WEDDING PLANNERS

Making Your Dream Wedding Come True

by ANNE PYBURN CRAIG

date posted: March 12, 2017

Great wedding planners take half-formed dreams and turn them into smooth, sweet reality.

Wedding coordination is a job that requires the organizational abilities of a general, the empathy of a therapist, and a designer’s eye for beauty.

“You have to have a strong sense of when to listen and when to lead,” says Bethany Pickard of Modern Kicks Event Planning.

“There might be things I think are important that aren’t important to you, or vice versa. So I need to listen for your priorities, avoid bossing you around in that department, while using my experience to make sure you understand the practical side of your choices.”

Great wedding planners thrive on challenge. They know how to drill down to the details of making magic look easy. “It’s a toss-up between having a hot air balloon and having fire performers at a wedding,” says Cathy Ballone of Cathy’s Elegant Events, when asked for some of her more exacting tricks.

“We work primarily in barns, warehouses, historic sites, and so on. Non-traditional places. Organizing extraordinary activities requires locating the right, fully-insured, experienced people; there are permits that need to be filed, safety procedures organized.... We simply hear what the couple would like to do and then find out what steps need to be taken to make it happen!”

Great wedding planners are cool under pressure. Jeanne Stark of Hudson Valley Ceremonies will never forget the freak snowstorm of October 2011, when the white stuff started pounding Westchester at six inches an hour.

“I looked at the limo driver and said, ‘We aren’t going to make it to the church, are we?’ He shook his head no. I told him to get us back to the hotel.

I called the buses with the guests and made them turn around. I called Brendan, the groom, and told him to start walking downhill to the train station. He got on Metro-North. The DoubleTree Hotel converted a room for the ceremony and I recruited an uncle who was a retired pastor.

We created a ceremony in 15 minutes. Had one of the in-laws have the Tarrytown Police pick up the groom and groomsmen at the train station in a paddy wagon...

Kathleen walked down the aisle and everyone clapped and cheered. It was beautiful. After that moment everything went perfectly.”

It’s the perfect place for a low-key wedding brimming with rustic charm.” - Lydia Castiglia, speaking about the Hudson Valley

Good wedding planners are event artists. “I really love out-of-the-box,” says Gina Maloney of Gina Maloney Events. “I’m not a traditionalist—I love different, creative, natural elements in tablescapes or unexpected places.” For a recent Woodstock wedding, Maloney brought in seven huge inflatables including “a mushroom-shaped bouncy house, and a hot air balloon. I’m working with a couple right now on a wedding with a petting zoo.”

“I’m always looking for that couple who want a non-traditional venue where we can work together, get creative to incorporate trendy, hip, heartfelt, personalized, unique touches to their big day!” says Bianca Hendricks of RSVP (Ravishing Sophisticated Visionary Planning) by B, a specialist in day-of coordination. “I’m always trying to think outside of the box for that customized wow factor.”

Good wedding planners know the venues. “The key to a great destination wedding is a relaxed vibe and a place where family and friends can gather, a place not limited to a five-hour reception time restraint,” says Lydia Castiglia of Catskill Weddings Event Planners. “This area offers so many amazing venues where you can extend the day with late-night bonfires and after-parties, or make a weekend of it with rehearsal/welcome get-togethers and Sunday brunches. It’s the perfect place for a low-key wedding brimming with rustic charm.”

“It’s a blank canvas,” says Monica Relyea of Monica Relyea Events. “River banks, mountain tops, farms, wineries! I had clients who had an incredible manicured property with killer views of the Hudson River. The best view of the Hudson River was from their in-ground pool and you certainly can’t ask 300 guests to stand around a pool. So we brought in a company that trellised over the pool, installed a wooden floor, added carpet for secure footing and then tented over it for shade. We used this space for the ceremony and then turned it over to a dance party with a full band!”

tips from the greats
what’s the one thing you find couples often forget?

Monica: Think inward, not out. We all get caught up in the details, and at times it gets stressful. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, let’s find a way to resolve that. The last thing you want is to be so stressed you lose sight of what the day is all about. You’re about to marry the one you love, witnessed and surrounded by your family and closest friends. There is nothing more beautiful, and this is what I try to remind my couples.

Lydia: Whether it’s choosing your dress, experiencing your tasting, saying your vows, or actually truly participating in your day, it’s easy to get caught up in minutiae. I remind them that it is all just window dressing. You are committing to the person you love most, so savor every moment. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience that passes all too quickly!

