Wedding Pros who are ready to grow - with Becca Pountney

It's time to get your wedding business 2025 ready. As engagement season approaches it's the perfect time to get your goals set, your website updated and your prices sorted. In today's mini episode I run through a checklist to help you ensure you are ready.

Time Stamps:

00:07 - Preparing for the Engagement Season

01:02 - Preparing Your Wedding Business for the Next Season

06:57 - Planning for 2025: Reflecting on Services and Strategies

12:25 - The Importance of Education in Business Planning

16:21 - Taking Time for Yourself: The Importance of Breaks

Do you ever wonder how to make it in the luxury wedding sector? Today I am chatting with Elizabeth Solaru - founder of Elizabeths Cake Emporium and author of 'The Luxpreneur'. We talk about her story, the different types of luxury and the highs and lows of working with luxury clientele.

Buy Elizabeths book

Visit her website

Follow Elizabeth on Instagram

Time Stamps:

00:00 - Introduction to Luxury Mindset

01:24 - Journey into Cake Making

02:44 - Transitioning to Entrepreneurship

06:08 - Strategies for Client Acquisition

14:46 - Understanding Luxury Branding

15:08 - The Five Pillars of Luxury Brands

20:56 - Creating Luxury Experiences

27:34 - Types of Luxury Clients

30:48 - Finding Luxury Clients Online

34:34 - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

45:44 - Conclusion and Key Takeaways

46:22 - Final Thoughts and Book Promotion

Today I am chatting with founder of Eternity and South Asian Wedding specialist Anshika Arora. In this episode we talk about the opportunities that lie in the South Asian Wedding market, how to set your business apart and how to embrace and understand different cultures and their wedding traditions.

Check out Eternity

Use discount code Becca10

Find out more about the Revive Wedding Symposium

Follow Eternity on Instagram

Time Stamps:

• 00:00 - Introduction to the Podcast
• 00:00 - Understanding Your Audience
• 00:42 - Meet Anshika Arora of Eternity
• 01:46 - Anshika's Journey into the Wedding Industry
• 02:56 - The Gap in the South Asian Wedding Market
• 10:27 - Challenges in Planning Multicultural Weddings
• 13:03 - Marketing to Multicultural Couples
• 18:10 - Revive Symposium for Asian Weddings
• 21:13 - Evolution of Eternity: A New Planning Tool
• 28:29 - Feedback from Couples and What's Next

Tomorrow my book is officially published and it has been quite the journey to get there. In today's episode I take you behind the scenes of the rollercoaster ride that has been getting this book out into the world, and I even read some extracts to wet your appetite.

Done is better than perfect is available to order now:

https://beccapountney.com/book/

Use the code PODCAST to get free shipping to the UK and discounted shipping worldwide.

Time Stamps:

00:00 - Introduction to My Book Journey

00:08 - Why I Wrote This Book

00:16 - Behind the Scenes: The Writing Process

01:09 - The Challenges of Writing a Book

05:19 - The Importance of Mindset

12:05 - Finding My Writing Style

19:01 - The Role of an Editor

21:27 - Getting Endorsements and Feedback

27:38 - Launching the Kickstarter Campaign

33:55 - The Final Steps to Publication

40:00 - Conclusion and Next Steps

One thing that makes me sigh is when your website says 'sign up to our email newsletter'. Today I am going to share with you why this strategy doesn't work, and how to give your email marketing a revamp. We are going to look at email marketing strategies that work, and how you can implement them in your wedding business.

Follow me on Instagram

Time Stamps:

• 00:00 - Introduction to Email Marketing
• 00:08 - The Problem with Newsletters
• 00:48 - Why Email Marketing Outperforms Social Media
• 01:17 - Understanding Deliverability and Reach
• 03:18 - Alternatives to Traditional Newsletters
• 04:29 - Effective Strategies for Collecting Emails
• 11:28 - The Importance of Value in Email Marketing
• 19:11 - Implementing Competitions and Quizzes
• 20:29 - Creating Engaging Content for Your Audience
• 28:06 - Final Thoughts and Next Steps

Mentioned in this episode:

Wedding Show Success workbook

Got a Wedding Show coming up? Make sure you have a strategy in place. Download my free wedding show success workbook, and get a special price on my 3 part video training series about how to get the most out of your next show.

Wedding Show success workbook

Today's episode is a special one as it was recorded LIVE from the Biltmore Hotel in Mayfair. The first ever live edition of the podcast was a panel discussion titles 'meeting of the wedding minds. Our host for the evening was Alison Hargreaves, founder of Guides for Brides and joining me on the panel were two renowned Wedding Industry educators from the US - Renee Dalo and Leah Weinberg.

Our live audience submitted questions and we covered a wide range of topics from getting reviews to attracting American customers. We dived deep into trends and talked about the books we have all been writing.

