This is the Transcript of the #WeddingMarket Chat on January 28th, 2015 with celebrity wedding planner Mindy Weiss at www.Mindyweiss.com. The answers were made on Twitter so responses will appear different.

Mindy Weiss Biography

Based out of Beverly Hills, Mindy Weiss is a full-service event planner that has successfully grown her brand to become a lifestyle expert with books, product lines and spokesperson partnerships. Mindy began her career in party planning more than twenty years ago by creating custom invitations for social events. Her clients recognized her creativity and at their urging, she officially opened Mindy Weiss Party Consultants in 1992 and has since planned celebrations all over the world.

Today, Mindy and her amazing team are innovators and trendsetters best known for their creative ideas, unexpected décor accents and exquisite attention to every last detail. Mindy’s bubbly personality and calm demeanor help her clients relax as she creates one-of-a-kind parties of their dreams. Her experienced team is capable of planning everything from a party of 2 to a party for thousands. No matter the number of guests, Mindy’s events are stylish, personalized and unforgettable.

She is well-known for creating Weddings, Parties and Baby Showers for clients including: Fergie & Josh Duhamel, Ellen Degeneres & Portia Rossi, Jessica Simpson, Lala and Carmelo Anthony, Serena Williams, Nicole Richie and Joel Madden, Heidi Klum, Pink, Gwen Stefani & Gavin Rossdale, Kimberly Williams & Brad Paisley, Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan. If you are a fan of the Bachelor, Trista & Ryan and JP and Ashley’s Weddings were both featured on ABC.

In her spare time, Mindy enjoys spending time with her family, shopping the flea market (every Sunday, rain or shine!), reading design magazines for new ideas and inspiration, and donating her time to the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, a place close to Mindy’s heart.

Learn More About Mindy Weiss at www.mindyweiss.com

Q1: Now you started in invitations first? How did this come about?  

Answer:

Mindy Weiss: I’m a paper-holic! I loved designing fun invites for family and friends. I got a job right after college in a custom stationery shop. Then left with my bestie and started our own co.

Q2: How did you move from invitations to event planning?

Answer

Mindy Weiss: One of our clients asked me to do his entire event from invites to planning. My parents gave the most creative parties so I was born with that party gene!

Q3: Had you done any event planning before?

Answer

Mindy Weiss: I was Social Chairman in my sorority, and created fun parties for my family and friends, but nothing on a huge scale.

Q4: How many events does your company plan a year?

Answer

Mindy Weiss: We are very blessed with a busy team! We plan up to 110 events a year. Yes it sounds crazy but we are so excited every time our phone rings! shower, dinner party we love it all!

@EventsDEEsigned Wow!!  How long did it take for your business to grow to that?

Answer

Mindy Weiss: I really saw a flow after about 8 strong years in the business! We depend on our repeat business!

@SweetestEvents_ Wow! That’s a lot of events! That’s amazing! Wow!

Answer

Mindy Weiss: Yes its amazing but if you surround yourself by an amazing group of hard workers its seems easy!

Q5: How many employees do you have?  

Answer

Mindy Weiss: 10 full-time employees

Q6 Do you always work with the same wedding pros? How do you find new professionals to work with?

Answer

Mindy Weiss: We have our “GO TO” pros for most of our events but are very open to meeting more! I usually find new pros from my well-studied brides and grooms! Or by having new talent come meet with us.

Q7: Was there an event or single moment that transformed your company?

Answer

Mindy Weiss: I would say Brooke Shields wedding to Andre Agassi. It was my first experience with aggressive high security. But mostly I realized that celebs just want a lovely wedding like the rest.

Q8: What wedding trends do you see for 2015?

Answer.

Mindy Weiss: Lace is still very big, in dresses, tablecloths and details. Ombre florals for every season, and we are seeing a lot more greens textures and interesting plants incorporated into the designs.

Q9: What was your first celebrity wedding?

Answer:

Mindy Weiss: Lucy Lawless (Zena Princess Warrior)

Q10: What is a typical day like for Mindy Weiss?

Answer:

Mindy Weiss: 6am alarm, exercise, kiss hubby and kids, 9am office, appts. set-ups, leave for kids sporting games, back to office, return calls, home at 7 (sometimes).

Q11: What advice do you have for wedding planners just starting their company?

Answer

Mindy Weiss: Be patient if you love this business the parties will come. Let your passion shine by taking your time!

