We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Payton Winchester. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Payton below.
Hi Payton, so excited to have you with us today, particularly to get your insight on a topic that comes up constantly in the community – overcoming creativity blocks. Any thoughts you can share with us?
As a wedding planner, you need to have a specific type of personality that both allows for spontaneous creativity and regimented practices. But, it can sometimes be difficult to volunteer artful ideas at the drop of a hat. This happens especially during the marathon that is wedding busy season. With so many events at a time, it’s easy to forge ahead with a mind that is fully geared toward logistics, and not as focused on the creative feel. For me, this is when a block can rear its ugly head.
In order to mitigate this, I’ve started building creative “cross training” into my schedule. In athletics, cross training is the practice of utilizing alternative exercises to further strengthen overall capabilities. I use this same school of thought when it comes to flexing my creative muscle. I’ve evaluated the times that I feel most creative, and often it is when I am able to get up from my desk, switch off my notifications, and do some exploring. Outside of curating events, I absolutely love antique stores and thrifting. I could spend hours walking through markets, malls, and fairs digging through architectural goods, furniture, and paintings. I have had countless “a-ha” moments in the aisles of these places when I am able to let myself explore + discover. I build this “cross training” time into my schedule purposefully in order to grease my gears.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
By trade, I am a wedding planner and designer with Pop + Fizz in Atlanta, Georgia. We are a company focused on curating unique and meaningful events for our clients, from start to finish. In January, I will have been in this profession for 7 years. I feel so lucky to be in a profession where I am able to use both my creative and organizational skills in tandem. But, I truly feel honored to be trusted by my clients to captain their ship on one of the biggest days of their lives.
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?
Three important qualities that I carry with me are: committment, flexibility, and respect.
The way I see it, when talking about a couple’s wedding day in our initial discussion, not only are we talking about the day they commit to each other, but also my commitment to them. At minimum, our full planning clients book us 1 year in advance. Thats a long time to be working with someone when the end result is an event that takes place in a span of 6-8 hours. There are so many emotions, trials, and decisions in this process. As a wedding planner, you have to remain committed to your clients + their priorities from day one.
One thing we can guarantee about the world (the old “death and taxes” joke aside) is that things change. The same goes for the wedding industry. Prices change, trends come and go, vendors retire. There are a multitude of shifts that can require flexibility. I would advise young planners to remember that client-education is your best friend, and that this is one of the (many) reasons you are hired. In the face of change, you must reassure your couple that the unexpected is expected, and then pull an ace from your sleeve.
Lastly, it’s easy to get a big head when you’re the one leading the charge on a wedding day. There is a big difference between leading with confidence and simply being loud. It’s important to be mindful that the vendor team you are working with on a wedding day is just that, they are your TEAM. Everyone should be treated with mutual consideration and respect from bottom to top.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
It’s incredibly important to find an activity that balances you out. When I feel overwhelmed, I make myself sweat. Whether it’s attending a fitness class, training for a race, or going for a walk, I find that exerting physical energy brings me back to a place of even ground.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://popandfizz.com/
- Instagram: @popandfizz @payton_h_w
Image Credits
Sarah Jordan Photography
My headshot was taken by Carrie Joy Photography @carriejoyphoto
