Weddings for Real
By Megan Gillikin
Listen to a podcast, please open Podcast Republic app. Available on Google Play Store.
Category: Entrepreneurship
Open in Apple Podcasts
Open RSS feed
Open Website
Rate for this podcast
Subscribers: 9
Reviews: 0
Episodes: 215
Description
| Episode | Date |
|---|---|
|
227. Tackling Content Overwhelm Using AI, with Davey Jones
2825
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 It's time to talk about content strategy, which I know can feel super overwhelming. You feel the pressure to create content and show up basically everywhere…. Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, podcasts, blog posts, newsletters, and other places we're not even aware of. How do you do all of that? And then, what about all the AI resources like Chat GPT that can be helpful but a little scary - how do we leverage those to maximize the impact of our content? Let's find out from today's guest, Davey Jones (Davey and Krista, Till Agency, Brands That Book Podcast).
--- Today's episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault. The doors are currently closed for The Planner's Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
May 31, 2023 |
|
226. Is it you or is it them? How to know when to fire “THAT” client
3074
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 If you’ve been in the wedding industry for really any length of time, you’ve probably had a nightmare client or two who sucked the life out of you and left you questioning whether or not you want to be in this crazy industry. I get it, I too have been there and have the t-shirt, the gray hairs, the extra wrinkles and the negative review to show for it. In our industry, we have a ton of pressure to deliver an exceptional experience for each and every client and we sometimes find ourselves working with clients that have unrealistic expectations when it comes to budget, communication, work output, and more. But if you’re coming across those soul-sucking clients too often, it might be time to ask yourself, “Is it them? Or is it me?” Maybe it’s time to make some changes in your business to avoid those calamities. Now if it’s truly them, the next questions become, “How do I know when it’s time to fire “THAT” client? And how would I do it?" The Planner's Vault's Gina Johnston and I have done it before - tune in to find out how we tackled this awkward situation.
--- Today's episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault. The doors are currently closed for The Planner's Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
May 24, 2023 |
|
225. Wedding Industry Hot Takes with Terrica (Part 2)
2398
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 It's Terrica. It's wedding industry hot takes part 2. No need to say more. Part 1 Today's episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault. The doors are currently closed for The Planner's Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
May 17, 2023 |
|
224. Wedding Industry Hot Takes with Terrica (Part 1)
2025
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 It's Terrica. It's wedding industry hot takes. No need to say more. Today's episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault. The doors are currently closed for The Planner's Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
May 10, 2023 |
|
223. Lessons Learned from Marriage and Entrepreneurship
2512
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Today we bring back Jason Gillikin, my partner of 13 years and fellow entrepreneur. Life gets pretty hectic when you're growing businesses, raising kids, and trying to stay connected to each other. So what are some speed bumps we've faced and lessons learned along the way? Episodes Mentioned: Today's episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault. The doors are currently closed for The Planner's Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
May 03, 2023 |
|
222. From Clicks to Customers: Writing Copy that Converts, with Lucy Bedewi
2216
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 How can we guide our potential clients to take that next step? Maybe they see our Instagram post or TikTok or our website, or maybe even an ad on TheKnot. And when they do, how can we take them from seeing copy we’ve put out there, and then jump to the next level? Today's guest, Lucy Bedewi, has some copy writing tips for us. My Write Hand Woman | Find Your Brand Voice Quiz This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Apr 26, 2023 |
|
221. The Right Time to Add to Your Sales Team, with Kelly Ann Peck
1944
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 One of the most challenging questions I get asked in my coaching conversations is, “When do I know when it’s time to add to my team?” If you’re hiring a team member, how do you know what position do you hire for? And is it even possible to hire someone to sell for you? And even when you have all the information and you’re ready to make a move, how do you find the right person? It’s not an easy decision to make but let’s help you figure out your next steps in today's episode with Sales Uprising's Kelly Ann Peck.
The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Apr 19, 2023 |
|
220. 4 Steps for Having a Brand that Books, with Amanda Shuman
2689
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 If I was on stage at Wedding MBA in front of hundreds of your peers, and I chose your website to display on the big screen, how would you feel? Would you be proud? Would you feel like your website images, design, and copy fits your brand? Or would you feel at least a little dread and shame because you know it’s time for a brand refresh? Branding isn’t easy, but as you evolve as a business owner, so too does your brand. So today, we’re talking about a four step strategy for having a brand that books.
The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Apr 12, 2023 |
|
219. 5 Truths Every Business Owner Needs to Hear
2480
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Today we're celebrating five years of the podcast (!), so it's time for a fun and reflective episode on five truthbombs every business owner needs to hear. Episodes Mentioned:
The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Apr 05, 2023 |
|
218. Unraveling, with Neillie Butler
2745
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 The Unraveling series, where amazing and inspiring entrepreneurs share the unraveling of old habits and mindset that holds us back, and the rebirth of new. Today we feature Neillie Butler, owner and executive planner of Mariee Ami, an event production company that brings multi-day celebrations to life, no matter the destination, scale, or complexity.
The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Mar 29, 2023 |
|
217. Leaning into Community to Grow Your Business: Megan on The Women's Social Club Podcast
2329
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 The Planner's Vault doors are open! Come join us! Now I have the opportunity and privilege to be the support system and cheerleader for so many in our community - and I don’t take that for granted. I believe that there are far too many amazing entrepreneurs out there who show up, serve so many, make a difference, and yet they continue to play it small. I hope this interview inspires you to stop getting in your own way. Great success is waiting on the other side. --- "I used to call my business my baby - it was my first baby before my actual babies. And I've really scratched that from the way that I describe my business because I think it's a toxic view. That means I can't leave it." LIVE from the University Club in Durham NC, wedding industry icon Megan Gillikin joins us to share her journey of building her wedding planning business, selling it, and pivoting to coaching and consulting. In this episode, you'll learn:
Connect with WSC: Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here Come join The Women's Social Club (locations in Raleigh, Atlanta, Boston, Central North Carolina, Charlotte, Chicago, Jacksonville Florida, Memphis, New York, and Wilmington North Carolina, with locations launching soon in Austin, Charleston South Carolina, Washington DC, Denver, Miami, and Nashville). And if you don't see your location, Start a Chapter!
----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Mar 22, 2023 |
|
216. How to Showcase Your Genius Without Bragging: Copy Tips from Nadine Nethery
2100
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 When analyzing your own website, you want to ask yourself:
That copy part is a huge challenge, and today we're learning from Can Do Content's Nadine Nethery on how to create stand-out copy without being too braggy. -------- Resources Mentioned: -------- The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Mar 08, 2023 |
|
215. How Wedding Pros Can Get More Reviews, with Desiree Dent
2920
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 On episode 211, we interviewed couples to find out what they REALLY are looking for in the vendor vetting process. And one common theme we heard is that couples are looking for reviews - in The Knot, on Google, on Wedding Wire, in social media, everywhere. So reviews need to be a major initiative for all wedding pros. But how do we get our clients to write reviews? Let's find out from our guest today - Desiree Dent, wedding planner at Dejanae Events in Chicago.
Episodes Referenced: This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Mar 01, 2023 |
|
214. 4 Relationship-Sabotaging Strategies to Avoid as A Wedding Pro (Megan Gillikin Solo)
672
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 I say this with love... -------- Episodes Referenced: This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Feb 22, 2023 |
|
213. BTS Planning the Engage Summit, with Tara Fay
2195
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Today we’re talking about Engage, the luxury wedding business summit that happens twice a year in breathtaking locations around the globe. I’ve been a couple times, and they are definitely an experience like no other. The swag and gifting experience by itself are stellar and the over-the-top wow factor of each meal, each breakout, and each painstaking design detail are unmatched. I’ve always wondered how it all comes together. How do you put on event that wows people who put on ultra-luxury events for a living? Let's find out from Tara Fay, Dublin-based wedding planner who has led the vision for two recent Engage Summits.
The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Feb 15, 2023 |
|
212. 4 Sales Mistakes Wedding Pros Make, with Sam Jacobson
2340
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 What happens when couples inquire (we get the inquiries!), but we’re not booking as many weddings as we want? Or what if couples are only wanting to book our smallest packages? Today we're talking to Ideaction Consulting's Sam Jacobson, who gives us 4 reasons our inquiries are NOT converting into clients. Free Workshop with Megan and Sam: Why Couples Don’t Book Full Planning (And what to do about it!) Episodes Referenced: Sam's Podcast, Own Your Business This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Feb 08, 2023 |
|
211. Live Interviews: Inside the (Buying) Mind of Engaged Couples
2732
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 A couple weeks ago, we went to The Merrimon Wynne Winter Wedding Showcase. The Merrimon Wynne is a historic home in downtown Raleigh that’s been converted into a gorgeous wedding venue. Inside the house and in the carriage house outside, engaged couples were walking around looking for the right wedding vendors for their big day. And if they looked like they might be willing to answer some questions about their wedding vendor search, we asked them to come on the show. We asked them questions like:
So let's tune in to find out what couples really want! Episodes referenced: This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Feb 01, 2023 |
|
210. Money While You Sleep (even in the events industry), with Kawania Wooten
2745
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 As much as we all love the events industry, one major challenge is that we’re service based. We need to physically be doing something to make money. Planning the wedding, DJ’ing the bat mitzvah, taking the headshots. And when every event is over, we need to keep moving on to the next one. In the service industry, there’s no real way to make money while you sleep. Or is there? Today's guest is Kawania Wooten, owner of Howerton + Wooten Events and founder of The Enlightened Creative.
The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jan 25, 2023 |
|
209. TikTok Ads - An Intimidating but Untapped Market for Wedding Pros, with Mark Chapman
2012
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 TikTok is a platform I have not invested my time in outside creating my profile because it’s yet another app that I feel like I have to check, and to be honest, TikTok just feels like one more thing I have to do. But I keep hearing about how great it is - from other educators that I love and respect, from wedding pros, and from my hair person… obviously - and not just for funny videos or going down weird rabbit holes. There are recipes, packing hacks, how to videos galore, and so much more - so they tell me. But more importantly, because there are many people like me who are a little intimidated by TikTok, right now it’s an untapped market for ads.
The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jan 18, 2023 |
|
208: Unraveling, with Brian Green
3100
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 The Unraveling series, where amazing and inspiring entrepreneurs share the unraveling of old habits and mindset that holds us back, and the rebirth of new. Today we feature Brian Green, Chief Event Architect and Creative Visionary of By BrianGreen LLC based in Atlanta. For previous Unravelings:
The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jan 11, 2023 |
|
207: Stepping into CEO Mode in 2023, with Tara Melvin
2202
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Many of you are running your own business, and that’s something you should be extremely proud of. It takes a lot of guts to step out on your own and take your vision for a company and turn it into your reality. It doesn’t matter whether you’re side hustling for extra spending money or you have dozens of employees - you’ve taken the risk and I applaud you for it. But when you’re leading your company, how would you define your role? Are you doing the work, or are you the visionary who’s thinking strategically about where you want to take the business over the next few years? Well today we’re talking to Tara Melvin, who tells us we should all be the creative CEOs of our companies. The Signature CEO Conference, April 11-13, 2023
The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jan 04, 2023 |
|
206: 2022 Wins, Failures, and Goal-Setting: Megan and Jason's End-of-Year Reflection
3276
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Megan and Jason Gillikin talk about their wins for 2022, their failures, word-of-the-year, and goals for 2023. Tune in and reflect along. Share your 2022 reflections on social media @weddingsforreal. This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Dec 28, 2022 |
|
BONUS: Entrepreneur Money Stories - Creating an Exit Plan for Selling Your Business
3280
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Today we're sharing an episode that Megan guested on - Entrepreneur Money Stories, hosted by Kickstart Accounting CEO Danielle Hayden. Enjoy, and we'll be back with a new episode next week! If you're thinking about selling your business, let's schedule time for a coaching session to talk through it. --- Megan returns to the podcast to join me in discussing her journey of buying and selling a business, the process of how to sell your business, and the mindset needed throughout. Listen to Megan’s entrepreneur story during her first time on the pod here. In this episode, Megan and I discuss:
Connect with Megan: Website | https://www.theplannersvault.com/ Podcast | https://www.theplannersvault.com/podcast LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-gillikin-34900524 Connect with Danielle: https://kickstartaccountinginc.com/product/profitplanner/ Website | Kickstart Accounting Facebook | Kickstart Accounting Inc. – Home | Facebook Instagram | Kickstart Accounting, Inc. (@kickstartaccounting) • Instagram photos and videos Twitter | Kickstart Accounting Inc. (@KickstartAcct) / Twitter Book your FREE Discovery call: https://kickstartaccountinginc.com/book-a-call/ Test your Financial Health: https://kickstartaccountinginc.com/checkmyfinancialhealth/ Learn how to pay yourself as a CEO – https://www.kickstartaccountinginc.com/getpaid ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Dec 21, 2022 |
|
BONUS: Wedding Industry Insider - Stick Your Foot in the Door Before it Shuts, with Megan Gillikin
4168
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Today we're sharing an episode that Megan guested on - Wedding Industry Insider, hosted by Eddie Babbage, CEO of Timeline Genius. Enjoy, and we'll be back with new episodes soon! ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Dec 14, 2022 |
|
BONUS: Megan's Unraveling on the Women on Work Podcast
2197
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Today we're sharing an episode that Megan guested on - Women on Work, hosted by Alysia Eve and Liz Fuller. Enjoy, and we'll be back with new episodes soon! ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Dec 07, 2022 |
|
202: Navigating Education Overwhelm for Wedding Pros
1264
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 I've heard you loud and clear - you're overwhelmed by all the wedding pro educators out there, and you're not sure who to listen to and what to do. What could be valuable learnings wind up leaving you frustrated and paralyzed. So what can you do about it? Join me today for five tips on how to identify who to listen to and what content you should be consuming to help you take your business to the next level. Join Brandee Gaar and me to discuss this topic, Monday December 5th at 3:30EST on the Weddings for Real Instagram page. This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Nov 30, 2022 |
|
201: The Secret Language of Brand Archetypes to Attract Your Ideal Clients, with Kaye Putnam
1928
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Let me ask you a couple tough questions - What is your innate brand advantage over your competition? Are you unique, or are you swimming in a sea of sameness? If you’re just starting your business, you might not really know what your brand is or where to even begin. If you’ve been at it for a while, you might be so head down in the day-to-day that you don’t pause often enough to reevaluate what your brand actually is, and how that brand is being used to attract (or potentially even repel) your ideal clients. So how do we figure out our brands?
This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Nov 23, 2022 |
|
200: Wedding MBA Recap + Craziest Wedding Stories on Episode 200!
2190
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Last week, we were at Wedding MBA in Las Vegas, and it was memorable to say the least - and at some points it felt like an out-of-body experience. I had two presentations this time, with one of them on the main stage which was juuuusstt a bit intimidating. Today we talk about the journey from rejection to the main stage, the experiences of Wedding MBA 2022, and then we get to hear from you. That's right, we interviewed 10 planners at the Convention Center and from our Tacos & Tequila Party, and asked three questions:
Thanks to the planners who shared with us:
— Couldn’t have done it without my team The Tacos & Tequila party Thank you for all the love, all the selfies, all the conversations
Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Nov 16, 2022 |
|
199: Fear, Fundraising, and Finding a Niche: The Merri Story, with CEO Randi Bushell
2471
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Starting a small business is not for the faint of heart. There’s fear that you’re not the right person to lead a company. There’s uncertainty that you’ll ever be able to make as much money as you did in your corporate job. There’s doubt that anyone will book you or that you can sustain the mental health hurdles running a small business requires. If you’re with me as a small business owner, congratulations on getting this far, and we see what you’re going through! Today, we hear from Merri CEO Randi Bushell - who went through all of these challenges - plus fundraising - plus scaling a tech company in the pandemic - and has figured out how to grow her business in the process. This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Nov 02, 2022 |
|
197: Unraveling, with Sandra Cassios
2204
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 The Unraveling series, where amazing and inspiring entrepreneurs share the unraveling of old habits and mindset that holds us back, and the rebirth of new. Today we feature Sandra Cassios, owner and lead planner at Sandra Bettina Weddings and Events, and owner of XO and Mane Gift Shop. For previous Unravelings:
The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Oct 19, 2022 |
|
196: Stop settling for less and get to the life you want, with Tony Chatman
2460
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Ever since I got into podcasts (and believe it or not, it actually took me a while), I’ve been focused on growth: getting to the life that I want and not settling for less. If you’re listening to this podcast, I’m thinking that’s your mindset too. And that could mean so many things. A bigger house. Freedom from the 9 to 5. Working more. Working less. Spending more time with your family. Taking more vacations. Raising your rates. You know you and what you want. And if you don’t know, it's time to figure it out. Because today we’re talking Tony Chatman - speaker, author, and business relationship expert - who is going to give us tips on moving away from the hand that you’re dealt into the life that you want.
The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Oct 12, 2022 |
|
195: Business Therapy and Mindset Transformations for Wedding CEOs, with Kelly Ruta
3567
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 One of the reasons we started the Weddings For Real podcast and then formed The Planner’s Vault is because we want to create a community of wedding professionals who can share ideas, grow together, and avoid the feeling of being on an island with your businesses. You’re not alone. And yet, sometimes we feel like we’re the only ones who feel overwhelmed. We’re the only ones who feel like the to-do list is impossible to get through. We’re the only ones who feel like we need a break from it all. Here's the deal - you are not alone. And on this episode, we’re talking to Kelly Ruta, former clinical psychotherapist and current CEO development strategist for female entrepreneurs who will tell you that if you have all those feelings, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with you.
The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Oct 05, 2022 |
|
194: Ask Me Anything (About Burnout, Selling My Business, New Market, and More)
1595
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 A couple weeks ago, I asked you the listeners for any questions you've been wanting to ask, and I received some truly thought-provoking submissions (so thank you!). So today, I answer those questions, touching on burnout, why I refer (or don't refer) wedding pros, navigating the busy season, selling my planning business, and more! This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Sep 28, 2022 |
|
191: Is Luxury Stealing Your Joy? with Laura Ritchie of Grit & Grace
2858
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 As we gain experience and raise our prices, we start to get into the luxury market. It’s something many of us strive for because it means we’ve made it - we beat out the competition for the best weddings, they become great portfolio pieces, and you can make better money. But how do we attract the luxury clientele? And when we get those weddings, are they really all that we hoped for? Laura Ritchie is the Founder and Designer at Grit and Grace.
