Planner Life Podcast

Hey planners! In this episode, Heather is joined by Renee Dalo of Moxie Bright Events and the Talk with Renee Dalo Podcast. Renee shares her perspective of falling into the wedding industry and her first memories as a wedding planner. She talks about the importance of networking and even how rejection helped her career as a wedding planner. You'll hear about why you should get more involved in the industry as a planner, how she got into leadership positions within the industry and the major turning point that led her to shift her business model and charge more for her services.    What's in this episode: Renee's childhood and how that shaped her into who she is today  How she got into the wedding planning industry after her own wedding Her process of starting her business How her mentor helped her with her business name Her first “real wedding” client experience The biggest hurdles she had in her early years of business How rejection aided her career How an in person workshop changed everything Her approach to the industry & networking The turning point where she shifted her business model Her involvement in the wedding industry How she got into leadership positions in the wedding industry   This episode of the Planner Life Podcast is brought to you by Your Legal BFF. One important part of your wedding planning business is having professionally drafted contracts that protect you and your business while helping clients feel secure about investing in you. Going to a lawyer can be intimidating and expensive, that's why we're proud partners of Your Legal BFF, your go-to legal bestie. They offer customizable contract templates specifically for the wedding industry. Head to yourlegalbff.com and use the code: Plannerlife to save 15% off your choice of select templates.    For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript head to http://plannerlifeacademy.com/episodes-and-show-notes/episode-34-real-planner-renee-dalo-of-moxie-bright-events   Can't wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @plannerlifeacademy. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at https://www.plannerlifeacademy.com/.

Hey planners! Are you ready to elevate your marketing and start speaking to your ideal client? You're in luck! In this episode, we're joined by expert marketer and co-founder of Sourced Co., Tayler Cusick Hollman. Sourced Co. is a stock photography membership service that helps wedding professionals marketing their businesses. Tayler shares how she got into this field, her tips for marketing your wedding planning business to your ideal client and tips for leveraging reviews, humanizing your content and so much more!  What's in this episode: How Taylor landed in the wedding industry Why marketing in the wedding industry is unique How to create content that speaks to your ideal client  Why humanizing your content is important How to get over the “awkward teenage phase” of your business Why you need to set aside a marketing budget   For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript head to http://plannerlifeacademy.com/episodes-and-show-notes/episode-033-real-expert-tayler-cusick-hollman-of-sourced-co   Today's sponsor for the Planner Life Podcast is Honeybook. Honeybook and LVL go way back, and that's because we were one of their first beta users. Honeybook is an online business management tool that organizes client communication, bookings, contracts, invoices and so much more - all in one place. They're offering listeners of the Planner Life Podcast 50% off your first year. That's a savings of $200 when you visit http://share.honeybook.com/lvlacademy. Membership options are flexible and this promotion applies whether you pay monthly or annually so simplify your to-do list and stay in control with Honeybook.   Can't wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We'd love for you to visit us online on our website. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at The Planner Life Academy.

Hey planners! I'm sure you know that you should have an email marketing strategy but you might be unsure of what you should be sending, how to go about creating a strategy, the list goes on. In this episode, we brought on the Head of Marketing at Flodesk, Sobrina Pies. Sobrina gives insight into why email marketing is an important tool for wedding planners, how you can use it for your wedding planning business along with tips for creating community through emails.  What's in this episode: How Sobrina ended up working at Flodesk What Flodesk does for small business owners and creative entrepreneurs Why email marketing is essential for businesses How wedding planners can leverage email marketing Why you should focus on email marketing just as much as social media  How engagement levels and reach differ in email marketing vs. social  Her 2 tips for creating a community through email marketing How to create an email marketing strategy  Why you should pay attention to the aesthetics of your emails (and how they make it easy) All about Flodesk University For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript head to http://plannerlifeacademy.com/episodes-and-show-notes/episode-32 This episode of the Planner Life Podcast is brought to you by Your Legal BFF. One important part of your wedding planning business is having professionally drafted contracts that protect you and your business while helping clients feel secure about investing in you. Going to a lawyer can be intimidating and expensive, that's why we're proud partners of Your Legal BFF, your go-to legal bestie. They offer customizable contract templates specifically for the wedding industry. Head to yourlegalbff.com and use the code: Plannerlife to save 15% off your choice of select templates.  Can't wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We'd love for you to visit us online on our website at https://lvlevents.com/. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at https://www.lvlacademy.com/.

Hey planners! Want to get to know us even more and hear some of our best-kept secrets about being a wedding planner? In this episode, we answer some of our listener's questions about all things running a wedding planning business, what’s going on in our personal lives and so much more.  What’s in this episode: How to handle guidelines and vendor differences What you need to know about insurance Percentage vs. flat-fee pricing The hardest part about being a wedding planner How to find opportunities to raise your prices  Tips for getting on the same page with your couples   Today’s sponsor for the Planner Life Podcast is Honeybook. Honeybook and LVL go way back, and that’s because we were one of their first beta users. Honeybook is an online business management tool that organizes client communication, bookings, contracts, invoices and so much more - all in one place. They’re offering listeners of the Planner Life Podcast 50% off your first year. That’s a savings of $200 when you visit http://share.honeybook.com/lvlacademy. Membership options are flexible and this promotion applies whether you pay monthly or annually so simplify your to-do list and stay in control with Honeybook.    For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript head to http://plannerlifeacademy.com/episodes-and-show-notes/episode-31   Can’t wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We’d love for you to visit us online on our website at https://lvlevents.com/. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at https://www.lvlacademy.com/.

Hey planners! Dreaming about scaling your wedding planning business? It can be difficult to even consider this option when it’s just you doing all of the things but in this episode, we talked to someone who's done just that. Valarie Falvey is the founder of Kirkbrides, a wedding planning and design company based out of Ohio. She shares what she did to start scaling her team and how she’s grown it to 6 planners and over 35 team members. We also chat about how she got into entrepreneurship, why she doesn’t focus on planning anymore and what processes she’s set up to help clients have a great experience with her company.    What’s in this episode: What Valarie was like growing up and her journey to entrepreneurship How her internship prepared her for her business What it means to her to be a Kirksbride wedding planner How she learned to work on her business instead of in it Why she stepped away from planning and moved into a different area of her business How she’s scaled her business Hurdles and challenges that wedding planners face What they include in their planning packet What services they offer for clients  Her advice for someone who wants to scale their wedding planning business   This episode of the Planner Life Podcast is brought to you by Your Legal BFF. One important part of your wedding planning business is having professionally drafted contracts that protect you and your business while helping clients feel secure about investing in you. Going to a lawyer can be intimidating and expensive, that’s why we’re proud partners of Your Legal BFF, your go-to legal bestie. They offer customizable contract templates specifically for the wedding industry. Head to yourlegalbff.com and use the code: Plannerlife to save 15% off your choice of select templates.    For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript head to http://plannerlifeacademy.com/episodes-and-show-notes/episode-30   Can’t wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We’d love for you to visit us online on our website at https://lvlevents.com/. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at https://www.lvlacademy.com/.

