Life & Work with Diane Pyle of Overland Park

Today we’d like to introduce you to Diane Pyle.

Hi Diane, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I planned my daughter’s wedding in 2009 and loved every minute of the experience. We had a sit-down dinner for almost 300 guests. When it came to her wedding day, I realized I was running all over the place and not enjoying the day as I should as Mother of the Bride. I had candles to light, and people who showed up who did not RSVP, and there was no place for them to sit. Various other little problems arose, and I was the only one to handle those problems.
After the wedding excitement wore off, I realized that if I had had a ‘Day Of’ Coordinator, I would have enjoyed my daughter’s wedding day to the fullest. I decided to take an online class to become a Wedding Planner. I wanted to be sure that other Mothers of the Bride and Groom could relax and enjoy their child’s wedding day without worrying about the tiny details. I started planning weddings for friends, and the feedback I received was terrific.
My business is all “word of mouth.” After doing several weddings with excellent reviews, I figured I was good at this. I am highly organized, detail-oriented, and can work with anyone. If there are any problems, I will address them quickly, diplomatically, and efficiently.
I do about 5-6 weddings a year that fit into my schedule, and I love working with each bride and groom to make their day perfect!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My husband and I love to travel, and sometimes, I can’t take on a wedding because I will be traveling. I have found two people who can now assist me when this happens. I book the wedding, work closely with the bride and groom, and then have my assistant take over for the “Day of” facilitation of the created timeline.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I was the Director of Admissions for Saint Thomas Aquinas High School for twenty years. I spoke to countless families about why they should choose private education for their children over public education. I help with special events and Open Houses each year, involving the entire staff. Due to my influence, I am immensely proud of all students and families who chose to have their child attend Aquinas.
I have been Director of Financial Assistance and Scholarships at Aquinas for the last two years. Now, my job is to offer financial aid to those families who demonstrate a financial need based on their application and supporting tax documents. I love to help as many families as possible who qualify within my budget. In addition, I offer scholarships to incoming freshmen and upperclassmen. Selecting over 70 scholarship recipients each year gives me great pleasure. I hold a Scholarship Reception in the spring, during which all recipients can meet the scholarship donor they received. This is a very energizing and fulfilling evening.

In addition to my work at Saint Thomas Aquinas High School, I have been an International Exchange Coordinator with EF High School Exchange Year since 2013. My husband and I have mentored 76 students coming to Kansas from all over the world. I find host families for the students and mentor both the students and their host families for their 10-month exchange year. I am immensely proud to work with these international students.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
Christmas time was always magical. When I was growing up, we lived in Minnesota and Chicago, so there was always a lot of snow. It just always seemed magical and memorable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://spectacularweddings.net/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spectacularweddingsdiane
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diane-pyle-b8352418/