The High's and Low's of the Past Two Years | 2021 Year In Review of Seattle Wedding Planner, Rebecca Grant

I always struggle with how to start these things off. For worry of always coming across “look at me” or “man, that was a rough year,” or whatever. However, it is very important to me to be able to sit back and reflect on this past year that went by like a freight train and realize there were some pretty big milestones that were made in the glimpses of light between the freight cars. :)

Like many wedding vendor blogs you’ll read recapping 2021, it was no different for me. Coming off a year of incredible loss, hardship, sadness, insecurity, and just pure good old survival; 2021 was a year of raw perseverance.

As the great High School Drama nerd I was, let’s set the stage, shall we? 2020 forced me into 31 rescheduled weddings and 3 outright cancellations. I managed to survive through 9 weddings that actually moved forward that year, and the rest got shoved into 2021 wherever we could make them fit; mind you around the 11 weddings that had already booked in 2020 for 2021.

From mid-May through November 20th, I completed 42 weddings. That averages to 7 weddings/month for 6 months straight. I literally bawled on the way home from my last wedding of the year. Full release from Woodinville to Snohomish. It was the most demanding year of my tenured career in wedding planning, and boy was I glad for it to be done.

Gorgeous summer outdoor wedding at Dockside at Duke’s in South Lake Union, Seattle. Floral by Aria Style, photo by Jenn Tai & Co, design/planning by New Creations Weddings.

Please don’t take that as I don’t like my job. I in fact still LOVE my job and every wedding vendor that survived through 2020 and is still in business today is proof that we love our jobs. No one would have gone through what we went through emotionally and financially and still be doing the jobs we did before the pandemic without having a pure passion for our industry and helping couples celebrate the best day of their lives.

It was just light. Pure light that I had survived. I was done. By the pure grace of God (and an incredibly supportive husband) , I had made it.

Dance party at Inglewood Golf Club wedding reception. Photo by Angie Mitchell Photography, DJ Magnolia Rhapsody, Design & Planning by New Creations Weddings.

For the past 8 years in business now, I personally haven’t taken on a wedding in the month of December and boy, was I happy that 2021 was no exception. Ending the year on one of the best weddings I could have asked to be a part of in November gave me the breathe and space to relax and recover.

December was spent with a couple staycations to Seabrook & Orcas Island with my husband and dogs, then a larger trip to Alaska to visit my husbands family over Christmas. This was the first time in the past 11 years since we’ve been married that we’ve spent Christmas with his family there. While it ranged from -7 to -20’F while we were there, and it snowed about 3’, oh, and the power went out; it was good to be with them and to spend the season together there.

Upon getting home and resetting for 2021, I happened to open up one of my notebooks I use for “to-do” lists to clean it out. I happened to stumble across my 2021 goals page that I don’t even remember honestly having written. It was here that I realized, “Wow, that was actually a really great year!” Not only did I survive such a high amount of weddings in a short amount of time, I actually managed to cross off some pretty big accomplishments.

Elegant outdoor dinner reception at Dockside at Duke’s. Photo by Jenn Tai & Co, Floral by Aria Style, Planning/Design by New Creations Weddings.

Here’s what was on the list:

• Survive financially

• Get back to networking. 1:1 if I have to

• Assess longevity of planning (where do I want to be in 5 years)

• Continue to run/be outside

• Hire parking attendant (this refers to the venue we own)

• Get cut flower garden going for venue

• Pay off debt by 2023 (refers to a personal loan we had for the purchase of the venue property)

• Book Costa Rica

Out of those 8 goals, I managed to accomplish 6 of them. 6 HUGE goals in the midst of being run over by a freight train. The only ones not accomplished were continue to run (heck, I was walking equivalent to 11 miles at every wedding, lol!), and get the cut flower garden going at the venue.

This is me showing my cards, being vulnerable with you, but also for me to remind myself there were massive successes within the chaos.

Bride & Groom Celebrate their vows at this Froggsong wedding on Vashon Island. Florals by Herban Design Studio. Photo by Joanna Monger Photography. Coordination by New Creations Weddings.

It inspired me to carry on, continue to write my goals for 2021 (in which I’ll carry over the two that were missed and add a few more to it). I am feeling renewed, a sense of joy for 2022, MUCH more balanced with only taking on a select 26 weddings this year, and giving myself time to just breathe.

To the couples that survived with me last year, I am THANKFUL for you. Your grace with me was not taken for granted. I know sometimes scheduling was tough, I know during the thick of it communication was delayed from my norm. You were alongside me, cheering me on, and being INCREDIBLY generous with both your reviews and gifts of gratitude. For you, I will forever be thankful and hold you in high esteem.

To my team and friends in the wedding industry, I know this past year brought out a LOT of changes for so many- leaving the industry completely, changes in processes & procedures (myself included), and countless other changes. I am thankful for you. You are my friends, comrades, and support through and through. You are loved & appreciated for all you do to make dreams come true. No one will know what we’ve gone through except for you. We share that solidarity and hope for a brighter future doing what we love and do best.

Thanks for reading and cheers to 2022!

~Rebecca