Hey planners! We have a very special guest on the show who is actually both a real planner and a real expert in the wedding industry. In this episode, you’ll hear about Lea Stafford of Lea Stafford Events and Ethos West Collective. Lea started her journey in the wedding industry after working for a luxury catering company. She shares her journey of starting a business, what her experience has been like as a Black woman in the wedding industry and as a Black-owned business. What’s in this episode: Her journey into the hospitality industry and how she got into weddings The biggest surprise she had from starting her own business Her experience as a Black woman in the wedding industry Lea’s thoughts on being a Black-owned business How she learned to be authentically her The mission behind the Ethos West Collective (EWC)   For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript head to http://plannerlifeacademy.com/episodes-and-show-notes/episode-29 Today’s sponsor for the Planner Life Podcast is Honeybook. Honeybook and LVL go way back, and that’s because we were one of their first beta users. Honeybook is an online business management tool that organizes client communication, bookings, contracts, invoices and so much more - all in one place. They’re offering listeners of the Planner Life Podcast 50% off your first year. That’s a savings of $200 when you visit http://share.honeybook.com/lvlacademy. Membership options are flexible and this promotion applies whether you pay monthly or annually so simplify your to-do list and stay in control with Honeybook.    Can’t wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We’d love for you to visit us online on our website at https://lvlevents.com/. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at https://www.lvlacademy.com/.

Hey planners! One thing that can set you apart in your business is adopting the mentality of “never stop learning”. In this episode, we talk about the importance when it comes to continuous learning, keeping your brain sharp, staying relevant and challenging yourself in new and exciting ways.    What’s in this episode: Why all planners need the mindset of “never stop learning” Tips for entry-level learning and how to find these opportunities How to reflect on mistakes and learn lessons What you can learn from working with mentors How you can use your successes as a learning moment Why you should never stop networking and being inspired by others Reasons why you should seek out new experiences   This episode of the Planner Life Podcast is brought to you by Your Legal BFF. One important part of your wedding planning business is having professionally drafted contracts that protect you and your business while helping clients feel secure about investing in you. Going to a lawyer can be intimidating and expensive, that’s why we’re proud partners of Your Legal BFF, your go-to legal bestie. They offer customizable contract templates specifically for the wedding industry. Head to yourlegalbff.com and use the code: Plannerlife to save 15% off your choice of select templates.    For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript head to http://plannerlifeacademy.com/episodes-and-show-notes/episode-28   Can’t wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We’d love for you to visit us online on our website at https://lvlevents.com/. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at https://www.lvlacademy.com/.

Hey planners! Have you ever considered the thought that one day you might want to sell your business? Lisa Anhaiser is the founder of LBL Event Rentals, a wedding event rental company based out of Houston, TX. She shared her experience with being a part of Goldman Sachs’s small business program, what she learned and all of her biggest takeaways.    What’s in this episode:   Lisa’s experience in the wedding industry What you need to think about in your business on an ongoing basis What you should think about when starting a business Her advice on preparing your business  to potentially sell later on What Lisa’s process was to think about the future of her business Her advice on selling a service-based business   For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript head to http://plannerlifeacademy.com/episodes-and-show-notes/episode-27   Today’s sponsor for the Planner Life Podcast is Honeybook. Honeybook and LVL go way back, and that’s because we were one of their first beta users. Honeybook is an online business management tool that organizes client communication, bookings, contracts, invoices and so much more - all in one place. They’re offering listeners of the Planner Life Podcast 50% off your first year. That’s a savings of $200 when you visit http://share.honeybook.com/lvlacademy. Membership options are flexible and this promotion applies whether you pay monthly or annually so simplify your to-do list and stay in control with Honeybook.    Can’t wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We’d love for you to visit us online on our website at https://lvlevents.com/. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at https://www.lvlacademy.com/.

Hey planners! Does this year have you feeling like you’re learning to plan all over again? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! There have been so many changes during the pandemic with vendors, pricing, who works where and it can all be pretty overwhelming. In this episode, we’re discussing what you can do to make sure you’re in the know of what’s going on in the industry in your market.    What’s in this episode: How everything seems different in 2021 The hardest thing about planning during COVID What you need to relearn about who is who and what they’re offering Why a planner is more important than ever How companies offerings have shifted  Pricing shifts that have occurred over the last year Referral sources to reach back out to   For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript head to http://plannerlifeacademy.com/episodes-and-show-notes/episode-26   Today’s sponsor for the Planner Life Podcast is Honeybook. Honeybook and LVL go way back, and that’s because we were one of their first beta users. Honeybook is an online business management tool that organizes client communication, bookings, contracts, invoices and so much more - all in one place. They’re offering listeners of the Planner Life Podcast 50% off your first year. That’s a savings of $200 when you visit http://share.honeybook.com/lvlacademy. Membership options are flexible and this promotion applies whether you pay monthly or annually so simplify your to-do list and stay in control with Honeybook.    Can’t wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We’d love for you to visit us online on our website at https://lvlevents.com/. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at https://www.lvlacademy.com/.

Hey planners! Are you looking for some inspiration to amp up your marketing efforts in 2021? Look no further as we brought on a marketing expert, fellow podcaster and co-owner of wedding venue, Vista View Events, Kinsey Roberts. In this episode, Kinsey explores some of the best marketing tips for spreading the word about your wedding business.    What’s in this episode: What brought her from marketing to opening her wedding venue and consulting in the wedding industry Her experience of running a business in a smaller market area How she’s been making her business more of a “destination” The 3 ways she’s spread the word about her venue Why you need a word of mouth marketing strategy Kinsey’s 3 favorite marketing books for entrepreneurs   For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript head to http://plannerlifeacademy.com/episodes-and-show-notes/episode-25   Today’s sponsor for the Planner Life Podcast is Honeybook. Honeybook and LVL go way back, and that’s because we were one of their first beta users. Honeybook is an online business management tool that organizes client communication, bookings, contracts, invoices and so much more - all in one place. They’re offering listeners of the Planner Life Podcast 50% off your first year. That’s a savings of $200 when you visit http://share.honeybook.com/lvlacademy. Membership options are flexible and this promotion applies whether you pay monthly or annually so simplify your to-do list and stay in control with Honeybook.    Can’t wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We’d love for you to visit us online on our website at https://lvlevents.com/. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at https://www.lvlacademy.com/.

Hey planners! If you're anything like us then the beginning of the year is when you typically have a freakout moment about needing to book some weddings! After a short moment, we collectively pull it together and remember the advice we’ve gotten from sales expert, Cindy Novotny. Cindy has been branded the radical mentor by thousands of executives around the world. In this episode, she dives into the truth about being a master at sales as a business owner in the wedding industry. She gives her straightforward, no-nonsense advice on how to build a continuous referral stream and become a better salesperson!    What’s in this episode: Cindy’s backstory of how she got to where she is in her business The biggest mistake that wedding entrepreneurs make in sales How sales are different in the wedding industry versus other industries Her suggestions on getting continuous referrals from a past client What you need to become a better salesperson  Why you should use “we” wording to clients and be intentional about communications How to avoid looking like a pushy salesperson   Connect with Cindy: Website | Instagram | Facebook   This episode of the Planner Life Podcast is brought to you by Your Legal BFF. One important part of your wedding planning business is having professionally drafted contracts that protect you and your business while helping clients feel secure about investing in you. Going to a lawyer can be intimidating and expensive, that’s why we’re proud partners of Your Legal BFF, your go-to legal bestie. They offer customizable contract templates specifically for the wedding industry. Head to yourlegalbff.com and use the code: Plannerlife to save 15% off your choice of select templates.    Can’t wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We’d love for you to visit us online on our website. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at The Planner Life Academy.

