Lake Tahoe is truly a magical place, and there’s no better way to experience its beauty than by getting married there. A Tahoe wedding is all about taking in the stunning scenery, from the immense blue of the lake to the towering evergreens. The air is crisp and fresh, and the sunsets are simply breathtaking. On your special day, you’ll feel like you’re in a world all your own, surrounded by the people you love most. It’s an unforgettable experience you’ll cherish for a lifetime… especially when you hire a Lake Tahoe wedding planner to ensure it’s as magical, unforgettable, and perfect as possible.
Who Needs a Lake Tahoe Wedding Planner?
If you’re planning a destination wedding in Lake Tahoe, hiring a local Tahoe wedding planner from the start is essential. Destination weddings are some of the most amazing for couples and guests, but they don’t come together at the snap of your fingers. It takes months of detailed planning and coordination, especially when you don’t live nearby. If you’re out of town, state, or country, your Tahoe wedding planner is your liaison to your venue, vendors, and more.
However, even if you’re local to the area, a Lake Tahoe wedding planner provides numerous benefits for you during the planning process. At Epic Thyme, we have a wealth of experience and knowledge about the area and can help you choose the perfect location for your ceremony and reception. We can also assist with finding accommodations for your guests and organizing transportation to and from the wedding venue. Not to mention the invaluable support we offer on the day, helping ensure everything runs smoothly. For example, we know how to pivot an event quickly if anything funky happens weather-wise. There is just so much that goes into planning a truly unforgettable celebration that I don’t think any couple should have to carry the weight, stress, and responsibility of doing it on their own.
But how do you choose the right Lake Tahoe wedding planner among the multitude of options? Keep reading to find out.
How to Choose a Lake Tahoe Wedding Planner
Not all wedding planners offer the same level of support throughout the planning process. Some planners are day-of coordinators that only work with you the final three months before your wedding. Others are also designers and can help you conceptualize and execute every aspect of your dream wedding. Some planners have 10 years of experience, while others only have a few. So, how do you choose the right wedding planner in Lake Tahoe for you? Consider these six things:
1. Your Lake Tahoe Wedding Budget
Lake Tahoe is one of the most beautiful, highly sought-after wedding destinations in the United States. Plus, it’s a small mountain town with less accessible resources for wedding planning. These two things make it one of the more expensive places to get married in California. Now, that’s not to say you can’t have a Lake Tahoe wedding on a budget, but it’s important to consider the amount of money you have to spend before choosing a Tahoe wedding planner.
A good rule of thumb is to plan to spend 15% of your wedding budget on your planner. (You can learn more about how much a wedding planner costs for a Lake Tahoe wedding HERE!) Keep in mind that a planner can also save you a ton of money in other areas. Any couple will tell you that planning a wedding is no small task. In addition to juggling vendor appointments and managing the budget, there's also the challenge of keeping everyone on track and ensuring all the details come together seamlessly on the big day. Fortunately, the right wedding planner can take care of all of this for you, freeing up your time and energy so that you can focus on enjoying the lead-up to your big day. At Epic Thyme, we have extensive experience working with local vendors, know the best money-saving strategies, and can help you prioritize your budget.
2. Your Lake Tahoe Wedding Size and Ceremony Type
Some Lake Tahoe wedding planners only plan certain types of weddings. For example, not all planners have micro or elopement packages. So, if you want a more intimate affair, it’s best to research Tahoe wedding planners with experience planning the type of ceremony you want. Similarly, throwing a 300-guest bash is no easy feat. If you’re going for big, you’ll want to hire a Tahoe wedding planner that knows how to pull off an elaborate event.
Before you hire a wedding planner, it’s a good idea to ask them to share about a wedding they planned that’s most similar to the one you want, whether in size, location, or style. This will give you an indication of whether or not they have what it takes to bring your dream wedding to life.
3. Your Lake Tahoe Wedding Style
You need a Lake Tahoe wedding planner that can take the vision in your mind and bring it to life. If you hire a wedding planner with design expertise like Epic Thyme, you’re pretty “safe.” We can bring any and every wedding vision to life. But if you hire a planner who is just a planner, they may have a harder time conceptualizing your wedding style.
A good way to decide if a wedding planner can bring your wedding style to life is to look at their past wedding galleries and Instagram page. Do you like what you see? If so, you’ll feel more confident that your wedding will turn out just as beautiful and just the way you envisioned.
4. The Planner’s Years of Experience
Every experienced wedding planner was once a newbie, so I’m not saying you shouldn’t hire someone who doesn’t have a few years under their belt if you really want to. However, with years of experience comes a wealth of knowledge. An experienced wedding planner will know which vendors are the best in the business and which ones you should avoid. They will also have connections that can help you get discounts or special services you may not have been able to get on your own. In addition, an experienced wedding planner can give you peace of mind on your big day, knowing that everything is being taken care of. For example, expert planners know the order of events that should happen at the correct time to keep the vibe and energy at the right levels!
At Epic Thyme, we have over 10 years of experience planning beautiful weddings in Lake Tahoe. With us, you can relax and enjoy yourself without having to worry about the details.
5. The Planner’s Wedding Planning Services
As I mentioned before, not every wedding planner offers the same type of services. A full-service wedding planner like Epic Thyme takes care of everything leading up to, on, and after your big day, including:
Budget
Venue
Vendors
Catering
Bar
Cake
Photography
Videography
DJ/Band
Transportation
Rentals/Design
Florals
Favors
Officiant
Beauty
Stationary
Wedding Website
Couples’ Fashion
Travel and Accommodations
Production Staff
Communication and Meetings
Set-up/Tear-down
The list goes on, and you can read about each of these tasks in detail HERE! However, not every couple wants a full-service planner, and that’s okay. It’s all about finding the right person to help you with whatever amount of planning support you need.
6. The Planner’s Reviews and Testimonials
Lastly, it’s always a good idea to read a wedding planner’s reviews and testimonials. You can learn so much about how a planner operates by hearing past couples’ experiences. Keep in mind that no one is perfect, so don't be discouraged if you come across a few negative reviews. Just look for patterns and try to find a planner who consistently receives positive feedback. You can read Epic Thyme’s wedding planner reviews on WeddingWire and The Knot to hear what our couples have to say about their epic weddings!
Is Epic Thyme the Right Lake Tahoe Wedding Planner for You?
Let’s find out! I’d love to hop on a call to hear about your wedding and discuss logistics and your wedding vision to see if we’re a good fit. You can learn more about what to expect on the call and some tips to prepare HERE. Then fill out our contact form, and we’ll be in touch to discuss your Tahoe wedding!
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