P. HASTING Design

Patti Hasting of P. Hasting Design takes all the things that make you unique to develop a custom wedding plan that will show-off your collective personality as a couple and to share details from your love story. Her planning process leaves no detail out and provides fresh ideas to keep your wedding truly a day to remember for all of your loved ones.

By CAROLINE KOSTUCH

RACHEL AND NOAH PHOTOGRAPHY

Each wedding is as unique as the bride and groom themselves. It truly is one of life's most treasured moments! The goal of P. Hasting Design is for you to savor every moment while she strives to eliminate much of the stress that can often accompany the process of planning a wedding or event. SVM sat down with Patti to talk about what inspired her to get into the wedding and event planning business, how Covid-19 affected the way she approaches wedding and event planning, and her favorite season to plan weddings or events in.

What inspired you to get into the wedding and event planning business? My sweet friend, Libba Neal, asked me to serve as one of the wedding directors at St. Luke United Methodist Church, and I found my passion and calling in life without even having to search for it! I enrolled at New York Institute of Art and Design, graduated with a degree in Wedding and Event Planning, founded P. Hasting Design, LLC, and the rest is history. I am truly blessed to have a career that I adore and will forever be grateful to Libba for that call!

As time goes on, fashion and design phases come and go. Are there any up-and-coming trends you are seeing in the event planning industry? Dealing with a global pandemic while planning weddings has totally changed the way I think about that special day for my brides and grooms, and their mammas! Some of these changes, or new trends, are being embraced rather than cursed! Smaller guest counts, destination weddings, outdoor ceremonies and receptions, daytime brunch weddings, chef served dinner stations instead of buffets are among some of those welcomed changes. I’m seeing more vivid color in the floral designs and a nod to a more formal black and white inspired event. Bridesmaids in black dresses with groomsmen in black tie are exquisite!

There are many parts that go into planning a wedding. What services does P. Hasting Design offer for wedding and event planning? P. Hasting Design offers partial and full planning services, as well as “Day-of” Coordination. Most of my clients rely on me in the early stages of planning for vendor referrals, event design, management of budget and time, and much more. For a more detailed list of services please visit www.phastingdesign.com. While you are there, take a peak at the BLOG section to see some of my couples and their beautiful weddings!

How has Covid-19 affected the way you approach wedding and event planning? Weddings have continued despite Covid-19; they have just changed somewhat. It has truly been a learning experience and continues to be with each wedding. In the early months of 2020, the question I asked my brides most often was this… “Are you willing to postpone your wedding to 2021 or later to be able to keep your original vision for your wedding or are you just ready to be married?” For those couples wanting to stay with the original plan, we postponed. For those just wanting to be married, we found a way to do it! These smaller, more intimate gatherings have been some of my favorite weddings ever! The key to planning a wedding during a global pandemic… adapt!

What are some key tips you would give to anyone just beginning the wedding planning process? First of all… slow down and enjoy the moment! The engagement period should be a sweet time in a bride’s planning process and jumping into decisions before thinking through the options can cause avoided stress. The next step, obviously, would be to hire a planner! We all offer different approaches and skills, but our experience is essential to the planning process. Thirdly, set a budget and try to stick close to it! This is not fun and probably one of the hardest things to do, but it is so important to help steer you in the direction you can afford. Another tip would be to start a Pinterest Board and make it secret. Most of my brides have had their boards long before they were even engaged (it’s a girl thing!) but making it secret keeps your guests from seeing your inspiration before the day! Be careful to not let Pinterest take over your life!

Each couple is unique. How do you make sure that every couple’s personal touch is kept in their wedding? This is probably my favorite part of the entire planning process. It’s so much fun to discover who they are as a couple. We talk a lot in the early stages about their lives and what they hold the most important. After searching their souls for hints, I try to incorporate at least one personal element into the wedding and/or reception that can be uniquely theirs. Whether it is a signature drink named after their fur baby, a table of photographs with family wedding photos of the past, a groom’s cake with his favorite team’s emblem, these personal touches are what guests will remember most about their wedding. Above all things, weddings should be personal!

You have planned an array of events ranging from weddings to galas. Do you have a favorite season to plan weddings or events in? I can honestly say that I embrace all seasons and everything that comes along with each one, especially when it comes to planning weddings and events. It is important to design the wedding or event with that specific season in mind or things just don’t make sense. The sweet fragrances of the spring, the warmth and lush greenery of the summer, the amazing colors and sunsets of the fall, and the aroma of seasonal greenery in the winter are among my favorite things about each season.