Design Your Business | Empowering Creative Women Business Owners

Wedding shows: we all have questions about them. Which is the right show for me? Are they worth it? What should I bring? How do I capture the attention of attendees? Kristen DeBadts has answers for you in this episode of Design Your Wedding Business. 

Kristen and I are getting into the nitty-gritty of how to choose the right wedding show for you, prepare for it, and follow up afterward. If you’ve never had a booth at a show before, this episode is going to be your one-stop shop for all the information you need to get ready for your first show. 

Wedding shows are a ton of fun and a great way to network with future clients and vendors. Doing the work ahead of time to prepare will allow you to have the best experience possible and also get the highest return on your investment. 

Kristen's unwavering commitment to the wedding industry and her genuine desire to help others have positively impacted thousands over the past 19 years. She began at Wedding In New York as an intern during her time at college and has evolved into a passionate expert who empowers small businesses to thrive in an ever-evolving industry. 

Topics covered in this episode include:

• How to choose the right wedding show for you 
• The process of preparing for a wedding show 
• Tips for standing out from other wedding businesses 

Tune in for inspiration on how you want to set up your booth and leave an impression on the people you connect with at your next wedding show.

I would love to connect on Facebook: www.facebook.com/DesignYourWeddingBusiness & Instagram: www.instagram.com/design_your_wedding_business!

Resources Mentioned:
Visit the Wedding In New York Website: www.WeddinginNewYork.com
Follow Kristen on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristendebadts
Follow Wedding In New York on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeddingInNewYork/
Follow @rochesterwedding on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rochesterwedding
Follow @buffalowedding on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buffalowedding
Follow @syracusewedding on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syracusewedding

Show notes available at: designyourweddingbusiness.com/design-your-wedding-business-podcast/

What does building a house have in common with building a business?

Well, for starters, a house can’t be built in a day and neither can your business. It takes time to lay the foundation, create the structure, and get everything working smoothly. In this episode of Design Your Wedding Business, I’m walking you through the process of building and structuring your business and standard operating procedures

For this episode, think of your business as your house, and let me help you build it. We’re starting with what makes up the foundation and working our way to the top. I’m asking you to reflect on things like your mission, vision, and values; your boundaries; how you present your business; and how you lead your team. 

Topics covered in this episode include:

• How building a business is like building a house 
• Creating a strong foundation for your business 
• Why you need to know your mission, vision, and values 

Is your business structurally sound? This episode will help you figure that out.

I would love to connect on Facebook: www.facebook.com/DesignYourWeddingBusiness & Instagram: www.instagram.com/design_your_wedding_business!

Resources Mentioned:
Get the Small Business Task Worksheet: https://designyourweddingbusiness.com/worksheets/small-business-task/
Episode 3: Mission, Vision, and Values: Everything You Need to Know to Start Your Business: https://designyourweddingbusiness.com/mission-vision-and-values-everything-you-need-to-know-to-start-your-business/ 

Show notes available at: designyourweddingbusiness.com/design-your-wedding-business-podcast/

Have you been wondering about Human Design but don’t know where to start?

Let me make things easier for you and give you a starting point right here! When I first heard about Human Design I was enthralled. It showed me so much about who I am as a person and in turn as a business owner. 

If you’re wondering what Human Design is and what it has to do with business, don’t worry, our guest Melissa Froehlich is going to be your guide through all things Human Design in this episode of Design Your Wedding Business. She’s going back to basics to give you everything you need to get started with Human Design. 

Melissa Froehlich is a sought-after business strategist, mentor, and certified mindset coach who works with established female entrepreneurs ready to own the role of being a leader in their business. She empowers and equips female entrepreneurs who want to carve their own paths to build profitable businesses that bring them freedom and fulfillment. 

Topics covered in this episode include:

• The core components of a Human Design chart
• The five types of people according to Human Design 
• How to understand the basics of Human Design
• What information you need to create your Human Design chart

If you love knowing your astrological birth chart, Enneagram, and Myers-Briggs, this is for you.

I would love to connect on Facebook: www.facebook.com/DesignYourWeddingBusiness & Instagram: www.instagram.com/design_your_wedding_business!

Resources Mentioned:
Get Your Human Design Chart: https://melissafroehlich.com/human-design-chart
Visit Melissa’s Website: www.melissafroehlich.com
Follow @melissafroehlich_biz on Instagram: https://instagram.com/melissafroehlich_biz
Follow Melissa on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MFStrategicBusinessGrowth
Connect with Melissa on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/melissafroehlich
Join Melissa in Her Free Facebook Community: Ready, Set, CEO™: Sales, Marketing, & Mindset for Female Entrepreneurs: https://www.facebook.com/groups/uplevellounge

Show notes available at: designyourweddingbusiness.com/design-your-wedding-business-podcast/

How can you incorporate more self-care into your life? 

