Today I'm chatting with Wedding Planning Coach Megan Gilliken about how to set healthy wedding client boundaries. A self proclaimed 'people pleaser' Megan has had her fair share of unhealthy working relationships, and now wants to share her story of how she made changes in her own wedding planning business. We explore strategies for boundary-setting in your wedding business and stress the importance of maintaining professionalism, even when dealing with difficult clients or negative reviews.

Links mentioned in the episode:

Boundary Setting Toolkit

Episode 62: How to Respond to Negative Online Reviews

Episode 226: Is it you or is it them? How to know when to fire “THAT” client

Find out more about Megan here

Follow Megan on Instagram

Time stamps:

Boundaries and Client Experience (00:00:00) Importance of setting boundaries to serve clients well and maintain longevity in the industry.

Introduction to Megan Gillikin (00:00:34) Background of Megan Gillikin, former wedding planner, and founder of The Planners Vault.

Megan's Journey into Wedding Planning (00:03:57) Unexpectedly purchasing a wedding planning business and the challenges faced in rebuilding the brand.

Overcoming Boundary Challenges (00:07:47) Mistakes made due to being a people pleaser and the impact on client relationships and work-life balance.

Strategies for Implementing Boundaries: Website (00:10:54) Using website messaging and an FAQ section to attract ideal clients and repel non-ideal clients.

Strategies for Implementing Boundaries: Contract (00:13:18) Incorporating professional vendor, communication, client abuse, and availability clauses into the contract.

Strategies for Implementing Boundaries: Onboarding (00:16:07) Utilizing welcome guides and videos to set expectations and communicate boundaries with new clients.

Strategies for Implementing Boundaries: Self and Mindset (00:18:35) Reflecting on personal boundaries, identifying challenges, and implementing a quarterly reboot to maintain boundaries.

Setting Boundaries with Clients (00:21:07) Strategies for setting boundaries with clients, including communication methods and managing client expectations.

Emotional Investment in Clients (00:22:22) Managing emotional investment in clients, maintaining professionalism, and setting boundaries to avoid becoming overly involved.

Firing a Client (00:26:51) Strategies for handling difficult clients, including the decision to fire a client, contractual considerations, and managing negative reviews.

Responding to Negative Reviews (00:32:01) Dealing with negative reviews, professional responses, and understanding the impact of negative feedback on the business.

Learning to Focus on Personal Growth (00:37:36) Advice on overcoming imposter syndrome and focusing on personal growth in the wedding business industry.

Resources for Setting Boundaries (00:38:45) Information about a boundary setting toolkit and other resources for wedding planners to effectively set and maintain boundaries.

Mentioned in this episode:

Wedding Pro agency

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