This Week in Weddings
232 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 121 ratingsThis Week in Weddings is a support group for wedding industry entrepreneurs. We're the ones behind the scenes - planning and designing the wedding, creating the invitations, baking the cakes, and taking the photos. The podcast features wedding planner Kimberly Rhodes and invitation designer Annie Roche chatting about the business of weddings with professionals in the wedding industry.
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Episodes
181: Juggling a Full-Time Job and Your Wedding Business
September 23, 2020 14:12 - 51 minutes - 70.7 MBOwning a wedding business right now is certainly not as profitable as it used to be. With events postponing and cancelling and fewer new bookings coming in, many wedding industry entrepreneurs are looking at their finances wondering if it's the time to get a "real job." In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a wedding photographer who has done just that in order to sustain her family during the rough patch that is a pandemic. Listen is as she shares ...
180: The Reality of the Events Industry
September 16, 2020 15:40 - 54 minutes - 75 MBThe events industry is all about creating the pretty. But let's be honest... things aren't so pretty right now. With events postponing and canceling and most vendors seeing fewer inquiries coming in than in years past, being in the wedding industry right now is no joke. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with floral designer and event production guru Jes Gordon about the changes to her business in light of Covid. She's sharing her open and honest opin...
179: Staying Productive During Your Down Time
September 09, 2020 15:02 - 55 minutes - 76 MBWith fewer events taking place in 2020, wedding industry entrepreneurs have more down time than normal. And for so many of us who thrive when we're overly busy, staying productive when things are slower is a challenging task. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a time management expert about her top tips for staying productive and motivated during this slow season. About our guest: Elizabeth Grace Saunders is the founder and CEO of Real Life...
178: Mentally Preparing for Events During Covid-19
September 02, 2020 13:56 - 49 minutes - 68 MBDepending on where you live, micro-weddings may be the only option in your area. Or... a bash for 400 guests might still be a thing! Not only are the rules all over the place, but a wedding pro's personal beliefs on whether live events should be taking place during a pandemic certainly make the situation even more difficult. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a wedding planner about her thought process on moving forward with events both before an...
177: Google My Business Strategies for Wedding Pros
August 26, 2020 16:21 - 43 minutes - 79.8 MBWe talk about SEO constantly when it comes to getting your business seen on the internet, but so many small businesses are not taking advantage of the free business listing with Google My Business. Even if you have created a listing on Google, when was the last time you updated it, added more current photos, and created FAQs? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a Google My Business pro about the features of the free listing and what steps every bu...
176: Creating Quizzes to Generate Leads
August 19, 2020 12:00 - 41 minutes - 76.6 MBIf you've been on Facebook or Instagram at all in the last few years, you've undoubtedly come across an online quiz. Who doesn't want to know which Disney princess they are?!? But have you ever considered creating your own quiz in order to generate leads for your wedding business? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a wedding photographer who is doing just that and successfully bringing in leads every single day using online quizzes targeted at he...
175: The Enneagram and Your Wedding Business
August 12, 2020 14:31 - 1 hour - 144 MBYou've probably heard the term Enneagram before. But what the heck is it? And how can you use it to better yourself, your relationships, and you business? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with an Enneagram expert and business coach about the Enneagram, what it is, and the different types and what they mean. About our guest: Teresa McCloy is the creator of the REALIFE Process®, Keynote Speaker, Podcaster and a Certified Coach through the Interna...
174: The Best Books for Your Wedding Business
August 05, 2020 12:00 - 1 hour - 137 MBBeing an entrepreneur means always striving to improve yourself and your business. Sure, you could put yourself through business school or sign up for every educational conference available. But want to expand your knowledge in a way that’s easier and a lot less expensive? Pick up a book! Business leaders all over the world credit books for expanding their perspective and furthering their education. Are you taking advantage of the plethora of business books available at your fingertips? In t...
173: Work Life Balance: How to Have It All (or Not)
July 29, 2020 16:51 - 50 minutes - 92.8 MBRunning a successful wedding industry business can be all consuming. And for many of us, it becomes our life! But the imbalance of work and personal priorities can wreak havoc, especially when it comes to relationships. Are you balancing both well? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with an industry veteran about her personal journey as a working mom and the fallout she suffered when her work, her marriage, and her children weren't perfectly priorit...
