The Preferred Vendor Podcast
All About Weddings: Expert Advice from Planner Lauren Messina
On this episode, prepare to be dazzled by the wisdom and insights of acclaimed wedding planner Lauren Messina. Lauren opens up about the delicate art of wedding planning, the crucial differences between planning, coordinating, and event planning, and the pivotal role of experience in this industry.
Guiding us through the ins and outs of organizing a successful wedding, Lauren shares tips on establishing a clear list of elements for the big day, setting a realistic budget, and navigating the quest for the perfect venue. We also discuss the unique challenges of wedding venues, their maintenance, the virtues of creativity, and the intricacies of running a successful venue. Join us as we uncover the realities of transitioning between venues and the significant role of logistics and transportation to ensure a seamless, memorable wedding day.
Finally, we dive into an exciting exploration of the wedding industry in Mississippi, shedding light on the average wedding budget, key factors to consider, and the regrettable repercussions of not hiring professional photographers and videographers. We discuss the significance of selecting the right DJ or band and touch on the ever-evolving DJ and band scenario in Mississippi. Wrapping up with invaluable advice from Lauren on how to savor and plan a wedding effectively, we promise an episode filled with practical tips, vendor recommendations, and a wealth of insights drawn from Lauren's extensive experience. Don't miss this exciting journey into the world of wedding planning!
On this episode, prepare to be dazzled by the wisdom and insights of acclaimed wedding planner Lauren Messina. Lauren opens up about the delicate art of wedding planning, the crucial differences between planning, coordinating, and event planning, and the pivotal role of experience in this industry.
Guiding us through the ins and outs of organizing a successful wedding, Lauren shares tips on establishing a clear list of elements for the big day, setting a realistic budget, and navigating the quest for the perfect venue. We also discuss the unique challenges of wedding venues, their maintenance, the virtues of creativity, and the intricacies of running a successful venue. Join us as we uncover the realities of transitioning between venues and the significant role of logistics and transportation to ensure a seamless, memorable wedding day.
Finally, we dive into an exciting exploration of the wedding industry in Mississippi, shedding light on the average wedding budget, key factors to consider, and the regrettable repercussions of not hiring professional photographers and videographers. We discuss the significance of selecting the right DJ or band and touch on the ever-evolving DJ and band scenario in Mississippi. Wrapping up with invaluable advice from Lauren on how to savor and plan a wedding effectively, we promise an episode filled with practical tips, vendor recommendations, and a wealth of insights drawn from Lauren's extensive experience. Don't miss this exciting journey into the world of wedding planning!
music Hello, hello everyone. Welcome back to another episode of the perfer vendor podcast. I have a very special guest with me today. I'm gonna let her introduce herself.
Speaker 2:Hello, I'm Lauren Messina. I have LGM weddings wedding planning, coordinating event planning do a little bit of everything.
Speaker 1:Do a little bit of everything. Little bit of everything. So my first time working with you was at the Raymond for Lidarian and Courtney wedding. Tell me your thoughts about that wedding, because it made a magazine and things like that. So what was your thoughts on that?
Speaker 2:wedding that was. I don't. I had never experienced that type of wedding. I'm gonna be real honest, like, from the decorations to the dancing during the reception, like it was none other, and I adore Courtney and Lidarian, and I'm still really good friends with them. So, it was a different experience, for sure.
Speaker 1:That's what's up. That's what's up. So you say y'all are really good friends. Through that, you seen that that happened to like most of your couples, y'all keeping touch.
Speaker 2:Yes, probably, I'd say half of them. I probably talk to every couple of weeks. They'll just send me a random text message, like I had a bride the other day send me this like women empowerment video, and she's like I thought about you and I was like that's what's up.
Speaker 1:That's what's up. And that wedding was at the Raymond and I saw not too long ago that you partner with the Raymond.
Speaker 2:In a way I do Raymond wanted to. You know, they're always about growing and expanding and that was one aspect that they wanted to bring to their brides If they couldn't find a planner outside of the Raymond, we would offer it. So basically, I offer like day of some full planning, depending on what the bride needs, just an easier way for them to have access to a planner, because it's really needed. It's really needed.
Speaker 1:And I tell people honestly, like my couples especially like your planner, slash, coordinator, whoever you get is important. It's like maybe one of the most important things, because I've seen coordinators that could make or break away, so that's perfect. So explain to us a little bit that may not know the difference. So you say you do planning, you do coordinate and you do they all coordinate. So can you kind of go through all three of them. So I know some couples may think that you know a planner is the coordinator, it's all of that. So kind of go through the difference.
Speaker 2:I guess the biggest difference between a planner and a coordinator to me, a coordinator is really just taking care of the week of details, the day of details. I'm helping you stay on a schedule that day. I'm getting you down the aisle that day. You know those are. That's one big difference, whereas planning, I'm starting from the very beginning with you. I am helping you pull in vendors, I'm helping you budget, I am helping you design your actual wedding day.
Speaker 2:I don't do the actual designing, but I help give information on how, what looks good in certain spaces, because certain venues do certain things and have certain spots that look great doing certain things in that spot. So I guess from a planner I come in and say hey, I've done this before here. It doesn't work. Well, I've done this before here, it's amazing. Whereas a coordinator is like I'm just showing up and I'm making sure your timeline is good and I'm keeping you on that schedule all day.
Speaker 1:Gotcha, that's super important. So yeah, so day of coordinating. So what do you suggest? I know, you know you do all three of them, but do you suggest, at the end of the day, they need to at least have a day of coordinator, at the very least?
Speaker 2:At the very least I will say I don't enjoy doing day of only.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:And I'll tell you why because I it's, it's it's kind of like a it's more frustrating than it is anything. Because I come in not knowing what that bride's been through over the last six months to a year working with certain vendors, or maybe I don't know a vendor that she's hired and I'm having to jump in first time the day of meeting that vendor and I don't know what they've agreed on, what they've.
Speaker 2:That's, that's my issue With day of only. So I started offering, I kind of took my day of only a way and I have a partial whereas, like, I'll refer vendors to you, but I still want to know what's going on with you. You can text me at any time. We can talk about what I think about a certain vendor or what their prices are, but you're ultimately the one in control. So that's, I feel like yes, at the very least you need a day of.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but more. Yeah, but you need more, you need more, because that was important what you just talked about too because with you you know being in industry, you know work, that different venues and things like that, so you can kind of suggest, hey, this may go better here, this may go better there. So I mean, I know people will go with, you know who they go with, but do you suggest that trying to find someone that's experienced, that got a little experience under that belt, that's?
Speaker 2:important. It's very important and that was one of the reasons with the venue that I work with. They wanted that because people were like, oh, I have a day of, because they require it. Well then, they were asking Aunt Susie or somebody from the church, and you know that's not a bad thing but, there's so much more in this world that has developed. You need more than just the person that's going to get you down the aisle.
Speaker 1:Wow, that's important. So how long have you been in the industry?
