When I tell people what I used to do for a living, their thoughts almost immediately drift to the glamorous role Jennifer Lopez played in the movie "The Wedding Planner." My job was to help couples design their wedding weekend, handle the entertainment, keep vendors on schedule, avert disasters, all while remaining calm with a pleasant smile on my face.
Being a destination wedding planner has the added complexities of everything from honing in on the perfect flower arrangement in a far-flung destination to navigating different cultures, languages and time zones. While wedding planning may look like a lot of fun, it's definitely not all champagne and roses.
I've inadvertently played the role of personal assistant, babysitter, family therapist, couples' counselor, travel agent and financial advisor. Weddings naturally bring out some sticky social situations and I've been asked to deal with everything from "firing" a bridesmaid to knowing about the bride's secret bank account. I've worked with brides who are more obsessed with their wedding dress designer than with their fiancé, dealt with cold feet, bridezillas and grooms who let their moms call the shots. I spent nine years planning weddings around the world and let me tell you, I've seen it all. And I took notes!
While I've got enough material to write a juicy "tell all" novel, I decided it would be more fun to share some of my anecdotes in our upcoming series “Confessions of a Wedding Planner.”
I will share some of my craziest “behind the scenes” stories, most cringe-worthy moments, and the lessons I learned through all the craziness.
The truth is, I wouldn’t trade in any of those high stress moments or blisters from wearing heels for 12 hours for anything in the world. I loved every second of what I did and look back on those experiences with a smile. I can even laugh at things now that once seemed like a catastrophe, like the time a fallen tree knocked out the power in the venue.
Planners will definitely relate to this and some people may find my tales unbelievable but, I assure you that while the names and locations have been changed to protect the guilty, every juicy detail is true.
Stay tuned for Confessions of a Wedding Planner in the October issue of Destination Weddings by ALHI newsletter.
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