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 photos to info@plannerslounge.com. We are excited to feature Stephanie Sadowski of SRS Events today!

Name: Stephanie Sadowski

Business Name & Location: SRS Events, Annapolis MD & Washington DC

Years Working in the Event Industry: 11 Years

Years Owning Your Event Planning Business: 6 Years

Website: www.srs.events

Business Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/srseventsdc/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/srs_events/

What is your typical day like?

I get up around 6:30am to enjoy my first cup of coffee uninterrupted and get myself ready for the day. I might reply to a few easy emails before the coffee gets me fully awake. I also usually review my Instagram grid, and select a picture I’d like to post (or create a reel if I’m feeling inspired). My 2 year old daughter gets up at 8:00am, and I go through her morning routine and get her ready for the day.

By 9:00am, I am ready to go and tend to important messages and email and paperwork. Either the baby sitter has arrived to watch my daughter or I work while over seeing her playing with her toys. I might have a call or two scheduled around 11am or 12pm and have those in my home office over video. If I need to head to an appointment, it’s probably in Washington DC and I have about an hour commute to downtown. I love to schedule easier calls on my commute, maybe with a vendor who wants to connect or to go over a request for proposal with a caterer or maybe just with a mother of the bride who wants to chat and has some questions for me!

If it’s an at-home work day, I continue on with working on floor plans, developing design boards, outreaching with vendors, following up with clients for feedback or needing back a signed contract etc. I review their profiles in AP to ensure checklists, budgets and payments are all up to date.

If I am off site at a meeting, that generally takes up my afternoon, with anywhere from a 1-3 hour meeting and then my commute back home. Upon returning home, I’ll relieve the baby sitter and spend some time with my daughter and start to get dinner ready, and take her and the dogs out on a walk. After dinner and bed time routines, I try not to do emails, but if there’s anything pressing, I will draft my reply and schedule send for 6am the next day. 

If I have been out of the office all day, I try to ensure the next day is my catch-up day back in the office.

How did you get started in the industry?

I began working in events with non-profit associations which are copious around the DC area! I worked in events from galas with high profile individuals to annual conference programming and planning and exhibits. I found I loved the planning, and the thrill and adrenaline you have on event day! While working, I thought why not give wedding planning a try. I made my own website, booked advertisements on the Knot and Wedding Wire, set incredibly low pricing and saw brides begin to book my services, haha! At the time, I did not quite realize I was significantly under charging, but I was so amazed I was booking clients!  I booked a lot of month-of coordinations, and some were happening quite soon, so I was quickly able to build a wedding portfolio and gather reviews. It has now been 6 years, and I’m now to the point where I am booking exclusively for full (and sometimes partial) planning with no more than 8 weddings per year!

What inspires you?

I love following other planners, florists and event producers on Instagram, as well as interior design, like Serena & Lily. Style Me Pretty, Inside Weddings, VOGUE Weddings, and Martha Weddings are favorite sources, as well!

What are your favorite online resources for your business?

• Aisle Planner
• Canva
• https://www.remove.bg/ – a background remover for my design boards!

Aside from wedding and event planning, how do you spend your time?

I spend pretty much all of my free time with my 2 year old daughter!  I love taking her to explore new places, like the beach, zoo, play grounds etc.  I also have two puggles, and we love taking them on walks and trips with us.  We also enjoy going out on our boat and cruising around the Chesapeake Bay and all of the creeks and rivers surrounding it.  

Stephanie, 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.