Who Is Carolyn Burke - Wedding Liaison?
When Carolyn Burke reports to work, she doesn't travel light. Armed with an emergency kit with items from scissors to hair spray; she is prepared for every possible situation the event could bring. Burke calls herself a Wedding Liaison and the owner of Carolyn Burke - Wedding Liaison. She thrives in the rush of excitement - and sometimes panic - of her clients' wedding events.
"I love every moment of what I do," she said. "It's like putting together a puzzle and getting all the pieces to fit together." The excitement comes from building an event from the ground up. Many clients come in with no clue where they want to have their event, so Burke holds a face-to-face meeting and picks what elements of the event are important and that is where you spend the most money. She coordinates wedding ceremonies of many faiths, religious and non-religious backgrounds.
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| Carolyn Burke - Wedding Liaison |
""I am not a wedding coordinator in the traditional sense," say Burke. "I give each couple personal attention and make recommendations on those wedding professionals that I feel are best suited to meet their needs. I offer a wealth of knowledge and resources for my clients who plan their own event."
A client's wedding day is not all fun and pats on the back, however. Burke often spends more time putting out fires than collecting compliments. "I haul boxes, I pin the corsages, I answer tons of questions," she said. "If I do not know the answer, it is my responsibility to find it."
She pulls together a timeline on the event to ensure that everyone is on the same page, but even the best laid plans can go awry. At any given moment, she could find herself putting up decorations or doing last minute alterations on a bridesmaid's dress with items from her emergency kit.
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| Pinning The Boutonniere on the Father of the Bride |
"You really have to be a jack of all trades," she said. "You have to be prepared for everything." Those who are the most successful at wedding planning will be able to think on their feet and get along well with people, Burke said. "It's a lot of back and forth with vendors and clients," she said. "It takes a lot of time and effort, and you have to be creative."
As time-consuming as planning and coordinating events can be, part of the challenge of the job is scheduling time off. Burke, who works out of her Kirkwood home, keeps her hours flexible but makes sure she does not let her work life and her personal life interfere with each other. "Having a social calendar 12 or more months in advance is tough, she said. "You have to set your boundaries, and you have to be disciplined."
The greatest reward of the job is knowing that the client and guests enjoyed themselves, Burke said. "It's a rush for me to see how well I can achieve what my customers want," she said. "Just to hear someone say, 'this turned out great' feels good."
Published in June 2009