Thanks to:

The Biltmore Hotel for hosting us

Visualist for sponsoring the event and giving everyone a gift bag

Dave Hadley for the official photos

Rebecca Cole for singing on the evening

Smart Light and Sound for the equipment

Follow my Instagram

Follow Leah on Instagram

Follow Renee on Instagram

Follow Guides for Brides on Instagram

Time Stamps:

00:38 - Intro to the Podcast and Event

00:00 - Moving Reviews to New Platforms

03:53 - Trends in Wedding Planning

04:48 - Marketing Insights for Wedding Businesses

07:24 - Navigating Client Expectations

08:37 - The Importance of Email Marketing

11:02 - Strategies for Gathering Customer Reviews

17:45 - Building Relationships with Preferred Suppliers

32:48 - The Power of Authenticity in Business

32:53 - Panelists Share Their Book Journeys

Mentioned in this episode:

Wedding Show Success workbook

Got a Wedding Show coming up? Make sure you have a strategy in place. Download my free wedding show success workbook, and get a special price on my 3 part video training series about how to get the most out of your next show.

Wedding Show success workbook

Today I'm chatting with Bailey Readings, a young entrepreneur and AI expert. He shares his remarkable journey from starting a cookie cutter business at just 14 years old to launching Automated Flow, a company that leverages AI to streamline business processes.

We talk about the way AI is evolving, the power of chat bots and how you can start embracing AI in your wedding buisiness.

Want Baileys free AI prompt cheat sheet? Go ask Becca Bot for it by typing the key words 'AI Cheat Sheet'.

Click here to find Becca Bot

Follow Bailey on Linkedin

Time Stamps:

00:00 - Introduction to AI in Business

00:48 - Meet Bailey Reddings: A Young Entrepreneur

05:14 - The Journey from Cookie Cutters to AI

07:04 - Understanding AI and Its Impact

10:47 - What is Becca Bot?

11:58 - Creating Becca Bot: Behind the Scenes

15:26 - The Future of AI and Chatbots

25:18 - Practical Ways to Use AI in Your Business

29:55 - Conclusion and How to Access the Cheat Sheet

Mentioned in this episode:

Wedding Show Success workbook

Got a Wedding Show coming up? Make sure you have a strategy in place. Download my free wedding show success workbook, and get a special price on my 3 part video training series about how to get the most out of your next show.

Wedding Show success workbook

I'm back for part two of my conversation with Damian Bailey, founder of The Wedding Industry Awards. In this episode we discuss how to make the most of the awards process from the moment you are shortlisted through to the awards night itself. If you missed part 1 you can listen to it here.

Find out more about The Wedding Industry Awards

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction to the Episode

00:00 - Building Excitement on Social Media

00:13 - Engaging with Your Audience Before the Event

00:31 - The Importance of Posting During the Event

07:39 - Maximizing Opportunities as a Finalist

04:31 - How to Announce Your Shortlisting

10:41 - Crafting Your Social Media Strategy

19:22 - Networking Tips for the Awards Night

04:13 - Preparing for the Awards Ceremony

51:23 - What to Do After the Awards

59:28 - Key Takeaways for Future Awards Participation

01:07:12 - Closing Thoughts and Final Advice

Mentioned in this episode:

Wedding Show Success workbook

Got a Wedding Show coming up? Make sure you have a strategy in place. Download my free wedding show success workbook, and get a special price on my 3 part video training series about how to get the most out of your next show.

Wedding Show success workbook

When was the last time you reflected on how accessible your wedding business is? In today's episode I am chatting with Ceilidh caller Lisa Heywood about how she's ensuring her wedding business is making strides to being truly accessible to all. In today's episode Lisa shares her insights and challenges us all to think more about what we are doing to be truly inclusive.

Find out more about Lisa

Follow Lisa on Instagram

Lisa has also provided some great resources to help you:

10min video about the social model of Disability

Understanding Disability blog series

Disabled Eliza talking about planning a wedding as a wheelchair user 

Lucy Edwards talks about planning as a blind bride-to-be 

Celebrant Kathryn talks about planning her accessible wedding

Time stamps:

Starting the Conversation (00:00:00)

Becca discusses the importance of asking about access requirements on booking forms.

Introduction of Guests (00:00:25)

Becca introduces herself and Lisa, highlighting Lisa's expertise in accessible barn dances.

Lisa's Background (00:01:41)

Lisa shares her journey into the barn dance business, influenced by her family's ceilidh band.

Difference Between Barn Dances and Ceilidhs (00:02:35)

Lisa explains the distinctions and similarities between barn dances and ceilidhs.

What a Barn Dance Involves (00:03:32)

Lisa describes the setup and flow of a typical barn dance event.

Lisa's Day Job (00:04:58)

Lisa discusses her work with Drake Music, focusing on accessibility in the music industry.

Understanding Disability (00:06:20)

Lisa introduces the social model of disability, emphasizing societal barriers over individual impairments.

Defining Accessibility (00:07:51)

Lisa explains accessibility as the removal of barriers for disabled individuals to access services.

Making Wedding Businesses Accessible (00:09:27)

Lisa shares practical steps for wedding businesses to enhance accessibility.

Booking Form Questions (00:11:26)

Lisa discusses the importance of including access requirement questions on booking forms.