172: What a Pandemic Can Teach You About Your Contracts
July 22, 2020 12:00 - 1 hour - 122 MBEven if you've had a rock solid contract from day one of your business, there is very likely something that you will want to revisit based on the sudden occurrence of a worldwide pandemic. With events being postponed and cancelled, are you protected? Contract addendums? Liability release forms? Force majeure? There's so much to know, and in this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with an attorney (who just so happens to have experience in the wedding indus...
171: Reducing Stress While Running a Wedding Business
July 15, 2020 14:00 - 38 minutes - 70.3 MBIf the wedding industry isn't stressful.... we don't know what is! And even when the world is normal, the goal of creating perfection for a client's wedding day can take a toll on any wedding industry entrepreneur. How do we live in a stressful world and work in a stressful industry without losing our minds? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a stress reduction coach with a background in the event industry about reducing stress while running a ...
170: Dealing with the Difficult and How to Come Out on Top
July 08, 2020 14:00 - 1 hour - 112 MBIn an industry built by reputation, how you come out of a difficult situation says so much about you and your business. And we all know that the wedding industry definitely has its fair share of difficult! Difficult clients, difficult situations, or even difficult vendor partners, can make producing "perfect" events for a living no small feat. But when faced with these challenging obstacles, how do you come out on top? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chat...
169: Your Pricing Is Your Marketing
July 01, 2020 14:18 - 53 minutes - 97.7 MBPricing your services is always a hot topic in the wedding industry. But what many entrepreneurs don't consider is that your price determines much more than just the numbers in your bank account. How you're priced can often equate to a perceived value for your goods and services and even determines who your target audience is. Before making changes to your pricing or even your pricing structure, take a listen to this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast. We're chatting about ...
168: What's Working Right Now on Pinterest
June 24, 2020 15:00 - 1 hour - 141 MBGetting your wedding business active on Pinterest is a perfect task during unexpected business downtime, but Pinterest can be confusing! And many wedding businesses just don't know how (or why) to use it for marketing their companies. Have no fear... Julianne Smith is here! In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting all about Pinterest for your wedding business and what you should be doing to take advantage of this search engine that's perfect for showcasing ...
167: SEO for Event Pros
June 17, 2020 13:55 - 1 hour - 125 MBWhile Instagram and Facebook may be great social media channels, Google still reigns supreme when it comes to finding information on the internet. But getting your company's website to rise in the search rankings is no easy feat. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with tech guru Julie Novack from PartySlate all about optimizing your website for search engine optimization (SEO). Through a few simple tips focused around content strategy, Julie shares ho...
166: Microaggressions You Didn't Even Know About
June 10, 2020 14:00 - 1 hour - 159 MBThe Black Lives Matter movement certainly is not new. But the recent deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor have finally brought racial injustice, prejudice and systematic racism to the forefront of America discussions. While the This Week In Weddings podcast is generally about the business of weddings, the awareness to inequality is everybody's business. Join us as we discuss microaggressions toward the black community that you may not have even been aware of. About our...
165: Marketing Momentum with a Limited Budget
June 03, 2020 14:00 - 53 minutes - 97.1 MBReducing business expenses, and especially right now, is certainly on the top of every entrepreneurs to do list. But how can you still market your business when you have a limited budget to do so? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting all about marketing with a limited budget and what things you can do to stay top of mind without spending large amounts of money. Before you cancel all your marketing activities in an effort to save money, check out this we...
164: Creating One-on-One Connections in a Digital World
May 27, 2020 14:00 - 50 minutes - 92.2 MBAre you over the Zoom call? It's safe to say that this new way of meeting with clients and selling your services isn't going away any time soon, so wedding industry entrepreneurs have to get on board with a new way to communicate. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Eddie Zaratsian about this new world of digital and virtual communication and the changes he's making in his process to adapt. About our guest: Eddie Zaratsian is the visionary be...
163: Turning Your Volume-Based Business Into a Value-Based Business
May 20, 2020 14:17 - 1 hour - 111 MBHow many events do you want to do in a year? Even more importantly, how many events can you do in a year while still providing excellent service to your clients? While some wedding businesses operate with volume in mind, others take on fewer events and give a higher touch experience. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with wedding planner and designer Wendy Kay about the different business models and the advantages of turning volume into higher value....
162: Using TikTok for Your Business
May 13, 2020 15:38 - 29 minutes - 53.5 MBOh TikTok. You so crazy! But is this new social media platform something wedding pros should be jumping on? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a wedding planner who has jumped on the TikTok bandwagon to the tune of 28,000 followers and thinks it's a great way to connect with the next generation of couples. Whether you're already on the platform doing the Savage dance or don't even know what the Savage dance is, this episode is definitely worth a ...