The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Sep 07, 2022 |
|
190: Unraveling, with Slice Pie's Kristen Mullins
2693
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 The Unraveling series, where amazing and inspiring entrepreneurs share the unraveling of old habits and mindset that holds us back, and the rebirth of new. Today we feature Kristen Mullins, aka The Pie Lady. Kristen is the owner of Slice Pie Company, and while everything on social media looks amazing - new retail shop, selling hundreds of pies a day, all the awards - the reality is that Kristen has been forced to undergo some serious growth over the past couple of years. For previous Unravelings:
The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Aug 31, 2022 |
|
189: Rainmakers, Dream Teams, and How They Make You More Money, with Veronica Romney
2158
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 If you’re looking to grow your business, a hard realization is that you can only go so far if you do it alone. If you’re a wedding planner, maybe you can do 25-30 weddings a year by yourself. If you’re a DJ, maybe 50 weddings. An officiant? You could probably do 100 weddings a year. But no matter what, there’s a limit in how much you can make - unless you build a team. Of course, that comes with its own complications and headaches, so today we talk to someone who focuses on making sure you have the right people in the right roles - Dream Team Architect Veronica Romney.
The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Aug 24, 2022 |
|
188: Unraveling, with Ashlyn Carter
2579
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 The Unraveling series, where amazing and inspiring entrepreneurs share the unraveling of old habits and mindset that holds us back, and the rebirth of new. Today we feature Ashlyn Carter, founder of Ashlyn Writes. On the surface, Ashlyn looks like she's crushing it (because she is). She has over 30,000 YouTube followers and always seems so poised and focused on camera. But underneath it all, she has encountered struggles just like the rest of us. For previous Unravelings:
The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Aug 10, 2022 |
|
187: Conquer Your Hot Mess Canva Account, with Brenda Cadman
2197
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 You probably use Canva almost every day, but if you're just using it to create social media graphics, you're barely scratching the surface of what it can offer. Today, Verified Global Canva Expert (one of 26 in the world) Brenda Cadman comes on to tell us how we can maximize Canva to its full potential and unlock branding and marketing efficiency. Brenda Cadman's Courses: Brenda's 45-day Free Trial of Canva How I Built This, with Canva CEO Melanie Perkins This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Aug 03, 2022 |
|
186: How to use empathy, authority, and authenticity to set yourself apart (Megan Gillikin Solo)
949
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 According to the WeddingWire Newlywed Report, the most common sentiments couples feel when planning their wedding right now are stress, uncertainty, and overwhelm that my friends. That is why we're gonna talk about how to use empathy, authority and authenticity as superpowers to set yourself apart as a wedding professional This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jul 27, 2022 |
|
185: Client conflict resolution tips: Using your influence for good, with Jen Trotter
2590
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 When you feel your phone buzzing, and you look down to see your client's name, what do you think? Are you worried it’s something bad? What about when you KNOW it’s something bad? The client isn’t happy for whatever reason, and they’re calling to tell you about it. Do you get a pit in your stomach? Of course you do, everyone does. But how do you handle it? Today we're talking to conflict resolution specialist Jen Trotter about what you SHOULD be doing to handle these types of problems.
This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jul 20, 2022 |
|
184: Unraveling, with Andrea Eppolito
2505
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 The Unraveling series, where amazing and inspiring entrepreneurs share the unraveling of old habits and mindset that holds us back, and the rebirth of new. Today we talk to Las Vegas luxury wedding planner Andrea Eppolito, who was crushing the Vegas wedding scene in 2016 - until she went home and told her husband, "I hate what I'm doing. I hate who I'm doing it for. I hate who I'm doing it with. I just can't function like this." Andrea Eppolito is the founder of Andrea Eppolito Events and the host of the podcast, "Andrea Eppolito | Celebrating Life, Luxury, & Above All Else Love." For previous Unravelings:
The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jul 13, 2022 |
|
183: Money Mindset for Wedding Pros, with Denise Duffield-Thomas
3176
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Do you have money mindset blocks that are preventing your business from growing and preventing you from leading your best life? Maybe you believe that you don't deserve to charge more yet. Or maybe you believe you shouldn't charge more because you love what you do. Or maybe you think there's a new competitor popping up every day who charges so little, it's not worth it to raise your prices. I had some major money mindset blocks - until I discovered our guest today, Denise Duffield-Thomas. Denise Duffield-Thomas is the author of Get Rich, Lucky Bitch and Chill and Prosper, and the host of the Chill and Prosper Podcast. This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jul 06, 2022 |
|
182: How to marry aesthetics and logistics, with Becca Rose Atchison
2648
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 What makes an amazing wedding experience for our clients and their guests? Is it the design elements that make them stop in their tracks when they first see the ballroom or the tent, plus the small little details that start multiple conversations throughout the evening? Is it the logistics of making sure that every vendor is on the same page and the wedding runs smoothly without any confusion or time that seems to drag on? As we all know, a truly memorable event has both precise logistics and beautiful design elements, but it can be a challenge to marry those two. So let's find out how to do it!
Weddings for Real episode 29: Percentage-based Pricing with Becca Atchison
The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jun 29, 2022 |
|
181: Personalizing your automated client check-ins to surprise and delight, with Charlotte Isaac
2085
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Hi (First Name), Welcome to the (insert podcast here) Podcast! Are you wondering how to personalize some of your automated touch points with your (insert industry here) clients to make them feel more natural so you can connect with your clients more authentically? Business Operations Consultant and lifelong ease-seeker Charlotte Isaac tells us how.
The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jun 15, 2022 |
|
180: Inside Scoop on Selling My Wedding Business + BTS Fun Reflections
2524
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 In some exciting news, after 12 years of running A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning, Megan has passed the torch to the next owner. There have been tears of joy, tears of overwhelm, tears of sadness, and tears of laughter. There have been many WTFs, crazy stories, bad decisions, and life-changing moments. Today, Megan and Jason reflect on the journey and talk about the next chapter.
The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jun 08, 2022 |
|
179: 5 ways to build connection with new inquiries, with The Big Wedding Planning Podcast's Michelle Martinez
1999
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Let’s think about the couples who fill out an inquiry form. They’re interested in the specifics of your services and your price point of course, but what they're truly hoping for is a real, meaningful connection. It’s the longest they’ll work with someone and it’s the most money they’ll spend on one day, so a wedding pro who makes them feel understood, happy, and excited - that’s who they’re going to pick. But how do you make that connection happen? Michelle Martinez is the host of The Big Wedding Planning Podcast (which has over 300 episodes!). This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Hosted by Megan Gillikin, Weddings for Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
May 25, 2022 |
|
178: 6 projects for your intern, with Gina Johnston
1894
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 What are some ways to effectively work with an intern (and not just give them busy work)? Megan and Gina Annab Johnston offer 6 projects you can give your intern right away! This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
May 18, 2022 |
|
177: Unraveling, with Honeyfund's Sara Margulis
2650
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 The Unraveling series, where amazing and inspiring entrepreneurs share the unraveling of old habits and mindset that holds us back, and the rebirth of new. Today we talk to Sara Margulis, who seemingly had it all - a successful business with her husband, TV appearances all over, an investment from Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary, and partnerships with Target and Hilton - but she was deeply in need of getting rid of her old habits to grow professionally and personally. Sara Margulis is the co-founder and CEO of Honeyfund. For the wedding planning guide she mentions, head to https://www.honeyfund.com/weddingplanning. For previous Unravelings:
The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
May 11, 2022 |
|
Happy Mother's Day! (Emma and Molly unauthorized takeover)
563
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Emma and Molly Gillikin have taken over the podcast to wish all the moms (especially Megan) Happy Mother's Day! ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
May 08, 2022 |
|
176: Successful wedding pros understand these 6 things, with Brandee Gaar
2471
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 When you’re running a business, it can feel pretty overwhelming - like you need to do all the things and do them all really well. And even if you’re at the point in your business where you can outsource some, being aware of everything to make the critical decisions can seem exhausting. But the good news is your business can be broken down into just 6 core competencies - and you don't have to be amazing at all of them. Brandee Gaar is a business coach, speaker, and fellow wedding planner. Join the Wedding Pro CEO Summit and get $100 off by using the code "plannersvault". The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
May 04, 2022 |
|
175: 9 tips for being a better wedding pro during busy season (Megan Gillikin solo)
1072
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Let's face it, this is one of the busiest seasons of your career. It feels like you don't have time for anything other than your clients, but in this solo episode, I'm giving 9 tips for you to become a better wedding pro. Pick a couple to focus on now, then come back once it slows down to implement the rest! Here’s the link to our 25+ Helpful Email Template Bundle I mentioned in the episode from our shop! This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Apr 20, 2022 |
|
174: Does your brand need a redesign or refresh? Branding expert Lisa Aihara explains
2070
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Let’s talk about your brand. Does it reflect who you are as a person and as a company - and does it attract your ideal clients? Is it something you’re proud of and passionate about, and you truly understand what your colors mean? Is it consistent throughout your website, your socials, your newsletters, and all the things? Branding can be super confusing, so that’s why I brought on branding expert Lisa Aihara to give us some answers. Seasonal Brand Personality Workbook and Brand Keyword Workbook
The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Apr 06, 2022 |
|
173: 10 AHA! Moments from 4 Years of Podcasting
2042
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 It’s been 4 years since Weddings for Real came to be. Over the last 4 years we’ve evolved and grown in a lot of ways and today, we’ll share some of our all time favorite AHA-moment episodes, and we invite you to join in on the fun! Episodes mentioned include:
The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Mar 30, 2022 |
|
(Replay) 152: Wedding Planner Series: 5 Tips to Grow Your Business
1567
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 In this solo episode, Megan Gillikin answers 5 questions from the Weddings for Real Facebook Group, including how to hire your #2, how to raise your prices, and how to take steps to make your business full time. References: Episode 151: Creating a digital welcome guide Episode 145: Margeaux Fraise on leveraging Facebook Groups For more client experience tips, visit ThePlannersVault.com/clientexperience This episode is also brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open.
Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Mar 23, 2022 |
|
172: How to create a culture within your wedding business, with Jonathan Aymin
2427
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 On last week’s episode, Ashley Ebert gave us the inside scoop on WHY we need to build a team, even though it can be pretty scary. But what happens when you actually DO start building a team? How can you create a culture that you can truly be proud of, something that represents both you and your brand, and something that your team, your partners, and your clients can feel? As we graduate from solopreneurs to leaders, it is our responsibility to create this elusive culture, but most of us aren’t really sure where to start. Today's guest is Jonathan Aymin (@JonoAymin), Business Owner, Podcast Host (The Venue RX), Author, and Educator, whose mission is to help people build better businesses that allow them to reach their goals quicker - without burnout - in part by improving your hiring and company culture.
The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Mar 16, 2022 |
|
171: 3 Myths of Building a Team, with Ashley Ebert
2330
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 When you think about building a team around you, what comes to mind? Is it that your company will be able to work more weddings and you’ll be able to make more money because of it? Or is it that more team members means more headaches and loss of control? Growth in numbers can be scary, but it doesn't have to be. Today, Ashley Ebert gives us the 3 myths of building a team. Ashley Ebert is the owner of The Simply Elegant Group and co-founder of The Abundance Group (You can also DM Ashley @TheAbundanceGroup). To learn more about Ashley's 12-week intensive team building program, head on over to ThePlannersVault.com/TeamBuilding.
The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Mar 09, 2022 |
|
170: Energy management 101: Serve couples better by taking care of yourself, with Kara Ghassabeh
2312
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 As a wedding planner, I’ve found that our jobs are 30% logistics, 30% vision and decor, and about 40% therapy. If you’re a planner - or wedding vendor who works with couples - you know that there’s stress, disagreements with family members, and quite a few (not happy) tears. I always tell the planners I coach that you can expect some sort of full meltdown one to two weeks before the wedding. For me 12 years ago, it was about gift bags. So wouldn’t it be great if we could get some help from someone who’s a certified life coach - someone who specializes in helping couples navigate some of these hard and meltdown-inspiring moments? Kara Ghassabeh is a bridal coach and host of the Whispers to a Bride Podcast. You can find her on instagram where she's @KarahGhassabeh. This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Mar 02, 2022 |
|
169: No excuses, no avoidance: Know your finances, with Danielle Hayden
1743
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 One of my least favorite topics in the world to talk about is money. Don’t get me wrong, I love money and all the things money can buy for me and my family. And I love to see that what I’m charging for weddings - and what my coaching clients are charging for weddings - continues to increase. But the analysis of budgets and payroll and credit and assets….well, it’s not my superpower. So recently I hired an accountant who’s willing to take the time to talk strategy - to someone who's "not a numbers person" - in words I can actually understand. Danielle Hayden is the CEO of Kickstart Accounting (subscribe to the newsletter!) and host of the Entrepreneur Money Stories Podcast. Follow Kickstart on instagram @KickstartAccounting. This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Feb 23, 2022 |
|
168: How to get on a wedding venue's preferred list, with Shannon Tarrant
2708
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 One of the most frequent questions we get in The Planners Vault is, How can I get on the preferred vendor list at the best wedding venue in my market? Or even before getting on the preferred vendor list, how do I even get the venue coordinators to know who I am? It’s not as simple as sending an email to introduce yourself. So what do you do? Shannon Tarrant has some actionable tips - and mistakes to avoid.
The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Feb 09, 2022 |
|
167: 5 ways to get more referrals from wedding pros (Megan Gillikin solo)
1218
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 "Pretend that every single person you meet has a sign around his or her neck that says, 'Make me feel important.' Not only will you succeed in sales, you will succeed in life." - Mary Kay Ash Keep that quote in mind for this solo episode, as Megan Gillikin is giving her 5 tips for getting more referrals from your fellow wedding pros. This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jan 26, 2022 |
|
166: Professional Etiquette Tips for Wedding Pros, with Lisa Lyons
2144
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Lisa Lyons has been in the wedding industry for 19 years, but she has been drawn to etiquette her entire life. And in 2020 she got the certification to help wedding pros take their etiquette to the next level. But in this modern era of traditions changing, what does wedding etiquette even mean? Lisa Lyons Events and Etiquette
The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jan 19, 2022 |
|
165: 5 Hacks to Maximize Your Productivity (Megan Gillikin Solo)
1204
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 "You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems." - James Clear, Atomic Habits It's time to get serious about your business goals for this year and how you plan to achieve them. I'm going to keep this one short, sweet and packed with goodness as I share my top five hacks for maximizing efficiency in your wedding business. This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jan 12, 2022 |
|
164: Should wedding vendors require couples to hire a planner? Photographer Jillian Knight does
3111
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Back in 2019, photographer Jillian Knight asked me to coffee to talk about an idea she had for her business - requiring a planner at ALL of her events. What this meant was that if couples didn’t have a planner or want to hire a planner, she simply wouldn’t work with them. As a planner, I absolutely loved it of course. And for the photographer, I thought it had a chance to be amazing for her and a way to stand out in our market…but there was also the reality that she’d literally be turning down business. So what’s happened since that meeting two and a half years ago? @JillianKnightPhotography #SaveYourMomHireaWeddingPlanner #AllWeddingsNeedPlanners This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jan 05, 2022 |
|
163: Wrapping up 2021, and setting goals for 2022
2341
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Megan is joined by her husband Jason Gillikin to discuss their word of the 2021, successes and failures (both personal and professional), and goals for 2022. This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Dec 29, 2021 |
|
162: Imposter Syndrome in the Wedding Industry (Megan Gillikin Solo Episode)
1028
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 I'm not good enough. Everything I have is from luck, and when people find out, they'll know I'm a fraud. Sound familiar? Today we're talking all about imposter syndrome, and 3 tips to quiet your inner critic. This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Dec 15, 2021 |
|
161: Unraveling, with Aleya Harris
2284
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Welcome to The Unraveling, where we share the unraveling of old habits and mindset that holds you back, and the rebirth of new. Today's guest is Aleya Harris, empire builder at Flourish Marketing. Download Aleya's Recalibration Guide to Reclaim Your Glow & Cash Flow This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Dec 08, 2021 |
|
(Encore) 140: Daily Routines and Personal Growth for Wedding Pros, with Gurminder Banga
3695
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Do you ever find yourself working your butt off, just go go go, working weddings, fixing problems, moving the business forward...and then you never stop to think why you’re doing all these things? Is it because you want to be the best vendor in your category? Is it because you like working with your clients? Is it because you like building teams? Or have you just been doing it without really knowing why? Today, Gurminder Banga from Banga Studios shows us how to slow down and look inside ourselves. Gurminder's time blocking course This episode is also brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open.
Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Dec 01, 2021 |
|
160: Behind the Scenes at Wedding MBA
1733
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 This episode is a special behind-the-scenes look at Wedding MBA from its first in person live event since 2019. Megan spoke on imposter syndrome - and what happened to her in Vegas did NOT help with her own imposter syndrome. And The Planner's Vault shared a booth with Weddings for Real, where we interviewed 15 of the 4000 wedding pros in attendance on why they attended Wedding MBA, what they wish other vendors knew about them, and what trends they want to see vanish in 2022. Thank you so much to the interviewees!
This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Nov 23, 2021 |
|
159: Emotional Marketing, with Renee Sabo
1944
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 When a couple is considering which vendors to go with, they look at a lot of different factors. Weddings you’ve worked before, website, social media, reviews, price point, the call you had with them. Ultimately, they narrow each category down to two or three vendors and then...they go with their gut. They go with what feels right to them. But what is that gut exactly? Today, Renee Sabo talks about emotional marketing. Connect with Renee Sabo: Urban Soiree | Instagram | The Confetti Hour Podcast This episode is brought to you by Sara Does SEO. 7 Day Done-for-You SEO Setup for Wedding Pros This episode is also brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Nov 17, 2021 |
|
158: Using research to better understand your couples, with Jordan Kentris
2429
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Think back to the last 5 weddings you worked. How did they find you? Did you enjoy working with them? Would they recommend you to a friend? What are some of the ways that they think you could improve? If you're like most of us creatives, you have no idea. Today, Jordan Kentris comes on to teach us how research can make us better wedding pros. Connect with Jordan: This episode is brought to you by Sara Does SEO. 7 Day Done-for-You SEO Setup for Wedding Pros This episode is also brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Nov 03, 2021 |
|
157: Unraveling, with Adrienna McDermott
3104
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Welcome to The Unraveling, where we share the unraveling of old habits and mindset that holds you back, and the rebirth of new. Today's guest is Adrienna McDermott, formerly of Ivory and Beau (where her unraveling began), now owner of Ava and the Bee. This episode is brought to you by Lemon Tree Editorial This episode is also brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Oct 27, 2021 |
|
156: The Unraveling Series
784
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Once a month moving forward, we're bringing you a new series - The Unraveling. These episodes shine a light on the pivotal moments and ensuing decisions that industry leaders have encountered that changed everything. The unraveling moment. Today, I'm sharing my own unraveling. Unlocking Us, Brene Brown's Podcast where she introduces the Unraveling Concept. The Midlife Unraveling, by Brene Brown
This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Oct 20, 2021 |
|
155: Crushing Content: Wash, Rise, Repeat, with Angela Proffitt
2986
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 One of the biggest challenges I hear every single week is that there’s not enough time to build content. Or you’re not sure what to post. Or you’re worried that what you do post won’t be received very well - or worse, won’t be received at all. Does this sound like you? Let's fix that, with content creation master, Angela Proffitt. This episode is brought to you by Lemon Tree Editorial Angela Proffitt's websites: This episode is also brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Oct 13, 2021 |
|
154: How to shift your business to meet Amazon-addicted couples, with Michelle Loretta
2110
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 When I need something for my house or for my business, I order it on my phone and get it literally the next day. And if I have to wait two days, fine I guess, but I’m not too happy about it. We all want it right away. And with that mindset in mind, Michelle Loretta from Be Sage Consulting has some insight into what that means about how to work with Amazon-addicted couples. This episode is brought to you by Lemon Tree Editorial Michelle Loretta Episode 68: How to Weigh the Financial Risks of Your Big Business Decision This episode is also brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Oct 06, 2021 |
|
153: Wedding Planner Series: Live Coaching Call with The Productionista (Part 2)
1562
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Join Megan for an inside look at her one-on-one coaching session with Alisha Freeman, The Productionista. Alisha is a member of The Planner's Vault, where the doors open up next week (!) on Wednesday September 22nd, following a free webinar - "Charge More, Hustle Less." To sign up for the webinar (live at 12PM EST and then again at 8:30PM EST), visit Learn.ThePlannersVault.com/Workshop.
