This Week In Weddings

Are you giving your clients the highest level of service? While giving concierge-level service to your clients might be ideal, there certainly is a fine line between bending over backwards to every client's whim and having boundaries with your own life. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a wedding planner and designer about offering concierge-level service to clients and what that looks like for her and her team. About our guest: Jeannette Tavares has been with Evoke Design & Creative since 2010. Over that time, she has designed, planned and executed a plethora of mesmerizing client experiences all around the world. For the first eight years, she worked alongside Evoke’s founder, Jodi Moraru, as they built one of the most innovative event planning businesses on the East Coast. Then, in the summer of 2018, Jeannette acquired Evoke from Jodi and has since grown both the business and the team to the impressive collection of experienced professionals that it is to

We all know that it's important to have a web presence as a small business owner. But what are the biggest website mistakes that entrepreneurs are making? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a web developer about website nightmares and the easiest ways to avoid them. From slow loading websites, website hacking, and terrible web designers, we're digging into ways to protect yourself from website nightmares! About our guest: Brenda Cadman is a website educator and owns Bon Accord Creative, a website education and web development company based in Charlottetown, on beautiful Prince Edward Island in Atlantic Canada. After spending nearly 20 years supporting small businesses with their websites, she now has a keen interest and focus on empowering wedding industry and other creative professionals to build their website confidence and to learn how to better protect their websites. In this episode, listeners will hear about: Brenda's background in web development and how s

Mental health and mental illness have historically been a taboo topic, but there's no reason it should be. With one in five Americans suffering from some sort of mental health condition, there's no reason it should be hidden in the shadows or seen as something of shame. In this week's episode of the This Week’s In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with wedding industry veteran Beth Chapman about how mental illness has affected her family, including the steps she's taken in her own life to protect her mental health as a busy entrepreneur.  About our guest: Beth Lindsay Chapman is a veteran of the fashion industry and is known for her work as a bridal boutique owner, stylist mentor, author, and wedding fashion consultant. After her tenure as a Vice President of Merchandising for Ann Taylor, her love of bridal fashion, and sincere desire to create a memorable shopping experience for brides, compelled her to launch The White Dress by the shore, a luxury bridal boutique, in 2004.  Beth is also the founder of Beth C

South Asian weddings are a huge market. And with large guest lists and multiple days of events, it's no doubt that this is a segment of the market should not be ignored. If you're not currently working with this market segment, this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast is for you. We're chatting with wedding photographer Gurminder Banga about his experience with this market and things to know about working with this demographic. About our guest: To Gurminder Banga storytelling is everything. Taking over the family business over 10 years ago, he takes all the photography and life lessons he learned along the way to lead the way for the new era of the Banga Studios family. Photographer and a creator, this artist has a way of building a relationship with everything and everyone that he encounters, letting him in to capture an essence and an element they didn’t even know existed within themselves. Barstarzz all-star and the most chill vegan we know, GB is a believer in growth and stepping outside o

Have you ever wondered if a life coach could help you propel forward your big goals and dreams? Or better yet, are you curious what having a coach is like, what they do, and how it all works? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with wedding photographer Molly McCauley about her experience with coaching workshops, as well as one-on-one business coaches and life/success coaches. She's sharing with us all the ins and outs and how these experiences have been beneficial to her and her business. About our guest: Born in Green Bay, WI, Molly had her sights set on a big city from an early age. She attended university in Minneapolis, then ventured to work and study in London, England, before landing in Los Angeles where she built her business. With a degree in Design, Photography, and Retail Merchandising, and a Masters degree in Fine Art Photography, Molly has spent the last decade traveling as a lifestyle, editorial, and special event photographer. She has circled the globe a

If you're growing your business, hiring employees is inevitable. But finding and hiring good people isn't always easy. How do you figure out what you need in an employee and then interview for those skills? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Katie Elder about some best practices for finding, hiring, and interviewing for your team. About our guest: Katie Elder, PhD started her professional journey when she pursued a degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and became a consultant to companies looking to improve their hiring, onboarding, training, team dynamics, management, or leadership. Essentially, anything that has to do with the ‘people part’ of an organization. She has over 15 years of experience and has consulted with Fortune 500 companies in the tech and banking industries, government agencies, and small businesses.  Four years ago, she undertook a new adventure with her husband. They purchased and renovated her grandfather’s barn for their own wedding

