For all of the *Haters* out there, before you start – my ‘girls’ are grown, educated, professional women – I happen to be the only guy in the company and old enough that I could be most of their dads…..
When I started The Queen of Hearts Wedding Consultants nearly 11 years ago, I was determined to be a solo act…. {we begin our 11th year in January!}
I only wanted to do as many weddings as I could personally attend to –
As I brought on interns and assistant to help me on the wedding day, I quickly changed my mind as I met Rebecca, Karen, Christina and Kristin….
They are all really talented, detailed and creative planners – all are members of some type of industry association; several of them belong to and attend multiple industry association’s events…
I require that they all contribute their planning talents to some charitable organization…
And two of them had their own planning businesses before coming to work with our team….
I was always troubled, as in this industry, ANYONE can call themselves a Wedding planner – it takes no certification or license ….
Each of the ladies on our team were part of a larger group who started out with me as an unpaid interns, for a minimum of a year {regardless of their previous industry experience}, interns who survive and show promise may be offered a position as one of my assistants for about another year…
Basically, in addition to continuing education in the industry and previous experience – they have been part of no less than 30 weddings, with me as the lead…. before any of them get to work as a lead Wedding Day Director on any couples weddings…
Each works as a lead Wedding Day Director with myself or another team member as their assistant for another year before taking on clients as a Wedding Planner. And even then they continue to assist me and have me pop in on their weddings to monitor their performance…
I’m truly proud of each and every one of them as the reviews from their couples, each couple’s families and the wedding professionals they have worked with are AMAZING!
I’m a firm believer in education as well as hands on training –
When interviewing a perspective planner for your wedding look at who you make a connection with, their experience level, hands on training and association participation –
Not just the price.
.