A couple of weeks ago, or maybe the week before…who even knows any more?! I put up a question on my Instagram stories asking what honestly puts you off hiring a wedding stylist.

And yes, there were a few recurring answers which came up. Theres plenty of reasons not to hire a stylist and really loved your honesty for these below, thank you (those questions and polls on Insta really are really so helpful and always love that you get involved.)

I’d like to start by asking you to to visualise the day before your wedding day, of course this isn’t going to be every brides lead up but I have been doing this many years and have certainly seen this scenario play out more than a few times. But it might show just how valuable a wedding stylist could be and how they really are more than just hired help the week of your wedding…

The day before your wedding
You are most likely late leaving for your venue because there is tonnes to load in the car. Already feeling a bit anxious if you have left anything behind. You arrive at your venue and know there is no time to enjoy your check-in and settle in because you have several suppliers arriving with props, furniture, catering equipment and the florist will be there too. Family and friends are going to be arriving all through the afternoon to help with the DIY set up. You start unboxing everything you have collected, as well as the props you’ve hired and aren’t exactly sure where to start. People arrive but there isn’t time to show them round properly now, you need them to start putting candles in holders. More friends and family arrive and you know at 5pm you want to be finished set up and actually start enjoying the evening together as you have envisioned for months as a little pre-wedding celebration, but as time ticks on you realise its going to be a much later finish. Everyone offers help, it’s overwhelming as you know how you want the set up to look but can’t relay that to everyone easily, and you end up doing much more yourself. You start to feel frustrated and wish there was more time, its not the set up day you had in your head and worried as more needs to be finished on the morning of the wedding, who will help with that?

Ok so I know many brides absolutely love doing their own decor set up and DIY for them was pure bliss and really enjoyed working on the set up with friends and family around.
But if you do have lots of friends and family coming from afar and want to spend a weekend with them, help can be so valuable across your weekend. You know a stylist will have the days vision and a huge check list ready to put into action and set up and can return on the wedding day to finish any final details you wouldn’t necessarily be able to check yourself or feel comfortable leaving to family.
It comes down to how you want to feel in the days and hours leading up to walking down the aisle and I genuinely think being relaxed enough to trust your stylist and just overjoyed at your wedding set up being totally in hand so you can enjoy that precious time with family and friends, well could that be priceless on one of the biggest weekends of your life??

COST.
Of course this came up the most. Yes it is an additional cost but my styling service is much more than just turning up the day before for a set up. I have initial consultations to find out about who you are and what your vision is, I will meet you at the venue and walk round with you giving more ideas for making the decor even more impactful, draw up a mood board you can then share with other creative suppliers, call you 1 month before the wedding to go over in detail all the areas for set up, a full day styling the day before with assitants, the day of the wedding for those final tweaks and back again the day after to pack up all my hire pieces so again you can be with family saying your goodbyes. I am invested with you on your styling journey and ensure every last detail is executed how you imagined it would be.

I have 7 years in the industry so a wealth of knowledge on set ups and always prepared for anything unexpected to happen, with a full styling kit with everything required to make a set up happen. I hope to add lots of new ideas and vision into the process for you too, suggesting adding in personalised touches as much as possible to really showcase a day that represents you both.

I would also actually argue that a stylist can save you money, because by using their expertise you can put more budget into the ‘wow’ moments of the day and draw back on other elements using their advice to guide the design.

NOT GOING TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE FOR VISION.

This came up a few times too. You honestly cannot offend me, if you don’t like suggestions theres nothing you have to have and advice is just that. I always like to guide couples and share what may be the best outcome visually but if it isn’t working for you then we just move to another option. Often budget for those final details plays a big part and I have helped many couples draw back on those final details but still delivered a super stylish day.

WORRIED YOU WON’T BE INVOLVED IN THE SET UP.

Lots of you we’re also worried you wouldn’t be involved in the set up and think a team would come in and take over everything. This isn’t the case with LL at all. Usually its me you’ll see and an assistant (maybe two) who will come in and start the set up. I understand brides and grooms want to be involved and see the space evolve and always want you to feel involved though the set up day, and the same goes with family who want to feel involved, I can always find little tasks for anyone.
Of course if you want to also let the whole transformation be a surprise (and just guests only see it on the wedding day) this is possible too of course. It’s always your call with how the set up goes.
You also might only have On-the-Day access to your venue so again the set up service is super helpful for those couples who know we have a plan in place and can relax on the wedding morning knowing you’ll walk out to picture perfect decor.

NOT BUDGETED FOR ONE AND NOT SEEN THE VALUE OF ONE.

Lots of people don’t have a stylist in the initial budget because it can be a bit of an after thought. A stylist can come in earlier with your plans or later, with helping with the set up for your own vision. I offer a ‘Lend-A-Hand’ package which is a set up and pack down service essentially for those couples looking to have a creative eye on board but realised later in the planning the value of help with setting up.

Are you considering a stylist? Do you have any other concerns or questions about how a LL set up happens? I’d love to hear from you, feel free to email or message and find more on my styling services here.

Images – Nicola Dixon Photography  / Workshop – Wild Ones Community / Shoot assistant – LW Events / Styling and Hire – The Little Lending Company / Flowers – SassFlower/ Venue – The Giraffe Shed / Dresses – Jean Jackson Couture / Mens Suit – Asos / Chair Hire and Tableware  – CMA Hire / Hand dyed Linen – MiaSylviaa

Penny x