I
had a prospective client email me today and ask me some simple but
important questions. As I was writing her back, I realized that what I
was telling her was actually stuff I would and should be telling
everyone and anyone who wants to know. :) I've been doing a lot of
networking lately as well - which gives me the chance to explain what I
do and why I do it. Each time I do so, I think it challenges me to
refine those ideas and explain them better.
Can you tell me more about yourself?
I started my company coming up on two years ago, after having worked in
various administrative/organizational jobs that had a high level of
people contact including some customer service and executive level
assistant work. I had always had an event planning component to my
positions (planning trainings, holiday events, etc.), it just wasn't
ever the full time gig. After one of those
"perfect storm" type situations, where everything in my personal and
professional lives seemed to be pointing towards pursuing a career doing
something I love full time, I decided to start my own event planning
company and have been doing that full-time plus ever since.
I have experience
in all sorts of events - having planned and coordinated personally and
professionally a wide variety of parties and events. If you want to check out
the most recent fun - they are on my facebook page at
facebook.com/younameitevents. Specifically for weddings, I've been
highly involved lots of weddings thus far - about 15 total. I did four
weddings professionally my first year - and have begun a busy year with
seven on my slate for 2012, with a goal of doing at least eight this
year, doubling my first year's work. I think what suits me for this work
is a unique combination of traits: I am organized and efficient, creative and
a problem solver, friendly and outgoing, and am able to see the
importance of the details without losing the big picture.
Can you tell me about your services & what you offer to brides to be during the planning process?
What sets apart my work is the values I bring to each and every project I
do. I intentionally work to provide highly personal service that is
relationship-based and focused on excellence in both the experience for
the client and the execution on the day of the event. All of my services
are custom, based on the specific needs of the couple and their wedding
plans. I don't offer cookie cutter packages. On the flip side, I also
have a clear minimum of service - because I know that I cannot do
an excellent job for a client without investing some time and effort
into getting to know them and learning about their hopes and dreams for
their wedding. I believe that in order for us to work well together up
to and on your wedding day, ideally we will like each other enough that
we develop a friendship and you feel comfortable with me.
I know
that working with a planner or coordinator on your wedding day is a leap
of faith and trust in that person. You are trusting that I will work
hard and do everything I possibly can to make your day a success - and
that I will care about your day as if it is my own. I don't think you
can find that in just any planner - and I am building my business around
this simple thought: It is a rare person who can take care of business
while taking care of hearts*. That's what I aspire to do. I take it as a
great honor when someone hires me to work with them on an event, because
these are the milestones of our lives, from which our memories are
created - and I believe that is a special and wonderful thing.
*Special
thanks to my sister, Danielle, who sent me a card with that quote in it
- I hadn't heard it before then and when I did had a bit of an AH HA
moment, realizing that it captures my intentions better than anything I
had thought of before!