The Planner's Vault is the online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open (September 22nd!)
Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Sep 16, 2021 |
|
153: Wedding Planner Series: Live Coaching Call with Blue Poppy Events (Part 1)
1511
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Join Megan for an inside look at her one-on-one coaching session with Carrie Gillard from Blue Poppy Events. Carrie is a member of The Planner's Vault, where the doors open up next week (!) on Wednesday September 22nd, following a free webinar - "Charge More, Hustle Less." To sign up for the webinar (live at 12PM EST and then again at 8:30PM EST), visit Learn.ThePlannersVault.com/Workshop.
The Planner's Vault is the online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open (September 22nd!)
Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Sep 14, 2021 |
|
152: Wedding Planner Series: 5 Tips to Grow Your Business
1670
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 In this solo episode, Megan Gillikin answers 5 questions from the Weddings for Real Facebook Group, including how to hire your #2, how to raise your prices, and how to take steps to make your business full time. References: Episode 151: Creating a digital welcome guide Episode 145: Margeaux Fraise on leveraging Facebook Groups For more client experience tips, visit ThePlannersVault.com/clientexperience This episode is also brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open.
Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Sep 08, 2021 |
|
151: All About Your Welcome Guide: My Top 5 Tips
973
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 In this solo episode, Megan Gillikin gives her 5 tips on how to set boundaries, ease anxiety, and build trust with new clients through a killer digital welcome guide. For more client experience tips, visit ThePlannersVault.com/clientexperience This episode is also brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open.
Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Sep 01, 2021 |
|
150: Turn your service into a money-making digital product, with Christina Scalera
2477
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 As a wedding pro, you are the expert in your field. You have a knack for creating the most beautiful floral arrangements. You can run through a timeline in your sleep. You have an eye for a moment that others can’t match. Your clients hire you for your expertise. But you’re just one you, and no matter how much you build your team, you can’t reach everyone in the world who craves your knowledge and guidance. So have you thought of digitizing your expertise so you can make income on demand? The Contract Shop's Christina Scalera has, and she's here to give us her tips for how to get it done. Resource Mentioned: ThePlannersVault.com/SalesTips to help you nail each and every consult. This episode is also brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open.
Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Aug 25, 2021 |
|
149: Wedding Pros - Do You Have a Market Niche?
2410
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 When a couple finds your website or your social media presence, do they know right away why you’re unique? Do they know what makes you special and different from all of the other vendors they’re looking at? Or are you swimming in a sea of sameness? The same colors, the same vibe, the same general aesthetic that has been done over and over again in your market. Amanda Bugden from Sea and Silk Wedding Planning gives her tips. This episode is also brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open.
Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Aug 18, 2021 |
|
148: 3 Sales Tips to Book More Weddings
788
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 In this solo episode, Megan Gillikin gives 3 actionable sales tips for incoming inquiries that you can try right now. The wedding industry is currently in the midst of a wedding boom, and it's time for you to start turning more inquiries into paying clients. Sales Tips for Wedding Planners This episode is also brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open.
Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Aug 11, 2021 |
|
147: Managing Wedding Day Stress from Event Planner (and Former Olympian!) Jess Gelder
2657
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 As wedding pros, we’re dealing with a lot of stressful situations, and we need to be at our best when dealing with all of them. In some respects, being calm under pressure comes with years on the job, but even us season pros (and I’m definitely raising my hand here) can get stressed out and nervous. So what can we do? Well, what better person to talk to about this than a former Olympian turned wedding planner Jessica Gelder with Shine Events in Scottsdale Arizona. Jessica on Instagram: This episode is also brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open.
Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Aug 04, 2021 |
|
146: 11 years of business advice in less than 20 minutes
1120
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 The release of this episode marks the 11-year anniversary of Megan running her wedding planning business, A Southern Soiree. She's made every mistake and learned every lesson in those 11 years, and today she gives tips for whatever stage of business you're in - the foundation, the messy middle, and the expert. Resources mentioned: Episode 143: Do You Need a Workcation? Yes You Do Episode 111: 10 Lessons from 10 Years in Business Episode 92: You Down with SOPs? This episode is also brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open.
Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jul 28, 2021 |
|
145: How Facebook Groups Can Help You Book More Couples, with Margaux Fraise
2730
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 When you think about marketing your business with Facebook, most of us look at what kind of content we should be posting, whether or not to boost, whether or not Facebook ads work, and how much live video we should be putting out. But the fundamental goal is getting in front of more couples who need exactly what it is you do, right? Well, Margaux Fraise is here to tell us that that's exactly what Facebook Groups provide! Course: Accelerate Your Wedding Biz with Facebook Groups (Don't forget to use code WFR37) Wedding Summit Series - Design Edition Margaux's previous appearance on Weddings for Real - Impactful Gifting Strategies This episode is also brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open.
Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jul 21, 2021 |
|
144: Tips for Handling Difficult Conversations in the Wedding Industry, with Beth Kramer
3346
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, before we can experience love, we need to feel safe and secure. But with racial unrest, homophobia, a pandemic, and the "do we only invite guests who are vaccinated?" debates, unfortunately sometimes our couples and guests, and even us as vendors - we actually don't feel safe at all. As wedding vendors, part of our job is to provide guidance and clear communication to our couples and guests that make them feel safe and secure… yet sometimes we just don’t have all the answers. Beth Kramer, wedding planner based in Portland Oregon Latest info on pandemic wedding planning This episode is also brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open.
Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jul 14, 2021 |
|
143: Do You Need a Workcation? Yes, You Do!
1022
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 On this solo episode, Megan Gillikin dives into all things workcations - what it is, who you should go with, what you can accomplish, and next steps to getting started. For her, The Planner's Vault all started with a workcation and baby goats - and now it's time for you to get your big idea off the ground as well. Resource mentioned - Tips to Combat Overwhelm for Wedding Pros This episode is also brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open.
Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jul 07, 2021 |
|
142: Avoid These Business Mistakes, from Lawyer and Accidental Entrepreneur Kunbi Odubogun
3071
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 You probably started your business because you had a special passion or a superpower. Maybe you were amazing at logistics so you became a wedding planner. Or you knew how to get people on the dance floor so you became a DJ. But most of us didn’t start your business because we were passionate about entrepreneurship. We’re all kind of accidental entrepreneurs - who make a lot of mistakes! So we talked to Kunbi Odubogon, business lawyer, mistake maker, and accidental entrepreneur as well! This episode is also brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open.
Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jun 30, 2021 |
|
141: The client experience starts before the couple books - tips for adding value, with Lynne Reznick
2915
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 If you’re in the wedding industry, there's a high probability that you're a people pleaser. But as much as we want to take care of our clients 24/7, we also want to take care of our kids, our partners, our friends, and our mental and physical well-being. So if I can’t be working on our clients at all times, how can we amaze and delight them? How can we underpromise and overdeliver? LynneReznickPhotography.com | @lynnereznickphoto The Wedding Client Experience Academy This episode is also brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open.
Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jun 23, 2021 |
|
140: Daily Routines and Personal Growth for Wedding Pros, with Gurminder Banga
4057
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Do you ever find yourself working your butt off, just go go go, working weddings, fixing problems, moving the business forward...and then you never stop to think why you’re doing all these things? Is it because you want to be the best vendor in your category? Is it because you like working with your clients? Is it because you like building teams? Or have you just been doing it without really knowing why? Today, Gurminder Banga from Banga Studios shows us how to slow down and look inside ourselves. Gurminder's time blocking course This episode is also brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open.
Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jun 09, 2021 |
|
139: How to Deal with Pride and Ego in Weddings, with Leah Weinberg
2857
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 We've all seen it happen - ego and pride get in the way of the best wedding experience. And it's not just from the couples or their parents. As wedding vendors, sometimes we think we know what's best for the couples instead of truly listening to what they want. Today, Leah Weinberg talks about how we can get past that ego and pride, and truly find a place of empathy for their wedding journeys. Color Pop Events on Instagram | Facebook Episode 70: Do's and Don'ts of Styled Shoots This episode is also brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open.
Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jun 02, 2021 |
|
138: 3 Tips to Change Your Mindset for More Sales, with Maria Bayer
2819
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Do you feel like you’re on the way to achieving your goals and making the money you deserve? Or...is there something holding you back? Maria Bayer is a sales & mindset strategist, coach & wealth builder. She is the creator of Irresistible Selling – a transformational program and community that helps wedding business owners create a million dollar mindset, stand confidently in their worth, and book high-paying clients they love. Links: bit.ly/amazonmaria bookaclientchallenge.com Learn Collaborate Flourish Facebook Page Maria on Instagram This episode is also brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open.
Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
May 26, 2021 |
|
137: Using Enneagram for Your Business Strategy, with Kristen Edwards
3017
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Enneagram. For a better understanding of people we work with, people we're in relationships with, and most importantly, a better understanding of ourselves. We've covered the basics before on episode 87, but today, we’re going a little bit deeper - does your personality come from nature or nurture, if it’s ingrained in you from childhood, how there are healthy and unhealthy versions of each type, and most importantly, how you can use this information to grow your business. Free Masterclass, MAKE MORE MONEY USING THE ENNEAGRAM
This episode is also brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open.
Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
May 12, 2021 |
|
136: Book More Weddings with these Marketing Tips, with Heidi Thompson
3149
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 What are some of the challenges you're running into when marketing your business? For many of the wedding pros I talk to, it’s that there are just so many different places that you could spend your time and money - is it in social media? Which platforms? Is it in networking? Is it paid media like Google ads? Is it redesigning your website? Is it Clubhouse? Maybe you want to think about who your ideal client is and where they tend to show up. But then….how do you figure out who your exact client is? Heidi Thompson's Book More Weddings Summit The Evolve Your Wedding Business Podcast
This episode is also brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open.
Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
May 05, 2021 |
|
135: How you can leverage podcasting (even without having one)
2346
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 We have been podcasting for over 3 years now! Crazy but true, we dropped our first 5 episodes on April 4th, 2018. Over the years, we get asked a lot of questions around podcasting, all related to how can someone leverage their business by using podcasting. Well, Jason and I have a lot of lessons to share! Earfluence | Website | Instagram | Linkedin This episode is also brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open.
Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Apr 28, 2021 |
|
134: Building a Business Exit Strategy, with Donald Thompson
2960
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Take a moment to reflect on your business - are you working a job that pays your bills? Or are you building a company? Either answer is ok, but for those of you who want to scale your company to one day have the option to sell it or have someone else be the face of your business, we have some actionable tips from Donald Thompson - angel investor, mentor, CEO...and someone who has sold companies because he’s figured out a way to scale. Connect with Donald Thompson on LinkedIn This episode is also brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open.
Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Apr 21, 2021 |
|
133: Selling Styles for Wedding Pros, with Ideaction's Sam Jacobson
3698
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 We all have different sales styles - what works for one wedding pro might be different than what works best for you. And it’s those different selling styles that we need to lean into so we can turn our baseline personalities into our selling superpowers. But look out, each selling style has a blindspot as well that we need to be aware of. Wonder what your style is? Sam Jacobson, Ideaction Consulting Episode 73: The 4 Buyer's Types Episode 115: Tips for Improving Your Wedding Consultations This episode is also brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open.
Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Apr 07, 2021 |
|
132: 3 Pinterest Myths and Misconceptions, with Gabby Pinkerton
2536
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 You all know the reasons why to focus on Pinterest - it’s great to generate traffic to your website, it’s another platform to get in front of potential couples, and it’s a way to network with other vendors when you’re engaging with or sharing their work. While Pinterest can be amazing, it can also be confusing. Enter Pinterest expert Gabby Pinkerton. Gabby's Pinterest e-course for wedding pros. Episode 80: It's Time to Stop Neglecting Pinterest
This episode is also brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open.
Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Mar 31, 2021 |
|
131: Relationship Marketing and #StopTheDoubleTap
2612
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Over the past year, with the wedding industry in shambles, Don Mamone has come up with a new outlook on his professional life - People First, Then Profit. Today on the show, Don talks about what relationship marketing means to him and why they're on a mission to #StopTheDoubleTap. People First, Then Profit Weekly Zoom This episode is also brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open.
Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Mar 17, 2021 |
|
Introducing Hustle + Gather, with Courtney and Dana
651
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Today we're sharing a few minutes of a new podcast, Hustle + Gather, with my friends Courtney Hopper and Dana Kadwell. It’s about the realness of running a business - how no one understands you except other entrepreneurs, tension between partners (in marriage and in business), doing all the non-glamorous things at all hours, paying yourself the least of your employees...it’s not all sunshine and rainbows as you know and thats what they tackle in each episode. Listen to more Hustle + Gather on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Mar 15, 2021 |
|
130: Marriage or Mortgage? Meet the hosts of Netflix's new show
1802
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Sarah Miller and Nichole Holmes are the hosts of Netflix's new show, Marriage or Mortgage, where couples have to choose whether they want to spend their budget on a down payment on a house or a big wedding. They have a hard decision to make, and today, we’re sharing both sides of the debate with Sarah and Nichole! Sarah's company is Southern Vine & Co, and you can follow her on instagram @SouthernVineCo. If you're looking to buy or sell a home in the Nashville area, follow Nichole @NicholeHolmesRealty. This episode is also brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open.
Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Mar 10, 2021 |
|
129: 3 Step SEO Checklist, with Sara Dunn
2375
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 We all want to know - how can I have better rankings on Google so more couples come visit my website? The answer of course is a little SEO (search engine optimization), but that seems complicated - unless Sara Dunn from Sara Does SEO is explaining it. And today, Sara shares her 3 Step SEO Checklist specifically for wedding pros. Sara's SEO Bootcamp, March 22nd through 25th.
This episode is also brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open.
Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Mar 03, 2021 |
|
128: 5 Tips to Avoid Being a Website Horror Story, with Brenda Cadman
2563
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Have you ever woken up to find your website gone? Every other site on the web works except for yours, and then you realize - you have absolutely no idea how to fix it or who to call. It's the stuff business nightmares are made of, and Brenda Cadman is on the show today to tell you how to avoid this - and other potential disasters with your website.
Brenda is the owner of Bon Accord Creative and the founder of the Online Tech Society. On the show, Brenda mentioned a ist of recommended requirements for hosting companies regarding backups. Your website host should
She also mentioned the "Canva & Websites Made Simple" Facebook group, which is at https://www.facebook.com/groups/onlinetechmadesimple
This episode is brought to you by the Wedding Summit Series Community Edition. Grab your FREE ticket to the event taking place February 22nd-26th with 35 amazing industry speakers (including Megan!).https://margauxfraise.mykajabi.com/a/41974/LtF3zHQj
This episode is also brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open.
Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Feb 18, 2021 |
|
127: Is Community Over Competition for Real?
2664
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Kinsey Roberts (She Creates Business Podcast) and I first heard about community over competition from Natalie Franke of the Rising Tide Society. In theory, it makes a lot of sense. if we can all help each other - in support, in education, in successes and failures - a rising tide lifts all boats. But is that the reality in the wedding industry? Are we really supposed to be rooting for our competition when they’re potentially getting the clients and deposits that we want? This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. She Creates Business Links: Instagram: @SheCreatesBusiness Facebook: @SheCreatesBusiness Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jan 27, 2021 |
|
126: Wedding Planners: Why do venues refer you (or not)?
1541
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Wedding venue coordinators are likely to be your number one source for referral business. So why aren't they referring you right now? Megan asked venue coordinators throughout the country why they refer planners (or not) - and shares the inside information. This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jan 20, 2021 |
|
125: Protecting Yourself Legally from the Next Disaster, with Girija Patel
2655
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 As an industry in 2020, we had some pretty major legal issues. With events being delayed, we all had to look back at our contracts and wonder:
It was chaos, and we don’t want it to happen again. Girija Patel tells us how to tighten up. GBPLaw.com YourContractBuddy.com Law Chat with Girija This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul.The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jan 13, 2021 |
|
124: Wedding Planner Series: What's Your Superpower?
