We are a wedding company based in France. We work in the French Alps, along the Riviera, and in Provence.

A typical day in the wedding industry starts early and includes lots of spreadsheets! Depending on the event, we start our day at about 6 or 7. We arrive at the venue to oversee the vendor’s arrival and any drop-offs. We make sure everyone understands all of the logistics of that specific venue and the restrictions if there are any. Then we head to the hotel where the guests and couple are staying. Normally, we organize a breakfast or brunch for the guests and check-in that is being prepared. Often the wedding party is getting ready with the bride or groom so we have room service delivered to the suite.

By the time we arrive, the glam has started and the photographer has started taking photos! The girls have started hair and makeup, dresses are hung in the doors, and girls are giggling dancing around the room. We check in with the couple and see if they need anything. We organize for the flowers to be sent to their rooms so they can have them in any photos they may want. Then we head down to check on the guests. The guests are normally mingling and enjoying their coffees in the sun.

We check in with the hotel staff to see if any special requests have been made and then head back to the venue. By this time most of the install is done! Tents, tables, and archways are mostly complete. We call this the skeleton. After that, the chairs and lighting are installed. We start to work on the table settings and the decor. We make sure the place cards are on the correct seats and the table numbers are in the right order. We work with the florists and rental companies to bring the vision to life with all of the decors. As the decoration is almost finished the catering team starts to prep the cocktail hour drinks and appetizers. We call the transportation to be ready to leave soon. We call and check-in that the wedding party is almost ready. Then we send the cars/bus to pick up the wedding party. We always have someone working the transportation and logistics in case any of the guests have questions.

After the guests start their journey to the venue, we start collecting the wedding party for transport. Depending on when the couple wants to do first looks, we organize this as well. Sometimes they do them at the hotel, sometimes at the venue, and sometimes at the alter. The bride arrives first, so we can get her into a private room in the AC to cool before. Sometimes the groom goes to the cocktail hour, other times he goes straight to the ceremony. Then we coordinate the ceremony.

First, we have the music start at the ceremony location then we have all of the guests take their seats. We then go to stand with the bride or the groom to make sure they are feeling confident, hydrated, and excited to walk down the aisle. We then oversee them walking down the aisle and watch the ceremony from afar. After the ceremony, we have another cocktail hour around sunset. We make sure that everything is ready with catering and the tables and then usher everyone to their seats for dinner. The toasts are made over dinner and we get to watch all the touching moments. We then organize the cutting of the cake and then normally head straight into the dancing. The live music or DJ is already ready and everyone dances the night away. Around midnight we often have a snack served which guests always love! Then we organize the shuttles back for everyone and oversee the vendor pick-ups.

It is always a packed day, full of surprises, but we wouldn’t change it for the world!

Wedding Planner – Aviva Samuels

Kiss the Planner

I’m a destination wedding and event planner and the task that tends to take up the most time is research. When a client reaches out to me, I need to f … Read More