Wedding Stylist or Wedding Planner – one, the other, or both?
I’m often asked, “What is the difference is between a Wedding Planner and a Wedding Stylist and do I need both?” The answer to the latter is a definite “it depends”! Here we explain what the key differences are and why you might choose to engage one over the other, or both.
As a Wedding Stylist for NPM Events, I am responsible for the aesthetic aspects of your wedding. It is my job to understand your unique vision for your big day and to work with you to create the look and feel that you want.
Some of the things you can expect a Wedding Stylist to take care of are:
- Working with you to create a cohesive wedding design concept to be applied to all design elements of your wedding
- Attending site visits and creating a detailed floor plan of the venue(s)
- Coordinating, sourcing or supplying all florals, props, furniture, lighting, soft furnishings, tableware and so on, within your budget
- Overseeing the installation of all design elements on the day and solving any problems that arise
By comparison, a Wedding Planner organises every practical, logistical and contractual aspect of your wedding and coordinates the myriad of vendors and services providers it takes to turn your dream wedding into reality. We love working with Amira from For Thy Sweet Love – she is like a Wedding Mentor who’ll guide you through every step, from the day you engage her until the moment you leave for your honeymoon.
Some of the things you can expect a Wedding Planner to take care of are:
- Helping to devise and stick within a budget
- Venue scouting and shortlisting
- Recommending and booking wedding vendors such as stylists, florists, makeup and hair specialists, entertainers, car hire, celebrants and so on
- Negotiating vendor contracts and coordinating payments
- Guest list coordination and RSVP tracking
- Event co-ordination, timetabling and communication with vendors
- Organising accommodation for the bridal party and guests where required
- Wedding guest relations including delicately handling difficult guests and intrusive family and friends
- Planning wedding-related events such as rehearsals
- On-the-day coordination and crisis management
You can engage a Wedding Stylist and Wedding Planner separately but it is likely that your Wedding Planner will offer styling services as part of their wedding packages. They may offer this service themselves but just ensure they’re up to the task as Styling and Planning are distinct skill sets. For example, whilst I’m capable of planning the design elements of your wedding and delivering on time and on budget, I come from a design back ground and excel at aesthetics. Conversely, Amira has an absolutely beautiful style but she comes from a supply chain background and is an absolute expert in operational planning.
As a rule of thumb: if the look and feel of your wedding is paramount, if you don’t feel especially creative, or if you have too many competing ideas that you don’t know how to bring together – you need a Wedding Stylist!
If you’re short on time, you want to minimise your wedding-related stress, you just don’t know where to begin, or are simply overwhelmed by the process – you need a Wedding Planner!
If both lists apply to you – you might need both. In that case, it’s important to find a Wedding Planner and Wedding Stylist that work well together in your best interests rather than competing with each other to your detriment. Both should be able to tailor a package to your individual needs and in some cases, even present a cost savings by having them work together.
To celebrate our partnership with For Thy Sweet Love, we’re offering the next 5 couples who book a full wedding planning package with For Thy Sweet Love FREE BRIDAL PARTY FLOWERS up to the value of $500. Contact us today to take advantage of this offer 0435 320 011 or email at [email protected]. Offer valid to 31st March 2019.
