This Week In Weddings

While actually having a contract is basic Business Ownership 101, actually sticking to your contract and enforcing its policies is another story. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a stationery designer about sticking to your contract, why it's important to do so, and how your contract and boundaries go hand in hand. About our guest: A graduate of Marymount University, Claudia received her specialization in brand identity at the Istituto Europeo di Design in Milan, then received her Masters in Industrial Design from the prestigious Domus Academy, also in Milan. Prior to launching Fig. 2, Claudia worked as a designer for design firms in the Washington, DC area, designing and interacting with various types of clients. Since launching Fig. 2, Claudia has won several awards for her graphic design work. In 2011, Fig. 2 officially launched at the National Stationery Show where Claudia created and sold a wholesale line of paper goods and wedding invitations sold in t

In this casual episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, Kimberly, Annie and Lance catch up on the craziness that has occurred with the quick increase in weddings. If you're struggling with the change of pace in the recent weeks, listen in! You're not alone!

When you own a small business, planning for retirement is not always easy. We're often working "in" our businesses and not "on" our businesses and that includes planning for the future. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a financial advisor about ways that we can save for retirement, plan for the future, and ready our businesses for sale. About our guest: Ken Jones has been in the financial services industry since graduating with a degree in Economics from Texas A&M University. He has been serving business owners of small to mid-sized companies as a financial advisor for most of his 30-year career. In his role, he advises on everything from retirement planning to helping business owners sell or buy a business.  Ken considers his practice just as much financial therapy as money management.  In this episode, listeners will hear about: Ken's background and how he got interested in financial planning The different types of Individual Retirement Accounts (

Another crazy, busy week, another re-release! We're digging into the This Week In Weddings archives with one of Annie's favorite episodes – Networking for Introverts with Alicia Keats. The saying goes that it’s all about who you know, and being well connected in the wedding industry can certainly be helpful for building and growing your business. But when you’re shy or an introvert, networking can be terrifying. In this week’s episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we’re chatting with a successful wedding planner who has learned how to turn her introvert tendencies into strengths when networking and operating her business. About our guest:  With over thirteen years of experience, award winning wedding planner Alicia Keats has earned her place among the most sought after wedding planners in Canada. Alicia is known to be a passionate, devoted wedding planner who is always graceful under pressure. Her desire to create, not only an individualized planning experience but also to create an extraordinary, pe

This week, we're digging into the This Week In Weddings archives to pull out an oldie but a goodie! Living Your Brand with Andrea Eppolito. Is your business model a true reflection of who you are? Are you carrying out your brand's image in your every day life? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with event planner Andrea Eppolito, of Andrea Eppolito Events about living your brand. From what you wear and how you present yourself in public to having an understanding of the restaurants your ideal client frequents, this week's episode is all about keeping your brand top of mind. About our guest:  Having worked a wedding show at fifteen, Andrea fell in love with the beauty, the timeless traditions, and the transformative qualities of weddings and events. During her time at UNLV, she planned weddings while working in restaurants and studying her craft. In 1998, Andrea opened the iconic Bellagio Resort; the first of many she would ultimately come to work with. Andrea founded

McDonald's may have coined the term "special sauce" but we all have something unique that sets us apart from our competitors.  Do you know what yours is? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a wedding industry copywriter about the importance of identifying and promoting your unique brand position as well as how to figure out what yours is in case you're not quite sure.  About our guest: Taylor de la Fuente is an award-winning writer, champion for inclusive language and the owner of Lemon Tree Editorial. As a website copywriter serving the wedding industry, Taylor writes authentic and inclusive web copy for wedding pros who want to sell their services while they sleep. Before starting Lemon Tree Editorial, she worked in journalism, SEO and marketing.  In this episode, listeners will hear about: Taylor's background in copywriting and what she does in the wedding industry What "special sauce" means when it comes to being a wedding industry entrepreneur How to

Building any business takes hustle and grit. But constant hustling without taking a break is a sure way to hit burnout. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with an established wedding planner about her thoughts on hustling, resting, and how the two go hand in hand.  About our guest: Spreading her metropolitan style throughout the low country, Terrica has been creating exquisite weddings and events in the Golden Isles area for the past fifteen years. Specializing in modern Southern weddings, she believes in creating custom experiences inspired by her clients’ love stories while infusing technology and efficiency. A contributing board member of the North American Academy of Wedding and Event Planning, Terrica’s weddings and expertise have been featured in The Knot, Reader’s Digest, Martha Stewart Weddings, HLN tv, Style Me Pretty and a host of others. In addition to leading a rockstar team at her planning and design firm, she also owns The White Lounge— a contemporary

