Northern California Wedding Planner | Navigating Wedding Jitters and The Holidays

Christmas shoppers bustling around town in a frenzy have something in common with a bride planning her wedding.. trying to do all the things..all at once. Sometimes you are in the store and you aren’t even sure who you are shopping for anymore! Those jitters can feel pretty similar to what couples experience when they start feeling the wedding pressures coming from every direction. Here are some of our tips to help navigate during this busy time:

Treat yourself to a break! That’s right - it may seem counterintuitive for a wedding planner to tell couples to hit pause - but we feel that the holidays are the perfect time to refill your cup and enjoy your friends and family. If you feel like you are getting grilled with wedding questions over the holidays - treat it just like an out of office message and tell folks that you are in holiday mode and just enjoying until after the new year.

If you find that you are getting some reoccurring questions - keep a running list that you can send to your wedding planner (or to other vendors) all at once to work on after the holiday. This will drastically speed up our response times when we all return from the holiday break and help you get a jump start on planning tasks for the new year.

It’s perfectly ok for some topics to be off-limits, give yourself permission to communicate that. Maybe Aunt Karen doesn’t need to know how much your catering budget is - or cousin Gary needs to chill on who he is sitting next to at this point. Be kind in your delivery and let your loved ones know your capacity for wedding talk.

Most importantly, enjoy some downtime with your partner, family and friends!

If you find that you are needing additional support and guidance through your planning process, we would love to chat with you about how a wedding planner can help! You don’t have to stress, or navigate the process all on your own - that is why we’re here.

Happy Holidays from The 530 Bride Team!

Photo by Social LIfestyle Photography

Northern California Wedding Planner | Planning ahead

Just the other day, a good vendor friend of ours mentioned that she had no idea that planners handled so many of the details - to which we thought maybe we should share a bit more about the behind the scenes work that goes into a wedding. If we only share what fits into a small Instagram caption, how can clients and vendors alike learn about what planners do? So here is trip down the planning lane.

Photo by TreCreative

First, we will preface by saying that every wedding is very very different from the next and no two events are the same because of the variables from location, season, budget, vendor team, style, guest count etc. Second, no matter which “package” a couple books - our role is to help you plan ahead for each phase of planning and to help present solutions along the way.

Photo by Gretchen Granka

From a full planning & design stand point we jump into planning details with a master planning session where we will get into many details from style inspirations, likes/dislikes, must-haves, preferences on food & beverage to the textures and palette that you envision and go into vendor recommendations so that we can curate a vendor team who will work seamlessly together on your event. Throughout the project we are going to walk you through the various phases and transitions of your event so everything from rehearsal, getting ready, set-up, decor, food & beverage service elements, reception formalities, open dancing, send off down to the strike (breakdown) of the event. The draft master timeline is our living document of your wedding so it will start with the foundation of sunset and hours of photography coverage then we work our way backwards to determine when you and your wedding party will need to be camera ready.

Photo by Sarah Tamagni Photography

Planning comes in waves, so while some of our check-in calls may be spent on decor or invitations we may have a whole meeting on site logistics like restrooms rentals, power, heating/cooling, parking, lighting, garbage, neighborhood sound ordinances etc. Those logistics are so important when hosting events in a private space that doesn’t already have the built-in infrastructure that a typical venue would include. As we near your event, you will have less on your planning plate so you can instead focus on how you will spend time with your friends and family while they are here for your big day! We use a checklist so that our couples can see where they are in their planning process at any time.

Aside from your timeline, we put a lot of focus into your layout because this will be where all of the vendors working on your event will be able to ensure they have what they need factored into your space. If we know that for your live band they need 4 dedicated outlets or a minimum of 15 ft clearance for their stage set-up we can build around those details.

Your day is about the personal details, so our team will work with you on your ceremony processional order, song selections, vows, reception formalities, dances, toasts and more so that your whole day flows in fluidly and organically. The timeline should be created with not only your preferences but timing that works for your whole team so that everyone is set up for success and they can do their absolute best for you. Meaning we get feedback on the timeline as we build it but we are also able to improvise on the day-of as needed. If you are still bustling your dress - we have an announcement ready for the DJ to remind guests to refill their drink at the bar before they take their seat and we give the caterer a heads up not to pull lids yet; it’s all about communication!

Photo by Matthew Lim Photography

Well friends that was a snapshot of the behind the scenes world of wedding planning but we could go on forever about all of our favorite planning milestones. In 2020 much of our work was focused on finding alternative dates or locations for couples, researching best practices for modifications and adjusting plans to the micro-wedding scale and we were glad that we were able to ease some of the stress for our couples. With 2021 being right around the corner we have a lot of excitement to bring in the new year and to get back to planning pretty gatherings again!

~ Happy Planning~
The 530 Bride

Northern California Wedding Planner | Stay at Home & Stay Well

This week we’ve seen the funny #quarantine memes on social media from people getting pretty creative while staying home to flatten the curve of rising cases of COVID-19. The strength in our community to adapt and support small businesses while practicing distancing has been inspiring; we all have friends and family who we know are on the essential front lines. Friends, we wish we could know when we will have normalcy again.

