This week we’re chatting with Jeanine Wilk from Niche Events about working with a wedding planner, the importance of communication and the sweet wedding tradition that had Jeanine wiping away the tears!
About Jeanine
Please introduce yourself! Who are you and what do you do?
Hi! My name is Jeanine, and I am the Principle Planner for Niche Events.
How long have you been in the wedding industry?
I have been involved in the events industry for over 7 years. However, I have worked specifically with weddings for the past 5 years. Niche Events was where I first started in this magical world, and thanks to Maria, our Owner and Creative Director, I have had the incredible opportunity to work my way up to where I am now. She believed in me and gave me so much, and I couldn’t be more thankful.
What first attracted you to the wonderful world of weddings?
I honestly have no idea! It just kind of came to me one day out of no where, almost like an epiphany, that this is what I wanted to do. I am a small-town Alberta girl originally, so I had never even seen a ‘big city’ wedding per say, but I knew it was where I needed to be and what would make my heart happy. And no, I wasn’t even inspired by the J.Lo movie!!
When you’re not busy planning weddings, how do you love to spend your time?
I love to catch up with my loved ones as much as possible, whether it’s going out for coffee, lunch, or a quick shopping adventure. I like to take care of myself and keep healthy, especially with how intense the wedding season can be, by going to the gym every day, hiking, and making dinner more often than going out. I also love to curl up with some tea and a good book!
About Niche Events
What does Niche Events do?
We are a full service planning and design company; we provide both Full Planning and Wedding Management services, as well as Proposal Planning and Social Event Planning. Earlier this year, I got my certification for planning destination weddings, so that is a new and exciting element we are adding!
What makes Niche Events stand out from other wedding planning companies?
We are a small planning and design company, and we pride ourselves in custom weddings for each and every client. We take on a limited number of weddings per season, and I personally only like to take on one wedding per weekend. I want my complete focus and attention on the couple getting married that weekend, not shared between two couples on the same weekend. It is so much more personalized that way.
What is the process of working with Niche Events?
Get in touch with us and let me take you out for a coffee! It really is that easy in all honesty to get started – and that easy during the whole planning process! I communicate with a lot of my couples through email (obviously) but also set up group chats for the avid texters and Skype meetings if no one wants to venture out of the house. We mold to your communication style, work hours, and lifestyle to make the whole journey fun, memorable, and stress free.
Share a wedding story! What’s the most memorable wedding you’ve ever worked on?
Oh my goodness, I feel like I am blessed with having each wedding I do be so incredibly memorable! Seriously, I have the best clients! One of my fondest memories is not as dramatic as people may think. The bride had this idea for the longest time that she would love to hand her bouquet to her grandparents, who have been married for some 65 years or so. So, instead of tossing her bouquet into a group of single fiesty ladies, we called up all the couples to the dancefloor. The emcee asked everyone who has been together under a year to leave the floor…then under two years…under five years…until it was just the grandparents left. I hid in the back of the crowd to hide my watery eyes, but I could clearly see that most of the wedding guests were tearing up from pure happiness. The love that those two grandparents had for each other after so long was so moving. Just the feeling of that moment shared with this intimate group of people was such a honor to be part of, and I think that’s what made it one of my fondest memories.
What couples need to know
If you had one piece of advice for couples looking for a wedding planner, what would it be?
Take the time to meet your planner and see how you vibe face to face. Talk all about your big day, and take that chance to get to know each other before signing any formal agreements; this process doesn’t just have to be a strictly professional relationship, it can be a friendship, too! Whether you are dedicated to full planning, or just need some help on the day of, you will be working together on one of the most important days of your life, so you should have a great connection with that person. I am still friends with so many of my couples, and I wish the same for all future couples as well!
What are the current trends in weddings? What’s on its way out?
Being authentic to yourselves is a huge trend right now! There is no recipe to follow when it comes to constructing your wedding day – if you want to have creative elements to your day, go for it! Fusion weddings, where two different backgrounds are coming together, are a great example of that. As planners, we get the chance to suggest ideas that create a perfect balance of what is most important to each thus creating a completely unique day that no one else would have. Custom ceremonies are also huge! Nothing is out of bounds.
What is the biggest mistake couples make when working with a wedding planner?
Not communicating enough. Even if you think it is a minor detail, there is a reason your mind keeps thinking about it or going back to it. As much as we try to be, we are not always mind readers! Talk to us about it and let us know if there is something you want to add to the day to make it special, or if there is something about the day you are unsure about. No thought or question is a bad one. Trust me, it will put you at ease to talk to a professional.
Where can couples save on their wedding? Where should they splurge?
The absolute best way couples can save on their wedding is managing their guest count. Keeping things small and intimate allows your budget to go further since you don’t have to battle with quantity. Definitely splurge on the food! That is one of the top things guests remember and talk to all their friends about. Mixing up the menu and designing something fun and creative is always a good idea.
What’s something people need to understand about wedding planning?
There are still decisions that your planner will need you to make. Once you hire a wedding planner, it doesn’t magically pop up like the movies make it seem. It is a team effort to plan a wedding. The planner will take a LOT of the weight off your shoulders, but you still will get homework from us that needs to be done.
Any other tips for couples planning a wedding?
Enjoy the day itself! No matter how much ‘down time’ you schedule into the timeline, the day is still going to go by so fast. Relax and enjoy each moment with each other, and with all your family and friends. Don’t stress about the small things on the day…your wedding planner and the team of professionals has everything else covered!
For more from Jeanine and the team at Niche Events, visit them below:
Website:
www.nicheeventstylists.com
Email:
info@nicheeventsylists.com
Social media:
www.facebook.com/Nichestylists
www.instagram.com/nichestylists/
www.pinterest.ca/nichestylists/
www.twitter.com/nichestylists
