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 | 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 | 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!

Northern California Wedding Planner | Hiring a Wedding Planner - The Support You Didn't Know You Needed

At times it seems like you literally can do anything with a click of a button, need a ride, or a snack, or a wardrobe..click - it’s yours! The ability to have an app or a service handle tasks for us can provide instant gratification and of course save us time, but when it comes to something as personal as planning your wedding - an app just isn’t going to be the equivalent of an experienced wedding professional who can provide insight, guidance and expertise in their craft.

Photo by Sarah Tamagni Photography

Our clients are busy! They have their every day life with responsibilities at work or school, or at home with kiddos and the biggest service we can provide is that we have their absolute best interest in mind with every vendor referral, email, site walk, timeline detail and photo suggestion. We can see the bigger picture and help guide couples through budget decisions, vendor consultation, design ideas and more. Individually, all of these tasks are not hard or all that time consuming but when combined with other time commitments it can be challenging to keep up.

Photo by Anna Perevertaylo Photography

“The 530 bride was a life saver when I planned my wedding and worked full time as well as going back to school. I felt like I was organized and always ahead of schedule. She made my vision come to life. I would recommend the 530 bride to any couple getting married! They are essential!”

— Ashley H.

As wedding planners, we come into the picture at various stages of planning depending on the couple and the timeframe of their engagement. We understand that you might have set out to do all of the planning yourself but as your wedding date approaches you may feel more inclined to have some of these details covered by a third party so that you and your family/friends can be 100% present for this special time together.

Photo by Samantha McPherrin Photography

Some of our absolute favorite events have been simple celebrations that we were just able to help everyone have fun and feel stress-free, and knowing that we helped couple’s have that type of experience is the best reward we could ever ask for!

Photo by Sarah Tamagni Photography

So if you are getting engaged or know someone who may just need a tiny bit of help (or a lot!) we would be happy to chat more about the upcoming event!
~ Happy Planning!~

Northern California Wedding Planner | The Design Process

We’ve been meeting with a lot of amazing engaged couples who are interested in learning more about the design process and how a wedding planner can help. These days with Pinterest and Instagram, couples can feel overloaded with designs and it can be difficult to hone in on the right aesthetic for their day. Afterall, a wedding you see on Pinterest in an entirely different setting, time of year, and budget might not align with what works for you in your specific wedding venue space.

Photo by Diane Nicole Photography, showroom featured WeDo Designs

First things first, let’s chat about how you want your day to feel. What do you want your guests to experience and what do you want your memories of your day to be? If the custom menu cards and extensive signage details are important to you then we would shift to looking to create a very cohesive approach to your wedding. On the other-hand if you are focused on the lighting, food & entertainment to drive the guest experience then we would allocate more of your budget to making the guest experience more focal to what they will be interacting with.

We all love pretty wedding details, and it is always a great idea to start narrowing down the colors that you want to incorporate into your design. A spring or fall wedding can look very different for each wedding so we really want to pull together a palette that feels just right.

Photo by Diane Nicole Photography, showroom featured WeDo Designs

Then we take inspiration from your Pinterest and source local items to give you a similar look but still customizing to your wedding. We’ll attend a design meeting with you to go over rentals & decor items and then put together a mock table set-up. Once the mock table set-up is approved we move on to creating your site plan, in certain settings where space is limited we want to double check that we are utilizing the space and creating a great flow for guests.

As we get closer we can adjust with changes and update your design details, then we’ll work with all of your vendors to ensure that no detail is missed!

Do you have questions about the design process? If you are feeling like you could use a little more help with pulling your design together while staying on budget, be sure to reach out to us and we would be happy to chat!

~ Happy Planning!

