I still remember what it felt like to open my first wedding magazine.  Cracking open those glossy pages of Martha Stewart Weddings was a rush of excitement, disbelief, and outright euphoria.  In some ways I wanted to plan EVERYTHING that week because I couldn’t hardly wait one more minute to marry my best friend.  And the other part of me was afraid to make ANY decisions.  Committing to the groom was the easy part, but committing to a dress?  Wedding colors?  A venue?  That’s where things got intimidating!  That’s when I knew I needed – a wedding dream team.

Your wedding dream team is made up of the people that will help you tell your love story.  Call them “vendors”, but truly I believe that these creative partners will make your planning process fun and memorable.  And ultimately, will deliver the celebration you’ve been dreaming of since you first walked out of Barnes and Noble with your fresh stack of wedding mags.

You might be thinking:

“…I have no idea what my style is.”

“…I’m not sure I can afford a dream team.”

“…Gosh, I have no idea how to even FIND my dream team.”

Well, I have the loveliest thing in store for you. I want to introduce you to GIRL MEETS PARTY and a special offer just for One July readers (Read all the way to the end for the DISCOUNT CODE!)

I recently sat down with the founder and visionary behind Girl Meets Party, Jen Herrmann, to learn more about this dreamy yet affordable service…

In a nutshell, how does Girl Meets Party (GMP) work?
GMP works in 3 simple steps.  In order to kick-off work with us, you’ll need a venue and a wedding date.  First, we’ll have you answer a short questionnaire based on the vendor you’re searching for, and we’ll chat with you to better understand your style and needs.  Second, we’ll search for vendors that match your style, timing and budget perfectly.  We’ll present you with three options within a few weeks.  Lastly, you’ll have 2 weeks to connect with vendors and decide who’s the best match.  We stick by your side while you sign a contract to ensure both parties are fully comfortable.  Then we celebrate from the sidelines while you plan with your expert.  In total, the process takes 4-6 weeks. (Girl Meets Party specializes in finding the perfect vendor for flowers, photography, invitations, videography, cake, day-of coordination, hair & makeup, calligraphy, and music.)

GMP was born after planning your own wedding, what was your favorite part of the planning experience?
​I’m traditionally trained as a brand marketer, and I’ve launched a handful of new products in my career.  To me, our wedding was like are joint brand launch (as nerdy as that sounds), and I had the best time planning the little pieces that showcased our personalities throughout the event.  Our vision was for people to feel how important they were to our relationship and leave the wedding knowing we loved them.  My favorite thing we did to bring that to life was leave thank you notes at everyone’s place setting.  I learned calligraphy for the wedding, so I wrote everyone’s name on the outside of the envelope.  Then my husband and I wrote personalized notes to every guest, which they found at their place setting as they arrived to dinner.  Planning elements that are true to you two is key to the perfect event.

When it comes to choosing vendors, what should couples be looking for to build their “dream team”?
The biggest thing I’d say is trust your gut.  You know when you click with someone and when you don’t.  The people you select will be with you during some of the most intimate moments of your life.  Ensure it’s someone you feel comfortable being with and that you trust them.  Don’t be afraid to keep looking because you’ll find the perfect match, and when you do, it’s awesome.  Our florist was an incredible fit and because we clicked, she knew exactly what I wanted and more than over-delivered.  Our flowers were my favorite part of the wedding!  ​

What is the number one reason why couples contact you?
Planning a wedding is extremely overwhelming and current options can be very expensive.  GMP provides an affordable option and we’re trustworthy.  We treat all of our clients like we treat those we love, and it goes a long way.  We know how important your wedding is – it’s a monumental event in your life – and we want to do everything in our power to make it as fun and easy to plan as possible.

What is your best advice for couples getting ready to say “I do”?
Don’t forget the wedding is about you two.  Everyone will have an opinion and until you’re ready to hear it, be careful who you share your plans with.  I remember quickly learning to say, “here’s what we’re doing” vs. “what do you think”  It’s a very emotional time, but if you focus on you and your soon-to-be, it’s an incredible experience.

And just for fun…what do you think will be THE wedding trend of 2018? 
​Curating your social media feed has become such a major component to events.  I think we’ll start to see a new vendor – the social media manager.  I see it as an ‘in the moment’ videographer – someone who’s creating your snapchat or Instagram story as the day goes.

Ready to find your wedding dream team?