Reception to Follow: A Podcast for Wedding Creatives: Recent Episodes
Heather Davis, Heather Davis Creative
Hey wedding creatives! If you never want the dinner conversation at the vendor table to end, you’ve found your wedding podcast plus-one in brand strategist and wedding industry veteran Heather Davis.
Join Heather for a weekly deep dive into all of the entrepreneurial emotions that come with running and marketing your wedding business: We're talking unfiltered, authentic conversations about who really makes up the wedding industry, the branding behind selling couples a ~Pinterest perfect~ wedding day, and how to become a leader in your wedding community.
Whether you binge listen while editing your next batch of bridal portraits, press play on the way to work a big wedding, or find yourself craving some tough love business inspo on your Monday off: Consider this your formal invitation to pull up a chiavari chair and pour some prosecco. Reception to follow.
A live Instagram strategy session with Hannah Dougherty-Gaden of Supercut Creative, plus the 60-minute preface that became half the episode.
One single thread of gold tied me to every woman I believed in first.
Find your invisible string.
Three places your attention reveals the work you're growing toward.
Book a Go Full Out Power Half Hour.
Every visible change begins with an invisible one. Here's how to recognize the difference between evolution and avoidance.
Join the July 15 Go Full Out Roundtable
You have no idea how much life is waiting on the other side of introducing yourself differently.
Join the July 15 Go Full Out Roundtable
In the summer of 2024, I found myself sitting beside my dream pool with my new baby napping upstairs, living a life I'd worked really hard to build.
And I was miserable.
Part Two picks up in that moment.
I talk about the uncomfortable reality of outgrowing something that still looks successful, the pressure of figuring out what's next, and how I stopped trying to force myself back into a life that no longer fit.
For me, going full out looks like this interview.
For a long time, I was easy to explain. I had a title people understood, a business that worked, and a life that made sense from the outside. Then I changed.
I've told pieces of this story before, but today I'm going full out on my own origin story. This is part one.
When Self-Trust Became the Strategy.
Three years into running Sight Creative Co., Mackenzie Casasanta had the clients, the experience, and the proof that she was good at what she did.
What she didn't have was the same level of confidence in herself.
In the first installment of the Go Full Out series, Mackenzie joins me for a candid conversation about the gap between knowing what you're doing and fully owning it. We talk about people-pleasing, pricing, motherhood, imposter syndrome, and the subtle ways talented women keep themselves small long after they've earned the right to take up space.
We also pull back the curtain on her rebrand, the evolution of Sight Creative Co., and the internal shifts that allowed her business to finally catch up with her expertise.
If you've ever found yourself saying yes when you wanted to say no, discounting your own instincts, or waiting for someone else to confirm what you already know, this conversation will feel familiar.
Every visible change started with a private decision to trust herself.
The women I work with rarely need another year-long plan. They need room to think out loud, trust what they're already noticing, and make the next move with conviction.
If that's where you are, book a 1:1 Go Full Out Power Half Hour. Bring the question, the crossroads, or the possibility that's asking for more room and we'll take it from there.
Betting on Herself Before She Felt Ready.
Nicole Andersen has been making jewelry for over a decade, and she'll be the first to tell you she spent most of that time being too close to the vision to actually see what it needed next.
In this episode, Nicole and I talk through what it really felt like to rebrand from the inside out. We get into what happens when your creativity keeps getting pushed behind every other role you hold--mom, wife, virtual assistant--while the thing you actually feel called to do quietly waits for you to take it seriously.
She shares what changed when she stopped trying to DIY every part of the process, invested in support, rebranded while pregnant, and finally let herself lead with "artist" first.
If you're waiting for a calmer season to finally take yourself seriously, Nicole was you not that long ago.
*]:pointer-events-auto [content-visibility:auto] supports-[content-visibility:auto]:[contain-intrinsic-size:auto_100lvh] R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-69f49407-6224-83ea-85aa-60a3285bec73-4" data-testid= "conversation-turn-26" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn= "assistant"> Turning a Spiritual Calling Into a Real Business.
Today I'm joined by astrologer and longtime creative entrepreneur Serena Bridges of Your Astro Girl for a conversation about building an astrology business alongside motherhood, reinvention, and some massive life changes.
We talk about leaving behind old identities, launching a spiritual business before feeling fully "ready," and the difference between building a business that looks successful versus one that actually supports your real life.
We also get into...
- why your vision usually won't leave you alone
- the fear of being fully seen online
- spirituality vs strategy in business
- motherhood changing your relationship to ambition
- letting go of the "girlboss" identity
Plus!!! Serena does a live mini astrology reading for me that turned into a bigger conversation about self trust, relationships, and how people evolve.
Choosing a Point of View in a Crowded Industry.
Recorded in real time with Hannah Dougherty-Gaden during Supercut Creative's launch week!
We get into every element of her rebrand: The creative copy, building the shoot from a single song idea, shaping the launch strategy, and navigating the emotional rollercoaster no one talks about when you invest in yourself.
I'm sitting down with my longtime client Nicole Lennartz, CEO of Radiant Strings, to talk about how she went from undercharging to doubling her revenue and stepping fully into leadership.
We talk about raising prices, paying yourself, leading a team of peers, and what shifts when your business finally matches your vision.
We also get into her rebrand, live concerts, and how she started showing up as the face of her brand.
]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-(--header-height)" dir="auto" data-turn-id="e2411ce8-9928-477d-a5fa-2e3aa7dde50d" data-testid="conversation-turn-25" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn="user"> ]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-69c3e2ef-2e38-8331-b0c3-38bfef3510ed-2" data-testid= "conversation-turn-26" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> This is the first of my monthly Work Out Loud journal episodes: Stream of consciousness updates on what's center stage in my life, work, and vision. It's basically a public version of my morning pages, and you get to listen in!
So let's start here: I did NOT hit my Q1 revenue goal!
Today I'm working through what that brings up as marathon training shifts my focus and changes how I think about success.
