Ground Zero

I remember planning my first wedding in 1998.  I was hanging out with my sorority’s campus adviser, the campus minister, and a young woman came in for pre-marital counseling.  Somehow the subject of helping the bride came up and my adviser said “Diva plans great events!  She’ll help you!”  Although that was my first solo gig, I’d been exposed to weddings and events since I was 12.  When your great great grandmother got her reputation for doing all the cooking at the church and your great grandmother makes a name for herself across the city and your great aunt grows the business into becoming the premier catering and event planning group for politicians across the state, every child cuts their teeth by pouring punch when they turn 12.  EVERY CHILD.  Some of us took to the business more than others and some of us had raw talent that led to being contracted as the floral designer for all of the governor’s personal celebrations.  I was good y’all.  I was so good that in 2006 Event Solutions nominated me for a Spotlight Award in the Rising Star category and I made the finals in Denver, CO.

2006 Spotlight Awards Finalist

I didn’t win….but like a friend told me, I held my own as a 2 person part time operation against another finalist who worked for a large organization with its own marketing and public relations department.

WHAT ARE THE SPOTLIGHT AWARDS?

Event Solutions magazine Spotlight Awards are an annual awards presentation dedicated to recognizing the best and the brightest event professionals in the industry. The awards are presented in a variety of categories and honor both individuals and companies for their body of work in the previous year.

The Spotlight Award process is conducted in three phases over the course of four months: submitting nominations, selection of finalists and industry-wide voting to determine the winners, who are presented their awards in person the annual Spotlight Awards event at the Event Solutions Idea Factory.

Since the program began in 1998, many of the industry’s most talented individuals and companies have benefited from the recognition that goes with being a finalist or recipient of one of the awards. For some it has been a career-altering event in terms of elevating their status as an industry leader.

To put it simply, the Event Solutions magazine Spotlight Awards are the only awards that give the entire industry a voice and that recognizes a body of work that occurs over a year’s time.

As you know things in my life changed and I strayed away from my dreams…but I’m straying back now.  In a few weeks I will begin 6 months worth of course study to re-attain my certification as a Certified Special Event Professional and my certification in Wedding Planning from The Wedding Planning Institute.  In addition to that I have decided to study Preston Bailey’s Signature Wedding and Event Design program. (Please Google him and see the fabulous creations he is known for).  A very well respected leader in the industry just happens to be a Twitter follower and I have connected with her about future plans to shadow her and for her to be a resource for me during my course work.

I am not a typical wedding planner.  No…I specialize in event design.  I have started over from scratch a lot recently.  But this time around, I’m going for the big guns.

Here is a slideshow with some of my previous work circa 2006 and 2007.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Thanks for visiting Diva (in Demand).  My blog escapades have followed me across 4 states, 3 jobs, a business venture, and a new husband. There are no mini divas yet but I have loads of nieces and nephews to slobber and wipe their dirty hands on me. I am an amateur pastry chef, certified cake decorator, and seasoned home cook who knows how to pair French cuiseine with fine wine, collard greens and cornbread. You'll find a little bit of everything around here.....where I take talking to myself to a whole new level.