A few months ago, I did a self-care Sundays series on the 8 Dimensions of Self-Care. In this episode of Design Your Wedding Business, I’m joined by the author of that framework herself, Stacy Fisher. 

Stacy is talking about what self-care really is and how to discover what it means to you. She’s walking us through the 8 Dimensions of Self-Care framework and breaking down each dimension so you can start thinking about what they might look like in your life. 

Stacy is a registered dietitian, diabetes educator, and published author with more than 20 years of experience in health care. As the creator of the 8 Dimensions of Self-Care framework, she helps clients establish a foundational self-care plan so they can achieve their health and nutrition goals.

Topics covered in this episode include:

• What most people don’t know about self-care 
• Tuning out other people’s opinions on what self-care is or isn’t 
• Allowing your self-care to evolve 
• The 8 Dimensions of Self-Care 

One small gesture of kindness to yourself can be all it takes; what will you do to show kindness to yourself today?

I would love to connect on Facebook: www.facebook.com/DesignYourWeddingBusiness & Instagram: www.instagram.com/design_your_wedding_business!

Resources Mentioned:
Visit Stacy’s Website: www.LivingUpp.com
Follow @livingupp on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingupp/
Connect with Stacy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacy-fisher-rd-ld/
Follow LivingUpp on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/LivingUpp/
Episode 29: How to Integrate 8 Areas of Self-Care Into Your Life: https://bit.ly/Ep29DWYBPodcast 

Show notes available at: designyourweddingbusiness.com/design-your-wedding-business-podcast/

What are you doing to continue your education as a wedding professional?

Let’s face it, you don't just sign one contract, send out one proposal, do one wedding, and know it all. You have to take time to continue to invest in yourself to grow as a business owner and wedding professional. That’s why continuing education within the industry is so important, and in this episode of Design Your Wedding Business, I’m joined by Tara Melvin to talk about one way to do it: conferences! 

If you’re looking for new ways to continue your education within the wedding industry, you’re in the right place. Tara is talking all about the value of continuing education and the many elements that make a great conference, specifically for wedding professionals. 

Tara Melvin is an award-winning event planner in the Washington DC metro area. She is the founder and producer of The Signature CEO Conference, founder and mentor of The Executive Mentor Program, and founder and President of The National Society of Black Wedding & Event Professionals. 

Topics covered in this episode include:

• What makes a good conference in the wedding industry 
• Why continuing education is so important for wedding professionals
• The importance of diversifying professional spaces 
• How to continue your education as a wedding professional

Tune in for some inspiration to invest in yourself and continue your own education in the wedding industry.

I would love to connect on Facebook: www.facebook.com/DesignYourWeddingBusiness & Instagram: www.instagram.com/design_your_wedding_business!

Resources Mentioned:
Visit Tara’s Website: www.perfectplanningevents-dc.com
Get Tickets to The Signature CEO Conference 2024: www.thesignatureceo.com
Follow @signatureconceptsllc on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/signatureconceptsllc/
Follow @signatureceo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/signatureceo/
Follow @nsbwep on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nsbwep/

Show notes available at: designyourweddingbusiness.com/design-your-wedding-business-podcast/

So, the slow season is approaching and you know you had things you wanted to do but you can’t remember what they all were. 

Don’t panic, I’m sharing my list of everything I like to get done during the off-season to make sure that my business can continue running smoothly. Work your way through this list and you’ll be good to go by the time things start picking up again. 

Take advantage of this slower time when you don’t have as much going on to dedicate some brain power to the things you don’t usually have time for. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself later. Does your contract need updating? Do you need a new marketing plan? Is your software outdated? Now’s the time to get it all taken care of so that you don’t have to worry about it when you’re slammed. 

Topics covered in this episode include:

• What to get done during the off-season 
• Things to reflect on and review in your business 
• Reviewing your contract, marketing plan, systems, and procedures 

Use this episode to make a plan for your off-season!

I would love to connect on Facebook: www.facebook.com/DesignYourWeddingBusiness & Instagram: www.instagram.com/design_your_wedding_business!

Show notes available at: designyourweddingbusiness.com/design-your-wedding-business-podcast/

How can you simplify your schedule?

There are three things you need to include in your schedule to set yourself up for the best week possible, and I’m sharing them in this episode of Design Your Wedding Business. 

