From Breaking News to Bridal Bliss: How Television Shaped My Life as a Wedding Planner

People are always a bit surprised when I tell them I still work in television. I’ve spent more than twenty years in TV news, living in a world where everything happens quickly, loudly and usually at the worst possible moment. Breaking news doesn’t wait for anyone. You learn to think fast, stay calm and make decisions when the pressure is sky-high.

Funny enough, all those years in the newsroom turned out to be the perfect training ground for wedding planning. I didn’t realize it at the time, but handling chaos and keeping things moving smoothly is pretty much the job description for both roles. Those skills carried me right through the height of the pandemic, when wedding planning felt like navigating a storm with no map.

But the real reason I stepped into wedding planning wasn’t about stress levels or multitasking. It was about people.

Creating Something More Personal

I wanted to build something more intentional. I wanted to be the person brides could come to with every idea, every spark of inspiration, every “Is this too much?” moment and every excited message at odd hours because they’d just seen the perfect flowers online. I never get tired of those conversations. They’re part of the magic.

Over the years, my team and I have learned the ins and outs of the industry. The highs, the lows, the moments that make you laugh and the ones that make you pause. We discovered the type of couples who are the right fit for us too — the ones who trust, who communicate openly, who enjoy the process and genuinely want to work together. Those relationships make all the difference.

Watching Simple El’egance Grow

When I look back at the early days of Simple El’egance Events and realize we’ve now been in business for 16 years, it honestly amazes me. What started as a passion project grew into something far bigger and more meaningful than I could’ve imagined.

One of the greatest joys has been watching our team grow. Seeing our planners step confidently into bigger roles, take ownership of wedding days and manage our couples with such care makes me incredibly proud. They carry forward the values that define who we are as a business — kindness, attentiveness, professionalism, creativity and a genuine passion for serving our couples well.

Our level of detail, the way we anticipate needs before they arise and the intentional service we strive for are what set Simple El’egance Events apart. And to see my team embody that, not because they’re told to but because they truly care, is one of the most rewarding parts of this journey. They’re the heart of what makes our service special.

My Seven-Year Chapter With Raquel

A huge part of my journey was the seven years I spent partnered with Raquel John. We planned some incredible weddings together, the kind that still make me smile, laugh and a few that made us question everything we thought we knew. We worked long weekends, missed family events, skipped gatherings with friends and poured so much of ourselves into the couples we served.

So when Raquel told me she wanted to move into corporate and social event planning, I wasn’t sure I understood at first. How do you step away from weddings? How do you leave something so emotional and so meaningful?

But over time, I realized exactly what she meant. If something no longer excites you or feeds your soul, it’s okay to step back and reevaluate. She followed what felt right, and she’s thriving with her business Raquel John Events because of it.

I’m grateful for her, and I carry so many lessons from those years. She taught me how to navigate the financial side of running a business, executing realistic wedding budgets for our couples. But more importantly above all the wedding-related lessons she showed me how to make space for myself and how to keep my work from taking over every corner of my life.

Her biggest lesson still sticks with me: if it doesn’t bring you joy, pause and reassess.

Why I’m Still Here

Even with my ongoing career in television, wedding planning continues to light me up in a way nothing else does. Yes, it can be unpredictable and tiring, but it’s also incredibly fulfilling. Every couple, every story, every wedding day reminds me why I chose this path.

To our brides and grooms — past, present and future — thank you. Thank you for trusting us, for sharing your dreams with us and for letting us play a part in one of the biggest chapters of your life. We’re still the friend who never gets tired of hearing your ideas, your excitement or your “I’ve just thought of something amazing” moments.

And we’re truly honoured to be part of your journey.