Ask an Expert | Erica Kates of Ambiance Chic Wedding Designs
Monday September 6th, 2010
During my hunt for the top wedding planners across the nation, I discovered Erica Kates of Ambiance Chic Wedding Designs. Erica is an extremely talented planner who has put together some amazing events. She was kind enough to chat with me about her business, her experiences, and some of her favorite wedding moments.
What is Ambiance Chic Wedding Designs’ style?
We can do any style. I was an interior designer before I was a wedding planner, so I can do just about any style. Our biggest goal is to make our clients’ wedding completely unique and completely “them.” We focus on our customers’ style and ideas and then create the best versions of their vision.
What are some of the top benefits of hiring a planner?
The most important benefit is being able to get exactly what you want. A lot of times when brides and grooms look for things on their own, they know what they want but don’t know how to get it. We have done so many weddings that we can find exactly what our couples are looking for very easily. Planners help you get a more fine-tuned version of what couples want.
You worked with Cake & Pictures photographer Jacklyn, from JAG Studios, on Jeremy and Andrew’s wedding. Theirs was the first gay wedding featured in Martha Stewart Magazine. What was planning their wedding like?
Well, they first started planning their wedding in California, and then the laws changed and they had to start over in another state. They sort of had a bum deal. They had to completely start over their entire wedding planning. They found me by looking at a listing of vendors at a bridal show. We started talking and they thought I was a florist at first! When they figured out I was a planner, they realized that having a planner might benefit them, since they had to re-plan their entire wedding. We started over and made it even better. We helped them find vendors and all their rentals. Candi’s Floral Creations did a great job on the flowers. Each table had a different antique theme.
JAG Studios
Is there a wedding moment that has really touched you?
Andrew and Jeremy’s best man’s toast. When he was talking about how much they’d been through to plan their wedding, how they had to start everything all over, everyone on my team cried, including me.
JAG Studios
What’s your top wedding tip?
A lot of people have recently decided they want to plan their wedding last-minute. This is the new idea. It was the exciting thing to do for 2010, plan your wedding in three to six months. Even with a wedding planner, that’s just not enough time to have the details. I don’t want to sound like we can’t do it, because we can, but if they want details they need more time.
JAG Studios
Erica Kates is the director of Ambiance Chic Wedding Designs, a full service wedding planning company located in Hartford, CT. Erica spent 10 years in the interior design industry before founding Ambiance Chic Wedding Designs. Her pleasant personality, eye for design, and fearless nature make her the perfect planner when it comes to unique and breathtaking weddings.
