Renee Metty of It's Eventful

Coffee Talk with Renee Metty of It's Eventful

WC: What motivated you to start this business?

RM: I've always had a strong desire to own my own business and had been contemplating a career change prior to getting engaged. I knew that I wanted to work with people, make their lives easier, and impact their lives somehow. As I examined my skills, I narrowed it down to a few career choices and began researching. Then I became engaged and started planning my own wedding. Looking at the skills needed for planning an event and looking at my background in business and my current career as a teacher, I decided this was the path for me. I did extensive research, talked to many people in and out of the industry, and It's Eventful was born.

WC: What are some of your favorite aspects about planning weddings?

RM: There are so many aspects I love about planning weddings. Weddings are such rewarding and joyful occasions. It is amazing to me to hear the different ways two people come together. It is very fulfilling to meet so many different kinds of people and work with so many different personalities. I love helping couples turn their vision into a reality, alleviating stress for them while saving them time and money. The ultimate reward for me, though, is going through the whole process. Weddings are so individual to the couple, so I really pride myself on making their wedding unique and special to them. It allows me to be creative, solve problems, alleviate stress, and bring joy to people's lives. It is wonderful to be part of one of the big milestones in their lives.

WC: It seems that the modern bride is much more apt to hire a consultant than the bride of 4-5 years ago. Why do you think that's the case?

RM: I think there are several reasons for that. First, the modern bride gets older each year. We aren't getting married now until our late 20's and early 30's and we are in the prime of our careers. With the bride and groom both working, there isn't the time to dedicate to planning a wedding. We are also busier than ever. Technology is supposed to make our lives easier, but I find it just allows us to fit more into our schedules. Not to mention we are much more accessible with email, cell phones, and Blackberries. With the little down time we have, some people just don't want to deal with the details of planning a wedding. It's nice to be able to hand that over to someone.

WC: What are some of the challenges that face a modern bride planning a wedding on her own?

RM: There are several challenges a bride will face, but mainly it is the amount of time it requires. From researching and choosing reputable vendors to the follow up and coordination of vendors, this takes time, money and many times stress. Most women have full-time jobs and want to spend time doing things they enjoy. Planning a wedding can start out fun, but then you can get really wrapped up in the details and lose sight of why you are doing all this to begin with. Booking the vendors can ended up being the easy part, but there are so many details that come up, especially in the last few months, that couples aren't always ready for or wanting to handle on their own.

WC: Do you think brides have any common misconceptions about wedding coordinators? How do you get past them?

RM: Yes! I think there are two big misconceptions. First, I think couples look at wedding planners as a luxury not a necessity. The value of a wedding planner is usually not realized until after the wedding is complete. So unless someone who has gone through the wedding process convinces you to hire a planner, most couples feel they can do it on their own. I really stress that in order to enjoy being engaged and enjoy your wedding day, you need to delegate! You don't want to have to delegate to family and friends because they should be enjoying the day with you. When couples hire me, sometimes they say it best... I want to be a guest at my own wedding! It's usually not until after the fact that most brides realize how invaluable the coordinator has become in this process. The hope is you only get one chance to it right!

The other misconception is that the planner will take over everything. When talking to brides or other people about my business, I remind them that I offer a service, so I work for them. I certainly can take over if that is what the bride chooses, but I am also a person they can trust to guide and support them through the process. That peace of mind is priceless to some couples.

WC: Based on your years of experience consulting, what advice would you give to a planning Seattle bride?

RM: Enjoy being engaged and enjoy the process. What you don't enjoy, hand off to a wedding planner. Everybody wants their day to be perfect and it usually is, but sometimes it is at their expense (stress). There are so many details and we want our hand in all of them. It is difficult to worry about all aspects of a wedding and not get stressed out. If couples choose not to hire a coordinator, I always recommend they choose the top three aspects that are important to them. Whether it is the food, the music, or the photographer, it can be a little more manageable if you focus on only three things rather than the multitude of other aspects. Let someone else take care of the rest. You want to enjoy your day and remember it, not be stressed out worrying about all the little details... that is why you hire a coordinator!

WC: Do you currently plan events outside of Seattle?

RM: Yes, I love planning outside of Seattle. We have the most beautiful locations in the Pacific Northwest for any style of wedding. I also love traveling outside of Washington for events. I have planned and coordinated weddings on the east coast. With the amount of research that can be done on the internet, I can take care of most of the research for the couples, which they seem to really appreciate.

Read other interviews at the Club Cafe.