Hey planners! Do you ever struggle with your mindset? We’ve all been there and getting out of that isn’t always the easiest. That’s why in this episode we had on Andrea Freeman. Andrea is a mindful business coach and peak performance planner along with a wedding planner! She’s worn many hats in her life and knows herself what it’s like to run a wedding planning business. In this episode we talk about mindset growth, taking time for yourself and aligning your business to the life you want.    What’s in this episode: How Andrea got bit by the entrepreneurial bug The quarter-life crisis she had after her first teaching job Her experience as an event planner and starting her first business How she took control over her health Her journey of going to culinary school and starting her catering company Why she took a job in leadership development How she ended up starting a wedding planning company Her realization that she couldn’t be everything to everybody Her business realignment journey The starting point for mindset growth Why you need to slow down to hear answers Why you need to take time for yourself   About Andrea:I’m Andrea and I believe that transforming your life is the access to transforming your business.  As a mindful business coach and peak performance planner, I work with creative entrepreneurs to support them in their evolution.  I operate from the foundational principle that businesses develop alongside the individuals who run them.  Meaning the higher your consciousness the greater the impact you make in the world.  It’s my personal joy to work with business owners to help them align with who they are at their core - with their unique personal gifts and unstoppable power.   I started my first business when I was 12, second business at 26, and third business at 31.  Professionally trained as an educator and leadership development coach I honed my entrepreneurial skills and scaled my celebrity event planning business to multiple six-figures in annual revenue.   Now I’m on a mission to help service-based business owners realign with their purpose, create greater financial freedom, fulfillment, and make a difference in the world.  I have worked with clients in the events, holistic lifestyle, tech, and fashion industries to integrate mindset techniques, refine their business models, and scale quickly.  Clarity of purpose, increased revenue and sustainable, soulful success are just a few of the benefits my clients experience.   Connect with Andrea: Consulting Website | Wedding Planning Website | Instagram  Andrea’s Facebook Group: The Uplevel Collective   Today’s sponsor for the Planner Life Podcast is Honeybook. Honeybook and LVL go way back, and that’s because we were one of their first beta users. Honeybook is an online business management tool that organizes client communication, bookings, contracts, invoices and so much more - all in one place. They’re offering listeners of the Planner Life Podcast 50% off your first year. That’s a savings of $200 when you visit http://share.honeybook.com/lvlacademy. Membership options are flexible and this promotion applies whether you pay monthly or annually so simplify your to-do list and stay in control with Honeybook.    Can’t wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We’d love for you to visit us online on our website. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at The Planner Life Academy.

Hey planners! Happy new year. Can you believe we made it through 2020? It was an unexpected and crazy year. In this episode, we’re chatting about some of the reflections we had over the year and the first season of the Planner Life Podcast. You’ll hear our highs, lows and some of the biggest challenges we faced in 2020. We also take a look forward at what's to come in 2021 in our business, podcast and personal lives.    What’s in this episode: What Heather and Lindsay did for the holidays Our favorite parts about our unique holiday season What we missed most from traditional holiday seasons Our highs, lows and what surprised us about 2020 A look back on the podcast Intentions and goals we have for 2021 What’s inspires them for growth   Links: Know Your Numbers Template The Best in Wedding Planner Education   This episode of the Planner Life Podcast is brought to you by Your Legal BFF. One important part of your wedding planning business is having professionally drafted contracts that protect you and your business while helping clients feel secure about investing in you. Going to a lawyer can be intimidating and expensive, that’s why we’re proud partners of Your Legal BFF, your go-to legal bestie. They offer customizable contract templates specifically for the wedding industry. Head to yourlegalbff.com and use the code: Plannerlife to save 15% off your choice of select templates.    Can’t wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We’d love for you to visit us online on our website. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at The Planner Life Academy.

Hey planners! I am excited to share this conversation with Candice Sanders, one of the most respected and sought-after wedding planners in Orange County, CA. We constantly get asked the question, “What can I do to get experience in the wedding industry?” Well, Candice will share her journey of how she did just that along with her journey from her corporate wedding and events career to starting her own business in the industry. She shares how she’s built her team, the services she offers her clients and how she sets herself apart through an amazing offboarding experience with her clients.    What’s in this episode: What Candice was like growing up How her first job in the restaurant industry gave her the passion for event management How she got her first job in the wedding industry Her experience working at a hotel doing weddings Why she decided to get sales experience Her journey of transitioning from her job to starting her business Why she’s so passionate about relationship building What to look for when hiring an associate Her rebrand to Engaged Events Her process of shiting how she runs her business What services she offers her clients Candice’s offboarding process   About Candice : With over 18 years of experience and 600 weddings behind her, the leader of the Engaged team is a true event professional. With a passion for weddings, and a genuine personality, Candice joins her clients along their planning journey and quickly becomes not only a hired vendor, but a friend. Knowing each wedding is unique and each client's vision is original, Candice uses strong communication, honest feedback, organization, and creative suggestions to guide her clients along their planning journey. She is an active member of the wedding community, a master multi-tasker, and a passionate business owner. Candice's first job was at a restaurant where she fell in love with the fast-paced environment and the large private celebrations. While pursuing a public relations degree, she began working as an assistant for one of Orange County's top wedding planners and found her true calling. After college, Candice secured a full-time wedding position at The Newport Beach Marriott Hotel. She served as a Wedding Event Manager and a Senior Catering Sales Executive for more than six years, mastering skills in both sales and service. Always wanting to be an entrepreneur, she resigned from Marriott and launched Engaged Events in 2011.  Candice takes a limited number of events each season, focusing on quality service for her clients. She is proud of the mark she has made in the lives of hundreds of couples, and year after year, her passion for the industry continues to grow.  Candice is married to Brian and has two children, Brooke and Austin. She loves the beach, Disneyland, a day at the spa, and an awesome concert. Hawaii is her happy place, the Angels are her team, and churros are her favorite treat.    Connect with Candice and Engaged Events: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest   This episode of the Planner Life Podcast is brought to you by Your Legal BFF. One important part of your wedding planning business is having professionally drafted contracts that protect you and your business while helping clients feel secure about investing in you. Going to a lawyer can be intimidating and expensive, that’s why we’re proud partners of Your Legal BFF, your go-to legal bestie. They offer customizable contract templates specifically for the wedding industry. Head to yourlegalbff.com and use the code: Plannerlife to save 15% off your choice of select templates. Can’t wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We’d love for you to visit us online on our website. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at The Planner Life Academy.

