October’s WPIC Planner of the Month -Radhika Khan of Rad Occasions

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We are so excited to share a rising star in the wedding industry with you today…WPIC alumni, Radhika Khan of Rad Occasions. Radhika lives and runs her wedding company out of Victoria, British Columbia. We are so proud of what Radhika has accomplished in her time as a relatively new wedding planner on the B.C wedding scene. She exemplifies kindness, honestly and confidence. Everytime she shares her wedding clients photos with us we are simply blown away with the beauty and attention to detail. Her clients love her, B.C wedding pros love her and so do we at WPIC!

–Why the name Rad Occasions? I wanted my company name to clearly relate to my company’s service offering. To me, an occasion is more than just organizing an event. It’s allowing a couple to enjoy an incredibly important moment and create memories that can be cherished for a lifetime. The “Rad” from Rad Occasions is a part of my company name for three reasons: it’s my nickname, it tells my clients who will be orchestrating their day, and its synonymous with awesome (like me).

–Opened company in what year? I realized my passion for weddings after I planned my own in 2011. I planned several weddings for friends and family and eventually took an assistant position for two wedding seasons with another WPIC certified company. After a lot of research and preparation, I opened my business in Victoria, BC in the beginning of May 2015.

–WPIC since? I have been certified by WPIC since February 2015. I first learned about the organization through my experience as a wedding planning assistant. The WPIC came highly recommended and has helped me immensely in achieving a high standard of service excellence for all of my clients.

-Favourite part of the planning process? I love everything about planning weddings but if I had to choose one thing it would be hearing the proposal story. When I first meet a couple I ask them tell me all about the wedding proposal. I am a big romantic and love hearing about the little details that led to the “yes” that ultimately led them to find a wedding planner. I find that the proposal gives you a lot of insight on the dynamic they have with each other and what kind of wedding they are looking for.

–Please tell us some things you have learned over the years that have helped you grow? Checklists and a fully stocked emergency kit are a must in this industry. I use checklists as a tool to be organized and well equipped for the rehearsal and wedding day. I go over the lists a few times to make sure that I have everything that I need to make the day run smoothly. My emergency kit also comes in handy as it allows me to sew, tape, and glue anything into place as well as remove almost any stain. There is also secret compartment that is full of chocolate and candy, which is replenished on an almost weekly basis.

 I have also learned that growing and owning your own business takes a lot of support from those around you.  My amazingly supportive husband, family, and friends have given some of their evenings and weekends to assist me in whatever I may need may it be an ice run or helping set the ceremony space. I really couldn’t have asked for more fantastic people in my life who want to see myself and Rad Occasions succeed as much as I do.

 Lastly I have learned that your full presence is the best thing you can give to anything in life. I adopted this mantra after watching a few videos by Marie Forleo and she was right – instead of focusing on where you want to be, you need to focus on what your doing right now and how you can improve yourself and your process. I have found that this has helped me reach my goals without losing sight of my company (and personal) values.

 –Tell us about a challenge that you overcame that made you a better planner and business owner? In the wedding industry you need to be able to react quickly to a changing environment. Whether that means finding cover for the bride if it starts to rain or transportation for the guests when shuttles don’t show, you need to be on your toes and have a plan. One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced is learning how to respond to the incredibly variable issues that can arise at a wedding. I overcame this by realizing that first I had to try and be ahead of any problematic situation by running through different scenarios and making contingency plans. Secondly, I had to accept that wouldn’t be able to think of every single scenario that could arise but it didn’t matter what happened but how it was handled, as that would ultimately reflect on my company. I’ve found that being prepared, keeping composure, and getting by with a little help from my friends and mentors has helped me to continue to improve my services and turn every wedding I work on into a Rad Occasion.