Northern California Wedding Planner | IronGate Garden Inn Wedding Venue

Chico’s newest wedding venue Irongate Garden Inn is officially booking weddings for the 2019 & 2020 season and we couldn’t be more thrilled that we will be spending a lot more weekends there planning amazing weddings. Owners Krista and Neal worked so hard to make this property perfect for weddings and they took the time to connect with the local wedding professionals to gain feedback on what our couples need. We wanted to show you some of our favorite elements of the venue!

The stone courtyard has given us #allthefeels since the first time I walked through the property and I just knew that wedding magic was going to happen here. In fact this courtyard has seen many weddings under former management years ago, but what is most amazing is that Krista and Neal have brought it back to shine even brighter than its’s former glory.

The beautiful landscaping and paths around the property make you feel as if you are in the secret garden tucked away, and what better for a first look photo! We were honored to plan the first official wedding at Iron Gate Garden Inn, photos captured by Samantha McPherrin Photography

Flowers by Little Red Hen Floral & More // Images by Samantha McPherrin Photography

If you’re engaged and looking for an outdoor wedding venue in Butte County please contact us and we can arrange a site visit for you. We would love to help you bring your ideas together for your wedding day!

~ Happy Planning!

Northern California Wedding Planner | Planning Your Wedding During a Disaster

A week ago today, the world as our little community knew it changed. The amount of loss in from the #campfire is devastating, and unprecedented. With each press briefing and community meeting we learn more details and updated numbers of lives lost, and damaged homes and structures. Our couples, “friendors”, neighbors and friends all are touched by this fire and our own experience of being evacuated was surreal in itself.

While we are working to assist our couples who are affected, and offer support to vendors who have lost their homes or businesses we also want to offer support to couples who aren’t sure how to proceed. Who can you talk to about your wedding plans in a time like this, when everyone around you is in disaster mode? We are here for you with a shoulder, an ear, and a clip board of to-do lists on how we can help you.

Maybe originally you felt that you could plan your wedding with family and friends but now feel like you aren’t sure what life around you will look like a few months from now or even a year. Please give us a call and let us know your situation, as many venues and vendors have offered to help couples with making changes to their existing plans or easing the process for those going forward.

Planning a wedding is an exciting time, one that you want to share with your friends and family and we still want you to be able to have that amazing day!

Northern California Wedding Planner | Logistic's For The Win

We've all heard that old saying - "practice makes perfect;" well when it comes to weddings we think it is the logistics that save the day! 

When you book your wedding venue or even when planning a wedding in your own back yard, you are taking a canvas and filling it with tables, chairs, DJ equipment, dance floor, buffet tables, a bar and much more.  Then the task becomes designing the space so that it is not only beautiful, but so that it is nice and open - no bottle necks of traffic at the bar or the buffet line and that everyone can see the events going on throughout the evening.  

Adding tools, features and resources to our planning packages not only improves efficiency on the backend but we know it gives couples the extra reassurance that all of the details are being managed.  When we sit down with our full service and design clients we are able to build the experience with them from day one!

This process takes vision, and critical thinking skills because we aren't always working with a cookie cutter space.  We also have to consider power supply, lighting, level ground and the logistics for catering to prep and serve the food.  Sometimes we sketch the space and give an outline of the set-up after walking through the space, and getting to hear more about your vision.  Then we can apply these sketches and the couple's wish into a more detailed floor plan design that we can share with all of the vendors ahead of time. 

Need to figure out how many extra uplights to add on with your DJ? Let's see those lights in action and plan out your space accordingly.  Visualize where the guests will be when the reception is underway!

Aside from the planning of the space we also build your timeline so that you can make the most of your day.  We don't want to waste any precious moments due to something that could be prevented such as transportation problems, lighting or venue access.  

Our couples can log into their planning dashboard and have 24/7 access to their timeline, guest list, budget, design studio and planning checklist among many other helpful tools!

When your guest count changes so does your rental order, catering invoice, floor plan and transportation schedule.  Having a wedding planner on board to communicate with all of the event partners you have booked will save you time and ultimately give you a smoother wedding experience overall.  

