Almost-problem-free
Weddings Are Possible:
Here’s How
By Connie Shakalis
Photography by Courtney Sinclair & Breal Photography
M
ost weddings suffer from at least a
couple of guests feeling left out.
They didn’t get to sit in the front
row; their color-scheme ideas were dissed;
their son wasn’t chosen as the best man.
That is one of about 100 reasons it can
be important for brides to hire a wedding
planner.
“So many of my old friends were there,
and they all knew how long I’d wanted to be
a wedding planner,” she said. “They were
so excited for me.”
Much training goes into becoming a
professional wedding planner, including
learning various traditions’ and religions’
customs. Payton earned her bachelor of
professional studies (BPS) degree in St. Louis
and went online for her event-planning — she
Megan Payton
does all of kinds of parties, not just weddings
“People all have their ideas of what the
—certificate. She also credits the area’s other wedding
wedding should be like, and the bride shouldn’t try to
planners, who have been supportive and collaborative.
please everyone. It is her day,” said wedding planner
Megan Payton over the phone. As owner of Royal Willow
“We planners all love every aspect of weddings,” she
Weddings & Events, she said when hurt feelings threaten
said. And that’s even though they are the first to arrive
to disrupt an event, she advises the bride to let the
and the last to leave, often working a nearly 24-hour
offended party “know you’re really sorry,” and then move
wedding day.
on — keeping the bride’s vision.
Christina Rockett, another local wedding planner and
“We wedding planners are there to take away the bride’s
owner of Sincerely Yours, planned 23 weddings this year
problems. We are there throughout the whole process,”
and is busy booking for 2020.
she said. “The bride tells me what she wants, and I
Brides, of late, desire something unique, she said over
make it happen.” And that sometimes means massaging
the phone. “They want things to be different, brightly
someone’s wounded pride. “My job is to find solutions.”
colored and exciting. “I’m seeing lots of bright pinks,
Organizing, overseeing and watching the resultant joy
purples and navy with yellow.”
are the fuel for wedding- and event planners, she said.
Because wedding planners design events daily they
“Planning excites us.” Often, brides call Payton a year in
have discovered what works.
advance, and with all the marriage proposals at holiday
time, bridal season is now brewing.
“If I knew an idea would look really horrible,” she said,
“I would definitely try to talk (the bride) out of it.”
Trending recently is the nontraditional: floral
arrangements make way for tall grasses, which fit with any
Another thing she tries to talk brides out of is using
theme. There are fewer big cakes and more smaller —
family and close friends as vendors. Part of planners’
groom’s — cakes, cupcakes and doughnuts. A “doughnut
jobs is to find florists, bakers and venues, and through
wall” has become popular. Guests walk up to a wall
experience they have discerned who is good at what.
that holds doughnuts on little pegs and grab a few. The
“Brides need to let go of that idea of perfection,” she
six-piece groom’s cakes remain in style, because brides
said. For instance, certain flowers are available only during
still like to freeze a piece and then share it with their
certain seasons. Rockett’s role, she said, is to take the
husbands on their first anniversary.
pressure off the bride, especially on the wedding day itself.
One of Payton’s most memorable weddings turned out
“The most important part is being with your new
— originally unbeknownst to her —to be that of her best
husband,” she said. “The process goes so fast.”
friend’s cousin.
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2020 SOUTH-CENTRAL INDIANA WEDDING GUIDE