I know we say this a lot on Apple Brides, but we think every bride should seriously consider a wedding planner or event stylist! They are able to take your vision and help make it into a reality, and can save you lots of time, stress, and even money! Today we have an interview from the lovely Pam, owner of Romancing the Stone Styling!
How long have you been planning/ styling events?
I have been very blessed to have been planning and designing events for about 30 years. Because I own a wedding venue, it is a natural to want to help my brides incorporate a bit of their style to the most important day of their lives.
What made you decide to go into weddings?
I taught myself to decorate wedding cakes about 34 years ago and thus my entrance into the wedding world was born. Weddings are as diverse as the people who have them. It is a day to celebrate two people coming together as one. I have always been a hopeless romantic and really believe two people really deserve to share this special and romantic day of two families coming together as well. I have always loved to design, homes, nurseries, parties, weddings, etc.
Why should brides consider hiring a wedding planner/ stylist?
It is very important to know where you are going with your wedding plans. Do you feel that you need direction in incorporating your personality to your event with grace and continuity? Some brides just need someone to help them achieve a certain look and help with hiring their vendors. Other brides want to turn it over completely to have their stylists help them book all their vendors and incorporate those little extra ideas and touches that fit their hopes and dreams. It is a stylists job to help them figure out how to pull off those extra touches in a way that fits into their budget. It is also my job to come up with unique ideas for a couple that is all their own. You should also consider that a great stylist will in the long run help you save money by her expertise in directing you to competent vendors and to those who will serve you best on your special day.
What range of services do you offer?
I offer my services in all aspects, depending on what a bride is expecting and what her needs are. I can be involved as much as she wants or as little as she wants. I even go so far as to craft with my brides and create magic with or without them. It is all about my client and what their dreams are.
What is your favorite part of the planning/ styling process?
I would have to say one of my favorite things about styling is getting to know my couples on a more intimate basis. Spending extra time with them and watching their faces light up when they see the finished product. I am a very creative minded person and to have dreams come true right before my very eyes is quite an honor. I also adore creating inspirational photo shoots for visuals for brides to consider. I recently was invited to Ibiza, Spain to style a photo workshop with Miss Megan Robinson Photography and that was a thrill of a lifetime.
How will your experience in weddings help the wedding plans go smoother?
Having someone in your court who has over 30 years of experience in this industry is a tremendous asset. Knowing most everyone in the wedding business in our area helps so much in planning and executing a big event like a wedding. Organization is a key factor in planning your day. I feel that I am a master at design and organizational skills. I can connect you to the right vendors for your vision in a matter of minutes. Money is saved by time and the right connections. I have styled and hosted over 1500 weddings in my career. I just met with a bride today who had purchased 6 bridesmaids dresses that were not at all what she expected and cannot return them. Had she allowed me to help her get to the right vendors for her needs, this would not of happened.
How do you come up with the concept of a wedding theme for your clients?
I offer a 2 hour styling session for my potential clients and we sit down to lunch or dinner and just get to know one another. I am looking for little things they say to one another, nicknames, things that mean something to them, and ultimately their story. I also love to hear how long they have known one another, how long they have dated, and how he proposed to her. Through all of this information comes inspiration for their romantic beginning!
Will you travel?
Oh YES, this girl travels, especially out of the country!
For more information about Romancing the Stone Styling, please check out the website!
Thank-you Applebrides for your encouragement and wonderful help to our local couples.
LOVE that you posted this. I find that brides have no idea what a stylist does and then gets really upset when their planner was great at executing the PLAN but not making it pretty. Who makes it pretty? If you have an eye for design as a planner that’s lovely, but not all do. I just did a wedding show and had THE planner in town come to me and ask for me to work with her this year because she WILL do the pretty, but she doesn’t enjoy it, and she wants somebody who not only understands the draping of fabric but knows HOW to put together all the details to make the event sing! To have the experience to plan AND create a reality out of a vision or out of a mood board or out of a dream the bride has had since she was five is a talent that is good to have access to.
Thank-you Andrea for weighing in on what a stylist does. There are really so many clients who are not sure exactly what we do. I love you phrasing about putting the pretty into your event. Planners, coordinators, and stylists are very different in their roles. It is sometimes a possibility to tap into all 3 in one person but never take for granted that this will happen. Make sure to see photos, references, and get a good feel for the persons past work.
Pam is the best of the best! I’m so lucky to have worked with her!
I love and adore Meg, the feeling is so mutual!
What a great way to tell the story.