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Industry Insider: Nicole George Events

You found the one. Now all you need is a venue, wedding date, florists, and oh my, the list goes on! Aside from juggling work and other commitments in life, where to start? Enzoani chats with Southern California-based event planner Nicole George about wedding planning and more.

P.S Don't forget to check out our featured photographers at the bottom!

Photos Courtesy from Amy Lynn Photography

Tell us about your company! How did you guys get started?

Hi, hey, hello! My name is Nicole George, the Owner & Creative Director of Nicole George Event Planning & Design, a Southern California wedding and event design and planning company! We’re a girl gang of planners and creatives focused on designing personalized experiences and rad celebrations. Summing up our signature style, we’re all about helping you host a rad celebration with a side of wedding.

Photos Courtesy from Isaiah + Taylor Photography

This whole shindig started while studying interior design in design school. One thing led to another, and in discovering that event design was my jam, I decided right then and there that planning and design was going to be my career; none of this “I loved my wedding, I think that I’ll be a wedding planner now” deal. Sprinkle in putting in my dues with another leading planning company and venue managing for a few years, Nicole George Events was born in 2013 and has expanded to two locations in San Diego and Long Beach, California.

To this day, design remains a prominent aspect of our planning style and philosophy and attracts most of our couples…those who may have a concept but aren’t necessarily sure how to tie it all together. Our design background has allowed us to really personalize and authenticate our couple’s experiences to help make their wedding “their own.”

Photo Courtesy from Shelly Anderson Photography

So, we're curious...Tell us the process from the initial meeting to the wedding day.

We typically work with our couples anywhere from 6 months to two years prior to their wedding and customize each of our couple’s planning experiences based on what their specific want and needs are out of their planning journey. Believe it or not, each couple’s planning experience is different! Some couples are extremely hands-on and some are hands-off, but regardless, we really love getting to know our couples on a deeper and more intimate level in order to make sure that we are creating a dream team of vendors and design that is authentic to their individual style.

Featured above: JURI Gown | Blue by Enzoani, Photos Courtesy from Shelly Anderson Photography

As far as the planning process, it all starts with our in-person meeting to hear all about what our couples love, hate, and ultimately envision for their wedding which defines how we can utilize our expertise best. From there, the juicy planning begins! Depending on our couples’ specific style, wants, needs, and budget, we start the design process which includes a variety of in-person meetings and mock-ups with rental and lighting companies, floral designers, linen companies, etc. Various other walkthroughs, vendor meetings, and catering tastings are sprinkled in to create our ultimate dream team and eventually, our final pre-wedding meeting, rehearsal, and wedding day! There’s a lot of in the in-between but we could go on for days if we got into the real nitty gritty!

From left to right, photos courtesy from Katie Pritchard Photography, Amy Lynn Photography, Shelly Anderson Photography

There's so much planning that goes into the big day and you're there with the couple each step, what actually happens on the wedding day?

We emphasize pre-wedding day communication and planning so much so that the wedding day is a piece of cake for us! Truly, if you find a great planner, the day-of should be smooth sailing for the couple, families, guests, and vendors. Again, each couple wants a different experience out of their wedding day, so it’s difficult to wrap it all into what one should expect. Of course, there is a specified timeline or “sequence of events” as I like to call it, but whether rich informalities or more on the laid-back side, the wedding day is an experience in itself! While our couples are enjoying their morning of mimosas or surfing or brunching or whatever they want to do to start their best day ever, your planner and vendor team has already started to make sure that your wedding day is perfect.

Photo courtesy from Katie Pritchard Photography

I personally check in with my couples in the morning as well as with each vendor throughout the day, including my early morning phone calls with my beauty teams! From hair and makeup, to bridal and groom’s portraits, first look and wedding party photos, pre-ceremony festivities, ceremony, and cocktail hour, you’re only looking at the beginning of the day! Reception planning is typically where my couples differ the most as I encourage my couples to include only what means something special to them. Not into being the center of attention? How about you walk in with your guests instead of a grand entrance. Love dancing? Let’s do a pre-dinner dance party. Don’t love cake or want to do a “formal” cake cutting? Let’s choose a dessert that you really LOVE instead. The list goes on, but it’s really all about the customization that makes a wedding phenomenal and personal!

Featured above: JURI Gown | Blue by Enzoani, Photos Courtesy from Shelly Anderson Photography

What is your favorite part of the actual wedding day?

For me, my favorite part of wedding days is in the few magical minutes when I get a chance to take a step back and breathe it all in before guests arrive! I call it the “calm before the storm.” There is this humbling and serene moment after all of the vendors are done setting up, my team has put our final touches on all of the details, the couple and their wedding party are in the bridal suites, and the space is free and clear all before guests arrive. It is so rewarding to see all of my, my couple’s, and my vendors' hard work meld beautifully together in front of me!

