We are so excited for our very first “Vendor Love” post on the Max And Poppy blog! From time to time, you’ll see these posts, full of insider wedding tips, advice and more from some of our favorite Palm Springs wedding vendors. We’re kicking off these posts off in a major way with the ADORABLE and super talented April Suess of The Bride And I. April is a local wedding planner who knows how to stay calm under pressure {trust us!}. April was kind enough to answer a few questions, and she even let us take her pretty picture. Read on, my friends….read on…

1. When/why did you start your business?

When: April 1^st 2008.  And, it was not joke!  I really did not intend to apply for my business license on April Fool’s Day; it just worked out that way.  Coincidentally, I came to find out my stepfather started his business on that very same day, 35 years earlier.  He is an amazing and well respected businessman here in the desert, owning a successful auto repair business and doing it with honesty and integrity for close to forty years now.  I am proud to share this special day with him!

Why: Ummm, free wedding cake of course!!!  Well, okay, not really but it’s definitely on the list.  After being fortunate enough to work for an amazing event company for 5 years, our national economy took a definite change (not sure if anyone else noticed).  I was faced with two real problems.  First, my work load/income was on a steady decline.  Secondly, all of the brides I was encountering could not afford to hire a wedding planner.  It was a “perfect storm” of sorts that ultimately led me to take a huge leap of faith in myself as well as this industry.  I saw the need; I had an answer.  Making the change was honestly one of the most difficult  things I have ever done, as I loved and respected my employer/mentor.  After much thought and prayer, however, I knew what I had to do.  I had no idea how things would fare, but I knew I believed in myself and my abilities.  The need was real and I had a plan to  the fulfill that need.  The rest, I trusted, was up to the man upstairs.  Three years, and many happy clients later, I am happy and proud to say that I have a prosperous and growing business.

2. What services do you offer?

Frequently, I like to describe myself as a wedding’s BFF.  I offer a wide range of services.  My ultimate goal is to create a service that makes sense for your wedding, to meet your specific needs and to do it at a cost that works within your budget.  Often, I get requests for “Day of Service” coordination.  I believe it’s because most couples assume this is the most affordable form of wedding planning.  I actually don’t believe in true “day of” planning, meaning your coordinator shows up on you wedding day and is supposed to be intimately tuned in to the uniqueness of your wedding.  It’s just not logistically possible and I don’t believe offering that sort of service behooves anyone, particularly the Bride and Groom.  However, I completely understand the need to keep curtail costs.  What I often do is offer what I like to call “Full Service Day of Coordination”.  This means that you have access to me, my resources, and expertise from the moment I am contracted.  I am available, without limitations, to my clients via phone and email to assist in any way possible.  I review contracts, offer advice, create the wedding day timeline, correspond with vendors, run the wedding rehearsal and am your ultimate go-to-girl with all things Wedding!  The truth is I could probably write a 10 page list of things I do for my clients but hopefully you get the idea!

3. What makes you different?

Well, I know this is a total cliché, but the truth is I utterly and honestly LOVE what I do!  I am a real person with a real life aside from my amazing career.  But I am 100% passionate about the service I offer my clients.  I am not a diva by any stretch of the imagination.  I am kind, calm and strongly believe you don’t have to be ungracious or impolite to get things done properly.  I like to think I am easy to work with and try my best to be respectful in all that I do, with the understanding that this day is really not about anyone other than the Bride and Groom.

4. Tell us about the wedding market/industry here in beautiful Palm Springs?

It’s booming!!!  I know I speak for everyone in the local market when I say how overjoyed we all are to see the excitement and growth in the Palm Springs Wedding industry!  Whether you are from Orange Country, Los Angeles, or as far away as the East Coast or Canada, Palm Springs is the PERFECT destination wedding spot!

5. What’s the biggest piece of advice you would give to couples in the midst of planning their wedding?

Why do I only get to choose one!?! There are so many things that come to mind!!!  I would say, most importantly, to please make sure that your day reflects you, your relationship, your history and your personalities!  Your wedding day shouldn’t be about anything other than, family and friends, amazing memories, and most of all LOVE!  After all, that’s really what it’s all about, right?

Thank you so much to Max and Poppy for choosing to highlight The Bride and I!  I had so much fun taking these photos with Katie. Getting to sit down and answer these questions really gave me a great opportunity to reflect on what it is I do and why!  Katie and Scott are amazing and we are so lucky to have them here in the desert!

{For more information about April and the services she offers, visit her website at www.TheBrideAndI.com}

Happy Tuesday 🙂