In this episode, I'm sitting down with Becca Batt to talk about what it actually looks like to start building your acting vision while also running a successful--and growing!--business.
We get into the moment you realize you don't have to choose between what's working and what you actually want, how to create space for a second identity without burning everything down, and why waiting until you feel "ready" is the biggest delay tactic there is.
If your vision involves performing, acting, or leading in any way, Becca has some honest perspectives for you!
What if you already know what your vision is...you just haven't admitted it yet? In this episode, I'm unpacking the connection between your desires and your vision, and why honesty is where building anything meaningful actually begins.
What happens when you stop waiting and actually test your vision in the real world? In this episode, I sit down with my client and friend Laura Coglianese, and talk about building and launching Mind by LJ: Her EFT (emotional freedom technique) practice for athletes.
Our conversation was recorded during my visit to her new home base in Philadelphia! We unpack the real work behind building her vision, including...
- Niching her offers down to only athletes
- Cold pitching her intro workshop to the University of Pittsburgh
- Hosting her first workshops with over 50 student athletes before relocating to a new city!
Even knowing a move was on the horizon, Laura kept moving the needle, and proving that you don't have to wait for perfect timing to start building your vision.
In this episode, I'm unpacking the idea of the creative U-turn, a concept from The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, and what happens when you walk away from your vision...only to realize you're not actually finished.
Inspired by Alysa Liu and her return to skating on her own terms, I'm sharing the creative U-turns I've experienced over the past year, and some prompts to uncover your own unfinished creative business!
Sports in America interivew: Olympian Alysa Liu Doesn't Care About the Medals
There's a lot you can outsource when you're building and launching a vision, but there are a few things you abosultey must do yourself.
Today I'm talking about what you need to DIY, because if you're expecting anyone else to do them for you--whether you're paying money for it or not--it's not going to work.
Winter has been kicking my ass, and I feel like my creativity has ghosted me. Anyone else???
Today I'm working out loud about it, and sharing a few free(!!!) ways I've been guiding myself out of this creative rut while the world burns <3333
After nine years in the wedding industry, I'm closing Day of Pittsburgh: The business that shaped who I am today.
This episode is a moment of closure, and my work out loud reflections on growth, honoring what's complete, and on choosing to end a chapter with care instead of quietly fading into the bushes.
Annual planning doesn't have to be scary or overly complicated. In this episode, I walk you through exactly how I plan my year financially, using my $100K revenue goal as a real, transparent example.
We talk numbers, capacity, pricing, and why not choosing a revenue goal keeps so many creatives stuck reacting instead of building.
If you're ready to stop reacting and start planning, I'm currently booking VIP Vision Building Days. We'll build your year together: Numbers, offers, and pacing included.
You can learn more at heatherdavisinc.com.
Women are only allowed to celebrate themselves publicly for a birthday, a wedding, a baby, or their own funeral. Gathering your community to mark a career shift, launch a business, or debut a rebrand, feels wrong, indulgent, or wildly premature. We've been trained to do less, stay grateful, and move on quietly, even when something big just happened!
This episode is your green light to have whatever type of IRL launch gathering, event, banger, celebration, or bash that you desire without feeling like you're doing too much or that you're not enough.
To open 2026, I'm bringing you a conversation with an alumni client and artist who continues to inspire me all the time!
I'm joined by Marah Frank, founder of Wild Botanical, to talk through the rebrand we shaped together: Moving her work out of shrink-to-fit expectations, and into a business that actually supports her life and creative instincts.
We get into leaving unaligned wedding work behind, designing a brand shoot as a full sensory experience, expanding into culinary collaborations and large-scale installs, and learning how to follow the ideas that won't leave you alone.
For the curious artists who want to see my Vision-to-Launch creative direction in action, Marah and I trace her full arc!
Is your vision built, but not live just yet? When your next chapter is real internally, but the outside world hasn't seen it, you're on deck!
This overlooked moment in a rebrand, launch, or debut can feel lonely, exciting, and weirdly heavy all at once. I'm taking about what's actually happening during this integration stage, and what to do before you go public.
Cheers to everyone waiting in the wings at the moment, and happy freakin' new year!
What if Instagram didn't have to feel like a constant sales pitch to actually work? Today I'm talking about how I'm approaching a story led social strategy going into 2026, and why connection and trust matter more than posting offers on repeat.
I'm sharing why "everything is content" is flattening our feeds, how storytelling creates long term momentum, and what it really means to work out loud without oversharing. You'll also hear the plot lines I'm using inside my own IG strategy so you can start shaping a social presence that feels recognizable, intentional, and sustainable over time.
Ready to work out loud on your 2026 plot lines? You can book a Vision Building VIP Day to map it all out 1:1, or join my first virtual mastermind of the year on Jan. 8 for a clear plan and supportive room to build it in.
'Moving in silence' gets framed as discipline and power, but for creatives, it's the opposite.
I'm sharing how working out loud can lead you to better ideas, stronger community, and real movement forward.
See what changes when you let your vision be seen before it's finished: My next work out loud virutal mastermind is set for Jan. 8, 2026. Grab your invite.
I just hit publish on my new website, visuals, offers, and direction, and I'm back with new episodes to finish 2025 as my most authethic self. To be honest, evolving is exhausting...and also expensive as hell!
This episode is about what it actually cost to become the woman behind the mic today, and I've got a question for everyone listening: What creative risk is already paid for by future you?
Let's talk about affording the vision that keeps pulling at you, and why becoming your future self is always worth the investment.
P.S. You're invited to build something stellar! My new website and fresh offer lineup is live: heatherdavisinc.com <3
IG: @heatherdavisinc
This week, I'm joined by my sister and filmmaker behind Supercut Creative, Hannah Dougherty-Gaden, to talk through the vision shift unfolding inside her business and life.
Hannah has been known as the "content person" for a long time, but that's not really what she wants to make anymore. She came into her VIP Vision Building Day and said she'd been feeling blah in her work...so we started there, and followed it straight to the real direction for Supercut Creative. Three hours later, her future was clear.
