5 Things I Learned in My First Year at Rebecca Rose Events: CC Hernandez, Special Projects Manager
As my official one-year anniversary with Rebecca Rose Events came and went in May (though I’ve really been here in some capacity since 2019, as a student intern, freelancer, etc.) I wanted to take a moment to reflect on what I’ve learned during my time with RRE. There is certainly no shortage of lessons to be learned in the event industry, but these are my top realizations:
Photography by Olivia Suriano
Relationships are the heart of what we do
This statement applies to truly all relationships we encounter during our day-to-day at RRE.
Without a strong foundation, we are nothing! Ensuring our team relationships have ample trust, support, and love, is more important than I ever realized. While team retreats are exhaustingly long days, they are essential in making sure our whole team feels supported and heard and that we are all on the same page regarding our company-wide goals.
Taking time to cultivate a relationship of trust with our clients is also essential. How else will we be able to successfully plan what may be the biggest day of their lives?! I’ve learned to not see these relationships as transactional, but to truly go the extra mile to learn as much as possible about the couple and their families. From family dynamics to their favorite snacks - learn it all!
Lastly, I’ve learned just how important relationships with fellow vendor partners are. Us planners and designers do not operate in isolation. We all have an important part to play in the final wedding production and if vendors feel out of the loop or not respected, then an essential piece of the puzzle will not fit perfectly, likely resulting in something going wrong.
No detail is too small
I’ve always prided myself on my attention to detail; however, nothing has finessed that sensibility more than working for RRE. I’ve needed to train my eye to find holes that nobody else may ever notice or think about. Nobody hires RRE to let things slip through the cracks! Making sure that we think of anything and everything to create a perfect event is literally part of the gig!
Photography by Lance Nicoll
This team is what dreams are made of
Even on those tough days when I’m not always loving WHAT I’m doing, I remember that I love WHO I’m doing it with. I’ve never worked with a team that has so much laughter, love, support and openness. During long destination wedding days, the positivity of this team makes the days fly by. Few other groups can make me willingly choose to stay awake until 4AM after a wedding breakdown just to joyfully recap the evening over a glass of wine!
I can do hard things
This may sound like one of those stupid affirmations you’re supposed to say in the mirror to yourself, and it is 100% just that! As many other people experience, I had a serious case of “imposter syndrome” when I took on my full-time role with RRE. Did I have enough experience for this? Should I really have moved to NC just to fail? Why the heck would they offer this job to ME?!
Despite all the doubt, I did it! I made it through a year! Though I had a few stumbles, I learned from them all and will continue to do that. Say it again with me - I can do hard things!
Always buy more bagels
Nothing disappears faster than bagels during a destination wedding week and that’s just a plain fact. Lesson learned - always buy more bagels!
