The florist didn’t show up.
I made sure no one noticed.
A behind-the-scenes look at fixing a vendor issue before guests arrived.
Client Snapshot
Industry: Economic development non-profit (internal event)
Organization: Winnipeg Economic Development & Tourism
Event: CEO Farewell Celebration
Location: Offsite, upscale venue in Winnipeg
Guest count: ~ 60 people
The Situation
After leaving my role at Winnipeg Economic Development & Tourism (formerly Economic Development Winnipeg), I stayed connected to help plan Dayna Spiring’s going away party.
I had worked closely with Dayna as her assistant for five years. She’s well known for having incredibly high standards and expects things to be done well.
This event needed to reflect that, as well as her significant contributions to WEDT and Winnipeg’s economic development ecosystem over the previous seven years.
So we planned it intentionally:
A bougie, well-kept Winnipeg secret for the venue (Langside Grocery)
Fun appetizers and craft cocktails
An exclusive guest list
Simple, thoughtful decor, including floral centrepieces from a local florist
Everything was in place.
Or so we thought.
What Went Wrong
On the way to set up at the venue, I got a message from the staff:
The florist hadn’t delivered and no one was picking up the phone.
So, I detoured to the shop.
The sign on the door stopped me in my tracks:
“Closed this week for vacation.”
UM, WHAT???
The venue was beautiful but it was a restaurant and needed a bit of decor to feel festive. The flowers would provide the perfect pop with the wood furniture on the outdoor patio. And the flowers we’d ordered AND PAID FOR were not coming.
I looked at my watch, the party would start in 90 minutes.
What I Did
I got back in my car, called the team and asked them to redirect the floral budget.
Then I drove to the largest grocery store nearby and bought every white bouquet they had in stock. Lilies, roses, daisies, hydrangeas, chrysanthemums, snapdragons - I bought them all, along with some greenery.
Add in some simple vases and I raced back to the venue.
I pulled apart the bouquets, trimmed them and cleaned the stems. Then arranged the flowers into six beautiful centrepieces.
I finished just as guests started arriving.
What This Actually Shows
This is the part most people miss about event planning.
It’s not just about:
booking vendors
creating timelines
or choosing decor
It’s about what happens when something goes wrong.
Because something always does.
The difference is:
whether your team has to deal with it - often without the time or expertise to fix it
or whether it gets handled quietly, professionally, and without disruption
The Result
The room looked intentional.
The florals felt clean, cohesive, and on-theme.
No one knew there had been an issue.
In fact, I received multiple compliments on the centrepieces.
What This Really Solves
On the surface, this looks like event planning.
But what clients are actually buying is:
Someone to step in when something goes wrong
Someone to make decisions quickly and confidently
Someone to fix problems before they impact the room
Because when things break down, it doesn’t just “get handled.”
It lands on your team—
often without the time or expertise to fix it.
And that’s where things start to unravel.
Who This Is For
This is for you if:
You have a high-stakes event where things need to run properly
Your team is already at capacity and can’t absorb more
You want someone who can make decisions and solve problems in real time
You care about how the event reflects on your organization
This is NOT for you if:
You’re comfortable figuring things out as you go
You expect your team to figure it out—even when it’s not what they were hired or trained to do
You’re okay with small things going wrong and being visible to guests
You see event planning as a checklist, not an experience
The Bottom Line
Your event doesn’t fall apart because something goes wrong.
It falls apart when no one knows how to fix it.
That’s the role I play.
Let’s Talk
If you’re planning a retreat or event and thinking:
“What happens if something goes wrong?”
That’s exactly where I come in.