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
131: How to Give Concierge Service to Your Wedding Clients
August 28, 2019 17:00 - 49 minutes - 91.4 MBAre 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 Ta...
130: How to Avoid a Website Horror Story
August 21, 2019 17:00 - 1 hour - 110 MBWe 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 w...
129: Prioritizing Mental Health in Your Business
August 14, 2019 17:00 - 52 minutes - 96 MBMental 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 pro...
128: Breaking Into South Asian Weddings
August 07, 2019 17:00 - 34 minutes - 63.6 MBSouth 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 storytel...
127: Working with a Life Coach to Transform Your Business
July 31, 2019 22:05 - 1 hour - 128 MBHave 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 be...
126: Hiring 101 for the Wedding Industry
July 24, 2019 17:00 - 56 minutes - 103 MBIf 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-Organi...
125: Work Hard and Be Nice to People
July 17, 2019 17:00 - 1 hour - 123 MBIt 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 a...
124: Taking a Sabbatical from Your Wedding Business
July 10, 2019 17:00 - 59 minutes - 108 MBSometimes 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, ...
123: How the Heck is the Year Halfway Over?!
June 27, 2019 01:18 - 38 minutes - 70 MBThe 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.
122: How to Put Together a Conference
June 20, 2019 01:46 - 1 hour - 112 MBIt seems that nowadays, a new conference or workshop for the wedding industry pops up every week. And if you've been in the industry for any period of time, you might be thinking that you could profit by sharing your years of experience with others, but putting together a conference may not be as easy as you think. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with husband and wife photography duo Brittani and Jon Hon, who host the Hustle + Flow workshop. They'r...
121: How Planning Time Off Can Make You More Productive
June 12, 2019 22:16 - 56 minutes - 103 MBOh, 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...
120: How to Speak for Success
June 05, 2019 17:00 - 55 minutes - 102 MBPublic 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, wo...
119: How to Work with a Virtual Assistant
May 30, 2019 05:43 - 37 minutes - 68.5 MBIf 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. ...
118: Building Your Business After Loss
May 23, 2019 04:21 - 1 hour - 113 MBGoing 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 ...
117: Prepping Your Business for Summer
May 16, 2019 03:23 - 33 minutes - 60.4 MBIn 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.
116: Dealing With Hysterical Clients
May 09, 2019 03:19 - 58 minutes - 108 MBIt 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 ...
115: Creating a Big Picture Role for Yourself
May 02, 2019 03:27 - 59 minutes - 110 MBAs 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 entert...
114: Getting Over Your Instagram Grid
April 25, 2019 03:23 - 58 minutes - 107 MBOh 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: Ab...
113: Making a Personal Transformation to Change Your Business
April 17, 2019 22:09 - 57 minutes - 105 MBThe 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 i...
112: The Key to Achieving Longevity in the Events Industry
April 10, 2019 21:51 - 1 hour - 147 MBMost 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 li...
111: Relocating Your Wedding Business
April 03, 2019 19:58 - 55 minutes - 101 MBWhen 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"...
110: Email Marketing That Keeps People From Unsubscribing
March 28, 2019 02:49 - 1 hour - 112 MBWe all know that social media is a great way to market your wedding business. But we also know, that Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media channels could go away at any time. And with algorithms changing all the time, it's clear that small business owners have no control over these avenues of marketing. What we can control is our own marketing efforts, and building an email list and speaking directly to our clients, potential customers and vendor partners through email is cert...
109: How to Get Higher Paying Clients
March 21, 2019 14:04 - 58 minutes - 107 MBIf you're wanting to earn more without working weekends or working more events, having higher paying clients is the way to do it. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about sales strategies for getting higher paying clients with sales strategist Maria Bayer. About our guest: Maria Bayer is a sales & mindset strategist, coach & wealth creator. She is the creator of “Irresistible Selling” – an online group coaching program she designed to help creativ...
108: F@#k Small Talk - How to Get the Most Out of Networking
March 07, 2019 04:37 - 39 minutes - 72.9 MBNetworking can be a critical way to get you and your business noticed and connected in the wedding industry. But sometimes networking can be awkward. How much can you really discuss the weather?! In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about networking tips to go beyond small talk to make genuine connections. About our guest: Sam is a Drummer, Band Leader and Sales guy with The In10City Band. Originally from Australia, Sam relocated to the States in 20...
107: Ending a Business Partnership
February 28, 2019 04:58 - 59 minutes - 110 MBBeing in a business partnership can almost be like a marriage. You're sharing responsibilities, stress, and profits! But what happens when the partnership is no longer serving you well? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with wedding photographer Cameron Clark, who started as a solopreneur, gained a business partner, and then went back to being in business by herself. We're digging into the pros and cons of having a business partner, as well as the st...
106: From Procrastination to Productivity
February 21, 2019 02:58 - 46 minutes - 84.7 MBHave you been putting off something that you need to do? As an entrepreneur, you're in charge of your own day to day schedule, and with that freedom comes a certain responsibility to manage your own tasks. There's no boss telling you when you have to get something done! If you're prone to procrastination, this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast is for you. We're chatting with a clinical psychologist who has gone from procrastinating to productive and is sharing her best prac...