Speaker 2:I've been in the industry going on 10 years.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:I started when? Well, and it actually goes back to when my mom used to coordinate weddings at our church. So I was used to coordinating the ceremony and helping her with that and. I just always loved it. I didn't realize it was like a dream until I really delved into it 10 years ago with a local vendor that did floral and catering and I was like I really like that.
Speaker 1:That's cool. So what was like your first wedding? Like, can you go back and think of? I tell you one, my first wedding? I had just started taking pictures. Right, I tell a crazy story. I was there to tailgate the JSU and God put on my mind, go buy a camera. So I went and bought a camera and didn't know I needed batteries or a memory card or nothing with the camera. So I started taking pictures. Like a week later a friend of my mom's takes me and say, hey, my cousin daughter's getting married and wondering how much would you charge. I'm like, yeah, I can do it for $100. And I still remember it like yesterday. And then me and my friend we both went there. I was kind of nervous going by myself, so I take pictures sometimes and he would take pictures. We use the one camera doing the wedding. So that was my first wedding experience. So what was your first wedding experience like?
Speaker 2:It actually was photographing. I tried. Oh cool, I had my. What is it the TS Rebel?
Speaker 1:Rebel.
Speaker 2:And it was the same. Thing. It was a family friend and she needed. She was like I just want to take pictures, because it wasn't a big deal back then.
Speaker 1:Taking photos.
Speaker 2:So I was like I mean, I have a decent camera, let me try.
Speaker 1:So that was it. That was like the one and done like you got out of it right after that, oh man.
Speaker 2:I mean, I didn't do terrible, but I was like this is not me. I didn't like the after the fact having to like.
Speaker 1:I didn't like that.
Speaker 2:I didn't. I loved being there the day of and like making people do things Like to control the people.
Speaker 1:That. You do that, you do. That's what they. You write about that. You write about that, you write about that. So what was your first wedding experience like what you being a planner or coordinator?
Speaker 2:I think it was. It was actually a start vote, wedding and it was day of only, and I remember calling my mom and being like mom, just the grant, what grandmother goes first, what mom goes like down the aisle who does, and. And she was like now and I was like I just need you to listen out for me, so I know what I'm doing.
Speaker 2:So I look like I know what I'm doing, and so she told me what grandmother needed to go down first versus the last one to go in before the wedding party. And I just remember being. I loved being in control and really taking that stress away of having to be like hey, what time is it? Or like mama being like hey, we're not on time. We're the photographer. Being like hey, are we running out of time. I was there to like facilitate an answer and and make sure their people where they needed to be and I was like this, I like this man, that's pretty cool.
Speaker 1:That's pretty cool. So I like what you kind of just said because I feel like a lot of people, in whatever Perfection or industry that they're in, feel like I have to be to a certain point before I get started. So would you suggest that, hey, if this something that you want to do, you suggest go for it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think I think if you're wanting to get in this realm of weddings or events, find, I mean, I started with my mom, I mean back when I was little, and then I started with photography, like random little things like go help a photographer If a photographer needs a second shooter or an assistant.
Speaker 2:Go do it. Um, I mean, I think that's why I Do so well on a wedding day is because I've been. I've worked with a florist, I worked with a caterer. Those are my backgrounds. I think getting in there and really delving into each aspect of a wedding day or an event Helps you see the full picture on the day. Oh for sure.
Speaker 1:And I can't second that because you were one of the first you know Planners, coordinators that I work with that had everything ready when we showed up. Like you know, I didn't have to go look for rings or a program and everything and it made it so much easier to make like the process Go forward. I'm just like said we only done that, that wedding together. But I tell people all the time like yeah, you should definitely get hurt because she knows, you know I say she have everything ready for you, everything. So. So, coming from a photographer standpoint, you definitely made my job a lot easier and I'm sure that you make All the vendors job a lot easier. So do you feel that stress though, like okay, I'm taking on, I gotta make sure all the vendors here have an easy process with this, like, do you feel that? Are you just so excited that?
Speaker 2:no, it's, it's more of an excitement. I'm knowing that I can. You know the imposter syndrome. That's a big thing everybody's talking about on social media. I'm like, but it's real. Yeah, it is like people come to you and they're like but they ask you questions and you know the questions, you're like how do I know? And you're like wait, I've experienced it.
Speaker 2:I'm just reflecting what I've experienced. So, yeah, I love it, it I literally absorb, but it's, it's not a stress for me, and I know a lot of people can't say that. I've been told multiple times. They're like I don't know how you handle the stress and I'm like it's not stress for me, like, honestly, I just love doing it.
Speaker 1:It's adrenaline for me. That's what's up. Yeah, I really love that. Like I said, you made the process go super smooth, so so we'll go back to the wedding that we work together. Right, you mentioned that like that was your first time saying like the dancing, so that's your first time working like a Wedding that you know was like fraternity, sorority, things like that I was it was.
Speaker 2:It was the first one I had done with that, with the line dancing, yeah, and I mean I went to college and I saw it in college, um, because Courtney actually went to Southern with me oh yeah, and I remember we used to do we would do the cross Sorority stuff and dancing and I was like it was just a whole nother level.
Speaker 1:Wow.
Speaker 2:It was a culture I had not, I had heard about, but like being in it, just that energy, yeah, like none other.
Speaker 1:That's cool. That's cool, I mean, how you work, that you think that you Expert at that. So you know honestly, like you was right along with you, had made sure everything went along with everything. So, yeah, so that's different. So is there just me and under is there like a Couch addition between, let's say, you know a wedding of color versus you know a white wedding?
Speaker 2:Oh, absolutely. There's not. Um, I Don't know. It's like a, it's the, the coming together. In your culture that is like it's just different. It's it's more of a family, of a I don't even know how to explain it. There's an energy around it that everyone is like connected to, whereas in the white culture it's not like, I mean, they're just there to have a good time.
Speaker 1:That's it.
Speaker 2:You know, like there's no like there's no like Traditions that really stand out as much.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm glad you said that because that's one thing I have experienced.
Speaker 1:I haven't done too many white weddings but um, you know I've done a few and what I experienced, that you know people of color are usually stick to more tradition. Yes, it's hard, it's really hard for me to get a bride to do a first look. It's really hard for me to get, you know, a bride to kind of like, you know, go out of the norm a little bit, you know. So that's, that's another cause I was gonna ask you like you know the the, you know the wedding I did do. They was fine with everything, like okay, we do first look, we do it, you know anything you want, but you know, kind of stick to more tradition. So I'm glad you did say that like it's definitely more traditional and it's bigger traditions.
Speaker 2:They're more substantial. They're not just like oh, this is my mama's Sixpence ring you know, like it's, not like little things, it's big things.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's group activity. Yeah, it is. That's what's up. That's what's up. So how has your partnership with the Raymond been going so far?
Speaker 2:It's really good. It's really good. Um, we have and I always try to encourage brides, like when I do get them on the phone. If you have somebody in mind, we want you to go with that person, because there are some amazing vendors out there or planners. I mean I have group text with most of them and like we go back and forth about stuff all the time, we rely on each other to refer each other, to ask questions, whether we think a certain vendors prices are right, like that recently. So I mean it's, it's been really good, but also encouraging people to use Local as well.
