Meet Desiree. She’s a super talented wedding planner/designer and just as sweet as they come.
She’s going to share some advice for our couples who are planning their big day!
–tell us little about your business/venue and what you do
As owner and lead planner for Desiree Dawn Events, I specialize in creating memorable atmospheres that express my couples’ personalities and how they want to represent their lives together. My passion is in designing events that are timeless, stylish and sustainable – both in aesthetic and in the relationship. I adore naturally gorgeous venues, unique food and beverage menus (I’m a foodie at heart), and collaborating with like-minded professionals. As a boutique style of business, I commit to a limited number of events each season which allows me to partake in other avenues of this industry.
I’m also co-editor of Floridian Social. We are a modern and stylish inspiration resource for weddings, social events, and everday festivities in our sunny paradise. At our core, we have a vendor guide which highlights the fresh, creative and beautiful work being done by our “Faves”.
Being fully invested in the wedding industry here in South Florida has allowed me to build some incredible work relationships and friendships with fellow vendors. We collaborate and refer one another often and when a client trusts that bond, those events are always my most favorite to look back on.
-tell us a little about yourself
I’m a Florida native, born in Melbourne, went to college in Gainesville (go Gators!), and moved to West Palm Beach where I met my husband and we were married 5+ years ago. Last year, we purchased our first home in a funky little neighborhood in Lake Worth where we now enjoy walks on the water with our dog and baby boy. I love being outdoors on the water, taking road trips to fun towns all over the sunshine state and exploring the local scene (food, drink, craft, etc.).
-what’s your number one piece of advice for brides in the planning process?
Chill out. It’s just a party. The marriage is the important part, so invest in that first. If you have funds available, throw a celebration focused on the two of you and not traditions, what your cousin or best friend did, or what you think people want to come to. Your loved ones want to see you happy and in love, that’s the bottom line.
(Those images above are by my talented friend, Kat Braman)
-if a bride was on a budget, what are some ways they can save when it comes to ??
Remove Pinterest from your wedding plans. It’s a great resource for crafting and finding inspiration, but it can be entirely overwhelming and a total budget killer. No wedding needs 100 little details to be memorable. The best events keep things simple: good views, good music, and good booze n’ bites.
Anthony and Catherine traveled from Canada to tie the knot in sunny South Florida. They chose one of our favorites, The Boca Resort, as their backdrop.
Here’s just a quick look back at their beautiful wedding.
A & C- Thanks again for your kindness and for choosing us to be a part of your day. It was such a pleasure.
Since 2006, Bacio Bacio Bridal is a full-service couture bridal boutique that has assembled an amazing team of professionals to assist you with all aspects of your wedding. You will find a beautiful selection of gowns in an atmosphere that is relaxing and soothing. We also provide tuxedo rentals, bridesmaids and mother dresses, flower girl dresses, and custom accessories.
-How about a little about yourself?
I was born and raised here in Palm Beach County and have been the Operations Manager of Bacio Bacio Bridal since the first day. This December, my husband and I will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary and are the proud parents of 3 children and a granddaughter. I have worked for fast-paced lawyers and lobbyist, as well as training in the crime scene investigation field. I feel with the high stress experiences I have had, I am prepared for any emergency. You know brides have a lot of emergencies! I love spending time with my family, attending concerts, boating, fishing, reading and watching my children do the things they love. A lot of people ask me if I get tired of working with brides or do we get a lot of “bridezillas.” Truth is, we really don’t have any. We’ve heard from customers (many times) how comfortable they feel when here. If they were a bridezilla to others, we got the “zilla” out of them the moment they walked through our doors!
-What’s your number one piece of advice for brides in the planning process?
Shopping for your gown should be the least stressful part of the planning process. My advice would be to trust your bridal consultant, try on gowns you don’t think you’ll like and have fun! It isn’t uncommon for brides to fall in love with a gown that is a different style and/or shape than they originally envisioned.
-If a bride was on a budget, what are some ways they can save when it comes to finding the right gown?
To avoid factory rush charges, order your gown (including bridesmaids and mother dresses) at least 6 months in advance. Avoid making custom changes with alterations, find a gown that you love just the way it is! Also, consider purchasing a discontinued sample gown that has been drastically marked down. Keep in mind, your head-to-toe budget consists of hair, makeup, headpiece/veil, jewelry, gown, undergarments, shoes, alterations. Most of all, you need the gown – you can cut the budget on the extra items as well.
And all these lovely gowns pictured are from Bacio Bacio.
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by Jen Schartner