This is the Transcript of the #WeddingMarket Chat on January 14th, 2014 with wedding planner Sasha Souza from Sasha Souza Events at  www.sashasouzaevents.com . The answers were made on Twitter so responses will appear different

Sasha Souza Biography
Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sasha Souza was raised by a flower-child mom who encouraged her daughter’s flair for the dramatic. Cultivating a background in the theater arts, Sasha emerged as a businesswoman with a gift for theatrical styling and, after helping numerous friends and family members plan their weddings, she opened her first event design firm called The Whole Shebang!. Today she is an event scholar, designing events and weddings the same way a Broadway producer approaches a play — she makes sure that the stars shine and the audience/guests always go home wanting more.

She was also a featured event planner on the Style Network TV show “Whose Wedding is it Anyway???” Sasha and her work are also frequently featured on television programming including CBS “Early Show”, ABC’s “Primetime” wedding series special, “Inside Edition”, “Eye on LA”, and “In Wine Country”, “Get Married” and upcoming on “Marcel’s Quantum Kitchen” for SyFy, among other shows.
Sasha Souza was also a featured celebrity speaker at the Conde Nast Bridal Group’s Wedding March series part of the March on Madison series as well as a regular speaker at The Special Event Show Conferences and Event Solutions Conference and Tradeshow. She is an active keynote speaker for events across the country. Her speaking engagements have taken her all across the United States, Mexico, Canada, Trinidad, Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Anguilla and to Tokyo, Japan to educate her peers & couples about the hottest trends in wedding & event design.

Learn More About Sasha Souza at www.sashasouzaevents.com

 

Q1: How did the book Signature Sasha Weddings and Celebrations to Inspire come about? 

Answer

Sasha Souza: I wanted a book that was not only weddings but all types of parties & included color and  ideas for replicating our designs.

 

Q2: What types of real weddings should we see in the book?

 

Answer

Sasha Souza: All kinds. There are three weddings, three theme events and three social events and each is different which gives a lot of inspiration.

 

Q3: What types of color palettes will we see in the book?

Answer

Sasha Souza: There are thirty different palettes from very light and airy to deep and saturated. Something for everybody and a photo to match.

 

 Q4: What are the top color palettes or event trends this year?

Answer

Sasha Souza: Saturation w/color – my client’s want bright & beautiful instead of washed out & muted & not afraid of mismatched patterns.

 

Q5: What types of wedding designs will we see in #SignatureSasha ?

Answer

Sasha Souza: Everything! There are ribbon details to very chic and clean designs. Our clients are eclectic and so are the designs in the book.

 

Q6: How do you help brides & wedding pros to come up with their own designs?

Answer

Sasha Souza: The book has a DYO section (Design Your Own) where they can take the ideas and replicate or create new using those to start.

 

Q7: What are your favorite events in the book?

Answer

Sasha Souza: All of them! LOL.  I <3 the 40th birthday party, it’s bright & not fussy.  I also <3 the dinner party &… well all of them.

 

 

Q8: What type of party tips do you share?

Answer

Sasha Souza: The DYO section has a standard set of our guidelines that we always follow but the list is way longer than 140 characters.

 

Q9: What inspired you to create these events in Signature Sasha?

Answer

Sasha Souza: Hands down the clients. They’re all my muses.  I don’t have a preconceived design until we have had our design meeting.

 

Q10: What are the keys to building a beautiful event or wedding?

Answer

Sasha Souza: Attention to detail.  You can plan perfectly & timing can be perfect but if it looks terrible in photographs, you’ve failed.

 

Q11: How does the size of your event change design?

Answer

Sasha Souza: Design is limited by budget & space and client imagination but guest count doesn’t matter as long as they fit in the venue.

 

 Q12: What other events besides weddings will we see in Signature Sasha ?

Answer

Sasha Souza: There’s a bridal luncheon, bat mitzvah, bbq, birthday & dinner parties. There’s something for every type of social event.

 

Q13: How does Signature Sasha help the person who doesn’t usually plan events? 

 

Answer

Sasha Souza: There’s a section on the anatomy of an event and questions to ask as well as a sample layout and visuals to the final design

 

Q14: Signature Sasha is listed as our Second book to read in our top Wedding Market book list. How can they purchase it?

Answer

Sasha Souza: Amazon has copies but they have been selling out. B&N has a few per store.  Or on my site www.mkt.com/signaturesasha.

