Wedding planning expert Harper Holloman of Harper Mae Events creates stunning weddings that any southern girl has grown up dreaming of.
Like in Bride Wars, Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway can’t wait to wed their beaus at The Plaza in New York City (which is an iconic place in and of itself), Harper creates events that awe all those who attend while still focusing all her love and attention on the bride and groom.
Over this past year, I’ve gotten to know Harper, and she’s become a close vendor friend of mine, one I’d recommend to anyone planning a wedding. This girl knows her stuff. We sat down *virtually* so she could answer some pressing questions you might have.
Let’s dive in.
Q: What is ONE thing you’d recommend to brides planning their upcoming wedding?
Brides, or Couples, who are planning their upcoming weddings first need to sit down with their parents (and/or anyone who plans to contribute to the wedding) to create an overall budget. This impacts everything!
Once the budget is set and stone, I encourage my couples to decide what is most important to them so we can best maximize their budget. Ex: Brides who decide to splurge on pink peonies may need to forgo that specialty cocktail!
Q: What’s ONE thing brides should all be doing on their wedding day?
One thing Brides should be doing on their wedding day is spending time with their mamas, best friends, and any other female figure in her life because this is such an emotional day that is equally joyful!
Whether she is sipping on a mimosa or her favorite drink from Starbucks while getting ready, she is about to enter a new chapter in her life!
She also hired a phenomenal vendor team allowing her to enjoy the little moments prior to what the day has in store for her!
Q: Why hire a wedding planner/designer?
A wedding planner includes so many valuable services to couples and their families from design to logistics. A few of the things, but not limited to, my couples have benefits to is connecting them to wonderful wedding vendors from Oklahoma City to Tulsa, designing their day from color palettes to centerpiece inspiration, booking hotel room blocks for out of town guests, creating a detailed event timeline for vendors and the couples family members, all vendor communication, and coordinating their entire day from start to finish like cueing the DJ or band for their first dance.
Wedding planners can be every brides saving grace and at minimum, every couple should have a wedding coordinator to ensure their day goes off without a hitch.
Q: What was your experience like working with me?
Working with Courtney is so special and she has become a close vendor friend of mine! She is not only sweet but truly cares about her clients wedding day and understands how sentimental and joyful they are to the couple and their families! She is talented, always comes prepared, and wants to ensure a successful day!
Q: What would you tell someone considering working with me as a live wedding painter?
Not only are you getting a custom heirloom piece from your wedding day that you get to keep forever, it also adds to the guest experience.
Picture this: you’re a guest walking into a beautiful ceremony space with classical music playing and nearby you notice a live painter, she remains there during the entire length of the wedding ceremony painting away, now let me ask you this…were you watching the bride and groom or the live painter? Maybe both?
It will leave the guest with a lasting memory of how special and unique your wedding day was and will tell you that time and time again post-wedding day!
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Adding specialty vendors like live painting or a coffee cart can add personality to your wedding day! Everyone can have pretty flowers and good dancing music but not everyone splurges on something unique.
I encourage Brides to add something special to showcase their personalities and the relationship stories they have built with their fiancé’s.
Build a team of wedding vendors you trust and would consider meeting up for coffee later. You develop a close relationship with your wedding vendors and some you may wish to stay in contact with after your wedding!
If you want to chat with Harper, click here!
Working with Harper has been such a joy. She is such a talented wedding designer and planner. Go check out these two styled shoots I had the honor of being a part of.
