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  • welcome to the blogsite of heidzillas!

    hi, i'm heidi. i’m northeast ohio / cleveland wedding planner, coordinator, enthusiast and nerdball. heidzillas is a wedding planning company offering full or partial planning and day of coordination. from putting together your guest list to cleaning up the cake crumbs, heidzillas will assist you with every last detail making your wedding planning - and the wedding day - as smooth and stress free as possible. before you get frazzled and turn into a bridezilla, contact heidzillas for help any step of the way.
    (heidzilla photo: (c) genevieve nisly)

  • 2010 the knot best of weddingsbrideschoiceawardfox8hotlistwinner

dear heidzilla, when i grow up…

with unemployment up and the “glamour” of being a wedding planner, i get emails almost daily with people applying for jobs, asking to shadow or intern, or seeking advice on how to become a planner. yesterday, i received another “advice” email, but this time, from a 13-year-old. my knee-jerk reaction was to reply, “hey enjoy school while ya can kid, being an adult is tough work!” but then i remembered that when i was 13, i never believed adults who told me that anyways. i remembered being an ambitious eighth grader, taking career planning class, dreaming “what i want to be when i grow up” and anticipating going to college and starting a career.

there are dozens of books on the subjects, countless blog posts from jaded wedding planners trying to get respect and hundreds of other wedding vendors who have their opinion on planners. i’ve stepped back from the jaded industry to answer a 13 year old, who is eight to ten years ahead of me on knowing she wants to be a planner. i’m not sure how many other overzealous youths read my blog, but i thought i’d share my general advice for anyone who is a hopeful, inspired youth at heart trying to follow their dreams of becoming a wedding planner.

Dear Heidi,

Hello my name is Sarah and I am 13. I know you think this is weird that a 13 year old girl is emailing you, trust me I don’t blame you. But, I want to be a wedding planner when I grow up. I was wondering when you have time you can give me advice on how to be a wedding planner.

Thanks A Million,
Sarah

Hi Sarah,

Thanks for the email! You’re about 10 years ahead of me on knowing you wanted to be in the biz! So that helps. Every planner finds their own random way into the business. I personally was always involved in school organizations such as student council and class officers. At my school, we got to plan dances and school-wide events. That’s really where my love for planning started. I also think that being in art class and music classes (choir/band) helps, too. It is a must to be a well-rounded student for wedding planning since there’s general design, floral knowledge, stationery, musicians to hire, and so on! Don’t only excel at one class, there are so many more things you need to be fluent in. For instance, math classes help too since you manage budgets and have to have a good business sense. In general, I suggest trying as many classes as your school offers and after school programs too.

In college, I actually majored in Advertising and Marketing. In those classes I learned how to execute creative projects and interact with clients all while managing several vendors. I do think it would have been helpful, of course, to have majored in Event Planning – which is often categorized under Family and Consumer Studies at many Ohio colleges. Again, in college I was involved several student organizations where I held events or marketing chairs. There I was able to help the organizations plan events, manage volunteers, and coordinate the events. Business classes again are very helpful since you’re running a business while being a planner. And, being great with people is a must!

There are several main characteristics of a great wedding planner: someone who is responsible, attentive to detail, very personable with families (weddings are very emotional days for everyone!) and a great leader and team member with the wedding vendors. It’s also someone who can think quickly on his/her feet all while staying calm if anything out of ordinary happens (which is quite often on wedding days!) Most of all, I do have to stress that I don’t think movies like “The Wedding Planner” or shows like “Bridezilla” or “Platinum Weddings” truly depict a planner’s job. In the Ohio market, most weddings cost a fraction of what those weddings on TV cost, and they aren’t half as melodramatic as those shows edit them to seem.

