Stop Pricing Your Services Like THIS. (with “Ask the Planner” Host Desirée Adams)

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If you, like all good 90s kids, dreamed of becoming a wedding planner after J.Lo and Matthew McConaughey lit up the big screen in the iconic 2001 rom-com The Wedding Planner, then today’s guest is going to take you straight down memory lane (and maybe even inspire some new dreams!).

Desiree Adams is a luxury wedding planner, educator, and host of the Ask the Planner podcast, and she’s here to give us the real scoop on what it’s like behind the scenes of one of the most glamorous (and chaotic) industries out there.

In this episode, we dive into everything from finding your “why” and building strong relationships with clients and vendors, to thinking about the legacy you want your business to leave behind. Plus, Desiree dishes on common pricing mistakes she and so many new entrepreneurs make (and how to avoid them).

It’s an inspiring, fun, and insightful chat that will leave you ready to tackle your own big dreams— let’s dive in!

Press play for the full interview or keep reading below!

In this Episode:

From PR to Event Planning 💐 How Desirée got her start with event planning in Washington D.C. [10:04]

The Magic of 6 Hours of Sleep 💤 In the thick of newborn life with her baby, a night of 6+ hours of sleep gave Desirée a new outlook on life and the idea to start a business. IYKYK. [10:40]

Start With Why ⁉️ How figuring out her why shaped the future course of Desirée’s business.  [15:00]

Starting Out Without a Financial Plan 💵 While Desiree didn’t start with a financial plan, she began to understand the importance of tracking her numbers over time.  [19:01]

Figuring Out Pricing 👀 Desirée started out pricing her services by looking at what other wedding professionals were doing. She quickly learned the flaws in pricing this way! [20:51] Related: My Proven Pricing Strategy! 

Building Strong Relationships with Vendors 🤝 While she loves & values her wedding clients, Desirée makes sure to also take care of her vendors for one BIG reason.  [25:32]

Hiring Help 👥 How hiring a business coach and team changed the course of her business.  [27:56]

Debt Isn’t Worth It 🙅‍♀️ Desiree’s best business advice. [30:16]

Leaving a Legacy ⏳ As Desirée’s business began to grow, she started thinking through the legacy she wanted to leave behind in her business and family. This meant paying more attention to her numbers than ever before! [33:13]

Put’em on a Bumper Sticker. These Quotes are Pure Gold.

“I slept for six hours straight and I was like, I’m going to start my own business right now. I think it’s time.”

“So at first, I thought starting a business was a means to an end. I wanted to be able to have flexibility and be able to contribute to my family. But now I understand why I do what I do, and it fuels me even more that I have a purpose and I’m helping these couples enjoy and spend time with their guests in a special situation.”

“I feel like I did what every new planner and a lot of new business owners do, is just look next to you and see what other people are doing and try to figure out what they’re pricing. Which is not smart, don’t do that, because you have no idea what people’s profits are if they’re paying themselves.”

“I also tell them that the reason you hire a planner is because of our relationships with our vendors. My client is first, I’m an advocate for you, but I really take care of my vendors. I give them what they need.”

“I like doing things differently. Why not start a business? Why not start a podcast? I can do that. I can figure it out.”

“Debt isn’t worth it. If you can’t afford to pay for it in cash, then you don’t need it.”

“As a business owner, knowing the legacy that I want to build for the company and leave to our children, it’s so much more important, because I feel like the numbers indicate the health of your business.”

“That’s the beauty of being an entrepreneur, I get to choose where my focus is needed the most.”

“Nothing is forever, both for my business or for my family, and things are going to change”

More from this Episode

To hear the full story and more about Desirée, press play on the player above for the full interview or click here to download the transcript.

Resources Mentioned:

Verve Event Co.

Ask The Planner Podcast

Gary Vaynerchuk

Start With Why by Simon Sinek

Profit First

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Desirée Adams

Desirée is a luxury wedding planner, educator, and host of the Ask the Planner wedding and event planning podcast. Her work has been seen in the Today Show, New York Magazine, Carats & Cake, among others. She has also been featured on multiple podcasts, including The Power in Purpose, The Big Wedding Planning Podcast, and The Wedpreneur. For Desirée, life is too short to waste it on moments that don’t give you joy. As the owner and lead event designer of Verve Event Co. [pronounced as “coh” and not “company”], she and her team focus on operations, design, and execution while also dreaming up thoughtful touches and design motifs that turn celebrations into heirloom occasions.

As the host of the Ask the Planner Podcast, she provides listeners with tangible tools and advice so that they can also plan their milestones with precision and infuse it with their personal style.

Desirée is a recovering grammar queen and loves staying fit. When she’s not working, you will find her backstage at her daughter’s dance competitions, on the sidelines at her son’s lacrosse games, or enjoying a craft cocktail and watching B movies with her husband.

CONNECT WITH DESIRÉE:

Verve Event Co. Instagram | Ask The Planner Instagram

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