Featured Business: Coordinately Yours

Ladies & Gentlemen…I’m pleased to introduce Julie Blanner, owner of Coordinately Yours (a MOST brilliant event planning business).  As I am primarily a wedding photographer, and a former Bride, I would like to bring awareness to Coordinately Yours.  Many Brides out there dive into wedding planning, then get about half way through and wonder why they didn’t just elope.  That’s why I’ve interviewed Julie about her lovely business and am sharing with you today.

{Me} What services and/or products does your company offer?

{Julie} We’ve always offered full service coordination, day of coordination and design services, but in 2010, we added ala carte packages {venue recommendations, vendor recommendations, budget development, diy consultations} to accommodate clients with specific needs.

{Me} Tell us about the beginning.  What inspired your business?

{Julie} I was inspired by Ann Lemcke of the Art of Entertaining in St. Louis while working for her.  Her concept was to create food that looked as good as it tasted.  I founded Coordinately Yours in 2002 and vowed to transcend that concept into all faucets of event planning.  Since each client has a unique personality, I wanted to design distinctly different weddings and events for each my clients.  It takes considerably more time and effort to provide individualized service, but doesn’t compromise the integrity of the business model I designed and why I chose event planning.

{Me} What 3 words best represent your business?

{Julie} Innovative. Efficient. Detailed.

{Me} Where do you find inspiration and ideas?

{Julie} Most of my inspiration is derived from non-wedding and event related blogs and websites such as EmersonMade, Anthropologie, Curious Sofa, Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn.  I feel seeking outside inspiration keeps ideas fresh rather than falling into what everyone else is producing.  Of course, a lot of my concepts are “aha” moments that come in the middle of the night and I do a mock up to present to my clients.

{Me} What is your favorite part of your job?

{Julie} I appreciate the opportunity to help people celebrate the happiest moments of their lives.   Creating a celebration to fit my clients’ personalities is extremely rewarding.

{Me} What current trends do you see in your field of specialty?  Good?  Bad?

{Julie} Wedding trends tend to endure longer than they should.  It often takes a year or more before a real wedding trend reaches a magazine and another year before the bride who reads it walks down the aisle…and that’s the best-case scenario.  However, treating your guests well is more memorable than any favor or centerpiece.  I love the “midnight” snack…donuts, milkshakes, sliders, and pizzas.  For the non-cake lovers, cheesecake or pie bars can be a lot of fun.  The best trend is to follow your personality-your guests love you, they’ll love seeing your personalities infused into your day.

{Me} What are some wise tips/suggestions you have for new couples planning a wedding?

{Julie} Relax and take it a day at a time, regardless of the pressure you feel from family, friends and vendors.  Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your wedding shouldn’t be either.  I find that those who rush to plan their wedding in the first month of engagement, usually make decisions that can be costly, they later regret or are bored throughout the next 11 months, wishing they had something left to do.  Somewhat self-promoting, I feel that a day of coordinator is one of the wisest investments you can make in your wedding.  It allows the bride, groom, their family and friends to relax and all for the cost of a wedding cake.

Here’s a little video to illustrate how there is too much to think about when planning a wedding…and how it is a gift to yourself to seek out some help.

Think about it.  A gift to you, from you.

…oh, and as they say…”A happy wife, is a happy life.”  So true, too…it’s a gift to your new husband as well. 🙂

Coordinately Yours Info

www.coordinatelyyours.com

coordinatelyyours@me.com

913.956.8030