We spoke with Ale Schlesinger, owner of Ale Schlesinger Weddings & Events, to ask her all about wedding planning in Israel, why it’s worthwhile, who it’s right for and what wedding planners even do! Plus, her #1 tip for brides!
Hi Ale. So first off, what do wedding planners actually do?
There’s so much that wedding planners do, and many planners do different things. The two main packages that most planners offer is a full planning package, and day-of coordination. I offer both of these options, and include day-of coordination in the full planning package. Full planning means I do all the work for you, from beginning to end. Of course all decisions are yours, and you’re as hands-on as you’d like to be, but all the work, research, negotiations, etc., I take off your hands, so that you’re left with the fun parts of planning your wedding! After meeting with my clients and hearing about what they’re looking for, I build a personalized spreadsheet of different venues that I believe will match your vibe and budget. After the client narrows down the options they like, I personally take them on a venue tour, seeing them all, and negotiating the best possible prices at each place. After the venue and date are set, I repeat the process with the different vendors and aspects of planning your wedding. For day-of coordination only, the planner comes in after everything is set. I meet with you to learn all about your wedding, and build personalized spreadsheets, schedules and lists that will keep everything running smoothly the day of the wedding. I am in contact with the different vendors, and I run the event the day of the wedding, coordinating and fixing any issue that arises, so that the bride and groom, and their families, can simply enjoy the day!
What type of bride should be hiring a wedding planner? Is it only for someone who doesn’t have a lot of time on their hands?
I built my business with the thought process that everyone should be able to have a planner! My clients are as hands-on as they choose to be. Whether you want to be more involved or less involved is completely up to you. I will never make any decisions for you, the only thing I take away from you is the stress. No matter how much you love or hate planning and organizing, everyone could use a little help for their big day. That’s where I come in!
What should I look for when choosing a wedding planner?
This is such an important question! I always tell any potential client I meet that when they are choosing someone to work with for the wedding, whether it be me, a different planner, or any other vendor, the most important thing is to choose someone who you feel comfortable with and who you feel you connect with. Planning a wedding is an intensive time in your life, and of course the day itself is one of the biggest days of your life. Therefore, you should be surrounded by people who make you feel good and who take away your stress, not add any. Of course you want to make sure you’re getting good value, the help you need, and a good work ethic. But at the end of the day, I do believe a huge part of it is hiring someone you can trust.
What makes Ale Schlesinger Weddings and Events special? What do your clients love about you?
I think the first thing that interests my clients is the fact that I am unique in offering a money-back guarantee. Through my full planning package, I guarantee my clients that through negotiations, I will save them at least the amount they are paying me, or they will get the difference back. This allows my clients (and their parents!) the peace of mind that they are not actually spending any extra in hiring a wedding planner, and for the same price they’d be paying anyway, they get a full-time wedding planner at their disposal. Another thing I’ve noticed that stands out to my clients, is that I seem to be unique in the fact that I personally take my clients on venue tours. This gives them peace of mind that they have someone with them who knows what to do and what to ask, and is especially helpful for clients who don’t have their own cars. Additionally, I’ve been so fortunate that most of my clients become my friends, ensuring a fun and friendly atmosphere throughout the whole process. The other thing that makes me different from other planners, is that I do not take kick-backs from vendors I work with. This allows you the peace of mind of knowing that every vendor I recommend, I am recommending based on their work and personality alone, and that there is no personal interest for me to hire a specific person.
I have a tight budget. Does this mean a wedding planner isn’t right for me?
This is exactly what I’m trying to battle! Unfortunately, most people think that this is the case, and with most wedding planners it does seem to be so. But that’s why I developed my money-back guarantee. If I don’t save you at least the amount you’re paying me, you get the difference back. This is allows you to have a full time planner at no extra cost to you. I firmly believe that budget should not be a reason why you shouldn’t have the best possible wedding planning process.
How much does a wedding planner cost?
It’s so important to me to personalize my packages to the needs of my client. Why should you pay for something that someone else needs but you don’t need? I would love to speak to you and give you a personalized quote.
I have very opinionated people in my family who all have different ideas about how the wedding should look. Do you speak to all of them? How do you manage differing opinions?
This is such a common theme that arises. At the end of the day, all decisions
are yours; you can’t make everyone happy and yours is the most important
opinion! However, if you’d like me to speak to a parent or family member, or they’d like to speak to me, I am always here!
