Hi Royals!

The great debate- Should you hire a wedding coordinator or a wedding planner? Before answering this question, let’s quickly define the purpose and significance of each.

Wedding Coordinators: Typically start working with you closer to your actual wedding date. At the initial consultation, they will meet with the couple and discuss basic information and even provide preferred vendor listings. Most wedding coordinators will run your rehearsal and also conduct complete vendor management on your wedding day to ensure everything runs smoothly/according to plan. Some vendors set time constraints and will leave right before cake cutting. Here, at Royal Events & Services, we stay the entire event to ensure there are no issues and most importantly you are able to get your deposit back. The entire day from beginning to end must run smoothly.

Under this umbrella, there are also venue coordinators whom you may be assigned with your venue of choice. Typically, a couple would book their wedding venue let’s say 9- 12 months out. You’ve met the onsite coordinator whom typically is the person whom conducted your site visit. You instantly form a bond with this individual because you recognize him or her as your go to person for any wedding venue questions. What we’ve noticed is 8 times out of 10, by the time your wedding actually does roll around, that person whom you’ve bonded with and hold near and dear, no longer works for that event rental space. The turnover rate is extremely high. In addition, on your actual wedding day, the venue coordinator typically is off duty more than likely immediately after your ceremony ends (if it’s an evening wedding). Which is fine. They worked their shift. The issue is who is going to run the show at the reception and coordinate with your DJ? Who will be there to help you gather your personal items (i.e. flutes, cake knife set, etc.)? Who will ensure you get your deposit back at the end of the night by completing a walk thru to ensure everything looks good as expected?

Wedding Planners:
Full-service wedding planners traditionally are  involved with all aspects of your wedding planning. They are there for budget conversations, recommendations, site visits for prospective venues, and take on an active role in vendor selection.  The purpose of a full service wedding planner is to relieve their clients’ stress by managing all of the little details that can be missed during a process. This requires high levels of organization which is key to the success of planning your special day! They are the sole point of contact for vendors and manage these vendors from inception of a contract through your special day.  

Many wedding planners, such as Royal Events & Services, offer in-house design services while several others wedding planners need to outsource. We have been able to successfully offer florals, rental items, stationary, lighting, and so much more which helps our couples save on bundling as well as reduces the amount of additional vendors to hire. 

To conclude, we’ve provided you the difference of both options, now it’s up to you (as a couple) to decide what do you need to ensure your special day is stress-free, runs smoothly, and in essence, is the happiest day of your lives! Contact Royal Events & Services so we can further discuss!

 Remember that moment you first laid your eyes on that “thing” that made your eyes just widen to its fullest capacity; the “thing” that made you smile from ear to ear with the cheesiest smile like a child ……whatever that “thing” may be to you, that “thing” to us, was that moment we first were introduced to Ivy!!!

Ivy Astoria located in Ybor off of 7^th avenue (former location of Club Fuel) is now open to the public for special event and wedding rentals. She is the newest, hottest, venue in town offering over 15,000 sq. ft. of space allowing for complete transition and flow especially for weddings. We were able to witness how much she’s evolved from day one and friends, she’s a beauty! One of our amazing “friendors” Jennifer S. co-owner alongside her husband Anthony S. (aka Mr. Stone Chef) extended the warm invitation to participate in a styled shoot for the debut of Ivy. We jumped on the opportunity!

What was the inspiration behind the exterior garden-esque look?

In our many inspiration sessions with Jennifer, we expressed the need to showcase the outdoor garden area. Jennifer and Liz (of Liz Kimali Events) began to work diligently and came up with the overall concept. We immediately wanted to create a floral/greenery table runner to cascade down the table. We also wanted to provide that garden like feel so we brought in lots of deflexus (i.e. greenery) and incorporated that into the entire look: the cake table, cocktail tables, etc.

It was a combination of this look and this look. The interior shots allowed us to showcase Ivy’s beauty. The wood floors, the beautiful gorgeous chandeliers, & the beams in the ceiling.

Styled Shoot Concept & Coordination: 

Jennifer Sanschagrin & Liz Kamali Events

Photography: Carrie Wildes Photography

Videography: Ashley Canay Videography

Florals: Royal Events & Services

Lighting/ Pipe & Drape: Music on the Moves DJ

Cake: The Cake Zone

Tables &Chairs/Chargers/China & Flatware: 

A ChairAffair

Longue Furniture: FH Weddings

Foliage: A1 Foliage

Lines: Kate Ryan Linens

Hair & MUA: Eyes on You

Bridal Gowns: The Bride Tampa

 

Lastly, we loved the recap video also created by the talented Ashley Canay of Ashley Canay Videography. Check her work out if you have not already. She’s truly a gem and a pleasure to work with!

Take a peak of the behind scenes footage of the photo shoot she so eloquently captured. 

It’s officially FALL! Yesssss! The leaves are slowly changing colors and falling gracefully to the ground. The cool air will begin to blow and most importantly, wedding season is back in full gear! We want to kick start this month with a beautiful color palette for any October brides out there! 

We’ve selected maroon, peach, and sage-doesn’t that sound like a nice recipe for an adult beverage or something? I know I would like a glass of that, please and thank you! This trio of colors makes for a great fun, whimsical wedding or even traditional/elegant weddings, shoot, this is even perfect for a shabby chic wedding. The best way to pull off both looks comes into play with your floral/centerpiece selections. 

The goal is to try and work in as much natural wood elements to make this come together perfectly….romantically. If we had to select our favorite flower for each color, it would be the following: Maroon= the delicate Dahlias; Peach= The majestic mokara orchid; and Sage= the stunning silver dollar eucalyptus.

Take a look at some vision boards we’ve pulled together and be inspired! Never hesitate to contact us for your event styling, wedding planner, and floral design needs! www.royaleventsservices.com