Are you considering hiring a wedding planner for your special day? We would love to learn more about your vision and help you create the logistics to make it all happen!

~ Happy Planning! ~ 

Northern California Wedding Planner | Real Talk - Vendor Communication

Happy Spring! Today we're talking all about keeping up with communication during your wedding planning process and how a wedding planner can help you stay organized.  Let's assume you have anywhere from 5 to 10 wedding vendors from your venue, caterer, florist, DJ and rentals to bakers, tent company and stationery designer.  That's a lot of moving pieces!

As a wedding planner, communication is our top priority because when everyone is on the same page for your wedding day we know things will go smoothly as planned.  If details and updates aren't distributed across the board you can bet there will be a snag in the process which can ultimately cost you money if you need to add something that was missed, or an important detail isn't executed as promised.  It is imperative for your wedding vendors to work as a team, and we want to ensure that everyone is set up for success from day one.

Email communication 
As convenient as text messages are these days, it still isn't a professional form of communication and because texts are often very short and sweet it is always going to be more thorough to communicate via email.  This also will be helpful in the long run in case you need to look back through your previous emails to refresh your memory on a decision or update from a few months prior.  

Organized Master Timeline
Without an organized master timeline to serve as the main anchor point for your event, you could easily have several different variations of your wedding timeline with each vendor.  It doesn't seem like 10 minutes here and there make a big difference but when it comes to the caterer pulling lids off of the buffet and food being served fresh and hot, every minute counts.   We also want to make the most of your coverage with your photographer so giving enough time for formal portraits but keeping dinner and toasts running smoothly will ensure you have time for those dreamy sunset photos! 

Efficient Decision Making
A wedding planner can help present options to you in an efficient manner, making side by side comparisons based on your budget and preferences.  This will cut down on the back and forth emails to get the information you are looking for and can also streamline the time that it takes to book vendors.  Decision making was one of the 5 toughest things about planning according to WeddingWire

Details, Details, Details! 
We can only imagine what your day looks like inside your mind until we get to draw this out and break it down detail by detail.  This will ensure that no one is coming to you with questions on your wedding day while you are getting your hair and make-up done.  We will work with your vendors to review set up and breakdown details, and the smallest detail when it comes to your preferences. 

Managing your calendar
We want to assist you with making sure you know when appointments and payment due dates are with your vendors, when you need to have your final guest count, where and when you need to purchase event insurance and if desired we'll follow up on your behalf to ensure you receive your deposit back from your venue after your wedding. 

Planning Dashboard
Our couples have access to their personalized planning dashboard where they can access their wedding details 24/7.  They will have the ability to view and customize their planning checklist, master timeline, budget details, guest list, rsvp tracking, vendor contact info and contracts, design details and more.  This makes us happy wedding planners because we know they can relax knowing exactly where they are in the process. 

Every couple is different with respect to how involved they want to be in their day-to-day planning, so we have different packages and options to serve those needs individually.  We'd love to chat with you about your wedding plans even if are just looking for an extra set of hands on your wedding day.  

~ Happy Planning! 

Northern California Wedding Planner | Thomas George Estates - Chelsea & Ryan

We are unbelievably lucky to have had the opportunity to plan a gorgeous wine country wedding in the heart of Healdsburg at Thomas George Estates in May of 2017. From the ceremony being on a ridge overlooking vineyards, to the reception being inside a cave... we can say this was one of our most adventurous weddings to date! 

Carlos, with Oliveira Foto, created magic through his lens on this beautiful summer day. As did Maisoue Yang, how she and her assistant captured their love through video. 

One of our favorite moments during Chelsea & Ryan's First Look captured by Carlos.

It all began when the girls and guys divided into two separate houses located in the front of the winery. Let's just say... the guys had it easy! We can thank Wash & Brush up for the beautiful hair and makeup on the ladies! Enjoy some of these getting ready photos...

