The Planner's Edit with Desirée Adams: A Podcast for Wedding Planners and Pros (FKA Ask the Planner)

Text the Wedding Planning HotlineToday's episode comes from you all, my listeners! I’ve heard from several of you that you’re waiting for the proposal. You're not officially engaged, but you know or hope it's coming soon, so you're looking around, getting some ideas, etc. You’ve been in a relationship for a while, you’ve had the talk, maybe looked at some rings, so you’re just starting to get a feel for this whole wedding planning thing.NO, I do NOT think you’re crazy. My now-husband and I TOTALLY talked about some of our wedding ideas before we got engaged. We had fun fantasizing and dreaming!So what should you do now? Below are the five things to do before you get engaged. Think about your guest list.  Put together a budget range that you’re comfortable spending on the wedding  Decide a part of the country or state where you want to get married.Research and reach out to wedding planners.Look at wedding venues. Save inspiration to a Pinterest board. If you have questions about any of this, I would love to know. I can even do a deep dive into one of these topics if you think it’s helpful. Please review the podcast on Apple Podcasts and write your questions in the review and I’ll incorporate them into a future episode.  If there are specific guests you want me to interview or topics you want me to cover in a future episode, let me know who that is in your review, too! In Episode 37 I’m diving into the next step in the journey, which is what the heck do you do after you get engaged!For the episode show notes, make sure you visit verveeventco.com/36.

Text the Wedding Planning HotlineIn today’s episode, I dive deep into why someone would or would NOT hire a wedding planner. You might think it’s interesting that I’m a wedding planner that chose to record an episode on why someone might not want to work with a wedding planner.But I think it’s a question that a lot of couples and families grapple with. Who should or should not hire a wedding planner? Why hire a wedding planner? Why do we need one?What does a wedding planner even do? Will they be able to execute the vision we have in our heads?What will they do that I can’t?Would I get along with a wedding planner or will they control too much? These are all great questions and I’m going to answer them in today’s episode.I get a little heated in some parts because, as you can imagine, I’m pretty passionate about this topic. Also, this is the LAST episode of Season 1 of the Ask the Planner podcast. I’m going to take the next few months to focus on my clients and make sure the wedding season is the best one yet.I’m also going to be interviewing new guests and getting ready for an amazing Season 2 that will be back in October of 2021. If you just discovered this podcast, I encourage you to start with episode 1 and binge the rest of the episodes. I’ve covered so many topics already in 35 episodes and had some really awesome guests already. And I’m excited to bring it with Season 2.If there are specific guests you want me to interview or topics you want me to cover or questions I should answer, PLEASE DM me on Instagram at Asktheplannerpodcast or email me at asktheplannerpodcast@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you!

Text the Wedding Planning HotlineNOTES:Following up on Tip 32, today's last-minute details tips focus on supplies, back-up plans, and contingencies.  Have some open seats in your floor plan (and know where they are or tell your planner/caterer) in case someone shows up without an RSVPPut aside sentimental objects that you'd like included with your "details shots" and put them all together for your photographer to shoot at one timePack a good emergency/supply kit, which includes tape, fishing wire, needle and thread, extra black socks, floral wire, post-its, sharpies, scissors, bandaids, mints, and dental floss. Double-check the weather forecast and see if it's going to affect any of your locations.Make sure you screenshot this tip so you can come back to it as you're getting close to your wedding!If you liked this episode, please SUBSCRIBE and connect with me at  http://asktheplannerpodcast.com/. And if want to learn more about planning a wedding, send me a DM on Instagram at @asktheplannerpodcast

Text the Wedding Planning HotlineIn today’s episode of Ask the Planner, we’re talking about how to navigate the 2021 wedding boom. If you haven’t encountered it yet, then you surely will. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, then you should definitely listen to this episode so you’re not caught off guard and scrambling at the last minute. The wedding boom is something I’m currently dealing with as a wedding planner with my clients, so I know many of you listening are also dealing with it, too. Read the episode show notes at  verveeventco.com/33----If you liked this episode, please SUBSCRIBE and connect with me at  http://asktheplannerpodcast.com/.----And if want to learn more about planning a wedding, send me a DM on Instagram at @verveeventco.-----For more about Zola and Honeyfund, visithttps://verveeventco.com/zola  and https://verveeventco.com/honeyfund.

