FAQ

Q. So, how long have you been coordinating weddings?
A. This is my very first year in the business (2010) in a professional manner. But technically, I’ve been planning events since 2005, when I threw my mom a surprise 50th birthday party (which was a total and complete success is so many ways). Since then, I’ve done event coordination for the companies I’ve worked for, including small educational sales summits and lavish dinner cruises in Manhattan. And then, of course, there was our own wedding in September 2009 (where I learned the most)!

Q. So, why weddings?
A. Oh gosh, why not weddings? After our own, I realized how beautiful and amazing it is to have so many people you love surround you because they want to share in the excitement of your marriage. It’s truly a day of sincerity and love, which, unfortunately, we don’t often hear about these days. A wedding day is a string of memories you’ll cherish forever, and I simply want to be the person who ensures everything goes as swimmingly as it can.

Q. So, why do I need a wedding coordinator if I’m really organized anyway, or if my venue has an on-site coordinator?
A. Well, let me say this: I’m a very organized person, and our own wedding venue had an on-site coordinator, and hiring a day-of coordinator was the best decision we made with our own wedding! Being organized is wonderful, but your wedding day is the time to turn off your brain, set aside your spreadsheets, and let someone else take over so you can fully enjoy every detail and every moment with your friends, family and guests. We’re also not fans of putting your family members to work on your wedding day because they should be relaxing and enjoying it right along with you.
On-site venue coordinators are wonderful, but they’re not fully dedicated to only you on the wedding day. Having someone there whose only goal is to make you happy is priceless. It truly does go by so fast – please hire a DOC so that you can take it all in!

Q. Our vendors plan on doing much of the set-up themselves. Do you oversee or boss them around?
A. Absolutely not. We firmly believe that you hire vendors for a reason, usually after interviews and a lot of research and reference-checking. They are professionals, and therefore, we have a strict policy that we do not boss around vendors. We work with vendors. We act as a contact person for them if they have any questions, need something answered or need a helping hand. We help them do the best they can do for the event.

Q. What if I only want a coordinator for part of the day? Do you offer that kind of service?
A. Unfortunately, no. And here’s why: A large portion of our fees go towards the work we do prior to the wedding. Creating the timeline, visiting your venue and working with your vendors takes time and resources. What we would need to charge you for a partial day would still be very close to the full day, and that just doesn’t seem fair, right? Therefore, we only book weddings that need, at the very minimum, day-of coordination for the full day. Exceptions can be made for smaller events and parties such as birthdays, showers and bachelor/bachelorettes.

Q. How involved are you with the wedding industry? Do you keep up with the trends?
A. Oh my, do I ever! I’m truly obsessed with wedding style and design. I subscribe to all the magazines, read up on every wedding blog out there, and I’m even the editor of my own wedding inspiration blog, The Elegant Owl, where I post real weddings from photographers all over the country, amazing wedding finds, fashion shoots and anything else I come across that I believe would inspire a future bride.

Q. If we hire you for day-of coordination, does that mean you’ll charge me for any advice that we ask for, or any additional meetings?
A. No. I truly believe that when you hire a coordinator, they should make themselves fully available to you, especially in times of crisis. I want to help you during those difficult times. I want to be a sounding board if you’re caught between two decisions. Sometimes it’s helpful to just have that outside perspective, and I’m more than available to give it to you at no extra charge. If you need an emergency meeting, I’ll do my best to arrange one, and I won’t be billing you for it.

Q. What are your interests outside weddings?
A. I love all things vintage. Whenever I see an Anthropologie store, I have to go in. I love wine tasting. Day trips to the countryside. Real Simple magazine. The beach. Trying new recipes. Spending time with that adorable husband of mine, and our Malty-Poo mix, Betty (who’s cute as a button).