Wedding Assistant 101
On a wedding day there is so much that goes into what happens behind the scenes. So many of my couples only see me throughout their day so they don’t get to see what our assistants are doing to get the vendor team and space ready for the celebration. Today our associate Kristen is chiming in on the most important aspects of being a wedding assistant.
Getting to be a wedding assistant is the most rewarding! While the lead planner envisions and strategically makes the bride’s dream come true, while as the assistant, I get to implement every aspect of the day that has been so meticulously planned. While I envision motherhood will one day be the most rewarding job, being a wedding assistant, watching the bride walk down the aisle, the couple sharing their first dance, and everything in between is such a rewarding feeling to me!
The wedding assistant works on all things behind the scenes! While the lead planner is getting the bride dressed and ready with hair and makeup and doing assisting on the pre-ceremony photos, the assistant is busy making sure all scenes are set. This includes the ceremony site, the cocktail hour space, and the reception area. While the planner has had everything organized and planned perfectly, the assistant is there to make sure nothing goes ‘haywire’... and this task is a lot easier said than done! There are 4 main tasks the wedding assistant is responsible for:
Working with vendors: Working with the vendors is probably my favorite part of the job, besides being a part of the biggest day in someone’s life, of course! They are your support system, the same way you are theirs throughout the entire day / evening. From set up, to guest arrivals, to dinner being served, to break down and clean up at the end of the night - you are one team!
Showing guests where to go and being able to answer all questions they may have: From crazy Aunt Suzy who needs to see the bride right away, to fun (and usually drunk) second-cousin Jim who’s asking where the bar is and if it’s open, we are responsible for getting everyone to the ceremony site and seated so the bride is able to walk down the aisle at 5:00pm sharp! This is a fun task too, only because you see it all and always come out with a good story or two!
Being one step ahead on timeline: While everyone is watching the ceremony, you are with the bartenders at cocktail hour making sure the bar is completely stocked and ready to go with drinks pre-poured, no one handles waiting for a drink well! Then while everyone is at cocktail hour, you are recounting chairs at the reception to make sure every table has the correct number and reviewing with the DJ or band what songs to play and how to announce the newlyweds, while the planner is going around making sure every detail is correct, photos are being taken, and helping the bride bustle her dress.
Always appearing calm and smiling: Sometimes this task is easy to forget in the chaos, but it is oh so important to ensure the bride, groom, and guests can enjoy their day!
There is a lot that goes into a wedding behind the scenes and we are so happy to have a team that enjoys every aspect of the planning process and being with our couples on the day to make their dreams come true.
