Listen to the Podcast About Quintessential Events
Podcast Summary
In the latest episode of ‘Eventful Endeavors’, Austin Reed caught up with notable entrepreneur and wedding planner Sarah Quinlivan, famed for her association with ‘Quintessential Events’. Sarah spoke candidly about her unconventional journey into the event planning world and shared some heartwarming reminiscences of stand-out events she’s managed.
Sarah shared that her journey stemmed more from an entrepreneurial spirit rather than a desire to venture into planning. Spending a decade in the advertising and PR sector helped her foster an affinity for organized chaos, which she later discovered thrived in event planning. However, it was not just the logistics that captivated her but also the creative aspect of design which came to light over time.
Probing deeper, Austin asked Sarah about her favorite events. She passionately reminisced about a wedding they orchestrated at the Nelson-Atkins, describing the flow and execution of the event as perfectly smooth. According to Sarah, this event stood out as it required a unique set of vendors to achieve a flawless delivery.
Another unforgettable event they both reflected on was a beachside wedding. Sarah described the private last dance as an intimate moment that encapsulated all the vibes one would want in such a scenario. This real-life mesmerizing moment she said is often the stuff that people are bombarded with on Instagram but tend to believe are manufactured.
In conclusion, this interview with Sarah Quinlivan offered fascinating insights into the world of ‘Quintessential Events’, speaking volumes about her passion for event planning as more than just a job—it’s about creating memorable, authentic experiences.
Learn more about Quintessential Events
This interview was provided by Felix and Fingers Dueling Pianos
Podcast Transcript
Felix And Fingers (00:24)
everyone. Welcome to another episode of Eventful Endeavors. My name is Austin. I have a lovely guest today, Sarah Quinlivan. I am so happy to have you on here. Let’s talk like humble beginnings. where, when did you know that wedding planning was it? Like when did you know that this is what you wanted to do?
Sarah Q (00:40)
Well, I’ve been doing it 10 years. I still don’t know if that’s what I want to do. No, I’m just kidding. I think any sane wedding planner would answer something similar by the way. But, so I actually, like, I think it’s more like my, where my desire to do anything was more entrepreneurial versus necessarily planning. Like when I was a kid, I tried to sell everything. Like I said, sold water balloons, lemonade stands.
Felix And Fingers (01:04)
Yeah.
Sarah Q (01:04)
I
shelled pecans out of, mean, like you name it, I sold it. And how I got into the event planning world is I actually did advertising and PR for about 10 years, got super burned out. And then I had started doing stuff on the side with another planner. And then I realized the organized chaos that is events is where I belong in my world, in my life. And then from there, honestly,
Felix And Fingers (01:08)
Mm-hmm.
Sarah Q (01:30)
I just kind of fell into a lot of the stuff that we now do. Like I came to find like a real passion for design and creating and not just the logistics. And that just came with time. That was a really long, rounded answer. Not great. Maybe start over.
Felix And Fingers (01:35)
Yeah.
That’s okay. The long answers were great.
No, that’s fantastic. So I I have obviously got to work with you a handful of times now. I mean, my fave… I have two. I have two. Okay. And I mean, they’re very different, but… I know that we haven’t… I think I’ve done like maybe four or five with you now at this point. It’s been a few.
Sarah Q (01:52)
What was your favorite, by the way? Yeah, I think I know it.
okay.
It’s been, yeah, it’s been a few.
Felix And Fingers (02:07)
The one that we did at the Nelson-Atkins is probably just like start to finish how everything like on an outside of music, how everything throughout that evening was executed. That was probably to date, probably one of the most fulfilling weddings that I think I’ve ever played. But.
Sarah Q (02:24)
The flow of that was so good. That night just sung. Like it just, it was smooth, smooth, yeah.
Felix And Fingers (02:29)
Everything was great. It really was.
And I mean, there’s, I’ve played other weddings at the Nelson and it’s just, it takes a very special set of vendors to like really execute that venue like flawlessly. And that was, I just remember leaving that night and just, it like this was peak, you know.
Sarah Q (02:47)
Yeah,
Felix And Fingers (02:49)
Florida hands down. That venue was amazing. That couple was so much fun. The house that we stayed in was just so surreal.
Sarah Q (02:48)
yeah.
