Q&A
1. How did you become a wedding planner, and what inspired you to choose this career?
I grew up in a family where parties, charity events, and dinners were always on the calendar. I admired my mother’s and father’s hosting skills and found so much joy in creating beautiful evenings for friends and family. I threw myself into the event world full-time after graduating from Ole Miss. I worked for a restaurant group on the Oxford Square, managing rehearsal dinners and cocktail parties. I later accepted the position of Wedding Director at The Mill at Plein Air before branching off to create Taylored Well Events.
2. What wedding trends did you see in 2024?
One of my favorite wedding trends of 2024 was the incorporation of silver balloons and balls for a fun, photo-worthy pop! I would love to see this trend explored in other colors or tonal shades, like greens, reds, and browns (the Pantone color of 2025). I have also loved over-the-top dress codes, Dutch-inspired florals and documentary-style photography. I admire photographers leaning into natural, unposed shots and black-and-white film; it is all very chic!
3. What advice do you have for couples with tight budgets?
For a tight budget, pick what is most important to you and run with it. Then, get creative on how to incorporate the rest. For example, choose a venue with one large room if you care about big, impactful florals. This way, you can spend money on one or two big installations that can be seen all evening. Or, opt for heavy stationary hors d’oeuvres instead of a large dinner, and don’t pass appetizers; that way, you’re paying less for catering staff while still feeding your guests well. Every element plays a role in the budgeting process.
4. Which wedding elements are worth splurging on?
This depends on what the couple values, but in general, a charismatic band and well-placed lighting can make a significant difference in the feel and look of any event.
5. What inspires you to develop fresh ideas for your clients?
I love pulling inspiration from my travels, restaurants, fashion, and individual couples’ interests. One of my favorite weddings involved a groom who didn’t care for cake but loved chocolate milkshakes. He would order them on every trip he took and had a ranking system for his favorites! So, instead of a groom’s cake, we passed homemade chocolate milkshakes, parmesan French fries, and mini burgers around 9 pm when everyone started to feel hungry again. All on silver trays, of course, and it was a smashing hit!
6. What’s the biggest mistake couples make when planning their wedding?
I am, of course, biased, but the biggest mistake a couple can make when planning their wedding is booking all their vendors before hiring a wedding planner. Ideally, a planner helps determine what is most important and then helps book your vendors around that main element to ensure you stay aligned with your vision and within or under budget. We also assist by reading contracts
so you don’t get locked into something you later regret.
7. How do you prepare for weather-related challenges at outdoor weddings?
Always have a rain plan. It may include siding and covered walkways to your tent or an indoor venue you can easily move to if you end up with heavy rain and wind. A tent is a must if there is an open outdoor space. If you put a backup plan into place, chances are you’ll have great weather, but if you don’t have a plan, here comes a storm!
8. How do you help couples infuse their personalities into their wedding?
We have a questionnaire for all new Taylored Well clients that goes over everything we need to know to take their interests, travels, families, favorite foods and love stories and intertwine them into a wedding weekend that reflects them perfectly!
9. What are some examples of personalized touches you’ve helped create?
I love custom food paper with the couple’s monogram or crest. The caterer can use this while passing hors d’oeuvres or at the rehearsal dinner for plating. Another great way to incorporate a personalized touch is through printed products. For example, pulling elements of the invitation suite into the bar menu or using the state’s flower in the floral arrangements at the reception. We’ve also enjoyed naming tables after streets our couples have lived on or their favorite places to travel. Another personalized touch I helped create is from a wedding in June of 2023. The bride had a stunning Martini Liana gown, and we worked with her baker to create a cake design that included hand-formed sugar flowers (from the bride’s dress) cascading down the cake. They
matched her gown beautifully.
10. Do you have a favorite “feel-good” moment from a wedding?
I absolutely love the music during a wedding ceremony. Also, the moment before the bride
walks down the aisle, it’s just the bride, her dad (or the person giving her away), and me. It’s
quiet; they’re both nervous and excited and for a second, it feels like time stands still.
11. Where do you see the wedding industry heading in the next five years?
I hope we continue the trend of weddings becoming more personal and reflective of the couple. There is something lovely and comforting in traditions, but not all traditions fit perfectly with all couples, so it’s nice to feel free to explore other avenues. I love the trend of a long wedding weekend, with a Thursday rehearsal, Friday ceremony, and Saturday reception. I think we’ll start seeing a lot more of that stateside rather than just at destination events! Also, at-home weddings have been going strong since their debut in 2020, and I suspect they’ll continue as they allow for more personalization and flexibility.