Hey planners! In the spirit of giving this holiday season, we wanted to shed some light on one of our favorite companies, One Hope Wines, a company that brings Napa Valley to your doorstep. I came across One Hope Wines when LVL was in its infant stages and I was so impressed not only with their commitment to high-quality wines but their commitment to the amazing causes they support. That’s why I had on Megan Robinson. In this episode, Megan shares how she got involved with the company and her experience of helping them get more involved in the wedding industry. You’ll hear how you can get involved with One Hope Wines and how they decide on the non-profit organizations they give back to.    What’s in this episode: Why Megan’s husband founded One Hope Wines How she got involved with the business  The transition of their company getting more involved in the wedding industry How they vet non-profit partners How couples can choose non-profits they want to give back to  What they do to constantly improve their client experience How planners can get involved and sell wines for a cause What’s happening right now for One Hope Wines Connect with Megan: Website | Instagram   Today’s sponsor for the Planner Life Podcast is Honeybook. Honeybook and LVL go way back, and that’s because we were one of their first beta users. Honeybook is an online business management tool that organizes client communication, bookings, contracts, invoices and so much more - all in one place. They’re offering listeners of the Planner Life Podcast 50% off your first year. That’s a savings of $200 when you visit http://share.honeybook.com/lvlacademy. Membership options are flexible and this promotion applies whether you pay monthly or annually so simplify your to-do list and stay in control with Honeybook.  Can’t wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We’d love for you to visit us online on our

Hey planners! We have quite the episode lined up for you with two of the best wedding photographers in the business, Joel Serrato and Jose Villa. In this episode, you’ll get a behind the scenes look at how these two started working together and their experience of shooting high profile celebrity weddings. These two have so much valuable insight into the industry and I just loved how they each shared their perspectives on the episode today around saying “yes” to clients, being a part of a vendor team, making sure the day-of timeline flows smoothly and more!    What’s in this episode: How Joel and Jose got into the wedding industry Joel’s first wedding client and how he got into weddings with the help of Jose Their process of working together for weddings How they got to where they are in their businesses Their experience in shooting high profile weddings How mastering a specific skill can set you apart Why Jose believes in always saying “yes” to requests What they look for when working with wedding planners Their advice about being a team player as a vendor Tips for ensuring the day-of timeline goes smoothly    About Joel:Joel Serrato’s artistry in wedding photography is built upon a strong foundation of capturing pure moments of emotion, innocence, laughter and love. This gorgeous tapestry called life grows with each couple’s journey, which he captures exquisitely on film, time and again. Specializing in huge, complex weddings—“the bigger the better”—and seeking clients who are crazy in love and aren’t afraid to cry, the Harper’s Bazaar published photographer’s nuptials of note include Pat Benatar, Tamera Mowry, Elle Fowler and Adam Housley, to name just a few. “I give my all to my clients. When I’m shooting your wedding, I’m in one thousand percent.”   Connect with Joel:Website | Instagram    About Jose:People often ask me how I developed my style, and how I create images that stand out in today’s highly competitive wedding market. Well, I am a fine art wedding photographer. My approach applies fine art photography to the living, breathing, fast-moving phenomenon that is a wedding. For me, it is all about making something beautiful. Ultimately, my goal is to craft vibrant, energetic, fine art images that are as unique as the people in the photographs. I’m humbled to say that I have been published in many magazines around the world including, Martha Stewart Weddings,Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Vogue Italia, Vogue Mexico, Vogue Bride Australia, Vogue Bride Japan, Geraldine Magazine, C Weddings, Flutter, The Knot, Instyle Weddings, Inside Weddings, BRIDES, Pacific Weddings, Cosmo Bride, PDN, American Photo, and many more around the world. Named one the the top Wedding Photographers by Martha Stewart Weddings, Harpers Bazaar, Style Me Pretty, and Vogue; one of the top 10 wedding photographers in the world by American Photo Magazine, and one of the most influential photographers of our decade by PDN.   Connect with Jose:Website | Instagram    This episode of the Planner Life Podcast is brought to you by Your Legal BFF. One important part of your wedding planning business is having professionally drafted contracts that protect you and your business while helping clients feel secure about investing in you. Going to a lawyer can be intimidating and expensive, that’s why we’re proud partners of Your Legal BFF, your go-to legal bestie. They offer customizable contract templates specifically for the wedding industry. Head to yourlegalbff.com and use the code: Plannerlife to save 15% off your choice of select templates.    Links mentioned:Jose’s Presets   Can’t wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We’d love for you to visit us online on our website. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at The Planner Life Academy.

Hey planners! Today I am talking to Arizona based wedding planner, Jennifer Thye. Jenni started her career in the wedding industry after needing a change from her job as a teacher. In this episode, we talk about how she fell into wedding planning and some of the mindset shifts she had to make when starting out. She shares some big takeaways on setting your prices and knowing your numbers. Jennifer gives insight into how she ended up hiring a former client and why she eventually brought her on as a business partner. You’ll hear tips on making your financial goals, her advice for starting out in this industry and so much more!  What’s in this episode: How Jenni decided she wanted to leave her career as a teacher What led her to the decision to become a wedding planner Mindset shifts she had to overcome when starting out The learning process of selling herself and planning services to clients  How she decided to bring on a business partner and the process she went through The positives and drawbacks of partnerships What Jenni does to make sure her business remains profitable Pivotal conversations with a past client and a competitor that led her to change her pricing and structure How they determine if they’re hitting their financial goals Her advice for figuring out your business finances Their busiest time of the year for their business Her advice for someone just starting out   About Jenni:Jenni is known not only for her high-touch, interactive customer service and her wedding design expertise but also for being incredibly down-to-earth. Grab a cup of coffee and pull up a chair, Jenni is happy to sit and chat - just like you’ve been friends forever. This proud Arizona native earned both a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree at local Arizona universities. She enjoys traveling and sharing her wealth of event planning knowledge at conventions and other events throughout the country. When Jenni isn’t working, she looks forward to playing with her kids, reading historical fiction, or even cozying up on the couch for a movie on those rare rainy Arizona days. Connect with Jenni and Imoni Events:Website | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest   Today’s episode of the Planner Life Podcast is brought to you by SourcedCo. You wear a lot of hats as a wedding planner. When it comes to building your business, sometimes you have to choose between helping your couples and marketing your business. The ladies at SourcedCo help so you don’t have to make that decision. Each month they design, style and shoot a new gallery of images and videos you need to step up your marketing in less time. Head to SourcedCo.com to learn more about their stock photos. Use code: Plannerlife for 15% off your purchase in the shop or your first three months of your subscription.  Can’t wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We’d love for you to visit us online on our website. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at The Planner Life Academy.

Hey planners! If you’ve been looking for a little inspiration for building your business then you’re in for a treat! This episode is jam-packed with great advice from florist and educator for creative entrepreneurs, Janelle Thomson. Janelle dives into how she got her start in the wedding industry and how she started Lavenders Floral after someone took a chance on her and gave her a big opportunity to take over their existing floral business. In this episode, she talks about that journey and how she went from being a yes woman to learning when she should say “no”. She shares so much wisdom on collaborating with other industry professionals, knowing your numbers and what specific things in her business helped to drive her business to success.    What’s in this episode: How Janelle got into the wedding industry How her study abroad experience brought her more clarity on her life The opportunity she got to start her own business Janelle’s transition to becoming a business owner The aha-moment that taught her to say “no” Her thoughts on making the time and effort to figure out solutions to problems Her experience with collaborative styled shoots How knowing your numbers is essential for your business Specific things she did that she attributes to her success What brought her to the point of hiring a financial advisor Why they’re launching a sister company for their floral company What’s coming next for her business   About Janelle:Janelle Nicole Thomson is a California-based florist and educator for creative entrepreneurs. She is highly sought after for her creative direction and is widely published for her thoughtful and transformative wedding installations, editorials and focused work-ethic. Working in tandem with her luxury textile company, Tono + co., her work has been featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, Brides, Style Me Pretty, Magnolia Rouge Magazine and Utterly Engaged Magazine.   Connect with Janelle:Lavenders Floral | Instagram | Facebook Tono + co | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest   Links:Stretch: Unlock the Power of Less -and Achieve More Than You Ever Imagined What the Heck Is EOS?: A Complete Guide for Employees in Companies Running on EOS Color Confidence Course   Today’s sponsor for the Planner Life Podcast is Honeybook. Honeybook and LVL go way back, and that’s because we were one of their first beta users. Honeybook is an online business management tool that organizes client communication, bookings, contracts, invoices and so much more - all in one place. They’re offering listeners of the Planner Life Podcast 50% off your first year. That’s a savings of $200 when you visit http://share.honeybook.com/lvlacademy. Membership options are flexible and this promotion applies whether you pay monthly or annually so simplify your to-do list and stay in control with Honeybook.    Can’t wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We’d love for you to visit us online on our website. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at The Planner Life Academy.

