Meet Sarah Gregor | Founder of The Planning Co.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sarah Gregor and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sarah, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
I would say that the most important factor behind our success is the focus on the client and how we can serve them well. In our industry, a majority of our clients are doing this for the first time. It can be so overwhelming and stressful at times. There are so many unknowns with big decisions that can make it difficult to ensure you’re making the right one. Our main goal is to bring peace into the process and make it as fun as possible.

From the client’s first meeting to the day of their wedding, we try to put ourselves in their shoes and concentrate on them feeling well taken care of. We love adding little touches to our client’s experience that no one else sees, being sure they have a drink they love in their hand, they are not famished, scheduling pauses for them to soak it all in. Yes, almost everyone’s goal is to take care of the couple on their wedding day, we constantly challenge our team to be hyperfocused on their experience in the moment. We also strive to add improvements after each event. We will review our events monthly and go over what went well, and how we could have made it even better.

It’s not about planning something that just looks pretty, it’s about planning a day where two feel celebrated well with their friends and family.

It’s about their experience.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Our planning and design company was birthed from my personal wedding day. It was beautiful, and a total mess!

I had a wedding coordinator that came with the venue we rented who did a beautiful job of sending everyone down the aisle, but then just disappeared. Nothing else that was scheduled to happen actually happened. We were in post-nuptial bliss and just taking in the moment. I just wish we had someone there to make it happen the way we planned it to. So that is what we do.

I think that this helps us be successful, we serve clients from our personal experience and professional experience. Taking each booking as an opportunity to make each one after that event better.

Starting the business was so easy, I loved launching our company and the sales process. (I am always trying to get all of my friends to start their own companies!) What took more time was fine-tuning our target market and finding brides that fit our mission. We learned that the hard way, don’t just book anyone! We discovered our market sweet spot and are now just focused on staying in that lane.

I am also a firm believer in community over competition. The best thing I ever did was reach out to those in similar roles with more experience and learned anything and everything I could. Then, in turn, reached out to others that were just starting to see how I could help them. I have found in the event industry, a strong vendor family really makes all the difference. I am happy to help them when they are in need and have definitely called on them.

I would say if you are on the fence about starting your own company, just try it out! I worked full time and had two babies all the while launching The Planning Co. I was hearing all this chatter about needing to quit your full-time job to focus and I believe the opposite in most situations. If you want it bad enough to put in the effort on top of everything else, you will find a way to make it work. That’s how you know you like it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh, this is fun. Well, I have kiddos, so there would be a couple of family days in there.

On day one we would hang out at home, make a yummy meal and drink all the wine talking the night away.
Day two, we would go to all my favorite places in the Springs, Peak Place for coffee and breakfast tacos, a walk through the Garden of The Gods, lunch at Kinship Landing, shopping at The Local Honey and Yobel and the downtown strip, stop at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, and dinner and drinks would be at Almage.
On day three we would get some yummy coffee at Loyal Coffee and head to The Zoo with the kiddos, have pizza and beers at the Overlook Restaurant.
Day four, all the fun touristy places, Old Colorado City, Cave of the Winds, and Manitu Springs.
Day five we are in the mountains hiking, fishing, and hammocking. Most likely in Eleven Mile Canyon.
Day six we head up to Denver and go to The Botanical Gardens, with lunch and shopping in Cherry Creek, then dinner and drinks in the Dairy Block District.
Finally, on day seven would be another family day at the National Museum of World War II Aviation, lunch at Suggas, then motorcycles at our friend’s house about 30 min out of town, then drop off the muchkins and get cleaned up for a good by dinner at one of my favs, Ambli.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
This is such a good question!

I have been beyond blessed with people that have supported me, taken me in, and taught me so much. From my parents to my husband, to my friends; I would not be where I am today without them. I would definitely highlight my internships. I think internships are such a great way to see if you truly love something, and discover what you don’t love. When you give and serve with your time freely for a great cause to impact the community around you, you are bound to meet some incredible people that will help you get to where you want to go.

From one of my first internships I was taught just to be avalible to help. No matter the task, be avalible, be happy, willing, and if your in the place to, fix it without being asked. Every role I was ever giving was becasue I was willing, and that always lead to better opportunities to learn, serve, and grow. I am so thankful I was taught that, and I do my best to share that advise whenever I can.

I also love a good youtube bing, from audio books to how tos, and interviews. I love learning about how people got where they are, and see if I can apply that to where I am. My current YouTube binge is Sorelle Amore Finance and the last book I listens to was The Richest Man in Babylon per her recomendaton.

Website: https://www.theplanningco.co/

Instagram: theplanningco.co

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theplanningco.co

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN5NIhjsZSFU5jjUOKdtHiQ

Image Credits
Sun Chaser Studios || Devin Richter Hailey Pierce Love With Mindy Branding || Mindy Miller Brenna Skatte Jacqueline Davison Photography