We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Katie Hall. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Katie below.

Katie, appreciate you joining us today. Crazy stuff happening is almost as certain as death and taxes – it’s technically “unexpected” but something unexpected happening is to be expected and so can you share a crazy story with our readers

Hahaha! Sure. I’ll start off by saying that, after almost a decade in the wedding planning industry, I’ve created enough solid systems and a community of trusted vendors where bad things rarely happen (knock on wood!). But…sometimes clients hire vendors before they hire me, so I don’t always have control over everything. ** This is a great reason to hire your wedding planner first…so they can ensure you book reliable, professional, licensed and insured vendors **

So…in thinking of the wildest experiences…the craziest things that come to mind actually happened at the SAME wedding. Note: I adored these clients (and still do!), but it was an entertaining weekend to say the least.
First — Their 6 y.o. ring bearer punched me in the vagina while I was running the ceremony rehearsal. Like…walked straight up to me while I was addressing the wedding party, pulled his arm back, and punched me square in the lady parts. The bride and I (who had become close throughout the planning process) looked at each other in disbelief and shared a horrified chuckle. Kiddos…are…unpredictable. I chose to laugh it off and simply continue with the run-through, but SHEESH…that was a new one for me! My improv background definitely had me channeling the “Yes, and…” principle to work through that moment ;-)

Then — the transportation guy they hired to take their guests from the reception back to the hotel, arrived at the venue high. Like, super high. Once I confirmed he was under the influence, I relieved him of his duties and had to quickly pivot. We couldn’t wait for the transportation company to send out a new driver because we needed to get guests off the premises, so I ran into the venue, asked the remaining kitchen staff if anyone was comfortable driving a large van, and ended up paying one of the chefs to take over driving duties. Everyone made it home safely and, hopefully, that driver switched career paths ;-)

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Of course! I’m Katie Hall and I started Best Day Ever LA Events to offer a different way of wedding planning.

I’m not your traditional, cookie-cutter event planner. I’m your fun, potty-mouthed friend who just happens to know the wedding biz inside and out. I listen to what you want, I excel at advocating for you, and I won’t allow others to disrupt your joy on your big day.

Before falling in love with wedding planning, I spent a decade producing music videos and TV commercials. Now, I use those same chaos-coordination skills honed on Hollywood sets to plan + produce big day magic.

Feeling overwhelmed with the logistics of planning a large-scale event is normal and to be expected. That’s where I jump in. I create radically joyful journeys to the aisle and manage the things you shouldn’t have to. I take pride in blending professionalism with playfulness, and I ensure you’ll enjoy the sh*t out of the entire process.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I’ve done a lot of conscious unlearning as an adult, so this is a great question. With regards to wedding planning, though, I think a great lesson I’ve had to unlearn is:

I don’t need ALL the clients. Working with 12 ideal clients per year is far more valuable to me than working with 24 who I don’t really vibe with.

Just like I vote with my dollars and only intentionally fund things & causes I want to support, I’ve learned that it’s okay to only work with clients I feel really aligned with. Not everyone is your ideal client, and that’s okay.

Don’t get me wrong, I still get giddy every time an inquiry hits my inbox, but — after years of unlearning — I’ve realized that more isn’t always better. I’ve truly come to believe in quality over quantity.

It’s also been a game changer to accept that I’m not for everyone. I want to cultivate F*CK YES energy in all aspects of my life and, if you don’t feel emphatically excited about me after our consult call, that’s okay. I’m excited for you to find your match elsewhere.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Past client and venue referrals, 100%. I don’t spend any money on marketing, which I realize is an odd entrepreneurial choice, but — to reiterate what I said above — I’m all about working with my ideal client. And, when a past client whom I loved working with refers me to one of their close friends, there’s a high probability I’ll vibe with them too.

Venue referrals are also key. Just like I refer trusted vendors to my clients, venues have trusted planners they refer to their clients. I’ve proven myself in the LA wedding scene over the past nine years, so I’m fortunate enough to be on a few different venues’ preferred vendor lists. That keeps a steady stream of inquiries coming in, which — as a small business owner — is absolutely priceless.

It hasn’t happened overnight, but I’ve created a pretty stellar network here in SoCal. One I gladly share with my clients. And every time I receive a referral, it feels like the highest form of flattery.

Keep those referrals coming’, y’all! I’m so excited to meet you and have you confidently rockin’ BDE. Ahem…Big Day Energy.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bestdayeverla.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/bestdayeverla_events
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/best-day-ever-la-los-angeles

Image Credits
Michael & Anna Costa Dez & Tam Brett Loie Wild Whim Mar Alvarado David Mendoza ITLA Photo Rad & In Love