It’s been an exciting couple of years since entrepreneur; Priti Raichura left the corporate world to launch her own business. We caught up with the wedding and events planner to talk about her achievements and what’s in store for 2020.
‘Amazing at what she does’, ‘excellent communication’ and ‘supportive’ is just some of the positive feedback given from clients to describe the services provided by Priti Raichura Events (PR Events). It’s been two years since Priti took the plunge and left behind a comfortable, 9-5 job with the NHS to set up her own events business, and she hasn’t looked back since.
What began as a hobby has turned into a passion that’s quickly become an international, award-winning success. PR Events bring visions to life and plan everything from luxury weddings to corporate events. Services include; venue sourcing, supplier sourcing, theming and design, guest liaison, event host and master of ceremonies.
As a busy businesswoman and dedicated mother-of-two, we were interested to find out how she juggles it all so effortlessly: “Once I’ve done the school run, from 9am-3pm I’ll have time to do the planning, have my meetings with suppliers and catch-up with my clients. Then I will pick my children up from school and spend some quality time with them. Once they’re in bed, I will then be back on the phone with my clients or meet with them if necessary.
“Unfortunately, I do have to give up some of my weekends, but I always try to plan it so that if I have a wedding on a Saturday, I have the Sunday off or vice versa.”
It’s been an exciting and non-stop 2019 for the events planner, she’s worked with a diverse array of international brands from the Leicester Curry Awards, FNX India, Toronto Curry Awards, as well as the Holiday Inn, and the peak wedding season has come to a close: “This year has been great because I’ve managed and help execute some themed and bespoke weddings. The theming part is extremely exciting because it allows us to be creative.
“I had a bride who got married in May, and her whole concept was based on an enchanted forest. We went out looking for the right venue, and we had the décor company make bespoke style decorations for the reception in the evening, which also featured dancers to fit the theme.”
In preparation for executing the perfect event, Priti makes it her utmost priority to get to know her clients, and it’s key that they find her approachable. Going the extra mile is what set’s PR Events aside from its competitors, as she explains: “For me, I like to get to know my clients and become friends with them. They need to be able to fully trust me as their planner, as someone that can help design the theme that they’re looking for.”
“I don’t put a timeline on how many hours the clients should meet with me; I will speak to them as many times as they need to speak to me. I will make time for them in that whole year, and if they need me to meet with suppliers, I will make time to go. It’s important for me to know exactly what the client wants. If I don’t get even one element of it right, it’s a failure, so I have to make sure that it’s the best of the best.”
Although she works all hours around the clock to provide truly unforgettable weddings for her clients, Priti openly reveals the most rewarding aspect of her job: “It’s seeing a smile on the bride and grooms face at the end of the day, and when I get a big hug to say thank you, that’s really heart-warming because we become friends.”
Perseverance and hard work have certainly paid off as Priti has won a handful of prestigious awards from the Midlands Asian Wedding Awards to Britain’s Asian Wedding Awards, where she received Wedding Planner of The Year in London back in February: “When I received the award for Wedding Planner of the Year, I was actually in shock; I didn’t believe that I’d won. When they announced my name, I just sat there thinking they’d made a mistake. It was only when my husband nudged me and said, ‘they’re calling out your name’ that it registered. It has just been the icing on the cake for me, and it’s opened up so many new doors.”
The awards, Priti humbly reveals, has given her more exposure not just across the UK but overseas also. She’s currently planning destination weddings in Goa, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Canada for next year.
Finding time for herself is tricky, but when she’s not working, the events planner enjoys mini-spa breaks and afternoon tea with friends and family: “Particularly over the summer, it becomes incredibly difficult to do those things, but I try to switch off by meditating regularly, which really helps me relax and take time out.”
With her diary filling up fast for events and weddings in 2020, Priti is also in the process of organising a ‘free wedding’ for one lucky couple, where everything from the venue to the outfits will be sponsored. The wedding planner also enthusiastically shares that she’s managing an upcoming singer who’s bagged a record label in Mumbai, and will be performing at a few of her upcoming wedding’s. Watch this space!
By Jessica Challoner-Sterland
