PARTYSLATE: THE ULTIMATE RESOURCE FOR WEDDING + EVENT PLANNING

Many years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Julie Novack, the founder of PartySlate — a woman with bold vision and fierce devotion to elevating the events industry. I was immediately intrigued by her mission to create a beautiful, functional platform that truly showcased the work of creatives like myself. Naturally, I became an early adopter and loved the platform.

As my business evolved and my client base became increasingly more curated, I found myself investing less in outside endorsements and more in direct relationships and legacy marketing. And I’ll admit it — I hadn’t updated my PartySlate portfolio in years.

Recently, Julie and I reconnected and caught up like old friends do — with deep conversations and laughter, many a story and tremendous mutual respect. She urged me to take another look at the platform. “Andrea,” she said, “just update your gallery and see what happens.”

And I did, never really expecting anything ro come of it. Yet within days, I received an incredible lead which quickly converted into a client, and we are now working together planning their dream celebration. With the lead coming directly through PartySlate, the experience reminded me of something vital: When done right, the right platform can be incredibly powerful.

For Wedding Professionals

PartySlate is more than a listing site. Over the past ten years, they’ve refined their platform into something elegant and essential. Think of it as a home:

• The front of house is what potential clients see — polished galleries, compelling event videos, and a curated portfolio of the industry’s best work.

• The back of house is where we as wedding professionals, credit vendors, store media, and organize content. It’s efficient, intuitive, and marketing-focused.

• But it’s the foundation that impresses me most: the PartySlate team. Their technology, customer service, and support empower event pros to better showcase their work and attract aligned clients.

In a sea of third-party platforms, PartySlate isn’t just another website — it’s a partner.

For Couples

PartySlate empowers engaged couples to visualize their wedding day through curated galleries filled with real celebrations. Couples can browse by location, style, or theme, finding not only what resonates emotionally, but also what’s logistically possible. It demystifies the process by allowing them to:

• Discover their aesthetic through stunning visuals

• Identify the right vendors — florists, planners, venues, entertainers — based on actual work, not stock images

• See full event credits, ensuring transparency and enabling collaboration

• Build a team based on real-world results and aligned sensibilities

For Families Planning Social Celebrations

Mitzvahs, anniversaries, Sweet 16s, and milestone birthdays are worthy of exquisite planning. PartySlate offers families the opportunity to explore creative formats, interactive experiences, and wow-factor details. It’s a guidebook for those who want something meaningful, memorable, and just a little magical.

For Corporate Clients

Today’s corporate events must go beyond function — they must reflect culture, communicate purpose, and create brand experiences. PartySlate showcases how top-tier professionals are blending business with beauty. Executives and planners can:

• Explore how brands have activated space

• Learn from previous galas, launch parties, and conferences

• Connect with seasoned experts who understand ROI as deeply as they understand ambiance

The Value Is in the Vision

PartySlate isn’t just about listing vendors. It’s about inspiring clients to think bigger, then introducing them to the creative partners who can execute flawlessly. It’s about merging data and design, aesthetic and analytics. And most importantly, it’s about building confidence — that your event will be as meaningful as it is magnificent.

For anyone planning a celebration of life, love, or legacy — PartySlate is where the journey begins.

Now, I’d love for you to hear directly from Julie Novack herself. Below are 20 questions I asked PartySlate to answer for our Vendor Spotlight — a behind-the-scenes look at what makes this platform truly different.

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20 Questions with Julie Novak of Party Slate

1. For someone newly engaged or beginning to plan a celebration, how does PartySlate make the process easier or more inspiring than other platforms like The Knot or WeddingWire?

When you're planning an event — especially something as big as a wedding — it can be overwhelming to know where to start. What I love about PartySlate is that it's all about real events and real inspiration. Instead of scrolling through standard vendor listings, you get to explore full galleries of professionally photographed events — often in the exact venue you're considering. And it’s not just weddings — you can browse everything from rooftop birthday parties to luxury galas. Every photo is fully credited, so when something catches your eye, you can find the planner, photographer, caterer, or floral designer who brought it to life — and start building your dream team.