Felix And Fingers (02:57)
But I remember we walked down on the beach and we stayed out till 3, 4 in the morning, just sitting there looking at the stars and looking at all the mansions on the coast. But that private last dance that I got to do at the end of the night was just one of the most.
Sarah Q (03:08)
That’s what I was thinking. Yeah.
Felix And Fingers (03:13)
like soul-reboarding moments of my life. And the fact that like we decided not to have video out there and it got to be like just the intimate moment between me and the couple. Like they walked out the doors and they were already crying and like I was trying to hold myself together as I’m singing, which you know, I’m just…
Sarah Q (03:29)
No, it was, I still
will never forget, like even me walking out there with them and like the vibe was just, my God, it was, was, it was all the vibes you would want, right? It’s all the shit on Instagram that people like constantly send you. And you’re like, that’s manufactured. Like that moment was so real. And I’ll never forget, Brooke looked at me. It was like, why didn’t you take a video? I was like, I felt like, like I was like being a voyeur, like taking a video because I’m like, no, that was private. Like it was very personal.
Felix And Fingers (03:41)
Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah. You are one of the first wedding planners that had like, like the weddings that I do with you, like I get to do like kind of like spotlight moments like that. And it’s, I, that was one of them where I hadn’t done like a whole lot of like private, like secluded last dances like that. I actually think that was the first one that I had ever like.
Sarah Q (03:58)
and I loved it. I loved it.
Yeah, it was
it.
Felix And Fingers (04:18)
solo
done and I was so in my head in that moment I was so worried that I was gonna screw it up and then it was just I locked in last second and I was like you know what this is a great song, it’s a great couple, it’s a great wedding and yeah that’s something I will never forget I mean that was…
Sarah Q (04:28)
No!
You’re
stupidly talented. Like, my God, I can only imagine how I’d feel if I walked out and be like, damn. I’d stop dancing with my husband and be like, hey, let’s just watch this guy. He’ll be killing me.
Felix And Fingers (04:39)
No.
So, I mean, I guess speaking of like the Destination weddings, mean, Quintessential Events, you, I mean, the weddings that I have seen, like that you post, that you do, How did you get to like where you are now? Because I mean, it’s just like, it’s such a high caliber.
Sarah Q (04:49)
Mm-hmm.
Felix And Fingers (05:02)
wedding planning service. mean, it’s so far set, I feel like, from anyone else here locally. I mean, you’re so well respected. How did you get to the level that you are now?
Sarah Q (05:12)
Thank you. That’s all very kind. And you know, it’s what we it’s what we try to do. And honestly, it was an evolution, right, of the business. Like whenever I started, like, you know, I remember I charged fifteen hundred dollars and, know, you’re like somebody hired you and you’re like, holy shit, you hired me to help you with your wedding. This is amazing. And then I just like I was saying earlier, I found, especially with the creative side was where I
Felix And Fingers (05:32)
Yeah.
Sarah Q (05:39)
turned on and I realized very quickly into the weddings we were doing like I did not like copy paste, copy paste, copy paste. I liked figuring out what drove the couple, like what really matters to them, what really matters to their family and what also what like what’s gonna make sure you actually make the wedding hit and happen.
And it’s like, people always think like, here’s the standard wedding timeline. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. You’ve got to do these things. I’m meanwhile, and sorry to all the viewers of this, I cuss a lot. I’m like, Like, no, like do, do what is natural and authentic to you. Cause if you do that, then the party is going to flow and match it. Cause like, when you think about it, right? Think about anytime you’ve been in a room and it’s just a vibe. That’s what I feel like.
Felix And Fingers (06:12)
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
Sarah Q (06:26)
wedding should be it should be a vibe because you’re pulling in all these people that matter the most to you and you should look around and it’s just a beautiful chaos so to speak and so I just honestly I leaned in to doing that and then our people kept finding us and trusting us. In then I mean that’s allowed us to do a lot of cool shit I mean being honest just because people they see the work they respect the work.
Felix And Fingers (06:43)
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
Sarah Q (06:53)
And that’s to me the most rewarding thing when we can tell somebody’s story and it’s not just, you know, some shit that’s on Pinterest or some shit that’s on Instagram. It’s actually stuff that relevant is relevant to those people.