When your work feels flat, you don't have to force it. You're allowed to shift! My winter VIP Days create space to build your vision from a place that feels alive again.
If that's what you're craving, listen in, and shoot me a note for an invite. Spots are open from Nov. 17-Dec. 18. heather@heatherdavisinc.com / IG: @heatherdavisinc
I asked ChatGPT to write my website copy and then compared it to my actual website copy, written by me: An acutal human copywriter.
Hit play for my reasons why copy-pasting whatever ChatGPT writes for your Insgram caption, event page or website doesn't save you time or money...It just drains your originality.
Curious about how to build something stellar? I'm about to tell you.
I'm sharing the creative direction and the two visual concepts behind my next brand shoot that match where I'm headed with Heather Davis Inc.
This episode is a live demo on trusting your own timing, releasing guilt for changing fast, and learning to evolve in public. I talk about how to know when your current visuals no longer fit, what it takes to rebuild them with intention, and why honesty in your brand creates the strongest connection.
If your work has outgrown the version of you on your website, listen in!
Creative North Star Shoot Team:
Afternoon Media Bianca Black The Muse Method Supercut Creative Wild Botanical The 1978 Collection
Creative North Star Pinterest Inspo Board
Book a free 1:1 Work Out Loud Power Half Hour
Grab an invite for my 12/11 Work Out Loud Virtual Mastermind: heather@heatherdavisinc.com
Anyone else kinda annoyed the visuals don't really match the album sound? Yeah.
Brand photos are supposed to represent who you are, but what happens when your work, art, and energy evolve faster than your visuals?
The truth is that I’ve already outgrown the branding photos I invested in earlier this year...and admitting that feels brutal on my ego...and wallet.
In this episode, I talk about the speed of evolution, the myth of “forever photos,” and why your visuals should evolve with you, even when you’re still becoming her.
I'm sharing what my old brand shoot was meant to do--and how it actually worked!--the beliefs I’ve released around what a “real” branding shoot has to be, and what I’m creating next: Something more creative, more self-directed, and more me.
If you’ve ever felt guilty for growing faster than your brand, this one’s for you.
September became my month of subtraction! Instead of piling on new strategies, I cleared space, practiced patience (...still doing this lol), and embraced a lottt of change.
In this episode I share how each hard stop opened the door to real results: A live website, weekly work out loud episodes, planning three months ahead in my business, and fresh creative practices. I dare you to draft your own hard stop list for October, and give your future self more room to breathe.
Book a free 1:1 work out loud power half hour sesh!
Request an invite to my 12/11 work out loud virutal mastermind <3 Emal heather@heatherdavisinc.com, or shoot me a DM: @heatherdavisinc
“If you build it, they will come.”
But when???
Today's solo episode zeros in on why believing in your vision matters more than proving it, how to survive the post-launch limbo, and strategies to keep momentum alive. Plus a few reflection prompts to help you lean into patience and trust your creative journey.
Book a free 1:1 work out loud coaching sesh
Email me scoop an invite to my 12/11 Work Out Loud Virtual Mastermind! heather@heatherdavisinc.com
In this solo episode of Work Out Loud, I pull back the curtain on a massive shift in my business: going completely meeting-free by 2026...and how I’ve already started!
I share the moment I realized scheduled meetings were suffocating me, the experiments I ran this summer to test a new model, and the real-time results my clients are experiencing—like Marah, who said yes immediately, jumped into two FaceTime sessions in under three weeks, and just signed her dream floral install client without waiting for a 'monthly call' with me.
We’ll explore:
- Why I stopped defaulting to monthly strategy sessions and started offering unlimited, high-touch communication instead.
- How my wedding-planning boundaries shaped my old model, and why the opposite approach is working now.
- What “meeting-free” really looks like
- The unexpected ways this shift has boosted my freedom, my work quality, and my client results while holding my $10K minimum rate.
If you’re curious about cutting meetings (or any outdated piece of your business model), I also share reflection prompts to help you see where your time and energy are being boxed in and imagine what freedom could look like instead.
And if you’re ready to start designing your next chapter with more flow and less drag, book your free Work Out Loud Power Half Hour FaceTime with me, orrrr...
Join me (and 5 other creatives!) for the Work Out Loud Virtual Mastermind on Thursday, December 11, 10–12 est. DM me or email me to request an invite, spots are limited!
Meet photographer and advocate Afton Aulick of Afternoon Media! Afton and I talk about how she transformed her lived experience as a neurodivergent creative into Weddings Unmasked: Her very first workshop for wedding professionals.
Together we unpack the story of Afton’s idea emerging in a Heather Davis Inc. mastermind, how vision building turned it into a real-world event that drew a diverse crowd of vendors, and why she’s determined to make the wedding industry more accommodating for neurodivergent couples.
You’ll hear the mindset shifts, the behind-the-scenes planning, and the ripple effects already happening...and get a preview of what she’s planning next.
Listen now and see how one authentic idea can reshape an entire industry.
Afternoon Media
Today's ep is all about my most rewarding offer yet: My first-ever Work Out Loud Virtual Mastermind happening next Thursday, Sept. 4 at 11am.
Five of the six spots are already filled, and I'm searching for the final creative to sell this out...is it you?
Listen to learn why I launched it now, what you can expect inside, and how a small group of creatives working out loud together can completely shift your business (and your mindset) heading into fall. If you’ve been craving clarity, momentum, and community, send me an email or DM to get the invite <3
heather@heatherdavisinc.com
ig: @heatherdavisinc
Doing a little crossover episode with my friend (and alumni coaching client!) Katelyn Werner, who recently launched her own podcast, The Patchwork Narrative.
Katelyn interviewed me about why motherhood doesn’t come as naturally to me as building a business does, how I set boundaries to protect my time and energy, and what it really means to define success on your own terms.
It’s an honest, thoughtful, and refreshingly unfiltered look at the push-and-pull between ambition, family, and self.
