Meet Michelle B. Charlot, Owner and Professional Planner of Poshed & Peachy, a locally owned and operated wedding and special events planning business in southern Louisiana. A free spirit, attention to detail, strong will, and passion for helping others landed Michelle in this position of living out her dreams as an entrepreneur! Born and raised in a small country town in Louisiana, she's no stranger to getting her hands dirty (literally!). Poshed & Peachy is dedicated to bringing couples' visions to life and ultimately providing a memorable planning experience from beginning to end. Keep reading to learn more about how Michelle got started in the industry, plus, her favorite Aisle Planner tool!
What inspired you to enter the wedding industry?
When I think of weddings, I envision lots of pretty and nice-looking details. I have a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising and Textiles, so I've always had an eye and passion for details, style, and design. The wedding industry has evolved over the years and continues to, much like fashion. So, I'd say my inspiration derived from my love for fashion and styling.
What inspired you to start Poshed & Peachy?
A few things! First, I've always been a “helper,” eager to educate and lead others. But also, my very own wedding experience was a huge part of my reason to start my business. I made the mistake of not hiring a wedding planner, took on all the planning duties myself, and sometime after my wedding day I realized my mistake. Although my wedding was beautiful and well-planned, I missed out on the opportunity of just simply being a bride, nothing else. So now that I “know better,” I make it my business (literally) to ensure others “do better!” Lastly, I'm naturally well organized, detail-oriented, and driven. I'm a bit of a perfectionist in my eyes, so what better to do than mix personal with passion and create stunning, memorable moments with others.
If you could change one thing about the weddings and special events industry, what would it be?
If I had to name one specific thing, I'd say the lack of networking between industry folks within the same groups.
How does using Aisle Planner help you deliver the client experience you want?
Aisle Planner plays a huge role in helping me deliver a seamless, fresh experience to my clients. The platform is equipped with many tools that benefit couples in having a smooth wedding planning experience. Plus, it allows me to create a pleasant and appealing onboarding process for my potential couples. I utilize Aisle Planner for internal use as well—it depends on the packages and services my couples are seeking. I love that I can customize each couple’s project to fit their needs and my packages.
If you weren't the owner of Poshed & Peachy, what would you be doing instead, or what would your life be like?
I imagine I'd be working in the fashion industry, maybe as a fancy boutique owner.
What's your favorite Aisle Planner feature?
My favorite Aisle Planner feature is the Timeline tool! The Poshed & Peachy Itinerary, as I call it, is our Bible when the wedding day rolls around. I love the look once it's all compiled and complete. It makes me feel good, plus it's a reflection of my work to others in the industry. I live for an itinerary!
What would you tell someone who's thinking about becoming a wedding and event planner?
No matter what, do you. Don't waste time worrying about the “competition.” Carry on as if you're your own competition. Because that's really the case. People get married and celebrate milestones every day, so the demand for a wedding and event planner will always exist. However, it's also important to note that not every client is a good client or a good fit for you. Create your own path and stay on track.
What do you think will change about the weddings and special events space over the next five years?
I think wedding and event spaces will become more creative to accommodate a variety of guest sizes, indoor and outdoor options, and work to provide a unique service or product to the couple that other venues don't offer.
What's surprised you the most about being a wedding planner?
It's been surprising to learn how couples sometimes designate a wedding date without deciding on a venue. I often remind my potential couples, nicely of course, that no venue means no wedding date!
What’s your personal philosophy on becoming a great wedding and event planner?
You must be patient, flexible, organized, detail-oriented, and always willing to learn. You can never have too much knowledge or experience as there's always room to grow. Professionalism is something I strongly believe in as I feel it's one of those things that can make or break a business and its reputation. It's important to have a balanced personality when working with couples, vendors, etc. Furthermore, I feel it's just as important to be understanding, relatable, and establish a transparent relationship with my couples. A great wedding and event planner in my opinion is much like a superhero—many things will transpire, there will be several fires to put out, and you must figure out the best solution with your couple in mind. Therefore, transparency and clear communication are key for me from the pre-booking phase to breakdown.
Is there anything you're particularly excited about working on this year?
I'm very excited about my first same-sex wedding taking place this year, as well as working with a couple with highly sought-out venues and vendors in the area.
Just for fun
What’s the most used tool in your emergency kit?
My professional steamer!
What’s one trend you think should be left in the past?
Paper aisle runners.
What’s one trend you hope to see more of?
Bridal parties slaying photoshoots!
During your time as a wedding and event professional, what’s the biggest mistake you made and how did you recover from it?
Mistake: Being sucked in by nice clients for consultations, etc., but not accounting for my time spent.
The Fix: I revised my contract and procedures, and just simply decided to put my foot down.
Want to see more from Michelle? Check out her website poshedandpeachy.com!
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