This Week In Weddings: Recent Episodes
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Giving your clients a good experience is key to growing your business and word-of-mouth referrals. But, what are some simple ways to elevate the client experience without selling your soul or working 24 hours a day? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about some simple tips to elevate your client's experience in a manageable way.
About our guest:
Behind the lens of Lynne Reznick Photography, Lynne Reznick is an educator-turned-photographer on a mission to share her knowledge and lessons learned from nearly a decade of industry experience. A lifelong learner at heart, Lynne combines her passion for training and mentoring with a unique teaching approach grounded in proven educational practices.
As the founder of The Wedding Client Experience Academy, Lynne offers an easy-to-digest online curriculum based on four fundamental pillars. The result establishes deeply rooted trust with clients, streamlined systems for the busiest workflows, and empowers pros to create bespoke moments for their couples.
In addition to providing ongoing mentoring and coaching intensives, Lynne shares several complimentary resources on her site’s educational hub-including the Styled Shoot Planning + Timeline Spreadsheet and The Manual Mode Pocket Guide.
A sought-after expert in her field, Lynne’s insight has been recently published with Rangefinder Magazine, the Rising Tide Society, SpecialEvents.com, and the Knot.
***In this episode, listeners will hear about:***
* Lynne's background and how she got into the wedding and event industry after being a teacher
- How proactive communication is a key to giving your client's a good experience
- Using automation to schedule communication with clients
- Tips for making email templates sound more personal
- Ideas for connecting with clients both before, during, and after their wedding
- Lynne's "Wedding Client Experience Academy" course
Want to connect with Lynne?
- Online: https://www.lynnereznickphotography.com
- Instagram: @lynnereznickphoto
Getting your work published in a wedding magazine or blog is an aspirational goal for many. But with fewer publications out there, it's more competitive than ever. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about best practices for finding the right publications to submit to, getting your work published, and following up.
About our guest:
Jainé Kershner is a wedding photographer based in New York. Jainé Kershner Photography was handpicked as one of NY’s best wedding photographers to know by BRIDES and has been featured in several publications including Martha Stewart Weddings, BRIDES, Style Me Pretty, and The Knot.
In 2018, Jainé launched "Tea with Jainé" to directly educate wedding photographers with honest answers, actionable steps, and tangible tips to successfully grow and create a profitable photography business. She hosts her weekly podcast “Tea with Jainé” where she chats with wedding industry insiders who share their knowledge, experience, and expertise directly with her audience. Jainé is a dedicated business coach who offers one-on-one sessions along with submission curations services for wedding photographers.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
* Jainé's background and how she got into the wedding and event industry
- Finding the right publication match for your work
- The benefits of print vs. online publication
- What publications are looking for in terms of images
- When to submit based on wedding seasonality
- Jainé's suggestions for following up once a wedding has been submitted
Want to connect with Jainé?
- Online: https://www.jainekershner.com/
- Instagram: @jainekershner
- Tea with Jainé podcast for wedding photographers
Many wedding industry entrepreneurs overlook Pinterest as a marketing tool, but it's still around and still generating leads. In fact, proper use of Pinterest can even help your work get noticed by search engines like Google. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a Pinterest strategist about the platform, how it's changed in recent years, and the basics for getting the most out of it.
About our guest:
Gabby Pinkerton is an adventurous Wedding Planner, Pinterest Strategist, Youtuber and Wedding industry speaker. Her YouTube channel aims to help wedding pros grow their business by using Pinterest and targeting their ideal clients.
During the Pandemic, she launched a Pinterest Strategy company, Gabby Pinkerton Co. that focuses on helping wedding pros attract their ideal clients on Pinterest. She and her team offer done-for-you Pinterest Management as well as a robust, no-fluff Pinterest course for those who want to tackle it themselves.
Gabby is a recurring speaker at the Wedding Summit Series, Book More Weddings Summit and participates in several wedding bundles offering Pinterest mini courses. She has taken the stage at the National Association of Catering and Events, The Rising Tide Society and virtual gatherings over the last few years.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
* Gabby's background and how he got into the wedding and event industry
- How Pinterest has changed in the last two years
- The new "Idea Pins" on Pinterest and how their similar to TikTok and Instagram Reels
Want to connect with Gabby?
- Online: https://gabbypinkerton.com/
- YouTube: https://youtu.be/U0NN-Enorqk
- Instagram: @gabbypinkerton and @causewecanevents
Growing a team requires you to take on a new title – boss. But for so many entrepreneurs, being a boss is uncharted territory. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a wedding industry entrepreneur with 60 team members all about being a better boss, including some best practices and things to avoid.
About our guest:
After Graduating from Grambling State University and leaving his home state of Louisiana, Chris Harmon moved to Dallas, Texas to start his business Harmland Visions.
Harmland Visions is a Production and Entertainment company that specializes in Videography, Photography, DJ, AV, Lighting, Photobooth, and Special Effects within the Weddings and Events, Corporate and High School markets. Chris has 60 team members that focus on different aspects of the business while he remains the lead videographer and owner of the company.
Chris has taken on leadership positions in several local organizations and currently serves as the Treasurer of the Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter of the National Association for Catering and Events. After winning several awards within the Dallas Fort Worth area from various event organizations, Chris’s biggest accomplishment is the success of his teammates. He has been known to train and produce top talent stars, helping them to achieve their goals.
Outside of the wedding industry, Chris also owns several companies that bring smart, residual income to his family. This includes a real estate business focusing on Airbnb properties and an RV rental business.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
* Chris's background and how he got into the wedding and event industry
- The importance of getting to know your team and what motivates each of them
- Giving feedback to employees
- Finding different ways to recognize employees
- Lessons learned from leading a team
Want to connect with Chris?
- Online: http://www.harmlandvisions.com/
- Instagram: @chrisharmonfilm
Where do you want your business and life to take you? People from Oprah to Deepak Chopra believe in manifesting their future with the use of vision boards. But what is a vision board, how do you make one, and what can it do for you? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting all about vision boards and how to use them to design the life and work that you love.
About our guest:
A life-long learner with nearly a decade behind the lens.
Rosy is self-taught in her chosen medium of film and digital photography. She thrives on the incredibly special moments her clients invite her to be a part of, sharing - “You know something’s coming, but you don’t know what it’s going to be until you get it”, and adding that her clients feed her creative soul while making her feel alive.
More than just a wonderful and gifted photographer, Alba Rose's clients mention time and time again how much of a wonderful human Rosy is.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
* Rosy's background and how she got into the wedding industry
- What a vision board is and how to create one
- How often you should make a vision board and when to add to it or change it
- Using vision boards for both personal and business goals
Want to connect with Rosy?
- Online: https://albarosephotography.com/
- Instagram: @albarose.co
It's true what they say – it's all about who you know. And in the wedding and event industry, that could not be any more true. From knowing your clients to the vendor team you're working with on the event day, it's all about relationships. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about the best ways to build relationships with both clients and vendor partners as well as tips for maintaining them.
About our guest:
Sacia Matthews is a destination wedding photographer based on the East Coast. Sacia focuses her work around artistry and intention, merging her signature style of honest editorial documentation. She is a former high school English teacher that is translating those skills to coaching creatives. Her zone of genius is helping strategize and cultivate businesses that coexist with the owner's dream life. She believes in the power of relationship-building in all that you do.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
* Sacia's background and how she went from being a high school English teacher to a destination wedding photographer and educator
- Tips for connecting authentically with both your fellow vendors and your potential clients
- Using social media to stay continuously connected with clients and vendor partners
- The importance of sustaining your relationships over time
- Suggestions for working with wedding planners when they are the conduit to the client
Want to connect with Sacia?
- Online: www.saciamatthews.com
- Instagram - @saciamatthews
Is confidence something you're born with or something you can learn? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting all about confidence and doubt and breaking patterns of negative stories we tell ourselves.
About our guest:
Rocky knows firsthand how difficult it can be to identify what makes us unique on our own. We get caught in insecurities and fears. We tend to spend too much time looking outside, comparing ourselves to what others project, and say about us.
Rocky's childhood tells a tale of having moved 10 times and having to make new friends at every new school. He ended up spending more time trying to impress or please everyone else; going from one extreme of the pendulum by sailing along on charisma to the other end by living a life of self-sacrifice. No matter how hard he worked, nothing seemed to make sense and he was never able to see his real value or worth. That is until he took a step back and had a long hard look at WHO he was, not just WHAT he did.
After graduating with a communications degree from Texas A&M University, Rocky has spent the past 15 years walking alongside thousands of individuals at Sky Ranch Summer Camp as Director and counseled and supported hundreds while on the pastoral staff at Chase Oaks Church. Now, as a top keynote speaker and culture consultant, he has taken thousands through the Identity Mapping™ process. As a result, they have all been led to understand the most vivid picture of who they are and how they operate best as individuals.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
* Rocky's background and how he went from the wedding industry to coaching and consulting entrepreneurs and corporate leaders
- How clarity and confidence go hand in hand
- How our protective nature and defense mechanisms can affect our confidence
- How what we've been told by others can create doubt, even if those stories are not true
- Rocky's Book, "Be Confident: A Pocket Guide to Killing Doubt and Building Conviction"
Want to connect with Rocky?
- Online: https://rockygarza.com/
- Instagram - @rockygarza
- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/rockygarza
- LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockygarza/
We all know that Instagram is a powerful social media tool for the wedding industry, particularly since it's so visual. But are you using Instagram as a sales tool as opposed to just a portfolio? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about how you can use Instagram to promote your business well beyond pretty pictures.
About our guest:
Maria Oliva is the CEO & Founder of SMS Media, a social media coaching business for wedding vendors in the DC area. Maria's main goal is to change the way wedding vendors approach Instagram and have fun while they're at it. She has a passion for teaching wedding vendors how to build sustainable Instagram strategies that work around their schedule & feels good for THEM. She was born and raised in Puerto Rico and has been in the Digital Marketing world for over 7 years!
Her sassy & badass personality is what sets her apart from everyone else. She will always tell it how it is and doesn't like cutting corners for anyone, especially her clients (it's the Puerto Rican in her). She is changing the wedding industry, one account at a time!
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
* Maria's background and how she became interested and involved in the wedding industry
- Using a variety of content pillars as the foundation for your Instagram posts
- Promotional posts and ways you can use them without being pushy
- How to niche down your hashtags, including the ideal number of hashtags to use
Want to connect with Maria?
- Instagram - @sms_mediaPR
Small businesses definitely need policies, procedures, and contracts in order to stay organized and to set boundaries. But when is it ok to be flexible and make an exception? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about exceptions, when to (and not to) make them, and some things to think about as you're making the decision on bending your rules.
About our guest:
Our guest today is Jennifer Trotter, the owner and principal artist behind one of Dallas/Fort Worth's top bridal beauty teams, Lip Service Makeup. Known for flawless looks, a diverse portfolio and impeccable customer service, Jennifer and her team provide hair and makeup for a variety of projects, including major motion pictures, Dateline NBC, commercial and media clients, tv and film projects with Oxygen, Netflix and others, as well as beautifying around 175 brides each year.
This beauty pro also happens to be a communications expert with a background that includes stints in PR, corporate training and serving for nearly 10 years as the Program Director for the Make A Wish Foundation. Through articles, coaching sessions and speaking engagements, Jennifer uses her communications background to help business owners skillfully navigate the awkward conversations and stressful situations that we all face. She not only knows how to manage the occasional bridezilla, she's passionate about sharing proven techniques to create strong relationships with clients and other vendors while reducing conflict.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
* Jen's background and how she got into the wedding industry
- Reasons that business owners may want to break away from their "rules" and make an exception
- The one reason you should absolutely not make an exception
- Saying no, but still making it a positive conversation
- Questions to ask yourself as you're deciding to make an exception or not
- The importance of having Standard Operating Procedures in your business
Want to connect with Jen?
- Online: https://www.lipservicemakeup.com/
- Instagram - @lipservicemakeup
We're all busy. But are you just staying busy? Or are you actually moving things forward in your business? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about the differences between action and motion, and how simply doing the preparation isn't necessarily moving the ball forward. Listen in as we chat with a return guest about some tips for making that busy work actually work for you and your business.
About our guest:
With a background in producing and directing live and recorded television for the better part of 10 years, Wendy is the definition of “quick on your feet.” She prides herself on being a solution-oriented problem solver—which has served her well in her 12 years of planning and executing flawless events. Wendy’s passion to create and execute original ideas for each of her couples’ weddings means that in addition to running smoothly, they are a fun, enjoyable, memorable, and tangible pieces of fine art.
With a straightforward approach, Wendy builds a rapport with her clients. She believes that the more she gets to know her couples, the better (and more personal) the wedding will be. Birds of a Feather Events was named a Top Wedding Planner and Event Designer by Martha Stewart Weddings as well as a Best Planner in America by BRIDES.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
* Wendy's previous podcast episodes – Episode 99: How to End a Client Relationship and Episode 163: Turning Your Volume-Based Business Into a Value-Based Business
- The difference between action and motion
- How procrastination plays a role in moving from motion to action
- Accountability groups and how they can help move things forward
- How fear of failure plays a role in being stuck in a cycle of motion
- Profit First book and how it has helped Wendy, Annie, and Kimberly
Want to connect with Wendy?
- Online: http://birds-of-a-feather-events.com/
- Instagram - @birdsofafeatherevents
Pricing in the wedding industry is admittedly all over the board. Not only do various vendors charge in vastly different price ranges, but even the pricing strategies are all over the board (flat fee, packages, percentages, oh my!) In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about pricing your art, and the necessarily mindset shifts that are needed in order to get the price you deserve and work with the clients who believe in you and your art.
About our guest:
Matthew Wengerd makes holy shit stationery for brave and daring clients under the name A Fine Press. His work with couples, individuals, and brands blurs the line between function and form, inspiring and engaging at least as much as it informs.
More importantly, Matthew's clients are an incredible group of people who seek to be known and remembered by their people. They bring open hearts and boundless trust to the process - allowing themselves to be known and seen and reflected in the work.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
* Matthew's background and he went from jazz musician to the wedding industry
- Matthew's previous podcast episode Getting Clients to Trust You
- Matthew's process in the sales consult, booking, and creative process
- How trust is the most important factor in the client/vendor relationship
- How your own mindset about money can affect your view of your pricing
- How turning away work that you're not passionate about can make your business thrive
Want to connect with Matthew?
- Online: https://www.afinepress.com/
- Instagram - @afinepress
In a creative industry, it's often challenging to stay creative 24/7. And with so much coming at us constantly – from social media to the news – it's no wonder that it's easy to get caught up in what's trendy as opposed to being innovative. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with an industry veteran about being your own inspiration and keeping the creativity alive.
About our guest:
Kristy’s work, like her personality, is at times difficult to pin down. Her brushstrokes can ebb and flow from highly detailed and meticulous to free-flowing and boundless, all the while remaining captivating and unmistakable. For the last 19 years, Kristy’s obsession with paint and paper has evolved into the innovative and wildly recognized brand, Momental Designs. Kristy has transformed event stationery into a persuasive and compelling medium that garners global attention from media, celebrities and some of the world’s most creative individuals. Widely regarded as an industry tastemaker, Kristy’s styling, painting and stationery innovations have been featured in creative editorials and installations in some of the world’s most famed publications.
Kristy’s work has been credited in People Magazine, OK! Magazine, Good Morning America, New York Live, The Knot, Inside Weddings and Brides Magazines, Vanity Fair, Martha Stewart Weddings, Flutter, You and Your Wedding, Brides UK along with countless blogs. Kristy’s work has also crossed over into fine art and lifestyle markets with licensing and the development of branded product lines for the top Arts & Crafts stores nationwide. Her licensed artwork can be found at Bed, Bath and Beyond, Target, Walmart, Anthropologie, Chatbooks and more. She is an 9-time author with Schiffer Publishing.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
* Kristy's background and she got into the wedding industry
- How to involved your wedding clients in the design process
- How social media should be used (and not used) as a source of inspiration
- Looking outside the wedding industry for inspiration
- The wedding aspect of TikTok
- Taking advantage of your creativity when it strikes
Want to connect with Kristy?
- Online: http://www.momentaldesigns.com/
- Instagram - @momental
- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/momentaldesigns/
In this casual episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, Kimberly, Annie and Lance reflect on 2021. Listen in as we do a little bit of recapping, a little bit of goal-setting, and a lot of group therapy.
In a world where Amazon prime can get you almost anything you need in a day, it's easy to carry the idea of instant gratification into other areas of your life, including your business. But real results take time and often can't be rushed. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about Julie Bunkley's theory about the 18-month time frame, and why it takes that amount of time to see results manifest themselves.
About our guest:
Julie Bunkley, the owner & creative director of Invision Events, is a PR and design maven as well as a longterm, strategic visionary. With a degree in Public Relations and self taught in In Design, Julie’s aesthetic and passion for building a brand is well over a decade in the making.
Her eye is always on the long game, reminding us that a sustainable and successful business is a marathon and not a sprint. Her work has been featured on countless occasions in Martha Stewart Weddings, BRIDES, People, The New York Times, Fortune, InStyle, Bridal Guide and Southern Living, among others.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
* Julie's background and she got into the wedding industry
- Julie's theory about the 18-Month Rule, and why it takes that long to see results
- Long-term planning in your business
- Several examples of the 18-Month Rule in Julie's business
Want to connect with Julie?
- Online: https://invevents.com/
- Instagram: @invisionevents
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/invisionevents/
Did you know that This Week In Weddings has a book club? We're all about improving ourselves personally and professionally, and we love connecting with our audience at the same time. TWIW Book Club is where we connect online to discuss our latest read. (BYOB!)
In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a business coach, author, and avid reader about the details of the next TWIW Book Club event.
About our guest:
Heather Vickery is an award-winning business owner and global leader with over 20 years as an entrepreneur. She leverages her entrepreneurial skills and expertise to coach individuals towards greater personal and professional fulfillment by helping them leverage their fear into intentional bravery. Heather says “When we choose bravely, on purpose, we choose bigger, have bigger successes and it’s contagious. A celebrated public speaker, Heather inspires audiences and empowers attendees with the tools they need to live bold and successful lives through creating balance, time management, mindfulness, as well as countless systems, strategies, and boundaries.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Heather's background in the wedding industry and her transformation into coaching
- The next This Week in Weddings Book Club book – The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
- How to join the TWIW Book Club on Wednesday, December 15th
- Heather's tips for finding time to read
- How Annie incorporates reading into family time
- Heather's newest book F*ck Fearless, Making the Brave Leap
- Libro.fm audio books
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The saying goes that people do business with those that they know, like, and trust. And when you're an entrepreneur, it's safe to say that YOU are your business, but many people aren't putting themselves out there so that people can see the person behind your brand. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting all about personal brands, and ways to promote the person behind the company (both on and off social media) while still staying professional.
About our guest:
Mateo 'Matt' Diaz is a luxury wedding photographer, marketing strategist, professional party thrower, socialite, and so much more. Mateo has multiple companies (Mateo & Company & Relevate) and serves in the community through multiple organizations, committees, and boards. He loves throwing events that bring people together, that strengthen community relationships, and that give back to the community.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
* Mateo's background, and he got into the wedding industry
- What a personal brand is and how it differs from your company brand
- The importance of a personal brand for giving you flexibility into the future
- How maintaining a personal brand and allowing others to see you can lead to increased connection and even referrals
- The pros of having both business and personal accounts on social media, particular Instagram
Want to connect with Mateo?
- Online: https://mateoco.com/
- Instagram: @mateoandcompany and @themateodiaz
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mateoandcompany/
We've never been ones to not tell it like it is, and let's be honest... a lot of people are being dicks these days! In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting all about the state of the wedding industry, what's causing so much frustration (among both clients and vendors), and a few ways to approach the challenges without losing your professionalism.
About our guest:
Leah Weinberg is the Owner & Creative Director of Color Pop Events and best selling author of The Wedding Roller Coaster. Her colorful work and party planning tips have been published online and in print with Vogue, the New York Times, People, CNBC, Bravo, Martha Stewart, and The Knot, among others.
Recently, Leah has been recognized as a 20 on the Rise winner by Honeybook and the Rising Tide Society, one of the 25 Young Event Pros to Watch by Special Events Magazine, and one of BizBash's Top 500 Event Pros in the US.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
* Leah's background and how she got into the wedding industry (including what careers she *almost* got into instead)
- The entitlement we're all seeing in the world as a result of Covid-19 and how it's affecting the wedding industry
- Shortages in the event industry – from flowers to paper to labor – and how as vendors we can present the situation professionally to our clients
- The importance of having a support system of wedding industry peers
- Leah's Book - The Wedding Roller Coaster: Keeping Your Relationships Intact Through the Ups and Downs
Want to connect with Leah?
- Online: http://colorpopevents.com/
- Instagram: @colorpopevents
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/colorpopevents
- Twitter: @colorpopevents
When you're focused on serving your clients well, it's easy to forget about focusing on your own self care. And keeping on top of your health and wellness, including your fitness, isn't always a priority. But it should be! In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting all about incorporating fitness into your routine and how doing so can have a positive impact on your business.
About our guest:
Chris J. Evans is a luxury wedding and destination photographer who creates photographs you not only see but truly feel. His images transport you back to the very instant they were created. That cool breeze fluttering the back of your neck, the warmth of your soulmates embrace, this is his art.
Chris has photographed weddings in Italy, Santa Barbara, Laguna Beach, Maui, Oahu, Kauai and Lana’i, with features in Brides, Martha Stewart, The Knot, Destination Ido and Wedluxe. Your wedding will be told through style, grace and gratitude. From this moment forward, you’ll never walk alone.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
* Chris's background and how he got started in the wedding industry
- The turning point that made Chris want to focus on his health and wellness
- Some ways Chris fits in exercise in small pieces throughout the day
- How having accountability partners helps Chris with his fitness routine
- The positive effect that fitness has had on his business
- Chris' first TWIW podcast episode: Episode 159: Embracing Fear in Your Wedding Business
Want to connect with Chris?
- Online: www.chrisjevans.com
- Instagram: @chrisjevansphoto
It's safe to say that many wedding pros thought if we could just get through 2020, we'd be in a good place. And then 2021 happened. Not only did we continue to see events getting cancelled and postponed in the first half of the year, but now that weddings are back, we're seeing supply chain issues, staffing issues, and wedding pros with a lack of work/life balance just to get everything accomplished. Ugh! In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting all about this and a few tips for thriving during this time.
About our guest:
Andrea Smith is the owner of SoiréeSmith, an event planning company that serves Chicago’s North Shore. After a decade in catering sales for prestigious brands — such as Four Seasons and Waldorf Astoria — and two children later, she was inspired to start creating events from all angles of the guest experience. Founded in 2017, the SoiréeSmith mission is to ensure their clients feel like guests at their own events.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
* Andrea's background and how she got started in the wedding industry
- How Andrea adjusted to 2020 when events weren't happening
- How and why Andrea made her mental health a priority
- Andrea's quarterly goal-setting habits
- Being selective with what you say yes to
Want to connect with Andrea?
- Online: https://soireesmith.com/
- Instagram: @soireesmith
Not all couples consist of a bride and a groom. And not all wedding guests self identify as simply male or female! Although the wedding industry follows a long history of traditional gender roles, times they are a changin'! In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about the small steps and shifts in mindset you can make to ensure your business is being fully inclusive.
About our guest:
Jess McSweeney has been a writer for as long as she can remember and a calligrapher since 2014, when she launched her business helping couples and stationers add a touch of extra romance to their wedding paper through beautiful custom lettering.
After 7+ years in the industry and one major global pandemic that stopped all weddings, she turned her love of writing beautifully into a thriving copywriting service for creative business owners. Her clients are artists and industry experts who produce inimitable and inspiring work but who struggle to tell their story in a way that connects with those they serve. Jess herself is queer, and she specializes in writing gender and sexuality inclusive copy for luxury wedding and lifestyle brands. She is currently based in Baltimore, Maryland, where she watches way too many reality TV shows and Nick Cage movies in between her wedding and writing projects.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
* Jessica's background and how she got started in the event industry
- How Jess' personal story prompted her to be passionate about inclusive language
- The importance of doing an audit of your marketing materials for inclusive language
- Alternative ways to say "bride" and "groom" on your website copy
- How to incorporate pronouns on your website and contact form
- Jessica's article/podcast episode for Etiquette for Creatives
Want to connect with Jess?
- Online: www.jessica-mcsweeney.com
- Instagram: @jess.mcsweeney
While actually having a contract is basic Business Ownership 101, actually sticking to your contract and enforcing its policies is another story. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a stationery designer about sticking to your contract, why it's important to do so, and how your contract and boundaries go hand in hand.
About our guest:
A graduate of Marymount University, Claudia received her specialization in brand identity at the Istituto Europeo di Design in Milan, then received her Masters in Industrial Design from the prestigious Domus Academy, also in Milan.
Prior to launching Fig. 2, Claudia worked as a designer for design firms in the Washington, DC area, designing and interacting with various types of clients. Since launching Fig. 2, Claudia has won several awards for her graphic design work.
In 2011, Fig. 2 officially launched at the National Stationery Show where Claudia created and sold a wholesale line of paper goods and wedding invitations sold in top tier stationery shops across the country and worldwide. Having now closed the wholesale and retail portions of the business, Claudia’s main focus is on creating custom wedding invitations and brand strategy and design.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
* Claudia's background and how she got started in the wedding industry and her progression from wholesale accounts to custom work
- A few work boundaries that Claudia specifies in her contract
- Having clients initial key portions of a contract
- Phrases about respecting your time that you might consider adding to a contract
- Project delays and how you may be able to incorporate that language into a contract
- How to deal with contract violations
Want to connect with Claudia?
- Instagram: @fig2design
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fig.2Design
In this casual episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, Kimberly, Annie and Lance catch up on the craziness that has occurred with the quick increase in weddings. If you're struggling with the change of pace in the recent weeks, listen in! You're not alone!
When you own a small business, planning for retirement is not always easy. We're often working "in" our businesses and not "on" our businesses and that includes planning for the future. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a financial advisor about ways that we can save for retirement, plan for the future, and ready our businesses for sale.
About our guest:
Ken Jones has been in the financial services industry since graduating with a degree in Economics from Texas A&M University. He has been serving business owners of small to mid-sized companies as a financial advisor for most of his 30-year career. In his role, he advises on everything from retirement planning to helping business owners sell or buy a business.
Ken considers his practice just as much financial therapy as money management.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
* Ken's background and how he got interested in financial planning
- The different types of Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)
- The importance of setting money aside for retirement and tactical ways to do it consistently
- Why a financial planner can help you plan for the future
- What small businesses should be doing in order to make sure their business is prepped to sell
- Why a transition plan can increase the value for your business in a sale
- brokercheck.com
Want to connect with Ken?
- Phone: 512-422-3893
- Email: soulhat91@gmail.com
Another crazy, busy week, another re-release! We're digging into the This Week In Weddings archives with one of Annie's favorite episodes – Networking for Introverts with Alicia Keats.
The saying goes that it’s all about who you know, and being well connected in the wedding industry can certainly be helpful for building and growing your business. But when you’re shy or an introvert, networking can be terrifying. In this week’s episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we’re chatting with a successful wedding planner who has learned how to turn her introvert tendencies into strengths when networking and operating her business.
About our guest:
With over thirteen years of experience, award winning wedding planner Alicia Keats has earned her place among the most sought after wedding planners in Canada. Alicia is known to be a passionate, devoted wedding planner who is always graceful under pressure. Her desire to create, not only an individualized planning experience but also to create an extraordinary, personalized wedding celebration for her couples, has earned her the reputation of being one of the best.
In addition to being named one of the best wedding planners in the world by Vogue Magazine two years in a row, her work has been featured in numerous publications and top wedding blogs including Wedluxe, Real Weddings Magazine, WeddingBells, Style Me Pretty, Junebug Weddings and 100 Layer Cake. In 2012, she was awarded the Industry Achievement award by her peers at the BC Wedding Awards as well as many WeddingWire Couple Choice awards over the years.
When Alicia is not planning weddings, she can be found cuddling her sweet baby boy, cooking with her husband or searching for the next tasty culinary experience.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Alicia’s background and how she went from pursuing an acting career to becoming a wedding planner
- How Alicia’s shyness has served her well with building genuine relationships
- Alicia’s strategies for psyching herself up before attending networking events
- Strategies for networking when you’re a natural introvert, including Alicia’s go-to strategy for breaking the ice
- How being shy and introverted has successfully served her clients
Want to connect with Alicia?
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- On the web: http://www.aliciakeats.com/
- Instagram: @aliciakeats
This week, we're digging into the This Week In Weddings archives to pull out an oldie but a goodie! Living Your Brand with Andrea Eppolito.
Is your business model a true reflection of who you are? Are you carrying out your brand's image in your every day life? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with event planner Andrea Eppolito, of Andrea Eppolito Events about living your brand. From what you wear and how you present yourself in public to having an understanding of the restaurants your ideal client frequents, this week's episode is all about keeping your brand top of mind.
About our guest:
Having worked a wedding show at fifteen, Andrea fell in love with the beauty, the timeless traditions, and the transformative qualities of weddings and events. During her time at UNLV, she planned weddings while working in restaurants and studying her craft. In 1998, Andrea opened the iconic Bellagio Resort; the first of many she would ultimately come to work with.
Andrea founded her eponymous event planning business, Andrea Eppolito Events, in 2011. In the years that followed, her work received numerous awards and has been featured by the likes of BRIDES, WedLuxe, Grace Ormonde, and more. Renowned for designing weddings with soul, and called "vibrant, chic, and impeccably organized” Andrea prides herself on the deep relationships she creates with her clients and partners.
A custom magazine she gifted to her clients went viral in 2016, leading to the creation of The Wedding Editorialist. This self publishing platform creates story-driven issues published both online and in print. The Wedding Editorialist believes that every story deserves to be told, and services couples, creatives, and venues.
Committed to collaboration and education, Andrea is a keynote speaker, eternal student, and eager participant in think tanks and book clubs. Born in New York, Andrea lived bi-coastally between there and LA before relocating to Las Vegas, Nevada. After over 20 years she considers herself "nearly a native" of the city she now resides in with her husband and children
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Andrea's background and why luxury weddings are a fit for her
- Why looking the part is important when running a business
- How to familiarize yourself with high-end restaurants without having to spend the money on a 5-course meal
- How Andrea has added to her business through the Wedding Editorialist
Want to connect with Andrea?
- Website: http://www.andreaeppolitoevents.com/
- Instagram: @andreaeppolito
- Facebook:@andreaeppolito
- Email: andrea@eppolitoevents.com
McDonald's may have coined the term "special sauce" but we all have something unique that sets us apart from our competitors. Do you know what yours is? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a wedding industry copywriter about the importance of identifying and promoting your unique brand position as well as how to figure out what yours is in case you're not quite sure.
About our guest:
Taylor de la Fuente is an award-winning writer, champion for inclusive language and the owner of Lemon Tree Editorial. As a website copywriter serving the wedding industry, Taylor writes authentic and inclusive web copy for wedding pros who want to sell their services while they sleep. Before starting Lemon Tree Editorial, she worked in journalism, SEO and marketing.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
* Taylor's background in copywriting and what she does in the wedding industry
- What "special sauce" means when it comes to being a wedding industry entrepreneur
- How to find your special sauce through your peers and past clients
- Once you determine your special sauce, where on your website that should live
- The importance of having confidence to turn away potential clients
Want to connect with Taylor?
- Online: www.lteditorial.com
- Instagram: @lteditorial
Building any business takes hustle and grit. But constant hustling without taking a break is a sure way to hit burnout. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with an established wedding planner about her thoughts on hustling, resting, and how the two go hand in hand.
About our guest:
Spreading her metropolitan style throughout the low country, Terrica has been creating exquisite weddings and events in the Golden Isles area for the past fifteen years.
Specializing in modern Southern weddings, she believes in creating custom experiences inspired by her clients’ love stories while infusing technology and efficiency. A contributing board member of the North American Academy of Wedding and Event Planning, Terrica’s weddings and expertise have been featured in The Knot, Reader’s Digest, Martha Stewart Weddings, HLN tv, Style Me Pretty and a host of others. In addition to leading a rockstar team at her planning and design firm, she also owns The White Lounge— a contemporary wedding planning studio for couples and wedding professionals.
A wave maker nominated for Honeybook’s 20 on the Rise and a current Educator with The Knot and Wedding Wire, she launched her new wedding industry education system, “Here Comes the Brand“. Terrica is an ardent educator of those in the wedding industry, also hosting the “She Doesn’t Even Go Here” podcast. As an avid lover of cake and champagne, you'll find her at home in the Golden Isles with her four “fabutots”, and when not entertaining family and friends, she’s frequently binging on RuPaul’s Drag Race and Game of Thrones.
***In this episode, listeners will hear about:***
- Terrica's background and how she got started in the wedding industry
- Why it's important to hustle for your success instead of wish for it
- The importance of setting boundaries and periods of rest as a business owner
- Why keeping focused on your own business instead of comparing yourself to others is beneficial to your success
- The pros and cons of Clubhouse
- Tips for protecting your peace
Want to connect with Terrica?
- Online: http://terricainc.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cocktailterrica
- Instagram: @cocktailterrica
- Twitter: @terrica
We're constantly involved with negotiations in our daily lives – from discussing where to eat for lunch with friends to reviewing contracts with service providers. But as a wedding industry business, are you willing to negotiate in your own business in order to close the deal? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a negotiation strategist about this very topic.
About our guest:
A highly sought-after leadership and negotiation strategist, Elizabeth Suárez is committed to helping professionals and their organizations establish working environments where people are empowered to be skilled leaders and negotiators. After climbing the ranks of corporate America, she spent the last decade creating the impactful and interactive platform Negotiation Unleashed, a coaching, training and facilitation resource for professionals. As a previous corporate executive turned negotiation influencer, she created this platform to guide leaders into thriving decision-makers and strategists.
Elizabeth holds an MBA from The University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, and a BS in chemical engineering from Cornell University. She completed the Executive Management Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She is a graduate of the Center for Creative Leadership, National Hispana Leadership Institute (NHLI) and Leadership Denver. She is a certified MBTI practitioner and mediator trained by the Colorado Council of Mediators and the Colorado Bar Association.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Elizabeth's background and how she became an expert in negotiation
- Ways to negotiate that don't necessarily come down to price
- Elizabeth's thoughts on pricing your services in order give flexibility for negotiation
- Knowing when it's time to walk away from the negotiation
Want to connect with Elizabeth?
- Online: https://negotiationunleashed.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SalaryQueen/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/speakerelizabeth/
- Twitter: @elizabethsuarez
As busy entrepreneurs with full plates, it's not uncommon to experience bouts of anxiety. Or maybe you're one who has always been wired to worry. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a coach about anxiety, what it is, and some tips for combating it. From daily manifestations to breaking negative self talk, our guest is sharing her top tips for being the powerful you (and not the puny you).
About our guest:
Bambi Thompson, is a transformational speaker and “Brain Coach” for success acceleration and anxiety transformation, and an Occupational Therapist who has gone wildly woo. She’s the creator of the Slay Your Days Momentum Club, the co-founder of the Corporate Unicorn’s Women’s Success Summit in Maine, co-author of Dare to Be Authentic, and the former producer and host of Power Me Up Radio on the Amazing Women of Power Network.
She teaches success oriented women how to leverage neuroscience, mindset, the human energy body, and the Law of Attraction to build their lives and businesses from an energetic foundation. She provides the toolbox for living life with more ease and joy while achieving more with vitality, power, confidence, and success.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Bambi's background in holistic healing, occupational therapy, and non-medicinal anxiety work
- The science behind anxiety
- Why entrepreneurs in particular often suffer from chronic worry
- Tips to identify negative self talk and quickly turn it around
- A quick exercise for immediately feeling relief from stress and anxiety
- The power in asking open ended questions as it relates to the law of attraction
- Bambi's Free Momentum Accelerator Success Kit: https://www.bambithompson.com/gift
Want to connect with Bambi?
- Online: https://www.bambithompson.com/
- Instagram: @bambithompson
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BambiThompsonCoach
- Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/c/BambiThompson
Being a perfectionist is often used as a badge of honor. But in actuality, the desire to make things absolutely perfect is likely holding you back from achieving great things. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a coach and business strategist who explains why perfectionism isn't something positive to be proud of, but something based on fear that needs to be worked through.
About our guest:
Stephanie Hayes works with experienced entrepreneurs who have built successful businesses but aren’t sure what’s next. She helps them create a business model that works for them and a plan to get to their next level of growth so they can become more profitable, and do the work they really want to do.
Stephanie has been working with entrepreneurs and small businesses for over 20 years, and has built a number of her own businesses. She launched her business strategy and coaching practice in 2015 so she can focus on helping solo entrepreneurs align their businesses with their big goals.
Stephanie believes that business owners are looking for direct, actionable help and teaches her clients how to be self-sufficient and develop a foundation for continued growth.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Stephanie's background and how she became a recovering perfectionist
- How perfectionism is not a positive thing and actually can be debilitating and how entrepreneurs back
- The signs that someone is struggling with perfectionism
- The difference between being a perfectionist and having high standards or values
- Some small steps perfectionists can take to change their mindset
- Stephanie's podcast "Real People, Real Business"
- Stephanie's free download 14 Ways to Keep Perfectionism from Running the Show
Want to connect with Stephanie?
- Online: www.stephaniehayes.biz
- Instagram: @stephaniehayes.biz
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephaniehayescoach/
- Twitter: @stephaniehayes
At some point in the cycle of your wedding industry business, you may start thinking about growing your team. But before you post that you're desperate for help on Facebook, there are some things to think through. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a floral designer with nearly 20 years of business experience about hiring and things to keep in mind.
About our guest:
In 2002, Kelly Marie Thompson opened Fleur, a special event custom design floral studio paired with a brick and mortar lifestyle boutique. She and her work have been featured in many print magazines including Martha Stewart Weddings, Town and Country, Vogue, The Knot, Better Homes and Gardens, Midwest Living, as well as online blogs including Martha Stewart Weddings and Style Me Pretty.
Listed as a Top Martha Stewart Florist, Kelly has created beautiful floral designs for almost two full decades, and is the Operations Manager for the company as a whole. She is the founder of "The Art of Growing an Extraordinary Floral Business", a 6 six-module, online education course, and is a Be Sage Coach.
She currently lives in Chicago with her husband and their two cats. They spend their free time cooking, traveling, gardening and raising urban chickens.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Kelly's background in the floral and wedding industry
- Kelly's experience with hiring employees and the things that she learned along the way
- The first steps businesses should take when they're thinking about bringing on an employee
- The importance of creating job descriptions for new positions
Want to connect with Kelly Marie?
- Online: http://www.fleurchicago.com/
- Instagram: @fleurinc
We made it to 200 episodes!! In this casual episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, Kimberly, Annie and Lance, along with contributors from the This Week In Weddings community share their thoughts on the podcast after 200 episodes.
You'll hear from:
- Saundra Hadley from Planning Forever Events and A Great Wedding Interview Podcast
- Carmela Heintzelman from Fiore Press
- Kelly McWilliams from Kelly McWilliams Celebrations, Weddings & Parties and This vs. That, Wedding Decisions Podcast
- Meghan Ely from OFD Consulting
- Dan Quinn from DQB Entertainment
- Sara Bauleke from Bella Notte
- Amy Burke from Amy Burke Events
- Alicia Keats from Alicia Keats Weddings + Events
- Lin Pernille from Lin Pernille Photo + Video
Making money is certainly about dollars and cents, but how you think about money can have an impact on your financial success. Are long held beliefs about money, also known as money blocks, holding you back? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with author and money coach Denise Duffield-Thomas about money mindset and how thoughts about money an impact us, both negatively and positively.
About our guest:
Denise Duffield-Thomas isthe money mentor for the new wave of online entrepreneurs who want to make money and change the world.
She helps women charge premium prices, release the fear of money and create First Class lives.
