We have had the opportunity work with some amazing Vendors through the years and wanted to take the time to introduce them to you. So once every couple of weeks we are going to highlight a vendor and let give us the 411 about them and their business!
To kick May off is Shanna Marko with The Organized Event. We have been very lucky to work with Shanna on numerous weddings and can’t say enough great things about her. Organized Event or give her a call with any questions you might have at 817-715-9865
Make sure you take the time and visit Shanna’s site at The
There are a million reasons for hiring a wedding consultant. What do you think the most important reason to hire a planner is?
So the bride, groom and their families can enjoy the day as opposed to having concerns as to whether or not all the details they worked so hard on will turn out like they want them to.
How long have you been in the wedding business?
I have been in the business for 15 crazy years! In addition to being a Wedding Coordinator I’ve spent time at several locations (mainly private clubs and hotels) as a Catering Manager and Food and Beverage Director and throughout all my time in the hospitality industry I could never let go of the weddings.
What got you interested in working in the wedding industry?
Right out of college, my first position was a Catering Director for a private city club in downtown Dallas. That was my first taste of weddings and I fell in love! They are such happy times for people that it makes the events very exciting and enjoyable to be a part of. It is also gives me an opportunity to be very creative, which is great!
What type of clients do you find yourself most working with?
Hmmm . . . I can’t really fit any clients into a specific type. Right now I’m working with mother of brides, brides, mother of grooms, brides and grooms together, and all age ranges, from early 20′s to mid-50′s. I’ve got clients now that I’m just working with on their ceremonies and then other clients that I’m taking care of everything from selecting vendors to sending out invitations and tracking rsvps – I’m all over the board!!
What do you love the most about the wedding business?
I absolutely love that I have a chance to be creative and work with someone to put together a very special event that will be unlike any other.
What is your favorite part of the wedding planning process?
Working with the clients to come up with the special touches that make their wedding different and special. For example, a groom I’m working with now is a firefigher, so we are working to get permission for them to exit the reception on a firetruck! Or another couple who’s wedding is coming up soon are totally changing the typical order of their reception to accomodate the antique car they will arrive in ( a petal toss for arrival of the bride and groom vs. the leaving) and a wonderful balcony for bouquet and garter toss (these events will happen first so the sun will still be out and guests can see and appreciate the event).
What is your favorite part of the wedding day?
When the event is over and the bride, groom and families are absolutely thrilled that everything went exactly according to plan (as far as they know!)
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What was your wedding like?
I loved my wedding! I was the Wedding Coordinator for Gaylord Texan Resort at the time, so it was a natural to have it there where I knew everyone and could be confident that everything would go according to MY plan! I pretty much moved into the Resort on the Wednesday prior to our wedding and then lived like a queen for the next few days before the wedding on Saturday.
We were married in the summer (August!) and so having the ceremony in the atrium of the Resort I got to have a ceremony in an outdoor setting without all of the negatives. Our color scheme was orange and navy blue with white accents, which everyone thought would look odd, but it turned out fantastic! We had a late ceremony (8:00pm) and then had a dessert reception following with all kinds of great petite fours, mini dessert shots, cupcakes and a few savory items to tone down the sweets. Oh! andI have to mention our invitations! My husband is a software developer and so very involoved with technology/computers so I put together a DVD invitation with music that showed photos of us riding bikes (another of my husband’s passions), before we met, etc. They were a big hit, and the music that was on the DVD was used throughout the wedding – very cutsie!
What are some of the trends that you are seeing this season?
I don’t know that these are “trends” exactly, but things I’ve noticed that are changing . . . gray seems to becoming the new chocolate brown, bridesmaids dresses aren’t as formal (or long) as they have been, the entire wedding party is not being announced at the reception nearly as much, bouquet and garter toss seems to be going to the wayside.
What do you love to do when your not working a wedding?
Hanging out with my 2 sons and my husband just relaxing and spending time together – it doesn’t get any better than that!
Tell us about your business “The Organized Event”?
I have owned my own business, The Organized Event, since December of 2007. I made the decision to leave Gaylord Texan Resort and go out on my own after my 2nd son was born and it has been a wonderful decision. The opportunities to be creative and work in a varity of settings has been very challenging and rewarding. I assist with wedding planning from just working on the ceremony to full event planning and coordination including assistance in every aspect of the wedding including the parties prior to the wedding, rehearsal dinner and brunch the next day. I also really enjoy designing and putting together save-the-dates/invitations/programs, etc. (all of the fun paper stuff) and so that is a large part of my business as well. (it’s that creative thing again!)
Thanks Shanna for sharing your thoughts with us!
