Advice from a Wedding Planner – Alexis Yapp from Surreal Eventing

I have had the pleasure of working with Alexis from Surreal Evening on a few weddings and I can honestly say she is more than a wedding planner. She is a bride’s best friend! Thanks Alexis for taking the time to offer my readers your valuable wedding planning advice.

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Tell us a little bit about yourself ….

I am a passionate, outgoing, calm, perfectionist who is very organized –  maybe a little OCD! I am a meticulous person and nothing is too big or small and I am happy to help with anything, and no is never my first answer! I will always see what I can do for you.

I have been involved with functions for over 9 years now, everything from team building, Christmas lunches, year end and award functions, weddings, birthday parties and so much more. David and I are a great team and I think that is what makes my job so much easier, having your partner, husband and best friend right beside you every day is a real win

How did you land up in this profession?

My Husband has been involved in the wedding industry for 25 years and over the past 7 years we started assisting brides and grooms with their weddings so we decided to branch out and start a wedding planning and co-ordination business.

What do you love most about working on a wedding?

I love the unique individuals I get to work with, every couple is different and want different things. I love a challenge and if they have seen something specific that they want I will make it a reality.

Who is your ideal client?

Hard to say, but it is definitely easier working with a couple that know what they want and can make decisions.

What is your role in the lead-up to the wedding and on the day itself?

My husband refers to me as the “paid bridesmaid” as I am with the bride every step of the way, I go along to dress fittings, make-up and hair trials and basically on call 24 hours a day.

What is the difference between a wedding co-ordinator, a wedding planner and a venue co-ordinator?

A wedding co-ordinator assists the bridal couple on their wedding day to ensure a smooth running of the day from start to finish, they are there to put out any fires.

A wedding planner plans every detail from start to finish, everything from recommending service providers to décor advice.

A venue co-ordinator is responsible for the behind the scene elements of the wedding e.g. stocking of the bar, quality of food, ensuring the venue is nothing but perfect etc.

Any tips for couples that are about to go out there and choose a wedding venue?

Choose a venue that suits you as a couple, your venue should reflect your personalities. Make sure that the venue is open and honest with you from the beginning and that there are no hidden expenses. If your venue is out of town ensure that there is enough accommodation for your guests. Don’t be afraid to choose a unique venue most of the time they are better than the popular venues.

What advice would you give to a bride when choosing a theme for her wedding day?

Your wedding theme should reflect you as a couple your different personalities should come out. I find that my couples choose décor and flowers based on what they like, don’t be afraid to combine themes, this is always fun and unique.

Any wedding no nos?

Don’t be late for your ceremony, 10 minutes is acceptable. There is nothing worse than keeping your guests waiting.

Don’t get drunk before the service, it’s ok to have a glass off champagne with your girls before the service to calm your nerves but not the bottle!

Don’t keep your guest waiting too long when you have photos. Ensure that there is some music playing and they have some snacks and drinks to keep them occupied.

What are the latest trends out there when it comes to weddings these days?

Food truck or food stations – lots of unique ideas here.

Patterns are very trendy at the moment.

Less is more.

Any vital budget tips that you can share?

Be realistic when setting your budget and once you have set it stick to it, don’t allow yourself to add unnecessary elements to your wedding, this will just create tension between you. Understand that you might have to adjust your budget slightly as you go along.

What advice would you give to a bride to ensure that her wedding is the wedding of her dreams.

Choose your wedding suppliers carefully, they will ensure that your day is nothing but the best. Research as much as you can, download pictures so your décor and flowers suppliers know exactly what you want.

You can contact Alexis on alexis@surrealeventing.co.za and here is a link to their Facebook Page

1 Comment

  1. Labola - Lindy Fourie on June 22, 2013 at 4:19 am

    Stunning new website and post on Alexis Jacki everything you touch is amazing. You ladies are tremendous assets to this industry. Looking forward to working with you both in August.
    xoxo



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