Tag: wedding planning

Wedding Industry Biz

Top 5 Software Programs Every Wedding Planner Needs in 2022

By Erin Giberson on

Most wedding planners would agree that producing a successful event comes down to organization and creativity. 

The good news is that today’s planners have a range of software options to help with how they set up their systems and explore their artistic visions! 

And while we might think it would be nice to have just one app or program that does everything, the truth is that the most effective planners use a selection of tech options that are best suited to their businesses. 

So, to help you stack your tech deck, we’ve compiled the top 5 software programs that every planner needs in 2022.

Top 5 Software Programs for Event Planning 

Best Software for Creating Timelines

Timeline Genius is a smart software that thinks through the wedding day details with you – keeping you organized, confident, and calm. With numerous features and tools to communicate with vendors and clients, it will save you time while letting you customize and personalize event timelines.

Best Software for Digital Billing and File Management

Rock Paper Coin is an online billing platform that lets you manage contracts, invoices, payments, and documents all in one place. With its streamlined system, you don’t have to deal with the stress and guesswork of traditional paperwork.

Best Software for Planning + Designing Venue Layout

Merri is an all-in-one, 3D visualization platform that provides all the tools you need to envision, plan, and design events. Since it includes everything from inspiration to seating charts and vision boards, you can see how floral and décor details will come to life in selected venues.

Best Software for Customer Relationship Management 

REFINE for Wedding Planners offers education, community, and support for wedding professionals who want to grow their businesses. Specifically, The Refine Portal is a CRM designed for weddings planners that is made by wedding planners. In addition to not having blackouts, it allows you to both back up and restore your work. It also offers a variety of event tools and is even available offline. 

Best Software for Color Palette Creation

PANTONE Studio is a design app that lets you build and create palettes with 3D application. You can also customize any look with full design tools and use built-in features to share your vision.

Invest in Yourself + Your Business

All things considered, trying out new software for your business can at first feel a little scary. But, ultimately, it pays off in time saved and long-term growth.

It’s equally important to remember that these software options are more user-friendly than ever and provide responsive technical support when you need it. 

In fact, we’ve even gotten to talk with planners about investing in wed-tech options and automating existing business systems.

So, try one out. Or, better yet, create the software stack that best supports you and your business needs!

 

Wedding Industry Insider Podcast

WII 086: Aleah and Nick Valley Encourage You to Be a Student of Everything

By Erin Giberson on

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Everyone knows that a live event is challenging precisely because there is no re-do.

So, how do you really prepare for all variables? According to this husband-and-wife team, the answer is to learn from everyone and everything. 

Want to hear more? Be sure to tune in for this podcast episode!

Aleah and Nick Valley are the founders of Valley & Company Events, an inclusive event planning and design house. With nearly 20 years of experience, they have been recognized as top wedding planners in the world by Harper’s BAZAAR, Martha Stewart Weddings, and BRIDES. Additionally, they have been featured in countless publications, including TOWN & COUNTRY and Better Homes & Gardens. They are also nationally-recognized industry speakers and co-authors of the best-selling book Storied Weddings.

In this episode, Aleah and Nick explain how knowing the nuances of both events and people prepares you to seamlessly solve the unexpected. Specifically, they share why success in event planning starts with being a student of everything.

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Wedding Industry Insider Podcast

WII 084: Alison Laesser-Keck and Bryan Keck On the Driving Force of Hospitality

By Erin Giberson on

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For this planning-duo couple, a background in hospitality reinforced deeply held beliefs in the value of service and of kindness. In fact, it led to developing the confidence that allowed them to make critical decisions for their company that ultimately paid off.

Want to hear how you can apply these principles to your own wedding planning business?

Be sure to tune in to this podcast episode!

Alison Laesser-Keck and Bryan Keck are the owners of Alison Bryan Destinations, a high-end wedding planning company. Alison serves as Event Producer & Creative Director while Bryan manages operations as Director of Events & Travel. In addition to their extensive hospitality experience, they have produced weddings globally since 2008. For their work, Alison Bryan Destinations is named one of the best wedding planners in the world by Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, BRIDES, and Over The Moon.

In this episode, Alison and Bryan share the way that they approach wedding planning from a place of being all-in. Specifically, they address the way that serving others and treating everyone with kindness leads to choosing couples who trust them to take the risks that create an elevated experience. Above all, they share why hospitality is their driving force. 

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Wedding Industry Insider Podcast

WII 081: Calder Clark Explains How to Highlight Your Brand Without Overextending Yourself

By Erin Giberson on

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Are you a wedding planner who loves design? Or do you thrive in logistics? Perhaps you enjoy both sides of the planning process.

Yet, regardless of which skillsets fall in your wheelhouse, you can’t do it all. Ultimately, it helps to bring in support, which is why this guest shares how you can affordably outsource in a way that highlights your brand.

