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June 23, 20235 Event Planning Tips From an Expert Michigan Wedding Planner
I had the opportunity to sit down with Ashley Lynch; founder of Festoons and Flourishes, a few months back at this adorable coffee shop in Grosse Pointe, MI; Boulangerie LeRouge. We discussed the wedding industry and things we loved and wished we could change about it. Ashley was so full of insight, and I loved our discussion so much I decided to go back to her for a formal interview. I wanted to know what she thought about some common questions we receive from clients or even that we frequently discuss within the walls of Borrow. This expert, a Michigan Wedding planner, lends her insights about 5 Event Planning Tips regarding mistakes in the wedding planning process, vintage rental furniture and decor, and trendy vs. classic event design.
** Featured in the Event Photo: Bentwood Chair Rental by Borrow Event Location: UM Union in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann: How do you design an event that you know won’t appear out of style or tacky in a few years?
ASHLEY: There is a love-hate relationship between what is trendy and what is classic. Trends are constantly changing in the wedding industry and often are affected by other outside (but related) industries such as fashion, art, architecture, travel, and interior design. Typically, if you see it on social media now, chances are that in 6 months, it will be replaced by something else.
I love trends but you have to be very specific and not too heavy with them, or within a year or two, you might not love your wedding details when looking back on your photos and videos. The main thing to remember is not to incorporate a trend just because it is trendy. You have to love it and align with it personally for the trend to be something meaningful…and not just a passing fancy.
When I design for my couples’, I design with their personalities and personal styles at the center…that way it doesn’t matter if something is trendy or classic, it means that they are going to love everything down to the core of who they are and therefore it should stand the test of time, at least for them. The key is to build a design foundation that is both a mixture of trends and classical design elements…but no matter what, it needs to be personal.
Ann: Is Vintage Out?
ASHLEY: This one is easy…absolutely not. Vintage will never be out. There are many types of vintage…rustic, old-world European, mid-century, etc…and therefore, there is something for everyone.
Festoons + Flourishes Michigan Wedding Planner
Ann: Why are casual weddings sometimes more work?
Ann: What are your favorite ways to use design to help with flow?
ASHLEY: Being able to guide guests wordlessly through the day with little prompting makes a nice flow to an event. You definitely do not want too many instructions and want guests to automatically feel comfortable in a space, knowing where everything is and what is available to them. I love using lighting effects, musical cues, fun signage, interactive displays, furniture pieces, partition walls, draping, and other design elements to move guests from space to space and to signify it is time to move on to something new. Being creative with the layout of a room as well as understanding how you want guests to feel in a space will help you to understand what kind of environment you want to build.
Ann: What are five mistakes you wish couples wouldn’t make for the big day?
ASHLEY: 1. Not hiring a Planner or hiring them after the planning has begun.
It all starts with the Planner. No matter if you can afford a full service Planner or simply a day-of Coordinator that can consult from time to time, the first step that every couple should do is to hire an expert to help them through their planning and be there to answer questions.
Find a Planner/Coordinator whose style you admire and someone you can talk to freely and openly with.
The biggest mistake that I see often is that clients will begin booking their Venue and Creative Partners and then bring on a Planner to help them manage all of it, after mistakes were made. The Planner should always comes first.
2. Booking a Venue that is out of budget.
After the Planner, the biggest mistake I see is booking a Venue that is out of budget for the overall wedding cost. Sadly, I see this a lot, where clients will book a Venue that they love (typically before hiring a Planner) that they think they can afford, but they do not take into account the overall cost of the entire wedding. Once that part of the budget is allotted, it means that there is only so much left in the budget for music, photo, video, design, etc…which then means that either some of these items need to be reduced or cut, or the overall budget needs to be raised. Again, having a Planner to review your overall budget before diving into the Venue search is always a plus and will be better for your financial planning in the long run.
3. Do NOT start the Design process too quickly.
It is SO easy to want to dive straight into the fun design bits for your wedding…flowers, table design, stationery…but until you have your foundational services set, these items will inevitably change. It is important that after selecting a Venue and setting your date, couples should then be creating an initial day-of timeline and hiring all of the services that help to create the experience for their wedding day…photo, video, music/entertainment, catering, hotels, transportation, etc. Although these aren’t as fun as design, they are necessary, and by hiring these services first, it will give you a better idea of what is needed design-wise for your wedding celebrations once the overall experience has been mapped out.
It also allows you to have more time to dream when it comes to design, as you wouldn’t want to set all of these items too quickly and then change all of it months later because you had a change of heart.
4. DO NOT TAKE TOO MUCH ADVICE FROM ONLINE RESOURCES.
As much as I love social media and large online wedding/inspiration companies…sometimes advice or spending too much time submersed in these outlets can be detrimental, especially when it comes to planning timelines and average costs of weddings, as they are typically very far off the mark. Sadly, more often than not, social media and large wedding outlets have skewed how most couples think their planning process should go and what their expectations are in regards to what they can afford. Simply put, weddings are expensive and they take a lot of time to plan, as every detail (tiny and large) needs to be considered thoughtfully. Again, this is why you hired a team of professionals to help guide you and let you know what can be done within your planning timeline and the budget available.
Spending too much time absorbed in different ideas can also cause a sense of idea overload, which can distract you from your own personal style and embracing details that are really important to you. Remember, it is better to create a wedding experience all your own…instead of creating something for the sole purpose of being post-worthy.
5. NOT TRUSTING OR RELINQUISHING CONTROL TO YOUR TEAM.
TRUST the process and your Planner/Creative Partners. Have patience with the process. When you trust your team and let them do what you hired them to do, the most amazing magic can happen for you and your event. Remember, you hired them because they are the experts in this industry. Make sure to make your wishes, hopes, and dreams known to your creative teams, but make sure they have space, freedom, and the time to bring their absolute best to the table for you.
More About Festoons and Flourishes
Festoons and Flourishes is a bespoke wedding and event planning studio focused on creating beautiful, flawlessly executed, detail-oriented events. Specializing in full-service planning and design, they provide clients with a highly personalized experience from start to finish. They believe in classic celebrations, creating breathtaking moments and love stories that stand the test of time.
Visit them HERE!