Shows
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners078: So Happi Together - Nancy ParkHi planners! This week’s episode features a guest I’ve admired for years, Nancy Park of So Happi Together. Nancy is a Southern California native, a mom of four, and a powerhouse designer whose work centers on love, legacy, and joy. Together with her business partner Pae, Nancy plans heartfelt, luxury events that are full of intention and meaning. Nancy shares her journey from academia to weddings (spoiler: it started with a blog before her own wedding!), her early nonprofit work, and how a deep respect for family and culture is at the core of e...2025-07-291h 02
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners077: Actionable Community Over CompetitionHi Planners! In this episode of the Planner Life Podcast, I’m diving deep into a phrase we’ve all heard, “Community Over Competition”, and turning it into something real, actionable, and transformative for your planning career and life. This mindset has shaped everything from my business growth to how I show up for others, and I want the same for you. You'll hear me break down what this really means (spoiler: it’s not about playing small), why it matters so much in our industry, and how it can help you build deeper relationships, book bette...2025-07-1815 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners076: Ali Phillips - Thinking Beyond Your MarketHi Planners! In this episode, I sit down with the vibrant and adventurous Ali Phillips, Chief Wedding Orchestrator of Engaging Events by Ali. Named one of Chicago’s top wedding planners, Ali shares her journey from a fast-paced career in trucking logistics to becoming a celebrated name in luxury and destination weddings. Ali opens up about: Her adventurous childhood that sparked a love of travel Pivoting careers at 29 after discovering wedding planning by chance The lessons learned from early years navigating the Chicago market Transitioning into the luxury and destination wedding world Her honest ad...2025-07-0154 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners075: Rethinking Your NetworkingHi Planners! In today’s episode, I’m diving into the world of networking—but not the stiff, awkward kind that makes you want to turn the car around in the parking lot. This is all about meaningful, energizing, and actually enjoyable connections. I’m sharing how one last-minute decision to show up at a networking event led to a Martha Stewart feature and a dream client—and how shifting my mindset around networking transformed my business (and my attitude). You’ll hear about common mistakes planners make when networking, the power of preparation and follow-up, a...2025-06-1117 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners074: Wedding Content Creation with BTS Bride, Stacey MoranHi Planners! In this episode, I sit down with Stacey Moran, the visionary founder of BTS Bride, a wedding content creation company that’s redefining how couples relive their wedding day. With a background in fashion, beauty, and social media marketing, Stacey launched BTS Bride after recognizing a gap in the wedding industry during her own wedding in 2022. Since then, her team has captured over 150 weddings and received accolades from Vogue, The Wall Street Journal, and beyond. We dive into: The origin and evolution of BTS Bride—from supporting vendors to serving couples directly What...2025-06-0458 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners073: Workshop Recap, Template BundleHi Planners! Today, we’re diving into a special topic that I’m so excited to share – a behind-the-scenes look at the Mastering Management Workshop and why coordination is more valuable than many planners realize. If you’re looking to level up your wedding coordination services, streamline your processes, and boost your profits, this episode is for YOU. In this Episode: Why wedding coordination is a valuable service and not just a stepping stone. How coordination can improve your profitability and flexibility as a planner. Highlights from the recent Mastering Management Workshop, includin...2025-05-2118 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners072: Fallon Carter & The Importance of MentorshipHi planners, welcome to this week's episode. It's one that is equal parts laughter as it is filled with nuggets of insight. Meet my next guest, Fallon Carter. Fallon is the founder and creative director of Fallon Carter Events. She has been named one of the top wedding planners in the world by Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, and Brides Magazine. Fallon is well known for connecting southern hospitality with international luxury. As you'll hear in this episode, Fallon's journey began after helping a friend with her three-day Paris wedding. Fallon soon fell in love with the or...2025-04-2348 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners071: Green Flag vs. Red Flag InquiriesHi Planners! Recently I have been getting a lot of questions from planners about streamlining their inquiry process. The pros and cons or offering a few options or more limited options. How to suss out if the client is the right fit and so much more. It got me thinking about one of my favorite topics - the green or red flag system for evaluating if clients are a good fit for you. So today’s episode is just that. Entitled Green Flag vs Red Flag Inquiries. I’ll walk you through what this process is, ho...2025-03-1914 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners070: LIVE from the Mastering Management Workshop - Planner Panel DiscussionHi planners! Welcome to this week’s episode. I have something special for you and I am really excited to share it. We recorded live the Planner Panel from the Mastering Management workshop. My guests are both returning to the podcast - Christine Garrison owner of CMG Events and Candice Sanders of Engaged