Today we’re thrilled to welcome our friend Claudia Hanlin of the Wedding Library to the Bon Bon Blog! The Wedding Library is a one stop shop for brides in New York, offering them wedding planning services, bridesmaid dresses, wedding stationery, and even registry gifts. Claudia was kind enough to chat with us about her favorite parts of the business, the most over-the-top event she’s ever planned, and her best advice for brides…
Soirée: How did you get your start in the wedding industry?
Claudia Hanlin: I planned my wedding 20 years ago, before the dawn of the Internet. I had a hard time finding the perfect vendors for my type A personality and an even harder time tracking them down, interviewing them, and discovering that they might not be the right fit. I figured there had to be a better way. My brainchild was to create a “consortium” of like-minded vendors whose portfolios all resided in a pretty little townhouse space in Manhattan. In a library of sorts, a Wedding Library. I met with brides, and like a “fairy godmother” matched up brides with their perfect vendors. Soon I was planning weddings and soon after that folding in retail products. Now I have a quite large Bridesmaids division, a Stationery design studio and produce a bridal show in NYC and Chicago with Martha Stewart Weddings.
S: What sets you apart as wedding planner?
CH: When we started (20 years ago), I was planning upwards of 30 weddings a year. I got to know every NY space inside and out, and feel like I’ve seen it all. Now, I plan about 10 weddings a year. With that depth and breadth of experience comes a lot of expertise. I’ve worked with every vendor in NYC, I’ve planned events in every venue. I’ve experienced the most delightful in creativity and the best in professionalism. And because I have my own stationery business, I understand the etiquette, wording, methodology and styles that are available in the printing world. And my dress experience also adds a dimension to what I can offer brides. This very comprehensive portfolio of skills and experiences that I have to draw on when planning a wedding gives me the confidence to try new things, and create unique experiences for my clients.
S: What is the most rewarding part of your job?
CH: There are so many rewarding parts of a wedding. Sitting with my team at 2am, after it’s all done, and sharing a toast to a job well done. Watching a father and bride stand nervously before he escorts her down the aisle. Reading a heartfelt thank you note. Impressing the groom by tying his bow tie. Poring over the photographs with a bride and re-living every moment.
S: What is one of your favorite events you’ve planned thus far?
CH: I turned a 35,000 square foot raw office space in Times Square into a modern secret garden. We moved sprinkler lines, hand-painted thousands of square feet of floor, installed screen-printed walls, and created a replica of a fabulous Berlin disco. The party ended at 5am and I’ve never been more tired nor more happy with the outcome.
S: Tell us more about the boutique portion of your business.
CH: Our Bridesmaids Salon has been steadily growing for over 10 years. We were asked to be the flagship for Amsale’s Bridesmaids collection eight years ago and its exploded from that time on. We carry 9 lines, bring on new designers all the time, and help nurture designers that we believe in. I didn’t have retail experience when we started, so it’s been a learning experience for me, too. Although bridesmaids is unlike anything else in retail anyway. I am happy to say that we’re in a place that I am very proud of — it’s difficult to consistently provide the level of service and care you’d like (for decades) and I feel like our team has settled into a great routine of excellence. We love seeing bridesmaids who’ve worn our dresses over the years turn into Wedding Library brides. It really reflects our pride in being a small business in New York City.
S: Where do you see the Wedding Library headed in the next 5 years?
CH: I would love to see a Wedding Library in other cities — maybe one in the south! I have been exploring the idea of product development — making wedding products as easily accessible and tangible as other wedding shopping experiences. What I mean by this is: you can walk into a salon to buy a dress, a stationery store for your paperie and a department store for your registry. But if you want to find useful, well-designed wedding day products you have to search the entire Internet to find what you’re looking for. Like the Wedding Library has done with so many other areas of your wedding day, I’d like to put those items under one roof. We’re looking at ring pillows, cake toppers, casual stationery, gifts and more. Stay tuned!
S: What is one thing that every bride should keep in mind on her wedding day?
CH: Don’t sweat the small stuff. Your wedding day is about you, your groom and your family. Let everything else fall away and enjoy the day. The memory of a happy day will be the most important gift you can give yourself.
S: What’s one thing we’d be surprised to learn about you?
CH: I love to drive very fast. But my local law enforcement friends would not be surprised…
