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 Minnesota wedding planner Dee Balentine today!

Name: Dee Balentine

Business Name & Location: D. Balentine Events, Twin Cities, MN

Years Working in the Event Industry: 4

Years Owning Your Event Planning Business: 4

Website: www.dbalentineevents.com

Business Facebook Page: D.Balentine Events

What is your typical day like?

I am still working a full-time job, so my typical day isn’t so “typical”! Most of the work for my business is done in the evenings after work and on the weekends. During that time, I follow up on email or voicemail inquiries about my services, or plan meetings with clients.

I am married with two active boys ages 9 and 11. So I have A LOT going on right now! But it’s all manageable. Recently, I created and launched my blog, and Facebook page. I am a little behind on branding and marketing my business on social media- the majority, if not all, of my business has been and continues to be through word of mouth. I also created a design studio in my home for staging centerpieces and design concepts for my clients.

How did you get started in the industry?

I actually started out in the fashion industry; I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Apparel, Textiles & Design. I really loved the aspect of fashion show production, being backstage coordinating the model looks, show lineup, hair/make up, music, etc. It wasn’t until recently that I discovered that coordinating events was really my true passion.

I decided to start my own business because I was frequently being asked to coordinate weddings for friends. So from there, I felt confident in starting my own business. It has been a lot of hard work along the way, but so worth it! I continue to learn so much about myself, and I’m constantly learning what it takes to run a successful business. I am currently enrolled in online classes for Meeting & Events Management, I plan to graduate this fall. Having an educational background in the events industry is very important to me.

Where do you find design inspiration?

I find a lot of my inspiration from Pinterest, Instagram, and various searches online. I really like Kristin at Rent My Wedding on Instagram for ideas. I also like to see what other planners are doing; it could be one simple detail that inspires me to create something totally different.

What are your favorite online resources for your business?

www.RentMyWedding.com
www.CatchMyParty.com

And of course the Planner’s Lounge! I am so thankful for discovering this website it is truly a God-send! Thanks for sharing such valuable information!

Dee, 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.