This Week in Weddings

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