Her books Lucky Bitch, Get Rich, Lucky Bitch, and Chillpreneur give a fresh and funny roadmap to living a life of abudnance without burnout.
Her Money Bootcamp has helped over 6,000 students from all around the world.
She’s a lazy introvert, a Hay House author and an unbusy mother of 3. She owns a rose farm and lives by the beach in sunny Australia.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Denise's background as a coach and how she became a money mentor
- The biggest blocks that entrepreneurs, especially female entrepreneurs have around money
- Some commonly held beliefs about money and how being aware of them can positively impact your feelings about money
- Denise's book - Lucky Bitch: A Guide for Exceptional Women to Create Outrageous Success
- Denise's book - Get Rich, Lucky Bitch!: Release Your Money Blocks and Live a First-Class Life
- Denise's book - Chillpreneur: The New Rules for Creating Success, Freedom, and Abundance on Your Terms
- Other books mentioned in the episode: The Luck Factor: The Scientific Study of the Lucky Mind
Want to connect with Denise?
- Online: www.denisedt.com
- Free Money Blocks Workshop: www.denisedt.com/blocks
- Instagram: @denisedt
THIS WEEK'S EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY IDEACTION CONSULTING
They help wedding pros book more couples using science-backed sales methods and conversion copywriting. Ideation Consulting designs sales processes around how clients want to buy, and teach wedding pros how to confidently guide each couple along the way.
Ideaction Consulting is offering a FREE Workshop Series on pricing and building value in the sales process, February 22nd-25th. To sign up, visit www.thisweekinweddings.com/sam today!
When the going gets tough, you have to keep going. And for some, being resilient is easier said than done. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a business coach about resiliency and some tips for keeping your eyes on the prize even in the face of diversity.
About our guest:
Anna Lundberg is the founder of One Step Outside, where she helps experienced professionals around the world design a career, a business and a lifestyle that brings them more freedom, flexibility and fulfillment - outside of the conventional 9 to 5. Ex-Oxford, ex-Procter & Gamble, today she combines her 10+ years of experience in global branding and digital marketing roles with her training in coaching and positive psychology techniques to help people reimagine the next phase of their career.
Anna offers a blend of life coaching and business mentoring on a one-on-one basis and in a group setting. She is the host of the Reimagining Success podcast and author of Leaving the Corporate 9 to 5: Stories from people who’ve done it (and how you can too!).
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Anna Lundberg's background and her transition into business coaching
- What resilient means based on it's Latin origin
- How having a sense of overall purpose and bigger picture goals can help with resiliency in the face of struggle
- Vision boards and how they can be helpful
- Defining success in all areas of your life, not just business
- Anna's book - Leaving the Corporate 9 to 5
- Anna's podcast Reimagining Success
- Other books mentioned in the podcast - Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck, Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo
Want to connect with Anna?
- Online: onestepoutside.com
- Instagram: @annaselundberg
- LinkedIn: Anna S. E. Lundberg
- YouTube: Anna S. E. Lundberg
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
In a world that's full of uncertainty, it can be challenging to maintain your sense of inner peace. And for wedding pros who are used to the constant hustle, maintaining any sort of balance can be difficult as well. But there are steps you can take right now to get your zen on! In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a wedding industry veteran who shares some practical tips for finding time for yourself and getting more calm and centered.
About our guest:
We may recognize Gurminder for his versatility as a creative photographer with Banga Studios. But, what you may not know is in the last 3 years, Gurminder has developed a fond and growing interest in spirituality and mindfulness. A lover of several meditation practices, ranging from Breath-work, Mantra, Question, or Silent Meditation, Gurminder is on a journey to uncover more of the teachings of his inner world, so he can live by them in his outer world. His practice begins at 5am daily, and the results speak for themselves; more grounding, less anxiety, more love, less fear, more conscious choices, and less impulse decisions.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Gurminder's background and how he got started in the wedding industry
- What initiated Gurminder's interest in better balance and zen
- Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTS) - what they are and how to switch them around
- The benefits of journaling
- The power of meditation
- Gurminder's morning routine, and the things he does every day to carve out time for self improvement
- Gurminder's first podcast episode with TWIW - Breaking Into South Asian Weddings
Want to connect with Gurminder?
- Online: https://www.bangastudios.ca/
- Instagram: @g.banga
- Guided Meditations: https://gbanga.podia.com/
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
If the majority of your business is in your head, it's time to get a better system. Systems and software can help manage your tasks, streamline communication with clients, and even track your money, not to mention make it easier for your customers to do business with you. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting all about systems in business, why you need them, the first steps in creating one, and when it's time to hire a professional to help you get started.
About our guest:
Nikisha Hidalgo is the founder and creative director of two thriving companies: Inviting Treasures, a custom illustration design agency specializing in wedding stationery; and ANH Design House, an online stationery store that brings joy to family and friends through paper goods.
In addition to being a successful Black female entrepreneur and business owner, Nikisha is deeply committed to her family. The daughter of Elmore and Agnes, wife to John, mother of two beautiful and strong girls, Haley and Eryn, and a dog mom to her Labradoodle, Cocoa, Nikisha balances work and family life with love and intention.
As a lifelong learner who earned both her Master's in Public Health and a Master's in Business Administration, Nikisha is passionate about developing and implementing systems to assist women-owned businesses in creating an organized and easy workflow so they can scale their businesses and level up their earnings.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Nikisha's background and how she got started in the wedding industry
- Why systems are important in business, particularly as your company scales
- The different types of systems in business - from accounting and bookkeeping to customer relationship management (CRM)
- The first step in creating a system with a brain dump of the steps you take in your business
- How to create a system without making automation feel impersonal
- When to look for help from a professional for creating a system
- The next book for the TWIW Book Club!
Want to connect with Nikisha?
- Online: Invitingtreasures.com and ANH Design House
- Instagram: @nikisha.king
- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/invitingtreasuresllc
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
If you have an established, respected business in the wedding industry, chances are high that you've had people reach out to "pick your brain" for advice and guidance. But at what point do you go from being an open book about your process to actually monetizing it? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about making the transition into coaching and consulting, including running memberships. With a completely different target audience and structure, there are certainly things to know before jumping in head first.
About our guest:
After a decade in weddings and events, Amber Anderson, founder of Heavenly Day Events, pivoted her career into coaching others while maintaining a role in her planning company in Austin, Texas.
As the host of Refine for Wedding Planners, Amber desires to coach and mentor planners via the largest Facebook group exclusively for wedding planners by offering a course, retreat, membership and templates. Amber is known for having radical honesty, often saying what most people are thinking but won’t say, striving to elevate the industry one conversation at a time.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Amber's background in the wedding industry
- How Amber became a business coach by purchasing an established community and brand
- The costs associated with running a coaching business or membership, and how it's not exactly passive income
- Determining your ideal client for your coaching business or membership offering
- How running a membership or coaching program requires an entire new skillset, including sales funnels and email marketing
Want to connect with Amber?
- Online: https://refineforweddingplanners.com/
- Instagram: @refineforweddingplanners
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/REFINEforWeddingPlanners/
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
It's a fresh year and for our first episode of 2021, we're talking about intuition and how you can tap into this additional sense. Do you "trust your gut" when you make a decision in life and business? Or are you ignoring your own intuition? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a life coach all about intuition, what it is, and how we can be more aware of the intuitive hits that are coming at us.
About our guest:
Danielle Vaughn is a Life Coach, writer, workshop facilitator, meditation guide, and speaker. Danielle works with clients one-on-one and in group settings guiding them to connect with their innate wisdom through their intuition.
Teaching various modalities that open and expand on limiting beliefs, insecurities, and self-doubt, Danielle leads her clients to breakthroughs and alignment with the truth of their hearts' desires.
Through transformations, transitions, or turmoil, Danielle offers her clients an open space to be seen and heard without judgement, allowing for true change to occur.
Danielle has created guided meditations, an Activate Your Intuition Guide, an Inner-Visioning Template to connect you with your soul blueprint, and many other helpful tools to help clients live a life of authenticity, joy, and fulfillment.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Danielle's background and how she became a life coach
- What intuition is and how we all have this sense
- How intuition can feel in your body
- How clearing your mind can help you better get in touch with your intuition
- Previous episode Meditation and Mindset Work for the Wedding Industry
- Some fun games you can play to tap into your intuition
- Using intuition to make decisions in business
Want to connect with Danielle?
- Online: www.daniellevaughn.com
- Instagram: @danielle.vaughn
- Facebook: DanielleVaughnLifeCoach
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
Just when you've figured out Instagram Reels, the social media platform changes it up with a whole new feature to figure out. Enter Instagram Guides. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a social media educator about the newest Instagram feature and how it can be used by wedding pros to curate their content. Grab your phone and follow along as we take it step-by-step!
About our guest:
K.M. Robinson is a social media educator and speaker who helps entrepreneurs build profitable businesses through smart social media marketing. She’s been spotlighted by Facebook for her innovative work in the field, and has been appeared on CBS News nationally, NBC news nationally, Business News Daily, Writer’s Weekly, New York Comic Con, Penned Con Charleston, Penned Con St Louis, MerMagic Con, Live Con, and more. She specializes in livestreaming, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok growth. She’s also a best-selling fiction author.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- K.M.'s background and how she became an educator in the social media space
- The basics of Instagram Guides and how it differs from Instagram Stories, IGTV, and Reels
- The three different types of Instagram Guides content - places, products, and posts
- A step-by-step walk-through for creating a Guide in Instagram
- A TWIW Instagram Guides challenge by January 1st
Want to connect with K.M.?
- Online: http://livestreamactionplan.com/
- YouTube: youtube.com/kmrobinson
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
We've all heard at some point that it's important to get 8 hours of sleep each night. But for busy entrepreneurs, it's certainly not uncommon to trim back on sleep when things get busy and you need more hours in your day. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're talking to a a neurologist and sleep expert about the importance of sleep for our bodies and minds and some tips for getting more quality sleep over time.
About our guest:
Dubbed “The Sleep Whisperer” by Arianna Huffington, Dr. Winter has been involved in the field of sleep medicine for twenty five years. A fully board certified neurologist and double board certified sleep specialist, Dr. Winter has been helping individuals sleep better through his private clinic, group consultations, work with professional athletes, and dynamic media presence. His first book, The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep Is Broken and How to Fix It has received high praise both in the United States and internationally as a fresh and effective approach to a growing problem.
Dr. Winter is board-certified by both the American Board of Sleep Medicine and the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He is separately board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (under the American Board of Medical Specialties) as a sleep medicine subspecialist. He is a member in good standing of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine the Sleep Research Society, and the Virginia Academy of Sleep Medicine.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Dr. Winter's background in neurology and how he became interested in the study of sleep
- How sleep affects every aspect of our lives – from creativity and problem solving to even appearance
- The characteristics that one typically associates with being a "good" sleeper
- Best practices for those in the wedding industry who often work late into the evening for weddings and have a forced delay of sleep
- The effects of alcohol and sleep
- Physiological differences between those that are considered a morning person vs. a night owl
- Tips for getting a better night sleep, including a discussion on weighted blankets, white noise machines, and ideal room temperatures
- Electronics and sleep
- Dr. Winter's book The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep Is Broken and How to Fix it
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Getting all the things checked off the to do list, staying focused for extended periods of time, and wrapping up at a decent hour feeling completely accomplished and successful... sounds like a perfect work day, right? But most entrepreneurs aren't running their businesses that way and could take small steps to make each day more productive. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're talking to a business coach lets us in on how block scheduling can be game changing for productivity, focus, and intention.
About our guest:
Heather Vickery is an award-winning business owner and global leader with over 20 years as an entrepreneur. She leverages her entrepreneurial skills and expertise to coach individuals towards greater personal and professional fulfillment by helping them leverage their fear into intentional bravery. Heather says “When we choose bravely, on purpose, we choose bigger, have bigger successes and it’s contagious. A celebrated public speaker, Heather inspires audiences and empowers attendees with the tools they need to live bold and successful lives through creating balance, time management, mindfulness, as well as countless systems, strategies, and boundaries.
She’s the author of Gratitude Journal: Shift Your Focus and Grow Grateful: A Gratitude Journal for Kids and Families. Heather is also the host and executive producer of The Brave Files Podcast.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Heather's background in the wedding industry and her transformation into coaching
- What block scheduling is and how it works
- Why block scheduling helps you get things done more efficiently
- Best practices for planning out your day
- Tips for managing your email on a schedule
- How block scheduling and boundaries go hand in hand
- Heather's tips for starting and ending your day in order to increase your intention and productivity
- Heather's podcast The Brave Files
- Commit to Three app for daily goal setting
Want to connect with Heather?
- Online: www.vickeryandco.com
- Instagram: @vickeryandco
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VickeryandCo/
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Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
It's certainly not uncommon for weddings to be planned by more than one person – bride and groom, bride and mom, groom and groom, bride and her bff! And when you're a wedding pro trying to sell, it's challenging to know who you need to actually sell to. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Sam Jacobson about the best ways to sell when there are multiple people in the room, checking out your website, and potentially reading your email responses.
About our guest:
Sam Jacobson helps event pros book more couples with science-backed sales approaches honed over 15 years in the wedding industry. He focuses on how to guide the buyer’s journey, discover couples’ real needs, and create sales proposals that sell themselves.
Sam’s led companies in venues, catering, planning, design, décor, and floral. He’s personally responded to thousands of inquiries, and booked hundreds of couples for millions in revenue.
He knows how and why couples make decisions.
Sam founded Ideaction four years ago with his wife, Katy. Since then, their team of seven has worked 1:1 with nearly 200 clients.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Sam's background in the event industry and how his company, Ideaction Consulting, helps wedding pros with the sales process
- Sam's first episode on the podcast - Episode 11: The Four Types of Business Personas
- The potential decision makers that wedding pros are simultaneously selling to – brides, grooms, moms dads, and more!
- The importance of determining who the actual decision makers are and what their needs and concerns are before trying to sell
- How to use your website to speak to multiple people involved in the buying process
- Questions to ask during the discovery phase of the sales process to better determine the clients' pain points
- Tips for working with wedding planners when they are part of the sales process and therefore one of the decision makers
Want to connect with Sam?
- Online: https://www.ideactionconsulting.com/
- Instagram: @ideactionconsulting
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sellweddingslikeapro
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
In this casual episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, Kimberly, Annie and Lance chat about the episodes from 2020 that they are most thankful for. If you haven't listened to every single episode, this quick catch-up will point you in the direction of the episodes that have been the most impactful for the trio so far this year.
Weddings are so personal. And in business, we have the choice to focus on the transaction of booking clients or the relationship we're building and experiences we're creating. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a DJ who has made a shift from playing a numbers game to an experience and relationship game. Listen in as we hear how making that shift has given him more job satisfaction than ever before.
About our guest:
Dan is a Dallas-based DJ, Musician & Educator who specializes in weddings and creating very personal entertainment experiences for clients.
With a background in engineering and international sales, Dan left his tech career in 2014 to throw himself 100% into music and events, and has since found himself doing things he hadn’t thought of at the time.
In addition to helping produce 40-50 weddings and a handful of other events each year, Dan is a Pro Educator for The Knot Worldwide, a Columnist for DJ Times Magazine, has been an invited speaker and performer at The NAMM Show and Wedding MBA, and in 2016, founded OontzKids DJ Academy- an initiative focused on summer camps and after school programs that teaches kids, teens, and even adults how to DJ and Produce Music.
He lives in the Dallas suburbs with his wife, 4 kids, 2 dogs, a cat, and a backyard full of wildlife. He can always be found cooking family dinner by late afternoon, even while dialed into a TWIW Book Club Zoom Call.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- How Dan got started in the wedding industry
- How shifting from a numbers game to a people game changed Dan's business, including his own job satisfaction
- How Dan builds relationships with his clients leading up to the wedding day
- Dan's use of social media as a marketing tool with clients and potential clients
- How Dan continues the client relationship after the wedding day is over
- The next TWIW Book Club: Get Rich Lucky Bitch
Want to connect with Dan?
- Online: www.dqbentertainment.com
- Instagram: @dqb_entertainment
- Facebook: DQB Entertainment
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
Being an excellent accountant might not be one of your biggest strengths, especially for those of us who consider ourselves creatives. But if you're running a business of any sort, you have to at least understand your numbers and not be afraid to look at them! In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with stationer turned business coach about a few simple steps wedding industry entrepreneurs can take to get more comfortable with their books. With the end of the year quickly approaching, now is a great time to become BFFs with your books.
About our guest:
Emily Roach, the founder of Biz BFF, is a community leader, speaker, business coach, and professional best friend. Through her online community and group coaching program, The Hive, Emily empowers small business owners to show up authentically, think creatively, and act courageously to make their wildest effing dreams come true!
When she’s not teaching her rule-breaking business and marketing strategies to entrepreneurs all over the world, Emily’s reveling in the messy middle of life with her family, their bus, Hank, and an absurd stash of yarn in Portland, Oregon.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- How Emily got started in the wedding industry and then transitioned into coaching
- Emily's recommendations for accounting software if you're looking for alternatives to QuickBooks
- Suggestions for getting over the fear of looking at your finances and getting pumped up for finance days
- Emily's Money Making Magic Playlist on Spotify
- How often you should be looking at your business banking accounts and budgets
- Creating a budget to better see where you're spending
- How Profit First by Mike Michalowicz helped Emily get better control of her business finances
- The Soul of Money by Lynn Twist
- Make sure to listen to the end as we reveal the next This Week In Weddings Book Club book related to money and mindset
Want to connect with Emily?
- Online: www.bizbff.com
- Instagram: @biz_bff
- Facebook: facebook.com/mybizbff
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
When the pandemic began causing the shutdown of weddings and events across the country, many of us thought it would be a short-term situation. Not having new wedding images to post on social media seemed like no problem... for a few months. But those few months have turned into nearly nine. How can wedding industry entrepreneurs still showcase their talent on social media without current wedding images? In this week's episode, we're chatting with a marketing expert about the best way to stay active on social media in spite of the lack of new images to show off.
About our guest:
Aleya Harris, CPCE is the founder and owner of Flourish Marketing, an agency dedicated to helping wedding, catering, and event professionals reach their full potential through fresh, cutting-edge marketing strategies that get and keep a consistent stream of clients. She is a firm believer that business owners should make good money doing what they love and she spreads this message through her role as a thought leader in the industry.
Aleya has made it her personal mission to support catering and event businesses in their growth and help them to reach their definition of success. Her decade-plus long career as a chef and catering company owner, paired with her wealth of expertise in marketing, are matched with a remarkable work ethic, providing her clients with an engaging and interactive experience that inspires them to take action. As a professional speaker, she fosters valuable discussion about actionable marketing strategies and profit-driven storytelling in an effort to inspire her audience to take charge of their businesses’ financial futures.
Her in-depth knowledge about social media marketing, branding, sales conversions, and effective marketing tools have earned her spots and top rankings on stages across the nation, including The Special Event and Catersource. She also serves as the marketing committee chair for NACE National and is a StoryBrand Certified Guide. Aleya recently received The Certified Professional in Catering and Events (CPCE) designation to add to her list of accolades
**In this episode, listeners will hear about:**
* How Aleya got started in the catering and events industry, including the famous musician for whom she was a private chef
- The purpose of social media as both a marketing and relationship building tool
- The importance of captions on social media and why they are just as important as the image itself
- Using captions to connect with your ideal buyer and their problems
- How to share your unique business and process in social media captions
- Why showing your face on social media is important if your business is also a personal brand
- Aleya's social media services through Flourish Marketing
- Aleya's Social Media Collective membership
- Get 20% off Aleya's Social Media Collective for the first month through November 13th using the discount code: TWIW20
- Get 10% off Aleya's Social Media Collective after November 13th using discount code: TWIW
Want to connect with Aleya?
- Online: https://www.flourishmarketing.co/
- Instagram: @aleyaharris
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aleyaharrisgrowth
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
"A rising tide lifts all ships" the saying goes, and in entrepreneurship, that means surrounding yourself with people who will help you improve and grow while also challenging you. An accountability group can do just that. If you've heard the term before but don't exactly know what an accountability group entails or how to start one, this week's episode is one you won't want to miss. We're chatting with two members of a wedding industry accountability group that credit their peers for not only supporting them in business, but helping them grow theirs.
About our guests:
Beth Bernstein is the owner and creative director of SQN Events in Chicago. Beth founded SQN in 2009 and along with a push from and the support of her accountability group, added a small weddings arm, Essential I Dos, in 2020.
Valerie Gernhauser is a New Orleans based wedding planner for ten years. She owns three companies: Sapphire Events, Ruby & Pearl Events, and Minimal Matrimony, and is also a wedding industry educator for profitable pricing and processes through her course, The Valerie Gernhauser Method.
Beth and Valerie met at Engage in December of 2012 and became fast friends. While they stayed in touch between conferences, their friendship grew deeper in 2017 when they, along with three other planners, formed an accountability group. Within a year, the group grew to seven members and they have been planning world domination ever since.
**In this episode, listeners will hear about:**
* Beth Bernstein's original podcast episode #86 - "Getting Ghosted by Potential Clients"
- Valerie Gernhauser's original podcast episode #87 - "Weathering a Drought in Business"
- How their accountability group got started three years ago
- How they added members to the accountability group
- The structure for the accountability group, including how frequently they meet
- The benefits of being in an accountability group with people in your same field but different markets
- The extreme levels of trust required amongst the group
- How to tell if an accountability group might not be right for you
Want to connect with Beth?
- Online: https://www.sqnevents.com/
- Instagram: @sqnevents and @essential.i.dos
Want to connect with Valerie?
- Online: https://sapphireevents.com/ and https://minimalmatrimony.com/
- Instagram: @sapphireevents and @minimalmatrimony
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
Just when you think you have Instagram mastered, they change it up! The new Reels feature launched in August of 2020, and just like all things social media, there's a bit of a learning curve to figuring out how to make it work for you. But we're here to help! In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting all about Instagram Reels, how to use it, and how it's different from Stories and the feed.
About our guest:
Millie is an Online Educator and YouTuber who teaches entrepreneurs the latest strategies and trends on social media to help them skyrocket their brand.
Millie has been studying the creative space for a little over 10 years now. Applying the concepts she's learned from being a real-life Project Manager in the corporate world and now growing and managing her own personal brand the past three years, Millie has found her passion in helping others create stability, structure & strategy within their business. From landing brand collaborations to figuring out the ever-evolving Instagram algorithm with Reels, she has figured out the secrets to increase efficiency, simplicity and stand out among the saturation—all because she believes:
Running a successful business doesn’t have to be confusing and complicated. IT IS POSSIBLE to make your dreams a reality.
**In this episode, listeners will hear about:**
* Millie's background and her experience with online education and content creation
- What the Instagram Reels feature is
- How Instagram Reels differs from the feed, Stories, and IGTV
- A work-around for business accounts to get the music option on their Reels
- Why posting to Reels is ideal for reaching new followers
- Tips for posting to Instagram Reels, including things to avoid
- Millie's YouTube tutorial on Instagram Reels - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOGT4ktjhZc&t=1s
Want to connect with Millie?
- Online: https://modernnmilliee.com/
- Instagram: @itsmodernmillie
- Millie's YouTube Channel
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
Who would have thought way back in 2019 that virtual events would be a thing? You guys... it's a thing, and they don't seem to be going away anytime soon. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about virtual events, some tips to know if you're trying to take them on, as well as what vendor categories in the wedding industry are best suited to get in on the action.
About our guest:
Amy Nichols has been planning bespoke weddings and celebrations for over a decade. Born and raised on an avocado and lemon farm in Southern California, she has always had a love of nature, design and entertaining! After graduating from Middlebury College, she began her career in finance in New York City and quickly realized that passion for celebrating life’s moments could be a rewarding and fulfilling profession. From there, she made her way back to California and founded Amy Nichols Special Events, where her affinity for details and welcoming personality have earned her a sterling reputation.
Amy believes that life is full of reasons to celebrate. She cherishes the role she gets to play in the lives of her clients, serving as both a close confidant and a trustworthy advocate as she works tirelessly to execute the refined, effortless events for which she is known. Amy understands that the little things in life – the perfect glass of wine, a stunning sunset over an exotic beach, or that first mouthwatering bite of an extraordinary meal – should be revered, and she brings a deep appreciation for these fleeting moments to every event she designs.
**In this episode, listeners will hear about:**
* Amy's background and how she got started in the wedding and event industry
- The inherent challenges of live broadcasts and why they aren't as easy as many people like to think that they are
- Technical tips for moving from in-person events to virtual events
- Ideas for how various vendor categories that can take advantage of virtual events, including stationers, videographers, DJs, hair and makeup artists and planners
- Thinking through pricing for virtual events
Want to connect with Amy?
- Online: www.amynichols.com and Intimate I Do's by Amy Nichols Special Events
- Instagram: @amynicholsse and @intimate.i.dos
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
Getting found by potential buyers is key for any business, and the wedding industry is no exception. Being in business means being a marketer, and in this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting all about marketing, what it means, and tips for doing it successfully. Our guest is not only in the wedding industry, but joined it with an extensive background in the corporate world and an MBA. Listen is as she shares her advice for marketing your business effectively.
About our guest:
Courtney Wolf is Invision Event’s principal planner and a founder of Educate | Empower | Encourage, a private, members-only online learning community for high achieving creatives - the dreamers and the doers. A business and life coach wrapped up in a wedding planner’s body, she's been dubbed a “personal trainer for your small biz” and a “small business therapist”. Her background includes a degree in Marketing as well as her MBA and with this lens she views our industry objectively and runs all things operational and client facing for Invision.
Together alongside Julie Bunkley, Invision's owner and creative director, they serve couples from coast to coast and are known for their refined and tailored aesthetic as well as their thoughtful and intentional approach. Featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, People, The New York Times, Fortune, BRIDES, In Style and Bridal Guide, they've been named by Southern Living as one of the South's Best Wedding Planners.
**In this episode, listeners will hear about:**
* Courtney's background and how she got started in the wedding industry
- The 4 P's of Marketing
- How Courtney tracks client inquiries in order to determine what channels are the most effective
- The importance of understanding your ideal client, including where they shop and how they celebrate
- Looking through the lens of your client vs. your own
- Why cutting marketing isn't the first thing you should do during a downturn
- The value of networking and relationship building
Want to connect with Courtney?
- Online: http://www.invision.events/ and https://www.educateempowerencourage.com/
- Instagram: @invisionevents / @courtney_invision
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/invisionevents
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
Owning a wedding business right now is certainly not as profitable as it used to be. With events postponing and cancelling and fewer new bookings coming in, many wedding industry entrepreneurs are looking at their finances wondering if it's the time to get a "real job." In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a wedding photographer who has done just that in order to sustain her family during the rough patch that is a pandemic. Listen is as she shares her story and gives advice on making this tough decision.
About our guest:
Tracy Autem is the owner and photographer of Tracy Autem & Lightly Photography. She is often described as talkative, transparent, emotionally invested and joyful. She lives in Texas with her hubby JW and their 3 kids: Alexander, Gideon, & Josephine. She loves to go on adventures and her house is full of laughter (and noise!)
Her business is built on the value of relationships and lifting up those around her. This passion is reflected in her photography, her interactions with clients and how she leads her studio. She is proudest of her team and the compassion they continue to show to each other and their couples.
In addition to her business, Tracy has been teaching "continuing education" at the University of Texas at Arlington and served on industry boards. This year, amidst the pandemic, she returned to the classroom to ensure the financial security of her family and allow for the success of her photography team in the future.
**In this episode, listeners will hear about:**
* Tracy's background and how she got started in wedding photography
- The structure of Tracy's photography business, which includes associate photographers
- The analysis that Tracy did in her business that led her to decide to take on a full-time job outside the industry
- How Tracy furloughed and restructured her team
- Tracy's approach to communicating her employment move to wedding planners, other vendors, and her clients
- How Tracy manages working a full-time job while also maintaining her wedding business (all while being a parent!)
- What entrepreneurs need to do before making the tough decision of getting outside employment
Want to connect with Tracy?
- Online: www.tracyautem.com and www.lightlyphoto.com
- Instagram: @tracyautemphotography and @lightlyphoto
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
The events industry is all about creating the pretty. But let's be honest... things aren't so pretty right now. With events postponing and canceling and most vendors seeing fewer inquiries coming in than in years past, being in the wedding industry right now is no joke. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with floral designer and event production guru Jes Gordon about the changes to her business in light of Covid. She's sharing her open and honest opinions and best advice for the event industry to move forward.
About our guest:
Jes Gordon’s namesake company jesGORDON/properFUN, provides high end, personal event design and management with loads of signature style. Her first book, Party Like A Rock Star (Globe Pequot Press), provides everyone with the tools they need to throw the party of their dreams, regardless of their budget.
Gordon was the Design Mentor on Bravo’s “Rocco’s Dinner Party.” Each week, Gordon aided the competing chefs in creating a memorable dinner party experience that went well beyond the cuisine.
Gordon’s innate eye for color was first noticed at thirteen when she stumbled into the industry as an assistant to a floral designer. By the time she reached her junior year at Bard College, she had a blooming floral business. Gordon went on to open a contemporary art gallery and flower shop in Taos, New Mexico, and later moved to New Orleans to work on set designs for films, including “Interview with a Vampire” and “Dead Man Walking.”
In 1992, Gordon became the Events and Decor Director for the infamous Tavern on the Green restaurant in New York. Her work at Tavern on the Green led to private commissions for celebrities including Madonna, Barbara Streisand, Harrison Ford, Vanessa Williams, Sting, and Elton John, among others.
Gordon now applies her eye for design and passion for the unexpected to her event design and production firm. Gordon has created captivating corporate events for Bank of Hapoalim, CNN, L’oreal Paris, Hostess, M&M’s, Comcast, West Point, The Lifetime Channel and many others. She also continues to dazzle brides and socialites alike with dream weddings and private affairs. With a strong base in New York, she continues to work all over the world.
Gordon continues to involve herself with philanthropic projects such as; DIFFA, ASPCA, The Orchestra of St. Lukes and the Women of Worth Gala for L’oreal Paris.
Gordon recently completed her first novel Party on the Moon which will be available to readers all over the world as well seen as a scripted series on a major network.
**In this episode, listeners will hear about:**
* Jes' background and how she got started in the floral and event design industry
- The Wall Street Journal article that featured Jes Gordon and the event industry in light of Covid
- What Jes did to quickly reduce her expenses and get out of the high costs of living in New York City
- The issues and aftermath that Jes may have to deal with as a result of her departure
- The mindset Jes is taking about the present and the future
- Jes' thought about keeping employees on payroll when you're not bringing in revenue
- Using your skills in events in other industries
- The importance of cutting unnecessary expenses and downsizing during this time
- Reassessing your business, expenses, and employees to decide what you're going to purge and what you're going to keep
- Jes' book: Party Like a Rock Star: A Celebrity Party Planner's Tips And Tricks For Throwing An Unforgettable Bash
- Jes' novel: Party on the Moon
Want to connect with Jes?
- Online: www.jesgordon.com
- Instagram: @jesgordon
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
With fewer events taking place in 2020, wedding industry entrepreneurs have more down time than normal. And for so many of us who thrive when we're overly busy, staying productive when things are slower is a challenging task. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a time management expert about her top tips for staying productive and motivated during this slow season.
About our guest:
Elizabeth Grace Saunders is the founder and CEO of Real Life E a time management coaching company that empowers individuals who feel guilty, overwhelmed and frustrated to feel peaceful, confident and accomplished. She was named one of the World's Top 30 Time Management Professionals in 2018, 2019, and 2020.
McGraw Hill published her first book The 3 Secrets to Effective Time Investment: How to Achieve More Success with Less Stress. Harvard Business Review published her second book How to Invest Your Time Like Money. FaithWords published her third book Divine Time Management. Elizabeth contributes to Harvard Business Review and Fast Companyand has appeared on CBS, ABC, NBC, and Fox.
**In this episode, listeners will hear about:**
* Elizabeth's background and how she became a time management expert
- The chemical reactions caused by stress and motivation.
- The importance of being present in the moment, as opposed to looking at the past or future
- Setting mini-goals as motivators to staying on track during the day
- Why taking breaks during your work day is so important
- Rethinking your goals and work hours in the current circumstances
- Elizabeth's book: The 3 Secrets to Effective Time Investment: How to Achieve More Success with Less Stress
- Elizabeth's book: How to Invest Your Time Like Money
- Elizabeth's book: Divine Time Management
Want to connect with Elizabeth?
- Online: www.reallifee.com
- Twitter: @RealLifeE
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethgracesaunders/
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
Depending on where you live, micro-weddings may be the only option in your area. Or... a bash for 400 guests might still be a thing! Not only are the rules all over the place, but a wedding pro's personal beliefs on whether live events should be taking place during a pandemic certainly make the situation even more difficult. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a wedding planner about her thought process on moving forward with events both before and after testing positive for Covid-19 and her experience sharing the news with others she potentially exposed, including clients just days away from their wedding.
About our guest:
With over 10 years of event industry experience, Molly is as bubbly as she is committed to event planning excellence. Her extensive experience in components ranging from floral design and catering, to AV and live show design have equipped her to produce exceptional parties on behalf of her clients. She has executed five-star events across the United States and in the Caribbean, and worked in conjunction with the White House Chief of Staff*.*
Believing that luxury and volume can live together, Molly founded Pop Parties in 2015. Her highly-trained team of planners produce over 40 events per year and is now regarded as one of Texas’ premier planning firms for weddings, social gatherings, and creative corporate events.
**In this episode, listeners will hear about:**
- Molly's background and how she got started in the wedding industry
- Molly's perspective on events continuing during Covid prior to testing positive for the virus
- The worst phone call Molly had to make in her entire career
- How Molly's perspective changed after testing positive and potentially exposing clients in the days leading up to their wedding
Want to connect with Molly?
- Online: https://popparties.com/
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
We talk about SEO constantly when it comes to getting your business seen on the internet, but so many small businesses are not taking advantage of the free business listing with Google My Business. Even if you have created a listing on Google, when was the last time you updated it, added more current photos, and created FAQs? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a Google My Business pro about the features of the free listing and what steps every business owner should be taking to make this free service work for you to get exposure for your company.
About our guest:
Amanda Tento is the owner and founder of THE DETERMINED MOM and ONLINE MARKETING FOR MOMS.COM! She lives with her husband, Bert, and their three daughters in Lacey, Washington. Amanda was determined to be a work at home mom as soon as she possibly could when she found out the had a third daughter on the way, she had to find a way not to go back to her 9-7 managing a credit union branch. She loved the job, but she felt like she never saw her family! She has been making her own way for 2.5 years now!
She decided that the best way to do this is to put her varied skill set to work. She started The Determined Mom Digital Marketing Agency to help small business owners grow their business and reach more customers. She has 13 years of business management experience and she uses it daily for her clients and her own business! She is also a full-time mother, wife, and student!
The Determined Mom offers Google My Business Management and Education, Marketing Coaching, and a Marketing Tech Membership called OnlineMarketingForMoms.com! Mom Business owners can learn SEO, WordPress design and so much other marketing technology!
Amanda also offers one on one Marketing Implementation Coaching to help women conquer the tech headaches of Marketing. She hosts The Determined Mom Show podcast which can be found on your favorite podcast player.
**In this episode, listeners will hear about:**
- Amanda's background and how she became an expert with Google My Business
- What a Google My Business listing is and why everyone in the wedding industry should have one
- The process for getting a Google My Business listing
- How to list your business on Google My Business if you don't have a physical storefront or want people to see your
- The frequency that business owners should post to their Google My Business account
- The features of Google My Business
- How to use Google My Business for wedding businesses that largely do destination work as opposed to a localized market
- Amanda's Google My Business Master Course
- Scheduling Tool for Google My Business - SocialBee
Want to connect with Amanda?
- Google My Business Management
- Online: https://www.onlinemarketingformoms.com/
- The Determined Mom Podcast
- Google My Business Master Course
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
If you've been on Facebook or Instagram at all in the last few years, you've undoubtedly come across an online quiz. Who doesn't want to know which Disney princess they are?!? But have you ever considered creating your own quiz in order to generate leads for your wedding business? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a wedding photographer who is doing just that and successfully bringing in leads every single day using online quizzes targeted at her ideal client.
About our guest:
With over 6 years of experience photographing intimate weddings, Katie Doherty has traveled from upstate New York to Bali to Tuscany to document unique love stories. *Run Away Together*, an elopement photography studio based in Los Angeles, emerged from Katie's desire to work with unconventional, romantic couples who are up for an adventure. Katie adores photographing elopements because they are often a no fuss, no muss approach to getting married. Couples have described her images as nostalgic, poetic, and cinematic.
Katie is also the host of the Run Away Together podcast, a resource for couples who are considering an elopement. On the show, she is able to share her love for travel and inspiring places around the world to elope. She enjoys researching stunning, unique ceremony locations and assists couples in finding the best places to stay, dining options, and things to do for fun in any given city. This eases the couples' stress and simplifies planning.
When Katie is not photographing weddings, she loves documenting her travels. She's constantly on the lookout for landscape and nature scenes to create fine art prints, and has partnered with the likes of Samsung and Urban Outfitters. Lastly, Katie is the co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of La Rousse Shoppe, which sells glass photo boxes and other elegant packaging products to photographers.
Her mission is simple: creating beauty for others to enjoy.
**In this episode, listeners will hear about:**
- Katie's experience in the wedding industry
- How Katie came up with the idea to create quizzes as a lead generation tool
- Quiz ideas for wedding industry businesses
- Starting from the end of the process (the quiz results) and working backwards to create the questions
- The software Katie uses to create the quiz - Outgrow quiz maker
- How Katie has used Pinterest ads to promote the quiz
- The number of daily leads Katie is now getting through online quizzes
- Katie's previous podcast episode with This Week In Weddings, "Making Money While You Sleep"
- Copywriter Kayley Vandenberg
Want to connect with Katie?
- Online: http://www.runawaytogether.co/
- Instagram: @runawaytogether.co
- Katie's podcast - Run Away Together: An Elopement Resource for Couples
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
You've probably heard the term Enneagram before. But what the heck is it? And how can you use it to better yourself, your relationships, and you business? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with an Enneagram expert and business coach about the Enneagram, what it is, and the different types and what they mean.
About our guest:
Teresa McCloy is the creator of the REALIFE Process®, Keynote Speaker, Podcaster and a Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation, as well as Accredited Enneagram Professional.
Teresa partners with her clients as a coach, consultant, and professional speaker to FORGET being productive and do what truly matters. As a recovering workaholic who was addicted to all the latest apps, software, and best-selling books on productivity, Teresa is passionate about helping business owners assess their habits and execute a process to take their everyday, ordinary life to something extraordinary in their REALIFE, REALWORK & REALSELF.
Through the REALIFE Process® that includes the Enneagram Typology Profile she serves clients to move from living with their hair on fire to discovering clarity about the life they want to live each day and the process to make it happen!
Teresa lives with her husband Dale on their 3rd Generation family grain farm in South Central Illinois. She still drives a tractor when needed and loves a great cup of coffee or long lingering meal with friends!
**In this episode, listeners will hear about:**
- Teresa's experience with the Enneagram
- What the Enneagram is and how it can be used as a tool to better understand yourself and others
- The nine Enneagram types and what they are all about
- Annie and Kimberly's Enneagram results
- FREE Download about the different Enneagram types: https://www.therealifeprocess.com/typing
- Take the Enneagram Profile Teresa recommends: https://www.therealifeprocess.com/enneagrampersonalityprofilepackage
Want to connect with Teresa?
- Online: https://www.therealifeprocess.com/
- Instagram: @teresa.mccloy
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoachTeresaMcloy/
- Email: teresa@teresamccloy.com
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
Being an entrepreneur means always striving to improve yourself and your business. Sure, you could put yourself through business school or sign up for every educational conference available. But want to expand your knowledge in a way that’s easier and a lot less expensive? Pick up a book! Business leaders all over the world credit books for expanding their perspective and furthering their education. Are you taking advantage of the plethora of business books available at your fingertips? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with an industry veteran turned business coach about the best books for your wedding business.
