100 WEDDINGS IN 100 LINES

After 100 weddings, I took some time to think about what I’ve learned, what stuck with me, and the opinions I’ve formed along the way. So here is the list:

1. It’s okay to say “no” to things a couple requests from you. HAVING Boundaries IS good

2. The only time I’ll feel bad for men is when it’s 90+ degrees out and they’re in a full suit

3. Trauma bonding with other vendors is a real thing

4. I was surprised when the first time I met this groom was at the rehearsal, but that’s more common than you think

5. That central Washington wind is no joke

6. Silent recessionals are the worst. Please cheer the entire time the couple is exiting

7.  “Concerning Hobbits” is the perfect song to walk down the aisle to

8. Some napkin fabrics aren’t meant to be folded a certain way

9. I’m convinced I could solve any problem with gaff tape or zip tieS

10. Genuinely kind people are the best

11. The weirder, the better

12. You don’t need to be loud to show you’re excited or having a good time

13. Minimal, if done right, is incredibly impactful

14. Assign someone to bustle your dress and make sure they’ve practiced. At minimum, have a video

15. Getting into your dress takes longer than you think

16. I’m not religious, but some chapels are genuinely some of the prettiest places to get married

17. If you’re lucky, a coordination couple will hire a florist you’ve never heard of and then they become one of your best vendor friends (hi Kylie)

18. Some people want to go on a mile run the morning of their wedding and who am I to stop them

19. Sometimes your groom will get banned from talking directly to the venue manager and you worry your reputation will be ruined, but then you become a preferred vendor at that venue

20. Just because someone works in a service-based industry, doesn’t mean they have good customer service skills

21. Some vendors are impossible to reach before the wedding but do an incredible job day-of. I can’t add them to my preferred list because my love language is replying to my emails quickly

22. Hair stylists and makeup artists are literal artists and they amaze me

23. Every once in a while, photographers will make you pay for non-watermarked photos

24. You cannot fit 10 hours worth of photos into 7 hours

25. Please just hire a DJ. Your friend that “will handle the music” is not it

26. Everything is hilarious once you reach hour 14 of a job

27. vendors: stop making your final payments due on the day of the wedding

28. Getting guests from point A to point B varies from wedding to wedding. Plan the transition time accordingly

29. Sometimes a groom will say “well (my future wife) looks better in person than in photos, so we won’t do that many portraits” and you’re reminded that some people are terrible

30. A good catering team makes or breaks an event

31. Sometimes you don’t think your bride likes you, but then they end up asking if they can shadow you at future weddings

32. Dark icing on cakes stains your teeth and it’s not cute

33. The couple eating dinner alone is honestly one of the best things I’ve seen at a wedding

34. Some brides are literally hilarious and it bums me out that I won’t hang out with them again

35. This bride described her vision as “yeehaw, but not too yeehaw”. sTILL MAKES ME LAUGH

36. A good photographer can make a design look better than it actually did in person

37. Some moms that are heavily involved in planning are actually awesome

38. Finding out a classmate from high school is a groomsman at the rehearsal sometimes really is as awkward as you think it’ll be

39. Prepare for the dancing room to get really hot even if the venue swears it won’t

40. I assume everyone is my height after only meeting over Zoom so it takes me by surprise when I see them in person and they’re not my height

41. Coordinating a photographers wedding is quite delightful and I wish I did it more often

42. Upgrading linens and chairs makes a huge difference

43. The quiet ones with secret skills give me hope for the future of this country

44. Saying “thank you” goes a long way

45. “I can’t wait until this day is over” is not a feeling I want to experience again as a planner

46. Sometimes kids will throw an expensive arbor piece into a pond - a solid reason to consider no kids at weddings

47. Some bouquets are insanely heavy

48. Be overly clear about your vision and have everything in writing

49. Sometimes you’ll spend a week putting together the most beautiful parking guide with photos and videos for the vendor team and no one will read it

50. Your dress does not need to be perfectly fluffed for every photo

51. Sometimes your couple will have a famous guest. And that is still cool even if you have no idea who THAT FAMOUS PERSON IS