The Patchwork Narrative is a podcast about the lives of women balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship. Hosted by Katelyn Werner, each episode features candid conversations about building a business while raising a family—what works, what’s hard, and what no one talks about. It’s a space for honest storytelling, practical insight, and connection for anyone navigating the overlap of caregiving and creating - because no one has it all figured out, but we each know a thing or two.
Trigger warning: This episode contains discussion of miscarriage and pregnancy loss. If these are sensitive topics for you, please take care while listening, and feel free to skip past that part of our conversation. 41:46- 45:50
This week, I’m taking you inside the solo adventures that have reignited my creativity, helped me heal old wounds, and reminded me why I make art in the first place. From farmers market florals to adult dance classes, I’m sharing the real-life artist dates I've taken so far in my journey practicing The Artist’s Way.
If you’ve been craving inspiration, this is your sign to carve out an hour and get weird with yourself.
Heather Davis, Inc. alumni client Cassandra Baden-Turner of The Muse Method came to her VIP Day with the vision and the imposter syndrome.
In this episode, we break down what it actually takes to launch a creative business, from building a strong brand direction and personal style to pushing past the emotional blocks that delay your debut. Cassie shares how she brought her muse to life through our service trade, and how one VIP Day gave her the clarity (and confidence!!) to finally hit publish.
If you’ve got a fully baked vision but still feel stuck, this one’s for you <3
Book a 30 min work out loud session
Follow The Muse Method on IG
If you've ever wondered what makes someone go from quietly lurking on your content to booking a $10K+ offer…you'll hear it today.
I’m sharing the exact reasons my real clients decided to hire me--straight from their own onboarding forms. From "I’ve been silently watching for years” to “You’re not a scam,” I'm breaking down what builds trust, what makes your offer feel like the obvious next step, and why good vibes aren’t enough.
Press play if you’re ready to call in clients who get it.
Book a Monday Mini to work out loud with me <3
If your income feels like a guessing game each month, come sit witth me lmao. In this episode, I’m working out loud on one of the biggest pain points for creative entrepreneurs with high-ticket, high-value offers: How to create consistent, sustainable income without relying on last-minute leads, one-and-done clients, or blind luck.
I’m sharing how I hit my own breaking point in early July, what I’m testing out as I build a real sales funnel, and why ~getting over yourself~ might be the secret to booking your dream clients. You’ll hear what’s working, what I’m still figuring out, and how I’m cultivating a long-term visio instead of short-term survival.
Plus...A new offer to help you do the same <3
Book your Work Out Loud Monday Mini!
When Meg Milas--founder of Pix & Co.--came to me, she already had the vibe, the vision, and the photo booth Pittsburgh didn’t know it needed. What she didn’t have: A full-scale creative strategy to match.
In this episode, Meg and I walk through her rebrand from top to bottom: The branding shoot shoot, her insane launch week, the website I designed from scratch(!), and the mindset shift that led her to double her bookings and invest in a second booth 6 months earler than expected. This is what happens when your brand finally reflects your brilliance <3
In this solo episode, I share the moment I caught myself mid–self sabotage: Ready to light a match to my wedding business just to escape the discomfort of staying...but I didn't!
Instead, I finally said out loud what I’ve known in my gut for a long time: Day of Pittsburgh will close after the 2026 season. I talk about the power of endings, why this one feels different, and how I’m rewriting my pattern of ghosting my own exits. Nothing I've created ever got a happy ending before...until now.
I’m sitting down with my very first guest--and one of my first vision building clients!!!--Katelyn Werner of Field and Hand Floral for a behind-the-scenes look at what happens when you realize the business you built doesn’t fit your life anymore.
We talk about weddings, motherhood, creative burnout, and what it takes to rebuild momentum. Katelyn shares the gut-check moment that led her to shut down her wedding floral business and launch her next vision(s): A business rooted in creative freedom and steady income—and a podcast that weaves together motherhood, entrepreneurship, and figuring it out as you go.
We cover:
- The pressure to stay in a business just because you’re good at it
- Outgrowing a career you thought you'd always love
- Why leaving the Instagram wedding hustle opened the door to her real vision
- How we worked together to pitch hotels, rethink her brand, and launch a podcast
- AND! What it’s like to take a solo trip, listen to the universe, and not have the all of the answers just yet <3
Follow Katelyn on IG: @fieldandhand Listen to her podcast: The Patchwork Narrative
Ever said yes to a trade and ended up doing the most...only to get the least in return? Same.
Curious on what to avoid, how to say no without spiraling, and ways to collab like a pro instead of a pushover? I’m breaking down how to trade your creative work without feeling weird, used, or resentful, and the key factors to what makes a trade actually feel good.
What if the dream you’ve been chasing for years finally comes true… and still isn’t enough?
In this episode, I’m sharing the vision that shaped my entire identity, and what happened when I realized I had outgrown it. From burnout to breakthrough, this is the honest story of what it really takes to let go, grieve, and build what’s next.
If your vision feels more like a chore than a calling, you may need a bigger one!
My gut’s been nudging me to share podcast episodes weekly, but before I could do that, I had to make space.
If you’ve ever felt the pull to create more, but weren’t sure where the time or energy would come from, I’m walking through what I released to find mine—and how it’s actively reshaping where I’m headed.
"I wasn’t the problem. I was just in the wrong rooms, wearing the wrong outfit, speaking a language no one understood."
This episode is the truth behind what happens when you stop performing and start building something real. Welcome to Track 1 of Work Out Loud.
Ready to unmute your magic? Welcome to Work Out Loud with Heather Davis. New episodes starting May 15.
"To be authentic--is in my opinion--the intentional act of discovering who you are through experimenting and redefining for yourself. It's not stagnant or fixed. It's a way of being, it is practiced, and it takes a lot of courage."
Meet brand strategist and photographer LeeAnn Stromyer!
LeeAnn and I chat A LOT about brand authenticity, why it's important, and why it feels so hard to grasp at times. If you're feeling paralyzed on how to show up in your business, we've got some answers for you.