Hey planners! Today I have brought on award-winning boutique wedding planner, Margaux Fraise of Harmony Creative Studios. Margaux is based in Los Angeles and has a really interesting story of overcoming a huge challenge. A few years into her business, she was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer. She tells us about what it was like going through this and the biggest lessons she learned while navigating through it. We talk about the importance of community, getting your legal contracts in order and why you need to set up processes for your business if you want to grow.    What’s in this episode: How Margaux got into wedding planning Margaux’s experience with being diagnosed with cancer and how this affected her personally and professionally How she pushed through a challenging time What she learned from going through cancer Why you need a solid community What made her gravitate toward weddings Why you need to have a properly drafted contract  The backend processes she’s set up in her business   About Margaux:Hi there! I'm Margaux, and I started Harmony Creative Studio in 2011. Couples are always telling me how calm yet 'in charge' I seem on wedding days - and that is music to this Type 'A' personality! If there is one word that I love above any other - it's 'Harmony', so I went ahead and put it right in our name. I really think Gandhi had it right when he said "Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony." We strive for that everyday.  Truth be told - I wasn't always a wedding planner. Working from a retail consulting background gives me a unique perspective on events: I know how people instinctively tend to move through spaces, and how they respond to different signs or prompts. I'm more aware of how guests interact with objects or touch and feel things, or why people respond to different textures and textiles. I've studied how language, colors and even shapes affect how people perceive design and value. I use all these tools plus my 10 years in the wedding industry to help build our events to be the best possible version of whatever you have in mind.  I live in Santa Monica with my husband Chad and adorable terrier mix Clarence. I'm a SoCal girl born and raised, having lived just about everywhere from Santa Barbara to Temecula.   Connect with Margaux:Website | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest   Today’s sponsor for the Planner Life Podcast is Honeybook. Honeybook and LVL go way back, and that’s because we were one of their first beta users. Honeybook is an online business management tool that organizes client communication, bookings, contracts, invoices and so much more - all in one place. They’re offering listeners of the Planner Life Podcast 50% off your first year. That’s a savings of $200 when you visit http://share.honeybook.com/lvlacademy. Membership options are flexible and this promotion applies whether you pay monthly or annually so simplify your to-do list and stay in control with Honeybook.    Links mentioned:The Road Less Traveled, Timeless Edition: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth Your Legal BFF Honeybook Basecamp The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It Evaluation Guide Breast Cancer Research Foundation   Can’t wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We’d love for you to visit us online on our website. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at The Planner Life Academy.

Hey planners! It seems like anyone and everyone is becoming a wedding planner by just launching an Instagram and getting started. But building a successful wedding planning business isn’t that easy. Do you want to be profitable? Do you want this to be a sustainable business? Do you want this to be your full-time career? If so, you really want to go back to the fundamentals of having things in place like a website, business license, insurance - all of the things you need to run a professional business. In this episode, you’ll hear what you need to have in place to start your wedding planning business and our tips for getting started on the right path.    What’s in this episode: Why it’s important to set up your business properly How Heather got started with her wedding business Lindsey’s story of how she got into wedding planning Tips on finding your first clients Why you shouldn’t refer everyone How you can get experience in the industry and why you should get into the hospitality industry if you can’t find work with an existing planner How to build a network of vendors Why Lindsey believes in taking a leadership role How you can leverage social media to share your expertise and show your personality The 3 ways to show how you’re different from other planners   Can’t wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We’d love for you to visit us online on our website. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at The Planner Life Academy.

Hey planners! Today we have a special episode for you where we took a deep dive into what our workshop was like this year. We just recently wrapped up our 10th in-person workshop and in this episode, we shared our takeaways and chatted about the roles that we have for the event, how we pivoted it during COVID and what students learn at our workshops. You’ll hear the feedback we’ve gotten from planners who attended, the number one takeaway of the event for planners and a few of our favorite moments from the workshop!   What’s in this episode: Their thoughts on how they felt about the workshop happening this year What their roles are for the workshop The format they did to host a COVID friendly event What they teach students during the workshop The feedback they’ve gotten from students who attended  The number one takeaway that planners get from the workshop Special moments that happened during the workshop   Can’t wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We’d love for you to visit us online on our website. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at The Planner Life Academy.

Hey planners! Have you been dreaming about breaking into the destination wedding market? You’re in luck! Today we had a conversation about what it’s really like to be a destination wedding planner. We had a discussion about Linsday’s experience starting out as a destination wedding planner and she shared a lot of great tips for getting started in a new area. We discussed the first steps you should take when trying to get into a new market, why pricing sometimes varies on a case by case basis and advice for maintaining your presence in a destination market.    What’s in this episode: What Linday’s travel experiences were prior to doing destination weddings Her experience in her business before opening up to a new destination market What led her and her family to move to Hawaii The first steps you should take if you want to get started in a new destination  Why you have to learn the politics of new destinations How destination weddings are like starting over again with building your portfolio The differences in charging percentage vs. flat rate Why pricing is sometimes a case by case basis Her advice for planners on maintaining their destination market  Why you need to do your homework and make connections with local vendors How you can guide your clients to get the vendors they want while limiting travel fees   Today’s episode of the Planner Life Podcast is brought to you by SourcedCo. You wear a lot of hats as a wedding planner. When it comes to building your business, sometimes you have to choose between helping your couples and marketing your business. The ladies at SourcedCo help so you don’t have to make that decision. Each month they design, style and shoot a new gallery of images and videos you need to step up your marketing in less time. Head to SourcedCo.com to learn more about their stock photos. Use code: Plannerlife for 15% off your purchase in the shop or your first three months of your subscription.    Can’t wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We’d love for you to visit us online on our website. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at The Planner Life Academy.

Hey planners! Are you using social media as a part of your marketing strategy? If not, you might want to consider it as it’s a great tool for getting in front of your ideal client. This is one of the topics we touched on today with Jana Williams. Jana is an international lifestyle photographer and in this episode, she talks about how she leverages Pinterest and other social media tools to reach potential clients. We dive into working with your ideal clients and how they don’t show up overnight. She shares how she’s been doing during the COVID-19 pandemic, how she’s learned to find balance during this season and a little bit about her membership community, The Inspired Club. What’s in this episode: How photography found Jana  The next step she took after she found her interest in photography How it takes time to figure out who your ideal clients are Working with other vendors to make everything come together Why you should leverage different tools for your marketing efforts How you can be strategic and thoughtful with each wedding to attract ideal clients How the pandemic has been for Jana and her business  Her experience of finding balance and your identity in this slower season What she does with her membership community, The Inspired Club About Jana:Jana is an international lifestyle photographer, educator and all around good human. She is based in Los Angeles, California but wears her Alabama roots loud and proud.  The Knot named Jana Williams one of the top100 most inspiring people in 2017 and she has been featured in Glamour, Brides, People, Grace Ormond and many more luxurious wedding publications but will all of her accomplishments the one thing we love most about Jana is how authentic, real and grounded she is. She often says that photography found her and we are so glad it did. We have had the opportunity to work side by side with Jana on many weddings and we are excited to share her contagious positive spirit with all of you. Connect with Jana:Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest Today’s sponsor for the Planner Life Podcast is Honeybook. Honeybook and LVL go way back, and that’s because we were one of their first beta users. Honeybook is an online business management tool that organizes client communication, bookings, contracts, invoices and so much more - all in one place. They’re offering listeners of the Planner Life Podcast 50% off your first year. That’s a savings of $200 when you visit http://share.honeybook.com/lvlacademy. Membership options are flexible and this promotion applies whether you pay monthly or annually so simplify your to-do list and stay in control with Honeybook. Links mentioned:Tailwind The Inspired Club Can’t wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We’d love for you to visit us online on our website. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at The Planner Life Academy.

