Sarah Viera Event Planning & Design: Little Fish....Beautiful Wedding

I remember the day as if it was yesterday, even though it began 16 months ago. A friend came to tell me of her engagement, at that point, I was just starting my business. From there our relationship and friendship blossomed. While I was excited to have my very first bride it was also intimidating. I did not have an extensive list of esteemed vendors, or organized, detailed materials a established planner would already have. I had to start from the ground up and build my business alongside my bride while trying to put my best foot forward at all times. Well that best foot forward went out the door when a few mistakes were made by no one other then myself. One of my first mistakes was telling the photographer the wrong print numbers to order for my brides engagement pictures. Issue resolved in plenty of time, but it cost my slow, starting business a few extra dollars. Lesson learned though-document everything through email in regards to important dates, times, and print numbers...do not text them!

While I wish I was sitting on cloud 9 excited to blog that my first wedding went off without any complications, the real truth is, it didn't. It wasn't the perfection I had hoped for, even though I had nothing else to base it off of. It had more tribulations then one would want to admit, but it was a life changing moment for me and my business. It was a monumental indication for me to see what needs to be remembered, what needs to be mentioned AT THAT moment, what needs to be checked off, and what needs to be communicated with ALL parties involved.

To many of the guests, they thought the wedding was the most beautiful, elegant and breathtaking wedding they had ever seen. The creamy-dreamy feel that my bride was dreaming of, was captured unequivocally. The candlesticks on the tables, the champagne linens and the lush floral on the head table surrounded between candles created a romantic look throughout the entire night. But it was behind the scenes where stress over took my cloud 9.

When first starting out it's hard to determine how much say you really have as a wedding coordinator. On TV shows, the wedding coordinator tells the florist the flowers are wrong, the cake is incorrect, or the linens are the wrong color, but that is on TV. To me, it's not a complete reality. Often times they seem so over the top and dramatic that it makes it seem as if, in real life you could never really do that. For instance, David Tutera could ask for anything he wants and he could probably get it, but who is Sarah Viera? If the flowers were wrong would the florist really change the arrangements hours before the wedding? Would they have the correct flowers in stock? I guess I should have gone with my instincts and said something about the floral arrangements. I did mention that they were in vases when the bride specifically stated she did not want that, but lesson number two, mention that the flowers are wrong completely. When the bride asks for NO greenery, but creamy dreamy, you do not expect to see greenery protruding from the top and stargazer lilies in the middle!

As anything in life, I learn from the mistakes and the good fortunes that I have encountered and move forward. I learned that as a coordinator, I do have a say. I have a right to make that change and make things as perfect as possible for my bride. And I did that with certain tasks throughout the night; insisting the venue that my bride would see the candelabras lit when she walked in, calling the baker back to let them know the grooms cake was missing, but lesson number three...be that strong with every aspect and detail of the wedding. Tell the florist the flowers are incorrect, tell the DJ the lights on the wall are pink instead of white, tell the florist the cake flowers are suppose to be straight down the cake instead of zig-zagging down the cake. Tell, tell, tell. Because in the end I am the one who has to make this day perfect for the bride regardless of how others perform.

But while that day was stressful, it wasn't all stress on cloud 9 for the whole planning process. I learned a million things and yes a million! My business grew to the fullest and I owe that all to my first bride. No matter how much schooling one may take, real life experience overtakes it all. She taught me how to take skills I already possessed and further them. To be the true friend, listener and companion a wedding coordinator should be. Or at least the one Sarah Viera Event Planning & Design wants to represent. When she didn't want to talk wedding, but wanted to talk about other difficulties in life, I was there to listen and support. I was also the outside opinion different from the family and friends that weighed in on their decisions. I realized not only am I the wedding coordinator, I am one of their closest friends during that time. Even if it is for a few months, sixteen months, or years after, this person puts their trust in you and you become the shoulder they need at times. And from that I learned LOVE! I love to be there not only for my brides as a coordinator, but as their friend also. I love to hear of their life stories, their day to day activities and to hear of their dreams, goals and wishes for their wedding day and future.

Now that sixteen months has passed I have built my business and I have a list of esteemed vendors, organized, detailed materials to present to my brides. My business has grown with the success of my first bride and the elevated confidence I now provide. I have two more brides this year and three in 2011. To me, that is a good grounding foundation and I know they will all be a success.

With much love and gratitude I want to thank Takishia and Brian for letting me be apart of their special day. She was one of the most beautiful brides I have ever seen and Brian is just as amazing as Takishia. I wish them all the best in their future together.