About our guest:
Since graduating from The University of Texas at Austin over 20 years ago, Debby has always been a Coach and an Entrepreneur, in some form or fashion. During and after college, she was a physical education teacher and coached competitive athletes on the volleyball court. In 2000, she decided to shift gears and work in the floral and event design industry.
In 2009, Debby launched Branching Out Events, an award-winning full-service floral design and event production company based in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.
Debby has always taught, trained and encouraged her employees to grow and bloom both professionally AND personally. This passion for bringing out the best in others led to the launch of her second venture in January 2020, The Roots Group.
Available to clientele worldwide, The Roots Group is a coaching and consulting company for female entrepreneurs and ambitious women in leadership positions. Debby helps women find greater clarity and focus, increase their productivity and ultimately gain the momentum they need to achieve goals and get results!
The latest addition to Debby’s little empire is Branch Blooms- a pre-book based, weekly floral service with a BIG mission- to spread peace, love and flowers. The birth of Branch Blooms is the result of Debby’s commitment to “dance” with the ever-changing times and make a positive impact in her community.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Debby's experience in the wedding industry, how she got started, and what she’s up to now
- Debby’s history with books and how she wasn’t always a devoted reader
- What started Debby’s passion for educating herself through business books
- How reading transformed Debby’s business for the better
- Debby’s favorite books for leadership and managing employees
- Debby’s suggestions for books related to cash management
- Sales and Marketing books that Debby loves
- Books that provide clarity and focus
- Debby’s suggestion for books that help you connect with your creative self
- Tips for incorporating reading into your life a little at a time
- Debby’s most highly recommended read for creating an operating system
- How writing is a great way to expand your creativity
Books Mentioned in this Episode:
- Success Principles by Jack Canfield - https://amzn.to/3i6iNpO
- Earn It by Jill E. Young - https://amzn.to/2XsAxnB
- Profit First by Mike Michalowicz - https://amzn.to/2C0qjDp
- The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron - https://amzn.to/39UjeAO
- The 1 Page Marketing Plan by Allan Dib - https://amzn.to/3i8jNK3
- Traction by Gino Wickman - https://amzn.to/30uuIYt
- Get a Grip by Gino Wickman - https://amzn.to/33yV2Tv
- The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber - https://amzn.to/30rEEC5
- The War of Art by Steven Pressfield - https://amzn.to/3kdQUhp
- How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie - https://amzn.to/30yDi8V
- Little Red Book of Selling by Jeffrey Gittomer https://amzn.to/3gx5gXX
Want to connect with Debby?
Branching Out Events:
- Online: http://branchingoutevents.com/
- Instagram: @branchingoutevents
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchingOutEvents/
Branch Blooms:
- Website: www.branchblooms.com
- Instagram: @branchblooms
The Roots Group:
- Online: https://www.therootsgroupcoaching.com/
- Instagram: @therootsgroup
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therootsgroupcoachingandconsulting
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
Running a successful wedding industry business can be all consuming. And for many of us, it becomes our life! But the imbalance of work and personal priorities can wreak havoc, especially when it comes to relationships. Are you balancing both well? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with an industry veteran about her personal journey as a working mom and the fallout she suffered when her work, her marriage, and her children weren't perfectly prioritized. Listen in as she shares what she would have done differently as she looks back.
About our guest:
Joann Gregoli is the owner of Elegant Occasions by JoAnn Gregoli, a global event planning and production company. She is the author of the Knots Guide to Destination weddings and has planned weddings for many high profile clients and celebrities around the world. She has appeared on Good morning America, Today Show and CBS morning show. She was named as Modern Bride top destination wedding planner.
Besides running a successful business, she is the single mother to 6 children. She has referred to her life, many times, as living in controlled chaos, which makes her life very interesting to say the least.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- JoAnn's experience in the wedding industry and how she got started
- How JoAnn built her business quickly while also raising six children
- How JoAnn's business and personal life collided, putting her completely out of balance
- The lessons learned from prioritizing her business and her children over her marriage
- JoAnn's tips for creating better boundaries with your business
- The importance of putting more fun in your life
- Why it's important to surround yourself with people who have your back
- Why saying no is critical for creating balance in your life
Want to connect with JoAnn?
- Online: www.elegantoccasionsbyjoanngregoli.com
- Twitter: @JoAnn_Gregoli
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Elegantoccasionsinc/
- Instagram: @joanngregoli
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
Even if you've had a rock solid contract from day one of your business, there is very likely something that you will want to revisit based on the sudden occurrence of a worldwide pandemic. With events being postponed and cancelled, are you protected? Contract addendums? Liability release forms? Force majeure? There's so much to know, and in this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with an attorney (who just so happens to have experience in the wedding industry) all about contracts in light of current events.
About our guest:
Hard work, passion, success and tireless support for others. In less than 4 years, Wynne started two successful businesses and at just 30 years old, she successfully sold one of them to devote her energy to a legal niche, The Creative's Counsel®. The business she sold... a wedding planning company. Yes, this lawyer was a wedding planner first and foremost, with floral design as a talent as well. If you ask her, she may entertain dabbling here and there, and she still gets her fill of the industry by officiating weddings.
The Creative's Counsel® focuses on supporting business owners, by offering them affordable and approachable legal work, with counsel they can relate to. Reece Law, L.L.C. was founded in 2013 and to date Wynne has worked with over 750 businesses, in an outside counsel capacity, as well as quite a few more individuals. All this time, she continues to organize and partake in philanthropic ventures in our community, complete over 150 pro bono hours per year including founding a pro bono legal clinic in North Minneapolis, and serve on a number of committees and boards. You will often find Wynne speaking at events in support of other business owners or missions that are important to Reece Law, such as entrepreneurship, community development, anti-bullying and equality. She has been recognized as: 2017 35 & Under Entrepreneurs; 2017 BWC Finalist: Excelling in a Male Dominated Industry; 2018 Hands on Twin Cities Volunteer of the Year; 2018 MSBA High School Mock Trial Volunteer of the Year; and is consistently a North Star Lawyer; 2019 SuperLawyer Rising Star; 2020; Finance and Commerce Young Professional Award; 2020 SuperLawyer Rising Star and is consistently a North Star Lawyer.
In her free time, you can find her on some adventure with her husband, son and two Golden Doodles, catching a fitness class, traveling to a wonderful place (most often in Canada), cozying up by a fire with a cribbage board and glass of whiskey, or catching up on the latest episodes of her favorite shows.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Wynne's experience in the wedding industry prior to being an attorney
- The importance of thinking about the worst case scenario when it comes to a contract
- Force majeure, what it means, and when it goes into affect
- Alternatives for going to court when there is a dispute
- The importance of addendums when it comes to cancellations and postponements
- Why vendors shouldn't legally be charging fees for cancellations or postponements when it's not part of the initial contract
- What contracts businesses should have their employees sign in regards to Covid-19 and working an event
- The importance of signage at events during a pandemic in order to release liability
- Why having clients initial contracts, in addition to signing, is a good practice
Want to connect with Wynne?
- Online: http://www.reece-law.com/ and The Creative's Counsel
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
If the wedding industry isn't stressful.... we don't know what is! And even when the world is normal, the goal of creating perfection for a client's wedding day can take a toll on any wedding industry entrepreneur. How do we live in a stressful world and work in a stressful industry without losing our minds? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a stress reduction coach with a background in the event industry about reducing stress while running a wedding business.
About our guest:
After contracting shingles twice before the age of thirty, Victoria knew she needed to recalibrate her relationship to stress. Following her own wellness journey and becoming certified as a health and a life coach, Victoria now helps women to reduce their stress, live more fully and better perform in their daily lives.
Through Stress Less Ladies Ltd., Victoria supports women in stress reduction through one-to-one coaching, group coaching, online programs, and is an experienced international public speaker. Her go-to motto. Life isn’t stress less, but we can stress less.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- The Victoria's background and how she learned that stress was having negative effects on her health
- The importance of focusing on the things that you can control
- How even slight exercise can help with stress reduction
- A simple breathing exercise that can help you instantly relax
- The importance of self care and how it can look different for everyone
- Victoria's Self Care Habits - http://stresslesshabits.com
Want to connect with Victoria?
- Online: https://stresslessladies.com/
- Victoria's podcast - Girl Tries Life Podcast
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
In an industry built by reputation, how you come out of a difficult situation says so much about you and your business. And we all know that the wedding industry definitely has its fair share of difficult! Difficult clients, difficult situations, or even difficult vendor partners, can make producing "perfect" events for a living no small feat. But when faced with these challenging obstacles, how do you come out on top? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a seasoned wedding photographer who has had his fair share of experiences worth sharing.
About our guest:
Brian Leahy is a laid-back Southern California guy with an intense passion for people and travel. His philosophy is simple: every great photo starts with connection—a connection with people, their loved ones, their crazy friends, and the natural beauty of destination locations. His outgoing nature, relaxed style and knack for capturing fleeting candid moments has made him one of the most sought-after photographers in the US, both for local events and destination events around the world.
For Brian, photography is more than just the end result; it’s about the experience, too. His background in travel photography informs his style and technique, but his personality leads the rest. The best images come with trust and rapport as Brian becomes part of your group, blending in to find those special, candid moments.
Brian has been published in countless magazines and blogs, including: Martha Stewart Weddings, TheKnot, Inside Weddings, Grace Ormonde, People, etc. Brian is also a highly skilled and seasoned speaker and educator within the wedding and events world, having taught for TheKnot, Engage! Luxury Wedding Summit, and many more.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Brian's background in the wedding industry
- The importance of building relationships quickly with other vendors on the wedding day
- Brian's tips for how new or less experienced vendors can approach an event day to work successfully with more seasoned professionals
- Brian's thoughts on how (and when) to approach a client with an issue on a wedding day
- The importance of a vendor team working together on a wedding day
- How some clients may just be unable to be satisfied, no matter how hard you try or how good of a job you've done
Want to connect with Brian?
- Online: www.brianleahyphoto.com
- Instagram: @brianleahyphoto
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
Pricing your services is always a hot topic in the wedding industry. But what many entrepreneurs don't consider is that your price determines much more than just the numbers in your bank account. How you're priced can often equate to a perceived value for your goods and services and even determines who your target audience is. Before making changes to your pricing or even your pricing structure, take a listen to this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast. We're chatting about how your pricing is your marketing and the two really go hand in hand.
About our guest:
Although she didn’t realize it at the time, Gretchen Culver’s desire to run her own business started at a young age with her summer lemonade stands. After college, a lemonade stand didn’t seem to be the best way to pay back her student loans, so she entered the world of events working for a catering company. She quickly fell in love with weddings and has been creating them ever since.
Over the past 14 years, Gretchen has worked in almost every area of the industry. She launched her own event planning company, Rocket Science Events, in 2010, hoping to revolutionize weddings. In the same revolutionary spirit she launched Minne Weddings in 2020.
She has been named one of the “30 under 40 to watch” by Special Events magazine and one of BRIDES and Martha Stewart’s Top Planners. Her work has won international awards and been featured in magazines, online and on TV. She's the immediate past president of the Minneapolis-St. Paul ILEA chapter and a founding member of the Small Wedding Society.
When she isn’t working, she enjoys spending time drinking wine, eating good food, building LEGO with her kids, and Netflix and chilling with her husband.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Gretchen's background in the wedding industry
- What "your pricing is your marketing" even means
- How fashion has led the way with the link to pricing and marketing
- The importance of conveying value with your pricing
- How more complex pricing structures are often perceived by potential customers
- How being priced too low can be perceived by potential clients
Want to connect with Gretchen?
- Online: www.rocketscience.events and minneweddings.com
- Instagram: @rocketscience.events
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rocketsciencewe
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
Getting your wedding business active on Pinterest is a perfect task during unexpected business downtime, but Pinterest can be confusing! And many wedding businesses just don't know how (or why) to use it for marketing their companies. Have no fear... Julianne Smith is here! In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting all about Pinterest for your wedding business and what you should be doing to take advantage of this search engine that's perfect for showcasing the visuals that the wedding industry is known for.
About our guest:
Julianne Smith is a nationally recognized wedding accessory designer, digital media strategist and small business educator.
Julianne is the owner of The Garter Girl, a stylish wedding garter design company she started in 2004, after she couldn’t find a wedding heirloom worthy of her best friend. The Garter Girl is known for stylish and meticulously handmade wedding heirlooms that are too pretty to toss. The Garter Girl and Julianne have been featured on NBC’s Today Show, Lifetime, The Knot, Martha Stewart, Brides, and Glamour as well as many top wedding magazines and blogs.
Before creating The Garter Girl, Julianne was a political communications strategist, spokeswoman and media specialist. She worked on Capitol Hill for a member of Congress and served in the White House’s administration.
Combining her passion for DC, media and weddings in 2010, Julianne started the Washington DC area’s top wedding website, United With Love. Julianne built United With Love to be a trusted resource and a well-known brand with thousands of readers every day. She sold United With Love in 2016.
Today, Julianne helps creative small businesses throughout the wedding industry who are struggling and confused with their online presence. Julianne offers done-for-you services, online courses and speaking engagements on search engine optimization, blogging and Pinterest.
Born Pennsylvania, Julianne currently lives with her husband and three children in Washington, D.C.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Julie's background in the wedding industry and digital media
- Pinterest as a search engine, not a social media tool
- Getting specific with pins, including the titles and descriptions to make them SEO-friendly on Pinterest
- How Pinterest drives traffic back to your website
- Pinning regularly on Pinterest, including pre-schedulers that make it easy
- Searching popular topics on Pinterest through trends.pinterest.com
- Juli's Pinterest course with a $10 discount code for This Week In Wedding listeners using code "TWIW"
Want to connect with Juli?
- Online: https://www.juliannesmith.com/ and https://thegartergirl.com/
- Instagram: @gartergirl
- Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/gartergirl/
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
While Instagram and Facebook may be great social media channels, Google still reigns supreme when it comes to finding information on the internet. But getting your company's website to rise in the search rankings is no easy feat. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with tech guru Julie Novack from PartySlate all about optimizing your website for search engine optimization (SEO). Through a few simple tips focused around content strategy, Julie shares how to better optimize your site with SEO in mind.
About our guest:
Julie is the CEO and Co-Founder of PartySlate, a Houzz-like website where leading event professionals share their work, build their brand and drive leads. Before founding PartySlate, Julie held executive positions at top-tier digital agencies such as Razorfish, Vibes Mobile, and Agency.com. With over 20 years of digital marketing experience with some of the biggest brands in the world, Julie is excited to bring this expertise to the events industry. Julie received an MBA in marketing and finance from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and a BA in Economics from the University of Michigan.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Julie's background in technology and how she got into the wedding and event industry
- The three different types of SEO – Content SEO, off-site SEO, and technical SEO
- How link backs help give your website authority
- Simple ways to request link backs from your event industry peers and wedding websites
- Why SEO is all about content, content, content
- How (and why) to incorporate more words and not just photos on your website and blog posts
- Checking your pagespeed through Google's PageSpeed Insights
- Partyslate's Houzz-inspired website and how to apply for a listing as a pro
Want to connect with Julie?
- Online: www.partyslate.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/partyslate
- Instagram: @partyslate
- Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/onpartyslate/
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Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
The Black Lives Matter movement certainly is not new. But the recent deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor have finally brought racial injustice, prejudice and systematic racism to the forefront of America discussions. While the This Week In Weddings podcast is generally about the business of weddings, the awareness to inequality is everybody's business. Join us as we discuss microaggressions toward the black community that you may not have even been aware of.
About our guest:
What Amber Knowles loves most about weddings is the immense love and happiness present on the day. There really is nothing that compares to having all of your family and friends present from around the world in one place, ready to celebrate with you.
As the founder of The Amber Studio, Amber’s artistic vision is to create joyful imagery of the diverse couples she works with. Her goal is to capture the real you, the real way you smile, the real way you laugh, and the real way you love. It's a bigger task than simply documenting your event, her goal is to be your historian. And, she makes it her mission to capture those happy, meaningful, and real moments just as they are.
You can usually find Amber at a yoga class or with a glass of wine in her hand. She is a Cali girl at heart, but will always consider herself a New Yorker after living in the city for ten years. So far she is loving her Texas adventure with her husband, Ed and her cuddly pup, Miles.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Amber's background in the wedding industry
- Amber, Lance and Kimberly's perspectives on what people and businesses are doing wrong when showcasing their support of the Black Lives Matter movement
- Why statements like "You don't act black" and "I don't see color" are offensive to members of the black community
- The group's thoughts about being "on brand" when it comes to speaking out about racial inequality
- How small, incremental changes are better than sudden, sweeping adjustments
- The importance of talking to your children about race
- How you can be a strong ally to the black community
Want to connect with Amber?
- Online: https://www.theamberstudio.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theamberstudio
- Instagram: @theamberstudio
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
Reducing business expenses, and especially right now, is certainly on the top of every entrepreneurs to do list. But how can you still market your business when you have a limited budget to do so? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting all about marketing with a limited budget and what things you can do to stay top of mind without spending large amounts of money. Before you cancel all your marketing activities in an effort to save money, check out this week's episode with Kinsey Roberts.
About our guest:
A marketing strategist for wedding pros, co-owner of Vista View Events, and a Certified Wedding Planner through The Bridal Society, when Kinsey isn’t sitting down with brand-building women for She Creates Business, you can find her co-hosting The Venue Podcast, attending an industry conference, or helping wedding pros build and execute their marketing efforts and content strategy. On the rare occasion she’s not immersed in the world of weddings, she’s likely wandering around the family ranch with her husband and two boys or hosting friends for a fun-filled, family-style dinner.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Kinsey's background in marketing and the event industry
- Reasons for wanting a lean marketing budget, aside from a pandemic
- Why consistency is key in marketing, particularly social media
- Taking an audit of your current marketing efforts before making changes
- The importance of having multiple referral pipelines into your business
- Why video marketing shouldn't be ignored, especially for businesses who focus on SEO
Want to connect with Kinsey?
- Online: www.shecreatesbusiness.com
- Instagram: @shecreatesbusiness
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
Are you over the Zoom call? It's safe to say that this new way of meeting with clients and selling your services isn't going away any time soon, so wedding industry entrepreneurs have to get on board with a new way to communicate. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Eddie Zaratsian about this new world of digital and virtual communication and the changes he's making in his process to adapt.
About our guest:
Eddie Zaratsian is the visionary behind Eddie Zaratsian Lifestyle and Design, a full-service event design and production studio based in Los Angeles, California. With over 25 years of experience, Eddie’s creativity and passion is evident in every aspect of his work, and his ability to imagine and actualize events is unparalleled.
Named as one of the top five international florists by the London Financial Times, Zaratsian has built a reputation as a visionary artist, and his work has been celebrated and featured by Martha Stewart, Harper's Bazaar, Grace Ormonde, E! News and Glamour, among others. Now, through guest lectures and classes globally, as well as private workshops in his spectacular LA Design Studio, Eddie generously shares his extensive business, design and floral expertise.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Eddie's background in the event industry
- Eddie's new BunchBox concept
- Transitioning from in-studio meetings to Zoom calls
- How Eddie is presenting information to potential clients when he can't meet them in person
- Providing design ideas earlier in the booking process
- The proper way to care for an orchid plant
Want to connect with Eddie?
- Online: www.eddiezaratsian.com
- Instagram: @eddiezaratsian
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EddieZaratsian/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMlkNd-3XsWcdnXkIq5pFgA
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
How many events do you want to do in a year? Even more importantly, how many events can you do in a year while still providing excellent service to your clients? While some wedding businesses operate with volume in mind, others take on fewer events and give a higher touch experience. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with wedding planner and designer Wendy Kay about the different business models and the advantages of turning volume into higher value.
About our guest:
With a background in producing and directing live and recorded television for the better part of 10 years, Wendy is the definition of “quick on your feet.” She prides herself on being a solution-oriented problem solver—which has served her well in her 10 years of planning and executing flawless events. Wendy’s passion to create and execute original ideas for each of her couples’ weddings means that in addition to running smoothly, they are a fun, enjoyable, memorable, and tangible pieces of fine art.
With a straightforward approach, Wendy builds a rapport with her clients. She believes that the more she gets to know her couples, the better (and more personal) the wedding will be. Birds of a Feather Events was named a Top Planner to Follow by Martha Stewart Weddings and is on the much coveted “Brides Best Wedding Planners” list.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- The difference between a volume-based and value-based business
- How volume-based businesses have felt the affects of Covid-19
- Some ways you can tell if you're a volume-based business
- Tips for moving from a volume business to one that does less volume but provides extreme value for your clients
- Pricing your services and how that plays into the volume vs. value model
- The biggest thing that goes into making the switch
- For Wendy's background about how she got into the wedding industry, check out our first episode with her here.
Want to connect with Wendy?
- Online: http://birds-of-a-feather-events.com/
- Instagram: @birdsofafeatherevents
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Birdsofafeatherevents
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
Oh TikTok. You so crazy! But is this new social media platform something wedding pros should be jumping on? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a wedding planner who has jumped on the TikTok bandwagon to the tune of 28,000 followers and thinks it's a great way to connect with the next generation of couples. Whether you're already on the platform doing the Savage dance or don't even know what the Savage dance is, this episode is definitely worth a listen.
About our guest:
Sarah Wintersteen is owner and creative director of Sistered States Event Styling, a boutique wedding planning company based out of Dallas, TX. She specializes in creating curated and classic events with a personalized playful twist for her couples. As a fourth generation business owner, Sarah started her event planning business at the age of 22 and has continued to build her business over the past 3 years, bringing personalized and elegant weddings to her couples around the DFW metroplex!
Over the past month, Sarah has taken her business to Tik Tok, the fastest growing social media platform in the world. In just 6 weeks, Sarah was able to grow her Tik Tok following to over 28 thousand followers, averaging around 5 to 10 thousand views on her videos. Taking advantage of this new social media platform, she has been able to share her wedding planning tips and tricks to the next generation of couples getting married!
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Sarah's background and her start in the wedding industry
- The basics of TikTok - what is it? and how does it work?
- Why TikTok isn't all about dancing and lip syncing and how small businesses can use it to connect with their audience
- How TikTok is different from Instagram Stories
- The number of leads Sarah gets each week directly from TikTok
Want to connect with Sarah?
- Online: https://www.sisteredstates.com/
- Instagram: @sisteredstates
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sisteredstateseventstyling
- Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sisteredstates/
- TikTok: @dallasweddingplanner
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
This is the time to dig into projects that have been on the back burner for far too long, and for many wedding pros, that may include updating their website. But the pretty pictures on your company website aren't the only things that are important. The words on your website are just as important, but are left as an afterthought. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Katy Taylor, lead copywriter and brand communication strategist for Ideaction Consulting. She's setting us straight on the importance of the language on your website and how a few strategic tweaks can make a big difference in attracting potential clients and converting them into customers.
About our guest:
Katy Taylor Jacobson is the lead copywriter and brand communication strategist for Ideaction Consulting. Katy, and the team at Ideaction Consulting, help wedding and event professionals find their voice and stand out from their competition. Not stand out by describing how much they love cats or pumpkin spice lattes… But by determining what their clients do, who they really are and how they make a difference in the lives of their customers.
Katy has actual experience selling luxury weddings and events for over 25 years - to brides, grooms, their families, and other event professionals. She knows a thing or two about the way clients buy and what they need to know from you in order to move forward with your services. Because she’s walked in your shoes, with success - selling over $25 million for brands like Warwick Hotels and Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts.
Katy and her husband Sam, founder of Ideaction Consulting, geek out about helping event professionals make more money with how-to sales tactics and techniques that are surprisingly quite simple. When they aren’t teaching event pros at their workshops, they are living their best life on an island, in the middle of the ocean (seriously), with their two 11-year-old kids, Nick & Emily - who are turning them gray while keeping them young.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Katy's background in the wedding industry, from catering sales to consulting and copywriting
- The basic purpose of your website and it's importance in the sales process
- English 101 - including the difference between first person, second person, and third person writing
- Best practices for the language on your home page and how that should different from your about page
- Tips for making the language on your website sound like you actually talk
Want to connect with Katy?
- Online: https://www.ideactionconsulting.com/
- Email: katy@ideactionconsulting.com
- Instagram: @ideactionconsulting
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/groups/sellweddingslikeapro
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
With events not taking place throughout the country in the near future, wedding pros are being forced to take time off. But what are you doing during the down time to make it productive? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with wedding planner Sara Bauleke, who is no stranger to taking sabbaticals. She shared with us in Episode 124 how and why taking a sabbatical can be transformative, and in this episode we're chatting about how this Covid-19 imposed break is so different. From giving yourself grace to brain dumping that neglected to-do list, we're chatting all about the ways we're getting through this challenging time in our lives and businesses.
About our guest:
Sara Bauleke, a wedding planner & designer, has been creating modern, fun filled weddings that are distinct reflections of her clients' personalities for over 15 years. A logistics expert who's also a creative, Sara brings a rare combination of skills and savvy to wedding production.
Sara is a West Coast native who, as the daughter of a minister has been surrounded by weddings her entire life. After relocating across the country, Sara founded Bella Notte in Washington, DC in 2004. Sara and her team are passionate about working with modern couples on creative, quirky, and fun weddings that are still stylish and sophisticated.
Sara's work has been featured in countless magazines, including Martha Stewart Weddings, and Town and Country and Bella Notte has been named one of Washington's Best Wedding Planners by Washingtonian Magazine for over a decade straight. While they take pride in these accomplishments, they're most proud of their personalized approach with each couple, resulting in a wedding that truly represents their personal style, as well as a fabulous wedding celebration for all involved.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Sara's previous sabbatical experience and how this time is emotionally different
- Why we should of lower our expectations for productivity during this time of crisis and cut ourselves some slack
- The importance of writing down your backlog of to-dos
- Choosing projects to work on based on how you're feeling in the moment
Want to connect with Sara?
- Online: www.bellanottedc.com
- Instagram: @bellanottedc
- Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/bellanottedc/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/bellanottedc
SUPPORT THE PODCAST!
Have you gotten value from This Week In Weddings? If so, it's time to pay it forward! Your contribution of as little as 10-cents a day will help us offset our costs, like file storage, web hosting, and editing. Plus, a larger donation gets you perks, like access to a private Facebook group to discuss each week’s episode!
Check out the ways you can contribute to the show.
With so much unknown about when events will take place again, it’s no wonder that wedding pros around the world have fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of change. Fear about money. Fear about what will happen with their businesses and livelihood. But what if we could use that fear as motivation instead of something...
With events not taking place in the coming weeks, all of us in the wedding industry have a little bit of down time. There’s never been a better time to take a look at your online presence and do an audit of your brand. But what does that even mean? And how do you do...
If you’re anything like us, you’ve been thrown into a whole new world where it’s difficult to tell what day it is, your workspace isn’t what it used to be, and your “co-workers” (a.k.a. children) don’t understand what business hours are. Welcome to the new world of shelter-in-place and working from home! In this week’s...
If there’s one thing that the coronavirus has taught us, it’s that as business owners we can never be too prepared. Just like a tornado or an earthquake, COVID-19 is a disaster, and now that the event world has a little bit of down time because of it, what should we be doing to be...
Tom Hanks. Andy Cohen. Idris Elba. We all know what they have in common. And without a doubt, the list of stars who have first-hand experience with COVID-19 is going to continue to grow just as the list of ordinary people who contract it continues grows. Truly, no one is immune. In this week’s episode...
You guys… what in the holy hell is going on??!? COVID-19 is hitting us all in the event industry HARD, and now is the time to look at your business and adjust as best you can. In this week’s episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we’re chatting with Michelle Loretta about ways to...
We’ve said it a million times, but without a sale, you don’t have a business. And most of us in the wedding industry haven’t had formal sales training experience. In this episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we’re chatting all about sales techniques as well as the different personality types that you might...
If you’re wanting to make the move into the luxury wedding market, you have to have a high end portfolio. And while not every wedding client may have a six- or seven-figure budget, there are certainly ways to make a piece of every wedding stand out. In this episode of the This Week In Weddings...
If you’ve ever considered going into business with a friend, this week’s episode is a must listen! From the importance of doing things the legal way to figuring out how to cope with different work styles, there’s a lot to consider. And how do you work through conflict in business without it affecting your friendship?...
This week’s podcast episode is a special treat as it’s the first LIVE recording of the This Week In Weddings podcast! Take a glimpse into the Meeting of the Minds Breakfast from the BeSage Conference 2020 in Austin, Texas. Conference attendees submitted questions in advance and during the breakfast we workshop them with the group....
If you live in a large market, there likely is an event industry or wedding industry networking group that you can be a part of, from NACE and ILEA to WIPA and ABC. But for those in a smaller market or for professionals that looking to network with a subset of your colleagues, there might not be a group that's perfect for you. Maybe you should be the one to start it! In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about wedding planner Michelle Garibay who started a networking group in her local market. She's sharing some tips on how she did it, why she did it, and some tips for someone who may want to start a networking group of their own.
About our guest:
Michelle Garibay Events launched in 2006 on the island of Oahu after her husband was temporarily transferred there. With political and corporate event experience under her belt in San Diego and then the move to Hawaii, Michelle made the transition to weddings and quickly realized that was where she was supposed to be. After returning to Southern California in 2011, Temecula became home for Michelle’s family and company. Relocating again meant that she would need to rebuild her company again, so she has built her company from the ground up not once but twice. Both times, networking and building solid relationships played a huge role in the growth and trajectory of her business. Her efforts to challenge the status quo and redefine the perception of what it means to get married in Temecula continues to help grow the area’s recognition as a sought-after wedding destination. She’s not interested in just helping her business succeed, but wants the entire market to shine, too.
She has won various design awards, been featured in numerous print and online publications and in 2017 Michelle was named a top 50 wedding planner in California. Michelle is a speaker and an educator, has taught a wedding planning certification course at the University of La Verne, and was named a Wedding Pro Educator by The Knot Worldwide in 2019, continuing for 2020. She is also the incoming Director of Education for the Southern California chapter of Wedding International Professionals Association for 2020, a member of the Palm Springs NACE chapter, and is involved with the Inland Empire and Orange County chapters of the Association of Bridal Consultants.
Continuing education and building meaningful connections are cornerstones to her company’s success. Going into her 14th year of business, Michelle Garibay Events specializes in destination weddings and serves all of Southern California, Hawaii, Mexico and beyond.
When Michelle isn’t planning weddings, she enjoys all that Temecula has to offer with her husband, two children, Madison and Carson, and their two rescue dogs.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Michelle's background and how she got started in the wedding industry
- The national networking groups that Michelle is a part of and how she noticed a hole in her local market for something different
- The organic way that the networking group began
- The guidelines that Michelle and the core group who started the networking group came up with in order to keep the group's members at the same level
- How the financial aspects of the networking group work
Want to connect with Michelle?
- Online: https://www.michellegaribayevents.com/
- Instagram: @michellegaribayevents
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michellegaribayevents
- Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/michellegaribayevents
This episode of This Week In Weddings is sponsored by Honeybook.
For business owners, being busy is often an understatement. With client work and just running the day-to-day operations, there often aren't enough hours in the day. But in today's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about shifting your mindset (and boundaries) so that you're not just busy... but are better! We're chatting with wedding planner Jennifer Thye about the "busy" epidemic and ways to combat it.
About our guest:
As founder and principal designer of Imoni Events, Jennifer is known for planning intimate affairs for destination clientele with classic taste and charm. With an eye for sophisticated design and an inherent love for organizing logistics, Jennifer has been honored with awards from many print and online publications during her career, but her favorite accolade is getting that grateful hug from her couples at the end of their event. Clients have always been the motivation for Imoni Events’ existence, and by 2005 the company had made its mark on the wedding industry in Arizona. Under her leadership, Imoni Events has grown into a national brand that celebrates the beauty of her home state, while elevating design and customer service to a level that clients are honored by and extremely happy to be a part of.
Jennifer holds a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction and is an advocate for continued education. With this is mind, Jennifer founded The Wedding Symposium in 2011 as a way to surround the industry with conversations on best practices and good business. While the focus of this annual symposium is on education and collaboration, it is known for creating deep and meaningful change in her community and continues to be the education event of the year for her local market.
When she is not working, you can find her planning her next beach vacation, grabbing wine or sushi with her girlfriends, catching up on Game of Thrones, hosting her crazy family get togethers, or quietly snuggling her three little ones. Most importantly, Jennifer is married to her college sweetheart and credits a lot of her life and achievements to his constant love, guidance, and support.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Jenni's background and how she got started in the wedding industry
- Jenni's philosophy about being busy and setting boundaries
- Block scheduling as a method for better controlling your work and calendar
- How Jenni uses weekly phone calls with her clients to keep them under control
- Boundaries, boundaries, boundaries!
- How to train your clients and vendor partners to the communication methods that work best for you
Want to connect with Jenni?
- Online: https://imonievents.com/
- Instagram: @imoni_events
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImoniEvents/
This episode of This Week In Weddings is sponsored by Honeybook.
For many entrepreneurs, business ideas come faster than you can actually be executed. And if serial entrepreneur sounds like something you would use to describe yourself, you've come to the right place. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with wedding planner Annie Lee, who has created a successful planning business, while working additional side hustles that fuel her passion for entrepreneurship.
About our guest:
The daughter of an interior designer, Annie Lee is the principal planner of Daughter of Design, author of Learn to Speak Wedding: Flashcards for Beginners and founder of the virtual planner startup Plannie.com. Annie is recognized as “The Wedding Doctor” by Refinery29, “the wedding doyene” and expert by Brides Magazine, and “celebrity entertaining expert” by People Magazine. She has been a speaker at Engage! Summit, The Knot Workshop, and The Bridal Masterclass. Daughter of Design is listed in Harper Bazaar’s Top Planners of the World, as well as “The Knot Wed 100” and a “Top Planner” by Martha Stewart Weddings. Annie planned the 1st New Year’s Eve wedding in Times Square, 14 Valentine’s Day weddings atop the Empire State Building, and the 2012 Knot Gala.
Beyond social events Annie has a background in the arts working for the San Francisco Opera and Tribeca Film Festival. Recently her corporate business has also boomed with clients including Benefit Cosmetics, One & Only Palmilla, Tatcha, Baccarat, BeautyBlender, Huda Beauty, and Birchbox.
Daughter of Design is based out of New York City and Miami but produces events in destinations worldwide.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Annie's background and how she got started in the wedding industry
- Serial entrepreneurship and how to manage different ideas simultaneously
- What Annie needed to do in order to allow time in her schedule for secondary businesses
Want to connect with Annie?
- Online: http://daughterofdesign.com/
- Instagram: @daughterofdesign / @speakwedding / @askplannie
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This episode of This Week In Weddings is sponsored by Honeybook.
We've said it a million times, but without a sale, you don't have a business. And the number of clients you are meeting with doesn't matter nearly as much as the number of pieces of business that is actually closed. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with wedding planner Tracie Domino about techniques to increase the close rates.
About our guest:
Tracie Domino is Founder + Creative Director of Tracie Domino Events, a boutique wedding planning company based in Tampa, Florida and Deer Valley, Utah.
Her stylish expertise and relatable sophistication has made her a trusted consultant to business leaders, professional athletes and high society since 2002. Tracie designs and produces fun, memorable events for her clients in destinations across the US and in the Caribbean.
Tracie is a Certified Special Events Professional and has received industry accolades, including being a three-time featured speaker at the Engage Luxury Wedding Business Summits on the topics of sales, community involvement and Indian weddings. PartySlate named her one of the Top 50 Event Planners in the United States and she was named to the BizBash 1000 list. She is often called on by the national media for her opinions on the weddings and event industry.
Tracie is the ten-time chair of the Outback Bowl Gridiron Gala, one of the most highly regarded business/social events in the Tampa Bay area. She has served on boards for The Junior League of Tampa, Special Events Magazine, the Florida State University Alumni Association, the Outback Bowl, and High Risk Hope. Tracie is also a member of Leadership Tampa Alumni.
Tracie is an honors graduate of Florida State University and received her Master’s degree from the University of South Florida.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Tracie's background and how she got started in the wedding industry
- How to think of selling as solving a problem vs. just selling a service
- Why figuring out your ideal client is crucial as selling
- The importance of knowing your strength and selling points and why people are coming to you vs. someone else
- Tips for asking for the sale without it feeling sales-y
Want to connect with Tracie?
- Online: http://traciedomino.com/
- Instagram: @traciedomino
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/traciedominoevents
This episode of This Week In Weddings is sponsored by Honeybook.
It's a new year, and that means a fresh start, new goals, and an opportunity to make headway with better habits. While setting goals seems basic, there are some proven strategies that give you a greater chance for success. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with wedding photographer and educator Lin Pernille who has a passion for annual goal setting. Not only will you hear the interesting story of how Lin's enthusiasm for goals began, but you'll also learn some of her best practices for creating goals that you'll want to stick with.
About our guest:
Lin Pernille is a wedding photographer, videographer, and educator based in Hudson Valley, NY, just north of New York City. She specializes in vibrant, natural, and cheerful weddings, proposals, and events.
Lin is known for her upbeat, high-energy personality, meticulous attention to detail, and her ability to capture the mood of every event. Her work has been featured on HuffPost Weddings, Westchester Wedding Planner, Zola, How They Asked, and many more.
She also teaches workshops & courses to photographers & small business owners of all levels, and has taught at Creative at Heart Conference, The Rising Tide Society, Toms Guide, She Creates Business, and Focused Podcast.
When she’s not shooting, editing, or teaching, Lin is probably trying out a new keto recipe, redecorating her house, or hiking a new trail with her boyfriend Corrado.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- How Lin got started with photography and when she quickly transitioned to weddings
- Lin's background that made goals such a priority for her family
- Best practices for writing out your goals, including the SMART goals method as well as Lin's signature DOPE goals.
- Some of the biggest mistakes people make when setting goals and how to avoid them
- Lin's tips for keeping your goals top of mind throughout the year
- Lin's FREE goal setting workbook at www.linpernille.com/TWIW
Want to connect with Lin?
- Online: www.linpernille.com and www.linpernilleeducation.com
- Instagram: @jlinpernille
This episode of This Week In Weddings is sponsored by Honeybook.
In this casual episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, Kimberly, Annie and Lance kick off the new year by reflecting on their favorite episodes of 2019 and also chat about their 2020 goals.
As a business grows, there often comes the need to grow your team and bring on employees. But how do you make sure that the staff you bring on aren't just punching the time clock but are true representations of your company and brand? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with wedding planner turned business consultant Jen Taylor about some tips for creating brand ambassadors within your business.
About our guest:
Jennifer Taylor is the owner and founder of Taylor’d Event Group, a leading event planning company that serves local and destination clients in Washington State and Maui, HI. She is also the principal of Jen Taylor Consulting, a consulting firm that works with creative businesses of all sizes to implement streamlined workflows and organized systems to find more time and space for business growth and personal development.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- How Jen got started in the wedding industry after helping friends with their weddings
- The growth of Jen's company from one employee to five
- What the difference is between someone who is an employee and someone who acts as a brand ambassador
- The tools Jen used in her company to train your team
Want to connect with Jen?
- Online: https://www.jentaylorconsulting.com/
- Instagram: @jentaylorconsulting
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenTaylorConsulting/
This episode of This Week In Weddings is sponsored by Honeybook.
Being a serial entrepreneur is not a foreign concept to many of us. Often times, when you've built a successful business, the idea of creating another one is exciting. But, if you have grand plans for another business or even a spin-off of your current offerings, how do you make time for the new adventure. In this week's episode of This Week In Weddings, we're chatting with a wedding industry entrepreneur who successfully created a secondary brand when she saw a need in the market. Listen in to hear the circumstances that led her to come up with her second business idea, the research that she did before launching, and how she is able to manage two separate, yet connected, businesses.
About our guest:
Kirsten Palladino is the editorial director and cofounder of Equally Wed, the world's leading LGBTQ+ wedding website. She is the author of Equally Wed: The Ultimate Guide to Planning Your LGBTQ+ Wedding (Seal Press), and the creator and lead educator of Equally Wed Pro, the LGBTQ+ inclusive certification course.