It sounds so simple and obvious – Work hard and be nice to people. But it's not always as easy as it sounds. If you don't know your "why" or simply not finding your own joy, working hard and being nice to people can be a challenge to do on a daily business. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with wedding photographer Charla Storey, who has some tips on incorporating this mantra into your daily life. And for full disclosure... there are some slight audio issues in this week's episode. Stick with it, as there are definitely some nuggets of wisdom that make it worth it! About our guest: Charla Storey has been a photographer for more than a decade. Traveling the world and experiencing everything it has to give made one thing very clear in her mind, and that is that people are valuable and the moments they live are worth being remembered. She has a profound love for helping people see their value, allowing them to feel beautiful and capable. Both in educating fellow photogr

Sometimes you just need a break... and not just a day off, but an extended period of rest and rejuvenation. Professors and ministers often take sabbaticals, why can't you? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Washington, D.C. based wedding planner Sara Bauleke, who has successfully taken not one but two extended breaks from her business. She's sharing the why she did it, how she did it, and how you can do it too. About our guest: Sara Bauleke, a wedding planner & designer, has been creating modern, fun filled weddings that are distinct reflections of her clients' personalities for over 15 years. A logistics expert who's also a creative, Sara brings a rare combination of skills and savvy to wedding production. Sara is a West Coast native who, as the daughter of a minister has been surrounded by weddings her entire life. After relocating across the country, Sara founded Bella Notte in Washington, DC in 2004. Sara and her team are passionate about working with mode

The year is halfway over! In this casual episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, Kimberly and Annie chat about their favorite episodes from the first half of the year as well as their goals for the last half of 2019. 

Oh, time off. It can be hard to come by when you have a busy event schedule. But did you know that forcing yourself to take time off can actually make you more productive when you are working? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with return guest Kelly McWilliams who is sharing how she's started arranging her calendar to allow for 5 days off per month and how doing so has made her even more productive each week. If taking time off is hard for you, this is a must-listen episode! About our guest: A Florida native, Kelly McWilliams, a destination wedding planner-designer has been producing weddings, social events and celebrations since 2002.  In 2018 her business expanded beyond Florida to formally include Nevis, West Indies and Punta De Mita Mexico to her roster of islands and Waterfront cities which already included Sanibel, Captiva, Marco, Boca Grande, Naples & the Florida Keys. Her company, Kelly McWilliams Celebrations, Weddings & Parties, has been a leader in

Public speaking has widely been one of the most common fears for people, but if you're trying to establish yourself as an expert in the industry, public speaking is inevitable. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a public speaking coach who shares some tips for preparing, practicing, and presenting your way to a better public speaking. About our guest: Jezra Kaye, President of Speak Up for Success, is a Brooklyn-based public speaking coach, workshop leader, speechwriter, and keynote speaker with more than 25 years of experience in corporate, not-for-profit, and start-up communications. Her clients range from CEOs to celebrity chefs, and from scientists to social entrepreneurs. A former jazz singer, she is the author of three popular books on public speaking and a novel, and has co-authored three books on management and fundraising best practices. In this episode, listeners will hear about: Jezra's background as a jazz singer and how she became a public speaking co

If your to-do list is overflowing and things just aren't getting done, you might need help. But help doesn't have to come in the form of a full-time employee. A virtual assistant could help with some of your back office tasks without the expense of an employee. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a virtual assistant focused on helping creative businesses about what a virtual assistant is and how you can leverage their services to get more done. About our guest: Adrienna McDermott is a former bridal boutique owner and wedding planner turned virtual assistant. She is the owner of Ava And The Bee, a virtual assistant and social media managing company for wedding professionals. Adrienna has been in the wedding industry for 10 years, 5 years working and managing bridal salons, and 4 as the co-owner of Ivory & Beau, a wedding planning, bridal boutique and florist in Savannah, Georgia. Over the last year, she has grown her virtual assistant company and now works full

Going through any tragedy is tough, but when you're an entrepreneur, dealing with personal issues can be even more problematic as it can ultimately affect your business. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a wedding planner and designer about how he dealt with the death of his spouse while building a business and raising children. About our guest: A nuptial maestro, for almost a decade, José specializes in bringing comfort to a process that’s famously filled with tough decisions and mounting stress when it comes to weddings. He quickly made a name for his chill vibe and generous command. His planning and design aesthetic has made him one of the top rising wedding planners in NYC. In this episode, listeners will hear about: José's background in the event and wedding industry The circumstances of José's husband's tragic death and how he learned of his husband's death How José leaned on his wedding industry family to get through the most difficult time of his life Co

In this casual episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, Kimberly and Annie chat about tips for prepping for the summer months. From kids being out of school to going on vacation (without a laptop!), the two hosts are dishing about their hits and misses when it comes to gearing up for the summer months with a wedding business.

