I'M A PLANNER ON BE A PLANNER: Erinn Ryan

Now that we've been posting "I'm a Planner" features for a while now, we thought it might be fun to give you all a little more insight into our office and staff at MasterPiece Weddings. We're kicking it off with Erinn, our fabulous intern.

Erinn Ryan | MasterPiece Weddings

Name: Erinn Ryan
Location: Gainesville, Florida
Company: MasterPiece Weddings
Years in Business: I've been working with MasterPiece Weddings since January 2009.
Website: www.masterpieceweddings.net
Blog: www.masterpieceweddings.blogspot.com

I also have a personal blog where I keep up with different events I am working as well as my own wedding plans: www.behindtheknot.com

What are your three favorite sources of wedding inspiration?

I get the most wedding inspiration from places I have traveled to. I grew up in Lousiana so a lot of my inspiration comes from the deep south. Soulful city venues, good food, and big families is what I tend to grativitate towards and love the most. I love Martha Stewart magazines, design blogs, and high fashion accessories. But really, most of inspiration comes from keeping up with wedding trends and doing a lot of research on the internet.

Why did you get started wedding planning?

I'm in school for Event Management and worked at a ceremony venue and saw weddings every weekend. I loved working with the bride and seeing how all the planning comes together. I took a certification course with Melissa from MasterPiece and knew I needed to be in this industry right away. I started taking internships and working weddings from the planner perspective and have never looked back!

What is one thing in your office that you could not live without, technology excluded?

Post It's and Multi colored sharpies. I'm a list maker and if I don't write it down when I think of it, my thoughts would never follow through! Oh, and my Vera Bradley Day Planner because I don't trust an online calendar. What happens if one day it just wasn't there?! Too scary :)

If you could make one recommendation to a new planner, what would it be?

Take the time to learn from different professionals in the area. As a new planner coming in to the industry, I'm constantly working with different vendors and asking questions on how their work is completed. I think it makes you appreciate the different aspects of weddings more and it's great to be able to recommend different people and details to your clients.

Would you like to be featured on Be a Planner? Please see our "Be Featured" link on the right-hand column for further instructions. Submissions will be accepted at our discretion.

The Legal Nonsense

In case last Monday's post confused you, or perhaps intrigued you, passing along one of my favorite business resources seemed like a good idea. If you're sifting through this business stuff... LLCs, corporations, trademarks, copyrights... and still cannot figure out which way is up, you need to check out my friends over at Legal Zoom (www.legalzoom.com). This site has, quite literally, everything you would need to sort through the details.

Not only will Legal Zoom provide you with the information to get you headed in the right direction, but they will even do it for you [for a price, of course]. And, the best part? Legal Zoom has a question center - even if you are not a client you can call or e-mail them your questions about business.

Do you have a favorite business resource? We'd love to hear.

I'M A PLANNER ON BE A PLANNER: Christy Bareijsza

Christy Bareijsza | The Red Carpet Events, LLC

Name: Christy Bareijsza, CMP, CMM

Location: Jersey City, NJ and Napa, CA

Company: The Red Carpet Events, LLC

Years in Business: Established 2001

Website: www.theredcarpetevents.com

Blog: www.theredcarpetevents.blogspot.com

What are your three favorite sources of wedding inspiration?

For me, inspiration comes from numerous sources whether it's the excitement in a Bride's eyes when speaking about her favorite color or a particular flower, the desire to constantly re-invent designs and create an original and memorable event for each couple and finally the ability to be located in an area that has anything imaginable right at your fingertips to assist in the creative process.

Why did you get started wedding planning?

I branched out to wedding planning to help give couples a different approach to the planning process and allow them the same value and vendor accountability my corporate clients experience. I often feel social Clients are considered a "one time event" by most in the industry and aren't valued and treated correctly. By balancing the two areas of business and ultimately my expertise, the couples are able to benefit through our cross market of multi-event services, top-notch vendors and enticing discounts.