105: Juggling Two Different Wedding Businesses
February 14, 2019 06:17 - 31 minutes - 58.4 MBIf you're an entrepreneur in the wedding industry, you understand how challenging it can be to run a wedding business... but what if you have thoughts about running not one, but two different business? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Chris Jesperson, who runs both a wedding videography business and an event venue. We're hearing how he decided to jump into another area of the event industry and how he manages both. About our guest: Chris Je...
104: Knowing When to Change Course in Your Business
February 07, 2019 04:25 - 1 hour - 130 MBWhen opportunities present themselves for expanding your business, do you jump on them? Or when a part of business isn't working, are you able to shut it down and move on quickly? Being nimble in business can enable you to multiply your success or minimize your losses, but it's not always easy to do. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with event designer Todd Fiscus, who is sharing his experience with the various stages of his business. From adding di...
103: An Upselling Sales Strategy for More Profit
January 31, 2019 04:36 - 1 hour - 124 MBWithout a sale, you're not in business, so having a sales strategy is important for any wedding industry business. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Meryl Snow, who is sharing her sales tips and strategies for the wedding industry, including ways to make your business stand apart from the initial contact. About our guest: With nearly 30 years in the special event and catering industry, Meryl Snow is on a mission to help businesses get on the...
102: Why Positive Thinking Doesn't Mean That Life is All Roses
January 23, 2019 21:52 - 44 minutes - 82.4 MBWith so much coming at us 24/7 in social media and the news, it can be challenging to keep a positive attitude. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Cyndie Spiegel, whose positive outlook and boss lady empowerment is contagious. She's sharing her tips for staying positive through all of life's challenges. About our guest: Cyndie Spiegel is a Brooklyn-based small business consultant, coach, author and TEDx speaker. She is also the founder of The...
101: Crisis Communication for Event Pros
January 16, 2019 23:00 - 58 minutes - 106 MBWhen a natural disaster strikes in your area or some other tragedy of significance takes place, do you have a plan for how you'll communicate to your clients, vendors, and community? The saying goes that you never think it will happen to you, but having a plan in place for the just in case is never a bad idea. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Christie Osborne, who is an expert in the field of crisis communication and getting some advice on how ...
Episode 100
January 10, 2019 05:41 - 48 minutes - 89.2 MBIn this casual episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, Kimberly, Annie, and podcast editor Lance share some of their favorite episodes. After 99 episodes, there are certainly some things they've incorporated into their businesses for the better! Plus, hear some of the trios personal and professional goals for 2019.
Episode 99: How to End a Client Relationship
January 02, 2019 19:33 - 1 hour - 149 MBSometimes a client you thought was going to be a perfect fit for your business turns out to not be. If you've ever found yourself in the position of wanting to fire a client, this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast is for you. This week, we're chatting with wedding planner and designer Wendy Kay, who has successfully ended more than one client relationship and is sharing her experience and tips for having done so. About our guest: Wendy Kay is the owner of Birds of a Fe...
Episode 98: Navigating Your Business Through a Natural Disaster
December 19, 2018 19:10 - 1 hour - 120 MBHurricanes, and tornadoes, and wildfires... oh my! A natural disaster can have a devastating impact, but have you thought about the impact it could have to your business? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Clara Hough, whose Houston-based linen company was impacted by Hurricane Harvey. In this episode, Clara shares her experience of dealing with event cancellations, closing the office, and still maintaining payroll during the devastation along wi...
Episode 97: Knowing the Ins and Outs of Your Clients Before Meeting Them
December 12, 2018 23:04 - 45 minutes - 83.6 MBHow much information do you gather about potential clients before meeting with them or working with them? While Facebook stalking seems like a fairly standard practice, gathering additional information from wedding couples about their needs and wants in advance can make it even easier (and more efficient) to sell your services. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a destination wedding planner who books almost all her wedding business without an in...
Episode 96: Getting More Done with Workcations
December 06, 2018 00:54 - 1 hour - 111 MBAs a small business owner, it's easy to be focused on client work and just trying to survive the day to day demands, but taking the time to work ON the business can be a bit more difficult. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a Seattle-based wedding planner who has used "workcations" to get more done in her business. Listen in as she talks through the process of working on the business with her industry peers. About our guest: Holly Patton Ols...
Episode 95: Networking for Introverts
November 28, 2018 15:13 - 50 minutes - 93.4 MBThe 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 yea...
Episode 94: Leveraging Instagram for Your Wedding Business
November 21, 2018 23:19 - 48 minutes - 88.3 MBThere's no doubt that Instagram is a popular social media platform for the wedding industry. Many wedding industry professionals even credit Instagram for bringing them business and growing sales. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a social media maven all about Instagram and her tips for what to post, where to post, and even how to evaluate your strategy with the platform's statistics. About our guest: Samantha Roberts was a Division 1 golfe...