 

Q15: Now after everyone reads the book you will answer questions about Signature Sasha by video stream on www.weddingmarketnews.com?

Answer

Sasha Souza: Yes.  Thurs. March 26 @7:00pm ET on www.weddingmarketnews.com or in person Dayton, OH tickets at www.weddingmarketchat.com.

 

Q16: How did you come up with your Twitter name?

Answer

Sasha Souza:  I like sparkly things and the word glitteratti reminded me of paparazzi so… no great story there.

 

Q17: What would you like everyone to take from this #WeddingMarket Chat?

Answer

Sasha Souza: That the book has something for everybody, it’s affordable at $20/copy & has amazing inspiration to share with all clients.

 

#WeddingMarket Questions From Twitter:

 

1. @Sweetestevents_  What are your thoughts about the Pantone Color of the Year? #Marsala

Answer

Sasha Souza: It will be very important in a year or 2 when clients start wearing & living w/it takes time to hit market.

 

2. @ThreeStrands Do all B&Ns carry your book? Or certain target markets?

Answer:

Sasha Souza: All B&N have at least 1. Also on Amazon.

 

3. @AlphaProperity How big is your planning and design team and how early do you get them involved in the overall plan?

Answer:

Sasha Souza:  2 in office, 2 asst. floral design team of 8. All involved from beginning

 

4. @mrsshawnagray  Do you use any indispensable apps to help keep you organized or with your clients?

Answer

Sasha Souza:   Yes.  @AislePlanner & @honeybook .  Best ever.

 

5. @BridalBalance Any parties for kids in the book? I have a couple of little ones birthdays coming up!

Answer

Sasha Souza:  A bat mitzvah is in the book but not small kids parties.  There are a lot of others that can be converted. There are dinner parties, birthdays, weddings, etc.  check it out.

 

6. @VLDEvents What made you decide to work with a floral designer exclusively? 

Answer

Sasha Souza:  Was wasting vendors time because I knew Leah would offer the best.  I decided to take a stand and not waste time.

 

7. ‏@AlphaProsperity  How do you deal with brides who may have design elements that you don’t like?

Answer

Sasha Souza:  I tell them I don’t like them. They hire me for my opinion and I give it to them. Up to them to take advice.

 

8. @Sweetestevents  What’s the best way to convince a client/bride that Event Design is a important element?

Answer

Sasha Souza: Without design their wedding is plain and just like everything else.

 

9. @danieladegrassi When will the book be released?

Answer

Sasha Souza:   It was released in US on 1/12. Available now.

 

 

10. @aceofeventspace  Any new online resources out there for brides doing venue searches? 

Answer

Sasha Souza: There are some but they are generally only in individual markets.

 

11. @VldEvents Any chance we’re allowed to be nosy and ask what range of budgets you typically see? 

Answer:

Sasha Souza: We generally work with budgets over $850/pp @ 100 guests but more in the range of $1k pp.

 

12. @AlphaProperity Do you feel that design skills can be learned or is it something one has to be born with?

Answer:

Sasha Souza: There is a sense of taste that is inherent and isn’t learned but you can learn theory in color and design.

 

13. @mrsshawnagray I guess how do you start to share the work, when it has always been just me.

Answer

Sasha Souza: Learn to delegate and teach. I did that with @ssevents_mel more than 14 yrs ago. Now she’s a dynamo. You’re not always the best at particular task. Find a person who is great at supporting and willing to learn.

 

14. @danieladegrassi  In your book and with your clients do you also suggest a certain Dress Code for guests depending on kind of event? 

Answer

Sasha Souza:  It depends on the client desire. I don’t do many black tie, more casual and outdoorsy.

 

15. ‏@BridalBalance How do you market your services?

Answer

Sasha Souza: Through editorial work and PR. Books, TV, Web Presence.
16. @Sweetestevents_ How do you manage time on your Social Media Platforms?

Answer

Sasha Souza: By the hair of my chinny chin chin. I do myself so it’s an “as time allows” issue.

 

17. @Sweetestevents_  What do you suggest for those just starting out?.. In terms of marketing their business?

Answer

Sasha Souza: Social media, editorial shoots but really meet every single vendor you can and be nice.  Nice opens door.

 

18. @Sweetestevents_  How do you get Clients to write a detailed review? 

Answer

Sasha Souza: My clients don’t generally use yelp, weddingwire, etc. and I don’t push for reviews. best is a referral.