Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners Heather Hoesch Olsen

Today's guest is Lesley Brickman of The One Gown based in Southern California. 
 
Lesley is a luxury bridal stylist who is committed to helping her clients look and feel their best for life's most special moments. She works with clients across the globe to define, refine, and execute their vision for their day. Lesley's mission is to educate, empower, and serve her clients, always leading with joy.
 
And an absolute joy she is to work with and have on your team. I have now worked with Lesley on two weddings and had very different clients, but in both cases, I can't imagine the day being such a success without her. 
 
In this episode, we talk about her passion for pretty dresses and how her previous careers led her to really build the stepping stones to circle back to what she was most passionate about, and that's wedding styling.
We also talk about:
What is Wedding Styling?
 
How to begin the styling process
 
Veil selection and its impact
 
Accessory selection philosophy
 
Hair and make up collaboration
 
Wedding Day Concierge services
 
Overview of wedding day concierge/dresser roles
 
Differentiating from other day-of services
 
Partnering with wedding planners
 
Services for bridesmaids and groomsmen
 
Tips for planners seeking stylists and concierges
 
Working remotely and traveling for services
 
Impact of styling on press and features
 
Connect with Lesley
website | Instagram
 
___________________________
 
This episode is supported by Planner Life Academy.
In case you didn't know, we created Planner Life Academy for planners to have the education, tools and resources we wish we had.
For me, I love sharing all the tips, tools and insight into all the little ways you can provide an amazing experience for your couples, their family and friends.
I think one of the best places to really make sure you are making a great first impression is at the rehearsal. For so many planners, the ceremony rehearsal is something that is stressfull and annoying, but I love it! And I think with the right script you will enjoy it too.
So I created a free rehearsal audio recording where I walk you through exactly how I run a ceremony rehearsal.  So you can have my tried and true process to create your own rehearsal script allowing you to start every wedding with confidence and making a great impression.
Get the rehearsal recording HERE and master your rehearsal process today.
Connect with Heather
website | Instagram
 

Today's guest is Alexa Kritis, owner of Alexa Kritis Events in Tampa, Florida. 
 
Born and raised in New York, Alexa found her passion for weddings at a very early age, already working in the wedding industry in high school. After earning her degree in management and event planning from Lim College in New York City, she accepted a position as a wedding coordinator at a luxury hotel which required that she make the big and exciting move from the Big Apple to the Sunshine State. With vast experience gained from being on the venue and catering side of events, she felt confident she could plan and design events on her own. So Alexa Kritis Events was born. Early on in her business, Alexa dove into education and in learning everything she could. We met when she attended Planner Life Academy back in 2014. She joined us again a couple years later.
 
Alexa has always been a great part of the Planner Life community and an incredible supporter of Academy. So fun to have her on the podcast today. Something unique and definitely something we dive into in this episode is how Alexa created a freelancing brand to support large scale weddings and luxury wedding planners around the world.
 
It was through that experience she gained the insight, expertise, and importantly, the confidence to continue to build her own business. Alexa Kritis Events has been featured in Brides, Modern Luxury Weddings, 100 Layer Cake, Carats & Cake, and more. 
 
In this episode we talk about:
 
- Discussing the journey and hustle in the wedding planning industry
- Alexa’s Freelancing Experiences
- The Importance of Hustle and Hard Work
- Importance of continuous effort and visibility
- Networking and proactive outreach as crucial elements
- Leveraging successful collaborations for credibility
- Overcoming skepticism and proving credibility through quality work
- Learning and Growing Through Freelancing
 - Working with different teams and adapting to new environments
- Combining freelancing experience with personal business growth
- Importance of charging appropriately for services
- Ensuring comprehensive staffing to maintain event quality
- Collaboration and Support in the Industry
- Building a strong network for event support
- Planning financially for additional staffing needs
- Educational and Networking Events
- Importance of setting goals for attending events like Engage
- Importance of kindness and respect in professional relationships
- Learning from various stages of business growth
- Using events for networking and building trust
- Importance of strategic planning and continuous effort
 
Tune in to hear Alexa Kritis share her journey from New York to Florida, her insights into the wedding planning industry, and practical advice for aspiring event planners.
 