Kirsten and her company have won awards from Glamour magazine, Atlanta Business Chronicle, Time magazine, Rising Tide Society, Honeybook, the Webbys and Fenuxe magazine. She has been featured in a variety of media outlets including The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Forbes, Chicago Tribune, The Knot magazine, Out magazine, Martha Stewart Weddings, Brides magazine, The Advocate magazine, Glamour magazine, NPR, CNN and more.
Kirsten regularly speaks on stages around the globe as a Wedding Pro Educator for The Knot and WeddingWire, as well as for other conferences such as Engage! Luxury Wedding Business Summit, WIPA, Rising Tide Society, Wedding Industry Education and more. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her wife and twin sons.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- How planning her own wedding made Kirsten interested in joining the wedding industry
- How and when Kirsten decided to open a secondary branch of her business
- The biggest thing Kirsten did with her main business to allow her the time to create another one
- How she markets her two different brands to two different audiences
Want to connect with Kirsten?
- Online: http://equallywed.com and http://equallywedpro.com
- Instagram: @equallywed and @equallywedpro
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/equallywedmagazine and http://facebook.com/equallywedpro
This episode of This Week In Weddings is sponsored by Honeybook.
Wedding planners are a great source of wedding referrals and can be a perfect conduit to repeat business. But how do you get on a wedding planner's preferred list? And even more importantly, how do you stay on that list? In this week's episode of This Week In Weddings, we're chatting with a seasoned wedding planner about that things to do to make yourself stand out in a planner's eyes. And, of course, Kimberly can't help but add her own two cents about the topic as well!
About our guest:
Saundra is the owner of planning forever events, an event planning business based in Evansville, Indiana. For the last 16 years, she is known to create weddings and celebrations that become treasured memories forever, usually, with large liquor and bar tabs.
She entered the event planning world with many years of business experience under her cap; such as, corporate event planning for doctors and selling advertising/media campaigns to all ranges of businesses. Real-world business experience, managing expectations, budgeting, marketing, and strong sales skills, has helped her maintain her longevity.
Saundra never dreamed of being a wedding planner. Instead, she fell into this crazy event world through luck and has stuck it out through grit and creating collaboration with other wedding professionals to produce outstanding events.
Ten years ago, Saundra was invited to speak at an intimate event planning conference. With her extensive background in sales training from her advertising job and a passion for the subject of selling to clients, Saundra developed the Get Real Sales Coach seminars to teach other industry professionals “How to Close the Deal”.
She has brought her no-nonsense, straight-forward delivery to stages across the country, including Australia, at conferences such as the Association of Bridal Consultants, The Special Event, NACE, privately funded conferences, and her own workshops. Currently, she has elected to pull back from speaking engagements and applauds her friends and peers that are on the speaking circuit.
Saundra could go on and on about her published articles, but really, she knows no one really cares. She is, however, proud that for the past 13 years, she has worked for a local ABC morning lifestyle show, producing and delivering wedding content for live TV and co-anchoring special events such as the Royal Wedding.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Saundra's experience in the wedding industry
- How to best reach out to a wedding planner for the first time (and what not to do)
- What will get you on a wedding planner's shit list
- Tips for working with planners and their clients
Want to connect with Saundra?
- Online: https://www.planningforever.com/
- Instagram: @planningforever
This episode of This Week In Weddings is sponsored by Honeybook.
Weddings are expensive, and most couples go into the planning process with absolutely no idea how much what they want actually costs in the real world. As wedding vendors, how can we communicate clearly with couples about wedding costs and why we charge what we do? In this week's episode of This Week In Weddings, we're chatting with wedding planner Mary Wright Shah about some best practices for clearly communicating costs and budgets throughout the planning process. Whether you're a wedding planner or represent another vendor category, this week's episode will give you some real takeaways for talking about numbers with couples.
About our guest:
Considered one of the top wedding planners in the country and founder of Diamond Affairs Weddings & Special Events, Mary Wright Shah is dedicated to providing the highest level of service, detailed perfection and flawless execution of her events. With over 20 year’s experience in hospitality, consulting, planning, designing and producing luxury weddings and social events in the country and around the world, she is one of the most respected and sought-after wedding planners. Mary and the Diamond Affairs team have the ability to go well beyond the traditional roll of a wedding planner, they offer an extensive knowledge in design, access to world-class locations, venues and vendor relationships.
Mary is known for her heightened attention to detail to texture and interiors. By layering the details, she creates a one-of-a kind experience for her brides and their guests. With her leadership even the most complex wedding is able to unfold with style and perfection. Her wonderful relationships with the best creative partners in the country allow clients to put together the perfect team of professionals to create the event of their dreams and exceed all expectations.
A devoted wife and mother of three boys, Mary loves style, inspiring food and wine, traveling and especially great interior design. She continues to invest in her ability to innovate and enjoys coming up with new trendsetting ideas with her current and future weddings & events.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Mary's twenty years of wedding industry experience
- Pre-qualifying clients prior to meetings so that no one's time is wasted
- Tips for clearly communicating prices and how vendors can better explain their pricing and policies to clients
- A wedding planner's perspective when it comes to getting proposals from vendors that are above a client's budget
Want to connect with Mary?
- Online: http://www.diamondaffairs.com/
- Instagram: @diamondaffairs
This episode of This Week In Weddings is sponsored by Honeybook.
We communicate every single hour of every single day, but have you ever given thought to how the words that we use shape people's perception of you? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with wedding planner Renée Dalo about language and how the choice of words can either empower or diminish each of us as entrepreneurs.
About our guest:
Wedding planning wasn’t always in the cards for Renée Dalo. Instead, what started out as a seemingly one-time favor for a friend evolved into a thriving side-hustle to her acting career. When it was her turn to walk down the aisle, she flipped the script and discovered that the wedding industry was truly where she belonged. Shortly after her “I do’s,” she started Moxie Bright Events, a boutique wedding planning company, and never looked back.
It wasn’t long before fellow industry pros were looking to her for advice. With over 12 years of experience under her belt, Renée turned her knowledge towards the advancement of the industry as a whole and launched her top-notch educational resources for event pros. In addition to her self-guided Wedding Management e-course, Renée was the co-host of the popular B2B podcast, Rock Your Wedding Biz, and is currently the host of a new weekly podcast, Talk with Renee Dalo.
Renée is a fan favorite on the speaker circuit, taking the stage at conferences across the country, including Wedding MBA, Creative at Heart, Let’s Plan Conference, and Tide Talk LA. She is recognized across the industry, having earned a coveted spot on Honeybook’s 20 On The Rise list, and she contributes frequently to industry publications. She currently serves as the Vice President of WIPA Southern California and has also held leadership roles in The Association of Bridal Consultants and The Rising Tide Society.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Renee's background in theatre and how she shifted into the wedding industry
- How many words the average person speaks in one day
- How the words we use, particularly for women, affect how people perceive us
- How apologizing when there's nothing to be sorry about and using words like "just" and "actually" can reduce your power and undermine your confidence
- Simple steps you can take to reframe your language
- "Playing Big" by Tara Mohr
- Just Not Sorry Google plug-in
- Grammarly
- Podcast - Talk with Renee Dalo
Want to connect with Renee?
- Online: http://moxiebrightevents.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moxiebrightevent
- Instagram: @moxiebrightevents
This episode of This Week In Weddings is sponsored by Honeybook.
Breaking into speaking as an industry expert is no easy feat, but making it to the main stage of a national conference is an achievement of a select few. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with public relations expert Meghan Ely about getting into the national conference speaking circuit. From why to do it to how much it pays, we're digging in deep to making it on the main stage.
About our guest:
OFD Consulting owner, Meghan Ely, combines in-the-trenches event experience with a love of wedding PR to empower her clients to take their businesses to new heights.
A long-time industry speaker and writer, she is a WeddingPro educator with The Knot and WeddingWire, as well as a regular contributor to Wedding Planner Magazine, Wedding Business Magazine, Catersource and SpecialEvents.com.
Meghan represents clients globally and has earned them coverage with the New York Times, Martha Stewart Weddings, The Knot, Refinery 29, Forbes and Real Simple, among other outlets. Her team’s publicity efforts are regularly honored by the Public Relations Society of America. Special Events also has honored her as one of the top 25 young professionals in the event industry.
Most recently, Meghan launched WeddingIndustrySpeakers.com, a go-to resource for in-demand event industry educators.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- How Meghan got her first speaking opportunity at a national conference
- Reasons for wanting to become a speaker at national conferences
- The first steps to take when trying to get into the speaking circuit
- How conferences typically pay speakers and how much you can expect to make as a wedding industry speaker
- Meghan's webinar about Creating Your Own Speaker's Platfrom
Want to connect with Meghan?
- Online: https://ofdconsulting.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ofdconsulting
- Instagram: @ofdconsulting
This episode of This Week In Weddings is sponsored by Honeybook.
In this casual episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, Kimberly and Annie chat about being a guest on a podcast. From the "why" you'd want to be on a podcast to the "how" to pitch to a podcast, they're sharing their best advice for those who might want to break into this media, including a few tips for being a great guest once you are selected for a podcast.
If you have a thriving business, you certainly have to juggle multiple clients at one time. But, how can you make each client feel like they're the only one? Or... better yet, do you even WANT them to feel like they're the only one? In this week's episode, we're chatting with wedding planner Alisha Chadee about creating a cozy (and crazy) courtship with your clients throughout the time you're working with them.
About our guest:
Alisha has a project management background in learning and development, plus 5+ years of experience coordinating corporate events and the director of education for WIPA Toronto. She’s developed a proven planning process for couples who want to know how to create magic on their wedding day. (But not throw money off yachts like they’re in a rap music video.) She thinks in floor plans, endorses moving if you find a spider in your house, and has an oyster obsession.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- How Alisha and her business partner got into the wedding industry
- How Alisha pre-screens clients before signing them to make sure they are a good fit
- How Alisha uses social media to show her clients who she is and what she's all about
- How they track client info and preferences, so they know tiny details of their clients
- When she "friends" clients on social media
- The systems she has in place to give clients information
Want to connect with Alisha?
- Online: http://eventsbywhim.ca/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EventsByWhim
- Instagram: @eventsbywhim
This episode of This Week In Weddings is sponsored by Honeybook.
Burnout in the wedding industry is real! And if you've been in business for any period of time, you've likely had periods of feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or just beat down. But what do you do when you have a period of hating your business? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with wedding photographer Erin Youngren about her own experience and how she made shifts to get back to a business she loves.
About our guest:
Jeff and Erin Youngren are the husband and wife wedding photography team known as The Youngrens. For over a decade now, their deeply emotional style has led them across the U.S. and around the world to photograph wonderful couples they love. Along with The Youngrens, Jeff and Erin also own and manage two other photography brands that photograph weddings and commercial work, plus they coach photographers and run their podcast Creative Rising, a show about what it’s really like to run a photography business. Even as the owners of three brands with a regular team of ten photographers plus a full-time staff of editors, designers, and studio managers, they’ve developed highly effective business models and marketing systems to make sure that their business fulfills the vision for their life, instead of their life being run by their business. Their mission is to help other photographers do the same - build life-giving businesses they love instead of burned out businesses they don’t.
When Jeff and Erin aren’t shooting, traveling, speaking, or podcasting, they’re hanging out with their greatest adventure of all, their son, James, in their home of San Diego, CA.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- How Erin got started in the wedding industry with her husband
- The circumstances that led Erin and her husband to stop loving their business
- The mind shift changes Erin had to make in order to turn around her feelings about her business
- Why the wedding industry is full of burnout
- How working with a business coach has helped Erin and her husband improve their business and perspective
Want to connect with Erin?
- Online: theyoungrens.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/theyoungrens
- Instagram: @theyoungrens
This episode of This Week In Weddings is sponsored by Honeybook.
If you grow your business larger than a company of one, you may find yourself in a situation where you've hired an employee that might not be a good fit. The theory goes that you should hire slowly and fire quickly, but if you need to let someone go, do you know how to do it most effectively? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with two wedding industry veterans who reflect on their experience firing an employee and how they did it completely wrong.
About our guest:
Courtney and Dana are a sister duo based in the Raleigh NC area. They have been in the event industry for almost 13 years and run C and D Events, The Bradford, and Bushel and Peck Florals. Because they are not busy enough - they have recently launched Hustle and Gather - their inspirational/business coaching division designed to inspire and normalize the crazy that comes with entrepreneurship. They laugh and bicker in equal measures and still choose to vacation together! Their dream sister trip is to drink their way through Italy - sans children and husbands!
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- How Courtney and Dana got into the wedding industry
- Courtney and Dana's hiring journey, going from just the two of them to full time employees and part-time contractors
- How and when they knew the employee wasn't a good representation of their company
- How they communicated the change of employment with the employee, and how they wish they'd done it differently
Want to connect with Courtney and Dana?
- C & D Events: http://www.canddevents.com / IG: @canddevents
- The Bradford: http://www.thebradfordnc.com / IG: @TheBradfordNC
- Bushel and Peck: http://www.bandpdesigns.com / IG: @BushelandPeckWeddings
- Hustle and Gather: IG: @HustleandGather
This episode of This Week In Weddings is sponsored by the OFD Collective.
Understanding millennials has been a challenging endeavor for anyone in older generations. And just as we think we understand them, another generation is in the mix! Known as GenZ, this group was born between 1995 and 2015, and the oldest of this group will be the next round of wedding clients. Do you know what makes this group tick, how to communicate with them, and what their hot buttons are? In this week's episode of This Week In Weddings, we're chatting all about Generation Z and what we need to know.
About our guest:
Brittny Drye is the founder and editor-in-chief of Love Inc., the leading equality-minded wedding blog and print publication. Her inclusive efforts have been celebrated by the New York Times, Forbes, The Advocate, OUT Magazine, Refinery29, NY Daily News, Cosmopolitan, and more. She is a founding member of the Aisle Society, a member of the 2018-19 North American Advisory Board for the International Academy of Wedding & Events and a 2019 Knot Pro Educator.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Brittny's background in the wedding industry
- GenZ's thoughts on gender and gender identity
- The racial makeup of this generation
- Communication styles of this younger generation
- What GenZ is looking for when it comes to their weddings
Want to connect with Brittny?
- Online: https://loveincmag.com/
- Instagram: @loveincmag
This episode of This Week In Weddings is sponsored by the OFD Collective.
Without sales, you don't have a business, but what are some new, creative strategies for building your business and getting more sales? In this week's episode of This Week In Weddings, we're chatting about ways to think outside the box when it comes to sales and expanding your network that are often overlooked.
About our guest:
Erica Taylor Haskins is a Founding Partner of New York City-based event production company Tinsel Experiential Design, formerly known as Tinsel & Twine.
Tinsel is committed to redefining luxury events through the execution of imaginative, immersive experiences for private clients and for brands like Mercedes-Benz, Spotify, L'Oreal, and Condé Nast. Tinsel has proudly produced events at iconic institutions like The New York Public Library, The Guggenheim Museum, The Rainbow Room, and One World Observatory. The team’s work has been featured in Vogue, WWD, Forbes, and Town & Country, with the company named recently as one of the Top 50 Event Designers in North America.
Before Tinsel, Erica worked in account management and business development on a number of advertising agency teams across consumer, technology, and media verticals. With this professional experience, Erica’s expertise lies in her ability to manage in-house and vendor teams throughout the lifecycle of any project. Her experience has also given her a deep understanding of how to leverage authentic relationships to reach target audiences. She brings an intimate knowledge of the creative process, a practiced degree of diplomacy, grace under fire, and an instinct for mutually beneficial business partnerships to Tinsel.
Beyond Tinsel, Erica is the Northeast Regional Coordinator for The Jackie Robinson Foundation, a national non-profit organization founded to perpetuate the icon’s legacy through scholarship, leadership, and service. She was honored as one of JRF’s “42 Under 40” distinguished alumni. Erica is committed to sharing her business journey with other aspiring entrepreneurs. She is also extremely passionate about attending Broadway shows, enjoying naptime with her french bulldog (Mayhem, May for short), writing to Congress daily, travel to soak in blue waters, blue skies, red meat, and red wine.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Erica's background in the event industry
- Ways to expand your network using some of your favorite past clients
- Finding the connectors in your network for expanding your circle
- Asking for introductions to key people
- How LinkedIn can be an under utilized resource for networking
- Personalized gifting for wooing potential clients
Want to connect with Erica?
- Online: http://tinseldesign.com/
- Instagram: @tinseldesignnyc
This episode of This Week In Weddings is sponsored by the OFD Collective.
Are you giving your clients the highest level of service? While giving concierge-level service to your clients might be ideal, there certainly is a fine line between bending over backwards to every client's whim and having boundaries with your own life. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a wedding planner and designer about offering concierge-level service to clients and what that looks like for her and her team.
About our guest:
Jeannette Tavares has been with Evoke Design & Creative since 2010. Over that time, she has designed, planned and executed a plethora of mesmerizing client experiences all around the world.
For the first eight years, she worked alongside Evoke’s founder, Jodi Moraru, as they built one of the most innovative event planning businesses on the East Coast. Then, in the summer of 2018, Jeannette acquired Evoke from Jodi and has since grown both the business and the team to the impressive collection of experienced professionals that it is today.
Jeannette possesses a broad array of experiences that highlight her ability to deliver high-end large-scale events, as well as the most customized of intimate gatherings. Her vibrant personality, logistical prowess and motivation to deliver uniqueness are what set her apart.
One of the strongest influences in Jeannette’s life has been her Portuguese upbringing. She is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish, and she never misses an opportunity to let her clients’ culture and family shine through in even the most subtle of ways. This multi-cultural background has also been instrumental in allowing her to seamlessly build out Evoke’s destination business. Over the last several years, she’s produced publication-worthy events in places like Greece, Portugal and Spain, in addition to multiple cities throughout the United States.
Jeannette has been named Top 25 Event Planners under 30 from Special Events Magazine. And, you may have seen some of her work featured in Harper’s Bazaar, Inside Weddings , Martha Stewart Weddings, Modern Luxury, Town & Country, Washingtonian Bride & Groom, and more…
Prior to Evoke, she executed experiential events across the Washington, D.C., region for Washingtonian Magazine, while serving as their Events Manager. Jeannette evokes creativity, irresistible energy, appreciation for culture and an eclectic style.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Jeannette's background in the wedding industry
- What concierge-level service means to Jeannette and her team
- How Jeannette's team rearranges their schedules to accommodate their clients
- Thoughts on balance when it comes to offering this level of service to your clients.... is it even possible?
- Ideas for going above and beyond for your clients
Want to connect with Jeannette?
- Online: http://www.evokedc.com/
- Instagram: @evoke_dc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EVOKEDC/
We all know that it's important to have a web presence as a small business owner. But what are the biggest website mistakes that entrepreneurs are making? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a web developer about website nightmares and the easiest ways to avoid them. From slow loading websites, website hacking, and terrible web designers, we're digging into ways to protect yourself from website nightmares!
About our guest:
Brenda Cadman is a website educator and owns Bon Accord Creative, a website education and web development company based in Charlottetown, on beautiful Prince Edward Island in Atlantic Canada.
After spending nearly 20 years supporting small businesses with their websites, she now has a keen interest and focus on empowering wedding industry and other creative professionals to build their website confidence and to learn how to better protect their websites.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Brenda's background in web development and how she began working with wedding clients
- Why updating Wordpress software and plug-ins is really important for avoiding getting hacked
- Having a proper backup system in place for your website
- What you need to know in terms of logins and passwords for your website, hosting accounts, and domain names
- Tips for avoiding a web developer nightmare
- Things you should be asking when hiring a web developer
- VaultPress (Backups for WordPress)
- Siteground (Hosting)
- Sucuri (Security Plugin)
- iThemes Security Pro (Security Plugin)
- Wordfence (Security Plugin)
- LastPass (Password Management)
- Brenda's website planning guide, including a list of logins you should have: https://BonAccordCreative.com/guide
Want to connect with Brenda?
- Online: Bon Accord Creative
- Instagram: @brendacadman
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BonAccordCreative/
Mental health and mental illness have historically been a taboo topic, but there's no reason it should be. With one in five Americans suffering from some sort of mental health condition, there's no reason it should be hidden in the shadows or seen as something of shame. In this week's episode of the This Week’s In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with wedding industry veteran Beth Chapman about how mental illness has affected her family, including the steps she's taken in her own life to protect her mental health as a busy entrepreneur.
About our guest:
Beth Lindsay Chapman is a veteran of the fashion industry and is known for her work as a bridal boutique owner, stylist mentor, author, and wedding fashion consultant. After her tenure as a Vice President of Merchandising for Ann Taylor, her love of bridal fashion, and sincere desire to create a memorable shopping experience for brides, compelled her to launch The White Dress by the shore, a luxury bridal boutique, in 2004. Beth is also the founder of Beth Chapman Styling + Consulting. After running a bridal store herself for over a decade, she recognized a need for support and education for bridal store owners. Her passion for teaching and education and her desire to empower independent bridal retailers, has led her to mentor other bridal store owners on elevating their brand and increasing their sales and business profitability.
Beth is also a sought after stylist. She not only assists brides in selecting their for fashion for their wedding and provides day of wedding dressing services, but she works with publications and brands on styled editorial shoots. Beth’s fashion artistry has allowed her to style editorial shoots throughout the world. Her work and voice can be seen in: The Knot, Martha Stewart Weddings, Inside Weddings, BRIDES, Destination I Do, Cayman Vows, Well Wed Magazine, Bliss Celebrations Magazine, Vows Magazine, style me pretty and 100 Layer Cake.
She is the co-author of two books, The White Dress in Color, and The White Dress Destinations and has also contributed to Wedding Bible by Sarah Haywood, and Simple Stunning Bride by Karen Bussen.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Beth's background and how he got into the wedding industry
- How mental illness has affected both of her children, and the difficult journey she and her husband went through to get them properly diagnosed and treated
- Medication for mental health issues, and why Beth wishes she had jumped on board sooner
- What Beth learned about managing her own mental health after spending years focused on her children's
South Asian weddings are a huge market. And with large guest lists and multiple days of events, it's no doubt that this is a segment of the market should not be ignored. If you're not currently working with this market segment, this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast is for you. We're chatting with wedding photographer Gurminder Banga about his experience with this market and things to know about working with this demographic.
About our guest:
To Gurminder Banga storytelling is everything. Taking over the family business over 10 years ago, he takes all the photography and life lessons he learned along the way to lead the way for the new era of the Banga Studios family. Photographer and a creator, this artist has a way of building a relationship with everything and everyone that he encounters, letting him in to capture an essence and an element they didn’t even know existed within themselves. Barstarzz all-star and the most chill vegan we know, GB is a believer in growth and stepping outside of your comfort zone. He knows how to push it to the limit and knows that when you reach for the moon, at least you’ll land among the stars.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Gurminder's background and how he got into the wedding industry
- The biggest differences between South Asian weddings and Western weddings
- The importance of family with this particular demographic and how that shows in the wedding planning process
- Ways to educate oneself about South Asian weddings, including Gurminder's online course, the South Asian Training Guide: https://thegreatestguide.com/go
Want to connect with Gurminder?
- Instagram (business): @bangastudios
- Instagram (personal): @g.banga
Have you ever wondered if a life coach could help you propel forward your big goals and dreams? Or better yet, are you curious what having a coach is like, what they do, and how it all works? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with wedding photographer Molly McCauley about her experience with coaching workshops, as well as one-on-one business coaches and life/success coaches. She's sharing with us all the ins and outs and how these experiences have been beneficial to her and her business.
About our guest:
Born in Green Bay, WI, Molly had her sights set on a big city from an early age. She attended university in Minneapolis, then ventured to work and study in London, England, before landing in Los Angeles where she built her business.
With a degree in Design, Photography, and Retail Merchandising, and a Masters degree in Fine Art Photography, Molly has spent the last decade traveling as a lifestyle, editorial, and special event photographer. She has circled the globe a number of times and is sought out for her clean and classic photography, but more importantly the experience she provides her clientele.
Her passion for personal branding launched her photographic branding program for social media influencers to create cohesive and consistent content for their online presence. Noticing a lack of business owners actually being "seen", she is excited to assist in giving folks imagery of themselves and their brand that they LOVE! Because of this, she co-founded Brand Camp Retreat in 2018 which is a luxury getaway for female entrepreneurs who are looking to up-level their business and brand — and enjoy a glass of while while they do it!
Getting to know Molly, you'll find her cozied up with her doodles, finding inspiration in her favorite design coffee table books, snacking on some popcorn during her morning movie dates with her hubs, and always passport ready!
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Molly's background and how she got into the wedding industry
- The three types of coaching experiences Molly has had
- Molly's experiences with group coaching and one-on-one coaching
- How the style of each of her coaching experiences was perfect for what she needed at that point in time
- Her experience with a business-focused, male coach and a more nurturing female coach
- The logistics of meeting with a coach (in-person vs. over the phone, and how frequently)
- How to go about finding a business or life coach
- How coaching helped transform her business and her mindset
Want to connect with Molly?
Molly + Co * Website: www.mollyandco.com * IG: @mollyandcophoto * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mollyandcophoto
Brand Camp * Website: https://www.brandcampretreat.com/ * IG: @brandcampretreat * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brandcampretreat/
If you're growing your business, hiring employees is inevitable. But finding and hiring good people isn't always easy. How do you figure out what you need in an employee and then interview for those skills? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Katie Elder about some best practices for finding, hiring, and interviewing for your team.
About our guest:
Katie Elder, PhD started her professional journey when she pursued a degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and became a consultant to companies looking to improve their hiring, onboarding, training, team dynamics, management, or leadership. Essentially, anything that has to do with the ‘people part’ of an organization. She has over 15 years of experience and has consulted with Fortune 500 companies in the tech and banking industries, government agencies, and small businesses.
Four years ago, she undertook a new adventure with her husband. They purchased and renovated her grandfather’s barn for their own wedding and create a wedding venue, Overlook Barn, to rent out to others. In those four short years, she has built a thriving wedding business that hosts over 60 weddings a year and has been recognized by Martha Stewart, The Venue Report, Southern Living, and others as a top wedding venue.
With People Part Consulting, Katie merges two of her life passions--management consulting with wedding industry and small business professionals.
Katie earned her PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from George Mason University and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Statistics from North Carolina State University. She has presented dozens of times at professional conferences, has publications in peer-reviewed journals, taught college courses as an adjunct professor, and even has a book chapter in the The SAGE Encyclopedia of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 2nd edition.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Katie's background and how she got into the wedding industry
- The first step in hiring and how the job is the most important thing to consider
- Where to find potential employees
- The science behind hiring and the multiple steps to the process that make it most effective
- The types of interview questions that are most effective
Want to connect with Katie?
PeoplePart Consulting
- Website: www.peoplepartconsulting.com
- Instagram: @overlookbarn / @peoplepart
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/peoplepartconsulting
Overlook Barn
- Website: www.overlookbarn.com
- Instagram: @overlookbarn / @peoplepart
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/overlookbarn
It sounds so simple and obvious – Work hard and be nice to people. But it's not always as easy as it sounds. If you don't know your "why" or simply not finding your own joy, working hard and being nice to people can be a challenge to do on a daily business. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with wedding photographer Charla Storey, who has some tips on incorporating this mantra into your daily life.
And for full disclosure... there are some slight audio issues in this week's episode. Stick with it, as there are definitely some nuggets of wisdom that make it worth it!
About our guest:
Charla Storey has been a photographer for more than a decade. Traveling the world and experiencing everything it has to give made one thing very clear in her mind, and that is that people are valuable and the moments they live are worth being remembered. She has a profound love for helping people see their value, allowing them to feel beautiful and capable. Both in educating fellow photographers and in photographing her clients, this gift has transformed her as an artist.
Charla believes she has a huge responsibility to do her job excellently because the moments she is entrusted with are legacies that live long past the minutes she is with her clients. This reason is also why she is an educator, because teaching others means empowering them to make a living that not only enriches their life, but leaves lasting legacies for those they have the honor of photographing.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Charla's background as a portrait photographer and how she made the break into weddings
- How the philosophy of "Work Hard and Be Nice to People" became a mantra for Charla
- Knowing your why and why it's important
- The importance of realizing some people just aren't for you
- Social media, jealously and comparison
Want to connect with Charla?
- Website:https://charlastorey.com
- Instagram: @charlastorey
- Charla's Wedding Crashers Podcast
Sometimes you just need a break... and not just a day off, but an extended period of rest and rejuvenation. Professors and ministers often take sabbaticals, why can't you? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Washington, D.C. based wedding planner Sara Bauleke, who has successfully taken not one but two extended breaks from her business. She's sharing the why she did it, how she did it, and how you can do it too.
About our guest:
Sara Bauleke, a wedding planner & designer, has been creating modern, fun filled weddings that are distinct reflections of her clients' personalities for over 15 years. A logistics expert who's also a creative, Sara brings a rare combination of skills and savvy to wedding production.
Sara is a West Coast native who, as the daughter of a minister has been surrounded by weddings her entire life. After relocating across the country, Sara founded Bella Notte in Washington, DC in 2004. Sara and her team are passionate about working with modern couples on creative, quirky, and fun weddings that are still stylish and sophisticated.
Sara's work has been featured in countless magazines, including Martha Stewart Weddings, and Town and Country and Bella Notte has been named one of Washington's Best Wedding Planners by Washingtonian Magazine for over a decade straight. While they take pride in these accomplishments, they're most proud of their personalized approach with each couple, resulting in a wedding that truly represents their personal style, as well as a fabulous wedding celebration for all involved.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Sara's background and how they got into the wedding industry
- How Sara was feeling when she needed a break
- How she fit the sabbatical/long vacation into her existing schedule
- How setting client expectations is the most important aspect of planning for a break
- Communicating the break to clients, potential clients, and vendors
- The financial aspects of taking a break and how to plan for it
Want to connect with Sara?
- Website: www.bellanottedc.com
- Instagram: @bellanottedc
- Pinterest:https://www.pinterest.com/bellanottedc/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/bellanottedc
The year is halfway over! In this casual episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, Kimberly and Annie chat about their favorite episodes from the first half of the year as well as their goals for the last half of 2019.
Oh, time off. It can be hard to come by when you have a busy event schedule. But did you know that forcing yourself to take time off can actually make you more productive when you are working? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with return guest Kelly McWilliams who is sharing how she's started arranging her calendar to allow for 5 days off per month and how doing so has made her even more productive each week. If taking time off is hard for you, this is a must-listen episode!
About our guest:
A Florida native, Kelly McWilliams, a destination wedding planner-designer has been producing weddings, social events and celebrations since 2002. In 2018 her business expanded beyond Florida to formally include Nevis, West Indies and Punta De Mita Mexico to her roster of islands and Waterfront cities which already included Sanibel, Captiva, Marco, Boca Grande, Naples & the Florida Keys. Her company, Kelly McWilliams Celebrations, Weddings & Parties, has been a leader in the destination wedding industry in SW Florida by keeping the local industry community based and fostering over 40 college student internships. She helped to put the not so metropolitan area on the map for destination weddings through media press & publish and by bringing what was “big and happening” in the major metropolitan areas back to this small region on the Florida Gulf Coast. In 2016 Kelly also began consulting with venues to help them “up their game” to obtain the appeal for more luxury weddings clientele.
When it comes to creating weddings, Kelly’s most known for her designs which are subtle with statements. Her goal is that the events are as equal in beauty as they are an outstanding experience no guest will ever forget; and that they are as personalized as they are traditionally elegant. Her weddings have graced the pages of The knot, Inside Weddings, Brides, Destination I Do, Modern Luxury, Destination Weddings, Style Me Pretty, Celebration Society, Bridal Guide and countless others. She has been quoted on CNN, NBC, Fox and spoken at countless industry conferences around the globe.
Kelly has been married to her husband also named Kelly for over 20 years and is a mom to daughters Madeline & Emily and her dog Monreau Gray. In the upcoming year Kelly will be expanding her commitment to sharing her expertise with her IGTV channel for engaged couples and small group 2 day intensives and calendaring workshops for wedding professionals.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Kelly's background in the wedding industry
- Kelly's first episode on the This Week In Weddings podcast
- Kelly's experience with burnout and how she realized she needed more time off
- Why forcing time off makes you more productive
- How Kelly communicates with her clients and vendors that she is taking the time off
- Kelly's "Calendaring for Brain Peace" class as part of her 2 Day Work Away intensive
- Discount code for the 2 Day Work Away: TWIW
Want to connect with Kelly?
- Website: KellyMcWilliams.com / 2DayWorkAway.com
- Instagram: @KellyAMcWilliams / @2dayworkaway (if applicable)
- IGTV channel: @KellyAMcWilliams
- Facebook: Kelly McWilliams Celebrations / 2 Day Work Away
Public speaking has widely been one of the most common fears for people, but if you're trying to establish yourself as an expert in the industry, public speaking is inevitable. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a public speaking coach who shares some tips for preparing, practicing, and presenting your way to a better public speaking.
About our guest:
Jezra Kaye, President of Speak Up for Success, is a Brooklyn-based public speaking coach, workshop leader, speechwriter, and keynote speaker with more than 25 years of experience in corporate, not-for-profit, and start-up communications. Her clients range from CEOs to celebrity chefs, and from scientists to social entrepreneurs. A former jazz singer, she is the author of three popular books on public speaking and a novel, and has co-authored three books on management and fundraising best practices.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Jezra's background as a jazz singer and how she became a public speaking coach
- Writing a speech vs. speaking impromptu
- Tips for practicing public speaking
- The scientific reason that drinking alcohol before giving a speech is a bad idea
- Why public speaking is a physical exercise
- Jezra's book "Speak Like Yourself – No Really"
Want to connect with Jezra?
- Online: http://speakupforsuccess.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/speakupforsuccess/
If your to-do list is overflowing and things just aren't getting done, you might need help. But help doesn't have to come in the form of a full-time employee. A virtual assistant could help with some of your back office tasks without the expense of an employee. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a virtual assistant focused on helping creative businesses about what a virtual assistant is and how you can leverage their services to get more done.
About our guest:
Adrienna McDermott is a former bridal boutique owner and wedding planner turned virtual assistant. She is the owner of Ava And The Bee, a virtual assistant and social media managing company for wedding professionals.
Adrienna has been in the wedding industry for 10 years, 5 years working and managing bridal salons, and 4 as the co-owner of Ivory & Beau, a wedding planning, bridal boutique and florist in Savannah, Georgia. Over the last year, she has grown her virtual assistant company and now works full time with two team members.
With her fine arts degree from Savannah College of Art and Design and the experience of opening 3 business before the age of 28, she has acquired unique knowledge on how to start a business, flourish, and scale. Her work has been seen in print and online publications, including Savannah Weddings Magazine, Green Wedding Shoes, 100 Layer Cake and Ruffled.
Adrienna is also passionate about educating others to become freelance virtual assistants. Through her mentorships and course, The Creative VA Academy, she helps women create businesses of their dreams.
When she's not working in her pajamas and top-knot, you can find her with a cup of iced coffee, living in central New York with her tri-pawd black lab Cooper, slightly overweight cat Brutus, and Army Veteran boyfriend, Frank.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Adrienna's background in the wedding industry and how she went from wedding dress shop owner to virtual assistant
- How to know if your business is a good fit for a virtual assistant
- The types of tasks that a Virtual Assistant can take off your plate
- Tips for working with a Virtual Assistant
- Free Outsourcing Guide download
Want to connect with Adrienna?
- Online: https://avaandthebee.com/
- Instagram: @avaandthebee
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/avaandthebee/
Going through any tragedy is tough, but when you're an entrepreneur, dealing with personal issues can be even more problematic as it can ultimately affect your business. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a wedding planner and designer about how he dealt with the death of his spouse while building a business and raising children.
About our guest:
A nuptial maestro, for almost a decade, José specializes in bringing comfort to a process that’s famously filled with tough decisions and mounting stress when it comes to weddings. He quickly made a name for his chill vibe and generous command. His planning and design aesthetic has made him one of the top rising wedding planners in NYC.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- José's background in the event and wedding industry
- The circumstances of José's husband's tragic death and how he learned of his husband's death
- How José leaned on his wedding industry family to get through the most difficult time of his life
- Communicating with your clients about what's going on and making sure they're taken care of
- How to balance staying present in the industry and also taking time for yourself
- The importance of having a will in place
Want to connect with José?
- Online: http://www.joserolonevents.com/
- Instagram: @joserolonevents
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoseRolonEvents
In this casual episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, Kimberly and Annie chat about tips for prepping for the summer months. From kids being out of school to going on vacation (without a laptop!), the two hosts are dishing about their hits and misses when it comes to gearing up for the summer months with a wedding business.
It would be awesome to never have a crazy client, but if you've been in the wedding industry for any period of time, you're likely not that lucky. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about dealing with challenging clients, and even more importantly, how to see the crazy coming!
About our guest:
Jamie Quickert hails from Detroit Michigan and has become a nationally known leader in the hospitality industry. For the past several years Jamie has been a featured speaker at NACE Experience, Catersource, Wedding MBA, and ILEA. She has also been a featured speaker for several industry webinars and written articles for large publications. Jamie has proudly lead her sales and events team in several high profile events and galas around the country and has won several local and national awards for catering.
Jamie is warm and personable on stage and often uses humor (and sing-a-longs) to engage the audience. While she enjoys teaching sales techniques and how to handle difficult clients and Networking and Social Media she is most passionate about is mentoring and encouraging others in the hospitality industry. If you ask her why she would say “It is one thing to speak to a group of professionals as an expert and teach them sales techniques or how to problem solve or deal with difficult clients. It is another to stand before a group of people and be vulnerable and honest and try to encourage them and inspire them to work harder and dream bigger and use their voice.”
While she specializes in working on event budgets, contract negotiation, and profitability - she knows that to be truly effective at this job you need to believe in beauty and love and a little bit of magic.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Jamie's background in the event and hospitality industry
- The types of difficult clients
- Qualifying your clients
- Tips for communicating with challenging clients
- Knowing when to draw the line with a difficult client
Want to connect with Jamie?
- Online: http://dia.org/
- Instagram: @mrsquickert
As a busy entrepreneur, it can be incredibly difficult to do all the things. And when you're working IN your business, you're likely not taking a strategic role and working ON the business. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with an entrepreneur who hired full-time employees to replace himself in the daily operations so that he could take a more strategic role and pursue other business interests.
About our guest:
After a brief stint in the entertainment industry, Jake Anderson discovered his passion for lighting design and the rest was history. He founded Lighting Professors in 2012 with the intention to transform events around Central Virginia through careful and innovative lighting design. Since then, Lighting Professors has grown by leaps and bounds and Jake has had the opportunity to grow his team and move to a 2,000+ square foot warehouse. This shift has allowed him to take a step back and maintain his role as strategic manager, while developing his newest endeavor, FêteTech, with the goal of providing technology solutions that eliminate friction for event professionals everywhere.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Jake's background and how he went from booking talent to DJ'ing to lighting professional
- Why Jake decided to replace himself in his own company
- How Jake oversees his company while living three hours away from the business
- Jake's suggestions for business owners who might want to step away and take a more strategic role
Want to connect with Jake?
- Online: https://fetetech.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fetetech
- Instagram: @fetetech_inc
Oh Instagram! It's the social media channel of choice for so many in the wedding industry, but are you using Instagram Stories as effectively as you could be? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with photographer Abby Jiu about leveraging Instagram Stories to show your personality and behind the scenes of your business in order to boost your sales. If you've just dipped your toe in the IG stories waters, this episode is for you!
About our guest:
Abby Jiu has had a passion for gorgeous imagery and creating art since before she can remember. Her style is the best of both worlds, using film cameras and digital cameras to catch the stolen glances, fits of laughter, and heartfelt emotions sprinkled among the ever-important beautiful details that make each couple’s wedding day unique. She loves having the opportunity to get to know her couples, watching the personalized touches come together and using the relationship she’s built to preserve precious memories on film.
