Planning: It aint no fun, if the homey can't stress some.

At a wedding not so long ago, a friend acted as first assistant to the JunePlumm Events team. Though she is no stranger to weddings, she has never been on the "other side". For a first timer, she was pretty darn amazing. She assisted the JPE team and the bride on her very special day and I thank her immensely. After I thanked her for the millionth time she responded by saying "WOW...I NEVER knew it was like this. I mean it always looks so pretty and easy but I never realized all of this happened behind the scenes". I simply said YUP!

Events are no easy task. It takes a lot of hours, time, patience and stamina to get the job done. But some people think it is as easy as uno, dos, tres'. Which brings me to today's post...Today I am going to give you a peak into Pandora's box. Just so you are a little more aware of what it's really like to be a Planner.

DISCLAIMER: The following is not only from my perspective, most of these apply to some of my planning buddies who have shared their stories. So former and present clients please don't give me the side-eye and plot my slow painful "accidental" death. I puffy heart you all:).

Now for the good stuff:

• Planners never always stress about an event. We too want it to go perfect for you. We want everyone to show up on time, all the centerpieces to look just as planned and everyone to be happy happy happy. But you know what they say, "it ain't no fun if the homey can't stress some"- wha, you haven't heard that before - where have YOU been.

• Planners and clients always see eye-to-eye sometimes disagree. Let's face it, we are planners not psychics. We make suggestions and recommendations based on what we think is best for the client's vision of their event. It doesn't mean they will love everything and that's okay. But if they hate everything...Houston, we have a problem.

• After an event, planners and clients always sometimes stay friends. Lets face it some clients are crazy and we can't wait to get rid of them. Yes it may sound harsh but bridezilla's (or as a colleague puts it..exorcilla...aka exorcist + bridezilla = exorcilla) is not only a show, it's real life. THANK GOD I have personally not had to deal with any but some of my friends can tell you stories that will make your head spin and then quit the business. The great part is, for every one bridezilla there are 100's of amazing clients that you would love to remain social with. But sometimes, someone will make you want to help them pack and hold the door open so you can slam it really hard when they walk through it. 

• Event Planning is fun and glamorous hard work and not as glamorous as it appears on TV. It can take 190+ hours to plan ONE event. The day of the event you suddenly become a mighty morphing power ranger and have to morph yourself into multiple personalities and be in more than one place at a time. All while looking like you have EVERYTHING under control and your heart is not racing a110 mph.

• Event Planners have all received extensive training in the fine art of magic are not magicians. Yes we can poof-be-gone most event day mishaps, blunders and snafus. However, we simply cannot do anything about a hurricane on your wedding day, your groomsmen that show up drunk, or your orange bridal portraits from your aunts uncle's sister's boyfriend from round'da'way whom you hired to shoot your wedding because he has a "good camera". We can't do diddly squat about that.

• Event Planners work 5 days a week between the hours of 9-5  9-5, 8-11, 7 -12 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday. No I'm not saying 7 days a week 24 hours a day. But our hours vary depending on the event and the client/planner relationship. And since most special events happen on the weekend...you can kiss some of those good-bye. Oh and while your at it, some clients feel that 2am is an appropriate time to ask their planner to clarify the difference between cream, eggshell and off white...oh and to be chipper and AWAKE while doing it. Sleep...puh-lease, who needs that.

• Everyone LOVES an event planner. Some people can't stand us. Brides, grooms, dj's, catering hall managers, musicians, florists...other planners, need I go on? Don't let me get too overly dramatic-too late huh. What I mean is we have some high bridges to cross. Some feel we are not worth the money, some feel we are not needed, some feel we are a road block to a signed contract because we always want to negotiate, some feel we don't know what the heck we are doing and some feel we are all crooks and will run away with your money. Sigh... it's all true, some of us are all of that and then some. But that is only SOME. Because of the few bad apples, some planners have to deal with allot of scrutiny before the respect starts to roll in. It comes with the territory.  

Still think it's all peonies and bling? Well it isn't BUT...it is all worth it (to me at least). The look on a clients face when they walk into the room and see that everything looks amazing. The sigh of relief you hear when your client realizes that they just had the BEST DAY EVER and had absolutely NOTHING to do with it. The smiles, thank you's and OMG you are so amazing, you receive from friends, family, clients and on lookers. The feeling of gratitude that you were welcomed into the hearts and lives of a complete stranger who trusted you with such an important day and everything turned out A-O-K.

So no, it's not all peonies and bling..but for most of us it is TOTALLY worth it!