Mindy Weiss’s Life and Career as an Event Planner

Mindy Weiss is an award-winning event planner with more than three decades of experience. Mindy plans everything from private birthday parties to bat mitzvahs to celebrity weddings, with top clients including Kris Jenner and the Kardashian family. Brides magazine included Mindy Weiss Party Consultants in the 2022 list of Best Planners, and the 2020 Elle International Bridal Awards recognized Mindy as the Best Wedding Planner. In addition to planning events, Mindy pens books about the wedding planning process and has a product line of wedding items, including rhinestone shoe appliqués and candles.

“[One] of the things that I love about the wedding planning process is getting to know the couple. I love hearing their ideas. I love the challenge of bringing things to life.” – Mindy Weiss

The celebrity wedding planner has spent more than three decades bringing events to life. Here are a few fast facts about her life and career:

1. 1. Mindy comes from a family of party planners. Mindy grew up in Los Angeles, California, where her parents threw uniquely themed parties for birthdays and social occasions.
2. 2. Mindy designed stationery. After college, Mindy worked in a stationery shop designing creative stationery and custom wedding invitations. Mindy went on to open her own custom-designed invitation business before clients began asking for her to take on party planning.
3. 3. Mindy’s first event was a seventy-fifth birthday party. The first event Mindy planned was a seventy-fifth birthday party for a family friend. From there, word of mouth spread, and she began planning more events. In 1992, Mindy founded Mindy Weiss Party Consultants.
4. 4. Mindy has a star-studded client list. Mindy Weiss Party Consultants is the go-to event planning company for several celebrities. Mindy’s clients include Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams, Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, Kris Jenner, and the Kardashian family. Mindy also plans corporate parties and product launch events for companies such as Stormi, Kylie Cosmetics, Poosh, and Shutterfly.
   
5. 5. Mindy writes books. In addition to planning lavish social events, baby showers, and dream weddings, Mindy is a bestselling author. Her titles include The Wedding Book, The Wedding Planner, The Baby Keepsake Book and Planner, Goldie the Handpicked Flower Girl, and Jack Brings the Rings.

The highly sought-after wedding planner knows the tricks of the trade. You can expect these five highlights and more from her session on wedding planning, available exclusively on MasterClass:

1. 1. Build a budget early. Although Mindy plans top-tier, big-budget affairs, she also knows how to plan a dream wedding on a budget. “It is very important to determine what your budget is very early in the process, so you're not going to be disappointed when you really see the bottom line of your budget,” Mindy says. “Be realistic. Start with the highest-priced items first and then go from there.”
2. 2. Find your wedding venue. One of the first steps in the wedding planning process is to find a venue for the big day. “I personally like to book that venue as soon as possible,” Mindy says. “Remember, there's 2.5 million weddings going on, and they're going take your location. So book quickly.”
3. 3. Hire your dream team. Mindy shares tips for sourcing the best vendors for your wedding, from wedding photographers to caterers. “Consider this your second family during your entire planning process,” Mindy shares. “When building this wedding team, it's really nice to get referrals from your friends who have already used the team.”
4. 4. Learn how to cut costs. With three decades of experience, Mindy knows how to cut costs, from wedding décor to catering. One of her tips includes modifying the traditional champagne toast. She says, “Did you know that a sip of champagne is much more expensive than a glass of wine? Skip the champagne.”
5. 5. Write your vows. Wedding planning includes several facets, from sending save-the-dates to ordering flowers, and it can be challenging to focus on the wedding timeline. For her part, Mindy advises couples to remember the essential details of the ceremony. “I believe that vows are the most important part of planning a wedding—getting to that part down the aisle,” Mindy says. “Because this is the promise. This is the validation of why you're getting married.

If you plan to design flower arrangements, apply your own makeup, or even bake a cake for your event, check out:

1. 1. Joanne Chang on baking like a pro: James Beard Award–winner Joanne Chang is a chef known for her famous sticky buns. Take Joanne’s class to learn how to bake cookies, double-crust apple pie, brioche bread, and a vanilla cake.
2. 2. Maurice Harris on designing stunning floral arrangements: Maurice Harris is a star floral designer. Take Maurice’s class to learn about different types of flowers, floral tools, and how to create signature table arrangements, including a wedding bouquet.
3. 3. Sir John on creating makeup looks for any moment: Sir John is a makeup artists with clients including Beyoncé. Take Sir John’s class to learn how to build a skincare routine and execute various makeup looks, like the no-makeup look, and an “icon” look that could be your wedding look.

Have a wedding to plan? Learn how to take on the process strategically. Discover Mindy Weiss’s approach to setting a budget, choosing a theme, and sending invitations when you sign up for the MasterClass Annual Membership.