In the wedding world, this time of year is busiest with client meetings. With many people getting engaged over the holidays I get more inquiries in January and February then just about any other month. So with so many people planning weddings, I thought I would offer up some help here on my blog. In the next couple of weeks check back to see some behind the scenes photos from some of my favorite Victoria wedding vendors and read what they  have to say about wedding planning and their jobs. So without further adieu, I’ll introduce Barb, from French Kiss Events:

What inspired you to become a wedding planner?

My love of weddings began with my first job when I was 13, at a local B&B that hosted weddings on the weekends.  I instantly fell in love with the “magic” of weddings.  “Magic” that is created through beautiful flowers, delicious food, stunning gowns, lively music…and of course, love!  After graduating from business school, I found myself consistently dreaming of weddings, and that “magic” I first discovered at 13.  It didn’t take me long to decide that helping couples create a day that was completely unique to them was my calling, and so here I am today!

What is your process when meeting with new clients?

My favorite way to first meet with clients is to just spend time getting to know each other over a cup of coffee, and of course, talk wedding! One of my first questions I ask every new couple I meet with is “what are your top 3 priorities?”  Everyone has different opinions as to what is most important, and where they want to spend their money.  So whether it is photography, food & drinks or flowers, music & venue, I like to make sure I have a strong understanding of my clients interests & values, as these help me figure out what type of celebration they are after.

How far in advance should couples start meeting with planners?

As soon as possible! I absolutely love working with couples from the very beginning of the wedding planning, as I find it is the easiest way to ensure that the overall planning & vision are cohesive from start to finish. Also, one of the big secrets of a wedding planner is that we help save you money.  So many people think it is the other way around, but we understand how budgets work, where to save money, and who will fit within your budget. So the sooner you start to meet with your planner, the better.

How do you stay inspired?

I am a total Pinterest addict, as well as I follow a slew of daily wedding blogs that really get my creative juices flowing!  My favourite way to stay inspired though is to partner with other wedding vendors, to put together styled shoots.  When given the creative freedom, it is so amazing what we can come up with together, and I am always blown away by the ideas that come out of inspiration meetings with other vendors!

Where would you like to be in five years?

Planning weddings, obviously!  More specifically though, I hope to be at a point where I am only taking on full planning & design weddings.  I absolutely love getting to know my couples throughout their engagement, and find that I do my best work when I can highlight their amazing personalities through all the small details & design elements.  I am also really looking forward to having a few associate planners on my team in the future,  allowing the creative services I offer to be even more diverse!

And here are a few shots of Barb in action at a wedding she coordinated last summer. Rook and Rose was also on site and I will be posting their interview later this week:

If you are interested in getting in touch with Barb, you can! Right here.