Connect with Alexa
Website | Instagram
 
This episode is supported by Planner Life Academy. In case you didn't know, we created Planner Life Academy for planners to have the education, tools, and resources we wish that we had when we got started. For me, I love sharing all the tips, tools, and insight into all the little ways you can provide an amazing experience for your couple, their family, and friends. I think one of the best places to really make sure you're making a great first impression is at the rehearsal.
For so many planners, the ceremony rehearsal is something that is stressful and annoying, but I love it. And I think with the right script, you'll enjoy it too. So I created a free rehearsal audio recording where I walk you through exactly how I run a ceremony rehearsal. So you can have my tried and true process to create your own rehearsal script, allowing you to start every wedding with confidence and making a great impression.
 FREE REHEARSAL RECORDING LINK
 

Hi planners, in this episode, I am sharing a very personal story about loss and how timing of life can be really challenging in the wedding industry. How heartbreak and loss happens when it's least expected and often least convenient. How pushing through your own feelings for what is best for your clients is SO HARD and not something I have ever really heard anyone talk about. 
Please enjoy this brief episode to acknowledge how sometimes you have to hold it all in and you are not alone. Thank you for listening.
In loving memory of those we have lost but hold in our hearts always.
 
For more about Heather and Planner Life Academy visit
@heatherhoesch | @plannerlifeacademy | @plannerlifepodcast

Today's guest is Kelsey Rae Angelotti, owner and creative director at Kelsey Ray Designs. Kelsey got her degree in business from Vanguard University and landed her first job out of college at Ponte Winery in Temecula, California. After a move to Greenwich, Connecticut, it was there that she got a job doing social media for a luxury hotel group in South America and Italy. And she was encouraged to launch her own company, Kelsey Ray Designs, on the side.
Over the years, she's built a large team and then scaled it back to focus on more full -service planning and design. Kelsey moved across the country from Southern California to Nashville, Tennessee, where she grew her business there and into other destinations. Kelsey Ray Designs has been published over 50 times in some of the largest publications, including People Magazine, Brides, Huffington Post, Style Me Pretty, Green Wedding Shoes, 100 Layer Cake, Wedding Chicks, and more.
In this episode, we talk about:
Her early start in hospitality at a winery wedding venue How doing so many weddings early on gave her a strong foundation How industry pressure led her to building a team Building Credibility through Relationships and Styled Shoots
 
Scaling a Wedding Planning Business: Challenges and Successes
 
Navigating the Pandemic: Rescheduling and Financial Challenges
 
Moving from California to Nashville
 
Challenges of Managing a Team from Afar
 
Breaking into the Luxury Wedding Market in Nashville
 
Attracting High-Profile Clients
 
Expanding into Destination Weddings
 
Staffing for Destination Weddings
 
Building Relationships and Landing High-Profile Clients
 
Setting Goals for the Future
 
You can connect with Kelsey Rae Designs
website | instagram
 
This episode is supported by ENJI, the easy to use marketing software that helps you create a marketing plan for your business in minutes and empowers you to start making actual progress with the tools you need. I get it, you're a wedding planner, not a marketing expert. Marketing is my least favorite part of being a business owner and all too often it's something I push to the bottom of my to -do list. Luckily, the queen of wedding industry marketing and a long time friend of planner life, created a marketing software specifically for small business owners so we can easily do our own marketing. ENJI handles the hard stuff, like creating a marketing strategy so you know what you need to do. It also helps you actually stay consistent with creating content. One of my favorite things about ENJI's platform is that it also includes an AI copywriter to help ensure my messaging fits my brand and reaches my ideal audience.
But my favorite new feature is the social media scheduler that makes it so much faster to create my content and get it scheduled so I don't have to think about it every single day.
The best news? ENJI is celebrating their first birthday the entire month of May.
Right now, you can get ENJI for only $19 a month for your first year. But don't wait. This offer ends on May 31st.  
SIGN UP FOR ENJI TODAY

Today's guest is Christine Garrison, the owner and visionary force behind CMG Events. CMG Events is an award -winning event planning and design company with planners based in Napa Valley, the Bay Area, and Los Angeles, California. CMG also plans and designs destination weddings in locations like Idaho, Colorado, Texas, Arizona, Hawaii, Italy, Mexico, and more.
Christine is passionate about creating unforgettable moments and she brings a blend of sophistication and creativity to each and every one of her weddings. Christine and her team have orchestrated hundreds of celebrations and have graced the pages of People Magazine, Vogue, Brides, and more. 
 