1073
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Any wedding planner - including your competition - can put together an amazing event if they have enough budget to work with. So what sets you apart? What makes you special? Today, Megan gives 6 potential superpowers and discusses how you can lean into yours. This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jan 08, 2021 |
|
Weddings for Real Trailer
97
Hey there, I’m Megan Gillikin, and this podcast is for fellow wedding pros that know what it really takes to thrive as a professional in the wedding industry, because it’s NOT what they show you in the movies. spoiler alert, It takes more than the wave of a wand or the toss of confetti to take someone's special day from BIG idea to BIG success. But you knew that… in each episode I talk with other wedding industry experts to get real world tested advice on ways to better your business on the back end so that we can celebrate more on the front end. I’ve been referred to as a fairy godmother extraordinaire that can make the seemingly impossible happen but the reality is that I’ve been in the wedding industry for 15+ years, I’m a business consultant and international speaker, and a mom of three and so, it goes without saying I’ve seen some things and like many of you, I've mastered the rare art of coordinating chaos with a smile on my face, a coffee in my hand and gel inserts in my shoes. This podcast is a wedding professional’s safe space to laugh and dish about the glitz, the not so glam, and ALL things weddings, FOR REAL! Weddings for Real is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul.The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. |
Dec 30, 2020 |
|
123: 2020 Recap: 3 Questions to Ask Yourself
2587
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 2020 was a year like none other, but there were many silver linings and hidden blessings throughout the chaos. Today, Megan and Jason Gillikin talk about wins, fails, and goals for 2021. This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Dec 22, 2020 |
|
122: Collaboration Tips for Business and Creative Growth, with James and Schulze
3078
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 You know that competitor in your market you just can't stand? The one that you're always up against, and you take business away from each other? What if you decided to collaborate with them to build an elite superstar team? Would you ever do that? Well today you'll hear from James x Schulze, two photographers who combined their talents to grow both professionally and creatively, and they’re talking all about what they’ve learned from the collaboration. This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul.The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Dec 16, 2020 |
|
121: Daily Habits to Build Trust in Yourself, with Kim Montoya
2999
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 What are your daily habits? Do you wake up early? Do you read? Do you journal? Unless you pressed the wrong button, I’m guessing you might listen to podcasts? Well, I’m trying to improve myself every day, and daily habits are something I’m working on. I’m nowhere near where I want to be, but I’m thriving off of being a work in progress. Today we're joined by Kim Montoya from Twenty 156 Events, who gives us actionable tips to making the most out of your day by building habits. This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Dec 02, 2020 |
|
120: The 4 People You Need in Your Circle of Trust
1105
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Do you have a circle of trust? A proverbial board of advisors? I do and it’s made up of a diverse group of people from my life who each know me in a different way and who I trust and respect their voice as someone I want to hear their insight on when it comes to decisions within my business. Their input throughout my career and my professional growth has been invaluable, and I encourage you to find your board of advisors too. On this episode, I’m going to let you know who should - and who shouldn’t - be on your board. This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Nov 23, 2020 |
|
119: Preventing Squirrel Brain: Time Blocking and Productivity Tips from Brandee Gaar
3452
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Do you suffer from squirrel brain? Symptoms include not being able to get $h!t done because your mind is wandering off in so many different directions on calls you need to make or emails you need to send or big picture ideas or whatever else that’s on your mind and all of a sudden you’ve wasted your time not getting anything done at all. I suffer from squirrel brain, and if you’re running a business or in the wedding industry, my guess is you could be a victim as well. But Brandee Gaar is here to help with time blocking and productivity tips. This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. At the end of the episode, you heard about the webinar next week from The Diversity Movement called "Holiday Headaches: Dealing with Relatives Who Just Don't Get It." It's November 19th at 12PM EST, and you can sign up at https://thediversitymovement.com/holiday-headaches/. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Brandee Gaar on Social Media (watch her on Reels!): Instagram: @brandeegaarThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Nov 11, 2020 |
|
118: 3 Cash Flow and Tax Mistakes You're Making in Your Wedding Business, with Braden Drake
1923
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Today we're talking to Braden Drake, who describes himself as "your gay best friend, but also an attorney who's going to help you with your taxes." Braden somehow manages to make a boring (yet super-important) topic actually interesting, and gives us 3 mistakes we're probably making with our cash flow and taxes. On the show, you'll hear about Braden's upcoming masterclass, "SETTING UP YOUR CASH FLOW, TAXES, AND LEGALITIES FOR 2021", which is Tuesday November 10th at either 12PM EST or 3PM EST, and you can sign up at BradenDrake.com/Masterclass. Also, if you’re a planner and wanting to make some intentional changes to your inquiry and consultation process as well as your package offerings, this workshop is designed for you. This is two hours of live instruction and then a live Q&A. The link to sign up is bit.ly/plannerpricingworkshop. This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul.The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Nov 04, 2020 |
|
117: 8 Quick Tips to Audit Your Website for Booking Season
973
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Join me on this solo episode where I give you 8 quick and easy (yet important and impactful) tips to audit your website, just in time for engagement season. This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Oct 28, 2020 |
|
116: Words Matter: Inclusive Language in the Wedding Industry, with Taylor Griffith from Lemon Tree Editorial
2610
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Today we’re talking all about inclusive language - what to say and what not to say in what has historically been a very bride centric, straight, thin, pretty, white, and rich industry. As Taylor Griffith from Lemon Tree Editorial points out, that’s not what the world looks like, so it’s time to make some changes - on our websites, on our social media, in our contracts, and even in our speech. On the show, you'll hear about a collaborative workshop from Sam and Megan - Packages and Pricing for Wedding Planners: How to Build Bundles at the Right Prices, on October 15th at 8:30pm ET. If you’re a planner and wanting to make some intentional changes to your inquiry and consultation process as well as your package offerings, this workshop is designed for you. This is two hours of live instruction and then a live Q&A. The link to sign up is bit.ly/plannerpricingworkshop. This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul.The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Oct 09, 2020 |
|
115: Tips for Improving Your Wedding Consultations, with Sam Jacobson
3904
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Today we’re talking to Sam Jacobson from Ideaction Consulting about the sales process, how to empathize with your clients right now and what you should NOT be doing when it comes to the initial consultation….and Sam’s going to be sharing some easy actionable shifts you can make ASAP. If you remember, Sam was on the podcast back in 2019 for one of the fan favorites, Episode 73, The Four Buying Types. On the show, you'll hear about a collaborative workshop from Sam and Megan - Packages and Pricing for Wedding Planners: How to Build Bundles at the Right Prices, on October 15th at 8:30pm ET. If you’re a planner and wanting to make some intentional changes to your inquiry and consultation process as well as your package offerings, this workshop is designed for you. This is two hours of live instruction and then a live Q&A. The link to sign up is bit.ly/plannerpricingworkshop. This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul.The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Sep 23, 2020 |
|
114: Is Work/Life Balance Possible in the Wedding Industry?
1410
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Join me on this solo episode where I give you 7 tips for balancing it all - life, business, family, personal pursuits. We're all works in progress, and no one has figured it out, but I have some ideas that can help. This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Sep 10, 2020 |
|
113: What is Entrepreneurship Costing You? (She Creates Business Podcast with Kinsey Roberts)
4569
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Today we're sharing an episode previously published on the She Creates Business Podcast with Kinsey Roberts. From SCB: I'm honored to welcome back to the podcast, my friend and fellow podcaster, Megan Gillikin. Megan and I have recently had many, hard, and truthful conversations about what owning a business and being entrepreneurs have cost us. What we want to do differently in the years ahead and what is REALLY important to us and how we'd like to be remembered. (hint: we don't want to be remembered as the best planner and venue owner ever). It's a conversation that I don't feel is had often enough. We start businesses and "grind it out" for years and many seasons before we take the time to look around at where we are and oftentimes, it's not where we WANT to be. In this episode, we're going to talk about the big "Myths of Entrepreneurship," what is actually true and what is not. We share personal experiences from our lives running businesses in the wedding industry and what our choices have cost us. We also share what we're learning and what we're both committed to doing now and in the future so we don't have to pay business tolls that we actually don't want. And finally, we'll share our hope for you. We're in the trenches with you, we're in this together. Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Dare to Lead by Brene Brown (book) The Planner's Vault ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Aug 20, 2020 |
|
112: How are You Diversifying to Survive 2020 and Thrive in 2021?
2182
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 It’s August 2020, five months removed from our two-week pause that we were supposed to have in March. That’s about half of your year that has probably gone up in flames, and let’s be honest, you’re probably not going to meet your goals for 2020. So what are you doing about it? What’s your pivot? What are some new ways that you’re growing your business? Dixie Bagley from Rome Georgia has 8 businesses, all in the hospitality industry, and we’re going to talk about what you can do to diversify through this pandemic. Weddings for Real is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. **The Planner's Vault is open through 11:59PM on Monday August 10th. Sign up now at ThePlannersVault.com!** You can find Dixie on Facebook and instagram where she’s AT dixieeventsGA, DixieTheFarmRomeGA, TheSweetBarRomeGA, among others. And if you’d like to reach out to her, she’s always open to chatting or giving advice - she’s dixiedoesweddings@gmail.com. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Aug 09, 2020 |
|
Bonus: Come Join The Planner's Vault - Free Survival Guide Training August 5th
441
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 The Planner's Vault Reopen Webinar Have your wedding planning goals gone up in flames in 2020? Come join me Wednesday, Aug 5th at 8:30 pm EST for a free training on How to Stay Alive & Thrive During The Most Important Engagement Season of Your Career Despite Pandemics, Cancellations, & Reschedules - YIKES! On this webinar training (sign up at https://www.theplannersvault.com/survive2020) you'll discover the answers every wedding planner needs to know, including: * 3 different pivots that you may not have even thought of that can bring in money for you RIGHT NOW. * How you can still network and get on preferred vendor lists even during a pandemic. * Some easy ways to shift your mindset from fear of failure that's holding you back to FOCUSING ON The SUCCESS YOU Deserve. * How Planner’s Vault members and others in the wedding planning community are booking new clients and even raising their prices in 2020.
Sign up here: www.theplannersvault.com/survive2020 ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Aug 04, 2020 |
|
111: 10 Lessons from 10 Years in Business
3019
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Megan and Jason Gillikin celebrate the 10-year anniversary of A Southern Soiree, and Megan shares her top ten lessons learned over the past decade - lessons she's now bringing into The Planner's Vault. Weddings for Real is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. **The Planner's Vault is closed for new members, but you can join the wait list for when it opens its doors in August.** Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jul 28, 2020 |
|
110: 3 Things You Can Change Right Now for More Bookings
1132
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 This pandemic has caused delays, cancellations, stress, tears, more delays, unanswerable questions, confusion...it really sucks to be in the wedding industry right now. But here's what it can't change - couples getting engaged and booking wedding vendors. So in this solo episode, here are 3 things you can change right now for more bookings. Weddings for Real is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. **The Planner's Vault is closed for new members, but you can join the wait list for when it opens its doors in August.** Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jul 22, 2020 |
|
109: Finding Your #2 Employee, with Julie Bunkley and Courtney Wolf from Invision Events
2415
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 In 2012, Julie Bunkley had run Invision Events in Birmingham Alabama for 7 years, and the business was doing...fine. But it wasn't growing. She knew that to grow, she had to find a true #2, not just someone to help out at weddings. She was lucky enough to hire Courtney Wolf, and the two of them have been a dynamic duo ever since. On the show today, they talk about hiring for your #2, and keeping them engaged and happy. In addition to Invision, Julie and Courtney also run the Educate | Empower | Encourage Community Weddings for Real is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. **The Planner's Vault is closed for new members, but you can join the wait list for when it opens its doors in August.** Invision Events on Social Media: Facebook: @InvisionEvents Instagram: @InvisionEvents Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jul 10, 2020 |
|
108: Networking Tips in a Pandemic
894
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 How can you network and build vendor relationships when there are no weddings and no networking events? Megan gives her top three tips that you can take action on RIGHT NOW. Weddings for Real is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. **The Planner's Vault is closed for new members, but you can join the wait list for when it opens its doors in August.** Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jul 03, 2020 |
|
107: Sustainability in Weddings, with Aaron Shook
2391
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Aaron Shook has been in the hospitality industry for 30+ years in restaurants, catering, and now in wedding planning at Perfect Storm Moments. Through it all, he's seen a lot of weddings - and a lot of waste. And his personal mission is to raise awareness and show wedding vendors how we can save the planet.
Weddings for Real is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. For Weddings For Real listeners, if you want $50 off your Annual Membership, use the code WFR50 at checkout! Aaron Shook on Social Media: Instagram: @PerfectStormMoments Facebook: @Ocean5Social Instagram: @Ocean5_Social Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jun 18, 2020 |
|
106: Racism, Inclusion, and The Keys to Change, with Terrica
2945
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 It's time to talk about racism in the United States, (the lack of) diversity and inclusion in the wedding industry, and how to have open and honest conversations. Upcoming Webinars with Terrica: Healing Wounds & Bridging Gaps: An Honest Conversation About Race & Allyship in the Wedding Industry, June 3rd at 2PM EST Protest or Progress? Actions, Reactions and the State of their Black Events Industry, June 4th at 7PM EST About Terrica: With over fourteen years in the wedding industry, award winning wedding planner and designer Terrica Skaggs has been creating exquisite weddings and events in the Golden Isles. As the Chief Wedding Planner and Designer of Cocktails & Details®, she leads a team of talented wedding planners and event managers in creating unforgettable destination Southern weddings. She also launched The White Lounge, an intimate wedding planning studio in Historic Downtown Brunswick that brings couples and wedding professionals together. Maintaining a deep connection to her peers under the premise of “each one, teach one”, she created the largest and most diverse online community for wedding planners and designers– bringing together the best and brightest from every corner of the globe for collaboration and connection. She is extremely passionate about elevating and encouraging female entrepreneurs. A featured expert for many TV, print and digital publications, she is known for keeping her finger on the pulse of all wedding and business trends. Traveling across the States and internationally, shares her breadth of knowledge at both national and regional wedding industry conferences and groups, with this year being named a 2019 Knot Pro Educator. Her speaking engagements are always highly anticipated as she is known for her humorous, yet blunt down-to-earth approach. Terrica uses her experience and knowledge of the wedding industry to translate real-life concepts into workable business models. Terrica on Social Media: Instagram: @CocktailTerrica Weddings for Real is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. For Weddings For Real listeners, if you want $50 off your Annual Membership, use the code WFR50 at checkout! Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jun 03, 2020 |
|
105: How to Work with a Virtual Assistant, with Julie Painter from Dallas Girl Friday
2342
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Julie Painter (aka Dallas Girl Friday) is a virtual assistant who specializes in the wedding industry, and today she gives the inside scoop on what a VA does, when you should think about hiring a VA, and how to work best together. Weddings for Real is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. For Weddings For Real listeners, if you want $50 off your Annual Membership, use the code WFR50 at checkout!
About Julie Painter: "I get asked occasionally about my business name. Dallas Girl Friday. Well, Dallas is my city and one of the great loves of my life - Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Lose, #texasforever and Girl Friday literally means an efficient and faithful female assistant. I’m enneagram-obsessed and I’m an 8w7. This means that when you work with me, you can expect I will kick your butt, not sugar coat the tough stuff, cheer you on, empower you, and definitely make you laugh. My StrengthsFinder top 3 are Command, Positivity, and Discipline." Dallas Girl Friday on Social Media: Instagram: @DallasGirlFriday Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
May 27, 2020 |
|
104: Defining Luxury on Your Own Terms, with The Flower Guy Bron
2359
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Have you ever felt the pressure of keeping up with what looks "elegant" or "luxurious" on Instagram? Why? Why do we care about matching what we see on the cover of The Knot or Martha Stewart Weddings? Isn’t it more important that our clients are happy and we’re and we’re running a profitable business? Isn’t that why we all got into this? The Flower Guy Bron had this exact realization a few years ago and is on a mission to let wedding vendors know that winning Instagram shouldn’t be your goal. And as we move into a post-COVID-19 world where we’ll probably be experiencing more intimate weddings, that message will become more important.
Weddings for Real is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. For Weddings For Real listeners, if you want $50 off your Annual Membership, use the code WFR50 at checkout!
About The Flower Guy Bron (from The Flower Guy Bron): "I'm Bron, the chief creative here at The Flower Guy Bron. I'm a wanderer of the world and a modern day Renaissance man. I love art, good wine and great company, oh and of course flowers. My work with flowers is organic and my most natural expression. I let the blooms whisper and I listen. Therefore, it’s not always rocket science, but sometimes it is and I rise to the occasion. I live by the simple principle, 'Be your best self' and encourage others to join me." The Flower Guy Bron on Social Media: Facebook: @TheFlowerGuyBron Instagram: @TheFlowerGuyBron Facebook: The Village Group Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
May 20, 2020 |
|
102: Bringing Your Clients, Vendors, and Team Into the Digital Age, with Nora Shiels
1939
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Today we’re talking all about how to get your clients, your vendors, and your team on board with the digital age. Sometimes it’s super frustrating when clients can’t figure out how to sign a contract, or a vendor is ridiculously slow to respond, or a team member doesn’t respond the way you want them to. Well our guest today, Nora Shiels from Rock Paper Coin and Bridal Bliss Wedding Planning in Portland Oregon, gives some great tips on how we can all get on the same page. If you're interested in checking out Rock Paper Coin, subscriptions are free right now while it's in beta if you use the code "WED20" at checkout. Weddings for Real is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. For Weddings For Real listeners, if you want $50 off your Annual Membership, use the code WFR50 at checkout! Also be sure to check out the Startup Stage Podcast that we mentioned during the show!
About Nora Shiels: A Portland native and founder of Bridal Bliss, INC, Nora is an expert in all things wedding and is the definition of a boss babe. Born to Iraqi immigrants, she was raised in a culture of over the top celebrations and from her beginnings, event planning was in her blood. While leading a team of 30 women who produce upwards of 150 weddings and events each year, Nora noticed a gap in the planning industry and developed Rock Paper Coin, a forum that brings together event professionals and couples to streamline the often daunting contract and invoice process. When she isn’t busy running Bridal Bliss and Rock Paper Coin, you can find her spending time with her husband and two rambunctious boys, Dylan and Gavin, traveling, grooving through a sweaty spin session, adding sparkle to just about anything, or having a long family-style dinner with her nearest and dearest. Rock Paper Coin on Social Media: Instagram: @RockPaperCoin Facebook: @RockPaperCoinBridal Bliss on Social Media: Instagram: @BridalBlissNW Facebook: @BridalBlissNW Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
May 06, 2020 |
|
101: Building Business Stability through Email Marketing, with Aleya Harris
2740
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 So be honest. Is email marketing something you do for your business? Are you bringing future clients into your sales funnel and giving them content every week? (Do you really even know what a sales funnel is?) If you’re like me, you have 100% NOT been using email marketing to generate leads from engaged couples, and I’m really just not sure how to do it. So I brought on an expert, Aleya Harris from Flourish Marketing, and asked her all the questions. Aleya mentioned two great links to help. For an email list building roadmap and marketing funnel overview, go to FlourishMarketing.co/email-guide, and for even more freebies, go to FlourishMarketing.co/freebies.
THE PLANNER'S VAULT: On February 27, 2020, Megan launched The Planner's Vault, a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. For Weddings For Real listeners, if you want $50 off your Annual Membership, use the code WFR50 at checkout!