Do you help with creating a budget or is that something I should do before I hire an event planner?
Totally up to you! I have many clients who tell me they have no idea what to expect and I help them come up with a budget based on their needs. I also have clients that come to me with a strict budget and say “this is all I have to work with” and I help them plan the best possible wedding accordingly. Both options are totally fine. At the end of the day, I am here for whatever your needs are.
What do you think people often misunderstand about hiring wedding planners?
There are a few common misconceptions that I often hear. One is, “I can’t afford a wedding planner.” Though that has been true in the past, my money-back guarantee makes it irrelevant. You CAN afford a wedding planner, because you deserve to have one! The second is “I don’t want a planner, because I enjoy planning and still want to be a part of the process and make decisions.” Hiring me does not mean you’re letting go of all decisions! You get to be as hands on as you’d like. Of course if you come to me and say, “I just want you to do it all for me” I will, but usually that isn’t the case. What I do is the behind the scenes work and the research to leave you with only the fun part of planning. Another misconception I hear is, “I don’t need a day of coordinator, my venue provides one, or my friend will do it for me.” It’s true that many venues offer an event manager, but that isn’t the same thing. An event manager works for the venue and any mistakes the venue might make, it will be the event manager making them. There is huge value in having an event manager that works with your coordinator/planner, but it is super important to have someone who works for YOU, whose only interests are your personal ones, and not those of the hall; someone who will advocate for you and make sure things go the way you want them to.
As a wedding planner, what do you think is the most worthwhile part of the wedding to splurge on?
Of course, I have to say that the most important thing to spend money on is a wedding planner! I do believe that having one will allow you to facilitate all your other wishes as much as possible. If not a full-time planner, than absolutely a day-of coordinator. You need to know that someone has your back the day of the wedding so that you can enjoy your day without dealing with any issues that arise. Otherwise, I would say it depends on what’s important to you. I have clients who are musicians who place the band/DJ as the most important thing, while photographers and artists would rather spend less on the music in order to have the right photographer. Go with your gut; you know what’s most important to you.
What seemingly small detail can make a big impact at your wedding?
Your attitude! Of course, as your planner it is my job to make sure everything goes exactly as planned. But I have found that the clients that come into the day saying “no matter what happens today, I will end it married to the love of my life, and that’s all that matters” are by far the happiest!
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.
I’m originally from Miami, FL, born to Argentinean parents, which has thankfully led me to becoming trilingual. I came to Israel on a gap year program at 18 years old, and essentially never left. After making aliyah, I spent 2 years in the army as a shooting instructor. After completing my service, I got a bachelor’s degree in Theatre and Education, and continued on to studying for my master’s in Psychodrama, a form of therapy. Somewhere in between, I met my husband and got married, which led to my starting my event planning business.
Why and how did you decide to go into event planning?
When my husband and I got engaged, with both sets of parents overseas, I essentially planned my wedding by myself. Through the process I realized that it was something I am good at, and after helping a few friends with their weddings as well, I thought “I can do this.” I definitely could have used help in planning my wedding, but a wedding planner was just not something I could afford; so when I started my business, I built my business model in order to allow anyone who wanted the help of a planner to be able to have one – wedding planning should be fun, and NOT a big source of stress!
What do you think is unique about weddings in Israel? What do you love about them?
Planning a wedding in Israel is very different than N. American or European weddings, for example. First of all, weddings here are naturally less formal. This can be a bit of a culture shock for many anglo families, but many times weddings here have an element of joy that really is unique. The other major difference is how quickly things can get done here. I’ve planned weddings in under two months, and other weddings in over a year.
Share with us a special Ale Schlesinger tip that all brides should know as they plan their wedding?
I can’t stress enough the importance of choosing vendors that you are comfortable around. I would always prefer to go with a vendor whose work I like slightly less, then one who is slightly “better” but adds stress to the day. Thankfully I have found some amazing vendors that both have amazing work and are amazing to be around. You have to be surrounded by people who will calm you on your wedding day.
You sound awesome! How can we reach you with more questions?
I can be reached a few different ways!
Check out my website at www.eventsbyale.com
Shoot me an e-mail at ale@eventsbyale.com
Hit up my facebook at facebook.com/aleweddings or my instagram at instgram.com/eventsbyale
Give me a call or send me a whatsapp at 0543002404
Thank you, Ale!