception space
  • – Source styling pieces
  • – Coordinate all decor elements during bump in and ensure all styling pieces are in place prior to the wedding commencing
  • – Assist in the pack down of styling pieces during bump out
  • – Work with the planner and coordinator

 

Photo @teneilkablephoto | Planner & Stylist @white_events

 

WEDDING COORDINATOR

The Point Person

Think Monica Geller at Phoebe’s wedding in Friends, but the non-scary version. Not to be confused with wedding planners, a coordinator’s role is to look after the wedding day itself, ensuring the whole day runs as smoothly and stress free as possible.

 A wedding coordinator normally comes into the picture 2-3 months prior to your wedding, to assist in the preparation of the day, to confirm the vendor scope of services on the day. They create an on-the-day timeline to provide a seamless execution of the on-the-day set up, and ensure a smooth running of the entire event right up until pack down.

A wedding coordinators role:

  • – Meet you 2-3 months prior to the wedding to get an understanding of where everything is to date
  • – Check in with your vendors and review signed contracts
  • – Ensure all loose ends are tied prior to the day
  • – Complete a final venue walk through
  • – Manage and coordinate the rehearsal
  • – Be the point person during bump in and the morning of, to free you up on the day

 

Photo: @sarahtonkinphotography | Set Up & On the Day Coordination @hire_in_style_wa

 

So, what’s the best fit for you?

If you already have a super busy workload, or maybe you don’t cope well with increased stress levels and decision making, then you might benefit from a wedding planner. Maybe you have no creative bone in your body so a stylist would come in handy! Lastly, we think everyone needs an on the day coordinator in their lives. Do you really want to be answering phone calls from your florist the morning of your wedding while you are getting your hair & make up done? We didn’t think so.

Fun fact, did you know we also offer styling AND on the day coordination as an add on to your hire order? Get in touch with us if you would like to know more.

Happy planning!

 

* Source: Instagram post @maeandcomonthly