Local Biker Makes Brides Cry
Linda Garner-Bunch, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Robert (Bobby) Riley does not look like your traditional wedding planner. In fact he looks more at home on his 1985 Goldwing than he does designing a wedding reception. But according to clients of Those Fun Wedding People, they could not have picked a better person for their special day. In her review Mimi Freeman, whose wedding was in May, said “I can’t imagine how I would have pulled off my dream wedding in such a short amount of time without the help of Bobby! He even told me that I better not hesitate to call him while he was away on his vacation! How many service providers BEG you to call them while they’re on vacation?! Bobby was very professional, attentive, and everyone at the wedding had so much fun, not to mention they all raved about him! Thank you, Bobby!”
We sat down with Bobby to get an idea on how to design the best wedding ever…
“While popping the question is the first big hurdle for the groom, the couple’s first challenge together is planning the wedding day. Choosing the date and time is only the beginning”, said Bobby.
“The first thing you need to do is choose a location for the ceremony and the reception,” he said. “This can be either one or two sites. If the reception is at a different location, make sure it’s not too far away from the ceremony — if it’s 45 minutes away, you’re probably going to lose most of your guests.”
Once the venue is finalized, Riley recommends selecting a qualified wedding planner to make the job less stressful for the happy couple.
“This is not a job for your mama, your sister or your best friend,” he said. “You need an expert, someone who can guide you through the entire process. This is the most important day of your life, and it’s worth doing right.”
Professional wedding planners, also known as wedding coordinators, have the task of making sure every aspect of the wedding day flows seamlessly, from the invitations to the colors, floral arrangements and bouquets, reception décor, menu, music and more. Couples may also want to enlist the aid of a wedding director to ensure that the wedding-day timetable is flawless; many wedding planners also serve as wedding directors.
“One of the most important things you need to coordinate is your colors,” Riley said. “I’ve seen too many brides have one shade of pink in the flowers, another for the bridesmaids’ dresses and yet another for the reception napkins — and they don’t always work together. A good wedding planner will take your swatches and work with the vendors to make sure everything works together.”
The wedding planner also works with the venue director, minister, florist, baker and caterer to help couples create the wedding day of their dreams rather than a free-for-all of mismatched ideas.
Perhaps the most important consideration for the couple is making sure the ceremony and reflection reflect their personalities. Riley said many brides begin planning their wedding during their teen years, with the concept evolving as they mature.
“Think about what you want and talk it over with your planner,” Riley said. “Your planner is your best source for style and theme ideas, and for making them actually work. The aesthetics are nice, but if the substance isn’t there, the entire day will fall apart.”
Couples may choose from a vast array of wedding styles, from traditional to contemporary, formal to funky. No matter what their preferences, Riley said he has one piece of advice for every couple: Have fun, be creative, add your own personal touches and enjoy your special day.
Robert (Bobby) Riley can be reached via his website www.thosefunweddingpeople.com or by calling 501.912.5378.