The short answer? YES. We all make dumb mistakes, and as I’ve mentioned before the most important thing is to learn from them. So, what are some of the dumb mistakes I’ve made?
Here, only for you, are my top 5:
- Dumb mistake #1: 20 years ago, I arrived at an event I was supposed to be working on…a DAY LATE. I showed up and asked where everyone was and they said, “It happened yesterday!” (At the time folks, I was late because I had been too busy partying the night before. This year marks my 20th year of being sober.)
- Dumb mistake #2: I thought it would be a great idea to have live goldfish in glass urns for centerpieces. Well…I never thought about the fact that the live fish could DIE before the event even started! Imagine walking into a room full of centerpieces with fish floating belly up.
- Dumb mistake #3: I picked the wrong kind of tapers to use for decor. I used tapers which burned too fast and became almost like torches at each table. In fact, they left black marks on the tabletop. Oy.
- Dumb mistake #4: I love incorporating water into my designs, especially fountains. However, the sound of the water running ended up encouraging (yes, let’s use that word) the men and women sitting at the tables to visit the restroom frequently. Yes folks, some dumb mistakes can lead to long bathroom lines.
- Dumb mistake #5: I thought it would be beautiful and dramatic to use green gels in the lighting for one of my events. Little did I know that GREEN LIGHT is not necessarily flattering on any human’s skin tone! Next time I’ll save the green gels for an alien masquerade party.
It’s fun to look back and laugh at your dumb mistakes. Tell me folks, what’s one dumb mistake you’ve made? Let’s laugh together.
George Bernard Shaw once said: “You see things and say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were and say, ‘Why not?’” That quote embodies how Preston Bailey approaches every event.
John Murph
May 4, 2010
Oh, I can relate briefly to your first one. Once during my radio program on WPFW-FM, I was soo tired — I was doing the graveyard shift. So I got one of the avant-garde jazz LPs in which one song takes up an entire side. Well, I decided to play it so that I could take a breather. It wasn’t until the song was near the end until I realized that I had played this 18-minute song on the WRONG speed.
Eve
May 4, 2010
oh goodness, I laughed so hard!!! thanks for sharing. Congratulations on 20 years -a remarkable achievement!
I don’t have anything as dramatic to share, but most definitely made stupid mistakes. Once at one venue the wooden floors were so wonky that when people walked the whole table wobbled. The whole night i was just waiting for the massive arrangement to collapse on top the guest (they didn’t but it was stressful). And the other time the flower arrangements were placed on top of the candelabra (impressive display of blooms, trailing and the whole shabang). I failed to register that the candles were also going on the candelabra. When the staff lit the candles there was a funny burn smell coming from the arrangements. TOTAL FAIL!
Suzanne Smith
May 4, 2010
20 years!! that is something to brag about! My Husband is nearing 18 years sobriety!
Thankfully not too many “Mistakes” but I can relate to the candles and my pet peeve beach wind!!
We had a client a few years back that requested Hundreds of candles everywhere at a Malibu estate( this was before the flickering LED’s) I ended up leaving 2 crew members on site just to relight the darn things. LOL
Joana Tomova
May 4, 2010
Very funny stories, but I can imagine how did you felt back then!
The MOST stupid thing that i ever done. It was my first wedding…. I even don’t wanna remember it, but … I’m going to arrange a restaurant for a wedding,/ a small one/, so I’m going alone, and i just took with myself one of my friends, just for company. and as I drive, and we are talking funny stories, I missed the exit , that I had to turn, and after 15-20 min. I was lost.. we were outside the town. I didn’t know were I was. The car run out of gas…. no gas station… I’m walking with 2 bottles of water 2 km to the nearest gas station …. after 5 phone-calls and asking 3 men for the right direction I am in front of the restaurant… all the guest are in, eating and waiting for the bride and groom to come in… They are preparing at the door….. I “fleu” in front of them with flower arrangement in both hands, my friend too. And as all the guests are already eating and drinking I’m placing the arrangement at the center of the tables /moving around glaces and bottles/ . I will never forget the looks that the bride and groom were giving me, as I walked in and out of the restaurant with the flowers! And at the top of it… I forgot to place the flowers on the wedding cake.. Imagine their faces when the cake came for the ritual with absolutely no decoration… My wost day ever!
Debbie Welch
May 5, 2010
Dumb mistakes- Well I am sure there is not enough room on this page to list them all but since you listed 5 – Here are my top five 1.) getting married at 17- what was I thinking?? 2.) divorcing the man and then remarrying him again two years later- same result- it just did not work- You can see why I ended up in the wedding business- I believe in all that fairy tale stuff- happy ever after and all! But the first two really big mistakes , lead me to discover who I am and what my dreams are. Looking back, I have no regrets. Now I can live life to the fullest! 3.) Deciding to work with a client because I can get along with anybody… sometimes that is just not possible- some people are just not happy people and even when you give them what they ask for , they blame you for it. So weed out all the nasty people!! 4.) Letting a bride talk me into using some centerpiece she found at Michaels and then want me to make it something it will never be ( like safe) and finding out later that the candles in the piece caught the flowers on fire! 5.) Loosing my temper for any reason . Congratulations on the 20 year mark- My brother is at the 10 year mark and I am very proud of him – I love him no matter what happens.
Terri Bergman
May 5, 2010
We all make mistakes and love the fact that you shared with all of us! In this business you have to laugh at your mistakes, learn from them and be humbled! Loved this blog.
Warm regards,
Terri Bergman
MELISSA
May 5, 2010
Telling everyone at a private hydrosol party that I met the hostess at the plastic
surgeons office…. she later said that no one there knew about her plastic
surgery… i felt like a lamb being offered up for slaughter…
xxxoo
melissa
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Heather G.
May 16, 2010
Thank you for this post and I commend you on your 20 years!
My dumb mistake is staying in a job that I didn’t like for 8 years too long, and the smartest thing I did was marry the man who convinced me I was worth more then I gave myself credit for. Today, I am the proud owner of a wedding consulting business here in Denver, CO. You are an inspiration and I always look forward to your posts.
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Kristine B
May 20, 2010
Oh my goodness. I had a good laugh. I’m just getting starting in the business and believe me I’m taking notes. So far my biggest mistake is not drawing the line in what I do. For now I’m just into decorating and not coordinating. Sometimes my clients and myself seem to cross over that line and I end up doing more than what I was suppose to do.
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