Elena Sieverding

Major: Event Management
Company/Organization: White Ivy Events
Company/Organization website: http://www.whiteivyevents.com
Destination: Iowa City, IA
Timeframe: Summer
Advisor/Coordinator Email: rmcclain@iastate.edu

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include managing vendors, wedding- related set-up and tear-down, deliveries, pickups, wedding day execution, ceremony rehearsals, client and vendor meetings, and any other activities that Amanda needs help with.

Accomplishments

My greatest accomplishment from this experience is gaining a lot of hands on experience within the wedding industry and eventually starting my own photography business. Because of Amanda and Karla, I have had the opportunity to be able to expand my portfolio with wedding venue photos and to understand everything that goes into planning a wedding.

Learning experience

The greatest lessons I've learned so far is to "fake it until you make it." Confidence is key in this field, so even if you aren't sure about a decision, you need to be confident so others follow your lead.

What advice would you give?

My advice for future students is to ask lots of questions. As an intern, you aren't expected to know everything, but you are expected to ask questions. The more questions you ask, the more confident you become to do things without being told. I know my employer likes it when I use my own creativity and make a decision without her micromanaging me. Big picture decisions need to be ran by your employer, but small decisions can be an opportunity for you to prove to yourself and your employer that you are more than capable to take initiative.

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