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Full guide & best practices

How to use AI event planning tools
to get the most from every brief

A complete walkthrough of AI Event Assist, the AI event planning software for professional planners. From setup to sharing a polished report with your client, plus tips to get sharper results every time.

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Five steps from brief
to client-ready report

1

Set up

Pick between Classic and Editorial report styles, save once, apply to every future report.

2

Fill the brief

Enter your client's details, vision, budget, and currency. Select the supplier categories you need.

3

Deep dive

Add per-category budgets, style preferences, and inspiration images or links.

4

Run research

Hit run. The AI searches the live web — beyond the SEO winners — and builds your shortlist in minutes.

5

Share

Edit, curate, and send your client a beautiful branded report via a shareable link.

01
Client brief

Fill in the
brief

The brief is split across four tabs. Client brief, Event scope, Suppliers, and Settings. Work through them in order. The more detail you add, the sharper the research.

📋

Start with the client's own words

Paste what they said on the call verbatim into the "Client's own words" field. The AI reads this directly and calibrates every recommendation to match their language and feeling, not a sanitised brief.

🌍

Set your currency early

Tap your primary currency in the currency grid before running research. For destination events, also select the destination currency, every supplier card will then show pricing in both.

📱

Toggle local & independent mode

If the client wants something different, not the usual suspects, turn this on. The AI actively hunts for smaller boutique studios and Instagram-found suppliers that won't appear in any directory.

💡
Pro tip

Don't skip the atmosphere chips. Selecting "Luxurious + Rustic + Romantic" versus "Modern + Minimal" completely changes which suppliers the AI surfaces. These three words do a lot of heavy lifting.

Client brief
Client brief Event scope Suppliers Settings
Client name(s)
Isabella & Edward H.
Event type
Wedding
Location
Surrey / South Downs
Budget
£65,000 – £80,000 GBP
Atmosphere
Romantic Luxurious Rustic & natural Garden party Black tie
Client's own words
"We want it to feel like we stumbled upon the most beautiful garden party, natural, romantic, never stuffy. Think wildflowers, candlelight, and dancing until midnight..."
Local & independent suppliers, on
02
Deep dive

The more detail
you add, the better it gets

The Deep Dive tab is where you set per-category budgets, style preferences, and upload inspiration. This is what separates a generic shortlist from a research document that reads like it was handcrafted.

📸

Upload mood board images

Drag and drop photos from the client's Pinterest board, their own saved images, or your own references directly into each category. The AI uses these to match aesthetic style, not just keywords.

🔗

Add inspiration links

Paste Pinterest boards, Instagram profiles, website references, or portfolio URLs into the link field. You can add multiple links per category. These feed directly into the research prompt.

💰

Set a budget per category

Enter a specific budget range for each supplier type (e.g. "£6,000–£9,000" for florals). The AI uses this to filter pricing and won't suggest suppliers wildly outside the range.

💡
Pro tip

Use the "Notes" field to tell the AI about specific suppliers to avoid, competitors, past bad experiences, or suppliers you know are unavailable on the date. It takes these exclusions seriously.

Deep dive
🌿
Florals & botanicals
Florists, botanicals, dried
Budget
Budget for florals
£6,000 – £9,000
Style
Lush & abundant
Colour direction
Ivory, blush, sage, no yellow
3 images uploaded
📌 pinterest.com/isabellawedding
📷
Photography
🎵
Entertainment
03
AI research

Hit run and
watch it work

Once you hit Run Research, the AI works through your brief systematically, searching the live web, cross-referencing Instagram, and filtering against your preferences. A full brief typically takes 30–90 seconds.

🔍

What the AI actually searches

The AI uses live web search, not a pre-built directory. It finds suppliers that exist and are active right now, checks their websites, looks up Instagram accounts, and validates pricing against your location and budget.

📱

How Instagram search works

With local mode on, the AI specifically searches Google for suppliers with a strong Instagram presence, boutique studios, sole traders, and independents that don't rank highly in traditional search. It includes their Instagram handle where found so you can check their portfolio directly.

Choosing your depth

In Settings, choose 2–3 suppliers per category for a quick working shortlist, 5 for a thorough brief you'd share with a client, or 7 for a comprehensive comparison where you want options to compare. More depth = longer run time and slightly higher API cost.

💡
Pro tip

Run research before your client debrief call, not after. Use the report as a live working document during the call, you can hide, add, and edit suppliers in real time as you discuss it together.

Running research...
AI Event Assist
Researching for your client
Sourcing independents...
Search progress
Analysing the brief
Searching venues in Surrey
Sourcing caterers & florists
Sourcing independents
·Building your shortlists
Entertainment
The Soul Collective
Hidden gem
7-piece soul and Motown band, 12k Instagram followers, Surrey estate specialists.
04
The report

Edit, curate,
and make it yours

The report is yours to shape before a client ever sees it. Switch between Internal view (everything) and Client view (only what you've approved) with a single click.

