True story. Right after the bride and groom were introduced at last month’s wedding, a pain in my body literally brought me to my knees. The more the pain intensified (and it did), the more I knew I was going to have to leave the wedding before my work was complete for the day. There was a challenge — I didn’t want to leave. As much as I believe that Howerton+Wooten Events is comprised of extremely capable and talented event professionals, my head kept telling me that no one understood our couple like I did. I guess I am more of a control freak than I thought. I’ve got a little work to do.
What I Learned About Myself as a Team Leader
So, what did I take from this? Your team may be filled with awesome professionals. But, they don’t make a team if you don’t trust them to carry out the work.
Shame on me. Not only did my associate, Kate, take over the wedding, she rocked it. The wedding reception ran without a hitch. And, the bride and groom never noticed I was missing.
My Events Team Was Amazing
Fortunately, Kate had help. Maria, the event director at the Meridian House stepped in and partnered with Kate while I was gone. Maria reminded me that my team extended far past the confines of Howerton+Wooten Events. Thank goodness for the both of them.
Do You Have a Team or an Entourage?
A few days later, one of Liene Steven’s blog posts came to mind. The post asked, “do you have a team or an entourage.” After that Saturday night in the emergency room, I knew we not only had a professional team in place, we had vendor partners on our team to help us successfully take care of our couples.
Lesson Learned for Couples
So couples, what are your takeaways from my long, dramatic story?
- When hiring your event vendors, be sure to ask about the size of their on-site team. If the vendor only sends one person to your event, ask about their back-up policy.
- Ask each of your event vendors WHO is on their on-site team. Do their teams include one lead and a group of assistants? Or, do they consist of individuals who know how to effectively care for your wedding day.
- And, ask all of your vendors about their emergency plan. Is anyone in place to take over if one of the on-site team members need to leave abruptly? And, don’t let them tell you they would never leave — I learned the hard way that everything is not in our control.
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Love and Soul Always, Kawania
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Kawania Howerton Wooten
With 30+ years of experience shaping conferences and high-end events for Washington DC’s elite, Kawania Wooten seamlessly blends her expertise in event management with her early culinary industry experience. As a recognized wedding industry expert, Kawania brought her knowledge to the classroom for eight years, where she taught courses at Prince George’s Community College. Her award-winning contributions to the event industry and her company’s celebrated client care have solidified her reputation as a driving force within the industry.
