Charlotte wedding planners discuss planning perfect events

As a wedding coordinator, what are some of your job duties?

Tammi Cole: "We coordinate vendors for setup and breakdown, and we oversee the ceremony. We make sure the bride, groom, family members and guests are all comfortable."

Jerri Patterson: "We do absolutely everything. I offer all-inclusive services, which are all done in-house. We don't hire 30 different vendors - we provide everything from flowers to food."

Rene Davenport: "I specialize in event design. I meet a couple and design the whole event. I can also just direct the rehearsal and ceremony or go over vendor contracts and services. I'm a counselor as well."

How do you charge for your services, and what's the cost?

Tammi Cole: "We charge a flat fee, which can range from $800 to $3,500."

Jerri Patterson: "We charge per event. The cost depends on the size of the wedding and personal budget. Prices vary tremendously, but I own my own materials (plates, tables, linens, etc.) which lowers the couple's cost."

Rene Davenport: "Prices begin at $600 for the 'wedding day package.' I charge $4,000 for full-service wedding planning, if the total's under $20,000. If it's over $20,000, I charge 15 percent of the entire wedding budget."

How many years of experience do you have?

Tammi Cole: "I have nine years of planning experience."

Jerri Patterson: "I have 12 years of experience."

Rene Davenport: "I've been in the business for over 15 years."

If you become unavailable on the big day, do you have a backup?

Tammi Cole: "I sure do. Both of my assistants are certified wedding planners."

Jerri Patterson: "I've never missed a wedding. I'd have to be dead to miss a wedding."

Rene Davenport: "Yes."

Can you describe one funny, horrifying or memorable experience that happened at a wedding you planned?

Tammi Cole: "This month, we had an outdoor wedding in Charleston. It got very humid and all of these bugs, which turned out to be love bugs, showed up out of the blue. People were swatting at them during the ceremony. It ended up being a beautiful day anyway."

Jerri Patterson: "I had one wedding where the maid of honor was the groom's best friend. The night before the wedding, the groom and maid of honor flew off to Vegas and got married - leaving the bride at the altar."

Rene Davenport: "I had a wedding where the couple hired their own videographer/photographer/disc jockey. I like to meet the people that I work with before the wedding. He was really mean and horrible to me. He showed up for the wedding and literally had a shot glass in hand the entire time."