Wedding planning is an emotional rollercoaster for couples, and behind every seating chart and floral arrangement lies a complex web of feelings that skilled planners must navigate with grace and understanding. Riley Snider, Certified Wedding Planner and Certified Educator, joins Krisy Thomas to explore how wedding professionals can serve as the steady emotional anchor their clients truly need.

This conversation uncovers the hidden emotional undercurrents of wedding planning; from navigating family dynamics like divorced parents who can’t sit together, to financial anxieties that persist regardless of budget, to the profound grief felt when loved ones are absent from the celebration. Riley shares a touching personal story from her sister’s wedding, where subtle tributes to their late father, a single rose on an empty chair and a photo charm on the bouquet, held deep emotional significance without overshadowing the day’s joy.

What sets exceptional planners apart is their ability to read between the lines, recognizing when a normally enthusiastic couple goes quiet or becomes fixated on seemingly small details. These behaviors often signal deeper concerns that require gentle exploration through compassionate questioning. Riley also emphasizes the importance of maintaining professional boundaries while providing emotional support, offering practical strategies like setting communication hours kindly and staying composed in high-pressure moments.

Perhaps most importantly, Riley highlights self-care for planners. From designating admin days and establishing pre-wedding rituals to keeping a collection of client thank-you notes that reconnect you to your purpose, these practices ensure you can show up fully present for each couple without burning out. After all, to be the calm in someone else’s storm, you must first ground yourself. Presence and empathy aren’t just complementary to technical skills, they’re the most powerful tools you have for creating wedding experiences couples will remember forever.

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Navigating the magnificent scale of South Asian weddings demands more than standard planning approaches—it requires masterful team leadership. In this compelling episode, Certified Wedding Planner and Educator Rima Shah of Big Guava Events joins Krisy Thomas, COO of the CWP Society, to share battle-tested strategies for building, preparing, and leading teams through multi-day celebrations with hundreds of guests.

Rima reveals why finding the right team members is her first priority, seeking out Certified Wedding Planners whose foundation of knowledge provides an essential "security blanket" when executing complex events. She emphasizes matching team size to wedding scale, noting that a 400-person celebration across multiple spaces simply cannot be managed by a skeleton crew without sacrificing quality.

The conversation delves into Rima's meticulous communication protocols, from comprehensive Google Docs shared a week before the wedding to on-site walkthroughs that orient team members to each space and responsibility. For those new to South Asian traditions, she describes her approach to cultural education, ensuring assistants understand not just what happens during ceremonies like Baraat or Hindu rituals, but why these moments matter—allowing them to anticipate needs and recognize significant transitions.

With remarkable candor, Rima shares a challenging leadership moment involving an assistant who crossed professional boundaries at a destination wedding, highlighting the importance of swift decision-making to protect your reputation and client experience. Her powerful closing advice—"Don't be scared to ask for help"—reminds planners that delegation is strength, not weakness, and that trusting your team to handle more than you might initially believe can be the difference between merely surviving and truly thriving in the world of complex cultural celebrations.

Whether you're specifically interested in South Asian weddings or simply want to strengthen your team management approach for any large-scale celebration, this episode offers practical wisdom from someone who's mastered the art of leading with intention. Ready to elevate your planning practice? Visit cwpsociety.com today to start your certification journey.

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Ever wondered what venue coordinators really think when wedding planners walk through their doors? In this eye-opening conversation, Nikki Rodgers, Master Certified Wedding Planner and Certified Educator, joins Krisy Thomas, COO of the CWP Society, to pull back the curtain on both sides of the planning experience.

With over a decade of experience managing venues, sometimes coordinating up to six events in a single day, Nikki transitioned into wedding planning with a perspective few others possess. She reveals the behind-the-scenes realities of venue management, including the relief coordinators feel when they can trust a planner to handle their role with professionalism and precision.

What sets Nikki apart is her approach to building relationships. Rather than assuming all venues operate the same, she stresses the importance of tailoring communication to each property. Even with her extensive background, she takes time to learn every venue’s unique processes, from load-in procedures to staffing structures. This humility and adaptability have helped her forge strong partnerships that benefit venues, planners, and couples alike.

Nikki also shares why what she calls “over-communication” should actually be the industry standard. From proactively gathering requirements to keeping coordinators in the loop on every detail, these small, intentional gestures position planners as trusted partners. And when planners take the extra step to consider what moments venue staff may want to share with couples, the relationship becomes not just professional—but truly collaborative.

The conversation doesn’t shy away from tough lessons either, including the mistakes that can get planners blacklisted from venues. Nikki explains how certification elevated her business, even after years of experience, proving that education and growth are ongoing for every planner.

Ready to transform your venue relationships and elevate your planning career? Visit cwpsociety.com to discover how certification can give you the skills, credibility, and confidence to thrive

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Wedding professionals pour their hearts into creating flawless celebrations for their clients, yet many overlook one critical detail—their own financial futures. In this eye-opening episode, Matt Mitchell, Master Certified Wedding Planner, Certified Educator, and founder of The Event Ledger, joins Krisy Thomas, COO of the CWP Society, to share how wedding planners can build lasting financial security while continuing to run thriving businesses.

