The Planner Life Podcast, your go-to destination for all things wedding planning and business mastery. Hosted by Heather Hoesch Olsen, a highly experienced wedding planner, industry educator, and your professional friend in the world of weddings.
Join Heather every week as she shares her wealth of knowledge and experience gained from over two decades in the wedding industry. With a passion for crafting unforgettable moments and a keen eye for detail, Heather's journey has taken her through every facet of wedding planning imaginable. From intimate gatherings to lavish affairs, from budget-conscious ceremonies to extravagant celebrations, Heather has seen it all.
But her expertise extends far beyond just executing flawless events. Heather is on a mission to empower and inspire planners like you to reach new heights in your business. Through candid conversations, expert interviews, and actionable insights, the Planner Life Podcast is your compass for navigating the ever-evolving landscape of the wedding industry.
Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, tune in each week to learn, grow, and be inspired. Heather's unique blend of creativity, wisdom, and practical advice will leave you feeling confident and equipped to tackle any challenge that comes your way.
So, if you're ready to elevate your skills, build a thriving business, and join a supportive community of like-minded professionals, then the Planner Life Podcast is your must-listen resource.
Welcome to the Planner Life!
Questions, comments or want to connect with Heather:
Email: hello@plannerlifeacademy.com
IG: @plannerlifeacademy @plannerlifepodcast
Website: plannerlifeacademy.com
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My next guest is Reagan Kerr of Reagan Events. With years of experience managing luxury events worldwide, Regan accepted her first client in 2012 and Reagan Events was born. Today, Reagan leads the firm as creative director and executive producer and is involved in the overall management of each event. She plays an integral role in the design origination and curates vendor teams for each client.
Reagan believes no dream is too big or detail too small. She appreciates thoughtful design and impeccable service. Reagan's greatest inspiration stems from the love she sees in others. She strives to create beautifully tailored memories worthy of the milestone being celebrated and is deeply fulfilled watching the joy of her clients as they live the experience she has shaped for them. Reagan is the sweetest, most open, and as you'll learn, highly experienced planner.
She's easy to talk with, learn from, and I'm honored to call her a new friend. In this episode, we talk about how a professor in college gave Reagan perfectly timed advice, how she worked in smaller industry jobs to get more experience, and then landed a job with a big planner that helped her build her experience and confidence to start her own company. Over the years, life and business have changed for Reagan, and she shares insight into pushing forward, even when it's hard, setting boundaries, and chasing your dreams.
In this episode:
Reagan's journey began with a passion for wedding planning from a young age.
The importance of mentorship and learning from experienced planners.
Navigating the challenges of being valued in the wedding industry.
The significance of building strong vendor relationships.
Emphasizing the need for a solid money mindset in business.
The impact of personal struggles on professional growth.
Innovative services can create new opportunities in the wedding industry.
The importance of sharing your goals with others.
Advice for aspiring planners to start at the level they want to end up.
The value of authenticity and real connections in the wedding industry.
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 stressful 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.
My next guest is Adrienna McDermott of Ava And The Bee. As a former wedding professional and current agency owner who has served over 250 vendors around the world, Adrienna is a sought-after thought leader in the world of wedding marketing and strategy. After spending many years as a bridal boutique owner, wedding planner, and florist, she intimately understands the challenges that vendors face in the always-changing digital world and how important it is to stand out from the rest.
Ava & the Bee, is the in-house marketing studio for wedding professionals ready for inclusive, results-driven marketing that creates freedom in their business and cultivates a client connection and experience before they even speak with you.
In this episode Adrienna shares her story and how she got an early start by leaping into a wedding business and partnership. She shares how an impactful moment in her life led her to shift gears and how Ava and the Bee was born.
As I am sure you can tell by the guests we have on here, I love experts that are or were formerly planners. I think it’s so helpful for us all to hear their stories and to learn from experts that really understand the unique struggles the wedding industry faces so you have solutions to those challenges as well as the advice and insight into how to improve your business strategies.
In this episode:
Adrienna’s Story
Balancing the Client Experience and Business Strategy
Reinventing Yourself in the Wedding Industry
The Importance of Supportive Wedding Community
Starting a Marketing Agency for Wedding Professionals
The Importance of a Strong Website
Building Trust and Consistent Messaging
Advice for Planners at Different Stages
Leveraging Your Vendor Network
Services Offered by Adrienna's Agency, Ava & the Bee
Connect with Ava and the Bee
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049: Jaime Kostechko of Wild Heart Events
Épisode 49
mercredi 17 juillet 2024 • Durée 01:03:16
Today's guest is Jaime Kostechko of Wild Heart Events. Known for her fun and creative designs, Jamie and the Wild Heart Events team are based in Santa Barbara, California and produce weddings locally and worldwide. Jaime loves globally influenced designs inspired by rustic fincas, australian architecture, moroccan textiles, jungalow living, bohemian chic and urban punk.
Jaime has her Bachelors degree from UCSB in Sociology, forging her path handling events and décor within the hospitality and wedding industries since 2008. Growing up immersed in interior design and with a background in restaurant management, Jaime layers color, pattern and texture with experiential moments to create unforgettable celebrations full of trend-setting details. She is one of the leading modern event designers with features in People magazine, Vogue, Domino, Martha Stewart, Brides, Green Wedding Shoes and more.
Wild Heart Events has been named a top planner and designer by Brides, Over the Moon, The Wed, Wed Vibes, California Wedding Day and more.
Beyond her work, Jaime believes in living a life based around kindness, authenticity and inclusivity. Jaime loves hosting in her own home alongside her fire captain husband, two sons, and frenchie.
In this Episode, we discuss:
Evolution of Jamie's team structure over the years.