What is one thing in your office that you could not live without, technology excluded?

My Chocolate Labrador, Cocoa

If you could make one recommendation to a new planner, what would it be?

I recommend to all new planners to educate yourself and understand what you a contracting, especially with a venue. For most, that is the skeleton of your event and the majority of the Client's budget. If the contract is not negotiated correctly, due to the Planner not understanding the terminology and ultimately the consequences from it, it is your responsibility to amend that. Contracts are more then just pricing and concessions, and are not considered important by most until something truly goes wrong and you don't have negotiating leverage or legal repercussions to solve the situation.

Would you like to be featured on Be a Planner? Please see our "Be Featured" link on the right-hand column for further instructions. Submissions will be accepted at our discretion.

Sole vs. LLC and Other Business Jargon

When creating a business, one of the first things that has to happen is to decide what type of business it will be. And by that I don't mean what you are going to do, I mean how you are going to file. You were planning on filing that money with the government, right?

For event planners there are a few options that steal the show:

• The Sole Proprietorship: The sole proprietorship is for businesses owned by one person. It is the simplest and most prevalent type of business. It is also the easiest to set up - all assets and aspects of the company are owned by and the responsibility of one person. The downside? That one person bears the responsibility of any debts or liabilities of the company as well.

• The Limited Liability Company (LLC): The LLC is an increasingly popular form of company. This company type combines the best worlds of a corporation and partnership through personal protection and tax benefits. Members are not held responsible for company debts. But the disadvantage is that they do tend to cost more to set up than the other types.

• The S-Corp: The S-Corp has liability protection and single taxation - meaning the corporation's income or losses are passed through to the shareholders. It is, however, easier to set up than an LLC. The only difference here really is in record keeping procedures - essentially, it has a little more to do with formalities but might cost you a little more in filing.

Does that make sense? Did I miss anything? Ultimately, it's kind of a hard choice but it really depends on you and what you are looking for in your business. Obviously, business types vary greatly and, thus, so do the types of ways you can form them. The same thing won't be right for everyone. Your thoughts?

I'M A PLANNER ON BE A PLANNER: Kathryn Kalabokes

Kathryn Kalabokes | Dream A Little Dream Events

Name: Kathryn Kalabokes

Location: San Francisco, California

Company: Dream A Little Dream Events

Years in Business: 5 years (just celebrated in July!)

Website: www.dreamalittledreamevents.com

Blog: www.dreamalittledreamevents.blogspot.com

What are your three favorite sources of wedding inspiration?
The wine country. Just driving up there gets me inspired. The colors, the vineyards, the food and I guess the wine doesn’t hurt. I also love going to flea markets, antique stores and local street festivals to find really cool vintage finds. Plus, good old Martha Stewart Weddings may seem obvious, but I really do find creative inspiration through those pages.

Why did you get started wedding planning?
I started my business to get away from doing corporate events, which I had done for years, and get into social event planning. I had done a few bridal showers and birthday parties when I was asked to do my first wedding. I was so incredibly nervous. I had helped on numerous weddings while interning in the past, but running your own had a whole new feel to it. It was thrilling! I have never looked back.

What is one thing in your office that you could not live without, technology excluded?
A wooden cutout that was a flea market find that says “dream.” I look up at it often throughout my day to take a moment to breathe and remember what got me here, even when I’m having one of my most stressful days. It reminds me of my first tiny little office that you could barely walk through, and how all my hard work has taken me to where I am today.

If you could make one recommendation to a new planner, what would it be?
What I have seen is a lot of girls plan their own wedding, and then they go right into opening up their own business as a planner, without any training or business knowledge. A lot of money and time can avoid being wasted by taking a few months to shadow another planner in your area. Most are open to it, as I have had many come through my doors to ask my advice and work under me before taking the plunge of opening their own business. Once you decide that this is something you have the patience to do, then go for it! Do it the proper way though; get a business license, get insured, have a place of business operation, and please, above all else, don’t do this as a hobby. You will do your clients (and wedding planners as a whole) a huge disservice, and you will ultimately not reap the emotional rewards that this business offers.