Hey planners! Today you’ll be hearing from Kimberly Rhodes of Hitched Events. Kimberly got into the marketing and event management industry early on in her career. After having her own wedding, she had the idea of becoming a wedding planner. In this episode, we talk about the first steps to take as a wedding planner (you may be surprised but it isn’t necessarily finding your first client!) She talks about why she made the move back to Texas to start her company, how she quickly learned to charge her worth and why she decided to scale back on the number of weddings she did per year. You’ll hear her advice for making shifts in your business as you learn what you do and don’t love, how building community has helped her and the process of starting her podcast, This Week in Weddings. What’s in this episode: Why she moved from Dallas, TX to New York and her background of working in event management and marketing How Kimberly got into wedding planning after her own wedding Why they decided to move back to Dallas, TX to start her company Their advice on the first steps to take as a wedding planner How her first client and wedding client met her What she learned from her first wedding event Their tips on charging your worth Kimberly’s experience of realizing she took on too many clients and how she combatted this  Why you need to do a yearly self-evaluation The reasons she’s scaled-down on events to serve fewer clients Their focus on the DFW market and why she isn’t a fan of destination wedding planning How she’s learned to make tweaks in her business based on what she does and doesn’t enjoy  How building a planner and vendor community has helped her  How her podcast, This Week in Weddings, came about Kimberly’s thoughts on adapting the “never stop learning” mindset Her advice for other wedding planners About Kimberly: With more than 20 years of event planning experience, ranging from corporate conferences to non-profit galas, Kimberly Rhodes found her love for weddings while planning her own in 2011. Now in its ninth year, her award-winning event planning company Hitched Events focuses on beautifully-detailed weddings and other celebratory events in the Dallas area. Kimberly is also the current President of the Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter of the National Association of Catering & Events. In 2016, Kimberly launched This Week in Weddings, one of the first wedding industry podcasts for entrepreneurs, now enjoyed by event professionals all over the world.  Connect with Kimberly at Hitched Events:Website | Instagram  This Week in WeddingsWebsite | Instagram This episode of the Planner Life Podcast is brought to you by Your Legal BFF. One important part of your wedding planning business is having professionally drafted contracts that protect you and your business while helping clients feel secure about investing in you. Going to a lawyer can be intimidating and expensive, that’s why we’re proud partners of Your Legal BFF, your go-to legal bestie. They offer customizable contract templates specifically for the wedding industry. Head to yourlegalbff.com and use the code: Plannerlife to save 15% off your choice of select templates.  Can’t wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We’d love for you to visit us online on our website. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at The Planner Life Academy.

Hey planners! As many of you likely know, in the wedding industry there are so many nuances to the words “wedding coordinator” and “wedding planner”. Having these terms clearly defined will help your wedding planning business run much more smoothly as clients will know exactly what to expect. In this episode, we talked about different terms such as “day of coordinator”, “month of coordinator”, “wedding manager”, “wedding planner”, “partial planning”, “full-service planning” and more! This episode will help you to establish boundaries with clients around what’s included in coordination and planning services. We also shared some of our favorite tips for going above and beyond for all of your wedding couples! What’s in this episode: How wedding planners and wedding coordinators do very different things What a “day-of-coordinator” is and what they do How the service and title “month of coordinator” was coined How the term “wedding management” came about Why Heather was able to do day-of coordination successfully One of the biggest issues we see planners facing Why well-defined services will help things run smoothly What we’ve included in coordination packages The grey area between coordination and planning aka “partial planning” Why you need to establish boundaries with clients What we’ve done with ‘custom planning’ packages What defines a good partial planning client How we structure full-service planning packages  Adding in a la carte items to go above and beyond for clients Other ideas for full weekend experiences Today’s episode of the Planner Life Podcast is brought to you by SourcedCo. You wear a lot of hats as a wedding planner. When it comes to building your business, sometimes you have to choose between helping your couples and marketing your business. The ladies at SourcedCo help so you don’t have to make that decision. Each month they design, style and shoot a new gallery of images and videos you need to step up your marketing in less time. Head to SourcedCo.com to learn more about their stock photos. Use code: Plannerlife for 15% off your purchase in the shop or your first three months of your subscription.  Links mentioned:Aisle Planner Trello Basecamp Can’t wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We’d love for you to visit us online on our website. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at The Planner Life Academy.

Hey planners! As you embark on your journey of growing your wedding planning business you’ll definitely want to think about protecting yourself from a legal standpoint. That’s why we brought on Annette Stepanian of Your Legal BFF. Annette helps to simplify a lot of the legal aspects of your business in a way that makes it way less intimidating and easier to understand. In this episode, she shares how she started her company and her perspective on the wedding industry. We chat about the importance of getting the legal aspects of your business squared away, what to look for when hiring legal help and what things you need to consider when starting your wedding planning business.  What’s in this episode: What Annette’s childhood was like Her experience of working at a law firm  Why she made the decision to leave the law firm Her story of starting a jewelry company and wanting to help people legally Why she decided to start Your Legal BFF Her view from an outsider’s perspective on what she sees in the wedding industry Why you need to get your legal ducks in a row What you should look out for when hiring legal help How you can protect your business and clients from things like a pandemic What things you must think about when starting a business Why you should cultivate relationships with the people you run into About Annette:Your Legal BFF™ was created by Annette Stepanian, a lawyer who helps entrepreneurs and small business owners with the legal side of running a business. A few years ago, while operating her own creative business, Annette came across other business owners who would panic anytime they were faced with either drafting, negotiating, or enforcing a contract. There were those who despite their smarts would prefer to close their eyes and ignore the need to address anything legally related. And let’s not forget some peers who, despite their best intentions, felt lost and overwhelmed when they tried to understand the law as it related to their specific business. They would scour the internet, post in Facebook groups asking for help, and cobble together some very conflicting and confusing advice. Connect with Annette:Your Legal BFF | Website |  Instagram | Office Talk Podcast This episode of the Planner Life Podcast is brought to you by Your Legal BFF. One important part of your wedding planning business is having professionally drafted contracts that protect you and your business while helping clients feel secure about investing in you. Going to a lawyer can be intimidating and expensive, that’s why we’re proud partners of Your Legal BFF, your go-to legal bestie. They offer customizable contract templates specifically for the wedding industry. Head to yourlegalbff.com and use the code: Plannerlife to save 15% off your choice of select templates.  Links mentioned:Protect Your Wedding Business Q+A with Annette Stepanian Can’t wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We’d love for you to visit us online on our website. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at The Planner Life Academy.

