Vendor Spotlight: Amanda Renee Wedding Co. – An Intentional St. Louis Wedding Planner

When you’re planning a wedding in St. Louis, hiring the right planner (and hiring them first) can quietly reshape every decision that follows. In our ongoing Vendor Highlight series, we sit down with the wedding pros we love working with and ask the questions engaged couples should be asking before they book.

This week we’re excited to feature Amanda of Amanda Renee Wedding Co., a St. Louis wedding planner whose intentional, detail-driven approach helps couples design a day that actually feels like them. We recently worked a wedding together and loved how thoughtfully she led the whole day, so we asked her to share her best advice for couples currently planning their big day.

What common mistakes do you see couples making when planning a wedding?

• Trying to do it all on their own without a wedding planner or coordinator to guide them. Venue coordinators are not the same as wedding planners and coordinators!
• Getting inspiration from luxury weddings for a wedding with a non-luxury budget.
• Selecting a venue that uses over 50% of their budget, leaving little left to hire trustworthy and experienced vendors for everything else.
• Selecting a venue without involving their planner at all. There are so many considerations when choosing a venue. Planners are attuned to what to look for and avoid to ensure the best guest experience. Utilizing their expertise can help avoid challenges down the line.

What’s the best tip you have for couples hiring a wedding planner?

Hire a planner, and hire your planner first.

What don’t couples know about your business that they need to know?

I am more than a setup and tear down person. I am invested in your wedding, your family, and your guests. My job is to dedicate myself to creating a meaningful, personalized day for you and everyone you host on your wedding day.

It is about minimizing stress for you and your family, allowing you to be present, and making your guests feel special. Everything is thought out, everything is intentional, just for you!

What questions should couples be asking that they don’t know to ask?

“What are the possible contingency plans?”

If there is no Plan B, or if you dislike the available contingency plan for inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances, that venue isn’t right for you.

What is your best piece of advice for couples planning a wedding?

Make a priorities list before you book anyone or anything. Each person should identify their must-have item and, together, identify three more high-priority items. Let those five items guide your budgeting and planning timeline for bookings.

This will give each of you something extra special to look forward to on the wedding day and ensure you feel heard in the planning process. It will also start the conversation, from the beginning, about how you mutually envision the day. Think of it as your first unofficial marital counseling session, with open communication and expectation setting as your goals. Then, once you start booking vendors, trust them.

What’s the most unusual wedding you’ve ever coordinated?

I had a wedding that was very theatrical. The ceremony was a traditional Catholic Mass, but then they transitioned to a Country Club where there were jugglers, a champagne aerialist (a woman in a leotard doing acrobatics in an elevated hoop pouring champagne for guests), and a brass horn quartet at the cocktail hour that led a second line parade into the reception, among other things. Everything was custom designed and colorful. It was a spectacle and an event!

What was the most memorable wedding you’ve ever worked, and why?

It is hard to pick one, but generally the ones that stick with me are those where the couple and I connected on a deeper level. There was trust and friendship that extended beyond the timeline and design. These are the couples I can’t wait to hear from again after the wedding and continue to keep in touch with. Those are the memorable ones.

Learn More About Amanda Renee Wedding Co.

If you’re searching for a St. Louis wedding planner whose intentional, guest-focused approach will help you design a day that feels authentically yours, you’ll want to connect with Amanda at Amanda Renee Wedding Co.

Amanda
Amanda Renee Wedding Co.
🌐 www.amandareneewedco.com

Planning your St. Louis wedding and still building your vendor team? Reach out to Abell DJ Company. We’d love to help make your reception unforgettable, and we’re always happy to recommend trusted pros like Amanda at Amanda Renee Wedding Co.