KC Plans 2019- Recap & Photos!

We love celebrating our pro community and building supportive relationships. One of our favorite ways to encourage pros to create connections with other pros is to host in-person events, so we love it when a pro takes a page out of our book! 

Michelle Layman and Jonelle Belger-Gentry of Events by Elle, who planned our 2019 The Knot + WeddingWire Kansas City Social, attended one of our socials a little over four years ago. After seeing other planners only talking to pros from other categories, they decided to create a community of Kansas City planners called KC Plans. Michelle and Jonelle’s goal is “to work together to grow our industry,” placing companionship AND competition over companionship OR competition. This includes talking about everything from marketing strategies to price points and creating a market standard for them. KC Plans wants to “share that same passion together so that collectively we can grow,” says Michelle.

Though the first year was daunting, the company eventually saw planners getting excited to get together and look forward to it as much as they do. The community expanded past this event, with wedding planners grabbing coffee or having smaller gatherings.

We got to come experience the joy of KC Plans for ourselves this year.  Attendees heard from Mindi Middleton (Local Account Executive) and Rebecca Crumley (Senior Director, Real Weddings) of The Knot Worldwide on Adapting for Your Audience by Getting To Know GenZ Behavior and Getting Published. Michelle & Jonelle also led a panel with Michael J. Nolte of Nolte’s Bridal, Kindra Browne of Simple Elegance and Hannah Schumm of Weddings by Hannah.

A few of our favorites from the event included:

• The custom bright neon pink sign on the bar to carry the event branding across the room (Ultrapom Event Rental+ Icon Event Group)
• The “selfie king” Mike Tsai in action with the Events by Elle team + headshot photographer Clarie Ryser + videographer from Glenwood Weddings + event photographer Heirloom Photo Company
• The gorgeous table settings with gold and pink accents (Ultrapom Event Rental + Supply Event Rentals + Little Yellow Leaf + Public Print + Good Earth Floral Design)
• The stunning five-layer geometric wedding cake design with a fun print in the middle layer (Shannon Bond Cake Design)

See more from the event captured by the talented Heirloom Photo Company!

Thank you to Michelle and Jonelle for sharing their story with us!

Planning + Design: Events by Elle | Photography: Heirloom Photo Company | Videography: Glenwood Weddings | Venue + Food + Bar: The Gallery Event Space | Floral: Good Earth Floral Design | Stationery + Branding: Little Yellow Leaf | Rentals: Ultrapom Event Rental + Supply Event Rentals | Emcee + Production + Lighting: Icon Event Group | Headshots: Clarie Ryser | Cake: Shannon Bond Cake Design | Letterpress: Public Print | Linens: La Tavola | Gifting: Personal Greetings | Gifting Contributors: Posh KC Blow Dry Bar + Summit Hickory Pit BBQ + Bolle Bath LLC + Bella Bridesmaids, Leawood, KS + Hilton President + Nellie Sparkman Events | Boxes: Personal Greetings