Back up plans

When professionals talk about having other people on their team as backup, they aren’t trying to “sell” you something. I know some people respond with, “what's the worst that could happen?” Well, on Sunday, June 6, "the worst" happened to the photographer I was working with.

Let me set the stage for you.
Carley and Adam are such a great couple - down to earth, easy going and recent medical school graduates - who just really got you excited to work with them. They hired the awesome Erin Proud, from Proud to Plan, to help them organize their day and surround them with the right professionals. Erin went to work right away and suggested professionals for them to meet with. On Erin's suggestion, they met with and booked, us for DJ and lighting, and Jenn Childress for photography. From the moment I met with them, I knew we were in for a great time. Erin, Jenn and I work together often - and we always have a great time - but we were even more stoked to be working this wedding together because of how great the couple was.

Skip ahead to the wedding day and upon my arrival I see a very poised and hard working Erin Proud. Now, for those of us that know Erin, she is always relaxed and laid back. I had never seen her so focused and so in control. She sees me and immediately fills me in on what is going on.

Before the ceremony had started, Jenn was busy at work taking some awesome pictures - Carley and Adam were the perfect couple for Jenn. She knew it was going to be a great day at Pen Ryn Mansion. As Jenn was getting ready to create a shot, the unthinkable happened - she fell and badly hurt her ankle. She was in a lot of pain, and Jenn is a tough cookie. “Shake it off” is her motto. But this time, no amount of shaking it off was going to suffice, she had broken her ankle.

Luckily there were about 15 doctors at the wedding, so within 15 minutes she was all wrapped up and ready to go to the emergency room. But Jenn wasn’t about to go anywhere. You see, Carley and Adam hired Jenn, and even if she couldn’t shoot, she could still be there. This is the sign of one heck of a professional.

While all this was going on, Erin and her staff did what they were there to do. Jenn told Erin who to call and she and her staff got on it so the bride and groom wouldn't have to worry. Joy Moody was at the bike race in Manayunk when she got the call. Without any hesitation Joy was in her car and on her way to Pen Ryn. Ryan Estes was in a client meeting when he got the call, but said he'd be there in 30 minutes. Now, even if these incredible photographers could not have made it, Jenn always has another photographer with her, so with Joy and Ryan on their way, Mike Landis was already there shooting.

All I have to say about these professionals is wow! Joy, Ryan and Mike, you guys are the best around. To come in and help a friend out like you did was incredible. Not only were you so great to work with (we all had a blast), but your pictures for the slide show were A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! I could not have been more proud of the group of professionals I was with that night and I am so happy to be able to call you all my friends.

Jenn ended up staying the whole night and sat right behind us. And she edited one heck of a slide show! She eventually went to the ER around 2:00 am and found out that she broke her ankle and foot.

If you take anything from this story let it be this, hire a wedding planner. You never know what is going to happen on your wedding day, and in case something out of the blue happens, you want to be prepared with someone like Erin on your side. This wedding was still a success due in large part to Erin, and Jenn's photographer friends.

So when you're choosing your professionals make sure to ask them about their back up plans - the professionals that are worth it, will make sure that you are covered no matter what. Carley and Adam had four amazing photographers at their wedding and I can’t wait to see the pictures.

So to Ryan, Joy and Mike - thank you for helping out my friend and an awesome bride. To Erin and team - you had so much going on and handled it all with grace and tremendous poise.
And to the staff at Pen Ryn - Wow! Great job working with all of us.

-Jason