So, be sure to tune in for this podcast episode!

Calder Clark is the owner and Creative Director of Calder Clark, a full service consulting and design firm. With over 22 years of experience, she now focuses on producing a limited number of exclusive weddings and events each year, as well as serving as a sought-after national speaker. Additionally, she is recognized as a top planner by the following publications: Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Martha Stewart Weddings, Southern Living, and The Knot. 

In this episode, Calder explains the role of vision in guiding the way that you manage the design and logistical details of event planning. Specifically, she offers practical advice for how you can outsource specific areas in order to level up and step away from doing everything yourself.

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Wedding Industry Insider Podcast

WII 080: Colin Cowie Directs You to Use Dreaming to Shape Your Future Success

By Erin Giberson on

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When it comes to creative vision, your dreams reveal what you will build. Small dreams lead to small creations. Big dreams lead to anything you can imagine. That’s why this guest recommends that you give yourself permission to dream up the greatest stories that you want to live.

Want to hear more? Be sure to tune in for this podcast episode!

Colin Cowie is the owner of Colin Cowie Lifestyle, an event and wedding planning company specializing in creating bespoke, luxury productions worldwide. With over 30 years of industry experience, Colin is known for his design approach, which privileges the effect of all five senses on the guest experience. He is also a celebrity event planner, television host, and guest contributor with appearances on The Today Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Additionally, as a lifestyle and interior design expert, he is the author of multiple publications. His most recent work, The Gold Standard: Giving Your Customers What They Didn’t Know They Wanted, shares his sought-after advice in an essential guide for any business owner.

In this episode, Colin talks about the fundamental role that dreaming holds in shaping your future. Specifically, he gives you his best tips for what you should do now to achieve success in your business.

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Wedding Industry Insider Podcast

WII 074: Laurie Arons Discusses the Importance of Loving What You Do and Taking Risks

By Erin Giberson on

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What do you think is the most important factor in a wedding planner’s success? This week’s guest, whose clientele includes Sofia Coppola, Vanessa Getty, and Christy Turlington, says it all comes down to her love for bringing people together and creating once-in-a-lifetime moments.

So, be sure to tune in, because this episode is one you don’t want to miss!

Laurie Arons is the Founder of Laurie Arons Special Events, a full-service event planning company based in California. With over 25 years of industry experience, Laurie is also an educator who designs and hosts an annual destination Wedding Planner Masterclass.  Additionally, she is recognized in three premier lists of top wedding planners: Vogue, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Harper’s Bazaar. In similar fashion, her work is featured in countless publications, including W, Vogue, Martha Stewart Weddings, C Weddings, People, Glamour, Town & Country Weddings, Geraldine Magazine and InStyle Weddings.

In this episode, Laurie talks about how her love of wedding planning motivates everything else, including launching her company and tackling the design challenges that have made her a leader in the wedding industry.

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Wedding Industry Insider Podcast

WII 073: Leah Weinberg Gets Candid About the Emotional Cost of Wedding Planning

By Erin Giberson on

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Know the feeling of taking the blame, as a wedding planner, for something that wasn’t really your fault? Wondering how to combat the emotional overwhelm that’s sometimes par for the course? 

If so, then be sure to tune in for this podcast episode!

Leah Weinberg is the Owner and Creative Director of Color Pop Events. A former commercial real estate attorney, Leah has quickly become a wedding planning industry leader. She has been recognized in BizBash’s Top 500 Event Pros in the US as well as “25 Young Event Pros to Watch” by Special Events Magazine. She is also the author of The Wedding Roller Coaster, and her planning tips have been featured in publications such as Vogue, The New York Times, CNBC, and People.

In this episode, Leah talks about the emotional territory of wedding planning – for both couples and planners – and explains ways to navigate it. Additionally, she breaks down how to maximize the value of producing your own styled shoots.

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Wedding Industry Insider Podcast

WII 072: Tasha Bracken Challenges You to Invest in the Brand That You Want to Build

By Erin Giberson on

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Feel like you’ve ramped up your business too quickly? Or like you’ve given so much you’re burned-out?

If so, then be sure to listen to this podcast episode!

Tasha Bracken is the Owner and Principle Event Producer at Tasha Bracken Events and the Founder of Protégé Collaborative for Planners. She has almost two decades of experience in event planning, and her work has been featured in numerous publications such as Style Me Pretty and Carats & Cake. With a background in PR and Marketing, Tasha is an industry expert in producing weddings as well as nonprofit galas. She has also won the NACE Boston chapter award Wedding of the Year five times.

In this episode, Tasha talks about the way that she rebranded her business and refreshed her love of event production.

Read More “WII 072: Tasha Bracken Challenges You to Invest in the Brand That You Want to Build” →