one venue, says Kate Ford, owner and lead planner and designer of Kate Ford Events. Ford focuses on organizing destination weddings as immersive, full weekend experiences, hence a higher price point. Anita Starr, owner and event specialist of the boutique events company A Starr Events, says planning their nuptials is the couple’s chance to start working together as a team and to “figure out how to have a stressless wedding.” We asked the three wedding planners to share their thoughts on some common wedding concerns. How early should a couple start planning for their wedding? Ford: I have some clients that I work with for 24 months. The majority of clients we work with for about a year to 18 months. One of the most incredible weddings that I ever planned, we planned in 90 days. I just loved the project from start to finish and I loved the couple, their family, their guests, everything. Borgia: For us, I appreciate six months. I’m getting inquiries now for October of 2027, so people are planning that far. But we booked somebody RYAN CHARD SMITH 16 THE BEST OF MONTEREY BAY ® WEDDING GUIDE 2026-2027 LAYERS CAKES 9 Soledad Drive, Monterey | 831-521-9701 | www.layerscake.com SENSATIONAL 16.indd 1 2/19/26 15:17
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