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

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Today we're talking about the ins and outs of vendor contracts and costly mistakes to avoid before signing those contracts. This episode is going to help both couples and vendors protect themselves when entering into agreements for weddings and events.

But don't worry; I’m not going to scare you with legal jargon. Today I’ve invited an attorney to break it down with us in a way that's both informative and approachable. Whether you're curious about the intricacies of contracts, how to protect your wedding investments, or simply want to avoid any legal hiccups on your special day, this episode is a must-listen.

So grab your favorite beverage, set your speed on the treadmill, or put on your cruise control, and let's dive into the legal side of wedding planning on today’s episode of Ask the Planner.

This episode was packed with so many excellent tips from our guest. Below are the time stamps to help you navigate the episode. 

• Meet Rebecca Carter  [03:31]
• Why is it important for couples to have a lawyer review their contracts? [6:47]
• What risks do couples take when they don’t understand a contract? [8:23]
• Do you find that couples are overlooking specific clauses? [9:58]
• The number one thing couples and their lawyers should be looking for? [12:21]
• What about if a vendor has to cancel a contract? [22:30]
• Horror stories? [25:36]
• Can you tell us more about Legal Shield? [29:43]
• “This or That” [32:54]

Connect with Rebecca Carter

•  Friedman, Framme & Thrush
• LegalShield

Links Mentioned in the Episode

• Visit the ASK THE PLANNER Wedding Planning Templates Shop
• Learn more about my wedding planner coaching service - get on the waitlist for access to a lower introductory price!

Thank you to our podcast sponsors! 

• Visit the ASK THE PLANNER Wedding Planning Templates Shop –  Use code PODCAST10 for 10% off!

For the full show notes, visit  verveeventco.com/118.

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Happy Halloween! Today’s episode is a special Halloween edition. I’m sharing wedding disasters and how to avoid them. I am sharing HORROR stories - from a recent wedding. Not only are they going to make you cringe and be happy you weren’t there, but I’m also going to give you some tips to make sure this doesn't happen at your wedding. To be clear you would have NEVER known that anything went wrong at this wedding. It’s still one of my favorite and most beautiful weddings. But after that wedding, I seriously questioned how much longer I had in this business because I just felt so defeated but I’m getting ahead of myself. 

To fast-forward to a specific part of the podcast episode, check out the timestamps below:

1. The table numbers didn’t fit in the holders [03:50] 
2. There were grass clippings all over the lawn. [06:00] 
3. The wind is never on our side. [07:18]
4. Guests were late. [13:00] 
5. The officiant went off script. [14:08] 
6. The bride changed her hair. [15:08] 
7. A guest passed out. [15:08] 
8. Dinner service was delayed. [18:25] 
9. We ran out of food. [18:50] 
10. Transportation was delayed. [19:35] 
11. We were behind schedule [20:38] 
12. The dessert vendor had to stay an extra hour. [20:40] 
13. Our team ate in the dark. [23:46] 
14. The band members were smoking. [25:57]
15. Our staff walked in on them! [30:57] 

Links Mentioned in the Episode

• Visit the ASK THE PLANNER Wedding Planning Templates Shop
• Learn more about my wedding planner coaching service - get on the waitlist for access to a lower introductory price!

Thank you to our podcast sponsors! 

• Visit the ASK THE PLANNER Wedding Planning Templates Shop –  Use code PODCAST10 for 10% off!

For the full show notes, visit  verveeventco.com/117.

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Today I’m sharing with you the 6 most important templates in your wedding planning toolkit. Spoiler alert, all of these items can be found in our template shop and listeners of the show get 10% off with the code PODCAST10. This podcast is not about getting you to buy. It’s about helping you get organized and aware of the tools out there to make planning your wedding easier and more enjoyable.

To fast-forward to a specific part of the podcast episode, check out the timestamps below:

1. The Wedding Vendor Email Templates [6:05]
2. Our Wedding Timelines [8:40]
3. The Wedding Day Master Organizer [10:45]
4. Your Wedding Checklist [13:57]
5. Wedding Budget [15:10]
6. The Styled Shoot Bundle [16:42]

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE

• Visit the ASK THE PLANNER Wedding Planning Templates Shop (Use code PODCAST10 for 10% off!)
• The Ultimate Wedding Planning Roadmap: A Checklist for Engaged Couples
• Wedding Budgets & Awkward Money Conversations to Have with Your Partner with Rachel Cruze
• The 5 Main Factors that Drive Your Wedding Budget 
• How to Put Together a Realistic Budget for a Wedding 
• Wedding Budget Template Tutorial

For the full show notes, visit  verveeventco.com/116.

Planning a wedding can be overwhelming- but don't let that discourage you. With the resources you have at your disposal, like the spreadsheets and templates in our shop, our podcast, Google, etc. I hope I’ve helped you break down the wedding planning into manageable, digestible chunks.

Please utilize all the free resources on our blog and of course, use our templates in the shop. If you’re a new planner and want help growing and scaling your wedding business, I would love to work with you one on one, so make sure you sign up for my new coaching program at verveeventco.com/coach.

