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There are brides and grooms who relish every delicious detail of planning their weddings, and there are those who would rather have someone else make all the decisions. Most of us fall somewhere in between these extremes.
It’s our personal passion to keep you on top of the trends, and fill you in on the dos and don’ts of hiring your vendors. And while we’d like to think that we can do it all for you, we know there are some things you have to touch and feel in this life. For this, we give you . . . the “wedding gallery.” “We understand that for many clients, this is the only time they have planned an event of this magnitude and proportion and it can be daunting,” observes Kelly Gill, co-owner of Bright, an Event Gallery. What if you could visit one place and learn about the latest floral design ideas, pick out your table linens and review the work of several top-notch wedding photographers? And what if you could consult with an event planner during the process? Perhaps nail down exactly what atmosphere you’d like to project in your wedding and reception? Now you’re speaking our language.
What if you could visit
one place and learn about
the latest floral design
ideas, pick out your table
linens and review the work
of several top-notch wedding
photographers?
With the advent of shops such as Bright: An Event Gallery; Thee Wedding Warehouse; and Definitely Debra: Invitation, Wedding and Entertain-ing Boutique, you can do all those things in a comfortable environment with personalized service. What a brilliant idea.
Jacque Dearing, co-owner of Thee Wedding Warehouse, agrees that having vendors pre-screened saves couples time. “We have selected our vendors from some of the best in the Valley. All (of them) have been interviewed and chosen to represent our store.” Thee Wedding Warehouse is said to carry “everything but the threads.”
“One reason we love this idea is that couples who come to our store can browse the valley’s most talented and unique vendors’ work and compare them side by side with other vendors,” says Gill of Bright. “Clients are able to efficiently narrow down what their style is and decide who they feel is a good fit for their needs.” Caterers, pastry chefs, photographers and stationers are among the vendors represented at Bright.
Debra Startup, of Definitely Debra, began her business as a full-service stationer. recognizing the need to integrate a couple’s “brand” throughout the differing elements of a wedding, she recently made the decision to expand the services she offers. “This year, we are expanding to offer vendor space located right in our boutique. Currently, we have photographers, planners, florists and videographers,” she says.
Wedding galleries such as these offer clients a comfortable meeting space for interviewing vendors and discussing options. Fabric samples, photographs of centerpieces, menus from top caterers, even jewelers are brought together in one place. We like the idea of being able to actually touch the table linens and mix and match design details until you find just the right look. The goal at Thee Wedding Warehouse is to help a couple “plan their event in one day.”
“We have literally everything you need to plan your wedding,” says Dearing. “We carry shower and bridesmaid gifts, unique favors, jewelry, garters, tiaras. We also have invitations and a florist in the store.” Dearing is especially qualified to help brides choose their wedding flowers —she has been a floral designer for nearly 25 years.
Gill and business partner Victoria Canada take pride in their experience putting together unique events for every client. She says, “Clients spend about two hours at Bright and walk away with a clear picture of their event, what their next steps are, and a customized vendor list.” Billed as a “living magazine,” the boutique offers clients an opportunity to preview the latest in everything from tabletop items to décor to gift bag ideas
for those out-of-town guests. rather than stocking everything, Bright has samples to preview, then helps the bride and groom order what they need.
In addition to a full range of invitations—including some laser compatible styles—Definitely Debra also carries favors, gifts, and personalized items to allow a couple to put their special mark on their day. Debra also offers custom invitation design for that one-of-a-kind look.
Aside from choosing vendors and checking out the goods, there are some special events going on at these wedding galleries, which really put some of the fun into planning a wedding.
Thee Wedding Warehouse regularly schedules cake tastings and engagement photography sessions as well as offering a wide variety of wedding-related products for purchase. Likewise, Bright offers special events that keep things exciting. How about some dance lessons to make sure you don’t step on your partner’s toes in front of your wedding guests?!
One of the most important aspects of businesses like the event galleries we’ve previewed is experienced staff. Whether you’re the family party planner or a complete novice, the staff members at these shops are there to help you add style to your wedding regardless of your budget. Since they have been down this road a time or two, they can help you avoid some potholes and detours along the way.
“One of the biggest benefits of having vendors in one place is that clients planning events not only have access to vendors . . . but the efficiency of the whole process is unbelievable,” exclaims Gill of Bright, which is co-owned by Event planner Victoria Canada. Narrowing down the choices in one place is a definite plus. All the wedding galleries we interviewed with told us that they are quite selective in their choices of vendors.
You’re engaged! Sit back, relax, and enjoy! Thanks to the new generation of wedding galleries, you may be able to plan this wedding in short order and get back to the serious business of planning your marriage.
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