Felix And Fingers (07:04)
Yeah, 100%. Yeah, I mean, it’s like there’s following trends and I feel like there’s like creating trends in the wedding industry. And there’s nothing wrong with either one of those, but it definitely makes it unique when I work a wedding with you, like it feels like the trend is created. It feels like it’s authentic, it’s in the moment and it makes it so much more spectacular and unique. Yeah.
Sarah Q (07:11)
Yes.
Yes.
Yeah, because it’s not garish. It’s not over the top.
None of that. Because I also have the belief in design. Really good design is actually simple at the end of the day. It’s not just like, okay, here’s this ostentatious thing, you know, or I’m going to have gold everywhere and it’s going to look like Donald Trump’s bathroom. It’s how can you pull together all these elements that all sing and tell the exact same story, but they’re so small of details that it’s. It just, it makes it.
feel richer, makes it feel more elevated, it makes it feel… there’s just dimension and texture and just… I don’t know, like I always say like when you walk into the room you should feel something. And that’s how I want you to feel, right? If you walk into a room… because sorry, back up. Events, when you really think about events, right? Everybody comes to an event, they expect to like, they expect this, right? But whenever you’re anywhere doing this or up, like you’re blowing minds.
Felix And Fingers (08:17)
Yeah.
Sarah Q (08:17)
And that’s
the goal. And it’s not just to blow minds, but it’s also like, why do the same shit everybody else is doing? Like, everybody’s doing that. I don’t want to do that.
Felix And Fingers (08:23)
Yeah.
It’s such a, yeah, like when your vendors are coming in and it’s like, whoa, okay, this is gonna be a cool one. Like it’s, yeah, I mean, literally every single event that I’m on of yours is like, this is just, it’s so next level. It’s, you shouldn’t be, you shouldn’t be, because man.
Sarah Q (08:40)
But I’m in my own head about it, just so you know. Like if Brooke was on this right now,
she would tell you how often like I walk in, I’m like, is it good? Is it good? She’s like, shut up. And I’m like, I know, but yeah. Well, it’s just, it’s cause I’m so, at the end of the day, like I’m passionate about making something for somebody, for creating these memories, right? Like people will ask me all the time, like, don’t you love love?
Felix And Fingers (08:50)
But it’s like literally the best, yeah.
Sarah Q (09:04)
It’s not my job that you’re in love, right? Like you should be in love. You’re getting married. My job. Well, no, but people are like, Oh my God. Like, don’t you cry all the time? I’m like, well, no. Like again, it’s my job, but I feel like my job’s more and where the reward comes from is creating a day and giving space to the day where people can actually have genuine emotions. And then they can like that couple like Christina and Chad, right? Like.
Felix And Fingers (09:08)
Okay.
Yeah.
Sarah Q (09:32)
Those tears, those are like, I’m even getting chills right now. Like that is real. And that’s memories they get to live their lifetime with. you know, they might not remember you and me. mean, Christina is going to remember me, but like only cause we’ve known each other for a while, but they might not know you and me at the end of the day, but they will never forget that feeling. And if I can create that feeling,
Felix And Fingers (09:53)
That’s so cool. That’s so cool.
Sarah Q (09:54)
Yeah, and sorry, the dogs, you
see my camera shaking, y’all, the dogs are like playing underneath me now. And I’m like, sure.
Felix And Fingers (09:59)
Yeah, I’m surprised that the cats like haven’t jumped off the refrigerator like they are they’ve been fighting all morning
Sarah Q (10:05)
I I kinda want it to happen
to you just so I can watch like a cat die bomb you from the side.
Felix And Fingers (10:09)
That’d be one of the highlights for sure.
This is the first thing they’re going to post on this podcast. like, hey, this Kansas City guys, these cats are crazy. They really are. Yeah, they are cats. mean, well, Stewart’s a good one. Lexi, I’ve got a boy, Stewart, he’s almost nine, and Lexi, she’s the bane of my existence. Love her to death, but that’s a, I wanted to, now I wish I would have never got the second.
Sarah Q (10:16)
I mean it is a catch
I mean,
Stuart’s a good name for a cat, let me tell you. I love that name.
Felix And Fingers (10:34)
He’s little
fella, he looks just like me. He’s almost redhead, no one really knows what he is. So it’s good combo. So a fun question that I’ve been asking a couple of different people.
