GSD Diaries with Angela Proffitt

Successful partnerships are essential in any business, and that is especially true in the world of event planning. With so many venues and vendors to choose from, it is important to consider what each one is capable of and if you can rely on their consistent follow through. Covering these points from the beginning sets you up for a successful event and helps you avoid unnecessary stress. That being said, even with the most trustworthy of venues, you need to know when it’s appropriate to follow-up. In this episode, Angela and her co-host Alison discuss a situation when a new wedding venue didn't know what they didn't know until it was almost too late. Listen to the full episode to hear how knowing the right time to follow-up helped them avoid a major obstacle on their client’s big day.

When the big day rolls around, emotions are running high and it is easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of the to-do list. In this episode, Angela shares ways to counter these challenges by making sure clients remain stress-free during their big event. The good news is this isn’t hard to do when you have formed a relationship of trust with your client and have created an environment of flexibility. Listen as Angela and her co-host Alison discuss an occasion when maintaining a flexible environment was essential to making a bride’s special day a little more stress-free.

There is nothing better than being able to do what you love for the people you love. As Angela says throughout this episode, you can pick your clients but you can’t pick your family. Being able to successfully walk the line between personal relationships and professionalism is essential when planning a memorable event for those closest to you. It can definitely be a challenge to keep that “I know best” attitude at bay, but take a listen as Angela shares an experience when doing just that made for an unforgettable night for her family.

In the world of event planning, bumps in the road and last minute changes are unavoidable. The trick in planning a successful event is knowing how to use those challenges to your advantage. In this episode, Angela and her co-host Alison discuss a situation when unexpected challenges taught them the importance of approaching each situation with understanding, the value of over communicating, and what a difference it can make to have a “go with the flow” type of attitude. Take a listen to get the full story.

In this episode, Angela shares the importance of making sure your clients are the perfect fit for you and your team. Fortunately, the process is easy when honesty is at the heart of your planning and the right boundaries are in place.  Listen as Angela and her co-host Alison discuss a few occasions when saying no was the right choice.

In this episode, Angela shares how easy it is to miscommunicate with your team, vendors, and clients when you’re not using the same terminology. Luckily, the solution isn’t complicated; it just requires consistency and diligence. Listen as Angela and her co-host Alison discuss why you should and how you can create a common language with your team, vendors, and clients.

Your clients may be in love, but that doesn't guarantee everything is going well with their respective families, especially their parents. In this episode of Weddings Unveiled, you'll learn how to handle tension amongst the bride's or groom's family. Listen as Angela Proffitt and her co-host Alison share the challenging realities of family drama, uncommunicated wishes and why you should encourage your clients to communicate with their close family members and friends before the big day.

It’s hard to imagine a wedding today without a hashtag and a flood of photos on social media. However, before you go posting to your profile, consult with your client to clarify what, if any, information they are comfortable making available to the public eye. Even information shared with the design team can be sensitive and should be handled with care. On today’s podcast, Alison and I share steps you can take to ensure your client feels safe and secure.

Nailing down accurate numbers for guest attendance can be difficult. 100 percent attendance is rare, so most people start planning for a slightly lower estimated number of attendees in mind. However, occasionally, you receive the maximum number of RSVPs. Yikes! In today’s episode, I explain how creativity and room design can make even the trickiest guest numbers doable. Together with Alison Burry, my podcast co-host and event consultant, we talk about partnering with brides to make it all come together and how communicating those plans to all event staff and vendors makes the experience seamless. After this episode, you will understand the importance of flexibility, creativity, and communication in wedding planning.

When clients come to us with ideas that they’re excited about, the last thing we want to do is burst their bubble. However, the truth is they hired us because we know what we’re doing. A minor disappointment now is better than a huge disappointment later once the money has been spent. This happened when one of my brides had a unique idea for wedding favors. I knew this wasn’t the best idea, but the bride’s enthusiasm won us over and we went for it. Sure enough, it didn’t go as planned, but it’s a lesson I’ll never forget. Honesty wins every time.