The Good Guest
Design Freak
Looking back, it’s really no surprise that I ended up as a planner specializing in weddings and social events. More so than in corporate event planning, I believe a passion for design is a must. Now I am not saying that corporate planners have no penchant for design, it’s just that in my experience responsibility for it can pawned off on the hired florist/designer. As a wedding planner, however, I am expected to contribute to, and in many cases spearhead, general design concepts before we even interview the trained professionals. For various reasons, I have taken on the whole megillah myself for few weddings and bar mitzvahs. While this has been satisfying and a great help to my clients, it has also been exhausting to coordinate the entire event while pulling off the design and implementation of the flowers and décor. I much prefer the holy trinity of Planner/Client/Designer idea exchange. Three heads are better than one, if you will.
Much to the consternation of my husband and the amusement of my friends and family, everything in my world must be “designed.” Not unlike Joan Crawford (“Helga, I’m not mad at you, I’m mad at the dirt.”), I am very concerned about the placement of items on surfaces and general cleanliness. As a far back as I can remember, my loved ones have skewered me a bit over this compulsive behavior. Sock drawers were always meticulously organized according to category: black, athletic white, argyle, and the very useful solid charcoal grey. After a few beers, my freshman college roommate used to show his friends my sock drawer for laughs. But the joke was on them because I never wore socks. Hangers were always spaced one inch apart; no, I did not need a ruler and yes, the hangers in my closets are now wood not wire.
While my design compulsion has provided fodder for much good-natured ribbing in my personal life (you know who you are!), it is also wonderfully useful in my work. You can’t fake that kind of crazy and rarely does a detail escape my notice. My mother, brother and I are all cursed with the ability to spot an off-kilter frame on the wall from fifty paces. Once spotted, the offending picture must be squared without hesitation or all is lost. I believe the artists would approve.
When it comes to planning a wedding or event of any magnitude, an unwavering passion for design and eye for detail is must. From the backyard barbeque to the grand white wedding, proceed to succeed by realizing that everything should be relatable but not too literal when it comes to the design. That’s what it’s all about . . . at least in my world.