2. Can you explain how PartySlate helps couples discover their personal event style and connect with vendors who can bring that vision to life — especially when they’re not sure where to start?

When you're not exactly sure what you want, sometimes the best thing you can do is just start looking at real events. On PartySlate, you can scroll through thousands of professional photos — from garden weddings to rooftop celebrations — all organized by style, location, and venue type. When something catches your eye, you can instantly see who helped create it — the planner, florist, photographer, and more — and reach out directly to the people who brought that vision to life. It makes finding your style (and your dream team) so much easier. 

3. PartySlate showcases real weddings and events with full credit transparency. Why is this important for clients, and how does it help them make better decisions when building their vendor team?

When you see a beautiful photo on PartySlate, it’s not just about the flowers or the lighting — it’s the result of a whole team working together. We credit everyone involved, so you can see exactly who did what. That means if you love a certain look, you can find the planner, photographer, florist, and venue behind it — and build your own dream team with people who already know how to create magic together.

4. How does the visual nature of PartySlate — the galleries, videos, and storytelling — elevate the experience for users compared to more templated, directory-style websites?

On PartySlate, you’re not just reading about vendors — you’re seeing their actual work through beautiful, professional photos. You can scroll through full galleries of real events and imagine what your own celebration could look like.  You can also easily find planners and photographers who have worked at the venues on your shortlist.  

5. What do you hope a couple or client walks away with after spending time on PartySlate?
We hope they feel excited, inspired, and more confident. PartySlate helps you see what’s possible — and who can make it happen. By browsing real event photos, you’re not just dreaming — you’re discovering the people who can bring those ideas to life.

6. What inspired you to create PartySlate, and what problem were you aiming to solve for event professionals?

I noticed that event pros were creating these stunning, high-end events, but their photos were often hidden in Dropbox folders or occasionally posted on social media. I wanted to give them a better way to showcase their work and provide people planning events with an easier, more beautiful way to find the right team.

7. How does PartySlate differ from other platforms like The Knot, WeddingWire, or Zola?

PartySlate is built around real events and real teams, not just storefront listings. Every profile is filled with professional photos and video galleries that show actual celebrations these pros have worked on, so you’re not guessing what they can do — you’re seeing it for yourself. And because every photo is fully credited, you can instantly find the planner, photographer, caterer, or venue behind the look you love. It’s not just for weddings either — you’ll find inspiration and trusted event professionals for corporate events, birthdays, galas, and more.

8. In what ways does PartySlate support luxury and high-end event professionals uniquely?

PartySlate was designed to showcase elevated, professionally photographed events. We help event professionals present their work beautifully and make it easy to share those galleries with clients, on social media, and across the web — all from one place.

9. Can you walk us through the client journey — how does a couple typically find and interact with a vendor on PartySlate?

PartySlate is a great place to start building your dream team and venue short list. You can browse our content-rich directory by location, capacity, or venue type — and every profile includes a complete portfolio so you know exactly who was behind every event. If you love what you see, you can click into a profile to view more of their work, save them to your Idea Slate for later, or reach out directly through our simple inquiry form. It’s a beautiful, stress-free way to discover the right fit for your event.

10. What are the core features of the platform that professionals tend to underutilize?

Many professionals don’t realize how easy it is to share their photos on Instagram through PartySlate. We automatically format Instagram credits, making sharing across platforms effortless. All those professional photos you worked so hard for? PartySlate helps you get more out of them to build your brand.

11. Tell us about the “back of house” — what tools exist behind the scenes for event pros to manage and market their photos?

Behind the scenes, PartySlate Pro provides event professionals with a private photo library, where they can store, search, organize, and share their best work in seconds. Our AI image recognition technology — built specifically for the events industry — helps professionals instantly find the perfect photo by theme, setting, or element (such as a wedding aisle or projection mapping images). Whether they’re preparing a client presentation, posting to Instagram, or sending a proposal, they can quickly pull the exact visuals they need to showcase their work beautifully and professionally.

