Planner Life Podcast | A Podcast For Wedding Planners

Hi planners! If you're in the thick of wedding season, feeling overwhelmed, behind on emails, and struggling to find your rhythm, this one's for you. In this episode, I'm sharing five gentle reminders I return to every year to help ground myself when the calendar is packed and the pressure is high. This isn't about adding more to your plate. It's a quick reset to help you breathe, refocus, and kee...

Hi planners! This week's episode features a guest I've admired for years, Nancy Park of So Happi Together. Nancy is a Southern California native, a mom of four, and a powerhouse designer whose work centers on love, legacy, and joy. Together with her business partner Pae, Nancy plans heartfelt, luxury events that are full of intention and meaning. Nancy shares her journey from academia to weddings...

Hi Planners! In this episode of the Planner Life Podcast, I'm diving deep into a phrase we've all heard, "Community Over Competition", and turning it into something real, actionable, and transformative for your planning career and life. This mindset has shaped everything from my business growth to how I show up for others, and I want the same for you. You'll hear me break down what this really mea...

Hi Planners! In this episode, I sit down with the vibrant and adventurous Ali Phillips, Chief Wedding Orchestrator of Engaging Events by Ali. Named one of Chicago's top wedding planners, Ali shares her journey from a fast-paced career in trucking logistics to becoming a celebrated name in luxury and destination weddings. Ali opens up about: Her adventurous childhood that sparked a love of travel P...

Hi Planners! In today's episode, I'm diving into the world of networking—but not the stiff, awkward kind that makes you want to turn the car around in the parking lot. This is all about meaningful, energizing, and actually enjoyable connections. I'm sharing how one last-minute decision to show up at a networking event led to a Martha Stewart feature and a dream client—and how shifting my mindset a...

Hi Planners! In this episode, I sit down with Stacey Moran, the visionary founder of BTS Bride, a wedding content creation company that's redefining how couples relive their wedding day. With a background in fashion, beauty, and social media marketing, Stacey launched BTS Bride after recognizing a gap in the wedding industry during her own wedding in 2022. Since then, her team has captured over 15...

Hi Planners! Today, we're diving into a special topic that I'm so excited to share – a behind-the-scenes look at the Mastering Management Workshop and why coordination is more valuable than many planners realize. If you're looking to level up your wedding coordination services, streamline your processes, and boost your profits, this episode is for YOU. In this Episode: Why wedding coordination is...

Hi planners, welcome to this week's episode. It's one that is equal parts laughter as it is filled with nuggets of insight. Meet my next guest, Fallon Carter.  Fallon is the founder and creative director of Fallon Carter Events. She has been named one of the top wedding planners in the world by Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, and Brides Magazine. Fallon is well known for connecting southern hospitality wi...

Hi Planners!  Recently I have been getting a lot of questions from planners about streamlining their inquiry process. The pros and cons or offering a few options or more limited options. How to suss out if the client is the right fit and so much more. It got me thinking about one of my favorite topics - the green or red flag system for evaluating if clients are a good fit for you.  So today's epis...

Hi planners! Welcome to this week's episode. I have something special for you and I am really excited to share it. We recorded live the Planner Panel from the Mastering Management workshop. My guests are both returning to the podcast - Christine Garrison owner of CMG Events and Candice Sanders of Engaged Events.  In addition to a great conversation, you can hear a bit about what the conversations...

Hi planners! Today I want to talk about one of the biggest struggles that every planner faces. I want to share with you one of the main reasons planners come to Planner Life Academy. Now these planners might be coaching with me, they might be taking the online course, or they might be attending an in-person workshop. But what seems to be universal when I ask these planners why they are here...one...

Hi planners, welcome to a solo episode today about the new year and the new feelings that come with it. In this episode: How I push my new year start to February. The steps that I take to reset for this next chapter of life and business. What about the way we get to reset each year.  How when you take the time to reflect and start fresh, you get to improve your personal and professional life in a...

