Yesterday I participated in Festival of Brides bridal show at the Westlake Four Seasons. It was a great show for brides to attend with awesome wedding vendors, over the top displays and a wonderful fashion show.
One of the wonderful displays was from Serendipity Wedding and Event Planning. I decided to interview owner Odalys Monge and find out the answers to some of those questions than today’s brides may be asking. Here are the questions and answers:
• Tell us a little about yourself and how you became involved with everything weddings?
I have always had a passion for everything wedding related. I could spend my days flipping through bridal magazines, researching online and watching all of the wedding shows! At a very young age, I was always planning parties and events for families and friends – they seemed to rely on me to give them an opinion. After graduating from UCSB with a degree in Communication, I took a Group Sales position with a large upscale hotel chain. After three years at the hotel and planning my parents surprise 30th anniversary party and my own destination wedding – I knew I had found my calling!
• How did Serendipity Wedding & Event Planning get started?
I had the great fortune of being offered a position with the largest and oldest upscale bridal show in California – Festival of Brides, The Upscale Bridal Show. As a Marketing/Sales Representative, it was the perfect place to meet and develop relationships with the best professionals in the wedding industry. In conjunction with my background in hospitality I knew that I had all the resources necessary to finally pursue my dream of owning my wedding and event planning company.
• Why do you think it is important for couples to have an event planner?
No matter what the budget, it is absolutely necessary to hire an event planner to assist a couple them with their wedding. If their budget is a little tighter, a “day-of” or “month-of” package could be a great option to ensure that the couple and their family and friends can actually enjoy their wedding day. If the budget is a bit more flexible, a couple should consider an “full-service” package that includes event design, unlimited vendor referrals and assisting with planning and overseeing their wedding from start to finish. An event planner has the expertise to pull together an event that is not only beautiful, but well thought out. They will ensure that no detail goes unnoticed and can provide you with referrals for vendors that are trustworthy, knowledgeable and meet your budget. This not only allows the couple time to enjoy their engagement, but also the peace of mind of knowing that the most important day of their lives is in the hands of a professional.
. I know all planners carry an emergency kit with them on the wedding day. Tell us something in your kit that may surprise us?
Smelling salts! You never know when somebody might faint!
• Are there any recent trends you see taking place in regards to wedding ceremonies or fashion?
I’ve noticed a trend of natural/rustic elements and the use of neutral tones with wedding colors showing up only in the details of the decor, (place cards, napkin rings, favors, etc.) Another great and fun trend is keeping the ceremony monochromatic in white/ivory tones and shocking the guests with a reception that is just the opposite; full of rich, bright fun colors.
• This is a very popular time for wedding engagements. What advice do you have for recently engaged couples that are just starting to plan a wedding?
Take notes, keep pictures, look everywhere for inspiration, even in unexpected places – your home for example is a great place to find what your personal style is and incorporate that into your wedding. Most importantly – remember that your wedding day is about the two of you and the beginning of your life together – you will not be able to please everyone!
I would love to hear from you – please contact me.
To see more of my work – click here.
no comments