When she’s not behind the camera, Abby fills her time with her husband Jamey, a bossy bulldog named Lola, and traveling abroad. She’s received numerous accolades for her work, including being named one of Martha Stewart Weddings’ Top Photographers and Washingtonian Editor’s Pick. You can see her work on the pages of Brides, Martha Stewart Weddings, The Knot, Southern Weddings, Washingtonian Bride & Groom, and Southern Living Weddings and many more.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Abby's background and how she booked her first weddings
- Using Instagram stories to better connect with couples
- The difference in the Instagram feed and Instagram stories and how to use each one for different purposes
- Infusing your personality in Instagram stories
- Ideas for behind-the-scenes stories that work well on Instagram
- Getting over your hesitation and showing your face on your IG stories
Want to connect with Abby?
- Online: www.abbyjiu.com
- Instagram: @abbyjiu
The event industry is a challenging one, and as wedding industry entrepreneurs, we're often putting ourselves last on the priority list. But what happens when you make the conscious decision to prioritize yourself (and your health) and transform both your body and your mind? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with DJ Nate Nelson, who is sharing his story of his dramatic weight loss and how the transformation has changed his life. This week's episode isn't just about weight... it's about a shift in mindset!
About our guest:
While most students were studying for finals in college, Nate was fine tuning his life skills. Mixing it up in the college nightlife scene reflected in his grades, but the value of learning the art of mixing music early in his career would pay off in the end. Fast forward 15 years, Nate can now buy all the sneakers he wanted growing up. That's the true meaning of success, right?
Nate started his Dallas DJ career bouncing from bar to bar, it wasn't until he met his mentor and business partner, Glenn Roush, that he leaped head first into the private event world with LeForce Entertainment. Nate's resume includes intimate night clubs, festival stages, working with celebrity athletes such as Lindsey Vonn, Alex Rodriguez, Sean Lee, Adrian Beltre and opening for Waka Flocka and Travis Scott. Nate keeps finding himself leveling up his event game by bringing a high energy, club atmosphere to his weddings and corporate events.Nate is a key founder of Kings of Prom, a festival-inspired school dance production company.
Nate grew up in Oklahoma then transplanted to Dallas after falling love with his dream girl. Nate and his wife, Jennifer, married in 2008 and have two beautiful daughters, Mollie and Kate.
In this episode, listeners will hear about: * Nate's background and how he got into the events industry * The transformation Nate recently made, resulting in a weight loss of more than 100 pounds * How mindset has made the biggest difference for Nate's transformation * Nate's goal of being a multi-dimensional person by focusing on fitness, family, faith and finance * How the transformation that Nate has made both physically and mentally is paying dividends in his business
Want to connect with Nate? * Online: https://www.djnatenelson.com/ & https://leforceentertainment.com/ * Instagram: @djnatenelson * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/djnatenelson * Mixcloud: https://www.mixcloud.com/djnatenelson/
Most small businesses fizzle before hitting their five year anniversary, and the wedding industry is no different. With vendors coming and going, how do you become one of the more tenured folks that sticks around and continues to thrive? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Katie Easley of Kate Ryan Design, who is sharing her tips for having a career in the wedding industry that lasts. From networking to furthering your education, Katie tells it like it is and shares her best advice for making it for the long haul.
About our guest:
Leading floral stylist and event designer Katie Easley of award-winning Kate Ryan Design set out with one goal: to create joy for her clients. And she did just that, establishing Scottsdale-based Kate Ryan Design, combining her interior design background with her love of florals.
Thanks in part to her roots in corporate interior design, Katie quickly grew her small business to sales of over a quarter of a million dollars a year, catching attention of the Society of American Florists, who honored her as ‘Marketer of the Year’ in 2012.
This accolade launched her consultancy and since then, Katie has worked with small businesses throughout North America on their sales prospecting, growth strategy and client experience. Ultimately, her goal is to help others grow by defining the value they bring to the marketplace, so that they can close more sales with their ideal clients.
Katie is a regular fixture on television, and her worked can be seen in the pages of Grace Ormonde, Modern Luxury Magazine and the Chicago Sun-Times, among others. She is the immediate past president for WIPA Phoenix, and an acclaimed industry speaker.
In this episode, listeners will hear about: * Katie's background in interior design and wedding planning, and how that led to her current passion of floral and event design * Why networking never gets old and continues to be important throughout your career * Katie's tips for being well connected in the industry, and not just through social media * Katie's easy tips for connecting with other vendors in your market prior to an event * The importance of communicating to vendors who used to refer you, but are not doing so any longer
Want to connect with Katie? * Online: https://www.kateryandesign.com/ * Instagram: @kateryandesign * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kateryandesign
When you're a wedding entrepreneur with a strong local target market, the idea of relocating to another city can be overwhelming. From starting from scratch in a city that doesn't know you to hustling like you're a newbie, moving a wedding business is no joke. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a wedding planner who successfully moved her business from Dallas to Atlanta and lived to tell about it! Listen in for her tips for moving (or "expanding") to a new city as a wedding industry entrepreneur.
About our guest:
With a passion for celebrating love and life’s unique moments and milestones, Ebony’s talents have evolved into a successful career as a wedding and event planner. With a degree from Michigan State University in elementary education, her engaging personality and organizational skills have allowed her to effortlessly crossover from education to event planning!
Ebony is the owner and principal planner of Ebony Peoples Events & Design, an award-winning event planning and design boutique where traditional elegance meets modern glam! A native of Flint, Michigan, Ebony officially launched her company in Dallas, Texas in January of 2011. Her planning expertise and eye for design, color, and texture enabled her to open a new office in Atlanta, Georgia in 2017!
From Michigan to Dallas to Atlanta, Ebony has become a highly sought after planner. She has been recognized by mainstream media such as Ebony (magazine), Munaluchi Bride, and Modern Luxury. She was recently named one of The Atlantan’s 2018 Women of Power & Influence! With this, and truly being a people-person at heart, Ebony has created an exclusive brand that is known for exceeding client expectations while producing high-end weddings, social celebrations, corporate events, and galas. Ebony takes pride in being detail-oriented, catering to each client’s personal style, and learning about the latest trends and influences in the wedding and event industry!
In this episode, listeners will hear about: * Ebony's background and how she went from elementary school teacher to wedding planner * Why Ebony and her husband decided to relocate to a new city * How Ebony communicated her move to clients and vendors * How Ebony got connected to her new city and wedding vendors prior to officially making the move * The struggles with being a newbie in the market when you have years of experience under your belt
Want to connect with Ebony? * Online: www.ebonypeoples.com * Instagram: @ebonypeoples * Facebook: www.facebook.com/ebonypeopleseventsanddesign * Twitter: www.twitter.com/ebonypeoples
We all know that social media is a great way to market your wedding business. But we also know, that Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media channels could go away at any time. And with algorithms changing all the time, it's clear that small business owners have no control over these avenues of marketing. What we can control is our own marketing efforts, and building an email list and speaking directly to our clients, potential customers and vendor partners through email is certainly worth considering. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about email marketing strategies and how entrepreneurs can use an email list to promote their businesses and get directly into the inboxes of their audiences.
About our guest:
Kristi Drago-Price is the Founder and Creative Director behind Editor’s Edge, a boutique creative agency specializing in elevated brand development for established businesses. With her Fine Arts education from the Fashion Institute of Technology and School of Visual Arts with years of professionally photographing weddings and over a decade of consumer experience as the photo director of Condé Nast BRIDES magazine, Kristi has acquired a unique range of knowledge. She can bring a project from concept to production, while art directing the creative, managing a team, balancing budgets and sticking to deadlines. Her experience working at top media companies, from Condé Nast to The Knot Worldwide and HEARST, is evidence of how seamlessly she collaborates with commercial, editorial and emerging brands.
Kristi’s photo art direction work spans genres across fashion, beauty, menswear, food & beverage, lifestyle, interiors, and travel content for use in web, print, e-commerce, and social media formats. With her 360° understanding of the marketplace, Kristi founded Editor’s Edge to empower entrepreneurs in elevating their business to a cohesive brand through digital content. Providing no-nonsense consulting, creative direction and hands-on content creation Editor's Edge discovers, targets and translates the "special sauce" of each client to develop a brand message and strategy as genuine as they are.
In this episode, listeners will hear about: * Kristi's background in photography, print magazines, and weddings * The importance of having an email list in order to better control your marketing efforts * The three things that good content should do - intrigue, inform and inspire * The biggest mistakes that people make when it comes to email newsletters * https://www.grammarly.com
Want to connect with Kristi? * Online: editors-edge.com * Instagram: @editorsedge * Facebook: facebook.com/editorsedge * Join Kristi's newsletter: Text the word EDGE to 345345
If you're wanting to earn more without working weekends or working more events, having higher paying clients is the way to do it. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about sales strategies for getting higher paying clients with sales strategist Maria Bayer.
About our guest:
Maria Bayer is a sales & mindset strategist, coach & wealth creator. She is the creator of “Irresistible Selling” – an online group coaching program she designed to help creative business owners book high-paying clients quickly (often on the spot!), grow their business and design a life they love. Maria teaches the authentic selling and mindset strategies that helped her triple her income in less than a year, and go on to book over $25 Million in sales from companies like Target, Best Buy, Ulta, Office Max and Hyatt.
After working together, Maria’s clients often 2x - 5x their revenues year over year as they continue applying her strategies. Maria also leads a private Facebook Mastermind group of talented creative business owners called Learn Collaborate Flourish. Maria is a national speaker, and has authored and co-authored several Kindle books, and her articles have been featured throughout the creative industry. Maria holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Illinois, UrbanaChampaign, and currently resides in the Scottsdale area with her husband Tim and fur-baby Gia, usually with a cold brew in hand.
In this episode, listeners will hear about: * Maria's background in sales and her transition to working with creative businesses * How to be successful in sales without being a stereotypical sales person * How to set up a sense of urgency early on with potential clients * Why higher paying clients are helpful for preventing burnout * How mindset affects your ability to book higher paying clients
Want to connect with Maria? * On the web: www.MariaBayer.com * Facebook: www.facebook.com/mariabayerfan * Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/learncollaborateflourish * Instagram: @mariabayer1
Networking can be a critical way to get you and your business noticed and connected in the wedding industry. But sometimes networking can be awkward. How much can you really discuss the weather?! In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about networking tips to go beyond small talk to make genuine connections.
About our guest:
Sam is a Drummer, Band Leader and Sales guy with The In10City Band. Originally from Australia, Sam relocated to the States in 2014 and had to start from scratch. He didn’t know a single person in the Events industry, in fact, he didn’t even have one single friend or connection when he moved here.
In his mid-twenties Sam became the Store Manager for Australia’s largest Musical Instrument Retailer, Billy Hyde Music. He was the youngest Store Manager in company history by 15 years!
Sam played in a few cover bands in Perth, some big ones too and had now found his identity. A Retail Operations Manager by day, Rock drummer by night!
The In10City Band has grown to become one of the most booked bands in Texas, with 9 In10City bands, almost 2,000 gigs under their belt and the 2019 winner of the NACE ‘Best Entertainment Award’ and the American Association of Wedding Planners ‘Favorite Band.’
In this episode, listeners will hear about: * Sam's background as a musician * How Sam moved to the United States and built a network when he knew absolutely no one in the city * The mindset Sam tries to have when attending networking events * Sam's tips for open-ended questions to ask to get a conversation started
Want to connect with Sam? * On the web: https://www.in10cityband.com/ * Instagram: @in10cityband / @samriseondrums
Being in a business partnership can almost be like a marriage. You're sharing responsibilities, stress, and profits! But what happens when the partnership is no longer serving you well? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with wedding photographer Cameron Clark, who started as a solopreneur, gained a business partner, and then went back to being in business by herself. We're digging into the pros and cons of having a business partner, as well as the steps for dissolving the partnership.
About our guest:
After nineteen years as a professional photographer, Cameron still enjoys capturing real moments within the chaos of a wedding day. She draws inspiration from fashion, photojournalism and art. She has photographed weddings all over the world from Brazil to New York.
Cameron Clark Photography has been published in Brides, Southern Weddings Magazine, Style Me Pretty, The Knot Magazine, Charleston Weddings Magazine, Destination Weddings Magazine, Wedding Chicks, Pacific Wedding Magazine, Over the Moon, and Destination I Do.
Cameron's top goal is to maintain a respected, profitable national luxury business that fosters creativity, entrepreneurship and provides and family-centered lifestyle. Cameron, her husband and two children reside in Flagstaff, Arizona.
In this episode, listeners will hear about: * Cameron's background in photography and how she got into the wedding industry * How Cameron went from being a solopreneur, running her business by herself to having a business partner * How and when Cameron and her business partner knew that they needed to make a change * The legal and logistical implications for breaking up a business partnership * Things that Cameron wished she would have done differently in the process of forming a business partnership
Want to connect with Cameron? * On the web: www.cameronclarkphotography.com * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cameronclarkphotography * Instagram: @cameronclarkphoto
Have you been putting off something that you need to do? As an entrepreneur, you're in charge of your own day to day schedule, and with that freedom comes a certain responsibility to manage your own tasks. There's no boss telling you when you have to get something done! If you're prone to procrastination, this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast is for you. We're chatting with a clinical psychologist who has gone from procrastinating to productive and is sharing her best practices.
About our guest:
Dr. Christine Li knows the true secrets for how to live life procrastination-free — and she’s ready to share them with you. She rescued herself from the tight grip of procrastination, and as a result, feels compelled to share the steps she took to bring calm and happiness into her life again.
She uses her experience as a clinical psychologist and former hard-core procrastinator to identify the factors that cause her clients to avoid and delay the work they should be doing. Once her clients understand the reasons they’ve been stuck in the vortex of procrastination, Dr. Li helps them let go of what has been blocking them so they can start using their natural talents and motivation to work with much greater clarity, ease, and success.
In this episode, listeners will hear about: * What procrastination is and how it can affect you and your business or career * Dr.Li's experience as a procrastinator and how she changed her ways * Why procrastination isn't always bad * Steps you can take to be more productive * Text WEDDINGS to 44222 for a free download
Want to connect with Dr. Li? * On the web: https://www.procrastinationcoach.com * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/procrastinationcoachdrli/ * Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/procrastinationcoach * Instagram: @procrastinationcoach * Twitter: @christineliphd
If you're an entrepreneur in the wedding industry, you understand how challenging it can be to run a wedding business... but what if you have thoughts about running not one, but two different business? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Chris Jesperson, who runs both a wedding videography business and an event venue. We're hearing how he decided to jump into another area of the event industry and how he manages both.
About our guest:
Chris Jespersen is a Cleveland based entrepreneur working in the events industry. Chris has filmed weddings and events all over the world and has recently opened one of Cleveland’s biggest event venues.
In this episode, listeners will hear about: * Chris's background in videography and how he started thinking about getting into another area of the event industry * How Chris manages two businesses simultaneously while also traveling * Chris' philosophy of just jumping in and not overthinking too much before starting a new venture
Want to connect with Chris? * On the web: http://www.storyboxcinema.com/ * On the web: https://themadisonvenue.com/
When opportunities present themselves for expanding your business, do you jump on them? Or when a part of business isn't working, are you able to shut it down and move on quickly? Being nimble in business can enable you to multiply your success or minimize your losses, but it's not always easy to do. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with event designer Todd Fiscus, who is sharing his experience with the various stages of his business. From adding divisions and employees to his company and expanding to multiple cities, and even closing divisions and reducing head count, Todd's sharing his experience over the years and his tips for knowing when (and how) to change course.
About our guest:
Todd Fiscus, head of the highly acclaimed design team at his namesake company, Todd Events, has become synonymous with extraordinary events around the globe. From exquisite weddings, to corporate affairs, to charity galas to intimate occasions, the company has been the premier source for special events for over twenty years in locales from Maine to Mexico. Known for creating contemporary “life excursions” that capture the client’s personality, Fiscus has established himself as the expert authority to ring up when you want to celebrate with style. He never fails to provide a unique and memorable experience through artful detail and flawless orchestration—from concept to completion. With an impressive client roster that includes the likes of powerhouse brands such as Tom Ford, Salvatore Ferragamo, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, the Dallas Cowboys, amfAR, Audi, and Neiman Marcus – just to name a few – it’s no wonder Fiscus has received major accolades in the event industry. He has been named one of the Top 35 Event Designers (2013) and a Top Innovator (2012), by special event industry giant, Biz Bash.
His work is so revered, he was recently featured in the Wall Street Journal for his creative work and as a leader in the field. He also speaks at numerous wedding and event industry events around the country each year. Fiscus’ clients also include prominent private individuals around the country, a bevy of noteworthy professional athletes, and several distinguished civic organizations. He is unquestionably the “man with the plan” when it comes to unparalleled events. Fiscus and his work have been featured in numerous publications including Elle Décor, Town & Country, Better Homes and Gardens, Wall Street Journal, Southern Living, Gourmet, Vanity Fair, The Robb Report, The London Times, InStyle Weddings, Western Interiors, Condé Nast Brides, Veranda, and Texas Monthly. He is also a member of The Knot’s Luxe List, an exclusive circle of top celebrity wedding and event designers.
In this episode, listeners will hear about: * Todd's background and how he went from working in catering sales to being a leader in event design * The size of Todd's business at its largest, and the challenges that included * The reasons Todd decided to close some of the divisions of his business * Todd's learned lessons about growing his business incrementally
Want to connect with Todd? * On the web: http://www.toddevents.com/ * Instagram: @toddevents and @toddspartypeople
Without a sale, you're not in business, so having a sales strategy is important for any wedding industry business. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Meryl Snow, who is sharing her sales tips and strategies for the wedding industry, including ways to make your business stand apart from the initial contact.
About our guest:
With nearly 30 years in the special event and catering industry, Meryl Snow is on a mission to help businesses get on their own path to success. As a Senior Consultant for Certified Catering Consultants, Meryl travels throughout North America training clients in the areas of sales, marketing, design and branding. She speaks with groups from the heart with warmth and knowledge, and covers the funny side of life and business.
In this episode, listeners will hear about: * Meryl's background in catering and events * How important it is to show potential clients how you're different from your competitors so that they aren't shopping by price * How asking the right questions to a potential client can increase your sales * Following up with clients with new and innovative ideas to upsell
Want to connect with Meryl? * On the web: https://www.merylsnow.com/ * Instagram: @merylsnow * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/snowconsultant
With so much coming at us 24/7 in social media and the news, it can be challenging to keep a positive attitude. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Cyndie Spiegel, whose positive outlook and boss lady empowerment is contagious. She's sharing her tips for staying positive through all of life's challenges.
About our guest:
Cyndie Spiegel is a Brooklyn-based small business consultant, coach, author and TEDx speaker. She is also the founder of The Collective (of Us), a small business accelerator for women and The Community (of Us), an online hub for conversation and change-making community.
She is on a mission to empower 100,000 women to build BOLD businesses and conversations by the year 2020.
Her straight talk and visionary perspective on creating women-owned businesses, overcoming imposter complex and embracing fear; inspire women globally to build bold, profitable businesses.
She is a sought-after speaker for creative conferences around the country and has been featured in Entrepreneur, Forbes, Glamour Magazine, Teen Vogue, and The Huffington Post.
In this episode, listeners will hear about: * Cyndie's background in fashion and how she knew it was time to pivot to something else * Quick tips for changing your perspective to be more positive * Cyndie's suggestion for starting or ending your day on a positive note * Cyndie's book, A Year of Positive Thinking: Daily Inspiration, Wisdom and Courage
Want to connect with Cyndie? * On the web: http://www.cyndiespiegel.com/ * Instagram: @cyndiespiegel * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CyndieSpiegelBizPage
When a natural disaster strikes in your area or some other tragedy of significance takes place, do you have a plan for how you'll communicate to your clients, vendors, and community? The saying goes that you never think it will happen to you, but having a plan in place for the just in case is never a bad idea. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Christie Osborne, who is an expert in the field of crisis communication and getting some advice on how best to address and move forward when a crisis strikes.
About our guest:
Christie Osborne is the owner of Mountainside Media, a company that helps event industry professionals and small businesses develop scaleable marketing strategies that bring in more inquiries and leads. She is a national educator with recent speaking engagements at NACE Experience, WIPA and the ABC Conference. She also serves as an Advisory Board Member for the North American Academy of Wedding & Event Planning.
In this episode, listeners will hear about: * Christie's background in the wedding industry as well her experience being FEMA certified in social media crisis communication * Christie's best advice for communicating to your clients and audience when there is a crisis (natural disaster or otherwise) that affects your business * The best places to get information as a crisis is unfolding * Why a plan for crisis communication is critical before a crisis happens
Want to connect with Christie? * On the web: https://mountainsidemedia.com/
In this casual episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, Kimberly, Annie, and podcast editor Lance share some of their favorite episodes. After 99 episodes, there are certainly some things they've incorporated into their businesses for the better! Plus, hear some of the trios personal and professional goals for 2019.
Sometimes a client you thought was going to be a perfect fit for your business turns out to not be. If you've ever found yourself in the position of wanting to fire a client, this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast is for you. This week, we're chatting with wedding planner and designer Wendy Kay, who has successfully ended more than one client relationship and is sharing her experience and tips for having done so.
About our guest:
Wendy Kay is the owner of Birds of a Feather Events, a boutique wedding planning and design firm that focuses on outdoor and destination weddings and offering their clients a concierge-level experience.
Wendy has a background in television production where she produced and directed live television and called the shots - literally! After 8 years of 60 hour work weeks and feeling a disconnect between the subject matter and her clients, the burnout was real.com and she decided she needed a change or she was going to drown. Around that same time she was planning her own wedding, her best friend's wedding, and another friend's sister's wedding, and she was thriving! She had found something that combined the love she still had for her current job, but a whole new creative outlet. She was in her element. When she came home from her honeymoon, she got to work. She paid someone on Etsy a whopping $300 to design her logo, website, and her business cards. She was a real wedding planner, the card said so! She soon realized that planning someone else's wedding is much scarier than planning your own. She knew what she knew, and it was not a lot! She is so thankful for those girls who took a chance on her in the beginning and hired her, but really, what were they thinking? She battled through those first months, still working her 60-hour-a-week production manager job in TV mind you, got some education through the AACWP (which was pretty base-level, and she said needed it), and 8 years later she is still here, so much wiser.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Wendy's background and how she went from producing television to producing weddings
- How Wendy knew it was time to cut a client loose and how she did it in the early days vs. now
- What Wendy has learned about pre-qualifying clients and making sure a client is a good fit
- The steps Wendy has taken to be prepared legally for letting a client go
Want to connect with Wendy? * On the web: www.birdsofafeatherevents.com * Instagram: @birdsofafeatherevents * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Birdsofafeatherevents
Hurricanes, and tornadoes, and wildfires... oh my! A natural disaster can have a devastating impact, but have you thought about the impact it could have to your business? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Clara Hough, whose Houston-based linen company was impacted by Hurricane Harvey. In this episode, Clara shares her experience of dealing with event cancellations, closing the office, and still maintaining payroll during the devastation along with things she has changed in her business as a direct effect of that experience. No one wants to think about the what ifs, but this week's episode is sure to get you thinking about your back-up plans, closing policies, and the amount you have socked away for a rainy day!
About our guest:
When you first meet Clara one can’t help but notice her cute little accent and lively personality. At only 5’3” and with a sense of style that is envied by most, this native Venezuelan has taken the Houston events industry by storm.
Clara attended the University of Houston, Bauer College of Business Administration where she graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Minor in French. After building a strong catering background, Clara endeavored to become a business owner in 2005 and launched House of Hough, which quickly became Houston’s top specialty linen rental company.
Clara has been inducted into the Houston Business Journal 40 under 40, and her company has landed in the University of Houston’s Cougar 100 fastest growing companies for five consecutive years. House of Hough has also been recognized as the Best Linen company by the Bridal Extravaganza Show and by The Knot Magazine “Best of Weddings." Clara has been a leader in the events industry for many years. She served on Houston board for the National Association for Catering and Events (NACE - Houston Chapter) for 12 years. Some of her accolades through this association include Member of the Year, Chapter of the Year for two consecutive years (during her presidency), and being selected to chair the 2017 NACE Experience National Conference.
In 2015 and due to her involvement in the events industry and with the University of Houston, Clara was recognized as an Honorary Alumni of the Hilton School of Hotel and Restaurant Management. In addition to that, Clara recently received the University of Houston Alumni Rising Star Award for Achievement which purpose is to recognize and honor motivated young alumni who exhibit leadership, involvement and who have excelled beyond the norm early in their careers.
When asked, Clara would say that her most important contribution to the industry has been creating the Christopher and Clara Hough Annual Scholarship at the UH Conrad Hilton School of Hotel and Restaurant Management. Through this scholarship she has been able to assist out of state and international students with their college tuition, therefore allowing them to continue their education when it otherwise may have been difficult or impossible.
Clara’s work has been published in The Knot, Southern Living, Southern Bride, 100 Layer Cake, Elle Décor & Modern Luxury Weddings, amongst many other publications.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Clara's background in the wedding and event industry
- Clara's experience with Houston weather and specifically Hurricane Harvey from August 2017
- What going through the hurricane taught Clara about operating her business through a natural disaster
- How Clara kept her business afloat when income wasn't coming in because of the hurricane
- The things Clara has learned and changed about how her business operates as a result of weathering the storm
Want to connect with Clara? * On the web: http://houseofhough.com/ * Instagram: @houseofhough * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HouseofHough/
How much information do you gather about potential clients before meeting with them or working with them? While Facebook stalking seems like a fairly standard practice, gathering additional information from wedding couples about their needs and wants in advance can make it even easier (and more efficient) to sell your services. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a destination wedding planner who books almost all her wedding business without an in-person meeting. Listen in as she shares her tips for gathering information in advance as well as making a connection with a potential client through email and phone.
About our guest:
Amy Abbott is the owner of Amy Abbott Events, a premier design and event planning company based in Los Cabos, Mexico that specializes in destination weddings. Amy Abbott Events creates an event experience that evokes emotion and exhibits the personalities of their clients, exceeding expectations every time.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Amy's background and how she went from being a teacher in the Pacific Northwest to a wedding planner in Mexico
- The survey Amy sends to her potential clients when they first inquire to learn more about their needs, wants, and budget
- How Amy builds trust with potential clients over the phone and through email
Want to connect with Amy? * On the web: https://www.amyabbottevents.com/ * Instagram: @amyabbottevents * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyAbbottEvents
As a small business owner, it's easy to be focused on client work and just trying to survive the day to day demands, but taking the time to work ON the business can be a bit more difficult. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a Seattle-based wedding planner who has used "workcations" to get more done in her business. Listen in as she talks through the process of working on the business with her industry peers.
About our guest:
Holly Patton Olsen founded Perfectly Posh Events in 2010. Since then, Holly has built up a team of award-winning wedding planners who quickly became known as the go-to-gals in the Seattle and Portland area for stylish and city chic weddings. Holly and her team have received numerous accolades, including being awarded Seattle Bride Magazine’s Best of Awards for “Best Wedding Coordinator” in 2018, “Best Wedding Planner” in 2016, 2015 and 2014, and “Best Overall Wedding Vendor” in 2015, and winning “Best Wedding” in the ILEA Emerald City Applause Awards in 2018.
Having grown up in the Seattle event industry with a family business, Holly was fortunate to attend amazing events that inspired a passion for wedding planning at an early age. After graduating with a degree in Business Manager from Seattle Pacific University, Holly spent over six years working for various companies in the event and wedding industry prior to launching Perfectly Posh Events. Holly brought a vision for creating a collaborative community of wedding planners to the Seattle industry and co-created a “support group” of established wedding planning companies in 2012. This group has developed into a trust based network where planners share calendars to easily refer business to each other, provide honest feedback on vendors, help each other with business issues, and attend regular “workcations” together.
Holly adores all things pretty and feminine, is obsessed with anything Kate Spade, and loves any excuse to celebrate with bubbly! When she’s not busy planning weddings, Holly can be found watching Jeopardy with her husband (they’re slightly obsessed and record each episode!), wine tasting with her girlfriends, and cheering on the Seahawks during football season.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Holly's background and how she went from event industry legacy to small business owner
- How Holly began a group of fellow wedding planners to share information and collaborate
- How the workcation process works and what the "rules" are for them
- Holly's tips for structuring a workcation to get the most done
Want to connect with Holly? * On the web: https://perfectlyposhevents.com/ * Instagram: @perfectlyposhevents * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PerfectlyPoshEvents
The saying goes that it's all about who you know, and being well connected in the wedding industry can certainly be helpful for building and growing your business. But when you're shy or an introvert, networking can be terrifying. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a successful wedding planner who has learned how to turn her introvert tendencies into strengths when networking and operating her business.
About our guest:
With over thirteen years of experience, award winning wedding planner Alicia Keats has earned her place among the most sought after wedding planners in Canada. Alicia is known to be a passionate, devoted wedding planner who is always graceful under pressure. Her desire to create, not only an individualized planning experience but also to create an extraordinary, personalized wedding celebration for her couples, has earned her the reputation of being one of the best.
In addition to being named one of the best wedding planners in the world by Vogue Magazine two years in a row, her work has been featured in numerous publications and top wedding blogs including Wedluxe, Real Weddings Magazine, WeddingBells, Style Me Pretty, Junebug Weddings and 100 Layer Cake. In 2012, she was awarded the Industry Achievement award by her peers at the BC Wedding Awards as well as many WeddingWire Couple Choice awards over the years.
When Alicia is not planning weddings, she can be found cuddling her sweet baby boy, cooking with her husband or searching for the next tasty culinary experience.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Alicia's background and how she went from pursuing an acting career to becoming a wedding planner
- How Alicia's shyness has served her well with building genuine relationships
- Alicia's strategies for psyching herself up before attending networking events
- Strategies for networking when you're a natural introvert, including Alicia's go-to strategy for breaking the ice
- How being shy and introverted has successfully served her clients
Want to connect with Alicia? * On the web: http://www.aliciakeats.com/ * Instagram: @aliciakeats
There's no doubt that Instagram is a popular social media platform for the wedding industry. Many wedding industry professionals even credit Instagram for bringing them business and growing sales. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a social media maven all about Instagram and her tips for what to post, where to post, and even how to evaluate your strategy with the platform's statistics.
About our guest:
Samantha Roberts was a Division 1 golfer based out of California, but found herself spending most of her days on the course dreaming about weddings instead of her next shot. After deciding a career as a professional golfer wasn’t for her, she packed up her bags and headed to New York City to pursue this irrevocable love of all things bridal.
Samantha became the social media manager of The Knot, helping to establish the brand as the go-to social destination for brides, dreamers and wedding professionals alike. Not only did her articles and blog posts receive millions of views on TheKnot.com, but her focus on Instagram helped the brand win the DigiDay award for “Best Brand Instagram.”
Since then, Samantha has transitioned into a social media and content strategist specializing in the wedding industry, with large wedding brands like Kleinfeld Bridal in her portfolio.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Samantha's background and how she went from pursuing a professional golf career to the wedding industry
- What types of images perform the best on Instagram
- The biggest mistakes wedding pros are making when it comes to selecting images for Instagram
- How to use Instagram's insights feature to better gauge interest for your images
- How to use your Instagram feed vs. Instagram stories
Want to connect with Samantha? * On the web: http://samantharoberts.co/ * Instagram: @samantharoberts
As wedding vendors, it's sometimes easy to cross a client off your list once their wedding has happened. Check it off and on to the next! But are you missing opportunities by not having a strong post-wedding follow-up strategy? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a photographer who recently got married herself and discovered some aspects of being a bride that she never realized on the vendor side. Listen in as we discuss ways to be a better vendor based on a vendor's actual wedding experience.
About our guest:
Rebecca Marie Photography is an international boutique wedding & event photography studio. Rebecca blends the storytelling elements of photojournalism with the curated beauty of an editorial eye. She believes wedding photography is not a time to push creative boundaries but a unique chance to document the beauty of all your loved ones in one room. Rebecca works with a limited number of couples and families each year in order to assure the full force of her attention is focused solely on your event weekend, which provides an incredibly personalized experience. Based out of Chicago, when Rebecca isn't hanging out with engaged couples you can find her either playing with mud at a potter's wheel or curled up on the couch with her husband, Kevin, and rescue pup, Hendrix. If she doesn't already have a flight booked for next month, she's planning the next trip, whether for work or for fun. In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Rebecca's background and experience in the wedding industry
- Rebecca's experience planning a destination, international wedding
- What Rebecca discovered in terms of giving clients deadlines and date estimates
- Rebecca's post-wedding photo viewing "party" with her clients
- Ways to stay connected to couples after the big day
Want to connect with Rebecca? * On the web: https://rebeccamarie.com/ * Instagram: @rebeccamarieart
Have you established clear boundaries with your clients so that you aren't being overworked, overburdened, or bombarded 24 hours a day? Or are your clients running over you? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about establishing boundaries with clients and the best ways to do that.
About our guest:
Grit & Grace Inc. is a team of diverse individuals that have been committed to creating experiences for our clients and empowering our industry for over a decade. We have a broad range of backgrounds in hotels, catering, project management and fashion. Our strengths lie in our differences; it is not about thinking alike but rather thinking together.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Laura's background and experience in the wedding industry
- How Laura sets boundaries with her clients even before they are onboarded
- How she handles providing feedback to clients who have overstepped the boundaries
Want to connect with Laura? * On the web: http://gritandgraceinc.com/ * Instagram: @gritandgraceinc
Are you soliciting feedback from your wedding clients after their event? And if you are, what are you doing with that feedback once you have it? Listening to your customers is certainly a great way to improve your business, but not all businesses are doing it. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a wedding industry veteran who has mastered asking for client feedback and shares steps for acting when that feedback isn't as perfect as you would hope.
About our guest:
After over 17 years in the wedding industry, Keith often jokes that he still works his high school job. Starting in a formal wear shop in high school he has worked in many areas of the industry including photography, video, tuxedos, suits, photo booths, DJs, invitations and wedding dresses. Currently COO of Classic Photographers, he is considered an expert in customer service and digital marketing, marrying his traditional knowledge of the wedding industry with digital marketing technology. Classic Photographers offers wedding photography and video services throughout the US and has been awarded with the “Knot Best of Weddings Hall of Fame” and Wedding Wire Bride’s Choice to go with many other awards over the years.
Keith is a husband and proud father of 6 children. When not working, he enjoys hiking, gardening, kayaking and baseball in his home state of New Hampshire.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Keith's background and experience in the wedding industry
- How Keith's company solicits feedback from their customers both on the wedding day and afterwards
- How the company handles negative feedback and attempts to turn it around to a positive review
Want to connect with Keith? * On the web: https://classicphotographers.com/ * Instagram: @classicphotographers_ * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/classicweddingphotographers/
Although having more events on the books certainly gets your business name out there, is it really what you want? Growing your wedding business bigger isn't always better, and in this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a wedding photographer who discovered just that. Wedding photographer Donna Von Bruening grew her business to more than 100 weddings in a year, then realized being overworked with little free time on her calendar wasn't the life she wanted. After some work with a business coach to get to the bottom of what she wanted her business to look like, she scaled back, eliminated some overhead, and reduced her workload while increasing her profits.
About our guest:
Recognized as one of the South’s premier wedding photographers, Donna Von Bruening provides a bespoke and sincere photographic experience for her cherished clients.
People are drawn to her striking, clean imagery of relationships and emotion…between people and places. A graduate of The Ohio State University School of Journalism, she has found success with her photojournalistic approach for 18 years. Her work is featured regularly in print and online; however, she cares most about how her clients feel when they hold her prints in their hands.
Donna calls the salty Savannah marshes home, where the light is gold, but travels often for client events. She cherishes her husband of 21 years, her two teenage sons and their Cavapoo, Archie.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Donna's background and experience in the wedding industry
- How Donna's business grew over time by adding associate photographers to her roster
- What Donna's business looked like at the busiest point, doing more than 100 weddings in a year
- The steps Donna took to intentionally scale back her business, taking on fewer events and having a smaller team
Want to connect with Donna? * On the web: https://donnavonbruening.com/ * Instagram: @donnavonbruening * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DonnaVonBruening
If you've been in business for a while, you've no doubt figured out your ideal client and ideal price points. But, are you leaving money on the table by not offering something for everyone? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a floral designer who has expanded his business by offering two different divisions of his company – one for a luxury wedding client and one for more modest budgets. In this episode, we're diving into not only why he's taken this approach, but how he's done it successfully without confusing his brand.
About our guest:
Award-winning floral and event designer Bron Hansboro has devoted his career to navigating clients through the creative process and transforming their visions into exquisite events since 2014. Fondly referred to as “The Flower Guy,” he is the lead creative and floral designer at The Flower Guy Bron. He provides bespoke design and styling experiences for weddings and events of all types. Bron deeply values his interactions with clients and peers alike, and understands the power of making connections through design. His motto is, “We don’t sell flowers, we sell experiences.”
Bron has received the WeddingWire’s “Couples Choice” designation for three consecutive years and is a Metropolitan Business League’s “One to Watch” Honoree. He is a sought-after speaker and will be featured at Wedding MBA 2018. Bron is dedicated to providing seamless and stress-free design services and loves seeing the look on his clients’ faces when they see their completed concept come to life. When he’s not dreaming up magical events, he loves to cook, travel, entertain, shop and connect.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Bron's background and how he jumped into the wedding industry unexpectedly
- The clients Bron was working with when he started his business
- What spurred Bron to open a second division of his company targeted toward a different budget client
- How Bron markets two different businesses models simultaneously
- What Bron takes on himself vs. what his team handles
Want to connect with Bron? * On the web: https://www.theflowerguybron.com/ * Instagram: @theflowerguybron * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theflowerguybron
Having a staff can certainly help you scale and grow your business, but bringing on employees is certainly not without its challenges. How do you find good people? And even more importantly, how do you train them to carry on your reputation and brand? Whether you already are leading a team or you're just starting to consider making the move from solopreneur status, this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast is for you.
About our guests:
Lindsay Val Longacre founded and launched LVL Weddings & Events in 2007. Since its founding, LVL has grown to be one of the most recognized wedding and event planning companies in California with additional locations in Denver, Phoenix, Napa and Hawaii and a team of 20 professional coordinators and planners.
A Midwest girl at heart, Lindsay was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and is now living between California and Hawaii. She is a proud military wife, entrepreneur and special event planner. Lindsay gets her drive and entrepreneurial spirit from her mother, who always encouraged her to find her calling and be the best she could be at it. Through LVL, Lindsay is on a mission to do just that – to be the best at doing what she loves the most – planning dream weddings, leading a successful team and always raising the bar in the wedding industry.
Heather Hoesch joined LVL in 2010 and she’s the yin to Lindsay’s yang. Currently with over 700 weddings and ten years of experience under her belt, Heather is passionate, detailed, organized, and most importantly calm.
Inspired by love, engagement stories, color combinations and hand written wedding vows, she brings a colorful style to the design and planning of a wedding. She will tell you that she loves her job, her clients and most of all her team. She believes that her passion for love adds to her commitment to creating the ultimate wedding for her couples.
Heather always wanted to be part of a team that is an innovative leader in the industry and she found her dream team with LVL. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies from California State University, Long Beach, she has successfully blended her education with doing what she enjoys the most – celebrating love.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Lindsay and Heather's background and how they got into the wedding industry
- How Lindsay and Heather joined forces at LVL
- How they have grown their team by bringing other business owners into their company
- How to identify the right people for what you need
- Knowing when you're ready to add employees
- Documenting processes in order to train your team
Want to connect with Lindsay and Heather? * On the web: https://lvlevents.com/ * Instagram: @lvlweddings * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lvlweddings
If you've been in business for any period of time, you've very likely seen busy periods of booking followed by slower seasons. But how do you handle those valleys of business and what can you do during those slower times to continue to generate leads? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with wedding planner and designer Valerie Gernhauser, who's opening up about managing a slower period of business. From ideas for keeping your team busy during a slower season to thoughts about how to trim the fat during a leaner time, this week's episode is full of great advice from an industry leader.