The wedding industry across the globe has taken a dramatic turn as we help couples find alternative dates this fall or in 2021, leaving big questions about wedding insurance & how to move forward for those who decide to cancel. Our team can’t wait to be together again creating beautiful events but for now we have halted all meetings/site visits and will work remotely from our homes. We miss all of our couples & wedding friends!

We want couples to know that it is still ok to be excited about your wedding, to want to create beautiful centerpieces and to dream about your first dance. This won’t last forever but it does require all of us to do our part which means that bridal showers, bachelor/bachelorette parties, hair trials, cake tastings and more will be impacted. For those who have a wedding in 2020 and are holding out hope to keep your date, we want to hold out right alongside you but also have a plan B in place with an alternate date that works for all of your vendors. To date, we have been able to successfully move dates while retaining the vendors for close to 20 spring weddings and we know that it is an emotional situation for every one of those couples.

Take the time that you need to press pause on things that are out of your control and give yourself some grace to not have all of the answers on what happens next. Taking that pressure off may help you to also connect with your partner and focus on getting through these next few weeks under the shelter at home order. Who knows maybe you’ll discover a new hobby together! If you need a shoulder or a life line of someone to call - we’re here for any couple who just needs to vent.

Stay well,
Veronica & The 530 Bride Team

Northern California Wedding Planner | What to expect from your vendors during a crisis

Ask any wedding planner about their plan b for a wedding or event and you can bet they have one (or even a plan C!) because it is in our client’s best interest to be prepared in many different scenarios. We plan for inclement weather, guest count changes and site logistic challenges to avoid surprises and mitigate risk for our couple. There are some situations that we can’t always plan for and the past few weeks have given us a challenging set of circumstances caused by the COVID-19 health crisis. Couples across the nation are having to quickly make a decision on how to proceed. If you are engaged and nearing your original wedding date, here’s our take on what to expect from your wedding vendors.

Image Courtesy of Sourced +Co.

First and foremost, we recommend to read your existing contracts and local/state ordinances thoroughly as well as seek legal counsel for any areas that you feel need clarification. Second, we in no way are recommending to ignore state/local or federal mandates in response to COVID-19.  Only you can choose what is right for your wedding and your loved ones, in light of this public health crisis. We respect the right of any vendor to decide they do not feel it is safe for them or their staff to uphold their contract if it risks exposure.

Venue:
If your wedding venue is privately owned they may allow you to proceed until they receive an official ban or state/local ordinance prohibiting gatherings. There could be guest count restrictions that the venue recommends to follow in order to follow the order as closely as possible without having to cancel or postpone. If the venue is a hall that is managed by the county for example, they may have more requirements to follow CDC/FEMA guidelines. You should expect communication on these restrictions, and what the venue’s plan is as well as any open dates should you need to postpone.

Photographer/Videography Team
Many photographers are well equipped to have the location change, guest count change and are generally very accommodating. In the case of COVID-19 the photographer will be organizing group shots and being in somewhat close quarters for getting ready shots and dance photos so we want to be mindful of their guidance on how to keep a distance which could include using a different lens and maybe not pose the photos hands-on. If your photo and video team are traveling - also consider how this affects them depending on where they are traveling from and whether or not they have any restrictions leaving.

Image courtesy of Sourced+Co.

Food service & Bar Team
The catering and bar teams will need to have a plan for how to take extra precaution such as only using disposables, implementing a one sided buffet so that guests aren’t directly touching serving utensils or choosing a plated meal. The bar team may recommend to also use disposable cups or bottled/can beers to reduce touching the glasses/cup surfaces as much as possible. Double check your contract about any terms specific to guest count minimums or fees based on guest count so that you can make those adjustments once you have a clear idea of the accurate guest count. If you are postponing - request a new contract or amendment to your current agreement to reflect the new date.

Image courtesy of Sourced+Co

Rentals & Florals
This is an area that can be tricky because if you are changing your date we want to make sure that all inventory on your order is not currently reserved on the new date, and if you are keeping your date but have a drastically reduced guest count a rental company may only offer the difference as a credit depending on how close you are to your date. Your planner can touch base with your rental companies and check on inventory, payment terms, refunds and changes. Anytime we change the table count, we will want to run back through your floral order and adjust based on the new number of centerpieces needed as well.

DJ’s & Entertainment
When it comes to your DJ/Band they are there to create the atmosphere that you have crafted whether you have planned an upbeat dance party or classic & intimate dinner for your closest friends & family. Plan to check in with your DJ to make adjustments to your toasts, announcements and order of events if you have already submitted your music planner - if you haven’t completed they can likely give advice based on your details & wishes. If you are moving forward with a smaller celebration ask about possibly incorporating a live stream or zoom video option for guests who would like to remotely celebrate with you.