12. How does PartySlate help vendors receive proper credit for their work and foster collaboration between creatives?

Every photo includes full credits for the entire team, from the planner to the caterer. That means when a couple falls in love with a look, they can connect with everyone who helped bring it to life. It also helps vendors support each other and grow through shared exposure.

13. What data or analytics does PartySlate provide, and how can vendors use that information strategically?

PartySlate tracks every interaction — from profile views to website clicks, calls, social media visits, and direct inquiries — so event pros can see exactly how people are engaging with their work. They also get insights into total photo impressions, their most-viewed photos, and which galleries are driving the most interest. One of the most valuable features is the ability to compare your performance to other professionals in your area, so you can see how you stack up and where there’s room to grow. It’s an easy way for pros to make smarter marketing decisions based on what’s working. 

14. What has been one of the most impactful success stories you've heard from a vendor using your platform?
Absolutely. We’ve heard countless stories from venues and event professionals who have booked amazing clients through PartySlate. Venues often get the most initial inquiries since they’re typically the first decision in the planning process. But planners, photographers, and designers have also landed incredible new clients by showcasing their work here.

That said, we know PartySlate is just one step in the research journey. Even with a referral, people often need 7 or more touchpoints before reaching out — they’re looking at your Instagram, your website, and your work on PartySlate. When those channels all reinforce your brand with stunning professional photos, it builds trust and drives action.

15. How do you vet the photos uploaded to PartySlate to ensure the site maintains its luxury aesthetic?
We designed PartySlate to feel like a modern art museum — clean, elegant, and all about the photos. The design is intentionally subtle, allowing the professional images to take center stage. Although we don’t vet every submission, we do review featured galleries and spotlighted content to ensure it meets a high visual standard. We also encourage full team credits so the entire creative team gets recognized.

16. What advice would you give to a vendor looking to make the most of their PartySlate profile?

Start with your best events — the ones that feature high-quality, professional photos that effectively showcase your style and strengths. If you’re on a free profile, you can feature up to 3 events, so choose a variety that will appeal to different types of clients. With a premium profile, you can post unlimited events and select up to 5 custom cover photos. Your first cover photo will appear in the vendor directory, so be sure to choose an image that’s high-impact and truly representative of your brand. Also, tag every vendor involved in the event — it helps build your network and increases your exposure across the platform. And don’t forget: your PartySlate galleries can easily be repurposed for client presentations, proposals, and your website.

17. What role does SEO play in your platform’s visibility, and how does PartySlate help vendors improve their search performance?
PartySlate has high domain authority and ranks on page one for many top search phrases — like “top planners in New York” or “best venues in Miami.” When vendors upload a gallery, it’s automatically optimized for search, helping them get discovered by more people, not just on PartySlate, but also on Google and ChatGPT.

18. PartySlate is over a decade old now — how has the platform evolved since launch?
We’ve evolved from being a place to share your portfolio and grow your business – to a comprehensive marketing platform for event professionals. Now we help event pros manage, organize, and use their professional images to grow their brand across all platforms — not just PartySlate.

19. What trends do you see in how clients are searching for vendors and planning events digitally?
People are more visual than ever — they want to see your full portfolio, your event spaces, and the kind of work you actually do. A few Instagram posts aren’t enough anymore. Today’s clients expect to do deep research before reaching out, which is why professional photos matter so much. PartySlate makes it easy to organize and showcase those photos in one beautiful, easy-to-navigate place that works alongside your Instagram and website. 

20. What’s next for PartySlate? Any features or enhancements you’re particularly excited about?

We’re building tools to save time for busy event professionals and help them get more out of their photos. We now offer a comprehensive photo migration service — we’ll transfer your albums from Dropbox, Google Drive, or any other storage location into your private PartySlate library. We’re also rolling out more AI-powered tools later this year to select your best images and write event descriptions automatically so that you can publish faster.

Two integrations we’re especially excited about are our new Tripleseat integration for venues, which makes it easy to sync your inquiries with your CRM, and our upcoming Canva integration, allowing you to search and access your PartySlate photos directly within Canva when designing proposals, social content, or marketing materials. Everything is designed to help you streamline your workflow and showcase your best work with ease.