Today on our Meet the Friendors blog series we wanted to talk about one of our preferred vendors, Wood Grain & Lace! Wanna learn more about them? Check out their Instagram or website!

Christine Greenberg

Describe the Wood Grain & Lace Brand:

We chose the name Wood Grain & Lace to represent an organic, natural element paired with a nod to a vintage aesthetic. Our design is classic with elements from nature and a level of sophistication and trend without being overdone.

What character traits make up an ideal client for a Wood Grain & Lace couple?

We tend to attract clients who want a wedding planner who will give it to them straight. We want to be straightforward with budget expectations, design costs, logistical concerns and always lend an open ear to any family drama that may occur. We want them to feel like they’ve hired a very knowledgeable friend to help them navigate the wedding waters. Personalized design is important, but creating a seamless event through planning is what our experience lends to our clients.

Our past clients are cool, thoughtful, practical and very in love. And trusting that when you invest in a wedding coordination team, you get to let go and really enjoy the event you’ve planned.

 

How did you start your wedding planning career?

Our owner, Christine Haines Greenberg, began planning in 2011 by happy accident. In 2014 she decided to open up a bridal boutique and realized she wanted to grow her event coordination team. The company continues to grow and we coordinated our 100th event this summer.

 

Have you gotten the opportunity to travel with Wood Grain & Lace? If so, what’s your favorite city/state to work in?

We really shine in our local market (Richmond, Charlottesville + DC) because we know our community, we have a strong network of vendors and we can help our clients get the best value for their dollar. But we’ve planned events in NYC and Austin, Texas for family friends. The challenge of out-of-state event planning is fun, but we love being the masters of our local market.

What’s your opinion on having a first look versus waiting to see each other until the ceremony?

We seem to change our minds about this every season! We used to always encourage a first look (from a logistics standpoint) because it allows more time for photos before the wedding and tends to keep the couple calm. But there is nothing better than, after months of getting to know a couple, to see their eyes fill up with tears when they see each other.

So, I think it depends on how large the wedding party is and if it would be less stressful overall to knock some photos out before the ceremony.

You can always do a first look with a parent and/or the bridal party and get some of those photos out of the way as well.

Lastly, do you have any words of wisdom you would like to share with our future brides?

Would saying “hire a wedding planner” be too obvious?

I hired two of my coordinators to handle my wedding day, and I think that was the first and last day of my entire adult life that I was truly able to just coast through the day. I knew my florals had been delivered, I knew the reception space was setup, I knew my guests had been greeted at the ceremony site, I was able to just be present as I got ready with my ladies and my mom and I was able to be present during the first look with my husband. It was so nice to truly practice what I preach.

Our other piece of advice would be to pick a planner that suits your personality. We are type-A and organized, but we don’t take this so seriously. It’s just a wedding. We will help you make it beautiful and seamless, but you don’t need to blow your life savings on a day. Life keeps going.

Hire professional vendors instead of your friends. And trust that those vendors have your best intentions in mind. They want you to be happy and have a beautiful event for their portfolio.

And if you have a creepy, drunk uncle or bridesmaid drama or step parent issues, LET YOUR PLANNER KNOW. It’s our job to prevent mishaps before the occur. We’ve seen it all, I promise.

 

Photos (except headshot): Nick Kessler Photography