Hi everyone!

I hope everyone had a great week last week and a wonderful weekend. I most definitely did! And do you want to know why?

I interviewed one of my favorite wedding planners in the game, David Tutera.

In case you don’t know who David is, he designs and plans the most amazing weddings and celebrations, but that isn’t all! He also designed the David Tutera Atelier Collection of bridal gowns, has written seven books on entertaining, and has multiple product lines covering everything from fashion to crafting. For all of you wedding pros out there, he also runs a symposium every year called the David Tutera Experience for planners and designers. The next one is taking place at the Four Season in Orlando, Florida from March 29th to 31st, so make sure to check it out here.

Now without further ado, let’s get into the interview. Whether you’re a bride-to-be, a wedding professional, or you’re starting your own business, there is a nugget of wisdom for you, I promise.

How do you want brides to feel when they try on gowns from your collection?

“For me it’s really important to have every woman that wears her wedding gown feel that it’s a really special moment. Every woman deserves to feel and look beautiful inside and out.”

What is the one element that you feel is often overlooked or could use more attention to detail when it comes to wedding planning?

We all know that wedding planning can be quite the whirlwind. Between all of the appointments and details that need to be attended to, often the focus can be in the wrong place. According to David, he feels that an area that is often overlooked when planning a wedding is time. So simple yet so profound, right? Tutera said that while couples are actively planning within the time frame of their wedding reception, they often don’t spend enough time actually planning out the structure of the timeline. All to often we fall into the same flow of the night as everyone else. First is the ceremony, then the cocktail hour, the bridal party entrance, and so on, with the cake cutting falling somewhere towards the end of the night. David challenges couples to think a little outside of the box. Some of his suggestions to keep things unique include cutting the cake in the beginning to really capture the attention of your guests, using specialty entertainment to add something unexpected, or doing the cocktail hour before the ceremony. David stresses that you don’t have to make huge changes to have an impact and pique the interest of your guests.

What is one wedding trend you wish would go out of style? What is one you wish would stick around?

One wedding trend David wishes would go away? The formalities like the bouquet toss, throwing the garter, and the entrance of the bridal party (I totally agree). One trend David wishes would come back and be here to stay? Veils! “They are an iconic element, and when will you ever wear one again,” said David.

The Cielo Viel from the David Tutera Atelier Collection

Since David seems to be all about keeping things fresh, I had to throw in a bonus question and ask if he has any tips for how to personalize your wedding, because hey, sometimes we know we want something fabulous but don’t know how to get there.

If you find yourself stuck when planning, “Ask for support from a planner,” says Tutera. He says he asks himself what he needs to know about his couple so he can express their personal style and make the wedding stand out. It’s all about branding the wedding or event so your wedding isn’t cookie-cutter. And here’s a tip from David to planners when getting to know the couple, “Take your time.”

How do you balance your expertise with the couple's vision for their big day? (Especially if you aren't fond of that vision.)

“When I don’t think it’s a good idea or will be a disaster, I don’t tell them it’s a bad idea,” says Tutera. “Planners can be fast to react and be in control.” David marinates on the idea and lets it sit so long as it isn’t urgent and then comes back to the idea a few months later. If they still want to implement the idea, David explains his thoughts and tries to incorporate the idea in a different way. Often couples tend to go for the updated version of their original idea. It’s a win-win.

For a bride or groom on a budget, what is one thing that you feel is worth the splurge?

While food and decor are often the largest expenses, Tutera points out that more of the budget should be allocated towards entertainment, whether it’s a DJ, a band, or a form of specialty entertainment. After all, your music is what keeps the night going!

How do you deal with a difficult or overly opinionated bridal squad?

“I allow everyone to be heard,” says Tutera, whose clients often come to meetings with an entourage in tow. If things are getting a little out of hand, David doesn’t hesitate to have a separate meeting with the couple to iron things out.

Would you say you are part therapist, part planner?

“YES!”

What is your favorite way to unwind after a long day of work?

“Being with my kids and family and not talking about work! Doing things as a family keeps us grounded.”

You say everyone can be creative. Love that! What are some of your favorite ways to inspire creativity? Do you ever get in a creative rut?

While it seems as though David is an endless stream of creativity, believe it or not, he says he gets in ruts all the time. (So don’t feel bad if you’re in a creative field and feel a bit stuck.) “I get out of it by stopping to fix it,” says Tutera. “I take a step back and move on to a new project.” To inspire his creativity, he likes to partake in visual things that aren’t event related, like watch movies and seeing shows on Broadway. For David, even a stage set can inspire an idea!

Any advice for someone who wants to start their own business?

While starting your own business can be scary, here are David’s top tips:

Understand what makes you different in an over-saturated industry. Find out what makes you unique as a person and as a business.
Take baby steps and don’t leap.
Learn from every experience, even failure. You will learn how to be better at what you do.
Don’t procrastinate.
Don’t be such a perfectionist, just start.

And last but not least, David left us all with some words of wisdom…

“It’s really important to not be hard on yourself,” said David, who also pointed out that so many people strive for perfection. Even the king of wedding planning makes mistakes, but he pointed out that you should use the mistakes as a learning experience. “You’re becoming more knowledgeable in crafting your career.”

When speaking on wedding professionals in particular, David said that it’s all about listening to your team. “We don’t stop to listen to the consumer or our team members or vendors or staff. Listen constantly.”

And last but not least, David reminded me (and all of us) to, “Stop. Breathe. Enjoy the process. Don’t rush to the finish line.”

I hope you all enjoyed this interview and took a nugget (or three) of wisdom! A huge thank you to David Tutera and his team for their time and this incredibly opportunity. I may still be fan-girling, FYI. And if you want to see more of his latest bridal collection, check out the video below!