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 Colorado wedding planner Payton Bernstine today!

Name: Payton Bernstine

Business Name & Location: Promise Event Planners, Denver, CO

Years Working in the Event Industry: 4

Years Owning Your Event Planning Business: 2

Website: www.promiseeventplanners.com

Business Facebook Page: Promiseeventplanners

Instagram: @promiseeventplanners

What is your typical day like?

A typical day in my life begins with waking up to my alarm after snoozing a few too many times. Before I even get out of bed, I check all of my social media and catch up on comments and likes and try to find some inspiration for the day ahead. Then I have a large cup of coffee and a shower to wake me up. I am still working full time as a receptionist at an investment banking company, but while I am there, I have time to update my social media, blog, website, and catch up on client emails. My full-time job hired me because they found it inspiring that I am an entrepreneur, so they are very flexible with my schedule, which is a great help.

Once my workday is done, I do a few chores and cook dinner for myself and my boyfriend. Then I get right back to the grind making sure that everything that needed to get done for Promise is done. My boyfriend is also a creative so we spend many evenings at coffee shops working on our laptops.

How did you get started in the industry?

I started out in this industry by getting very, very lucky. I was in my sophomore year at the University of Colorado and was feeling lost in my major of psychology. I had a stream of jobs that were not working out. From being a hostess at a sushi restaurant to working at a clothing store, I could not find a job where I felt fulfilled. So I sat down and wrote out all the things I loved and matched those things up with potential jobs and career paths.

I figured out wedding and event planning aligned perfectly with the things that I was passionate about. I was looking around at wedding industry jobs in Boulder and found a small planning company that was looking for an intern. I started there and within months I was a lead coordinator doing weddings on my own. A few years, and lots of weddings later, I graduated from college and moved to Denver where I started my own business. It wasn’t easy, but I have never been happier.

Where do you find design inspiration?

I love scrolling through Rocky Mountain Bride, Green Wedding Shoes, Grey Likes, and obviously Pinterest! I also love buying The Knot magazine and reading it at home on my couch with a glass of wine in hand. There’s something about holding a magazine in your hands that I just love.

What are your favorite online resources for your business?

I use Planner’s Lounge all the time! I bought the 25 Steps to Start Your Wedding Planning Business guide and it has been my saving grace! Both of my parents are also business owners so that has been a great help. I am lucky to have a good group of “friendors” around me that are always open to me picking their brains.
Payton, 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.