Meet the amazing Amy Ulkutekin and her fabulous team who make up First Comes Love, a San Diego based wedding and event planning company. We have been working with Amy for the last 6 years, and she stands out to us as one of the best in the industry.  Amy is a seasoned professional, and she has a gift for ensuring a relaxing and fun wedding experience for her clients, from the key moments down to the tinniest details.  What’s even more impressive is how she does this with such a cool and calm vibe (which is why we love working with her. You know Amy is on it, and you know it will be a fun day, even for those of us working).  She started the business over 10 years ago and has been going strong ever since.  We thought it would be fun to interview Amy to get some tips and advice for couples planning their wedding. Here’s how our conversation went:

What is the top reason for a couple to hire a wedding coordinator?

To take the stress of wedding planning off their hands.  I know I’m biased but honestly at the very minimum, if a couple is planning on having a wedding with multiple vendors, hire at least a day-of coordinator.  This will allow the couple and their family to be fully present and enjoy the day that they spent so much time, energy and money to put together. If couples want more help with the planning process then another thing for them to keep in mind is that we help you get the most value out of your wedding budget.  

What’s your favorite part of the job?

That no 2 weddings are the same.  No matter how many times I’ve worked at a venue, each wedding is different because of the couples.  We get to work with some really cool clients and it’s an honor to bring their vision to life on one of the most important days of their lives.

What types of couples and weddings are the perfect fit for First Comes Love?

Super cool ones.  Kidding! We really do love our couples.  We tend to gravitate to couples who want to have a beautiful, relaxed day with their friends and family.  Our ideal couple is looking for a planner who is going to make the wedding planning process fun and easy and wants good value.  

What personal quality of yours makes you most uniquely suited for wedding planning?

I’m Type-A.  That linen that doesn’t hit the floor, I fix it.  That light that’s just a bit off, I got it. My timelines, very detailed.

What’s your favorite current wedding trend?

I love all the rose gold that’s in trend right now.  Super pretty and so many different ways to incorporate it from vases to flatware and more!

Any tips or advice for couples currently in the process of planning their wedding?

Focus on what’s important to you.  Every couple has different priorities for their wedding day so if there are areas that are really important to you then spend your money there and save on other areas.  

How do you define a successful wedding?

When the couple and their guests walk away from the wedding saying that it was one of the best weddings that they have ever been too.  That’s always the biggest compliment we can receive. In my opinion, that all comes down to the guest experience. A smooth timeline, some personal touches and being surrounded by love = the perfect wedding.

What common thread do you see among couples that truly enjoy the whole wedding planning process and wedding day?

They understand what really matters, and that’s that at their wedding they get to spend the day with the people in this world they love the most and who love and support them.  At the end of the day, we can design the most beautiful setting, but if they aren’t able to step back and enjoy it then what’s the point?

Any fun facts about you and your team that contribute to making working with First Comes Love an amazing experience?

In addition to doing weddings we also plan some other large events including Diner en Blanc, Best Coast Beer Fest, Extreme Sailing and more.  These events come with a whole different set of challenges and I think they help us to be able to stay calm, cool and collected for our wedding planning clients.  I mean, this past year we put on a beer fest for 2,500 in the rain. If we can do that, you better believe we can handle anything that comes up on a wedding day.

Make sure to check out the First Comes Love website to learn more about this stellar event planning company.