A few weeks ago, we met up with Teresa of Rex and Regina Wedding & Event Planning.  We were immediately struck by her warm and helpful personality.  We love learning from other Wedding Professionals, and we were so grateful that Teresa took the time to meet up with us, answered our questions, and give us some very helpful business advice!  We loved talking to her so much we decided we just had to interview her and feature her on our blog.  Also, you may remember our interview with Brian, of Stone Manor, well, she’s on the Preferred Vendor List there, too, so we’re not the only one who thinks she’s awesome. :)

Teresa, her husband, Brian, and their dog, Fletcher

1. What got you into Wedding and Event Planning??

I have always had a heart for hospitality. This certainly played out with personal entertaining over the years, but I also found that, regardless of the professional job that I had, I always gravitated to the event planning elements of the position. So personally and professionally my comfort zone and skill set always fell within event planning. When I realized that I could turn my passion to plan into a full-time pursuit, I knew I had to give it a shot. I did, and I’ve never looked back!

2. What is your favorite part of the wedding planning process??

I love working with my clients. They are each diverse and have a unique vision for their wedding. I love working behind the scenes to help them bring that vision to life in a way that reflects their style and taste.

3. What are 5 words you would use to describe yourself and your company?

Gracious
Detail-oriented
Organized
Tasteful
Polished

4. What are three questions a bride should ask a wedding planner she’s hoping to work with??

What is your experience in planning?
Why do you do what you do?
What’s the worst thing you’ve had to troubleshoot at a wedding and what did you do to resolve it?

5. Is there any situation where you would advise a bride not to hire a wedding planner??

If her budget is very low it is often unreasonable to hire a planner. I’d suggest investing that money in food, beverage, and venue instead and turning to a friend to handle some of the day-of logistics. It won’t be the same as a planner, but you always need a point person handling things that day.

6. What is a random, interesting fact about you?

I was on the cover of the Boston Globe on Christmas day when I was two years old. It was unplanned. My mother and I were at a Christmas décor shop and a Globe photographer spotted me looking up at the lights on a tree. It was my fifteen minutes of fame!

7. Has there been any job or award that you were particularly proud of?

Rex & Regina Events was recently listed as a Washingtonian magazine preferred wedding planner. We are so proud of that acknowledgement and of the great company we are in.

8. Fill in the blank: I just love working with a bride that…

…doesn’t feel tied to having her wedding look like a traditional wedding with all the standard elements we’ve come to expect at weddings. Weddings should be personal and reflective of the couple, and while certain traditions are important and relevant, it is a shame to follow a tradition just because everyone else does.

9. Where do you go for inspiration?

With technologies like blogs and Pinterest, it is easy to find visual inspiration online. But I also like drawing from other sources, like trends I see emerging at restaurants and in the interior design field, for example.

10. Any tips of the trade that you can share with us everyday hostesses when we plan our own events?

Be organized, organized, organized. For my last party at hosted at my home, I created a planning document that ended up being five pages long. It contained my menu, shopping list by menu item, and a timeline of what to cook, set out, and prepare when. You never want to be caught just before the party saying, “I don’t have a serving dish for that” or, “Whoops, I don’t have time to make the gravy.”

11.  Any other vendors you love to work with and want to give a shout-out to here on our blog?

One of the things about the event planning industry in the DC-area is the breadth of talent we have. From photographers to florists to event planners – there are so many fabulously talented vendors it would be hard to pick just one!

         Rex & Regina, LLC is a boutique event management firm, providing event planning services that inspire gracious, refined living. The firm was founded by Teresa A. Lee, a lifestyle and hospitality expert with over fifteen years of event planning experience.
Teresa has coordinated countless events, from weddings to small intimate occasions to large scale meetings and is best known for her calm but confident style. She’s worked with major corporations, brides, and savvy social entertainers and always maintains the same philosophy: a commitment to delivering unparalleled, behind-the-scenes service so that hosts and guests alike can enjoy every moment of their event.
Inspired by the hospitality extended at royal courts, Rex & Regina (Latin for “king and queen”) is driven by a passion to create chic, stylish events and experiences that are as unique as our clients.
Our focus on all realms of entertaining—from elegant weddings to business celebrations to at-home gatherings—reflects our belief that living graciously is not an isolated event; it’s woven throughout all the important milestones and celebrations of one’s life.
From helping clients create the wedding of their dreams to sharing classically chic entertaining trends to orchestrating at-home business entertaining, this boutique firm specializes in bespoke services, tailored to each client and their needs.
Rex & Regina is based in Washington, DC, and works with clients both locally and across the country.