Wedding planning can be a stressful experience but it certainly doesn’t have to be if you have the right team of folks keeping you on track and helping you stay organized. That’s where The Whole Shebang comes in! Meris, the owner and principle planner, along with her capable team of experienced professionals help bring a couples’ wedding day to life here in the Boone, NC area and beyond.

I jump for joy when I find out I’ll be the wedding photographer at an event that The Whole Shebang is coordinating. It’s because I know that nothing will fall through the cracks and my couple is not at all stressed on their wedding day. When challenges do inevitably arise the couple can rest easy knowing that Meris and her team are taking care of everything while they relax and enjoy family and friends. Don’t you think that’s how it should be on a couple’s wedding day?

A common misconception about hiring a wedding planner vs. doing it yourself is that you have to be planning an extravagant shindig and have an endless budget to work with. That’s simply not true. Weddings of all sizes can benefit from the help of a planner because there are myriad of details they can assist you with from Choosing the Right Wedding Vendors to guidance on How to Make a Wedding Guest List and everything in between.

Professional wedding planners have so much knowledge and expertise when it comes to every aspect of the planning process and how everything works on the actual wedding day. Honestly, I wish all my couples had professional wedding planners like The Whole Shebang helping them on their wedding day because it makes my job that much easier! I’m excited to share this behind-the-scenes interview about how and why The Whole Shebang got started.

I want to showcase passionate professionals in the wedding industry that help bring the day of your dreams to life. There are real people behind these businesses and I want you to get a glimpse of how they got started and why they do what they do. I hope you enjoy this behind-the-scenes interview series. I’m so excited to spotlight these High Country Creators.

How did you get your start here in the High Country?

I started in the services industry when I was 15. I moved to Boone, NC after college and was bartending and doing real estate. I worked for the previous owner of The Whole Shebang (who also planned my wedding) and then took over the company when she relocated.

What inspired you to start your business?

My own wedding. I was a super low maintenance bride who didn’t even know why I needed a wedding planner. I quickly discovered what a lifesaver a wedding planner was even for couples not planning an overly extravagant event and thought with my service and music theatre background, it was something that I would be good at and really enjoy. It’s been over 7 years now and the business is still growing and I still love it!

What is your favorite part of the whole process?

Matching couples up with their perfect team! I really enjoy getting to know them and figuring out who is the best fit for their style and budget.

What is your biggest challenge in preparing for a wedding day?

Managing our client’s expectations. We’re the ones who have to tell couples if what they are wanting is not realistic within their location/budget etc.

How do you think a wedding planner can be used to tell a unique wedding story?

A wedding planner can help you look at your relationship from an outside-in perspective. We may notice things that you take for granted and help you figure out how to incorporate those different elements into your wedding day. We can also help you wade through the sea of “advice” from your friends and family and figure out what actually works best for you!

If you had it to do all over again, would there be anything you’d change about your wedding day? Why or why not?

I would have had someone do mine and my bridesmaid’s makeup. I’m really good at doing makeup (theatre major) so I offered to do everyone’s but it would have been nice to relax and let someone else take charge. Our wedding was really chill. Not much I would have done differently. My style is different now that I’m more aware of fashion and floral trends so it may have looked a little different if I knew then what I know now but I wouldn’t change anything about the overall feel of the day.

What one piece of advice would you give to a couple getting married?

To stay within your wedding budget, pretend that you have 20% less money than you actually have!

What are some of your favorite wedding vendors located in the High Country?

The Wayfaring Wanderer, of course. Also, Miss Match Rentals & Fuschia Moss Floral Design.

What do you like about working with Wayfaring Wanderer?

Your always positive energy. I also love that in the finished product, the colors are true and soft. Love your eye for detail and light. The couples in your photos always look natural and not super posed.

YOU CAN FIND THE WHOLE SHEBANG @:

Website | Facebook | Instagram

Meris Gantt | 828-719-9171

highcountryweddings@gmail.com