Who is Taylor Nicole?

Many people that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting since launching Taylor Nicole Events have had the urge to address me, personally or via correspondence, as Taylor or Nicole and sometimes as Taylor Nicole; when I’ve politely made the correction, they’ve always inquired…..Who is Taylor Nicole? So, for all of you who’ve visited the Taylor Nicole Events website and read the “About Us” page or have just wondered… “What is the significance of the company’s name if it isn’t the name of the owner?” here goes. Taylor Nicole is my beautiful niece; she celebrated her 8th birthday on the 4th of July. Taylor is active in softball, soccer and the captain of her cheerleading squad. Taylor attends Calvary Baptist Church and is fun loving, a “chatty Kathy” of sorts, and little sister to two older brothers, Wesley (10) and Justin (25). Taylor is also a nurturing older cousin to my nephew, Demire (6) and niece, Delilah (2). Like the individual, the name “Taylor Nicole” is classic and will stand the test of time, so I was honored that my sister and of course, my niece, agreed to allow the name to grace my company because like Taylor Nicole herself, every event planned by Taylor Nicole Events will become a classic in the minds of the hosts and their guests alike.

What is your Wedding Style…Does it compliment your Budget?

After the question has been popped and the answer given, the tears shed and the phone calls placed, what is the next step? Brides begin to envision their big day in its totality, Grooms envision the party and Parents envision celebrating with happy guests. How does one begin the process of marrying all of these ideas and thoughts together? It starts with your budget. Unquestionably, the budget is a crucial part of the planning process but after deciding on that magical number, how does one know if it will support your dream wedding? I advise couples on the financial realities of creating their big day and what their budget will support. I understand the costs related to a bride and groom’s selections and can also provide additional viable options that are well suited to “The Dream”. Listening to my clients and clearly understanding what’s most important to them allows me to properly allocate the funds within their budget. Additionally, my education, experience and knowledge of the planning process serve to avoid making costly mistakes while maximizing the budget throughout the entire planning process. Budget Creation & Management is included in some of our offered packages but can also be a stand alone service. Contact us today to see how we can help you have your dream wedding.

Show up Early and Prepared or Go Home!

What should a Bride and Groom stress about on their wedding day? The answer is …..Nothing? And although this does not seem realistic, it is the wedding planner’s job; no, I mean to say, responsibility to mitigate any situation that may cause the wedding couple stress. In some situations, this means not mentioning that water leak in the reception room which is being fixed and will be fixed prior to the start of the reception. As the planner, I or one of my team members will be on-site at the reception and ceremony venues prior to the event to inspect the set-up, get to know the serving staff and bartenders and make sure all the details are attended to in a manner befitting the hosts and their guests. So nothing, not missing flowers, entertainment technical difficulties or MIA guests will stop your event. We come early and prepared to address and rectify any show stopping issues just as if we were hosting the party ourselves.

Purple Wedding Fantasy…

Here are a couple of photos from a wedding planned by Taylor Nicole Events. The wedding colors involved variations of purple and plum.

• The bride’s bouquet consisted on Lavender and White roses with accents of lavender mini calla lilies while her attendant’s bouquets consisted of lavender and white roses.
• The groom wore a lavender mini calla lily boutonnière while his attendants donned rose boutonnières.
• Each guest table was dressed with custom personalized menu cards and individual single stem orchids for each guest. The center pieces were white hydrangeas, lavender and white roses and purple stock with accents of green grass. Each vase was dressed in Ivory and plum ribbon. The table number frames were hand painted and the numbers printed onto a purple leaf vellum paper. The table runners matched the chairs sashes to complete the look.

Protection…How important is it when planning your wedding?

One of our most basic needs as humans is to feel protected. But as humans, our desires to have particular items are sometimes so great that the very desire itself overshadows the risks that accompany it. This is often true when we feel that this is our one and only opportunity to have or create an experience; such as purchasing a house, buying an ultimate car and yes planning a dream wedding. Knowing what pitfalls to look for in and addressing them upfront will ultimately save you, your finance and family money and grief throughout the wedding planning process. Here are a few pitfalls that I seek to protect my clients from:

• Escalation Clauses
• Inappropriate Substitutions
• Unqualified Fees

I also review the contract to see what client consideration, if any, is offered. Last thought, a typical wedding budget amounts to a down payment on the purchase of a home; one wouldn’t walk into a closing prepared to sign documents without a lawyer by their side and having reviewed the documents. So why would you not seek the same protection when contracting vendors for your big day!!!!

What is your Wedding Style – Ways to save your Décor Budget?

There must be Tulips! The bride wants tulips which are on the pricier side of the flower spectrum and are even more expensive when they are out of season and must be imported. How can you deliver the bride’s floral vision while saving her décor budget? First, the ability to understand that the bride has chosen a modern minimalist approach to flowers will allow you to make the right suggestions. Tulips alone make beautiful hand tied bouquets as well as beautiful arrangements in any shape vase; square, cylinder, rectangular or oval. The same is true of the following floral suggestions; they also compliment or can be complimented by an accent of tulips. They are available in a wide array of colors but also look great in a monochromatic palette and for the most part the prices range from inexpensive to moderately priced. Most important, they are all available when tulips are harder to get. As your wedding planner, I can work with you and your florist to facilitate the flow and vision of your big day.

• Giant Begonia
• Calla Lilly
• Dahlia
• Easter Lilly
• Cyclamen
• Amaryllis Belladonna
• Lisianthus
• Chrysanthemums

What is your Wedding Style – Floral Decor?

When planning your big event, at what point should you seek the assistance of a wedding professional? The answer is... at every juncture necessary. A wedding planner can help avoid costly decisions during the planning process; likewise, hiring a professional photographer or videographer provides additional assurance that the day will be documented perfectly. The same holds true if you are looking for a wedding cake, a wedding band/DJ or a florist.

What if your wedding budget doesn’t allow for a particular wedding professional? Turn to your wedding planner for assistance. Often, planners have lists of professionals that can accommodate your budget. Also you, as a client, can be proactive by hiring a planner trained in a particular field. The planner can then serve in that capacity, in addition to planning, to help salvage your budget. Floral design is one such example.

Above are photos of prototypes that I created for a lovely couple on a budget. Professional training to understand floral design allows me to assist my clients with their floral designs and/or match them with a complimentary wedding florist. For couples on a budget, I can serve as their florist. In addition to the altar arrangements and centerpieces, I will create all of the bouquets and boutonnieres. As always, the couples’ wedding colors, reception venue, wedding style and budget were taken into account when I created these prototypes. Best of all the couple salvaged their floral and décor budget. The point is that although you may be on a budget, fresh flower décor is still attainable…just ask your wedding planner for suggestions.