Annie Lee, the principal planner of Daughter of Design, joins Andy in this episode of The Wedding Biz to reflect on her career and her accomplishments, of which there are many! In addition to being the principal planner of Daughter of Design, Annie is the author of Learn to Speak Wedding: Flashcards for Beginners and the founder of Plannie, a global platform to hire an event planner by the hour. Daughter of Design has been named as a top planner by Harper’s Bazaar, The Knot, Martha Stewart, Brides, and PartySlate, and Annie has come to be known by various names such as “The Wedding Doctor” by Refinery29, “Party Planner” by New York Magazine, “Celebrity Entertaining Expert” by People Magazine, and more! She even has the honor of being named one of only five Women of Style by Modern Luxury Miami!
Annie actually started her career in marketing by interning with San Francisco Opera, and she enthusiastically reveals that that is where her love for events comes from. Her family also does interior design, so she grew up around design which she later married to her love for events. She walks us through her story and how she came to found Daughter of Design, highlighting some of her favorite moments of her career so far and describing her signature style. She also talks about how her major in History plays a role in her event designing career and her attention to detail.
Touching upon her business having plummeted a bit back in 2016, Annie also addresses a lot of the challenges that she has faced over the course of her career so far and the life lessons that resulted from them. She talks about several changes that she has had to put in place over the years and how she thrives on growth and evolution. Andy had such a great time talking with Annie and really appreciates her time, and he hopes that you enjoy listening to the conversation. Be sure to visit Annie’s website and her social media platforms, and also be sure to share this interview with at least three good friends and/or colleagues who might benefit from and/or enjoy it and to leave a top review of the podcast wherever you listen!
Andy would also like to encourage you to check out a special offer from Annie’s company Plannie to industry professionals looking for a day-of producer for their events! Receive the first hour free, and anyone looking to connect with a planner for hourly consultations receives a 25% discount on the first three hours! Plannie is particularly useful with destination event local help! Just be sure to mention The Wedding Biz!
Have you heard about Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey on The Wedding Biz Network? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don’t forget about Sean Low’s podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
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Time Stamps
[0:40] – Andy announces Annie Lee of Daughter of Design as this episode’s guest.
[2:01] – Annie reflects on where her love for events comes from.
[4:25] – Annie reveals why she moved to New York City.
[6:35] – We learn about one of Annie’s favorite moments from her career.
[8:23] – Annie details how she started full-time in 2008 during an economic recession.
[10:38] – Learn how Annie’s background in History benefited her during the 2008 recession.
[13:33] – Annie walks us through her typical process with her clients.
[17:52] – Annie identifies managing clients’ expectations as the most challenging part of her job.
[20:48] – Annie comments on the life lessons that she learns from challenges.
[22:52] – Annie tells us about having lost a lot of business several years ago and makes guesses as to why.
[24:15] – We discover how Annie overcame her business suffering a bit a few years ago.
[27:24] – Annie argues that most wedding planners are not compensated fairly.
[28:52] – Learn why Annie only charges hourly now.
[31:35] – Annie addresses using Maroo.
[34:22] – Andy and Annie discuss planners and clients sharing responsibility when an event needs to be canceled.
[37:14] – Annie asserts that evolving and changing is a necessity for her.
[39:26] – Learn where to find Annie online.
RESOURCES
Ischia Wedding on a 270 Foot Yacht Video
Halloween Wedding at Angel Orensanz, NY Video
Lake Como Wedding at Villa del Balbianello Video
Maroo – Website
Maroo – Instagram Page
The Wedding Biz Episode 351 REVISIT: DAVID BEAHM: Risk & Synchronicity
Find Annie:
Daughter of Design – Website
Daughter of Design – Instagram Page
Plannie – Website
Plannie – Instagram Page
Speak Wedding: Flashcards for Beginners
Speak Wedding – Instagram Page
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The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz
The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment & PartySlate.