Sarah Q (10:42)
I love it. Okay.
Felix And Fingers (10:49)
What is like, surely you’ve been doing this for what? 10 plus years you’ve said. So give me a horror story. Give me, have you ever had any, you don’t have to be specific to names, but like, have you ever had anything like, like a vendor didn’t show up, like bandage, like anything crazy like that? Like any of your, like your weddings?
Sarah Q (10:53)
Mm-hmm.
god.
I mean, we had name it. That’s happened. I mean, from having grooms doing coke in the bathroom to the bride’s getting a massive nosebleed when the father’s giving his toast. And I think she’s crying, but it’s not. There’s literally blood gushing down her dress. mean, people passing out, ambulances being called. I mean, what do you want to know? There’s all the things that happened at this point. I’ve not had a runaway bride or groom yet,
Felix And Fingers (11:23)
us.
Sarah Q (11:32)
I honestly think the craziest that’s happened as of late was the July one we had together that was outdoor with the four drummers. And I know, I know like, I know y’all don’t, I know there’s a lot of emotions around that day, but like, that was to me, the epitome of why you hire really good vendors because you know, whenever he got heat stroke. So yeah, everybody listening.
the drummer got heatstroke because it was the dead of July and God love all the musicians out there, but you’re not the best about drinking water. I’m going to pick on y’all a little bit, but the way not only your team pivoted, but our team pivoted to like not only find one, like you drummed first and then like in came another drummer that came from out of nowhere and then came another drummer that stayed for the rest of the night. Yeah. Like the owner of jukebox.
Felix And Fingers (12:05)
We’re done.
Mm-hmm.
Chris Davis, think, shout out to Chris Davis if you see this. Yeah, the owner of Dream Fox Media came out
to save our ass. I mean, it was just, yeah.
Sarah Q (12:27)
I mean, even when
I saw him, I was like, my God, cause you know, drummer. But like, we just recently got to tell that bride that story and she had no idea it happened. No idea. Like y’all, like the drummer was literally like vomiting on the stage. Like it was crazy, but like.
Felix And Fingers (12:37)
Just eat it now.
came from that weekend. We played three shows. All three of them were outside and it was across the Midwest and we had driven, I think, like almost seven hours to that show back in Kansas City like that day or something. And we’re so exhausted. Yeah. And you said it best. Musicians are listen, I’m one of them.
Sarah Q (12:59)
crazy.
Felix And Fingers (13:06)
I will not like, but like, it’s notorious. We don’t like drink water when we should. We just don’t think about it. We’re trying to execute. We’re trying to do everything else. And it should say, it’s, you know, it should be the first thing on your mind, but sometimes it’s the last one. Like when it’s real important, it’s a big wedding. and yeah, Daniel shout out to Daniel Cole. you know what, with that instance, that that’s, that’s fine. That was a, that was a crazy day. that was the first time. Do you know what?
Sarah Q (13:06)
You’re notorious.
I wasn’t going to name names because you told me not to, but I mean… He-
But he crushed it even like him
drumming and like literally I was getting sick, not missing a beat. And that’s why I get like, even this is giving me chills. Cause it just was the power of honestly a team because nobody like you guys were not alone in that. like, you know, we got Daniel like when his dad came, like we were making sure he got in his car. Cause it’s just like, no, you guys have got to do the gig. And the fact that that dance floor was packed, the fact that the bride didn’t know, I mean like that’s
Felix And Fingers (13:36)
Yeah
Sarah Q (13:57)
That’s again, that’s why you hire really good people that have been doing this for a minute, right? Versus just somebody that’s like, weddings are pretty. I’m gonna make some money. No, like shit happens. Guys go down. Yeah.
Felix And Fingers (14:00)
Yeah.
Yeah, you wanna get to people like that.
That was probably of my music career, my most stressful moment on stage, I think. I think today, I’ve never had the drum at a wedding before, especially with the wedding band. I mean, that’s just…
Sarah Q (14:16)
for sure.
Felix And Fingers (14:22)
But no, we pulled it off, we executed. mean, shout out to everybody who came in and just helped us out that day. That was a big trial and test for a wedding band in Kansas City. But we accomplished it. mean, was crazy, crazy day, crazy weekend, too.
