Event Planning on a Budget with Nikki Byrd | Ep. 42

• Nikki shares that she was always the family member planning baby showers and birthday parties. She emphasizes doing what you love rather than working a job you don't enjoy just for the money.

If you do something that you love, then the money is just that extra perk.

• Nikki explains that while family members can help get you down the aisle, they lack the skills to manage vendors, venues, and budgets. An event planner keeps you on track financially and finds creative solutions within your budget.

When you first say that I'm getting married, everybody wants to be in the wedding. Everybody wants to help out. And there's nothing wrong with that. But when can they enjoy your celebration?

• Tiffany shares her own Zoom wedding experience during COVID, where unplanned expenses like catering and cake quickly added up. Nikki stresses that without a clear budget, costs spiral out of control, especially for newlyweds starting their marriage in debt.

I've seen people where they put everything on a credit card and the marriage don't even last a year.

• Nikki recommends keeping cocktail hours minimal—just cheese, crackers, and wine—rather than elaborate appetizers. She suggests redirecting that money to a honeymoon or paying bills instead of spending on a one-day party.

Cocktail hour for me is just for the bride and the groom and the family to take pictures. That's all it is. And it's just, it's a spot filler. So why spend all that money?

• Nikki notes that graduations, baby showers, and drive-by celebrations all require planning. Tiffany shares her experience coordinating a teacher appreciation lunch, which was far more complex than expected.

Fail to plan, plan to fail.

• Nikki explains that planners handle both visible and invisible issues, from popped buttons to vendor coordination. They save working couples time on calls and emails, which ultimately saves money. She carries an emergency wedding kit with Tylenol, sewing kits, and breath mints.

Event planners, I say they take care of the seen and the unseen.

• Nikki advises getting 2-3 quotes for every vendor and being realistic about budget expectations. She notes that planners can negotiate better rates and that there's always someone within your price range, including newer planners building their clientele.

Always get two to three quotes. And one thing is there is always someone in your price range.