Weddings For Real

Megan and Jason Gillikin celebrate the 10-year anniversary of A Southern Soiree, and Megan shares her top ten lessons learned over the past decade - lessons she's now bringing into The Planner's Vault. Weddings for Real is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be 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 Planner's Vault is closed for new members, but you can join the wait list for when it opens its d

This pandemic has caused delays, cancellations, stress, tears, more delays, unanswerable questions, confusion...it really sucks to be in the wedding industry right now. But here's what it can't change - couples getting engaged and booking wedding vendors. So in this solo episode, here are 3 things you can change right now for more bookings. Weddings for Real is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be 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 commu

In 2012, Julie Bunkley had run Invision Events in Birmingham Alabama for 7 years, and the business was doing...fine. But it wasn't growing. She knew that to grow, she had to find a true #2, not just someone to help out at weddings.  She was lucky enough to hire Courtney Wolf, and the two of them have been a dynamic duo ever since. On the show today, they talk about hiring for your #2, and keeping them engaged and happy. In addition to Invision, Julie and Courtney also run the Educate | Empower | Encourage Community Weddings for Real is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be 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

How can you network and build vendor relationships when there are no weddings and no networking events?  Megan gives her top three tips that you can take action on RIGHT NOW. Weddings for Real is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be 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 Planner's Vault is closed for new members, but you can join the wait list for when it opens its doors in August.** Weddings

Aaron Shook has been in the hospitality industry for 30+ years in restaurants, catering, and now in wedding planning at Perfect Storm Moments. Through it all, he's seen a lot of weddings - and a lot of waste. And his personal mission is to raise awareness and show wedding vendors how we can save the planet.   Weddings for Real is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be 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 h

It's time to talk about racism in the United States, (the lack of) diversity and inclusion in the wedding industry, and how to have open and honest conversations.  Terrica Inc Cocktails and Details Upcoming Webinars with Terrica: Healing Wounds & Bridging Gaps: An Honest Conversation About Race & Allyship in the Wedding Industry, June 3rd at 2PM EST Protest or Progress? Actions, Reactions and the State of their Black Events Industry, June 4th at 7PM EST About Terrica: With over fourteen years in the wedding industry, award winning wedding planner and designer Terrica Skaggs has been creating exquisite weddings and events in the Golden Isles. As the Chief Wedding Planner and Designer of Cocktails & Details®, she leads a team of talented wedding planners and event managers in creating unforgettable destination Southern weddings. She also launched The White Lounge, an intimate wedding planning studio in Historic Downtown Brunswick that brings couples and wedding professionals together. Maintaining a

Julie Painter (aka Dallas Girl Friday) is a virtual assistant who specializes in the wedding industry, and today she gives the inside scoop on what a VA does, when you should think about hiring a VA, and how to work best together.  Weddings for Real is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be 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.  For Weddings For Real listeners, if you want $50 off your Annual Membersh

Have you ever felt the pressure of keeping up with what looks "elegant" or "luxurious" on Instagram? Why? Why do we care about matching what we see on the cover of The Knot or Martha Stewart Weddings? Isn’t it more important that our clients are happy and we’re and we’re running a profitable business? Isn’t that why we all got into this?  The Flower Guy Bron  had this exact realization a few years ago and is on a mission to let wedding vendors know that winning Instagram shouldn’t be your goal. And as we move into a post-COVID-19 world where we’ll probably be experiencing more intimate weddings, that message will become more important.    Weddings for Real is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be 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

Today we’re talking all about how to get your clients, your vendors, and your team on board with the digital age. Sometimes it’s super frustrating when clients can’t figure out how to sign a contract, or a vendor is ridiculously slow to respond, or a team member doesn’t respond the way you want them to. Well our guest today, Nora Shiels from Rock Paper Coin and Bridal Bliss Wedding Planning in Portland Oregon, gives some great tips on how we can all get on the same page. If you're interested in checking out Rock Paper Coin, subscriptions are free right now while it's in beta if you use the code "WED20" at checkout. Weddings for Real is brought to you by The Planner's Vault, a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be 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 o

So be honest. Is email marketing something you do for your business? Are you bringing future clients into your sales funnel and giving them content every week?  (Do you really even know what a sales funnel is?) If you’re like me, you  have 100% NOT been using email marketing to generate leads from engaged couples, and I’m really just not sure how to do it.  So I brought on an expert, Aleya Harris from Flourish Marketing, and asked her all the questions. Aleya mentioned two great links to help. For an email list building roadmap and marketing funnel overview, go to FlourishMarketing.co/email-guide, and for even more freebies, go to FlourishMarketing.co/freebies.   THE PLANNER'S VAULT: On February 27, 2020, Megan launched The Planner's Vault, a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be guest experts on many topics relevant to growing and cultivating a successful event planning business with new content

Welcome to the Weddings for Real 100th Episode Extravaganza! On this special episode, you'll hear who won the awards for:   Toughest Interview Easiest Interview Funniest Episode Best One-Liner Most Referenced Episode Topic Megan Thought Would Suck But Was Actually Great Biggest Impact Personally Person Most Likely to Become Insta-Famous Favorite Episode That Had Nothing to do with Weddings Guest You'd Most Like to Have a Beer With Most Boring Episode Fan Favorite   Weddings for Real on Social Media: Instagram: @weddingsforreal Facebook: @weddingsforreal twitter: @weddingsforreal The host of the show is Megan Gillikin, owner and lead consultant at A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning.  She's also available for wedding and hospitality business consulting and can be reached at megan@weddingsforreal.com. Weddings for Real is edited and produced by Earfluence. 