We're constantly involved with negotiations in our daily lives – from discussing where to eat for lunch with friends to reviewing contracts with service providers. But as a wedding industry business, are you willing to negotiate in your own business in order to close the deal? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a negotiation strategist about this very topic.  About our guest: A highly sought-after leadership and negotiation strategist, Elizabeth Suárez is committed to helping professionals and their organizations establish working environments where people are empowered to be skilled leaders and negotiators. After climbing the ranks of corporate America, she spent the last decade creating the impactful and interactive platform Negotiation Unleashed, a coaching, training and facilitation resource for professionals.  As a previous corporate executive turned negotiation influencer, she created this platform to guide leaders into thriving decision-makers and strategi

As busy entrepreneurs with full plates, it's not uncommon to experience bouts of anxiety. Or maybe you're one who has always been wired to worry. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a coach about anxiety, what it is, and some tips for combating it. From daily manifestations to breaking negative self talk, our guest is sharing her top tips for being the powerful you (and not the puny you). About our guest: Bambi Thompson, is a transformational speaker and “Brain Coach” for success acceleration and anxiety transformation, and an Occupational Therapist who has gone wildly woo. She’s the creator of the Slay Your Days Momentum Club, the co-founder of the Corporate Unicorn’s Women’s Success Summit in Maine, co-author of Dare to Be Authentic, and the former producer and host of Power Me Up Radio on the Amazing Women of Power Network. She teaches success oriented women how to leverage neuroscience, mindset, the human energy body, and the Law of Attraction to build their l

Being a perfectionist is often used as a badge of honor. But in actuality, the desire to make things absolutely perfect is likely holding you back from achieving great things. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a coach and business strategist who explains why perfectionism isn't something positive to be proud of, but something based on fear that needs to be worked through. About our guest: Stephanie Hayes works with experienced entrepreneurs who have built successful businesses but aren’t sure what’s next. She helps them create a business model that works for them and a plan to get to their next level of growth so they can become more profitable, and do the work they really want to do.  Stephanie has been working with entrepreneurs and small businesses for over 20 years, and has built a number of her own businesses. She launched her business strategy and coaching practice in 2015 so she can focus on helping solo entrepreneurs align their businesses with their big

At some point in the cycle of your wedding industry business, you may start thinking about growing your team. But before you post that you're desperate for help on Facebook, there are some things to think through. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a floral designer with nearly 20 years of business experience about hiring and things to keep in mind. About our guest: In 2002, Kelly Marie Thompson opened Fleur, a special event custom design floral studio paired with a brick and mortar lifestyle boutique. She and her work have been featured in many print magazines including Martha Stewart Weddings, Town and Country, Vogue, The Knot, Better Homes and Gardens, Midwest Living, as well as online blogs including Martha Stewart Weddings and Style Me Pretty. Listed as a Top Martha Stewart Florist, Kelly has created beautiful floral designs for almost two full decades, and is the Operations Manager for the company as a whole. She is the founder of "The Art of Growing an Ext

We made it to 200 episodes!! In this casual episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, Kimberly, Annie and Lance, along with contributors from the This Week In Weddings community share their thoughts on the podcast after 200 episodes. You'll hear from: Saundra Hadley from Planning Forever Events and A Great Wedding Interview Podcast Carmela Heintzelman from Fiore Press Kelly McWilliams from Kelly McWilliams Celebrations, Weddings & Parties and This vs. That, Wedding Decisions Podcast Meghan Ely from OFD Consulting Dan Quinn from DQB Entertainment Sara Bauleke from Bella Notte Amy Burke from Amy Burke Events Alicia Keats from Alicia Keats Weddings + Events Lin Pernille from Lin Pernille Photo + Video

Making money is certainly about dollars and cents, but how you think about money can have an impact on your financial success. Are long held beliefs about money, also known as money blocks, holding you back? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with author and money coach Denise Duffield-Thomas about money mindset and how thoughts about money an impact us, both negatively and positively.  About our guest: Denise Duffield-Thomas is the money mentor for the new wave of online entrepreneurs who want to make money and change the world. She helps women charge premium prices, release the fear of money and create First Class lives.   Her books Lucky Bitch, Get Rich, Lucky Bitch, and Chillpreneur give a fresh and funny roadmap to living a life of abudnance without burnout. Her Money Bootcamp has helped over 6,000 students from all around the world. She’s a lazy introvert, a Hay House author and an unbusy mother of 3. She owns a rose farm and lives by the beach in sunny Austral

When the going gets tough, you have to keep going. And for some, being resilient is easier said than done. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a business coach about resiliency and some tips for keeping your eyes on the prize even in the face of diversity. About our guest: Anna Lundberg is the founder of One Step Outside, where she helps experienced professionals around the world design a career, a business and a lifestyle that brings them more freedom, flexibility and fulfillment - outside of the conventional 9 to 5. Ex-Oxford, ex-Procter & Gamble, today she combines her 10+ years of experience in global branding and digital marketing roles with her training in coaching and positive psychology techniques to help people reimagine the next phase of their career.  Anna offers a blend of life coaching and business mentoring on a one-on-one basis and in a group setting. She is the host of the Reimagining Success podcast and author of Leaving the Corporate 9 to 5:

