Weddings for Real

Hi (First Name), Welcome to the (insert podcast here) Podcast! Are you wondering how to personalize some of your automated touch points with your (insert industry here) clients to make them feel more natural so you can connect with your clients more authentically? Business Operations Consultant and lifelong ease-seeker Charlotte Isaac tells us how. This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle,...

In some exciting news, after 12 years of running A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning, Megan has passed the torch to the next owner. There have been tears of joy, tears of overwhelm, tears of sadness, and tears of laughter. There have been many WTFs, crazy stories, bad decisions, and life-changing moments. Today, Megan and Jason reflect on the journey and talk about the next chapter. This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding...

Let’s think about the couples who fill out an inquiry form. They’re interested in the specifics of your services and your price point of course, but what they're truly hoping for is a real, meaningful connection. It’s the longest they’ll work with someone and it’s the most money they’ll spend on one day, so a wedding pro who makes them feel understood, happy, and excited - that’s who they’re going to pick. But how do you make that connection happen? Michelle Martinez is the host of The...

What are some ways to effectively work with an intern (and not just give them busy work)? Megan and Gina Annab Johnston offer 6 projects you can give your intern right away! This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there are guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with...

The Unraveling series, where amazing and inspiring entrepreneurs share the unraveling of old habits and mindset that holds us back, and the rebirth of new. Today we talk to Sara Margulis, who seemingly had it all - a successful business with her husband, TV appearances all over, an investment from Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary, and partnerships with Target and Hilton - but she was deeply in need of getting rid of her old habits to grow professionally and personally. Sara Margulis is the...

Emma and Molly Gillikin have taken over the podcast to wish all the moms (especially Megan) Happy Mother's Day!

When you’re running a business, it can feel pretty overwhelming - like you need to do all the things and do them all really well. And even if you’re at the point in your business where you can outsource some, being aware of everything to make the critical decisions can seem exhausting. But the good news is your business can be broken down into just 6 core competencies - and you don't have to be amazing at all of them. Brandee Gaar is a business coach, speaker, and fellow wedding planner....

Let's face it, this is one of the busiest seasons of your career. It feels like you don't have time for anything other than your clients, but in this solo episode, I'm giving 9 tips for you to become a better wedding pro. Pick a couple to focus on now, then come back once it slows down to implement the rest! Here’s the link to our 20+ Helpful Email Template Bundle I mentioned in the episode from our shop! This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site...

Let’s talk about your brand. Does it reflect who you are as a person and as a company - and does it attract your ideal clients? Is it something you’re proud of and passionate about, and you truly understand what your colors mean? Is it consistent throughout your website, your socials, your newsletters, and all the things? Branding can be super confusing, so that’s why I brought on branding expert Lisa Aihara to give us some answers. Seasonal Brand Personality Workbook and Brand Keyword...

It’s been 4 years since Weddings for Real came to be. Over the last 4 years we’ve evolved and grown in a lot of ways and today, we’ll share some of our all time favorite AHA-moment episodes, and we invite you to join in on the fun! Episodes mentioned include: 71: Toxic Stress and How It's Killing Your Business, with Therapist and Executive Coach Andy Maurer 73: Relator, Analyzer, Boss, and Dreamer: How to Sell To and Work With the 4 Types of Wedding Clients, with Ideaction's Sam Jacobson...

On last week’s episode, Ashley Ebert gave us the inside scoop on WHY we need to build a team, even though it can be pretty scary. But what happens when you actually DO start building a team? How can you create a culture that you can truly be proud of, something that represents both you and your brand, and something that your team, your partners, and your clients can feel? As we graduate from solopreneurs to leaders, it is our responsibility to create this elusive culture, but most of us...

When you think about building a team around you, what comes to mind? Is it that your company will be able to work more weddings and you’ll be able to make more money because of it? Or is it that more team members means more headaches and loss of control? Growth in numbers can be scary, but it doesn't have to be. Today, Ashley Ebert gives us the 3 myths of building a team. Ashley Ebert is the owner of The Simply Elegant Group and co-founder of The Abundance Group (You can also DM Ashley...

As a wedding planner, I’ve found that our jobs are 30% logistics, 30% vision and decor, and about 40% therapy. If you’re a planner - or wedding vendor who works with couples - you know that there’s stress, disagreements with family members, and quite a few (not happy) tears. I always tell the planners I coach that you can expect some sort of full meltdown one to two weeks before the wedding. For me 12 years ago, it was about gift bags. So wouldn’t it be great if we could get some help from...

One of my least favorite topics in the world to talk about is money. Don’t get me wrong, I love money and all the things money can buy for me and my family. And I love to see that what I’m charging for weddings - and what my coaching clients are charging for weddings - continues to increase. But the analysis of budgets and payroll and credit and assets….well, it’s not my superpower. So recently I hired an accountant who’s willing to take the time to talk strategy - to someone who's "not a...

One of the most frequent questions we get in The Planners Vault is, How can I get on the preferred vendor list at the best wedding venue in my market? Or even before getting on the preferred vendor list, how do I even get the venue coordinators to know who I am? It’s not as simple as sending an email to introduce yourself. So what do you do? Shannon Tarrant has some actionable tips - and mistakes to avoid. Wedding Venue Map | @WeddingVenueMap | @TheVenuePlaybook This episode is...

Megan here for a super special announcement. I want to invite you to a free 3-day visibility and growth challenge designed specifically for wedding planners. It's the big event leading up to the door opening of my membership, the planner's fault. And I promise you this free challenge is absolutely packed with value, actionable tips, and some of my Planner's Vault members' favorite resources. No matter what stage of business you're in, we'll have you bringing more awareness and visibility...

"Pretend that every single person you meet has a sign around his or her neck that says, 'Make me feel important.' Not only will you succeed in sales, you will succeed in life." - Mary Kay Ash Keep that quote in mind for this solo episode, as Megan Gillikin is giving her 5 tips for getting more referrals from your fellow wedding pros. This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and...

Lisa Lyons has been in the wedding industry for 19 years, but she has been drawn to etiquette her entire life. And in 2020 she got the certification to help wedding pros take their etiquette to the next level. But in this modern era of traditions changing, what does wedding etiquette even mean? Lisa Lyons Events and Etiquette This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively...

"You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems." - James Clear, Atomic Habits It's time to get serious about your business goals for this year and how you plan to achieve them. I'm going to keep this one short, sweet and packed with goodness as I share my top five hacks for maximizing efficiency in your wedding business. This episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, my online membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready...

Back in 2019, photographer Jillian Knight asked me to coffee to talk about an idea she had for her business - requiring a planner at ALL of her events. What this meant was that if couples didn’t have a planner or want to hire a planner, she simply wouldn’t work with them. As a planner, I absolutely loved it of course. And for the photographer, I thought it had a chance to be amazing for her and a way to stand out in our market…but there was also the reality that she’d literally be turning...