Stephanie Whitaker is the founder of Engaged Wedding Library. A wedding library....sounds fantastically intriguing right?! We thought so too which is why we decided to find out more about this chic chick and her business. Read on!
So, what exactly is a “wedding library”?
Engaged is a local wedding planning resource boutique, representing more than 100 local wedding vendors. Brides come to us for help finding vendors that are vetted, trusted and excellent at what they do. We also help brides get their planning started and keep them on track throughout their engagement.
Do you have books like a traditional library?
We have some! But mainly we have samples of our vendor’s work, photo albums, brochures and price lists. We have local wedding publications and a list of local bridal events…so many helpful things for brides-to-be. You could say we have a wealth of information…just like a library.
How does Engaged differ from a wedding planner?
GREAT QUESTION! The biggest difference is that we will not be with a bride on her wedding day. We are HUGE fans of wedding planners, but we know that most brides do not hire a full-service wedding planner. At Engaged, we focus on the basics: Defining a bride’s wedding style, establishing the budget, offering vendor recommendations based on their needs, and keeping them on track. We can help brides create a custom wedding day timeline as well. We always recommend that they have a wedding planner or someone to help execute the wedding day. No bride or mother of the bride should endure that stress!
SAVING MONEY!? How do you help brides save money?
Brides can join the library and get their own “Library Card” which gives them access to discounts and perks from all of our vendor partners. We also give our members free tickets to local bridal shows that we have partnered with. Right now, bride members can get 2 free tickets to the Believe Bridal Event at the Grand Bohemian on February 19. Tickets are $20 each, so brides would save $10 by becoming a library member.
How do brides join the library?
Super simple. They can come by our shop, or they can join online and we will mail them a library membership card. Right now, we are running a special and membership is only $30!!! It’s normally $98. And, we offer a MONEY BACK GUARANTEE if membership does not pay for itself. We believe that EVERY bride in Bham should join Engaged.
Let’s go back to the vendor perks and discounts. Can you give me an example?
Sure! All 110 of our vendor partners offer something of value to our member brides. Most discounts range from $50 to $150 off. Our top perks right now are $250 off a wedding gown purchase with Heidi Elnora, complimentary Honeymoon Suite with a wedding party room block at the Tutwiler Hotel, and $200 off the booking fee at Bridge Street!
What is your favorite wedding trend right now?
We love all the personal touches. We’ve recently seen wedding favors purchased from a bride’s favorite charity. The wedding guests received beautiful handmade ornaments crafted by Prodigal Pottery, an outreach program for the King’s Home.
Also, we are a HUGE fan of weddings with a cohesive vibe and feel to it. When all the elements of the wedding are intentional and part of an overall design plan, it makes things personal and magical! We offer Style Boards for our brides that need help pulling together their “wedding look” from the hundreds of photos that are on their wedding Pinterest board. These have been a big hit!
Have you run across any challenges with this unique concept?
Yeah, for sure. For now, our biggest challenge is getting the word out about what we do. Because “Go to your nearest wedding library” is not on the to-do list of a new bride-to-be, we have to work hard to get the word out. We are so passionate about helping hundreds of brides this year and we definitely have the capacity to do so. We just need them to come on over to Edgewood and see us!
What is your favorite part of a wedding?
For me, it’s the dress. I have always loved wedding dresses. Nothing makes me happier than tulle, lace, luxurious satin and the color white.
If you could tell brides one thing, what would it be?
Oh, I have more than one… First, I would say to enjoy being engaged. This time of celebrating you and your groom goes by super fast. Try to savor every moment!
Secondly, try to focus on the fact that you are not only about to be a bride, but more importantly, a wife! You are about to start a LIFE ADVENTURE with this person. That is a big deal!
Lastly, don’t compare your wedding to what you see on Instagram, online, and in all the fancy wedding publications. (A lot of these weddings are not real anyway!) Focus on making your wedding about you and your groom.
How can brides get in touch with you?
Our website is www.EngagedBirmingham.com. From there, brides can join the library, check out upcoming bridal events, and schedule their appointment. Brides can always email us at steph@engagedbirmingham.com or call us at 205-637-0735. Our shop is located at 1018 Oxmoor Road in Edgewood, right next to Taco Mama.
