Vendor Spotlight - Andy Hopper, AIFD

The florals that you choose...from your bridal bouquet, to ceremony arrangements, to reception decor truly speak about your style and can transform a space.  Having a great and creative florist is worth every penny in my opinion.  One of my favorites in Birmingham is Andy Hopper, Head Designer at Kathy G Designs.  Get to know who he is and see some of his gorgeous work!

Why did you choose to work in weddings/events?  How did you get started?

I really believe that wedding design, floral and events chose me. When I was four years old I was creating tablescapes in my grandmother's back yard and eventually I produced my first wedding at the age of eighteen. I've always had a fascination for art and anything beautiful so you could almost consider it a natural instinct that blossomed at a young age and was honed over time. I guess the adage is true, “You do what you love and love what you do.” Design definitely chose me.

How would you describe your style/product?

As far as style, I love a beautiful, clean line and take a classic approach to design. But my aesthetics can change for each individual because it is the bride or the client's style that I try to home in on. As a designer I really listen to my client and understand what his or her needs are. I give them artistic guidance through the process until I make their vision a reality so that their event is everything they dreamed it would be and more.

What separates you from other Birmingham area vendors?

My attention to not only detail and design, but the client as well separates me from every vendor in Birmingham. I personally hand my bride her bouquet the day of her wedding and if she notices, which they all do, I have planned my own outfit to match the look of her wedding to a T. I try to foster a friendship from day one with my bride. I want her to feel at ease and relaxed knowing that not just a professional, but a friend is taking care of her on the most important day of her life.

What would you be doing if you didn't work in weddings?

I'd likely be a fashion consultant to celebrities, giving Rachel Zoe a good run for her money. I take great pride in the detail of everyday dress. In Steel Magnolias, the great Dolly Parton says “I haven't left the house without Lycra on these thighs since I was 14,” which are words to live by except for me it's a Tiffany ring on my finger instead of Lycra.

Favorite TV show and why?

TV??? What is that? I really don't watch that much TV. I'd much rather be at an art opening, runway show, shopping or traveling. I've really never been drawn to television; I guess it was the way I was raised. My parents fostered creativity and hobbies over watching TV, which was a huge factor getting me to where I am today. If I ever do sit down to watch something on television, it's usually a new movie.

What advice would you give to brides in choosing a florist?

When choosing someone to design your floral there are many aspects a bride must take into consideration. The bride must first rely on someone that's going to create something just for her, listening to her ideas to create something beautiful and original. The second and the most important detail is finding someone she or he can relate to and feel comfortable with. It's extremely important that the bride and the designer be able to communicate to each other honestly and openly just as they would with any other personal relationship in their lives, making relatability key. Lastly, check their background. See what events they have done, what they're currently designing and what they've got coming up. I like to personally invite my brides to drop by events that I am producing so they can see the transformation of venues and the quality of my designs for themselves.

What advice would you give to brides on the wedding planning process in general?

First and foremost, find a fabulous planner that can help you with every detail of your wedding. The wedding planner is one of the most important vendors a bride needs to make her day what she dreamed it always could be. Your wedding day is one of the most important events of your life. Never assume that you can do everything on your own. You need help with the stress and details that come along with planning a wedding.

Check out the Kathy G website for more pictures of his fabulous work.   You can also follow him on twitter @andyhopper!

Stay tuned for many more great vendor spotlights to come!  If you or someone you know would like to be in our Wednesday Spotlight, send me an email to meghan@melizabethevents.com or if you've got any other great questions you'd like vendors to answer in the future spotlights, leave a comment!

Bromberg's Diamond Dash

A $15,000 diamond ring has been hidden in downtown Birmingham and it is YOUR mission to find (and keep) it!

Bromberg's Diamond Dash is a city-wide treasure hunt brought to you by Bromberg's Jewelers! In this high-tech treasure hunt, all of the clues and riddles will be delivered via text message right to your cell phone. Any cell phone, any model, on any carrier can play. And playing is totally FREE!

The 1st Annual Bromberg’s Diamond Dash will kickoff at Linn Park at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 10 and teams will run, bike and scooter (no motors of any kind allowed) around downtown Birmingham answering clues about historical landmarks.  An after party will be held at Rogue Tavern (2 p.m.), where some lucky dynamic duo will be celebrating with a Ritani diamond ring valued at $15,000! 

So you must be thinking how can I win a spot to compete for a $15,000 diamond ring?  Good question! Everyone has to sign up to play at www.brombergsdiamonddash.com, and submit their story of why they should win one of the limited spots in the contest.  But hurry! Time is running out!  Space is limited and the last day to enter is Thursday, April 8.

Good Luck and we hope to see you there!

Ask Meghan: Cost Conscious

Dear Meghan,

What would be the best way to make your client feel he/she has maximized their funds correctly?

-Cost Conscious

Dear Cost Conscious,

I generally take 3 steps toward making sure my clients are at ease and confident that their funds will be maximized. The truth is their decision to hire and work with a planner/consultant already puts them 10 steps ahead of the game and the rest depends on proper research/education, realistic estimation and risk identification/management. My process usually includes the following:
 

1. Research/Education - After a couple has decided on a budget, it's very important to take it a step further and research exactly what wedding costs are in their area. Depending on what style or type event is to be planned each spending category can vary widely. For instance with food, a couple looking to hold a small gathering could find an upscale restaurant offering a family-style dinner with open bar and a wedding cake for $50 per person while a couple looking to host their guests at a historic country club and first-class service could expect a $85 per person price tag.

2. Realistic Estimation - One should never assume that it's impossible to host a large guest list without an equally large budget. There are many ways to keep costs down, but careful planning is crucial. I develop estimates of all wedding costs for my clients so there are clear benchmarks set to work toward. Managing priorities will be very important as well. For instance, if photography is an important aspect of the event, for preservation reasons, and the couple also insists that the food be an area of "splurge" then it will be important to know that up front to scale other services accordingly.  Working with a wedding planner will REALLY come in handly here, as we are equipped to offer clever and creative ideas for achieving grandeur on a smaller budget.

3. Risk Identification/Management - After a budget has been set, developing and maintaining it is key. I work together with my clients to scrupulously update and organize their budget.  It's imperative that the planner and client are always aware of what has been spent, what balances exist and what the areas of risk could be. During the last month/weeks before a wedding there are usually huge sums due to vendors and venues, so if a couple is not prepared this could cause lots of unnecessary stress. Proper management alleviates most surprises and surprise debt.

Happy Planning, Cost Conscious