I think some people are not sure what to call me, or sometimes, what it is I do – and I think my mother is one of them!

Wedding planner, wedding coordinator, wedding consultant, bridal consultant – we are all of the above. We can be your wedding resource, best friend, personal assistant, advisor and sometimes mother figure – for those of us who are (just a bit) older.

Most venues and hotels have an on-site coordinator, and you may see companies who supply decor calling themselves event planners. Big difference! Please don’t confuse us! They work on behalf of their own company/hotel/venue and are concerned with the sales there. And while they are helpful (I hope I was!), we as professional planners are there for you. We work for you in organizing all aspects of your wedding. (Ask your chair cover company to recommend a reading for your service or advice on invitation etiquette and see the look you get). I am certainly not knocking these people. I have a great respect and need for them and have many on my books providing stunning services, but professional wedding planners/consultants/coordinators are a source of information and knowledge with experience and a well needed sense of calm. We have ideas and contacts and will help you save time, money and stress when planning your wedding.

We will help you budget, manage, brainstorm, keep you on track with a timeline and make your wedding day exclusively personal. Not a cookie cutter program or style.

Bridesmaids, mothers and friends are great for wanting to help but don’t you want to spend quality time with them in days leading up to your wedding and enjoy the party on the day?

We will take care of all of the details so you and your bridal party can relax and enjoy the day, instead of being worried about setting things up before the wedding, or the cake not being there at noon.

So Mom, that’s what I do.

You can call me Annie Byrne, Wedding Coordinator

Live, Love, Laugh and Dream!
Annie

I love magazines. So pretty and glossy. However I am aware – as everyone should be – that the editorials and many of the articles are paid for by the advertisers, so they are very biased with their recommendations.  Therefore I was surprised and delighted to read the article in the autumn edition of Wedding Journal magazine about Leo Callow, a wedding coordinator who attempted to clear up the misconceptions of what we as wedding planners and coordinators actually do for our couples and that we really can save them money.

I know there is a recession on (hate that word) and some people think a wedding coordinator is an additional expense. It is not. A good wedding coordinator can not only keep you on or under your budget but save you money by coming up with creative ways to fulfill your dream instead of just shelling out for it.

A wedding coordinator will keep you focused and I speak for most of us (I hope) when I say that we can look at a budget and what is allocated to each item and pick out what can be done for less and what may cost a bit more.

These days when money is tighter, most couples need this service all the more. Making a wedding fabulous is easily done as long as it reflects the couple getting married – your happiness, your loves, your quirks and what is important to you. Your family and friends will recognize that and that is what makes the perfect wedding. Not how much you spend on it.

Leo said in the WJ article, “People are motivated by laughter and friendship, that feel-good factor. That’s what a wedding should achieve. That sense of happiness, love and togetherness.” Well done Leo, I couldn’t have said it better!

Live, Love, Laugh and Dream!
Annie