Etiquette

I have spent the week in the books. And let me tell you it has been really tough. I couldn't believe that it took a mere five months to get me out of the habit of studying that I have had for 15 years.

Anyway my assignment this week has been working on my own personal method by comparing my internet research from last week with several printed options and choosing what I feel is important and there by creating my own method out of several other professionals. But the most interesting part of the week has been the etiquette training, which consists of reading about 4 different books on etiquette, wedding etiquette, life etiquette and general etiquette. Its funny how these simple rules keep our society running. I really think that all the reading I am doing should be mandatory to all students in fact I think they should offer a class on etiquette in the Corporate Event Planning certificate as a required course.

Alright I hope everyone has a wonderful day I have to continue my reading.

Nearly the end...

I can feel the effects of the wedding season in my life, today is the first Saturday that I have not had to work or prepared for a wedding in the coming weeks and I am bored. I have no idea as to what to do today, its funny how quickly I became used to the hectic schedule of a planner.

This past week has been rather slow, we have mostly been talking and working on my own personal method once I enter the "real world" and so far that is the plan for next week as well. It is really nice that Alisha goes so far out of her way to help me get on my feet at the end of my internship.

The most significant event of interest this week was pitching for a fund raising organization for the Phoenix Art Museum. Alisha takes on a community service project each year and learned about this one at our gallery wedding a few weeks ago. We dressed nice and met with the group Wednesday morning and discussed what services she would be able to offer probono for these ladies in their efforts to raise money for the gallery. It was interesting to see Alisha make a formal pitch to offer her services free of charge. You would think they should be thankful that she is willing, but it was a formal like interview. What I learned is that in this industry you are constantly building on your own personal reputation and therefor should take every interaction seriously and behave professionally. Treating each client as though they are your first priority.

Other than that I have been getting into the job hunt mind set...any ideas??

Not so Bridezilla...

The wedding we coordinated this weekend was one that was originally supposed to be aired on the the Bridezilla Show on the Wedding Channel. The bride was nervous and stressed as a a bride usually is and a little uncoordinated with so much going on but by no means a bridezilla. My morning started on site Saturday at 11am. Before I was even out of my car a bridal family member was interrogating me as to why the pastor was not notified that we were only starting set up at 11am and not 8am anymore. Truth be told it was an honest miscommunication mistake. We had arranged to come early to start decorating, and the bride changed it to 11am and we only remembered to call the Pastor that morning, he was honestly not worried about it and totally understood, but the family member was full of wedding day jitters and was not to calm about it. Either way the van with all of the decor did not arrive till 12:30pm anyway leaving it really tight for us to get the ceremony site ready, but we all worked really hard and the stage was ready for show time.



As I mentioned before this was my first solo, and it wasn't flawless but it was good. I got the bridal party down the aisle about 20 minutes late, because the bride had a large dress that took some time getting on. And I had to set up the cocktail hour whilst the ceremony was going on. The ceremony ran short and the chocolate fountain wasn't ready, and also to find out the cups were at the reception site and not the ceremony site. This minor tragedy caused problems for Alisha cause her volunteers decided dropping off the cups was an opportunity to ditch her, leaving her to finish the site just in time for the guests to arrive. The cups arrived about ten minutes after the cocktail hour started. Also I think a lot of the guests left immediately after the ceremony for the site cause there were only like 20 people at the cocktail hour. Anyway I stayed calm and to be honest I felt in my element running the ceremony, I really enjoyed it.




The reception went off very well considering, the bartender never showed and we never found out why. The cake sort of collapsed while cutting it and we luckily caught it and saved it!!! It was more funny than tragic to be honest. We ended the wedding about and hour early because guests were already heading home. And it was a little sad that there weren't really people to send the bridal party off. However the bride and groom were having to much fun to notice anyway.



What I learned was to know your guests, no matter the amount of alcohol no group of people are going to attend a 8 hour party, I suggest either a morning wedding or evening wedding but not both. People are funny like that, I also learned to try and keep the venue an open space, creating walls between the dance floor and tables separates people and creates clicks.



Clean up went off pretty well and Alisha and I were home around 12:30am. I wish this blogging site was not public, the stories we could share with each other that does not need to be filtered due to public access can only be interesting, and I am not referring to yesterdays wedding specifically.

One needs the bride to plan a wedding...

This week has been constantly postponed. I understand life happens and as planner and coordinator I need to learn to deal with and work with situations like this. This is another one of my obstacles that I am working on over coming and learning about myself during my internship. I am a very scheduled and reliable person, I am punctual and dedicated to what ever I am doing. We have a wedding tomorrow afternoon that I feel will be cutting it close. One of our last and most important meetings was canceled on Wednesday because the maid of honor went to the hospital on what she thought was labor pains. It was a false alarm. Luckily Alisha was able to meet up with her before the rehearsal to iron out some details. We were supposed to meet up again today but did not hear from the bride till late this afternoon, and by that lost another day. And I am not saying anything against the bride, I am fully aware of her situation and its not only her wedding that is filling up her plate right now. It is just tough to feel completely prepared for tomorrow with so much going on. But that is the life of a planner.

Luckily Alisha in all of her confidence and experience has prepped me very well to run my first solo on Saturday. Alisha will be at the reception site this Saturday getting it ready whilst I am at the church coordinating the ceremony, I am really excited and nervous to be in charge of something this big for the first time. I know I will do well.

We also ran a site inspection this week for a wedding that we will be coordinating in May at this million dollar home in Scottsdale with spectacular views. It will be a very unique and cool ceremony.

Those are the big things we have dealt with this week. Wish me luck for tomorrow.