Ellen Gutierrez of Bride's Vision Weddings and Events

Coffee Talk with Ellen Gutierrez of Bride's Vision Weddings and Events

WC: What motivated you to start this business?

EG: I have a strong background in the hospitality industry, as well as meeting and event planning. In addition, I love planning social functions, so it was a natural progression. Being able to help a bride plan and execute her perfect wedding is a dream job.

WC: What are some of your favorite aspects about planning weddings?

EG: I love the opportunity to get to know a couple and help them uncover their personal style, designing their perfect wedding with them. It is always my greatest pleasure to bring to fruition a bride's dream wedding. Weddings are complicated events and I am privileged to use my many personal skills to make these events appear to happen seamlessly.

WC: It seems that the modern bride is much more apt to hire a consultant than the bride of 4-5 years ago. Why do you think that's the case?

EG: Today's brides are busy women. These busy women realize the importance of having a professional to help them with the important process of planning their wedding. The brides of today realize they can not, and should not, be expected to "do it all." Management of time, budget, vendors, and well-meaning family can be a challenge for any busy woman and, with the growth of the wedding consultant field, there is qualified help for today's brides.

WC: What are some of the challenges that face a modern bride planning a wedding on her own?

EG: Brides often say to me "where do I start?" At Bride's Vision we are here to guide our brides through the complicated wedding planning and execution process. Brides may also be living out of town but are being married in St. Louis. They work full time; if their mother lives here, she is working full time too. They look at the endless lists of vendors, growing daily. Planning a wedding is a complicated and time consuming process.

WC: Do you think brides have any common misconceptions about wedding coordinators? How do you get past them?

EG: Probably the biggest misconception brides have is that they will lose control of their wedding and nothing could be further from the truth. I present ideas, options, and suggestions to my brides, but the bottom line is, it is their wedding and we do it their way, they make the decisions and Bride's Vision makes sure those decisions are executed. Additionally, some brides think wedding planners are only for big budget brides and, again, that is also not true. At Bride's Vision we work with brides of all budgets.

WC: Do you currently plan events outside of St. Louis?

EG: Currently I am planning fabulous weddings in St. Louis and the surrounding area. Out of town events are wonderful to plan and I am always happy to help a bride with that need. I recently had the pleasure of planning an intimate wedding in North Carolina that was so full of joy.

WC: Based on your years of experience consulting, what advice would you give to a planning St. Louis bride?

EG: Don't expect to please everyone. Of course you will be considerate of your guests, family and friends, but realize it's your wedding and you should plan the wedding of your dreams, not someone else's.

Read other interviews at the Club Cafe.