Beth HelmstetterI’ve been a big fan of Beth Helmstetter’s work for a few years now.  Little did I know she is as smart in business (armed with an MBA) as she is stylish with weddings!  As a wedding planner to a growing list of celebrities, Beth has so much to share about her success.  In addition to her achievements in the weddings industry, Beth is also a contributing writer and featured expert for many publications including In Style Weddings, Destination Weddings & Honeymoons, World Bride Magazine, Destination I Do, Destination Wedding Style and many others…

Beth Helmstetter
Owner, Beth Helmstetter Events
Beth is based in LA, but her business also serves Hawaii
www.bethhelmstetter.com
established 2005

What is your favorite thing about weddings?

EVERYTHING! I love the flowers, the food, the music, the photography, the linens, the stationery, the lighting, the logistics and of course the romance! When I found out I could have a career that incorporated all of the different hobbies and passions I had in my life, I never turned back.

What is your best tip for time management?

I schedule most calls with my clients. I’ve found that I can be a lot more efficient and give each client my full attention if I schedule conference calls with them rather than having mini calls throughout my week with each client. Of course things come up and I always try to be available when they need me, but for planning questions and sessions scheduling the time in my calendar helps keep me on track.

What is your little marketing secret?

Don’t be afraid of the word “no.” I send my work into editors, bloggers, publicists and even television producers on a regular basis. Often I am ignored or even get a “we’re not interested” response, but just as often I find someone who does like my work. And, even if they don’t feature whatever event I am sending them at that time, they become familiar with my name and I know the door is open to send them others that may be more their style in the future.

What is the funnest trend you are seeing in the industry?

It’s hard to name just one. I think I really love the In-N-Out truck that is making regular appearences at my Southern California weddings right now. They pull up at the end of the event for guests to get their In-N-Out fix. It’s obviously great for any Southern California guest, but even better if you have people travelling in from out of town who can’t get In-N-Out in their state.

If you were starting your business all over again, what would you have done differently?

I would have taken the time to get all systems in place before advertising. When I started my business, I thought it would take six months or more to get my first client so I started advertising anticipating plenty of time to take care of the other stuff. In reality I had my first client in two weeks and got too busy to put my initial systems in place. Because of this, it was a rough first year, but I learned a lot!

Thanks Beth!