Speaker 2:Not me only that's it.
Speaker 1:So when the bride come to you, do you have your vendor list that you already send out Like, well, I know this, this, this, this person is gonna do a great job. Do you have that?
Speaker 2:Um, I guess when I started off I did because I was using it. Like every time I use somebody, I'm like, oh, I really liked them. But now I always ask the bride what your style? I need to see pictures, because if their photography is light and eerie, I'm not gonna refer someone who does dark and maybe like, so it's it really has to do with their style and what they are looking for, and then I give them a list of ones that I love to work with or I've heard are great to work with.
Speaker 2:So now, that was a great little tip because if for you know up and coming, coordinators or planners.
Speaker 1:They've been getting into it. They may have their preferred vendor list already, no matter who. You know what the bride likes. So I definitely suggest, like you know, get a feel for the bride first. That's important. That's important. I haven't seen someone you know talk. Usually people got there for vendor, listen, they stick with it and how they go, and that's great. But I feel like this, like first of all, there's plenty of work to go around? Yeah, definitely, but be it really does have to do with the bride style. Like I can't.
Speaker 2:I don't know With the bride style. Like I can't sit here and say, oh, this person's gonna be great for you if it's not their style. You know like and don't you remember I was that when I first started I had a whole page on my website of all of these vendors, like a lot of vendors. I was like I didn't realize there were this many vendors and then I finally like took it off because it's too much and you didn't have any way to like elaborate on who was.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you're right, you're right, You're right. I used to. Now I still refer, like, if people come to me and ask me you know general things, like you know, do you know a good planner, do you know you know a good Cake person or something like that. Like I sing, you like okay, yeah, you could give this person a car.
Speaker 2:I'm not telling you to use this person up like the.
Speaker 1:But hey, I work with this person in the past and they done a great job, so so I do do that, but I don't have a, you know, referral or vendor list, yeah, so I'm with you on that.
Speaker 1:But then one thing also I say you definitely want to know your vendors are the people that you were referring to, because just because I worked with you one time you did good that way and don't mean you may do good, you know, at the next one. So you know, I kind of like, hey, you could check this person out, but you know, go at it with your own distress, and I definitely tell them that yeah, and I have some brides that'll say, hey, have you ever worked with this person?
Speaker 2:And if I haven't, I have nothing to go off of and. I don't ever tell them not to book them. I just I'm very of them, like call them, talk with them yeah see if there's somebody you know that's worked with them before, or if I've like heard something like I'll say, hey, I've heard this. I don't know if that's true, false or in between, but yeah, it's. It's a hard like I want to work with the people I work with, but if you come in with somebody else I'm not gonna tell you no.
Speaker 1:Yeah, gotcha, that's important, though. So would you. You, I'm sure you've done so many ways you know. So what would you say? Have you done a destination with them before? Oh man, man, man. So that's next. They gotta be next on the docket there.
Speaker 2:It's all it's goals.
Speaker 1:So do you have, but you done with this outside of the state? Yes, okay, cool. So is there a little more difficult to if a wedding outside of the state versus something that may be local?
Speaker 2:Yes and no because I don't have the vendor connection. So like if, like I did one in Birmingham, thank goodness she picked a location that had everything at it but, like, pricing's a little different and you know vendor connections are a little different, so you kind of have to rely on when they are or whoever they're working with over there to give you good advice. I got you. I just kind of wing it.
Speaker 1:I can't imagine. Yeah, I've been lucky to do you know what? I get lucky and I get a Destination waiting every year, but the same spot, though I do can't come every year for some. I don't know how it happens, I'm not gonna look before it stops, but every year, at least one way in the year I get a chance to do a can come waiting, so that's pretty good. So I might have taken with me there. It's super fun. It's super fun.
Speaker 2:So just pay for everything I'm gonna.
Speaker 1:Yeah, just show up, I'm gonna tell them now, all right, but I do want to ask you. So what are your thoughts on just the wedding industry here in Mississippi? Because people think you know Mississippi, you know you hear the, you know the negatives things, you know, you know it's a poor state, a lot, a lot, a lot. But I tell people weddings are thriving in Mississippi. So what are your thoughts on that?
Speaker 2:Since I've started my company the last three years, every year it's gotten bigger and bigger and Granted, I started co vid year.
Speaker 1:Oh we only had a man you know like so, but it's literally gotten Big.
Speaker 2:Every single year. There's more people want more out of it. They want all the flowers, they want all the rentals, and so, no, it is not. We're not a poor state when it comes to weddings, yeah. I mean my average, my I wouldn't even say this is low as 30,000, like that's starting.
Speaker 1:Wow, and then it goes up from.
Speaker 2:There. Wow and I've anything. They're having to go up in price because of the market.
Speaker 1:Yeah, definitely, they're getting bigger. Wow, I had to say wow, man. So if you had a bride come to you like, hey, I want something nice, but what is the minimum I can spend on niceness, what would your number be?
Speaker 2:Um, I it's. That's a loaded question, so you have to get kind of head count first. Yeah how many people are you looking at? That's important right now, that's so at a $30,000 Budget, you're looking at like a hundred to $150. I mean a hundred and a hundred fifty headcount.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And then I always ask what's most important? Like when you go into your wedding day, what do you want to remember the most? And that's where your money needs to go if food's more important, then we need to talk about that. Yeah and then I always section out everything. So to me, when you section out like food, photography, flowers each one has a price range. Yeah and so Just you know, and it can be a lower end or a higher end, so it it's man, man, so let me ask you with that too, then.
Speaker 1:So, um, so I like to. I was talking to a couple and I was asking them, like, if you could go back, what would you change? Would you change food? Would you change? You know anything like that. What would you say your most important things to a winner? Cause I feel like you're going to get what you pay for. So you pay for a photographer, you're going to get what you pay for with you know. You know the person that makes the cake and everything you know. The more you pay, I mean, the nicer. It may be not all the time, but you know. But what would you say? So, in my top three most important things outside of photography, everything I don't even count that but I would say food, dj and a bar. That would be my top three things. What would you say your top three things that absolutely like you?
Speaker 1:must have set away.
Speaker 2:Bar, love a bar, but you do have people that just don't want a bar, so I'm going to take that one aside.
Speaker 1:Like you did for.
Speaker 2:Target. I'm going to take that one aside, because it's just is what it is. Number one would be photography and big videography. Videography is the number one thing that is regretted after the fact that they didn't do every single time, and so I just always say that when they're like I don't know, I'm on the fence, I'm like, okay, here's a fact fun fact. And so that I would say that's number one to me. And then food and I don't.
Speaker 2:Flowers is hard for me, like I love all the pretty flowers, all the pretty things like that is my slogan, but it is hard to push flowers if they don't love flowers or they don't want to spend the money on the flowers, so yeah, DJ and band would be my third.
