Get to Know Celebrity Event Designer Diann Valentine

 Spotlight: Say “I Do Over” with Diann Valentine 

Every bride imagines her wedding day to be perfect…the couture gown, the flawless makeup, the charming decor, her prince charming, but what about those unthinkable disasters that occur – like the photographer losing all your wedding pictures, or the groom getting into a sudden accident, or your gown getting damaged, or even mother nature organizing a last minute tornado on the day of your wedding. Diann Valentine, Event Designer to the stars including Toni Braxton, Usher, and Martin Lawrence, recognizes that these situations often occur, and she’s ready to help brides relive their dream wedding in her new show, I Do Over on WeTV. We had a chance to ask her some questions about the new hit show and her plans for the future.

 In your words, who is Diann Valentine? 

Diann Valentine is a trailblazer. A woman who has refused to accept tradition as the status quo and has helped women in love define their love stories on their own terms with style and confidence. Diann Valentine is a designer, an author, a mother, a wife, a proud African American woman and a pioneer.

As a well established wedding event expert, author, event producer and designer, just to mention a few – you have still been able to increase the depth of your brand by including Host and Co-Executive producer for your upcoming show I Do Over to be aired on WeTV. What is your vision for the Diann Valentine brand? 

My vision for the Diann Valentine brand has always been clear to me and television has always been a part of the roadmap for my career. My overall career goals have been to be a voice for women in love that want a unique approach to their celebration. Television allows me to reach those women in vast numbers that I could never do by only servicing one bride at a time. In this era of reality TV, television personalities have more opportunities than ever before. My challenge has been finding the right vehicle that allows my sassy personality and wittiness to shine through without behaving badly. I finally feel like I have a great home at WeTV.

Tell our readers a little about your upcoming show “I Do Over”. What is the general premise of the show and overall, what are you hoping viewers will take away after watching your show? 

Couples who’ve experienced disastrous weddings receive a much deserved do-over as I surprise them with the perfect wedding day they missed out on the first time. Along with my wedding team, we transform bridal memories plagued by natural disasters, fainting grooms and missing dresses, into fantasy celebrations that will reset their matrimony. I also offer my brides the unique opportunity to throw tradition to the wind and embrace a few design elements that are anything but traditional. For example, one of my brides wears a baby blue custom wedding gown from R Mine Bridal after tsunami warnings and gale force winds destroyed their first wedding. Another bride enjoys a ‘Vanity Fair’ style photo shoot with Internationally Acclaimed wedding photographer Mike Colon after missing bridesmaid dresses from her first wedding left her family as the butt of every joke for 18 years. My desire is that women will feel empowered after watching I Do Over – that they will be comfortable enough in their own skin to express their love on their own terms and no one else’s. I also hope that women will believe in second chances and that they will never lose hope in the possibilities of what tomorrow can offer us if we remain steadfast and never lose our faith.

How would you say this show differs from or is similar to shows you have done in the past? 

The other shows I have participated in have been very traditional wedding shows of dream fulfillment for first time brides. Also the other shows have always attempted to mold me into something I am not…a conservative wedding planner. I Do Over gave me permission to be my sassy self and in turn, I am able to give my brides permission to do the same. Also, I Do Over is accomplished with only 5 days to pull off these weddings and it was very tough. We really only had five days and there were some days that I was genuinely concerned if we could pull it off or not.

What are the requirements to be featured on “I Do Over” and how do you go about selecting a couple for “I Do Over?” 

Couples looking for a do-over should go to http://www.wetv.com/shows/i-do-over and share their wedding disasters on the forum. To be considered, couples must have a video proof showing the disaster that ruined their wedding.

Your accomplishments are not only testament to your genius but also show you are one busy woman. Which aspect of your work is most fulfilling for you? 

I love design! There is nothing more fulfilling for me than the experience of starting with nothing more than an idea and watching it develop into a jaw-dropping wedding or newly designed home or a gorgeous piece of furniture. I wish I could spend my time only designing beautiful things but as a business owner my list of responsibilities runs long.

What is next for Diann Valentine? 

Before the recession hit our country, I had started developing a line of furniture. With the future looking bright, I have started working again on bringing the line to fruition. And of course I feel that I will always be connected to women in love and will continue to help them mold their love stories on my path to changing our industry – moving it forward – one bride at a time!

Diann Valentine and the I Do Over team. From left to right: Christine “Cece” Counts, D.Micah Lindsey, Diann Valentine, Tiffany Pompey, Stephanie Scribner. Photo: Mike Colon 

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Be sure to check out the premiere of  “I Do Over” this Sunday, November 13, 2011 on WeTV 10/9 central.   Also, follow Diann on twitter @DiannValentine and join the discussion by using hashtag #IDOOVER.