Getting to Know: Lane Stewart Events

Lane Stewart Events is a talented, 2-person team made up of Alana and Melanie. They are luxury wedding planners and designers based in Charlottesville and Richmond VA.  They both love working with new couples and are ready to help make your wedding dreams come to life in a stress-free fashion! I had the pleasure of talking to Alana to get to know all of the details of their planning business! If you are still in need for a planner or designer for your wedding, you need to read more to learn about this amazing team!

 

Firstly, I asked the Lane Stewart Events Team a little about their services

 

Q: Starting off, what is the most popular service you offer?

A: We offer Partial Planning Design as well as Full Planning and Design.

 

Q: Do you offer any services outside of full planning? What are some popular things you offer if so?

A: We also offer full weekend planning which is really fun for us because we truly get to help serve your guests from start to finish and make sure they are truly having the best experience from start to finish!

 

Q: How many weddings do you take on per year?

A: We take about 12 each!

 

Q: How far outside of your location do you serve?

A: As far as anyone will take us! The furthest we’ve gone is Key West, Florida!

 

Q: Do you specialize in any particular type of weddings (or prefer working a specific type?)

A: No!

We also talked about tips and advice Lane Stewart Events would give to their couples.

 

Q: What would your advice be to brides who currently don’t have a planner?

A: Don’t read too much of what the internet tells you! Google is a great place to start, but a lot of times the information it provides isn’t accurate. Especially when it comes to budget!

 

Q: What is the best advice you can give to a bride who doesn’t know what she wants her wedding to be?

A: Think about you two as a couple, what you value, and what you look for in your day to day.  Do you love hosting? Do you love dancing? Think about what you love doing and what you want your first event as a married couple to be like!

 

Q: What venues do you particularly like and would recommend to brides, and why?

A: We love venues that offer multiple locations to host your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception! and allow you options to make your wedding feel different than all the others they hose! We also love venues that offer not only good, but great rain plan options!

 

Q: How would you advise a bride to go about choosing her major vendors, such as venues, florist, photographer, etc?

A: Start with a realistic and honest budget and then great your guest list.  Also, don’t focus on just their pricing. There are real people behind the business and it’s just as important to feel comfortable with them as it is to like their work and pricing!

 

Q: What is something most brides don’t realize a wedding planner does when they hire them?

A: Advocate for them. Always! We are the only people on your side every step of the way that are going to advocate for you and know what is best.  There are so many times we do this that clients don’t even (and won’t ever!) know about!

I had the chance to ask Alana a few more fun, personal questions too!

 

Q: What is your favorite part of the planning process?

A: Getting to know my couples and bringing their vision to life.  There’s truly nothing better than being able to execute a design that truly reflects who they are as a couple!

 

Q: What is a wedding trend that you think is not worth the hype? What trend do you think is worth the hype?

A: Anything that doesn’t have meaning. Neon signs, champagne towers, and sparklers for example. In addition, we are not currently a fan of the phone photo booths. Maybe I just don’t understand, but when are couples ever going to listen to those messages? I just save voicemails from the important people in my life that I want to hear their voices of! Not drunkenly at my wedding!  We do love anything that incorporates the couple’s pets! Those memories last forever!

 

Q: What made you want to get into planning?

A: Getting to see the joy and gratitude from clients at the end of the day. There is truly nothing like the hug and words of thankfulness from clients and guests at the end of a wedding day!

 

Q: What do you like to do in the off season for fun?

A: Watch football, travel, and spend time with my nephews.

Images by Alex Krall

 

The team at Lane Stewart Events is so sweet and ready to help any couple with their day!

I hope you loved getting to know more about Lane Stewart Events. If you are still looking for a planner for your wedding day, I highly recommend you reach out to them asap! You can talk to Alana or Melanie by reaching out to them here. After you send them a message, reach out to me to make sure I am also there to capture your big day (that they planned!).