If you’ve had the chance to peek through Darling, you’re already probably very familiar with our beautiful bride (and very first cover girl), Michelle. She married Austin in East Hampton, New York and their day is one of our featured weddings.  We were thrilled to be a part of all of the design & planning! We asked Michelle to share her advice for future brides-to-be now that she has some hindsight and distance from her wedding day and here’s what she said:

Sharing your budget is a function of trust and we almost never force our clients into this conversation until they’re ready. However, as you plan your day, it’s good to share a comfort zone. Without any gauge, expect your planner to suggest things that will seem frivolous to you or even worse withhold fabulous ideas or resources from you due to assumptions about your budget and comfort zone. Get to know your planner and when the trust is there try to open up a bit about your finances. It will save a lot of headache and heartache in the end.

The above moment was captured by Caroline Tran from James & Janet’s Vibiana Wedding.

Textiles are everything to me. When you design with such attention to even the tiniest of details, every texture matters. When designing big and over the top, you might be able to sneak in a cheap satin or even a poly cotton because there is so much distraction going on elsewhere, but when going effortless and refined, you have to choose the right textile every single time. Beyond that, linens quite simply just change the look of the day completely. Take the above images for example. This is the exact same place setting. One on a timeless blush raw silk with a hemstitch napkin and the other a black leather linen that screams rock-n-roll edge. I love both looks wholeheartedly, but as you can see, they are very, very different. As you design your day, don’t forget the importance of choosing the right linen. They are essentially the canvas on which you will create your design and matter so much more than most realize.

No matter what else you do, nothing matters more than responding to clients in a timely manner. Selfishly, it means more clients will hire you which equals more money but beyond that, response time is a key factor in developing trust between you and your clients. Which, believe it or not, trust means the ability to work more efficiently and often can lead to less client interaction. When you don’t respond to a client, it sends them into a panic. The best possible scenario, they just think you’re unprofessional or bad at time management. On the dramatic side, they think you’re dead in a ditch or have taken their money and run. This cycle leads to more calls, more emails, more talking everyone down off the bridge. All of which could have been avoided with a simple, “Hi there! I see your message and will respond to you as soon as possible.” Just something to let them know you haven’t forgotten them. That they are still a priority and that you will do everything in your power to make sure their every need and whim is attended to. And, if you’re at the point where you don’t even have time for that, well, it might be time to get an assistant. There is no reason you should be taking on more and more clients if you’re not able to take a moment to acknowledge the ones you have.

The above image is by Jose Villa from our Southern Cotton Photoshoot at Huntington Gardens.

Just a few of our favorite somethings that can fulfill your need for something blue…

1. Harlow Statement Necklace by Kendra Scott

2. Chanel’s Nail Colour in Limited Edition, Bel-Argus

3. Gucci Gloria Pumps from Bloomingdale’s

4. Bottega Veneta Blue Python Leather Knot Woven Clutch

5. Anniel Blue Flats