I’m teaching you how to plan your calendar and create your schedule to make your weeks more manageable, productive, and efficient. If you want to save yourself time and make sure that you’re getting everything on your to-do list done every week, this is for you. 

Topics covered in this episode include:

• The best way to plan your calendar
• Why you need a CEO day in your week 
• Scheduling time for yourself into your week 

Sit back and let me be your wedding business coach for the next ten minutes in this quick and actionable episode of the podcast. 

I would love to connect on Facebook: www.facebook.com/DesignYourWeddingBusiness & Instagram: www.instagram.com/design_your_wedding_business!

Show notes available at: designyourweddingbusiness.com/design-your-wedding-business-podcast/

Do you have a process for wrapping up your year and transitioning into the new year? If not, get some inspiration from this episode of the Design Your Wedding Business podcast. 

I’m sharing what I do at the end of each year to prepare for the new year and make the transition as easy as possible. We’re covering organization, standard operating procedures, pricing, and more. 

Ensure that no areas of your business get left in the past and make this end-of-year process part of your wedding industry business plan. If you want a smooth and simple transition from the old year to the new year, this is for you. 

Topics covered in this episode include:

• How to simplify the transition into the new year 
• Getting reviews and testimonials from the previous year’s clients 
• Things to reflect on as you look back on your year
• Why this is a good time to look at your pricing 

I hope this episode helps you get ready for the new year!

I would love to connect on Facebook: www.facebook.com/DesignYourWeddingBusiness & Instagram: www.instagram.com/design_your_wedding_business!

Resources Mentioned:
Episode 73: Digital Organization Hacks with Lisa McHargue: https://designyourweddingbusiness.com/73-digital-organization-hacks-with-lisa-mchargue/

Show notes available at: designyourweddingbusiness.com/design-your-wedding-business-podcast/

How do you feel about your conflict resolution skills? Could they use some brushing up? 

At some point in your career, you might experience a relationship with a coworker that goes sideways. It might be a passing comment that gets taken the wrong way or maybe an action that causes hurt and distrust. Whatever the cause, we all have to repair relationships from time to time. 

Luckily for us, I know someone who can help. Sarah Chianese is here to teach us how to repair a working relationship in this episode of Design Your Wedding Business. She’s trained in conflict resolution and she has plenty of experience in the wedding and event space, so I know we’re in good hands. 

Sarah Chianese (Key-uh-nay-zeh) is the owner and executive chef of Mangia and Enjoy!, a boutique wedding and event catering company based out of the Hudson Valley, NY, and Colorado Springs, CO. 

Topics covered in this episode include:

• The dynamics of different working relationships
• Things that can break relationships
• Conflict resolution strategies 

If you have a working relationship that’s not in the best place right now, try using the strategies from this episode to repair it.

I would love to connect on Facebook: www.facebook.com/DesignYourWeddingBusiness & Instagram: www.instagram.com/design_your_wedding_business!

Resources Mentioned:
Visit Sarah’s Website: https://www.MangiaAndEnjoy.com
Follow @mangiaandenjoy on Instagram: https://instagram.com/mangiaandenjoy/

Show notes available at: designyourweddingbusiness.com/design-your-wedding-business-podcast/

Have you ever been in a toxic relationship with a client?

It’s hard to accept when a client relationship isn’t working out, but sometimes it’s better to move on than be hurt by a toxic client relationship (or any relationship for that matter).

I had the opportunity to sit down with Cathy O’Connell to talk about walking away from toxic relationships. How do you do it? How do you know when it’s time? How do you recover from feeling like you failed? These are all normal and valid questions to have when you’re dealing with a toxic relationship, and we’re going to get your questions answered in this episode. 

Cathy O'Connell is a business leader, educator, and motivator who is passionate about creating inspiring experiences. In 2004, Cathy co-founded COJ Events, a luxury destination event planning studio and hospitality consultancy based in Palm Springs, CA.

Topics covered in this episode include:

• How to know when to end a client relationship 
• Red flags to look out for in a client
• The best way to end a toxic relationship with a client 

If you’re in a toxic relationship with a client and you don’t know what to do, let us help!

I would love to connect on Facebook: www.facebook.com/DesignYourWeddingBusiness & Instagram: www.instagram.com/design_your_wedding_business!

Resources Mentioned:
Visit Cathy’s Website: www.cojevents.com
Follow @coj_events on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coj_events/
Follow COJ Events on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cojevents

Show notes available at: designyourweddingbusiness.com/design-your-wedding-business-podcast/