Wedding Industry Insider

Storytelling strategist Akua Konadu joins Eddie for a thoughtful conversation about how wedding planners can stand out amid AI-generated noise. Tell your story, grow your business — and let Timeline Genius handle the timelines. Try it free. Want more strategies for growing your wedding planning business? Subscribe to Wedding Industry Insider on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!  

For wedding planners, a "day job" can often seem like our lifeline, but it can also hold us back. Here's how wedding entrepreneurs give it up and go full-time.   Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

Gabrielle Pinkerton (Cause We Can Events) talks about losing money as a luxury wedding planner, and how she finally got it right. Tune in and hear all about: Choosing employees and pay rates that work for your business and finances. Negative energy that can take over a wedding planning team. What Gabby learned from planning events for nonprofits and how she still supports organizations as a luxury wedding planner. How finding a unique niche led to more money… and how Gabby pulled off the rebrand. And… Gabrielle Pinkerton's #1 advice for wedding planners! Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

What happens when a scientist becomes a wedding planner? Here's how Dana Kadwell uses SOPs and data to run her business.   Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

Wedding Planner Georgie Mitchell talks about cringey TikTok videos, flat-fee pricing, and why she doesn't plan luxury weddings.  Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

Daria Neretina & Alina Krupenina are bringing us the best marketing strategies to reach Gen Z couples. Daria & Alina are the founders of WedVibes, and they've got some surprising and expert-level insights for wedding planners.    Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

In this special episode, Eddie Babbage sits down in the guest chair to talk about entrepreneurship and the inner workings of Timeline Genius.  This interview was a joy to record, and we hope it will transform the way you listen to every Wedding Industry Insider episode. Here are some of the fun topics Eddie Babbage covers this week: How Eddie's childhood and early career led him to entrepreneurship. Encouragement for anyone who "fell into" business ownership and wants to take on the identity of an entrepreneur. The story behind Eddie's three business ventures and what sets Timeline Genius apart. A behind-the-scenes tour of what makes Timeline Genius run, and what it took to get it to this point The biggest mistake you can make when starting a business... and what to do instead. And… Eddie's #1 advice for wedding planners Today's guest host was Emily Sumners-Tuipulotu, who manages the Wedding Industry Insider Podcast. She has over 12 years of experience as a wedding planner and is the owner of Day of Middle Tennessee Weddings.    Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

RIP to the marketing funnel, and welcome to the Marketing Theme Park. Becca Pountney tells us how to resonate through the noise and chaos.   Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

Everyone has to start somewhere. And for Annette Naif's first event, her starting pay was negative $57 per hour. Annette is our guest this week on Wedding Industry Insider, and this lively conversation is full of fun anecdotes, helpful advice, and thoughtful reflection. She's sharing excellent marketing advice and dishing out her secret sauce to networking. Here's what we've got in store for you in this week's episode: How Annette overcame the scariest parts of opening an event planning business The worker's comp incident that cost her tens of thousands of dollars The benefits of finding a great coach who can help your business grow How to network effectively and authentically And… Annette Naif's #1 advice for wedding planners Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

Broc shares the biggest keys to his success as an entrepreneur and offers easy-to-follow advice for anyone who wants to become a stronger leader for their business. This episode is perfect for wedding planners who want to start 2026 on the right foot - ready to make confident decisions and see big growth.    Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

Not a money person? Neither was Candice Coppola. But after some tough mistakes and hard-learned lessons, she dug herself out of her financial difficulties and became a thriving wedding planner and mentor.    Tune into this insightful rebroadcast to learn how to make the most out of your wedding planning business.    Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

Fallon shares reflections on poor contracts, chaotic hiring, and imposter syndrome. And best of all: she's sharing how she solved some of the biggest problems she faced as a wedding planner.    Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

Mycah Bain talks about how she overcame feelings of guilt and began making an income that supported her lifestyle and creativity.    Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

"As the venue, we really are the stadium that different teams come into every weekend to play." Kate Dear tells us how she can spot a great wedding planner, and what separates horrendous teams from the awesome ones.    Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

During this interview, Julian Leaver shares his system for collecting data through questionnaires and using that data to power his decisions.    Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

Wedding vendors can be your most vocal supporters, bringing you couples that are excited to work with you. Kayla Madden shows us how to earn referrals. Ready to learn from Kayla's creative authenticity? Tune in as we pick her brain on all kinds of topics: How vendor referrals look different in the digital age – and how you can use that to your advantage One booking form question that shows Kayla which clients to take on Kayla's genius-level Instagram strategies that ensure she's getting in front of her ideal clients One conversation that will help you impress vendors and level up your planning skills And… Kayla's #1 advice for wedding planners Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

Mark Allan Groleau has got the real deal on how to treat your vendor team as a true team – and what part you play as the planner. This was a fun episode, because we picked Mark's brain on so many aspects of his career. Here are some of our favorite topics this week: How ceremonies can elevate an entire wedding – and why so many officiants are failing couples with boring scripts.  Mark's unique advice for how to stand out as a great wedding planner  How AI can help and hurt weddings – and wedding pros Inspiration from Mark's journey as a wedding officiant and entrepreneur And… Mark's #1 advice for wedding planners! Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

Holly Gray (Anything But Gray Events) said goodbye to "milquetoast" weddings and made a bold, terrifying branding shift. Here's how she pulled it off.  Here are some of our favorite moments from Holly & Eddie's captivating conversation: How Holly's production background influences her work as a wedding planner Holly's unique views on failure, spirituality, and entrepreneurship The value of community, and how niching down can help you find a strong support system How Holly Gray created her wedding planning pricing And… Holly's #1 advice for wedding planners! Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

Couples are using AI in their wedding planning journey. If you can show up in their searches, you'll get a huge leg-up on the competition. Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!  

