Wish Wonder Dream

Tell us about your company name: All my life I've loved words with inspirational connotations. It's interesting to me how many words are in the English dictionary; and while most are just used to convey simple meaning, some are quite deep and packed with profound personal significance. The word "dream" for example is such a wonderful word because there really isn't a limit to how big dreams can get. That's how I feel about weddings and their power to express who a couple is and just how huge the day is for them. I chose my three favorite words, "wish", "wonder", and "dream" and a friend of mine then pointed out the first three letters of those words were my initials—Whitney Wing Drake. It was perfect and the rest is history.

Why should someone hire you? I am absolutely in love with my job! I am inspired and excited to come to work every single day and I work really hard. I am a born perfectionist and I completely understand and relate to how exciting yet stressful planning a wedding can be—which is how I've learned how to alleviate that stress and where I can be most helpful.

What are the common misconceptions about your services? One common misconception is that searching for a coordinator is like shopping for cars. Every Toyota dealership has the same car and car shopping is just about negotiating the best price. But coordinators are not cars and your search can't simply be based on price. Your coordinator's personality, ability to understand and execute your vision and expectations, experience, credentials, and awards are equally important. After all, if you're disappointed because your wedding is poorly managed, but you saved a few dollars on coordination, you're not going to be happy.

What are some sources of inspiration or influences on your work? My weddings are all over the place because each is tied very closely to the couples I work with. I like to think I'm really good at capturing and bringing to life the styles of others, so my portfolio is quite eclectic. On a personal note, I love French and British designs, sparkles, candles, twinkle lights, and black and white movies. I'm madly in love with Gene Kelly, and Audrey Hepburn is my hero.

What's your favorite book/movie/work of art? My favorite modern movie is Good Will Hunting. My favorite classic movie is a tie between My Fair Lady and Singing in the Rain.

What's your favorite marriage advice? A lot of people say things like "choose your battles" or "just let it go." But I tend to disagree with the philosophy that issues should be swept under the rug in an effort to keep the peace. Oftentimes, those few specks of dirt you swept aside become mountains later. So check in with each other regularly and speak your mind—openly and authentically—when something is wrong.

What are some of your favorite places to eat—either everyday spots or special occasion splurges? It's incredibly dangerous to live down the street from The Habit and I do love their burgers. I also love Olive and Fig in Toluca Lake and Lemonade in Pasadena for lunch meetings with clients. And for a special occasion I love Matteo's in West LA. It's where Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, and Marilyn Monroe used to hang out and it hasn't changed much, so it's great for nostalgia and really fantastic food. I also love Kendall's Brasserie for dessert and a glass of wine after a show at the Disney Concert Hall.

Tell us about your favorite moment at a wedding: My favorite moment occurs at the very end. As the bride and groom depart, saying goodbye to all their guests, they have a look of awe on their faces—like they just had the greatest day of their lives and it was an experience they'll share pictures of with their children and grandchildren some day. When that look is on their faces, I know I did my job and I'm really, really happy.