It’s that time of year again—Stella Event Design is accepting applications for interns (Event Assistants) to assist us during our 2010 wedding season. Last summer we took on interns for the first time—which I’ll admit was a little scary for us—but after a very successful 2009, we are so excited to offer internship positions again for our 2010 season!
What You’ll Do :: Event Assistants will assist with all day-of wedding tasks including: setting up decor at ceremony and reception sites, assisting vendors with deliveries (ie. cake, flowers, linens, rentals), assisting with the ceremony, assisting vendors as needed throughout the day, ensuring time lines are being followed, trouble shooting problems that arise, and much more. Event Assistants are always working alongside an experienced Planner or Event Associate who is there to direct & teach you!
Who We’re Looking For :: We are seeking junior & senior level students pursuing a degree in a related field (public relations, communications, hospitality & tourism, design, etc.), who are excited about learning the ins-and-outs of event planning, work well with a team, and exhibit a high level of responsibility. Weddings can be a stressful and emotionally charged time for a bride & groom and their families—the ideal candidate is friendly, enthusiastic, calm under pressure, and a great communicator! Most of our events are located in the St. Joseph/Benton Harbor/Harbor Country area, which is 60 minutes from Kalamazoo, 90 minutes from Grand Rapids, and 45 minutes from South Bend. You must be able to travel to Southwest Michigan for events.
What You’ll Get :: This is an unpaid internship and must apply towards college credit. You will walk away from this internship with hands-on experience in event planning & execution unlike anything you can learn in a classroom. This internship puts you in the action, working with real clients, professional vendors and beautiful locations throughout Southwest Michigan.
When You’ll Work :: Weddings are scheduled primarily on Saturdays, with some events on Fridays and Sundays. Interns will be scheduled to work 6-10 events throughout the wedding season (May-September) and we are happy to take schedules into consideration. Interns will also have the opportunity to work in-office during the week (hours flexible) to gain more experience in the planning that takes place prior to the wedding date!
How to Apply :: If you’re interested in joining the Stella Event Design Team for our 2010 season, please email your cover letter and resume (.pdf format preferred) to intern@stellaeventdesign.com. We will be accepting applications through January 30th and will be conducting interviews in February! If you have additional questions, please email intern@stellaeventdesign.com (no phone calls, please).
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What our 2009 interns said about their summer with Stella…
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“… I learned not only about event planning and coordinating, but also about how to work with vendors, what to do when things go wrong, and how to work with your clients in order to make sure that they get what they want. Â This internship gives you the opportunity to gain hands on experience as well as the opportunity to learn from a professional in the field.
One thing that surprised me about this internship was how much fun it was, even though I had to work hard.  There are a lot of things that have to get done for each wedding and going into the internship I knew that I would have to work hard, but I had to work even harder than I thought I would! However, I also enjoyed the work that I was doing even more than I thought I would! Every day that I went to work, I was excited for what we were going to be doing.  The effort we put in always paid off.  At the end of every wedding we were able to reflect on the day and see that we had been successful and this was extremely rewarding.
My favorite part of this internship was working with the Stella Team.  We had a great chemistry and it was easy to work together.  This made accomplishing what we needed to at each wedding possible.  The team that we had allowed us to get things done while having fun at the same time.  I also loved working with the couples.  Seeing them happy and satisfied with our work was exciting. Through this internship I really gained a love for weddings, an even greater love for planning, many new ideas on how to be creative, and great relationships with the women I worked with….”  -Brittany Johnson, 2009 Event Assistant
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“…Interning with Stella Event Design was an incredible experience! When I first met Jessica, I fell in love with the passion that she has for planning exceptional weddings and her excitement and willingness to include me in the process. Each wedding that I worked on provided me with the opportunity to further understand what went into planning a wedding in addition to gaining valuable hands-on experience. I was continually surprised with the different experiences that each wedding provided and have learned first hand that no two weddings are the same. From working with other coordinators at churches to making sure every last detail at the reception is exactly what the bride wanted, I was never without something new and exciting to work on.
The most challenging part of this internship was learning to work with all varieties of people. From the delivery guys and caterers, to the mother of the groom, you definitely need to be flexible and willing to adjust to whatever situation may arise. At the end of an exhausting wedding day, the most rewarding part of the internship was being thanked by the bride and groom for such a wonderful experience. Knowing that everything turned out the way they they wanted it, and knowing that I was a direct part of that was incredible! I would definitely recommend interning with Stella Event Design to anyone who has a willingness to learn, can take challenges as they come, and has a passion for event planning!” -Megan O’Hara, 2009 Event Assistant