Show Notes:
LeeAnn K. Photography
Join Heather's email list
For any and all wedding pros: Reserve your 11/13 Virtual Group Mastermind Spot!
Expanded by To Be Magnetic Podcast - Ep. 318 - Speeding up Your Manifestations in the New Paradigm with Jenna Zoe
I've been sitting on this episode for far too long. Please enjoy my interview with the one and only Sophie Gage of Gage Events! Sophie is a business unicorn--I think she called herself 'a psychopath who loves weddings' on air lmao--and wears many hats in the events and weddings industry.
We get deep about Sophie's love for my worst nightmare: Planning Tented Weddings. We talk about:
- The trial by fire education and training starting in nonprofits events job
- Our love for Pittsburgh...but only when we are in our hometowns
- Launching a wedding planning business in January 2020
- "I had coffee with Heather before Heather could charge for having coffee with Heather."
- The magic and power of a tented wedding
- A ton of other funny, inspiring and real truths
"Your couples don't know what you don't share with them, but it was his birthday and I just felt compelled to share that." No one in wedding world likes to talk about grief. Earlier this summer, my friend and Pittsburgh wedding planner Kelly Barbour shared her experience planning weddings through a big loss in her life. She came on the Reception to Follow podcast to talk more about the choice to post about it.
...We also chatted about a ton of other shit, and I'm really proud of this episode! Press play to hear the whole interview.
On Sept. 10 and Sept. 12, I'm hosting my first virtual mastermind session for wedding people. Wanna come?
Grab your spot.
Ever wonder how Day of Pittsburgh runs a kickoff planning meeting? Listen to one in real time with Heather and 2025 Day of Pgh clients Hannah and Tom!
In theme with DJ Jess' love readings, I wanted to share the cards I pulled when my friend Emma (Emma Harris Floral) came over last weekend!
Sign up for my email list
My tarot cards
My conversation with DJ Jess was a mix of entrepreneural truths, why there's no such thing as a lost inquiry, and Stacey Ferguson. If you're looking for that slice of inspo to tackle your fall wedding lineup, we've got it on repeat for you today!
It's about time we got a venue perspective on the pod! Meet today's plus-one: Shannon Kelly, the events director of popular Pittsburgh wedding venue Energy Innovation Center. We get into:
The conflicts between planners and venue managers
Why we "don't care"
The perks of not owning the venue personally
How to fix your venue's elevator when you're on a boat in Punta Cana!
Earlier this week, I announced that 2025 will be my final season as the CEO of Day of Pittsburgh, and opened up my DM's to any questions. I spend this special episode of Reception to Follow answering all of your questions, and expanding more on Day of Pittsburgh's future...as well as mine!
It's my first ever plus TWO interview! My Pittsburgh wedding planner peers Jessica Transue, owner of Jessica Elyse Events, and Rebecca Frankel, owner of Wynn Events, joined me for a round table discussion on...
- Referral kickbacks from 'recommended' vendors
- Charging a percentage rate vs. a flat fee
- Wedding Designers vs. Wedding Planners
- The plight of the venue coordinator
- Having a team vs. being a one woman show
- (The lack of) education in the wedding industry
- ...a ton of other shit!
Jessica Elyse Events
Wynn Events
Join my podcast email list!
Last month--against all of my logical and rational business instincts--I deleted my Heather Davis Creative Instagram account. Here's why.
Ask me for directions: heather@heatherdaviscreative.com
LeeAnn K. Photography
Half Hour Gentlemen
"I'd love to see more acceptance in the wedding community itself: Less pretentious, unapproachable behavior and more collaborating! Acceptance of weddings big or small, no matter who is getting married, or what their personal tastes are. Bringing the clients' dreams to life and not your own. Keeping the couple first, always." Community Flower Shop's Weddings and Special Events Director (and everyone's favorite) Miranda Wilder is the next plus-one on the Reception to Follow podcast, and her episode is live now!
"A lot of times, people have this ingrained idea that when you point a camera at them, they have to do something: They have to put their shoulders back, or smile a certain way. I think learning to notice and catch the off moments...that's when people are actually presenting themselves as they are. And I think a lot of people never see pictures of themselves like that." Wrapping up my plus-one guest interview series with the one and only Alexa Frankovitch, who is my go-to photographer for all things Heather Davis Creative, The Workshop, and what we're planning this summer. Cannot thank Alexa enough for hitting record with less than one week's notice, no outline, and a very pregnant host.
She also announced something HUGE on air, another RTF exclusive! Ep. 63 is live today. Press play for our takes on... How photography style words like documentary / candid are becoming buzzwords and losing their meaning. Branding your business for the visuals of Instagram, and not for longevity. The sheer army of theatre/dance/concert kids who wind up in the wedding industry. Getting fired lmao. ~NicHinG DoWn~ as a reaction vs. what you authethicall want to offer people. Why repeatedly doing what 'got you here' will hold you back from where you want to go next. Wedding pros who hire brand photographers to take photos of themselves DURING wedding days.
"I'm a firm believer that you can do anything at any age." Y'all! Meet Emma Ervin, the 25-year-old owner of Pittsburgh bridal boutique, Gemma Bridal, and overall kickass creative entrepreneur. She is straight up reverse engineering how the bridal gown industry functions, and talking to her was like a breath of fresh air. She also announced something HUGE on air--a RTF EXCLUSIVE!--and I'm still marinating in our conversation. I'm ten years her senior and was low key taking notes the entire time. If you need an injection of inspiration....or just want the bridal gown tea...hit play. Other topics we cover: Cool Girl Brides. The social game of selling a wedding dress. Dinosaurs in the wedding industry that attempt to sabotage new business owners and fail lol. Why a salon with 1,000+ gowns doesn't mean you'll say yes to the dress. How the millennial and gen z business owners are refusing to be shitty bosses. Bouncing crazy business ideas off of your supportive husband on the couch. Styled shoots <3.
This episode with this guest has been a long. time. coming.
Press play today to hear how Pittsburgh wedding photographer Dawn Derbyshire and I truly feel about:
When to close your books.
