A Word from Denise
I know that a lot of event planners got their start after planning their own wedding and loving it! I did not have that experience, however. After my wedding, all I could think about was how many offers to help I turned down because I thought I could do it all myself. I’d ALWAYS loved planning events. In fact my first event was back in 1986 when I was 10 (yep, I’ve just revealed my age). My younger siblings and I planned a surprise anniversary party for my parents. A lot of delegating was required. But I had such a fabulous time planning the event! In college, I had the opportunity to serve as Social Chair of my sorority, planning a party about once a month for a year. It was so much fun, but I also learned about what didn’t work. Which I’ve found to be just as, if not more, valuable than knowing what does work.
As I mentioned, I was disappointed about how my own wedding turned out. (Let me be clear in saying that I didn’t become a planner to ‘re-do’ my wedding.) A couple of years later (in 1999), friends were getting married. I came to help the bride with her make-up but helped keep her day flowing smoothly. Then my best friend got married and I loved helping her; then my brother-in-law. As the honorary sister (neither the groom or bride have sisters), I got in on the planning and found it to be so rewarding.
Then, I came to work at a church. Eventually, one of my duties was to work with brides as they scheduled, planned and had their wedding. Before I left earlier this year, I had worked with about 100 couples to get married at that church. I found that all the excitement from when I’d first met them, waned considerably be the evening of their rehearsal. I’d usually hear something like, “I can’t wait for this whole thing to be over!” How tragically sad! I had the opportunity along the way to help a handful of these ladies beyond my duties as church facilitator. I knew that I could allow other couples to celebrate their special day!
In this role at the church, I also have had opportunities to work with anniversary parties, baby showers, and large workshops and conferences.