In a world that's full of uncertainty, it can be challenging to maintain your sense of inner peace. And for wedding pros who are used to the constant hustle, maintaining any sort of balance can be difficult as well. But there are steps you can take right now to get your zen on! In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a wedding industry veteran who shares some practical tips for finding time for yourself and getting more calm and centered. About our guest: We may recognize Gurminder for his versatility as a creative photographer with Banga Studios. But, what you may not know is in the last 3 years, Gurminder has developed a fond and growing interest in spirituality and mindfulness. A lover of several meditation practices, ranging from Breath-work, Mantra, Question, or Silent Meditation, Gurminder is on a journey to uncover more of the teachings of his inner world, so he can live by them in his outer world. His practice begins at 5am daily, and the results speak for th

If the majority of your business is in your head, it's time to get a better system. Systems and software can help manage your tasks, streamline communication with clients, and even track your money, not to mention make it easier for your customers to do business with you. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting all about systems in business, why you need them, the first steps in creating one, and when it's time to hire a professional to help you get started. About our guest: Nikisha Hidalgo is the founder and creative director of two thriving companies: Inviting Treasures, a custom illustration design agency specializing in wedding stationery; and ANH Design House, an online stationery store that brings joy to family and friends through paper goods.     In addition to being a successful Black female entrepreneur and business owner, Nikisha is deeply committed to her family. The daughter of Elmore and Agnes, wife to John, mother of two beautiful and strong girls, Haley and

If you have an established, respected business in the wedding industry, chances are high that you've had people reach out to "pick your brain" for advice and guidance. But at what point do you go from being an open book about your process to actually monetizing it? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about making the transition into coaching and consulting, including running memberships. With a completely different target audience and structure, there are certainly things to know before jumping in head first. About our guest: After a decade in weddings and events, Amber Anderson, founder of Heavenly Day Events, pivoted her career into coaching others while maintaining a role in her planning company in Austin, Texas. As the host of Refine for Wedding Planners, Amber desires to coach and mentor planners via the largest Facebook group exclusively for wedding planners by offering a course, retreat, membership and templates. Amber is known for having radical honesty, often

It's a fresh year and for our first episode of 2021, we're talking about intuition and how you can tap into this additional sense. Do you "trust your gut" when you make a decision in life and business? Or are you ignoring your own intuition? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a life coach all about intuition, what it is, and how we can be more aware of the intuitive hits that are coming at us. About our guest: Danielle Vaughn is a Life Coach, writer, workshop facilitator, meditation guide, and speaker. Danielle works with clients one-on-one and in group settings guiding them to connect with their innate wisdom through their intuition. Teaching various modalities that open and expand on limiting beliefs, insecurities, and self-doubt, Danielle leads her clients to breakthroughs and alignment with the truth of their hearts' desires. Through transformations, transitions, or turmoil, Danielle offers her clients an open space to be seen and heard without judgement,

Just when you've figured out Instagram Reels, the social media platform changes it up with a whole new feature to figure out. Enter Instagram Guides. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a social media educator about the newest Instagram feature and how it can be used by wedding pros to curate their content. Grab your phone and follow along as we take it step-by-step! About our guest: K.M. Robinson is a social media educator and speaker who helps entrepreneurs build profitable businesses through smart social media marketing. She’s been spotlighted by Facebook for her innovative work in the field, and has been appeared on CBS News nationally, NBC news nationally, Business News Daily, Writer’s Weekly, New York Comic Con, Penned Con Charleston, Penned Con St Louis, MerMagic Con, Live Con, and more. She specializes in livestreaming, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok growth. She’s also a best-selling fiction author. In this episode, listeners will hear about: K.M.'s back

We've all heard at some point that it's important to get 8 hours of sleep each night. But for busy entrepreneurs, it's certainly not uncommon to trim back on sleep when things get busy and you need more hours in your day. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're talking to a a neurologist and sleep expert about the importance of sleep for our bodies and minds and some tips for getting more quality sleep over time. About our guest: Dubbed “The Sleep Whisperer” by Arianna Huffington, Dr. Winter has been involved in the field of sleep medicine for twenty five years. A fully board certified neurologist and double board certified sleep specialist, Dr. Winter has been helping individuals sleep better through his private clinic, group consultations, work with professional athletes, and dynamic media presence. His first book, The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep Is Broken and How to Fix It has received high praise both in the United States and internationally as a fresh and effective approach