Events. In addition to a great conversation, you can hear a bit about what the conversations are like at our workshops. If you want to learn more about Wedding Management, be sure to be on the lookout for the new Management Template Bundle launching soo...2025-03-1255 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners069: Let's Talk About ConfidenceHi planners! Today I want to talk about one of the biggest struggles that every planner faces. I want to share with you one of the main reasons planners come to Planner Life Academy. Now these planners might be coaching with me, they might be taking the online course, or they might be attending an in-person workshop. But what seems to be universal when I ask these planners why they are here...one of the most common answers is to improve their confidence. So let's talk about confidence. Let's talk about the steps we know can improve...2025-02-2616 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners068: New Year, New FeelsHi planners, welcome to a solo episode today about the new year and the new feelings that come with it. In this episode: How I push my new year start to February. The steps that I take to reset for this next chapter of life and business. What about the way we get to reset each year. How when you take the time to reflect and start fresh, you get to improve your personal and professional life in a really meaningful way. This episode is supported by Planner Life Academy. In ca...2025-02-1213 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners067: Holly Gray, "No Is A complete Sentence"Hi planners! Meet my next guest, Holly Gray. Founder and CEO of Anything But Gray Events, Holly Gray is a Los Angeles, California second generation wedding planner and community builder. As you'll learn, Holly is a former stage manager of theater, TV, improv, and she brings a fearlessly theatrical perspective and unique skill set to the event industry. Holly is known for her use of color, creativity, and bold design aesthetics. Anything but great events weddings look and feel as unique and out of the box as the couples they are crafted for. Holly's work ha...2025-02-0546 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners066: Jessica Upton, "Travel Advisor & Planner Relationship"Meet my next guest, Jessica Upton. Jessica Upton is the owner of J. Upton Travel, a Austin, Texas based company that partners with wedding planners to manage all things travel for weddings and destination events. With over a decade of experience as a wedding planner herself, Jessica knows firsthand the challenges planners face when it comes to group travel, room blocks, and hotel contracts. She works closely with planners to source the best hotels, negotiate favorable terms, and provide ongoing support to ensure a smooth travel experience for both clients and their guests. Jessica's goal i...2025-01-2938 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners065: Ashley Thompson, The Power of YesHappy New Year! Meet my next guest, Ashley Thompson. Ashley Thompson is a Las Vegas native who started Ashley Creative Events in 2017. As you'll hear in this episode, Ashley found her passion for events at a very young age when she was inspired by the events her mom would plan and host. Ashley knew weddings were the end game and she carefully created a resume to learn every bit of the event industry until she found her way to starting her own business. Today, Ashley leads her company as the owner and creative director. She fo...2025-01-1644 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners064: That's A Wrap on 2024Hello & Happy Holidays! It is with so much gratitude that I share the final podcast episode of 2024. As we close out this incredible year together, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the wins, the lessons, and the moments that shaped this year. So when I look back at these last 12 months, they were definitely a journey. A journey filled with highs and lows. A journey where I, of course, had this idea and these goals of what my year would look like. And like most years, it wasn't even close. And in so many w...2024-12-1909 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners063: Natalie Good, A Good Affair Hi planners! Before I introduce you to my next guest, I wanted to make sure that you heard that the new PlannerLifeAcademy.com is live! I am beyond excited for you to see it, and more importantly, the four new workshops for 2025, including the first one in January, which is Mastering Management, a Wedding Coordination and Wedding Day-focused 2-day in-person workshop. Be sure to check out the site for more info and to grab your seat before they're gone! Now, my next guest is Natalie Good. Known for being a creative force behind A...2024-11-0648 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners062: Thomas BuiMy next guest is Thomas Bui. Thomas is the founder and creative director of Thomas Bui Lifestyle, a San Diego based company. With 24 years of experience producing weddings and events, Thomas and his team have worked in Italy, France, England, Asia, and Mexico. Thomas Bui Lifestyle has been featured in Martha Stewart weddings, the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Vogue, and Brides to name a few. Thomas also guests lectures at universities on the business of luxury weddings. I've known Thomas for a long time and it was so fun to have this conversation to...2024-10-2344 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners061: Erica AdamsHi planners, my next guest is Erica Adams. Erica is an event producer and the creative mind behind Erica Adams Design. With over seven years of experience, she specializes in crafting memorable weddings and a variety of other events from corporate gatherings to brand activations. Known for her meticulous attention to detail and innovative approach, Erica brings a unique vision to