A friendly heads-up

Not every supplier the AI surfaces will be a perfect match, and that's by design. The tool casts a wide net so you always have real options to choose from. It's much easier to cut three suppliers you don't love than to wish you had more. A few reasons a result might feel off:

  • Style drift, a florist whose Instagram showed rustic arrangements two years ago might now do modern minimalist. The AI sees what's findable publicly, which isn't always current.
  • Availability & capacity, the AI can't tell if a venue is fully booked for your date, or if a supplier recently closed. Always double-check availability directly.
  • Pricing estimates, where pricing isn't on the website, the AI makes a best-guess based on the supplier's tier. Treat it as a starting point, not gospel.
  • Niche categories, very specific requests (like Georgian calligraphers in rural Scotland) will have thinner results. Your own network usually beats the AI here.

Think of it as a brilliant research assistant who's done your legwork, but who still needs your eye and your network to finish the job. That's where you add the magic.

🔒

Hide suppliers, don't delete them

Use "Hide from client" on suppliers you're still checking rather than removing them entirely. They stay in your internal view so you can reveal them later if needed. Remove is permanent, hide is reversible.

✏️

Edit the planner overview

The AI writes a 3–4 sentence overview of the brief. Click into it in the report and edit it in your own voice, this is the section that most sounds like you, so make it yours before sending.

Mark your top picks

The small dot on each supplier card marks it as recommended. In the copied report text, starred suppliers are flagged, it tells the client which ones you're genuinely excited about, not just listing.

Add your own contacts

Use "Add supplier" in any category to bring in suppliers from your existing network, including their Instagram handle and your personal planner tip. These sit alongside the AI-researched ones seamlessly.

Isabella & Edward Hartley — Wedding
Supplier Research Report · Surrey · 14th June 2026
Edit mode, hide from client, remove, or add your own suppliers
Venue
Loseley Park
Historic Surrey estate. Garden Room seats 140 with stunning walled garden for June reception.
From £18,000 exclusive hire
TOP PICK
Photography
Marianne Taylor Photography
hidden from client
LUXURY
05
Sharing with clients

Three ways to
share the report

Once you've curated the supplier list and switched to Client view to check how it reads, you have three options for getting it in front of your client.

🔗

Option 1. Shareable link (recommended)

Click "Copy link" to generate a unique URL. Send it to your client by email, WhatsApp, or however you communicate. They open it in their browser, a clean, branded report with clickable supplier links. No app, no login, no download needed. Available on Pro and Studio plans.

📄

Option 2. PDF download

Switch to Client view, then use your browser's Print → Save as PDF. The report is formatted for A4 and looks polished as a PDF. Available on all plans including free trial, no extra steps needed.

📋

Option 3. Copy report text

Click "Copy report" to copy the full text of the supplier research to your clipboard. Paste it into an email, a Notion doc, a Google Doc, whatever your client workflow looks like. All supplier links and Instagram handles are included.

💡
Pro tip

Always switch to Client view and read the report as your client would before sending. Check the overview reads naturally, the supplier notes make sense without your internal context, and the next steps are clear and actionable.

Client view — ready to share
Client version 4 of 6 suppliers visible
Venue
Loseley Park
Historic Surrey estate. Garden Room seats 140, stunning walled garden for June reception.
From £18,000
loseleypark.co.uk ↗
TOP PICK
📨 Client report link ready
aieventassist.com/r/hartley-jun26
Copy report text
Supplier CSV
Download PDF ↗
06
Supplier outreach

Draft outreach
emails in seconds

Once you've curated the suppliers you want to pursue, switch to the Supplier emails tab. The tool drafts one personalised email per category, ready to copy and paste into your inbox.

Specific, not generic

Each email is 4–6 short paragraphs: event basics, the vibe pulled from your client's own words, the specific ask for that supplier, logistics they need to quote accurately, and a clear next step. No "I hope this email finds you well" filler.

🎯

Set your tone once

In the Settings tab, choose a default email tone, warm and personal, professional and formal, or brief and direct. Add a short bio and sign-off for the signature block. The tool applies these to every generated email.

✏️

Edit before sending

Every email is fully editable, click into the subject or body and tweak anything. Hit "Copy email" to paste straight into your email client. The tool never sends emails itself, you stay in control of the outreach.

Run emails early

Email generation takes around 60–90 seconds because each one is personalised. Start it early, alongside curating the report, so they're ready when you are.

Supplier outreach
Florals · Draft email
Subject
Enquiry — Isabella & Edward, 14 June, Surrey

Hi,

We're planning a wedding for 140 guests at Loseley Park on 14 June 2026 and would love to explore your florals for the day.

The couple describes the feel as "a garden at dusk, wild but considered, all soft whites and sage". The marquee sits on the walled garden lawn, so florals need to hold well into the evening...

Regenerate
Copy email ↗
07
Finishing touch

Choose your
report style

Every report is built to your studio's brand, your name, your contact details, your business intro. Pick from two professionally designed styles depending on the event and what you're looking for.

01

Classic, clean & functional

A structured, modern report with all the essentials: supplier shortlist, pricing, planner tips, and clickable links. Fast to produce, easy to read, and works beautifully for working briefs and day-to-day client updates. Available on every plan.