Becoming a mentor, and diversifying your offerings in wedding world.
How inclusivity and diversity in the wedding world still 'fucking sucks.'
Why grooms shouldn't be a prop in their own wedding day.
The built in water cooler Pittsburgh wedding community (and why we love it!)
Embracing and HELPING the next generation of wedding creatives instead of tearing them down.
Gossiping.
Instragram, branding, and autheticity.
"The more the merrier is not always true if it's diluting the purpose for why you are gathering."
Today's episode gives you a peek into how and why Rachel and I planned the workshop--THREE OF THEM!--and where it's headed next.
Book a Feb. mini mastermind session - 4 left!
Let me write you a fresh bio!
It's Feb. 1, and I'm only $5,000 away from hitting my $25,000 quartley revenue goal for HDC! Ep. 59 of Reception to Follow details how I did it, and how I can help you hit your $$$ goals by March 31. Give it a listen and then get moving!
Book a Feb. mini mastermind session - 4 left!
Let me write you a fresh bio!
Name your wedding day guilty pleasure. What advice would you give your 5-year-ago self? If you were a wedding cookie, what would you be and why? What's the best advice you've received in business? Spill your craziest client/wedding story. Where were you when COVID happened? What's something you learned about in your business that you will do differently in 2024? All these questions answers by our Aug. and Nov. workshop alumni during such a nice coffee hangout last week! Cannot say thank you enough to the wedding creatives who let me record them with zero notice <3 Love y'all!!! Supercut Creative Wynn Events Nellie Bradford Kelly Lynn Weddings Day One Wedding Co.Live Painting Pgh Sewickley Quarter Dawn Derbyshire Emma Harris Floral
"This is going to be one of your biggest and best creations as a 'creative.'" Got a little ~personal~ with today's episode as I prepare for maternity leave...A sentence that still feels very weird to write. I cannot thank the four Pittsburgh wedding creatives and moms and friends that shared their advice with me...y'all are the blueprint: Serena Bridges, Bridgeperspective Rachel Rowland Victoria Carpenter, Oh Joyful Day Alyssa Vanston Ep. 56 is live now, give it a listen!
Book Your January Mini Mastermind Session - 4 spots left!
Need a fresh bio? Lemme write you one!
Heather Davis Creative Instagram
Wedding pros have a habit of constantly being 'onto the next' in their business. Instead of jumping to your next wedding, revenue goal, or to-do list item, try reflecting on and acknowledging your 'I made it' moments. They hold a lot of value, and are proof you can create even bigger goals--and surpass them!--this year. My first episode of 2024 is all about that.
Book Your January Mini Mastermind Session - 5 spots left!
Need a fresh bio? Lemme write you one!
Heather Davis Creative Instagram
"I think a lot of us get into this business to be the person we needed when we got married."
Bringing back my plus-one guest series to introduce my workshop collaborator and owner of Day One Wedding Co., Rachel Hampsey!
This interview meanders through the generational cringe of wedding business names, why we hate the phrase 'community over competition,' and what our workshop is all about.
Day One Wedding Co.
Book a mini mastermind session
Heather Davis Creative Instagram
The more time you spend creating a strong inquiry form, the less time you will spend in consultations with the wrong people. Press play to make sure your inquiry form is doing the most for you, and stick around for an audit of five real inquiry forms from some very brave wedding professionals!
Book a January Mini Mastermind Session
Inspired by Time Magazine's 2023 Person of the Year, today's podcast episode is a meandering reflection of all the eras in my life and business. I'm framing this strategy as a coping mechanism.
Time's 2023 Person of the Year
Book a mini mastermind session
Follow Heather Davis Creative
If you don't know where you want to go in 2024, how do you expect to get there? Today I'm joined by one of my mini mastermind clients to set her business goals for next year, and create a winter to-do list to hit them. All in 45 minutes.
Book a mini mastermind sesh
Let me rewrite your wedding business bio
Heather Davis Creative Instagram
'Tis the damn (engagement) szn! Today I'm sharing all of the ways you can book more weddings this December, no matter what era of business you're in.
It's also the season of big, sweeping change in my life and in this podcast! I'm ready as I'll ever be to welcome the RTF listeners into the Heather Davis Creative universe--one that would have never existed without episodes 1-49 of this 2020 sidequest.
I hope you'll be my +1.
Book your Dec. mini mastermind session!
Follow Heather Davis Creative on Instagram
Heather Davis Creative
Is your business email is bigspecialday@verizon.net? Do you wear cargo shorts to the Carnegie Museum? ...Is your wedding day is your resume?
Ep. 49 is for you. <3
It's wedding season halftime: Are you just getting started or are you just getting by? Today's episode is me sharing a few ways I've found some balance after a chaotic May and June. Fall is right around the corner!
Miss me? Hit play to catch up on my adventures and judge my predictions for what's next in wedding world!
The Knot’s ‘best of’ weddings award is total bullshit and I'm breaking down the why of it all today.
Raise your hand if consultations make you nervous! This episode is all about how to be confident when meeting with couples looking to hire you for their wedding.
Need some winter motivation in your business? Session 2 of my live coaching date with Hannah Dougherty of Supercut Creative is the perfect note to start the new year on! Press play to end your holiday haze and actually do something to hit your 2023 goals.
Ending 2022 by giving y'all the extended version of what happened at That Wedding Venue last fall. To the the scene, Part I is all about what got me here, my relationship with The Wedding Venue, and why I went full Vigilante Shit on everyone.
This will be a multi part series that I'll contintue to share whenever I'm in the mood.
Part I is dedicated to the karmic demise of the OG villains in my life: Street harasseres, Varsity Brands, and Big Burlap. Also: The Knot.
Neon signs, champagne walls, and sparkler exits: Do not pass go, do not sit with us us in 2023!
Join me on my year end rant of all the wedding day trends I'd love to leave in 2022!
Wanna know what session 1 of a Winter Glow Up coaching session with me is like? Press play on today's minisode!
