Anyway enough with the talk of chocolate and more about my first week interning with Dominique of
Stylish Events! well where do I begin? firstly let me start by saying that this week alone has totally reaffirmed my feelings about this new career path I have chosen for myself, which I have to say is a big relief; as I had visions of me suddenly realising that this is not the career for me, then where would that leave me?! unemployed and without a career goal or purpose and for me that is a horrifying thought! but this wasn't the case I'm glad to say!
So as I made my way to Dominique's office on 'Day One' - which is actually her home (Oh the joys of being self-employed) I was full of nervous excitement, I didn't know what to expect or what sorts of task would be given, but either way I was raring to go! Upon arrival Dominique & her lovely Golden Retriever; Barkley greeted me warmly into her home - which I have to say is actually gorgeous! (and no I am not sucking up to the boss- I'm telling the thrush) Anyway after I had finished - discreetly of course - ogling her home we sat down and had a little 'get to know you chat' where I learnt that Dominique (who was born and raised in Australia) moved to London in 1991, where she was an event organiser for the Australian Red Cross Society. During a period of 10 years Dominique was Head of Marketing for 3x law firms in London. In 2002 Dominique decided to take the plunge and start her own wedding planning and event management company (
Stylish Events) Fast Forward to the present day and Dominique for the past few years has been taking on interns, which she said she has always found helpful for herself- as an extra pair of hands when planning is always great and more importantly she love's being able to pass on her years of experience and knowledge onto the 'newbies' in the events industry - she even said to me, that she finds that with every new intern she takes on, she learns something new!; as she nicely put it; ' we are the future in the Events industry after all'
After swapping tales of our life and work experiences (mine obviously not being as extensive as her - after all I'm only 26! lol) Dominique let me know what events she is currently working on; a Wedding in Jamaica, Montego Bay ( and no I will not be attending this one, I'm saddened to say! lol) and a Bat Mitzvah for a 13yr girl; I don't know if you were like me and was woefully ignorant, but I didn't know the girls had Bat Mitzvah's and neither did I know that they were called BAT Mitzvah's. I had always - wrongly -assumed it was called a BAR Mitzvah - but this is the name of the ceremony for the Boy! - BAT is for the girls, you learn something new everyday! Both events are in the summer of this year - June and July, so I've joined Dominque at a crucial stage of the planning process, so there will be plenty for me to learn and do! She also advised me that on the 27th April she will be holding a 1x day course in
'The life of a Wedding Planner' an express course breaking down what is entailed in the job of a Planner; fortunately I will be with her for this course and am very much looking forward to it - the cost for the course is £40 (very reasonable compared to the cost of some courses out there;hat shall not be named -but you know who you are! lol) there are limited place left, so if this is something that would interest you, then sign up fast - place are going super quick! Oh! there is even also a possibility of a TV project happening during my time with Dominique - but for obvious reason cannot disclose the details of this! - but it's all very very exciting!
My task for the day, was to proof read/check the invites for the Bat Mitzavah, to ensure all names and address where spelt correctly, it might sound like a simple job - and I guess it is - but it's still a very important one regardless, nothing worse that a spelling faux pas on invites to guest at your event - not cool! luckily there was actually only 1x error - not to shabby me thinks! - oh I should say as part of my internship Dominique kindly provides me with lunch and covers my travel costs during time with her - a welcomed plus point for me ;-) so that was my first day over with and I came away on such a high! I was so excited to be part of the upcoming events and kept thinking about all the things I had learned so far and all that is yet to come!