Hey planners! Today on the show I am so excited to introduce you to a dear friend and someone we absolutely look up to in the wedding industry, Brooke Keegan. Brooke decided to get into the wedding industry after attending a wedding and seeing firsthand some of the things that went wrong that day. In this episode, she shares how working in different avenues of the wedding industry has helped her to leverage knowledge for her clients. She talks about her experience working for other planners and making the leap into starting her own business. You’ll hear why she ended up launching a sister company, her biggest advice for those who want to break into destination weddings and tips for up and coming wedding planners.  What’s in this episode: Brooke’s background and what her life was like growing up How she ended up getting into the wedding industry Her experience of working for another planner, as a private dining coordinator and in catering How she got introduced to a luxury wedding planner and started working with them Brooke’s experience of getting to work under her mentor Why she ended up starting her own business How she transitioned to only offering full-service planning Her shift from a flat fee to percentage model pricing  The changes she’s made in her business centered around making her business and life what she actually wants it to be How they started their sister company, Aster & Park to help even more brides The biggest challenges of her second business Her favorite part of running the sister company  Where she sees each of her companies going over the next 5 years Why she loves working in destination weddings Her advice for planners who want to get into destination weddings Her process for pre-wedding and post-wedding  Why they make sure to get positive and constructive feedback after events Her recommendations for those who want to get started in the wedding industry Today’s sponsor for the Planner Life Podcast is Honeybook. Honeybook and LVL go way back, and that’s because we were one of their first beta users. Honeybook is an online business management tool that organizes client communication, bookings, contracts, invoices and so much more - all in one place. They’re offering listeners of the Planner Life Podcast 50% off your first year. That’s a savings of $200 when you visit http://share.honeybook.com/lvlacademy. Membership options are flexible and this promotion applies whether you pay monthly or annually so simplify your to-do list and stay in control with Honeybook.  About Brooke:Brooke has more than 17 years of experience designing, planning, and producing spectacular events for some of the world’s most ambitious and exacting clients. Named a top wedding planner by Harper’s Bazaar, she has established a reputation of excellence and consistency for producing unique, beautiful, and innovative events that far leave a lasting impression. A Division 1 volleyball player at San Diego State University, Brooke graduated with dual degrees in Marketing and Management. Prior to running her own business, she pursued a professional career in the hotel and hospitality industry, a combination that gives her an edge when producing top-notch events for world-class clients.   Connect with Brooke: Website | Instagram | Aster & Park Can’t wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We’d love for you to visit us online on our website. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at The Planner Life Academy.

Hey planners! We've said it before and we'll say it again... Competition is healthy and can benefit your wedding planning business. We're big believers in the notion of community over competition so we decided to dedicate today's real talk episode to this topic. We discuss our views on community over competition and how to find joy in cheerleading other planners. We explore how to cultivate a community, why you need to find your own lane and how being a good human comes first (then profit will follow!)    What's in this episode:   What community over competition means to us How to find joy in cheerleading for other planners What you can do to differentiate yourself in a new market Why you need to find your own lane and authentic self What it looks like to welcome competition The mindset of being a leader for your clients on the wedding day  What you can do to start cultivating a community   Today's episode of the Planner Life Podcast is brought to you by SourcedCo. You wear a lot of hats as a wedding planner. When it comes to building your business, sometimes you have to choose between helping your couples and marketing your business. The ladies at SourcedCo help so you don't have to make that decision. Each month they design, style and shoot a new gallery of images and videos you need to step up your marketing in less time. Head to SourcedCo.com to learn more about their stock photos. Use code: Plannerlife for 15% off your purchase in the shop or your first three months of your subscription.     Links mentioned: 005: Real Expert: Natalie Franke of Rising Tide Society Can't wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We’d love for you to visit us online on our website. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at The Planner Life Academy.

Hey planners! I am so excited to have on today’s guest, Hannah Campbell-Anderson of Day of Gal. Hannah got into the wedding planning business after being a bridesmaid over 9 times and experiencing over 40 weddings for friends and family! In this episode, Hannah shares how she got into the wedding industry and why she chose to focus on partial coordination services. Hannah gives insight into how she and her team divvy up the workflow and their processes for running Day of Gal. She and Heather talk about creating boundaries with clients, her biggest challenges she’s faced while growing her business and how to avoid the wrong clients early on!     What’s in this episode:   What Hannah does and who her business serves Her background leading up to how she got into the wedding industry How she went from production to weddings The point she reached when she decided it was time to grow a team How they divvy up the workflow between the team What their partial coordination service looks like Why putting boundaries in place with clients was important for her  What her processes are for working with clients The biggest challenges she’s faced while growing her business How she thinks wedding industry will shift in the future What her own wedding was like Her advice about avoiding the wrong clients   About Hannah: After being a Bridesmaid 9 times, the reader, the wedding singer, the Officiant, and attending over 40 weddings for friends and family, you could say she knew her way around a wedding…Hannah Campbell-Anderson saw one thing missing at almost all of these weddings- a coordinator. A non friend/family member, who knows all the details and major players of the day- from vendors to grandmothers, flower delivery time to the Groom’s favorite cocktail.  Someone whose job it is to be your advocate and wrangle the day from beginning to end. Someone you can trust to hand over the reins to- your wedding’s Day of GAL! Connect with Hannah: Website | Instagram | Pinterest This episode of the Planner Life Podcast is brought to you by Your Legal BFF. One important part of your wedding planning business is having professionally drafted contracts that protect you and your business while helping clients feel secure about investing in you. Going to a lawyer can be intimidating and expensive, that’s why we’re proud partners of Your Legal BFF, your go-to legal bestie. They offer customizable contract templates specifically for the wedding industry. Head to yourlegalbff.com and use the code: Plannerlife to save 15% off your choice of select templates.    Can’t wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We’d love for you to visit us online on our website. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at The Planner Life Academy.

Hey planners! As you know, we’re huge advocates of the idea of community over competition. Community can be transformative for your wedding planning business in SO many ways. In this episode, we spoke with Lindsay’s idol, Natalie Franke. Natalie is a professional photographer who built a 6-figure business within 5 years and she’s also a co-founder of the Rising Tide Society and the Head of Community at Honeybook. We talk about what led her to create the Rising Tide Society, why she thinks competition isn’t always a bad thing and the biggest mistakes she sees planners making. Natalie also shares some great tips about using TikTok for your wedding planning business and getting vulnerable about what you experience.    What’s in this episode:   What Natalie’s life was like growing up and how she got into photography The breaking point where Natalie realized she felt alone What made her start the Rising Tide Society Why she wanted to create a community rather than a traditional formal organization What community means to her Why competition is actually not a bad thing  Lindsay and Natalie’s thoughts on wedding planners and leadership The biggest mistakes that Natalie sees planners making in their business How you can use TikTok for your business Her journey to motherhood and experience as a new parent  Why you need to be vulnerable about hardships How building a strong family unit is similar to building community Why rituals and traditions are important for community   About Natalie: Entrepreneur. Community builder. Brain tumor + infertility warrior. Writer. Speaker. Creative.   Connect with Natalie: Honeybook | Rising Tide | Personal Instagram | Rising Tide Society Instagram    Today’s sponsor for the Planner Life Podcast is Honeybook. Honeybook and LVL go way back, and that’s because we were one of their first beta users. Honeybook is an online business management tool that organizes client communication, bookings, contracts, invoices and so much more - all in one place. They’re offering listeners of the Planner Life Podcast 50% off your first year. That’s a savings of $200 when you visit http://share.honeybook.com/lvlacademy. Membership options are flexible and this promotion applies whether you pay monthly or annually so simplify your to-do list and stay in control with Honeybook.   Links mentioned: Leaders Eat Last Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action    Can’t wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We’d love for you to visit us online on our website. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at The Planner Life Academy.