every celebration she produces. Erica has been named top planner by Brides and Martha Stewart Weddings, and her work has been featured in People and Essence. I have been a big fan of Erica's o...2024-10-1651 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners060: Exciting AnnouncementsHi Planners, Heather here to share some exciting updates about Planner Life Academy, in this episode, I am reflecting on the past 12 years and announcing a new website that better represents my goals as an educator and mentor. I am excited to introduce four new focused workshops planned for 2025, aimed at helping wedding planners improve their skills and business practices. The new format allows for deeper exploration of essential topics, fostering community growth and support among planners. Give this qucik episode a listen and then check out the NEW plannerlifeacademy.com. 2024-10-1606 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners059: Reagan KerrMy 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...2024-10-0248 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners058: Adrienna McDermott of Ava & The BeeMy 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 f...2024-09-2538 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners057: Katie Webb Brundige of Intertwined Inc.Meet my next guest, Katie Webb Brundige of the powerhouse company, Intertwined Inc. Katie brings a wealth of experience to the table as an entrepreneur with 18 plus years of experience in hospitality, events and design. She specializes in full service luxury event planning, overseeing everything from production and curated design to vendor coordination and executing multi -day experiences. Her keen eye for refined aesthetics and unwavering attention to detail allows for her to craft unique spaces and creative displays for weddings, galas, and charity functions locally, nationally, and worldwide. She received her bachelor's degree in h...2024-09-1850 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners056: Alison Bryan DestinationsMy next guest is Alison Lesser Keck. Alison and her husband Bryan are the owners and brilliant minds behind Alison-Bryan Destinations. Alison is a San Francisco and Santa Barbara native who has produced over 400 weddings, from exquisite gatherings in private estates to massive weekends to week long productions in destinations globally. Alison and Bryan have been recognized by Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Brides, Over the Moon, and Elle Magazine as one of the top wedding planners in the world. In this episode, Alison and I discuss how she and Bryan got an early start in five -star hospitality t...2024-09-1155 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners055: Kelley GilsterMy next guest is Kelley Gilster. Kelley is a cinematographer based in Southern California. She runs 618 studios with her husband, Paul, and this year they celebrate their 14th year in business. Kelley and Paul and I have been fortunate to work together numerous times over the years and really grew up in the industry together. They have supported planner life through speaking and helping produce the online course and testimonials. After over a decade in the industry, Kelley has become an educator alongside her business partner, Taylor Petrinovich, a Napa based videographer over at the Level Up...2024-08-281h 02
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners054: Ask Me Anything with KarenHeather and Karen are back again with an Ask Me Anything episode answering your most pressing questions. In this episode we answer the following questions from planners: My 2024 season has been so weird. How can I try to have a better 2025? What do you think the best part time job is while I am building my new business? I see people getting invited to all of these events, but I never seem to make the list. How do I change that to be included? Do you think it’s okay to offer discounts? I have increased my...2024-08-2155 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners053: Sara Does SEOThis week’s guest is Sara Dunn of Sara Does SEO. Sara Dunn is the Wedding SEO Specialist for wedding planners, photographers, venues, and other wedding professionals who want their websites to rank higher on Google. With a knack for making SEO easy to understand, she’s created a unique Wedding SEO Framework that simplifies what it takes to get your wedding business in front of your dream clients. Sara has been featured by Honeybook, Special Events, and NACE. She was named a WeddingPro educator for 2023 and has presented to audiences including WeddingPro, WIPA, W...2024-08-1451 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners052: Jove MeyerEmbracing Inclusivity and Creativity with Jove Meyer This week’s guest is Jove Meyer, Jove Meyer, Owner and Creative Director of Jove Meyer Events. Jove is a prominent figure in the wedding planning industry, known for his vibrant and inclusive approach to events. Jove shares his journey from humble beginnings to becoming a celebrated wedding planner, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity, creativity, and authenticity in the wedding industry. Jove Meyer is a true visionary of joy for the spaces we call home and the ones that house life's biggest moments. He crafts a vivid colorful wo...2024-08-071h 06
