It has been quite some time since I wrote a blog post. I can tell you a lot has been happening behind the scenes, personally and professionally. The business I founded RAE Affairs has taken a couple of different turns as I have been working on reshuffling the team and restructuring leadership. I knew it was going to take a lot but phewwwwww, I did not expect the number of curves and turns it took. 

Isn't that like the job of a planner? One minute you think you have everything planned out and the next minute you realize you have to go back to the drawing board. I have been back there a few times and while I am now navigating new leadership for the business I feel like I am charting the right course. 

In the midst of the busyness, I haven't given up on my love for teaching. Teaching other people how to achieve their dreams is wired into my DNA. Seeing others thrive in their passion is a beautiful feeling I can't explain. While I have been structuring and...

I’m I really meant to do this? This is a question you might find yourself asking constantly when you are thinking about starting out as a wedding planner. I want to first say that doubt is very normal. However, doubt can limit you from starting, it can keep you stuck in the same place and you only live out your dreams in your mind but never bring it to reality.

You might feel you don’t have all it takes but you will never know until you try, and the only way to try is to start from where you are. Look at the resources available to you and around you and ask yourself what you can do with these resources? It could be that you register for one of our workshops, or you sign up for a webinar or course. Or you could reach out to event planners in your area to volunteer.

Whatever you do, remember that sometimes the picture is not fully painted and you have to start from where you are and all the lines will start to fall in place.

It's finally 2022! I absolutely love the holiday season because it is a time I get to unplug and be with family and just soak in all the joy of the season. My favorite thing to do is watch Christmas movies , even though they all have the same plot; I can't help myself. Now that the holiday is over, it is time to get back into the full swing of work. 

Most people come into a New Year with a lot of optimism and excitement and big plans for their businesses and lives. However, one thing we know for sure if that it is easy to lose momentum and lose track of your goals when things get busy with work and personal life. 

One thing I always recommend is not just making a list of your goals but making a list of things you know that can deter you from your goals. Ask yourself "how I'm I going to stay accountable for the things I have set out to do for my business this year?" What habits are you going to implement to ensure you become the person you said you were...

I am excited about the second half of the year and I am sure you are too. Sometimes the second half of the year feels like the start of the year because it is that opportunity for you to assess your goals and align yourself. 

We all have plans and goals at the start of the year but for some of you life might have happened and it might have derailed you a bit. The second half of the year is a good time to assess and see if you are off track. It is a good time to revisit your goals and sometimes write new ones. It is a good time to develop new strategies if the old ones were not working. It is a time to take a new stance and re-focus for the rest of the year. 

As we go into the first work week of the second half of the year make sure you take time to have a strategy for how you intend to win the rest of the year.

I am sending you positive vibes for the second half of the year, remember you have all it takes.....I am always rooting for you

HAVE YOU SIGNED UP YET? 

There is so much I have in the RAE Method Course for new and aspiring wedding planners to learn from.

STEP 1: DEVELOPMENT

* Defining Your Why

* Knowing Your Ideal Customer 

* Selecting Your Business Name 

* Processes And Systems

* Branding 

STEP 2: MARKETING AND ADVERTISING

* Social Media For Your Wedding Business 

* Advertising Your Business

* How to Create A winning Website 

STEP 3: ONBOARDING  

* Initial Client Call- How to engage and land a client on your initial client call

* How To Charge- How do develop a pricing structure for your services

* How To Create Your Client’s Wedding Budget

* How To Create Your Service Offering Proposal

* Things To Include In Your Wedding Planning Contract

* Creating Your Welcome Packet

* Wedding Planning Timeline Template

STEP 4: PLANNING

* Building and Managing Vendor Relationships

* Helping Clients Manage Their Wedding Payments Without Stress

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Okay so I know I have talked about this over the last weeks but running a business requires you to stay protected. One of the ways to do this is to make sure you have insurance to keep yourself secured. 

Today's post is talking all about insurance. I have been asked this question before by planners I mentor if having insurance is a necessary thing for a wedding planner? My answer is yes. 

On The RAE Method (a comprehensive course for new wedding planners) I have some expert interviews and in this snippet shared by @kunbiesq (from @legallyset) she talks about the importance of business insurance. 

P.S. For information on wedding insurance check out Thimble

One thing I stress to my couples is to make sure they are enjoying the season of being engaged. Wedding planning can be stressful for couples with multiple deadlines, family drama, and decisions to make so you want to encourage them not to carry this into their relationship. 

Remind them to keep dating each other and to have fun through the process. 

It helps when they set out times when they talk about the wedding and not mix the wedding planning talk with spending quality time together. Remind them that they have a planner to handle the stress and let them know how important it is for them to enjoy the season of being engaged.

Earlier this week I talked last week about the importance of supporting your couple through this season but today I want to focus on the importance of protecting yourself.

I have heard too many stories from planners of how they have been burned within the last year from clients canceling weddings and proposed income disappearing, to weddings moving two years in advance but clients expecting the same rates. There has been a lot of damage that has affected businesses and I wanted to share this video to ensure you don't fall into the same traps.

Make sure you update your contracts to match the new guidelines and also make sure you add all new rules to your contract.

Enjoy this snippet from @kunbiesq and stay @legallyset 

All wedding planners can relate to this has been a whirlwind of changes but this is what we do, we help our couples through the good, bad, and in-between. This past week I went to NYC for another set of site visits for one of our rescheduled weddings from 2020.

I enjoyed touring new venues and one thing I have found is that couples are more willing to go for what they want for their day and less concerned about pleasing others. This should have been the case from the start, but I think the pandemic has put a lot of things in perspective and put the most important things as important.

One thing I wonder often is how brides without planners are coping through the changes. I have the kindest couples and I feel so blessed to be able to help them through the different waves and I can’t wait to be there at the finish line crying happy tears as they celebrate with their loved ones.  

As planners, we have to be our client's rock and help in this time. The decision to move ahead...

When starting out as a wedding planner it can sometimes be confusing in knowing what services to offer and which not to offer. In the video, I break down the various things to consider when you are deciding what service to offer and the various types of services.

According to www.weddingwire.com 

Full planning 

A full-service wedding planner, also known as an all-inclusive wedding planner, is best for couples who want step-by-step guidance and a professional opinion from the get-go. According to the 2020 WeddingWire Newlywed Report, 31% of couples hire this type of wedding planner. Full-service planners are a great option if you don't have a lot of free time to dedicate to planning a wedding. They will be involved in every aspect of your to-do list, from helping you choose a wedding venue and handling vendor correspondence, to setting up escort cards and corralling your bridesmaids on the wedding day.

Month of Coordination:

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