READING TIME: 5 min 0 sec
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/02/2024
UPDATED: 10/03/2024
Hudson Grey Weddings, founded by Anna Tyler, is a wedding planning company that combines expertise, passion, and a timeless approach to creating intimate, romantic celebrations. Anna’s journey into wedding planning wasn’t the traditional one. "I went to school for sports broadcasting," she shares, but after a few years in the industry, she realized something was missing. "I had no passion for it," she admits. A love for weddings had always been at the back of her mind. "I've had an obsession with all things weddings since I was a little girl - always clipping wedding magazine photos, started a wedding Pinterest board the moment Pinterest even became a thing, etc.," she recalls. This childhood fascination eventually pushed her to make the leap from broadcasting to the wedding world.
Hudson Grey Weddings was born out of this desire to create unforgettable, emotionally meaningful events. After years spent learning the ins and outs of wedding logistics—starting as a banquet server and working her way up to wedding coordinator—Anna founded Hudson Grey Weddings. "Having spent 7 years learning and understanding every role that plays a part in an event prior to doing full-service planning has definitely been most instrumental to my success," Anna explains.
Hudson Grey Weddings doesn’t just focus on creating beautiful settings; Anna’s deep understanding of wedding logistics ensures every aspect of the day flows smoothly. "Anyone can have an eye for "pretty things" but I believe it takes a unique skill set to be able to walk into any venue(sometimes sight unseen prior to wedding week) and be able to pick up on every back-of-house logistic," she says. That’s what sets her company apart from many other planners.
Anna emphasizes that the company's success stems from her comprehensive knowledge of each role involved in a wedding. "In having the knowledge of every single job on a wedding day, it sets us up perfectly in executing a flawless wedding," she says. Hudson Grey’s approach is all about making sure that no detail—no matter how small—goes unnoticed.
Hudson Grey Weddings prides itself on planning intimate and romantic weddings. "Our philosophy focuses on timeless, intimate, and romantic weddings," Anna says. One of the company’s key design principles is to create a wedding that remains beautiful across generations. We stick to groups 200 or less (large-scale production-style events aren't our jam) and always try to remember at the forefront when it comes to design "Would this have been beautiful 20 years ago? What about now? What about 20 years from now?"" This timeless approach is reflected in the weddings they plan—no flashy trends or over-the-top performances, just elegant, intimate settings that focus on the couple and their love story.
"Most of the leads we receive are from couples who have explored our Instagram page and have noticed there's no major "trends" on there, no flashy lights, no crazy performances, but just really romantic, timeless & classy receptions in an intimate setting," Anna explains.
Hudson Grey Weddings offers two main service packages: full-service planning or month-of coordination. Anna emphasizes that each wedding is tailored to the couple's specific needs. "I usually tell couples to come up with 5 absolute non-negotiable dealbreakers(good or bad) and then we focus budget there before getting into all of the small elements," she shares. This personalized approach ensures that the couple's priorities are always front and center.
For Anna, transparency is crucial from the start. "In the very beginning, I think it's important to be transparent about what weddings cost (every element) so that there's no sticker shock when it comes time to securing vendors," she says. This approach helps couples make informed decisions, ensuring their budget aligns with their vision.
One of the core values at Hudson Grey Weddings is the belief that weddings should be about creating meaningful moments, not just picture-perfect settings. Anna reflects on one of the most emotional weddings she has ever planned, an intimate ceremony coming out of the pandemic. "The bride's father was experiencing his last few weeks of life as he had been battling cancer for a long time," she recalls. The entire planning process became centered around ensuring the bride’s father could be there. "We just kept saying "we just need dad to make it,'" Anna shares.
Against all odds, the bride’s father was able to walk her down the aisle and even share a father-daughter dance. "I was so emotional all evening long witnessing how unbelievably special this miracle was," Anna says. Moments like these are what drive her to create weddings that are about more than just aesthetics—they are about family, love, and legacy.
One of the biggest challenges Anna faces as a planner is helping couples understand why weddings can be expensive. "Understanding and justifying to couples WHY & HOW weddings have become so expensive. For example, helping them understand that there's more to "wedding flowers" than just finding a florist who orders them from a store and puts them in a vase for your wedding," she explains.
Part of her role is to educate couples about the behind-the-scenes work that goes into each vendor's process. "I don't believe there's enough education in the wedding world about each vendor's processes," she adds, noting that transparency and knowledge are key to justifying costs and helping couples stay on budget.
Her advice to couples? "Lean into what a dream day would be like for the two of you, not a dream day for your wedding guests," Anna suggests. She encourages couples to focus on their own vision, noting that guests will appreciate a celebration that reflects the couple’s personalities and love story. “It's hard enough to please 10 people over to your house for a dinner party so why are we trying to please 100+ people?! There is no "wedding normal" anymore so literally just plan what your dream party day looks like and your guests will pick up on that energy.”
Hudson Grey Weddings is based in Scottsdale, Arizona, and has established strong relationships with venues like the Royal Palms Resort and Mountain Shadows Resort. But when it comes to dream venues, Anna has one in mind: "My dream venue to plan a wedding at is Sunstone Winery in California! I've had my eyes on that venue for 5+ years now and would do just about anything to plan there!" she says with excitement.
To ensure that each wedding receives the attention it deserves, Anna limits the number of weddings Hudson Grey takes on each year. "For full-service wedding planning, I take on 14 a year," she shares. This limitation allows her to maintain the high standard of care and attention that clients have come to expect from Hudson Grey Weddings.
At its core, Hudson Grey Weddings is about more than just planning events—it’s about creating timeless, intimate celebrations that reflect each couple’s love story. With a foundation rooted in experience, transparency, and a dedication to meaningful moments, Hudson Grey Weddings continues to craft unforgettable celebrations that are as elegant as they are personal.
As Anna says, "There's really nothing more rewarding than seeing something you've pictured for 12+ months actually come to life. I still get emotional on almost all wedding days seeing this!" With Hudson Grey Weddings, couples can trust that their wedding day will be nothing short of magical.
