A: Totally by accident…

 

I decided I hated having business partners (Hi Bob and Wally!), was not having fun in my restaurant/catering business, and had no personal life.

 

I was actually looking in to launching a line of gourmet cookies and muffins –

 

I had a call from a photographer friend (read: ex-significant other) – he had a bride with a catering contract issue – knew I had grown up with the caterer and asked me to help – one meeting with the couple – one meeting with the couple and the caterer…walked away with three happy campers.

 

That’s the short version…the LONG version is that I had 30 years experience leading up to that day….

 

Sort of like the ‘overnight sensation” who worked their whole life to get discovered.

 

48-52% of the average wedding budget is spent on something I’ve done my entire life…

 

Graduating from The Culinary Institute of America – working as a chef at The Hyatt Regency Dallas – and as chef for several museums of the Smithsonian – along with having my own restaurant and catering business.

 

I’ve dealt with weddings and events FOREVER- booking parties, planning, designing, staffing, waiting tables, cooking food, packing trucks, cleaning up…

 

Even with all that experience I still spent 40-60 hours a week researching, reading, networking, learning about weddings for an entire year – before I ever looked to book a single client.

 

Not to mention taking part time jobs at a bridal salon – Anne Bailey’s, and a florist – Clark’s Flower Shop in Newtown to learn parts of a wedding I didn’t know about…

 

Long and short of it… it’s not so important how you got started…

 

It’s what you did to prepare yourself  …before booking that first client.