This interview is with Terri Ferree, Founder & Wedding Planner, TMF Events.
Terri, for readers meeting you for the first time, how do you describe your role in the wedding space and the perspective you bring?
As the founder and owner of TMF Events, I provide wedding planning services for luxury weddings and special events. I know how to start, build, and run a small business. With over 11 years of experience, I have developed expertise in event planning, vendor management, and client relationships.
How did your path into the wedding field shape the way you work today?
I am known for my hustle, passion, and detail-oriented execution, and there is no better example of that than how I started and run my business. After years of running marketing and event planning in the corporate world, I realized that the greatest way to succeed is by doing something that I’m truly passionate about. I decided to start my own wedding planning business, even though that meant taking a risk and leaving a steady paycheck.
There is no greater motivator than wanting success and only having yourself to rely on to achieve it. The hustle it takes to start a new business, the passion I have for what I do, and my experience in flawless execution are what I bring to the weddings I plan today.
With that background, when you first sit down with a couple, how do you turn a vague vision into a clear plan and budget?
That’s the part that comes naturally for me, likely because of my corporate background, and it’s an important skill couples should look for when hiring a wedding planner.
I start with a consultation with the couple to understand what they’re dreaming of for their wedding—timeframe, location, color palette, and overall budget. From there, I put together a mood board, create a timeline that outlines what we’ll accomplish each month (e.g., securing a venue, picking a photographer, dress shopping, etc.), and put a detailed budget together that shows the couple what they can spend on each vendor.
Throughout the planning process, I check in regularly, track to-do lists, provide vendor options within the couple’s budget, and handle all vendor communications.
Before anything gets booked, what money conversation do you urge couples to have to keep planning productive?
Getting married is often the first of many big investments for a couple. Many couples want to buy their first home together and will eventually decide what their careers and income will look like in the long term. It’s important to agree on a wedding budget that both people feel comfortable with, as well as to decide what is most important to them for the wedding. This helps prioritize budgeting for each part of the wedding.
Knowing the couple’s “must-haves” and priorities helps me as I guide them through all the decisions they’ll make during the planning process.
Once the basics are set, what recent trend have you embraced because it genuinely improves guest experience without inflating costs?
I love when a couple adds something that makes the wedding feel unique and has guests saying, “Wow, that was so them.” Whether it’s sharing the couple’s story during the ceremony or having napkins with their dog’s photo at the bar, a small personal touch will make the day memorable for everyone involved.
My favorite personal touch I’ve seen was when a couple had a display at cocktail hour of all their guests’ wedding photos with a sign that said, “Remember when it was your day.” It was the couple’s thoughtful way of making the day feel special for everyone and is something guests still comment on months later.
When you’re evaluating vendors, what signals in early meetings tell you they’ll deliver under pressure?
Part of what comes with experience is knowing which vendors I can count on. However, many couples have different needs that can prompt me to search for new vendors to work with. Responsiveness, professionalism, a genuine desire to please clients, and an eagerness to collaborate are key signs that a vendor is someone I’ll appreciate working with.
It’s important to me to work with vendors who are looking to establish a lasting partnership because, in the end, it benefits all parties: clients receive impeccable service, I gain vendors I can rely on, and vendors obtain repeat business.
On tight timelines, what’s the one corner you never cut?
No matter what, I will always take the time to create a schedule for the day of the event and confirm all vendors know their showtime. It’s a lot of work, but it’s important for me to have all the right vendor contact information, a detailed schedule of who is going to be where all day, and a proper plan to ensure the day goes off without a hitch.
You’ll never catch me on the day of the wedding without my watch, a schedule of events, and extra copies printed for the other vendors. A large part of being a wedding planner comes down to one day – the wedding day. Even if you’ve secured all the right vendors, stayed on budget, and checked off all the to-do lists, execution and running a schedule on the day of will make or break how the wedding turns out.
Beyond logistics, how do you help couples honor family traditions or cultural expectations while keeping the day true to them?
This topic is so personal to each couple and is probably the biggest challenge when wedding planning. As a wedding planner, I am there to represent the couple that is getting married, and I follow their wishes. Yes, I represent the couple even if someone else is paying for the wedding.
If the couple wants things the way they’ve always dreamed of, no matter what anyone else says, I will help execute that. If the couple wants to honor their family’s input, I will help execute that. At the end of the day, I am there to guide and support what the couple decides they ultimately want to do.
After the celebration, what debrief do you recommend couples do in the first week to set up married life on solid footing?
Something that I’ve appreciated doing with my husband for the 11 years we’ve been married is checking in on each anniversary. We talk about what our favorite moments from the year were, what parts were the hardest, and what changes we want to make in our life, relationship, finances, etc., for the next year.
Right after the wedding would be a great time to start setting an intention for what the couple wants for their first year of marriage. This gets both people on the same page and creates a space to connect, which establishes a great foundation for the years to come.
