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Wedding Planning or Coordinating What is Right For You? We have worked in the wedding industry full-time for the past seven years. From the beginning, it was evident why couples should invest in professional guidance to make their big day run smoothly. At the first wedding show we participated in in Richmond, Virginia, a mom regaled us with the story of spending a large amount of money on her son’s wedding, which they thought they could design, plan, and manage themselves. To make a long story bearable, the mom said they had made a huge mistake because all she did at the wedding was work, and there was zero enjoyment! For her daughter’s wedding, she made sure to have professional assistance so that they could enjoy the day. That story resonated with us as we moved from solely being wedding floral designers into the realm of wedding planning and coordinating. This raises a huge question that our couples often ask, “Do we need a wedding planner or coordinator?” Since we are involved with upward of 50 weddings a year, the answer is easy for us to arrive at, but if you have never planned a wedding before, the answer may not be as evident. Full Planning There are many benefits to having a full wedding planner. They are with you through every step of your wedding journey and will gently guide you in decisions about almost every aspect of your wedding day. Over the years, we have guided clients about everything from wedding venues to pocket squares. Full wedding planning is for couples who: Are unsure where to start. The thrill of being engaged is often followed by the overwhelming feeling of “What do I do now?” Wedding planners have many contacts in the wedding and event industry. We KNOW where to start and can carefully guide you in developing a vision of the perfect wedding and making it a reality. Do not have enough time. Today, most of our couples are young professionals beginning very busy careers. They do not need the added work of wedding planning on an already overfull plate. We have known couples who equate planning a wedding to having another full-time job, so let a planner alleviate that pressure and do the job for you. Are not living in the area. Many couples have grown up or attended university in our area but have begun careers far away. Since we are familiar with wedding venues, vendors, and suppliers throughout Virginia, Washington D.C., and Maryland, we can offer “local” expertise to serve as a couple’s eyes, ears, and point of contact where the wedding will occur. Are budget-minded. As wedding planners, we can quote the costs of tents, napkins, floral designs, and many other wedding elements in our sleep. As counterintuitive as it seems, hiring a wedding planner can keep you focused on a budget. Need stress management. Planning a wedding, the biggest party you will ever throw for yourself can be stressful. A professional who has dealt with hundreds of weddings can lessen the stress. Truly want to enjoy their wedding day. As full planners, we have had a hand in every aspect of your wedding day and know it by heart. The amount of ownership by proxy that we feel will be on you that day motivates us to ensure that every little detail is addressed and that the day runs smoothly. "I could not possibly give a more raving review for Joseph and Robert (Riverwood Designs) if I tried! They are kind, passionate, organized, knowledgeable, patient, and have all the best connections! ...Brides - if you are getting married in VA or the mid-Atlantic you need them planning and styling/beautifying your wedding!! Also, supremely lovely people with fantastic taste"! - Julia G. - John Marshall Ballrooms, Richmond, VA Partial Planning Some couples have experience in the wedding or event industry or have gotten started planning their wedding before they contact us. They need help and focus to ensure their vision for their wedding day becomes a reality. Partial planning is perfect for couples who: Know where to begin. Some couples have been involved in a friend or family member’s wedding and hit the ground running right after the engagement. We know that going to a venue visit soon after your engagement is super fun and exciting. We applaud that head start but realize that momentum is difficult to maintain. As partial planners, we will pick up the ball when the reality of day-to-day life settles back in. Have time to find a venue and vet some vendors. Many couples do have the time to work on their weddings, and that process is fun for some people (we enjoy it!). As partial planners, we can offer vendor suggestions and help fill in the blanks for you. Are budget-minded. Just like with full planning, as partial planners, we can help ensure you stay on budget. Partial planners are your sounding board and second or third pair of eyes as you negotiate with vendors and sign contracts. Need stress management. As partial planners, we will remove some of the stress of planning your big day, and of course, we will be there on the day of your wedding to ensure that you have a stress-free day. Genuinely want to enjoy their day. We will be present on your wedding day to ensure everything we have worked on together runs perfectly. Because of the relationship we have built with you, we will have no concerns about what "Thanks to Joseph, everything went off without a single hitch. He is so good at what he does and also brings such peaceful, warm energy that makes the execution feel effortless. I’m sure little things came up the day-of the event but we didn’t hear about it and had a marvelous time". - Shilpa C. - Gallison Hall, Charlottesville, VA Coordinating Wedding coordinating is a slightly different relationship between the couple and the professionals. As coordinators, we are the “guides on the side” as the couple plans their wedding. We have fewer virtual or in-person meetings with the couple, but we still want to build a strong working relationship to make the couple feel comfortable and at ease. The couple is responsible for finding, securing, and managing all vendors. We will work with you to create a timeline, provide it to all vendors the week of the wedding, and work with them exclusively on your wedding day. We don’t want anyone to ask the wedding couple or their family questions on the wedding day. That is what we are there for! We are your agents and advocates! We understand the allure of DIY, but DIY comes with a cost: stress and hard work. You don’t want to be stressed and working on your wedding day, and you shouldn’t want your friends and family to be either. Wedding coordinating costs a small percentage of the wedding budget, but we know this will be some of the best money you spend. Wedding Coordinating is for couples who: Know exactly where to begin. Some couples have innate or learned expertise in the wedding and event industry. They know exactly where to find every vendor they need, and they feel confident negotiating with them. Know precisely what they want. Some couples have every detail of their wedding planned out in their heads for years. These couples find joy in making those plans come to fruition. Have time. As mentioned before, wedding planning can be a full-time job. Some couples have time to devote to planning every detail of their wedding, and they feel confident in crafting a great experience for their guests. Who don’t want to be stressed at their wedding. Our coordinating clients turn over the reigns of their wedding at their rehearsal (usually the day before). After that, we will provide a stress-free wedding for them. Who want to enjoy their wedding. Having someone coordinate your wedding day will help ensure that you get to enjoy the day. As wedding coordinators, we are experts in running an event. Our detailed timelines that are created with your input make certain that the day runs smoothly. "I was initially hesitant to hire a coordinator because I didn’t know what they did, and I’ve heard other people say they didn’t feel like their coordinator did anything, but I am SO SO happy we hired Riverwood Designs. The peace of mind they provided alone made it worth it, and then, on top of everything, they were extremely kind". - Alicia G, bride - Hotel Washington, Washington DC.