The idea of becoming a wedding planner
I worked as a tour manager in the music industry for nearly ten years, and when I returned to my home island, I needed to retrain.
Staying in event organization was an obvious choice, and after some research I turned toward weddings.
I prepared my project over the course of a year: taking the IWI program, finding my logo, choosing my business name and handling the administrative steps.
Then I had to make decisions and find my first clients. So I went for it boldly and by instinct, as I always had, and it worked. My first couple were friends of my sister, and after that word of mouth did the rest.
I had the chance to be fully booked from the very first year, with 20 weddings. It was a year full of beautiful encounters and beautiful stories.
My daily life
I have continued to be fully booked every year, with 21 weddings in 2017 and 25 in 2018. But 25 weddings was my limit. I no longer had any social life alongside it. So I went back down to 20. In this profession, it is important to keep time for yourself.
My best memories
I organized a couple’s wedding the day before my birthday, and I had gotten married the day before the bride’s birthday. The coincidence was funny. That evening, at midnight, they surprised me in front of all the guests by singing to me and bringing me a birthday cake with my company logo on it. I cried.
Another time, one of my brides made a declaration to me in front of all her guests, full of gratitude and love.
It is hard to rank all those memories.
I cannot single out one thing in particular. But when the couples are happy and take me in their arms, I know I have fulfilled my mission.
I have managed to organize a wedding in five weeks, to work with clients who come from all over the world, and I have several couples who changed their wedding date just to have me. All of that warms my heart and encourages me to continue, even when it is not always easy.
My biggest day-to-day difficulty
Being alone to make decisions and having to be on every front: relationships with couples, with vendors, company communication on the website and social media, accounting, administration, and the development of new projects.
I take on interns, and I talk a lot with my close family when important decisions need to be made.
About IWI
IWI brought me support through the network of wedding planners all over France. Anne-Marie gives very good advice.
And what comes next?
I do not like resting on what I have achieved, so I am currently creating new offers with South Africa, as well as elopement weddings in Réunion. We even made a video for this beautiful package.