Our second Vendor Spotlight for March features Heather Healy, owner of Port City Event Planners and its subsidiary, Just the Details. Heather founded Port City Event Planners in 2006 and offers both event planning and event design. Images below are from a complete wedding (not a styled shoot), as well as a couple of Just the Details.
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| Heather Healy Owner, Port City Event Planners Event Coordinator for 5 years |
IS: What’s the difference between “event planning” and “event design”?
PCEP: Event planning or coordination involves logistics. It’s working with the vendors, creating the day-of timeline, making sure everything runs smoothly. I offer day-of and week-of coordination, and even some decor set-up services. Event design, on the other hand, is about the look and feel of the event. It’s the feeling that comes over your guests when they walk into your reception. Event design stems from a vision. My favorite part is when the bride and groom are announced into the reception, and they feel like it’s so much more than they ever imagined.
IS: How does one choose a designer?
PCEP: I offer free consultations to couples in order to get to know one another. I have my couples fill out a questionnaire, and ask questions like “What are the 3 most important things to you about your wedding day?” and “What 3 things do you worry about most?” I’m not afraid to give couples ideas on the spot, even during the consultation before they’ve decided to book me. I think it’s important for couples to get a sense of how their designer works, whether they like the designer’s ideas, and to make sure personalities click.
IS: Isn’t event design really only for couples with big budgets?
PCEP: That’s a common perception, but it doesn’t have to be that way. My goal is to help couples design a wedding that fits within their budget. Designers have the know-how to save money by offering options and alternatives. Many of my clients have found that I saved them enough money in their event design that my services were essentially paid for! I like to focus on the best use of my clients’ dollars… for example, the right linens make a huge impact and offer a big design bang for the buck. I also offer a la carte pricing, which really allows me to work with most budgets.
IS: What advice can you offer for the do-it-herself bride?
PCEP: Brides wanting the look and feel of a designed event should focus on coordinated details. I have a new division of my business called Just the Details, which is an online store offering custom-designed details including name cards, favor boxes, menus and programs, etc. Our motto is “Let us do the work and you take the credit!” Items can be purchased separately or in matching sets. They are fully assembled and ready to display, and I even offer set-up services for local couples, or I can ship anywhere in the US.
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| Just the Details |
Check out Port City Event Planners and Just the Details at www.pceventplanners.com or call Heather at (910) 520-2947.
