Debbie Geller and Kardashian Party Planner Mindy Weiss Share Their Best Wedding Planning Tips

Published on Dec 15, 2020 at 4:45 PM

MAD About Weddings | Mindy and Debbie

Have you ever watched an episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians and had to pick your jaw up off the floor at one of their over-the-top parties? From their birthdays to their weddings, the Kardashians have never thrown a chill affair, and if you've ever wished you could get some party planning advice from the woman who makes it all happen, allow us to introduce you to Mindy Weiss. The celebrity party planner, who is the mastermind behind Kardashian events like Stormi Webster's first birthday party and Kris Jenner's epic Gatsby-inspired 60th bash, recently teamed up with fellow wedding planner (and lifelong friend) Debbie Geller to launch MAD About Weddings, a 12-video program designed to help couples plan the event of their dreams — all from the safety of their homes. POPSUGAR caught up with Weiss and Geller to learn more about this important and timely video series, as well as to get tips on planning a wedding right now.

"We've talked over the years about couples who contact us and are frustrated about not being able to do things on their own, find reliable information, or even know where to start," Weiss and Geller told POPSUGAR. "The silver lining with COVID is that it gave us the time to curate the best information available, develop these courses, and share our personal experiences to guide people through the wedding planning process."

As the founder of Mindy Weiss Party Consultants based in Los Angeles, Weiss is known around the world for her creativity and calming presence on event days. In addition to planning Kardashian events, she's hosted weddings, celebrity events, nonprofit galas, and more for some of the world's most notable clients, including Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, and more. Geller is the founder of Geller Events and is a luxe event and wedding planning professional who has designed and orchestrated logistically complex celebrations in LA and globally. She's known for her hands-on approach and attention to detail in everything from intimate weddings to corporate celebrations for 10,000 people. (By the way, if you aren't following @mindyweiss and @gellerevents on Instagram, you totally should for beautiful photos and tons of decor inspiration.)

Together, the two break down everything you need to know about the wedding planning process in a brand-new online video series that launched Dec. 4. This program features tips from Weiss and Gellers' 30 years planning experience, including how to find the perfect dress, what to look for in a venue, inspirational ideas for design and decor, and a behind-the-scenes look at the planning process from beginning to end. Guests can also order the four additional one-hour live group Q&A video sessions with Weiss and Geller, so you can ask all your burning questions yourself. The 12-part educational video series is $349 or $449 with the four virtual Q&A sessions added.

"When people get engaged, they generally hit the ground running on planning, but the pandemic put an end to so much face-to-face engagement that it has slowed couples down," said Weiss and Geller. "We may not know what's happening tomorrow, let alone six months from now. MAD About Weddings allows you to get started, working virtually, and begin to do your research as well as give you the design background needed to immerse yourselves in the fun part of wedding planning — the style and personalization."

For more tips and trips on planning a Kardashian-style wedding or event, keep reading.

Focus on Intimacy

If you're dreaming of a huge reception with 300 guests, then your wedding will just have to wait. For everyone else, use this as a time to focus on intimacy — and you just might love it! Weiss and Geller call it the "mini-matrimony" instead of a "small wedding," which makes it sound as special as it is. "Twenty-twenty is all about intimacy and having those you truly love around you," they told POPSUGAR. "The ceremony itself has become the centerpiece of the day and is rich with thought and meaning."

You may be surprised to hear that many of Weiss and Geller's clients actually prefer a more intimate day over a lavish bash. "Our clients are loving smaller events," they said. "And while the grand celebration will return, we see things staying intimate as a trend for the foreseeable future."

Romance Is In

When it comes to a theme, Weiss and Geller recommend making it all about your love. "Think romance," they said. "Mauve, purples, and lavenders paired with shades of green and mixed metals give it that soft, romantic look." This dreamy aesthetic will also look really good in pictures, which you'll be able to keep forever.

Don’t Be Afraid to Go with Bright Colors

Just because the bride typically wears white doesn't mean everything else has to be this color. In fact, Weiss and Geller said that bright colors are here to stay for 2021. "While white will always be the classic wedding look, we're seeing a lot of color for 2021," they said. "It's cheery and people are craving a celebration with some whimsy!"