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Wedding dress shopping. This is an endeavor filled with as much excitement as it is with drama. When do you go? Who do you take with you? What dress style should you wear? In today’s episode, I talk with Stella Jones, owner of Stella's Bridal, a boutique wedding gown shop with two locations in New York. Not only do we answer these very important questions, but we also talk about body positivity, what she said when a bride asked her how to prepare for the wedding night, and so much more.

Here's a summary of our interview:

• Meet Stella Jones [02:55]
• When should brides start looking for a wedding gown? [10:56]
• Should brides know the venue before they purchase their dress? [16:35]
• How should a bride prepare for a wedding dress appointment? [19:12]
• What makes a wedding gown more or less expensive? [23:28]
• Who should brides bring with them to pick out their dresses? [28:35]
• Are there types of dresses that certain figures should avoid? [39:32]
• What bridal fashion trends excite you or are you tired of? [45:15]
• What’s been the hardest challenge you have had to overcome as a woman-owned business?  [51:19]
• Embarrassing bridal stories [58:00]
• Favorite bridal memory [1:01:52]
• How do you know it’s the ‘perfect dress’? [1:06:45]
• If someone doesn't know what they’re looking for in a dress, where do they start? [1:08:30]
• What is a trunk show and when should I consider going to one? [1:10:00]
• Never Have I Ever: Have you ever worn a bridesmaid dress again? [1:11:25]
• “This or That” [1:12:20]

For the full show notes, visit  verveeventco.com/115.

Connect with Stella Jones

• Stella's Bridal
• Instagram: @Stellasbridal

Links Mentioned in the Show

• Wedding Planning template shop
• New Product! Wedding Day Master Organizer and Day-of Spreadsheet
• 1-on-1 Wedding Planner Coaching

THANK YOU TO OUR PODCAST SPONSOR! 

• Proven Skincare. Enter the code DESIREE during checkout to save 20% off your first order.

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Today I’m joined by Rachel Cruze, Personal Finance Expert & Bestselling Author, from Ramsey Solutions to talk about wedding budgets & awkward money conversations with your partner with Rachel Cruze.

Here's a summary of our interview:

• Meet Rachel Cruze [02:50]
• When should couples talk about their long-term financial goals?[6:08]
• Should couples combine finances before they get married? [11:25]
• What financial milestones should couples achieve before they get married? [17:25]
• Why is it important to talk about debt with their spouse or partner? [19:03]
• What debt should couples pay off before they get married? [22:20]
• What if one person has more debt than the other person? [26:22]
• How should couples figure out what their wedding budget should be? [28:02]
• Should couples take on debt to pay for their wedding? [33:19]
• How do you advise couples stop comparing themselves to others when wedding planning? [35:44]
•  Listener question 1:  My partner and I have different financial goal but we have joint accounts. How do we get on the same page? [39:05]
•  Listener question 2:  My parents are paying for the wedding but his guest list is much longer than ours. What should we do? [41:57]
• Never Have I Ever [44:20]
• “This or That” [47:15]

For the full show notes, visit  verveeventco.com/114.

Connect with Rachel Cruze

• Ramsey Solutions
• Instagram: @rachelcruze
• Pinterest: @rachelcruze

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW

• The Wedding Planning Template Shop Sale is on! -- Use the code SEASON4 for 20% off your entire cart.
• Wedding Day Master Organizer and Day-of Spreadsheet
• Money & Marriage Getaway
• Wedding Budget Bundle
• Rachel Cruze Show
• Wedding Planning template shop
• Smart Money Happy Hour
• Wedding Planner coaching service

THANK YOU TO OUR PODCAST SPONSOR! 

• Wedding Planning template shop. Use code SEASON4 to get 20% off your entire order.

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What's the difference between a wedding planner and a wedding venue coordinator? When you start planning your wedding, you might find yourself asking this question. You may also ask, 

• Do I need a wedding planner if the wedding venue has a coordinator?
• What does a wedding venue planner do that the wedding planner doesn't?
• What is the difference between an event planner and an event coordinator?
• What is the difference between an independent wedding planner and an on-site venue coordinator?

To fast-forward to a specific part of the podcast episode, check out the timestamps below:

• Who or what is their focus?  [7:42]
• What's their relationship with the venue? [10:54]
• Timeline Management[13:25]
• Budget Management [15:22]
• Your Point of Contact during the planning process [16:50]

For the full show notes, visit  verveeventco.com/113.

Announcements:

1. New Item in the Wedding Planning Template Shop: WEDDING DAY MASTER ORGANIZER & DAY-OF SPREADSHEET is now live in the the Wedding Planning Template shop!  
2. 20% OFF SALE in the Template Shop! If you’re listening to this when it originally aired on Oct. 2, for the first 2 weeks of October, you can get 20% off the entire template shop (including the wedding day master organizer) when you enter the code SEASON4 during checkout. 
3. New, 1-on-1 Wedding Planning Mentorships are available! If you're a newer wedding planner, sign up for my new one-on-one wedding planner mentorship service. We will work together for 90 days or 1 quarter with 6 calls to dig deep into your wedding business and talk about what you need to do to take your business to the next level. Sign up for the waitlist at verveeventco.com/coach  and that will put you on the email list to be notified when doors open next week as well as get you access to a special introductory price before the price goes up. 

