On today’s episode, Danielle and Sara talk to the very talented wedding planner Courtney Smith. Courtney has owned and operated All Things Prim & Proper Events with her husband, Cory, since 2015. They are a turn-key wedding planning business that plans, decorates, coordinates rentals, and takes care of everything you need so that you can enjoy your big day to the fullest. Courtney uses her creativity and eye for detail to design one-of-a-kind events for her clients, and is passionate about making sure each wedding is a unique reflection of the couple.

Courtney shares some of her best tips and tricks for both brides and vendors, and explains why hiring a professional wedding planner is so important. She talks about the pros and cons of a backyard wedding, using Pinterest to inspire ideas rather than trying to replicate the pictures exactly, and why you should never sacrifice your vision to accommodate a large guest list. Courtney describes her dream wedding to plan, and reminds listeners to give their guests an experience to remember by including fun features like live music, bouncy castles, and food trucks. Courtney’s husband, Cory, joins the show to help tell their wedding planning horror story, and they talk to Danielle and Sara about their experiences being ghosted by both clients and vendors. Today’s conversation highlights the importance of having open communication with your vendors, and using a professional to help enhance your wedding vision in ways you never thought possible, all while getting to enjoy your special day completely stress-free.

You can learn more about Courtney, Cory, and All Things Prim & Proper by visiting www.PrimAndProperEvents.com. And make sure to follow Not Your Pinterest Wedding Podcast on Instagram, where you can ask questions, share stories, and suggest topics for future episodes. You can also check out Danielle’s Floral Design company at RuffledWillow.com, as well as Sara’s gorgeous barn wedding locale at BurdocFarms.com. Thanks for listening!

Episode Highlights:

• All Things Prim & Proper Events is a turn-key wedding planning business that began in 2015
• Courtney and her husband, Cory, plan, decorate, coordinate rentals, and take care of whatever you need
• They pay close attention to the details and want to make sure your wedding is different from everyone else’s
• She has worked at all different kinds of venues, including a football field and cow pasture
• Pros and cons of backyard wedding - weather can be unpredictable, but wedding planner can help you pivot when the unexpected happens
• Backyard weddings involve a lot more amenities and logistics than people realize
• Wedding planners have the knowledge and experience to know where you want to spend your money, which details to take care of - some you may never have thought about
• A lot of couples who decide to have a backyard wedding want to incorporate a sentimental piece of land
• It also allows you to use the venue for multiple days
• National average cost for a wedding is $35,000
• Don’t sacrifice the wedding you want just to accommodate a large guest list
• Breaking down the cost per guest (usually $100/person) helps you narrow down whether you really need to invite certain people
• Hiring a wedding planner allows you and your family to fully soak in your day and not worry about the stress leading up to the event
• What to do if bride doesn't want to relinquish control
• Courtney sees herself as an...