Learn from the Best Pt. II: The Importance of Mentorship
It’s the morning of Sunday, May 21st, 2023 at the Grand Reserve at Meritage Hotel. The weather was nice and sunny with a cool breeze. And I found myself assisting the fearless and dynamic Andrea Eppolito in steaming the Eva Lendel wedding dress for Mahsa Hankins. The beautiful bride-to-be. Prior to that, we finished steaming the robes and dresses for the bridesmaids. All while the videographers came in to set up and the hotel’s employees came in to set up breakfast. It was chaotic, intense, and exhilarating. This is what most people don’t see. The organized chaos. The morning of the wedding. The union of Johnathon and Mahsa Hankins. After that, Andrea, her husband Tony, and I headed to the venue. The Viansa Winery.
Javier Valentino and his dedicated team have been at the venue since 3:00 AM setting up. The ceremony was breathtaking. It contained 2 tall stone urns on pillars at the entrance of the aisle. The aisle itself was wide with full and lush florals. The design of the reception was a classic. It contained 12 King’s Tables that were filled with long, lush, and full white centerpieces. It all came together with the chandelier installations, the greenery, and the lighting. Courtesy of Jacob Co. Creative. My favorite part of the design was the Champagne Wall that was placed outside of the reception, where guest enjoyed themselves during cocktail hour. Guests would ring one of the three bells and receive a glass of champagne through a hole placed above one of the three travel destinations: London, Turks & Caicos, and Anguilla. Courtesy of Blueprint Studios. The biggest lesson I learned from this wedding is that everything is in the details. The smallest of details make the biggest difference.
During setup, one of the responsibilities Andrea gave me was to set up the chairs of the ceremony. 50 on opposite sides of the aisle, 100 in total. Simple…right? Not even slightly. I took the liberty of setting them up with 5 rows of 10. The problem with that setup was that the guests who were on the further sides of the aisle wouldn’t have a clear view of the ceremony. She showed me by having me to sit on the furthest end where I wouldn’t be able to see the bride and the groom exchange vows. It is important to keep seating at the ceremony narrow so that everybody can have a clear view. More rows but not as many chairs on each row. It is all in the details. While setting up the reception area, I overlooked the fact that there were 2 big X-marks of tape on the floor that needed to be removed while the production crew was measuring and installing the dancefloor. I saw firsthand the importance of processing all boxes when I didn’t process the very last box that had the cones that would contain the rose petals. Finally, I saw what happens when I don’t pay enough attention to the timeline. Andrea said it best, “take it all as a learning experience”. Through it all, Andrea continued to encourage me. She gave me the space to make decisions and make mistakes. She guided me and redirected me when I made the wrong decisions. Just like any great coach when their player makes the wrong play. I understand that I will make mistakes. That’s part of the business and the only way I will truly learn. However, I will make sure not to make the same mistake twice. Andrea’s expectations of me are steadily increasing. Along with my own. And I refuse to fail.
Photo Credit: Nicole Hernandez Photography