About Aleya Harris: As a former catering company owner and chef, Aleya knows how important it is to work in your passion. That's why for the past 12 years, she has been focused on helping over 1,000 accounts, brands, and business owners to be successful. Her engaging, interactive, and actionable sessions help audiences stop feeling discouraged and broke and instead become the wildly successful owners of the businesses of their dreams. Flourish Marketing on Social Media: Instagram: @AleyaHarris Facebook: @AleyaHarrisGrowth Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Apr 23, 2020 |
|
100th Episode Awards Show Extravaganza
1945
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Welcome to the Weddings for Real 100th Episode Extravaganza! On this special episode, you'll hear who won the awards for: Toughest Interview Easiest Interview Funniest Episode Best One-Liner Most Referenced Episode Topic Megan Thought Would Suck But Was Actually Great Biggest Impact Personally Person Most Likely to Become Insta-Famous Favorite Episode That Had Nothing to do with Weddings Guest You'd Most Like to Have a Beer With Most Boring Episode Fan Favorite Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Apr 15, 2020 |
|
99: Multicultural Wedding Do's and Don'ts, with Petronella Lugemwa
2298
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Some of the most lavish and exciting weddings to work are the ones where culture plays a big part in the wedding. And today we talk to someone who specializes in multicultural weddings, international photographer Petronella Lugemwa, and she gives us the do's and don'ts of multicultural weddings.
THE PLANNER'S VAULT: On February 27, 2020, Megan launched The Planner's Vault, a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. For Weddings For Real listeners, if you want $50 off your Annual Membership, use the code WFR50 at checkout!
About Petronella: Petronella Lugemwa is an international wedding and marriage proposal photographer, speaker, writer and storyteller based out of the New York area who specializes in helping multicultural couples celebrate their love in a modern way and believes that what makes you different makes your beautiful. She photographed the November 2018 cover of Rangefinder Magazine and was named 1 of 30 Rising Stars in wedding photography worldwide in 2018. Petronella Photography has been featured in Essence, Martha Stewart Weddings, The Knot, New York Magazine Weddings and MunaLuchi Bride. Petronella on Social Media: Instagram: @PetronellaPhotography Facebook: @PetronellaPhotography Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Apr 01, 2020 |
|
98: Finding Your Way through the Chaos of COVID-19 in the Wedding Industry
2487
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 What a crazy, chaotic, noisy, tearful, and stressful week. In a world that's completely upside down because of COVID-19, what can we do to make it through so that we're ready for what's on the other side? The Planner's Vault is a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. For Weddings For Real listeners, if you want $50 off your Annual Membership, use the code WFR50 at checkout! Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Mar 24, 2020 |
|
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and Weddings - Now What Do We Do?
2067
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 With the Coronavirus causing chaos throughout the world, it has taken its toll on the wedding industry as well. Gatherings are being limited, some vendors aren't comfortable working, some couples are panicking, some weddings need to be cancelled or postponed. So as wedding vendors, what do we do? Megan talks to Rachel Sheerin about tips for couples and vendors, and shifting your mindset both personally and professionally. Next week, from March 16th-20th, Rachel will be providing a FREE webinar series on Motivating, Managing, and Handling Business in Times of Crisis.
On February 27, 2020, Megan launched The Planner's Vault, a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. For Weddings For Real listeners, if you want $50 off your Annual Membership, use the code WFR50 at checkout! Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Mar 15, 2020 |
|
97: Offboarding Your Clients: Tips for a Lasting Impression with Renee Dalo
3076
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Do you ever meet a new friend, and things are going great. You feel like you’ve made a solid connection, and then one day, BAM, she ghosts you? It probably doesn’t happen all that often to you, but I’ll bet your clients feel that way when the wedding is over. And that last feeling you give them of being ghosted, unfortunately that might be what they remember you by. Today's guest is Renee Dalo, wedding planner at Moxie Bright Events in Los Angeles AND host of the Talk with Renee Podcast, and she talks about tips for offboarding your clients. On February 27, 2020, Megan launched The Planner's Vault, a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. For Weddings For Real listeners, if you want $50 off your Annual Membership, use the code WFR50 at checkout!
Moxie Bright Events on Social Media: Instagram: @MoxieBrightEvents Facebook: @MoxieBrightEvent Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Mar 11, 2020 |
|
What is The Planner's Vault?
920
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 On February 27, 2020, Megan launched The Planner's Vault, a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. For Weddings For Real listeners, if you want $50 off your Annual Membership, use the code WFR50 at checkout! ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Mar 03, 2020 |
|
96: Top 5 Reasons You SHOULD Be Working More Corporate Events, with Roar Events' Caryl Lyons
2730
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 How many of you are REALLY going after corporate events? You probably can work a corporate event just fine, and maybe you’ve done some, but are you really making an effort to show your market that you’re available for corporate? My guess is, probably not. Today, Caryl Lyons from Roar Events and The Roar Playbook gives us the top five reasons you SHOULD be doing more corporate events! OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM MEGAN. On February 27th, 2020, we are launching The Planner’s Vault, a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. My mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. For more information, head on over to ThePlannersVault.com. I am so excited, and I can’t wait to open it up at the end of this month. Roar Events on Social Media: Instagram: @RoarEvents Facebook: @RoarEventsGroup LinkedIn (yes, LinkedIn!): @Roar-Events-Group Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Feb 26, 2020 |
|
95. Carving Out Your Own Niche, with Venue Consultant Lindsay Lucas
3223
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Lindsay Lucas is THE wedding venue consultant. She's a former wedding planner who now helps venue owners (and those aspiring to be) to create profitable and sustainable wedding venue businesses. Lindsay had the idea for a complete shift in her business, but it wasn’t easy convincing herself that this was the best way to go. Today, we talk about if YOUR idea is really something to go after, that feeling of imposter syndrome you are sure to have when you’re doing something new, and how vendors can know when it’s time to take the leap. OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM MEGAN. At the end of February, we are launching The Planner’s Vault, a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. My mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. For more information, head on over to ThePlannersVault.com. I am so excited, and I can’t wait to open it up at the end of this month. Lindsay Lucas on Social Media: Instagram: @TheLindsayLucas Facebook: @TheLindsayLucas Podcast: The Venue Podcast Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Feb 12, 2020 |
|
94. What Engaged Couples Want 2.0, Interviews from the Merrimon Wynne House Bridal Showcase
2808
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Weddings for Real had the opportunity to interview engaged couples at The Merrimon-Wynne House in Raleigh NC Bridal Showcase, so that vendors could have a better understanding of what couples are looking for. We asked couples: What's the first place you looked to find your wedding vendors? Where do you get wedding inspiration? What's your splurge for the wedding? And what do you not care so much about? Do you need to see pricing on a vendor's website before contacting them? What's surprised you the most about wedding planning? Are you hiring a wedding planner? Are you hiring a videographer? Such insightful responses, and we would love for you to share your thoughts in our Weddings for Real Facebook Group! Special thanks (and congratulations!) to all of the people interviewed: Natasha and Ryan Courtney Megan Kylie and Kevin Elizabeth Robert and Erin Tricity Katie and Paxton Erin Madison and Nate
The announcement we made at the top of the show is is that we have something in the works for all the planners out there………. To be the first to know when it’s live AND get Megan's free Client Experience Checklist, head on over to http://www.weddingsforreal.com/checklist and enter in your email address. Merrimon Wynne on Social Media: Instagram: @MerrimonWynne Facebook: @MerrimonWynne Pinterest: @MerrimonWynne Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. Special thanks to Cee Cee Huffman for corralling couples and doing some interviews. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jan 29, 2020 |
|
93: Working Together, Living Together, and Liking Each Other (Most Days), with Steve and Jenn Van Elk
2755
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Do you work with your wife or husband? Or do you spend so much time with your work wife or work husband that it basically feels like you’re married? Well, working together for so many hours – and possibly living together too – those people probably get on your nerves quite a bit. Well my guests are Steven and Jenn Van Elk from Jennifer Van Elk Photography, the Wedded Podcast, and the Wedding Photo Hangover Podcast. They have (at least) two businesses together, two podcasts together, and two kids together. They’ve struggled but come out stronger, and they're here to give you tips on how to make it all work!
The announcement we made at the top of the show is is that we have something in the works for all the planners out there………. To be the first to know when it’s live AND get my free Client Experience Checklist, head on over to http://www.weddingsforreal.com/checklist and enter in your email address. Jennifer Van Elk Photography on Social Media: Instagram: @jennvanelk Facebook: @JenniferVanElkPhotography twitter: @jennvanelkphoto Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jan 15, 2020 |
|
92: You Down with SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures)? With Morgan Montgomery!
2496
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 If you’re a solopreneur or you run a small team, and you’re thinking about growing, but you haven’t quite figured out how to clone yourself yet, then I want you to listen to this episode closely, because it’s all about putting your experience and knowledge in writing and making it easy for others to get in your head. On episode 92, Morgan Montgomery with Paisley and Jade talks all about SOPs – Standard Operating Procedures! As you heard on the show, we have a BIG announcement coming soon, and the best way to hear about it first is to join our mailing list at weddingsforreal.com or text "wfr" to 33777. Paisley and Jade on Social Media: Instagram: @PaisleyAndJade Facebook: @PaisleyAndJade twitter: @PaisleyAndJade Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealThe host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jan 01, 2020 |
|
91: 2019 Year in Review: Wins, Fails, and Goals for 2020
2676
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 How was 2019 for you? What were your wins and losses? Did you hit your goals? What are your plans for 2020? On today's episode, Megan and Jason Gillikin talk all about chaos, transitions, wins, fails, goals, and more in the last episode of 2019! As you heard on the show, we have a BIG announcement coming soon, and the best way to hear about it first is to join our mailing list at weddingsforreal.com or text "wfr" to 33777. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Dec 18, 2019 |
|
90: Impactful Gifting Strategies for 2020, with Margaux Fraise
3243
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Today's guest is Margaux Fraise from Harmony Creative Studio in Los Angeles. Margaux has been planning weddings and events for 8 years. She's also a cancer survivor, which in 2014 knocked her out of running her business for about two years. Through that experience, she learned to appreciate life, the little things, and the gestures that go a long way. So today we talk about gifting for both clients and vendors – why that’s the right thing to do but can also be used as a strategy to get more business. On the episode, you heard Margaux talk about a Client Gifting for Wedding Pros Cheat Sheet, and you can find that at bit.ly/weddingprogifting! Harmony Creative Studio on Social Media: Instagram: @HarmonyCreative Facebook: @HarmonyCreativeStudio Pinterest: @harmonycreativestudio Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal As you heard at the top of the show, Southern Bride and Groom Magazine has rebranded to Heart of NC Weddings! Check out their website at HeartOfNCWeddings.com or visit them on social AT HeartOfNCWeddings. And be sure to celebrate with them on December 19th at Parlour at Manns Chapel in Chapel Hill NC. Information on their website. Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Dec 11, 2019 |
|
89: Shared Values and Different Personalities: Building an A-Team with Aneesa Glines
3720
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Aneesa Glines can best be described as a force of nature with a huge smile and even bigger laugh, whose kind nature is matched by her business drive and desire to grow professionally. She's the owner and lead consultant of Harmony Weddings and Events, the owner of Forest Hall at Chatham Mills, AND the owner of the upcoming venue The Graham Mill. And she only got into weddings - while still in college - in 2015! So with the growth, she has become a master at building her team - all very different, but all with shared values. Harmony Weddings and Events on Social Media: Instagram: @HarmonyWeddingsNC Facebook: @HarmonyWeddingsEvents The Graham Mill on Social Media: Instagram: @TheGrahamMill Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal At about 22 minutes into the show, you heard the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT from Jenna Parks, who you may know as the owner and editor of Southern Bride and Groom Magazine, which has now rebranded to Heart of NC Weddings! Check out their website at HeartOfNCWeddings.com or visit them on social AT HeartOfNCWeddings. Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Dec 04, 2019 |
|
88: A Kick in the Pants from Cindy Novotny, The Radical Mentor
1827
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Cindy Novotny has been called "The Radical Mentor" for good reason. She is a no-nonsense, call-it-like-it-is, whether-you-want-to-hear-it-or-not speaker and hospitality consultant. Today she comes on the show to talk about her upcoming book, The Secret to My Stamina, and her previous work, Living with No Balance and Loving It. Cindy has run her consulting business Master Connection Associates with her husband for over 30 years and tours internationally 50 weeks out of the year. She is a keynote speaker at events like Engage, Wedding MBA, and many more conferences (not just in the hospitality field). In the episode, you heard about the She Creates Content Calendar from Kinsey Roberts. By clicking on this link and entering coupon code WFR at checkout by December 1st, you get 10% off an already ridiculously priced $127 for a year-long content calendar! With the calendar, you get: - 10 Page Welcome Guide with Your 10-page welcome guide that includes marketing channel ideas, best practices, daily prompt ideas, and monthly themes to keep in mind as you're creating content. - 365 Days of Content Prompts for Wedding Business Owners. If you're in the wedding industry, serving engaged couples, this content is for you. - 30 Day Sample Strategy Prompts to boost your creativity when it comes to creating a consistent marketing strategy for your wedding business. Cindy Novotny on Social Media: Instagram: @cindy_novotny Facebook: @MasterConnectionAssociates twitter: @cindynovotny Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealMusic for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Nov 27, 2019 |
|
87: The Power of Enneagram: How to Grow Professionally and Personally by Knowing Your Number, with Joanna Kenney
3413
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 If you're anything like Megan, 2019 has been all about personal and professional growth - how to be a better boss, friend, partner, and mom. And one of the most fascinating ways that she has found to analyze how she can improve overall is the Enneagram personality assessment. So on today's show, Megan talks to Joanna Kenney (also of Jo's Paper Kitchen in Montgomery TX) about what makes the Enneagram different from other personality tests, the nine numbers, their strengths and weaknesses, and how you can use your number to better yourself! In the episode, you heard about the She Creates Content Calendar from Kinsey Roberts. By clicking on this link and entering coupon code WFR at checkout by December 1st, you get 10% off an already ridiculously priced $127 for a year-long content calendar! With the calendar, you get: - 10 Page Welcome Guide with Your 10-page welcome guide that includes marketing channel ideas, best practices, daily prompt ideas, and monthly themes to keep in mind as you're creating content. - 365 Days of Content Prompts for Wedding Business Owners. If you're in the wedding industry, serving engaged couples, this content is for you. - 30 Day Sample Strategy Prompts to boost your creativity when it comes to creating a consistent marketing strategy for your wedding business. Jo's Paper Kitchen on Social Media: Instagram: @JosPaperKitchen Facebook: @JosPaperKitchen Pinterest: @JosPaperKitchen Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Nov 20, 2019 |
|
86: Does Working With a Wedding Planner Make Your Job More Difficult? Danielle Pasternak from the Put A Ring On It Podcast Has Opinions
3134
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 If you’re a member of the Rising Tide Society Facebook Group, you might have seen a post (since deleted) a few months ago from a photographer who said that when a wedding planner is involved, it makes other wedding vendors’ jobs more difficult and it messes up the flow of a wedding day. From his perspective, it’s better to have a wedding WITHOUT a planner. Well as you either saw or can imagine, this sparked a lot of debate, and shockingly, many people agreed with his perspective. Danielle Pasternak, wedding planner at DPNAK and co-host of the Put A Ring On It Podcast, has some thoughts, and she shares them on the show today! DPNAK on Social Media: Instagram: @dpnak Facebook: @dpnak Podcast: Put A Ring On It Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealMusic for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Nov 13, 2019 |
|
85: What My Children Have Taught ME About Business, with Single Dad Jose Rolon
3332
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Jose Rolon is the lead wedding planner at Jose Rolon Events in New York City. Jose is a single father of 3 children, a 6 year-old and 5 year-old twins, and today he shares such incredible insight into how his children have helped him grow his business in this touching, funny, and emotional episode. Jose Rolon Events on Social Media: Instagram: @JoseRolonEvents Facebook: @JoseRolonEvents Pinterest: @JoseRolonEvents Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Nov 06, 2019 |
|
84: Brand Building Through Mentorship, with 42 North's Francie Dorman and Britt Cole
2784
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Among other incredible accolades, Francie Dorman and Britt Cole of 42 North Weddings in New England have been named one of the top planning companies by Brides Magazine in 2019. With their success, they wanted to mentor up-and-coming wedding planners in the New England area. And so they founded a completely separate brand to do just that - Mavinhouse Events. 42 North on Social Media: Facebook: @42NorthWeddings Instagram: @42_North Pinterest: @42NorthWeddings Mavinhouse on Social Media: Instagram: @Mavinhouse_Events Facebook: @mavinhouse Pinterest: @mavinhouse Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Oct 30, 2019 |
|
83: On the Couples' Therapy Couch with Christian Charette, Part 2: Tips for Better Communication
2835
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Megan and Jason went onto the couples' therapy couch and got some amazing advice from their own therapist, Christian Charette from Couple Forward in Raleigh NC. This episode is part two of a two-parter. Last week, Christian shared what roadblocks in a relationship can lead to tension. This week, it's all about tips for better communication. About Christian Charette: Christian specializes in helping couples navigate their relationships. Christian has 15+ years of experience guiding others through their journey. Married for 25 years, and having raised three daughters has uniquely prepared him for being a reflective therapist with whom clients feel connected. Specifically trained and licensed in Marriage & Family Therapy, Gottman Couples Therapy and Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, Christian combines his creative personality to bring clients lasting solutions. Couple Forward on Social Media: Facebook: @coupleforward Instagram: @coupleforward Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Oct 22, 2019 |
|
82: On the Couples' Therapy Couch with Christian Charette, Part 1: Roadblocks in Relationships
2166
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Megan and Jason went onto the couples' therapy couch and got some amazing advice from their own therapist, Christian Charette from Couple Forward in Raleigh NC. This episode is a two-parter, and today Christian shares what roadblocks in a relationship can lead to tension. So let's get uncomfortable and learn how we can be better partners. And next week, he'll share tips for better communication. About Christian Charette: Christian specializes in helping couples navigate their relationships. Christian has 15+ years of experience guiding others through their journey. Married for 25 years, and having raised three daughters has uniquely prepared him for being a reflective therapist with whom clients feel connected. Specifically trained and licensed in Marriage & Family Therapy, Gottman Couples Therapy and Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, Christian combines his creative personality to bring clients lasting solutions. Couple Forward on Social Media: Facebook: @coupleforward Instagram: @coupleforward
If you haven't already, get your tickets to see Megan Gillikin speak WIPA Toronto on October 22nd! Get your tickets at Eventbrite now. This session will remind and enlighten industry vendors that the client experience starts way before the client books you and ends months after the event is over. Broken into three sections (pre-booking, working together, and post booking phases), Megan will highlight some of biggest missed opportunities when it comes elevating your client experience from start to finish and will provide tangible tips and takeaways on how to streamline this experience and exceed client expectations time and time again!! Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Oct 16, 2019 |
|
81: Creating a Cozy Courtship with Your Clients, with Alisha Chadee
2846
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Alisha Chadee is the co-owner of Events by Whim Event Planning in Toronto Ontario, and she comes on the show today to talk about how to make your clients feel like they're the only ones you're working with. It takes strategic time management and boundaries, and Alisha gives some amazing tips!
