Planner - Kelly Boyle
- Business: LeslieJames Events
- Location: Melrose, Massachusetts MA
- Experience: 5 Years
- Profile: LeslieJames Events
- Website: www.lesliejamesevents.com
1. Introduction: What's your story?
Thanks for stopping by! I’m Kelly Boyle, owner and lead planner at LeslieJames Events. Founded in 2018, LJE is named after my parents, Leslie and James.
I love what I do and bring a childlike enthusiasm to the planning process, and while I am extremely organized, detail oriented, and love curating the perfect vendor team, I also strongly believe in hugs, laughing until our cheeks hurt, finding joy in the simple things.
2. What's your experience as a wedding planner? How many weddings have you planned?
My path to LeslieJames Events was a bit non-traditional, yet completely perfect. After getting my MBA, I began a career in Corporate Finance and spent nearly 25 years climbing the corporate ladder. Unfortunately, no matter how much success I had, I was never happy or fulfilled. So, at the age of 47, I left the corporate world, followed my passion, and gave myself permission to find true happiness in helping others. After working as a Catering Sales Manager for a year, I decided to close my eyes and leap, I formed LJE and never looked back!
2019 was my first wedding season and I successfully planned/managed four weddings. While 2020 brought some challenges, I took the opportunity to expand my skill set, improve my processes, network with countless industry professionals and invested in education and despite the restrictions, managed to plan three weddings. I am grateful that investing in both myself and my business has paid off and as of today, I am humbled to say that we have over 20 happy couples.
3. What sorts of services do you offer (month-of coordination, full-service planning, or à la carte planning)?
All of our services are customized based on our clients' individual needs. Offering month-of coordination to full-service planning & design and everything in between. My goal is to meet our clients where they are in the planning process and create a custom package that is unique to their personality, style, budget, and love story. I also offer virtual planning for clients outside of New England, postponements and rescheduling support, and 1:1 consulting.
4. How do payments work (a percentage of the wedding budget, a flat fee etc.)? What are the different packages that you offer and which one is your most popular package?
Flat fee! Your custom proposal is calculated based on your specific requirements, vision, and the scope/scale of the work. I do not charge a percentage of your total expenses or mark-up products and services from vendors.
Packages include full-service planning & design, event management (day-of coordination), event planning for social, non-profit, and corporate events, and ad-hoc consulting services. Currently, we have a great balance of full planning and event management clients, which keeps things interesting.
5. Who else is in your team and how many people on your staff will be at the wedding?
I am the owner and lead planner and manage everything for my full-service & design clients. I have a great team of interns and assistants that help on your wedding day. The number of LJE team members present will depend on the complexity and logistics of your wedding.
6. What happens if you're sick or otherwise unable to be there on the day of the wedding?
Thankfully, this has never happened and I am prepared should an issue arise. My team of interns and assistants is always up-to-speed on all of my events. I am grateful to have a network of planner friends who could jump in, if needed I am also extremely organized and all of my files, contracts, contacts, and timelines are stored on Google Drive, allowing for information to be easily shared.
7. How many meetings will you have with the couple and how will they be involved?
All of our packages are customizable and the number of meetings depends on the services being provided. Our full-service planning clients can expect monthly check-ins and for our event management clients (day-of coordination), we normally have 3-4 meetings, depending on the logistical complexity.
8. Will you handle the invitations, from wording and ordering to the addressing and mailing? What about guest list coordination and RSVPs?
For full planning clients, one of the very first things we do is create a budget and guest list, as these two items are inextricably linked. I have a custom template that allows clients to manage the process from guest list to invitations to RSVPs to escort/place cards to thank you cards. I am also happy to suggest vendors for custom stationery, provide guidance on trends and etiquette and ways to personalize your stationery. Based on individual client wishes, I can assemble and mail invitations and track RSVPs.
By the time I am hired, our wedding management (day-of coordination) clients typically have their guest list completed and have sent out their save the dates. With that said, I am always happy to provide advice on trends or refer vendors. For an additional fee, I can also create escort/place cards, if needed.
9. Do you handle rentals? Will you coordinate delivery, arrival and set up times with the photographer, the florist, the musicians and the caterer/banquet manager?
While I do not offer rentals, I will work with you to identify the best company to partner with, negotiate pricing, schedule showroom visits, coordinate delivery, and manage any issues. I am also on-site when your rentals are delivered to ensure that the setup meets or exceeds your expectations. I also provide the same level of communication and oversight for your entire vendor team. It literally takes a village to pull off a wedding and strong communication is paramount to its success.
10. Can you create a timeline that tells everyone involved in the planning process (other pros, members of the wedding party, to-be-weds and families) what to do and when to do it? How will you make sure everyone sticks to the schedule?
Absolutely! Creating and communicating timelines are one of our favorite things to do!
The process starts with identifying what are the most important aspects of YOUR day and then I'll draft a timeline to review with you and your vendor team. I believe that it is important to collaborate with your vendors early in the process, you hired them for a reason and I want to make sure that the timeline allows for them to do their best work. Once the high-level flow of the day is agreed upon, I will create a detailed timeline that is shared with the LJE team, all of our vendors, and members of your wedding party, as needed. In the weeks leading up to your wedding, I review the timeline with all of your vendors again to make certain that there are no issues and I also review everything with your wedding party at the rehearsal.
On the day of your wedding, I manage the timeline in a way that ensures that all of the important elements happen while leaving just enough room for unplanned magic to happen.
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