This Week in Weddings

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?

• Website: www.mollyandco.com
• IG: @mollyandcophoto
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mollyandcophoto

• 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