Today we are featuring St. Louis wedding planner Ashlee Erlinger from Signed Sealed Delivered Events. Ashlee is a long time coaching client and I am thrilled to feature her on Planner’s Lounge!
How long have you been a planner and more importantly, why did you decide to start a wedding planning business?
I have been in the wedding industry since 2008 (event planning since 2002). In the summer of 2012, I had this overwhelming urge for something bigger, something that would allow me to share my creativity and my “all” to my clients and their wedding vision. Something that would make my heart sing and allow me to live my dream of planning weddings from start to finish.
I was a Director of Catering at a hotel so I was trained in several departments and had great relationships with wedding professionals through the weddings I worked every weekend. For months, I received several signs pointing in the direction to realize this dream. So, I hired a fabulous graphic designer to bring my brand and website to life. After countless tears and excuses that revolved around fear and failure, I took a deep breath, put on my big girl panties, and launched my wedding planning business the following spring.
BEST. DECISION. EVER.
Tell us about Ashlee – what do you love to do outside of planning weddings?
Outside of the wedding world, I share my life with a wonderful man (future hubby- spoiler alert) and a four-legged pup named Holly. We like to travel, cook (and eat out- that’s our favorite), and our guilty pleasure is binge-watching Netflix.
I collect cocktail napkins and pretty notecards and I love to sing (making up my own words to songs… don’t get caught in a car with me).
I am constantly rearranging our house with fun finds from the Trifecta: Marshalls, TJ Maxx, and Home Goods.
My first dream was to be a photographer so capturing memories (bring on the selfie stick) makes my heart happy!
Fun facts: every year, a dear friend and I craft our own Valentines because we love Valentine’s Day. I celebrate love all day every day!
Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton are my spirit animals and in my heart, they should be married. Islands in the Stream for life!
You recently started teaching a class for aspiring planners. How was the class and what did you like about teaching it?
I LOVED my class and can’t wait for the next one! Each month, I receive several emails from ladies who want to break into the wedding planning world and because I wanted to help each one of them live their dream, bringing them together and telling them how I started SSD, what my job entails, and the training involved, seemed like the best way. Since then, a few of these ladies have become SSD assistants. I loved inspiring them and seeing the possibility in their eyes.
What has been the best moment of your career so far?
Winning Wedding Planner of the Year! To be nominated by your clients and colleagues as number one (3 times) is so humbling and makes me cry every time thinking about it. I love my work, my industry, and my clients. I cannot imagine doing anything else and I am grateful for this gift and passion.
Where can we find Signed Sealed Delivered Events?
Facebook: facebook.com/SignedSealedDeliveredEvents
Instagram: @SSDevents
Pinterst: pinterest.com/ssdevents
I love my work, my industry, and my clients. I cannot imagine doing anything else and I am grateful for this gift and passion.