Questions to Ask A Wedding Planner Before Booking

As Chicago based Wedding Planners, you might call us biased when we say we are VERY pro Wedding Planner. As much as we would love to work on everyone’s wedding, we understand that it’s important to find a wedding planner that matches with your energy. We know we aren’t for everyone, and we know not everyone is for us.

We recommend chatting with potential wedding planners before booking to find the best match, so here are some important questions we recommend asking your “potential” wedding planner before booking.

What to Expect During the Wedding Rehearsal

As Chicago-based wedding planners, the Fierce Productions team will support you every step of the way. A major perk of booking us, whether for full planning or just coordination, is that we guide you through your wedding rehearsal.

So, what exactly is a wedding rehearsal? Well, it’s when you practice the wedding ceremony a day early! The purpose is to make sure everyone is on the same page, so the actual ceremony goes as smoothly as possible.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about wedding rehearsals:

Allegra and Hanchen’s Intimate Wedding

Allegra and Hanchen wanted a wedding that felt fun, cozy, romantic, and welcoming. Their main priorities were for guests to feel relaxed, for everything to feel organized, and for everyone to feel present during the important wedding moments. They had the most gorgeous ceremony outside on Loft Lucia’s terrace followed by an elongated cocktail hour, where they got to enjoy plenty of time mingling with all their friends and family. The weather was perfect and everyone loved getting to spend time outside. Guests then headed inside to enjoy dinner, speeches and lots of dancing! Check out some of their cute, colorful, intimate photos below!

5 Questions to Ask Your Caterer Before Booking

Catering for a wedding is the biggest investment, so you want to make sure it meets your standards! Booking your caterer is an important part after you solidified your guest count, and booked your venue. Before booking, you want to make sure you are clear about everything included from the beginning. As beloved wedding planners in Chicago, we help guide our clients through every process, and we always recommend our favorite vendors. That being said, here are a few questions you should ask your caterer before booking.

Creative Ideas to Enhance Your Cocktail Hour

As Non-traditional Chicago Wedding Planners, we have designed many unique weddings. Many of our clients have desired out-of-the-box ways to make their wedding different, and memorable. A simple way to elevate your event, is by having some sort of “fierce” moment during your cocktail hour. Cocktail hours are the perfect time to get a bit creative, as guests wait between ceremony and reception. You truly can be as tame or wild as you please, but below are a few ways you can enhance your cocktail hour.

5 Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer Before Booking

When booking your wedding photographer, you may think “oh it’s just photos, it doesn’t matter who we book it will all be the same”. Well…there’s actually quite an art to photography, and you want to make sure you find the perfect match to your vision. Some photographers excel with the dark and dramatic, some excel with the bright and colorful. Especially if you do first looks, you will be with your photographer for most of the day, so you want to make sure it’s someone you’ll get along with. As skilled wedding planners based in Chicago, we are match makers with photographers and clients. That being said, here are a few questions you should ask your photographer before booking them:

How Do I Build a Wedding Timeline?

As expert Wedding Planners in Chicago, we know how to structure out a wedding day. Truthfully, there are a lot of nitty-gritty details you need to think about when constructing your timeline. Sometimes, it can feel a little bit like piecing a puzzle together. When you book our event planning services, we make sure to create an ideal wedding timeline together; we make sure it’s something you approve of, so we can handle all the logistics. That being said, you might be wondering why we time things out a specific way, or you’re attempting to structure your own. Which ever option, here are a few important things to think about when forming a solid Wedding Timeline:

Christine and Mike's Colorful Karaoke Reception

Christine and Mike eloped in March of 2023, but decided to finally celebrate with loved ones by hosting a joint anniversary, and wedding reception party at Bridge410. The overall atmosphere was a laid back family styled event, but with loads of color, moments of play, and karaoke! The couple wanted the celebration to be more about the experience, so they wanted to make sure there were many unique elements to keep guests entertained.

5 Chicago Venues with City Skyline Views

We get it, the Chicago Skyline is gorgeous! As Chicago Wedding Planners, we always love those sunny clear blue sky days. It’s truly the most iconic way to say “Chicago Wedding.” We have designed, and coordinated tons of weddings in the city, and we never get tired of it. From our experience, here are personal 5 favorite venues with views of the skyline.

Alex and Cameron's Parisian School House Wedding

Fierce Productions had the privilege of creating a unique and memorable wedding wedding for Alex and Cameron at The School House Chicago. The wedding’s theme, “Romantic Parisian School Drop Out,” set the stage for an extraordinary affair. Guests were whisked away into a chic, scholarly realm, complete with actors, personal flags, and captivating digital presentations.

The ambiance of a Parisian soirée was brought to life with a candlelit dinner amidst a library of dreams, adorned with astrology motifs and shimmering tinsel, creating a “magical starlight dinner” atmosphere. This wedding was not just an event; it was a journey into a world of romance and whimsy, meticulously designed by to be a cherished memory for all.

Would you incorporate any of these non-traditional elements into your wedding?

How do Wedding Room Blocks Work?

You've likely encountered the term "room block" before, but you may be wondering, "What exactly is that?" Or you may be feeling apprehensive about the process. Fear not! Hotel room blocks are more straightforward than they seem. Drawing from our expertise as wedding planners in Chicago, the Fierce Productions team has navigated countless couples through the process of securing room blocks. Here's a glimpse into what you need to know:

Connar and Mike's Modern Whimsical Wedding

When Connar got hired us for her wedding, we were ecstatic! Connar met Mike back in college when they were in a theatre show together. As theatrical artists, we knew their wedding was going to be unique. When they reached out to us, they had a limited vision, but knew they wanted it to be a perfect combination of the two of them.

Olivia and Austin's Colorful Carnival Wedding

Olivia and Austin met in college, where Olivia’s roommate set them up on a date. We were thrilled when they reached out to us to help design their wedding. They knew they wanted a non-traditional wedding. In their inquiry, they shared how they wanted to have an elevated, and interactive experience during their wedding. To achieve their vision, we elevated the design to create a "tasteful way” of being “over the top". Through our various meetings, we came up with the idea of basing the reception on a romantic, and playful carnival.

6 Unique and Unforgettable Wedding Venues in Chicago

At Fierce Productions, we thrive on crafting distinctive experiences. We celebrate the unconventional and unique, passionately curating events that transcend traditional boundaries. Your chosen venue isn't just a backdrop; it's a canvas to enhance and elevate the essence of your special day. Explore our curated selection of unique Chicago wedding venues that epitomize our commitment to extraordinary celebrations.

BLOG