Mastering Your Wedding Day Timeline with Gina Jokilehto of Shi Shi Events

·1 hr 8 min·5 clips

Wedding planner Gina Jokilehto reveals why even the most relaxed wedding needs a strict timeline, based on 20 years of industry experience.

The episode is an interview format with host Leah Haslidge and guest Gina Jokilehto, owner and creative director of SheShe Events based in Cleveland. Gina celebrates 20 years in the wedding planning industry this October. The discussion begins with the importance of timelines, even for couples desiring a relaxed event, because vendors operate on schedules. Gina reflects on industry changes over two decades, noting a shift towards social media-driven decisions and emphasizing authenticity over trends. She advises a 12-18 month engagement for optimal vendor selection. Key timeline considerations are addressed: securing a venue first, ordering attire six months out, and the logistical impact of choosing a first look versus an aisle reveal. Gina strongly recommends a first look for a more relaxed photo timeline. She delves into transportation planning, warning that guest shuttles require clear communication to be effective. A major segment advocates for hiring a full wedding planner, not just a day-of coordinator, calling planners an invaluable insurance policy. Gina provides specific tips: buffer time for all transitions, staggering vendor load-ins, and communicating timelines with key vendors like photography and catering months in advance. She shares strong opinions on wedding elements, preferring plated meals, advising against non-edible favors, and listing line dances and chair covers in her 'fuck it bucket.' The conversation concludes with favorite wedding moments from film and real life, and how to find Gina online.

As heard by us

A calm wedding morning depends on clear logistics that still leave room for private moments.

Wedding timelines are framed as the quiet structure behind a relaxed day, with the focus on the handoffs that can make or break that calm: where the bridal party goes, when they arrive, how they arrive, what they are wearing, and who is responsible for dresses and accessories.

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Why you'd press play

You want a calmer wedding morning? Start with arrival instructions, clean dry hair, and a first look that fits your feelings.

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