Speaker 1:Do you recommend a live band Like hey, if you could fit this band in the budget, you should do it.
Speaker 2:It's bands are becoming more of a half two now.
Speaker 1:Wow.
Speaker 2:Yeah, for real.
Speaker 1:Yes, I've never been to a wedding without a DJ, so how is that experience then?
Speaker 2:You have to get the right band.
Speaker 1:I will say that.
Speaker 2:Back, I guess six or seven years ago. I was like no DJ all the way.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Like band, there is going to be just what you like what they can play. They're not going to be wild and crazy out there. Nowadays they're doing like a mixture of things, and so they're doing now music and like the old seventies music, so it's a mix I mean I love. There's one DJ that I love and it's Adam Collier. Like he does all the and he has a band too.
Speaker 1:Oh, I see that's cool. Love him yeah.
Speaker 2:And he's probably one of my top DJs just because of the way he performs that day. So I think it just depends on who you get as a DJ. Yeah important. Cause there's there's great vocal DJs and music inclined.
Speaker 1:DJs.
Speaker 2:But then there's, like crazy, out there, djs who get on the dance floor who are going?
Speaker 1:to make you like so there's that make you get up and dance. That's what I tell people. That's super important. You just don't want a DJ that plays Cause. I've seen a DJ just really I ain't going to say ruin a wedding, but they played the wrong songs all night, you know, and it kind of just doesn't create a vibe or, you know, it doesn't create anything for the wedding. You have to read, you have to read the cry, definitely. And I tell people one of my favorite DJs I work with a lot DJ Rafe he does and DJ Kujo both of them they do a really good job. I just like how they interact with the crowd. Like you said, they get up, you know they. You know talk to the crowd, make them talk back, you know, walk around with a mic, things like that. So I think that's super important.
Speaker 2:But like. I said, I'm really interested in doing a wedding that's with all bands, all live bands and I would say this year probably half of my weddings are bands.
Speaker 1:Oh man, yeah, that's cool.
Speaker 2:And that's another thing that keeps like. Every year it gets more and more prominent band. Band Like I don't have a band.
Speaker 1:Wow. So if they have a band, do they have a MC or the band kind of the MC as well?
Speaker 2:All together.
Speaker 1:Oh, wow, that's cool. That's pretty cool. I can't wait to. I know I'm ready to watch the stories so I can look at it For sure, for sure. So I'm just coming off a wedding expo. Yes, right, so was this your first wedding expo, number one?
Speaker 2:It was.
Speaker 1:Okay, so tell me a little bit about the process and what did you think. You know what made you, number one, want to do a wedding expo.
Speaker 2:I love the aspect of all vendors working together. I love the friendships that are created and I love being able to support other vendors in this realm and having them show off what they can do best. And when my friend Megan you know Megan with the apartment association, she was like hey, there's a space downtown, we need to look at it, you need to do something. And I was like that's not big enough for what I have in mind.
Speaker 2:And so it just like rolled from there, and so we found the Sheraton and we ended up doing it at the Sheraton. There used to be one before, way before COVID that went away. And I was like it's needed with the way weddings are going now. It is needed on that scale again, and so I was like I'll do it.
Speaker 1:Man, man, man. So it did something that you kind of always wanted to do. That's what's up. So what made you just say I'm doing it this year.
Speaker 2:I don't know. I'm here real honest, like it was something that I believe God put on my heart. To be honest, I think he said hey, I think this is needed. And I remember, I remember praying and saying OK, if this is not what I'm supposed to be doing, I need you to tell me, I need you to put some kind of stop sign in front of me. And he didn't. He kept plowing through and it was a lot of what I envisioned, but even more.
Speaker 1:It was amazing, like next level amazing. So it was really good. So what was your thoughts on everything then? At the end of the day, when you finally over with y'all, you got to sit down and be like, wow. So what was your initial?
Speaker 2:thoughts. Did that happen? Like it was like wait, did that just happen? Did I really just start something and complete it and just blow it out of the water? And it was just wow. And I've talked to several vendors afterwards and they've all been able to look off of it a lot so that's all I wanted, definitely.
Speaker 1:I really enjoyed it because I've been asked to do them a few times, just different expos here and out of state and stuff like that. I'm like, well, I kind of got a client list, you know. But I was like you know what, I'm going to give it a try you know, what I'm saying.
Speaker 1:You know what, coming from a vendor, something that I've been wanting to do anyway. So it kind of made me kind of clean my stuff up a little bit. So I'm like, okay, I need to get a rollout banner, I need to get my videos together so I can show them and I need to. You know everything and I still wasn't 100% prepared. I need to get a suit so I can look professional and stuff like that.
Speaker 1:So I say, from a vendor, I really definitely enjoyed it, coming from a vendor standpoint, got a chance to, like you said, network with other vendors. I tell people all the time it's enough, I don't want to do everybody with it, I don't want to be you physically can't man, I said I love my weekends off. So, like I said, you know. So it definitely was a good opportunity to network with other vendors. You had Vingus there, you know DJs, you had caterers, you had really everybody in the industry. So how did you get a chance to build that network that you could be like, hey, y'all, I'm doing this and people actually trust you to like, okay, I'm going to go give it a shot.
Speaker 2:That was another like in the imposter syndrome series. But I was like they're trusting me to do this. And then, and most of them were like oh my gosh, I can't believe you're doing this no-transcript. Like it's hard. It was totally hard, so I don't wanna say that it was totally hard, but yeah, it was.
Speaker 2:I contacted all of my core ones that I use a lot or just back and forth with, and went to them first and then, after that, I started ramping up social media on it and then I got a lot of people, a lot of vendors, that came in for the show like walking with their brides or just coming to see it.
Speaker 1:I saw that a lot too.
Speaker 2:yeah, I was just coming to see, like what is this?
Speaker 1:about. I saw that a lot too.
Speaker 2:I had a lot approached me and say, hey, I want it next year, and I was like, okay, cool, and I knew that it would take a year, one year full of it for people to see the value in it. Even the ones that did trust me and jump in still needed to say, okay, wait, hold on. Is this am I gonna make?
Speaker 1:money off of this.
Speaker 2:Is this gonna pay back? I'm like I hope so.
Speaker 1:Yeah, definitely, definitely.
Speaker 1:Like I said me knowing you and like I said that was just how I was going. I mean, I'm real cool with Lidarian and Courtney and you know they're, so I know you off damn it. They trust you. It's all right, but me, working off you, I was able to build my own trust for you. So when you came, I was like, yeah, I give a shot. I wouldn't do it for everybody, I give a shot, I give a shot over there, but it was a thousand percent worth it. So anybody that's thinking about whenever the list started to fly or go up for next year, you should definitely sign up ASAP. Come on, sure, it'll probably sell out next year, so it probably won't be any vendor space available next year.
Speaker 2:No, we were like I have a little room to expand, but not much so.
Speaker 1:Man. So how do you improve after that? So what? How do you take that next step?
