Weddings are big business. We focus on the planners behind the best names in the business, starting with Katie Miller of The Gailes Hotel.
How long have you been a wedding planner and what brought you to the role?
I have now been a wedding planner for seven years. I was looking for something with variety yet rewarding, which definitely fits the bill for weddings. Still to this day, I have never seen two weddings the same!
What is the most challenging thing about your role? Do you have help?
I think one of the most challenging parts is not getting too involved! You can spend 2-3 years helping a couple plan their perfect day and then once they’re married, sometimes you never see them again. I almost feel like I am giving them away on the day! Another challenge is making sure each couple’s day is the most special day – it does not matter what happened yesterday or what is happening tomorrow. To each couple, it is this day they have planned and put so much effort into making perfect. At The Gailes we have such a great dedicated team who help make this happen with ease.
What do you like most about your job?
I love the variety and that no two days are ever the same. I love working with people and getting to speak to our couples regularly and to hear their ideas. Seeing the wedding day come together has certainly got its ‘wow’ factor. The reaction when the couple see the venue setup gives me goose bumps every time.
What was the most unusual wedding/request you have ever helped organise? What is the average size of the wedding?
You definitely get some bizarre ideas – usually from the groom! One wedding that I will never forget is when the bride walked into the ceremony and the groom wasn’t there. The groom and ushers made a video, which was then played of him waking up (pretending to be live) rushing around and going out onto the street were a helicopter was waiting to take him to the hotel. It then flashed to a live video and the groom arrived in the helicopter. It was some entrance and thankfully the bride found it funny! Wedding sizes at The Gailes vary from small intimate affairs to large wedding for up to 250.
What could you not do without? i.e. iPad? To do list?
Without doubt, I couldn’t do without this team I work with. It doesn’t matter what issue arises; we always find a way to lighten the situation. We find a solution by working together.
Have you met any Bridezillas… or groomzillas?
I think everyone has a little bit of ‘zilla’ in them during wedding planning because of the stress; whether it is mum, dad, bride, groom, sister or bridesmaid!