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 West Virgina wedding planner Misti Sims today!

Name: Misti Sims

Business Name & Location: Little Black Dress, Parkersburg, WV and Charleston, WV

Years Working in the Event Industry: 16

Years Owning Your Event Planning Business: 6

 Website: www.littleblackdressevents.net

Business Facebook Page: Facebook.com/Little-Black-Dress

 Instagram: Lbdevents1

What is your typical day like?

My alarm goes off at 4:15AM almost every day. This is so I can jump up and head out the door to see my trainer and then get some miles in outdoors or on the treadmill before my husband and 3 year old wake up. I generally do my first morning round of email and other social media checks while on the treadmill or in between workouts, as this always makes me feel less anxious about my upcoming work day.

Depending on the day, depends on where I am working. I have an office at my home in Parkersburg, WV and I also have a studio for boutique event rentals, styling, and planning in downtown Charleston, WV. No matter what, I don’t start my actual workday with meetings or phone calls until around 10am. My husband and I take our little boy to school together every day.

How did you get started in the industry?

I started in the event planning industry when I was 23 years old at a luxury country club and it was completely by accident. I grew up very middle class in West Virginia and I honestly didn’t know people entertained so lavishly as they did at this country club and certainly never dreamed someone could get paid to plan them. This was also when wedding and event planners were few and far between. I basically begged my General Manager until he gave me a shot at it. I remember him saying; “Misti, I will give you a chacge, please don’t let me down.” And I didn’t! I worked really hard, learned what I could from him, our chef, and basically anyone who would teach me, book I could read, or Google search I could find.

My hard work and dedication to this industry has paid off more than I could have imagined. It’s not just a job…it’s a passion! I finally grew out of my position there and headed to Charlotte, NC. After that, I decided it was time for me to take everything I had learned and move back to my home state of West Virginia. Almost 6 years ago to the day I launched Little Black Dress. It has become more than I could have asked for. I have been published in WV Weddings Magazine, Borrowed and Blue, and Rock & Roll Bride along with writing and teaching a wedding planning course for West Virginia University and awarded with “Best of WV” for the past two years, via WV Weddings Magazine.

Where do you find design inspiration?

I get inspired a lot by food and travel. I love bold colors, textures, and the feel of linens and paper. I also love to people watch and watching people who have amazing personal style often times triggers some sort of inspiration for me.

Website and magazine crushes I have include Grace Ormonde Wedding Experts & Contributors, Ruffled, Revelry Event Design, Lace In The Desert, Green Wedding Shoes, and Rock & Roll Bride.

I don’t watch any wedding shows. I live the show anywhere between 6 – 18 hours a day (depending on the day, of course)….if I get to watch TV it’s going to no doubt be some ridiculous reality show so I can totally decompress.

What are your favorite online resources for your business?

Best books: The Boss of You: Everything a Woman Needs to Start, Run and Maintain Her Own Business and #GIRLBOSS

Best websites: Planners Lounge and Aisle Planner

Misti, 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.