Interview With Amanda Hudes of 'Smiling Through Chaos' - Event & Wedding Planner

I pose some questions to Amanda Hudes of Smiling Through Chaos. She has a magnetic and bright personality which fits her style of planning. Check her out at www.smilingthroughchaos.com.

What's the story behind the name, "Smiling Through Chaos"?
I kept hearing how so many people found planning their big events so stressful, and I wanted to
help people ENJOY the process rather than just get through it. I wanted people to know that
working with me would be an experience that would make them smile even bigger and allow
them to focus on their moment. So I knew it would be, “Smiling Through” something. Then I
thought about what it COULD be like working with the wrong business or no business at all and
I thought, “Chaos.” And that was it! After looking at my list of possible names I knew it was the
right choice.

How did you get into event and wedding planning and how many years have you been
planning?
I started out planning events in the corporate world, and planning weddings on the side, about
10 years ago. I am an emotional person in that I love seeing people in love, seeing people so
excited, and seeing people during the most important times of their lives. That made me want
to focus more on those types of events, such as weddings, showers and anniversary parties
more than corporate events. Being able to help people in this way while having the opportunity
to have my own business and run full steam ahead is something that I am so grateful for.

What are the most important aspects of planning a party or event in general?
I think of everything as “branding.” Keeping that mindset allows me to “stay on brand” when
creating events for clients. For example, if a client wants a castle as a venue with pastel colors
but then also wants an “under the sea” theme, I might discuss this with them to see if we can
focus on one element rather than try to make the theme fit the rest of the idea.
If you can always go back to the main focus / idea, you’ll be able to rule out certain options that
come up because they either will or will not make sense for your original idea.

Besides planning, are you involved in any other projects? Is there anything else on the
horizon?
Smiling Through Chaos is a unique business in that it focuses on planning major lifetime events
with the additional services offered to help clients look and feel their best FOR the event. That
includes nutrition, exercise guidance, fashion styling and relaxation techniques – one call to
have everything you need for a successful and enjoyable experience. So that keeps me busy!
I also recently launched a bestselling book, “Smiling Through The Chaos Of Wedding Planning,”
sold on Amazon.com.
And this week I’m launching videos on You Tube featuring guidance and tips on event and
wedding planning!

Welcoming Stephen to the world.

Newborn shoots are special to me, having experienced the intense emotional ride of watching my own daughter enter this world, I understand how special it is to record them during this eventful time. What a fleeting moment in time before they leave the newborn stage. Why not record this piece of history? 
I'd like to share some of the photos I took with you.

Family and the changing foliage

Sometimes plain backdrops are effective. Their simplistic nature draws more attention to your subject. When fall comes around we get a chance to oppose that idea in a way, including the background in a way that adds to the subjects and is a sort of timepiece.

This beautiful family chose this time of year to have family portraits taken. The changing foliage presents a prevailing feeling of change reminding me of the circle of life. In these photos I feel the energy and love emanating through their interactions with each other.

Part of what I truly enjoy about photography is the opportunity to record history for families and individuals. Something that years in the future, families can cherish and for a brief moment, return to this beautiful fall day among the changing foliage.

Wedding high above Brooklyn.

The William Vale Hotel in Brooklyn is a site to behold. It is a newly built building with a pristine view of the Manhattan skyline. Being second shooter (the amazing Fabio Fistarol www.fabiofistarol.com being the primary Photographer) for this wedding was a true joy and opportunity.

William Vale hotel rooftop.

Dani and Lina's wedding ceremony took place on the roof giving an epic backdrop to their wedding.  Still, the scenery could not match the level of love emanating from these two. Photographers look for this spark in a couple which translates into photos in a way that cannot be faked.

First look.

The lead up to the ceremony is different for every wedding and always exciting. Capturing genuine moments of family interacting on these monumental days is gratifying. My hope is that my candids help the couple and their family revisit these days from a different perspective.

Beautiful evening ceremony with the NYC skyline

The reception was no slouch either. If I had this much fun shooting the party, I can only imagine the fabulous time the guests had. What a great way to conclude the night!

Love is in the air.

Adam and Virginia made this photo session something special. Virginia is slightly shy, less talkative and always smiling. Adam is immediately outgoing, full of information and ready to share with whomever will listen.  Shooting this couple allowed for these two personalities and their interactions unfold for the camera. I think the photos are a good portrayal.