Q & A with Amanda Douglas Events - Part 3

Hello! And welcome to our third Q & A with Amanda Douglas Events post!

Firstly, thank you to everyone who submitted a question! We look forward to many posts where we can answer them all for you! We’ll try and answer them as they come in but we’ll be keeping each post to four questions (something to look forward to for the next post!)

So let’s get right into it (Answers from Amanda herself):

How did you get to this point? I’d love to learn some of your “secrets of success.”

I’m not too sure that I have any certain secrets to success but I will for sure share with you what I do!

For me planning is in my heart, so planning ahead has always been a BIG part of who I am.

When I started my business I started getting ready for the “what ifs” and then “when I get full planning brides” etc. I read a lot, study a lot, take other courses (through WEI – Wedding and Event Industry), learning who’s who in the industry, in my area etc. (And from there make vendor lists for every area of the industry so I’m ready!)

The next thing I did was do a lot of photo shoots in the style and branding I wanted for my company – I needed to show people what I could do and because I didn’t have a lot of weddings to show; I didn’t have that yet.

Next I worked on my online presence until the cows came home! AND I’m always working on it! Submitting my shoots/weddings to good blogs, meeting vendors and doing project together (and Fb/tweeting linking to them after meetings etc), working on Google Ad Words to get ads out there to bring more people to my site, doing a lot of blogging, and a lot of stuff on social media.

I always want to be busy. I think that’s important too. I of course want to manage my work/life balance but I am always planning for more, what’s next, who will come etc.

I also find that I attract who I am. I branded in a very certain way and really have gotten an amazing response to it. I love the sort of brides and clients I get in and am always so excited to get to work with who I get to work with!

Do people do honeymoon funds instead of gifts or presentation?

For sure! I wouldn’t say it’s super popular but people do do it! The easiest way to do this would be through a wedding website, or through something like Paypal or an online e-transfer sort of system.

Etiquette wise it’s rude to ask for anything. Guests are allowed to bring or not bring whatever they may like for you (weather that’s a gift or presentation) You don’t list anything on your invite, but if you are going to have a registry you put in a separate card for your registry locations/options/wishes.

With that being said you can do whatever you like, it’s just important you do it well and don’t come off like you’re trying to milk your guests for a gift or money.

Who inspires you?

Wow, who doesn’t?! There are so many things to pull from with everyone you meet, and I try to but I would have to say, right now, the people that are inspiring me are Alison Howard, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and Marie Forleo.

Strong independent women used to intimidate me but deep down I always wanted to be one. I saw who they were and always was intrigued by them and wondered who they really were and how they got there.

These four women are outstanding at what they do, love other women and cheer them on, and are true to who they are. Those are the things I love most about them and what inspires me on a daily bases (plus Lady Gaga and Katy Perry pump me up on days where I just don’t want to get that boring paper work done!)

Outside of work and event planning what do you love to do?

Great question! Firstly, I love to try everything at least once, so I’ve done a ton of different things, and tried some pretty fun food and events. But the things I love the most are reading, gardening, going to movies, traveling (I’ve got the bug!), going for walk with my hubs and dog Ollie, and being with friends and family. In my personal life I like to keep it pretty simple and enjoy the small things. OH, and I LOVE going out to eat to new restaurants.