Starting the Conversation (00:12:43)

Lisa emphasizes the need for open communication about access needs with clients.

Overcoming Fears in Conversations (00:14:25)

Lisa advises on avoiding assumptions and using respectful language when discussing disability.

Language and Terminology (00:15:42)

Lisa provides guidance on using appropriate language regarding disability.

Avoiding Tokenism (00:18:06)

Becca shares an experience at a theme park, highlighting the pitfalls of superficial accessibility measures.

User Experience in Accessibility (00:21:44)

Discussion on providing an equal experience for disabled individuals in the wedding industry.

Planning for Accessibility (00:22:21)

Importance of considering customer journeys and accessible entrances in event planning.

Disability Admin Challenges (00:23:28)

Challenges faced by wheelchair users when accessing venues and transportation.

Tokenism vs. Genuine Accessibility (00:24:32)

Need for authentic accessibility measures before marketing services as inclusive.

Examples of Accessible Weddings (00:25:53)

Sharing experiences of making adjustments for wheelchair users at weddings.

Excitement in Accessibility (00:28:12)

Encouraging a positive outlook on making events inclusive for everyone.

Learning About the Social Model (00:29:25)

Importance of understanding the social model of disability for better accessibility.

Anticipatory vs. Bespoke Access (00:31:19)

Distinction between general accessibility measures and tailored solutions for specific needs.

Asking the Right Questions (00:32:12)

Importance of including accessibility questions on booking forms to tailor services.

Representation vs. Tokenism (00:34:01)

Discussion on the importance of genuine representation in marketing without falling into tokenism.

Final Takeaway on Conversations (00:37:36)

Encouragement to start conversations about accessibility and make disabled individuals feel special.

Resources for Learning (00:38:49)

Mention of various resources for further learning about accessibility and disability inclusion.

Personal Insights on Business (00:39:40)

Reflection on the importance of individuality and values in the wedding business.

Mentioned in this episode:

Wedding Pro agency

Need some help in your wedding business? Our new service allows my team to manage your social accounts, create you a new website or complete one off admin tasks for you. Get in touch to find out more at:

When Stef married a farmer she didn't realise that owning a wedding venue would be on the cards. Having held her own wedding on the farm, she realised there was a huge opportunity to open up the farm to more couples. Now Stef runs a successful wedding venue and today she shares her story. We talk about the highs and lows of running a venue, the importance of business training and a training opportunity she has coming up in October!

Join the training day on October 2nd at Bennetts Willow Barn.

Use the code BECCA for a discount on your ticket

Follow Bennetts Willow Barn Weddings on Instagram

Time Stamps:

Introduction to the Podcast (00:00:00)

Stef shares her thoughts on learning and the importance of attending paid events for growth.

Stef's Background (00:00:53)

Stef discusses her journey from solicitor to wedding venue owner and her personal wedding experience.

Transition to Farming (00:01:43)

Stef explains her decision to leave law due to family needs and her husband's farming career.

Life on the Farm (00:04:47)

A glimpse into the busy daily life of Stef's family on the farm and its demands.

Starting the Wedding Venue (00:06:53)

Stef recounts how her wedding led to opening the farm for other weddings and events.

Diversification of the Farm (00:07:11)

The initial diversification into glamping and the planning of their wedding venue.

Building the Venue (00:09:07)

Stef describes the construction of the yurt for their wedding and subsequent bookings.

Creating a Unique Experience (00:10:13)

The venue's laid-back approach and how it caters to couples' desires for personalization.

Flexibility in Weddings (00:12:03)

Stef emphasizes the importance of flexibility in wedding planning and making it personal.

Highs and Lows of the Business (00:14:49)

Stef reflects on the rewarding moments and challenges faced in the wedding industry.

Relationships with Local Suppliers (00:17:43)

Stef discusses the significance of networking with local suppliers and building strong partnerships.

Tips for Suppliers (00:20:51)

Stef offers advice on how local suppliers can approach venues and build rapport.

Introduction to Supplier Relationships (00:20:58)

Stef discusses the importance of genuine connections with suppliers rather than cold outreach.

The Need for Training and Development (00:23:08)

Stef emphasizes the necessity of training for informed decision-making in business.

Understanding Business Numbers (00:24:29)

Stef highlights how knowing business numbers is crucial for evaluating performance and making improvements.

Upcoming Training Day Announcement (00:26:15)

Becca announces her visit to Bennett's Willow Barn for a training day in October.

Details of the Training Day (00:26:31)

Stef outlines the schedule and topics for the interactive training day, including networking opportunities.

Importance of Networking (00:28:56)

Becca stresses the value of building relationships and networking within the wedding industry.

Ticket Pricing and Discounts (00:30:28)

Stef shares ticket prices for the training day and a discount code for listeners.

Future Plans for Bennett's Willow Barn (00:31:43)

Stef discusses plans to consolidate and improve the venue while enjoying recent successes.

Reflection on Business Numbers (00:33:02)

Stef expresses a wish to have prioritized understanding numbers earlier in her business journey.