Speaker 2:Well, and I kind of thought about that and. I've had a lot of people say, oh, you need to do this more than once a year, which I don't love the idea of that because I don't want to over saturate one. But I have thought about doing like a mini mid-year of some sort, whether we pick a venue that is already signed on and we pull in some of the vendors or we do a runway show not the day of I don't want to do it the day of the show because that was one thing that in my research.
Speaker 2:I talked to a few other vendors. They were like it pulled.
Speaker 1:People away during the show and I was like I don't want that.
Speaker 2:I want FaceTime with rides and I want. Facetime for vendors. That was most important for me, so there's some works.
Speaker 1:Man, man, I can't even imagine. I can't even imagine you had everything, I ain't had a boss.
Speaker 2:I know there will be alcohol.
Speaker 1:People like I don't give two mamos. They're like who that for? I'm like, that's for me Mamos.
Speaker 2:Mamos and cake samples.
Speaker 1:Man you can't beat that. You can't beat that. Perfect location, perfect everything. So you're probably doing it the same location.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, I'll keep it at the Sheraton, hopefully walking in a date soon.
Speaker 1:Man, that's what's up. That's what's up, that's what's up. So tell me, what do you just love about doing weddings? I mean, you do events also though. Yes, yes, I do so. Do they both kind of run together for you? Or weddings is my first love, and then I do events, but I love weddings. So tell me what you think about that.
Speaker 2:I don't know. I love events in every level.
Speaker 1:So it's wedding like an event to you then yeah, yeah it is.
Speaker 2:It's a big event, but with Lidarian I actually do association work with him now. And I didn't even realize there was that capacity for me to really love associations and conventions and that kind of.
Speaker 1:Thing.
Speaker 2:And so, for me, every event it's the starting of it All, of the filling in all the blanks and getting everything ready, and then watching it come to fruition. Like hands down biggest hive ever happened. Like with every event.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I can't even imagine. I can't even imagine man.
Speaker 2:Amazing.
Speaker 1:Man, that's what's up. So a bride that may be thinking about that Jess got engaged or something like that can you give them some tips on? Ok, they're planning their wedding, things like that what? Give them some tips on what should be their first things? They should do?
Speaker 2:Get a list of all of the things you would need for your wedding day from venue, to dresses, to hair and makeup, to invitations, make a list and be like, ok, these are all the things I have and that I need, and then sit down and think what is my budget? And then get a planner.
Speaker 1:Get a planner.
Speaker 2:I would have never said that before and I'm not saying it because I am a planner. But you don't realize. You can get discounts. You can get connections with vendors who would rather work with a planner than not Definitely and who would be willing to give a discount because of it, and so that's why I encourage you to get the planner early, because the price doesn't change whether you get me now or you get me two months out. If I'm available, if I'm even available, that's the big thing right there, yeah.
Speaker 2:So I mean you need to do it as soon as possible honestly.
Speaker 1:So you say make a list first before contacting the planner. So it's important that Just so you realize like oh wait, count on what you want.
Speaker 2:a little bit, yeah, whether you acquire that list through the planner or on your own, because you're going to find out real fast like oh wait, I don't know what, I don't know and I feel like I'm missing things, and that's when the planner comes in.
Speaker 1:Gotcha.
Speaker 2:Most brides already know the venue they want and sometimes the photographer, so those are the two things they already have, yeah, or at least the style that they're wanting. So, in which that is really most important, that venue, you need to jump on it real fast.
Speaker 1:You have one in mind, sell out quickly.
Speaker 2:They do, and there's not a lot to go around, yeah.
Speaker 1:Definitely.
Speaker 2:So if you want to open a venue somewhere, hey, no, I will not do that. But I encourage anybody else to do it.
Speaker 1:So let me talk about that before we get back into that. Why wouldn't you? Because I did a venue and venues are tough, and you know what I say. Venues are tough, especially with me, because I feel like if I didn't do photography maybe I would have had. It was successful, it completed, we had weddings, we had fashion shows there, it went from a dump to actual wedding and that was my highlight. Ok, I knew I could do this, I did it and then I did. I make money off of it. I didn't, because you got unexpected stuff that happens and everything. But I would say like if I wasn't photographer, if I didn't have to work every Saturday at a wedding, I couldn't really be at the venue. So now I'm expecting someone else to kind of uphold what I would do there without me. So what? But I would say like a venue is a good thing, but what was that for you from doing it?
Speaker 2:the maintenance of it.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:I don't know, it's just I don't want to deal with if plumbing something happens with the plumbing where, like I've been to a venue where it rained and it started leaking through the floor, I don't like. I mean, let me call somebody.
Speaker 1:You know, like I don't want to be the person they're calling to fix that. I mean I just, man, it was tough and you said the main word maintenance, maintenance. Because it was so many times that I'm at a wedding and someone asked the venue like hey, the roof is leaking. I'm like what, what y'all want me to do?
Speaker 2:Like nothing I could do, like you know, I could call someone to come clean it up. You know.
Speaker 1:I'm not even there Like I'm literally finna catch this ride coming down an aisle myself. So that's why I wasn't too mad getting out of it, because like I can't do, you can't do everything.
Speaker 1:That's one thing that I realized you can't do everything. I feel like you would be a great venue on it, though, because, since the one thing I was decided about a venue with me doing weddings because it's some venues that not very photogenic, right, you know things like that are not very you know just some venues that you know it's just not, you know, too functional. It's very beautiful, but it's not as too functional. So I feel like people who's actually in the wedding industry make a creative venue and become, you know, perfect.
Speaker 2:Well, I mean, I've had people ask me my opinion on a venue and what I think you need and don't know. I mean, that's something that I do with the Raymond. I give them advice on what is needed and not needed and, as a planner, what's beneficial for me. Yeah, and my then and my other vendors, and I'm more than willing to help with that I just don't know if I want that overhead. Yeah, I just it, just it does not sound appealing to me at all.
Speaker 1:It's a lot, it's a lot, it is a lot, it is a lot. And what's the funny story with the Raymond? My first studio was actually in uh, was actually in Raymond, but I was actually going to open it up at the Raymond, where it was abandoned building, yeah, and I met with the owner and everything and it just it was going to be too much. I had to do a lot of remodeling for my by myself and I wasn't thinking about wedding venue and stuff at that time. I just want to a cool photography studio.
Speaker 1:I'm going to use the bottom part for a big. They could pull cars in. I can take pictures of people in cars and large groups and things like that and then, uh, use upstairs like offices and dressing rooms and stuff like that. So I was actually thinking so when I saw, like you know, but in my head I'm like this would be a good venue, though, and everything. So when I saw it then, that one they still had like the flower shop there and everything. So I like when I saw like uh it, what it turned into, I was like man, that's the perfect idea, that was great, that was great, they have a standard that and there's other venues that have the same standard.
Speaker 2:but, yeah, they did it really well.
Speaker 1:And I tell them that all the time.
Speaker 2:I'm like y'all did this very well. They did Like the layout the bridal suite, the groom's room, like it's all there, it's perfect.
