This Week in Weddings

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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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: 

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

• 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

• 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

• On the web: https://classicphotographers.com/ 
• Instagram: @classicphotographers_
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/classicweddingphotographers/