Vendor Spotlight: Loulie Walker Events

Our next vendor spotlight is Loulie Walker Events. We just love the designs this company produces and emailing Loulie first hand was a pleasure. She was kind and very helpful. Above are just a handful of photos of their beautiful work. For more info on this wonderful company, visit there website here.

We asked Loulie some questions that all brides should ask their wedding planners. See below for answers.

1. How many weddings has she planned?
We are a small boutique planning firm and as such we plan no more than two weddings per month so that we can devote the necessary time to each client. Oftentimes our weddings are two to three day affairs and we are hired to plan wedding related events such as the welcome dinner, rehearsal dinner, day of lunch as well as daytime activities. I take the lead in all planning and work one-on-one with our brides.

2. Can she work within my budget?
We work with a range of budgets and have extensive relationships with a number of vendors. Typically we present two to three vendors in each category (catering, décor, photography, entertainment) at various price points. We handle all vendor proposal solicitation and contract negotiation to ensure that our clients receive the best service for the best possible price. As a planner, I have a working knowledge of what vendors’ services cost, can suggest ways to save, and work to ensure that there are no surprise costs the day of the wedding. We also maintain the event budget and coordinate the vendor payment schedule.

3. What is her fee? Is it a flat fee, a percentage of the wedding, an hourly rate, etc.?
We charge a flat fee based on the wedding size, location and scope of details involved. The fee covers all meetings, phone calls, emails. For destination weddings, the fee includes three site visits (time spent). Travel, accommodations, and time spent for additional site visits if necessary, are additional.

4. What is included in her fee -- all phone calls, meetings, e-mails, etc.?
See above.

5. Will she make a checklist of all the items I need to accomplish?
Traditionally, the role of a planner is two-fold. There is both the planning of the wedding and then the orchestrating of the actual day. Once the wedding date has been determined, we put together a detailed planning timeline outlining what needs to be done, by whom and by when.

6. Will she create a timeline for the wedding day?
Absolutely, the wedding day timeline is the blueprint for the wedding day. The timeline outlines the entire day beginning with vendor load in and installation at the ceremony and reception sites, includes the bridal party’s hair & makeup schedule, timing for the groom as well, the entire ceremony and reception (cocktails, dinner, first dances, cake cutting), and finally vendor break down and load out. Abbreviated customized versions of the timeline are given to each vendor as well as the bridal party. An organized timeline ensures a seamless day for everyone involved.

7. Does she have an assistant who will work with her at my wedding?
Yes the number of staff is determined by the size and details of each wedding. We have an amazing team on-site at each event.

8. Can she recommend vendors who fit my budget and style?
See #2.

9. What will she take care of -- finding vendors? Invitations? Favors?
We offer full-service customized wedding planning – beginning with determining the appropriate ceremony and reception venue/s, putting together the vendor team, managing the team throughout the planning process, and finally orchestrating the wedding day itself. No detail is too small.

10. Will she review vendor contracts with me?
See #2.

11. Can she help me with etiquette issues that may arise?
Yes, as a planner I wear so many different hats – that of coordinator, advocate, financial planner, scheduler, manager, and definitely etiquette advisor. With regard to etiquette, times have changed and the “rules” are being re-defined by every bride. We do not plan traditional weddings, rather we incorporate various traditions into each wedding without being traditional.

13. Is she planning other weddings on the same day or weekend as mine?
This is an important question to ask prospective wedding planners as you interview candidates. The best way to begin the wedding planner search process is to ask for personal referrals – speak to your friends, co-workers, family. Get a feel from those who have been through the process before as to how their planner worked. Next, do your research. The internet has made it simple to view the online portfolios of wedding planners and to get a feel for who they are, how they work, their list of services, etc. It is important to remember while viewing a planner’s portfolio, that their work should be diverse and varied. Each wedding should be a reflection of the couple, not the planner. Be sure to interview several candidates as personality is as important as one’s attention to detail. A bride/couple will be spending a great deal of time throughout their entire engagement period with their planner and must feel absolutely comfortable with them. Questions to ask a prospective planner include,
• What type of services do they offer (full service or day of)?
• How many weddings do they work on each month? Might they have another wedding on your wedding day? Advise against working with a planner that would have more than one wedding on the same day!
• Do they work on a commission basis (essentially accepting a referral fee for recommending you to a vendor)? We do not work on a commission basis – do not believe there should be any financial incentive to working with certain vendors, rather we present vendors to each client based on their particular wedding style, sensibilities and personality.
• As for references.

14. Can she help me plan the rehearsal dinner, post-wedding brunch or shower? Is there an additional cost for these parties?
Oftentimes we will plan wedding related events such as the rehearsal dinner and day after brunch – each event carries its own planning fee.

15. Will she coordinate with all the vendors the day of the wedding -- handling all deliveries and overseeing the set-up?
See #6. Vendor load in and installation is a key part of the wedding day. Certain venues are especially challenging – for example, public spaces such as museums are open to the public and vendors are only able to enter the space a few hours prior to an event’s start time. Load in must unfold like clock work in order to ensure that everything is ready in time for guest arrival.

16. How accessible is she? How often does she expect to meet with me?
I am as accessible as our clients need me to be – many of our couples work full time so we often meet in the evenings or during the weekend. I have to have a flexible schedule in order to accommodate my clients.

17. Will she help me find my wedding dress and attire for the other members of the bridal party?
Yes we have relationships with a number of bridal salons here and around the country, as well as bridesmaid dress boutiques, and can refer our brides. While I do not necessarily attend the initial dress appointments, I do require that I attend the final dress fitting as it is important for me to know the structure or architecture of the dress, as well as how the bustle works.

18. Has she worked with any of the vendors I've already hired?
Oftentimes we will have worked with a particular vendor before but part of the reason I love what I do is the opportunity to discover new talent among vendors. New York City in particular is so rich in resources, there is always a fabulous new talent be it a photographer or caterer. I would advise a bride not to be concerned should their planner not have worked with a certain vendor before – always good to have new personalities in the mix and one certainly does not want a planner who works with the same vendors again and again almost by formula.

19. Does she provide a wedding day emergency kit?
Yes we have an emergency kit on site with us. It includes bobby pins, diaper pins (great should a bride’s bustle give), chalk, hand wipes, nail scissors, band aids, baby powder, Tide pen, tissues.

20. If I give her payment envelopes, can she pay each of my vendors?
We handle the distribution of all vendor gratuities at the event.

21. How much is the deposit I'll need to leave?
We require a 50% non-refundable deposit due upon contract signing. Each client then has a payment schedule determined by their wedding date. Final balance is due two weeks prior to the event date.

22. When is the balance due?
See #22.