Karry Castillo | Uniquely Yours Wedding & Event Specialist, Inc.
Name: Karry Castillo
Location: Central Florida and Florida’s East Coast
Company: Uniquely Yours Wedding & Event Specialist
Years in Business: 4 years
Website: http://www.uywedding.com/
What do you specialize in (Day of Coordination, Full Service Design…):
As a full service firm, we pride ourselves on offering fresh, inspired planning and design services for the modern bride. Every wedding brings a unique opportunity to bring a client’s wedding vision to life. Because of the diversity among brides in terms of the services they desire and require, we design custom packages for every client. The services that comprise a planning dossier are based upon the client’s specified needs. We offer a complimentary, initial consultation during which time we get to know our clients and have an opportunity to discuss the services they desire as well as the ones we recommend to make their planning experience seamless and successful. The consultation serves to inform the options that will be included in their package. The planning process is highly collaborative, as we partner with our clients to take their vision from inspirational concept to flawless presentation and execution, all the while providing creative advice and expert assistance throughout the planning experience. We offer full service planning and design, partial planning, wedding day management, consultation and referrals, guest attendance and menu tracking, and everything in between. Our experience spans from opulent, extensive celebrity affairs to the most intimate and simple of seaside destination weddings. We serve the entire state of Florida and are available for travel.
As a full service firm, we pride ourselves on offering fresh, inspired planning and design services for the modern bride. Every wedding brings a unique opportunity to bring a client’s wedding vision to life. Because of the diversity among brides in terms of the services they desire and require, we design custom packages for every client. The services that comprise a planning dossier are based upon the client’s specified needs. We offer a complimentary, initial consultation during which time we get to know our clients and have an opportunity to discuss the services they desire as well as the ones we recommend to make their planning experience seamless and successful. The consultation serves to inform the options that will be included in their package. The planning process is highly collaborative, as we partner with our clients to take their vision from inspirational concept to flawless presentation and execution, all the while providing creative advice and expert assistance throughout the planning experience. We offer full service planning and design, partial planning, wedding day management, consultation and referrals, guest attendance and menu tracking, and everything in between. Our experience spans from opulent, extensive celebrity affairs to the most intimate and simple of seaside destination weddings. We serve the entire state of Florida and are available for travel.
What are your three favorite sources of wedding inspiration?
Wow, there are so many wonderful sources of inspiration that serve our design and planning processes. One of our favorites is the Pantone Color Report. The seasonal reports keep us on top of the coming color trends each season especially as they apply to fashion which is closely linked to the trends we see in the wedding market. Another source of inspiration comes directly from our clients. Their personalities, interests, history (both cultural and familial), and lifestyles offer so much in the way of inspiring design, menu options, entertainment, venue choices and more. We feel that it is important for each wedding to tell a story about the couple from their lives growing up within their families to their shared life together. The more information we can gather about our clients, the more we can assist in creating a wedding that is highly unique and memorable to them, one that truly reflects their story. Finally, we look to the blog world. From interior design and stationery, to custom designed gowns and wedding accoutrements, to those that feature incredible weddings and inspiration boards from around the globe, there are so many amazing blogs that can inform and breathe life into any element of wedding design.
Wow, there are so many wonderful sources of inspiration that serve our design and planning processes. One of our favorites is the Pantone Color Report. The seasonal reports keep us on top of the coming color trends each season especially as they apply to fashion which is closely linked to the trends we see in the wedding market. Another source of inspiration comes directly from our clients. Their personalities, interests, history (both cultural and familial), and lifestyles offer so much in the way of inspiring design, menu options, entertainment, venue choices and more. We feel that it is important for each wedding to tell a story about the couple from their lives growing up within their families to their shared life together. The more information we can gather about our clients, the more we can assist in creating a wedding that is highly unique and memorable to them, one that truly reflects their story. Finally, we look to the blog world. From interior design and stationery, to custom designed gowns and wedding accoutrements, to those that feature incredible weddings and inspiration boards from around the globe, there are so many amazing blogs that can inform and breathe life into any element of wedding design.
Why did you get started wedding planning?
