Author: Erin Giberson

Wedding Industry Insider Podcast

WII 110: Add Online Wedding Rentals to Offer Your Clients More – with Marie Kubin

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Do you love wedding décor? Or enjoy creating both the layout and the look of floor plans? If your answer is yes, then don’t miss this episode! Because today’s guest is all about rentals, especially in terms of what it means for your event planning business. 

Marie Kubin is the owner of Rent My Wedding, a nationwide wedding rental company. A former attorney, Marie launched Rent My Wedding in 2011 after struggling to find affordable, convenient, and easy décor items for her own wedding. Since then, Rent My Wedding has grown to offer packages including everything from lighting and uplighting to backdrops, photo booths, and more. Now the largest online event rental company in the U.S., it has also earned the most 5-star reviews in the event industry.

In this episode, Marie details how she started her business and shares practices that can help you grow yours. In particular, she offers an opportunity for you to stand out as a planner and earn additional income through Rent My Wedding.

Read More “WII 110: Add Online Wedding Rentals to Offer Your Clients More – with Marie Kubin” →

Wedding Industry Insider Podcast

WII 109: The Marketing Secret to Use in Your Messaging – with Kate Storey

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Today’s guest first joined us in Episode 79 to share 4 steps to increase website conversions. Now, she’s back to help you create and market your unique story.

Kate Storey and her husband Nick are co-owners of Book More Brides, a marketing firm that specializes in helping wedding planners attract and book their ideal client couples. Kate is a digital marketing specialist, copywriter, and social media expert. Additionally, she is the host of The Book More Brides Podcast. 

In this episode, Kate breaks down the common problems with messaging. These include sounding like competitors, which leads customers to go by price, and presenting product details rather than emotional needs. Specifically, she illustrates why knowing your story is what makes your marketing efforts work without being forced. Read More “WII 109: The Marketing Secret to Use in Your Messaging – with Kate Storey” →

Wedding Industry Insider Podcast

WII 108: Don’t Waste Your Life Not Being Yourself – with Jove Meyer

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Judged for being gay, he grew up hating himself and trying to be someone else.  But after years of pretending, he learned that being himself was not only inherently good but also that it authentically fueled his business. 

Now, he uses his brand to show others kindness and respect as well as to empower marginalized communities. Because in the business of love, there’s no room for hate!

Jove Meyer is the visionary behind Jove Meyer Events, a global design firm for those who dare to be different.  In addition to providing planning and design services for events and weddings, Jove Meyer Events offers interior design that fuses intentionality with permanence. Named one of the world’s top planners by Martha Stewart and Harper’s Bazaar, he’s featured in publications such as Domino, Vogue, The New York Times, and The Magnolia Network. This month, he also joins Tara Lipinski and José Rolón in the just-released talk show Wedding Talk (free on Crackle). 

In this episode, Jove explains how being who you are – instead of who you think you should be – is what will create success that matters to you.

Read More “WII 108: Don’t Waste Your Life Not Being Yourself – with Jove Meyer” →

Wedding Industry Insider Podcast

WII 107: Ashley Ebert Shares the 4 Laws of Leadership for Positive Influence

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Do you see yourself as a leader? Or do you tell yourself you’re not one? 

If it’s the latter, reject that thinking. 

Because leadership is a learned skill. As today’s guest emphasizes, “it is not an innate personal trait that some people are better leaders than others”. It’s something they were taught. 

Ready to learn how? It starts here. 

Ashley Ebert is the Owner of The Simply Elegant Group, a wedding planning company with 9 locations and 40 employees that has produced over 4 million in sales.  She is also the Co-Founder of The Abundance Group, which teaches leadership and team development for service based entrepreneurs. With over 13 years of industry experience, she continues to lead the industry and coach creatives to scale their business. 

In this episode, Ashley shares how the work of John Maxwell has inspired both her and her father Dale Henry to teach business owners how to be influential leaders. Specifically, she explains the four pillars of leadership that you can use as you grow your company (remember to check out the Show Notes!).

Read More “WII 107: Ashley Ebert Shares the 4 Laws of Leadership for Positive Influence” →

Wedding Industry Insider Podcast

WII 106: Gain Control of Your Business One SOP at a Time, with Irene Tyndale

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To gain control of your business, you need to map out your standard operating procedures (SOPs). Today’s guest explains where you can start.