Text the Wedding Planning Hotline

When you're picking out your wedding decor, it’s important to pick design elements that serve a purpose. When I design weddings for my couples, I want to make sure that the elements we include in the design or the details we pick for the wedding decor have meaning. They weave little tidbits of information that I’ve pulled from the couple’s story into the overall day.

In this episode, I break down the design process into 4 basic steps:

• 1: Find Your Inspiration [8:18]
• 2: Pinterest Purge [17:14]
• 3: Pick Your Theme [20:02]
• 4: Create Your Mood Board or Wedding Design [24:26]

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE

• Make sure you download my wedding mood board to help you organize your design and bring it all together
• Ask the Planner Episode 13 (where I talk about why you should pick 3 style words to define your wedding aesthetic)
• Architectural Digest 
• Elle Decor 
• Instagram
• Pinterest 
• @AskthePlannerPodcast on Instagram
• Book a 90-minute Clarity Call to get more help on your wedding design

Read the episode show notes at verveeventco.com/112

Text the Wedding Planning Hotline

Your wedding day timeline is used by all of your vendors to understand the flow of the wedding. It also can make or break your day because if things fall behind, it has a domino effect and the rest of the day can get really off the rails if something goes wrong. So it’s important to spend time putting together a solid day-of timeline. 

 I’m going to break down the process for you in 7 simple steps

• Step 1: Pick the Start time for your Reception and Ceremony
• Step 2: Choose Your Reception End Time
• Step 3: Build in time for Photos  
• Step 4: Choose a Getting Ready Start Time 
• Step 5: Plan Out Your Dinner 
• Step 6: Build in Transition Time
• Step 7: Add in Your Vendor Setup & Departure Times

Read the episode show notes at verveeventco.com/111

And, if you want to make your life SUPER EASY, you can visit my new Resources shop to download pre-made timelines that are beautiful and all ready for you to tweak and personalize to your specific day. These timelines use the framework I use with my own clients and will make sure you don’t forget very important elements, like travel time and transition time between key events. 

You can find the resource shop at https://shop.verveeventco.com

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

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Today we’re talking about how to make your wedding more sustainable, and environmentally friendly.  Being eco-friendly is becoming more and more important for couples and consumers.  Especially with the most recent push for conservation efforts, it’s so important to be mindful of the greener alternatives made available.  If you're looking to get started on your green wedding, you may have questions such as:

Here's a summary of our interview:

• Birthday Update! [5:55]
• Meet Lowell George [12:35]
• Why is it important to be eco-friendly? [16:48]
• Is it difficult to find greener alternatives for your wedding vendors? [18:03]
• What is the first thing couples can do to make their wedding eco-friendly? [19:14]
• Cutting transportation costs [25:26]
• Micro eco-hacks [29:31]
• What moments give you the most joy and are the most meaningful to you?[31:22]
• Review of the day [35:00]

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: 

• The Nature Conservancy
• Wedding Vendor Email Templates and Interview Questions Guide

CONNECT WITH THE NATURE CONSERVANCY

• Instagram: @nature_org
• Online: www.preserve.nature.org
• Facebook: @TheNatureConservancy

THANK YOU TO OUR PODCAST SPONSORS! 

• Visit the Ask the Planner Wedding Planning Template Shop
• Planner's Playbook – Use my unique link so you can skip the waitlist and join ANY TIME! 

For the episode show notes, make sure you visit verveeventco.com/110

Text the Wedding Planning Hotline

Today’s topic is an important one because your wedding venue affects so much of your wedding planning and your wedding budget!

Whether you’re just starting the venue search or you’ve locked in a venue and are further along in the process, this is a crucial episode to listen to so that there aren’t any surprises after you’ve signed the contract with your wedding venue. Whether it’s services that you thought were included or additional vendors or fees that you didn’t plan for, this episode will help prepare you with all the right questions to ask to avoid costly mistakes.

In the episode, I talk about:

• Wedding day storage and storage fees  [7:53]
• Vendor load-in time  [8:06]
• What happens if your venue hosts multiple events 8:31]
• Vendor load-out requirements and overnight storage [9:15]
• Noise restrictions and  sound ordinances [9:39]
• Floorplan construction and dance floor size [10:04]
• Service fees [12:14]
• Transportation requirements [13:07]
• Rentals [13:44]
• Exclusive vendors [15:07]

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE

• Wedding Vendor Email Templates and Interview Questions Bundle
• ASK THE PLANNER Resource Shop 
• @AskthePlannerPodcast on Instagram
• Book a 90-minute Clarity Call to get wedding planning help specific to your unique situation
• 20 Most Overlooked Questions to Ask Your Wedding Venue

THANK YOU TO OUR PODCAST SPONSORS! 

• Zola
• Honeyfund

For the episode show notes, make sure you visit verveeventco.com/109