Welcome to our “Day in the Life” series! We feature wedding and event planners from around the world with many different levels of experience. If you would like to be featured, download our questionnaire here and email your responses and photos to info@plannerslounge.com. We are excited to feature Trinidad and Tabago wedding planner Simone Sant-Ghuran today!

Name: Simone Sant-Ghuran

Business Name & Location: Trinidad Weddings, located on the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago

Years Working in the Event Industry: 18

Years Owning Your Event Planning Business: 18

Website: www.trinidadweddings.com

Business Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/trinidadweddings

Instagram: @trinidadweddings

What is your typical day like?

I typically start my day at 9am, after an at-home exercise work-out, breakfast and coffee (a must!). The first task would be replying to urgent emails and tackling my to-do list for the day, at my home office. At least one day per week is also scheduled for in-person meetings.

I usually prepare my own lunch (I love to cook!) and take a half-hour lunch break before resuming work. I work until 2:30pm so I can do school pick-up for my daughter. After that, I may do any errands that need to get done or continue working until about 4pm. Around 5pm, I like to take at least an hour’s walk in the park, on most days.  

How did you get started in the industry?

I actually got started here in Trinidad and Tobago when the event industry was very new – about 20 years ago. My university degree was in Business Management and I had diplomas in Marketing. At the time, there were only a few event courses being offered by our national hospitality school. So, I attended those but mostly, I learned about events on-the-job and through experience. Back then, I worked for one of the largest banks in the country and my department was responsible for staff and corporate events.

After I left that job, I did HR, marketing and corporate events at a few other jobs before leaving entirely, to freelance for a year – doing marketing consulting, and weddings and event management. I started www.TrinidadWeddings.com in 2004 and we were the first wedding website in the country (before that, wedding vendors used to promote themselves strictly offline or in traditional media like newspapers and the yellow pages. Engaged couples got their information from books, the newspaper, and magazines). Our main service was internet advertising but as the years went on, we added magazine publishing, bridal events, consulting for vendors, and training, to our portfolio.

What inspires you?

I’m inspired by our Caribbean lifestyle, architecture, and culture and traditions. I always want to find a way to best represent that, to the engaged couples we work with – whether it’s through our website features or in our magazine, the TW Wed-Zine.

I also love anything to do with fashion but especially, vintage pieces. Some of the websites and blogs I enjoy are: BHLDN, Anthropolgie, Audrey Coyne (youtube), ProHome Cooks (Youtube), Dearly Bethany (Youtube), Busbee Style (Youtube), Frederique Bros (Youtube) and Fashion and Style Edit (Youtube)

What are your favorite online resources for your business?

• Planners Lounge
• Timeline Genius
• Amy Porterfield.com
• Alan Berg.com

Aside from wedding and event planning, how do you spend your time?

I spend my spare time reading books (I don’t watch much TV but when I do, it’s probably something on Netflix – I love biographies, rom coms, and period films). On weekends, I try to do artsy projects like painting and embroidery. I play tennis once a week and walk at least 15km, 3 times a week.

I enjoy meeting up with friends for small at-home entertaining, or for brunch or cocktails. I enjoy traveling; and pre-pandemic, I would usually plan one big trip a year. My favorite travel spots are in Europe but I also intend to visit Cuba, Argentina, Greece, India, and Portugal, within the next few years. Here’s a little more about me: https://www.trinidadweddings.com/meet-tws-founder/

Simone, thank you so much for taking the time to share your story and a day in your life. If you are an event planner and would like to be featured, download our questionnaire today and email it to us along with a photo. If you aren’t sure about being featured, take a few minutes to read how it can help your business.