Next Be A Planner Class! :: BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!

We are so excited to announce our next class, April 24 & 25 in St. Augustine, Florida at the brand new oh so gorgeous River House!!  We are so excited to be hosting this class at such a beautiful new venue, and to showcase the amazing'ness that is St. Augustine!

This is an intense two-day class, where you will learn the ins and outs on how to:

• The Significance of your role as a planner
• How to create a wedding day timeline
• Budget Supervision
• Social Etiquette
• Wedding Attire
• Conducting and Orchestrating a Rehearsal
• Emergency Production
• Starting a Business
• Working with Vendors
• The Art of Branding your business
• Wedding Trends and Traditions
• Establishing your Business
• Developing your Style
• Establishing your Fees and Services
• Contracts
• Artful Negotiations
• And Much, Much, Much, Much more!!!

This class we are including breakfast and snacks both days. We are limiting attendance to 20 students, we want to be able to provide one on one attention.

We will also announce 2 amazing guest speakers that you will enjoy and really learn the meat and potato's of your business from.

If you have been in business for 8 years, just thinking of getting into the event planning industry, or are thinking of a change of careers, I give you my personal guarantee you will learn something incredible in this class!

I'M A PLANNER ON BE A PLANNER: Eve Harrison

Eve Harrison | Ooh La La Weddings

Name: Eve Harrison

Location: San Diego, CA

Company: Ooh La La Weddings

Years in Business: 4

Website: www.oohlalawed.com

Blog: www.oohlalawed.net

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

I specialize in Week and Month of Wedding Coordination but am starting to get more into Full Service planning and Design! I help my brides get that look they see in the magazines for half the price by finding creative and economical ways to achieve it.

What are your three favorite sources of wedding inspiration?

Wedding blog's!!! I could spend hours looking through wedding blog's such as Wedding Chicks|Style Me Pretty|Grey likes Weddings., Of course Martha Stewart has tons of wedding inspiration and wedding magazines. I have boxes upon boxes that I just thumb through. Even though some are several years old, there are always ways to put a new twist on old favorites.

What made you get started in wedding planning?

I always say I was born to party because I have been organizing event since I can remember. I absolutely love to get people together, it is my passion, people are my passion, happiness and love are my passion and all of these things come together wrapped in a bow on someone’s wedding day. I feel so blessed to be able to do what I love and love what I do! I could go on and on.. :)

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

That would have to be my many date books|calendars|planners. I am obsessed! I don’t know what it is about these little|big|short|fat books but I love them and writing things down in them. I have the same thing written in about 5. Also coffee! I’m addicted and drink about 3 cups a day.

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

I would say be authentic. There is nothing worse then coming into the business and saying you have experience that you don't, or ‘borrow’ other people’s website content such as packages, etc. We all have to start somewhere and we’ve all been there. I would suggest maybe speaking with a few planners out of your area to get some advice but don’t go behind someone’s back and copy their work|packages|pricing|etc.

New Blog Favorite: Edit and Post

So, Ami, the brain behind the legendary Elizabeth Anne Designs, recently launched Edit and Post - a blog about business and blogging. In Ami's words, it "will encourage you to think more closely about your blog, about your business, and about your goals."

Launched only about a week ago, Edit and Post already has a ton of really helpful entries. And, of course, with a business background and a wealth of experience working in the blogging word, Ami - and her posts - are quite brilliant.

As a planner, if you do not already have a blog as part of your marketing strategy, take a look at what Ami has to say. Undoubtedly, this new venture of hers will be invaluable to both bloggers and business minds alike.

I'M A PLANNER ON BE A PLANNER: Sumer Schmitt

Sumer Schmitt | Simply Perfect Weddings

Name: Sumer Schmitt
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Company: Simply Perfect Weddings
Years in Business: 2
Website: http://www.simplyperfectwedding.net
Blog: http://simplyperfectweddings.blogspot.com
What do you specialize in (Day of Coordination, Full Service Design…)? Complete wedding management (full service planning + design). Most of our clients are busy professionals or are planning from out of town, and quite simply, don’t have the time to coordinate the hundreds of details that go into planning a wedding. We offer smaller packages, but our complete wedding management service level is definitely our most popular.

What are your three favorite sources of wedding inspiration?
My clients (because without them, you really can’t begin to design an event without first getting to know them), photography websites/blogs, and Southern Weddings Magazine (yes, I know I live/plan events in PA, but I’m still a southern girl at heart!).

What made you get started in wedding planning?
Throughout college I would plan events for my university and local businesses. I never realized at the time that I could make a career out of event planning, so I went on to pursue my degree in business management and finance. After a few years in the finance field, I just knew it wasn’t for me. I’ve always had a passion for events, and after beginning the planning of my own wedding in the fall of 2007, I became quite disappointed with the level of customer service I received from various vendors. It was at that time that I realized I wanted to do my part to change the wedding planning process, and alas, Simply Perfect Weddings was born, and we’ve been going strong ever since!

What is one thing in your office that you could not live without, technology excluded?
My Yorktese (Yorkie/Maltese mix), Teddy. I work from my home office, so it’s always nice to have a companion to keep me company throughout the day. I can always count on him to be right there on my lap no matter what kind of a day I’m having. :)

If you could make one recommendation to a new planner, what would it be?
Do your homework before opening up shop! It is essential to understand the building blocks of running a business, in addition to creating fabulous events. Your hard work will pay off in the end if you take the time to do it right the first time. Lastly… “Always be a first rate version of yourself, never a second rate version of someone else” – Judy Garland. Good luck, and don’t forget to DREAM BIG!