We were lucky to catch up with Nandani Patel recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Nandani , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
From my childhood I have always had an exploratory mindset, that led me to experiment with life and to try out new things, rather than follow the beaten track that my other siblings pursued. A conventional education and career was never my cup of tea. Over the years, I have dabbled in multiple things, including dancing (modern and Indian classical), painting, fitness training, modeling, acting, interior decoration, running a small restaurant business, volunteering in charitable events, and managing cultural events in the community.
My zest for exploring new creative ideas, passion for combining various art forms while conducting business, and my obsession for details has led me naturally and organically to this fascinating career of a wedding planner.
I have found purpose & special meaningfulness in unraveling the explicit and implicit needs of my clients, and in executing even the smallest of tasks embedded in the singular most important event of their lives.
I am able to apply my creative energy, artistic flair, innovative mindset, and bring out the warmth and love inside me, all in one mix, to transform my client’s vision into a unique dreamy experience in which they can fully immerse over the course of the entire wedding.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I have been a full-time wedding planner for the past couple of years. I never even realized that I will become so attached to this career path. Maybe I prepared myself unknowingly over the years for this phase of my life. Maybe this will be the ultimate destination in terms of my career, where I would like to comfortably settle in.
When I look back at my past life as a fashion model, a member of various dance troupe, a Zumba fitness instructor or a business franchisee of a dine-in chain, WhichWich, I have come to realize that perhaps all these experiences were pieces of a jigsaw puzzle that seamlessly fell into place, as I discovered my true passion.
In this new role, I am able to blend my artistic talents with my business acumen, and carve out a niche for myself as a wedding designer through sensitive handling of every small wish, every latent desire and every passionate craving of my clients.
Building a reliable team is key to the success and sustainability of this business. During my day-to-day operations, I am constantly exploring new styles of situational leadership, new ways of managing relationships, which are the learnings of a lifetime. I have been fortunate to build an entire ecosystem that supports me operationally during the implementation phase of such a complex, multi-dimensional private event.
The most satisfying part of this career is that I am able to leave a permanent impression in the lives of so many couples who depend on me for the realization of their dreams. I hope that, in the years to come, in this capacity of a personalized event planner, I will become a part of their extended family and grow my business organically through the nurturing of these relationships that I value.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Personal Integrity: “Do what you say and say what you do” => my unflinching commitment towards deliverables builds trust and confidence in people I work with, including my clients.
Ethicality in Business: I try to maintain a high standard of ethicality, honesty and attentiveness towards moral values and principles during my business conduct => this includes transparency and fairness in treating my clients, partners, vendors/suppliers, consultants and part-time employees.
Artistic Creativity within constraints: I have developed a knack for coming up with fit-for-purpose, out-of-the-box but aesthetically pleasing solutions within a limited timeframe and also keeping in perspective client’s budgetary and other constraints
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
My mother has been my role model from the very early days of my childhood as far as my memory goes. I have two siblings, a Older brother and younger sister. We lost our dad at a tender age.
My mother filled that huge void and was instrumental in raising us in a disciplined way, with good values, empathy and kindness. She wasn’t highly educated in the conventional sense, but is a hard working woman with an independent spirit and high ambitions for her children. She gave us the wings to fly, fueled our curiosity, created opportunities for us to explore our interests and discover our passion. What has left a lasting impact on me is her single-minded dedication towards our well-being, the sacrifices she made for all three of us, the trust she has on us, her childlike innocence and freshness, even under adversarial conditions, which is infectious.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.EventsbyNandani.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eventsbynandani
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eventsbynandani
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/nandani-patel-554b22178
Image Credits
Hakim’s Studio Glad Clicks Photography Brandon andrews Photography Zamana lifestyles Photography Sumi’s Photography Lux graphy