I must note, planners are very dedicated, hard workers who often work 60+ hours a week, since it’s hard to hold a 9 to 5 schedule. I’m often in the office from 8 am to maybe 2 or 3 pm and then meet vendors and brides (who work during the day) through 6… 7… 8… even 9 pm at night. It’s also a job where you don’t have your weekends free – reception set up and rehearsals are usually Fridays. Then I work from early in the morning until the very last dance at weddings usually until 11 pm or 12 am at night on most Saturdays. This timing information isn’t to discourage you from being a planner, but only to explain that it’s a loose schedule to keep – and only for the most disciplined people.

I hope this helps you as you continue your schooling! Best wishes with your quest to be a planner.

Sincerely,
Heidi

do you agree? disagree? what other advice would you give a 13-year old on her journey to become a wedding planner?

previous posts:
dear heidzilla: what anti-perspirant?
dear heidzilla: best way to make payments?
dear heidzilla: 831 photography?
dear heidzilla: officiant hiring?
dear heidzilla: favorite photo?
dear heidzilla: first event coordinated?
dear heidzilla: is it a no-no?

bridget & vince | cuyahoga falls wedding

bridget & vince | august 7, 2010
ceremony: holy family church
reception: sheraton suites cuyahoga falls
florist: reilly’s originals
rentals: sitting pretty linens
lighting: event lighting
photographer: ajf photography
videographer: just perfect video
band: bottom line of jerry bruno productions
dj: spencer reynolds of jerry bruno productions
transportation: thomas limousine
bakery: reeves cake shop
photobooth: shutterbooth
stationery: paper persuasions

the hiring:
bridget’s mom was referred to me by another vendor. after a few months of trying to plan meetings, i finally met up with her to discuss day of coordination needs.

the planning:
a few weeks later, i sat down with bridget and her mom to finalize all the great details they had been working on for months. they had quite a few vendors and details to coordinate and it was my pleasure to take the worry and stress off of them for the big day.

the results:
rehearsal
the rehearsal was a must in bridget and vince’s case as they had four priests being a part of the ceremony! one was the church’s main priest. there was also the groom’s uncle and two family friends.
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ceremony

i always tell my brides, the wait before the ceremony starts seems to be one of the longest waits of your life! i kept checking in on bridget, her dad and maids, while managing the guest flow into the church. i love this photo of them waiting patiently!
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the ribbon came down and it was time to go!
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reception

the sheraton suites has a great view for photos or in b&v’s case – the entire cocktail hour time.
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all set ready for guests…

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… and voila!

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the excitement before being announced into the reception!
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the announcements and first dance were lovely, but then bridget’s dad came on the dance floor…
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and this happened!!! (keep watching through 1:29!!!! video link here)

the surprise dance was followed by a very traditional and lovely mother son dance.
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after the traditional dances, the bottom line band packed the dance floor!
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with help during breaks and the last portion of the reception from dj spencer reynolds who played “cheeseburger in paradise” when the tasty swensons cheeseburgers came out for a late night snack!
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guests were thrilled with the open bar, swensons burgers and a full italian cookie table with take home boxes!
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the notables:
favorite planning moment: there was a physical “handing over” of responsibilities at our last planning meeting. all the contracts, event orders, guest seating assignments – you name it – were put in a pretty pink folder and given to me. from there on out, bridget and her mom were done planning and i was happy to take over!
favors galore: in addition to the cookie table and photo booth, bridget and vince gave their guests monogrammed shot glasses and made a donation to a favorite charity.
unique detail: bridget and vince had vince’s family’s card box that has been used at multiple family weddings.
biggest challenge: bridget’s dress train and veil were both cathedral length. i gave her some tips on which direction to walk with it during the rehearsal, and her bridesmaids and i did a “foofing” tutorial and practice before the ceremony started.
sources: the cookies were all made by vince’s family and close friends who have done the tradition twice before for vince’s brothers and will baking once more this year for the fourth brother to get married.
fun fact: bridget and vince met in the third grade! the teacher had to separate their desks so they wouldn’t talk to each other during class. love can be found young!