Photos Courtesy from Isaiah + Taylor Photography

What is your favorite part before the wedding day?

I love design - fair and square. It is, after all, a pinnacle of my company! Many couples come to us because they have an idea but don’t know how to bring it all together, and we love that because it allows us to encourage and inspire them to get creative in ways they didn’t even realize. The design process is also where we really start to make their wedding personal and unique, telling their love story through a visual.

From left to right, photos courtesy from Studio Castillero, Shelly Anderson Photography, Kristen Victoria Photography, Bottom: Annie McElwain Photography

What has been your favorite wedding? Venue?

It’s hard to play favorites because I am honestly just so proud of all of the work that we have done and fascinated that we have had the opportunity to work with so many humble and kind couples from all over the country! My favorite weddings are the ones when we 100% vibe with our couples…the ones who are creative and collaborative, that trust our vision, expertise, and referrals, and are lovingly supportive of one another throughout their planning journey. I still have great relationships with so many past couples, to where we grab drinks often because we truly connected. When you found “your people”…those weddings are my favorite.

Featured above: JURI Gown | Blue by Enzoani, From top to bottom, photos courtesy from Shelly Anderson Photography, and Isaiah + Taylor Photography

What are some trends you’re noticing? From venues, ceremonies to dresses, etc.

Trends are difficult to gauge because what may be trendy this month, year, or next few years may not be trendy next month, next year, or next few years! It’s difficult to pinpoint because the influences span far and wide now, especially with Pinterest and Instagram in the mix. My favorite current trend is the use of brighter and colorful palettes. Gone are the days of strictly muted tones (although still appropriate when given color and textural balance). Black accents and stoneware are also another textural and urban trend that we are seeing a lot in tabletop design. Lastly, whimsical and wild yet intentionally artistic floral design is here to stay!

From left to right, photos courtesy from Shelly Anderson Photography, Annie McElwain Photography, Katie Pritchard Photography, Petula Pea Photography

Why should a bride decide to have a wedding event coordinator/planner?

Aside from the obvious “peace of mind” factor, I don’t know how couples can afford to NOT hire a wedding planner! Although most couples only think about a planner’s role on the day of the wedding, I can assure you that 99% of what we do as planners is in the crucial pre-wedding planning stages! For that reason, I truly and honestly encourage all couples to look into hiring a wedding planner from the very beginning of their wedding planning. Whether couples want to be hands-on or need more guidance, there is a good match for every couple no matter their style or needs. Allowing an experienced industry professional to take a detailed look at a couple’s style and budget from the very beginning is going to save them a lot of time (recommending the right professionals that fit their needs), money (identifying what is realistic and which vendors are appropriate to achieve the vision) and sanity (allowing the couple to actually enjoy making choices rather than the burden of the back-end research). The most important thing to remember is that a planner’s sole responsibility is to invest their time and effort into their couple, keeping the couples’ best interests in mind while guiding them through unknown territory. We are there to help your vision to come to life, to ease the overwhelming nature of planning one of the largest parties that you will ever host, and ultimately, to ensure that you enjoy the ride.

Photo Courtesy from Kristen Victoria Photography

What is a tip or advice you always give to brides?

1. Enjoy the ride! There are bound to be some overwhelming aspects of planning, but don’t forget to enjoy the nuances of being engaged and what this whole journey is about. This is SUCH a special time in your life that only lasts just a few months, so soak up every minute of it and stop sweating the small stuff.

2. Don’t be scared to show your personality! This is going to be one of the most memorable occasions/parties of your life, so show your quirky side and stop worrying about what’s “normal.” Tell your love story. Include that cover band that you and your fiancé saw on your first date. Have donuts for dessert. Wear a leather jacket. Serve foods that you actually enjoy. Have no wedding party. Do whatever is authentic to you…because that’s what people remember.

Featured above: JURI Gown | Blue by Enzoani, Photos Courtesy from Shelly Anderson Photography

3. Forget the “traditional fluff!” There’s nothing worse than a couple adding informalities “just because,” “out of tradition,” or to appease family (read: cake cutting, specialty dances, etc.). Remember, your wedding should reflect your personalities, what is meaningful to your relationship, and what makes you comfortable, so if any “formalities” don’t align with those ideas, it’s perfectly ok to leave them out.

4. Everyone has an opinion and LOVES to share, but at the end of the day, the only opinions that should matter are the couple's. What may have worked for someone else may not be the best fit for you, so my biggest piece of advice is to keep yourself grounded by staying true to your style, personality, and budget (do you see a theme here in my advice?). Staying true to yourself will reflect in your wedding, truly making it as authentic as your relationship.

Have more questions for Nicole? Get in touch with her below:

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