Weddings For Real

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 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 new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and your

"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 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 new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay inv

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 down business.  So what’s happened since that meeting two and a half years ago? @JillianKnightPhotography #SaveYourMomHireaWeddingPlanner #AllWeddingsNeedPlanners 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 new content added consistently, plus all of my

Megan is joined by her husband Jason Gillikin to discuss their word of the 2021, successes and failures (both personal and professional), and goals for 2022. 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 new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the first to know when the doors re-open. Weddings for Real o

I'm not good enough. Everything I have is from luck, and when people find out, they'll know I'm a fraud.  Sound familiar?   Today we're talking all about imposter syndrome, and 3 tips to quiet your inner critic. 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 new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join the wait list now so you can be the fir

Welcome to The Unraveling, where we share the unraveling of old habits and mindset that holds you back, and the rebirth of new. Today's guest is Aleya Harris, empire builder at Flourish Marketing. Download Aleya's Recalibration Guide to Reclaim Your Glow & Cash Flow 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 new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for

Do you ever find yourself working your butt off, just go go go, working weddings, fixing problems, moving the business forward...and then you never stop to think why you’re doing all these things?  Is it because you want to be the best vendor in your category? Is it because you like working with your clients? Is it because you like building teams?  Or have you just been doing it without really knowing why? Today, Gurminder Banga from Banga Studios shows us how to slow down and look inside ourselves. Gurminder's time blocking course This episode is also 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 new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience,

This episode is a special behind-the-scenes look at Wedding MBA from its first in person live event since 2019.  Megan spoke on imposter syndrome - and what happened to her in Vegas did NOT help with her own imposter syndrome. And The Planner's Vault shared a booth with Weddings for Real, where we interviewed 15 of the 4000 wedding pros in attendance on why they attended Wedding MBA, what they wish other vendors knew about them, and what trends they want to see vanish in 2022.  Thank you so much to the interviewees! Maryssa Souza from Save the Date Weddings and Events  Janet Abbey from Sterling Event Services  Lynne Reznick from Lynne Reznick Photography Tina Wineglass with Wineglass Events Hawley Vining from Vining Events Lesley Acevedo with Indy Get Married Tyler Robb, Pearl and Tin Wedding and Event Planning Debra Reece, Debra Reece Events Claudia Terrazas, Time with Terrazas Karla Solórzano with Kiss and Say I Do Events Michele Suttile, SYWP Events LaShon Rodgers with Forever in a Day  Keri Lugo from Tim

When a couple is considering which vendors to go with, they look at a lot of different factors. Weddings you’ve worked before, website, social media, reviews, price point, the call you had with them. Ultimately, they narrow each category down to two or three vendors and then...they go with their gut. They go with what feels right to them. But what is that gut exactly? Today, Renee Sabo talks about emotional marketing. Connect with Renee Sabo: Urban Soiree | Instagram | The Confetti Hour Podcast This episode is brought to you by Sara Does SEO. 7 Day Done-for-You SEO Setup for Wedding Pros This episode is also 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 new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How

Think back to the last 5 weddings you worked. How did they find you?  Did you enjoy working with them? Would they recommend you to a friend?  What are some of the ways that they think you could improve? If you're like most of us creatives, you have no idea. Today, Jordan Kentris comes on to teach us how research can make us better wedding pros. Connect with Jordan: A Good Day Inc | on instagram This episode is brought to you by Sara Does SEO. 7 Day Done-for-You SEO Setup for Wedding Pros This episode is also 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 new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to el

Welcome to The Unraveling, where we share the unraveling of old habits and mindset that holds you back, and the rebirth of new. Today's guest is Adrienna McDermott, formerly of Ivory and Beau (where her unraveling began), now owner of Ava and the Bee. This episode is brought to you by Lemon Tree Editorial This episode is also 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 new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long

