Weddingbee Blog

When this whole wedding planning shenanigans started, Mama Cloud and I decided that we were going to go it alone—just me and her on a big fat planning adventure. I like to think I’m pretty resourceful and persuasive when I want to be, and Mama Cloud is the most downright organized person I’ve ever encountered. I figured between the two of us we would have this wedding locked down and ready to go in no time. Trouble is, like mother like daughter; we are also both very emotional and very excited ladies. Emotional as in the tears come quick when we get upset, and excited like we have so many ideas and want to start making things happen quickly before thinking it all through (OK, I’m way worse than she is at both of these, but that is not the point…). It wasn’t far into our twenty one month journey (I’m sorry but I still cannot believe it was TWENTY ONE months, it seems like an eternity!) it was obvious that we were going to need some help, if not only just on the big day.

Enter Windy Jennings of Weddings By Windy (aka lifesaver and wedding goddess extraordinaire!). I really cannot say enough about this woman. If I were to write a review on her with a rating system it would be an A with so many plus signs afterward you would think she was paying me to say it (which of course she’s not, I just love her that much). She not only made me love her but also made me realize the value and importance of having a planner or coordinator for your wedding. We used Windy for her “partial coordination” package even though we set out looking for just day of services. I didn’t even know there was a middle level between DOCs and the whole shebang, but it turns out a lot of coordinators offer personalized packages to handle whatever small or large tasks you need help with.

For an overly emotional gal like myself this came in very handy when the tea room where I had signed a contract with to have my bridesmaid’s luncheon decided to go out of business without telling me. I got a very calm email from Windy letting me know she had seen the notice on their site and was already contacting them. Oh, and to make it that much better she had a few places already thought out that might work instead. Emotional bride over here would have been bawling her eyes out and screaming her head off if I had found the notice myself. Never mind the HUGE crisis that was averted at the wedding when I forgot to wear my garter and decided to just forget the whole toss completely. Little did I know that Mr. Cloud had big plans for the garter toss, and if someone did not go to my room and get it I would be ruining months of his planning. Windy, cool as a cucumber, responded that I should really have someone go get it because I wouldn’t want to regret missing the tradition and never once hinted what a frenzy I was sending everyone into. (I know, I am being very vague about the huge surprise, but I have to save something for recaps, people!)

My point is, be it big or small, a planner just might save your day (and sanity) in similar ways and I highly encourage every bride-to-be to find a planner to become your BFF, at least for the day, much like Windy had to become mine for a few weeks (whether she liked it or not :)). Mama Cloud and I still agree that working a planner into the budget, even when we still didn’t want to admit we really needed one, is the best decision we ever made. Because really, the church lady just might not bother to fluff your veil right before you walk down the aisle. And more than any other day you need someone on your side fighting for your vision, or at least giving you a little fluff.