Planning & Design
If you have a planner, you can expect them to be wanting to jump in and help you through remaining decisions and any changes that affect the design and guest experience. For instance if you have two bars due to guest count but expect that you will have less guests we could re-allocate the amount you budgeted for the second bar and go down to one bar. The difference could be used to upgrade your cocktails or add another appetizer etc. If you are postponing to another season in the same year, we would want to go back over your timeline and adjust for the sunset timing on the new date and also adjust any seasonal items in your menu or floral recipe that are going to change. For the couple who’s date is further out please note that your planner is working diligently for the each client and will first be securing new dates for couples who need to postpone but will reach out to you for check-ins and to keep your planning on track.

All in all, you have your team of vendors so lean on them for support when you need it. It is perfectly okay to need a minute to breathe and to wait & see. No one expects you to have it all figured out yet but just remember that celebrating your love is not dependent on a physical place or date - and no matter what your friends and family will understand any decision that you make.

Stay well friends,
Veronica & The 530 Bride Team

Northern California Wedding Planner | Wedding Community Support - COVID-19 Response

It’s unavoidable to see updates throughout the day of the COVID=19 virus impacts across the globe, and our hearts go out to everyone who has been directly effected or experiencing the ripple effect of the virus. We know that when planning a wedding the last thing on your mind is social distancing and hand sanitizer, and our focus is on supporting our couples and wedding-pro friends through this.

While our local area has not had any positive cases - we are keeping a close eye on CDC and World Health Organization recommendations for gatherings. Please see the most current update as of March 15th regarding social gatherings of 50 guests or more. (click here for direct link to CDC update)

It should be noted that the current CDC recommendation is not an official ban, but that could change, pending updates from Governor Newsom. In the meantime for couples who have an upcoming wedding in the next 8-10 weeks we encourage you to take time and discuss with your family about what is right for your wedding and loved ones.

With that being said we have compiled the following tips regarding some of the main questions that couples may have:

1. Will my event/cancellation insurance cover COVID-19
   Each policy writer will have specific clauses relating to provisions and exclusions, so it is important to review your policy documents and refer to the company’s website for further instructions. Please note that we have seen strong advice to not attempt to purchase any new cancellation policies related to the COVID-19 outbreak, as a known occurrence at the time of purchase would be excluded from coverage.

2. Are vendors cancelling any dates?
   As of now, the consensus we have seen from the majority of vendors is the intent to honor all dates and will make adjustments as they relate to hand washing, sanitation, staffing, etc as recommended to take every precaution for your safety. There may be fees for moving your date, refer to your vendors/venue agreement for clarification.

3. Will my guests be able to travel to my wedding?
   Travel impacts are expected however we are seeing several updates indicating that domestic air travel is relatively safe due to cabin air pressure and at this time we haven’t seen airports specifically discontinuing flights. We do expect guest counts to be lower in the earlier months of wedding season especially with older groups or families with small children.

We will continue to stay updated on press releases as well as local impacts to assist our couples and the local wedding community. If you have an upcoming event and do not have a planner to assist you, please reach out as we will always offer a complimentary time to discuss your plans & how we can best help you.

Our team will be working to reach out to all of our scheduled couples and their vendors to establish a working plan B as well as taking precautions so that our whole team stays healthy in order to best serve our couples. This will include scheduling virtual meetings with our couples and vendors for the next few months.

Stay well,
The 530 Bride Team

Northern California Wedding Planner | Wedding Planning is Easy

Hey friends! Thanks for checking out our blog and today we are sharing a little about our planning approach, because when you have a team behind you - wedding planning is easy! Ok so picture a newly engaged couple who has been soaking up the excitement of their news and are eager to get planning underway asap! Yay we love this stage because there is simply nothing better than two folks who are completely smitten with each other and want to say I do!

via GIPHY

Naturally, we have all sorts of questions from what type of venue are you looking for, how many guests do you plan to invite to whether or not you will see each other before the ceremony a.k.a “first look”. lots of questions! Ultimately a consultation with a planner is a getting to know you process, and making sure that our team has a good handle on your wishes & expectations. Then we move on to the logistics, we talk about things that work well and maybe some small adjustments that we could see helping avoid any timing issues - stay with us because this is the part where couples can start to gloss over on us - logistics aren’t always sexy!

The good news is that once you get the planning process started and you have the framework of what you hope to experience on your wedding day combined with a planner who knows the local network of wedding professionals; it comes together pretty quickly. Did you know that we use an online planning dashboard to help our couples organize the details allowing them to access all of their wedding information 24/7 - we love seeing the progress bar go up as items get checked off the list!

So there you have it, wedding planning can be done around your work or school schedule still allowing you to have those fun date nights because you will have a team to support and guide you through all of the phases of planning. We are so excited to help so many amazing couple’s plan their wedding and we get to hang out with some pretty awesome wedding pro’s too!
~ Happy Planning!

Northern California Wedding Planner | Reading Between The Lines

Wedding planning is not black and white with stringent rules, nor is it a cookie cutter package that works exactly the same for every couple. Instead it is a very personalized, fluid experience that differs for every couple. That’s why we feel it is so important to try to really gauge each couple’s expectations and preferences for the best possible experience, and to be able to proactively avoid scenarios where something goes wrong due to lack of planning or the foresight into what simply works well for hosting a large number of guests.

