Friendor Friday with Tracie of Tracie Domino Events

We are so honored to have Tracie Domino, the very talented wedding planner, take over the ADP blog to talk about her business Tracie Domino Events. She has been helping brides in the Tampa area and beyond plan their fabulous wedding days. Get to know her and her business!

 

Tell us a bit about yourself and your company:

Hi! I am Tracie Domino with Tracie Domino Events. We are a boutique wedding planning company where stylish expertise and relatable sophistication meets extreme organization. We make fun, memorable weddings happen!

What made you want to be a wedding planner?

After graduating with my master’s degree in Public Relations, I thought I wanted to work for the NFL. After a season of doing just that, I realized it would be best to stay a fan, but knew I loved the event side of PR the most. I took a position working with brides and grooms at one of Tampa’s most prestigious venues and have been planning events now for over 11 years.

Why should couples hire a wedding planner?

I like to tell my clients that on their wedding day, I will pretty much put on a Broadway show with no dress rehearsal. While anyone can line up a bunch of really great creative partners, it won’t be amazing unless an experienced wedding planner is involved to make the magic happen – and there is a lot of magic that needs to happen!

Cost can be something that holds back couples from working with a wedding planner. What would you tell brides and grooms about the cost?

The best wedding planners have an incredible sense of style and won’t let you make major financial mistakes in any area of your planning. In the end, a qualified planner will probably save you more money than you paid for the planner in the first place.

What is your favorite part about your job?

My favorite part of my job is when you walk back down the aisle as a newly married couple for the first time and I get to see the joy in your faces as you realize what we all have been working on for many months is now a reality and all of your favorite people in the world are there to share it with you.

What’s your typical work week like?

I don’t have a typical work week at all! Although many days you can find me working at Oxford Exchange in South Tampa. On a typical wedding day, I will walk about 9-10 combined miles around your venue.

What is the biggest lesson you have learned? What advice would you pass along to new wedding planners just getting started?

The biggest lesson I learned is to always be on the look out for what is new and to never rest on your laurels. The worst thing anyone can say to me is “We always do it this way.” If you are a new planner just getting started or thinking about getting started, you really need to have a love of all things logistics, not just pretty flowers and stationery. I spend a lot of time negotiating road closures, hiring off duty police officers and managing transportation.

Most challenging aspect about what you do?

The most challenging aspect of what I do is deliver exceptional customer service to all my clients simultaneously. I try to be available for my clients on typical “off” hours because they are busy – which is why they hired a planner in the first place.

Biggest misconception about wedding planners?

I think reality television has done us in here because I think the biggest misconception about wedding planners is that they are a luxury only for the rich and famous and that just isn’t the case. No matter what budget you are working in, there is a planner in your community who will be thrilled to work with you.

Any great stories from working with a client?

All of my clients are great in their own ways, but I really love it when our relationship goes beyond the professional and we stay friends after the wedding is over. I literally have brides who call me months after the wedding because we were in such close contact for so many months that they wanted to check it. I am always thrilled to hear about their babies, vacations, etc.

Any new trends emerging in the industry? A trend you wish brides would leave behind?

There are always new trends, but my best advice on trends is not to follow them but to work with us to create a fun, memorable wedding that is totally you.
As far as trends to leave behind, if I never see burlap again, it might be too soon!
Favorite color combination?

Could never name just one. However, my advice here is to embrace the season and venue you are getting married in, because fighting it becomes very expensive. Also, when picking your colors, it helps if at least one of them exists in nature. There aren’t any black and teal flowers.

Tips for couples who have just started the wedding process?

Talk about the budget NOW! Don’t get too far down the road of selecting your dress and venue only to realize that you won’t be able to afford any of your favorite details later. Plan a budget and stick to it.

Dreams/goals for the future?

Currently I only take on 15 weddings a year to guarantee I can provide exceptional customer service. In the future, I would like to scale that back slightly to take on fewer weddings and be able to blow my clients’ minds with service! I also want to learn Italian so I can work in Italy in July and August each year.

What are your hobbies or non-work related activities? Tell us who YOU are!

What spare time? To stay somewhat in shape, I rely on Pure Barre, my favorite workout ever. and like to bring my English Golden Retriever, Barry to Fort Desoto Park on Tierra Verde. I am a fan of beach vacations, Florida State football, inspiring wedding design, Vegas casinos, guacamole and a smart & sexy 6-footer named Brian.

 

We have had the honored to work with Tracie at our Clearwater wedding and see her GORGEOUS vision come to life!

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813-503-5056 andi@andidiamond.com 305 S MacDill Ave, Tampa, Florida 33609