Welcome to our “Day in the Life” series! We feature wedding and event planners from around the world with many different levels of experience. If you would like to be featured, download our questionnaire here and email your responses and photo to info@plannerslounge.com. We are excited to feature Cheryl Hogan today!

Name: Cheryl Hogan

Business Name & Location: Cheryl’s Creations LLC in Miami, Florida

Years Working in the Event Industry: Corporate – over 20 years. Personal – less than a year.

Number of Years Owning Your Event Planning Business: 6 months

Website: www.cheryls-creations.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/CherylsCreationsLLC

What is your typical day like?

I usually start my day around 9 a.m. By that time I have already dropped our daughter off to elementary school and enjoyed a little me time over breakfast. Since my husband and I both work from home, he gets the “real” office and I am content with my “dining room” office, for now. My first task is usually checking e-mails and setting up a to-do list for the day, which includes sorting and organizing my handwritten notes from the day before. I love working from a home office because it gives my husband and I time to have lunch together on my free days. My days usually consists of a solid 4-5 uninterrupted hours to do research, make phone calls, chat with my clients and set up appointments until I pick up our daughter from school. At that time I have to shift gears and put on my mommy, teacher, and chef hats.

How did you get started in the industry?

I’ve worked in a communications-planning-production role for almost 30 years, mainly in health and medical education. My job responsibilities always included planning some kind of event, whether it was for company employees or corporate clients. Long hours, short tempers, impossible deadlines…but what a wonderful feeling to see the final result and receive positive feedback. Over the last 5 years, I started planning personal events such as birthday parties, baby showers, bridal showers, dinners, and weddings. Still hard work, but I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the results. And it also gave me an opportunity to show my creative side. My corporate job closed its doors in January 2014, so I had to make a decision if I would go back to the corporate world or continue planning events as an entrepreneur. So, I decided to take the latter road.

Where do you find design inspiration?

Pinterest is my go-to for inspirations! There isn’t anything that you can’t find on Pinterest. I also use Facebook for vendor searches such as florists, event décor, makeup and hair stylists, etc., so that I can see representations of their work. I am also very open to working with the “preferred vendors” suggested by the venue.

What are your favorite online resources for your business?

Planners Lounge, Wedding Wire, Real Simple, Sage Wedding Pros

Cheryl, thank you so much for taking the time to share your story and a day in your life. If you are an event planner and would like to be featured, download our questionnaire today and email it to us along with a photo. If you aren’t sure about being featured, take a few minutes to read how it can help your business.