A wedding planner is usually the first vendor an engaged couple books to bring their wedding vision to life. Orlando wedding planners work especially hard because Florida’s wedding season is essentially year round. The hot summer months are a bear. In addition to putting together a wedding timeline for a couple’s big day, they have other big tasks. These tasks include managing the other vendors, managing budgets, and overseeing floor plans. Some planners also work as wedding designers and/or coordinators, further increasing their responsibilities. I’m a filmmaker who works closely with wedding planners. I understand the amount of effort that goes into successfully crafting the perfect wedding. I sat down with 10 of the best Orlando wedding planners and got some invaluable advice for engaged couples. This is great advice whether in the beginning stages of wedding research or close to the event.
“My favorite tip to give couples when they are planning their big day is the following. Schedule some alone time during the wedding. There are tons of options for this. It could be a private last dance, a first look, or a toast together while guests are at cocktail hour, etc. The day goes by so quickly, and so often couples are pulled in different directions to visit their guests. It’s super important to be intentional about savoring the moment together as a couple.”
“My most valuable wedding planning tip for all of my couples is to trust their planner! Don’t be afraid to ask your planner any questions that you may have or for any advice that you may need. Chances are, you’ve never planned a wedding before, and have no idea what to expect! Your planner is always in your corner and happy to offer their expertise. They are there to help you however you need, and to make sure not only your big day runs smoothly, but the entire planning process as well!“
“I’ll actually get a little personal here! I feel that since I was a bride, I can relate to my couples on a very personal level. I know the feelings they are feeling and understand the butterflies fluttering around in their stomachs! As a wedding planner but also a bride myself, I always tell my couples that hands down, my favorite part about my wedding day was my wedding ceremony. There’s nothing more sacred or special than reading those profound vows to your partner on your wedding day. It’s a moment I will never forget!
BUT… I’ll be honest with you, I wasn’t expecting this to be my favorite moment! And I see many couples focusing a lot of their effort on other details. I TOO WAS ALL ABOUT THE PARTY 🎉 when planning my wedding. As a planner myself I was so focused on the guest experience, my spreadsheets, the design, the dancing, how the tables would look, to make my wedding the bash of the century. All very important details, still!
It wasn’t until I actually started to write my own vows that I started to take my ceremony a little more seriously. As I started to find my words, memories flooded back into my mind. Our first kiss. His silly smile. The way I felt safe with him. How he felt like home. I got SO emotional during the vow writing process (and he did, too)! It brought me back to what this wedding was truly all about – us.
If there’s any piece of advice I can give to you while you’re planning your wedding it’s this:
✨ Make your love story the SHOWCASE of your wedding day✨
Put thought and love into your ceremony, bring pieces of you into different elements of your day, sneak away for a special moment just between the two of you, write down your undying love for each other – even if it’s just in a letter to keep private or vows to share with your family and friends ❤️
Remember, your love story is the reason for the day! Celebrate it!“
“Do not let your guest list control your wedding vision or plans. One of the first tasks a couple should tackle is creating a guest list. Write down the number of people you plan to invite. Both you and your fiancé should write separate lists and combine the two for a true number. I recommend creating an A list, which consists of the most important people (ex. family and very close friends). Then create a B list, which consists of people you would invite if your family member or close friend can’t attend (ex. acquaintances, colleagues, co- workers). Consider that the singles you invite will have a plus one and couples with families may bring their children. You don’t have to compromise the look, style and desires for your wedding to invite more people than your budget will allow.”