161: Why the Words Matter on Your Website
May 06, 2020 12:00 - 49 minutes - 90.5 MBThis is the time to dig into projects that have been on the back burner for far too long, and for many wedding pros, that may include updating their website. But the pretty pictures on your company website aren't the only things that are important. The words on your website are just as important, but are left as an afterthought. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Katy Taylor, lead copywriter and brand communication strategist for Ideaction Consul...
160: What to Do With Your Covid-19 Imposed Sabbatical
April 29, 2020 09:37 - 1 hour - 149 MBWith events not taking place throughout the country in the near future, wedding pros are being forced to take time off. But what are you doing during the down time to make it productive? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with wedding planner Sara Bauleke, who is no stranger to taking sabbaticals. She shared with us in Episode 124 how and why taking a sabbatical can be transformative, and in this episode we're chatting about how this Covid-19 imposed ...
159: Embracing Fear in Your Wedding Business
April 22, 2020 14:00 - 48 minutes - 88.9 MBWith so much unknown about when events will take place again, it's no wonder that wedding pros around the world have fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of change. Fear about money. Fear about what will happen with their businesses and livelihood. But what if we could use that fear as motivation instead of something that holds us back? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a photographer about embracing the fear that many of us have right now and moving...
158: Auditing Your Brand
April 15, 2020 14:00 - 53 minutes - 98.8 MBWith events not taking place in the coming weeks, all of us in the wedding industry have a little bit of down time. There's never been a better time to take a look at your online presence and do an audit of your brand. But what does that even mean? And how do you do it? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a brand strategist who works with creative professionals in the wedding industry. Kaleigh Wiese is sharing some amazing tips for doing a brand a...
157: How to Work from Home Efficiently
April 08, 2020 12:00 - 52 minutes - 95.5 MBIf you're anything like us, you've been thrown into a whole new world where it's difficult to tell what day it is, your workspace isn't what it used to be, and your "co-workers" (a.k.a. children) don't understand what business hours are. Welcome to the new world of shelter-in-place and working from home! In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a wedding industry professional who has worked at home from the inception of her business and has never looke...
156: Risk and Crisis Management in the Face of the Coronavirus
April 01, 2020 14:00 - 1 hour - 143 MBIf there's one thing that the coronavirus has taught us, it's that as business owners we can never be too prepared. Just like a tornado or an earthquake, COVID-19 is a disaster, and now that the event world has a little bit of down time because of it, what should we be doing to be better prepared for the next unexpected situation? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a seasoned event planner who has seen her fair share of event complications over t...
155: First-Hand Experience with COVID-19
March 25, 2020 12:45 - 1 hour - 132 MBTom Hanks. Andy Cohen. Idris Elba. We all know what they have in common. And without a doubt, that list of stars who have first-hand experience with COVID-19 is going to continue to grow just as the list of ordinary people who contract it continues grows. Truly, no one is immune. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a wedding and event photographer who has joined the list of Covid-19 survivors. Now that she has recovered, she's doing her part to ed...
154: How to Prep for an Economic Downturn
March 18, 2020 16:42 - 59 minutes - 109 MBYou guys... what in the holy hell is going on??!? COVID-19 is hitting us all in the event industry HARD, and now is the time to look at your business and adjust as best you can. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Michelle Loretta about ways to prep your business for the economic impact of the coronavirus. About our guest: Michelle Loretta is a strategist for the wedding industry and creator of Sage Wedding Pros, founded in 2009. She blends he...
153: Selling to Different Personality Types
March 11, 2020 14:02 - 1 hour - 120 MBWe've said it a million times, but without a sale, you don't have a business. And most of us in the wedding industry haven't had formal sales training experience. In this episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting all about sales techniques as well as the different personality types that you might be selling to in the wedding industry. Identifying the type of person you're selling to can give you an advantage in the sales process as you can tailor your approach. About our...
152: Getting to the Luxury Market by Finding Your Wedding's Angle
March 04, 2020 13:30 - 39 minutes - 72.9 MBIf you're wanting to make the move into the luxury wedding market, you have to have a high end portfolio. And while not every wedding client may have a six- or seven-figure budget, there are certainly ways to make a piece of every wedding stand out. In this episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about the ways to highlight the best features of a wedding in order to up-level your portfolio and your brand. About our guests: Starting off on Craigslist, Abby photographe...