Hey planners! It’s our absolute pleasure to introduce you to today’s guest, Victoria Holland of Victoria Ann Events. Victoria plans and designs events for couples who are looking to infuse every ounce of their personality into their wedding day. In this episode, Victoria shares her experience of getting into the events industry, freelancing for event companies and eventually starting her own wedding planning business. She and Heather chat about everything she’s learned from her last 5 years in business including how she gained more referrals, who her ideal clients are, how she uses Instagram to connect to couples and so much more!     What’s in this episode:   How Victoria got her start in the events industry  How she went from a freelancer to the owner of her own wedding planning business Victoria’s experience with her first wedding planning client What shifted with her confidence and business after that first client How her wedding planning workshop helped her to find more clients  What her elevator pitch is to her wedding couples The client that Victoria tends to work with How she uses Instagram as a tool to share who she is as a person and a planner Her advice for sharing about yourself on social media The marketing strategies she used to build relationships with vendors Victoria’s biggest strengths and challenges within her business What it’s like to run into non-ideal clients Where she’d like to see her company go in the next few years Her advice for wedding planners who are just getting started How the Planner Life Academy community has supported her    About Victoria: Growing up, my mother had a dinner party for just about everything. She would make name cards, put out her best china, let me help her pick flowers, and always cook something spectacular. She taught me, “Presentation is everything.” Long-story-short, the attention to detail, organization and joy that give me my knack for event-planning are in my blood (because truly, I got it from my Mama). My whole life I’ve had a passion for all the elements that make events experiences. Beyond that, I’ve always been told that I throw a really effing fun party, so I decided to leave my career in hospitality and pursue event-planning for real.    What I’m told draws many of my clients to me is my eye for the details, understanding of who they are, and calm attitude even when things get crazy. What keeps me so fulfilled is my relationships with my clients themselves. Nothing makes me happier than working with a couple to make a vision come to life and genuinely having fun all along the way.   Connect with Victoria: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest Today’s episode of the Planner Life Podcast is brought to you by SourcedCo. You wear a lot of hats as a wedding planner. When it comes to building your business, sometimes you have to choose between helping your couples and marketing your business. The ladies at SourcedCo help so you don’t have to make that decision. Each month they design, style and shoot a new gallery of images and videos you need to step up your marketing in less time. Head to SourcedCo.com to learn more about their stock photos. Use code: Plannerlife for 15% off your purchase in the shop or your first three months of your subscription. Can’t wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We’d love for you to visit us online on our website. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at The Planner Life Academy.

Today you’ll get a deep dive into Heather, her story and how she got into the wedding industry. Heather is the partner of LVL Weddings and cofounder of The Planner Life Academy. She talks about her transition from being an in-house coordinator to starting her own business. She talks about what she wishes she would’ve known and the challenges she faced. You’ll hear the proudest moments of her journey as a wedding planner and how she cultivates and fosters great relationships with her clients.  What’s in this episode: What Heather was like growing up Heather’s thoughts about marriages and what they mean to her Her idea of what she wanted to be when she grew up The one moment that shaped her life the most Why she was drawn to the wedding industry Challenges that Heather faced when starting her own wedding planning business The proudest moments from her journey as a wedding planner What advice Heather would’ve given herself when she first started Her “I’ve made it” moment during her career What she wants people to remember about her   This episode of the Planner Life Podcast is brought to you by Your Legal BFF. One important part of your wedding planning business is having professionally drafted contracts that protect you and your business while helping clients feel secure about investing in you. Going to a lawyer can be intimidating and expensive, that’s why we’re proud partners of Your Legal BFF, your go-to legal bestie. They offer customizable contract templates specifically for the wedding industry. Head to yourlegalbff.com and use the code: Plannerlife to save 15% off your choice of select templates.    Can’t wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We’d love for you to visit us online on our website. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at The Planner Life Academy.

In these first few episodes, we wanted to really get into each other’s stories of how we got into the wedding industry. Today you’ll be getting a deeper look into Lindsay. Lindsay is the founder of LVL Weddings and cofounder of Planner Life Academy. She shares a little insight into her childhood, what she wanted to be growing up and the defining moment in her life that shaped who she is today. Lindsay shares the proudest moment of her career, challenges she has faced while growing her business and how she celebrated her own wedding.    What’s in this episode: What Lindsay’s childhood was like  What marriage means to her and how she and her husband celebrated their wedding What she wanted to be when she grew up The defining moment in her life that shaped her life How Lindsay got into the wedding industry and started LVL Weddings Challenges she faced as she’s grown her wedding planning business The proudest moment in her career as a planner The advice she would’ve given herself in the beginning  Links mentioned:Untamed   Today’s episode of the Planner Life Podcast is brought to you by SourcedCo. You wear a lot of hats as a wedding planner. When it comes to building your business, sometimes you have to choose between helping your couples and marketing your business. The ladies at SourcedCo help so you don’t have to make that decision. Each month they design, style and shoot a new gallery of images and videos you need to step up your marketing in less time. Head to SourcedCo.com to learn more about their stock photos. Use code: Plannerlife for 15% off your purchase in the shop or your first three months of your subscription.    Can’t wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We’d love for you to visit us online on our website. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at The Planner Life Academy.

Are you looking to build a successful, thriving wedding planning business? Then you’re in the right place! Welcome to the Planner Life Podcast! We’re your hosts Heather and Lindsay. We’re wedding planners, business partners and educators with more than a decade of experience under our belts. We’re so excited that you’ve decided to take this journey with us because we have so many lessons to share with you to help you thrive in this unique career. You’ll hear real conversations, real advice and real support from us along with other successful wedding planners and guest experts who will help you to grow your wedding planning business. Are you ready?   What’s in this episode: Why we have waited so long to start this podcast  Our “why” for starting the Planner Life Podcast What our plans are for future episodes and the types of guests we plan to bring on the show   Today’s sponsor for the Planner Life Podcast is Honeybook. Honeybook and LVL go way back, and that’s because we were one of their first beta users. Honeybook is an online business management tool that organizes client communication, bookings, contracts, invoices and so much more - all in one place. They’re offering listeners of the Planner Life Podcast 50% off your first year. That’s a savings of $200 when you visit http://share.honeybook.com/lvlacademy. Membership options are flexible and this promotion applies whether you pay monthly or annually so simplify your to-do list and stay in control with Honeybook.    Can’t wait to hear more? Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you can be the first to know when we release a new episode! Get to know us even more by following along with us on Instagram @lindsaylongacre and @heatherhoesch. We’d love for you to visit us online on our website. Ready to uplevel your wedding planning business? We have so many resources and goodies available for you at The Planner Life Academy.

Hi! We're Heather and Lindsay—wedding planners, business partners, and educators. We are passionate about helping you build a successful wedding planning business. With more than a decade of business under our belts, there is a lot to share about the lessons we've learned (some that we really wish we knew back then). And our goal is to help you get the education and community you need to thrive in this unique career. This podcast is a place for real conversations, real advice, and real support because we want to help elevate the entire wedding industry— and that starts with supporting you. So join us along the way while we share entertaining stories, ah moments, tangible takeaways all to better not only your business but YOU. Welcome to The Planner Life. Invite your planner bestie, subscribe today - talk to you soon!