“Finding a coordinator who will work with what you want for your big day while still giving you the benefit of their knowledge and experience is very important when searching for the right fit. Communicate what you want to happen, what you are worried about, things that bring you stress, and then let your coordinator go to work for you, doing what they do best. By doing that, they will know what needs extra attention in the weeks and days leading up to the wedding, so that on the big day you won’t have anything to do but make memories and enjoy the love that surrounds you!“
“On your wedding day, you can either be the bride or the wedding planner – it’s very challenging to be both. Our advice: save yourself the trouble & hire a professional wedding planner!! Set a realistic budget! Know how much you’re willing to put forth for a planner, then manage your budget thereafter. If you choose your planner wisely, you will actually end up saving money. We can stretch your budget because we know what’s more important, and we know what’s going to have more impact. We’ll help you spend smarter, and you’ll get so much more out of the planning process. Even small decisions can add up to significant savings when you have a planner who knows what they’re doing.
You want to work with someone who will keep your expectations realistic while ensuring your vision. Hiring a wedding planner is a significant investment, but it’s also a total sanity-saver. From the moment you hire us, we manage things in the months leading up to the big celebration so that you can be a guest at your wedding!
“Take in Every Moment – Happiness, not in another place but this place…not for another hour, but this hour. All the planning is over, now it is time to actually enjoy your big day!
Be Present and Breathe – When life feels too big to handle, go outside. Everything looks smaller when you’re standing under the sky.
Observe and Enjoy all that is Happening around you – Give yourself permission to just chill. Really do take 10 minutes to be alone as a couple in the bridal suite, in a closet, in the restroom or outside.
Eat and Drink Plenty of Water – Stay Hydrated and Stock up on Snacks before walking down the aisle. This is the probably least glamorous advice you’ll receive but definitely designate a friend or someone on the bridal party on this to be certain you stay hydrated!
Day of Timeline – There’s no good story without an outline. For your wedding party, for vendors and guests but most importantly for you to go through your day without worry.
Book a Great Wedding Planner! – We know that this is an incredibly exciting time that can also be a little bit stressful in the planning and decision-making department.
There are so many distractions in your daily life that taking the time to pause and breathe is a gift you can give yourself — Because planning the biggest day of your life is only the beginning of your adventure.”
“Trust your instincts when booking vendors! Weddings are very personal and good communication is the key to making your big day perfect. Look for vendors that match your vibe and communication style. Your initial interactions with a vendor are a good reflection of how your experience with them will be. Stay away from vendors if something feels off or if you have trouble communicating with them. On the other hand, if you meet a vendor and have an instant connection, trust your gut feeling. If they “just get you” those are the people you want by your side.”
“When hiring a planner, many people will see it as a luxury add-on or an extra cost. They then assign family members or friends to wedding day tasks, not realizing that it is taking them away from the fun and the memories. In reality, a wedding planner can take your budget, add in their service, and still maintain or be BELOW budget. How? We have worked with many vendors in the industry and know where to go for the best deals, the best quality, and the best overall experience. We want to pass that along to you by allocating money towards what is most important to you. We’ll then work magic with the rest of the budget.
When couples come to us, they always mention how they thought they could never afford a planner, but trust us when we say you won’t want to look back after your wedding and wish you had. Reach out to any Orlando wedding planners and just see what they can offer. Many times, there can be a custom package created to fit your vision and budget! Try it out, you won’t be disappointed!”
- Listen to Mother Nature and always have a Plan B for unexpected weather snafus and be weary about bugs outdoors at night, etc.
- Don’t be afraid to ask your vendors questions. They are your go-to’s while planning.
- Don’t ask your sister or mom to be your wedding little helper and have them decorate/set up your wedding. Let them enjoy your special day and hire an actual professional Wedding Planner! It’s a lot less stress trust us!
- Don’t stress about what your guests want or think…it’s YOUR wedding! The only two people that matter are the two of you! It’s your special day that you will remember for the rest of your life, so you might as well make it a good memory with no stress 😉
So there you have it, some amazing advice from some of the best Orlando wedding planners! Did any of them resonate with you in particular? Feel free to drop me a line and tell me about it! As an Orlando wedding videographer who has filmed countless weddings, I can tell you these wedding planning tips are indispensable. I wish you the best on your journey!
~Patrick
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