A wedding planner’s dream: Planning my daughter’s wedding

Save the Date engagement shoot with Jeff Raymond and Amy Robinson and Piper and Lily. /COURTESY | LAURIE ROBINSON

I have been an event planner for over 14 years and have coordinated hundreds of events including weddings, bar/bat mitzvot as well as corporate events and birthday parties. It is always an honor to work with new clients and equally as exciting when clients return to plan their next milestone event. We treat each and every event as if it was our own, and when we do plan one of our own, it’s even more special.

As a wedding planner, I knew the day would come when it would be my chance to plan my daughter’s wedding. And as fate would have it, the years have gone by, and my little girl, Amy, is now a grown woman and has met her “Prince Charming” – Jeff They dated for two years and quickly knew they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. Last summer, Jeff asked Amy’s father for permission to marry her, which was happily granted. He creatively proposed, and she said, “yes!” They live out of state, and with the help of technology, I was able to be part of their joy, and since that day, it has been a wedding planner’s dream … to plan my daughter’s wedding.

While getting engaged is magical, the planning process can be very overwhelming. Amy and Jeff feel fortunate to be able to rely on a professional wedding planner/Mom.

Since Amy and Jeff’s goal was to be married during peak season in Newport, we started venue shopping soon after they became engaged. We researched all the possibilities, and I scheduled appointments on a weekend so that they could visualize where their special day would take place.

Establishing a budget is a critical component of wedding planning. The reality is that expenses add up quickly and often exceed the original budget. It is important to understand real wedding costs; i.e., photographer, videographer, flowers, entertainment, reception and invitations. I could not imagine planning a wedding without a true understanding of the income/resources available to support these expenses.

Once Amy and Jeff selected the venue and date, we scheduled appointments with the vendors and entered into contracts to secure these services.

My daughter did an amazing job researching bridal gowns/designers, and she made appointments to try on specific styles and designers. It was so emotional for me and her two grandmothers to see her in a wedding gown for the first time and to be there when she said “yes” to the dress.

The guest list is completed, and the “Save the Date” that includes the wedding website with all the details will be mailed this month.

We will work next on the invitations and other details, and I look forward to continuing to provide my guidance every step of the way. As for the day of the wedding, I will be the “Mother of the Bride,” and my trusted staff will take over to ensure that Amy and Jeff have the wedding of their dreams.

LAURIE ROBINSON formed Event Planning Specialists LLC in 2000. The East Greenwich company has two staff members. She has worked in the field since 1993.