Juliet Shenderey, founder and director of Shenderey Events, talks to JLife about her life as an event planner.
My Role
Having an event planner used to be a luxury only the rich and famous could afford, but nowadays it’s becoming more essential. More and more people are recognising that it provides value for money, ensuring they can relax and enjoy their event while the event planners keep an eye on the details. At Shenderey Events, we can manage, design and produce an entire event, or provide our help and expertise to one part of an event.
I founded the company with my business partner Zoe Leigh-Njoten with the aim of designing and producing incredible, unique and innovative events for all occasions. Zoe and I have 30 years’ combined experience of creating bespoke events for clients in a range of sectors including music and entertainment, charity, corporate and private.
Our past projects range from private birthday parties, weddings, and Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, to after-show parties for thousands of guests at the MTV Europe Music Awards.
Out of the Ordinary
There’s no such thing as a typical day for an event planner. One day you can be at client meetings or researching new ideas for venues or the latest design trends; the next day you might be drawing up floor plans, designing and creating interiors and invitations, drafting contracts, or confirming menus.
We are constantly working to deadlines, and it can be very fast-paced and demanding. Sometimes 24 hours in a day doesn’t feel like enough!
Event planning is all about the detail so everything has to be checked constantly. It’s called event planning for a reason – 99 per cent of the job is spent planning an event and only one per cent is actually spent at the event.
What I Love
However stressful the job might appear, I, and my team, really love our jobs. There is nothing more incredible or rewarding than giving clients their dream event exactly as they had imagined it. It makes the event not just special for them but also memorable for their guests too. It’s an amazing feeling when all the parts come together seamlessly.
The Moment I’ll Always Remember
‘Expect the unexpected’ is the motto of every event planner. This definitely rang true for us when we were asked to organise a party for a client in celebration of someone special. What our client failed to tell us was that the person who the party was for had actually died – and in effect we were organising a wake. We turned up to the ‘party’ and found the deceased lying in an open coffin! It was definitely the most surreal moment of my career.
The Challenges
The challenges of my job come from the variety of events we deal with and the timescales we work to. For example, we were once asked to organise a wedding for 150 people – in less than three months!
It’s definitely not a nine to five job, and that can be a challenge too. We’re currently working on an incredible all-day wedding in Chelsea with three different venues and over 500 guests. Our day will start at 4am and end about 24 hours later. We’ll be drinking a lot of coffee that day!
For more information, call 07946 629 309 or visit Shenderey-events.com.
Celebrate in Style
Get the party started with help from JLife’s pick of indispensable specialists.
Avenue2Beauty
Avenue2Beauty is set in the heart of Alwoodley, and the qualified team offer a range of affordable treatments from facials and massages to tanning. Treat yourself to a selection of Avenue2Beauty’s latest offers on the website, including Decléor Aroma Expert facials. And go along and enjoy a massage by candle light, leaving you replenished, relaxed, and ready for the party season.
Classic Cleaners
Classic Cleaners in Shadwell specialises in dry cleaning for your delicate clothing. An alterations service is also available and its general laundry service tends to all clothing, as well as sheets and duvets. The team specialises in treatments for wedding dresses and acid-free packaging is available to keep your special garments in top condition.
Linda Abrahams & Co
An array of bespoke invitations and event stationery await when you step through the doors at Linda Abrahams & Co on Stainbeck Lane. They offer a custom design service to ensure that whatever your style, theme or budget your stationery is perfectly tailored to suit you. Whether planning a wedding, Bar/ Bat Mitzvah or special celebration, the showroom is well worth a visit.
Personal Travel Agents
By utilising the help of Adam Palmer, a personal travel agent, you’ll discover a service that’s refreshingly different from most other travel agents you’ll find on the high street, internet, or at the other end of the phone.
He’ll make the process much easier, taking the time to get to know you and the kind of holiday you’re looking for.
The personal touch makes an unparalleled difference – you’ll receive the very best value for money and instant assistance with any detail relating to your travel requirements and plans. Also rest assured that the same level of financial security as a travel agent is guaranteed as Adam is ATOL and ABTA bonded
There really is no restriction on the kind of holiday, travel or leisure experience that can be arranged for you.
Sparkles
For instant glamour, Sparkles, located in Pudsey, is worth a visit, being a major stockist of special occasion dresses, suitable for proms, Bar/ Bat Mitzvahs, weddings, pageants and more. The family-run business boasts designer brands including Jovani and Jasz Couture, while the ranges will suit all styles and budgets. The boutique also stocks jewellery and bags to complete your outfit.
Thorpe Park Hotel and Spa
Pamper yourself with a luxurious spa day at the gorgeous four-star Thorpe Park Hotel and Spa, Leeds. Escape for a day of total relaxation with treatments, a delicious spa lunch and time to just unwind and re-focus. Treat someone special for a celebration or just sneak some quiet time together to catch up on the news. Plus a wide range of gift vouchers and fabulous ESPA gift boxes are available.