Cathy: Little items that will make them more comfortable in their environment. A bride may want to consider having a shawl available if they are having a late-fall wedding, or a small ice pack if their wedding is in July. I always take care to remind people of these types of details, and more often than not I am told that they would not have thought of it if I hadn’t brought it to their attention.

bianca: To eat! Between the excitement of getting ready, walking down the aisle, and mingling with their guests, they sometimes forget to eat!

jeanne: To put extra time into their timeline for the day. I call it buffering. I know it doesn’t take 30 minutes to get dressed, but always have it down for 30 minutes. Having this extra time here and there on the day of the wedding is so relaxing, and creating a timeline with buffer so that you can relax and enjoy the day is something that many couples forget.

gina: It’s the little practical things. If you’re not in a standard venue, have you thought of porta-potties, does every guest have transportation? Hashing all the practicalities out is essential.

bethany: The time it takes to do things. There are so many elements that go into a wedding day that people don’t think of, say, the time it takes to load a bus or enter a venue and get settled. Everyone is excited and distracted, and everything takes a lot longer. Be realistic about your timeline.

Catskill Weddings

Clovesville, 845-254-5545, catskillweddings.com

Catskill Weddings is sister company to Lydia Castiglia’s Catskill Flower Shop. Lydia’s previous experiences as a buyer for premier retail stores in NYC as well as her work as a producer of regional commercials has honed her impeccable vision as well as her organizational skills. Lydia’s warm and gracious style sets the tone for your entire planning experience. From inception to completion, she allows for a wedding where you can be present in every moment and really enjoy your day. She has cultivated an amazing team of creative and professional coordinators and planners who will be with you every step of the way.

Cathy’s Elegant Events

Catskill, 518-653-3505, cathyselegantevents.com

We specialize in 'non-traditional' venues and locations. We do not believe in cookie-cutter weddings! Whether you are considering a barn, warehouse, backyard, summer camp, banquet hall or a different venue, we are excited to make your day perfect in the most stress-free way possible! Our packages are designed to be customized to fit your exact wants and needs. Voted winners of The Knot Best of Weddings Award for 2016 & 2017, Wedding Wires Couple Choice Award for 2016 & 2017, and Best of My Wedding Award 2016.

Gina Maloney Events

Woodstock, 845-853-4075, ginamaloneyevents.com

Winner of The Knot’s Best of Wedding Award for 2016 and 2017, Gina Maloney Events is where creative design and detailed organization meet. From the initial planning stages of your event until the last guest departs, Gina and her crew are dedicated to making your event the most memorable, stress-free, beautiful affair that truly reflects your specific dreams and desires. For a consultation, e-mail info@ginamaloneyevents.com. You can also see her work in The Knot.

Hudson Valley Ceremonies

Rhinebeck, 845-244-1482, hudsonvalleyceremonies.com

This large group of wedding planners will assist you in designing the event of a lifetime. With over 24 years of experience and a vast network of professionals, Hudson Valley Ceremonies will help you and your families enjoy the wedding planning process. They have a package to fit every wedding and budget, specializing in rustic, chic, and elegant weddings. Services include day-of coordination, partial and full planning, and virtual wedding planning as well.

Main Course

New Paltz, 845-255-2600, maincoursecatering.com

Every couple has a unique vision for their wedding day, and Main Course event planners are there to help bring that vision to life. Whether it takes deciding on the perfect venue or choosing the right china pattern, Main Course staff will be by your side to ensure that every detail is addressed. Expect highly personalized service from their professional staff whose only goal is to make the planning process as easy for you as walking down the aisle.

Modern Kicks Event Planning

Hudson Valley and beyond, 617-308-8240, modern-kicks.com

Modern Kicks plans celebrations that are inspired, authentic and meaningful. With an innate understanding of when to lead and when to listen, we will guide you through the process of creating an amazing celebration that captures who you are at this exciting time in your lives. Together we will organize, prioritize and Get Things Done. Weddings are fun; we believe the planning should be, too.

Monica Relyea Events

Hudson Valley, 914-204-2004, monicarelyeaevents.com

Monica Relyea Events has been creating memorable experiences for couples throughout the Hudson Valley for over 15 years. From intimate nuptials overlooking the Hudson River, to custom-built exquisite outdoor affairs on a farm or private estate, Monica is there from beginning to end with a listening ear and creative input. Monica and her team focus on all the details so that you can enjoy the best time of your life. Connect with them to learn more about their full range of planning services.

RSVP by B

Hudson Valley, 845-202-3340, rsvpbyb.com

RSVP by B Wedding Coordination serves the beautiful Hudson Valley! We primarily focus on wedding day coordination. We understand what it takes to create a smooth, stress-free, beautiful wedding. We want the entire process of finalizing your details to be a joyful one for you and your families. We are organized, energetic and detail-oriented. We have your best interest at heart and we take our responsibility of creating an experience that you will remember seriously. We believe in making your day happen your way!

The Hive Event Collective

Hudson Valley, 917-741-2125 hiveevent.com

The Hive Event Collective is made up of multiple creative minds who conceptualize unique, boutique-sized celebrations with local, environmentally conscious, artisanal styles. Members are hand-picked based on talent, professionalism, social consciousness, and desire to work joyously in a creative environment. They believe in community kindness and integrity, and they offer flexible services stripped of formality to bring out clients’ own expressions.