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 California wedding planner Mandi Nack today!

Name: Mandi Nack

Business Name & Location: A Sparkling Event in Monterey, California

Years Working in the Event Industry: 10

Years Owning Your Event Planning Business: 5

Website: www.asparklingevent.com

Business Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/asparklingevent

Instagram: www.instagram.com/asparklingevent

Twitter: www.twitter.com/asparklingevent

What is your typical day like?

I start my day working from home, responding to emails and checking my social media sites. I do blog research, design inspiration, and goal setting for the day. I take a break to eat breakfast and get ready for the day before leaving for my office.

At the office, I am able to focus on client documents, timelines, and accounting. I try to schedule appointments with clients and vendors on a separate day to change the pace and environment. I work on creating my own work/life balance during the week between, office days, meetings and site visits, and home days for household errands and family time. Saturdays I leave open for clients coming from out of town or I work from home on a more leisurely basis.

Like most, I call Sunday Fun day, this is my day to myself or with my husband to spend quality time together. The advantage of owning my business and setting my schedule, I don’t have to fall between the 9-5 regiment and work at times that are best for me and my clients. I am a board member for the Monterey Bay Wedding and Event Professionals organization which keeps me busy with mixers, showcases, and educational conferences monthly. I really love networking and getting to know vendors over lunch or a glass of wine. I feel that building those relationships and keeping yourself fresh in the industry is key, plus I have always been known to be social.

How did you get started in the industry?

My start was as cliché as it could get, I planned my own wedding. Which led to planning a friend’s wedding and the obsession continued for my desire to be a wedding planner. I planned weddings on the weekends while working a full time job for several years before I knew I wanted to do it full time. I started my own company and each year picked up more drive to dedicate myself to this passion. I hired Debbie from Planner’s Lounge as my mentor and it really took my company and myself as a planner to the next level.

Since then, I have been driven to educate myself, market my brand, and be as active in the industry as possible. I feel that my experience in hospitality working in restaurants gave me the patience, customer service, and sense of urgency that helps me succeed as a event planner. Past experience working in an office gave me the business etiquette and accounting background that helps me as a business owner on a professional level.

Starting my own business was a dream and goal because I wanted to be the one to control my workflow and my work ethic with my clients.

Where do you find design inspiration?

Wedding blogs like Style me Pretty, Wedding Chicks, Green Wedding Shoes, and Burnett’s Boards are all great design resources. Disneyland is my favorite place to be inspired by their magic, details, and glittery design. No matter where I am, I always look at spaces and décor with weddings in mind!

What are your favorite online resources for your business?

Planner’s lounge is extremely helpful with so many great articles, Every Last Detail, and Sage Wedding Pros has great business tips.

Mandi, 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.

photo credit: Laura Hernandez Photography