My Pre-Planning Rituals for International Wedding Gigs

“We can tell you take your work very seriously, are extremely detail oriented and meticulous.” That’s certainly not something you hear during every introduction call. When the couple shared more about how they came to this conclusion prior to us ever meeting, it caused me to reflect. It’s in my nature to be overly prepared and go above and beyond to ensure every event is a success. For a recent international wedding in the Maldives, some people were a little surprised to hear that in addition to my regular preparation leading up to the event, I:

• Woke up in the middle of the night to check/respond to emails because I considered the business hours of the locale instead of expecting their staff to conform to my schedule

• Ensured all power and equipment needs were communicated and agreed upon far in advance

• Ordered additional equipment to have on hand just in case

• Took the time to research and apply for an international business visa so that everything was done by the book

• Flew to the destination early to ensure I wouldn’t be jetlagged after 30+ hours of travel

Ambiguity is a recipe for disaster. Each event presents its own unique set of challenges based off a number of factors. Couples and clients are hiring you not only for your talent, but your ability to anticipate and solve issues before they occur. Investigating the details, taking the time to educate yourself and staying on top of all the moving pieces is a no-brainer. The worst-case scenario is that you spend extra time troubleshooting scenarios that won’t ever transpire and are over prepared. To me, that sounds like the best-case scenario.

Here’s a snap of the stunning Maldives wedding ceremony at the beautiful Finolhu Baa Atoll Maldives. See more from this epic celebration over on my Instagram.