Sarah Q (14:34)
Yeah.
crushed it.
Yeah. But that’s,
but again, that’s events like that’s a horror story. mean, our goal is just at the end of the day is that our clients never know what’s happening, right? Like the only way they know is if they see it, but every event, something’s going to go wrong. It’s just, it’s going to, right? Like the best laid plans. It’s one thing, but I mean, shit happens all the time. Like, yeah, like vendors have not shown up things that are supposed to be here have not shown up and you just stay calm. You pivot.
I should get a tattoo that says pivot. you literally just, that’s our job. You pivot and you do it with a smile on and you’re just like, it’s gonna be okay. Meanwhile, in your mind, you’re cussing everybody out, but it’s gonna be okay.
Felix And Fingers (15:11)
Yeah.
Yeah.
Tell me about the, you said that you’ve worked with FNF before, Yeah. So like, when was that? Like how did everything go? Yeah.
Sarah Q (15:26)
It was really good. was one of
our, and again, this goes back to like learning your client, right? our client that we worked on together, our couple, sorry, I calling them clients, our couples. they were, she wanted a December wedding, like Christmas wedding. Like that was the vibe. And she was just like, Hey, we’re not like huge partiers. So I don’t think like a full out bands, a great fit for us, but we want live entertainment. And so then we spitballed some ideas and then that’s when I came up with dueling pianos.
Felix And Fingers (15:52)
Yeah.
Sarah Q (15:52)
And so
we had dueling pianos and then they lied because they were partiers. Like that dance floor was packed all night. the dueling pianos was really, it’s a really cool concept because it just allows so much guest interaction. And I’m a live entertainment person all day, every day at events. I love live entertainment. And I just don’t think there’s a way to beat that, especially whenever you have two saucy pianists, you know, going at each other about, you know.
Felix And Fingers (16:20)
Just all of it. Yeah. Yeah. I’m so grateful for it too, because here, like with the Kansas City operation, it’s Ashley and I, so I mean her and I have obviously performed hundreds of shows together at this point. We also have some other killer players in Kansas City too, but yeah, it is such like a fun concept. I’ve found a lot with like clients that I’ve spoke to that have been reaching out to us. Like it’s, you can tell that like they want something like definitely unique. They don’t want a DJ. They don’t want a band. They want kind of that, that
Sarah Q (16:21)
All the things, and you’re like…
different.
Felix And Fingers (16:47)
want to call it an in-between but it is just a unique experience. Yeah, mean it’s yeah.
Sarah Q (16:50)
in between. in the
same time, don’t you… This is part of a bigger discussion that I feel like I’m constantly having even in the wedding industry. You guys are all actually artists. Why do we box it? Why do you just have to have a band? Why do you just have to have a DJ? Half the time I’m calling Dana Sterner, big props to her as well, and I’m like, okay. I’m like, what?
Felix And Fingers (17:09)
Shout out David Sturgeon from Fox Media.
Sarah Q (17:12)
What weird shit can we do? And like, you know, from the roaming players to anything, like even Sunday serenade by twice on Sunday, I’m like, y’all have the talent. Let’s all figure out how to do these things that gives a guest interaction. Again, if you can get the guest in, like the night’s the night’s gold.
Felix And Fingers (17:25)
Yeah.
Yeah, I feel like that’s a really big thing. And I mean, I can’t speak for like a lot of the other like wedding industries outside of Kansas City, but like a lot of like the, I mean, from.
Sarah Q (17:38)
coast to
love it.
Felix And Fingers (17:40)
Yeah, it’s like the experience like from the band’s perspective or like the pianist perspective, anything like it is such an engaging area out here. Like the people that book us, like, you know, obviously if they’re going to spend money, they want us there, but like they really, really, really want us there. They want to be engaged. They want to like, they want to party and, man, it’s just such a rewarding. Like I couldn’t imagine doing like the full scope planning thing. Like my, my, my mind, I’m like, I’m not good in that area, but like the entertainment side of it, man, it’s, it’s such a.
When I get to go into a higher caliber wedding, like one of yours and everything, and those people are there to have fun. They’re there to party, yeah.
