Why You Should Hire A Wedding Planner with Crystal & Karly, Owners of Brick Loft Event Co.
There’s no doubt that planning a wedding is a huge time commitment. Many couples choose to do the planning themselves as hiring a wedding planner can seem like an excessive expense for some. As a wedding photographer, I’ve seen first-hand how beneficial it is to have a wedding planner to help you throughout the process, especially on the day of the wedding. Having a wedding planner can positively impact your wedding day in so many ways! I’m so excited to welcome my first guest writers onto the blog to share their insights into why you should hire a wedding planner as well as highlight their new space! Crystal Lyon and Karly Shanks are highly sought out wedding and event planners based in Saskatchewan and owners of Brick Loft Event Co., Saskatoon’s newest wedding and event venue. If you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting them yet, let me introduce you!
FROM CRYSTAL
Being creative, but also weirdly organized was always part of my life growing up. How lucky am I to have been able to create a business that encompasses both of these very different traits? My business, Method Events, offers a wide range of both products and services including event planning and design (with a major focus on weddings), balloon installations, and party supplies. I started my business in 2014 since then, I’ve watched it grow organically and transform my style and offerings. I love florals, texture and acts of service is my love language. I cherish cultivating relationships with both clients and the amazing list of creatives that Saskatoon has to offer. I believe in collaboration and truly working together as a team to seamlessly curate a detail-focused event or celebration. I don’t believe there is one person who can truly “do it all.” I share my home (and full life) with my husband Scott and sweet babe Olivia! I love to host parties and gatherings in my home and now can’t wait to be hosting groups and celebrations of all types at Brick Loft Event Co!
FROm KARLY
I get to live my dream everyday! How special is that? I love event and wedding planning and having the opportunity to be creative on a daily basis brings me true joy. After working in the event planning industry part-time for almost 5 years, I decided to make it my full-time passion in 2016. My business, Pretty in the Pines Events, was born in 2018 and since launching, I’ve had the opportunity to work with so many amazing couples to create a day that reflects their style, vision and love for one another. Watching a wedding or event come together and being able to see the reactions from my clients and their guests is the most rewarding feeling. I’m so thankful for the relationships that I get to develop with my clients and the role I play in one of their most significant life moments! When I'm not working, I love spending time with my family, my partner Steve and our girls, Quinn and Willow. Originally from Edmonton, we love heading back home to visit and going on hot holidays in the winter time. Let’s create beauty together!
No one expects you to be an expert when planning your wedding because chances are, you’ve never done this before. Professional wedding planners have planned hundreds of weddings! They know them inside and out and can help steer you to the right vendors, make the planning process easier and enjoyable and guide you through the process as a whole. Karly and Crystal have been working independently as wedding and event planners for several years and with their combined experience in the industry, they’ve decided to join forces and offer all services together at Brick Loft Event Co beginning in 2022. They are firm believers that two is better than one and together they can help make your event dreams a reality! If you’ve been considering hiring a wedding planner but you’re unsure of how they could fit into your day, keep reading to see some of the reasons why you should hire a wedding planner:
They can help you manage your vision and budget.
When helping clients plan their weddings and/or events for venues other than Brick Loft, we offer a partial planning package beginning in 2023 and beyond. This includes an extensive design questionnaire that really allows us to fully understand your style, vision, and what’s important to you. We then take this information and create a visual and design document which caters both to the visual and “type A” personalities. We are passionate about showing you something beautiful and then discussing how and with whom we can create this! This process allows us to hone in on what your expectations are as well as be mindful to work within your budget. In addition, we can suggest ways that allow you to creatively use your budget to get the most for those hard-earned dollars!
They can suggest vendors for you.
With so many vendors out there, it can be hard to determine who the right fit is for you! We’ve worked with a lot of vendors in Saskatoon and surrounding areas and we know who the best are. We can also speak to who we think would be a good fit for you and your wedding day while keeping your vision and budget in mind. That being said, we still think it’s really important for you to reach out to the vendors to make sure our initial thoughts were correct and you are a good match for each other.
They provide you with a day of assistance.
One of the most rewarding things that we often hear from our clients is that they were truly able to be present and celebrate with their loved ones because they knew we “got it.” We do everything from setting up the ceremony and reception spaces, making sure everyone walks down the aisle on time, helping to facilitate family photos, prepping your emcees, being a liaison between yourselves and all vendors, and just making sure you’re prepped and ready for all of the “big moments” throughout the day. We make sure that all the plans you have worked so hard to create and imagine are facilitated and oh so lovely.
QUESTIONS:
What would you tell couples prior to hiring a wedding planner? Do you think everyone needs a wedding planner?
While we think everyone can benefit from having a professional help them in the process, we also understand that this isn’t in the budget for every couple. If there’s any space in your budget, we think everyone should hire at least some sort of day-of coordinator. You, as a couple, have spent so much time and energy into planning this celebration and 95% of you (the partner who did the majority of the planning) likely won’t be able to turn the switch ‘off’ and be present throughout the day without having someone that you fully trust to take care of managing the details. With 2022 being the biggest wedding boom since 1984, you won’t have the option to access your venue the night before. Having someone who doesn’t have any other timelines or personal “to-do’s” that day is the key to your taking in everything, being present and enjoying all the moments of your day fully.
What sets you apart from everyone else?
From a venue perspective we are the only Saskatoon venue that is owned and managed by event planners. We are planners first by trade and took the next organic step in our careers to create a space that encompasses all the things we think make a really great wedding and/or event. When working with Brick Loft Event Co from a planning standpoint, you get to work with two of Saskatoon’s top wedding planners. We have similar styles but there are certainly a few differences in what we are naturally drawn to. We both have our own individual strengths and you get to lean into both of us during the process. We truly think that it’s a two for one deal when working with us!
What is your biggest piece of advice for couples who are planning their wedding?
Remember to create that list of the “importants.” This includes the important people, elements, and design details. If you find yourself struggling or feeling overwhelmed, look back at that list and if what you are struggling with isn’t on that list, table it. Take a step back, hand it off to someone else, or ditch the idea completely.
Where can couples find you?
Our new venue is located at 301 1st Avenue North and we’d love to invite you for a tour of the space! Reach out to us through the contact form on our website or send us an email at info@bricklofteventco.ca. You can find us on social media, @bricklofteventco, where we are often found posting behind the scenes, previews of the space and a glimpse into who we are!
You can view more images of the space by scrolling through the gallery below:
