10 Signs you work in the wedding industry

     

1. You Say “I’m Sorry” Often:

• When you work in the wedding business, you learn to apologize for everything, including things that you had no part in. Someone passed out because they took edible marijuana and alcohol together? It must be your fault for not warning them about the altitude: “I’m sorry.” It’s raining and the mother of the bride just won’t have it? Clearly, you caused the rain to fall on her daughter’s big day: “I’m sorry.”

2. You Are a Specialized Generalist:

• When you work enough events, you start to learn a little bit about a lot of things in the wedding industry, which comes in handy since a vendor is bound to ask you where the cake table looks best or when the best time for appetizers to be served during cocktail hour is. You may not have any in-depth knowledge about most aspects of wedding details, but thank goodness you can comment on how it’s a lucky thing that peonies are in season because they look best with the cut of the bridesmaids’ dresses.

3. You Are Used to Requests From Guests:

• Guests are the people at an event who get to enjoy the wedding in sweet oblivion of people working, and what they are supposed to be doing, until they need something. They need their pictures taken by the pond? You suddenly become a professional iPhone photographer. Can’t they please have some wine? No matter that you’re not part of the bar staff and the bar isn’t even open yet—you find that Chardonnay. Why on earth is the buffet out of asparagus? Apparently you’re part of the catering staff now too, and you need to hustle to ensure that guests get their veggies.

4. You have a Weird Body Clock:

• Waking up at 6 am seems like pure torture, but working until 1 or 2 am is no big deal. In fact, you do it on the regular. While you may not have to be at work until lunchtime, the chances are that you will stay at work through the late hours of the night. This doesn’t bother you, except when your friends have plans to go out “after work,” which for them means 6 pm, and for you means 3 am.

5. You Know Your Appearance Doesn’t Matter:

• On today of all days, everyone’s attention is on the happy couple, their families, and the bridal party. No one even notices the event staff unless they need something. Haven’t showered in two days? Don’t sweat it. Hair is in a messy bun for the fourth day in a row? No big deal. The chances of anyone actually noticing the way you look are pretty slim, and for the most part, it’s a wonderful feeling.

6. You Don’t Mind When People are Rude:

• Unfortunately, rude people are just a part of life, and when you’re dealing with such a monumental event in someone’s life, the chances of someone being unpleasant are more likely than not. In spite of the fact that no one really likes it when they’re yelled at for seemingly no reason or when they have to take the wrath of an evil mom-zilla, working the wedding industry has prepared you for this type of thing, and you’ve learned to let the behavior of rude people roll off your shoulders.

7. You Become a Master Drug-Buster:

• When you work enough weddings, you develop a sixth sense for sniffing out the rebellious guest who is determined to smoke marijuana, and you become a pro at stopping them in their tracks. You’re also an expert at hunting down under-age drinkers and confiscating their alcoholic beverages. Essentially, you become the voice of reason and the representative of the law, although you never exactly signed up for the position.

8. You Get Used to Everything Being a Crisis:

• There is always a crisis of some extremity when it comes to weddings. It looks like rain outside, but it can’t rain because the ceremony is outside and it would ruin everything: crisis. The caterers are running late, and if they don’t show up on time, then the food won’t be ready in time and the happy couple won’t be so happy anymore: crisis. Over time, you’ve learned to be un-phased by all the drama and crises, because at the end of the day, it will all work out.

9. You Have Random Wedding Favors Lying Around:

• At the end of a wedding, there are often extra wedding favors that guests left behind. When left with the choice of whether to throw them out or take them home, you opt to offer a new home to that “Congratulations Lisa and Jake” cuzzi because you’d hate to see it wasted. Those “Happy Wedding Day” playing cards? They’re the perfect addition to your game collection.

10. You Make Unexpected Friends:

• You’re friends with the 60-year-old florist and the 30-year-old bartender and the 15-year-old caterer. Because of the wedding industry, you’ve developed unlikely friendships with a wide variety of people you may otherwise never have met or become friends with. The variety is both interesting and refreshing, and you’re glad to always have someone to talk to.

 **While there are many indicatives of work in the service industry, these are a few that I have witnessed through my work as a wedding venue property manager.