Gaby Pineda
WHAT WAS YOUR INTRODUCTION TO WEDDING PLANNING?
After graduating from college, I moved to Southlake and took a marketing job with a bank. I was setting up a lot of networking events, galas and conferences until I planned my first wedding in 2018 — which was actually my own. I really enjoyed it and decided I wanted to work for myself, so I opened up Look West Events in 2019 and have planned 50 weddings ever since.
WHAT GOES INTO PLANNING A WEDDING?
The most common things you have to plan for include entertainment, food, beverages, florals, photography, hair and makeup, but sometimes you’ll have to plan for other things too like photo booths, balloons and lounge setups.
HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT ORGANIZING THE ENTIRE AFFAIR?
I let the couple drive how they want the experience to go. I tailor everything to them, present them with decisions and keep the process moving along. My role is to take all of these moving parts and pieces they’ve given me and make sure everything just flows naturally on their wedding day.
HOW ARE WEDDINGS DIFFERENT FROM PLANNING OTHER EVENTS?
When you organize a company event, you have to justify every decision with a return of investment. But when it comes to a wedding, every decision is made to celebrate a love story. You can’t really measure that, and that’s what makes it so fun.
WHAT KIND OF WEDDING MISCONCEPTIONS ARE THERE?
There aren’t as many bridezilla horror stories out there as some people might believe. People might get a little worked up sometimes, but it’s an emotional experience, and some couples are experiencing a lot of different emotions all at once. I’m very understanding and try to keep that in mind.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT BEING A WEDDING PLANNER?
My favorite part is when someone is really able to be in the moment and I’m able to see they’re really enjoying themselves. It can be during a cake cutting. It can be during the post-ceremony. It can be during the first look. That moment happens at different times for different weddings, but I love watching people enjoying themselves and being in the moment knowing that I helped make that happen.