Speaker 1:It's perfect, and that's one thing that I realized with a lot of um venues. Just, I would say, locally I'm not sure too much, but there's not a lot of space for grooms. You know they kind of, you know, push towards rise, make sure the bars are straight, but you know, sometimes the grooms are just getting dressed. You know where they could get dressed at. So that's another thing that I really liked about them.
Speaker 2:So yeah, and there's a few other venues out there that are starting to get onto that and actually provide that or set it up that way so cool that they kind of set the standard for that.
Speaker 1:So that's pretty cool, but people act like Raymond is. So far, though, do you get that a lot.
Speaker 2:Yes, but my thing is is like a lot of our venues are far.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Like bridal is far, so I mean.
Speaker 1:I mean.
Speaker 2:I say treated as like a destination wedding.
Speaker 1:I mean, I really don't know, but you know destination wedding Definitely. So what do you love about some of your favorite venues around here?
Speaker 2:I think all of them have certain aspects that I really love and again it goes to what the bride loves. I love doing weddings at all of them. There's not one in particular that I really love more than the other. To be really honest, there are some that have a lot more help than others day of. There are some that just you don't have to work hard to get a good picture.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's true, that's true.
Speaker 2:And then you have some that have great bridal and groom options.
Speaker 1:Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 2:So I mean, I think there's like fun things, that every single one of them and and good aspects on every single one of them to you.
Speaker 1:That's important. So when? So when a couple come to you, they don't have a venue in mind, but they're kind of telling you like this kind of my style, Do you suggest a venue for them?
Speaker 2:Like, I do, I do, I'll. I usually start with the style. Like what are you going for? Are you going for rustic? Are you going for old? Are you going for clean lines? And there's really not that many to go around in each aspect. So it narrows it down a good bit. I mean the Faulkner, I mean if you want modern and clean line and just beautiful lighting and and skyline there you are. If you want to feel like you're in the middle of New Orleans and live folks over there, I mean that's.
Speaker 1:that's that outside area.
Speaker 2:It is gorgeous it is, if you want the rustic feel, right A wood all the way. Like, and again, it's far out there.
Speaker 1:It is far out there Love it.
Speaker 2:It's got, it's got your hunting feel there's always deer out there.
Speaker 1:Yes, it is all the time.
Speaker 2:All the time. So, like you kind of, you kind of nod towards the grooms on that one. And then you have Raymond. That is like the old feel, yeah. And then you have the south, that is been around for a while but, it's still got that old like Jackson.
Speaker 1:It does, and then the railroad, yeah, definitely.
Speaker 2:Modern lines white, it's beautiful.
Speaker 1:Definitely, definitely. When the last time you did a wedding in a church, because it used to be a thing that people got, you said your mom yeah, people used to get married in the church, my mom got married in the church and things. So when do you think churches start becoming an afterthought and no being you spark becoming a thing? And when the last time you don't want in a church?
Speaker 2:Well, I actually it. I don't know when it changed and I don't know why it necessarily changed. I think when, brides, when the full picture of having, having the idea of having everything in one spot.
Speaker 1:I think that is a little bit of it.
Speaker 2:Definitely, but I actually have Four or five this year there in church and then reception somewhere else.
Speaker 1:Which?
Speaker 2:I'm pretty excited about.
Speaker 1:Yeah, because there is something to be said about that spirituality that feel it is, it is.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, I'm excited about this.
Speaker 1:That's cool. That's cool. Now you said what the difference. I mean I love doing church wedding too. I recently did one around last November or whatever. It was pretty cool. I like it. It gives you kind of you're kind of limited on certain space or what you could do as a photographer and videographer doing both, trying to set up five cameras and different spots and everything. So you kind of limited in that aspect, but like I do love especially thinking about just you know how the final product gonna look like out of church feel I definitely agree with that. But how do you feel about because that's a little tough doing leaving one spot, then going to another spot?
Speaker 2:It's really hard.
Speaker 1:So how? So how you feel about that, how do you make that work? Because I tell people, okay, I got to stay back, I got to do these pictures, but those when I got to make sure that I send someone else, guy, hey, I need you, or sometime I hire guys to just go to the reception and get pre shots of it before, like they don't come to the wedding that I like. Hey, are you free around five o'clock? I just need you to go take pictures, get a little footage for me so I can get it empty. So when I come over there I don't have to worry about that, because that's a tough thing. But how do you feel about having to? Okay, now, we got go over here, I got to set everything up over here. How do you?
Speaker 2:do I enjoy the jumping around? But, it does cause me to bring in an assistant, which I usually bring an assistant to most but then I have to actually like she's not helping me directly. I have to send her to do something else. So that's I don't love that but I love the jumping around. It does cause for more money because you got to get transportation for your wedding party.
Speaker 2:There's some churches don't necessarily have great picture options, so you kind of have to think, okay, where do I want the majority of my pictures to be taken? So you may have to pick an offsite venue for that, like I have one coming up in March that we're doing they're getting ready at the Weston, they're taking pictures at the art museum and then they're getting married at St Peter's.
Speaker 1:Oh man.
Speaker 2:So, and then railroad district.
Speaker 1:Man. So that's a nice little travel there it is, it is.
Speaker 1:So transportation's involved all the things and I think that's important that you get a, and I get your opinion that when something like that, I have everybody, okay y'all, either y'all park your car to the hotel or go park at the venue that you know whatever reception gonna be at, and then we'll have a wherever a transportation come pick you up, because I've seen that's the hardest thing where, like, okay, we leave in the church and it's the time to get to you know the next location and somebody might make a detour and stuff like that. And, like I said, the human element in weddings is the one thing that can kind of deter you. That thing like, okay, we got everybody but one groomsman here.
Speaker 1:I got everybody but one bridesmaid or something like that. So do you suggest brides that may be doing that to have a transportation where all the guys can be here and all the girls, you know, all the ladies, can be on this transportation that they ride together?
Speaker 2:Yes, and I love being able to like have all of my wedding party and bride and groom in a bus together.
Speaker 1:That's part of it.
Speaker 2:So, like that wedding in particular that's coming up, we have him picking them up at the Weston taking them to St Peter's. He's gonna stay there. And when the wedding is over, like as they're walking down the aisle because we won't have pictures afterwards.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:So I always encourage if you can do it all before. But they will literally jump right on that bus and head straight to reception and then we'll hide the bride and groom away.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's. Perfect, that's perfect.
Speaker 2:There's no like confusion. There's no like we're getting there and I can monitor all the people at the same time man.
Speaker 1:That's perfect, because that's an important thing, right there. Can I tell people, half of my job is rounding everybody up. You know what I mean. Like people like, and then, once you get everybody wrapped up, you start taking. They're like well, it's taking so long, I'm like I literally just got them together, that's why you need a planner coordinator.
Speaker 1:Right there, right there, I'm just being honest. A lot of people think that once the weddings, once I do their job, is kind of like all right, it's the photographer job now, and stuff like that. I'm like, no, I need y'all to help me round these people up. You know, keep them in line so we can make it go quicker.
