I’m a firm believer everything happens for a
reason and that you should take advantage of any opportunities that may cross
your path. Now, I’m not saying go into
debt to create this journey…but if it means putting a plane ticket on a credit
card to put you in a place that will impact your life and career…SWIPE! That’s exactly what’ve done a few times in my
career and every time it’s paid off ten times fold. I wanted to share a few of my “WOW, this is
really my life” moments with you and how they’ve changed my life…
I remember getting this email in my inbox about
the Wedding MBA in Vegas probably 13+ years ago. I had never heard of the conference, but it
was right up my ally full of educational seminars and the chance of meeting
some of the biggest names in the wedding industry. I was very early in my career and to my
knowledge not many people from NC was going to this conference back then. I literally traveled out there not knowing anyone
after convincing my boss to purchase my conference ticket. WOW! I was hooked! That was the first time I met Peter Merry
& Sonny the 
founder of WeddingWire, heard Alan Berg and many others upon
that stage. It was also the very first
time I heard Susan Southerland speak…she was an inspiration and after hearing
her story I knew what I wanted my path to look like. Without her knowing, she became an
inspiration and mentor. That year I was
so broke I couldn’t afford her book, so she signed a color wheel for me. Now to have her as a colleague and now mentoring me as a friend still blows my mind!
That year I won a free ticket to come back the
next year, so I invited Tricia & Gene with Culinary Visions to join me and
every other year since then I’ve attended.
Each year I bring or invite others to experience where it all started
for me. Every year I meet more and more
unique people in the industry, build deeper relationships with other vendors
across the world and take our brand to another level. A few years ago, I
happened to be sitting next to Martha Stewart’s right hand assistant. She asked me what I would be doing in a few
weeks and then handed me her card along with a private invite to Martha
Stewart’s Bridal Fashion Week in New York. I can’t tell you how fast I texted
my Best Friend Tina, whom just happened to move to NYC. I am a firm believer everything happens for a
reason. We had a blast touring NYC and
going behind the scenes at Martha Stewart’s office.
There has been a few other amazing moments in my
career but joining the Association of Bridal Consultants has to be the
BEST. The places this association has
taken me around the world and I’ve met some of the most incredible genuine
people in the wedding and event industry.
I remember attending the first conference in Denver right after joining…
I was sitting in the Sandals certified training class and for the first time in
my life I was about to use every level & title of my UNCG degree. I knew how important it was to see and touch
the product that you were selling…so I went on several FAM trips the following
year. I wasn’t 100% ready and confident
with my knowledge, so I made sure one was the certified weddingmoon specialist
programs with Sandals, quickly followed up with a MEGA FAM trip which allowed
me to see three resorts in just a few days.
Since that trip I’ve quickly become known for my expertise and hands on
knowledge of the Sandals and Beaches brand.
Seeing Grenada two weeks prior to it’s grand opening was pretty spectacular,
but my favorite FAM trip has to be last year when I was able to spend a week
with the entire weddingmoon’s department.
I got to meet them on a personal level and see how weddings are handled
first hand on resort. This is extra
special to me because I am a past Sandals bride so to see both sides really was
something I will never forget.
Last year I was given the opportunity to join 17
other amazing planners and share our
Since becoming one of 80 Master Wedding Planners
in the World, I’ve been asked to speak in other countries, states and cities to
share my knowledge and experiences. I am
currently heading back to UNCG for my master’s degree and hoping to create more
courses for the private event industry. Who knows maybe I’ll write a textbook,
create a degree and go on to get my PhD in it too!
Sometimes things just happen without your
knowledge and sometimes the stars just seem to line up just right to make
magical opportunities happen. My current
opportunity started last year… I received an inquiry from the sweetest couple
really just looking for a day of coordinator.
However, after speaking with them I quickly realized they needed a lot
more assistance in the logistics and design aspects. It took them a little while to decide if they
wanted to go up to our next level of services but once they did, the knew they
had made the right decision. I remember early
in the planning Rachael mentioned she was getting her dress from Kleinfeld…
that’s cool (I think was comment). I try
to never let big names scare me or impress me because deep down I’m a firm
believer we all put our pants on one leg at a time…right?
Fast forward a few months into the planning…actually
January 3rd to be exact… why do I remember that date so well? Because the first three days of 2018 had me
wanting to run back to 2017 (it had been amazing) and thus far I had frozen on
the beach watching the New Year’s Day sunrise after working a 12+ NYE wedding
in a different city, my pipes at my house had frozen once I got home, a wedding
was canceled due to a break-up, one of my upcoming speaking engagements had
been canceled… and this was all in just the first few days of the new year….
Then I got a call from NYC; I don’t really “know” people from there that would
be calling me, so I ignored it...yep I ignored NYC (FYI don’t ignore
NYC…lol). I was on the phone with
Flowers by Gary talking about a few weddings and I get this call again… so I
took the call… LIFE CHANGING!
“Hi, this is Ronnie with Kleinfeld and we are
dressing for Rachael for her wedding in May.
FYI all I heard was Kleinfeld, so I thought it was just a staff member,
oh ok is there something I can assist you with? “Then Ronnie spoke to me as a
dear friend and quickly I realized about third the way through this
conversation that I was speaking with the owner himself… WOW. We probably chatted for over an hour, just
learning about one another and quickly became friends. For the next few months we would speak every
few weeks about the wedding and just how life was going… I still pinch myself,
saying is this really happening. The
wedding day came, I had the honor of assisting Rachael in her dress and we
couldn’t have asked for a more magical day.
Really, did I just plan and coordinate one of the sons of Kleinfeld? Will’s dad was Ronnie’s Best Friend and Will
was practically Ronnie’s Godson… You just never know who your client is or who
they are friends or family with.
Something tells me this was all part of God’s plan.
Throughout this whole planning process Ronnie and
I spoke often, Ronnie has asked how often do I come to NYC and that I should
come see the store…well today’s the day!
My roommate (and assistant who was there the night I got the first call
and worked the wedding) jumped on a plane yesterday and are in NYC to see
Ronnie, meet his team and see the behind the scenes of one of the most iconic
bridal shops in the world. Stay tuned…
So the question I have for you is:
“Are you seizing all of the opportunities in front
of you?”
#theBESTisYESTtoCOME
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