Hi planners! Meet my next guest, Holly Gray.  Founder and CEO of Anything But Gray Events, Holly Gray is a Los Angeles, California second generation wedding planner and community builder. As you'll learn, Holly is a former stage manager of theater, TV, improv, and she brings a fearlessly theatrical perspective and unique skill set to the event industry.  Holly is known for her use of color, creati...

Meet my next guest, Jessica Upton. Jessica Upton is the owner of J. Upton Travel, a Austin, Texas based company that partners with wedding planners to manage all things travel for weddings and destination events.  With over a decade of experience as a wedding planner herself, Jessica knows firsthand the challenges planners face when it comes to group travel, room blocks, and hotel contracts. She w...

Happy New Year! Meet my next guest, Ashley Thompson.  Ashley Thompson is a Las Vegas native who started Ashley Creative Events in 2017. As you'll hear in this episode, Ashley found her passion for events at a very young age when she was inspired by the events her mom would plan and host. Ashley knew weddings were the end game and she carefully created a resume to learn every bit of the event indus...

Hello & Happy Holidays! It is with so much gratitude that I share the final podcast episode of 2024.  As we close out this incredible year together, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the wins, the lessons, and the moments that shaped this year. So when I look back at these last 12 months, they were definitely a journey. A journey filled with highs and lows. A journey where I, of course, had...

  Hi planners! Before I introduce you to my next guest, I wanted to make sure that you heard that the new PlannerLifeAcademy.com is live! I am beyond excited for you to see it, and more importantly, the four new workshops for 2025, including the first one in January, which is Mastering Management, a Wedding Coordination and Wedding Day-focused 2-day in-person workshop. Be sure to check out the sit...

My next guest is Thomas Bui. Thomas is the founder and creative director of Thomas Bui Lifestyle, a San Diego based company. With 24 years of experience producing weddings and events, Thomas and his team have worked in Italy, France, England, Asia, and Mexico.  Thomas Bui Lifestyle has been featured in Martha Stewart weddings, the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Vogue, and Brides to name a fe...

Hi planners, my next guest is Erica Adams. Erica is an event producer and the creative mind behind Erica Adams Design. With over seven years of experience, she specializes in crafting memorable weddings and a variety of other events from corporate gatherings to brand activations. Known for her meticulous attention to detail and innovative approach, Erica brings a unique vision to every celebration...

Hi Planners, Heather here to share some exciting updates about Planner Life Academy, in this episode, I am reflecting on the past 12 years and announcing a new website that better represents my goals as an educator and mentor. I am excited to introduce four new focused workshops planned for 2025, aimed at helping wedding planners improve their skills and business practices. The new format allows f...

My next guest is Reagan Kerr of Reagan Events. With years of experience managing luxury events worldwide, Regan accepted her first client in 2012 and Reagan Events was born. Today, Reagan leads the firm as creative director and executive producer and is involved in the overall management of each event. She plays an integral role in the design origination and curates vendor teams for each client. R...

My next guest is Adrienna McDermott of Ava And The Bee. As a former wedding professional and current agency owner who has served over 250 vendors around the world, Adrienna is a sought-after thought leader in the world of wedding marketing and strategy. After spending many years as a bridal boutique owner, wedding planner, and florist, she intimately understands the challenges that vendors face in...

Meet my next guest, Katie Webb Brundige of the powerhouse company, Intertwined Inc.  Katie brings a wealth of experience to the table as an entrepreneur with 18 plus years of experience in hospitality, events and design. She specializes in full service luxury event planning, overseeing everything from production and curated design to vendor coordination and executing multi -day experiences. Her ke...

My next guest is Alison Lesser Keck. Alison and her husband Bryan are the owners and brilliant minds behind Alison-Bryan Destinations. Alison is a San Francisco and Santa Barbara native who has produced over 400 weddings, from exquisite gatherings in private estates to massive weekends to week long productions in destinations globally. Alison and Bryan have been recognized by Vogue, Harper's Bazaa...

My next guest is Kelley Gilster. Kelley is a cinematographer based in Southern California. She runs 618 studios with her husband, Paul, and this year they celebrate their 14th year in business. Kelley and Paul and I have been fortunate to work together numerous times over the years and really grew up in the industry together. They have supported planner life through speaking and helping produce th...