Q&A with Wedding Planner Chrissy Wolfman
CSUEB Wedding Planner Certificate Program Instructor Chrissy Wolfman (Photo credit: Francesca Penko Photo)
- November 15, 2022
After two years of wedding postponements and cancellations, 2022 has proven to be a record year for the wedding industry. According to a survey by The Knot, an anticipated 2.6 million weddings, up from 2.2 million in 2019 prior to the pandemic, will take place in the U.S. across this year.
With the recent wedding boom in full swing, we were excited to interview wedding expert Chrissy Wolfman, Cal State East Bay’s Wedding Planner Certificate program instructor and alum!
Here, Chrissy discusses all things wedding planning—including wedding trends, current challenges and advice for event planners, how the pandemic changed the industry and what she did to successfully pivot during the peak of the pandemic, her most memorable moments as a wedding planner, and what prospective students can expect from CSUEB’s Wedding Planner Certificate program.
CSUEB: Can you tell us a little about yourself as well as your educational and professional background?
I’m a Bay Area native and graduated from Cal State East Bay with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. I’ve been in the hospitality and wedding industry for the past fourteen years and completed CSUEB’s Wedding Planner Certification program back in 2010. In 2018, I founded Plan to be Wowed and together with my team we design and produce weddings all throughout Northern California.
My home base is in Livermore, California where I run a very busy household alongside my husband of twelve years, Chris. Together we have two boys, one dog, two cats, and four chickens!
When did you know you wanted to be a wedding planner?
Becoming a wedding planner was not something that I originally aspired to be. It happened naturally over time. Throughout my collegiate years and formative professional years post college, I realized most of my interests and experience revolved around event planning, hospitality, and weddings. It wasn’t until about two years post college that I realized this is exactly what I wanted to do for the long term. I found it all so rewarding, even though it was challenging. I loved the structure, consistency, and training I received while working for a hotel. Eventually I outgrew my role and saw a need in the industry for more hospitality experienced planners. So, after a lot of consideration and thought I took a huge leap and became an entrepreneur. Looking back now I can see how each phase of my education and career were stepping stones to where I am today professionally.
As the new program director for Cal State East Bay’s Wedding Planner Certificate program, what are your biggest goals and priorities for the program?
This program is eye opening and the tools learned are so applicable in the workforce. My biggest goal is to capture a broader audience and encourage students who are eager to learn the ins and outs of the industry so they can have successful and rewarding careers in any facet of the wedding industry.
A lot has changed as a result of the Covid-19 global pandemic, especially how we celebrate momentous events. What do you think are some of the biggest takeaways/lessons learned when it comes to the wedding and event industry?
Prior to the pandemic, wedding planners were looked at as a luxury service. Now post pandemic wedding planners are deemed a necessity. Most venues now require a professional wedding planner. Clients realize how stressful, tedious, and ever-changing plans can be so having a professional to advocate and guide them as needed is essential.
At the peak of the pandemic, the wedding industry was among those hit the hardest with events and gatherings being completely shut down. As the owner and principal planner of Plan to be Wowed, can you describe what that experience was like for you and how you successfully pivoted during that time?
I can’t sugar coat that experience; it was overwhelming and scary. Our industry plummeted overnight and companies folded fast. I wasn’t sure if people would ever be able to celebrate like we used to. During that time, I focused on creating and sharing content that was applicable to the current environment. No one wanted to see a beautiful indoor wedding filled with hundreds of people from years prior. Couples wanted advice and inspiration on how to host small beautiful outdoor celebrations so that’s exactly what I gave them. We continued to stay optimistic and flexible with our postponed couples and gave them the extra comfort they needed in a very stressful time.
What are some of the biggest challenges facing wedding and event planners today?
Social media is such a great way to get exposure, but it can also be difficult as couples see images of décor, florals, aesthetics, etc. and they want that duplicated but are fully unaware of the costs. It’s deceiving to see a styled shoot that is great for print but not realistic in a true wedding sense.
Another challenge is the misconception of the term “day of coordinator” often used in the public. The industry is trying hard to move far away from that title being used. It doesn’t encompass what is truly required and cheapens the role of a wedding planner that has experience and education.
Sharing in someone’s special day and making wedding dreams come true must be so rewarding. What’s one of your most memorable moments as a wedding planner?
I get teary eyed every time a bride walks down the aisle. I love a good sneak peak when the couple has a chance to be in their reception space alone for a few minutes. Life is so unpredictable so when I see my couples and their families being present and in the moment it’s the best feeling.
What popular wedding trends are you currently seeing, and are there any trends that are going out of style?
Trends are just that, trends so they all go in and out of style. It’s funny seeing flash photography and polaroid cameras are a thing again. Similar to fashion you see trends repeat every twenty to thirty years. My advice, try to avoid doing “on trend” looks or vibes as they will quickly fall flat. Rather opt for classic aesthetics for a more timeless (and zero regret) approach. One popular item I absolutely love seeing which sounds so silly are those foam light up sticks. Guests love them, they aren’t expensive, and turn up the energy.
What personality traits, skills, and education do you think all event planners should have?
Patience, a lot of patience. You have to enjoy working with people, being accommodating, and remaining calm under pressure. Things will come up that require quick decisions and creative solutions. I think any background in hospitality, food and beverage, retail, or customer service is incredibly helpful.
What advice would you offer someone considering a career as a wedding or event planner?
We welcome you! It’s an incredibly rewarding career that just like any other has its fair share of challenges and rewards. Do your research, get educated, intern, and put in the work.
What should prospective students expect from CSUEB’s Wedding Planner Certificate program?
This program is no cake walk no pun intended. Students will get an all-encompassing curriculum that will shatter all preconceived ideas they have about wedding planning. Students need to devote an adequate amount of time for studying and take this course seriously. The movies have made our role seem glamourous and fun, but, while that can be true at times, there are a lot of smarts behind it all.