52. I’m still trying to find a nice way to say this to vendors: “did you read the timeline? Because what you’re asking me is in the timeline”

53. Sometimes an aunt will want to contribute so she’ll put together flower arrangements for the cocktail hour but doesn’t have anything needed to execute it, so she’ll make it your problem, but you’ll just have to learn to respectfully say “nahhh”

54. I DON’T THINK I LIKE KEGS

55. Trust your gut and say no to weddings that won’t be a good fit

56. Make sure you have walkies because sometimes your assistant will get locked in a shed but since you don’t have cell service, you didn’t know where they were for 20 minutes

57. If one of your vendors goes out of business halfway through planning, don’t stress. You’ll be able to find a replacement

58. It still blows my mind that some people are good looking AND kind

59. Have two extra cars for loading décor AT THE END OF THE NIGHT - not transporting people - and make sure they don’t leave without the décor

60. Sometimes couples don’t really seem to like each other, but that’s none of my business

61. Sometimes all the hard work actually pays off and a perfect wedding day is realistic

62. Always have chairs nearby for elderly guests

63. I’ll never say no to a gothic wedding

64. For the love of god, test out the audio guestbook

65. Film photography is the best. In my opinion :)

66. I love a purple, orange, pink color combo. Bolder and brighter the better

67. Stripes are awesome

68. Make sure the hired dog handler is dressed appropriately for a wedding. They’ll be in your photos

69. Figuring out if a photographer can manage a timeline is something I often have to sense day-of. And that stresses me out

70. Bring your veil to the rehearsal and see if it gets caught on whatever surface you’re walking down the aisle on

71. Sometimes a catering team will run out of food for a buffet and not offer to make more, let me go pick up pizza or offer any solutions. My literal nightmare

72. Cat obsessed people are the most creative. I don’t know the science behind it, but there is definitely a link there

73. Some people’s entire personality is being stressed out, and I think they like the attention from it

74. Sometimes the forecast will show sun all week and then an hour before the ceremony, it’ll show rain

75. As a vendor, the best thing you can be on a wedding day is calm

76. Hot pink is a vibe

77. Sometimes you’ll spend 2 days drafting an email to couple after they’ve chosen all the expensive options you’ve presented them, want to add things and are trending over budget and then they’ll reply to said email within 30 minUTEs to nonchalantly say “we can add on $10k”. Plan with their wallet, not yours

78. “I used to work with them at a restaurant so they’re going to cater my wedding” never ended well

79. I think you can stress yourself into being injured

80. Planning for over a year and then working with a different day-of rep from the same company might be one of my least favorite things ever

81. Sometimes you have to be the awkward middle person between a defiant bartender and a bridesmaid that wants to get one last drink for the bride after the bar has been closed for 30 minutes

82. Hey venues…can you please allow for more than 1.5 hours for set up?

83. Photographers that take candid photos of vendors working … you’re actually the best

84. I love an outfit change

85. Sometimes you’re hired to execute the couples vision and not what you think would look best

86. Planning a wedding alongside family health concerns takes remarkable resilience

87. Just assume it’s going to rain on your wedding day

88. I understand it’s more practical, but I do not like the look of turf

89. Some people seem like they are always on the verge of tears, but that’s just how they talk and the way their face is

90. Venues with an all-women staff are superior and everything is more efficient

91. Some people are way cooler on their wedding day than they were throughout the entire planning process

92. Easiest design upgrade: don’t use white folding chairs

93. Not all photographers will have a style you like as a coordinator. And that’s fine

94. For the record, I love a blurry photo

95. Have tweezers on hand in case you need to remove glass from a bride’s foot

96. “My family will help out with this.” No they won’t. Plan accordingly

97. Take photos on your phone because sometimes you’ll design your favorite ceremony set up and the photographer won’t get a single photo of it

98. Even hot people can have bad taste

99. Having a golf cart accessible is a game changer

100. Life is just one big group project