Matt brings a rare dual perspective—over 12 years in high-level financial planning combined with eight years of firsthand experience running his own wedding planning company. This blend allows him to speak directly to both the creative passion and the financial realities of our industry. As he wisely points out, “We anticipate everything that could go wrong for our clients, but most of us don’t give that same level of preparation to our own future selves.”

Together, Krisy and Matt walk through practical steps that wedding professionals can take today, starting with the essentials: building personal and business emergency funds. Matt recommends automating just 5% from each client payment—a simple action that compounds dramatically over time. “You’ll hardly notice that 5% missing today, but your future self will thank you in a massive way,” he explains.

From there, the conversation reframes retirement planning as an act of empowerment—“paying your future self.” Rather than seeing retirement as stopping work altogether, Matt encourages planners to view it as buying freedom: the freedom to choose how, when, and even if you want to work down the road.

For those feeling overwhelmed or behind, the episode offers both encouragement and strategy. Open a dedicated account, set up small automated transfers, and schedule quarterly “CEO time” to track your progress. Matt’s parting challenge resonates deeply: “Treat your future self like a VIP client. Give them the same attention, intentionality, and care you pour into planning perfect weddings.”

Connect with Matt and learn more about financial services specifically designed for wedding professionals at TheEventLedger.com or on social media @TheEventLedger.

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Krisy Thomas, COO of the Certified Wedding Planner Society, is joined by two remarkable Certified Wedding Planners, Vicki Amar and Ashley Babbitt, to share their transformative journeys in the wedding industry. This captivating conversation highlights the power of education, certification, and community in shaping a successful career.

Vicki Amar brings a fascinating perspective, having coordinated iconic New York City events like the Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball Drop and Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade before transitioning to wedding planning. Despite her extensive event experience, Vicki recognized that wedding planning required specialized knowledge—a realization that led her to pursue certification and take the leap into full-time entrepreneurship.

Ashley Babbitt offers a complementary journey, having strategically pursued certification while still in college. This approach gave her the confidence to pursue shadowing opportunities even during the challenges of the COVID period. Now a lead planner in Orlando, Ashley continues to advocate for education and mentorship, particularly for students entering the wedding industry.

Both planners emphasize that certification provides more than just credentials, it offers ongoing education through weekly workshops, access to a supportive professional community, and the confidence to deliver exceptional service. Their stories highlight how the CWP Society transforms perspectives from competition to collaboration, creating networks of mutual support that benefit both planners and clients.

This episode is packed with insights on professional growth, the value of specialized education, and how a community-centered approach is revolutionizing the wedding planning industry. Whether you’re starting out or looking to elevate your career, Vicki and Ashley’s journeys demonstrate that certification can be the catalyst for meaningful professional transformation.

Ready to elevate your wedding planning career? Discover how certification can transform your professional journey at CWPSociety.com.

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What truly separates thriving wedding planners from those who struggle to build sustainable businesses?

In this candid conversation, Master Certified Wedding Planners & Certified Educators, Aisha Garnett and Crystal Dailey join Krisy Thomas, COO of the CWP Society, to reveal the powerful synergy between education and relationships that has transformed their careers.

Aisha reflects on her early days, when she charged just $300 for an entire wedding before pursuing certification, a decision that connected her with mentors who reshaped her professional trajectory. Crystal shares how her educational foundation gave her the confidence to cultivate industry relationships that continue to generate opportunities years later.

The discussion takes a memorable turn when Aisha recalls a shocking moment: a caterer attempting to host a client tasting in a stairwell. Her takeaway. “Vet your vendors, and then vet them again!”, highlights why proper education empowers planners to ask the right questions and protect their clients.

Both Aisha and Crystal credit their Master Certification through the CWP Society as a game-changer, not only sharpening their technical expertise but also equipping them to manage challenging client dynamics with professionalism and grace. Crystal describes how education prepared her to calm an anxious mother-of-the-bride, while Aisha explains how professionalism has safeguarded her reputation in a competitive market.

For planners who feel isolated or stuck, this episode is more than inspiration, it’s a roadmap. Education and relationships aren’t separate paths; they’re the foundation of a sustainable career. And when you connect with a supportive community like the CWP Society, you’ll never have to navigate this industry alone.

Ready to take the first step toward building the business you’ve been dreaming of? Visit cwpsociety.com today to join the network that’s helping wedding planners nationwide elevate their skills, their confidence, and their careers.

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The relationship between wedding planners and church coordinators has long been marked by tension, misunderstandings, and at times, outright conflict. But what if there’s a better way forward?

In this episode, Emma Cockerham, Certified Educator and Master Certified Wedding Planner, joins Krisy Thomas, COO of The CWP Society, for a candid conversation on transforming these often-strained relationships into true partnerships.

Emma shares her personal journey through church wedding burnout in 2019, when a series of difficult experiences left her both professionally and spiritually discouraged. Instead of walking away, she leaned into education and a new approach, proving that change is possible. Together, Krisy and Emma unpack the persistent myths that fuel conflict: the idea that planners are inherently disrespectful, that church coordinators dismiss the bigger picture, and that media teams are encouraged to ignore rules.

