planning….forever events blog

fox 7 wedding planner

Saundra Hadley, owner and event engineer for planning…forever events is the Fox 7 Wedding Planner on AM Evansville Fox 7 news. Her segment airs every week on Wednesday at 6:25am (please check your local listing for what channel Fox 7 airs on).

This segment has aired since August 2006 and has helped thousands of brides in the local plan their wedding with the real tips, highlights of local and national vendors and interviews. Recognized in the area as one of the leading experts in weddings, many viewers and vendors ask about the segment. Please read below and Saundra’s answers.

If you’d like to see some of the archived segments, you can always visit the event planning studio’s website or the company’s YouTube.com page.

If you are a viewer or wedding vendor and would like to suggest a topic or have a specific question, please feel free to email at staff{at}planningforever.com. Now for the Q&A:

Q: Who comes up with the topics on the segments?

A: The content that is discussed on air is produced and developed by myself, staff, talented wedding vendors that I network with and input from viewers. I won’t lie, it is sometimes challenging to come up with new material, but with so much information and the latest trends in the wedding business…there is always something to talk about. I welcome ideas, please feel free to drop me a line.

Q: When do you tape the show?

A: I adore this question. The segment airs approximately 6:25a.m. in the morning and we shoot the segment at 6:25a.m. in the morning. In other words, it is LIVE TV and there are no retakes. Which is why sometimes I am very eloquent and sometimes flub up a bit. As they say in the “biz”, the show must go on.

Q: How did you get involved to do the show?

A: I was contacted by Fox 7 News Director when they started developing this concept. AM Evansville Fox 7 are huge advocates of having local news with local experts. It’s well received by the community and makes this an approachable, local morning news show. It’s their niche and I’ve been blessed to be a part of it.

Q: Is it hard to do live TV?

A: Yes, at first. I’ll be the first to tell you that I am an extrovert. I can talk to anyone and anything. But being on live TV, with the glaring BRIGHT lights, a camera guy, producer, microphone…can be pretty intense. For the first four months I would have a stomach ache before the show would air and get butterflies. Now I am so comfortable I have to be careful what I say!

Q: I have to be on TV for my business, do you have any pointers?

A: I get this question all the time by other wedding vendors. To keep the answer simple (for space constraints) here is my quick and dirty tips. If you want more tips, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

1. Be yourself. Don’t try to be someone else. If you are an animated person, be animated and don’t worry that it may look stupid to others. You can spot someone in a minute trying to be fake.
2. Wear something that makes you feel powerful and awesome. Bright colors and not a lot of prints will be your friend.
3. Think about what you are going to say and it does not hurt to have cue cards with some major points to help you if you get nervous. But don’t sound rehearsed.
4. Wear extra makeup. People would be shocked at how much blush I have on. I can get a suntan from those bright lights and they wash you out. Put some lipstick on too, it won’t hurt. Unless you’re a guy, then nix the lipstick idea.

Q: Do you work for Roger’s Jewelers?

A: No. They are the segment sponsor. I am an event engineer (planner) with my own business.