It is an absolute honour to start the Details By Dallas Industry Expert Interview series with the one and only Alicia Keats of Alicia Keats Weddings & Events. For several years now, Alicia has received the honour of being on Vogue’s Top Wedding Planner list in Canada. Join us below as Alicia shares some key tips for fellow wedding planners in the wedding industry.

With over eighteen years of experience, Alicia Keats has earned her place among the most sought after wedding planners in the country. Alicia is known to be a passionate, devoted wedding planner who is always graceful under pressure. Her desire to create, not only an individualized planning experience but also to create a personalized wedding celebration for her couples, has earned her the reputation of being one of the best, and thus earned the name of one of Vogue’s Top Wedding Planners in Canada.

Wedding Planner Interview

When & why did you decide to start Alicia Keats Weddings & Events? 

I began Alicia Keats Weddings & Events in 2010 out of the desire to create a wedding planning firm that was client-focused, taking a limited number of couples at one time to deliver the highest levels of services and care.

What is one piece of advice you would give to new wedding planners?

Treat everyone you work with, with kindness. I am a true believer that we are only as good as our team on the wedding day, and working as a team has been such a powerful experience.

What is the best advice that someone has given to you in your business?

Do one thing each day to drive your business forward, no matter how small it is. Each effort adds up and doesn’t allow you to become complacent or take anything for granted.

What is your approach to wedding planning, and what makes it unique? 

My style is completely focused on my couple’s needs and desires and bringing what they envision to life. I want my couples (and their guests!) to feel like their wedding is a true reflection of who they are. I give my heart to my couples and take every detail that goes into creating their celebration incredibly seriously and to heart. I strive for my couples to know they can trust me, rely on me and that I will guide them with their best interests at heart.

What has been the best investment (time or money wise) for your business? 

Investing in my branding, from working with Love by Phoebe to the Malone Agency, I truly value their guidance and insight into how to communicate my passion and heart.

What have been some of your career highs & lows?

 Too many to name! One of the hardest experiences in my career was guiding our couples through the COVID pandemic and the countless postponements.  Each wedding I am a part of fills me with joy as I get to witness the couple I have been working with express their love and be surrounded by their loved ones. I will never take that honour and highlight for granted. 

What advice do you have for aspiring wedding planners? 

Get as much experience as you can! Be transparent about your goals and find someone that you can learn from. On-the-job experience is priceless and will also give you insight into the ins and outs of the job and if it is the right fit for you.

Where do you draw inspiration from when it comes to planning an event or wedding? 

My clients. It is my job to get to know them and understand how to bring their personalities to their wedding so that it is a true reflection of who they are.

Aside from planning weddings, do you have any upcoming projects that you’d like to share with our readers? I am focusing this year on our team as we have grown in the past two years, and I working on ways to best support my team so we are able to continue to serve our couples with the highest levels of care.

To learn more about Alicia Keats’s wedding planning approach and her team, be sure to check out her website at aliciakeats.com  or on social media at @aliciakeats 

Whether you are a new wedding planner who is just starting out, a seasoned wedding planner who is growing their team or an inspiring creative entrepreneur, we hope you found this interview from one of Vogue’s Top Wedding Planners in Canada inspiring! Have more questions for Alicia Keats? Pop them in the comments below and we’ll get them answered for you!