Speaker 2:So that's definitely important. Again, all the details out of the way.
Speaker 1:That's definitely important. That's definitely important. Now you did just say something with. I can't remember what you just said. I'm gonna hate myself for it. He said not to bring the people together. I'm gonna have to come back to it, but it was really important. What you just said I hate. I can't think of Keeping them all together. Keeping them all together. Why is that important for you?
Speaker 2:Because, like you said, I don't want my as a planner, I don't want my other vendors to have to look for somebody. That's my job to make sure they're already there. So if I can get them, if I can keep them isolated in one section and it monitors like if they're drinking at a time. I can get them all in eye contact and be like, hey, this is a marathon, not a sprint. Drink water in between. Pay attention to what you're doing, get down that aisle and stand there for a few seconds.
Speaker 1:That's important too. I feel like a lot of guys get into the habit of drinking before the wedding. I'm like, yeah, it's a long day, you have to pace yourself. I definitely tell people that I said, okay, last couple of questions, they're going to hold you too long. But you say you bring an assistant. What's the important of having an assistant with?
Speaker 2:you. I used to, not, I used to do it on my own and then realized I am working a lot harder than I should. So the assistant is really just somebody half the time. I use them just for, like moral support for myself, to be honest.
Speaker 2:But other times to like, while I'm getting them down the aisle, sending them to the reception or having them make sure their reception space is good, that those vendors are good, that they don't need anything, or if I need her to go get the bridesmaids while I'm keeping the groomsmen in one spot, I have that person there to do that for me.
Speaker 1:That's cool. That's cool and, like I said, a lot of people that may be looking to get into the industry. I feel like you shouldn't be afraid to make a mistake. You have to learn. That's how you learn, that's how you knew that you needed an assistant. So I feel like a lot of people are like oh, I got to have everything perfect before I start doing this. But I tell people we kind of got the best job in the world because we kind of get paid to learn under the slid. We're doing our job. But it may be once I'm putting mistakes where I'm okay. Now I know I need three angles instead of two. Or I need a guy I start bringing part of wins with me, because Paul could kind of be my mean guy.
Speaker 2:You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1:But it's time to good cop, bad cop. I come in, smile, be our cool and everything, and he could be the more of the hey, no, let's do this a lot of. He's kind of mine because I, you know, just doing a lot of weddings, we don't always have the best coordinators, or somewhere that you don't even have a coordinator.
Speaker 2:Honestly, or they just do the ceremony portion.
Speaker 1:Or they just do the ceremony portion. So he's kind of my day of coordinator when I need it. You know like, hey, paul, let's make sure this going time, let's make sure they stick to this, make sure it rounded up. So it is good to have an extra person there, even if it's just for, like you said, moral support. It's good to have somebody to talk to. You know what I'm saying, or something like that.
Speaker 2:When you're exhausted at the end of the day. At the end of the day, Can we go eat now? No deep by yourself. That is important. That is important.
Speaker 1:So okay, so we talked to Bryce. Tell me something about people that may be looking to get into the industry, that may want to be where you at. Tell them about you know what's some advice that you make a give them to do now.
Speaker 2:Don't be afraid to make a mistake. Got you. Everything is fixable to like within reason and being. You're there to support the bride and groom, the mama, the dad, making sure that you're always visible to help. And don't be afraid to call a catering company and say, hey, I want to work. Or a florist say, hey, I'm looking for a job. You need to learn the little pieces and parts that go to wedding day if you really want to be All encompassing of a planner. That's important.
Speaker 1:You don't hear too many people say that you know, I've seen, or you hear people that just up and get started and never been to a wedding.
Speaker 1:But I felt like you need to at least know what to expect from a wedding to kind of, you know, really perfect it. And, like I said, I love to expect what you said. You kind of work from all ends, so you expect what the floors may need, you expect what the photographer, videographer need, DJ and things like that. So I think that's super cool. That's super cool. So you're married, yes. So tell me a little about how was your wedding day All right? What's something if you go back to your wedding day with you being so many witnesses now? What's something you say like oh, I wish I could have did it like this. So I should have did it like that.
Speaker 2:I wish I would have had a planner.
Speaker 1:Okay, I did.
Speaker 2:I had somebody that got us down the aisle she was with the church. She was fabulous and I loved her, but I did not have anybody to make sure that the reception was taken care of, and this was. I mean, I had a great, the vendors were great, but I remember walking in and going over to the cake and my cake topper wasn't on the. And I remember walking back and I knew them personally I was like hey, where's my cake topper? And it was under the table, because they just didn't know it was there.
Speaker 2:So, like little things like that, I loved my day though it was. It was very fast and just. I remember it being a blur, but I remember the best parts of it too, like I remember just having fun.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's the most important thing.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And that's why I tell couples now like, yes, it goes by super quick, so please try to find a second to just sit and enjoy it Honestly, because it's always like that.
Speaker 2:So once you get that dress on and that tux, on like it's hit the ground running.
Speaker 1:It's a blur, it's a blur. So what do you suggest? What are some ways that you kind of help the couple kind of get a chance to enjoy it a little bit?
Speaker 2:I just started recent. Well, I've always had right after their ceremony. They take a minute to themselves, to like one eat and two just to decompress and like be present for a second Cause you just had like everything happen to you in like five seconds, plus get married. So many things just happened. So I take that minute to decompress. But, most recently, I've been encouraging and I saw this on social media, on a real I've been encouraging them to stay together during the reception.
Speaker 1:Don't separate from your other person.
Speaker 2:Whether you're talking to people or not. Like this is your time to like support each other, and so just keep your hands. Like keep your hands holding if you can I mean, it's not always doable but like just stay together. So why?
Speaker 1:is that.
Speaker 2:I think it's um. It helps with one going through the crowd and meeting all these people. I mean most of these people one or the other has never met before.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Sometimes both of y'all have never met these people and they're all like, oh my gosh, y'all love me so much, y'all were so beautiful, and you're like so it breaks that awkwardness that you're having to deal with on meeting people you've maybe never met before, but it's just, it's that first time of really supporting each other as a husband and wife. This is your time to shine.
Speaker 1:That's big.
Speaker 2:You just did a big thing. Now it's time to like actually make it happen.
Speaker 1:That's big.
Speaker 2:I just loved that. I remember seeing it and thinking that really is a good idea.
Speaker 1:That's big. That's big. I really liked it. I really liked it. So kind of, tell me what's you know. It's funny I had Jeff from in my question and then I was like, so stuck into your question, I forgot it all over again. I forgot it all over again. But no, I really liked that. I really like I said, stay together. And that's easy on the photographer part too, because sometimes I'm like, okay, the groom over here, the bride over there, they're going to take them to the bride, and usually I tend to more of the bride because you go by the phrase happy wife, happy life. But you know, so I bet you just get a lot of pictures. So but I try to sneak something with the guys in there. Okay, last couple of questions I got. I'll talk back with Lidarian. With Lidarian saying, like he was very you know, you meet some guys where, like they just like Timmy was trying to be there and I'll be there, and that's about as much as they go with it.