At the top of the show, you heard host Megan Gillikin mention that she will be speaking at WIPA Toronto on October 22nd! Get your tickets at Eventbrite now. This session will remind and enlighten industry vendors that the client experience starts way before the client books you and ends months after the event is over. Broken into three sections (pre-booking, working together, and post booking phases), Megan will highlight some of biggest missed opportunities when it comes elevating your client experience from start to finish and will provide tangible tips and takeaways on how to streamline this experience and exceed client expectations time and time again!!
About Alisha Chadee (and if you listen to the show, you'll know where she got this wonderful bio from): Alisha has a project management background in learning and development, plus 5+ years of experience coordinating corporate events and the director of education for WIPA Toronto. She’s developed a proven planning process for couples who want to know how to create magic on their wedding day. (But not throw money off yachts like they’re in a rap music video.) She thinks in floor plans, endorses moving if you find a spider in your house, and has an oyster obsession. Events by Whim on Social Media: Facebook: @EventsByWhim Instagram: @EventsByWhim Pinterest: @EventsByWhim Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Oct 09, 2019 |
|
80: Time to Stop Neglecting Pinterest, with The Bridal Theory's Amanda Writesman
2922
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Amanda Writesman is screaming from the rooftop that - if you're a wedding vendor - you need to get your Pinterest game back on point! Will you listen to her? If you want an easy way to put content out there that you already have, with the purpose of driving couples to your website, in a place where your competitors are slacking, you'll want to tune in! Also, at the end of the episode, Amanda mentions a place for Weddings for Real listeners to go for Pinterest resources, and that at https://www.curatedmarketingsociety.com/weddingsforreal. Also, in the intro of this episode, you heard a message from Wedding Business Bosses about the live show, which you can find at http://www.weddingbusinessbosses.com/wbb-live/. WBB Live is for wedding industry entrepreneurs who are looking for an in-person workshop experience to help them grow themselves AND their business. It’s from January 19-22, 2020 in Birmingham, Alabama at the historic Tutwiler Hotel. It has 3 components: presentations from educators, masterminding with fellow attendees and an entire day dedicated to creating an action plan for your business based on what you have learned at the conference for 2020 & beyond. Come learn from Laura Foote, Lauren Carnes, CeCe Todd of CeCe Designs, Kristin Kaplan and many more! Early bird registration ends October 14th so grab your ticket now at WeddingBusinessBosses.com.
About Amanda Writesman: Amanda is the Editor and Creative Director for The Bridal Theory. She also owns Bel Momento Photography, a Memphis based wedding photography studio available worldwide. Amanda’s passion for helping both engaged couples and wedding vendors lead to the creation of The Bridal Theory, a publication with the goal of celebrating the beauty and joy surrounding weddings. Amanda also runs CuratedMarketingSociety.com. Amanda Writesman on Social Media: Pinterest!: @TheBridalTheory Instagram: @TheBridalTheory Facebook: @TheBridalTheory Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealMusic for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Oct 02, 2019 |
|
79: Going the Extra Mile for Your Clients, with Entertainer Artem Lomaz
2969
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Artem Lomaz is DJ Times' Entertainer of the Year two years in a row, in 2018 and 2019! Today he talks about what he does to go the extra mile for his clients, from sentimental cards, to trying (and still trying!) to get Lil Jon to send a message to one of his clients. Artem gives some great advice and tips in this episode so that we don't just do the bare minimum - and instead, we truly make it memorable! On the show, Artem mentions Lil Jon schools in Ghana, which you can see at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrRiWry8Djg And the organization, Pencils of Promise, is at https://pencilsofpromise.org/donate/About Artem Lomaz: Artem Lomaz is a multi-award winning event entertainer, public speaker, and entrepreneur. Known for his extreme attention to detail, personalized methodology, and refined performance style, Artem continues to personally cultivate his top-tier event entertainment entity, NinetyThree Entertainment, while in high demand with event planners and selective clientage. Artem Lomaz on Social Media: Instagram: @ninetythreeentertainment Vimeo: @93entnj Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealSupport this show by supporting our sponsor, HelloFresh! Get $80 off your first month of HelloFresh (!) by going to HelloFresh.com/WeddingsForReal80 - with code "WeddingsForReal80" - and start enjoying some of their 5-star recipes! Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Sep 25, 2019 |
|
78: Check Yo' Site: 3 Easy Audit Tips Before Engagement Season
2045
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Engagement season is right around the corner, and you don't want a website that repels your ideal client right? On this episode, Megan and Jason Gillikin give 3 easy tips to audit your website so you can book more clients! Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Sep 18, 2019 |
|
77: Diversifying Your Business to Reach Different Clientele, with Sapphire Events' Valerie Gernhauser
2896
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Valerie Gernhauser runs two wedding planning companies - Sapphire Events and Ruby and Pearl Events - in the same market (New Orleans). Why did she decide to do that? She wanted to diversify her business to reach different clientele at different price points. But why not just offer different packages? Valerie explains her strategy behind separating the brands and how it's worked for her so far! About Valerie Gernhauser: Valerie is a recovering attorney, Yale grad, pug lover, Springsteen fanatic, and Florida native. She has shared her knowledge on national platforms such as the Engage! Luxury Wedding Business Summit, Trouvaille Workshop, Cultivate Retreat, Bliss and Bespoke, and honored to present as a keynote speaker at SEPA, ILEA, NACE, and WIPA events across the country. Sapphire Events on Social Media: Facebook: @sapphireeventsnola Instagram: @sapphireevents Ruby and Pearl on Social Media: Facebook: @rubyandpearlevents Instagram: @rubyandpearlevents Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealMusic for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Sep 11, 2019 |
|
76: The 100% Definitive Guide to Mastering Motherhood (JK!), with Rachel May
3305
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Wedding photographer Rachel May talks to Megan about motherhood, and they come up with the definitive guide to how to be an amazing mother, be ever-present with your kids, run your business well, be always put-together, give your kids the right amount of screen time and social media, and never feel guilt about anything. With a combined six kids, Megan and Rachel know exactly what needs to be done! (Hopefully you read this in extreme sarcasm mode.) About Rachel May: Rachel fell in love with photography after her first daughter, Kylie, was born. Her husband Justin was deployed overseas, so she wanted to document every little thing. She chased after those once-in-a-lifetime moments knowing how much they would mean. Today, she carries that same passion with her, chasing after the once-in-a-lifetime moments her clients will treasure. Rachel May on Social Media: Facebook: @raymayphoto Instagram: @rachelmayphoto Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealMusic for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Sep 04, 2019 |
|
75: How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, with International WIPA President Kevin Dennis
3184
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Kevin Dennis has been in the wedding industry for 30 years (!!) as the owner of Fantasy Sound Event Services near San Francisco and the Napa Valley. He's also the international president of WIPA, the Wedding International Professionals Association. He's also involved in NACE and many other network associations. So needless to say, he knows his networking. Today, he shares how to use that networking (and other strategies) to get on preferred vendor lists! Support this show by supporting our sponsor, HelloFresh! Get $80 off your first month of HelloFresh (!) by going to HelloFresh.com/WeddingsForReal80 - with code "WeddingsForReal80" - and start enjoying some of their 5-star recipes!
About Kevin Dennis: As an event industry veteran and owner of Fantasy Sound Event Services, Kevin takes pride in his leadership of and involvement in industry associations. He is a past chapter president of the Silicon Valley NACE as well as the national president for WIPA. Recognizing a need for networking in his own region, Kevin founded the Tri Valley Wedding Professionals in 2010 and the association has now grown to a membership of nearly 700 pros. A respected thought leader and national speaker, Kevin was recently ranked as one of the top 3 speakers at NACE Experience. He is an ongoing contributor to Catersource and SpecialEvents.com and has been featured in BRIDES, Martha Stewart Weddings and the Travel Channel, among others. He recently received the Certified Professional in Catering and Events (CPCE) designation from NACE. Kevin Dennis on Social Media: Facebook: @fantasysound twitter: @fantasysound Instagram: @FSEevents Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealMusic for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Aug 28, 2019 |
|
74: Imposter Syndrome, with Fancy This Photography's Nikki Whitt Belch
3035
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Imposter Syndrome: a psychological pattern in which an individual doubts their accomplishments and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a "fraud". Sometimes as creatives, we experience this, and it can be crippling to our success and our mental state. So what do we do? Megan talked to Nikki Whitt Belch from Fancy This Photography, and they share their struggles as well as some strategies for coping with it. We'd love your feedback on our social media platforms. Let us know if YOU'VE ever dealt with imposter syndrome - and what have you done about it? Support our Sponsors! 1) Visit MyPinkPartyBox.com for Vendor Gifts and Hotel Welcome Boxes! 2) The Carolina Wedding Market is an new outdoor wedding-planning show that you’ll love attending. With local beer, artisans, food trucks, and a beautiful outdoor-industrial setting this show is not your usual wedding show. Think art market meets dance party meets pig-picking! The Carolina Wedding Market will take place on September 8th, 2019 just south of Raleigh. Visit their website for details, TheCarolinaWeddingMarket.com. Fancy This Photography on Social Media: Instagram: @nikki_fancythis Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Aug 21, 2019 |
|
73: Relator, Analyzer, Boss, and Dreamer: How to Sell To and Work With the 4 Types of Wedding Clients, with Ideaction's Sam Jacobson
3941
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Sam Jacobson, founder of Ideaction Consulting, has found that there are 4 types of buyers in the wedding market - The Relator, the Analyzer, the Boss, and the Dreamer. And today, Sam gives some ways to identify what each of your clients are, how to sell them, how to work best with them, and how you need to change your sales strategy if you want to maximize the opportunities for clients to work with.
About Sam Jacobson: Sam is a business consultant, coach, and mentor for wedding pros across the country, whether they’re solopreneurs who are trying to level up, or established veterans who are trying to figure out how to not work quite so much. Prior to starting Ideaction in 2016, Sam was the director of operations for Todd Events out of Texas, and before that the lodging director and sales manager at a resort venue in Washington State, where he discovered the concept of the 4 Buying Types. Ideaction on Social Media: Instagram: @IdeactionConsulting Facebook: @SellWeddingsLikeAPro Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealMusic for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Aug 14, 2019 |
|
72: YouTube Videos to Market Your Business, with Wedding Photographer Cavin Elizabeth
3041
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 When Cavin Elizabeth moved to the San Diego market, she was wondering if making educational videos and sharing them on YouTube would be a way to attract clients and grow her business. After 140 videos and over 1,700 subscribers, YouTube has been a resounding success. But why aren't most of us taking advantage of video marketing? We talk all about it in this week's episode! Support this show by supporting our sponsor, HelloFresh! Get $80 off your first month of HelloFresh (!) by going to HelloFresh.com/WeddingsForReal80 and start enjoying some of their 5-star recipes! Announcement as heard on the show: We are beyond excited for our first LIVE recording on August 21st in Raleigh at The Laurelbrook from 10am-12pm! Our topic will be “How to Stay Committed to Boundaries”, and we invite you to submit a story about when a client might have gone a liiiiitttttle bit past the boundaries on respect, budget, contract, comfort zone, or anything else really. Feel free to email your story to podcast@weddingsforreal.com, and if we use it in the live show (anonymously, no names!) we’ll send you a little thank you gift! Tickets are available here and include fresh coffee, delicious donuts, some guaranteed laughter and camaraderie. Hope to see you there! About Cavin Elizabeth: As a photographer who fully believes in the value of client education, Cavin published a book that teaches brides how to make the most out of their wedding photography and have magazine worthy images entitled A Bride’s Guide to a Picture Perfect Wedding. Her passion for helping clients make the most out of their photos has often been described as one of their favorite things about working with her. Cavin lives in San Diego with her husband David, founder of Aventrix, and their two cats, Boots and Kudzu. Cavin Elizabeth on Social Media: Instagram: @cavinelizabeth YouTube: @cavinelizabeth Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealMusic for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Aug 07, 2019 |
|
71: Toxic Stress and How It's Killing Your Business, with Therapist and Executive Coach Andy Maurer
3761
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 At the Engage Luxury Wedding Summit in June, therapist and entrepreneurial coach Andy Maurer gave the most impactful and self-reflective speech at a breakout session - "Toxic Stress and How It's Killing Your Business". Many people left that session crying. I told as many people I could about it but could never do the speech justice. So I had to have Andy back on the show today to share his breakout session, what toxic stress is and where it comes from, and some tips on how to alleviate it. If you have stress in your life - hello wedding industry! - you won't want to miss this one! Announcements as heard on the show: 1) Come join me and some of the top wedding vendors in the Triangle THIS SUNDAY, Aug 4th from 4-6pm at the Barn of Chapel Hill Open House! It is planned by our good friends and podcast supporters over at Harmony Weddings and Events. Tour one of our very favorite venues, sample food, drinks and cake and meet wedding vendors of all kinds. Tickets are FREE. See you there! 2) We are beyond excited for our first LIVE recording on August 21st in Raleigh at The Laurelbrook from 10am-12pm! Our topic will be “How to Stay Committed to Boundaries”, and we invite you to submit a story about when a client might have gone a liiiiitttttle bit past the boundaries on respect, budget, contract, comfort zone, or anything else really. Feel free to email your story to podcast@weddingsforreal.com, and if we use it in the live show (anonymously, no names!) we’ll send you a little thank you gift! Tickets are available here and include fresh coffee, delicious donuts, some guaranteed laughter and camaraderie. Hope to see you there! About Andy Maurer: As a speaker and licensed therapist, Andy works with high performance leaders, including CEO’s, founders, entrepreneurs, professional athletes, and TV personalities, educating and equipping them on the issue of toxic stress and trauma and its impact on their work and relationships. He uses mindfulness and experiential based exercises to help leaders build awareness, develop meaningful relationships, and create a purposeful and successful life. Andy Maurer on Social Media: Instagram: @andymaurer_ LinkedIn: @andymaurer Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealMusic for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jul 31, 2019 |
|
70: Do's and Don'ts of Styled Shoots, with Color Pop Events' Leah Weinberg
2813
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Styled Shoots. You get your friendors together and create a completely unique pretend wedding that you don't have to plan out for months. They seem easy right? Well, not exactly. Styled shoots can cost money, time, and sanity, so today, Leah Weinberg from Color Pop Events in New York City comes on to share her 3 Do's and 3 Don't's for Styled Shoots!
Support this show by supporting our sponsor: BetterHelp.com is affordable, private, online counseling. Anytime, Anywhere! By going to BetterHelp.com/WeddingsForReal, you get 10% off your first month.
Color Pop Events on Social Media: Instagram: @colorpopevents Facebook: @colorpopevents twitter: @colorpopevents
Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jul 24, 2019 |
|
WWD13: Back in the Closet with Megan and Jason
1332
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Weekend Wine Down Time! Megan and Jason talk about the live show coming up in August, where to spend a long weekend, and 9 years of A Southern Soiree! The host of Weddings for Real is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jul 20, 2019 |
|
69: Individuality in a Saturated Wedding Market, with Photographer Julia Wade
2867
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 In a wedding market already filled with planners, photographers, videographers, DJs, florists....every wedding vendor you can possibly imagine, how can you possibly stand out? Raleigh-based wedding photographer Julia Wade is one of a kind, and she shares her tips for individuality in a saturated market! Support this show by supporting our sponsors: Visit MyPinkPartyBox.com for Vendor Gifts and Hotel Welcome Boxes! BetterHelp.com is affordable, private, online counseling. Anytime, Anywhere! By going to BetterHelp.com/WeddingsForReal, you get 10% off your first month. Julia Wade on Social Media: Instagram: @juliawade Facebook: @juliawadephotography Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealMusic for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jul 17, 2019 |
|
68: How to Weigh the Financial Risks of Your Big Business Decision, with Michelle Loretta from Sage Wedding Pros
2882
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Michelle Loretta from Sage Wedding Pros is a wedding business consultant with a mind for numbers and a passion for business plans! Today she comes on the show to talk all about how to make your big business decisions, and it can't be just because your competitors are doing it. Sage Wedding Pros on Social Media: Instagram: @SageWeddingPros Facebook: @SageWeddingPros twitter: @SageWeddingPros Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jul 10, 2019 |
|
67: Opening a Wedding Venue 101, with Kinsey Roberts from the She Creates Business Podcast
3804
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Kinsey Roberts is the owner Vista View Events on Open Heart Ranch in Colorado, but you probably know her best as the fabulous host of the She Creates Business Podcast! Today, Kinsey comes on the show to talk all about opening up a wedding venue! What are some tips and recommendations to help you through the process? And what are some potential landmines to avoid? Kinsey Roberts (image by Mekina Saylor Photography) On the show, Kinsey recommends hiring Lindsay Lucas if you're interested in guidance on how exactly to open up a venue and how to deal with some of the county ordinances (and other things you don't even think about). Lindsay can be found at https://thelindsaylucas.com/. Support this podcast by supporting our sponsor, BetterHelp.com! BetterHelp is affordable, private, online counseling. Anytime, Anywhere! By going to BetterHelp.com/WeddingsForReal, you get 10% off your first month. She Creates Business Links: Instagram: @SheCreatesBusiness Facebook: @SheCreatesBusiness Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jun 26, 2019 |
|
66: Top Ten Takeaways from Engage! Luxury Wedding Business Summit
3213
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 The latest Engage! Summit was June 10-13th in the Bahamas, and Megan was there for the full luxury wedding and event education experience! And today, she shares her top ten takeaways from the speakers she heard. Tips are from: 1) Hayley Paige (14:10) 2) Amirah Kassem (18:40) 3) Cindy Novotny (22:30) 4) Duncan Wardle (26:50) 5) Julian Leaver (31:55) 6) Tracie Domino (35:10) 7) Tracie Domino again (36:55) 8) Andy Maurer (37:55) 9) Jove Meyer (40:55) 10) Mike Michalowicz (43:50) Support this podcast by supporting our sponsor, BetterHelp.com! BetterHelp is affordable, private, online counseling. Anytime, Anywhere! By going to BetterHelp.com/WeddingsForReal, you get 10% off your first month. Engage Summits on Social Media: Facebook: @EngageSummits Instagram: @EngageSummits twitter: @EngageSummits Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jun 19, 2019 |
|
65: Marketing to Generation Z, with Analytics and Wedding Marketing Expert Christie Osborne
3585
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Generation Z is the next generation of consumers and (wedding) clients. Christie Osborne from Mountainside Media is an expert on analytics and marketing, specifically for the wedding industry. And today she comes on to talk about what's different about Generation Z, what's the same, and what we as wedding vendors should be doing to get ready for this group! Christie Osborne, Mountainside Media (image by Dustin Osborne) Support this podcast by supporting our sponsor, Storyworth! For a really cool Father's Day (or any time) gift, visit StoryWorth.com/WeddingsForReal for $20 off your subscription! With Storyworth, you or a loved one answers questions about your life weekly, and at the end of the year, those stories are bound into a keepsake book! Mountainview Media on Social Media: Facebook: @mtnsidemediaco Instagram: @mtnsidemediaco Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jun 12, 2019 |
|
64: The House of Creativity, with Wedding Photographer Perry Vaile
3000
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Some believe the creative path is a winding road from zero to (one-day) reaching your full creative potential. But for destination wedding photographer Perry Vaile, that didn't work for her. Because as creatives, some days are more productive than others, and sometimes we have feel like everyone else is doing so much more than us, and sometimes we’re on a roll, and sometimes we want to be proud of our accomplishments, and some days, we fail. It’s a mindgame. And so Perry came up with an amazing metaphor called The House of Creativity! Perry Vaile on Social Media: Instagram: @perryvaile Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jun 05, 2019 |
|
63: LGBTQ Weddings and Equality-Minded Content, with Brittny Drye (Love Inc) and Sha'Quitta Brown
2718
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Brittny Drye started Love Inc Magazine in October 2013 as the first equality-minded wedding publication. And although the wedding industry has come a long way, we still have so much further to go to make sure that LGBTQ couples aren't discriminated against. Part of that is looking into our content - are we using bride- and groom-specific verbiage on our websites, contracts, and proposals? And even in our own language? Sha'Quitta Brown just got married to her wife L'Erin in July 2018. And for them, they didn’t feel welcome by all wedding vendors. Some were downright bigoted, and some just didn’t have the collateral on their website to make Sha’Quitta and L’Erin comfortable in contacting them. For those who are outwardly intolerant, Sha’Quitta doesn’t have any time for them. But for those who WANT to be inclusive and who WANT more LGBT weddings, Sha’Quitta has some great advice. Brittny Drye (Image by Brandi Gard) L'Erin and Sha'Quitta (image by Cedrick Forrest of Showtime Studios) Love Inc on Social Media: Instagram: @loveincmag twitter: @loveincmag Facebook: @loveincmag Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
May 29, 2019 |
|
62: How to Respond to Negative Online Reviews
3244
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 If you've been in business long enough, you've probably had a negative online review (or several). Whether the review was fair or not, you NEED to respond. Not so much to the person who wrote the review, but for the potential clients who are reading your reviews. So how do you do it? We give some tips on today's show! Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealMusic for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
May 22, 2019 |
|
61: Pricing for Profitability, with Lindsay Longacre from LVL Academy
2866
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Lindsay Longacre from LVL Events (Southern California) and LVL Academy comes on the show today to talk all about pricing for profitability, a vision for creating pricing standardization, whether or not she takes on partial planning (or is it day-of coordination? or month-of? or wedding management), and the best way new vendors can connect with vendors in their market (hint: it's not a mass bcc email). On the show, we also talk a lot about LVL Academy, and Lindsay is bringing their wedding planner workshop here to North Carolina in June and yours truly (Megan Gillikin) is on the planner panel! Join us June 7-8th at Muse at the Mill in Winston-Salem for 2 full days of learning best practices, ways to refine your planning process, resources and tools to grow your business, and more! Use the code WEDDINGSFORREAL by May 10th for $200 of your registration at lvlacademy.com. See you there! Lindsay Longacre and Heather Hoesch LVL Academy (photo by Lorely Meza) LVL Events on Social Media: Instagram: @LVLWeddings Facebook: @LVLWeddings twitter: @LVLWeddings LVL Academy on Social Media: Instagram: @LVL_Academy Facebook: @LVLWeddingAcademy twitter: @LVL_Academy Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
May 15, 2019 |
|
WWD12: Happy Mother's Day! Interviews with Megan and Megan's Mom, plus Invisible Pants?
