One of the many details that distinguishes Waterlily Weddings from other wedding planners out there is our amazing team. Not only are we so good at what we do, we’re honestly a lot of fun to work with. We pride ourselves on our professionalism, dedication to our craft, knowledge and work ethic, and also our ability to be positive and connect with our clients.
We thougtht it’d be fun for our readers and prospective clients to get to know us a bit better! So we’ll be running a fun, casual “Meet The Team” series where we’ll deep dive into everyone’s personalities more, and even get some behind-the-scene takes on what really goes down on a wedding day!
Finally we are so excited to dive a little deeper with owner and lead planner, Michelle Johnstone Clark or “MJC” as we know her.
25 Questions with MJC
Mishy: “Where did you live in the first 5 years of your life?”
MJC: “I was born in Manchester, England, moved to New Zealand before I was one, and then to Ireland before I was 5!”
Mishy: “Favorite childhood memory…”
MJC: “Biking with friends!”
Mishy: “First and last concert you went to?”
MJC: “First one – Yazz and the Plastic Population, last one – Justin Timberlake!”
Mishy: “Favorite drink?”
MJC: “Daytime: extra hot, extra wet cappuccino. Nighttime: Kettle One Cosmo.”
Mishy: “We obvioulsy have to ask this question: where and when did you get married?”
MJC: “St Patrick’s Church in Enniskerry and The Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin – Sept 1st 2000.”
Mishy: “Anything you wish you’d done differently for your wedding?”
MJC: “I wish I had known to get a videographer. I would love video of the whole day.”
Mishy: “Any kids?”
MJC: “Yup! Three boys: Bailey, Pierce, Eli.”
Mishy: “Wow! Twenty years married and three kids… any words of wisdom?”
MJC: “Marry the one that makes you laugh, facilitates your dreams and always wants to hold your hand.”
Mishy: “Where can we find you when you are not working?”
MJC: “Ballet class (yes I still love it) hiking with friends, 305 fitness or PVolve online. Sailing with my boys. Traveling. And at the moment building are ‘forever’ home – we are two years into the project.”
Mishy: “What was your dream job growing up?”
MJC: “I wanted to be a ballet teacher!”
Mishy: “Where did the entrepreneur come from?”
MJC: “Necessity being the mother of invention. Long story, short: Had a job I adored running a marketing agency in Dublin, move to work for a big global corporate and within 5 days knew if was the biggest mistake of my life. So what to do? I wanted to mix my love of event managed with a creative role and be my own boss. And after a year of research, start your own business courses, and brainstorming, Waterlily Weddings was born. That was 2006.”
Mishy: “Favorite designer?”
MJC: “Ted Baker – but once in my life I am going to own an Oscar De La Renta dress!”
Mishy: “You obviously do a lot of traveling for the job. What will you not travel without?”
MJC: “My https://getemarie.com/ wrap, Sony headphones and my YETI water bottle.”
Mishy: “For our readers: favorite part for Ireland?”
MJC: “Well I am a Wicklow woman so Powerscourt and Djouce Woods and Lough Dan are special to me but you cannot beat Dingle in Kerry, Ballyvaughan in Clare and Kinsale in Cork and Kilkenny.”
Mishy: “Must eat in Ireland?”
MJC: “A chip butty, Avoca Cafe sconces, clotted cream and jam, Munster cheese and Ballymaloe Relish.”
Mishy: “You’re in Ireland…. you cannot leave without doing…”
MJC: “Surf in Lahinch, walk the Cliffs of Moher from Doolin to Hags Head, horse ride through Killarney National Park, have a Guinness in the Gravity Bar in the Storehouse, and also in O’Loughlins in Ballyvaughan, tour Kilkenny Castle, have fish and chips in Johnnie Fox’s Pub.”
Mishy: “Where is your favorite place to be?”
MJC: “On our boat with the kids.”
Mishy: “What are 3 words to describe yourself?”
MJC: “Kind, determined, creative.”
Mishy: “What is the best piece of advise you have ever received?”
MJC: “Do not care compare yourself to others.”
Mishy: “What celebrity do you want to be BFF’s with?”
MJC: “Tina Fay.”
Mishy: “What is your favorite movie?”
MJC: “The Breakfast Club.”
Mishy: “Are you a shoe or handbag gal?”
MJC: “Neither really! I love my Vans – and I don’t carry a bag!!”
Mishy: “In the wedding industry, is there anything you’d like to see change or improve?
MJC: “Openness – share, recommend, encourage – we can all make the industry better!”
Mishy: “Favorite part of planning a wedding or on the wedding day is…”
MJC: “When you look at the bride and say – ok you are next and you watch her walk down the aisle – I am a big romantic!”
Mishy: “What’s the best part of your job?”
MJC: “Honestly, helping people create their dream day. Helping them fall in love with the day they are creating and loving every moment of it on the day.”
Mishy: “What’s a favorite moment from a client’s wedding day?”
MJC: “I do love the room reveal.”
Mishy: “What do you still want to accomplish?”
MJC: “We have a milestone event that we are planning this July – this is a HUGE accomplishment! After that I need a little breather before I can decide on our next goal!!
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