Text the Wedding Planning HotlineNOTES:Today's last-minute details tip focuses on the where and when.Tell speakers they have 2-3 minutes for their toast. They'll probably run about 5-7 minutes, but less is always more. Make sure you tell the DJ when they're speaking, too.Tell all family if you plan on taking group photos with them and when/where that will happen.Send your timeline for the day to ALL service providersIf you want more help on putting together your wedding day timeline make sure to check Episode 19 How to Put Together Your Wedding Day Timeline in 7 Steps and also my blog post How to Put Together a Smooth Wedding Day TimelineThere is more to a wedding day timeline than meets the eye. It takes a little more to execute a flawless wedding day than choosing your ceremony and reception timeline. The clearer you can make it (for your wedding vendors and your wedding party!), the more relaxed and FREE you will fee will be on your wedding day. Grab my DAY-OF TIMELINES BUNDLEI hope this episode helped you get a better idea of how to put together your wedding day timeline. If you have ANY questions, I’m more than happy to answer them! If you liked this episode, please SUBSCRIBE and connect with me at  http://asktheplannerpodcast.com/. And if want to learn more about planning a wedding, send me a DM on Instagram at @asktheplannerpodcast

Text the Wedding Planning HotlineIn today’s episode of Ask the Planner, our special guest is sharing with us four insider secrets that you need to know when booking your wedding hotel rooms. Your wedding hotel room (or your hotel room block)  is an important aspect of your wedding that should definitely not be overlooked. For almost all weddings, some percentage of its guests will be from out of town. Read the episode show notes at  verveeventco.com/31.----If you liked this episode, please SUBSCRIBE and connect with me at  http://asktheplannerpodcast.com/. ----And if want to learn more about planning a wedding, send me a DM on Instagram at @verveeventco.-----For more about Zola and Honeyfund, visithttps://verveeventco.com/zola  and https://verveeventco.com/honeyfund.

Text the Wedding Planning HotlineNOTES:Floral can take up a big part of your budget, so it's important to ask the right questions at the beginning. These questions include:What's the setup/take-down feed and what services does it include?Does this estimate include anyone moving arrangements from one site to another? Does this estimate include any vessels to keep or do we need to return them all? If so, by when do they need to be returned?Are the inspiration images in your proposal accurate in terms of scale or would mine be bigger or smaller?If you liked this episode, please SUBSCRIBE and connect with me at  http://asktheplannerpodcast.com/Want a better way of putting together your wedding budget? Grab my WEDDING BUDGET BUNDLE!  This wedding budget bundle maps out your budget per category, and also tracks who you need to pay and when. These spreadsheets are designed to help you get what you want, at a price you can afford. Know exactly how much you've paid and how much you still owe at a quick glance!  

Text the Wedding Planning HotlineToday’s topic is important because your food and alcohol take up a huge percentage of your budget. Depending on your total budget, it can be 30-45%!Putting together your wedding menu and figuring out the logistics of your food, alcohol, and catering can be pretty intricate and requires a lot of thought and attention. This part of your wedding planning takes more than just tasting food and deciding what you like and don’t like. Whether you’re searching for a caterer or you’ve already booked one and signed the contract, this episode will give you a lot to think about and help you decide just what kind of meal you want to serve and the type of caterer you want to work with. Whether you’re having a rustic backyard wedding or a formal, elegant dinner in a ballroom, all these questions will apply.Some of these questions I share with you in one of my products in the Resource Shop - the Wedding Vendor Email Templates and Interview Questions. But this episode talks specifically about catering questions.However, if you’ve ever wondered what questions you should be asking a specific vendor, knowing there are lots of important things you might be missing, definitely check out my wedding vendor email templates and interview questions. All you need to do is literally copy and paste them from my document into your email and you will be well on your way. You’ll be happy to know you asked the right questions and saved yourself so much time. You can find the bundle at https://shop.verveeventco.com.As always, if you’re driving or working out, you can get the show notes at verveeventco.com/29 for the highlights, links mentioned in the episode, or to hear the replay.The main questions we discussed today that will help you better plan for a memorable and delicious wedding:What kind of meal are you serving (formal or casual) and how many guests will there be?What kind of bar are you going to have? Hosted or open bar (where you pay for it), a cash bar (where the guest pays for it), or a combination of the two and for how long?How does the caterer handle tastings and is there a fee to attend one? Also, how many guests may attend?When is the final guarantee due?When is the caterer arriving on the day of the wedding?How will the food be served at cocktail hour?And finally, when picking out your menu, have you chosen a variety of options to satisfy a majority of your wedding guests?If you have ANY questions on this topic or any others, I’m always more than happy to answer them! Send me a DM me on IG at @asktheplannerpodcast. I respond to everyone - usually with voice texts! If you liked this episode, please SUBSCRIBE and connect with me at  http://asktheplannerpodcast.com.

