DAY TO REMEMBER
AS WEDDINGS GET MORE ELABORATE AND EXPENSIVE, THE ROLE OF WEDDING PLANNER IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT
When it comes to the modern wedding, perfect weather and a beautiful bride are only part of the story.
A lot of time and effort goes into making the day an amazing experience for not just the bridal party but the guests as well.
But the “wow” comes at a cost with $30,000 to $40,000 being spent on the average wedding in Australia.
The expense of a modern wedding is one reason why wedding planners are in vogue, according to Harmony O’Cadin of On Cue Events.
“When people are investing so much, they need a planner to ensure it all comes together,” she says.
Harmony says a planner will also handle any
last-minute dramas such as the DJ not showing up.
Harmony set up her business with friend Sarah James two years ago. Both had been working in hospitality and could see a niche for weddings and corporate event planners. They decided to split the duties with Harmony focusing on the wedding side.
“I thought weddings would be a fun thing to be involved with – and they can be – but there’s also some tension,” she says.
Fortunately, Harmony deals with the stress well. She says a wedding planner’s role can include being a counsellor and providing a “constant ear when friends and family are sick of hearing about it”.
Her service includes a premium package, which covers the entire wedding from initial planning to the big day; a recommendations package where she provides couples with the names of various suppliers; and a wedding day service for people who want to organise their own wedding but have someone coordinate everything on the day.
A premium package can cost anywhere from $2000 to $5000, while an on-the-day service costs from $600 to $2000.
“When you think about it, most people have never organised a party for 100 or 150 people, so how they approach their wedding day without any expertise, I don’t know,” Harmony says.
Harmony says the main priority for many brides is to create a memorable wedding, using an amazing theme or striking colour or pattern.
“It’s trendy to have a wedding in a marquee. There are so many beautiful places to put a marquee like our wineries or along the river,” she says.
“Having a marquee also gives you creative freedom, rather than a venue where you’re limited with décor.”
Harmony says extravagant flowers are a priority for many brides, although they are moving away from the traditional white wedding.
In another departure with tradition, there is less emphasis on speeches and dances at the reception, and long tables seating 20-40 guests are a popular alternative to round tables of 10.
“Wedding budgets are getting larger but the weddings themselves are not necessarily getting bigger in terms of numbers,” Harmony says.
“It’s actually quite popular to have an ‘intimate’ wedding. Some couples are choosing to have less guests and to hold their reception in a fine dining restaurant such as The Manse.
“This means they spend the money on superior food and beverages, and styling and decorating the restaurant.
“Intimate weddings with generous budgets are incredibly classy and yet they can be quite relaxed due to the smaller number of guests.”
Stephen Culgan of The Dandelion Project agrees “wow factor” is an important part of the wedding planner’s brief.
“The emphasis is on creating a memorable occasion. The bride wants to think that out of all the weddings you’ve been to this year, hers is the one you remember.
The Dandelion Project offers a range of event management services, including weddings, and image consulting. Stephen runs the business with his wife Katy Coghlan, and while both are former Adelaide residents, they are drawing on the experience of years spent working interstate and overseas.
Before moving back to Adelaide six months ago, Stephen was working for event management group James Gordon Workshop in Sydney.
He says while high end corporate events were clearly being affected by the global financial crisis, wedding inquiries were still strong.
When he and Katy returned to Adelaide, they decided to launch the Dandelion Project, offering everything from personal styling to planning for weddings and major events.
Stephen says demand for wedding planners or coordinators is on the rise because people are time poor.
“Some people know what they want but don’t know how to make it happen, while others have no idea where to start,” he says.
Another advantage of using a wedding planner is they can get the best out of any budget because they know which areas are worth investing money in.
The Dandelion Project offers a range of services from a full wedding which includes setting up the gift registry, buying outfits and organising the décor, through to a last-minute overhaul just a few weeks out from the wedding.
“We offer a full plan through to a rescue package,” Stephen says.
He says his clients are opting for traditional venues, rather than marquees, because of the cost involved and channeling the savings into lavish decoration and great food.
As an experienced event manager, Stephen felt he knew best when it came to his own wedding but now realises he should have handed the organisation over to someone else.
The glamorous event was held on a boat on Sydney Harbour and while it was a memorable occasion for the couple, Stephen admits he spent too much time worrying about the detail instead of enjoying the experience.
“There’s a perception that wedding planning is a luxury service but if it means easing the workload and ensuring you enjoy the occasion, then it’s just a good idea,” he says.
www.oncueevents.com.au
www.thedandelionproject.com.au
www.royvphotography.com.au
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