Q12: What advise do you have for brides that just became engaged?

Answer

Mindy Weiss: Don’t plan your whole wedding the first week you get engaged! Enjoy the process, do your homework plan your budget and then have fun!

Q13: How did your wedding books come about?

Answer

Mindy Weiss: I felt there wasn’t one book out there that had most of the answers our couples were asking or were concerned about. The planner I wrote so they could look back on their experience and memories.

Q14: You have had a number of your events featured in blog & media. Do you work with a PR firm? 

Answer

Mindy Weiss: I love my PR company @weddingpr Leila is the best!

Q15: How do you work with social media on a daily & weekly basis?

Answer

Mindy Weiss: I do all my own social media because I want my followers to hear my own voice and images. I love it! And I have met the most lovely people!

Q16: What is key to being a successful wedding planner?

Answer

Mindy Weiss: Be a Good listener, Be Kind, Be Patient, Be Creative, Be Honest and if you commit to the responsibility of others life memories give it 100 percent!

Q17: What was it like to work with Ellen DeGeneres?

Answer

Mindy Weiss: A great experience! Ellen is very creative and had wonderful ideas. We have remained friends and I still help with her and portia’s events.

Q18: Do you have any interesting projects or events coming up?

Answer

Mindy Weiss: It’s the year of destination from Hawaii to The Hamptons to France it should be an exciting experience!

Q19: What would you like everyone to take from this #WeddingMarket Chat?

Answer

Mindy Weiss: I really want everyone to know that I started like all the rest. Wedding Planning is hard and only the tough and committed last in this wonderful crazy fulfilling career. LOVE what you do.

#WeddingMarket Questions From Twitter:

1. @BridalBalance How did you get involved with celebrity events?

Answer

Mindy Weiss:  I think because our office is in Los Angeles we are surrounded by the entertainment world. After I did 1 there was trust!

2. @VLDEvents I took a class with you 6 years ago. it really helped me – thanks! 🙂 question: do you require a budget minimum? 

Answer:

Mindy Weiss: We do not but our fee’s are on the high end so typically we end up getting a higher end event.

 3. @DanielaDegrassi  Have you done any Bridal Shows at the beginning of your career?

Answer:

Mindy Weiss:   Yes at the beginning I went to every bridal show to get info on new vendors.

 4. @GreysonDesign How do you stay ahead of the trends and set the standard for so many of us?

Answer

Mindy Weiss: I love watching fashion shows and home design they are a season ahead so it gives you good idea of whats ahead.

 5. @MiraWed Do u identify more as an designer or planner or both?? How do u balance? How does your team support that?

Answer

Mindy Weiss:   I’m a planner/designer we prefer to do both as I know some like to hire a designer and planner but we love the designing of an event.

6. @FlowerGirlWorld How do events w/kid’s themes (baby shower/Bar Mitz) differ from planning a wedding? 

Answer

Mindy Weiss:   Tend to be planned in a much shorter amount of time (Showers) Bar or Bat are like weddings 🙂

7. ‏@SweetestEvents_  What’s your Favorite Social Media Platform, and why? 

Answer

Mindy Weiss:  My favorite social media platform is Instagram which goes to Twitter and Facebook!

8. @WeddingRowCharl Will you be incorporating #Marsala in some of your 2015/16 event designs?

Answer

Mindy Weiss:  I will be using Marsala in my fall and winter weddings this year!

9. @VLDEvents Are fees based on budget?

Answer

Mindy Weiss:  We have set fees…

10. @LittleLadyLove  What are your top 3 tips for brides in having an awesome wedding?

Answer

Mindy Weiss: 1. Keep you eye on the aisle! The I do’s are the most important. 2. Work within your budget! 3. Keep your sense of humor!

 11. @DFWEventsInc How has planning televised weddings for @BachelorABC grown and/or changed your business?

Answer

Mindy Weiss: I love the @bachelorabc their weddings are always a great experience…it doesn’t hurt my business 🙂 xox.

12. @FlowerGirlWorld Do you have any advice for #flowergirls?

Answer

Mindy Weiss: Love flower girls! I always have a bridal barbie waiting for them on the chair when they get down the aisle!

13. @SYTInvitations Are you seeing glitter metallics in 2015?

Answer

Mindy Weiss:  YES lots of metallic for SURE!