Page 68 - South Mississippi Living - February, 2017

ROMANCE & WEDDING peace of mind
We spend the beginnings of our adult lives searching for the right person to share the rest of our lives with, all leading up to the big day: the wedding. Chances are, you’ve been dreaming about this day for a long time, and you’ve got some ideas up your sleeve. From color schemes to flowers and the cake, there are a million and one things going on all at once, and having someone there to help can make all the difference.
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster photo by Teddy Lewis
“I would say the biggest benefit of having a wedding planner is peace of mind,” said Amanda Sackett, the planner behind Ardent Engagements. “Your wedding day already goes by so quickly as it is, so you don’t want to be worrying about who makes sure the unity ceremony is setup at the altar or have someone miss out on your walk down the aisle because you needed them to cue people down the aisle and open the doors.”
Wedding planners are amazing at what they do. They’ve done it time and time again, dealt with every possible situation and handled countless hysterical brides with unparalleled grace. Having spent years perfecting the planning and coordinating of weddings and events, your wedding planner is
going to have the knowledge and experience to help make preparing for your wedding as easy as possible.
“What if it’s 100 degrees and the flowers are going to wilt and the cake may melt? A coordinator can help solve any problems that come up, and often will without you ever knowing there was a problem to begin with. A good coordinator is like a secret weapon and a strong right hand.”
While trying to find the perfect coordinator, there are a few questions you should consider. “Does the coordinator have a team or work solo? If a team is involved, will the person you’re meeting with be there your whole wedding day or only oversee certain aspects? You may also want to
find out how many weddings the coordinator takes on at a time, and ask if there are limitations on how often you contact them,” Sackett said.
Choosing your planner is a personal decision, and although there are a lot of wonderful options out there, it ultimately comes
down to finding the one with whom you really click and who understands what’s important to you on your wedding day. “Being
a coordinator for your wedding
is a huge honor and we want to
be your coordinator, but some personalities simply don’t fit,” Sackett concluded. “It’s much better to decide this up front and I promise the coordinator you meet with understands and would rather you have that perfect fit.”
68 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • February 2017
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Kelsey Sunderman-Foster with wedding planner Amanda Sackett.