My Wedding Wish List for Couples in 2022

​Happy New Year and congratulations to all newly engaged couples and couples planning to get married this year! Industry researchers, The Wedding Report, has projected that 2022 will see the most wedding since 1984. They project that 2.5 million weddings will occur in the United States alone. Wow! The events industry is excited because on the heels of having to shut down in 2020, we are returning to levels we haven’t seen in almost four (4) decades.
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With so many weddings on the horizon, I’ve been thinking about engaged couples and how I could help them navigate this exciting time. So, as a Wedding Planner Fairy Godmother, I developed a Wish List for them to spread across the land. My list is both practical and fun because you need both on the journey to matrimony. So, here it is:

1. Give yourself some grace – Planning a wedding and life together with someone isn’t something you’ve done before so be gentle on yourselves. Even if this is your 2nd or 3rd marriage (no judgement here), it’s your first marriage to your partner so give yourselves the space and grace to learn and figure things out together. You don't know what you don't know, but you can figure it out together.
2. Love your friends and family and hear the business practices of the professionals – Family and friends want the best for you. They are your ride or dies and down for whatever. But you have to create space in your mind and heart to hear what’s feasible and what’s not from the professionals. Believe me, we want to make it happen for you. We want to see you WIN. We just need you to hear the variables involved with doing it. The truth is important, so that you can make an informed and well planned decision.
3. Fat Joe’s infamous quote that “yesterday’s price is not today’s price,” is true. Chicken wings use to cost $1.99/pound. Today, they are running $3.90/pound and more. Florists use to get white roses $.80 /stem. Today, the price has more than doubled and white roses are scarce. The price of everything has increased substantially and if you want what you want, it is going to cost more. That is the sobering truth. I want couples to know that wedding professionals want to help you and run a successful business. In order to deliver the product or service you want, the price may be more than you budgeted. But see it as a business decision for the company, not an attempt to take advantage of you. There is always going to be somebody cheaper, but the experience won't be the same.
4. Confident, calm, and experienced wedding vendors bring that same energy to your wedding day – This combination of soft skills makes the difference every time. Having wedding vendors who know what they’re doing because they’ve had a wealth of experience and pass that invaluable experience onto their clients, is the game changer. These vendors are not going to be the cheapest, but couples who recognize their value will be pleased with the results. How can you choose vendors with these skill sets? Ask them to talk about their business values and client experience. It will resonate through what they say. You’ll also see it in their client reviews and hear it when other vendors talk about working with them.

I can’t tell you how excited I am for 2022 and the couples coming through. Wedding planning is stressful, no doubt.  There are lots of moving parts. But as your Wedding Fairy Godmother, I’m here to support. Let’s “rock the bells,” wedding bells that is.

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