My initial experiences in the wedding industry involved musical performance. I was performing as a flutist in weddings on weekends while I taught elementary school during the week. From that position, I was able to experience the design and planning side as an intrigued observer. As a classroom teacher and school administrator, planning both short and long range goals and objectives were second nature. My last position in the schools required extensive communication within the community for fundraising and neighborhood activities. It also required the organization and planning of all major events both academic and social, including the opening of the school. When the opportunity came for me to take maternity leave and resign from full time academia, I decided to explore the wedding market further - specifically focusing on wedding planning. I spent several months researching the industry, visiting with wedding professionals, and attending seminars before I decided to take an accredited course for wedding planners. As a planner I could utilize and meld my creative talents and planning skills to the benefit of clients who rely on my assistance and expertise to make their lives easier and their wedding day memorable; and as a business owner I could organize my environment to allow more job flexibility and time to focus on raising my young children.
My initial experiences in the wedding industry involved musical performance. I was performing as a flutist in weddings on weekends while I taught elementary school during the week. From that position, I was able to experience the design and planning side as an intrigued observer. As a classroom teacher and school administrator, planning both short and long range goals and objectives were second nature. My last position in the schools required extensive communication within the community for fundraising and neighborhood activities. It also required the organization and planning of all major events both academic and social, including the opening of the school. When the opportunity came for me to take maternity leave and resign from full time academia, I decided to explore the wedding market further - specifically focusing on wedding planning. I spent several months researching the industry, visiting with wedding professionals, and attending seminars before I decided to take an accredited course for wedding planners. As a planner I could utilize and meld my creative talents and planning skills to the benefit of clients who rely on my assistance and expertise to make their lives easier and their wedding day memorable; and as a business owner I could organize my environment to allow more job flexibility and time to focus on raising my young children.
What is one thing in your office that you could not live without, technology excluded?
I could not live without my linen swatch books and rental product catalogs. They are an essential part of each wedding, and I refer to them daily as we explore design and décor options and make budget related decisions.
I could not live without my linen swatch books and rental product catalogs. They are an essential part of each wedding, and I refer to them daily as we explore design and décor options and make budget related decisions.
If you could make one recommendation to a new planner, what would it be?
I would recommend you invest much time and attention to researching and understanding every facet of the industry from how to successfully operate a new business to partnering with the spectrum of wedding professionals with whom you will be involved. Invest in a wedding planning course, and get a solid educational background in planning and entrepreneurial skills before you start working with clients. Planning a wedding is not the glorified shopping spree that many new planners, mostly those that have just planned their own weddings, think it is. It is hard work, and you are taking someone’s most important day into your hands. There are no do-overs. Be prepared to develop the skill of negotiation, a sweet disposition and team building approach for working with other wedding professionals and client families, an ability to handle rejection, and a can-do attitude to deal with the pressures of things that may potentially go wrong. Be prepared to sweat on wedding day and for goodness sake, out of respect for the hard work of those that have come before you, do not copy the efforts, brand, or trademark products/services of other planners – find your own creative niche within the market. Yes, that was more than one recommendation! I love my job and wouldn’t trade my experiences as planner for anything. It has been an amazing career thus far. I have the best clients in the world, and look I forward to partnering with future couples to make their weddings all they have imagined and more!
I would recommend you invest much time and attention to researching and understanding every facet of the industry from how to successfully operate a new business to partnering with the spectrum of wedding professionals with whom you will be involved. Invest in a wedding planning course, and get a solid educational background in planning and entrepreneurial skills before you start working with clients. Planning a wedding is not the glorified shopping spree that many new planners, mostly those that have just planned their own weddings, think it is. It is hard work, and you are taking someone’s most important day into your hands. There are no do-overs. Be prepared to develop the skill of negotiation, a sweet disposition and team building approach for working with other wedding professionals and client families, an ability to handle rejection, and a can-do attitude to deal with the pressures of things that may potentially go wrong. Be prepared to sweat on wedding day and for goodness sake, out of respect for the hard work of those that have come before you, do not copy the efforts, brand, or trademark products/services of other planners – find your own creative niche within the market. Yes, that was more than one recommendation! I love my job and wouldn’t trade my experiences as planner for anything. It has been an amazing career thus far. I have the best clients in the world, and look I forward to partnering with future couples to make their weddings all they have imagined and more!
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1 comments:
Thank you and hugs to the Be A Planner team. It was an honor to be considered for the I'm A Planner Series. Your blog is a source of timely information and great ideas. Thank you for sharing your expertise with the planning world.
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