3510
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 On this Mother's Day Weekend Wine Down, we have interviews with Megan, Megan's mom, and oldest daughter Emma. Happy Mother's Day!
The host of Weddings for Real is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
May 11, 2019 |
|
60: Moms for Real - A Vulnerable and Hilarious Look at Balancing Business and Motherhood, with 5 Entrepreneur Moms
4174
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023
Happy Mother's Day! Today we give a real, honest, vulnerable, and hilarious look at the balancing act of being a mom and a business owner. Our guests today are Ginny Corbett from Ginny Corbett Photography, Kim Holderness from the Holderness Family Podcast and all those crazy YouTube videos, Grace Beason from Grace Leisure Events, Perry Vaile from Perry Vaile Photography, and Jessica King from Happily Ever After. These ladies share funny stories, best and worst advice, what they would tell their moms, and more! Ginny Corbett with Twins (image by Sara Davis) Kim Holderness and Family Grace Beason and Her Boys Perry Vaile and Family (image by Ally and Bobby) Jessica King, Happily Ever After (image by Annie Timmons) Ad sponsor: My friends at LVL Academy are bringing their wedding planner workshop here to North Carolina in June and Weddings for Real Host Megan Gillikin is a speaker! Join us June 7-8th at Muse at the Mill in Winston-Salem for 2 full days of learning best practices, ways to refine your planning process, resources and tools to grow your business, and more! Use the code WEDDINGSFORREAL by May 10th for $200 of your registration at lvlacademy.com. See you there! Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealMusic for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
May 08, 2019 |
|
59: How to Promote Your Wedding Business, with PR Expert Meghan Ely of OFD Consulting
3079
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Meghan Ely, Wedding PR and Marketing Expert at OFD Consulting comes on to share the best ways to promote your business. Most of us creatives have very little time, so we need to figure out the most efficient strategies for maximizing exposure. And with the craziness of the past year or so – with WeddingWire and The Knot merging, with Southern Weddings shutting down, with Style Me Pretty shutting down and opening back up – it’s hard to know if we should be focusing on the bigger publications. So I asked Meghan what we should all be doing, and she shares some great tips! Meghan also talks about her two other websites, WeddingIndustrySpeakers.com and OFDCollective.com (see promo code below). We mentioned 3 promos on this show! 1) My friends at LVL Academy are bringing their wedding planner workshop here to North Carolina in June and Weddings for Real Host Megan Gillikin is a speaker! Join us June 7-8th at Muse at the Mill in Winston-Salem for 2 full days of learning best practices, ways to refine your planning process, resources and tools to grow your business, and more! Use the code WEDDINGSFORREAL by May 10th for $200 of your registration at lvlacademy.com. See you there! 2) For a really cool Mother's Day (or any time) gift, visit StoryWorth.com/WeddingsForReal for $20 off your subscription! With Storyworth, you or a loved one answers questions about your life weekly, and at the end of the year, those stories are bound into a keepsake book! 3) The OFD Collective. Go to OFDCollective.com, and at checkout, enter the promo code "weddingsforreal" for $20 per month off!
Listeners, we are nominated (!!!) in the IndyWeek's Best of the Triangle Awards! You can go to IndyWeek and vote for us in the "Out and About" Section! Meghan Ely, OFD Consulting OFD Consulting on Social Media: Facebook: @ofdconsulting Instagram: @ofdconsulting Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealMusic for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
May 01, 2019 |
|
58: Mental Health Tips for Creative Entrepreneurs, with Root & Restore's Catrina Ballard
3550
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Life is stressful. Owning a business is stressful. Clients are stressful. Parenting is stressful. Relationships are stressful. As a creative entrepreneur, it's not possible to be all things to everybody at all times. Sometimes it feels like life is in complete disarray. Catrina Ballard from Root and Restore has been both a creative entrepreneur AND a counselor, and she comes on the show today to give some tips for managing stress! Support this show by supporting our sponsors: For clothing made specifically for wedding planners, designed by a wedding planner, visit Working Wear at WorkingWearCo.com! Visit GreenChef.US/WeddingsForReal for $50 off your first box of Green Chef! Listeners, we are nominated (!!!) in the IndyWeek's Best of the Triangle Awards! You can go to IndyWeek and vote for us in the "Out and About" Section! Catrina Ballard, Root and Restore (all images by Becki Smith of Smith House Photo) Root and Restore on Social Media: Instagram: @RootAndRestore Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealMusic for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Apr 24, 2019 |
|
57: Creative Dining in Weddings, with Snap Pea's Jacob Boehm
2902
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Jacob Boehm, owner and head chef of Snap Pea Creative Dining, doesn't run a typical catering company. He caters a few weddings, but not many. He doesn't do menu tastings. In fact, if you're working with him for your wedding, the menu that you pick...well, he might change it by the time your wedding comes around. And for his clients, that's one of the reasons he's so unique and in-demand. Find out more about what makes Jacob and Snap Pea special by tuning in! Support this show by supporting our sponsors: Visit MyPinkPartyBox.com for Vendor Gifts and Hotel Welcome Boxes! Listeners, we are nominated (!!!) in the IndyWeek's Best of the Triangle Awards! You can go to IndyWeek and vote for us in the "Out and About" Section! Jacob Boehm, Snap Pea Creative Dining (image by Tim Lytvinenko) (image by Food Seen) Snap Pea on Social Media: Instagram: @snappeanc Facebook: @snappeanc Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealMusic for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Apr 17, 2019 |
|
56: Eva Clark on Compassion in Weddings
2764
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 International Wedding Planner Eva Clark from Eva Clark Events has planned over 400 events. Some of those clients have been more difficult to work with than others. But still, she wants to make sure that everyone getting married has a memorable experience in a positive way. How does she do that? By making sure she infuses compassion into her professional and personal life. Support this show by supporting our sponsors: If you're a wedding vendor, you should be using Honeybook! And you can use promo code "WeddingsForReal" for 50% off your first year! Listeners, we are nominated (!!!) in the IndyWeek's Best of the Triangle Awards! You can go to IndyWeek and vote for us in the "Out and About" Section!
International Wedding Planner Eva Clark (image by Shauna Veasey) Eva Clark on Social Media twitter: @evaclarkevents Instagram: @evaclarkevents Facebook: @evaclarkevents Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealMusic for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Apr 10, 2019 |
|
WWD11: IndyWeek Best Local Podcast Nomination, One-Year Anniversary, Weddings on Mars, and More!
1186
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Thank you so much to everyone who has supported us over the past year plus! And we're so excited to announce that we've been nominated for Best Local Podcast on IndyWeek! Even though we have very little chance to win, we would love for you to vote for us (starting Monday April 8th)! And on today's Weekend Wine Down, we talk about our one year anniversary, weddings on other planets, wedding season, podcast recommendations, and more!
The host of Weddings for Real is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Apr 08, 2019 |
|
55: Rachel Sheerin on Preventing Burnout and the 80-20 Rule
3368
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Rachel Sheerin is a keynote speaker and trainer focused on helping hospitality professionals sell more and be happy! Featured in Inc. Magazine for her unorthodox, high energy style, Rachel has been an advocate for authentic sales and preventing burnout in our industry. Today she talks all about the Pareto Principle, also known as the 80-20 Rule, and how it applies to wedding vendors. Images from the amazingly talented Jeremy & Debby Deal, Lunahzon Photography, www.LunahZon.com
If you're making the world better, then she's your sales whisperer. Rachel currently serves as International Director of Education for WIPA, is a long time NACE member and takes her margaritas on the rocks. Rachel Sheerin Contact Info: www.rachelsheerin.com hi@rachelsheerin.com www.instagram.com/rachel.sheerin www.linkedin.com/in/rachelsheerin www.facebook.com/rachelsheerinspeakerSupport our Sponsors: Visit GreenChef.US/WeddingsForReal for $50 off your first box of Green Chef! This Sunday from 4-7pm head over to one of the most stunning wedding venues in the Triangle, The Parlour at Manns Chapel for their Spring Open House hosted by our good friends at Harmony Weddings. This event is FREE and open to the public. It is especially perfect for engaged couples- come tour the beautiful venue and meet some of the top local vendors, all in one day! As a thank you for attending, if you book the Parlour as your venue, you can enjoy FREE use of all Parlour Vintage Rentals. This event is also wonderful for local vendors to get to tour The Parlour, network and meet new vendor friends. Last but not least, they will be unveiling a big bridal suite surprise!! Eventbrite Link here to register. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealMusic for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Apr 03, 2019 |
|
54: SEO for Wedding Vendors, with Jason Gillikin
2381
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is all about making sure your website is found instead of your competitors' websites, when people are searching on Google for your service or product. In today's episode, digital marketing veteran Jason Gillikin gives four basic tips (Keyword Research, Google Business, Title Tags, and Content) to improve your website's rankings in Google, plus a few bonus tips. Jason and Megan Gillikin (image by Morgan Caddell Photography) Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Mar 27, 2019 |
|
52: Candice Coppola on Why You Need a Business Plan
3256
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Candice Coppola - wedding planner at Jubilee Events, business mentor, podcaster at Power in Purpose, author of The White Dress in Color: Inspirations for the Modern Bride, Barbados resident (I'm not jealous, YOU'RE jealous!), and more - comes on the show today to talk all about the importance of making a business plan! Whether you're just thinking about starting a business, in your first couple of years, or you're an industry veteran, you need a business plan - and Candice tells you why! Support our Sponsor: BeautyByDesign.com/WeddingsForReal for 20% you first order! Listeners, please nominate us in the IndyWeek's Best of the Triangle Awards! You can go to the IndyWeek's nominations, and in the Out & About Section, we're under "Best Local Podcast". Thanks so much! Candice Coppola (image by Steve Depino) Candice Coppola (image by Carla Ten Eyck) (image by Steve Depino) Candice Coppola on Social Media: Instagram: @Candice.Coppola Facebook: @TheCandiceCoppola twitter: @Candice_Coppola Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforrealMusic for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Mar 13, 2019 |
|
51: Diversifying Your Wedding Business with Maddy K
3212
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Madeleine Kojakian, better known as Maddy K, is a wedding planner and serial entrepreneur. She has had many successes (and many failures) in diversifying her business, and she comes on today to talk about if YOU should diversify your business, when the right time is, when is NOT the right time, hiring tips, and how she works less now than when she did years ago. This episode is packed with great information about taking that next step in your business! Support our Sponsors: Couples, setting up your own personal wedding website at Zola is super easy, and it's a great way to tell your guests everything about your wedding (where to stay, if you can bring kids, where you're registered). And couples who go to Zola.com/WeddingsForReal get $50 off your registry! Listeners, please nominate us in the IndyWeek's Best of the Triangle Awards! You can go to the IndyWeek's nominations, and in the Out & About Section, we're under "Best Local Podcast". Thanks so much! Maddy K (Images by Teresa Ste Marie) Maddy K on Social Media: Facebook: @MaddyKAtelier Instagram: @MaddyKAtelier Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Mar 06, 2019 |
|
49: What Startups Can Teach Wedding Vendors, with Mayflower Venues' Veronica Armstrong
2590
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Support our Sponsor: Visit Audible.com/WeddingsForReal for a free 30-day Trial of the world's largest collection of Audiobooks! Veronica Armstrong, head of marketing at Mayflower Venues, is all about that startup life. She was the 4th employee and General Manager of the Wedding Market at Lovepop and helped grow that company to what it is today. She loves taking a small marketing budget and turning it into something amazing. As wedding vendors, we have small budgets as well. So what strategies should we be using to maximize our time and budget? What tools are available to help? Veronica gives her tips on today's show! Veronica Armstrong, Mayflower Venues Mayflower Venues on Social Media: Instagram: @mayflowervenues Facebook: @mayflowervenues Veronica sharing a meme on twitter: @Veronicatheblog
Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Feb 20, 2019 |
|
47: From Side Hustle to Full-Time, with HMUA Nina McCaskey from Wedded Kiss
2993
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Support our Sponsors: If you're a wedding vendor, you should be using Honeybook! And you can use promo code "WeddingsForReal" for 50% off your first year! Visit MyPinkPartyBox.com for Vendor Gifts and Hotel Welcome Boxes!
Are you in the side hustle mode of your business? Are you trying to figure out when to take it to the next level? That's where Hair and Makeup Artist Nina McCaskey was just a few months ago when she hit the Raleigh wedding scene strong. And today, she comes on the show to tell her story of deciding to go full-time with her business Wedded Kiss, and some tips for all the side-hustlers out there! Wedded Kiss on Social Media: Instagram: @weddedkiss Facebook: @weddedkiss Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal
We have a new sponsor for 2019, MyPinkPartyBox.com! Vendors, if you’re looking for gifting ideas, this is perfect because these boxes are just gorgeous, and they have them specifically for hotel welcome boxes (like below). Plus they have bachelorette boxes, birthday boxes, and more. Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Feb 06, 2019 |
|
46: Hurricanes and Wedding Plan B's with Kickstand Events
2795
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Support our Sponsors: Visit GreenChef.US/WeddingsForReal for $50 off your first box of Green Chef! Visit MyPinkPartyBox.com for Vendor Gifts and Hotel Welcome Boxes! Wilmington NC wedding planners Sally Lindroos and Courtney Stone from Kickstand Events come on the show today to talk all about what happened when Hurricane Florence cancelled FIVE of their events in October 2018! All 5 were on Bald Head Island which was completely closed after the hurricane. They talk how they and their couples handled that, what they would do differently, and what advice they have to couples who are getting married in hurricane season. Courtney Stone and Sally Lindroos, Kickstand Events (images by Kate Supa Photography) Kickstand Events on Social Media: Instagram: @kickstandevents Facebook: @kickstandweddings Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal
We have a new sponsor for 2019, MyPinkPartyBox.com! Vendors, if you’re looking for gifting ideas, this is perfect because these boxes are just gorgeous, and they have them specifically for hotel welcome boxes (like below). Plus they have bachelorette boxes, birthday boxes, and more. Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jan 30, 2019 |
|
45: 16 Years of Wedding Planning with Ivy Robinson
2614
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Support our Sponsors: Visit TakeCareOf.com and enter promo code WEDDINGSFORREAL50 for 50% your first month of Care/Of Vitamins! Visit MyPinkPartyBox.com for Vendor Gifts and Hotel Welcome Boxes! Ivy Robinson is the wedding planner for celebrities like Dale Earnhardt Jr and Emily Maynard, has been on wedding reality TV shows like Whose Wedding Is It Anyway, and has been designing big budget weddings in the south for 16+ years. Today, she comes on the podcast to talk about longevity, motivation, clients' trust, and why she gets those big name clients!
Ivy Robinson on Social Media Instagram: @ivyrobinsonevents Facebook: @ivyrobinsonevents Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal
Wedding Education Seminar February 4th from 9:30am-12pm at The Umstead Hotel in Cary NC. Purchase tickets by following this link. In this intimate and educational seminar, we will cover two distinct topics relevant to purposefully growing your event business! Jason Gillikin will cover digital marketing and SEO tips for helping your ideal client find YOU, and Megan Gillikin will cover the client experience from start to finish. This seminar is ideal for wedding vendors that have a high touch relationship (multiple interactions) with their clients such as: planners, venues, caterers, photographers, videographers, DJs, bakeries, florists, hair and makeup artists, and stationers. Whether you're an up and coming vendor or a veteran member of the event industry, you are certain to walk away with an increased knowledge on digital marketing and gain invaluable insight from this seminar on how to best serve your client. Get your tickets at Eventbrite!