Irene Tyndale is the Founder and CEO of Irene Tyndale Weddings & Events, an award-winning and full-service boutique event planning firm based in Atlanta. With a background in corporate event planning, Irene has over 20 years of industry experience. Her work has been featured in publications such as Modern Luxury and B Collective. Additionally, she is a leading industry speaker, author, coach, and educator.

In this episode, Irene challenges you to gain control of your business. Specifically, she highlights the importance of building relationships that later yield invaluable referrals, getting clear about the details of your procedures, and knowing your goals.

Read More “WII 106: Gain Control of Your Business One SOP at a Time, with Irene Tyndale” →

Wedding Industry Insider Podcast

WII 105: Nikki Begg On Why You Should Be Kinder to Yourself

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Where’s the whiskey? Where’s the Oreos? 

At the height of lockdown in Bermuda, Nikki Begg found herself refunding previously booked clients over a quarter of a million dollars when they canceled their destination weddings due to COVID-19. Cue skipping fresh produce in favor of liquor and cookies.

But, ultimately, that challenging time helped her discover what she wants moving forward. It includes a career change as well as prioritizing her own happiness.

Now, Nikki is the owner of The Intentional Coach, where she provides coaching services for women who want a reboot. She is also the founder of Bermuda Bride, the premier wedding planning company in Bermuda. With over 23 years of experience, she’s a renowned industry speaker and is featured as an A-List Planner by Destination Weddings & Honeymoons.

In this episode, Nikki talks about how she used her experience during the pandemic to launch a new chapter of her career. Specifically, she shares the lessons that help her not only achieve success but also feel content.

Read More “WII 105: Nikki Begg On Why You Should Be Kinder to Yourself” →

Wedding Industry Insider Podcast

WII 104: Stick Your Foot in the Door Before it Shuts – with Megan Gillikin

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Imagine that you not only quit your job but also took out a small business loan. In addition to that, you’ve only been married for 3 weeks. And then you learn the business you bought is basically sinking. What do you do? Today’s guest made a choice:

“I decided that I was committed to figuring it out, even though the fear of failure and the fear of unknown and the fear of never getting out from underneath the reputation – those fears were super, super strong.”

Megan Gillikin is the founder and owner of The Planner’s Vault, an educational resource and community-based network for wedding planners. She is also the host of the Weddings for Real podcast as well as an industry educator and speaker. Additionally, she is the owner of A Southern Soiree, a wedding and event planning company that she rebranded and revitalized after purchasing it in 2010.

In this episode, Megan shares about the lessons she gained from purchasing and rebranding an existing wedding planning business. Specifically, she talks about how she uses the experience to now help other wedding planners achieve their business goals.

Read More “WII 104: Stick Your Foot in the Door Before it Shuts – with Megan Gillikin” →

Wedding Industry Insider Podcast

WII 103: Use Your Greater Vision to Build a Sustainable Business – with Alia Wilson

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If you find that you’re fighting imposter syndrome or your vision for your business is vague, then it’s time to figure out what’s driving you at your core.

Alia Wilson is the Owner and Creative Director of Firefly Events, a full-service planning and design company specializing in weddings, parties, and celebrations. With over 11 years of experience, Alia also provides coaching for wedding planners who are looking to grow their businesses. She is recognized as a top planner by BRIDES, Harper’s Bazaar, VOGUE, Martha Stewart Weddings, BizBash, and The Knot. Additionally, Firefly Events has earned features in more than thirty print and digital industry publications. 

In this episode, Alia talks about why building a sustainable business requires having a vision that’s greater than getting higher paying clients. And further, in order to create a job you want to go to, you must pinpoint your core motivation as well as respect the work you do.

Read More “WII 103: Use Your Greater Vision to Build a Sustainable Business – with Alia Wilson” →

Wedding Industry Biz

10 Questions to Ask to Qualify Your Potential Client Couples

By Erin Giberson on

You’re ready to get more clients, but how do you know which ones are right for you? 

Start by qualifying leads in order to figure out which couples will be the best fit. 

Remember, it’s necessary to resist the urge to take on every client that comes your way. 

Because if you want to grow your business and earn what you deserve, then you need to make sure you’re working with your ideal clients. 

So, when you’re on a discovery call or or at a first meeting, be sure to ask these 10 questions.

Read More “10 Questions to Ask to Qualify Your Potential Client Couples” →