I come from a large ethnic family who loves to celebrate EVERYTHING! I grew up attending countless weddings, baptisms and large parties. It was really a natural fit. In 2006 I began planning corporate events while working for a national retailer and thats where I really fell in love with event planning. But something was missing… I realized (after 10 years!) that the corporate world was not for me. I wanted to have more of a personal connection with people and be a part of something more meaningful. It took a lot of research and education (and faith!) but finally launched Scarlet City Events in 2007. Now I’m happy to say its my full time job!

I’m a traditionalist at heart but I do love the whimsey and funky too (it’s the gemini in me)! But my style really doesn’t play a part at all. My job is to educate each client and guide them to what will best suit their personality, budget and overall vision for their wedding.

It is so important that brides feel totally comfortable and confident in the planner they choose. Its imperative that they truly connect and understand each other. There are so many fabulous planners out there and we each offer something a bit different. Brides should meet with at least two or three planners to get a feel for who might be right for them.

I recently came across a statistic that only 9% of brides hire wedding planners. So that tells me there are a lot of misconceptions!

I think one is that it’s an easy job their cousin or best friend could do. What they don’t realize it that a true professional spends countless hours educating themselves within the industry. This means that the bride will have a REAL wedding professional that can answer each and every question along the way. So when the cake doesn’t show up or your dress rips we know exactly what to do. Not to mention the 8 page timeline!!!

On the other hand another big misconception is that we cost too much. Yes it’s true that not every bride can afford a wedding planner but we can offer options that fit within a tight budget. Since we have so much knowledge in the industry we can save you time and money by sending you to vendors we know are right for your style and budget.

Purple and turquoise are hot colors for 2010. So many of my clients are using both colors in a number of different ways. Turquoise seems to be trending to the fun and whimsey side, while my clients using purple are tending to go the more elegant and traditional route. Each one will be gorgeous! I cant wait!!!

photo credit: Shannon Sano Photography

Dina, thanks so much for being a part of our Feature Week! I look forward to working with you in the future! Blessings to you and your business! If you’d like to get to know Dina a little more, please go here: