Event planner hopes to be invited to parties BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER
MONTEREY - Gail Arnott wants to be invited to weddings and parties. The Highland native is starting a wedding and event planning business serving Bath and Highland counties.
 | | Gail Arnott of Forks of the Water is starting a new business as a wedding and event planner. (Recorder photo by James Jacenich) |
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Arnott left her job at Hospice of the Highlands in Mitchelltown May 5, where she worked for two years with clients in the final stages of life. She organized the annual LoveLights commemorations in Bath and Highland counties. It was during those events she discovered a passion for event planning. "That got to be my favorite part of the job," she said. "It was so much fun. I decided I wanted to do that kind of work every day because I enjoyed it so much."
She earned a certificate in wedding planning from Weddings Beautiful Worldwide. She also completed an event planning class through James Madison University.
A wedding and event planner takes care of every aspect of an event. The planner can work on a specific task, such as budget planning, catering, transportation, or lodging. "It depends on what the client wants," says Arnott.
The 1988 Highland High School graduate and 1987 Maple Queen has a degree in social work from Mary Baldwin College, which, in addition to her time at the hospice, prepared her to handle the stress of event planning. "As a social worker I am trained in listening and communication skills," she says.
Weddings, graduation parties, the birth of a child, moving to a new house or town, and retirements mark significant life changes for the people involved and a planner can help with the celebration intended to mark the occasion, says Arnott. Special holiday parties, reunions, anniversaries and birthday parties can also benefit from the services of a planner, she says.
Event planners are becoming more important in a fast-paced world where everyone is trying to get the most out of their time, says Arnott. People are working longer and harder than ever, leaving little time or strength to take care of the details for a party, she says.
She can plan a company picnic or company retreat, too. It isn't all about the most stressful or the biggest events in one's life. It's about how one wants to spend one's time, she says.
In the corporate world, businesses are finding it increasingly important to take time to improve working relationships among workers or to get away from the job site to focus on a specific issue or to conduct training. Instead of spending time and effort on arranging for food, lodging, a meeting site and related activities to keep their employees occupied, managers are hiring event planners to take care of those details, says Arnott.
Highland and Bath counties provide the seclusion and amenities companies like, she says. The counties are seen as places to get away from the ordinary routine of working life.
Some companies may want activities set up for spouses that come along on a business retreat. While employees are in conference, spouses can enjoy the scenery. An event planner can set up an activity itinerary.
Couples are interested in getting married in the country, or children and grandchildren want to come back to Bath or Highland to celebrate a special event in their family's home county, says Arnott. But they may not be familiar with the area or are too far away to handle the details themselves. She can help.
The cost of her services depends on how much the client wants her to do. It could be anywhere from a one-hour budget work session to orchestrating every detail of a $20,000 wedding. She has something to fit every budget, she says. And she intends to keep her prices competitive with other planners. Being located in Highland County and working out of her home will help keep her costs down, too.
Arnott is ready for clients - she has one wedding on her calendar later in the year. Weddings are planned months, if not a year or more, in advance, she says.
People getting married this summer have probably already completed the planning process, she says.
She expects it will take a couple of years to build up her business.
While waiting for assignments, she's keeping busy getting organized.
Arnott is meeting with vendors face to face to find out what services they offer and to put them on her list of contacts. When a client needs a caterer, Arnott will be able to provide them a list of names, prices and specialties that will fit every budget and preference, she says.
Arnott asks vendors to get in touch with her so she can add them to her list of contacts. She's looking for DJs, bands and musicians to round out her growing list of caterers, lodging establishments, restaurants, banquet facilities, resorts, and golf courses, she says.
She can be reached through Mountain Laurel Creations in Mitchelltown, where she does floral design, and Highland Mountain Flowers in Monterey. Arnott says the owners of Mountain Laurel Creations, Gloria Lindsay and Debi Lowry, have been very helpful to her as she begins her new enterprise. Arnott has a long working and personal relationship with the new owner of Highland Mountain Flowers, Susie Newlon.
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