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners051: Ashley & Renee of Baciare EventsIn this episode, Heather is joined by Ashley Saffer and Renée Sabo, the founding partners and creative directors of Baciare Events. Baciare Events, (pronounced Buh-CHAR-Eh), is a premier planning and design firm dedicated to creating unforgettable experiences. Through strategic planning, renowned creative designs, and concierge style service, Ashley and Renee are based in New England and always passport ready. Their experience with sought after destinations and connections to talented vendors around the world allowed them to take their clients on an unforgettable planning journey and produce one of a kind milestone celebrations and events. Re...2024-07-2458 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners050: Details DarlingToday’s guests are the sister duo from Details Darling. A full circle moment for all three planners as Aubrey and Kenzie came to Planner Life Academy early on in their career and it’s been so fun to watch them grow. Aubrey and Mackenzie founded Details Darling, a Southern California and Arizona based boutique full service wedding planning and design company. They emphasize the importance of design details that bring out their couples personalities and tell their love stories through one of a kind events. Details Darling’s work has been featured in People Magazine, Martha Stewart...2024-07-2444 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners049: Jaime Kostechko of Wild Heart EventsToday'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, pa...2024-07-171h 03
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners048: Brandon KiddToday'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...2024-07-0358 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners047: Ann Koppuzha of Powerhouse LegalToday'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 re...2024-06-2641 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners046: Lesley Brickman of The One GownToday'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, b...2024-06-1951 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners045: Alexa Kritis EventsToday'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 o...2024-06-1243 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners044: Holding It InHi 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 o...2024-06-0616 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners043: Kelsey Rae DesignsToday'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...2024-05-2952 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners042: Christine of CMG EventsToday'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...2024-05-2353 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners041: Ask Me Anything with Heather & KarenOn today’s episode, Heather & Karen from Blissfully Styled sit down to answer submitted questions from the Planner Life Community. A little bit about the guest co-host today- Karen Sieger owner of Blissfully Styled. Karen is a genuine empath and always game for a celebration. There's nothing Karen loves more than immersing herself in event planning and designing. She is an advocate for her couples, infusing positivity, creating elegant designs obsessing over the tiniest of details. Her mission is to create blissful planning and wedding day experience for her couples and vendor friends alike. These Ask...2024-05-0857 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners040: Steven Greitzer of ProvenanceOn today's episode, Heather Hoesch Olsen, interviews Steven Greitzer, who is the founder and CEO of Provenance. After officiating weddings for years and feeling frustrated and shocked by the lack of resources for couples and their first time officiants, he founded Provenance in 2021 to modernize ceremony design. Today, tens of thousands of wedding planners, couples, officiants, bridal party, and other toast givers used Provenance's suite of tools to craft meaningful and personalized wedding ceremony scripts, vows, and toasts for modern day weddings. In this episode, they talk about Stephen's entrepreneurial journey, his experience in tech, an...2024-05-0146 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners039: Jeannie Savage of Details DetailsOn today's episode, Heather Hoesch Olsen, interviews Jeannie Young Savage, owner of Details Details. Jeannie has established a reputation of excellent event management and producing original, fresh, and innovative design concepts. With two bachelor's of arts degrees from the University of California Irvine, and over 10 years of hospitality experience, she provides an insider's approach to assembling and managing vendors. Jeannie's creativity and impeccable taste continue to produce elegant, extraordinary, and unforgettable events. With meticulous planning and a passion for perfection, she delivers results that are full of color, texture, and imagination. In this conversation, we...2024-04-2552 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners038: Shannon Pruitt of Sunday Muse DesignIn this episode, Heather Hoesch Olsen, interviews Shannon from Sunday Muse Design, a web designer specializing in working with wedding professionals. Shannon shares her journey from a background in wedding planning to becoming a web designer. The discussion highlights the importance of having a strategic approach to website design, understanding ideal clients, and incorporating SEO. Topics in their conversation include: The Importance of a Strategic Website Working with New Clients Strategic Planning for New Businesses Setting Clients Up for Success Choosing the Right Platform Ensuring SEO Implementation Heather and Shannon wrap up the conversation by discussing the...2024-04-1749 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners037: My Wild Wedding StoryHi Planners! Heather is joined by her husband, Jeff Olsen for a personal espisode where they share their story. From their first date, to planning the proposal and how they two had similar challenges to so many of Heather's clients. Listen as they share their planning experience, their roles in planning and how they were not at all prepared for the plot twist that happend just two days before their wedding. How this last minute change in venue was less than ideal and how the indcredible team handled it so incredibly well. Spoiler alert- it was a happy ending...2024-04-101h 07