Our role as a wedding planner is to take the couple’s preferences, site logistics and all contracts/proposals and read through all of the details including what isn’t stated in a contract.. So not only will we look for what each vendor is providing, we seek to understand what is NOT included or provided by all of the vendors to ensure that nothing is missed.

For instance, if your DJ package includes only one sound set-up we may work through your site logistics and determine that it’s sufficient or we may see that having the second sound system set for cocktail hour & reception is necessary. We may also see that you need a lapel microphone for ceremony rather than a stand microphone. Or perhaps your bartending service does not provide the alcohol or ice, cups, straws, napkins or garnishes but they do provide the bar kit (cocktail shakers, lemon slicer, bottle openers, ice bucket etc.) We go through all of these details and confirm before your wedding so that nothing is left to the day-of to improvise.

We’ll confirm pricing for overages so that if you decide to extend your DJ for an hour or your photographer stays late for that epic moonlight portrait you are aware of any additional fees as well as how those will be charged (check or cash the night of, invoiced the following day, etc.) Our couple’s best interest is always at the forefront of our planning and you have our team to advocate for you.

One area that we feel strongly about is keeping our couple’s budget on track so that none of our client’s ever feel like they are over extending what they originally budgeted. Instead the planning process should be transparent and information should always be accessible at all times. All of our couples have access to their own custom planning dashboard which gives them full control of their planning details 24/7! If you are feeling stressed about your upcoming wedding and feel like you could benefit from having another set of eyes to help you read between the lines - we’d love to chat!

~ Happy Planning! ~
The 530 Bride Team

Northern California Wedding Planner | Friends Don't let Friends Stress On Their Wedding Day

Thinking back to some of the most fun weddings that we’ve been apart of we can see the common thread - the intention from day one to just let go of unnecessary stress. That is so much easier said than done in many scenarios but planning your wedding doesn’t have to be stressful or scary, we promise! Friends and family are there to help you live in the moment and enjoy making memories! The rest is where we come in..

Photo by Matthew Lim Photography

Being days away from 2020 we know that a wedding party is no longer tied to old traditions and is instead there to support you and enjoy in the celebration with you. If we can avoid having your wedding party or family feel like they need to work at your wedding then even better because they’ll be focused on being by your side.

Photo by Matthew Lim Photography

The sweetest gift is when we see siblings, friends, and members in the wedding party stepping forward to encourage the couple to at the bare minimum hire a coordination team if not full planning. Having referrals from past clients, their family members and wedding party means that absolute world to us because we know that we were able to contribute to everyone having nothing to stress over on the wedding day.

Photo by Matthew Lim Photography

To those who have been searching high and low for a day-of-coordinator, you may notice that the wedding industry as a whole has shifted the terminology (rightfully so) to a more accurate term of “Wedding Management” because ..well “day-of-coordination” just doesn’t exist. When we come out for a site walk to your venue or property typically 4-6 months in advance to look at the layout & logistics (power, parking, vendor access, signage) we are looking at all of the moving parts and details that need to be cohesive in order to have a successful wedding weekend. This doesn’t happen when someone is handed some notes and a clipboard 24 hours or even weeks in advance.

Over 8 years of planning we have stepped in to many different scenarios and though most everything is correctable (changing rental or floral qty., making sure there are cake plates and extra forks, double checking ice for the bar & water for guests, managing the shuttle schedule and keeping hair and make-up running on time) we know that we save our clients time and most certainly money because we are looking at the bigger picture. Do you have questions about what exactly a planner does or whether or not you need one? Shoot us a message or hop over to our reviews on WeddingWire to read first-hand from clients just like you who are glad they had the extra support!

~ Happy Planning! ~

Northern California Wedding Planner | Real Weddings Magazine - Special Offers!

If you are in need of some wedding inspiration to pull yourself out of the holiday daze be sure to check out the Winter/Spring 2020 edition of Real Weddings Magazine. We are so excited to be a part of the amazing publication and network of the area’s finest!

You can watch a short preview of some of the images from our Country Charm feature below, and also find our Natural Elegance shoot featured in the Style Files of the magazine on pg. 244.

Hoping to score some discounts and promotional pricing? Look no further than the Special Offers page on Real Weddings Magazine’s Website! You’ll see discounts on photography, hair & make-up, florals, gowns, dessert and even 10% our coordination packages when booked before 12/31/19.

Visit the Special Offers page to check out all of the promotions!

~ Happy Planning!

Northern California Wedding Planner | Top Tips of 2019 - Wedding Planning Advice

Sometimes the short and sweet version is all you need so here’s our top wedding planning tips of 2019!