Text the Wedding Planning HotlineHave you ever seen those gorgeous mood boards in wedding blogs and magazines and wondered how you can do that for your wedding? First, they’re a really great tool to have for both you and your vendors because they ensure everyone’s on the same page when it comes to your wedding style.So today I’m going to share with you a free tool I’ve created that will walk you through how to make one yourself! You can find it at https://verveeventco.com/moodboard. And for more tips on how to design a thoughtfully curated wedding, visit my blog post 4 Simple Steps to a Magazine-worthy wedding.  If you liked this episode, please SUBSCRIBE and connect with me at  http://asktheplannerpodcast.com

Text the Wedding Planning HotlineToday’s topic is an important one because your wedding venue affects so much of your wedding planning and your wedding budget!If you’re near the beginning of your planning, it’s important to ask these questions ahead of time so you get the entire picture. And if you’ve already signed the contract, it’s totally fine. You can make sure you have the answers to all of these questions as you continue your planning so there aren’t any big surprises on the wedding day. May we store items at the venue prior to our wedding day? And is there a storage fee?At what time are my vendors allowed to access the space to begin setup? I like to arrive no later than 10 am. But if you’re at a property like a hotel, they might try to squeeze in a morning breakfast into the space before your vendors can set up, which might cost you extra if they have less time to set up than they normally would. Going along with that, if they’re a larger property, ask them how many other events could be happening simultaneously with yours? Do they have multiple weddings happening? If so, how do they space them out? Is it possible for guests from other parts of the venue (public spaces or other private events) to mix with yours? Maybe there’s a restaurant on the property that’s open to the public, or a swimming pool, or something else. If you want an exclusive feeling event, you’ll want to avoid this. You also want to make sure the property’s staff can give your wedding enough attention while you’re there.At what time do we and our vendors have to vacate the space? May we store items overnight or do we need to take everything with us that night?Are there noise restrictions we should be aware of? At what time does the event have to end or by when does amplified music need to be turned off?Do you have a floorplan that’s to scale of our event spaces with the number of guests you want to invite that’s similar to what you envisioned in terms of tables?How big is the dance floor with the number of guests we expect and do you think that’s big enough? Are there service fees on top of any of your venue rental fees? If so, how are they calculated?Do we need to hire a valet service or transportation company or can all of our guests fit in the parking lot?If the venue doesn’t have its own chef or caterer, or you’re allowed to bring in an outside caterer, ask them where does the caterer prep, do they ever need to build a kitchen tent or can they use kitchen space at the venue?What tables, chairs, linens, glassware, china come with the venue rental? And may we see them? Do you have any exclusive or required vendors, such as caterers, decor, etc.?And, if you want to make your life SUPER EASY, you can visit my Resources shop and purchase the Wedding Vendor Email Templates and Interview Questions bundle so you ALWAYS know what to ask each vendor when you’re interviewing them. Plus, I include some helpful tips and things to know when it comes to booking hotels, caterers, and transportation. As always, if you’re driving or working out, you can get the show notes at verveeventco.com/27.If you liked this episode, please SUBSCRIBE and connect with me at  http://asktheplannerpodcast.com or send me a DM on Instagram at @as