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners036: Nora Sheils of Bridal Bliss & Rock Paper CoinHey planners! In today’s episode, Nora Sheils of Bridal Bliss and Rock Paper Coin joins Heather for a candid conversation on her story, percentage pricing and creating a system to make planners and client’s lives easier. Listen in as she shares how she and her team made the shift to percentage based pricing and never looked back. Plus, you’ll even hear about the inspiration behind her brand Rock Paper Coin that has created an easy to use platform for invoicing in the wedding industry, and the importance of choosing the right tech for your weddin...2024-04-0347 min
Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners035: Welcome to the Next ChapterThe Planner Life Podcast is officially back! As we dive back into this podcast, I want to bring you behind the scenes in what has been happening personally and within the Planner Life brand! Listen in as I give you all the details and highlight what you can expect from the Planner Life Podcast! Thank you to each and every one of you who reached out and asked for this podcast to come back! If it wasn’t for you, this episode and the episodes to come wouldn’t have happened. Join me each week! Subs...2024-04-0306 minPlanner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersWelcome Back to The Planner Life!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...2024-03-2701 min
LEVEL UP: A Wedding Photography + Videography PodcastWhat Wedding Planners Are Looking For in a Filmmaking TeamIf you want to consistently book luxury weddings, your relationship with planners matters more than you think. In this insightful episode, Heather Hoesch of LVL Weddings shares what she looks for in a videography team—from communication and collaboration to storytelling and delivery. Packed with planner-perspective wisdom, this is essential listening for any wedding filmmaker or photographer wanting to grow in the luxury space.In this episode, we cover:✅ What planners really value in filmmaker partnerships✅ How to stand out during booking conversations✅ On-the-day behaviors that make or break referrals✅ How to deliver your work...2023-04-1145 min
The Creator’s PlaybookMaking Your Business Sustainable (with Lindsay Ferguson and Heather Hoesch of Planner Life Academy)Today’s guests are Lindsay Ferguson and Heather Hoesch, Co-Founders of Planner Life Academy where they provide wedding planners a space to learn and to help them connect with each other, all while working to elevate the future of the wedding industry!
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If you enjoyed the podcast please leave a review and rating to help inspire more...2022-07-2936 minPlanner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersReal Planner: Renee Dalo of Moxie Bright EventsHey 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 fo...2021-08-101h 03Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersReal Expert: Tayler Cusick Hollman of Sourced Co.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 industr...2021-07-2045 minPlanner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersReal Expert: Sobrina Pies of FlodeskHey 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 2021-06-0825 minPlanner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersReal Talk: Get to Know Us BetterHey 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 ra...2021-05-2546 minPlanner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersReal Planner: Valarie Falvey of Kirkbrides Wedding Planning & DesignHey 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...2021-05-1138 minPlanner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersReal Planner and Real Expert: Lea Stafford of Lea Stafford Events and Ethos West CollectiveHey 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 indu...2021-04-2037 minPlanner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersReal Talk: Never Stop LearningHey 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...2021-04-061h 01Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersReal Expert: Lisa Anhaiser of LBL Event RentalsHey 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 shoul...2021-03-2349 minPlanner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersReal Talk: Revamping Your Lists After COVIDHey 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 Wha...2021-03-0928 minPlanner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersReal Expert: Kinsey Roberts of the She Creates Business Podcast and Co-Owner of Aspen HeightsHey 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’...2021-02-231h 03Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersReal Expert: Cindy Novotny of Master Connection AssociatesHey 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 be...2021-02-0950 minPlanner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersReal Planner: Andrea Freeman of Andrea Freeman EventsHey 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:2021-01-2657 minPlanner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersReal Talk: Happy New YearHey 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 uniq...2021-01-1248 minPlanner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersReal Planner: Candice Sanders of Engaged EventsHey 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 cl...2020-12-2957 minPlanner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersReal Expert: Megan Robinson of One Hope WinesHey 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 th...2020-12-2230 minPlanner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersReal Experts: Photographers Joel Serrato and Jose VillaHey 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! ...2020-12-081h 04Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersReal Planner: Jenni Thye of Imoni EventsHey 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 fi...2020-11-241h 00Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersReal Expert: Why It Takes Drive and a Little Luck to Build a Business with Janelle ThomsonHey 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”. S...2020-11-1054 minPlanner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersReal Planner: Margaux Fraise of Harmony Creative StudiosHey 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. 