Let's Talk Wedding Planners with Georgia from State & Co.

We’re going to take a break from talking about all things related to wedding photography for a hot second because there’s something (and someone) I wanted to share with you!

In the past 3 years I’ve photographed over 40 weddings but there was one type of vendor I hadn’t had much opportunity to work with. However, during the past wedding season I’ve had many wonderful opportunities to work with wedding planners and, let me just say, wow!

Wedding days have so many working and moving parts that it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Planning a seating chart, organizing wedding favours, corralling guests, the list goes on (and on and on). Each wedding day comes with an endless list of to dos for you, your fiancé, and your family and friends. Wanna know a secret? Wedding planners are like fairy godmothers for your big day! They take care of all of those arduous and sometimes frustrating tasks. They move around behind the scenes, working to make sure everything goes smoothly. Their attention to detail is unrivalled and they make taking care of the big and small mishaps on a wedding day look effortless!

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of meeting Georgia of State & Co. over coffee and is just the sweetest! Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Georgia spent 10 years working as a decorator for Helium Highs, something she loved so much, it led her to attend George Brown College in Toronto where she graduated from the Special Events Planning Program. After interning with a renown wedding planner, she decided to follow her dreams and start her own business. Since the beginning of her career, George has planned over 100 weddings in both Toronto and Thunder Bay! Georgia is a woman of considerable talent with a sweet personality and it’s because of this that I immediately knew she was someone I wanted to work with (and did get to work with at my second wedding of the year) and she an absolute pleasure to work along side! After seeing how great of an addition a wedding planner can be to your big day, I just knew I had to share this with brides. So, since most of my knowledge of wedding planners is limited to what J.Lo taught me in The Wedding Planner, I reached out to Georgia to write a little bit about why you should consider hiring a wedding planner for your big day. Here is what she had to say!

Fully enjoy and be present for the best day of your life.

Leave your worries to the professionals! A wedding planner will keep the day running smoothly, troubleshooting every minor snag and ensuring the timeline is being followed. So when your favourite-but-clumsy cousin knocks over a hurricane vase 5 minutes before the ceremony begins, it will be cleaned up before you even know about it! You’ll be truly enjoying every little moment, knowing that your wedding is in good hands.

Get access to expert advice throughout the planning process.

Because, face it, you have probably never hosted such a large event before, and that’s okay! A wedding planner will create floor plans, organize itineraries, answer all your questions – big and small – and provide tips and tricks that can save you time and money! Are you wondering what size table linens to order, or the best type of fabric to avoid wrinkles? From the ideal quantity of alcohol to purchase for your guests, to all types of wedding etiquette questions, hiring a wedding planner will be your immediate answer guide.

Give your friends & family a break!

Your friends and family will be more than happy to help you out on your wedding day, but wouldn’t you rather have them enjoying every moment right alongside you? Instead of asking your future sis-in-law to assemble your DIY centrepieces, organize place cards and place a guest favour on each place setting the morning of the wedding, have a wedding planner take care of these details for you! Day-of Coordination packages are the perfect option for the couple who need a hand executing the personal elements of their day.

Details, details, details.

On the day of your wedding, it’s important to have an expert looking out for your overall vision and making sure that the things most important to you go off without a hitch. Hiring a wedding planner means that there will be oversight on all the vendors you have hired and personal elements you have planned. There’s nothing more valuable than having a professional with attention to detail making sure every little aspect is exactly as it should be!

Thunder Bay summer wedding