The beginning of the year brings a fresh start to us all and Terri Eaves, one of the sweetest and most stylish planners in town, has relaunched and rebranded her company Bash. Today, we are checking in with her to hear a little bit about how she recommends finding the event planner that is the right fit for you…
How did you get your started in event planning?
I have an art degree with an emphasis in graphic design. While I knew I would be working in a creative field after graduation, a graphic designer was not what I wanted to be. I interned for a DC based destination management company where we focused on corporate clients coming to the DC area. They hired me full time after a few months and I worked there for about another year. I then left and started my own business.
Photo Credit: Connor Studios
What advice do you have for brides when choosing an event planner?
Make sure you hire someone that you will enjoy working with, but also respect. While I love getting to know my clients, I am their planner and a professional first. I want to offer them advice they will listen to and ideas they will want to see come to fruition.
Be honest when you are interviewing planners as well – in respects to your vision, budget and expectations. That way, you get a good sense for who can bring your vision to life, and they also get a good sense about what you are looking for and whether or not they can make it happen.
Photo Credit: Documentary Associates
How do you recommend a bride chooses between full service, partial service, and day of?
It really comes down to budget and time. A majority of month of clients are those who want to take care of everything on their own and/or do not have the budget to allocate to a planner.
If you can afford it, hire a full service planner. There is so much work and time put into planning a wedding. You want to enjoy the process and also have a professional guide you along the way. The knowledge I possess, the amount of time I will save you and the peace of mind I provide, is more than you can imagine.
Photo Credit: SOTA Dzine
If budget does not allow and at the very minimum, hire a planner for month of. Being able to let go the day of the wedding is the best thing you can do for yourself.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I love seeing everything come together the day of.
Starting with the bride getting ready in her suite and those quiet moments she has with her makeup artist, and standing with her right before she walks down the aisle.
I also love the controlled chaos that goes into an event the day of – the rental trucks unloading, the chefs plating on their assembly line and the faces of guests as they walk into a room we’ve transformed.
How would you describe your aesthetic?
My events lean towards the less-traditional side. They are clean, modern, focus on straight lines and symmetry.
Our clients are looking to bend the rules and provide for their guests an experience unlike any other wedding they’ve attended.
