056: Alison Lesser Keck of Alison Bryan Destinations
PLANNER LIFE PODCAST
056: Alison Lesser Keck of Alison Bryan Destinations
My next guest is Alison Lesser Keck. Alison and her husband Bryan are the owners and brilliant minds behind Alison-Bryan Destinations. Alison is a San Francisco and Santa Barbara native who has produced over 400 weddings, from exquisite gatherings in private estates to massive weekends to week long productions in destinations globally. Alison and Bryan have been recognized by Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Brides, Over the Moon, and Elle Magazine as one of the top wedding planners in the world.
In this episode, Alison and I discuss how she and Bryan got an early start in five -star hospitality that really set them on a path for luxury -experienced focused weddings. We talk about the importance of building strong relationships, how destination weddings require a passion for travel and logistics, how having systems in place is essential for scaling a wedding planning business. We talk about how faking it till you make it is actually terrible advice and how important it is to set boundaries and take care of your own wellbeing to avoid burnout. We talk about how many years of experience reinforces our belief that trust and connections with clients are absolutely imperative to create unique and personalized experiences.
In this episode:
The Journey to Destination Weddings
Scaling the Business and the Role of Systems
The Dynamics of Working as a Team
Moving from Michigan to Santa Barbara
The Importance of Being a Traveler in Destination Planning
Navigating Different Cultures and Customs
Staffing Strategies for Destination Weddings
Evolving Your Business and Setting Boundaries
Creating Trust and Personalized Experiences for Clients
Favorite takeaways:
Building strong relationships is crucial in the wedding planning industry.
Pivoting to destination weddings requires a passion for travel and logistics.
Having systems in place is essential for scaling a wedding planning business.
Understanding cultural nuances is important when planning destination weddings. Start small and specialize in a specific destination to build knowledge and expertise.
Respect and understand local customs and practices when working in different cultures.
Build a core team that has been with you for years and hire locals for specific tasks.
Set boundaries and take care of your own well-being to avoid burnout.
Build trust and connections with clients to create unique and personalized experiences.
Connect with Alison-Bryan Destinations
This episode is supported by Sunday Muse Design.
We know that you are knee-deep in wedding planning chaos, juggling a million details and striving to make every moment perfect. Not to mention trying to navigate and puzzle-piece together overlapping timelines while simultaneously consoling stressed-out clients. Safe to say... you're busy.
Here's the thing: Shannon from Sunday Muse Design knows what that feels like. She remembers the whirlwind of coordinating everything down to the tiniest detail. And the one thing that always felt like an extra burden? Managing her own brand and website.
Shannon took her love for design and her understanding of the wedding industry and founded Sunday Muse Design. They offer custom web design, brand identity, and SEO services tailored specifically for wedding planners and creatives. They actually understand the challenges you face, and they're here to make your online presence effortless and effective.
If you're ready to elevate your brand and website, visit sundaymusedesign.com or find them on Instagram @sundaymusedesign. And be sure to mention that you heard about Sunday Muse Design through the Planner Life Podcast can get 10% off any Sunday Muse Design service booked.
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Be well and happy planning!
xo, Heather