Megan McDaniel is the wedding and social event executive for Iowa-based The Rewind Hotel, Hotel Renovo and Revel Hotel. “I work with our couples to help them plan, design and execute their event, helping them bring their vision for the big day to reality.” Learn about Megan McDaniel…
Hometown: Des Moines, Iowa
First job: Server at Izaak Walton League (unless you count my dad’s antique store when I was 4).
Favorite ways to spend your free time in IA: In my free time, you will find me relaxing and spending time with my friends/family or my latest obsession, Pilates. I love exploring around town; trying out new restaurants, going to festivals, picking up goodies at the farmer’s market, having a drink on the patio, watching movies and exploring new places!
Your biggest accomplishment and why: Winning Gold for Best Hotel Venue (Hotel Renovo) at the Central Iowa Wedding Choice Awards in 2018 and 2019 and Bronze in 2021. We are such a small hotel venue for your typical weddings, it meant so much to be even be nominated–not to mention win! It makes all the hard work and long hours worth it.
The biggest obstacle you overcame: Finishing my bachelor’s degree (with honors) while my mom was passing away from cancer. Sadly, she passed away three months before my graduation, but I know she was celebrating with me in spirit!
Someone who inspires you and why: My circle of family/friends! They keep me inspired every single day and are always pushing me to be the best version of myself. I definitely wouldn’t have been able to make it through 2020 without their constant support.
Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: Network! Ask someone that works in the field or someone you admire for coffee and get their feedback/advise. They have been in your shoes and sometimes it’s all who you know and making that right connection could get your foot in the door. For wedding/events specifically, reach to different venues, hotels, planners locally and see if anyone needs help with event setup (which they all do!). Weddings/events having many moving parts, and the more you can get behind the scenes and get a feel for it, the more you will learn/grow and gain experience.