Learn From the Pros: Stephanie Andersen, Wedding Planner
I had the pleasure of sitting down at one of Atlanta’s favorite hangout spots, Octane Westside, for a perfect Spring evening on the patio. Originally from Asheville, North Carolina, Stephanie is an Industrial Design graduate from Georgia Tech who has spent the past few years making brides and grooms have their dream weddings with her company Carolyn A. Events.
In between sips of delicious iced-coffee, Stephanie and I talked about Pinterest, Bridezillas, and the importance of comfortable shoes.
Stephanie, thanks for joining me today! Tell us a little bit about yourself and Carolyn A. Events.
We offer everything from just day-of-coordination services to wedding style design to complete vendor recommendations. It just depends on how much the bride and groom want. With the rise of Pinterest and DIY weddings, hiring someone to essentially be your showrunner for the actual event has become really popular. We meet up with the party 1-2 months before the big day, and stay in contact until the event.
We also do wedding style design services. We’re talking centerpieces, chairs, anywhere there might be a decoration - we make it cohesive and pretty! We actually just started doing flowers, too, and it is so fun! We do vendor recommendations, budgets, anything else they may need. We’re the first person a bride talks to after the engagement and are with them until the big day.
Planning a wedding is work. A lot of work. Regardless of your level of patience or craftiness, we are here for any and all stages of the process to ensure your day is flawless.
How did you decide to become a wedding planner? We’re sure it’s not from watching “Bridezilla.”
Well, I love design and being creative, but I’m also obsessed with being organized. I went to school for design at Georgia Tech, and started looking for jobs that filled both of those things. After a few internships with wedding planners, I started doing it on my own in May of 2011. It’s allowed me to be creative, but also satisfy my type-A personality!
Which leads me to my next question…Inquiring minds (and fans of Bravo-style tv) want to know, do Bridezillas really exist?
Surprisingly, it’s actually the fathers’ of the brides who tend to be a little more high maintenance! They ask about lighting and if the music’s too loud and other little details. It’s wonderful because ultimately they want the day to be perfect for their daughters, which I totally understand and appreciate.
Walk us through a typical wedding day & the importance of a wedding planner.
While the bridal party is getting ready, we’ll come in and start setting up the space. It’s a coordinated effort with the caterers, florists, and any other vendors needed. That could take anywhere from 2-4 hours before the ceremony even starts. When it’s ceremony time, we make sure everyone is lined up and ready to go. Once that wraps up, a lot of couples do pictures in between the ceremony and reception or just want some alone time to start processing that whole forever commitment thing.
After that it’s on to the reception! At this point, the big pieces are finished. We do still have a schedule to follow, and we coordinate with the photographers and DJs and ensure that everyone stays on time. Once dinner starts, we are primarily there to serve the bride and groom. Whatever they need, we make happen.
When the sparklers have burned out and the happy couple is on their way to Jamaica, our jobs are not quite finished. We make sure gifts go to the right person, any personal items are collected, and ensure that cleanup goes smoothly. All in all it’s about 12 hours - a long day - but it goes by so fast!
I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “wish I knew then what I know now.” Compared to your first wedding, what are some helpful tricks you’ve learned along the way?
So many things! First of all, get an assistant! If something comes up and you need to leave, you don’t have to worry about that. One person can run and take care of that, while the other stays on site.
Also, I’m definitely a people-pleaser and on those days people are going to ask you some outrageous things - people who are not the bride and groom. But the bride and groom are your biggest priority, so the great uncle who doesn’t like the crab cakes is going to have to survive without you.
Honestly, you play a role of a therapist, and people expect you to handle situations and resolve conflicts on their behalf regardless if you have any control over the circumstance. You have to learn when to offer a sympathetic ear and just listen versus when to take action while always fighting for the wishes of the bride and groom. No one is allowed to contradict them. It is their big day!
Oh yeah, and wear comfortable shoes! The heels are never worth it. Trust me.
For someone else looking to start their own wedding/event planning business, what is the biggest piece of advice you can share?
Stay organized! You are in a customer-facing role and brides will know when you’re unprepared or unsure. And ask for help in the wedding planning community! We are here to share our experiences to help you out and help you save money. Learn from our mistakes!
What are 3 of your favorite venues in the Atlanta area for private events?
Summerour: It is gorgeous, huge, and a blank slate, which is fantastic in this industry. More importantly it has the most wonderful staff! I love working with them.
Atlanta Botanical Gardens: The picture possibilities are endless here. I’ve seen couples spend hours on photos, and they all turned out amazingly. It’s also nice because you can have space for an intimate, small ceremony or something bigger depending on where you book.
Serenbe: This is one of the coolest places for a wedding. We had goats sneak bites of flowers and roosters crowing, definitely two things I never thought I’d encounter. It was quirky but also incredibly beautiful. And again, the staff there was amazing.
Stephanie Andersen and her team at Carolyn A. Events can help you plan the perfect wedding or event. Visit her website for more information!
