3 minute read
NATIONAL FEATURE
Planning a wedding on a regular day takes a lot of patience, time management, and attention to detail. Add to that planning a celebrity wedding, including paparazzi, wedding crashers, news, and media. Then sprinkle in a pandemic! Mrs. Courtney Ajinca not only overcame all of these obstacles but put on one of the most glamorous weddings of 2020 for Real Housewives of Atlanta celebrity Cynthia Bailey and her husband, Mike Hill.
This young woman is always on the go, but we were thrilled to be able to get a few minutes to discuss her company and her role as a Celebrity event planner, and what’s up next.
How did you get your start in this industry? What are some tips you would have for anyone who wanted to enter into event planning?
I’ve been planning events for 4 years. I got started in the industry by planning events for family and friends and my husband began taking notice and saying that I was really good and should take it seriously. So I did and I jumped in and haven’t looked back. For anyone who would like to enter into event planning, I would tell them to take courses to develop their skills and never stop learning. I take continuing education courses twice per year to enhance my skills and stay current on the latest event technologies. Also, jump in and go for it. Don’t waste time worrying about if it will work out or not. Give it your all and push to the top!
With covid we have all had to alter our normal procedures, what
The most difficult thing about planning a wedding during COVID19 was having to stay knowledgeable of the ever changing government mandates and having to implement the safety precautions. There was a different mandate ever day and week leading up to the wedding, so that made it difficult, but we just took everything as it came and made the best out of the situation.
Planning such a huge wedding during COVID-19 was very difficult, but also rewarding. Everything had to be perfectly planned and organized down to the finest detail. But I can’t take all of the credit. I’m so grateful to my team for helping me to execute the biggest wedding of the year. I delegated tasks to them such as floral, organization, creative design, and food & beverage and they hit it out of the park! We implemented and designed using the COVID precautionary measures and made sure that we covered all bases. I couldn’t be more proud of them.
What did you learn this year in terms of hosting major events?
I learned to be versatile and to always have the ability to pivot. I also learned to delegate tasks
in order to have a bigger impact. I grew my company through the pandemic and created an executive board. In doing so, we are positioned to grow in the coming years. Im excited to see where my business will be this time next year!
Where do you see the future of events for 2021 and beyond?
While the future of events is uncertain, I do believe that we will began celebrating again soon. Live events will begin to take place again, but I will continue to implement precautionary measures and design elements that will allow my clients and guests to celebrate safely. I believe virtual events will continue to take place. They are budget friendly and very convenient for large companies and brands. I love in-person events, but I have a great appreciation for virtual events as well.
Thank you so much to Courtney Ajinca and her publicist Danika Berry for allowing us an opportnity to share her story.
If your a fan of celebrity event planning and want to see this amazing woman in action? Check her out starting February 9th on VH1’s newest show, “My Celebrity Dream Wedding”.
You can also check out her website at
www.Courtneyajinca.com
Instagram.com/courtneyajinca.com