Once a month moving forward, we're bringing you a new series - The Unraveling.  These episodes shine a light on the pivotal  moments and ensuing decisions that industry leaders have encountered that changed everything.  The unraveling moment.   Today, I'm sharing my own unraveling. Unlocking Us, Brene Brown's Podcast where she introduces the Unraveling Concept. The Midlife Unraveling, by Brene Brown   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 new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it t

One of the biggest challenges I hear every single week is that there’s not enough time to build content. Or you’re not sure what to post. Or you’re worried that what you do post won’t be received very well - or worse, won’t be received at all. Does this sound like you? Let's fix that, with content creation master, Angela Proffitt. This episode is brought to you by Lemon Tree Editorial Angela Proffitt's websites: GSDSecrets.com TheGSDAcademy.com GSDHouse.com AngelaProffitt.com TheProfitableShift.com This episode is also 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 new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the va

When I need something for my house or for my business, I order it on my phone and get it literally the next day. And if I have to wait two days, fine I guess, but I’m not too happy about it. We all want it right away. And with that mindset in mind, Michelle Loretta from Be Sage Consulting has some insight into what that means about how to work with Amazon-addicted couples. This episode is brought to you by Lemon Tree Editorial Michelle Loretta Episode 68: How to Weigh the Financial Risks of Your Big Business Decision This episode is also 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 new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The m

Join Megan for an inside look at her one-on-one coaching session with Alisha Freeman, The Productionista. Alisha is a member of The Planner's Vault, where the doors open up next week (!) on Wednesday September 22nd, following a free webinar - "Charge More, Hustle Less." To sign up for the webinar (live at 12PM EST and then again at 8:30PM EST), visit Learn.ThePlannersVault.com/Workshop.   The Planner's Vault is the 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 new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay inv

Join Megan for an inside look at her one-on-one coaching session with Carrie Gillard from Blue Poppy Events.  Carrie is a member of The Planner's Vault, where the doors open up next week (!) on Wednesday September 22nd, following a free webinar - "Charge More, Hustle Less." To sign up for the webinar (live at 12PM EST and then again at 8:30PM EST), visit Learn.ThePlannersVault.com/Workshop.   The Planner's Vault is the 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 new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay

In this solo episode, Megan Gillikin answers 5 questions from the Weddings for Real Facebook Group, including how to hire your #2, how to raise your prices, and how to take steps to make your business full time. References: Episode 151: Creating a digital welcome guide Episode 145: Margeaux Fraise on leveraging Facebook Groups For more client experience tips, visit ThePlannersVault.com/clientexperience This episode is also 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 new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I w

In this solo episode, Megan Gillikin gives her 5 tips on how to set boundaries, ease anxiety, and build trust with new clients through a killer digital welcome guide. For more client experience tips, visit ThePlannersVault.com/clientexperience This episode is also 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 new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepreneurs) and I want it to be affordable so it's possible to stay invested in the community and yourself for the long haul. The doors are currently closed for The Vault, but join th

As a wedding pro, you are the expert in your field. You have a knack for creating the most beautiful floral arrangements. You can run through a timeline in your sleep. You have an eye for a moment that others can’t match. Your clients hire you for your expertise. But you’re just one you, and no matter how much you build your team, you can’t reach everyone in the world who craves your knowledge and guidance. So have you thought of digitizing your expertise so you can make income on demand? The Contract Shop's Christina Scalera has, and she's here to give us her tips for how to get it done. Resource Mentioned: ThePlannersVault.com/SalesTips to help you nail each and every consult. This episode is also 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 new content

When a couple finds your website or your social media presence, do they know right away why you’re unique?  Do they know what makes you special and different from all of the other vendors they’re looking at?  Or are you swimming in a sea of sameness? The same colors, the same vibe, the same general aesthetic that has been done over and over again in your market.  Amanda Bugden from Sea and Silk Wedding Planning gives her tips. @SeaAndSilkEvents This episode is also 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 new content added consistently, plus all of my templates that I have built out over the years, like How to Get on Preferred Vendor Lists, The Client Experience, and more. The mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing