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

Text the Wedding Planning Hotline

Today’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 Hotline

Have 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 Hotline

Today’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 @asktheplannerpodcast&l

Text the Wedding Planning Hotline

Who's excited to plan the "average" wedding of their dreams?! Nobody.

How many times have you read an article that starts with something like, "On average . . . couples spend x amount on their wedding." Or, the average couple spends x amount on wedding flowers or wedding photography. 

I don't know about you, but I'm not excited to plan someone's average wedding. I don't think you've been dying to plan an average wedding either. 

So why should you expect to spend an "average" amount on your wedding vendors? All those inspirational images you're saving on Instagram or pinning on Pinterest were not from "average" weddings. Just saying. 

Want a better way of putting together your wedding budget? Visit my blog post Why Wedding Budget Calculators are Misleading at https://verveeventco.com/budgetcalculator. 

When putting together your budget, ask yourselves, "What are our priorities?" Some couples really value aesthetics, such as stationery, the tabletop, and decor. Others prioritize having a really good live band. It all comes down to what has the greatest impact for you and structuring the budget around that. If you think about it, when you go out for a nice meal, how much are you spending per person with alcohol? Think of your wedding as a nice meal, but you have to pay for the venue, invitations, and even the flowers, tables, and chairs. The costs quickly begin to add up. 

For more tips on putting together a wedding budget, visit my post "6 Steps to a Better Wedding Budget" at  https://verveeventco.com/weddingbudget/.

According to The Knot, 45% of couples spend more on their budget than they originally planned by $7,000. The best way to avoid this kind of budget creep is to have realistic expectations about your wedding budget - and that doesn't mean using a wedding budget calculator on a website like The Knot or Wedding Wire. In the next set of tips, I'm going to expose the lies behind wedding budget calculators. 

Like Lie #1, A Magical calculator can predict how much you should spend on your wedding. 

I don't care how good their algorithm is or whatever they use to calculate your budget. An online calculator can't accurately predict how much you should spend on each item. There's no one-size fits all. 

It just doesn't exist. To find out more on what's a better predictor of your wedding budget, visit my blog post Why Wedding Budget Calculators are Misleading at https://verveeventco.com/budgetcalculator.

If you liked this episode, please SUBSCRIBE and connect with me at  http://asktheplannerpodcast.com/

STOP WONDERING IF YOU'RE ON BUDGET AND START MAKING A SPENDING PLAN. 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 Hotline

Today’s topic is a BTS in how I stay organized with mine and my couple’s to-do list. 

I use Trello to both communicate with my couples and track all of our tasks. I like Trello because the basic version is free so anyone can use it, and it has a lot of features that make project management and organization fun and super easy. 

You could also do a lot of this with other project management tools like Asana, which I use in my business, or a Google spreadsheet. 

But after you listen to this episode, I think you’re really going to want to switch to Trello. 

Why Trello Beats Spreadsheets to Organize Your Wedding To-Do List
1. STREAMLINED
2. INTERACTIVE & COLLABORATE
3. COLOR CODING BY TASKS OR CATEGORIES
4. SETTING DUE DATES AND REMINDERS
5. CHECKLISTS
6. DEPOSITORY FOR ALL THE THINGS
7. PLAN FROM ANYWHERE - MOBILE OR DESKTOP

And, if you want to make your life SUPER EASY, you can visit my new Resources shop and purchase the Ultimate Wedding Planning Checklist, which lists out everything you need to be doing month by month. And when I say everything, I mean everything. That planner you bought off Amazon or the one you’re using from The Knot has NOTHING on this checklist. I even have sub-checklists in some of the tasks with even more little pointers to help you keep track of your to-do’s. 

But now I’m getting ahead of myself. 

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

As always, if you’re driving or working out, you can get the show notes at verveeventco.com/25 for the highlights or to hear the replay.

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 Hotline

NOTES:
On average, my couples hire 12-15 service providers, depending on their venue and the level of specialization. These vendors can include the planner, venue, caterer, photographer, hair & makeup, stationer, florist, tabletop rentals, videographer, lighting designer, transportation, entertainment, officiant, cocktail hour musician, ceremony musicians. Some people hire live entertainment acts, food trucks, and even people just to provide ice. That's a lot of coordinating!

