A Q&A WITH EMILY TRAINOR
Originally from Charlotte, N.C., Emily grew up with a love of entertaining people, either through parties or her time in theater. She went to school at Elon University where she studied music and arts business in vocal performance. While in college, Emily was always planning events, benefit concerts, and retreats for various organizations, which sparked her interest in the hospitality industry.
After college, she interned with the Martha Graham Dance and Walt Disney companies before making the big move to Nashville in February 2021.
Emily likes to spend her free time exploring the city and finding the best places to eat or get coffee, her current favorite being Portland Brew in 12South. She is a classically trained singer and can make “magic and pixie dust” for all of her events.
Keep reading to find out more about our event coordinator, Emily Trainor!
How long have you been a planner?
I have been in the hospitality industry for about 3 years. I started working at Disney World right after college and learned about hospitality at a large and small scale. I have been a full-time planner since March of 2021 when I started at Infinity!
Where do you draw inspiration from?
I draw inspiration a lot from social media and people in my life. I love seeing how different planners around the world showcase their skills and how friends and family make things special on both large and small scales.
How do you stay on top of everything? Any organizational tips or tricks?
I make lists for everything. I carry a notebook with me almost everywhere I go and either take notes on my phone or handwritten. I also tend to color-code my notes in order to make them clear as to what needs to be done and when.
What themes or unique details have been your favorite from one of your events?
Specific themed events are my favorite. I did an event with an old-school baseball theme and we were able to be super creative with the decor and design. It was by far one of my favorite events to create.
If you could give one piece of advice to couples planning a wedding what would it be?
My one piece of advice to couples would be to believe and speak out for what you want. There can be so many opinions from people regarding ideas and details for events, but the couples are the most important. As planners, we want to make sure their dreams are fulfilled for the event to be what they want.
What are some of the challenges you face when planning an event and how do you overcome them?
One challenge that I face while doing events is making sure each event is fully unique. We have many brides who have wonderful visions, but sometimes they are similar to each other. Then it is our job to make sure each couple or event’s individual personalities come through so that the event becomes personable each time.
What is one of your favorite memories from one of your events?
One of my favorite moments from an event was a wedding that had a live painter. Throughout the cocktail hour and dinner portion, an artist came in and painted the room with the couple dancing in the middle. At the end of the wedding, the couple got to take it home to then display in their home. I think that is such a unique and special keepsake that is so rare and personal.
What’s your favorite part about your job?
My favorite part of my job is creating a relationship with each couple or client during the planning process. Some clients we work with for months or even years, so we see a lot of life moments happen. Especially through the last year, so much planning has been done via Zoom or online a lot has changed through people's lives. Then when their event comes around we can finally meet in person and help them celebrate their special day!