The importance of clear roles within the business.
Transition from high volume to high-end destination weddings, managing 22 weddings a year.
Jamie's background in the restaurant industry.
Transitioning to wedding planning inspired by her love for hospitality and design, and her mother's influence as an interior designer.
Balancing motherhood and a growing business.
Jamie's approach to incorporating calculated risks and memorable moments in her designs.
048: Brandon Kidd
Épisode 48
mercredi 3 juillet 2024 • Durée 58:20
Today's guest is a dear friend, longtime supporter of Planner Life Academy, and my wedding photographer, the one and only Brandon Kidd.
Brandon is a destination wedding photographer, co -founder of Chasing Stone, and a business coach to creative entrepreneurs. He has been named among the top photographers in the world, serving the wedding industry for over 20 years. Brandon has photographed over 600 weddings throughout 65 countries, and he brings a wide array of professional and personal experiences to each and every wedding he serves.
As we share in this episode, we met very early on in both of our careers and have had the good fortune of working together more times than I can count.
In this episode, we talk about his early love for capturing moments and family trips, how he got into catering and that exposed him to the world of weddings, how his desire to connect with people led him to take it full time, and how he lucked out and has the very best business partner, second tutor, and wife, Kristin.
In this episode we also talk about:
Building Vendor Relationships
Understanding Vendor Relationships
How various vendors, not just venues, can be valuable referral sources.
Authentic Connections
Strategic Diversification
Personal Fulfillment and Giving Back
Value of Having a Coach
Every high performer has a coach to provide guidance and accountability.
The difference between informal advice from friends and structured coaching.
Tips on selecting a coach who understands your industry and personal goals.
047: Ann Koppuzha of Powerhouse Legal
Épisode 47
mercredi 26 juin 2024 • Durée 41:31
Today's guest is Ann Koppuzha of Powerhouse Legal.
With a decade of legal experience at top law firms and the Department of Justice, Ann is dedicated to ensuring your contracts are top notch and echo your unique story so you can book clients faster.
Legal questions are always something I get from planners in all phases of their business. So I'm so excited to have had the opportunity to ask some of your most pressing questions.
In this episode, we talk about client contracts, how to best protect your business. We talk about reviewing venue and vendor contracts, as well as the common mistakes we see.
Anytime we're talking with an attorney, we have to keep it a little bit broad. So we got to cover so much in this episode.
We discuss:
Initial Setup and Importance of Contracts
Communication Expectations
Client Contract Negotiations
Vendor Contracts
Employee and Contractor Agreements
Using AI Tools for Business
Holistic Approach to Business Success
Advice for New Planners
046: Lesley Brickman of The One Gown
mercredi 19 juin 2024 • Durée 51:17
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
045: Alexa Kritis Events
Épisode 45
mercredi 12 juin 2024 • Durée 43:11
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
044: Holding It In
Épisode 44
jeudi 6 juin 2024 • Durée 16:21
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
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
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.
042: Christine of CMG Events
Épisode 42
jeudi 23 mai 2024 • Durée 53:56
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.
Today's episode is brought to you by the Planner Life Academy online course.
What is the most important thing to do when you want to become a successful wedding planner?
Whether you're just starting out or you're ready to level up, these questions constantly creep in. How can I charge more? How do I book more clients? How can I do this better? This must not be this hard. Everybody else seems to be doing better than me. I've been there.
And I've learned so many things the hard way so that you don't have to. The thing is, the path to overcoming doubt is different for everyone, and you can't Google your way to success. I have done over 900 weddings and events, and I've learned so many ways to improve my customer experience, organization, design skills, and wedding day process.
And after years of hosting in -person workshops for planners, we created an online course so planners can learn what they need to succeed from the comfort of their own home.
If you want to do this, you can, and we're here to show you how.
And this just isn't any wedding planner certification. It's everything I have learned over the last 20 years poured into an easy to learn online course that will teach you how to start your business, implement processes. How to create templates, how to guide your clients through each and every step of planning, how to be a great leader, and more importantly, how to build a great reputation so that you can build a sustainable wedding business.
The Planner Life Academy online course is 45 topics, over 16 hours of video lessons, and all of our templates to help you make immediate upgrades to your business.
Friend, please stop doubting that you have what it takes to succeed.
Get everything you need to build your career as a professional wedding planner.
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.
Use code WEDDINGPRO10 for 10% off contract templates.
Today's episode is brought to you by the Planner Life Academy online course.
What is the most important thing to do when you want to become a successful wedding planner?
Whether you're just starting out or you're ready to level up, these questions constantly creep in. How can I charge more? How do I book more clients? How can I do this better? This must not be this hard. Everybody else seems to be doing better than me. I've been there.
And I've learned so many things the hard way so that you don't have to. The thing is, the path to overcoming doubt is different for everyone, and you can't Google your way to success. I have done over 900 weddings and events, and I've learned so many ways to improve my customer experience, organization, design skills, and wedding day process.
And after years of hosting in -person workshops for planners, we created an online course so planners can learn what they need to succeed from the comfort of their own home.
If you want to do this, you can, and we're here to show you how.
And this just isn't any wedding planner certification. It's everything I have learned over the last 20 years poured into an easy to learn online course that will teach you how to start your business, implement processes. How to create templates, how to guide your clients through each and every step of planning, how to be a great leader, and more importantly, how to build a great reputation so that you can build a sustainable wedding business.
The Planner Life Academy online course is 45 topics, over 16 hours of video lessons, and all of our templates to help you make immediate upgrades to your business.
Friend, please stop doubting that you have what it takes to succeed.
Get everything you need to build your career as a professional wedding planner.
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.
- 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.
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.
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.
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