151: Working With a Business Bestie
February 26, 2020 14:00 - 51 minutes - 94.5 MBIf you've ever considered going into business with a friend, this week's episode is a must listen! From the importance of doing things the legal way to figuring out how to cope with different work styles, there's a lot to consider. And how do you work through conflict in business without it affecting your friendship? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with two wedding photographers who have mastered the titles of best friends and business partners and...
150: LIVE from the BeSage Conference - Meeting of the Minds Breakfast
February 19, 2020 16:09 - 57 minutes - 106 MBThis week's podcast episode is a special treat as it's the first LIVE recording of the This Week In Weddings podcast! Take a glimpse into the Meeting of the Minds Breakfast from the BeSage Conference 2020 in Austin, Texas. Conference attendees submitted questions in advance and during the breakfast we workshop them with the group. It's amazing what you can learn when 70 wedding professionals are sharing their opinions and experiences! In this episode, listeners will hear about: Tips for ...
149: The Hows and Whys of Starting a Networking Group
February 12, 2020 18:00 - 48 minutes - 88.9 MBIf you live in a large market, there likely is an event industry or wedding industry networking group that you can be a part of, from NACE and ILEA to WIPA and ABC. But for those in a smaller market or for professionals that looking to network with a subset of your colleagues, there might not be a group that's perfect for you. Maybe you should be the one to start it! In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about wedding planner Michelle Garibay who started...
148: Busy Versus Better
February 06, 2020 09:16 - 1 hour - 119 MBFor business owners, being busy is often an understatement. With client work and just running the day-to-day operations, there often aren't enough hours in the day. But in today's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about shifting your mindset (and boundaries) so that you're not just busy... but are better! We're chatting with wedding planner Jennifer Thye about the "busy" epidemic and ways to combat it. About our guest: As founder and principal designer of Imoni...
147: Business Beyond Weddings
January 29, 2020 19:48 - 57 minutes - 106 MBFor many entrepreneurs, business ideas come faster than you can actually be executed. And if serial entrepreneur sounds like something you would use to describe yourself, you've come to the right place. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with wedding planner Annie Lee, who has created a successful planning business, while working additional side hustles that fuel her passion for entrepreneurship. About our guest: The daughter of an interior design...
146: Techniques to Increase Your Close Rate
January 16, 2020 02:00 - 52 minutes - 95.5 MBWe've said it a million times, but without a sale, you don't have a business. And the number of clients you are meeting with doesn't matter nearly as much as the number of pieces of business that is actually closed. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with wedding planner Tracie Domino about techniques to increase the close rates. About our guest: Tracie Domino is Founder + Creative Director of Tracie Domino Events, a boutique wedding planning comp...
145: Goal Setting for a New Year
January 08, 2020 23:00 - 41 minutes - 76.5 MBIt's a new year, and that means a fresh start, new goals, and an opportunity to make headway with better habits. While setting goals seems basic, there are some proven strategies that give you a greater chance for success. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with wedding photographer and educator Lin Pernille who has a passion for annual goal setting. Not only will you hear the interesting story of how Lin's enthusiasm for goals began, but you'll also ...
144: Happy New Year!
January 01, 2020 15:00 - 46 minutes - 84.6 MBIn this casual episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, Kimberly, Annie and Lance kick off the new year by reflecting on their favorite episodes of 2019 and also chat about their 2020 goals.
143: Creating Brand Ambassadors Within Your Business
December 18, 2019 18:00 - 36 minutes - 66 MBAs a business grows, there often comes the need to grow your team and bring on employees. But how do you make sure that the staff you bring on aren't just punching the time clock but are true representations of your company and brand? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with wedding planner turned business consultant Jen Taylor about some tips for creating brand ambassadors within your business. About our guest: Jennifer Taylor is the owner and fou...
142: How to Branch Out of Your Business
December 11, 2019 11:30 - 42 minutes - 77.1 MBBeing a serial entrepreneur is not a foreign concept to many of us. Often times, when you've built a successful business, the idea of creating another one is exciting. But, if you have grand plans for another business or even a spin-off of your current offerings, how do you make time for the new adventure. In this week's episode of This Week In Weddings, we're chatting with a wedding industry entrepreneur who successfully created a secondary brand when she saw a need in the market. Listen in...