02

Editorial, premium magazine-style PRO

A beautifully designed, serif-led layout inspired by luxury wedding editorial. Feature each supplier across a full spread with planner's notes, elegant typography, and a bespoke closing page. Perfect for flagship weddings, milestone events, and clients who value the details. Available on Pro.

03

Pick in one click

Switch between styles anytime from Settings → PDF style. Your choice saves automatically, so every future report downloads in the style you prefer.

Marchetti & Co
Supplier Report
April 2026
Wedding Supplier Research
Chris &
Gemma
A curated shortlist of venues, catering, florals and creative partners, gathered, reviewed and hand-picked for your day.
Date
14 June
Location
Surrey
Guests
120
Budget
£75k
Chris & Gemma, 14.06.26 Chapter 02. Venue
02

The Venue

01
Portfolio ↗
Venue · Historic Estate Top Pick
Loseley Park
A 1,400-acre Tudor estate outside Guildford, in the family since 1562. The Tithe Barn seats 140 on long oak trestles.
Planner's Note
"I've placed three weddings here and it has never put a foot wrong."
From £18,500
02
Venue · Private Estate
Bignor Park
Editorial Preview

Get the most from
every brief

Tips from planners who use the tool every week, the habits that make the difference between a good shortlist and an exceptional one.

📋

Brief before the call

Run a preliminary research pass before your client debrief using just the broad strokes. Use the results to guide your questions on the call, then refine and rerun with the detail you captured.

🎯

Use the notes field ruthlessly

The planner notes field in Settings is your direct line to the AI. Tell it which suppliers to avoid, which areas to prioritise, budget quirks, anything the client mentioned that didn't fit elsewhere. It reads every word.

🌍

Location specificity matters

The more specific your location, the more locally-relevant the results. "Surrey" is good. "Surrey Hills / Guildford area" is better. For destination events, name the specific town or region, "Amalfi Coast" not just "Italy".

💬

Paste the client's exact words

The "Client's own words" field is the single most powerful thing in the brief. Paste a paragraph of what they said verbatim. The AI matches its language, tone, and supplier choices to theirs, not a sanitised brief interpretation.

📸

Upload three images minimum

One image might be vague. Three images from different angles of the same aesthetic give the AI enough to triangulate the exact visual direction, floral style, colour palette, venue feel, tablescape references all at once.

🔄

Rerun to refine

Research isn't a one-shot process. Run it, review the results with your client, add more detail to the brief based on their reaction, and rerun. Each run costs around £0.02–£0.04. Use it iteratively, it gets sharper every time.

✉️

Generate emails after curating

Run your supplier emails after you've curated the report, not before. The emails are generated based on the brief and deep-dive preferences, so they match whatever you've set. Edit the tone and sign-off in Settings first.

💾

Download CSV for every brief

After each brief, download the full supplier CSV. Over time this becomes your own supplier database, every Instagram handle, website, pricing note, and recommendation status from every job you've run through the tool.

👁️

Preview as the client before sending

Always switch to Client view and read the full report as your client would, out loud if possible. Check the overview reads naturally, the next steps are clear, and supplier notes make sense without your internal context.

Questions about
using the tool

My research ran but the supplier names don't look real. What went wrong?
+

This usually happens when the location or budget is too vague for the AI to search effectively. Add a specific town or postcode area, set a clear currency, and make sure you've set a budget. If results still look generic, use the planner notes field to give more context, "this is a luxury Surrey wedding, not a budget event" makes a significant difference to the sourcing.

How do I get more independent suppliers with Instagram handles?
+

Make sure the "Local & independent suppliers" toggle is on before running research. In the planner notes, add something like "prioritise sole traders, boutique studios, and independent specialists over agencies and directory regulars". Being explicit in that field steers the AI away from the SEO winners — and most independents have an active Instagram, so handles surface naturally on the cards.

Can I run multiple briefs in one session?
+

Yes, hit "New brief" in the edit bar to start fresh. Each brief is completely independent. You can jump between briefs, edit them, and run new research whenever you need to.

The report text needs editing, how do I do that?
+

In Edit mode, click on any text in the report, the planner overview, the next steps paragraph, or any supplier card detail, and it becomes editable inline. Click away to save. The report updates immediately. Switch to Preview mode to see it as your client would before switching to Client view.

How do I add a supplier from my own network?
+

In Edit mode on the report, click the small "+" Add supplier button next to any category header. Fill in the name, type, your recommendation notes, price, website, Instagram handle, and planner tip. It slots into the report alongside the AI-researched suppliers and looks identical. Great for bringing in trusted contacts the AI might not know.

Can I use the tool on my phone or tablet?
+

Yes, the tool is fully responsive and works on mobile and tablet. The form is easy to fill in on a phone, and the report is readable on any screen size. For the best experience when editing supplier notes or the planner overview text, a desktop or laptop gives more room to work.

What's the difference between the CSV downloads?
+

Supplier CSV gives you just the shortlisted suppliers, name, category, badge, pricing, Instagram, website, and your recommendation status. Clean and ready to drop into a spreadsheet or supplier database. Full report CSV includes everything, the brief summary, planner overview, all supplier data, and the next steps paragraph, in one structured file. Use this for archiving per client or passing to a colleague.

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on a real brief?

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