Through real-life stories and practical strategies, Emma highlights how humility, communication, and respect can reshape even the toughest dynamics. From navigating media restrictions to clarifying a planner’s role within the ceremony, she offers actionable ways to foster collaboration. A particularly compelling story involves her persistence in building trust with a Catholic church coordinator, a relationship once fraught with conflict that became one of genuine respect.

Emma discusses the importance of research and entering every church setting with reverence, regardless of personal religious background.

Whether you’ve experienced church wedding challenges firsthand or want to avoid them altogether, this conversation gives you a framework for becoming a true peacemaker. As Emma reminds us, wedding planning is about bringing diverse vendors together to create something beautiful,  and that begins with mutual respect.

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Certified Wedding Planner and Certified Educator, Amanda Borrero, joins CWP Society COO, Krisy Thomas, for an unfiltered conversation about one of the wedding industry’s most debated practices: kickbacks.

Together, they unpack what kickbacks really are, why they’ve become so ingrained in the wedding world, and the ethical dilemmas they create for planners and couples alike. From “pay-to-play” venue lists to referral fees passed quietly between vendors, this discussion explores how these arrangements can limit choices, raise costs, and compromise trust.

But the episode doesn’t stop there, it also offers a look at what ethical alternatives can look like. Amanda shares her perspective on building long-lasting vendor partnerships rooted in transparency and mutual respect, and how planners can negotiate perks that directly benefit their clients instead of lining their own pockets.

If you’ve ever wondered how to grow a wedding planning business built on integrity and sustainability, this conversation will leave you inspired to do things differently.

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Have you ever considered what it’s like for a guest with mobility challenges to navigate a wedding day? From uneven outdoor paths to inaccessible restrooms, the obstacles they face might surprise you.

In this powerful conversation, Krisy Thomas, COO of the CWP Society, leads a discussion with Master Certified Wedding Planner and Certified Educator Brianne Ackerland to shine a light on an often-overlooked aspect of wedding planning: accessibility and inclusion for guests with physical limitations.

As planners, we’re trained to perfect timelines, create stunning designs, and deliver unforgettable moments—but what about ensuring every guest can actually participate in the celebration? Brianne shares how today’s trend toward historic venues, private estates, and nontraditional spaces has introduced new accessibility challenges. From stair-only entry points to narrow restrooms, these obstacles can unintentionally exclude guests and impact the overall guest experience.

Together, we explore real-life examples and practical solutions any planner can implement: using outdoor rugs to create smoother pathways, providing appropriate seating beyond standard folding chairs, communicating accessibility details on wedding websites, and advocating for inclusive accommodations during venue walkthroughs.

What makes this discussion truly transformative is its emphasis on mindset over checklist. Inclusion begins the moment you talk venues with a couple, not as an afterthought once challenges arise. By approaching accessibility proactively, planners can turn potential roadblocks into opportunities for thoughtfulness, ensuring every guest feels welcomed and valued.

 If you’re ready to elevate your skills and lead with inclusivity, visit cwpsociety.com to explore our certification programs and join a community dedicated to raising industry standards.

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Step into the world of wedding planning leadership as Krisy Thomas, COO of the CWP Society, sits down with four extraordinary certified wedding planners who are reshaping the industry across the globe. Together, they share their journeys from skilled professionals to influential change-makers, highlighting how education and community are redefining the wedding planning profession.

Joining the conversation:

• David Ude of Dafame Concept, raising the bar for weddings in Nigeria.
• Tracy Dapp of Inked Events, leading with integrity and innovation in New Hampshire.
• Tish Clay of Simone Elise Events, bringing warmth, grace, and fierce advocacy from Tennessee.
• Morgan Parker, the visionary behind Golden Forest Events, making waves in North Carolina.

David Ude describes the game-changing impact of international certification in Africa, where his CWP credentials have opened doors and commanded respect in a market eager for proven expertise. “My goal is putting African event professionals on that global map,” he shares with palpable passion. Meanwhile, Tracy Dapp reflects on how certification elevated her 15-year career: “I came into it fairly confident, but being certified through CWP, I'm even more confident in what I do.”

The discussion also challenges the common advice often given to new planners—“just shadow someone” or “learn by doing.” Instead, these leaders advocate for proper education as the foundation of professionalism, drawing parallels to other industries where training is essential. Tish Clay reveals the transformation she’s experienced: “Since obtaining my CWP credentials, my delivery has become so much better, to the point of clients not having questions once we've finished an initial consultation.”

Beyond business growth, the conversation underscores the importance of community in an often-isolated profession. Each of these planners describes the CWP Society as a “safe space” where planners can be vulnerable, ask questions, and find genuine support without judgment—a rare gift in a competitive industry.

Whether you’re considering a career in wedding planning, looking to elevate your business, or simply curious about the future of the profession, this episode offers invaluable insights from leaders who are raising the standard worldwide. Visit cwpsociety.com to discover how you can join this community of excellence-focused wedding professionals.

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