How I Got Started as a Wedding Planner

I was never one of those girls who dreamt of her wedding day since she was a little girl. Only once did I and my friends stage a wedding for Barbie and Ken (the highlight of that event was when Ken’s head popped off right after their first kiss).

Never threw parties or had big get-togethers. (Still don’t. We’re more of the homey types. Watching tv. Reading a good book. Love board games and cards).

So, how did I discover the world of wedding planning?

Planning our wedding is where I got the spark.

When my husband and I were planning our wedding (back in 1988) I was the most clueless bride ever. Heck, (dare I admit it), I didn’t even realize that there were wedding magazines available.

Because of our crazy work schedules at the time we did most of the planning on our lunch breaks (very few wedding vendors would meet with us after work, and we couldn’t get time off during work hours).

Some vendors were no-shows for our scheduled meetings. Our reception venue was bought out by another company, and the new company’s catering style was ribs. Delicious yes, but very different that what we wanted and had contracted for (thankfully they honored our original menu choices). My aunt made our cake, and my cousin did our bouquets, corsages, and boutonnieres. That was a tremendous help (2 less vendors that we had to deal with).

However, it was still S-T-R-E-S-S-F-U-L. But on our wedding day we were surrounded by our family and closest friends. And in the end, we were married, and starting this new stage in our lives together.

The decision to become a wedding planner was never an “aha moment.”

Instead something about planning my wedding stuck in the back of my head, and gradually evolved. I’d often think that planning weddings for others would be fabulous, but was a “wedding planner” really a thing? I didn’t think it was.

But it still stuck with me. I’d find myself thinking that there had to be a right way to plan weddings for other people. Planning your own wedding does not make you a wedding planner – I got that.

My interest and desire to pursue this career grew, and I continued to talk about wanting to be someone who plans weddings. (But is it even a real thing?)

Finally, one day my husband told me to stop talking about it and do something about it, or just stop talking about it. Ok, not those exact words. But he was giving me the push (and his support) to pursue this.

So, in 1994 I joined an wedding organization for wedding planners, took their training courses and shadowed with a local wedding planner. The following year I officially opened Weddings From The Heart.

That’s how I got started.

Through the years (it still doesn’t seem like it’s been over 20 years!) I’ve participated in other training courses, seminars, and workshops to continue to hone my craft. (There is always something new to learn).

Hello. How much do you charge?

It really is an honor and privilege to get to work with couples and help them have the wedding day they’ve imagined and hoped for.

I can’t imaging doing anything else.

Photo credit (Barbie and Ken): The flowers were the easy part. via photopin (license)
Photo credit (Monopoly Board): Monopoly via photopin (license)

Hearts, Joy, Love!
Jean
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I’d love to help you make your wedding day stress-free, enjoyable, and just the way YOU want! Contact me today at [email protected] or at 937-235-2586 or 937-581-3647!