Please take a few moments to read this before hiring TaylorMade Weddings.
Contact Darlene Taylor today!
877-221-6008
Q: How did you become a wedding planner/coordinator?
It's all about special moments. I am passionate about special moments: the moment you put on your veil and see yourself as a bride; the moment the doors swing open and you walk down the aisle; the moment your groom sees you in your gown and chokes up because you're so beautiful; that moment when you and your groom share your first kiss as husband and wife. These special moments, these once-in-a-lifetime moments, draw me in...and I'm hooked!
I dreamed of these special moments for my own wedding day. Being a wedding entertainer for 8 years - yes, I was a wedidng singer - and a meeting planner for a major hotel chain, I figured I had wedding planning all figured out. What I didn't realize was that I could not be the star of the show AND the stage manager at the same time. No matter how well I had thought things through, or how many "t's" I crossed, I couldn't be in two places at once. Everybody was coming at me on my wedding day, while I was getting ready, asking me questions about this, that, and everything else. Where were MY special moments? Buried under stress. Buried under confusion.
Why? Because everyone needed a leader - someone who would take charge of all the loose reins of my plans and pull them in order. Someone who could do what I couldn't do. Someone who knew about how to handle the problems, the people, and the last minute hiccups that happen at weddings.
My personal wedding experience fueled a deep desire to help future brides have the best, most organized and stress-free wedding experience full of special moments to enjoy and celebrate for a lifetime! I combined my years of influence from the wedding industry and my skills from corporate meeting planning and began TaylorMade Weddings.
Q: How long have you been doing what you do?
An ordinary answer would be, "I've been planning and coordinating weddings for 16 years..." Well, I'm not ordinary. So, let me tell you my story. That's right. MY story. Me. It's who I am and how I got here today.
I started TaylorMade Weddings in 1996 while I was working a full-time job as a corporate meeting planner. In the year 2000, I made the decision to go into full-time wedding planning. Shortly after that, my husband and I relocated to northern Virginia. Just as we got settled in a new town, my husband lost his job. Every few months we were "possibly moving," so I remained "quiet" - only planning weddings here and there for friends. I never gave up on my dream of helping brides. I knew I still had a business inside of me. When I knew that we were no longer possibly moving, I obtained my Professional Bridal Consulting Degree in 2007 and began planning weddings once again. In the words of Oprah Winfrey, "I still have my feet on the ground, I just wear better shoes."
Q: We love your services and your portfolio. Everything sounds fantastic...so can you tell me what sets you apart from all the other wedding planners?
What sets TaylorMade Weddings apart from other wedding planners is that we have many hidden talents. I say "we" because my husband, JT, and I work together for your wedding giving you a second - and third - pair of eyes on your wedding day. We really CAN be two places at once to ensure your day operates like a well-oiled machine!
We speak your vendors' language. We know what to look for in expert vendors to make the magic happen for your wedding day. JT and I ran a camp kitchen so we know about catering and health requirements which help us relate to your caterers. I was a meeting planner which helps me relate to your hotel staff and assist with guest rooms for your guests. JT managed a photo lab and portrait studio so he can relate to your photographer's needs. I have a degree in music so I can speak to your musicians on a personal level.
Q: This all sounds wonderful but it also seems expensive. Are we going to be able to afford this?
Partnering with us saves you so much more money because we keep your wedding from running your wallet. We work with you from the beginning to determine what your dreams and wishes are for your wedding day and help you set a spending plan that meets your dreams. When you consider the cost of your sanity, how can you afford NOT to have us?
Q: Who do you work best with?
Great question! There should be a feeling of comfort between people who are working closely together. We work best with couples who are newly engaged, have just begun the planning process and may have already selected a few vendors. Our couples are stylish and savvy; they know what they want but do not make hasty decisions to get it; they want to make their wedding stand out and be unique. They seek counsel, are open to suggestions, and they appreciate the value of what we have to offer.
Q: Will I lose control of my wedding if you are planning it for me?
This is your wedding! It's all about your dreams and your wishes and we don't take that away from you. We are on your team! What we do is work alongside you to plan and execute your vision and we can do that because we've been with you from the beginning. We know you. We've cried with you...laughed with you...celebrated with you. At the end of the day - when the last bite of cake has been eaten and the final note has been played by the band, you will find that you'll have more than just another hired vendor...you'll have a friend!
Q: Will you work with the vendors I've already found or the ones I really want to work with?
Absolutely! We make it a point to contact your vendors to talk about your wedding day and keep them in the loop about all the details and any updates. We seek to build a relationship with each one of your vendors before your wedding so we all know what to expect from each other on your wedding day. By doing this, it will ensure that things will run smoothly for them, for us, and for YOU!
Q: Do you take credit cards and can I have a payment plan?
We built a payment plan into our contract. After an initial deposit, we set up a payment schedule so that you are not hit with a large balance in the final weeks before your wedding. All payments to TaylorMade Weddings can be made by credit card, check, or cash.
Q: Do you take more than one wedding per day?
No. We dedicate 100% of our attention and energy to you and only you for your wedding day which, for us, starts a few days before your event. We are already working behind the scenes before the big day is officially here.
Q: This sounds like everything we've been looking for. What happens next to start the process?
The next step is to call me at 877-221-6008 or e-mail me at darlene@taylormade-weddings.com to set up your complimentary Get Acquainted Session. I want to hear about your needs, see if we're a good match, and what package fits your personality, style and budget best.
Q: May we contact some of your former clients to see what it's like to work with you?
Yes! Absolutely. You can look at some of our client testimonials right now and you can also view our client reviews on our listing with WedPlan.
Q: We have a couple more questions before getting started. Can I call you to discuss them further?
Yes! In fact, we highly encourage you to schedule a complimentary consultation so we can get all your questions answered and make sure we're a great fit for one another. Call 877-221-6008 today with any questions you may have or you can email darlene@taylormade-weddings.com to schedule a time to discuss your needs.