For Planning Couples | Hiring Your Wedding Planner
IT’S ENGAGEMENT SEASON!
Congratulations to you newly-engaged lovers- whether you’re getting something sparkly for Valentines Day, or you got engaged over the holidays, I’m so excited to have you here! Wedding planning can be overwhelming, there’s a LOT for you to dive into over the next few months. There are a few vendors you’re going to want to secure quickly.. Your planner, your photographer, and your venue. So today I’m so excited to share some tips from one of my preferred planners, Belle Bodas.
Belle Bodas Event Planning + Design specializes in unique and timeless destination wedding celebrations with a mindful, polished, and non-traditional approach to each to design. If you want your wedding filled with intention, passion, and purposeful planning- Braelynn is your girl.
So let’s dive in to what you should consider when hiring your wedding planner, and get to know a little bit more about Belle Bodas as well!
Why should couples hire a planner?
Think of a wedding planner as a gift to everyone! You, your soon to be Mr/Mrs, your parents, your wedding guests, and even your wedding vendors. A wedding planner takes your overwhelm and stress and turns it into a smooth process. From budgeting, scheduling, booking the right vendors to our insider knowledge, communication, and creativity – we cover it all! This way when your wedding day finally arrives, you are able to experience and live in every moment and have a dream wedding to reflect on your entire life.
What should couples consider when looking for their planner?
First, personality. Meet face to face, either in person or virtually, to see if you truly connect with one another. You want to feel safe & secure with your wedding planner. You should feel comfortable enough to speak openly with them about your wants and needs for the big day.
Second, trust. Weddings are stressful and you want to hire someone who you know can provide a calm planning process. Your planner should make you feel listened to and seen, all while being honest in their own work as well.
Third, Experience. Prior to your initial consultation, research your planner and see what their weddings look like. Do they fit your design needs? Do they support your same values in business? Do you think their work ethic will deliver to the needs that your wedding requires?
WHAT IS IT ABOUT YOUR WORK THAT SETS YOU APART?
At Belle Bodas and Events, our main goal is to gift you a memorable wedding experience and not just a cookie cutter wedding day. We aren’t fans of scratching the surface, which is why we make it a priority to dive deep while planning & designing your wedding. We like to go in depth with the beliefs, cultures, and traditions of the couple and piece them together to create an exclusive vision for the big day. Our approach is untraditional like, as we want every part of the day to be mindful with intention.
WHAT DRIVES YOUR PASSION FOR PLANNING AND DESIGN?
That answer is simple, bringing my clients vision to life! My heart and soul also drive my passion for planning and design. Having a career that allows me to do both is absolutely incredible! It allows my soul to create wow factors all day long. What more could I ask for!?
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
The people I get to meet and the lifelong friendships that come along with them! The connections I make from planning one of the most important days of people’s lives is truly a blessing. I’ve remained friends with every couple I’ve worked with and I’m always celebrating their milestones that come after the wedding!
WHERE DO YOU PULL INSPIRATION FROM?
One word – travel! My husband and I live to see & experience the world together. It fills our cup with passion, humility, and empowerment. There’s a beauty in immersing oneself in a different culture. As a designer, I have learned how vital it is that I fully immerse myself whenever in a new location. For example, trying raw foods, wearing the shawls, walking with the mindset that a car is not an option, the list can go on. These experiences are full of teachings that cross over into my inspiration bowl. Japan taught me one of the most valuable lessons, to not be afraid of anything! Their street fashion is so experimental and the Harajuku girls wear the wildest outfits with the craziest colors, all while exuding an extreme amount of confidence!
WHAT IS YOUR PROCESS WITH YOUR COUPLES?
Our journey together begins meeting face to face, where we’ll answer several in-depth questions to get a full understanding of your vision. We will then move forward with your customized package! Your package will have an itemized list of all the services Belle Bodas will complete, so you may know ahead of time what expectations will be met on our end. Our planning process will be maintained through Trello, which is a collaboration system that assists in organizational planning! You will be given a custom board and a custom timeline to ensure a peaceful planning experience. You will also meet with me on a monthly basis to keep everyone on the same page.
ARE YOU SOLELY BASED IN UTAH OR ARE YOU AVAILABLE TO TRAVEL?
I am available for travel worldwide, however most of my weddings are in both Utah and Mexico. I was raised in Mexico, therefore I speak fluent Spanish. This has played a huge factor in my destination weddings, mostly with my couples who are looking to have a destination wedding in Mexico. With speaking the language and knowing a lot of local vendors, I’m able to gift my destination couples a seamless wedding experience, which is huge when you’re planning a wedding in another country!
Looking for a wedding photographer to capture your day? I know we’ll be the perfect fit. Let’s chat.
And in the meantime, below you’ll find the incredible vendors who brought this shoot together. Take a scroll and save your favorite images on Pinterest!
Photography: Eden Strader
Design & Styling: Belle Bodas Events
Florist: Beehive Floral Co
Makeup: Lesley Lind
Hair: Cassandra Dunn
Handmade Linens: Fox Heron Collective
Invitations: Bree Design Co
Bride: Amanda Gaytan
Groom: Andrew Gaytan
Dress: Maggie Sottero Designs
