Interview with Elizabeth Singleton; Owner and Head Consultant of Events by Elizabeth Palmer
So, how did you get interested in planning weddings?
I have been planning events in Virginia and DC for over 6 years. My career began in 2005 working for the Science Museum of Virginia in their Special Events Department. Working with brides, corporations and individuals to plan their events being held at the museums various facilities. From there I formed Events by Elizabeth Palmer and continued the business even as I was employed by Historic Richmond Foundation as their Special Events Coordinator.
In July 2009, I decided to fully commit myself to Events by Elizabeth Palmer and have been running the business full time since and have loved every minute of it!
So what makes brides choose you over other event planners in Richmond or DC?
Well first, this is my FULL TIME JOB. Not part time, only doing this on the weekends like other vendors you'll find. My brides are my business. To me, they are the most important thing because making them happy is my job.
I'm known for taking care of my brides. My full bridal pacakge is my most popular because I create the dream brides hope for on their wedding day. My attention to detail, eye for extravagance combined with my non-profit background had helped me create the most memorable events for over 2 years. Brides come to me for my knowledge, complete honesty, keen ability know what a bride wants, and my design capabilities. Each couple is considered individually. Nothing is cookie cutter or used in a template. Each wedding is as unique as each individual because no two couples are exactly alike. We create events to YOUR taste, not mine. Like I always tell my brides, I had my dream wedding, now it's your turn.
Wedding Planners are expensive, right? How can I afford one with such a small budget?
Well first, you need to think about what is most important to you. They say the average bride spends over 400 hours planning her wedding. That's four 40 hour work weeks! Do you have an entire month of vacation to take from work to meet with various vendors, price compare and then book and decide? Plus after that, what about making sure your payments to each vendor are on time and keeping the schedule going on your wedding day. What bride has time to do all that!
Another great reason to hire a wedding planner is to have access to better pricing and more available dates from other vendors. I've had many vendors tell me that they were not going to take another wedding on that date but because it was my client, they would be happy to do whatever service for them.
By hiring a wedding planner you are taking away all that stress of planning and coordinating yourself. We give you the correct vendor to match your budget and wedding personality. There is no running around.
What about payments?
We accept cash, checks and credit cards. We also can set up payment plans that work for you! We also can help accomodate any payment plan that works for you with a package that works for you.
So tell me how your process works? How do we go about planning my wedding?
We have a 6 step process of planning.
1) The Basics
2) The Plan
3) The Vision
4) The Vendors
5) The Couture
6) The Countdown
Each step, in order, conquers one or more aspects of the wedding planning process. Another unique aspect of our planning is that we match you to a vendor that works perfectly for you, your budget and your wedding personality. We do not waste your time sending you around to 3 or more vendors for you to choose from. Planners who do that to brides, in our opinion, do not have the knowledge and security to correctly match you with the right vendors. Again, we do not want to waste your time, or ours to be frank! Obviously, if you are unhappy with any vendors, we work to find you another option and to make you happy.
To learn more about these steps and more, click on our services page.
Well which brides work best with you?
I work best with brides who want to create the wedding day of their dreams, whatever that dream is. I work well with brides who have a vision but do not know how to get there. I work well with brides who know a few of their vendors but can't tie the bow on the package, so to speak. I enjoy people, especially brides to be and feel I work well with almost everyone!
What brides do not work well with you?
I'm here for any bride but, if you do not see the need or value in having a wedding planner, or are skeptical of the process or of having help, then we will not work together. If you do not feel valuable enough to have the experience of a lifetime in planning your wedding, then we will not be the right match. The right match is crucial to create the right wedding day.
I have had brides who decided they could not afford to have a wedding planner come back to me and say that they wish they had gone with me because they ended up spending so much more time and money on their weddings than necessary where with me, it could have been an easy, 6 step process. I feel badly for them and hope that doesn't happen to more brides.
But, don't planners take control of the wedding and you loose your voice?
HECK NO! Like I've said so many times, I've had my wedding, now it's your turn! This isn't my wedding, this is YOUR wedding. Your voice is the only voice I want to hear. Now, will I express my opinion and try to lead you in the correct direction, of course. But in no way, shape or form will I take over your wedding from you.
You say you match me to vendors, will you work with vendors that I want to work with or vendors I've already found?
OF COURSE! Our matching just makes things easier, especially for brides who do not know who they want to work with. But we are happy to work with any wedding vendors and welcome your vendors thoughts and ideas.
One last thing, do you book more than 1 wedding a day?
No we do not. We only take a certain amount of weddings per year and only have 1 wedding per weekend. We want to keep all focus on you and your big day.
Well this sounds great! How can I meet with you to start the planning process?
Fabulous! Email me at esingleton@eventsbyelizabethpalmer.com or call me at 804-305-6997 or you can go ahead and click the Contact envelope below and send me your information so we can set up a complimentary ''Getting to know you'' Meeting! I look forward to hearing about your wedding day and your vision!
Well what if I have a few more questions before we get started? Can I call you or email you to talk about them?
Absolutely! I am here to talk any time! Just call me at 804-305-6997 or email me at esingleton@eventsbyelizabethpalmer.com! I look forward to chatting with you about your upcoming day!
