Elana Walker, CWP Certified Wedding Planner/ Owner
Meeting new people when they are at their happiest point in life is one of the things I truly enjoy about my job. The excitement in the brides eyes to fulfill her desires of having the wedding of her dreams. The groom, proud as a peacock, embarking on a new journey in life and stepping into the next phase of manhood, pulls at my heartstrings as I sit and listen to my clients share their dream wedding idea’s with me.
I majored in fashion design in 2000 at the Illinois Institute of Art in Chicago and that¹s where my love for beautification, style, and design was refined. When I returned to NC I decided to become a certified wedding planner through the American Academy of Wedding Professionals. Becoming a certified wedding planner prepared me to project things that may happen from early in the planning process, catch things in contracts that are not in the best interest of my clients, how to save my clients money, the proper way to plan a wedding and so much more.
“Getting to know my clients and creating an event that represents them is the goal for every couple I work with. It is important for me to get to know my clients and to deliver the wedding of their dreams even if they can’t verbally relay every detail.”
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Q&A with Elana Walker, CWP
Q: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS?
A: I began my entrepreneurial journey as a wedding planner in 2009. I was working for a dead end job and I needed to make extra money. I soon realized that this could be a full time career and I grew from there. I left my day job in 2013 and never looked back.
Q: WHAT QUALIFIES YOU TO PLAN WEDDINGS?
A: Early on I decided to obtain my certification in wedding planning. This taught me the proper way to plan weddings by learning how to select vendors, review contracts and so much more. 9 years later and after countless weddings, I have won Best of The Knot from 2013 – 2017 and was recently inducted into The Knot’s Hall of Fame. From 2012 – 2017, I won Wedding Wire’s Couples Choice Award. In 2016 I won Event of the Year at the International Live Events Association Trinity Awards and in 2016 & 2017 I won Best Wedding of a 75k budget of higher. In addition, both NBC & CBS affiliate stations have called upon my expertise and was featured on the morning news as well as a show called, My Carolina Today.
Q: WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE YOU?
A: Many clients describe me as warm, funny and sweet as well as organized, responsive, available, knowledgable, well connected, and meticulous with a keen eye for timeless and elegant designs. These attributes often award my clients trust which brings on a sense of relief and often enables me to establish a relationship that we can continue beyond the wedding day.
Q: HOW DO I GET STARTED?
A: Let’s set up a time to chat further. I love getting to know new people and listening to their wedding day dreams. If we are a good fit for one another, you pay a 40% retainer for full planning or a 50% retainer for design & event management after signing the contract and then we go from there!
Q: HOW DOES THE PAYMENTS PROCESS WORK?
A: After you pay your retainer, we will create a payment plan that will be automatically drafted from your account either on the 1st or the 15th (you choose).
Q: WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT AFTER PAYING THE RETAINER?
A: I will reach out right away with a welcome letter and our next steps. I will begin working on your planning tools and compiling your first referral list to share with you with in the first 7 days post retainer.