wedding planning as a wedding planner
First and foremost I wanted to give a shoutout to the amazing vendors that made our wedding day a dream. It was so much fun to learn more about the wedding vendor community on San Juan Island, and I’m so grateful for the glimpse into their approaches and the warmth and love they showed us during our time there.
Photo: La Vie Photography
Florals: Wild Berry Farm
Officiant: Beth Helstein
Why we chose an elopement.
I could honestly write a book here and If I am being fully honest, I go back and forth between doing just that and saying “it’s no one’s business!” But the shortest possible answer is that it was what was best for us. I felt a lot of pressure as a professional planner to throw a wedding that met everyone’s expectations, but I also wanted it to feel intentional and thoughtful and personal, too. It was also really important to me that I didn’t feel the need to perform, or really feel like I was in the role of planner at all. I wanted to feel like a bride, like a wife, like myself! I knew I would have a hard time separating that if I hosted a traditional wedding or something local to Chattanooga. And finally, like 99% of people on Earth, we made the choice that was wisest for our budget! We bought a home a couple of years ago and are working to pay off student loan debt, so we only had a limited amount of money to spend. In order to not have to feel limited by that choice and to get the most bang for our buck, we decided to an elopement/vacation.
We knew we wanted a U.S. destination for logistical purposes, and chose San Juan Island because of the beauty, remoteness, and proximity to Seattle, a city I love and that Chris had not yet visited (we spent a week there after our elopement.) Once we decided on San Juan Island, we found Lime Kiln lighthouse and loved the symbolism of formalizing our commitment to each other on the shores of a light in the darkness. This poem below by Ronald W. Hull was included in our ceremony.
On the shores of a lifetime,
The lighthouse of love gleams.
Guiding wandering lovers,
With its loving beams.
May the light of love save us,
From life's long rocky shore.
And may the beauty of our marriage,
Shine on for evermore.
How being a professional planner changed my experience planning my own wedding
Generally knowing what things cost, what I wanted and what that entailed from vendors was a huge leg up in the planning process for sure. But I am and have been exposed to so much wedding content over the years, it was tough to trust my own opinion and vision at times! But once we decided on an elopement and chose our destination, everything really fell into place.
Traditional elements to our nontraditional day
Don’t let anyone tell you elopements are impersonal! I worked super hard to add personal touches and traditions into our day. I used my grandfather’s handkerchief as a bouquet wrap and wore my mother’s ring. Though we spent the morning together, we got ready separately and had a first look. We wrote our own vows and I made personal vow books, and we selected signature scents to wear that now wear on date nights. There are always so many ways to put your personal stamp on your wedding day, even if your day isn’t a traditional one.
WHAT I WOULD DO DIFFERENTLy
Not a damn thing <3