141: How to Work with a Wedding Planner
December 05, 2019 04:47 - 1 hour - 136 MBWedding planners are a great source of wedding referrals and can be a perfect conduit to repeat business. But how do you get on a wedding planner's preferred list? And even more importantly, how do you stay on that list? In this week's episode of This Week In Weddings, we're chatting with a seasoned wedding planner about that things to do to make yourself stand out in a planner's eyes. And, of course, Kimberly can't help but add her own two cents about the topic as well! About our guest: ...
140: Communicating Realistic Budgets with Clients
November 20, 2019 18:00 - 1 hour - 131 MBWeddings are expensive, and most couples go into the planning process with absolutely no idea how much what they want actually costs in the real world. As wedding vendors, how can we communicate clearly with couples about wedding costs and why we charge what we do? In this week's episode of This Week In Weddings, we're chatting with wedding planner Mary Wright Shah about some best practices for clearly communicating costs and budgets throughout the planning process. Whether you're a wedding ...
139: The Power of Your Language and How it Can Transform Your Business
November 06, 2019 23:00 - 53 minutes - 97.9 MBWe communicate every single hour of every single day, but have you ever given thought to how the words that we use shape people's perception of you? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with wedding planner Renée Dalo about language and how the choice of words can either empower or diminish each of us as entrepreneurs. About our guest: Wedding planning wasn’t always in the cards for Renée Dalo. Instead, what started out as a seemingly one-time favor...
138: Making It to the Main Stage
October 30, 2019 22:00 - 55 minutes - 102 MBBreaking into speaking as an industry expert is no easy feat, but making it to the main stage of a national conference is an achievement of a select few. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with public relations expert Meghan Ely about getting into the national conference speaking circuit. From why to do it to how much it pays, we're digging in deep to making it on the main stage. About our guest: OFD Consulting owner, Meghan Ely, combines in-the-t...
137: So, You Want to Be a Podcast Guest
October 16, 2019 22:58 - 26 minutes - 49.1 MBIn this casual episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, Kimberly and Annie chat about being a guest on a podcast. From the "why" you'd want to be on a podcast to the "how" to pitch to a podcast, they're sharing their best advice for those who might want to break into this media, including a few tips for being a great guest once you are selected for a podcast.
136: Creating a Cozy Courtship With Your Clients
October 09, 2019 22:00 - 50 minutes - 92.4 MBIf you have a thriving business, you certainly have to juggle multiple clients at one time. But, how can you make each client feel like they're the only one? Or... better yet, do you even WANT them to feel like they're the only one? In this week's episode, we're chatting with wedding planner Alisha Chadee about creating a cozy (and crazy) courtship with your clients throughout the time you're working with them. About our guest: Alisha has a project management background in learning and d...
135: What to Do When You Hate Your Business
October 02, 2019 17:00 - 1 hour - 111 MBBurnout in the wedding industry is real! And if you've been in business for any period of time, you've likely had periods of feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or just beat down. But what do you do when you have a period of hating your business? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with wedding photographer Erin Youngren about her own experience and how she made shifts to get back to a business she loves. About our guest: Jeff and Erin Youngren are the...
134: The Wrong Way to Fire an Employee
September 25, 2019 17:00 - 1 hour - 133 MBIf you grow your business larger than a company of one, you may find yourself in a situation where you've hired an employee that might not be a good fit. The theory goes that you should hire slowly and fire quickly, but if you need to let someone go, do you know how to do it most effectively? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with two wedding industry veterans who reflect on their experience firing an employee and how they did it completely wrong. ...
133: Life After Millennials: Preparing for What's Next
September 12, 2019 02:00 - 44 minutes - 82 MBUnderstanding millennials has been a challenging endeavor for anyone in older generations. And just as we think we understand them, another generation is in the mix! Known as GenZ, this group was born between 1995 and 2015, and the oldest of this group will be the next round of wedding clients. Do you know what makes this group tick, how to communicate with them, and what their hot buttons are? In this week's episode of This Week In Weddings, we're chatting all about Generation Z and what we...
132: Strategic Strategies to Up Your Sales Game
September 04, 2019 19:04 - 56 minutes - 104 MBWithout sales, you don't have a business, but what are some new, creative strategies for building your business and getting more sales? In this week's episode of This Week In Weddings, we're chatting about ways to think outside the box when it comes to sales and expanding your network that are often overlooked. About our guest: Erica Taylor Haskins is a Founding Partner of New York City-based event production company Tinsel Experiential Design, formerly known as Tinsel & Twine. Tinse...