In this episode, we talk about:
Building a successful wedding planning business takes time and effort. It's important to be patient and persistent.
Working for other companies and gaining experience in the industry can be valuable before starting your own business.
Empowering team members and fostering a partnership mentality can lead to a more successful and cohesive team.
Communication and organization are key in running a wedding planning business.
Expanding to new markets may require building new relationships and establishing yourself in the local industry.
Success in the wedding planning industry is achievable with dedication, hustle, and a long-term vision. Building genuine relationships with venues and vendors is crucial for success in the wedding planning industry.
Strategic wedding selection, even if it means taking on lower-budget weddings initially, can lead to valuable venue and vendor referrals.
Consistent branding and a focus on providing a high-quality experience are key to gaining trust from venues and vendors.
Investing in a team that aligns with the brand's vision and values is essential for growth and long-term success.
Offering coordination services can be a valuable source of passive income and help establish strong relationships with venues and vendors.
Investing in education and growth, both personally and for the business, is necessary for staying competitive and evolving in the industry.
Hustling, finding your people, and investing in your company are important factors for success as a wedding planner.
Planner Life Academy plans to expand to Northern California, providing valuable education and resources for wedding planners in the region.
 
You can connect with Christine and the CMG Team
website | instagram

On today’s episode, Heather & Karen from Blissfully Styled sit down to answer submitted questions from the Planner Life Community. 
A little bit about the guest co-host today- Karen Sieger owner of Blissfully Styled. Karen is a genuine empath and always game for a celebration. There's nothing Karen loves more than immersing herself in event planning and designing. She is an advocate for her couples, infusing positivity, creating elegant designs obsessing over the tiniest of details. Her mission is to create blissful planning and wedding day experience for her couples and vendor friends alike. 
These Ask Me Anything episodes are made possible by the community submissions. Where Heather and friends get to tackle your current challenges and your biggest questions. 
In this episode, they discuss: 
Karen's Journey:
Karen reflects on how her upbringing shaped her personality, emphasizing her organizational skills and ability to stay calm under pressure.
Discussion on Karen's transition from a successful corporate career to becoming a wedding planner, leveraging her management experience and love for event planning.
Heather and Karen discuss Karen's vision for building a team and the evolution of her business model.
Planner Life Podcast Community:
Heather addresses the transition in Planner Life Podcast leadership and emphasizes the importance of community and diverse perspectives.
Heather confirms that she continues to plan weddings alongside managing Planner Life Academy, ensuring she stays connected to the industry's constant evolution.
Upcoming Workshops and Events:
Discussion on Heather's shift in perspective amidst the uncertainties of recent years, embracing optimism and focusing on the present moment.
Your Questions Answered: 
Tips on networking, including introducing acquaintances to facilitate new connections and selflessly helping others.
Butterfly and Dove Releases, highlighting their complexity and potential downsides and discussion of what is needed for a successful release.
Coordinating Table Mock-ups, considering factors like investment level, rental company involvement, and venue accessibility.
Holding Couples Accountable the challenge of keeping couples on track with wedding tasks, offering strategies like setting false deadlines and providing clear explanations for the importance of timely completion.
Client Screening, the importance of screening couples during consultation process
Adaptation, ensuring that you are tailoring processes to suit couples' needs and working styles
RSVP Management and Design Mockup software - Aisle Planner, Canva & Merri
Feedback Post Event, client interviews for feedback and seeking feedback from venues and vendors to improve services
Should you post your pricing?!
Advertising and Marketing, the role of advertising in supporting business
General Tips and Insights
Thank you to all the planners who submitted questions! Be sure to submit your questions for our next Ask Me Anything Episode! Submit here. 
 
Ready to sign up for Aisle Planner? Use Code PLANNERLIFE 
Ready to sign up for Merri? Sign up now
 
Want to learn more from Heather & Planner Life Academy? Be sure to grab your free rehearsal recording so you can master rehearsals this season.
FREE REHEARSAL RECORDING LINK