Wedding planner Symone Shaw takes us inside her team’s process for picture-perfect Occasions.
Q: How did you get started with the wedding industry?
A: I am a bit unique in the sense that I have always known that I wanted to be involved in the wedding and event world! I remember going to a wedding when I was a child and absolutely falling in love with everything about it. Always knowing what I wanted to do career-wise gave me a great head start and I was able to start learning and working in the industry as a teenager.
Q: What are the cornerstones of your planning process that make a wedding signature to your team?
A: One of the cornerstones of our full-service planning process is how accessible we are to our clients when it comes to communication. Unlike others, there is no limit to the amount of meetings, phone calls, or texts that a client can schedule or send. We are truly your best friend when it comes to all things wedding, so blow our phones up! We also have a long history of event design experience that truly allows us to bring every couple’s vision to life no matter the obstacle.
Q: What do you love most about getting to work with couples planning their wedding?
A: I adore getting to know and becoming lifelong friends with the couples that I work with. Celebrating and going above and beyond for them is so easy when you are surrounded by kind and amazing clients.
Q: What is the final week before the wedding like for your team?
A: We are in the final stretch and production builds have typically started so it is a lot of vendor communication, unboxing all of the specialty rentals that have arrived, and triple-checking seating charts. For couples that do not have a planner, the amount of vendor communication that occurs when production starts would be very stressful. An Occasions team member is always on-site while vendors are present in order to direct and answer any questions that may arise. The couple and their families cannot do this once their family and friends start arriving, nor should they have to.
Q: How soon should a couple try to book a planner before the wedding date?
A: As soon as possible! A big misconception couples have is that they have to book their venue before they can hire a planner and that is not the case. We are here to help guide you throughout the entirety of this season of life.
Q: What advice do you have for couples planning their wedding?
A: Besides the obvious, “hire a planner,” I would advise couples to always remember why we are here in the first place – to celebrate your marriage! This celebration is about the two of you and the new chapter of life you are entering together.