As the day progressed, we had the chance to peek at Chelsea & Ryan's first look... and all we can say is AW. Grab a tissue, because these are adorable. 

“A good husband makes a good wife. ”

— John Florio

Let's take a moment to appreciate the amazing bridal party... We had a blast with them!

Anyone there? Oh, they're sleeping!

They said I do, and then the party started! Cocktail hour was up on the ridge, and quickly after, all of the guests walked down to the reception, which was in a gorgeous wine cellar cave! The walk looked like the best part... 

A La Heart Catering impressed us with their delicious menu for the evening. After we had a taste of the appetizers, we knew it was going to be a fantastic evening of feasting! 

Who's ready to dance? We sure enjoyed seeing everyone having a blast with a cup of coffee in our hands to keep warm with the chilly air swarming the venue! 

Again, we cannot explain the gratitude we have for Chelsea and Ryan. Our presence at their special wine country wedding was spectacular, and we wish all the best for their future as Mr. and Mrs. Howard!

Vendors:
Wedding Coordination: The 530 Bride
Photography: Oliveira Foto
Videography: Maisoue Yang (Pixel Pluie)
Venue: Thomas George Estates
Catering: A La Heart Catering
DJ: Sky's The Limit Music & Entertainment
Beauty: Wash and Brush Up
Florals: Farmgirl Flowers
Rentals: Grapevine Rentals

Until next time,
 

Northern California Wedding Planner | With This Ring

It's All About The Details - Even The Ring Box Carrying Your Wedding Bands Down The Aisle!

As a wedding planner, we like to see couples get creative with their ceremony details and include the ring box/ring pillow in their details for their photographer to shoot because it really adds to their wedding day story.  Plus, who knows maybe they can pass it down for their children for their wedding day!

We not only ask the couple WHO will carry the rings and have them during the ceremony, but we'll want to also have an idea of what the box/pillow will look like so that we know if there are any extra steps for the ring bearer or officiant etc. 

Here's a few inspiration photos to get you started on your search for the perfect wedding ring box!

Modern Lucite/Acrylic Ring Box 

Personalized Acrylic Ring Box

Classic Velvet Ring Box 

The MRS. Box Photo by @JoseVilla

Rustic Wood Ring Box 

Wood Ring Box hand-crafted by Jacob MccKay Studios 

Simple Ring Pillow 

Mini Beaded Ring Pillow

What style jumps out at you or inspires you for your wedding day? Tip: f the ring bearer is young or a bit of a wild card you can also have them just walk down holding a pillow/box and then have the rings safely in the pocket of the best man or officiant.  Just remember the kids are seriously adorable and they can do no wrong when it comes to the level of cuteness (even if they take off in the other direction - Just have a plan B!) 

~ Happy Planning! ~ 

P.S. We're pretty picky about all the junk people sell on the internet these days, which is why we are proudly an affiliate for Beau-Coup!! We know their products arrive quickly and as represented in their listing. Enjoy!

Northern California Wedding Planner | A Full Service Wedding Experience

From IPSY, to Hello Fresh, Birch Box, Dollar Shave Club, StichFix, Blue Apron & Fab Fit Fun to name a few; let's talk about how awesome it is to have a box of curated goodies arrive at your doorstep.  Or furthermore, that companies and retailers are consistently adding more personalized options for consumers.  It makes sense, people are busy and would prefer to have the things that they like come to them.

Credit: Forbes Article 

In the wedding world we have the same basic elements, our couples are busy but instead of receiving wardrobe items or skincare products, we are using our experience and extensive networking relationships to present them with the best of the best in the local wedding industry to curate their wedding experience. 

Photo credit: SC Stockshop 

When couples are beginning their search for a wedding planner they might wonder what the differences are between the planning packages and which one is the best for them.  If we were going to use the subscription box analogy to lay it out, think of it this way:

The Foodie Couple
Two busy working professionals recently got engaged.  The bride-to-be is working on finishing up her masters program so their time together is already very limited.  Food is their love language so their favorite thing to do together on their one night off a week is to cook.  Lately, they find that it's challenging to make the time to plan the meals and go to the grocery store to get all of the ingredients for their date night dinners. 

