If you have never been an intern before, or you’ve never worked in the wedding industry, you might find yourself surprised by how awesome interning with a wedding planner really is! I know that my parents, who are both in the medical field, were not sure what to expect when I would call home after a weekend on the job with Handley Breaux Designs! I think they were pleasantly surprised by how much I am enjoying my internship, and by just how hands-on the job has been! It’s not your typical, nine to five, busy work internship, that’s for sure! We are often on the go, traveling, and working with different clients, and wonderful Birmingham vendors! As Handley’s interns, it is the job of Margy and me to step in and lend a hand whenever needed. Sometimes that means we are assembling 200 gift boxes, but often it means that we are spending time with brides and grooms on their special day, making sure that every last detail is just how Handley wants it, so that every HBD Bride is as happy as can be! It has been a very rewarding experience.
Today, I want to tell you a little about my first weekend on the job! Back in May, I had the pleasure of assisting Handley with the coordination of Rachel and Scott’s bohemian woodland ceremony and reception at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens! I was not sure what to expect that Saturday morning as I made the commute from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham. We began the day with a visit to the bridal party, who were undergoing their hair and makeup transformations for the big day. After checking in with the bride, we headed to the Botanical Gardens to make sure that delivery of flowers, and ceremony chairs was underway. My first day on the job could not have gone more perfectly. We oversaw the set up of the buffet and flowers throughout the café within the botanical gardens, and made sure that the groomsmen had everything they needed as they arrived. When we had a free moment, I stepped into my intern duties and went on a quick Gilchrist run! The Mountain Brook hotspot has become the fuel for a day on the job. Nothing beats Gilchrist’s chicken salad. We ate our sandwiches on the steps of the Botanical Gardens, like real working gals!
After lunch I helped Handley coordinate the first look between the bride and groom. This was a magical moment, and the first time I felt the “pressure” of the job as we made sure that Scott and the photographer were ready for Rachel. We also had the challenge of finding a spot that was as private and beautiful as possible so that Handley’s clients would not end up with random people in the background of their pictures! It was a special moment between the two, the first time they saw each other on their wedding day, and I loved helping them feel comfortable and at ease.
Making our clients and their families feel at home at their own event is probably one of the most fun parts of the job. I love people and have really enjoyed answering questions, offering morale support, and creating stunning weddings! It is a fun challenge to make sure that brides, grooms, guests, enjoy the event and to run around behind the scenes to make everything go smoothly. After Rachel and Scott had their first look, and as the venue was really coming together, it was time for group pictures. Following the timeline that Handley set up to keep the bridal party on track, Magen Davis took charge and got the group through pictures quickly and smoothly so they could get back into the air conditioning.
Once pictures were finished, we played the waiting game, keeping the bridal party hidden from arriving guests, and as comfortable as possible. The excitement built as guests began to arrive. Then the pressure set in as the wedding coordinators “time to shine” was upon us before we knew it! Rachel and Scott’s walk down the aisle was perfect. If there was a moment throughout the day that made me nervous, getting the bridal party down the aisle was it! Thankfully, Handley is a seasoned veteran of the wedding world and everything went well.
As they walked back down the aisle as husband and wife, I got the fun job of whisking them away with the photographer and videographer for the rest of their pictures! We made the trek through the gardens to get Rachel and Scott’s first pictures as a married couple. I helped them into the woods, where they dug up the bourbon that they buried the month before their wedding! And let me tell you, those pictures, of the bride and groom being themselves out in the woods, turned out to be my favorite pictures! Another moment that I had the pleasure of standing in on!
The rest of the evening after that was stress free on our end. We made sure that the bride and groom were comfortable; that they always had whatever food or drinks they wanted! As the guests danced and ate the night away, I packed up the getaway car for the bride and groom with food and dessert, and all of their gifts. This was a fun challenge; the cute old man who worked security for the gardens drove me around on his golf cart, as I made sure that no cards were separated from gifts!
Handley and I coordinated a beautiful petal toss getaway for Rachel and Scott, and as they drove off into the night we made sure that all vendors were paid and that everything was taken care of. It was a beautiful wedding, and seeing the happy couple head off on their honeymoon made all of our hard work worth it.
I can’t wait to share more about Handley Breaux Designs with y’all soon! For now, you can follow my adventures as an intern on Instagram! I add #internkeat and #handleybreauxdesigns to all of my posts from on the job!