If you liked this episode, please SUBSCRIBE and connect with me at  http://asktheplannerpodcast.com/

Enjoy access to a list of ALL of the initial emails I recommend for wedding vendors so that you never miss an important question you didn't know you should ask. Plus, I include quick tips that I wish I knew when I first started wedding planning. Please make sure you check out my WEDDING VENDOR EMAIL TEMPLATES AND INTERVIEW QUESTIONS in the Resource Shop at shop.verveeventco.com. 

Text the Wedding Planning Hotline

TODAY we’re talking about booking basic wedding dessert knowledge that all couples need to know.

This is such a great topic because dessert really rounds out the guest’s culinary experience at the wedding, and is going to be one of their last memories of your wedding, but a lot of couples think it’s just about tasting cake and that’s it.

Read the episode show notes at verveeventco.com/23

And, if you want to make your life SUPER EASY, you can visit my new Resources shop and purchase my wedding budget bundle, which takes SO MUCH out of the guesswork of budget creation. I’ve had people tell me already that it’s pointed out expenses they didn’t even think of. 

You can find the resource shop at 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

Text the Wedding Planning Hotline

NOTES:
Did you know that most weddings have an average of 12 wedding vendors, but many of mine hire 30 or more. And then, each vendor breaks up their payments into at least 2 or 3 different installments. That’s easily 24-30 different payments you need to keep track of. 

In today’s episode, I give you some quick tips on how to make sure you don’t miss any of those payments and you send the right amount to the correct vendor. 

And if you want more wedding budget and payment tracking help, make sure you check out my wedding budget bundle in the Resource Shop at shop.verveeventco.com. 

Text the Wedding Planning Hotline

Your budget is your spending plan for the whole wedding. It’s an expression of your priorities. If you don’t talk about it and put together a solid budget early in the process, you’re either going to run out of money or spend more than you planned. 

This episode will be helpful no matter where you are in the wedding planning process. If you’re just starting out, it will help make sure you have a good plan for your spending. If you’ve booked a lot of your vendors already, it will still be helpful because it will help you prioritize what’s left of your budget. 

Here are the 5 Main Factors that Drive Your Wedding Budget

1. Location 
2. Guest Count 
3. Design 
4. Personal Style 
5. Time of Day 

Read the episode show notes at verveeventco.com/21

And, if you want to make your life SUPER EASY, you can visit my new Resources shop and purchase my wedding budget bundle, which takes SO MUCH out of the guesswork of budget creation. I’ve had people tell me already that it’s pointed out expenses they didn’t even think of. 

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

Text the Wedding Planning Hotline

NOTES:
How’s that wedding budget going? In today’s Wedding tip Wednesday, I’m calling out 2 popular misconceptions about Wedding Budgets that need to be cleared up. 

And in case you missed it, The Ask the Planner Resources Shop is now open! One of the first products I made sure to include in the shop is a wedding budgeting bundle, which comes with both a wedding budget template and a wedding vendor payment tracker. Make sure you use code Launch20 to get 20% off everything in your cart until the end of this month. But be careful. This code is limited to 1 use per customer, so make sure you get everything that you want before using the code. You can visit the shop at shop.verveeventco.com 

And now, on to today’s episode.

According to The Knot, 45% of couples spend more on their budget than they originally planned by $7,000. The best way to avoid this kind of budget creep is to have realistic expectations about your wedding budget - and that doesn't mean using a wedding budget calculator on a website like The Knot or Wedding Wire. In the next set of tips, I'm going to expose the lies behind wedding budget calculators. 

Like Lie #1, A Magical calculator can predict how much you should spend on your wedding. 

I don't care how good their algorithm is or whatever they use to calculate your budget. An online calculator can't accurately predict how much you should spend on each item. There's no one-size fits all. 

It just doesn't exist. To find out more on what's a better predictor of your wedding budget, visit my blog post Why Wedding Budget Calculators are Misleading at https://verveeventco.com/budgetcalculator

Wedding Budget Lie #2: Every wedding vendor's price will fall between a specific range.

Guys, there are a lot of items that will affect how much a vendor charges - that's the beauty of capitalism. You have a choice as to how much you want to pay and they have a choice as to how much they need to charge! A couple of things that will definitely affect this will be their level of experience, quality of work, location, and the specific services you book. 

To find out better predictors of how much your vendors will actually cost, visit my blog post Why Wedding Budget Calculators are Misleading at https://verveeventco.com/budgetcalculator.