ADVICE FROM THE WEDDING PLANNER
Tips on how to make that special day a worry-free occasion
Helping brides is what Lisa Radlovacki does for a living. As the owner of London’s Prop House, a fullservice wedding and event production company in Southwest Florida, she’s on top of what it takes to pull off a seamless wedding. From forward-thinking designs that make each celebration unique to meticulous planning of every aspect imaginable, Radlovacki is on it. She shares with us some of her thoughts on how to stay cool and enjoy your wedding from the planning stage to the last kiss.
What is the most important advice you can offer a couple planning their nuptials in Southwest Florida? Lisa Radlovacki: Make sure you enjoy this time. Brides and grooms often feel pressure and stress leading up to the big event. I say, hire a good planner and leave the worrying up to them.
What are some high-priority things that should be on the top of the planning checklist? What can be established later on? Lisa Radlovacki: The first things I have couples book are their venue, entertainment, photographer and florist. Once you have them, you can play around, get creative and experiment with decor and details.
What are some suggestions for making out-of-town guests appreciated? Lisa Radlovacki: Before the wedding, take the time to create a book that guests can use as their personal tour guide. Show them things that you like about the area, places to stay, things to see and where to dine. Another idea is to make a care package to leave in their room full of treats or things they may need during their visit, and include a personal thank-you note.
At the biggest wedding I’ve ever been to, the bride and groom flew everyone to Morocco and took over the whole hotel. They had buses pick everyone up from the airport, and when we arrived at the hotel, the bride and groom together with their whole family were standing outside waiting to welcome everyone. This small gesture for such an extravagant event was the thing I remember the most. Sometimes it’s the small things that make guests feel the most appreciated.
What element of the wedding most commonly causes a couple to exceed their budget? What are some tips to avoid this? Lisa Radlovacki: Unfortunately, couples all too often don’t budget enough for decor. Take the time to research what you want and allow enough for this. A good planner can help you with this.
When choosing a reception venue, what are some of the most important things to consider? Lisa Radlovacki: Things to consider when choosing your reception venue include: How good is the food? Until what time will they let you party? What is included? And with lots of out-oftown guests, proximity is important. Make sure you think about location. For example, choosing a reception venue far away from your ceremony can be troublesome and inconvenient.
What are some bridal trends for 2015? Lisa Radlovacki: We are leaving the Pinterest party where things looked staged to perfection. Brides will of course always use Pinterest for great ideas, but they want 2015 weddings to be more intimate and personal. As for decor, the two things that I keep getting asked for are the old-fashioned light bulb string lights and the color coral, whether the couple wants boho-chic or romantic candlelight.