WHAT WEDDING PLANNERS DO AND HOW THEY DIFFER FROM COORDINATORS AND DESIGNERS

A wedding planner determines the client’s vision and completes months of planning, including interviewing and selecting vendors, reviewing contracts, advising on every detail that impacts budget, schedule and look and character of the wedding and supports the client, typically the bride, the groom and the family involved in the planning.

A wedding designer is involved in every aspect of design, such as lighting, flowers and décor, but does not handle timelines, contracts and budgets.  A wedding coordinator usually gets involved a few weeks prior to the event, reviewing all the details and the information assembled by the client in order to serve as the project manager on the day of the wedding.

Wayne talks about his unique experiences and skills that qualify him as one of the premier event planners in Southern California – business degree with emphasis in marketing, human resources expertise, configuration management in aerospace that helped develop his detailed and thorough documentation approach and finally, creating and running a floral design studio in Tarzana.  Now, Wayne is devoted full time to creating stylish and highly personalized life cycle events for his clients.

TAKE MENTAL PICTURES – IT GOES BY TOO FAST!

Wayne talks about his favorite new trends – creating intimate ceremony seating and encircling the bride and groom, using individualized table décor with complementing but different linens and centerpieces, customized deserts in place of the traditional wedding cake and photo-journalistic approach to photography.

Wayne dispels the myth that wedding planners’ allegiance is to their vendors – he talks about his role as a negotiator to make sure that his clients get the best experience and value.  Wayne uses his experience and highly observant nature to pinpoint his clients’ style even before they are able to articulate it.    It’s all about creating a celebration that is reflective of the couple’s style.  Wayne talks about two weddings that he planned for two sisters who were married within weeks of each other, yet had completely different weddings and memories.

Jen Balzer

Event Manager