About our guest:
Valerie Gernhauser is a recovering attorney, Yale grad, pug lover, Springsteen fanatic, and Florida native. Calm, cool, and collected is her mantra. She is a natural-born leader that takes pride in moving people, creating memorable milestones, and maintaining poise under pressure.
As a thought leader and industry expert in the event space, Valerie is grateful to share her knowledge on national platforms such as the Engage! Luxury Wedding Business Summit, Trouvaille Workshop, Cultivate Retreat, Bliss and Bespoke, and honored to present as a keynote speaker at ILEA, NACE, and WIPA events across the country. She’s very proud of the success of her Sapphire Sessions speaking tour, a specialized program for wedding planners and event designers aimed at elevating event industry best practices for the benefit of the greater good.
Valerie likes getting lost in Anthropologie, spontaneous road trips, mixing metals and prints, kitchen dance parties with her daughters, and getting her hands dirty in a flower bucket or two. She’s a consummate over-achiever and a habitual mover-and-shaker. She considers herself very fortunate to bear witness to unfettered, intrepid, veracious love stories on Saturdays.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Valerie's background and how she went from lawyer to wedding planner and designer
- When Valerie noticed her first slow season in her business
- What Valerie did during the downtime to connect with another area of the event industry
- Cutting back on expenses during slower times
- Keeping your team happy (and busy) during a business drought
Want to connect with Valerie? * On the web: http://www.sapphireevents.com/ * Instagram: @sapphireevents * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sapphireeventsnola/
The term ghosting may have started with the rise of online dating, but no doubt every wedding professional has been ghosted by a potential client at one point or another. You meet with a couple, think it went really well, send a quote, and... nothing. Why does this happen? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with wedding planner Beth Bernstein about this ghosting phenomenon and what she's seen in the industry. While we don't know if there's any real solution to the ghosting practice, it's nice to know we're not alone!
About our guest:
After nearly a decade working at Chicago’s top advertising agencies, followed by several years planning events for non-profit organizations, Beth Bernstein launched Sine Qua Non: Special Events, LLC. in May 2009.
The name Sine Qua Non is a Latin phrase that translates to "indispensable or essential ingredient." That is what Beth has become to the couples she has guided through the wedding planning process over the past nine years. SQN Events has quickly risen to become one of Chicago's leading wedding planning companies, and Beth is well respected amongst her peers as a leader in the industry. Beth received Wish Upon a Wedding’s “Shining Star” award for 2012.
Beth has spoken at the University of Chicago, Roosevelt University, WeddingWire World, and several industry events to inspire people who want to pursue careers in the wedding industry or those who want to take their current businesses further. Beth produced an industry conference, Toss the Bouquet, from 2013-2016, bringing in national speakers to educate her peers and colleagues, emphasizing community over competition. She currently serves as President of the Chicago chapter of WIPA (Wedding International Professionals Association).
Beth has been a contributor to the Equally Wed blog, Huffington Post Weddings, and more. Her work has been featured in numerous magazines and blogs, including: Carats + Cake, Destination I Do, Elizabeth Anne Designs, Inside Weddings, The Knot, Modern Luxury Weddings, Style Me Pretty, and more.
When she’s not working, you can find Beth at a coffee shop, Shred 415 or SoulCycle, volunteering, or screaming her head off at her son’s hockey games. Beth resides in Chicago with her husband and two children, Zoe and Jason.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Beth's background and how she went from advertising agency to the wedding industry
- What ghosting means in terms of wedding inquiries
- Beth's personal experience with ghosting
- What she learned when asking other wedding industry vendors about their ghosting experiences
- Ways wedding vendors are ghosting themselves without even realizing it
Want to connect with Beth? * On the web: http://sqnevents.com/ * Instagram: @sqnevents * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SQN.Events * Twitter: @sqnevents
YouTube is the new television. And the new search engine! There's no disputing that the video platform has grown exponentially and is where millions of people are finding information, tutorials, and entertainment. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a wedding planner and designer who is using YouTube to expand her reach, educate couples, and project her personality to potential clients. Whether you're a YouTuber or not, this episode will certainly give you something to think about when it comes to expanding your marketing mix.
About our guest:
As You Wish’s Owner, Designer and Planner, Rachel Burt Garcia, pairs her extensive background in design and her dedication to detail to plan the wedding or event her clients have always dreamed of! Her professional yet spunky personality makes her a favorite of clients and vendors alike. Rachel has planned hundreds of luxury weddings and events nationally and internationally, including many high profile events such as the Margot Perot Center for Woman and Infants’ anniversary celebration for the Perot family, on-air parties for Stephanie Hollman of “Real Housewives of Dallas”, the wedding of Mark Phariss and Vic Holmes – the couple that challenged the state of Texas for the right to legalize gay marriage – and the KISS FM wedding with rapper, Coolio.
In addition to “Real Housewives of Dallas”, Rachel can also be seen on TLC’s “Say Yes to the Dress”. Her unique perspective on aesthetics has garnered her many awards and accolades such as the NACE “Color Me a Cure” tabletop design competition and several magazine and blog features in publications like D Weddings, Modern Luxury Weddings, Inside Weddings, Brides of North Texas, Style Me Pretty and many more. She currently holds the title of Certified Wedding Planner through the American Association of Certified Wedding Planners (AACWP) where she sat on the board of directors and has her ear to the ground on everything going on in the industry!
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Rachel's background and how got into the wedding industry
- Why Rachel decided to use YouTube as a marketing tool
- How Rachel records and edits her videos
- The must-do tip for making your videos stand out on YouTube
- What Rachel learned about "batching" multiple videos all in one day
- The change Rachel is making in order to be able to be more consistent
- The results that Rachel's found from adding YouTube to her marketing mix
Want to connect with Rachel? * Rachel's YouTube Channel * Instagram: @asyouwish_dfw * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asyouwishdfw/ * Twitter: @asyouwish_dfw * Pinterest- https://www.pinterest.com/asyouwishdfw/
In this casual episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, Kimberly, Annie, and podcast editor Lance take listeners behind the scenes of the podcast, discussing everything from how and where they record the podcast to how they determine show topics.
There are tons of wedding and event industry conferences. From WeddingMBA and The Special Event to the Be Sage Conference and Engage! Luxury Wedding Business Summit, there's something for everyone. If you have plans to add some education and networking to your agenda with an upcoming event conference, this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast is for you. We're chatting with wedding planner Kelly McWilliams, who shares some of her top tips for getting the most out of your conference experience. Whether you're a conference junkie or just starting to think about attending your first, this episode is full of valuable advice from a wedding industry veteran.
About our guest:
A Florida native, Kelly McWilliams, a destination wedding planner-designer has been producing weddings, social events and celebrations since 2002. In 2018, her business expanded beyond Florida to formally include Nevis & St. Kitts to her roster of islands and Waterfront cities which already included Sanibel, Captiva, Marco, Boca Grande, Naples & the Florida Keys. Her company, Kelly McWilliams Celebrations, Weddings & Parties, has been a leader in the destination wedding industry in SW Florida by keeping the local industry community based and fostering over 40 college student internships. She helped to put the not so metropolitan area on the map for destination weddings. through media press & publish and by bringing what was “big and happening” in the major metropolitan areas back to this small region on the Florida Gulf Coast. In 2016 Kelly also began consulting with venues to help them “up their game” and obtain appeal for more luxury wedding clientele.
When it comes to creating weddings, Kelly’s most known for her designs which are subtle with statements. Her goal is that the events are as equal in beauty as they are an outstanding experience no guest will ever forget; and that they are as personalized as they are traditionally elegant. Her weddings have graced the pages of The knot, Inside Weddings, Brides, Destination I Do, Modern Luxury, Destination Weddings, Style Me Pretty, Celebration Society, Bridal Guide and countless others. She has been quoted on CNN, NBC, Fox and spoken at countless industry conferences around the globe.
Kelly has been married to her husband also named Kelly for over 20 years and is a mom to daughters Madeline & Emily and her dog Monreau Gray. In the upcoming year Kelly will be expanding her commitment to sharing her expertise with her IGTV channel for engaged couples and small group 1 day intensives for wedding professionals.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Kelly's background and how she went from actress to accountant to wedding planner
- What you should do to connect with other attendees and conference organizers before you attend
- Why Kelly suggests having a conference roommate
- The benefits of adding on a day before or after the conference
- Kelly's thoughts on international conferences
- Post-event follow up
Want to connect with Kelly? * On the web: https://www.kellymcwilliams.com/ * Instagram: @weddingtidbits * Facebook: Kelly McWilliams Celebrations
When you're in a creative field, getting clients to trust your vision can be challenging, especially when they can't see the finished product before hiring you. In this episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with invitation designer and owner of A Fine Press, Matthew Wengerd, who has taken steps to fine tune his consultation strategy to attract clients who are trusting of his creativity, experience, and desire to think outside the box. Regardless of your area of the wedding industry, you're sure to find takeaways from this week's episode to help you narrow in on clients who will trust you with their big day.
About our guest:
You know how NPR has "driveway moments?" Matthew Wengerd makes "mailbox moments." And, while stationery with a wow factor certainly makes an impact, he believes that stationery given as a true gift can last a lifetime.
Matthew spent a lot of time and effort pursuing a life in jazz before realizing that the act of creation was what he was really after, and that this act can happen on paper, at a keyboard, or on a press just as easily as it can on the bandstand. In fact, it was a fateful composition and arranging lesson that brought him face-to-face with a certain fountain pen and his future life as an art-minded stationer.
He's adamant about giving stationery a second function that keeps it out of the trashcan and might even move it to a place of honor. And he does his best work when he gets to answer the question "what happens if we...."
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Matthew's background and how he became drawn into the world of stationery and invitation design
- How some clients are naturally more trusting of professionals than others
- How to identify clients that will be a good fit for the creative work that you do
- Matthew's philosophy on pre-screening clients prior to going to contract
- Charging an initial consultation and/or concept fee prior to doing any proposal
- Creating work for your portfolio vs. creating work for a client
Want to connect with Matthew? * On the web: https://afinepress.com/ * Instagram: @afinepress * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afinepress * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/afinepress
Are you giving back to the community? If not, it's never too late to start. And even better, giving back can help build your business by expanding your current circle of influence. In this episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with industry veteran Jennifer Burns, who has seen first hand how being involved in the non-profit events can build a business. No matter what your cause of choice is, this week's episode will have you considering how your company is giving back.
About our guest:
With over 18 years of experience in the event industry, Jennifer understands what it takes to make each event special. With a gift for working with clients and understanding their needs, Jennifer plays a pivotal role in helping events evolve from concept to execution. Jennifer’s career has taken her all over the country as well as international locations such as London and Beijing. She has planned for multi-million dollar budgets with thousands of attendees, but also understands the nuances needed for smaller, more personal events. She’s equally adept in either situation and everything in between.
When she’s not planning the next awe-inspiring event, Jennifer enjoys donating her time to help with a number of charities. She is currently the co-chair for the upcoming Trains of Northpark benefitting the Ronald McDonald House Dallas, an active underwriting committee member of Cattle Baron’s Ball and advises on special events for The Family Place. In addition, Jennifer plays an active role in event specific associations such as the National Association for Catering and Events (NACE) and was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2016.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Jennifer's background in the event industry
- How being involved in non-profit work grew the event planning company she was previously with and the lighting and a/v company she currently is a part of
- How to give without being taken advantage of
- Finding a cause you care about
Want to connect with Jennifer? * On the web: http://www.beyondld.com/ * Instagram: @BEYONDldtx * Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/BEYONDldtx/
When you're a small business owner, it's hard to imagine what will happen to your business once you're ready to move on from it. Do you just decide to quit and close up shop? Or is there an opportunity to sell it, creating a profit from the business you've worked so hard to build? In this episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with someone who successfully sold her service-based, wedding industry business and getting the inside scoop on how it can be done.
About our guest:
Debbie Orwat is a business coach for wedding and event planners across the United States and around the world. She is the Founder and Chief Inspiration Officer of Planner’s Lounge, a resource site and community for wedding and event planners to relax, talk, learn, and inspire. Through Planner’s Lounge, Debbie offers coaching, mentoring, online courses, downloadable templates, and educational guides to empower wedding and event planners to succeed.
In addition to Planner’s Lounge, Debbie Orwat worked as a highly sought after wedding and event planner in Denver, Colorado for more than ten years. During Debbie’s ten year reign as owner, the company won numerous awards, including The Knot Best of Weddings Hall of Fame Award, 2 ICON awards, and was published in more than 30 wedding and lifestyle magazines. Debbie has been featured multiple times on local television stations as a party planning expert. Debbie also owned StudioWed Denver, a boutique wedding showroom and coworking space, for six years. In 2015, Debbie sold her event planning business and StudioWed to focus on Planner’s Lounge. In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Debbie Orwat's background in the wedding industry
- The steps Debbie took to sell not one, but two businesses in the wedding industry
- What you're actually selling when you have a personal, service-based business
- The things you can be doing now to ready your business for sale
- How Debbie determined the value of her business and found a potential buyer
- The one thing that didn't go as expected shortly after the sale of her business
- Built to Sell by John Warrillow
- Debbie's blog post with advice on selling a business
- https://www.bizbuysell.com/
Want to connect with Debbie? * On the web: https://plannerslounge.com/ * Instagram: @plannerslounge * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlannersLounge * Pinterest
Whether you love Pinterest or hate it, there's no denying the fact that the platform holds a dominant place in the wedding industry. From wedding design inspiration to guidance on what to wear for engagement photos, your clients are likely heading to Pinterest for ideas, so why not meet them where they are? In this episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a Pinterest expert about how to leverage the site for your wedding business.
About our guest:
Vanessa Kynes is a Pinterest Marketing Strategist for creative small businesses. Using YouTube and her blog, she helps creative small businesses blossom by creating traffic-generating Pinterest strategies to increase their visibility. Juggling the demands of her own budding business with those of family and home, she specializes in efficient productivity, making the most out of every moment, and every pin! Hailing originally from the great state of Texas, she has lived in two foreign countries and enjoys traveling with her three sweet daughters and memory-seeking husband while residing in the Pacific Northwest.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Why Pinterest is a perfect tool for the wedding industry
- How to best direct traffic back to your website through Pinterest
- The importance of creating graphics specifically for Pinterest
- Why you should consider Pinterest a search engine, similar to Google
- Vanessa's Free Pinterest Start-Up Guide
- Vanessa's Online Course How to Use Tailwind
Want to connect with Vanessa? * On the web: https://vanessakynes.com/ * Instagram: @vanessakynes * Facebook @vanessakynes * Pinterest * YouTube
We've all seen brand partnerships all over the place – from Target's collaboration with Missoni to Kanye West's partnership with Adidas. But as a wedding business, how can you leverage a brand partnership? In this episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting all about brand partnerships and how even small businesses can think about growing their brands with valuable collaborations.
About our guest:
As Head of Brand Content at Shutterfly, Amber Harrison oversees the content strategy for all of Shutterfly Inc., including Tiny Prints, the Wedding Shop and flagship Shutterfly. In this role she is responsible for the strategic development of influencer relations, content creation and amplification, organic social awareness, UGC and brand partnerships.
Previously, Amber headed up all communications for Wedding Paper Divas (now the Wedding shop by Shutterfly) where she established successful strategic partnerships with high profile industry experts, including wedding planner Mindy Weiss, designer Claire Pettibone and reality star Whitney Port. She created visibility for the brand through celebrity wedding celebrations, such as Sofia Vergara & Joe Manganello’s and Tara Lipinski & Todd Kapostasy’s.
Through her work as a writer, interviewer and producer, Amber is known as a modern authority on relationships, wedding trends and etiquette guidelines. She developed and hosted a weekly web series called “Small talk. Big day”, which has accumulated nearly 2 million views to-date. Through the series, Amber offered couples and their families practical advice and insights for the wedding planning process and interviewed industry influencers. For nearly two years, she wrote a weekly etiquette and advice column, Manners Mondays, for Huffington Post. Amber’s expertise and advice is regularly featured in wide variety of national media outlets including the Today Show, ABC News, Good Morning America, E! News, FABLife, Glamour, Brit & Co., Bridal Guide and Inside Weddings.
Prior to Shutterfly, Amber was an Account Supervisor at Edelman, the world’s largest communications firm. There she created and managed public relations programs on behalf of clients such as Orange France Telecom, Adobe Systems Incorporated and others. Amber came to Edelman from Zazzle.com where she developed a celebrity-endorsed cause-based marketing campaign that increased the company’s market share by nearly 15%, moving the company ahead of a major competitor.
Working with The Birthday Party Project, which aims to bring joy to homeless children through the magic of birthdays, Amber brought the monthly celebrations to two new locations —San Francisco and Silicon Valley— and established awareness and support within the local communities.
Amber studied Musical Theatre at Ithaca College and acting at The New Actors Workshop in New York. Her first job was in a touring production of Pippi Longstocking, in which she played the role of Annika.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Brand partnerships and how they come to be
- The why of partnering with another company or brand
- Things to keep in mind when considering partnership opportunities
- Viewing styled shoots as partnerships
- How even small businesses can partner with larger brands
- Considering what you have to offer and what you have to give in a brand partnership situation
Want to connect with Amber? * On the web: The Wedding Shop by Shutterfly * Amber Harrison: Instagram * Wedding Shop by Shutterfly: Facebook / Instagram * Shutterfly: Facebook / Instagram / Twitter
Getting ahead in business isn't instantaneous, and sometimes you have to get your foot in the door by giving selflessly. In this episode of This Week In Weddings, we're chatting with Lance Panton, who has made it his business to give without the expectation of getting. In addition to being a Dallas-based DJ, Lance is the editor of the This Week In Weddings podcast. Listen in as he shares his perspective on making yourself a valuable resource without being pushy.
About our guest:
Lance Panton is the owner and operator of the Dallas based MY DFW DJ Weddings and Events. Lance has been a mobile DJ since 1989, starting as a teenager in his hometown of Augusta, Georgia. Lance launched a career in broadcasting at 17 mixing on a weekend radio show. After finding local success, Lance was able to take his show on the road making guest DJ appearances in Vegas, Atlanta, Canada and other hotspots.
Lance uses his travels and years of experience to deliver a service that seamlessly reunites the fun with the formalities. Whether it’s entertaining tens of thousands at events like T.D. Jakes Megafest, or a few dozen at an intimate wedding reception, Lance promises a premier entertainment experience for all.
After concluding his radio career in Detroit, Michigan, Lance and his wife Nikita relocated to Dallas in 2014, followed by the launch of MY DFW DJ in 2015. When Lance isn’t handling the music for a wedding or event, he enjoys cooking, music documentaries and traveling with his wife.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Lance's background in the wedding industry
- How Lance connected with Kimberly and Annie and got connected with the podcast
- Lance's philosophy on making a first impression
- How to make yourself available to those who might hire or refer you, without being pushy
- The story of the pumpkin pie
Want to connect with Lance? * On the web: http://mydfwdj.com/ * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mydfwdjTX * Instagram: @mydfwdj
In today's world, there are so many pieces of software that can help you run your business. From note taking apps to scheduling apps, the options are endless. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a wedding industry veteran about the specific apps he uses throughout his business to stay productive, communicate with potential clients, schedule employees, and generate sales.
About our guest:
With thirty years of event experience, Kevin Dennis is the founder and owner of Fantasy Sound Event Services, offering exceptional disc jockey, videography, photo booth, event lighting and decor services to the San Francisco Bay area. A Certified Wedding Coordinator, Kevin sits on the Board of Directors at WIPA, serving as the National Immediate Past President, as well as the sitting on the Board of Directors of the Silicon Valley Chapter of NACE, also serving as the President. He is also the founder of the Tri-Valley Wedding Professionals group.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Kevin's background in the event industry
- The one app that Kevin would say is his favorite and he uses every day
- Kevin's favorite apps for note taking, scheduling appointments, scheduling social media, live chat, password management, and photo sharing
- Evernote
- Todoist
- Hootsuite
- Acuity Scheduling
- Zipwhip
- Live Chat
- Foxit PDF Reader
- TripIt
- When I Work
- Timeline Genius
- Honeybook
- Grammarly
- Black Pearl
- Boomerang
- YouTube Director
- Planoly
- 1Password
- Photo Circle
Want to connect with Kevin? * On the web: https://fantasysound.com/ * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fantasysound * Instagram: @fsesevents * Twitter: @fantasysound
If you're someone who thinks there are not enough hours in the day, you're not alone! Between marketing your business, servicing your wedding clients, keeping track of your finances, and managing your social media, it's no wonder that entrepreneurs are some of the busiest people on the planet! In this episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with productivity expert Paul Minors about some ways busy business owners can get ahead with less effort. From managing email to block scheduling, this week's episode is full of ideas for getting more done in less time.
About our guest:
Paul Minors is a blogger and "virtual consultant," selling his expertise in productivity through 1-on-1 online consulting. He's completely obsessed with productivity, automation, and optimizing his time and income so he can live on his own terms. At the end of 2016, Paul was finally able to quit his job, travel Asia with his wife, and take his consulting business full-time. He now consults with companies to help them with tools like Asana, Pipedrive, MailChimp, and Zapier.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Tips for managing your email and getting to inbox zero
- What block scheduling is and how to use it effectively
- Software that can be helpful for productivity, including Acuity Scheduling and MailButler.
- How to minimize distractions by changing your notifications
Want to connect with Paul? * On the web: https://paulminors.com/ * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paulminors.productivity * Twitter: @paulminors
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is "a legal framework that sets guidelines for the collection and processing of personal information of individuals within the European Union (EU)." But what does that mean for small businesses throughout the world? In this episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with attorney Annette Stepanian who is giving us the low down on what GDPR means, if it applies to us, and what we need to do to make sure we're in compliance.
About our guest:
Annette Stepanian is an attorney who helps creative professionals and entrepreneurs lay a legal foundation for their business. Through her Office Talk podcast, done-for-you contract templates, online trainings and one-on-one services, Annette seeks to make the law practical, approachable, and dare we say it – even a little fun.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Annette's background and how she's helping creative businesses with all things legal
- The basics of GDPR and who it applies to
- What information small businesses should be inventorying when it comes to consumer data
- Why you should be removing data you don't need on a regular basis
- The importance of privacy policies and terms of service on your website
- Fines for non-compliance
Want to connect with Annette? * On the web: https://www.annettestepanian.com/ * Instagram: @annettestepanian * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annettestepanianesq * Contract Templates * Website Terms of Service & Privacy Policy Templates * Legal 360 Live * Office Talk Podcast * GDPR episode from Office Talk podcast
Impostor syndrome (also known as impostor phenomenon, fraud syndrome or the impostor experience) is a psychological pattern in which people doubt their accomplishments and have a persistent, often internalized fear of being exposed as a "fraud." If you own a creative business, no doubt you've at one time or another wondered if you were good enough. Or if you fit in. Or if you really were capable. In this episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're talking about all these feelings with our guest Lindsay Landman, who has opened up about her own experiences with impostor syndrome and how she manages these internalized feelings.
About our guest:
New York based event designer Lindsay Landman has been producing innovative weddings and special events in New York and around the globe since 2001. Her company, Lindsay Landman Events, has been a market leader in the integration of event planning, design and production, initiated by Lindsay’s trademark focus on the intersection of form and function.
Since 2014, Lindsay has been a leading instructor and course director for the Event Leadership Institute, educating and mentoring hundreds of students in the fields of Event Planning and Event Design. Lindsay has provided insight on weddings, design, etiquette and entertaining for dozens of publications including The New York Times and InStyle and in 2016, both VOGUE Magazine and Harper’sBAZAAR selected Lindsay Landman Events as one of the “best planners in the world.”
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Lindsay's background and how she landed in the events industry
- What "impostor syndrome" really is and how you feel when you have it
- How Lindsay recognized her own feelings of imposter syndrome
- Steps to take to make these fraudy feelings less prevalent
- Perfectionism, procrastination, and accepting compliments when it comes to impostor sydrome
- How being open about this topic allowed others to open up, creating community amongst Lindsay's peers
Want to connect with Lindsay? * On the web: http://lindsaylandmanevents.com/ * Instagram: @lindsaylandman * Facebook: @lindsaylandmanevents
When you run a small business, it's only natural to look around and see what your colleagues are up to. But do you have a healthy approach to competition? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a wedding industry entrepreneur turned business coach about how she went from watching what her competitors were doing to reclaiming her own unique voice in the industry. Whether you are just starting out or have years of experience under your belt, this week's episode is sure to hit home and put the idea of competition into a new light.
About our guest:
Lane’ Richards is a multidisciplinary entrepreneur and creative behind Something Borrowed Portland, an award-winning event design and specialty rental company based in Portland, Oregon. Her newest venture, Wedding Pro Coaching, offers mastermind business coaching and educational programs to wedding industry professionals who need help building, running, and growing their businesses in the crowded wedding industry.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Lane's background in the event industry and how she got into coaching
- What a non-healthy approach to competition looks like
- How Lane has avoided getting caught up in the social media spiral of checking out her competitors
- Lane's view on sharing information and being an open book
- Ways to balance between being helpful to your colleagues while not giving away the secret sauce
Want to connect with Lane? * Instagram: @weddingprocoaching * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weddingprocoaching * Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/weddingprocoach/
In this mini-episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, Kimberly and Annie share their thoughts on the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Tune in for this week's quick episode to reminisce about this historical wedding moment.
Running a wedding business is very often more than a full-time job and when you add a child to the mix, it's no joke! In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a wedding industry entrepreneur who is also a new mom to hear how she's balancing both roles. Whether you have a young child or are just thinking about how you can make parenthood work when you own your own wedding business, this episode is for you.
About our guest:
After graduating from The University of Texas graduate with a degree in botany and 5+ years in the hospitality industry R. Love Floral was born and the business began to take off. Raquel Lovern Harris and her team have been creating beautiful weddings in the DFW + Austin/Hill country areas since 2010. Raquel has since traveled the country to study under the top designers in the world to hone her design eye, experiment with texture and explore the world of flowers.
Balancing family, business and life, Raquel loves spending time with her husband and toddler son – who can be seen around the studio and making trips with her to pick up flowers and such around town.
When not designing beautiful weddings and events, she loves teaching floral classes for birthday parties, bachelorette parties and girls night outs. A lover of plants, she is always looking for the best local foliage and blooms to give her designs an earthy garden flair.
Her weddings and photo shoots have been published in over fifty magazines and wedding blogs such as Martha Stewart, BRIDES, Style Me Pretty, Southern Weddings, Ruffled Blog, Magnolia Rouge, Brides of North Texas, D Weddings, Modern Luxury, and My Weddings (sister company to Martha Stewart) named R. Love Floral top ten favorite florists of Texas for 2017.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- How Raquel got started in the wedding industry
- When Raquel started thinking about motherhood and being both business owner and parent
- How much Raquel did (or didn't) plan ahead when it came to trying to time the start of her family with the wedding season
- Taking a maternity leave when you're a wedding business entrepreneur
- Bedrest, early pregnancies, and taking a baby to work with you
- Balancing being a business owner with motherhood
- Raquel's best tips for new mothers running a business
Want to connect with Raquel?
- Website: http://www.rlovefloral.com/
- Instagram: @rlovefloral
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rlovefloral/
When you're in the wedding industry, you often have the benefit of seeing other vendor categories up close. If you've ever considered making a switch from one field to another, this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast is for you. We're chatting with Larissa and Chavvon Smith, who made the switch from being wedding photographers to owning a letterpress and luxury printing company. This week's episode is a must listen for all the serial entrepreneurs out there, and is full of great advice for anyone with an entrepreneurial spirit.
About our guests:
Larissa and Chavvon Smith are the owners of Cotton Paperie, a Dallas based letterpress and luxury printer. They print items ranging from business cards that help businesses create powerful first impressions to luxury wedding invitations. In addition to working with some of the most amazing brides & wedding planners in the industry, their clients include Google, the Dallas Cowboys, eBay, Cotton Inc., Hennesey, the George W. Bush Foundation, and Fortuny.
Before founding Cotton Paperie, Chavvon and Larissa were event photographers covering events nationwide. Specializing in wedding photography they worked as a husband and wife team. Event photography and the busy weekend schedule was becoming a strain to balance that business and 3 small children so Chavvon took the leap and purchased a letterpress and put it in the garage. Having no print experience whatsoever he found the manual for his vintage press on eBay, bought it, studied it, and learned to operate his first press. Larissa having a background in Interior Design naturally gravitated towards the graphics design aspects of letterpress printing. It was a perfect fit. Through much trial and error and the help of their photography friends network, Cotton Paperie was born!
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Chavvon and Larissa's transition into the wedding industry
- Why Chavvon and Larissa decided working weddings on the weekends didn't work for them anymore
- How they got into the printing industry
- Best tips for someone wanting to move into a new industry
- The group of people that Chavvon and Larissa credits for helping them start and test their business concept
Want to connect with Chavvon & Larissa?
- Website: https://cottonpaperie.com/
- Instagram: @cottonpaperie
As you're building your wedding business, it's easy to think any client who can afford your services is your ideal client, but that's simply not the case! In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with invitation designer Kristin Wilson about her experience with working with the "right" and the "wrong" clients and how she focuses her business to only work with clients that are a fit with her brand.
About our guest:
Kristin Wilson is an entrepreneur with a passion for teaching creatives and designing for couples. As the owner of the Society for Creative Founders, she works closely with artists, makers, and designers to help them to grow their business, educating women both in an online community, through monthly classes, and with annual in-person events.
Falling in love with all things paper when she first started her entrepreneurial journey in 2010, she also designs bespoke wedding collections for forever sweethearts as the founder and designer for Grace and Serendipity. She is a wife and mom to three, who believes that everything happens for a reason and life is meant to be celebrated. On any given day, you can find her with coffee in hand and a classical playlist humming softly in the background, wholeheartedly pursuing the discoveries and adventures that life puts in her path.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- The importance of understanding your ideal client
- Creating an ideal client avatar that's very specific
- Signs for knowing that a client doesn't fit with your style or work process
- How to turn down a client gracefully when you know it's not a good fit
Want to connect with Kristin?
- Website: https://www.graceandserendipity.com/
- Society for Creative Founders
- Instagram: @graceandserendipity
Getting that perfectly styled image isn't all about luck... there's also science involved. From Instagram to print magazines, styling images is all the new rage, and in this week's episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, we're chatting with photographer Rebecca Yale, who shares some tips for styling images that will get the attention of magazines and potential clients. Whether you're a photographer or planner looking to expand your range of services or you're just wanting better images of your own products, this week's episode about styling will be one to hear.
About our guest:
Rebecca Yale is an internationally acclaimed wedding and fashion photographer. She holds a degree in art history, aesthetic philosophy and photography from the Gallatin school at NYU. Winner of Rangefinder Magazine’s Grand Prize in Wedding Photography and 1st Place in the Details Category Two Years in a row, she was the photographer of the 2017 Knot Dream Wedding and has been featured in 50+ publications including Martha Stewart Weddings, Brides Magazine, The Knot, People Magazine, Grace Ormonde, Style Me Pretty, Flutter Magazine, Magnolia Rouge, Destination I Do and many more.
Rebecca was named one of the Top 10 Globetrotter Photographers in the World by Destination Weddings Magazine UK in 2016 and one of the Top 10 Photographers to Know in New York City by Brides Magazine in 2015. Her passion for education lies in helping people create stronger imagery, by changing the way people see imagery at its core.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- What styling is and why it has gained momentum in the past few years
- How to manage your time on an event day to incorporate styling
- The biggest mistakes people make when it comes to styling
- How to make styling personal to the event so that the images make sense
- Rebecca's online course for styling
Want to connect with Rebecca?
- Website: http://rebeccayalephotography.com/
- Instagram: @rebeccayale
As we say each week, running a business is hard! But when you're dealing with your own personal struggles – whether it be a death in the family, issues with your children, or even a bout with depression – it can be even harder. In this week's episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, we're chatting with custom invitation designer Tifany Wunschl, who shares how she's kept her business afloat for 13 years when life hasn't always made it easy.
About our guest:
Tifany Wunschl started Gourmet Invitations in 2005. She wanted her business to reflect her personality and as a foodie, Gourmet Invitations was the perfect name for her custom invitation business. She has been seen on WeTV’s “Preston Bailey’s Midnight Wedding” after having the honor of designing invitations for Preston Bailey. Her work has been seen on Entertainment Tonight and published in wedding magazines such as Martha Stewart Weddings, Bridal Guide, Destination Weddings I Do, Brides, The Knot and many others. Her work has also been featured on Style Me Pretty, Brides.com, Glamour.com, People.com, and much more. Tifany has worked with celebrity wedding designers and her clients include TV and radio personalities, an NBA All-Star, an NFL superstars (including a Superbowl ring holder), an MLB star, and even a royal highness.
Tifany is also a speaker with expertise in many different subjects. She has spoken to NACE, ILEA, ABC, and will be speaking at Engage 18 in Cabo San Lucas. In 2016, she launched Amuse Invitations, an amusing bite size portion of Gourmet Invitations. The Etsy shop offers instant download items such as signs and table numbers. She also partnered with Rebecca Marie Photography in 2017, to form T&R Stock, a curated stock photo company specializing in imagery for the busy entrepreneur.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Tifany's tips for doing work in less time, by focusing on the task at hand and eliminating distractions
- How having a community has helped Tifany keep going during difficult times
- Tifany's personal struggle with depression and how she has learned to identify and combat her triggers
- Dealing with clients and setting expectations when times get tough
Want to connect with Tifany?
- Website: Gourmet Invitations
- Instagram: @gourmetinvites
- Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/GourmetInvitations/
- Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/gourmetinvites/
Is it time for you to make a change to your business? Sometimes change is necessary to move forward successfully, whether it's a dramatic shift to your business offerings or just a slight tweak. In this week's episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, we're chatting with event planner Amy Zaroff of Minneapolis-based Amy Zaroff Events + Design. In her 15+ years in business, Amy has transformed and reinvented her business several times to keep it moving forward, and in this week's episode she's sharing her story and tips.
About our guest:
Myriad career paths have led Amy Zaroff to this high point in life. An early career as a television producer and later as a marketing director allowed Amy to refine her skills in design, planning and time management. Along with her husband, Amy fine-tuned her innate skills in event planning at their authentic, New York-style delicatessen. In 2004, she purchased the invitation, stationery and gift store, Give My Regards To, and added full-service event planning to the company’s repertoire of services. Over the next several years, Amy began to build an all encompassing event planning company that would deliver exceptional customer service by working intimately with clients to understand every aspect of their special event.
By channeling years of experience in marketing, design, catering and event planning into one endeavor, Amy and her team have become known as the prime source for creating life’s most memorable experiences as Amy Zaroff Events + Design. Her company now handles social, corporate and non-profit events including experiential marketing activations across the country.
Amy is on the board of Appetite for Change, Pab’s Packs and Perspectives and is involved in The Birthday Party Project locally in Minneapolis. She also volunteers for several local agencies and organizations, offering pro-bono event planning for several Twin Cities non-profits that benefit women and children.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Amy's background and she began her career in the event industry
- How Amy transitioned from restauranteur, to stationery store owner, to event planner
- How working with a business coach and consultant helped Amy get paid what she was worth
- How reinvention has helped Amy take her business to the next level
- Amy's suggested business books, including The EMyth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber and Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman
Want to connect with Amy?
- Website: Amy Zaroff Events + Design
- Instagram: @amyzaroff
- Twitter: @amyzaroff
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amyzaroffevents/
Growing your business doesn't have to just mean booking more events in your local market. Taking your company nationwide or working in different markets is another way to grow your brand. If that's something you're considering, this week's episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast is for you. In this week's episode, we're chatting with musician and singer Jordan Kahn about how he's taken his entertainment company from just local-based to booking events throughout the country.
About our guest:
Raised on the great popular music of the last century, Berklee College of Music graduate Jordan Kahn and his party orchestra of 11 to 40+ performers have a reputation for dance-floor-filling musical performances that will bring you across all genres. From Justin Timberlake to Chicago, Pitbull to Earth Wind and Fire, Sinatra to Santana, and many many more, the talent is vast and possibilities endless.
Matched with his expansive repertoire and ability to go from song to song without stopping, is Jordan's unique formula of how to elevate energy in any room. Jordan believes that, "We as performers exist for our audience. For me, it is all about connecting musically and emotionally with every single person in front of me. Whatever it takes to provide our crowd escape away from their normal day-to-day, and bring them an experience they will never forget!"
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Jordan's background and he began his career in the wedding industry
- How networking helped Jordan grow his business in his market and in other markets
- How Jordan balances traveling for events and networking with his band's performances
- Jordan's thoughts on donating services for industry events when you're running business
Want to connect with Jordan?
- Website: Jordan Kahn Orchestra
- Instagram: @jordanmusiq
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jordanmusiq
If you've been in business for any period of time, you may have considered writing a book. But do you know how to go about doing it? In this week's episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, we're chatting with wedding photographer Cavin Elizabeth who recently self-published a book about wedding photography. In this podcast episode, we're diving into the process and steps to get you from idea to published author.
About our guest:
Cavin Elizabeth is a wedding photographer based in San Diego, California. Her wedding work has taken her all over the United States and France. She has been published numerous times on leading national wedding blogs, such as Ruffled, 100 Layered Cake, Style Me Pretty, and Green Wedding Shoes, as well as stunning regional blogs such as Southern California Bride.
In addition to being a wedding photographer, Cavin is an educator and an avid blogger of wedding planning tips for brides and grooms. Beyond creating one-of-a-kind images for her clients, Cavin focuses on teaching couples how to make well-informed wedding plans that are ideal for photography. She believes that couples who plan their wedding with photography in mind are the couples who receive the most beautiful images.
Cavin recently published her first book, A Bride’s Guide to a Picture Perfect Wedding, which gives couples the tools to plan their wedding with photography in mind. The easy-to-follow book focuses on the three major components of the wedding timeline, guiding brides from the planning months to the Big Day itself, and the days following.
When Cavin isn’t busy photographing chic brides and grooms, she loves to attend New York City Ballet performances, travel to European and tropical destinations, watch the latest British dramas on Netflix, and enjoy fruity craft cocktails and delicious vegetarian dinners with friends.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- The steps Cavin took to write her book
- Why Cavin decided to go the self-publishing route
- The additional resources that Cavin needed to hire to assist with the book, including editors and graphic designers
- Ways to protect yourself legally when writing a book
- How long it took Cavin to write her book, from the initial outline to having the printed copies
Want to connect with Cavin?
- Purchase A Bride's Guide to a Picture Perfect Wedding
- Website: https://www.cavinelizabeth.com/
- Instagram: @cavinelizabeth
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/cavinelizabeth
If you're not tapped into the Jewish wedding market, you're missing out on business. In this episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Michele Schwartz all about breaking into the Jewish wedding market.
About our guest:
Michele Schwartz began her career in hotels and weddings at Walt Disney World. She is a published author and highly sought-after speaker, with a degree in Communications from the University of Texas at Austin. Michele is the creator and editor-in-chief of The Modern Jewish Wedding where she shares her expertise in Jewish wedding design, fashion and culinary trends. She has also recently expanded into consulting with creative partners in the event industry to assist them in their blogging, social media efforts and developing a winning customer experience. She is also a member of the goMagic team helping others experience the Disney Magic.
Award-winning, innovative and influential, Michele is the President-Elect of NACE Austin, and has served as Vice President of Communications for ILEA Austin, Social Media Chair for One to One Women Coaching Women, and President of the National Council of Jewish Women, Austin Section. She is an acclaimed national speaker presenting in front of audiences at The Special Event, Engage!, Catersource, NACE Experience, and several local NACE and ILEA chapters. She has been featured in the New York Times, Chicago Bride Magazine, Moment Magazine, OneWed.com and Caribbean Bride Magazine, among others. In 2014, she and her team won an ESPRIT Award for Best Team Event.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- The ins and outs of bar and bat mitzvahs
- The most common way for this demographic to find their event vendors
- Budget differences between Jewish weddings and other types of weddings
- Chuppahs, yarmulkes and other Jewish traditions
Want to connect with Michele?
