I’m Kate- the owner of Harper Event Company. When I am not planning weddings, I enjoy hiking and traveling, watching the Tennessee Vols play football, and drinking coffee snuggled up with my pug, Glitzy!
I have always wanted to be a wedding planner. If you ask me why I honestly don’t know! I got my start in event planning during college as co-president of the student activities board and planning events for my sorority (Kappa Delta!). I received an internship my senior year of college and essentially, I kept showing up until I was offered a job! I worked hard to plan events full-time and decided the time was right to start my own company in November 2019.
I love working with people. Getting to be a part of someone’s wedding is extremely special to me because I get to work closely with my couples throughout their engagement and witness them commit themselves to each other on their big day.
What does a wedding planner do?
What doesn’t a wedding planner do!? From the moment you start wedding planning, your planner will hit the ground running finding the perfect vendors for your vision and your budget. Between negotiating and reviewing your contracts and managing your budget, your planner will be there to oversee the entire wedding planning process to prevent you from becoming overwhelmed! Your wedding planner will learn every detail, big or small, to ensure that your wedding day runs as smoothly as possible so you can enjoy it all!
Do I need a wedding planner?
Wedding planning is an exciting time but can also be a little overwhelming for many. Because of this, there are so many reasons to hire a wedding planner. During the planning process, a wedding planner acts as a liaison between you and your vendors to ensure each vendor sees your vision all while staying on budget. In addition to budget tracking, your planner will also review your contracts for you. Once your big day arrives, your planner is there to run the show, so that you, your parents, and your bridal party can all sit back and enjoy the day. From receiving vendors, keeping everyone on schedule, breaking down the event, and packing up your personal belongings, your planner will worry about the little details, so you can focus on the most important thing- getting married!
Do you offer day-of, the month of, full service? What’s the difference between these services?
I do not offer day-of coordination – simply because I do not believe there is such a thing! At Harper Event Company, we offer partial-planning and full-service planning. Each package is custom designed for your wedding because no two weddings are alike. This allows us to be more hands-on throughout the entire planning process and guide you in the right direction along the way, so we are on the same page and know every aspect of your wedding when your big day arrives!
What questions should I ask different wedding planners when looking for the best one for me?
Some important questions to ask your potential wedding planner are how many meetings will we have and how will we be involved? Are you willing to be an advocate for us to convey our vision to our vendors? How many assistants do you provide on the day of the wedding? How many weddings do you take in a weekend? Have you planned any other weddings at our venue? Questions like these will allow the planner to express her knowledge towards the vendors in the area and your venue. They will also allow the planner to elaborate about their team, who you will be working with, and if the planner will have other events going on the same weekend or day as yours.
Do all wedding planners do the same thing? How do I choose the best fit for me?
While wedding planners offer similar services, each planner will have a different spin on their packages and services. When you are ready to hire a wedding planner, make sure that your personalities and styles align- you will be spending a lot of time with your planner leading up to your wedding and on the wedding day, itself, so it is extremely important that you have the same goals and vision along the way.
What is a wedding planner not responsible for on my wedding day?
This is a tough question! Ultimately, a good planner is willing to wear many hats in order to get the job done and make sure everything runs according to plan or that the plan is adjusted if necessary. I always joke that the one thing I can’t control is the weather!
How soon should I hire a wedding planner after I get engaged?
The sooner you hire a wedding planner, the better! If you choose to have a longer engagement, you may not need to hire a wedding planner right away. However, if you are proactive about hiring vendors, hiring a wedding planner at the beginning of your planning process can ensure that you are finding the best vendors and meeting any necessary deadlines.
Do I talk to my vendors or do you talk to them on my behalf?
This completely depends on how involved you would like to be with the planning process! I think it is perfectly fine for a bride to talk to her vendors as long as you keep your planner in the loop. I do recommend completely handing over vendor communication and correspondence the month of your wedding, so you can enjoy the last bit of your engagement and prepare for the wedding without having to worry about the behind-the-scenes details that your planner will handle for you.
What do you do on the day of my wedding?
On the day of your wedding, your wedding planner will greet all vendors and oversee set up to ensure that the floorplan is correct and all rental items are checked in and in the appropriate location. They will direct the overall flow of the day, keeping to the timeline and adjusting if needed. During the ceremony, your planner will line up the bridal party and cue the musicians. As you transition into the reception, your planner will cue all vendors for special moments such as your grand entrance, special dances, or cake cutting. At the end of the night, your planner will oversee the breakdown of the event so you can get some well-deserved rest (or continue celebrating!!).
What makes you different than other people who offer the same services?
When you work with Harper Event Company, you are working with me from start to finish. You will never be assigned to another planner or be greeted by someone you have never met on your wedding day. This ensures that you are extremely comfortable with me on your wedding day and allows you to put your trust and confidence in me
To get connected with Kate and start planning your perfect wedding visit www.harpereventcompany.com. You can also call (423) 641-2002.
Check out more of the Chattanooga Bridal Guide here!
