Ask the Expert

JN: Do the planning now. Whether you’re getting married in seven weeks or seventeen months, get your ceremony, reception, photographer, and florist booked right away. That way, you know you’re going to have who you really want to work with, and then everything else can fall into place. Don’t leave it to the last minute; you want your engagement time to be one of the most enjoyable times of your life.

WG: Do you work mainly with brides, or are you seeing more grooms get involved?    

JN: I would say the majority is brides. For the younger brides, I’m definitely working with their mothers, too. I do have some grooms that get involved, and it’s really refreshing. I have nothing against the ones that don’t, but it’s fun to see a couple at a florist appointment holding hands, and the groom knowing every point in the wedding planning.

WG: Are you seeing a trend toward bigger, extravagant weddings or toward more simple yet elegant affairs? 

JN: My motto is to always be elegant and swank. I think the trend is toward more decadent weddings. Every wedding is different, and I say every wedding is decadent, no matter what the budget. Whether it’s $18,000 or $400,000, you work within their budget and you help create a look that is not cheap-looking but is rich and full. There are ways to make a room look gorgeous.

WG: What are some ways couples can personalize their wedding to make it a reflection of who they are?

JN: I have a lot of couples that are not doing table numbers; they’re naming the table after a country or city they have been to together. On the front of the card it might say “Napa Valley, California,” and on the back there might be a description of why they named this table Napa and what significance it has for the couple. It’s creative, and it brings that personal touch. I worked with another bride and groom who, instead of giving favors, donated to their four favorite charities. 

WG: What’s one of the most unusual things you’ve been asked to do for a wedding?

JN: At one wedding, the couple wanted to release monarch butterflies to honor parents or spouses that were deceased. I had 34 days until the wedding, and monarchs take 30 days to grow. I found the Sassyfrass Butterfly Ranch in Little Falls, Minnesota, and I had three dozen monarch butterflies overnighted and drop-shipped to my office door the day before the wedding. People at the wedding were then able to open these little envelopes and release the butterflies. It was very sentimental and emotional for the bride and groom.

WG: Of all the weddings you’ve coordinated, do you have any favorites?

JN: Many weddings have been favorites because of the endless budgets, others because of the originality of the plans, yet others because the couple and their family welcomed me into their lives as a friend. I have been fortunate to have some amazing clients.

WG: What’s your favorite part of wedding planning? 

JN: Two parts: First, meeting the couple for the first time and hearing about their love story, how they met, and the plans they envision for their wedding. Second, jumping all the way to the wedding day and seeing the bride walk down the aisle and making eye contact with the groom. I cry every time.

Joan Nilsen is the owner of Ambiente Wedding and Event Planning. Visit ambientegroup.com or call 612-285-2955.