This Saint Johner Turned A Passion For Event Planning Into Her Own Business
SAINT JOHN-What started as a passion has turned into a career for Cynthia VanBuskirk. The Saint John native officially launched her own, self-run wedding and event planning company this month.
Her business, Joyful Weddings and Events, officially launched on May 1, servicing the Southern New Brunswick area.
“I’ve always done events at my house, like baby showers, wedding showers, and I always had fun doing it,” VanBuskirk told Huddle in a recent interview.
In 2016, she started working in an event coordinating position at Rothesay Netherwood School and realized how much she enjoyed it. She has a background in civil engineering, which is where she says her project-management prowess comes from.
“It’s interesting how if you just take the opportunities that come your way, you just never know where you’re going to end up and that’s exactly what happened with me,” said VanBuskirk.
Her job at Rothesay Netherwood School made her think planning events would be fun to dabble in, so she took a wedding planning training course in Toronto, at the Wedding Planners Institute of Canada, in January of 2019.
She also had a couple of friends ask if she would help plan their weddings. Last summer, she planned the wedding for her son and daughter-in-law.
“After I did that wedding, I thought, ‘yep, I’m jumping in. I’m doing this,’” VanBuskirk said.
As of now, she has planned four weddings. Before her website launched on May 1, she already had two more clients hire her for weddings this August, two more for September, and even one for next year.
VanBuskirk said her business is not made up of a team, it’s only her. As she gets more clients, she plans to continue working with one couple at a time to ensure she doesn’t get worn out and offers the best service for her clients.
The process of planning a wedding can take several months. First, VanBuskirk meets with the couple to discuss their budget.
“You’ll see that on my website … I always keep saying ‘let’s meet first,’ because I’m such an integral part of their team,” she said.
She said couples usually have their venue, photographer, and caterer sorted out before they come to her. She then helps the couple decide on a style or theme for their wedding. The couples will create a Pinterest board and add VanBuskirk so she can get a better sense of their style.
Every month leading up to the wedding, she will give the couples a to-do list to make sure they’re on track with their planning. She meets with them monthly and they discuss what has to be done next.
“I often say to couples, ‘give me all the crappy work, give me what you don’t want to do [or] what’s stressing you out.’”
The week leading up to the wedding, Vanbuskirk creates a schedule for both the bride and groom’s family of all the tasks left to do. She also has a to-do list herself, including tasks such as making sure the vendors show up, where they need to set up and making sure the bride gets down the aisle.
During the wedding ceremony and reception, Vanbuskirk works behind the scenes making sure everything they planned is running smoothly.
VanBuskirk said she’s all about the guest experience. Even when she planned events at Rothesay Netherwood, she wanted the guests to feel special and have a fun environment.
“The bride and groom are going to have fun regardless because it’s their day. But I want all of the guests to come because you’re asking your guests to come and invest an entire day … You want them to go away and say that was the best wedding.”
VanBuskirk’s business doesn’t solely focus on weddings. She can also help plan corporate events, baby showers, and bridal showers.
Jessica Saulnier is a summer intern for Huddle. Send her your story tips: [email protected].