Would you like to be featured on Be a Planner? Please see our "Be Featured" link on the right-hand column for further instructions. Submissions will be accepted at our discretion.

Become a Notary

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You might be surprised. A notary? Why would you want to become a notary?

Well, Melissa of MasterPiece Weddings has, in the past year, utilized her notary public license at least a handful of times. In one case, the bride and groom's minister became unavailable at the last minute. Lucky for them, with MasterPiece Weddings coordinating things Melissa was able to step in and preside over the ceremony while I [with an assistant, of course] lined up and oversaw the processional.

In another case, the bride was so nervous that she decided being legally married ahead of time would relieve the stress. She and the groom-to-be arranged to meet Melissa mid-week, in her office, where Melissa said a few words, signed the paperwork, and sealed the deal.

Regardless of the situation, it's safe to say that as a wedding consultant Melissa has made use of her license far more often than she thought she would. While having a notary public license is far from required [or even expected!] in the wedding consulting world, it certainly acts as a cushion and a nice trick up your sleeve.

For more information, be sure to check out your state laws. For the State of Florida you can find out more information on the process here as well as a list of bonding agencies to help you with the application process here.

The Emergency Suitcase

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Okay, so it might not be that big [though it certainly feels that way sometimes!], and, it's definitely not a Louis. But as planners, most people know that one of our famed assets is the emergency bag. But the real question is, what do you have in yours?

There are the typical standards that any planner should have and should know to have [bobby pins, hairspray, nailpolish remover, scissors, floral wire], but what items do we love that are not so well known? Here are a few:

Chalk: For touching up any stains or marks on the wedding dress. It's a quick fix that works well on nearly any material.

Pipecleaners: These are good for almost anything - jewelry repair, fixing items to pews, etc.

Black socks: You wouldn't believe how many groomsmen [and grooms!] forget theirs. The last thing you need is them going down the aisle in white ones [or without any!].

Gorilla tape: The super fix. This tape will stick on anything and is strong enough for even last-minute clothing repairs.

Velcro: Again, this can be used for anything - some options: afixing the runner to the aisle, additional clothing repairs.

Extra earring backs: You never know when you'll need them.

What about you? Do you keep anything interesting in your emergency bag or have you heard of/seen something interesting someone has kept in theirs?

I'M A PLANNER ON BE A PLANNER: Katasha Butler

Katasha Butler | K Sherrie+Company Planning Atelier

Name: Katasha S. Butler

Location: Indianapolis, Indiana and available WORLDWIDE

Company: K Sherrie+Company Planning Atelier

Years in Business: 2 years

Website: www.ksherrieco.com

Blog: www.theweddingworkroom.com

What do you specialize in (Day of Coordination, Full Service Design…):

We specialize in full-service, custom planning for today's chic and discerning bride. We were the first planning firm in Indy to offer "couture and luxury" wedding planning. I can say, most of our brides contract with us for our style and aesthetic. We are very much into clean and modern style, yet, very detailed and personalized design. We make sure they guests leave saying--"Wow--that was so them!" or "Did you see that??"

What are your three favorite sources of wedding inspiration?

Being that I'm a purveyor of all things stylish (!), I get my inspiration for wedding designs from everywhere. As of late, I find myself reading a lot of home interior blogs and retail furniture sites. Two of my current favs: Apartment Therapy Chicago and Horchow. For strictly wedding pretty, I really like Style Me Pretty and Southern Weddings blog. I usually never mark them "Mark as Read" in my Google Reader. And--that's more than three. . .sorry.

Why did you get started wedding planning?

