A few years ago, English teacher Mariah Picard stepped in for her former sister-in-law’s absent wedding coordinator who was running late. Three years later, she began her Instagram page for a blooming new business idea, “Truly Yours”.
The first thing Picard did was start her Instagram page. She wanted to see how many around the valley would be interested, to see if it was something she should pursue. Two weeks after getting it cued up, she had her first client.
Teacher by day, wedding coordinator by weekend. Picard uses her love for coordinating weddings as an outlet for her creativity, and a way to earn some extra money on the side.
However, the skillset that Picard explains, to being a teacher, is similar in the areas of her job as a wedding coordinator. Organization, leadership and clear communication.
“I’m still a teacher while I’m coordinating,” Picard said, “I spend my whole day with teenagers and then I go home to my two young daughters, so I’m with kiddos 85 or 90% of my life.”
Picard’s job specializes in making sure a bride’s day runs smoothly. That starts with minimizing their worries by building a timeline for the wedding day, carving out designated slots for things to get done, and by then, Picard is able to address the bride’s specific issues.
When Picard has finished planning the agenda, she makes sure to tell the other vendors so they’re all working from the same schedule. The most work for Picard takes place on the wedding day.
She makes sure everything is in order: decorations, the aisle, the chairs, overall making sure everything is where it needs to be. Picard proceeds to deal with photographers and caterers, and then makes sure all factors are supported when the ceremony starts. Then, she manages to collect everybody for the reception where she makes sure the DJ has the right song cued, the toasts are ready and she leads the party. On top of Picard is also tending to the bride: making sure she’s comfortable, staying hydrated, not getting too hot, and being there whenever she needs something.
“People don’t realize how stressful the actual day is,” Picard said, “And being married once myself, you don’t remember much of your special day.”
“You put thousands of dollars into it, you have all these plans, and then you have people questioning ‘where do I go?,’ ‘what do you do?,’ ‘what do I need?’, and you’re just like, ‘I’m here to party, I’m here to celebrate, I don’t know why all of this is happening.” Picard said,“Your wedding shouldn’t feel like a job. You should be allowed to breathe and celebrate and just be with the person that you love, and that will be my job.”
As for the business aspect, Picard got her business license (LLC) a couple weeks after getting started. She’s learned a lot about maintaining high standards for herself, and knowing how much she realistically can take on.
“I don’t like to take on more weddings than I know I can handle, mentally,” Picard said.
This season, Picard was able to coordinate six weddings while balancing the rest of the things she wanted to do like going on vacation with her family, and she was also able to teach Summer-school.
“I’ve learned not to sell your value short,” Picard said, “I’ve never considered myself a talented person. When people feel appreciative for a service that I offer, that makes me feel good and maybe that’s a talent that I have and maybe that’s why I’m also a teacher.”
As seen in the weddings she’s coordinated, Picard feels one of the most important things that makes a successful wedding is the ability to let things flow naturally. And although a wedding has the potential to be a stressful event, she enjoys taking on the job of relieving that stress, and helping them relax.
“I tell brides, on their wedding day there’s nothing you’re supposed to do but focus on the one you love. The rest will fall into place,” Picard said.