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bridget and vince, you two were so fun to work with and your family and friends had a BLAST at your wedding – kudos! and best wishes always!

save the date: sips and dips on sixth

save the date: thursday, september 16, 2010

sips and…
© corey ann photography

dips on sixth!
© corey ann photography

it is my my honor to be on the committee again this year for the fourth annual sips and dips on sixth. the proceeds benefit rainbow babies and children’s hospital – a cause that is dearly close to my heart as a best friend works there, and several more friends have babies who needed more medical attention than most.

there will be wine (sips), food (dips), music and great company. not to mention a chinese raffle and silent auction. what else could you really ask for in the name of charity!?

for all of the details and how you can rsvp, visit: sipsanddipsonsixth.com! you can also see the photos of past events and stay up to date with the event by “liking” the facebook page!

previous post:
2009 – save the date: sips and dips on sixth

meredith & dale’s ephotos

introducing meredith and dale! they were the first couple to book me for their 2011 wedding. and it’s no wonder: meredith is super on top of her planning. so much so, she decided to become a wedding planner herself at thunder hill golf course. it’s already been a lot of fun corresponding with her the past few months for her day of coordination and i’m definitely looking forward to helping m&d with their big day!

see all of their darling engagement photos taken in ashtabula county here!

© cynthia marie photos

© cynthia marie photography

this one is my favorite!

keely & mike | university circle wedding

keely & mike | july 24, 2010
ceremony/reception: park lane villa
caterer: marigold catering
florist: aunts of the bride
rentals: l’nique linens
photographer: cutri photo arts
dj: my life media
transportation: lolly the trolley

the hiring:
keely attended a wedding in california that had a day of coordinator and realized how valuable a doc’s services are. she contacted me while living in equador! once i was hired, i received an official save the date and later an invitation. i love that!

the planning:
because keely was on a whole other continent, we planned almost entirely through email. she was able to get back to cleveland before the wedding so we could meet and do a site tour. the week of the wedding i was finally able to meet mike, my first international groom! (he’s from new zealand.)

the results:
rehearsal
the ceremony’s original location was to be on the wade oval. we rehearsal accordingly, even though it seemed like it would rain any minute during the rehearsal, and they called for rain the next day. and boy was it a HOT day!
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ceremony
it was another hot cleveland summer day. the weather report called for scattered thunderstorms, so we weren’t sure where we’d end up. i kept an eye on my radar and it appeared to be clear in the university circle area. a storm was coming but we hoped to have the ceremony done before it got there. it started to rain anyways, so we brought everyone inside park lane villa cocktail hour area to do the ceremony.
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once the processional was through, k&m’s officiant asked everyone to gather closer.

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post ceremony group shot!
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reception
the ballroom
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k&m named their tables after cities they had visited together.
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ice cream station

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first dance!
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the notables:
favorite planning moment: keely and mike were a blast to help plan. i had the opportunity to sit in on their final planning meeting with their caterer to go over the last details. i have to say, it’s always fun to work with a groom with an accent!
something old/new/borrowed/blue: keely listed these in her program: old was some of the verbage in the ceremony that was used from keely’s parents’ ceremony. new was a handkerchief keely carried from mike’s grandmother. keely borrowed her cousin’s veil. blue included not only the wedding decor, but keely’s shoes and rings.
unique detail: keely asked all married couples who would be attending the wedding to send a wedding photo of themselves to her. they were all hung together at the reception.
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biggest challenge: a ceremony location switch is always challenging but guests were so kind and we got them inside before most of them got rained on.
bucking tradition: k&m just don’t like cake. instead, they had an ice cream sundae bar! guests loved it and went back for seconds!
fun fact: mike is an international soccer star! He played for the national new zealand team, for the minnesota thunder and for a team in equador.

congratulations keely and mike!!!!!!! i loved getting to know the two of you and hearing your wonderful love stories along way. go stanford!

f a c e b o o k
t w i t t e r
f e e d b a c k