Wedding planner reveals winning tips

By KATIE SEMINARA

Youngstown roots and weddings are never far from the thoughts of Maggie Daniels.

FAIRFAX, VA. — Never overlook the linens.

Linens can transform a boring venue.

This is advice from Youngstown native Maggie Daniels.

Daniels, an assistant professor of tourism and event planning at George Mason University, recently joined ranks with wedding gurus Oscar de la Renta and Tiffany Co. on the Modern Bride 25 Trendsetters of 2008 list.

Her book, “Wedding Planning and Management: Consultancy for Diverse Clients” and her wedding planning course at GMU earned her a spot on the fifth annual list.

“It was really fascinating for me, especially when I read the other people on the list. These are the people I wrote about in my book,” she said.

Youngstown is still home as far as Daniels is concerned. Growing up in Youngstown played a role in how she and Carrie Loveless, co-author, wrote the book.

“Weddings are huge in Youngstown. There are a lot of customs in Northeast Ohio you don’t see anywhere else, and I tried to bring that out in the book,” said Daniels.

The biggest tradition is the cookie table.

“I always tell my classes about the cookie tables,” she said.

It wasn’t until Daniels moved away that she realized the importance of the cookie table.

During her undergraduate years at Miami University of Ohio, she spent her summers working at a country club in Columbus.

“There were three weddings every weekend and I always noticed how similar they all were. I thought, ‘It doesn’t have to be like that,’ ” said Daniels.

The road to wedding planning wasn’t a short one. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in communications, she pursued her master’s at the University of Georgia.

While Daniels was studying to receive her Ph.D. at Clemson University, she specifically started focusing on event planning.

She decided to teach at GMU because she thinks it is one of the best schools to study tourism and event management. The close proximity to Washington, D.C., was also appealing, said Daniels.

GMU first offered the wedding planning class in 2005. After her book was published in 2007, Daniels said the course stabilized and the credibility grew.

No one is required to take the course, but according to Daniels, 100 students still sign up each semester.

“I think they truly appreciate that it’s not an easy course and it prepares them for any arena of event planning,” she said.

A second edition of the book is in the works, and Daniels is also trying to tackle the fiction realm with a more playful wedding read.

Whether inside or outside the classroom, Daniels emphasizes to her students and clients the importance of getting married and staying married.

Daniels started her own consulting business last year, Maggie’s Wedding and Event Design.

“I might take on four weddings a year if it’s the right client,” she said.

A “consultant to the masses” is what Daniels considers herself.

Washington, D.C., hosts the extremes when it comes to weddings, said Daniels. She has to know how to cater to high-end clients, as well as low end, and she must pay close attention to wedding trends.

“Looking at what’s going on in Canfield is just as important as seeing what’s going on in places like L.A. or Atlanta. You don’t want to get in a funk where every wedding looks the same,” Daniels said.

No matter the clientele or the venue, Daniels believes bringing out the personalities of the bride and groom is what makes a wedding.

Family and friends of Daniels get her planning advice for free.

Daniels still has close ties in Mahoning Valley, which she says has some of the best venues for weddings.

“People should pick Youngstown for destination weddings,” said Daniels. “They are always doing unique things there and have gorgeous, stunning locations for reasonable costs.”