1. Do it for you!
Your wedding plans are yours alone, meaning that you really don’t have to try to please everyone. Keep it authentic to you as a couple and you can’t go wrong. Play the music you love, get married in the setting that feels right whether that is a church, a backyard property or a traditional wedding venue! Related post: Planning Authentically

Butte Creek Canyon Wedding - Photo by AVH Photography

2. Invest in Experience
We can’t drive it home enough - on your wedding day time will fly by! We want you to feel present and that can only happen when you are comfortable enough to trust the professionals that you have on your creative team.

For us, we really try to make a point of recapping with our couples after their wedding and over the years we can really see the difference in the client experience for those who hired professionals - timelines stayed on track making the most of your photo coverage, announcements & music on point, the flowers and decor details were impeccable, food was delicious and beyond that everyone had an amazing time! That doesn’t happen without a team working together. Related posts: Pricing vs Value and Why Experience Matters

Bella Rosa Farms - Photo by Shannon Rosan

3. Don’t be shy
Pinterest can send you down the rabbit hole and before you know it you are looking at weddings in New York or L.A with luxury budgets so you aren’t sure how to set a realistic expectation for your wedding. In the wedding world we have to be open with our couples about the real cost of planning a wedding in their local area. If you are receiving quotes and feeling the sticker shock, you have to pump the breaks and have a transparent conversation with your fiance/parents or anyone contributing to the budget. It is totally ok to discuss the pricing and make sure that you understand all costs before booking. Related budget posts: Service Fees and Real Talk - Budget Breakdown

Almendra Winery & Distillery Styled Shoot - Photo by Ranalla Photo & Film

4. Keep It Simple
Choosing what decor to incorporate into your wedding day can feel sort of daunting, but our rule of thumb is to keep it simple - choose focal points to maximize the impact of your design. This point goes back up to Tip #2 above, but the less decor your buy on your own the less you need to pack out afterwards so if you can rent rather than buy it’s often worth it. Linens are a great example, couples may find good deals online to purchase linens but these will often not come fully pressed an will also need to be washed & pressed afterwards which can add up quick. An elevated design for your sweetheart table, dessert display or lounge seating areas make great focal points. Related posts: Keep it Simple

Photo by Shannon Rosan

5. Plan ahead
Life doesn’t hit pause once you say I Do, so give some thought to what you want your first week or even month or so of “normal life” to look like after your wedding. If you have been spending a lot of time on wedding planning you are going to want to re-channel this energy somewhere and the best advice we have is to spend focused task-based time with intention. Look into trying out a yoga or spin class with a friend (many gyms and studios even have a few free trials!) or plan on a room in your house to rennovate/update. You can see our full blog post on avoiding the post-wedding blues here!

Photo by Sarah Tamagni Photography

Our 2019 season is a wrap, but we are busy working on planning details for our 2020 weddings and continually streamlining the way that we run our planning company, this means more efficiency & consistency for all of our couples. Be sure to catch up with the latest happenings by following us on Instagram at @530bride

~ Happy Planning!

Northern California Wedding Planner | Hello December - Making it count

What a whirlwind, the holidays always seem to send the year into warp speed where we see countdowns posted on how many days until Christmas and New Years. That countdown combined with your wedding countdown can feel like a weight on your shoulders but with gentle reminders I think we can keep you off that anxiety ledge! First, try to reflect on how you’ve grown from where you were at this very time last year and give yourself some grace to appreciate those milestones both as an individual and as a couple!

From new chapters of graduating college, or accepting a promotion at work or maybe even just the growth in learning more about yourself through life experience in general allowed you to become more well rounded in from 2018 to 2019. Here we are about to turn the page into 2020, that growth will carry forward into the new year. The ability to recognize strengths and weaknesses in ourselves translates into being a better partner, better friend, sibling/daughter/parent or just a good human!

As wedding planners we are with our couples through not only the planning process but also alongside for what life throws at you during that time. For my couples, I can offer my perspective of having been married for over 9 years because I am well aware of what it feels like when learning how to navigate challenges as a couple. The stress of choosing napkin colors or your signature cocktail menu is much different then being in limbo during escrow on a home, dealing with family dynamics, managing finances or even becoming new parents. This isn’t to minimize the stress or anxiety that a couple may feel during their engagement but instead we encourage couples to focus on communication and finding ways to stay present in the experiences.

Practicing good self-care, limiting screen time when you are with your partner and giving yourselves permission to take breaks from wedding planning when you need it can help you stay present. Reach out to your planner when you feel like you want to hit pause over a long weekend, or maybe you need a little extra help on the details. That’s what your planning team is here for!

With 2020 so close, we feel an excitement and welcome the growth that it brings for our team. We too can reflect on what changes we wanted to make in 2018 and how we dug deeper into our strengths and weaknesses during the course of 2019. If we didn’t look inward on how we can do better, we wouldn’t continually be able to improve the value for our clients who are trusting in our abilities for their celebration. So cheers to making these last few weeks of 2019 count and staying present for ourselves and those around us!

Happy Planning!
XOXO - Veronica

Northern California Wedding Planner | Why Planning Experience Matters

Planning in general isn’t difficult - heck it’s pretty fun! With so many tools and resources online at your fingertips it might seem like a no-brainer to jump in and plan this wedding bash on your own, but today we are talking about planning vs experience.