Day Two with with Dominique was much more eventful, we had a client meeting with the parents of girl whose Bat Mitvah we're planning (look at me say 'we'! lol) and it was really to update to the clients on the progress of the panning so far and to discuss what still needs to be done! So of course me being me, my first thought was "what am I going to wear!" lol - yes people that really was my first thought! lol, you see I was struck with the dilemma of wanting to appear professional and at least look like I knew what I was talking about when I turned up at the meeting and also not looking like I made too much of an effort to appear this way! lol in the end I settled for a black dress with a crisp white shirt (yes crisp I said, I ironed the hell out of that shirt!) with a fresh pair of tight's and black flat pumps ( I love to admire heels, but sadly cannot walk in them! lol) and of course I had to add a little bit of 'Angie' in there and wore a black belt with a little white bow on the front - had to add some 'fashion-ny' thing to it! lol
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| My Meeting Outfit: excuse the terrible picture quality! lol |
so outfit all set I made my way to Dominique's, where she gave me a briefing on what the days meeting would be about; confirming the lunch and dinner menu's, an update on the current budget, discussing flowers and decor etc One of the things that Dominique has been trying to arrange for the Bat Mitvah, was to secure a confirmation from a well known UK Dance Act, to perform on the night (as I said before details cannot be disclosed - just have to keep you guessing I'm afraid) as as of yet she has not heard anything back from the managers of this dance crew - which of course is highly frustrating!, the last thing you want on your checklist of things to do, is an un-checked task! - but Dominique explained, that you must always have a 'Plan B' so she'd lined up youtube videos of other various popular Dance Acts to show to the client in the meeting, so they could pick an possible alternative. At 3pm we arrived at the meeting venue - the work offices of the Father (we'll call him Mr A) where we were all prepared, folders outs, laptop ready (for the youtube video viewings) and as soon as the client's wife arrived (we'll call her Mrs B) via telephone conference, as she was unable to make it to the meeting - we got started. I have to say the actual meeting went by in a bit of a blur, it was all quite speedy, full of action points and a lot of 'yes or no's' to Dominique's questions and suggestions, I myself didn't give much input, aside from recommending which dance act I thought would be the most entertaining to a group of 13yrs girls! lol, however I was given my first task by the clients, which was... wait for it... to research the price and availability of a Casino for hire... yes that's right this 13yr old girl made a request for a Casino for her and friends to play at, during the evening party... let's just put that request down to her being the 'MTV Sweet 16' generation and clearly having a Casino at your Bat Mitzvah is the latest 'it' thing to have! I never the less was to happy to be given my very first task, and was a buzz with ideas on this! with the meeting over, and 'Plan B' Dance act chosen Dominique set about calling the Dance Companies to discuss pricing and availability - unfortunately all chosen groups were unavailable on the date of the party - so that kinda put a pin in that idea balloon! - so roll on my task number 2; to find a hip and happening UK Dance Act to perform at the evening party! whoop whoop for me! look at me with all my official tasks!
The rest of the day was spent going to the
Trafalgar Hotel in -yes -Trafalgar Square - which is where some of the Bat Mitzvah guests will be staying the night before. This hotel has recently undergone some refurb work and I can't speak on its 'before' appearance but the 'after' looks fab! very modern and contemporary, with even the
'standard' rooms being very spacious; by London standards, the bedroom walls are painted in muted colours, with splashes of vivid colours used in the decor - very 'city chic'. But I have to say my favourite part of the hotel - which is the most recent part to be refurbished - is the roof terrace, aptly called
'The vista Bar' - it's FAB! like something out of music video, you could just imagine all the glitterati's swanning around with their glasses of champagne, whilst all laughing gaily at their own fabolouss-ness! The terrace is just beautiful, with stunning panoramic views of the city! we were advised that as well as the hotel guests having access to it, the general public do as well. I would definitely recommend you check it out, it would be a great venue for an engagement do, birthday party, corporate lunch, the list is endless!
The last thing I did that day with Dominique, was to be shown around the venue for the evening party for the Bat Mitzvah, it's to be held in a private 'members only' club situated on Pall Mall - so you can just imagine, what the inside of the club looks like and let me say your imagination wouldn't be too far off - it was beautiful! it was extremely grand, with marbled floors, all polished to perfection, lots of dark wood panelling (and no I cannot say what wood! lol) in the drawing rooms, a Silver Service is the 'norm 's the main luncheon area - yes Luncheon!, ooohhhhhh get you! lol - just beautiful, it's all very 'old money' and it's almost as if you step back through time, when you enter the club; it whispers of the days when the rich were extravagantly rich, and the men wore sharp suits, tailored and made on Saville Row, whilst discussing the current state of affairs as they smoked the finest cigars, and drinks the finest cognac, you could just the imagine the wives all in the luncheon area, gossiping about the latest scandal of Lady Chatterly.........ok so I've gone off on a tangent, but you get what I mean - it was just so decadent! lol
So that was how my first week with with Dominique went, she let me have Thursday off, in celebration of the coming Easter weekend, so I only worked two days, but it was two eventful days, where I learnt so much!; not just about Dominique and daily tasks of a Planner, but about London as well! there are so many un-explored parts of London I have yet to see and days like those remind of just how beautiful London really is! it left me feeling actually quite proud of this 'not so little' city and the fact that I live in it!
Well I'm sure I will have more to report after my second week, so I will see you again same time and place ;-) but please leave me me comments and let me know your thoughts ;-)
If you liked todays post, then check out my blog for more bridal inspiration: labellevielondon.blogspot.com
Stay blessed and we'll speak again soon
x
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