- Blog: http://www.themodernjewishwedding.com/
- Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ModernJewess/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernJewishWedding/
Until you make a sale, you're not really in business. Making sales is what it's all about, yet many of us in the wedding industry haven't been properly trained on how to sell and how to close the deal. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting consultant and trainer Cindy Novotny about sales tips that anyone can use to book more business.
About our guest:
Cindy is the founder of Master Connection Associates, a premiere international training and consulting company, specializing in customer service, sales and leadership performance.
During MCA’s history, Cindy has received numerous awards and accolades. The American Society for Training & Development (ASTD) recognized her as one of nine most powerful and innovative speakers and Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) recognized Cindy as one of the Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales & Marketing. The Award is given for the most innovation, vision and achievement in the hospitality, travel and tourism industry. This year, Cindy was also the recipient of the IACC Pyramid Award for Excellence in meetings.
Cindy’s energy, passion, and drive guarantee that her message will always ‘hit home’. She addresses multigenerational and multicultural groups from an array of industries. A true “road warrior,” Cindy travels almost 50 weeks per year speaking, training and consulting.
Cindy’s book “LIVING WITH NO BALANCE…And Loving It!” encapsulates her life on the road, running an international consulting company, assisting with her award winning restaurant, and managing her 200 acre cattle farm in Iowa. In this fast-paced book, Cindy challenges people to feel good about trying to do it all while living in a less than balanced World.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Cindy's background in hospitality, training and consulting
- How Cindy is able to respond quickly to inquiries in 7 seconds, 7 minutes, or 7 hours
- How professionalism goes a long way in making sales
- Steps to take when meeting with a client for the first time during a sales consultations
- How to effectively follow up after sending a proposal
- Asking for the sale in a way that doesn't feel pushy
Want to connect with Cindy?
- Website: http://www.cindynovotny.com and http://www.masterconnection.com/
- Email: info@masterconnection.com and cindynovotny@masterconnection.com
- Phone: 949-589-6137
In this casual episode of This Week in Weddings, Kimberly and Annie catch up, chat a bit about their own weddings, and look forward to coming episodes.
Is your business model a true reflection of who you are? Are you carrying out your brand's image in your every day life? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with event planner Andrea Eppolito, of Andrea Eppolito Events about living your brand. From what you wear and how you present yourself in public to having an understanding of the restaurants your ideal client frequents, this week's episode is all about keeping your brand top of mind.
About our guest:
Having worked a wedding show at fifteen, Andrea fell in love with the beauty, the timeless traditions, and the transformative qualities of weddings and events. During her time at UNLV, she planned weddings while working in restaurants and studying her craft. In 1998, Andrea opened the iconic Bellagio Resort; the first of many she would ultimately come to work with.
Andrea founded her eponymous event planning business, Andrea Eppolito Events, in 2011. In the years that followed, her work received numerous awards and has been featured by the likes of BRIDES, WedLuxe, Grace Ormonde, and more. Renowned for designing weddings with soul, and called "vibrant, chic, and impeccably organized” Andrea prides herself on the deep relationships she creates with her clients and partners.
A custom magazine she gifted to her clients went viral in 2016, leading to the creation of The Wedding Editorialist. This self publishing platform creates story-driven issues published both online and in print. The Wedding Editorialist believes that every story deserves to be told, and services couples, creatives, and venues.
Committed to collaboration and education, Andrea is a keynote speaker, eternal student, and eager participant in think tanks and book clubs. Born in New York, Andrea lived bi-coastally between there and LA before relocating to Las Vegas, Nevada. After over 20 years she considers herself "nearly a native" of the city she now resides in with her husband and children
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Andrea's background and why luxury weddings are a fit for her
- Why looking the part is important when running a business
- How to familiarize yourself with high-end restaurants without having to spend the money on a 5-course meal
- How Andrea has added to her business through the Wedding Editorialist
Want to connect with Andrea?
- Website: http://www.andreaeppolitoevents.com/
- Instagram: @andreaeppolito
- Facebook:@andreaeppolito
- Email: andrea@eppolitoevents.com
Are you educating yourself and growing your network by attending industry conferences? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with photographer Phillip Van Nostrand about his experience on the conference circuit and how it's affected his business and industry connections. From the Engage conference to WPPI, Phil will share how he's leveraged wedding industry conferences to grow his business and network.
About our guest:
Phillip Van Nostrand is based in New York and California. With a strong background in weddings, commercial and lifestyle projects, he is an expert in capturing bright, cinematic lifestyle imagery. He travels abroad once a year and has photographed 30+ countries. Co-founder of La Rousse Shoppe, a successful e-commerce company specializing in glass memory boxes.
Phil has been published in the New York Times, Dwell Magazine, Fortune.com, Fast Company, Huffington Post, Parade Magazine, San Diego Style Weddings, and was a Master Class speaker at WPPI in 2016 and 2017.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Phil's experience in the wedding industry and his early conference experiences
- How tenacity allowed Phil to photograph the industry's premier luxury wedding conference
- How to Philip does the conference scene as affordably as possible
Want to connect with Jes?
- Website: http://phillipvn.com/
- Instagram: @phillipvnweddings
- Facebook:@phillipvnphotography
Sometimes it's just nice to chat with someone who has a rich history in the event industry, has grown a successful business, and just tells it like it is. This week on the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're doing just that with New York City-based event designer Jes Gordon. In this week's episode, we're chatting with Jes about her experience the industry and what she's learned along the way.
About our guest:
Jes Gordon’s namesake company jesGORDON/properFUN, provides high end, personal event design and management with loads of signature style. Her first book, Party Like A Rock Star (Globe Pequot Press), provides everyone with the tools they need to throw the party of their dreams, regardless of their budget. Gordon was the Design Mentor on Bravo’s “Rocco’s Dinner Party.” Each week, Gordon aided the competing chefs in creating a memorable dinner party experience that went well beyond the cuisine. Gordon’s innate eye for color was first noticed at thirteen when she stumbled into the industry as an assistant to a floral designer. By the time she reached her junior year at Bard College, she had a blooming floral business. Gordon went on to open a contemporary art gallery and flower shop in Taos, New Mexico, and later moved to New Orleans to work on set designs for films, including “Interview with a Vampire” and “Dead Man Walking.”
In 1992, Gordon became the Events and Decor Director for the infamous Tavern on the Green restaurant in New York. Her work at Tavern on the Green led to private commissions for celebrities including Madonna, Barbara Streisand, Harrison Ford, Vanessa Williams, Sting, and Elton John, among others. Gordon now applies her eye for design and passion for the unexpected to her event design and production firm. Gordon has created captivating corporate events for Bank of Hapoalim, CNN, Ann Taylor, M&M’s, Comcast, AOL, Yahoo, Rowenta, A&E Networks, West Point, Lifetime Channel, and many others. She also continues to dazzle brides and socialites alike with dream weddings and private affairs. With a strong base in New York, she continues to work all over the world.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- How Jes Gordon got started in the event industry at the age of 13
- How Jes uses an initial meeting to learn about her clients through observation
- Jes's take on competition in the industry and staying in your own lane
- Looking outside the industry to gain knowledge
- How having her name on the door has shaped her business
Want to connect with Jes?
- Website: http://www.jesgordon.com/
- Instagram: @jesgordon
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jesgordonproperfun/
SEO and websites and social media... oh my! In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Julie Novack of PartySlate all about digital marketing. Julie shares some straight forward tips for boosting your presence on Google, improving your website, and creating online profiles for your business.
About our guest:
Julie Novack is the CEO and Co-Founder of PartySlate, a photo-rich platform where leading event professionals share their work with the world. PartySlate is a website for brides, grooms and party hosts of all kinds who are searching for new ideas and top local event professionals. Unlike other inspiration platforms such as Pinterest, PartySlate is designed specifically to give Event Professionals such as Photographers, Planners, Décor Companies, and Venues a better way to showcase their work, build their brand, credit partners and collaborate with their clients.
Julie brings over 20 years of digital experience overseeing global and national teams at Vibes Mobile, Razorfish and Agency.com. Julie received an MBA in marketing and finance from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and a BA in Economics from the University of Michigan.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Basics for Search Engine Optimization, including the importance of local key words
- What authoritative link backs are and why you want them for your website
- The most important section of your website that's often overlooked
- What PartySlate is and how to get listed on the website
Want to connect with Julie?
- Email: julie@partyslate.com
- Website: http://www.partyslate.com
- Instagram: @partyslate
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/partyslate
If you're not making a profit, you don't have a business. While it sounds simple, creative businesses aren't always the best at charging what they're worth. In this episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Sean Low, who has been consulting creative businesses for nearly 10 years. Check out this week's episode for some real talk and tough love as Sean Low lays it down!
About our guest:
Sean Low is the Founder and President of The Business of Being Creative, a consulting firm focused on providing practical advice to those in the business of being creative. Prior to founding The Business of Being Creative in August 2009, Sean spent six years as the President of Preston Bailey Design, Inc. representing Preston in his business endeavors around the world.
Sean has a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania and apart from working with amazing creative professionals, his business acumen is honed from his previous experience as a lawyer, investment banker, financial executive and small business owner.
Sean’s client list includes the who’s who of creative business – from designers (interior, graphic, event and fashion), photographers, florists, even Cordovans (shoemakers). Sean is passionate about challenging creative businesses to be the best versions of themselves, helping them set the foundation for growth and development and working along side creative business owners to take their businesses as far as they want them to go.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Sean's experience with creative businesses and how he starting consulting businesses in the wedding industry
- Some of the biggest mistakes creative businesses make when it comes to pricing
- The risk of raising your pricing without making other significant changes to your business
- Why Sean believes itemized pricing is a mistake
- How to get more "tough love" from Sean through private coaching/mentoring or the BBC Collective
Want to connect with Sean?
- Blog: http://www.thebusinessofbeingcreative.com/
- The BBC Collective
Oh Millenials! They always get a bad rap, but when Millenials are our clients (and employees) in the wedding industry, it's important that we understand who they are, how they think, and how best to work with them. In this episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Dallas-based event planner Meredith Commender, who has the skinny on the mindset and preferences of this generation, born between 1981 and 1999.
About our guest:
Meredith Commender, CSEP has been the owner and Lead Event Coordinator & Designer at Significant Events of Texas for the past 11 years. Weddings are the largest sector of her business, but she frequently produces events for charitable organizations and corporate clients as well.
Meredith also runs a successful internship program and the majority of both her clients, employees, and interns are of the millennial generation. Prior to starting Significant Events, Meredith taught high school English for 7 years where she faced the successes and challenges of educating and assisting Millennials on a daily basis.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- The history and period of time that shaped this generation
- How parenting styles changed over time, and how this chagne affecting Millenials behavior
- Communicating with Millenials
- The strengths Millenials have when it comes to collaboration and brainstorming
- Some of the biggest challenges you might face when employing Millenials
- Changes you can make today to your website to better appeal to Millenials
Want to connect with Meredith?
- Website: https://significanteventsoftexas.com/
- Instagram: @significanteventsoftexas
How much do you know about European weddings? Oh... not much? Neither do we, so we're getting our learn on with two ladies who know all about weddings in France!
About our guests:
Anne Mulvihill
Prior to forming Fête in France, Anne worked in marketing, public relations and communications in a large international corporation. The inspiration for starting her own agency came when she organized her most favorite event: her own wedding.
Nancy LaTart
After beginning her professional career on the corporate track in strategy consulting and marketing, Nancy joined the world of event planning and hasn’t looked back. Nancy received her MBA from INSEAD.
Fête in France
Since starting the business in 2006, Anne and Nancy have planned more than 300 events over the past 11 seasons for an international clientele. Thanks to their high-touch, concierge-level service we have built a strong reputation in the industry, cultivated privileged relationships with vendors and created memories of a lifetime for our couples. Their aim is to help clients navigate the wedding planning process from vision to execution, and overcome the distance, language and cultural barriers in order to have the wedding of their dreams. Fête in France's work has been featured in Brides, Vogue, Martha Stewart Weddings, Grace Ormond Wedding Style, WedLuxe, Style Me Pretty, Junebug and 100 Layer Cake. They have also been named Best Wedding Planner in Paris 2 years running by Expatriates Magazine.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- How European weddings differ from American weddings
- Working with vendors in Europe
- How important face-to-face meetings are for working with European vendors
Want to connect with Anne and Nancy?
- Website: https://feteinfrance.com/
- Instagram: @feteinfrance
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/feteinfrance
Happy New Year, and welcome back to the This Week In Weddings podcast! In this mini-episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, Kimberly and Annie share some of the biggest things they've learned from the podcast in 2017 and share some of their personal and professional goals for 2018.
Raise your hand if you want to increase the number of referrals you receive.... We thought so! While advertising your wedding business is certainly a way to bring in clients, direct referrals is often the most effective (and least expensive) way to grow your business, and this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast is all about increasing your referrals. Our guest Laura Neff, owner of Laura Lee Photography, has increased her referrals 1200% and she's sharing some tips with us on how she did it as well as how she's systemized her business process to give her more time to focus on building relationships with her clients.
About our guest:
Laura Neff is a New Jersey + Worldwide wedding and brand photographer preserving memories for adventurous, fun-loving couples and heart-driven creative brands. In addition to running a very successful photography business, she has a passion to educate the creative community! Laura is an expert when it comes to productivity, workflow, systems, and growing a profitable business while leading a fulfilling life. She loves helping creative businesses systematize their everyday tasks and create workflows so they can have more time to spend with friends and family and do the things they love! She's obsessed with firepits, sweet wine, deep conversation, elephants, and showing off her horrible dance moves at any given moment. Laura is on a mission for entrepreneurs to schedule more date nights, brunch weekends, and vacations as a result of finding work-life balance while running a thriving business!
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Tips for servicing your clients well so that they will want to refer you
- How to build relationships with not just your couple, but the wedding party and guests
- Asking for a referral from a previous client
- Social media tips for connecting with your next client
Want to connect with Laura?
- Photography Website: http://imlauralee.com/
- Education Website: http://lauraleecreative.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imlauralee/
- Laura Lee Creative Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauraleecreative/
- Instagram: @lauraleecreative
Think back to that client you absolutely LOVED working with. How would you like to have every client be that client? Sounds dreamy, right? Well, that perfect client doesn't have to be a fluke. It today's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're talking to consultant and author Heidi Thompson about how to clone your best clients.
About our guest:
Heidi Thompson is the best-selling author of Clone Your Best Clients and the founder of Evolve Your Wedding Business where she specializes in business and marketing strategy for wedding professionals. She helps wedding professionals grow their businesses and reach their goals without going crazy in the process. Her business & marketing expertise has been featured on several wedding and business outlets including The Huffington Post, Social Media Examiner, Wedding Business Magazine, Sprouting Photographer, Photo Biz Xposed, Honeybook, WeddingWire World & she’s an advisory board member for the UK Academy Of Wedding & Event Planning.
You can also join her and lots of other wedding professionals just like you in The Evolve Your Wedding Business Facebook Community.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- How to analyze your best client
- Heidi's advice for finding about about your best client's buying decisions, including how they found you, why they chose to work with you, and their experience
- Updating your marketing materials to target your ideal client
Want to connect with Heidi?
- Heidi's book "Clone Your Best Clients"
- Online: www.evolveyourweddingbusiness.com and www.theweddingbusinesscollective.com
- Facebook Group: Wedding Business Community
- Instagram: @evolveyourweddingbusiness
Have you ever wished you had a degree in psychology to better understand your clients? Well if so, this episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast is for you! From "Daddy's Girl" brides to the quiet and shy "Mouse" we're digging into different personality types of brides and how to best deal with them.
About our guest:
Kylie Carlson is the CEO of the International Academy of Wedding and Event Planning providing training and certification for wedding planners, stylists and designers since 2005.
Having worked in the events industry for over 25 years running her own wedding planning and production company in London providing services to some of London’s premiere venues, she gained a decade of knowledge on how to run a successful wedding business.
Kylie immigrated to Australia in 2003 where she worked as the Event Operations Director for Hayman Island, a five star resort in North Queensland. After a year on Hayman she then launched the first Academy campus in Australia. Since launching she now offers her training programs throughout Europe, North America, the GCC and Australasia through the Academy virtual online learning platform.
Kylie is a sought after speaker, presenting at The Special Event, Catersource/Event Solutions, Jamaican Bridal Expo, Exotic Wedding Planning Conference Barcelona, and a variety of industry workshops and events as a keynote speaker including the National Association of Wedding Professionals, Engage Academy Dubai and the Cornwall Wedding Meet-Up.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- The different personality types of brides and how to deal with them
- The Daddy's Girl bride
- The Prima Donna
- The Mouse
- The Hesitant Bride
- The Control Freak
- The Penny Pincher
Want to connect with Kyle?
- Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/WeddingAcademyLive/
- Instagram: @weddingacademylive and @kyliemecarlson
- Twitter: @wedacademylive
It's Thanksgiving week, and we're taking some time out to be thankful. In this mini-episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, Kimberly and Annie share some of the things they are thankful for this holiday season.
Have you ever considered opening a second location for your wedding business? If so, this week's episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast is for you. From determining when to travel to each of your locations and delegating to a team that can work independently, this week's episode dives into the hows of managing a business in two different markets.
About our guest:
As Partner and Creative Director of Jackson Durham, Heath Alan Ray is the award-winning creative force behind the company’s stunning Southern-inflected floral design.
With over 20 years industry experience, clients from celebrities to athletes have turned to Heath for his bespoke design philosophy to create both breathtaking and unforgettable events.
Before opening Jackson Durham in Atlanta in 2009, Heath worked as a floral designer for over nine years in Dallas, Memphis and New York City. While in New York, Heath worked as the in-house florist at Henri Bendel along with other upscale clients such as MoMA, the American Museum of Natural History, MTV, the University of Florida, AOL Time Warner and the Peninsula Hotel among others.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Heath's background in floral design
- How Heath went from one location to two locations
- The extra planning needed when operating in two locations
- How to plan for travel when there are two locations to manage
Want to connect with Heath?
- Web: http://jacksondurham.com/
- Instatram: @jacksondurhamevents
- Twitter: @jacksondurham
With the end of the year quickly approaching and the start of another year on the horizon, there's no better time to take a look at your business finances. In this episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with financial guru Paco de Leon about the things we should be doing as the year wraps up from a financial and accounting perspective.
About our guest:
Paco de Leon is a musician who happens to be killer at finance. She has spent most of her career working with creatives who also do business. Her experience ranges from business consulting, business management, financial planning, wealth management and she even spent some time at a big, evil bank. Her experiences have lead her to found The Hell Yeah Group, a financial firm focused on inspiring creatives to be engaged with their personal and business finances and more importantly, to give them the tools and support to stop freaking out about it.
She lives in the Echo Park neighborhood in sunny Los Angeles with her wife Jenn. She plays in a band called Mister Fantasy, is the founder of a boutique bookkeeping company called Hell Yeah, Bookkeeping and a co-founder of the arts-based non profit organization, Allies in Arts.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- The step business owners should be taking now to prepare for the end of the year wrap up
- Accountants vs. bookkeepers -- What's the difference? And do you need both?
- The biggest mistakes small business owners make when it comes to their finances
- How to goal set for how much you need to make
Want to connect with Paco?
- Web: https://thehellyeahgroup.com/
- Twitter: @HellYeahGroup
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehellyeahgroup
Independent contractors. Employees. Interns. Salary. Hourly. There is so much to consider when it comes to adding members to your team, and in this week's episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, we're talking to employment attorney Caroline Harrison about the ins and outs about growing your team the legally correct way.
About our guest:
Caroline Harrison is a founding Partner of Dowell Pham Harrison LLP. As an attorney Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, she represents employers in disputes with former employees, and guides them through the sometimes confusing arena of employment law. Her practice focuses on employment litigation and counseling.
Caroline assists employers in a variety of areas, including anti-discrimination and retaliation laws, drafting and enforcing covenants not to compete and non-solicitation agreements, and protection of trade secrets.
She advises employers on the Family and Medical Leave Act, (FMLA), Unemployment Compensation appeals, handling complex investigations into sensitive employment issues, Wage and Hour issues, and classification of employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act, (FLSA). She provides counseling on complex issues including discipline, termination, harassment, investigations, effective employment practices, litigation avoidance and accommodation of disabilities, as well as training human resource professionals, managers, and supervisors in all areas of employment law.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- The differences between contractors and employees, and when it's appropriate to have each
- Unpaid interns - is that a real thing?
- Paying employees hourly vs. salaried
- What "at-will" employment means
- Workers comp
- The biggest mistakes employers make when it comes to employees
Want to connect with Caroline?
- Web: http://www.dphllp.com/
- LinkedIn: Caroline Harrison / Dowell Pham Harrison LLP
In a service-based business, there is always a limit of scalability. You can only work so many hours and so many weddings, and the most common way to scale your business is to bring on more team members.
In this week's episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, we're talking to photographer Katie Doherty, who in addition to her photography business has created a successful online, product-based business, La Rousse Shoppe. With her online business, Katie literally makes money while she sleeps, and she's sharing her story of passive income with us this week's episode.
About our guest:
Katie Doherty is a whimsical redheaded photographer and entrepreneur, who has built a six figure e-commerce company from the ground up in just two years. La Rousse Shoppe sells boutique packaging products, such as glass photo boxes and USB drives, to professional photographers. It all started with Katie’s love of creating beautiful things, fueled by a desire for freedom and the ability to work from anywhere. Her favorite aspects of running La Rousse Shoppe are designing products, branding & packaging, and seeing all of the wonderful ways photographers are sharing their styled print boxes on social media.
Katie and her business partner Phil are working on further automating the business by building their team and outsourcing daily tasks like shipping and fulfilling orders. The goal is to build systems and automation so that Katie and Phil can focus on expanding their product line, and, of course, enjoying a life of travel and leisure.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Katie's background as a photographer in the wedding industry
- How Katie came up with an idea for a product to sell
- The steps Katie took to bring her product idea from inception to product sample to market
- How bringing on a business partner helped Katie launch and grow her business
- The first thing our guest decided to outsource when building her online business
- The technology Katie uses to sell her products online
- How Katie's online business has changed her life for the better
- What items Katie now outsources in order to have a truly passive income
Want to connect with Katie?
- Web: katiedoherty.me (all projects) / larousseshoppe.com (e-commerce shop)
- Instagram: @larousseshoppe
When you're a high achiever with high standards and a strong work ethic, it's easy to take it to the extreme. Working crazy hours dealing with difficult clients and being in an industry that is focused around servicing others, it's no wonder that many wedding industry professionals have suffered through bouts of burnout.
In this week's episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, we're talking to sales consultant and coach Rachel Sheerin, who dealt with a major case of burnout in the hospitality industry. After a bit of a break from the event industry and some personal reflection, Rachel has now created a life she loves.
Check out this episode to hear about the symptoms of burnout and tips from Rachel for getting through it.
About our guest:
Rachel Sheerin is a national public speaker and the owner of She Sells, a sales strategy firm that focuses on helping creative entrepreneurs grow sales and enjoy their success. Some of her clients include wedding & event professionals, Etsy sellers, independent record labels, and hotels management companies.
Before devoting herself to helping creatives sell more, Rachel served as Director of Sales for a multi-million dollar off-site caterer & as a long-time NACE board member. Rachel's an avid dog lover, craft beer drinker and travel enthusiast whose mission in life is to help others sell more & be happy - and she's here with us today. Welcome, Rachel!
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- The signs of burnout
- How burnout differs from depression
- Rachel's personal experience with burnout
- How looking at your job as a hobby can help with burnout
- Tips for prioritizing your work and personal life to match your true goals
Want to connect with Rachel?
- Web: www.rachelsheerin.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/rachelsheerinspeaker
- Instagram: @rachel.sheerin
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/rachelsheerin
- Email: hi@rachelsheerin.com
In today's world of social media, good publicity and bad publicity can spread like wildfire. For a small business owner, that can be scary! Could one negative review or one disgruntled client completely destroy your business and the reputation you've worked so hard to build and maintain?
In this week's episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, we're talking to photographer, author and coach Andrea Polito, who was thrown into the spotlight when one of her wedding couples went on the local news to talk negatively about her business. A two year legal battle resulted in her winning a defamation lawsuit, and Andrea's on the podcast to share her story.
About our guest:
Author, Coach, Speaker and Internationally acclaimed photographer Andrea Polito is a master-lifestyle and wedding photographer sought after by celebrities and professional athletes. Her work has been featured in over 150 publications including Town and Country, Architectural Digest, Martha Stewart, Time, Huffington Post and New York Times. She has also made special guest appearances on TLC, CNN & CBS. Andrea’s online coaching program and her first book "8 Steps to 800k as a Photographer" has raised the bar for photographers across the globe who are looking to grow and scale their business.
In July 2017, Andrea won a $1.08 million dollar defamation lawsuit setting precedent for all business owners against online bullying, social shaming and social media defamation. Her case has received more than 400 million impressions world wide and has made Andrea one of the most sought after speakers on online business reputation and online defamation. She is currently working on her second book to be released early 2018 on business bullies and how to protect yourself from an online attack and smear campaign.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- The first signs that Andrea had disgruntled clients
- How the wedding couple quickly escalated the situation
- Andrea's two year legal battle and the five counts she sued the clients for
- What Andrea learned about herself and her thoughts about the wedding industry from her experience
- What everyone should be aware of when putting false information online or sharing that information
- Andrea's book "The 8 Steps to Your First $800,000 as a Photographer" available here.
Want to connect with Andrea?
- Web: www.andreapolito.com
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/theandreapolito
- Instagram: @theandreapolito
- Twitter: @theandreapolito
As a creative entrepreneur, it can often be a challenge to consistently be creating new and innovative work. With the pressures of social media and the pressures of running a business, it's no wonder that creative entrepreneurs can easily fall into a creative rut.
In this week's episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, we're chatting with custom invitation designer and calligrapher Lauren Essl about her struggle with being in a creative rut. We're getting real in this week's episode, and we're certain that creative entrepreneurs will be able to relate.
About our guest:
Blue Eye Brown Eye is a calligraphy and design studio specializing in custom wedding and event invitations, calligraphy services, and calligraphy classes. Founder Lauren Essl began Blue Eye Brown Eye (named after her rescue pup, Olive, with a blue and brown eye) in 2010, and has worked with countless clients and taught thousands (really!) of people the art of pointed pen calligraphy.
You can also find online calligraphy classes by Lauren through Brit + Co. Lauren lives in Fort Worth with her husband, Travis, and three doggies.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Lauren's background in the wedding and event industry
- How social media can dampen one's creativity
- How the comparison game can get the best of you
- How being a part of a collective or shared workspace can help spur your creativity
Want to connect with Lauren?
- Web: http://blueeyebrowneye.com/
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/blueeyebrowneye
- Instagram: @laurenessl and @blueeyebrowneye
- Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/laurenessl
In this week's episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, we're chatting with business coach Dane Sanders about entrepreneurs holding themselves back. While it's easy to use limiting language (and most don't even realize they are doing it!), Dane shares his perspectives on changing one's mindset in order to transform their businesses.
About our guest:
With earned degrees in business and philosophy, 12+ years as a professional photographer, over a decade of speaking, consulting and coaching and 2 best-selling business books for creatives, Dane Sanders helps owners move the needle of their business.
Seth Godin describes Dane’s Fast Track Photographer book as “a priceless gift… offering advice on how to make a living in world where everyone has a camera.”
Dane is also founder at Fastermind.co - a community of creative entrepreneurs committed to transforming their businesses through solid education, fierce conversations and no-messing-around accountability.
Dane lives with his family in Newport Beach, California and online at danesanders.com.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Dane's progression from being a teacher, to a photographer, to a business coach
- The limiting language entrepreneurs use without even realizing it
- A quick trick to change your approach to situations and put a different spin on negative thoughts
- The GO Summit
- GO Summit discount for This Week In Weddings listeners
Want to connect with Dane?
- Web: www.danesanders.com and www.fastermind.co
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danesanders and https://www.facebook.com/followdane
- Twitter: @danesanders
- Instagram: @danesanders
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/danesanders
Managing a wedding business is hard. Add kids into the mix and it's even harder. For all those single parents out there doing it, we are in awe! In this week's episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, we're talking with a New Orleans based wedding planner who is doing just that – managing a business as a single parent. And you guys... she home schools one of her kids too! Hear how she does it all and keeps her head above water in this week's episode of This Week In Weddings!
About our guest:
Emily Sullivan is the owner and visionary behind Emily Sullivan Events. She believes that the wedding planning process should be both fun and stress-free! A southern girl at heart, she loves the hospitality aspect of wedding planning and aims to make her clients feel both comfortable and welcome in the city of New Orleans. With over 11 years in the industry and 500+ weddings under her belt, she has the experience and relationships needed to make every wedding day the best! Emily is the inaugural president of the New Orleans WIPA Chapter and has been featured in publications such as BRIDES, Grey Likes Weddings, The Knot and more! She is a sought-after national speaker, with recent and upcoming engagements including The Special Event, NACE, WeddingWire World, and Wedding MBA.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- How Emily involves her kids in her work
- How Emily balances her work and homeschooling
- How having a tribe around her has helped her balance work and personal life
- How Emily manages the dreaded "mom guilt"
Want to connect with Emily?
www.emilysullivanevents.com
Facebook: Emily Sullivan Events
Instagram: @emilysullivanevents
Depending on where in the country you live, you might have just finished your busy wedding season or you might just be starting it. Regardless, getting through the peak season in your wedding business is no joke! In this mini-episode of This Week In Weddings, Kimberly and Annie share some of their top tips for surviving the busy wedding season. From meal planning to couriers, you're sure to get a few take-away tips in this week's podcast to help you survive your busiest time of year!
How your present yourself can affect how you're perceived by your clients, potential clients, and wedding industry peers. Are you putting your best foot forward, not only with your appearance but also your body language and communication style? In this week's episode of This Week In Weddings, we're talking to image consultant Tara Hooper, owner of The Style Signature about how to "show up" in order to have the most positive impact.
About our guest:
Tara Hooper is a certified image consultant and personal brand specialist who has helped people present their best selves for over 20 years. Founder of The Style Signature and Signature Consulting, she believes that image perception directly impacts profitability and productivity and is passionate about providing effective tools and strategies to help clients showcase their most confident, authentic selves. Her own evolution from teen beauty queen to professional hair stylist & makeup artist to successful image consultant and confidence coach gives her unique insights and anecdotes sure to engage any audience.
Tara’s been on the boards of the National Association of Women’s Business Owners and the Association of Image Consultants International (Atlanta Chapter). She’s a volunteer consultant for Look Good Feel Better, a program partnered with the American Cancer Society to help patients with self-esteem and appearance during treatment and post-operative recovery. She is still active in the beauty pageant realm where she’s been crowned Mrs. Texas Woman of Achievement (2017), Mrs. Alabama (2013) and Mrs. USA Petite (2012), to name a few. Tara currently resides in the North Dallas area with her husband, two children and dogs.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- What an image consultant does
- The one person everyone should have in their corner for getting the best clothing fit
- The biggest mistakes people make when it comes to their personal appearance
- Steps to take before walking into a networking event
Want to connect with Tara?
www.thestylesignature.com
Email: tara@thestylesignature.com
Networking in the wedding industry doesn't just have to mean belonging to a dedicated, weekly networking group or joining an event or wedding association. There are other ways to build and grow your network of wedding industry peers, colleagues and friends. In this episode of This Week In Weddings, we're talking to John Cain Sargent, owner of John Cain Photography about his experience with networking and how he has grown his business by networking with an open hand.
About our guest:
For the past seven years, John Cain Sargent has been using photography as a medium for building new relationships.
A firm believer that a rising tide raises all ships, an approach of shared success has made all the difference in his career thus far. If some view a stunning photographic portfolio as a monument to their brand, John sees his portfolio as a foundation to build upon and the results of collaborative talent as the real trophy.
New friends and connections have led to national and international projects. John’s work has been featured in publications such as Town & Country and Traditional Home, as well as magazine covers photographed around the world.
That team usually starts and ends with John’s wife Brittany. Together they make their clients’ experience and satisfaction their highest priority.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- John's journey from graduate school to professional wedding photographer
- How John began his career by bringing value to those he was networking with
- The industry conference that allowed John to grow his network outside his market
- The educational program John is currently enrolled in which has helped him think about his business in a different way
Want to connect with John?
www.johncainphotography.com
Instagram: @johncainsargent
Being in the wedding industry doesn't necessarily mean you have to start a business from scratch. Purchasing an existing business or purchasing portions of another existing business might be for you. In this episode of This Week In Weddings, we're talking all about purchasing a business or business assets as a means to begin your wedding business. In this episode, we're talking to Jennifer Applbaum, owner of Invited Paperie about her experience purchasing business assets to start her business.
About our guest:
With over 15 years of corporate event planning and non-profit fundraising experience, including tenure at The Coca-Cola Company, Jennifer has built a career around the details of bringing people together. When producing large corporate meetings, destination incentive trips, and fundraising events, Jennifer managed logistics, oversaw budgets, and helped to create flawless memories. But through all of that, her love of weddings continued to grow and her passion for fine stationery became a serious obsession!
In 2014, Jennifer acquired the stationery selections of Dallas’ beloved Paper & Chocolate and transitioned the business into Invited Paperie, which offers semi-custom wedding invitations and personal stationery to help brides and hostesses create lasting impressions with their events.
Jennifer is involved with a variety of cancer-related charitable organizations, both locally and nationally. She is a proud St. Mark’s School of Texas parent volunteer and a sustainer in the Junior League of Dallas.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Jennifer Applbaum's journey from corporate event planner to stationer
- Why Jennifer purchased a business (or more specifically business assets) instead of starting a business from scratch
- Why purchasing parts of a business might make more sense than purchasing an entire business
- What Jennifer wishes she had asked more about prior to purchasing business assets
Want to connect with Jennifer?
http://invitedevents.com/
Instagram: @invitedpaperie
No one wants to think about what dying. But this episode of This Week In Weddings is all about planning ahead for what would happen to your finances (both personal and business) and assets if you were to die or become incapacitated while running your wedding business. We're talking to attorney Ashley McMillan of The McMillan Firm about business succession planning and estate planning, including topics such as wills, trusts, buy-sell agreements, power of attorneys, and more.
About our guest:
Ashley McMillan graduated from Wake Forest University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She earned her J.D. from Texas Tech University School of Law in 2008. After working at a firm for three years, Ashley decided that by starting her own practice, she could have a greater and more positive impact on her clients in her legal career.
In 2011, Ashley founded The McMillan Firm, P.C. Since then, the firm has focused its efforts on helping people with practical, every day issues: wealth management, asset protection, passing of assets, business succession planning, estate administration, corporate formation and corporate transactions. The McMillan Firm, P.C. has given Ashley the opportunity to pursue her passion in these areas.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- What a will is and why you need one
- The ins and outs of trusts
- Why sole proprietorships are not a good idea
- How "Pay on Death" or "Transfer of Death" policies can help your family or business partners
- Ways to transfer your business to someone upon your death or incapacitation, including buy-sell agreements
- How to go about finding an attorney to help with estate planning or business succession planning
Want to connect with Ashley?
http://www.mcmillanpc.com
Phone: (214) 217-4472
This week's episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast is focused on mentorship. As your business grows, having a mentor to bounce ideas off of, guide you as your business needs change, and even to help you avoid mistakes is incredibly helpful.
In this episode of the podcast, we're talking with event planner and designer Emily Clarke, owner and creative director of Emily Clarke Events, who opens up about her experiences with mentors. In fact, her current mentor in the wedding industry she credits with changing her business for the better. This episode is perfect for anyone in the wedding industry that is stuck in their business and no longer wanting to go it alone.
About our guest:
By combining her 10 years of experience in the events industry with a lifetime of loving celebrations of all kinds, Emily Clarke has made a name for herself as a premier planner and designer. The result: exquisite soirees brought to life by Emily's energetic dedication to each event idea. By gathering a team around her as passionate as herself, Emily enthusiastically leads her team to pull off stunning and successful events very time. Emily exudes a love for individuality, a talent for big-picture planning with detail-driven execution, and an undying optimism that a fanciful concept can be created.
On any given day she could be found drawing inspiration for her designs from a vast array of sources: the pink of flamingos or the intricacies of palm fronds, classical paintings or modern-day garden sculptures, ornamented ceiling tiles, or delicate pieces of jewelry. When she's not on the job, you'll find her at home or on-the-go with her husband, Walter, and two daughters, Lincoln and Mae Margaret. In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Emily's background and her mentor prior to opening her business
- Emily's thoughts about being a "lone wolf" prior to finding a mentor
- How having a mentor has helped her personally and professionally
- What to think about if you are looking for a mentor
Want to connect with Emily?
http://emilyclarkeevents.com/
Instagram: @emilyclarkeevents
In this week's episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, we're chatting all about growing your business through staff who operate under your business name. With so many entrepreneurs in the wedding industry looking to grow their businesses and have others take on clients under their business name -- for example, photography companies who book associate photographers, or wedding planning companies that have planners on their team who take on their own clients -- we thought it would be great to hear how someone has done this successfully.
In this episode of the podcast, we're diving into the "multi-ops" business model with a wedding entrepreneur who has done this successfully. This week's This Week In Weddings podcast guest, Glenn Roush, shares his story of how he grew his company from being a solopreneur to having a team of 20 DJs.
About our guest:
Glenn Roush was a junior in high school the first time he took on the role of a DJ at a church event. While at Baylor, he quickly grew tired of going to dances with bad DJs and decided to start his own DJ company that focused on quality gear, a library of radio edited versions of the hottest songs and stellar service. After graduating from Baylor, Glenn moved to Dallas to take a job in banking but when more and more of his friends started getting engaged and asking him to DJ their weddings he realized this could be much more than just a side gig. In 2010, Glenn quit his full-time job as an accountant and started LeForce Entertainment.
The goal of LeForce was to expand beyond a one man shop and have a team of DJs who could help meet the shortage of quality DJs in the DFW market. LeForce quickly grew to a team of 10 DJs in the first 2 years and now has over 20 DJs on the team and does hundreds of events each year. Not only does LeForce provide quality DJs, the company has evolved over the years to provide lighting, photobooth and AV services. In 2016 LeForce Entertainment became LeForce Event Group with the acquisition of Lynn Films and then a merger with Simply Music Events in January 2017.
Glenn currently resides in Dallas with his wife Jennifer, sons Deason and Truett and French bulldogs Bruiser and Ginger. Glenn enjoys traveling, college football and quality time with his family and friends.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- How Glenn got his start DJ'ing
- Why Glenn thought a multi-ops business could work, even when other DJs told him it couldn't
- Tips for hiring and training your team
- Why Glenn's team is made up of employees instead of contractors (we're even diving into non-compete and non-solicitation agreements!)
- Things to consider as your business grows with more employees (the fun stuff, like insurance and worker's comp!)
This week's episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast is all about expecting the unexpected. When it comes to running a small business in the wedding industry, we rarely think about the "what if" -- what happens if we get sick, if there's a death in the family, if our spouse is ill and we become caretakers? While these are all things we never think will happen to us, it never hurts to be prepared. In this episode of the podcast, we're diving into one wedding entrepreneur's journey when her husband experienced a health crisis resulting in multiple brain surgeries. Our guest, Kelly Simants, not only shares her story with This Week In Weddings listeners, but gives advice on how to be prepared for when the unexpected arises.
About our guest:
Kelly Simants, serial Entrepreneur, has been in the wedding industry since 2001. She has created a full life-cycle of brands – from proposal planning for guys (Planning for Dudes), to wedding planning (Sweet Pea Events in Dallas, Seattle and NYC), to birthday parties for kids (Parties on the Porch)…She also was co-owner of Sage Wedding Pros for 7 years along with Michelle Loretta, and consulted wedding professionals on all things business – specifically, creating business plans and consulting with entrepreneurs on the HR side of their small business. She loves to share her expertise, not only the event industry, but also from the business world as prior to her event life she was a Director of Human Resources for Starbucks Coffee Company.