I love throwing great parties! Parties that are very well put together and no small detail has been overlooked. And, really--a wedding is a great big party with extra meaning and feeling. This is what I used to daydream about while in pharmacy school. Then, whenever classmates got engaged, we would plan their weddings during class time. I've always known that I would be an entreprenuer. There is no better thing to work doing what you love to do and would do for free anyway.

What is one thing in your office that you could not live without, technology excluded?

My hard bound notebook. All of my notes for almost every meeting I attend for any of my clients is in that notebook. It's very pretty and pink and green, of course!

If you could make one recommendation to a new planner, what would it be?

Keep a 50,000-foot view of what most people are doing in the industry. Don't fall into the trap of only doing what so-called experts are doing--or in reality--telling you what to do and not doing it themselves. I've come to find there is a lot of "smoke and mirrors" in this industry and I excel when I do what I do best--and that's being Katasha. Every day. All day.

Would you like to be featured on Be a Planner? Please see our "Be Featured" link on the right-hand column for further instructions. Submissions will be accepted at our discretion.

Class Recap: Be a Planner

A few weeks ago, you may recall that we held one of our seminar classes. So, during the course, I played photographer and snagged a few photos of some of the festivities. As you can see, the course is not only incredibly informative, but also fun.

Day One: Watching videos - including the legendary "what to do when you have 20 bridesmaids and 20 groomsmen?"

Melissa demonstrates how to properly dress a bride.

Melissa demonstrating how to assemble a bouquet.

Ashley (our summer intern) putting together an emergency boutonniere.

And a gorgeous cake courtesy of the fabulous Kathy of KB Kake Kreations.

And how cute are these two!?

[In case you didn't know - we're based out of Gainesville, FL - home of the gators!]

And, cake demolished after being taught how to properly cut and serve it.

Mmmmm. Cake eating time.

And some of Kathy's legendary Kake Truffles as we discuss alternatives to wedding cakes.

As you can see, we certainly have some fun over the course of our two-day jam-packed seminar. But, this is not to make it seem like it is all fun and games; we also discuss the business side of things and strategies for developing and maintaining your own. That part of the course just doesn't lend itself to much photo entertainment.

And don't forget: we're also offering the course again October 3-4 in Ocala, Florida. For more information check out this post or send us an e-mail (beaplanner {at} masterpieceweddings {dot} net).

I'M A PLANNER ON BE A PLANNER: Saundra Hadley

Saundra Hadley | planning...forever events

Name: Saundra Hadley

Location: Evansville, Indiana

Company: planning...forever events

Years in Business: 6 years

Website: planningforever.com

Blog: planningforeverblog.com

What do you specialize in (Day of Coordination, Full Service Design…):We specialize in making sure our brides have a fabulous day and laugh while planning their wedding. However we do offer Wedding Day Management up to Full Service Planning, and separate Design/Decor services.  

What are your three favorite sources of wedding inspiration?

Blogs (life style design and photographer blogs), hip TV show set designs (I'll watch a Real World episode just to see how they designed the house), and my clients (it amazes me how many talented and creative people there are; they just don't know how to pull it all together).

Why did you get started wedding planning?

All my friends were getting married (this is early 90's) and I did not want to have to buy the hideous bridesmaid's dresses that we were subjected to purchasing (dresses now are fun, funky and elegant). So I offered my skills to stand in the back and coordinate/direct vendors. VOILA! Worked like a charm and I fell in love with a career.

What is one thing in your office that you could not live without, technology excluded?

My chocolate lab, Ranger. He loves everybody, licks my toes unexpectedly, a delight to hug which makes your stress just float away and gives me the needed breaks from my computer that I would normally forget to take. 

If you could make one recommendation to a new planner, what would it be?

Do not try to be every bride's planner. Instead be unique and draw on your own strengths that make you different from others. Some people won't get it, but most will respect you for being different (and sometimes envy).

Would you like to be featured on Be a Planner? Please see our "Be Featured" link on the right-hand column for further instructions. Submissions will be accepted at our discretion.