On one sunny Thursday in May, The Phonix sat down with Cristie Rosling of Umbrella Events to talk shop and find out a little more about Umbrella Events, a boutique event planning company based in Vancouver, BC.
Reuben, from the Phonix: What inspiration, work or life experiences led you to wedding planning?
Cristie: I worked in a restaurant that hosted all kinds of events. We hosted charity events, weddings, holiday parties and fundraisers. I often worked with the person coordinating each event and always had a really good time. At the time, I didn’t realize it would turn into my career, but I just always had a great time doing it that I wanted to pursue it. So that’s what led me to starting my own event planning company.
Reuben: If I was looking to hire a wedding planner for my wedding, what advice would you give me?
Cristie: Going to meet them is a really good start. Ask them lots of questions about their past experiences and how they handled difficult situations at previous weddings. Reading reviews might also help you find the right planner for you. You want to work with someone who wants to have a good time with you. Someone who will keep you on track and organized and who will take your stress away.
Definitely hire a wedding planner! Having someone to run all your questions by and having someone with connections to all your vendors will save you a lot of time. A planner who has been in the industry for a few years will know a lot of vendors and will be able to point you in the direction of vendors who will do a good job at your wedding. Having a planner on the day of your wedding is also very important. It is the most important day or your life and all of your friends and family will be there. You will be pulled in many directions that day and you don’t want to be worrying about all the logistics and whether or not everybody shows up on time. Wedding planners will also help give you great ideas on how to stretch your budget as much as possible and help steer you toward what you can afford.
Reuben: What makes your wedding planning business unique from other planners?
Cristie: Me! I have a unique perspective on events and decor and I want to be doing things are unusual and different at weddings. I don’t think there is a right way to have a wedding. Your wedding should be personalized to you as a couple and you should really celebrate your differences from other couples. I really encourage my couples to do weird things, have fun with it and to not take themselves too seriously. I have an upcoming wedding where they will have a temporary tattoo bar - I think that’s cool! I like when couples have flash mobs or things like that. Just anything to make it special and memorable.
Reuben: What types of weddings do you enjoy working on the most?
Cristie: All of them. They are all so different and that’s what I like. I don’t want to plan the same wedding over and over again - I enjoy working with lots of different couples who want to do lots of different things. I would have to say I don’t really like overly white weddings. I like colourful weddings, and I like fun couples who’s main purpose is to have a good time at their wedding.
Reuben: What are some of your strengths as a planner?
Cristie: I’m very very organized, super good at multitasking and great at following up. I’m very good at getting along with people which is a really good thing at weddings, because when people get stressed out, I’m good at taking a step back and staying calm. Creativity is also a strength of mine and that really helps me with decor. I am also great with budget management.
Connect with Cristie at Umbrella Events:
Web: www.umbrellaevents.ca Phone: (604) 315-4302