How does a wedding planner plan his own wedding?
It’s the most incredibly exciting moment, but potentially the worst nightmare with all of the big expectations. I don’t want to disappoint anybody, but I also have to remind myself it’s for us. We’ve got some wonderful friends who’ll step in and help too.
What are Joey’s thoughts about wedding planning?
Joey is laid-back, but also very involved. We definitely have different opinions as to what’s important, which I like, so we can tackle parts individually and then collectively. For him, music is incredibly important, as is the food and venue, while I’m all about the visuals. We’re both having so much fun with it.
Is there advice you always give your clients that you’re now telling yourself?
There’s one thing I’ve always said to my clients, and now I’m really understanding it very clearly: You always want to tell a story of who you are as a couple. For me, that means telling our story a few different ways: This is my second wedding and Joey’s first; I have a 3-year-old daughter, Cielo; we’re a same-sex couple; and we hope to get married at our church, depending on if we choose a reception venue close to it. There are a lot of details that are incredibly important, not just for me as a wedding planner, but for us. We’re doing a lot of things that haven’t been done before, and it’s important to me that we do it the right way—and our way.
How are you including Cielo?
She was definitely a part of the proposal. She was the one who asked Joey, “Will you marry us?” She’s completely aware of the rings, so we’re going to get her a ring that we’ll exchange at the ceremony. She’s also going to be front and center with us at the altar and part of the formalities at the actual celebration. We’re even including special songs she loves at the reception. And I want her to be a part of wedding planning too— I don’t want her to miss any of it.
Is there one tradition that won’t be at your wedding?
We won’t have an introduction of the wedding party at the reception. And obviously, there’ll be no throwing of the garter—hello! Although that would be funny, so maybe there will be.