2020-10-2752 minPlanner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners015: Real Talk: Why Starting Is Easy But Succeeding Is HardHey 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 h...2020-10-1348 minPlanner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersReal Talk: Insight on Our WorkshopHey 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! Wha...2020-10-0131 minPlanner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersReal Talk: Destination WeddingsHey 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...2020-09-0845 minPlanner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersReal Expert: Jana Williams of Jana Williams PhotosHey 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 CO...2020-08-2539 minPlanner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersReal Planner: Kimberly Rhodes of Hitched EventsHey 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 t...2020-08-1850 minPlanner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersReal Talk: Coordination vs. PlanningHey 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...2020-08-1151 minPlanner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersReal Expert: Getting Your Legal Ducks in a Row with Annette Stepanian of Your Legal BFFHey 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...2020-08-0446 minPlanner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersReal Planner: Brooke Keegan of Brooke Keegan Special EventsHey 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 sh...2020-07-2858 minPlanner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersReal Talk: Community Over CompetitionHey 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 com...2020-07-2142 minPlanner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersReal Planner: Hannah Campbell-Anderson of Day of GalHey 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...2020-07-1434 minPlanner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersReal Expert: Natalie Franke of Rising Tide SocietyHey 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...2020-07-071h 04Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersReal Planner: Victoria Holland of Victoria Ann EventsHey 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 couple...2020-06-3043 minPlanner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersGetting to Know HeatherToday 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 u...2020-06-1528 minPlanner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersGetting to Know LindsayIn 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. ...2020-06-1528 minPlanner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding PlannersWelcome to the Planner Life PodcastAre 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 ex...2020-06-1509 min
She Creates Business | A Podcast for Wedding Pros145: Pricing, Sustainability and Personal Development with Lindsay and Heather from LVL AcademyClick here to learn more about the 2019 LVL Academy in California. LVL Academy Digital Shop Today, I'm honored to welcome Heather and Lindsay from LVL Academy to the show. We're digging deep into three topics: 1. Pricing 2. Sustainability 3. Personal Development Three topics that are imperative to longevity in our industry. About Lindsay and Heather: LINDSAY LONGACRE As a business owner, I dream to cultivate change. My mom started her own business when I was a kid so that she could be there f...2019-09-031h 02She Creates Business | A Podcast for Wedding Pros145: Pricing, Sustainability and Personal Development with Lindsay and Heather from LVL AcademyClick here to learn more about the 2019 LVL Academy in California. LVL Academy Digital Shop Today, I'm honored to welcome Heather and Lindsay from LVL Academy to the show. We're digging deep into three topics: 1. Pricing 2. Sustainability 3. Personal Development Three topics that are imperative to longevity in our industry. About Lindsay and Heather: LINDSAY LONGACRE As a business owner, I dream to cultivate change. My mom started her own business when I was a kid so that she could be there f...2019-09-031h 02
The Gown and BeyondPlanner or Coordinator? Whether you are pulling out all the stops for your wedding or you just need a little help getting things organized then you are probably in need of some professional help. What's the difference between wedding planners and wedding coordinators? Is there really such thing as a day of planner? This week Romona is joined by Lindsay Val Longacre and Heather Hoesch, two wedding planners from LVL Weddings to explain who you need to call based on your wedding needs. Follow LVL Weddings on Instagram at @lvlweddings. Learn more at TheGownandBeyond.com. And if you’re ready to get that perf...2019-06-0640 min
For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning61: Pricing for Profitability, with Lindsay Longacre from LVL AcademyLindsay Longacre from LVL Events (Southern California) and LVL Academy comes on the show today to talk all about pricing for profitability, a vision for creating pricing standardization, whether or not she takes on partial planning (or is it day-of coordination? or month-of? or wedding management), and the best way new vendors can connect with vendors in their market (hint: it's not a mass bcc email). On the show, we also talk a lot about LVL Academy, and Lindsay is bringing their wedding planner workshop here to North Carolina in June and yours truly (Megan Gillikin) is on...2019-05-1546 min