I coached Supercut Creative's Hannah Dougherty live on the air, and created a plan for her to hit the ground running this December + January and meet her big biz goals! THANK YOU Hannah for being brave and doing this in front of an audience--give our session a listen!
Book your Winter Glow Up coaching sessions!
How much are you worth? Pricing out your wedding services is a tricky task. Today I'm sharing how I set my rates as a brand new wedding planner in 2016, what I charge now, and things I've learned as my rate has changed throughout my career. BONUS? I share the starting rates from over 30 local Pittsburgh wedding creatives who answered my Instagram survey, and the info is so interesting!
PS - Winter Glow Up Business Coaching spots are still open at Heather Davis Creative!
Regardless of the level and timing of all of the 911 moments I've experienced in business, tapping into my wedding community is how I’ve gotten through all of them more or less unscathed. When you find yourself in an emergency, who are you going to lean on?
If you are unsure of how to go about crafting your emergency plan, or want to prioritize growing your team and strengthening your community as we head into 2023, my winter glow up coaching sessions are for YOU. Sign up today!
If you're inspired by this podcast and recognize yourself in what I’m talking about--maybe you even take notes!--but you never follow through on the action items I’m sharing...then let me coach you through it!
I’m so excited to introduce my Winter Glow Up Coaching Sessions!
This coaching offering is for anyone who is a wedding creative, or aspiring wedding creative, and isn’t sure what the hell they are going to do this winter, aka ‘off peak’ wedding szn.
If you’re trying to turn heads with your wedding biz next summer, that groundwork needs to happen NOW..aka this month! These sessions will run from now until the end of February.
There are only 10 spots available, so if I’m making you nervous, that’s your sign to sign the hell up!
Visit Heather Davis Creative and let’s polish up real nice.
NICE!!!!!!!!!!
How come no one talks about this??? Minisodes are BACK with more tangents than ever. Enjoy!
Her panties made my crown y'all. This episode is my muffled, midnight musings on the Mastermind herself: Dr. Taylor Alison Swift.
Think of it as the 3AM voice memo your BFF sends you that you feel obligated to listen to before crashing after a night out, even though you know she's spiraling and needs a therapist.
Do you have a plan for off peak wedding season? I've got four questions to help you make one!
Even better? I just launched my Winter Glow Up Coaching Sessions over at Heather Davis Creative. If you're trying to turn heads with your wedding biz next spring and summer, that groundwork needs to happen now--grab your spot today!
The longer you’re in biz, the higher your chances of receiving a negative review. Here's what to do when it happens.
Heather breaks down wtf a black tie wedding is, what happens when your BFF has the same wedding dress as you, and why you should never hire a wedding planner on Thumbtack.
So many wedding creatives reply on social media to make these businesses profitable, but promoting your business when everything sucks is a tricky, tricky game. And it’s just going to get harder. Who has time to think of a clever caption when they’re taking away basic healthcare from half the population?
Welcome to the first minisode ever! I really missed the weekly episode format, so to keep that up, I’ll be publishing a minisode in between the big business focused eps to hopefully make you laugh, and kill 20 mins while you drive somewhere, walk your dog, or do laundry.
Welcome back! Ep. 37 is all about how I went on a ten day European vacation during peak wedding season, and some steps you can take to do it too. Cheers!
Lead planner Emily Haas is on the pod today! We talk about how she directed her first #dayofpgh wedding with just 5 days notice, her least fav setup task (lol it's place cards), and why the morning of her wedding day literally made history.
Voted Most Likely to Fixate on Your Escort Card Arrangement, lead planner Jess Hunnell started as my FIRST EVER wedding assistant! Her plus-one interview is full of great wedding advice, that time we coordinated a wedding in a legit rain storm, and her favorite Pittsburgh wedding venues to work at. She also made me CRY it's fine.
Voted Most Likely to Follow the Timeline to the Exact Minute, lead planner Emily Daniels is this week's plus one!
Her rapid fire advice to all our 2023 couples? "Do a first look. Don't have 2, 3, 4 different tablescape, and hire cohesive vendors!"
Today's plus-one (and OG #dayofpgh lead planner!!!) Katie talks about how she never intended to get into the wedding biz, why the speeches are her favorite wedding day moment, and the #1 thing a vendor can do to make our job easier day of. Katie and Heather's interview is live today, we hope you love it!
Voted Most Likely to Micromanage Your Room Flip, this week is all about lead planner Lindsey! Fun fact, she's ALSO a 2023 #dayofpgh BRIDE and we're stoked about iiiiiit!
It's been a minute, and I wanted to start season 4 with a little Eat, Pray, Love for the wedding vendor soul lmao siiike it's just 30 minutes of me rambling about my 2022 wedding season, #dayofpghprom, and why I need a social life. ENJOY!
To all of those husbands, wives, and partners of crazy wedding creatives...I see you!
I interviewed my husband Andy for the season 3 premiere and he comes off way better than I do. Enjoy!
This week was dominated by the daunting tasking of building the new Day of Pittsburgh website, so I’m sharing the top 5 lessons I learned during my second rebrand!
Heather Davis Creative
Forefolk brand strategy and design
What Type of #dayofpgh Bride Are You?
I was trying to brainstorm today’s topic, and I feel like I’ve been taking on some really serious business stuff this season, and I’m kind of over it.
I’d rather just laugh and share a few funny stories. SO THAT’S WHAT I’M GUNNA DO!
Tuesdays Together Pittsburgh Chapter of The Rising Tide Society Facebook Group
Pittsburgh Wedding Pros Facebook Group
How to Survive (and Thrive!) at a Vendor Networking Event
Why I Booked a Personal Branding Photoshoot
Here's What Happened At My Personal Branding Shoot
Hot Take: Burlap is the Worst
Day of Pittsburgh’s fall branding shoot photographer: Dawn Derbyshire Photography
My ~integrator~ Gael Gilliland
CREATIVE COACHING SERVICES!!!!
