How I came up with the idea of becoming a Wedding Planner and ceremony celebrant
I think I have always had organization in my blood.
Since I was very young, I always loved organizing my own birthday, creating surprises for my guests and putting together beautiful decorations.
Then I started organizing events and weddings for my friends.
And then it became obvious: this was what I wanted to do. So I took the leap. I expanded my offer with ceremony officiating, and I discovered a passion for writing.
My background before getting started
Coming from a literary background, I wanted to become a journalist at the end of my teenage years.
I worked for many years as a sales assistant in different companies.
I also worked for several years in a casino, where I had the opportunity to be involved in event planning. I loved working in that atmosphere, and the diversity of the projects was a real driving force for me.
Difficulties
I did not find it difficult to get started.
When you want something, you can make it happen. I am not afraid of failure. I believe that if it works, all the better, and if it does not or if it stops, at least I will have tried. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
It was a pleasure to prepare each step involved in creating my agency. I shaped it in my own image, and I love what it reflects.
What lies behind my Wedding Planner agency in Nièvre
I named my agency Luna Calypso. There is a story behind that name — in fact, several stories.
Luna stands for my passion for the moon, and it is also the name of one of my favorite characters from a book series from my youth. I simply love that name.
Calypso is the name of a goddess in Greek mythology. As a little anecdote, almost all of my clients call me Luna, and I do not correct them. I quite like it.
My agency is intentionally human-sized, and I work alone. Even though I am based in Nièvre and work mainly there and in neighboring departments, I am open to traveling anywhere... even to the moon.
Starting out in 2020... the year of Covid
If a certain virus had not come along to throw obstacles in our way, my first year, 2020, would probably have been more significant.
Let’s say that 2022 went far beyond my expectations. With 10 weddings organized, I was able to live the life of a wedding planner at two hundred percent, and it was intense but exciting.
What I love most about my work as a wedding planner
Supporting my couples, being there for them, and relieving them of the stress that wedding planning can bring.
And of course, seeing each project come to life on the wedding day, and seeing happiness in their eyes.
My best memories so far
It is difficult to point to specific memories because when you do this job with passion, you inevitably invest yourself a great deal on a human level. I have met many beautiful, kind-hearted people, and all these life moments are beautiful ones above all.
A few intense memories from this year:
A & J: the bride sang for her husband and their guests. It was a moment suspended in time. Not only did she sing incredibly well, but she carried all of us away with her on a Brel song. I think everyone present will remember that moment for a long time.
J & F: a lantern release after nightfall. Around thirty lanterns were released at the same time, with beautiful music in the background. It was wonderful to experience.
E & J: they spent almost two and a half years preparing their wedding, with countless complications that were very formative for a wedding planner. I built a very strong bond with that couple, and seeing them finally united was a truly beautiful moment.
My greatest pride
Pride feels a bit egocentric to me, and it is not really something I usually say. I do not really know how to answer that question, at least not about my work as a wedding planner. I simply like living each present moment as something unique.
I am not looking for recognition, rewards or even thanks. I just want to do what makes me feel good, and being a wedding planner brings me a lot. I would say that a happy look is enough to make me happy too.
My key phrase is: 'There are no problems, only solutions.'
What IWI brought me
I am truly delighted to have chosen IWI for my training, and I continue to recommend their programs whenever I can. These programs really reinforced the foundations I already had, but they were also extremely valuable in helping me build all of my work processes.