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“There are a lot more people more creative than me. There are a lot more people that are more talented than me. The one thing that I have that a lot of people do not have in this business is I listen to the client.“
Want more from celebrity event planner David Tutera? Today on Wedding Industry Insider, we’re throwing it back to one of our earliest — and most popular — interviews. During this inspiring sit-down, David talks casually and candidly about his journey as a wedding pro, and how he became such a successful figure in the industry.
David Tutera on Sales, Goals, and Finding Joy in Wedding Planning
This is such an earnest and fruitful interview, and we’re grateful David was so open about his background and the choices he made in his career. Eddie is able to ask about the keys to his success, the importance of growth, and his biggest advice for wedding planners trying to find their creative niche and reach their income goals.
How David Tutera Began His Career, And Nearly Wrecked It
Did you know that David Tutera began his career from scratch? No college, no design classes, and no hospitality background.
Still, he made it work. One decision after another, including where to start his business and where to grow it. And… one mistake after another.
“I had too many people. My overhead was too large. I financially was in over my head in debt. I almost went bankrupt… Visually now on the outside, I had the success. The reality was I was failing as a business owner and it backfired on me.”
We all know that’s not the end of his story. From there, he persisted and restructured his business, got his own TV show, and authored books. Now, David’s offering encouragement for anyone who has found themselves upside down in their wedding planning business.
Surprising Sales Advice for Wedding Planners
You can’t become an elite wedding planner without selling your services. But David doesn’t do sales with big portfolios and a back list of experience. Clients don’t get his life story at their consultations.
The key to David Tutera’s success in sales? Listening.
You’ll want to tune into the full interview to hear all about this… you may be shifting your sales strategy right away.
David is also revealing the big mistake wedding planners make during the sales process, and why it’s harming the entire wedding industry.
How David Tutera Sets Goals, Delegates, and Avoids Burnout
How does David work day-to-day, and how does he balance delegation without micromanaging? We cover it all during this interview.
Listen in as David shares his approach to goal-setting and how you should track your own success as a wedding planner. We also talk about the systems and mindsets that support David’s success, and how wedding planners can earn back time with “much-needed” tools like Timeline Genius.
David also shares his insight into burnout, emotional boundaries for wedding pros, and how to endure in such a stressful career.
And… David Tutera’s #1 Advice for Wedding Planners
A lot has changed since we recorded this interview with David back in 2017. But one thing continues to endure through every episode of Wedding Industry Insider: the importance of being yourself.
So it’s no wonder that it was David Tutera’s #1 advice — the one thing he would post up on a billboard for wedding planners to see. It’s simple, but the perfect way to wrap up one of our most memorable and timeless podcasts for wedding planners.
More From David Tutera
To hear our full interview with David, you can press the play button above. And be sure to subscribe to our podcast in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen!
We want to say a special thank you to David for sharing these insights with our Timeline Genius community.
David Tutera found success through listening, but this time he’s telling his full story. We hope his advice helps you reach your biggest goals.
Show Notes:
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- This is a rebroadcast of a previous episode, and some offers and events may not be currently available.
- David recently hosted a free wedding planner masterclass with Timeline Genius! If you want to get alerts about all our upcoming masterclasses, sign up for our newsletter here.
- Keep up with David Tutera on his Instagram here.
- Questions? Get in touch with David or Eddie
- Try Timeline Genius for free today!
