Scotch Plains Event Planner Helps You 'Smile Through Chaos'

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ — Scotch Plains local Amanda Hudes definitely has her hands full as a successful event planner, author, mother of two boys and stepmother to two girls. Yet through it all she is "smiling through the chaos."

Hudes may have founded her event planning business — which is fittingly named "Smiling Through Chaos" — four years ago but she had been an entrepreneur long before the launch.

She launched a nutrition business about 20 years ago "by accident."

"I grew up with food allergies and had a lot of people coming to me for questions about it and also asking for help to lose weight in a healthy way," Hudes said.

Hudes got certified and while running her nutrition business she began working in the corporate world where she was helping to plan and manage events for the past 10 years.

This expanded into Hudes planning personal events on the side where she would also help create a menu with her nutrition background.

"Smiling Through Chaos" was the combination of her two passions.

"Offering nutrition, fashion styling, relaxation techniques and other options allows those working with Smiling Through Chaos to have the best experience possible," Hudes said.

Hudes’ business has been very successful as she was given a five-star rating by Wedding Wire and The Knot.

Her events include planning weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, milestone birthdays, holiday parties, and other big events. Her focus is on helping people enjoy the process during the planning, rather than just the day, reducing the stress that can come along with creating an event.

Hudes notes its all about the "feeling." The vibe someone wants at their event.

"This is their story and I want to give them the feeling they want at their event," Hudes said. "I make sure all of the vendors and everyone understands the theme and feeling. I am really choosy about who I work with. I want vendors to be enjoyable to work with for clients and myself to keep smiling through chaos."

Hudes also recently wrote the bestseller on Amazon, "Smiling Through The Chaos Of Wedding Planning," which offers tips on how to plan an event or what questions to ask when hiring a vendor.

For more information on Smiling Through Chaos email Amanda@SmilingThroughChaos.com or visit SmilingThroughChaos.com or call 845-264-5575 or Facebook and Instagram.

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