Photo by Gretchen Granka

What are the biggest wedding day-bloopers, you know those hiccups that cause things to run behind or a vendor doesn’t show - what happens when things don’t go to plan? Communication can make or break even the best plan if details aren’t communicated or if there is an assumption about what a vendor will provide.

What do you need in a moment of what feels like stress or chaos? Experience. Experience is what makes the difference because from our perspective after 9 years of planning weddings - we can apply years of back-up plans, weather contingency plans, and lot of amazing folks on speed dial just in case.

Honestly, it isn’t often that we are in situations where we would even need to make a call last minute but part of the value that we bring is the reassurance for our clients that we would make every last call until everything was back on track to ensure their day is beautiful. We’ll save the day months ahead of time, when we can look at your bar list or vendor list, timeline and floor-plan to double check that everything is in order.

Photo by Matt Lim

When new potential clients meet with us, they may have in their mind that they are only in need of a day-of-coordinator. This is a great time for us to explain what our Wedding Management package is all about because we simply don’t believe that day-of-coordination is a thing. We know that it takes so much more of an in-depth understanding of the moving parts of the day, from the decor items & placement, to the announcements and song choices down to the qty of the cups for the bar and so much more. Without that, we can’t expect to be able to answer the questions that come up while the couple is getting ready and we certainly aren’t going to call the bride to ask about bar cups on her wedding day. See where we are going with this?

Ask any planner about some of the hats that we wear on a typical wedding, and if you could only see some of the interesting items that we keep in our wedding bags - because we want to be prepared!

Photo by Ranalla Photo & Film

If you are a resourceful couple and feel strongly about it there are several great tasks that you can assign to your friends, family or wedding party members. Our advice is to choose tasks that are not time-sensitive and that can be done ahead of time. For instance if you would like to have your aunt alphabetize your escort cards the week before the wedding - yes! If you are planning on having your maid of honor make floral arrangements the day of the wedding - no.

So if you are looking for that reassurance of knowing that you have a designated team to focus on your wedding and know the details inside & out - we are here for you because we simply wouldn’t have it any other way! For more information about our Wedding Management service - please check out our services page for more details!

~ Happy Planning~
XOXO Veronica

Northern California Wedding Planner | Fine Tuning Your Wedding Vision

Wedding planning is a creative experience because it blends a couple’s personalities. love story and design elements all into one amazing day. Sometimes the process of finding just the right design elements and details can feel super overwhelming!

via GIPHY

Not to worry! If you can break down the different elements into a more bite-sized approach it can save you a lot of the stress. Challenge yourself focus on the experience of your wedding and what you want to remember about your day. We can’t slow down how quickly the day goes by, but we can give you more opportunities to be present with your guests!

Repeat after us… less is more! Then close your Pinterest for the rest of the day we promise it will help give your brain a break from trying to do all the things. Come back to the drawing board with a cleansed palette so to speak.

Happy Planning!
The 530 Bride Team

Northern California Wedding Planner | Demystifying the Invitation Suite

Throughout planning, some elements come naturally to couples and other elements just seem more tricky or confusing. Invitation suites can feel like a lot to figure out, from choosing the design to deciding what wording to use or how formal you want the suite to be. Budget does play a part in these decisions of course, but sometimes the difficulty simply lies in not being able to visualize these pieces together.

Our post today will be highlighting the various elements of the modern invitation suites, as well as what options couples have when deciding where to go to get started. We’ll share links and resources to find all of the info you need to make a decision on the best option for you!

Custom Stationery design is a process of bringing the couple’s desired aesthetic and their personalities together to create something unique and authentic. These details can be in the paper and color choice, a custom monogram or crest, specialty envelope liners, hand painted details, wax seals, custom postage and of course the calligraphy for addressing the invitations.

What goes into a design suite, well of course that varies by preference and budget but a complete suite would include most if not all of the elements below:

The method of production, from letterpress to digital or hand-painted/calligraphy is one of the more major decisions because that dictates the cost, the type of paper, the turnaround time and the design process in general. One would argue that the invitations set the tone for the rest of the event, however I don’t believe couples should be held to that 100% of the time if that deters them from moving forward with a design that they really feel drawn to.

Image via Unsplash

If you have a vision of a beautiful flat-lay image of your whole invitation suite (like those stunning photos you see on Pinterest and Instagram) this can still be achieved even if you chose a semi-custom or template from a digital design retailer and had them printed. Tip: Do be sure to mention to your photographer that this shot is important to you!

Photo by Gretchen Granka Photography

With the introduction of sites like Minted.com, Wedding Paper Divas, Etsy and many more, couples are flooded with pages upon pages of designs to choose from and this can certainly be overwhelming. You want a design that speaks to your personalities and matches with your theme or vision but you might not want something that is trending or overly popular at the moment. Even when using a pre-designed template you can find ways to personalize it by adding a band, ribbon, vellum sheet, envelope liner, embossing, calligraphy etc.