Take Proper Safety Precautions

The health of your guests is the highest priority right now. Check your state, county, and city regulations on what is allowed, keeping in mind that this can change frequently. Also, let your guests know that you are taking precautions so they can plan accordingly (and don't be offended if they decide not to attend). Weiss and Geller suggest "making mask-wearing part of your decor and consider including custom masks to coordinate with your theme. Keep the hand sanitizer classy and plentiful. If you know the people who are attending are in their own bubbles, try to keep each group together and separated from others. A lounge set-up is great and cozy for this."

Get Married at Home

My parents were ahead of the curve in 1990 when they got married in their living room, and according to Weiss and Geller, "at-home weddings are going to be big for 2021. This may mean literally at your own home, or in your hometown. Next year will be the 'staycation' version of a destination wedding. It may be a multi-day experience, but right in your own backyard."

Be Creative With Food

If you want to serve food at your wedding, try to do it in the safest way possible. Weiss and Geller recommend not passing the hors d'oeuvres around right now to minimize contact. "We're loving doing an assortment of small bites served as the first course to each guest," they said.

Additionally, follow the lead of restaurants and do paper-less menus! "A trend in restaurant dining has been to use a bar code to pull up the menu on your phone," Weiss and Geller explained. "Don't fight it; try the same thing at your party. Your guests will have fun with it, especially if you inject a bit of humor into the menus."

Splurge on Some Decor If You're Able

Don't worry, not everyone (as in most people) can't afford a huge, Kardashian-style party, but that doesn't mean yours can't be just as amazing. "If you don't have the budget to make every inch of your celebration elaborate, pick a few key spots to splurge on decor and make them memorable," Weiss and Geller told POPSUGAR. Maybe that gorgeous flower archway you've had your eye on or the live entertainment you've always wanted? Whatever will make you feel special for a day!

Provide Entertainment and a Way to Capture the Moment

What's your favorite part about attending weddings? For me, I love a good dance floor, and Weiss and Geller think the same thing, saying, "While we love a beautiful room and amazing food, what your guests will remember the next day is if they had fun, and that comes down to the entertainment. When everyone dances right through the night and even eats dessert on the dance floor — that's a great event. And speaking of remembering . . . all that you have left when it's over are your photos. Hire the best photographer that you are able to within your budget."

Dress, Venue, Budget — You Can do It!

Picking a color scheme and decor theme is the fun part, but don't neglect planning for your dress, venue, and budget. Weiss and Geller gave us simple tips on nailing these big three components. If you're wearing a dress, they recommend trying on a variety of silhouettes, even if you already think you know what you want. "You've likely not done this before, and you might end up surprising yourself by loving something that wasn't at all like your inspiration photos," they said. "And remember . . . no one sees the out-of-budget dress next to the one that's in budget, so try to look at each on its own, without comparing."

When it comes to the venue, it's important to think about who is attending and keep their comfort in mind, according to Weiss and Geller. "While having a wedding at a vineyard an hour away might be your dream, know that people will have to drive home at the end and that does impact their ability to let go and be present."

Finally, the budget (*enter horror music here*). "Ah budget," said Weiss and Geller. "We have some great tools to get you through this, the most difficult part in MAD About Weddings, but here's the short answer, have one first before you do anything. And, know who is paying for what."

Remember the Best Part of an A-List Party Is . . .

Sure, having A-list musicians perform their Top 40 hits and and wearing expensive clothes is awesome for celebrities, but none of those things are essential to having a good time. "When we re-created Kim Kardashian's past birthday parties for her 40th, it had every emotion possible . . . surprise, laughter, crying, loving . . . it was all there," said Weiss. "That is something you can't put a price on and the memories will last forever."

The duo added, "We always aim to keep all guests happy, whether celebrity or not! This is a huge part of our job. Guests need to feel welcome, well fed, entertained, and appreciated for attending."

Remember: if you're smiling and your guests are having fun, then your party is guaranteed to be Kardashian-level awesome — no matter what else happens!