We have a new sponsor for 2019, MyPinkPartyBox.com! Vendors, if you’re looking for gifting ideas, this is perfect because these boxes are just gorgeous, and they have them specifically for hotel welcome boxes (like below). Plus they have bachelorette boxes, birthday boxes, and more.
Engaged Couples, on Sunday January 27th from noon to 4PM, come check out the Carolina Inn Showcase in Chapel Hill NC! Eat some sample desserts, check out some of the latest designs, and meet some photographers, planners, DJs, and other vendors. Also, for a future episode of Weddings for Real, Jason and Megan will be walking around the Carolina Inn talking to couples to get their perspective on what planning a wedding has been like so far, so we’re very excited about that. Tickets to the showcase are just $15, and you can find them at CarolinaInn.com. Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jan 23, 2019 |
|
43: Wedding Industry Hiring and Onboarding with A Southern Soiree's Gina Johnston
3004
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Finding the right employee in any business is challenging, but it's a unique challenge in the wedding industry because it's "so glamorous". And they can be, but working a wedding involves long hours and sometimes difficult clients. So how do you find the right hires? Gina Johnston, Senior Wedding Coordinator at A Southern Soiree and Megan's luckiest hire, comes on the show to discuss the hiring and onboarding process (and mistakes made) at A Southern Soiree. Megan Gillikin and Gina Johnston, A Southern Soiree (image by Ginny Corbett Photography) A Southern Soiree on Social Media: Instagram: @asouthernsoiree Facebook: @asouthernsoiree twitter: @asouthernsoiree Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal
Wedding Education Seminar February 4th from 9:30am-12pm at The Umstead Hotel in Cary NC. Purchase tickets by following this link. In this intimate and educational seminar, we will cover two distinct topics relevant to purposefully growing your event business! Jason Gillikin will cover digital marketing and SEO tips for helping your ideal client find YOU,and Megan Gillikin will cover the client experience from start to finish. This seminar is ideal for wedding vendors that have a high touch relationship (multiple interactions) with their clients such as: planners, venues, caterers, photographers, videographers, DJs, bakeries, florists, hair and makeup artists, and stationers. Whether you're an up and coming vendor or a veteran member of the event industry, you are certain to walk away with an increased knowledge on digital marketing and gain invaluable insight from this seminar on how to best serve your client. Get your tickets at Eventbrite!
We have a new sponsor for 2019, MyPinkPartyBox.com! Vendors, if you’re looking for gifting ideas, this is perfect because these boxes are just gorgeous, and they have them specifically for hotel welcome boxes (like below). Plus they have bachelorette boxes, birthday boxes, and more.
Engaged Couples, on Sunday January 27th from noon to 4PM, come check out the Carolina Inn Showcase in Chapel Hill NC! Eat some sample desserts, check out some of the latest designs, and meet some photographers, planners, DJs, and other vendors. Also, for a future episode of Weddings for Real, Jason and Megan will be walking around the Carolina Inn talking to couples to get their perspective on what planning a wedding has been like so far, so we’re very excited about that. Tickets to the showcase are just $15, and you can find them at CarolinaInn.com. If you're a wedding vendor, go get Honeybook! At A Southern Soiree, we’ve been using Honeybook since February 2015. I think we were one of their very first clients, and it has truly been a life changer. They make proposals and contracts super easy to use on both our side and the client side. I think before Honeybook I would send proposals and contracts by email, and the client would have to mail the contract to us or fax it by efax. Proposals were in no way streamlined either, so this has made our lives so much better. As a consultant, whenever I sign up a vendor client, one of the very first recommendations I make is Honeybook. No need to complicate things – it works, it’s great…just get it. And if you follow this link, you get 50% off your first year of Honeybook, which is nice, but not nearly as nice as all the time you’re going to save. And if you have any questions about my experience, feel free to send me an email to megan@weddingsforreal.com. Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jan 08, 2019 |
|
42: Inside the Barn of Chapel Hill with Kara Brewer and Jennifer Wood
2873
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 The Barn of Chapel Hill on Wild Flora Farm is one of the hottest new venues in the Triangle area of North Carolina, opening up in 2017. Kara Brewer, the owner, and Jennifer Wood, the creative director opened up to Megan about how it hasn't been the easiest process to start weddings up at the Barn. In fact, there was (and still is) a very active protest group, and the media once portrayed the new venue as "The Party Barn". Kara and Jennifer tell us all about that saga, plus how they run the business together, and what's next to the barn. If you've ever wondered what it's like to start a new venue when there's opposition, you won't want to miss this one! The Barn of Chapel Hill (image by Bow Tie Collaborative) The Barn before they moved it from upstate New York Inside the Barn of Chapel Hill (image by Krystal Kast) Kara Brewer and Jennifer Wood, Barn at Chapel Hill (image by Danell Beede Photography) Barn of Chapel Hill at Wild Flora Farm on Social Media: Instagram: @barnofchapelhill Facebook: @barnofchapelhill Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal
Wedding Education Seminar February 4th from 9:30am-12pm at The Umstead Hotel in Cary NC. Purchase tickets by following this link. In this intimate and educational seminar, we will cover two distinct topics relevant to purposefully growing your event business! Jason Gillikin will cover digital marketing and SEO tips for helping your ideal client find YOU,and Megan Gillikin will cover the client experience from start to finish. This seminar is ideal for wedding vendors that have a high touch relationship (multiple interactions) with their clients such as: planners, venues, caterers, photographers, videographers, DJs, bakeries, florists, hair and makeup artists, and stationers. Whether you're an up and coming vendor or a veteran member of the event industry, you are certain to walk away with an increased knowledge on digital marketing and gain invaluable insight from this seminar on how to best serve your client. Get your tickets at Eventbrite!
If you're a wedding vendor, go get Honeybook! At A Southern Soiree, we’ve been using Honeybook since February 2015. I think we were one of their very first clients, and it has truly been a life changer. They make proposals and contracts super easy to use on both our side and the client side. I think before Honeybook I would send proposals and contracts by email, and the client would have to mail the contract to us or fax it by efax. Proposals were in no way streamlined either, so this has made our lives so much better. As a consultant, whenever I sign up a vendor client, one of the very first recommendations I make is Honeybook. No need to complicate things – it works, it’s great…just get it. And if you follow this link, you get 50% off your first year of Honeybook, which is nice, but not nearly as nice as all the time you’re going to save. And if you have any questions about my experience, feel free to send me an email to megan@weddingsforreal.com. Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Jan 02, 2019 |
|
WWD 10: Reflecting on 2018 and Goals for 2019
2039
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Megan and Jason Gillikin are back for a Weekend Wine Down, where we reflect on the chaos that was 2018 and put some goals out there for 2019! We hope you enjoy, and have a great weekend, and Happy New Year!
The host of Weddings for Real is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Dec 30, 2018 |
|
Megan Gillikin on the Holderness Family Podcast, "Our Wedding was NOT the best day in my life!"
3004
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Megan Gillikin was the guest on the Holdermess Podcast with Kim and Penn Holderness, on their episode, "Our Wedding was NOT the best day of my life". If you haven't already, be sure to subscribe to their podcast, and check out their latest viral video, "Baby Just GO outside!" Holderness Family on Social Media: Instagram: @theholdernessfamily Facebook: @TheHoldernessFamily twitter: @KimDHolderness Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Dec 26, 2018 |
|
Megan Gillikin on the Day in the Life Podcast
4556
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 It's the Day in the Life Podcast on the Weddings for Real feed! If you don't know Day in the Life with Brittney Lynn, go check it out! She interviews people that have interesting jobs - counterterrorism expert, pastry chef, Hollywood producer, etc - and gets to know what a day in the life is like for them. Such a cool concept! And today we're sharing her interview with Megan Gillikin, host of the Weddings for Real Podcast. Megan is the owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Go subscribe, rate, review, and follow the Day in the Life Podcast on: Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/day-in-the-life/id1292726596?mt=2 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3js3PiIdZxq6LTS4s50Tra Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/brittney-lynn/day-in-the-life Instagram: @dayinthelife Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Dec 19, 2018 |
|
41: Lessons Learned from My 5 Biggest Business Mistakes
3926
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Megan Gillikin, host of the podcast, has been a wedding planner in the Raleigh NC market since 2010. Over the last 8+ years, she has made some mistakes in her business. And today she opens up and talks about those, with lessons learned from the experience. Wedding vendors, hopefully you can avoid some of these. Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal If you're a wedding vendor, go get Honeybook! At A Southern Soiree, we’ve been using Honeybook since February 2015. I think we were one of their very first clients, and it has truly been a life changer. They make proposals and contracts super easy to use on both our side and the client side. I think before Honeybook I would send proposals and contracts by email, and the client would have to mail the contract to us or fax it by efax. Proposals were in no way streamlined either, so this has made our lives so much better. As a consultant, whenever I sign up a vendor client, one of the very first recommendations I make is Honeybook. No need to complicate things – it works, it’s great…just get it. And if you follow this link, you get 50% off your first year of Honeybook, which is nice, but not nearly as nice as all the time you’re going to save. And if you have any questions about my experience, feel free to send me an email to megan@weddingsforreal.com. Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Dec 12, 2018 |
|
40: Vendor Communication = The Key to a Stress-Free Wedding Day, with Harrison Wedding Films
2662
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Deanna and Grant of Harrison Wedding Films in Washington DC came on the show to talk lessons they've learned in their first year of business, communication tips for vendor collaboration and creativity, what they do differently that sets them apart from their competition, and the hurricane that took years off their lives! Deanna and Grant are such a fun and talented couple, and we're excited to share this episode! Deanna and Grant, Harrison Wedding Films (Image by Never There Yet Photography) Deanna and Grant with one of their couples Deanna and Grant at their wedding (image by Joy Michelle Photography) Deanna and Grant in Film School Here's some of Harrison Wedding Films' work! You can find more on their YouTube Channel!
Harrison Wedding Films on Social Media: Instagram: @harrisonweddingfilms Facebook: @harrisonweddingfilms Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal If you're a wedding vendor, go get Honeybook! At A Southern Soiree, we’ve been using Honeybook since February 2015. I think we were one of their very first clients, and it has truly been a life changer. They make proposals and contracts super easy to use on both our side and the client side. I think before Honeybook I would send proposals and contracts by email, and the client would have to mail the contract to us or fax it by efax. Proposals were in no way streamlined either, so this has made our lives so much better. As a consultant, whenever I sign up a vendor client, one of the very first recommendations I make is Honeybook. No need to complicate things – it works, it’s great…just get it. And if you follow this link, you get 50% off your first year of Honeybook, which is nice, but not nearly as nice as all the time you’re going to save. And if you have any questions about my experience, feel free to send me an email to megan@weddingsforreal.com. Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Dec 05, 2018 |
|
39: Are You Ready for Engagement Season?
2641
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Did you know that 40% of engagements occur between Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day?!?! Wedding Vendors, is your business ready for engagement season? Megan Gillikin, qualified industry veteran, host of this show, wedding planner, and business coach (along with her completely unqualified but occasionally funny husband Jason Gillikin), gives her tips for making sure your business is ready! Rockefeller Center Proposal Image from Katherine Miles Jones Photography (Katherine was on episode 9) Proposal Image by Mikkel Paige Photography (episode 11), featuring Mollyann Russel (episode 21) Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal If you're a wedding vendor, go get Honeybook! At A Southern Soiree, we’ve been using Honeybook since February 2015. I think we were one of their very first clients, and it has truly been a life changer. They make proposals and contracts super easy to use on both our side and the client side. I think before Honeybook I would send proposals and contracts by email, and the client would have to mail the contract to us or fax it by efax. Proposals were in no way streamlined either, so this has made our lives so much better. As a consultant, whenever I sign up a vendor client, one of the very first recommendations I make is Honeybook. No need to complicate things – it works, it’s great…just get it. And if you follow this link, you get 50% off your first year of Honeybook, which is nice, but not nearly as nice as all the time you’re going to save. And if you have any questions about my experience, feel free to send me an email to megan@weddingsforreal.com. Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Nov 28, 2018 |
|
38: 5 Tips for Submitting to Wedding Publications, with Brklyn View Photography's Jaine Kershner
2574
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Jaine Kershner, owner of Brklyn View Photography, has been featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, The Knot, Style Me Pretty, and many more, and she was even named by BRIDES Magazine as one of NYC's best wedding photographers. Today she comes on the show to give her 5 tips to get your wedding photography published! Jaine also has a podcast, Tea with Jaine, so go give that a listen! Brklyn View Photography owner Jaine Kershner (image by Mekina Saylor) Jaine Kershner has a podcast, Tea with Jaine (image by Bethany Michaela) Jaine's websites: http://www.brklynview.com/ http://www.brklynviewblog.com/ https://www.teawithjaine.com/ Brklyn View Photography on Social Media: Instagram: @brklynview Facebook: @brklynview twitter: @brklynview Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal If you're a wedding vendor, go get Honeybook! At A Southern Soiree, we’ve been using Honeybook since February 2015. I think we were one of their very first clients, and it has truly been a life changer. They make proposals and contracts super easy to use on both our side and the client side. I think before Honeybook I would send proposals and contracts by email, and the client would have to mail the contract to us or fax it by efax. Proposals were in no way streamlined either, so this has made our lives so much better. As a consultant, whenever I sign up a vendor client, one of the very first recommendations I make is Honeybook. No need to complicate things – it works, it’s great…just get it. And if you follow this link, you get 50% off your first year of Honeybook, which is nice, but not nearly as nice as all the time you’re going to save. And if you have any questions about my experience, feel free to send me an email to megan@weddingsforreal.com. Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Nov 21, 2018 |
|
37: Laura Wasser on Prenups: Celeb Divorce Attorney on why they're not about pre-planning for divorce
2625
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Laura Wasser, Celebrity Divorce Attorney, comes on the show to talk prenuptial agreements. What can and cannot be included in a prenup? How do prenups help with difficult future conversations in marriage? Can you get a post-nup? And of course, what are some of the weirdest clauses that Laura has been asked to put in a prenup? :) Laura is the founder of ItsOverEasy.com and practices law at Wasser, Cooperman, & Mandles. She also has her own podcast, Divorce Sucks! And she wrote a book, "It Doesn't Have to be That Way: How to Divorce without Destroying Your Family or Bankrupting Yourself". Laura Wasser on Social Media: Instagram: @itsovereasy twitter: @itsovereasy Facebook: @itsovereasy YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0LdyqapFXeDcAi2Ln2LpWQ Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal If you're a wedding vendor, go get Honeybook! At A Southern Soiree, we’ve been using Honeybook since February 2015. I think we were one of their very first clients, and it has truly been a life changer. They make proposals and contracts super easy to use on both our side and the client side. I think before Honeybook I would send proposals and contracts by email, and the client would have to mail the contract to us or fax it by efax. Proposals were in no way streamlined either, so this has made our lives so much better. As a consultant, whenever I sign up a vendor client, one of the very first recommendations I make is Honeybook. No need to complicate things – it works, it’s great…just get it. And if you follow this link, you get 50% off your first year of Honeybook, which is nice, but not nearly as nice as all the time you’re going to save. And if you have any questions about my experience, feel free to send me an email to megan@weddingsforreal.com. Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Nov 14, 2018 |
|
WWD9: Live at the Forest Hall at Chatham Mills Open House!
3471
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Megan and Jason walked around with a microphone at the Forest Hall at Chatham Mills Open House on Sunday, talking to wedding vendors and some engaged couples, and it was such a fun experience! Thank you Aneesa for having us, and thank you to everyone who let us interview them. They were:
Forest Hall at Chatham Mills Vendor Group Picture! (from Live View Studios) And as promised, here's Michelle Clark's puntastic Halloween Costume, Taco Belle Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Nov 10, 2018 |
|
WWD 8: Instagram Marketing Follow-Up and More of Megan's Instagram No-No List
1381
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Weekend Wine Down 8! Megan and Jason follow up on this week's episode on Next-Level Instagram with Tyler J McCall, and Megan shares more of her Instagram no-no list, which is:
We hope you enjoy, and have a great weekend!
Weddings for Real will be at Forest Hall at Chatham Mills in Pittsboro NC for their open house on Sunday November 4th from 4-7PM. Tickets are available at https://foresthall.eventbrite.com. We hope to see you there, and maybe we'll ask you some questions! The host of Weddings for Real is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Nov 03, 2018 |
|
35: Next Level Instagram for Wedding Professionals with Tyler J McCall
3213
Wedding Biz Bonanza, June 5th-9th, 2023 Tyler J McCall is a social media strategist and coach...actually that's selling him way short...Tyler is THE Instagram Guru, and he comes on to share some of his Instagram tips and tricks for wedding vendors! Hear his advice on Instagram Stories versus your feed, sharing too much on Instagram, how to attract the right clients through client onboarding AND client offboarding, and the concept of relational capital. It's fabulous, he's fabulous, and you won't want to miss it! You can find Tyler at TylerJMcCall.com, the Follower to Fan Society, and The IG Advantage Facebook Group. Tyler McCall on Social Media: Instagram: @tylerjmccall Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal Weddings for Real will be at Forest Hall at Chatham Mills in Pittsboro NC for their open house on Sunday November 4th from 4-7PM. Tickets are available at https://foresthall.eventbrite.com. We hope to see you there, and maybe we'll ask you some questions! If you're a wedding vendor, go get Honeybook! At A Southern Soiree, we’ve been using Honeybook since February 2015. I think we were one of their very first clients, and it has truly been a life changer. They make proposals and contracts super easy to use on both our side and the client side. I think before Honeybook I would send proposals and contracts by email, and the client would have to mail the contract to us or fax it by efax. Proposals were in no way streamlined either, so this has made our lives so much better. As a consultant, whenever I sign up a vendor client, one of the very first recommendations I make is Honeybook. No need to complicate things – it works, it’s great…just get it. And if you follow this link, you get 50% off your first year of Honeybook, which is nice, but not nearly as nice as all the time you’re going to save. And if you have any questions about my experience, feel free to send me an email to megan@weddingsforreal.com. Music for this episode by https://www.bensound.com. The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Jason Gillikin for Earfluence. ----- Looking to save time in writing repetitive emails? Want to improve some of your client experience processes or package offerings? Grab some of our most coveted templates and course offerings within The Planner's Vault Shop! |
Oct 31, 2018 |
|
WWD 7: Rocky Horror at Booth Theatre in Cary Review & Yes, the Cat Story
|