My soon to be brand designer! Forefolk Studio
It’s no surprise to me I am my own worst enemy <3
Kicking off season two of Reception to Follow with the conflict I am the most uncomfy talking about: The one I face within myself.
Season 2, let’s get it!!!!!
You know I love a good theme…
As a wedding creative, how do you handle conflict? For a long, long time, I simply didn't.
In the highly emotional wedding world--with a price tag to match--avoiding conflict was way more comfortable for me than letting anyone down, or God forbid, coming off as a ~difficult~ wedding planner.
Y’all know what I mean.
I spent my first few seasons in business saying ‘yes, no problem!’ to tasks outside of my scope of services, adding nonessential meetings to my calendar after an already packed schedule, or even doing free work for clients or vendor friends. And it totally worked!
Until it didn’t.
Turns out, walking on eggshells and people pleasing for your entire career leads directly to burnout, resentment, and not a very good work/life balance.
That’s why I’ve chosen to center Season 2 of Reception to Follow on the thing I refused to name: All of that messy, uncomfortable conflict.
In the next few weeks, I’ll be podcasting about the conflicts I face with clients, fellow peers and wedding vendors, and the ones that bubble up from my harshest critic: Myself.
Don’t worry brides and grooms…I haven’t forgotten about you! I’m going to touch on some of the very real conflicts you’ll encounter as you plan your wedding. It’ll be fun!
Have a business or wedding planning conflict you want me to pod about? Sign up for The Guest List and share more!
Join my guest list. Drop your email addy to get that First Look feeling on all the pod news!
First Name Last Name Email Address RSVP We respect your privacy and hate spam.
You’re in! Refresh your inbox for a little welcome note <3
Cheers,
Heather
Grab your Spanx.
Season 2 of Reception to Follow is dropping on Thursday, August 5!
Listen to the trailer now.
Show Notes
Day of Pittsburgh Blog
How to Instagram During a Pandemic
Devoted to You Events
Postponed Blog Series
Paused Blog Series
Had a little fun with episode 12 and went trolling on r/weddingplanning to dish out some professional advice to internet strangers!
Inspired by the Burgh Brides Vendor Guide Facebook Group discussion, I’m sharing the big ‘a ha’ moment that led to finally raising my rates. Enjoy!
I came up with a few questions I think couples should be asking during consultations with wedding vendors, and also went on a huge tangent about venue coordinators. I regret nothing. Enjoy!
Thought we were due for a fun story! Here’s how I found my wedding gown.
Show Notes
Boss Girl Creative
Bridal Beginning
Blanc de Blanc Bridal
Bridal Maven
5 Tips for Wedding Gown Shopping
I finally worked up the courage to invite a guest onto the pod, and I couldn’t have asked for a better person to join.
Meet Victoria Deardorff: The owner and content superstar behind Burgh Brides, aka Pittsburgh’s (only) wedding planning blog, resource and all around powerhouse. The influence Burgh Brides has had in the city’s wedding community can be felt online and off.
Victoria bravely climbed my attic steps to call out all of the marketing mistakes she sees wedding vendors make, and the truth bombs never stop dropping!
We had such a blast recording this episode for y’all, and I’m so lucky to call this woman a friend.
Show Notes
Burgh Brides
Dubsado
Honeybook
Quickbooks
Planoly
Later
Tailwind
Squarespace
Christina Montemurro Photography
Image Box
Bridge Perspective! Love ‘em.
The Bridetender Podcast
LOL I’m not linking the The Knot…F them.
Dubsado
Burgh Brides
GARTER TOSS, I’m looking at you! This episode is a big rant about all of the wedding ‘traditions’ that I could do without. Enjoy!
Show notes
Dawn Derbyshire Photography
Community Flower Shop
Glam 2 Go
Join me for an unconformable conversation about setting and maintaining a wedding budget!
I’ve decided to grab 2021 by the brand.
Early next month, my photographer friend Dawn Derbyshire and I are teaming up for a killer podcast branding photoshoot, which will also lead into my future coaching business!
Show Notes
Dawn Derbyshire Photography
I offer wedding copywriting services!
How to Instagram During a Pandemic with Dawn Derbyshire
What Type of #dayofpgh Bride Are You?
What will the 2021 wedding season look like? I have no freaking idea!
But it can’t be worse than 2020….right?
Episode 3 is all about how to remain positive through all of the doom and gloom 2020 has been tossing around like confetti. To all the couples and vendors kicking off 2021 wedding season: Here’s how to stay optimistic when everything is a big, fat, question mark.
Show Notes
The Dance Team Podcast
Preparing to Postpone Your Wedding Blog Post
BOOM! Episode 2 is full of all of the new things I learned while recording and sharing my first episode, aka: A LOT! After I thank everyone for supporting me, I share more about my show layout, topic suggestions, and finally get to my topic of the week: Advice for aspiring wedding planners!
Show notes:
Where I designed my cover art: Canva
What I use to edit Reception to Follow: Audacity
My podcasting audio kit: USB Microphone with Studio Headphone Set
Intro and outro music: Soundstripe
SHOUTOUT to my first ever events coordinator job at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre!
It’s here it’s here!
I have so much to say...and after kicking off December 2020 with fresh blog posts and Instagram Story videos, I’ve decided to get out of my comfort zone and into the wild world of podcasting!
WELCOME….to my first podcast episode!
Every week or so—still deciding on a timeline!—I’ll be posting episodes sharing my adventures as a wedding planner, hot takes for all of the brides and grooms out there, and some debatable business advice for creative entrepreneurs.
In my first episode, you’ll hear all about how I got here, where I want to go, and why I’m doing it—aka starting this podcast!—now.
Show notes and links:
WTF is ‘day of’ wedding coordination?
#dayofpgh Postponed Interviews
#dayofpgh Paused Interviews
2021 Brides: How You Doin’
#dayofpgh Video Playback Series
Wanderlust Weddings and Events
Sapphire & Lace Design
How to Coordinate a Wedding in 10 Days
My Favorite Murder
Costa Kait