I’m so excited to share the following interview and photos with you! Chelsea Rose is an amazing wedding consultant (the title she prefers) who is transitioning from working for an event space to running her own freelance consulting business. Chelsea was my wedding consultant and I must say that my wedding day would have been tumultuous without her there. When I arrived at my wedding space the day of, the venue (Lofty Spaces) had been completely transformed and looked more beautiful than I could have ever imagined (with my permission, she changed the ceremony location which ended up being a MUCH better place). She also dealt with all of the vendors throughout the day. It turns out that our caterers never came to pick up their serving trays and utensils, and no one in my family even knew about it! I’m so glad I didn’t have to deal with all of those little hiccups on my wedding day.
I think you’ll be surprise to learn all the different levels of services offered by wedding planners – they aren’t just for big, grandiose weddings. The DIY bride can benefit as well!
How did you get involved in the wonderful world of weddings?
The short answer is I followed a desire in my heart, placed there, first by God and reinforced by Martin Short and Jennifer Lopez. The summer between my 2nd and 3rd year of college, I landed a job assistant coordinating up to three wedding a week at a Lakeside venue in Grapevine, TX. Word of my sincere enjoyment of the planning and coordinating process spread to newly engaged ladies, and before I knew it I was involved in the planning process for more weddings than I could count. This is my passion. I am blessed to be able to see it through from hobby to career.
I feel like more brides would hire a wedding coordinator if they knew more about the range and scope of their services. Can you give us an example of what you offer, and how you cater to specific budgets?
Wedding Professionals are there to make your dream come true. You have one, let us help you. Here are many different levels of involvement for such professionals. There are planners that can walk you through each and every detail from invitations to catering to the getaway vehicle. Day of Coordination leads the set up process and makes sure each area of the ceremony and reception go off with a limited amount of hitches. Consultants can hit each and every one of these areas. If you simply need some guidance or want to take advantage of the resources a professional has, this is a good route. Hiring wedding help does not have to be expensive. The price, depending on amount of involvement, is generally directly related to the overall cost of the wedding and a percentage is taken out for the service. I have worked nearly every price range of wedding, and there is always a cost effective, buyer friendly way to incorporate a “wedding aide,” if you will.
What does a wedding day look like in the life of a wedding coordinator?
My main focus? Keeping the bride as happy and on Cloud Nine as possible. I want her to have full confidence in me. I do not stop moving from Set up to tear down. Except during the ceremony, for a just a bit, I stop and look at the beautiful display of love and devotion that is taking place at the front of the room. That moment is what motivates me to bring the entire event full circle.
What is a common misconception that brides have about their wedding day?
Many brides get caught up in the details. That’s my job. You go marry the love of your life and have fun. I have heard so many stories about bride-to-bes anticipating a stressful affair. My heart aches for them. It is my role to transfer your stress to my job. I WANT your day to be a joyous affair in hindsight.
What do you think is the best way for the bride and groom to enjoy their wedding day as much as possible?
My first rule of thumb on this subject is to keep them fed. It breaks my heart when a couple tells me that they paid for all this wonderful food, but never got to taste it. I personally make sure the bride and groom get the first crack at all the edible portions of the event. Second, I intend to thoroughly discuss “business matters” prior to the wedding. Yes, there will be times that I’ll need to ask some quick questions to make sure everything is going their way, but for the most part, I would like to have all the nitty gritty taken care of beforehand, so I can do my job and they can just relax.
How would you describe the style of your work?
My style is entirely YOU driven. I like to meet with the couple to just get a sense of their chemistry and personalities. When I have a better understand of their love story, I can better accomplish their goals. After all, isn’t that a wedding? A reflection of the continuing journey these two people have decided to enjoy together. Every couple is different, and they want different things, I want to do my very best to reflect that.
I have come to a point in my [healthy] obsession with weddings, where I can picture a ceremony nearly ANYWHERE. My inspiration, as cheesy as it sounds, is love and pretty things. I frequent wedding and crafty blogs, searching for ideas. I also enjoy looking at a couple’s engagement pictures to pull ideas from.
Do you have a favorite wedding coordinator memory?
To date, my favorite coordinating moment was listening to a voicemail from Teresa “the Cake Lady” on my way to the Denver Airport. I was about to catch a flight to attend and coordinate the wedding of my dear friend, Amanda Daniels (hey wait, that’s me!). As I sifted through day-of details, returned the call, and practiced my best “coordinator voice,” I realized, “This is real. I’m not holding a pretend wedding in my childhood room, barking orders to my pets and stuffed animals. I am actually living my fantasy.”
What do you love most about your job?
I love telling a story. I love when all the details come together and you hear a guest say, “That is SO them!” If you cannot see the story in the details, I have not done my job. I also simply love doing things for other people. Nothing brings my heart more joy than when I lend a helping hand. If I can help you tell your love story in a few hours and a meal, I’m happy.
Thanks, Chelsea Rose, for your insight into the wedding planning industry and what it can offer brides of all budgets and styles. So interesting, and I love your passion for the industry!
If you are interested in contacting Chelsea about her services, you can contact her at chelseasummerrose@gmail.com
by Amanda
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