So should you choose a custom designer to ensure that you have a one of a kind invitation suite? Here is a great article from Raspberry Creative listing 5 reasons you should hire a stationery designer.

Image via Unsplash

One recommendation that I make when working with couples is to find at least one to two elements they really want to throw their personality into during their wedding planning process. This could be the decor, the food menu, the ceremony or even the dance/entertainment line-up. Of course you could put your personality into all of those, but sometimes your wedding budget doesn’t give you the ability to customize every element.

In the interest of keeping this post short and sweet, we have linked to a few helpful articles and resources on each of the various topics that we find couples have the most questions about.

How much do custom invitations really cost & a breakdown of the process

Letterpress Wedding Invitations (Etiquette, Samples, Ordering Resources, F.A.Q’s & Tips)

Watercolor/ Hand Painted Wedding Invitation examples

Additional Articles/Links:
Comparing invitation costs
https://www.papelnco.com/custom-wedding-invitations
https://www.sableandgray.com/press
https://inkandpressco.com/the-semi-custom-collection
https://www.bellafigura.com/customize/calligraphy/
https://www.howdesign.com/creative-freelancer-blog/passion-projects/why-wedding-invitations-will-never-go-digital/
Envelope Liners
How to properly Mail Your Wedding Invitations

Northern California Wedding Planner | Re-Thinking Your Wedding Budget

Pop quiz - how many wedding related tabs or apps do you have open at this very moment? Just kidding, we aren’t here to judge! In all seriousness, it can feel like a rabbit-hole once you get started down the path of wedding planning. Once that ring is on your finger or the word gets out that you are engaged, all of the sudden people start asking you questions and giving you advice & opinions that you never actually asked for; the pressure is on to have all of the answers.

Image by Claire Nicole Photography

Good news! You don’t have to have it all figured out so fast, take your time and think about what you actually want and make an intentional effort to enjoy being engaged. If you have read some of our other posts about you will probably see a trend that we truly want you to make the most of your day and to not try and do all the things because you think you should. Instead, really commit to making the whole event a reflection of your relationship together because if you can do that - you can’t go wrong!

Once you have committed to planning authentically, the fun part starts of building this awesome crew of event partners to support you in this quest to have a kick-ass (*and pretty) wedding day. So the title of this post was re-thinking your budget right? Let’s talk about that, shall we? According to Wedding Wire’s 2019 report, 1 in 3 couples underestimated their budget.

Inevitably there will be logistics to hosting guests in a space no matter if this is in your backyard, or City Hall. Understanding your vision for the overall flow of the day and then working with your planner to fine tune this flow into a fluid experience for you and your guests will take some finesse. What we don’t want is for you to feel rushed to choose a venue that doesn’t really represent or support that vision, and in some cases can hinder it.

We’ve created a blog series PDF full of tips related to keeping your budget in check and thinking through some of the steps in the decision making process. Be sure to grab part 1 of the series by subscribing to the list below, and each topic will be emailed right to your inbox!

You can read another recent blog posts about budgeting here or check out our list of blog categories over in the sidebar!

~ Happy Planning!
Veronica

Northern California Wedding Planner | Monday Vibes

All of the cool hashtags on Instagram are for the rest of the week but today we are stopping to appreciate the clean slate that Monday’s bring! We have a small break in weddings in July, which gives us time to get prepped for the remaining late-summer and fall weddings.

Here on the blog, we talk a lot about the actual wedding day but it seemed like a good time to talk about the steps after your wedding day and how to adjust back to your day-to-day life.

Photo via Pops of Pretty

Practicing good self care while you have an important milestone like a wedding coming up is important but also to think about what you will be focusing on after your wedding. For some couples, that may be transitioning into a new home together or preparing for career changes and others it could be focusing on sprucing up your existing place together and nesting a bit! Going through the photos from your big day, your honeymoon or mini-moon and de-cluttering some of the items you accumulated over the months of planning; it is all good for helping to move on to the next exciting chapter. Not to mention you’ll have some tasks to keep you busy like name changes, banking updates and of course thank-you cards!

Photo via Pops of Pretty

After things settle, it is understandable to have a little bit of what is known as the “wedding blues” and to keep replaying certain aspects of your day over again in your mind. Should you have spent more time with your guests, did everyone like the decor, were there enough of those yummy appetizers?.. the list goes on. We are here to tell you that you aren’t crazy by any means and these emotions are so normal! Some advice that we give is that instead of trying to process every detail, talk to your spouse, friends and family and ask what they loved about the day. Seeing their excitement about those special moments can help you to put things into perspective a bit.

Our last bit of advice is to stay in touch with your wedding vendors because we truly enjoyed the process of getting to know you. It is such a blessing to get to see each new milestone in our couple’s lives and to cheer you on long after your wedding day!

Photo via Pops of Pretty

If you are reading this while you are newly engaged or in the early stages of your planning, keep these words of advice handy but also know that you can take breaks in your planning process to just enjoy being a couple. You don’t have to have a stressful experience, because at the end of the day life does go on after ‘I Do’ and it really can be fun to just enjoy each phase of planning!

