This year in review post is going to be SO different than years pasts.  Normally I open with something inspirational about the past year, my hopes for the future, and touch on all the amazing events and happenings I was lucky to be a part of.  This year my couples faced planning during a pandemic, postponing their event to 2021, or making the extremely hard choice of canceling.  It’s a lot to talk about and so I will keep that for a separate post.

Brooklyn Media

With that in mind, I think I’ve sat down to write this blog at least 4 times and I just don’t know how to lay it all out.  I will start first by saying that I am happy to be alive and healthy.  I am lucky that my family and friends have escaped Covid thus far or have had mild cases (if even a mild case really is a mild case).  My heart pours out to those friends and strangers who have lost someone to Covid or just frankly have been impacted by this whole situation.  Which is really everyone, even you dear reader.

My Personal Life

I was having to manage my business as well as my role as Mom and Wife.  It started with virtual school for my preschooler, a summer of going nowhere (canceling our Disney trip even), making the hard decision to send my daughter into kindergarten, and then back to virtual school again.  Plus everything else in between.  Let me first say, I am not a teacher and although being a wedding planner is a Top 10 Most Stressful Job, I cannot share my love for teachers enough.  Teachers are everything to kids right now.  So if you are a teacher reading this…..thank you!

I also had two surgeries which were scary in themselves.  My knee was planned but my gallbladder was not.  And frankly, I would rather have another child then experience a gallbladder attack again.  Add on Covid and my recovery time stuck at home with a 5-year-old.  This year has taught me a lot of patience…..and also not.

Wedding Planner Life

One Red Door Photography

I can say for certain that the wedding industry was rocked hard this year and still has not recovered.  Frankly, I feel it will be a long time before weddings return to what used to be “normal”.  That doesn’t mean weddings won’t happen, but just as we see them will be a little different for some time.

I have had friends close their businesses or come reeeeally close.  I have spent countless hours chatting with other wedding professionals and just listening to their frustrations and giving them the best advice I can.  I myself have leaned on my colleagues for advice and information.  When the regulations on live events first went into place, I was glued to my computer for information and to make sure that the local industry Facebook group I run was civil and the correct information was given out.  I also had to postpone the wedding show I was organizing that was supposed to be in just two weeks.

There was also supporting my couples with whatever decisions they had to make and assuring them they were making the right decisions for themselves.  When I started wedding planning, postponements and cancellations happened once in a blue moon.  This was new territory and with my ability to think on my feet, knowledge of weddings and how they work, and capacity to be exceptionally organized, I was able to assist my couples in whatever they needed while still keeping my company afloat.

The Silver Linings

In a nutshell, 2020 sucked….hardcore.  But there were some positives that came out of it as well.

1. My daughter and I got to spend a lot of time together.  Not only because we couldn’t go anywhere, but when a child starts kindergarten it’s a shock.  I went from her being home all but a few hours a day for preschool, to being gone for more than half the day at kindergarten.  It was great for many reasons but my heart missed her so much.  So although zoom for young kids is a complete joke (I wish I had a mute button) and my daughter has probably consumed way too much TV, I was able to be with her.
2. My car mileage and gas consumption has gone WAY down and I have saved a lot of money.
3. We actually met a lot of our neighbors we had never met before.  Seriously, we have lived in this house for 15 years and we actively talked to two people that lived near us.  This summer my daughter made 5 new friends that all live within 3 houses of us.  One is right across the street, where we basically spent our summer in their little pool.  The even bigger silver lining is I made friends with her mom.  Like sitting on the couch, enjoying a drink together, letting the girls play all while we talk about life friend.  That is priceless to me.
4. I became moderately better at sewing.  I got a lot of practice helping to make masks for frontline workers (over 450 of them!)

CLE Weddings

So there you go.  A short rundown of my year that shall not be named.  I am putting it behind me as best as I can because we are still really in the thick of it.  I’m trying my best to look forward to the positives and projects in the future.

To my couples that have postponed, we will meet again and put together an amazing celebration that everyone will be beyond ready to have.  To the new couples that have found their way to me, I am feeling very lucky that you have put your trust in me and that no matter what happens we will get through it together.  To my fellow wedding professionals, congratulations on making it here and surviving what is probably the most unique and hardest season to date.  To my friends and family, I cannot wait for the Christmases in July and bonfire cookouts this summer.  We will get to hang out and hug and be with each other again.  Cheers to 2021, I am ready for it.  May it bring peace, happiness, closure, or anything else you need it to bring.  You deserve it.