They've heard about a cooking/meal subscription service and love the idea of not having to plan it all out but still get to enjoy cooking together.  They've narrowed down their search to two options:

Option A - The couple will speak with the meal concierge service who will ask them questions about their schedules, likes & dislikes on spices, any cultural preferences/traditional cooking styles, , seasonal favorites, allergies or food restrictions etc.  Then the concierge asks them about fun dates or travel destinations they'd been to in the past, so that she knows enough detail to curate and preselect the meals for them based on their food preferences & budget/initial price point selection.  

Option B - The couple will fill out an online survey to get started, and then for each meal that they would need to preselect the type of meal and then choose from 1 of the 10 recipes for that meal the prior week.  Some of the recipes have reviews so the couple can try to read the reviews prior to deciding, but selections will need to be made the 2nd Tuesday each week by 4 pm for the corresponding delivery.  The subscription fee is lower than in option A but the meal price will depend on their selections with each order. 

Which option do you think the foodie couple should choose to make the most of their date nights together?  If you said Option A, then it sounds like you totally get how valuable time really is and that it makes sense pay a small premium in order to receive such personalized service. 

Photo by Bloom Portraiture

If we relate this back to weddings, we could say that some couples would enjoy taking the time to research the recipe's themselves, shop at the grocery store and prepare the meal themselves; where others would prefer to have that personalized date night experience done for them so that they can both be immersed in the cooking and dining experience instead of the prep work. 

No one way is better than the other but we want to give the best service we possibly can and that means being from beginning to end to create a seamless wedding experience.  

- Anyone else hungry after all of that meal selection talk? You can read more about our service options right her on our services page. 

Northern California Wedding Planner | We're Sort of Psychic

Alright so we can't predict the weather (wouldn't that be nice) but we can steer couples away from red flags during their planning process.  Maybe it doesn't come from a cosmic super power but let's call it "wedding planner intuition."  

From a bride ordering her custom wedding dress online to a "friend of a friend" DJ'ing your wedding... we try to steer couples away from these potential catastrophe's because it is simply not worth it for you to save a bit in one area and cost yourself the headache or disappointment in the long run.  

It happens to all of us.  We see a good price or an opportunity to save money, maybe even an impulse shopping decision.  I myself was guilty over Black Friday when cruising on Amazon Prime I saw some beautiful sequin linens that were so beautiful in the photos I just had to have them.  So I added them to my cart and right as I was about to check out I saw another listing from the same shop and looked through some of their other items.  That's when I started reading the reviews from customers who unfortunately received the items that looked nothing like they did in the picture.  Not only that, they didn't match the measurements of the linens listed.  Even if it wasn't a wedding day, lets say it was a birthday party or even a gathering that you are hosting and you are so excited about how this linen is going to tie everything together.  You receive it and it's missing sequins or looks like it was sewn by a blind monkey! Now you are rushing to find a plan B.

What is my point? Rushing to find a plan B when it comes to your wedding is unnecessary stress that you don't need.  We can only encourage you to take our advice when it comes to hiring professionals and quality product that we know is going to meet your expectation.  Why risk a years worth of planning and organizing a timeline when your friend of a friend DJ shows up and pretty much thinks they are there to party instead of following a timeline or making announcements to keep everything running smoothly.  As a wedding planner, there is nothing worse than feeling like you are trying to do multiple jobs at once and still not able to fix the couple's disappointment due to another vendor failing to do what they were hired to do.

So when you hire a wedding planner you are also hiring someone who has learned from years of experience and understands how to avoid these red flags.  We've learned from our own challenges, and we recommendations on professionals who we know and trust to go above an beyond to make a couple's day amazing.