XOXO - The 530 Bride

Northern California Wedding Planner | The Good Stuff

In the thick of wedding season, it could be easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of email inboxes, layouts, to-do lists and budgets .. but the special moments when couples get a little watery in the eyes thinking of their ceremony details or when they see their engagement photos come back; that’s the good stuff!

Photo by AVH Photography

You see, it is so personal and special to be a part of this experience with our couples. We are there for the big decisions down to the smallest of the details, the phone calls and texts with advice and support through every planning milestone. Even for the couples who book with us a few months out before their wedding after they have made the majority of the decisions, realize the benefit to having someone to advocate on their behalf while bringing the details together in the final weeks.

We find ourselves telling our couples how fast the wedding day truly will fly by and we want to help them enjoy every moment of it. So the more we can do to take your focus off of the “stuff” and put it back on your experience, and being present with your fiance, friends & family - that’s what matters most.

When we meet with our couples and potential clients we will be able to help you prioritize the details that will actually impact your day and streamline the rest. Our goal is to also make sure that all of the event partners who are a part of your day (photographer, videographer, hair & make-up, transportation, florist, caterer, DJ and venue for example) are all set up for success as well. This helps to ensure that everything runs smoothly and that you know the details are handled!

Sometimes the biggest impact of all, is the ability for the parents of the couple and their immediate family to be able to relax and know that everything is in place for the big day which allows them to be able to relax and enjoy as well. This sweet note below is from a bride’s mom at a recent wedding and it touched our hearts:

“Dear Veronica, Thank you so much for all of your guidance & help to make Jade & Mark’s wedding perfect for them! You were the super glue that held it all together. Also, holding my peace of mind in check with your amazing timeline. Anxiety comes from fear of the unknown. When we organize our plans & see it in writing, it helps so much. You came into our lives quickly, but made a long lasting impression. So grateful you helped Jade navigate the dog situation and went above & beyond in delivering our leftovers to our home. The 530 Bride is amazing!”

— Julie A.

So no matter how close you are to your wedding date we hope you will consider having a wedding planner or wedding management/coordination team support you. If we are booked, we are always happy to provide recommendations of local and reputable planners who will do an amazing job for you.

~ Happy Planning!

Northern California Wedding Planner | The Role of A Wedding Planner

The role of a planner in the wedding industry is a unique one because it differs from the majority of the other vendors/creative partners that couples will book for their event. You see, we are looking at a 365 degree view of the event and advocating for our clients interest from the moment they contract our services. While the majority of the wedding industry works to educate clients on the myth of the “day of coordinator” the term is still used often and can be very misleading because it just isn’t possible to coordinate an event without all of the details needed in advance.

Before we get to that, let’s chat more about what a planner does (in no particular order)

• Meets/consults with the couple’s vision/must-haves and estimated budget

• Reviews services that have already been booked if any and makes recommendations on additional services fitting the couples desired style, preferences & budget

• Reaches out to additional wedding professionals to confirm availability, rate information and assists with scheduling consultations, obtains quotes & arranges a consultation if needed

• Updates budget with estimates, payments, remaining balances and tracks payments due

• Consults on design process, sources rentals & creates overall layout of items & decor

• Creates draft timeline based on client preferences, length of photo coverage, number of hours in venue and approximate sunset then sends to photo/video team, caterer, DJ and supporting vendors for review

• Assists with wedding website, invitation wording and general stationery etiquette

• Attends vendor appointments, tastings, fittings and site visits as needed

• Updates guest count totals with rentals, caterer, florist and venue

• Submits final approved timeline and layout two weeks with any pertinent vendor details

• Reviews packing list, final payment details and prepares for ceremony rehearsal

• Oversee set-up of event & ensure that the details run according to the timeline

• Assist wedding party & family with pre-ceremony preparation

• Confirm all details are in place and assist with guest seating for ceremony, line up wedding party according to processional plan

• Transition decor from ceremony to reception as needed during cocktail hour

• Ensure photography timeline is running smoothly according to shots list

• Check in with catering details for dinner service

• Assist with all reception formalities

• Post reception - organize personal decor, execute breakdown according to strike plan

Much of our work is on behalf of our clients, advocating for their interests when it comes to quotes for services and overall design details to ensure their day is everything that they imagined it would be. This role is incredibly rewarding because of how closely we get to know our couples and how fun it is to experience this day with them! What we can’t do is replace the work of wedding pro’s so we need to emphasize that we are not florists, lighting/sound technicians. DJ’s, caterers or rental companies and it is important to stay on the same page about where our focus will be..and that is laser focused on the logistics that make your day super smooth!

Of course our preference is to be a part of the planning process as early as possible so that we can be there for these decisions and details rather than be on the later end and need to step in to resolve some of the missing links or remaining questions that might end up being stressful or more costly with a time crunch.

Thanks for reading a long on this post and we hope that no matter who you choose to support you on your wedding day, you have an amazing experience!

~ Happy Planning!