Hi there! I’m Kristin, the Owner and Creative Director behind Lustre Theory.
With so many options out there for wedding vendors the choices can get confusing to say the least! But which ones do you really need? You already know that a caterer, venue, and photographer are a must, but there are some who you might not be as sure about. Like… An Event Stylist / Designer.
The most common question I often hear as a designer, “How is an event designer different from a wedding planner?” Hopefully I can answer that question for you.
What does an Event Designer do?
An event stylist or sometimes they will be called event designer, will work with you to develop a unified visual plan and design for your wedding. In short, we’re in charge of all things that can affect what your wedding will look like and the overall aesthetics. We set the visual tone of the event for you based on what you have envisioned. A true event stylist is the creative director of your story who specializes in design. Design of the decor, flowers, the table settings, the mood lighting, how the visual color palette works with your venue, right down to the smallest intricate embellishments. We are the visual masters.
Is an event designer the same as a wedding planner?
No. But there is some grey area here depending on the level of event and the type of wedding planner you hire. Some wedding planners do offer design services. These amazing members of the industry are the Project Managers. Wedding planners develop a budget, create a timeline, negotiate and manage vendor contracts, organize travel requirements, set up the seating chart and more. Everything they do is all aimed at making your wedding day as stress free as possibles. They are the masters of logistics! If you hire a designer for your day they will work closely with your planner making sure everyone is on the same page.
Is an event designer for everyone?
Not everyone needs a full service stylist for their wedding or event. Many stylists do offer decor consulting packages that can help you get started at a lower cost.
Ultimately, it comes down to being a budget based decision.
I’m going to be very honest here to save everyone some time. If your budget is not large enough to handle the rental, floral and design fees that come with a higher end wedding than having a separate wedding designer is most likely not for you. You need to have the budget to handle the things your designer will need and be able to afford your designer.
That could mean being prepaired to spend $50k-$75k on the florals, rentals and other decor items needed for your design. Depending on where you are getting married and the size of your event. If that is within your budget range and your design is very important to you and your fiancé then think about hiring a separate wedding designer.
Many times it is the Wedding Planner who will bring on a designer or stylist to handle an event that requires very special attention in these areas. If that is the case it’s the planners job to make sure everything falls within your budget. Most Event Designers will not take on a wedding that doesn’t have a full service Wedding Planner contracted.
Should I hire an event designer?
If design and creating a unique visual event experience for your guests is a high priority for you and you have the budget for both your needed decor and the designer then yes! Having a dedicated designer who’s only job is to make sure your event checks all the right aesthetic boxes is the right move for you.
The gorgeous photos you see on Pinterest don’t just happen. It takes months of planning, sourcing and design expertise to create them.
Click here to see Lustre Theory Styling & Design services.