A priceless opportunity to develop my skills

Svetlana Zelezkina, sportsmanagement, wedding planning internship in Hawaii: I gained priceless life ane working experience and created a great network!

As wedding planning is becoming world-wide, people need different offers from different companies – this system is creating the whole structure of the Service sector.With a large number of concurrency in Wedding Industry studying event management/marketing is becoming relevant in education area that is the main reason why I switched to Sport & Event Management and decided to participate in ‘the real life’ of a Bridal Dream Wedding Company in Hawaii, as Hawaii is is a 2nd popular wedding destination in USA.

It took me almost six months to reach my goal by setting up all contracts, visa and other documents. The decision of having a wedding planning internship was optional from many views: to get the knowledge of event operations, marketing & management issues, completely new cultural adventure, the opportunity to practice and improve my English, new environment, and the possibility to meet new people from all over the world and finally get perspective knowledge for future career in event industry.

My main duties at Bridal Dream Hawaii were:

• answering emails & telephone ( communicate with costumers, provide wedding information, book vendors)
• sending orders & contracts by email, fax & phone (inform ministers/photographers/limo service about special customers’ preferences (if non-religious ceremony/, vow renewal)
• charge credit cards/checks
• coordinate weddings (what, when, how the ceremony is taking place)
• discuss flowers & hair & make-up & gowns & decorations (represent customer and provide ideas)
• Photographers’ assistant

As you may see from the points above, I was responsible for almost every aspect of the Wedding planning, which gave me a priceless opportunity to develop my skills and learn from mistakes I’ve made. I also had a great opportunity to be photographers’ assistant and get an excellent experience in photography as it my beloved hobby.

All in all, during my placement, I’ve learned that professional wedding consultant should be well-organized, detail-oriented, imaginative, people-person, possessing mature judgment, patience and the expertise to orchestrate this special day. A successful wedding planner needs to be an expert in hospitality, event planning, decorating and wedding trends and traditions. The wedding business is a customer business: hence, I must be a master in diplomacy possessing excellent communication skills as well as understand the bride's psychology, including her anxiety and stress.

I faced marketing & promotion issues, gained priceless life & working experience and created a great network!