~ Happy Planning & Happy Holiday shopping -
p.s Read the reviews first!!
XoXo - Veronica

Northern California Wedding Planner | Give Yourself Some Grace

It's Friday and it's raining. A Fall lover's happy place is with a hot cup of coffee and a good book or Netflix series - Can I get an amen? For a lot of couples who have #allthethings on their minds when it comes to their wedding day and maybe feeling behind, we want to remind you to take a moment and try to give yourself some grace!

Instead of worrying about getting out the save the dates, or price checking those rentals instead think about what you can do as a couple this weekend to just be "normal" and take a break from wedding mode.  

Hold up --> Did a wedding planner just tell you to take a break from planning? Yep, and it is so that when you have had some time you can come back with a clear mind and actually enjoy the wedding tasks at hand.  

If you are feeling overwhelmed, it is never to late to reach out and ask for some help.  We work with couples who are at all different stages of their planning.  Did you know that we also offer remote planning? Meaning, maybe you just need some support with lining up your wedding services or getting caught back up on what to do next.  We're here for you if you ever need to chat or ask questions! 

For our Butte County couples, make sure to hop over to the new site www.ButteCountyWeddings.net to find local resources for your wedding as well! 

Northern California Wedding Planner | Gover Ranch Wedding - Nikki & Brock

We always do a little bit of photographer stalking when it comes to seeing images after a wedding day, but we were especially anxious for Nikki & Brock's wedding day.  These two had smiles on the whole day, and to say that Nikki was organized is an understatement.  Her lists and diagrams of how she envisioned her tables & decor set-up made our little planner hearts happy! 

Here's a sneak peek of there wedding at Gover Ranch and we can't wait to share more from Grace Aston Photography (read, she's amazing!) 

Northern California Wedding Planners | Wedding Day Hangover

Put your feet up and try to control that giddy smile you have, at least that's what I tell myself after I get home from a 15 hour wedding day.  I'm a closet adrenaline junkie except that my rush doesn't come from jumping out of an airplane or going 100+ miles on a straightaway..no instead I find absolute joy when a couple has literally danced the night away and everyone is exhausted from so much fun.  

To still get chills every time a processional goes down the aisle perfectly, and the couple exchanges their vows means I'm on to something.  Toasts, first dances, and the incredible romance of it all has us hooked and keeps us so inspired in this wedding business of ours.  

Aside from all of the beautiful elements of a wedding day, our minds also replay other parts like set-up or interactions with the event partners (caterers, DJ's, photographers, decor) and the couple's family and friends.  Did we do everything that we could have done to make the event go smoothly, did we communicate and set up the event team for success? These recaps are crucial for always striving to improve our service to our couples and to the wedding pro's who become like a second family to us during a busy season.  

As wedding planners sometimes the only reassurance we need are hugs from our couples, happy text messages before they board their honeymoon flight and seeing their status change online from engaged to married! 

I could say that I did put my feet up and catch up on Netflix today but if you know me well enough you know that isn't my style.  Instead my afternoon was busy with phone sessions to catch up with a few of our couples and also a week-three session of a coaching group that I am participating in to take things here at The 530 Bride to the next level.  

XOXO - Veronica

~ Happy Planning ! ~

Northern California Wedding Planner | He Put a Ring On It! ~ Delphine and David

When a wedding planner dreams of one day walking down the aisle with the love of her life, the dream will likely involve a detailed timeline, a list of trusted event partners and of course an open bar.  Beyond that, just like anyone who dreams of her day it is still the little things that make the experience such an exciting time in life.

So when your biz bestie and the other half of The 530 Bride get's engaged you do your happy dance and swoon over the engagement photos! Beyond excited for Delphine and David, beautifully captured by TreCreative! 
- Veronica

We'll be keeping you up to speed on the milestones of getting these two down the aisle next September, but in the meantime you can check out the post over at theTreCreative Blog!