Sarah Q (18:14)
their party. You
and that’s what I feel like at the end of every any event, right? Like
It doesn’t take a lot to have a really good party, but it’s taking and investing in the right things, right? Like live music, good music, even if, mean, like, again, we’ve got some great DJs in this city, but like, when they do it right, you can’t beat it. And that’s just one of the tools to make it. Cause people go, I when’s the last time you’ve gone to a wedding and you’re just like, give me, give me out of here. Right now you want to go generally. You’re like, let’s, let’s have fun. Let’s let loose. And yeah, I just live entertainment.
open bar, some good food, like everybody’s gonna be happy.
Felix And Fingers (18:53)
Everyone’s gonna be happy. It’s the late night snacks. Man, recently, like Chick-fil-A has been coming in for the late night snacks and chef’s kit. Yes, yes. I used to get platters to those. I’d get like the 20 or 40 piece platters just and it’s, know, horribly selfish. I’d eat the whole thing myself. But.
Sarah Q (18:55)
Everybody gonna be happy.
God, who doesn’t love that, right? Like they give you the little chicken mini biscuit and you’re just like, what are these magic? Hello.
yeah.
our team
orders it all the time. like have like nugs or nugs in the jam. That’s not it.
Felix And Fingers (19:21)
Yeah, it’s a way to keep up. You can’t
get wrong with a honey butter biscuit. You know who else makes a good honey butter biscuit? It’s Whataburger. Yeah, it’s, it’s, I could, I could put on a whole podcast just about that alone. But they are to, yeah, to, to be tried for sure. For sure. Yeah. So what’s, what’s your next one? What’s, what are you working on currently?
Sarah Q (19:32)
That says a lot.
Okay, going to Water Burger sometime soon.
well, we just wrapped on this weekend, which I have to talk about because it, it’s the epitome of the shit. Like we live to do, couple that honestly, if they could have gotten married where they want it, it probably would have been like a hillside in Colorado where nobody was around. And then they called people like, we were married. but they’re huge outdoorsy people. like they have a van that they’ll go, you know, do camping trips on, but like her mom and you know, her mom, their parents were like, we’d like you to have a wedding.
And so I gotta say big props to that mom in particular. She really let the couple design lead, which it was not hers, but it was Boho meets West Elm, but they wanted the entire place to feel like it felt like you were just coming into their house. But the best part of it was they did at noon, an intimate ceremony just for 30 people, followed by a three course sit down lunch. And then they had a break.
That ceremony and again, I don’t get choked up on that often anymore. And it’s not cause I’m a robot like Brooke says, but because it just, you know, I’m more like, okay, like around time are we like, is everything good? I had all the feels cause it was so intimate. was so cool, but it was all of the design. Everything was just so authentically them. And then whenever they came back for the reception later that evening, it was cocktail style. So there was.
Felix And Fingers (20:57)
Mm-hmm.
Sarah Q (21:02)
program so to speak but it was very like eat food drink sit down mingle okay there’s a dance okay eat drink sit sit down mingle dance
They like the groom bought everybody Stetson’s. Like it just was great. Like, I mean, there was just such a vibe in the room and they were such kind people and it was such good design. And it’s the epitome of what we live to do. And I just, we’re still in cloud nine after that wedding. I just love them. I love them. love them.
Felix And Fingers (21:26)
Yeah.
And then the Instagram’s Quintessential Events KC. Yeah. Yeah. So viewers, please check out her stuff. So we can, you can see what we’re talking about here. Just the calendar events.
Sarah Q (21:32)
Yes. Yeah.
Yeah, it’s reels going
up here in a minute. And yeah, and if you struggle with Coin Essential, because everybody does, just pretty much put in Q and I’ll pop up. Nobody even goes, it’s just Syracuse. That’s what people call me.
Felix And Fingers (21:46)
you
Well, perfect. We’re pretty much wrapped up for our time today. Thank you so much
Sarah Q (21:54)
Yeah. Anytime.
Felix And Fingers (21:55)
I feel
like there’s so much more that the people just need to know about your business and what you do and the products that you have, your team. Thank you so much for being on here today. I appreciate you. I love working with you and hopefully I’ll see a few more times here this year. All right, we’ll see you very soon, Sarah.
Sarah Q (22:04)
Thank you.
yeah, I love you too.
Bye.
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