We recently spoke with Samantha “Sam” Nelson- Owner of EVL Events. She is a top Wedding Planner in Western NY. Most of her events are a bit more upscale. http://www.evlevents.com
First off, how long have you been a wedding planner and how many weddings have you planned? Do you specialize in any type of weddings? I have had my business for 8 wedding seasons now! Wow! I have planned a little over 200 weddings. Currently I tend to specialize a little more in luxury weddings, but I am open to any and all conversations. I do like to work with couples that want to be unique and do different things! I am limited on the number of events I can do each year, so I always want to make sure we are a great fit for our clients!
How do you structure your pricing is there a flat fee a percentage hourly fees etc? My pricing is customized based on each client’s needs. We do offer a flat fee for couples, but it’s structured on a case by case basis.
What is your process for working with couples? Every couple is different. However, we become an extension of the couple’s family. We are here with them for 12+ months planning the one of the more intimate times of their lives. So we try to work with them from the beginning of the planning process and are with them throughout their planning journey, all the way until the end! We do a mix of virtual and in person meetings and depending on the level or service they contract us for, will determine how often we meet and what we are a part of. We are also know to be a part time therapist for them as well lol!
How do you handle last-minute changes or unexpected problems? With grace and a smile.. When (not if), When something comes up (because it always does), we are super quick to think on our feet and tackle the problem as quickly and effectively as possible. We try our best to not get the clients involved unless it’s absolutely necessary. Our job is to create a stress free environment for our couples and their families!
What is the first thing you’ll work on with your clients? Again, it depends on the level of services they hire us for. However, for every couple the first thing we do is have an intro call so we can get to know them, their personalities, preferences, style, etc. Likely we will establish a partial vision and their budget, then start working on securing a venue, date, and so on.
Do you have preferred vendors or can couples use their own? We now do have a preferred vendor list. We will sometimes make exceptions for our couples if they would like to work with someone that is not on the list, but we do like to do our research to ensure they are insured, professional, etc.
Do you work with many different types of clients such as DIY or hands off. We do work with couples of all shapes and sizes. We have couples that tell us just a few details and we plan every little detail. We have couples that are very hands on and want to be involved in the planning process and we also have couples that are super creative and want to incorporate some DIY details into their wedding. With DIY clients, we do have some parameters that we have to stay within, but we are super open to all conversations!
Do you have one piece of advice to share with couples? Take the time and enjoy the planning process! Be a part of it, even if it’s a little bit and don’t let the little things stress you out. At the end of the day your friends and family are there to support you and your love to one another. Hire a planner to the heavy lifting for you and to help you make the best decisions for you and your significant other!
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Admiral Room is a locally owned wedding venue located in downtown Buffalo NY. We would like to shout out to other locally owned wedding venues nationwide.
https://www.hanoverreserve.com/
https://theestateatriverrun.com/