It would be awesome to never have a crazy client, but if you've been in the wedding industry for any period of time, you're likely not that lucky. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about dealing with challenging clients, and even more importantly, how to see the crazy coming! About our guest: Jamie Quickert hails from Detroit Michigan and has become a nationally known leader in the hospitality industry.  For the past several years Jamie has been a featured speaker at NACE Experience, Catersource, Wedding MBA, and ILEA. She has also been a featured speaker for several industry webinars and written articles for large publications. Jamie has proudly lead her sales and events team in several high profile events and galas around the country and has won several local and national awards for catering. Jamie is warm and personable on stage and often uses humor (and sing-a-longs) to engage the audience. While she enjoys teaching sales techniques and how to handle difficult cli

As a busy entrepreneur, it can be incredibly difficult to do all the things. And when you're working IN your business, you're likely not taking a strategic role and working ON the business. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with an entrepreneur who hired full-time employees to replace himself in the daily operations so that he could take a more strategic role and pursue other business interests.  About our guest: After a brief stint in the entertainment industry, Jake Anderson discovered his passion for lighting design and the rest was history. He founded Lighting Professors in 2012 with the intention to transform events around Central Virginia through careful and innovative lighting design. Since then, Lighting Professors has grown by leaps and bounds and Jake has had the opportunity to grow his team and move to a 2,000+ square foot warehouse. This shift has allowed him to take a step back and maintain his role as strategic manager, while developing his newest endeav

Oh Instagram! It's the social media channel of choice for so many in the wedding industry, but are you using Instagram Stories as effectively as you could be? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with photographer Abby Jiu about leveraging Instagram Stories to show your personality and behind the scenes of your business in order to boost your sales. If you've just dipped your toe in the IG stories waters, this episode is for you! About our guest: Abby Jiu has had a passion for gorgeous imagery and creating art since before she can remember. Her style is the best of both worlds, using film cameras and digital cameras to catch the stolen glances, fits of laughter, and heartfelt emotions sprinkled among the ever-important beautiful details that make each couple’s wedding day unique. She loves having the opportunity to get to know her couples, watching the personalized touches come together and using the relationship she’s built to preserve precious memories on film. When sh

The event industry is a challenging one, and as wedding industry entrepreneurs, we're often putting ourselves last on the priority list. But what happens when you make the conscious decision to prioritize yourself (and your health) and transform both your body and your mind? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with DJ Nate Nelson, who is sharing his story of his dramatic weight loss and how the transformation has changed his life. This week's episode isn't just about weight... it's about a shift in mindset! About our guest: While most students were studying for finals in college, Nate was fine tuning his life skills. Mixing it up in the college nightlife scene reflected in his grades, but the value of learning the art of mixing music early in his career would pay off in the end. Fast forward 15 years, Nate can now buy all the sneakers he wanted growing up. That's the true meaning of success, right? Nate started his Dallas DJ career bouncing from bar to bar, it wasn't un

Most small businesses fizzle before hitting their five year anniversary, and the wedding industry is no different. With vendors coming and going, how do you become one of the more tenured folks that sticks around and continues to thrive? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Katie Easley of Kate Ryan Design, who is sharing her tips for having a career in the wedding industry that lasts. From networking to furthering your education, Katie tells it like it is and shares her best advice for making it for the long haul. About our guest: Leading floral stylist and event designer Katie Easley of award-winning Kate Ryan Design set out with one goal: to create joy for her clients. And she did just that, establishing Scottsdale-based Kate Ryan Design, combining her interior design background with her love of florals. Thanks in part to her roots in corporate interior design, Katie quickly grew her small business to sales of over a quarter of a million dollars a year, catching

When you're a wedding entrepreneur with a strong local target market, the idea of relocating to another city can be overwhelming. From starting from scratch in a city that doesn't know you to hustling like you're a newbie, moving a wedding business is no joke. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a wedding planner who successfully moved her business from Dallas to Atlanta and lived to tell about it! Listen in for her tips for moving (or "expanding") to a new city as a wedding industry entrepreneur. About our guest: With a passion for celebrating love and life’s unique moments and milestones, Ebony’s talents have evolved into a successful career as a wedding and event planner.  With a degree from Michigan State University in elementary education, her engaging personality and organizational skills have allowed her to effortlessly crossover from education to event planning!   Ebony is the owner and principal planner of Ebony Peoples Events & Design, an award-winnin