Even though the economy is in a crunch right now, women are still getting engaged and wanting to plan the wedding of their dreams. Paige Galla, owner of Paige One Events, has kindly shared her tips and planning advice with us to help brides with budgeting, determining wedding priorities, organization and time management. After college, Paige began working at Wine & Roses and planned over 150 weddings and an equal number of social and business events there, too. When she decided to start her own business Paige enrolled in the only state-certified Wedding Planner course.
” It was one of the most challenging classes I’ve ever taken, but it was completely worth it and I gained a ton of knowledge about the event planning field,” shared Paige. Since November 2006 Paige has been in business and has gradually been taking on more and more weddings and events. We asked her some crucial questions a bride might ask a wedding planner when planning a wedding. Below are her helpful and creative answers:
*Why do you enjoy planning weddings?
“Besides the cliche response that it’s incredibly rewarding, I really enjoy getting to know my clients and forming a relationship with them that continues after the wedding is over. Planning weddings keeps me on my toes; I enjoy the fact that it encompasses creative thinking, problem solving, thinking outside the box, being resourceful, a great deal of communication, traveling, and the list goes on and on. Every wedding is different and thus a challenge in its own way. I love the variety and fact that my job never, ever feels dull”, said Paige.
*When planning a wedding what are the first five things a bride should do?
1. Enjoy and celebrate being engaged!
2. Create a guest list.
3. Set a budget based on the number of guests on the list, and determine who will contribute to it.
4. Choose a venue that suits your vision, number of guests, and budget, and will set the atmosphere you desire for your big day.
5. Get to work on finding and hiring talented, reliable vendors within your budget who will carry out your wedding day dreams.
* What are some ways a bride can help cut costs while planning her wedding, linens, cakes, etc.?
-Determine your priorities. Budget more for those items and skimp somewhere else. For example, photography is a big thing for some so spend more there but skimp on something like linens or fancy chairs….
-For vendors, look into college students, new people in the business, and even talented friends. For example, photography students for pictures, a friend who is into floral arrangements, a techie friend who is good with digital video, a friend with pretty writing rather than a calligrapher….
-Be willing to adjust your “vision” in order to fit/decrease your budget. For example, settle with buttercream instead of fondant. Small detail, big difference in cost.
-For your dress, visit trunk shows. Also, sample gowns are always much less.
* Why is it a good idea to hire a wedding planner in our tough economy?
“You CANNOT put a price on your sanity. A wedding planner provides you with support when you feel like no one gets it, ideas when you have completely racked your brain dry, and expertise and advice that no one else can give you. In addition, researching and planning for a wedding takes SO much time. Brides spend time during work hours, time at night, and time during the weekends planning for their big day. A wedding planner will alleviate this and allow you to maintain your work productivity and social life,” shared one of Paige’s previous brides.
“Wedding planners also know smart ways to cut back on spending, and how to go about it. They can negotiate contracts with vendors, eliminate unnecessary items from rental orders that won’t be missed, find more affordable alternatives for flowers, etc. Hiring a resourceful and experienced wedding planner really can save brides from expensive mistakes,” said Paige.
*If a bride came to you with a $5,000 budget, what are the three most important things she should invest in? Dress, photographer, cake, location, or honeymoon?
“Again, the bride should focus on what is most important to her. It’s hard for me to choose three things to invest in because everyone has different priorities, although in my opinion, there should always be good food and drinks, great music, and a photographer to help you remember the day. Here are some helpful tips though,” said Paige.
Make the guest list as reasonable as possible. The smaller the guest list, the more you are able to spend on other items. From there, choose a venue in a state or local park, or even a big backyard, where there’s little to no fee, look into a menu that is simple and fun and not too fancy (and possibly family-catered), consider asking a friend or family member to bake cupcakes or your favorite desserts, shop for dresses at “off-the-rack” bridal stores, order flowers from Costco or make your own creative centerpieces, utilize your iPod for music and dancing, and simply adjust your overall vision.
*What would you like to add personally for brides, something about the way you plan and enjoy weddings?
“Organization and time management is key. Set small goals with due dates. Break up large tasks into smaller parts. Try to focus on one thing at a time. Delegate tasks that are less important to you (to your groom, mom, etc.). ENJOY it! Planning should be enjoyable and memorable. Do it together as a couple when possible. It will make the day more meaningful. Make it your wedding with as many personal touches as you can. And like everyone says, your wedding day goes incredibly fast, so remember to step back and cherish every moment of it. And don’t forget your thank you notes,” said Paige.
If you have anymore questions for Paige Galla please feel free to contact her at:
Paige Galla
www.paigeoneevents.com
(209) 770-1177