Some of the most lavish and exciting weddings to work are the ones where culture plays a big part in the wedding. And today we talk to someone who specializes in multicultural weddings, international photographer Petronella Lugemwa, and she gives us the do's and don'ts of multicultural weddings.   THE PLANNER'S VAULT: On February 27, 2020, Megan launched The Planner's Vault, a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be 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

What a crazy, chaotic, noisy, tearful, and stressful week. In a world that's completely upside down because of COVID-19, what can we do to make it through so that we're ready for what's on the other side? The Planner's Vault is a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be 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.  For Weddings For Real listeners, if you want $50 off your Annual Membership, use the code WFR50 at checkout!   Weddings for Real on Socia

With the Coronavirus causing chaos throughout the world, it has taken its toll on the wedding industry as well. Gatherings are being limited, some vendors aren't comfortable working, some couples are panicking, some weddings need to be cancelled or postponed. So as wedding vendors, what do we do?  Megan talks to Rachel Sheerin about tips for couples and vendors, and shifting your mindset both personally and professionally. Next week, from March 16th-20th, Rachel will be providing a FREE webinar series on Motivating, Managing, and Handling Business in Times of Crisis.    On February 27, 2020, Megan launched The Planner's Vault, a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be 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 Vendo

Do you ever meet a new friend, and things are going great. You feel like you’ve made a solid connection, and then one day, BAM, she ghosts you? It probably doesn’t happen all that often to you, but I’ll bet your clients feel that way when the wedding is over. And that last feeling you give them of being ghosted, unfortunately that might be what they remember you by. Today's guest is Renee Dalo, wedding planner at Moxie Bright Events in Los Angeles AND host of the Talk with Renee Podcast, and she talks about tips for offboarding your clients. On February 27, 2020, Megan launched The Planner's Vault, a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be 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 Experienc

On February 27, 2020, Megan launched The Planner's Vault, a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be 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.  For Weddings For Real listeners, if you want $50 off your Annual Membership, use the code WFR50 at checkout!

How many of you are REALLY going after corporate events?  You probably can work a corporate event just fine, and maybe you’ve done some, but are you really making an effort to show your market that you’re available for corporate? My guess is, probably not. Today, Caryl Lyons from Roar Events and The Roar Playbook gives us the top five reasons you SHOULD be doing more corporate events!  OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM MEGAN.  On February 27th, 2020, we are launching The Planner’s Vault, a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be 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. My mission with the vault is to elevate the industry (along with some amazing experts and fellow entrepre

Lindsay Lucas is THE wedding venue consultant.  She's a former wedding planner who now helps venue owners (and those aspiring to be) to create profitable and sustainable wedding venue businesses.  Lindsay had the idea for a complete shift in her business, but it wasn’t easy convincing herself that this was the best way to go. Today, we talk about if YOUR idea is really something to go after, that feeling of imposter syndrome you are sure to have when you’re doing something new, and how vendors can know when it’s time to take the leap.   OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM MEGAN.  At the end of February, we are launching The Planner’s Vault, a membership site for wedding planners who are hungry to grow, ready to hustle, and actively seeking community and education. In the vault, there will be 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 Preferre

Weddings for Real had the opportunity to interview engaged couples at The Merrimon-Wynne House in Raleigh NC Bridal Showcase, so that vendors could have a better understanding of what couples are looking for. We asked couples: What's the first place you looked to find your wedding vendors? Where do you get wedding inspiration? What's your splurge for the wedding? And what do you not care so much about? Do you need to see pricing on a vendor's website before contacting them? What's surprised you the most about wedding planning? Are you hiring a wedding planner? Are you hiring a videographer? Such insightful responses, and we would love for you to share your thoughts in our Weddings for Real Facebook Group! Special thanks (and congratulations!) to all of the people interviewed: Natasha and Ryan Courtney Megan Kylie and Kevin Elizabeth Robert and Erin Tricity Katie and Paxton Erin Madison and Nate   The announcement we made at the top of the show is is that we have something in the works for all the planners out

Do you work with your wife or husband? Or do you spend so much time with your work wife or work husband that it basically feels like you’re married?  Well, working together for so many hours – and possibly living together too – those people probably get on your nerves quite a bit.  Well my guests are Steven and Jenn Van Elk from Jennifer Van Elk Photography, the Wedded Podcast, and the Wedding Photo Hangover Podcast. They have (at least) two businesses together, two podcasts together, and two kids together. They’ve struggled but come out stronger, and they're here to give you tips on how to make it all work!   The announcement we made at the top of the show is is that we have something in the works for all the planners out there………. To be the first to know when it’s live AND get my free Client Experience Checklist, head on over to http://www.weddingsforreal.com/checklist and enter in your email address.   Jennifer Van Elk Photography on Social Media: Instagram: @jennvanelk Facebook: @JenniferVanElkPhotograph