Speaker 1:He seemed like he was very involved. Have you seen a lot of grooms do that?
Speaker 2:It's very rare. To be honest, I've maybe had one or two that I've actually met and connected with prior to the wedding. Most of them, I meet the day after.
Speaker 1:Oh man. So, so kind of how was that Like? Was it just? Like you know I love it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I love it because it's not common and it's just as much for them as it is for the bride, believe it or not. So I love it when they do get to have your opinion and the bride allows their opinion to be heard.
Speaker 1:That's what's up. That's what's up, and I just remember my question. I'm so glad because this is super important, super important. You said that you pushed for trying to get the pictures done before the wedding, right? Explain that to me and maybe explain that to future brides that may be coming up. Right that, why should they try to knock out as many pictures before the wedding and why?
Speaker 2:Um, pictures are a big thing right now. Um photo, and this is your one thing that you have to remember your day. So I do encourage to do everything prior to the ceremony to ensure that you get all the pictures you've ever wanted, Because if you wait until afterwards you run the risk of being rushed because we have to rush.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we have to get you through those pictures.
Speaker 2:So you have time to have a reception, so you're rushing through. You don't know if you've gotten all your family photos that you really wanted. You don't know if you've gotten enough portrait time with just the two of y'all. Um now, all that said, if you are insistent on not having a first look, all I can encourage you to do is get as much of the other pictures done prior to and again have a planner to push those pictures out of the fact Definitely Like.
Speaker 2:I can't or have a planner that does. That's hands on on that aspect. I'm very hands on when it comes to pictures, especially great pictures with family and stuff, Because I've been around the family so I'm like here, let's go, let's go, let's go filtering them in now. But it is. It depends, if you're, if those photos are the most important to you and the one thing you want to remember for the rest of your life and be able to look back at. I encourage you to do a first look.
Speaker 1:Definitely.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so you can really enjoy, I think it's super important.
Speaker 1:Okay, last two. Okay, so if the wedding, so you there for eight hours, right? If the wedding starts at four, what time should that first look start?
Speaker 2:Four o'clock, I usually say about three and a half hours prior to. You start getting in your dress, got you.
Speaker 1:Got you. That's it. I feel like that's super important though, because I feel like that makes and that's why I pushed to my couples that make the day go a lot smoother. Yes, as in now, you actually make it to enjoy your cocktail. You know, I guess I literally got a thing. I had a couple of them. They literally asked me for the raw footage of Leon will win Paul, where they were like hey man, we didn't really get chance to enjoy cocktail.
Speaker 2:They had the band, they had everything the violin, everything.
Speaker 1:And they were like man, you think you can send me a raw footage so we can kind of look at it.
Speaker 2:You know what I'm saying?
Speaker 1:We're the same way they had that violinist and they didn't get to see any of that. Sure, did I remember Courtney getting like did you get any of it?
Speaker 1:Yes, like yep, so that's super important. So I really love what you said there and you know I can't wait to make that a real because I feel like couples need to know that. You know I understand tradition A big thing might not want to see each other, but you also got to think about you guys spending a lot of money for this wedding day. Yes, you at least want to try to enjoy as much as you possibly can.
Speaker 2:Because if you wait until after, you don't get a time to sit and like decompress, like I'm throwing you into the reception, pretty like first thing.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Like you don't get to go and like sit down and calm for a second. Like I'm like, okay, let's go, we're announcing you in, we're getting all this stuff done. Like we got to stay on schedule, stay on schedule, and that's where the job aspect comes in.
Speaker 1:It feel like a job, it's a job.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you're not enjoying it at that point.
Speaker 1:You're not enjoying it. This, this, this, this, this. Once you get a chance to enjoy, it's almost over. You know what I'm saying? That's super important. I'm glad you said that. So is there any more tips you make a give a bride or groom or a couple that's getting ready to, you know, have their big day. Any more tips you make a just give out there?
Speaker 2:Just go into it Like thinking about what's most important to you and then go from there.
Speaker 1:That's important.
Speaker 2:to be honest, like what do you want to remember on your wedding day most? And then break it down from there and then get a planner and get a plan, get a planner coordinator, get everything, get everything. It ensures that you do enjoy the things you want to remember.
Speaker 1:That's definitely, that's definitely important. So tell us what may be next for you then.
Speaker 2:Um, wedding season is just around the corner, so it's coming. Um, I don't have anything like very specific in the works, but I have a lot of things that roll around in my head, so I'm hoping to expand all the pretty things.
Speaker 1:Bridal expo in some way next year. Can't wait, we'll see what happens. I'm excited about that.
Speaker 2:And then wedding planning.
Speaker 1:as it is, I'm excited about that. That's what's up. That's what's up. And how many weddings do you try to stick to a year there? A certain number, like I'm not doing over 40. I'm not doing over 50. And I'm not, it's just they come I knock them out.
Speaker 2:I have a way. If I have availability, I'm booking.
Speaker 1:That's cool.
Speaker 2:Just because.
Speaker 1:I want it, that's cool.
Speaker 2:I probably should limit, but I don't.
Speaker 1:No, that's good, though that's good, that's good. And then tell us where we can find you at.
Speaker 2:I'm a Instagram Facebook. I don't have a storefront yet, oh, that's Okay. So Instagram. I am LGM weddings Bridal expo is bridal expo, All the pretty things. Facebook same thing. I'm all over Mississippi. I'm excited, I'm excited.
Speaker 1:Well, I'm hoping for the next bottle of expo I'll be able to have you on at the X for here on the podcast. I'll be super excited about that. I appreciate it so much. You coming on with us. I really, really do. Once I started this podcast I was like I got to get her on. I got to. I think I text you before I text anybody. I'm like, hey, what's it doing when you free? I've got to go ahead and get you on.
Speaker 1:Like I said, I really I really love what you do. I'm really a fan of how you do it.
Speaker 1:You know what I'm saying. It's different than you could kind of feel the energy and the love that you have for it. There you feel I'm saying I'm not going to be able to get you on, but there you feel I'm saying don't feel like a burden or anything like that to you. So I really really love that. Like I said, I'm excited to see you know your growth of everything that you do from the expo. So I'm hoping you know you got a world famous expo, you know, soon and I'm like what I was at the very first one.
Speaker 1:You know what I'm saying, so I'm excited about that.
Speaker 2:You'll be at that one too. Of course I'm there.
Speaker 1:I'm there. I'm there. Anything you got going on. If I can support any type of way, you know, one call away, one text away. So I really appreciate you coming on. I hope you enjoyed yourself. I did.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1:Thank you. Thank you so much. You gave a lot of good knowledge out there. You really did. You really did. So thank you so much. You're welcome. Thank you Until next time, guys, it's your host. Kp Got Miss Lauren here. We'll catch you all next time, Thanks.