Episode 93: Mastering the Post-Wedding Follow-Up
November 14, 2018 18:53 - 1 hour - 59.9 MBAs wedding vendors, it's sometimes easy to cross a client off your list once their wedding has happened. Check it off and on to the next! But are you missing opportunities by not having a strong post-wedding follow-up strategy? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a photographer who recently got married herself and discovered some aspects of being a bride that she never realized on the vendor side. Listen in as we discuss ways to be a better vendor...
Episode 92: Establishing Boundaries with Clients
November 07, 2018 23:41 - 1 hour - 127 MBHave you established clear boundaries with your clients so that you aren't being overworked, overburdened, or bombarded 24 hours a day? Or are your clients running over you? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting about establishing boundaries with clients and the best ways to do that. About our guest: Grit & Grace Inc. is a team of diverse individuals that have been committed to creating experiences for our clients and empowering our industry for ov...
Episode 91: Transforming Client Feedback into Company Growth
October 31, 2018 23:03 - 40 minutes - 74.4 MBAre you soliciting feedback from your wedding clients after their event? And if you are, what are you doing with that feedback once you have it? Listening to your customers is certainly a great way to improve your business, but not all businesses are doing it. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a wedding industry veteran who has mastered asking for client feedback and shares steps for acting when that feedback isn't as perfect as you would hope. ...
Episode 90: Scaling Back Your Wedding Business with Intention
October 24, 2018 20:42 - 48 minutes - 88 MBAlthough having more events on the books certainly gets your business name out there, is it really what you want? Growing your wedding business bigger isn't always better, and in this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a wedding photographer who discovered just that. Wedding photographer Donna Von Bruening grew her business to more than 100 weddings in a year, then realized being overworked with little free time on her calendar wasn't the life she wanted...
Episode 89: How To Work with Clients of All Price Points
October 17, 2018 20:11 - 43 minutes - 79.9 MBIf you've been in business for a while, you've no doubt figured out your ideal client and ideal price points. But, are you leaving money on the table by not offering something for everyone? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a floral designer who has expanded his business by offering two different divisions of his company – one for a luxury wedding client and one for more modest budgets. In this episode, we're diving into not only why he's taken...
Episode 88: Growing and Training a Team
October 11, 2018 00:04 - 1 hour - 110 MBHaving a staff can certainly help you scale and grow your business, but bringing on employees is certainly not without its challenges. How do you find good people? And even more importantly, how do you train them to carry on your reputation and brand? Whether you already are leading a team or you're just starting to consider making the move from solopreneur status, this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast is for you. About our guests: Lindsay Val Longacre founded an...
Episode 87: Weathering a Drought in Business
September 26, 2018 22:27 - 55 minutes - 101 MBIf you've been in business for any period of time, you've very likely seen busy periods of booking followed by slower seasons. But how do you handle those valleys of business and what can you do during those slower times to continue to generate leads? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with wedding planner and designer Valerie Gernhauser, who's opening up about managing a slower period of business. From ideas for keeping your team busy during a slower...
Episode 86: Getting Ghosted by Potential Clients
September 19, 2018 20:45 - 54 minutes - 99.1 MBThe term ghosting may have started with the rise of online dating, but no doubt every wedding professional has been ghosted by a potential client at one point or another. You meet with a couple, think it went really well, send a quote, and... nothing. Why does this happen? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with wedding planner Beth Bernstein about this ghosting phenomenon and what she's seen in the industry. While we don't know if there's any real so...
Episode 85: Adding YouTube to Your Marketing Mix
September 12, 2018 21:17 - 45 minutes - 82.5 MBYouTube is the new television. And the new search engine! There's no disputing that the video platform has grown exponentially and is where millions of people are finding information, tutorials, and entertainment. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a wedding planner and designer who is using YouTube to expand her reach, educate couples, and project her personality to potential clients. Whether you're a YouTuber or not, this episode will certainly...
Episode 84: Behind the Scenes of This Week In Weddings
September 05, 2018 19:27 - 53 minutes - 97.4 MBIn this casual episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, Kimberly, Annie, and podcast editor Lance take listeners behind the scenes of the podcast, discussing everything from how and where they record the podcast to how they determine show topics.
Episode 83: Doing Conferences the Right Way
August 29, 2018 13:30 - 53 minutes - 98.7 MBThere are tons of wedding and event industry conferences. From WeddingMBA and The Special Event to the Be Sage Conference and Engage! Luxury Wedding Business Summit, there's something for everyone. If you have plans to add some education and networking to your agenda with an upcoming event conference, this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast is for you. We're chatting with wedding planner Kelly McWilliams, who shares some of her top tips for getting the most out of your confe...
Episode 82: Getting Clients to Trust You
August 15, 2018 21:18 - 59 minutes - 108 MBWhen you're in a creative field, getting clients to trust your vision can be challenging, especially when they can't see the finished product before hiring you. In this episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with invitation designer and owner of A Fine Press, Matthew Wengerd, who has taken steps to fine tune his consultation strategy to attract clients who are trusting of his creativity, experience, and desire to think outside the box. Regardless of your area of the wed...