Student Spotlight - Andrea Wilke

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Students Spotlight

Student Spotlight – Andrea Wilke

by Lovegevity | Dec 8 | Student Spotlight | 0 comments

Before I started the CWEP course, I was a full-time nanny struggling to figure out how to avoid going to a 4-year university. I couldn’t convince myself to pay for courses that I’d never use. I really wanted to start a career as a wedding planner but I wasn’t sure how I could learn to do so considering all of the college majors that I had seen didn’t involve exactly what I truly wanted to learn. It took a year of looking but I randomly came across Cape Cod Community College which had an online certification course in Wedding and Event Planning! As soon as I saw this, I knew this was exactly what I’d been waiting for. Lovegevity has completely changed my life!

What 3 things would you like to share about yourself?

1. My name is Andrea Wilke and I am a girl with goals.

2. I am very passionate, determined, and full of love.

3. I like traveling the world, weddings, and volunteering.

Why did you enroll in the Certified Wedding and Event Planning and Design Programs?

I’ve always had a huge passion for theatre and I’ve always been obsessed with weddings. As I was driving around Albany, New York, I drove past a bridal boutique that had the “Hayley Gown” by Hayley Paige hanging in the window. That’s when it clicked. I could combine my love for putting on shows and weddings by creating someone’s Big Day! I haven’t changed my mind since.

What was the inspiration for this project?

If you haven’t learned this about me already, ideas seem to just suddenly hit me. I was taking the children I nanny for to the aquarium and realized how amazing it would be to throw a Gala there. The lights are dimmed, the reefs are gorgeous with incredible color schemes, and I knew that if it got my brain flowing, it could help others as well. Picking a unique location to open your mind is one of my favorite things to do. There is so much beauty and inspiration in the most unexpected places.

What did you find to be the most challenging?

The most challenging part of this project was coming up with the idea! I’m not very good at choosing things because they’re easy. I didn’t want to pick something that others may have already done. I love a challenge and needed time to plan out this project. It was so worth it in the end.

What was your favorite part?

My favorite part was finishing the project and seeing the entire picture come together and being truly proud of my work.

What was the biggest take-away you learned?

This project actually taught me how to be truly proud of myself. I worked so hard on this project and it helped open up a whole new perspective on how to take a challenging venue and turn it into a beautiful vision.

What advice do you have for anyone planning to start a career in wedding and event planning?

My biggest piece of advice for anyone starting their career in the wedding industry is to breathe. There will be bumps along the way and you cannot face them unless you remain calm and just breathe. No bride wants a wedding planner who is more physically emotion than she is on her wedding day.