In 2016, she passed the Dallas office of Sweet Pea Events on to Meaghan Cody as she returned to the Human Resources field and is now the Vice President of Human Resources for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Outside of dreaming up new businesses and non-profit work, Kelly loves to spend time with her family – husband Chris, two boys Carson (8 years old) and Cole (3 years old).
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Kelly's two-year journey with her husband's health issues
- How Kelly managed her businesses during this personal struggle
- The best thing Kelly did in building her businesses that helped make stepping away from her businesses easier
- What Kelly wishes she would have done differently to prepare for the unexpected
- Insurance every type of entrepreneur should have
Just like every episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, we love to showcase entrepreneurs with a story to tell, and this episode is no different. It's not often that we have a chance to have a casual conversation with someone who has started a movement, but that's just what we're doing this week on This Week in Weddings! Featuring the CEO and Founder of the non-profit, The Birthday Party Project, this week's episode of the show all about giving back, making a change, and creating something new. Paige Chenault shares her story about how she went from being a wedding entrepreneur to the leader of a non-profit in this week's episode of This Week In Weddings.
About our guest:
Paige Chenault has been an entrepreneur in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. In 2005, Paige started an event planning company, Paige Chenault Events. Over the years, Paige created a strong brand while sticking to her core values and giving her clients her best-always advocating on their behalf, being a good steward of their resources, and having fun along the way. By 2011 Paige was managing more than 4 million dollars in events around the country…but she felt challenged to do more.
After the birth of their daughter, Lizzie, Paige was inspired to give back. Taking her passion for helping others and her ability to plan spectacular and meaningful events, she decided that celebrating others was her purpose in life. After years of research and consideration, in 2012, Paige embarked on a new journey and The Birthday Party Project was born.
The mission of The Birthday Party Project is to bring JOY to homeless children through the Magic of Birthdays. With the amazing support of its birthday enthusiasts (volunteers), The Birthday Party Project hosts monthly birthday parties at homeless and transitional living facilities. After starting with one party a month at one shelter with 60 kids, The Birthday Party Project now celebrates in 12 cities across the country.
To date, The Birthday Party Project has celebrated over 4,500 birthdays with over 30,000 children and more than 10,000 birthday enthusiasts. Paige hopes her dedication to generosity will inspire others to spread JOY in their communities. After all, she believes that Joy Changes Lives.
Paige is passionate about all things Giving. She and her husband, Colin, live in Dallas with their almost seven year old daughter, Lizzie, who remains the inspiration behind all their efforts.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- The inspiration behind The Birthday Party Project
- How processes and systemization has helped the non-profit grow
- How to know when it's time to make a change in your life or career
- How wedding vendors can use their talents to give back
Want to connect with Paige?
Website: https://www.thebirthdaypartyproject.org/
Instagram: @thebirthdaypartyproject
Facebook: The Birthday Party Project
Featuring wedding garter designer and long-time blogger Julianne Smith of The Garter Girl, this episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast discusses blogging for your business, including why to blog and tips to making blogging easier.
About our guest:
Julianne Smith is The Garter Girl, a stylish wedding garter design company that began in 2004. The Garter Girl is dedicated to redesigning wedding traditions, helping brides make memories and creating family heirlooms through the art and design of wedding garters.
Julianne believes that a wedding garter is a small, but meaningful, way for a bride to celebrate her own personal style. The Garter Girl’s sophisticated wedding garters are designed to be modern heirlooms intended to be cherished for generations to come.
Combining her passion for DC, media and weddings in 2010, Julianne started the Washington DC area’s top wedding website, United With Love. Featuring locally helpful wedding planning advice, Julianne built United With Love to be a trusted resource and a well-known brand with thousands of readers every day. She was able to sell United With Love in 2016.
In 2016 and 17, Julianne hosted two sold out workshops on how to blog for your business teaching attendees how to blog harder, smarter and faster. The BYOB (Blog Your Own Business) workshop was all about saying "good bye" to blog frustration and confusion and "hello" to blogging with confidence and ease. Julianne recently launched an online course, or webinar teaching blogging skills in a go-at-your-own-pace format where small business owners can finally learn a little bit about SEO and take control of not just their blog, but their entire online profile.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Why blogging is important for your business
- The ideal length for blog posts
- SEO tips for Google related to your blog
- What to blog about for your business
- Tips for systemizing your blogging
Want to connect with Julianne?
Website: http//www.thegartergirl.com/
Instagram: @gartergirl
Pinterest: The Garter Girl
Email: info@thegartergirl.com
Featuring destination wedding photographer Shannon Skloss Alexander of Shannon Skloss Photography, this episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast discusses destination weddings and tips for expanding your business into the destination market.
About our guest:
Available for both local and worldwide weddings, portraits and elopements, Shannon Skloss Alexander has spent the past 8 years capturing the love stories of couples in Dallas and beyond. Being a hybrid photographer (film & digital), she prides herself on open, quick communication with clients and accepts a limited number of weddings per year in order to ensure a high level of service and personalization. She embraces her company by offering her clients a boutique photography experience. Having traveled as far as Bora Bora, Shannon is ready for any romantic journey you may have in mind. The passport is always ready! She has shot over 300 weddings, and now averages about 30-40% destination per year
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Tips for getting started with destination weddings
- Strategize for booking travel for destination weddings
- The characteristics needed to be successful with destination weddings
- Keeping your business under control at home when you're traveling
- Visas, customs, and working with embassies
Want to connect with Shannon?
Website: http://shannonsklossweddings.com/
Instagram: @shannons_photo
Email: info@shannonsklossweddings.com
Featuring Shea Bailey of Wedding Industry Rescue, this episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast discusses tips for using Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to improve your websites rankings on Google.
About our guest:
Shea Bailey is the co-owner of Wedding Industry Rescue along with his wife Cheryl. Shea is the analytical half of the team and specializes in helping wedding professionals improve their websites viability in the search engines. He accomplishes this by consulting with them on their SEO and Google Analytics.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- The basics of Search Engine Optimization
- How Google searches websites for keywords and links
- Tips for using key words on your website
- Tips for using photos on your website to help with your rankings
- Why mobile is so important for Google rankings
- http://backlinko.com/
- Google mobile friendly test: https://search.google.com/test/mobile-friendly
- https://weddingindustryrescue.com/google-analytics-webinar/
Want to connect with Shea?
Website: https://weddingindustryrescue.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeddingIndustryRescue/
Featuring wedding photographers Tanya and Cesar Perez of Perez Photography, this episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast discusses tips for working with your spouse.
About our guest:
Cesar and Tanya are a husband and wife photography team based in Dallas. While photographing weddings for over 10 years with calmness and flexibility, they’ve mastered the art of photographing what truly matters. Merging their expertise in commercial and wedding photography they’ve been able to produce images that are refreshingly contemporary, boasting vivid colors, magazine-worthy composition and capturing timeless moments.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- How this husband and wife team divide their responsibilities
- Tips for keeping your married life and business life separate
- How communication is key when working with your spouse
Want to connect with Tanya and Cesar?
Website: www.perezweddings.com
Instagram: @perezweddings
Featuring Jill Efrussy Sour, owner of custom invitation design company Stamped Paper Co., this episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast discusses the transition many entrepreneurs make when going from working in an office environment to going solo.
About our guest:
Jill Efrussy Sour is the owner of Stamped Paper Co., a full-service invitation and paper design studio. Before working in weddings, Jill spent eight years as an Advertising Agency Art Director, designing print ads, billboards, catalogs, retail stores and tv commercials for everything from Chick-fil-a to luxury cruise lines. She worked at agencies large and small, and lastly, with over 700 co-workers at the largest independent ad agency in the world.
Her foray into the wedding industry came a decade ago, when Jill worked in a new medium, designing the wedding invitations for her dear friend. She spent years working nights and weekends, and the occasional lunch hour, turning her new hobby into a blooming side business, and in 2011, took the leap to make Stamped her full-time job. Her love of design, type, and the world of creativity has made the transition from the advertising to wedding industry seamless, and, well, a lot happier.
Jill has lent her talents to stars of reality tv, Olympic gold medalists, and countless clients who have become dear friends. She has built her business by word of mouth. Her passion for people and experience designing brands have helped Stamped continue to grow into it’s upcoming 6th year.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Making the transition into a full-time career
- Tips for breaking the monotony of working alone
- Finding your "co-workers" when you work alone
- How to separate work and home when your home is your office
- Pros and cons of various home office arrangements
Want to connect with Jill?
Website: www.stampedpaperco.com
Instagram: @stampedpaperco
Featuring Morgan Montgomery, co-owner of specialty rental company Paisley & Jade, this episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast discusses getting into public speaking as a business owner.
About our guest:
A New England native, Virginia resident, and lover of all things modern, clean-lined and loud, Morgan discovered her passion for unique and vintage finds as she designed and propped shows while working towards her B.A. in Theatre from The College of the Holy Cross. With years of sales and customer service experience behind her, she spent three years in the trenches of the off-premise catering world before co-launching Paisley & Jade, a specialty rental company serving the Mid-Atlantic, in 2012. Morgan’s passion for business and events extends beyond the walls of P&J, and she loves to share her knowledge through the Paisley & Jade specialty rental coaching program and by speaking at national conferences such as NACE Experience, The Special Event, and The School of Styling.Morgan’s personal and professional work has been featured extensively in national and regional publications, including Southern Weddings, Richmond Magazine, Sage Wedding Pros and The Huffington Post.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Morgan's reason for wanting to get into public speaking
- The process of applying for public speaking gigs and conferences
- Preparing for public speaking presentations
- What to expect for payment for speaking at conferences
- Tips for combating nerves when speaking for the first time
Want to connect with Morgan?
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaisleyAndJade/
Instagram: @paisleyandjade / @mrgnmntgmry
twitter: @paisleyandjade
Pinterest: pinterest.com/paisleyandjade
Featuring psychologist and executive coach Dr. Camille Preston, this episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast digs into the art of saying no and the importance of setting boundaries for entrepreneurs.
About our guest:
Dr. Camille Preston is a psychologist, executive coach, inspiring speaker, and the author of two books, Rewired and You, Optimized. For more than twenty years, she has been touching audiences around the world through lectures, workshops and coaching sessions. Camille has a phenomenal track record for supporting business executives, policy makers, and individuals in their quests to tackle new challenges and achieve increasingly ambitious goals. Working with organizations as diverse as General Electric, Harvard University and the U.S. Army, she has honed an ability to help individuals reach their peak wherever they are at in their career cycle and whatever their pursuits. But her approach does more than help people optimize their performance at work. Camille is also committed to helping her clients restore a healthy physical and mental balance in every aspect of their lives.
Dr. Preston has had a longstanding passion for supporting individuals as they strive to reach their peak performance. From her early volunteer stints in the Peace Corps to her work with law enforcement officers while completing a Ph.D in Psychology at the University of Virginia to her coaching at AIM Leadership (the executive coaching practice she founded in 2004), Camille has spent her career helping clients discover how to be their very best. Beyond her work at AIM and her new enterprise, Create More Flow, Camille is an advisor for Compass Partners (a nonprofit organization supporting new entrepreneurs) and a mentor for several organizations with a mandate to support women in business, including Women Innovate Mobile; Strong Women, Strong Girls; and We are the XX.
Anyone who has attended one of Dr. Preston’s workshops or read her books knows that for all of her accomplishments and years of experience, her powerful impact on clients and readers also has much to do with her honesty, humility and humor. Never shy and always willing to own up to her own fails and talk about her personal struggles, Camille’s practice is a two-way street build on a commitment to collaborating with everyone she meets. This is one of the ways that she stays in “the learning zone,” and this too is what she is committed to helping her clients achieve.
When Camille is not coaching clients, giving lectures, or writing, she can be found pursuing her many other passions, which include running, yoga, traveling and her family. Dr. Preston lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts with her husband, Mark, and their two children, Preston and Adeline.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Why it's important to say no
- How to say no with grace and authority
- How our modern society and technology has made it even more important to say no
- Camille's best hacks for having more balance
- Making the most of networking time at events so that it's worth your time
- Camille's article in Fortune magazine
- www.CreateMoreFlow.com/time
- www.CreateMoreFlow.com/procrastination
- JotNot app
Want to connect with Dr. Preston?
Email: info@aimleadership.com
Website: https://createmoreflow.com/
Twitter: @CamilleP
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AIMLeadership
Featuring Beth Berk, National Director of Sales at M&M Special Events, this episode of This Week in Weddings explores the art of business relationships for growing your business and brand.
About our guest:
Beth Berk has been in the special events industry for over 20 years. She has been with M&M Event Rentals during her entire career, and has built the business with her husband Scott and his family into one of the top 10 largest rental companies in the United States, according to Special Events Magazine. She has served on various industry committees and boards, including ILEA, NACE, MPI, and has received local and national awards for events that she has been a part of or has produced.
M&M now has rental stores in Illinois, Kansas, Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas and is considered one of the foremost leaders in the special events business.
A Chicago native, Beth has experience on both sides of an event. She has been in the event rentals business and an event planner for 8 years. When the opportunity arose to expand the family’s rental business to Dallas, she and her husband moved to Texas. She has produced and been a part of thousands of events and loves this industry.
Her best productions have been her two boys, working with her husband every day for over 20 years, and still smiling and laughing over the little things.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- How Beth got into the event industry 20 years ago
- How Beth grew their business through networking associations
- Knowing your limitations and when to refer business to competitors
- A new perspective to have when your phone rings
- Inspiring your team to build relationships
Want to connect with Beth?
Website: http://www.mmspecialevents.com
Instagram: @mmspecialevents
In this casual episode of This Week in Weddings, Kimberly and Annie review the first 20 episodes of the podcast, sharing their favorite moments from each. If you haven't listened to all the podcast episodes to date, this is a great episode to listen to. You just might find a new favorite or be reminded to re-listen to a previous guest.
Featuring Natalie Franke, co-founder of The Rising Tide Society, this episode of This Week in Weddings explores the movement of fostering community over competition and building your tribe.
About our guest:
Natalie Franke Hayes is an entrepreneur, mobilization marketer, community builder, and neuroscience nerd. As one of the Founders of the Rising Tide Society and the Head of Community at HoneyBook, she leads tens of thousands of creatives and small business owners while fostering a spirit of community over competition. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and two dogs, consumes copious amounts of coffee every day, and enjoys traveling to new cities with a camera in hand.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- The Rising Tide Society - what it is and how it started
- The new water cooler
- Creating a community of your peers
- Dealing with haters as your business grows bigger
- The importance of "showing up" for your friends and peers
Want to connect with Natalie?
Website: http://www.risingtidesociety.com/ and www.nataliefranke.com
Instagram: @risingtidesociety and @nataliefranke
Twitter: @risingtidesoc and @nataliefranke
Facebook: The Rising Tide Society and Natalie Franke Creative
Featuring photographer Stephen Karlisch, this episode of This Week in Weddings explores the longevity of a wedding business with a business owner of 19 years.
About our guest:
Capturing the energy, emotion and elegance of some of the countries greatest events, Stephen Karlisch has seen it all from behind the lens. Savoring the moments as they come, and documenting them for future generations to enjoy, he has become part historian and part family member to clients who trust his vision, patience, and thoughtfulness with any situation. With over 17 years experience as a wedding photographer, and many more as a commercial and editorial photographer, Stephen has been widely recognized across the Country as one of the best choices for crafting a volume of honest imagery from any event.
Since branching out in 1998 with his wife Kristen to start Karlisch Photography, Stephen has traveled the world photographing hundreds of weddings and events. His work is often published, and he has been featured in Town & Country, Martha Stewart, D Weddings, and Modern Luxury, along with many more blog features and local publications.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- How the wedding industry has changed since Stephen started his business
- How technology has changed the wedding industry
- Staying fresh and relevant in a changing industry
- Industry conferences and other ways to build relationship
Want to connect with Stephen?
Website: http://karlischstudio.com/ and http://www.stephenkarlisch.com/
Instagram: @karlischstudio_weddings
Featuring Chef Mark McDaniel of ReMARKable Affairs Catering, this episode of This Week in Weddings explores using networking groups as a marketing strategy and referral source.
About our guest:
Mark McDaniel has been in the restaurant and food industry over half his life. As someone always passionate about people, Mark consistently found himself around an environment in helping others. Mark perfected his service skills while learning from many great talents.
Mark is the owner and executive chef of ReMARKable Affairs Catering and Café. For the last 15 years, Mark has focused on what has brought him this far: service, attention to detail and commitment. His clients most appreciate that Mark and his company is willing to and often does exceed their expectations.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- The ins and outs of networking groups
- Tips for one-on-one meetings
- Using networking groups as a referral source
Want to connect with Mark
Website: http://www.remarkableaffairs.com/
Facebook: @ReMARKableAffairsDallasCatering
Email: mark@remarkableaffairs.com
Phone: (972) 849-0624
Featuring attorney Betsy Butwin of Bernick Lifson, this episode of This Week in Weddings explores the various types intellectual property (such as a trademarks, service marks, copyrights, patents, and trade secrets), and the importance of implementing them in your business.
About our guest:
Betsy Butwin is an experienced Minnesota intellectual property attorney with Bernick Lifson. She works with business and corporate clients in the wedding and event, music, scientific, technology, marketing, branding, arts, literary and additional creative industries.She helps entrepreneurs launch their businesses, draft and negotiate contracts, and protect, manage, and license their intellectual property. Betsy really enjoys her many opportunities for public speaking on legal topics to various creative communities as well as the legal community.
Prior to moving back home to Minneapolis to practice law, she worked for record labels in New York City, including Atlantic Recording Corporation and E1 Music (formerly, Koch Records) and clerked for a large music industry law firm in Los Angeles.
In her spare time, Betsy enjoys spending time with her family and friends, exploring the Twin Cities ever-evolving restaurant scene, and seeing live music.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- The five types of intellectual property
- Why protecting your intellectual property is important for an established business
- The process of applying for a trademark or service mark
- The importance of monitoring and defending your intellectual property
- Securing a trademark or service mark before you're ready to use the mark
- Renewing a mark
Want to connect with Betsy?
Instagram @bernicklifson_ip / Facebook: Bernick Lifson / Website: http://www.bernicklifson.com/ / Email: BButwin@Bernicklifson.com / Phone: (763) 546-1200
Featuring Alan Berg, speaker, author and sales consultant to the wedding industry, this episode of This Week in Weddings discusses sales techniques for the wedding industry.
About our guest:
Alan Berg has been called “The Leading International Speaker and Expert on the Business of Weddings & Events”. He’s presented in 11 countries, and is the wedding and event industry’s only Certified Speaking Professional®, the highest earned designation for a professional speaker, an honor less than 800 Global Speakers Federation members have achieved.
Alan’s 25+ years of industry experience includes publishing 2 wedding magazines, 11 years at The Knot, most as Vice President of Sales and Education, and now, as a consultant and Education Guru for WeddingWire, the leading wedding technology company. He also speaks and consults for websites in Ireland, the U.K., India and Dubai.
Alan is the author of the books “If your website was an employee, would you fire it?,” “Your Attitude for Success”, and the new, and much anticipated sales book “Shut Up and Sell More Weddings & Events!”
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Best practices for selling your products and services
- The right questions to ask during a consultation
- Why customers ask about price first
- Showing pricing on your website
- The importance of asking for the sale
- Tips for closing the sale on the spot
- http://www.wedinsights.com
Want to connect with Alan?
On the web: https://alanberg.com/
Facebook: Personal - https://www.facebook.com/alanberg1/ Business - https://www.facebook.com/AlanBergspeaker/
Twitter: @alanberg
Instagram: @alanberg
Alan's books and products: http://shopalanberg.com/
Featuring Jolie Oree-Bailey, owner of catering company Low Country Quisine, this episode of This Week in Weddings discusses the challenges and best practices for building a team of employees.
About our guest:
Enjolik “Chef Jolié” Oree-Bailey began noticing that all social event invitations extended to her were prefaced with, "Can you make that shrimp salad" or "Can you make us macaroni and cheese?" These requests began to make her question whether it was her company that was welcome or her dishes!
In 2007, Jolié finally decided it was time to succumb to her heart’s passion, thus Low Country Quisine by Jolie' Ramize was born! Fast forward to today, Low Country Quisine is celebrating 7 years in business with growth year over year, recently doubling the size of their commercial kitchen, adding 5 new full-time employees in 2015 and has become an industry-leading caterer well-known for their authentic approach to Upscale Southern Comfort Food. Today, Low Country Quisine specializes in catering for Weddings, Social, and Corporate Events in the Dallas Metroplex and surrounding areas. Low Country Quisine has been awarded Wedding Wire’s Couple’s Choice, as well Best of The Knot award.
Before settling in a culinary career, Chef Jolié celebrated several corporate successes including serving as a Market Manager for a Marketing Promotions Company, Co-Owner of a fashion show production company in Atlanta, GA/ Dallas, TX, and Top Performing Sales Executive for two Fortune 500 companies. In all these feats, nothing gives her as much satisfaction as creating new recipes and bringing her client’s visions full circle.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- How defining your company's mission and vision is a critical first step in hiring
- Tips for finding great employees using your current staff
- Interviewing processes
- Providing constructive criticism to your team
Want to connect with Jolie?
On the web: http://www.lowcountryquisine.com/
Instagram: @chef_jolie_lowcountryquisine
Featuring Julian Leaver, owner of The Dapper Diplomat, this episode of This Week in Weddings discusses basic principals of etiquette for the event industry, including before, during, and after an event.
About our guest:
Julian Leaver is the owner of The Dapper Diplomat. Certified as a Wedding Planner through the American Association of Certified Wedding Planners and as a Certified Protocol Officer through The Washington School of Protocol his firm focuses on celebrations, etiquette and style worldwide.
He is the former Area Director of Catering Sales and Events for Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek and Rosewood Crescent in Dallas, Texas. His 13 year career in hospitality, event planning and etiquette have touched every facet of the industry from luxury hotels to corporate etiquette training to large scale wedding & event production.
In his spare time Julian enjoys traveling and volunteers his time to charitable organizations such as The Birthday Party Project, The Dallas Symphony Orchestra, The Dallas Museum of Art and The Lee Park Junior Conservancy.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Etiquette with other vendors
- Etiquette on-site at an event
- Post-event etiquette
- Social media etiquette
Want to connect with Julian?
On the web: www.julianleaver.com
Instagram: @julianleaver
Featuring Lauren Kitchens, owner of Fancy Cakes by Lauren, this episode of This Week in Weddings discusses the process of managing a wedding business during the personal struggle of divorce.
About our guest:
Dallas wedding industry bakery owner, Food Network champion, international cake instructor, veteran on-line cake instructor, inventor of her personal line of cake tools, and public speaker… Lauren Kitchens has done it all.
In 2002, she founded Fancy Cakes by Lauren Kitchens, a boutique wedding cake bakery in Dallas, and quickly became the most sought-after cake artist in the North Texas wedding market. With over 500 clients a year, she and her small staff of artists design each cake to the clients’ needs, from elegant wedding cakes to mind-blowing sculpted designs.
Lauren was a competitor and multiple gold medal winner on the popular Food Network Challenge TV show, where one of her winning cakes was hailed by the judges as “The best cake ever made on Food Network.”
Though her success and mastery of her craft has made her one of the most popular cake artists in the world, it’s her unique personality and warm, creative spirit that she brings to the table when meeting with each of her clients.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Keeping your business afloat when you're going through personal struggles
- Meeting with happy brides and grooms while going through divorce
- Using your business to keep and grow your confidence
Want to connect with Lauren?
On the web: www.fancycakesbylauren
Instagram: @fancycakesbylauren
Featuring Nikki Nuckols, owner of Doodle Dog Creative, this episode of This Week in Weddings discusses website basics and design for the wedding industry.
About our guest:
Iowa girl turned Texan, Nikki Nuckols, started boutique Design and Development agency, Doodle Dog Creative after working at various corporate ad agencies as a designer, project manager and marketing strategist.
Starting in 2010 as a one-woman-show, Doodle Dog was born to help small businesses find their brand personalities, design identities and create effective websites. Today, Doodle Dog consists of a team of dedicated designers, programmers and strategist who have launched nearly 300 small business websites and brands and who come to work every day to create personality filled design, packed full of purpose.
Nikki, her husband Tommy, their two children Colton and Olivia and their giant husky dog, Ringo can be found anywhere where there is sunshine, music, and cold beer.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- The must-have pages for a wedding industry website
- The biggest mistakes wedding entrepreneurs make with their websites
- The average investment for having a website created
- SEO basics
Want to connect with Nikki?
On the web: www.doodledog.com
Instagram:@doodledoginsta
Featuring Sam Jacobson, owner of Ideaction Consulting, this episode of This Week in Weddings discusses the four types of struggling points of growing businesses.
About our guest:
Sam Jacobson gets results for solopreneurs, small-business owners and emerging nonprofits with Ideaction Consulting. He focuses on directly applying best-practice models to getting things done for his clients, rather than just telling them what others have done to get better or how to find an improved work-life balance. Before striking out on his own, Sam led Todd Events as the Director of Operations for two years in the luxury markets of Dallas and Houston, Texas. Prior to that role, he directed lodging and event operations for Roche Harbor Resort on San Juan Island in Washington for nearly a decade.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Sam's four personas for businesses - Starting, Struggling, Stuck, and Stretched
- The characteristics of each stage
- What you can do to get out of the stage you're in
Want to connect with Sam?
On the web: www.ideactionconsulting.com
Instagram:@ideactionconsulting / Facebook: Ideaction Consulting / Twitter: @ideactionconsul
Medium: www.medium.com/@ideactionconsul
Featuring Amy Karp, of Amy Karp Photography, this episode of This Week in Weddings discusses how incorporating health and fitness into your life can positively impact your wedding business.
About our guest:
Since 2006, nationally and internationally published award-winning photographer, Amy Karp, has specialized in weddings, underwater photography, and telling silly jokes. The underwater photography side of her career started as a fun creative outlet, and then she realized how passionate she was about this style of photography. She has been commissioned for underwater by the Fort Worth Opera, clients all over Texas, and even jumped the pond with a fabulous couple from CHINA! She often gets a lot of curious people asking “WHY?”. It’s not for the faint of heart… it’s for an adventurous client who really wants something unique and different.
Before she began shooting weddings full time, she worked in the accounting field for 8 years and was pulling double duty as a full-time office manager, shooting whenever she could. She and her husband, Jon, decided to take their business full-time in 2008 just after their son Sam was born. Since then, they have been nationally published, served over 300 couples, recognized as the American Association of Certified Wedding Planner’s Photographer of the Year for two consecutive years, and are just as passionate about their craft as the day they started this journey.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Amy's breaking point for change
- Fitting fitness into your weekly routine
- How incorporating fitness into your life can affect you on a wedding day
Want to connect with Amy?
On the web: http://www.amykarp.com/
Instagram: @amykarp / @karpcasa / Facebook: Amy Karp Photography
Featuring Bronwen Weber, of Frosted Art Bakery & Studio, this episode of This Week in Weddings discusses the experience of being on a reality competition program.
About our guest:
Bronwen Weber, Executive Chef of Frosted Art Bakery & Studio in Dallas, Texas, started her 26 year career in a small bakery in Acton, Ontario. She has spent her time in bakeries and kitchens as a cake decorator, a cake designer, a baker, bakery manager, a management trainer, and cake decorating skills writer and columnist. Bronwen’s passion is teaching the art of the cake and she is a former Pastry Chef Instructor at the Cordon Bleu in Austin, Texas. For the last decade, Bronwen has reigned at Frosted Art, a bakery with a 70 year history, once owned by Neiman Marcus and now on its third generation of bride.
As a grand prize winner of the most prestigious wedding cake competition in America, Chef Bronwen’s winning piece, “Bombay Romance” was featured on Food Network’s “Here Comes the Cake” production. Subsequent appearances on more than 35 of the Food Network’s Cake competitions resulted in more gold medal wins than any other chef on the network. Food Network has granted her the title of Cake Challenge Champion.
In 2010 she was named in Pastry Professional’s inaugural list as one of the top ten cake artists in North America, and in 2014 she was named top 25 most influential pastry chefs in America by Bake magazine.
Bronwen continues to teach several times a year, often with her pastry minded husband, Francois Long.
In this episode, listeners will hear:
- How Bronwen got her start on competition television
- The pros and cons of being in the spotlight
- How being featured on television affected her wedding business
- Bronwen's recommendation for someone considering being featured on reality television
Want to connect with Bronwen?
On the web: http://frostedart.com/
Instagram: @frostedartbakery / Facebook: Frosted Art
Email: cake@frostedart.com
Featuring Michelle Loretta, of Sage Wedding Pros, this episode of This Week in Weddings discusses the basics of financial management for wedding businesses, including tips for staying ahead of your bookkeeping and accounting tasks.
About our guest:
Michelle Loretta is a consultant for wedding and event professionals and founder of Sage Wedding Pros.She blends her past as an accountant for Deloitte, a sales and marketing manager for DDLA, a merchandiser for Coach, and a stationery entrepreneur to help entrepreneurs better their businesses. Sage Wedding Pros produce The Simple Plan Workshop, The People Plan Workshop, and Be Sage Conference. Michelle has been asked to speak at NACE Experience, NAWP Conference, Biz Bash Live, and a number of other seminars and workshops.
In this episode, listeners will learn about:
- Basics for tracking expenses
- Cashflow principles to help wedding businesses in the off-season
- The importance of cash reserves and business savings
- Professionals that can be helpful for your wedding business, including tax accountants, bookkeepers, and financial strategists
Want to connect with Michelle?
On the web: http://www.sageweddingpros.com/
Instagram: @sageweddingpros / Facebook: Sage Wedding Pros
Featuring Rev. Laura Cannon, a wedding officiant and meditation instructor, this episode of This Week in Weddings discusses the hows and whys of using meditation and mindset work for entrepreneurs.
About our guest:
Laura started her first business at 19 and is a true serial entrepreneur. She is the founder and CEO of Ceremony Officiants, one of the #1 rated wedding officiant companies in the United States. She also continues to run several other businesses inside and outside of the wedding industry including The International Association of Professional Wedding Officiants and DC Elopements. She is also a professional public speaker and author. Her new book, The Conscious Entrepreneur: A Guide to Maximizing Your Potential for Success, Freedom, and Happiness is currently available on Amazon. In addition to her professional life, Laura has spent the past 20 years studying in various spiritual disciplines and traveling the world studying with indigenous healers in South America and Mexico. She is a yoga teacher and meditation instructor and even in her busy schedule she still teaches meditation and yoga weekly. But what makes Laura so interesting is that while she has her head in the clouds she also has her feet firmly planted on the ground. She knows how to balance the mystical and the practical. And after spending the last nearly two decades mastering the art of "doing what you love" she now helps others to do the same through her consulting/coaching practice.
In this episode, listeners will learn about:
- The basics of meditation
- How mindset work differs from meditation
- Why meditation and mindset work is helpful for busy entrepreneurs
- Offer for listeners: Free Workbook and Video to help "Find and Follow Your Calling in 7 simple steps" - http://lauraccannon.com/offers/
Want to connect with Laura?
On the web: http://lauraccannon.com / http://ceremonyofficiants.com / http://dcelopements.com / http://iapwo.org
Instagram: @lauracannon
Facebook: Laura Cannon / Ceremony Officiants
Email: info@lauraccannon.com
To Purchase the Book:
http://consciousentrepreneurbook.com
Featuring Katy Taylor, Director of Event Sales at the Four Seasons Dallas, this episode of This Week in Weddings dives into best practices for working with a venue as a wedding vendor. From building a relationship to communication, Katy shares her tips for working successfully with an event venue.
About our guest:
Katy Taylor is the Director of Event Sales at the Four Seasons Dallas at Las Colinas. As poised as she is skilled in the art of wedding and social event planning, Katy has 19 years of experience under her belt. A graduate of Texas A&M, Katy has worked for historic Dallas landmarks such as the Melrose Hotel and the Dallas Museum of Art prior to taking on her current role of Director of Event Sales for Four Seasons Dallas – which she has maintained for 12 years.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Building relationships with venue managers
- Best ways to communicate for building relationships
- What sets vendors who have lasted in the industry apart from those that come and go
- How vendors can continually improve by asking for feedback
Featuring Lindsay Fleming, a past wedding client of co-hosts Kimberly Rhodes and Annie Roche, this episode of This Week in Weddings explores a bride's perspective after planning a wedding. Lindsay shares her experience working with vendors and provides vendors with valuable insight about the process from a bride's view.
About our guest:
Lindsay Fleming is an actress who lives in Nashville, TN with her husband Jacob. Lindsay grew up in Dallas and met Jacob while they were both students at Southern Methodist University. Shortly after Lindsay graduated in 2014, Jacob proposed and they got married in August of 2015 at the Meyerson Symphony Center in downtown Dallas. Lindsay moved to Nashville after the wedding to live with her husband, who is a medical student at Vanderbilt. She is currently working for Vanderbilt’s Peabody Research Institute as a researcher in early childhood education, but she hopes to be able to continue her acting career when she and Jacob (hopefully!) move back to Dallas after he graduates in 2018.
Lindsay’s modern wedding was featured in Dallas’ DWeddings magazine.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- What steps Lindsay took immediately after getting engaged
- How she found vendors that she ended up working with
- Observations about wedding vendors websites and communication styles
- What made vendors standout during the planning process
- Lindsay's biggest frustration during the planning process
Featuring Meghan Ely, owner of wedding PR and marketing agency OFD Consulting, this episode of This Week in Weddings explores public relations strategies for the wedding industry. From Real Wedding submissions to being identified as an expert in the media, Meghan Ely shares her top tips for getting noticed in the media through means other than paid advertising.
About our guest:
OFD Consulting owner, Meghan Ely, combines in-the-trenches event experience with a love of wedding marketing and wedding PR to empower her clients to take their businesses to new heights. Meghan is a WeddingWire Education Expert as well as a regular contributor to Wedding Planner Magazine, Book More Brides, Wedding Business Magazine, Catersource and SpecialEvents.com.
She is an adjunct professor in the Mass Communication department at Virginia Commonwealth University, specializing in Public Relations.
Meghan is the national Director of Communications for the Wedding Industry Professionals Association national board and the 2016 chair of the NACE education committee.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- The basics of PR, including how PR differs from advertising
- Pros and cons of styled shoots
- Submitting real weddings to publications
- Where to submit - print vs. blogs
- Building relationships with editors
- How to determine if you can do your own PR vs. hiring a professional
- HARO - https://www.helpareporter.com/
Want to connect with Meghan?
Instagram: @ofdconsulting / Website: http://www.ofdconsulting.com/ / Email: meghan@ofdconsulting.com
Featuring attorney Betsy Butwin of Bernick Lifson, this episode of This Week in Weddings explores the do's and don'ts of client contracts. From the must-have clauses to the biggest mistakes wedding entrepreneurs make, Betsy Butwin shares her tips for protecting yourself and your wedding business through a well-written contract.
About our guest:
Betsy Butwin is an experienced Minnesota intellectual property attorney with Bernick Lifson. She works with business and corporate clients in the wedding and event, music, scientific, technology, marketing, branding, arts, literary and additional creative industries.She helps entrepreneurs launch their businesses, draft and negotiate contracts, and protect, manage, and license their intellectual property. Betsy really enjoys her many opportunities for public speaking on legal topics to various creative communities as well as the legal community.
Prior to moving back home to Minneapolis to practice law, she worked for record labels in New York City, including Atlantic Recording Corporation and E1 Music (formerly, Koch Records) and clerked for a large music industry law firm in Los Angeles.
In her spare time, Betsy enjoys spending time with her family and friends, exploring the Twin Cities ever-evolving restaurant scene, and seeing live music.
In this episode, listeners will hear about:
- Contract basics - what exactly is a contract?
- Suggested contract provisions for the wedding industry
- Must-have provisions for terminating a contract with a client
- Approximate costs for getting a contract drafted by a professional attorney
- Horror stories - what most negative contract issues Betsy sees in the wedding industry have in common
Want to connect with Betsy?
Instagram @bernicklifson_ip / Facebook: Bernick Lifson / Website: http://www.bernicklifson.com/ / Email: BButwin@Bernicklifson.com / Phone: (763) 546-1200
Featuring Bernadette Smith, founder and president of 14 Stories and the Gay Wedding Institute, this episode of This Week in Weddings dives into the world of same-sex weddings and tips wedding entrepreneurs need to know about working with LGBT couples.
About our guest:
Bernadette Smith’s life work is to ensure that same-sex couples, no matter where they live, have the most positive, supportive experience while planning their wedding. In addition to being a wedding planner, Bernadette is building a global tribe of wedding professionals who are sensitive, trained and ready. She is founder and president of 14 Stories and the Gay Wedding Institute and is widely considered the nation’s leading same-sex wedding expert.
In 2004, when marriage equality first came to Massachusetts, Bernadette envisioned a wedding production company for engaged same-sex couples looking to navigate a traditional wedding industry. Since 2004, she and her team have produced hundreds of gay and lesbian weddings, working with couples from nearly every U.S. states and around the world.
Bernadette’s expertise has been sought after by the Today Show, the New York Times, the Washington Post, CNN, Travel and Leisure and National Public Radio, among others. Bernadette is award-winning author of three books on same-sex weddings and regularly speaks about LGBT weddings around North America.
Instagram @14stories / 14 Stories on Pinterest / Facebook: Gay Wedding Institute
In this episode, listeners will hear:
- The basics on LGBT terminology
- Why it's important for wedding vendors to identify themselves as LGBT friendly to couples
- How to go about letting couples know you are LGBT friendly, even if you don't have previous same-sex wedding photos in your portfolio
- The similarities and differences between straight and gay wedding planning experiences
- Free download: 5 Things You Can Do Today on Social Media to Attract More LGBT Clients
Featuring floral designer Debby Jewesson, owner of Dallas, Texas-based Branching Out Events, this episode of This Week in Weddings dives into the challenges of running a wedding business as a parent. A mother of two, Debby shares her journey as well as tips for surviving entrepreneurship and parenthood.
About our guest:
Debby Jewesson is the Owner & Creative Director of Branching Out Events. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Debby began her professional career as a middle school PE teacher and volleyball coach. In 2000, a desire to change careers inspired the leap of faith that introduced her to the world of floral design.
Debby launched Branching Out Events in 2009, and quickly developed a reputation for her high energy and creativity. Her love of flowers is contagious, as is her genuine enthusiasm for each event!
That same passion and enthusiasm for bringing out the best in people as a coach is now channeled into encouraging her staff to work as a team and exceed the expectations for each client. From weddings in a white chapel, receptions on a private ranch or a gala with a grand theme, Debby appreciates the designer’s challenge of bringing each unique vision to life.
When not working, Debby loves relaxing in her hammock, spending time with her family and snuggling with her Saint Bernard, Max.
Instagram @branchingoutevents / @debbyjewesson / Facebook: Branching Out Floral & Event Design
In this episode, listeners will hear:
- An entrepreneur's journey from business owner, to stay-at-home mom, back to business owner
- How saying "yes" to every opportunity can be detrimental to your family
- How saying "no" can create a better work-life balance
- How this business owner makes time for family time and vacations
- Significant life changes Debby made to improve her life and family
Welcome to This Week in Weddings, a support group for wedding industry entrepreneurs. Through their weekly podcast, co-hosts Kimberly Rhodes and Annie Roche interview guests both in and out of the wedding industry to learn about bettering their businesses while maintaining their sanity. In this casual, introductory podcast, listeners will:
- Meet co-host Annie Roche, owner of invitation design company 5 by 7 Designs
- Meet co-host Kimberly Rhodes, owner of wedding planning company Hitched Events
- Learn who the This Week in Weddings podcast is for
- Learn what the This Week in Weddings podcast is all about
- Hear about a few upcoming guests on the podcast