Lana Wedding Planner

15/06/2026

2017. Oh yes, that’s me in the photos 🙃 Younger than now. And yes, blonde. The eyes were probably merrier too. Not because life was easier. I simply hadn’t discovered all sides of the wedding industry yet 😂

The second year of my business journey in Dubai.

My background was not hospitality, travel, or events. I entered the wedding industry completely by accident and honestly had no idea what I was getting myself into.

I thought networking events were simple.

You meet people - you introduce yourself - you build relationships.

Well… not always 😂

One thing that genuinely surprised me was how often people pretended not to know each other.

You could see the same faces at multiple events. You could travel to the same international conference. You could even end up in the same car on the way from the airport.

At first, I found it confusing. Today, I find it funny.

Because a few months later, some of those same people approached me saying: “Lana, we’ve heard great things about you. We finally wanted to meet you.”

Life has a sense of humour sometimes.

Looking at these photos today, I don’t think about the events themselves. I think about the people. Some disappeared. Some became friends. Some became business partners. And some are still part of my life almost ten years later.

The funny thing is that none of them are the people from the stories above.

These photos remind me of the people who were supportive, welcoming, and generous with their time.

And looking back, those are the people that truly mattered ♥️

12/06/2026

A hotel with personality that I love Madeira.

10/06/2026

TIPS FOR BRIDES
Many couples ask: “Do we really need a wedding planner?” The answer depends on much more than budget. Swipe through before making your decision.

08/06/2026

For planners
Stop choosing industry events because everyone else is going. Choose them because they support your goals.

More in the reel. Need recommendations? Just ask.

05/06/2026

2019. My second visit to Malaysia. The first one was in 2018 with Shangri-La Hotels to Sabah and Kota Kinabalu. Many people have never heard of these parts of Malaysia, but trust me - they are extraordinary. However, that is a story for another day.

And who decided that today’s story would be Malaysia? My social media manager Tania😂She is responsible for choosing the visuals. I am responsible for sharing the real stories behind them. Fair division of responsibilities, I think.

So, back to 2019. This time I discovered Langkawi Island. Looking at these phone photos today, I still remember my reaction: WOW. I came to Langkawi for an industry event. During those few days I explored hotels, attended B2B meetings and discovered

And this is where the business part of the story begins. I completely fell in love with the hotel. Twelve months later I was back. Not as a guest. With a destination wedding for my Dubai-based clients. Sometimes one site inspection is all it takes.

Now… let’s move to the personal part of the story😂 The gala dinner took place on my birthday. I asked my industry friends to keep it a secret because I didn’t want people who barely knew me to feel obliged to come and say Happy Birthday.

“Don’t worry, Lana.” Famous last words. I arrived almost an hour late. When I finally arrived at the beach… People started approaching me. Congratulations. Hugs. Kisses. Everyone somehow knew. My dear friends had already started celebrating my birthday without me and apparently informed half of the event about it😂

And if you think the story ends there… It doesn’t.
At the end of the evening nobody wanted to go back to their rooms. “The show must go on!”

Next thing I knew, our group was being loaded into waiting minivans. Apparently the industry gala dinner after-party had now become Lana’s birthday party. The details of that night will remain confidential. What I can share is that it was the last night in my life when I drank tequila shots🙃The next morning we still had B2B meetings scheduled. Then a long flight back to Dubai. I don’t know how we survived. What happens in Malaysia stays in Malaysia😉

03/06/2026

01/06/2026

2018. I received a WhatsApp message from a wedding industry colleague who later became one of my closest friends in the business.

At that time, however, we were simply colleagues who had met several times at international industry events.

She asked if she could share my contact details with the organizers of a wedding industry event in Monaco. She had been invited herself and was asked to recommend another planner she respected.

She recommended me.
I checked the dates, they worked perfectly, and I said yes.

A few days later, I received a personal invitation to attend a wedding industry event in Monaco.
At that time, I had no idea how influential this event was within the international wedding industry. So I packed my suitcase and went to Monaco.

Looking back, what I remember most is not the hotels, the yachts, the beautiful venues, or even Monaco itself.

What I remember are the people. The conversations. The introductions. The connections.

Some of the professionals I met during those few days are still part of my professional network today.

And this is exactly why I always tell planners not to focus only on exhibitors when attending industry events.

Look around.

Your future business partner may be sitting next to you at breakfast.

The person who recommends you for an opportunity five years from now may be standing beside you during a coffee break.

The colleague who introduces you to an entirely new market may be someone you casually met at a networking reception.

These photos show Monaco.

They do not show the relationships that started there. And those relationships turned out to be far more valuable than any venue visit or business card collected during the trip.

The lesson?

When you attend professional events, keep your eyes open in all directions. You never know which connection will stay with you for decades.

28/05/2026

FOR BRIDES
One thing couples realise very quickly during planning?
A wedding planner is not someone you “hire and forget about”.
The whole process works differently depending on how you communicate, make decisions, trust the process - and how well you work together.

And usually, the couples who enjoy planning the most aren’t the ones controlling every detail. They’re the ones who understand how to work with their planner, not against them

25/05/2026

FOR WED PROs: The industry will not come to you. At some point you have to walk into the room. And honestly? The first time always feels slightly awkward. Everyone already knows everyone. You’re the new face. But this is how it starts -
one conversation, one event, one person remembering your name later. That’s the real beginning, don’t you think so?