Ariel Faulkner-O'Brien from Lovebird tells us how digital recommendations can elevate client experience and bring in extra income for wedding planners   Here's some of what you can look forward to in this awesome new episode: Tips for identifying & recommending tech in a way that feels natural and on-brand (not salesy) to clients How to increase revenue through affiliate and referral programs, and how to get started now with Lovebird's affiliate program.  Ariel's genius-level practice of "fundamental prioritization" and how it can launch you toward success Time-tested marketing advice from Ariel's incredible career.  And… Ariel's #1 advice for wedding planners!    Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

Tracey Jazmin helps us avoid burnout and find greater success through the power of mindset. Tune in for simple habits you can start now!   Here are some of our favorite highlights:  How Tracey gained control over her life through mindset (and how you can too!) When to ditch the surface-level solutions and go deep into mindset work A simple habit you can start now that will improve your mindset Tips for handling self-limiting beliefs Tracey's true meaning of self-care, and how it can impact your business And… Tracey's #1 advice for wedding pros Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

Logan Montague gives us no-nonsense social media advice that's going to really resonate with wedding pros who feel overwhelmed or burnt out with posts, shares, comments, and DMs.  Here's some of what you can look forward to in this week's episode: A fun way to reverse-engineer your marketing strategy so you can reach your unique goals. Logan tells us how much time you should plan to spend on social media for your business and breaks down what you should do during that time How to use AI as you market your business Logan's time-tested advice for in-person and traditional marketing.  And… Logan's #1 advice for wedding pros! Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

Angelica Pompy talks about the benefits of in-person wedding shows, local networking events, and community-driven marketing.   Here are some of our favorite points that Angelica is covering during this fun interview: How to get clarity on your marketing strategy and why it's such a game-changer.  Finding courage to niche down to your ideal client and favorite type of work… even if it feels like you may be giving up more profitable aspects of your business.  Angelica's strategy for bridal expos that makes them worth the time and effort. Tips for showing up to networking events confidently… even if you're an introvert! And… Angelica's #1 advice for wedding pros.  Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

Your timelines can do some major heavy lifting for your wedding planning business – but are you really harnessing that power? A GREAT wedding day timeline can elevate your entire business, from your productivity to your reputation and everything in between. Here are some of our favorite highlights from this interview with Brooke Bowenschulte: How a beautiful, responsive timeline can build trust with Gen Z clients Disaster-proofing your timeline with all the right details Brooke's advice to wedding planners who are already creating great timelines How to choose and budget for the right software for your wedding planning business And… Brooke's #1 favorite Timeline Genius feature! Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

Sam Jacobson is helping us identify the source of wedding business problems AND giving us specific steps you can take toward fixing them. Tune in for Sam's fantastic insights into sales and marketing, and stick around for his broad wealth of knowledge, including these insights for wedding planners: How to level up your sales strategies in a way that works for your business. Nature vs. Nurture: Can you learn how to sell, or is it an innate talent? The Vin Diagram you should create today to find your Place of Bliss. 4 Tiers of Value that you should create for clients. The 3 biggest selling mistakes that wedding planners make, and how to fix them! And… Sam's #1 advice for wedding pros! Note - This is a rebroadcast from 2024. Promotions and events may no longer be available. Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

Hey wedding planners, it's time to party! Because this week on Wedding Industry Insider, we're talking about the value of vendor parties and how to become a connector in your community. Listen to the episode to hear all about partying as a wedding pro, and stay tuned for more great advice from Darren Keala, an experienced wedding planner AND florist. Here's what you can look forward to this week: Darren's "dream package" that fuels his creativity and increases revenue How wedding planners can hire the best florist for each wedding Darren's secrets for getting couples ready for weddings, and how he gets himself in the right headspace, too Fun stories from a Maui wedding planner with 20+ years in the industry. And… Darren's #1 advice for wedding planners! Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

Learning only through experience seems to be the go-to route for wedding planners, but Krisy Thomas says this is harming the entire industry. Krisy Thomas joins us to talk about education and certification for wedding planners. And it all comes down to this: education can help fast-track your career and shield you from major mistakes.  Krisy is the owner of Southern Sparkle Weddings and COO of Certified Wedding Planner Society. Our interview with her is so fantastic, because we got to pick her brain as both a wedding educator and a successful wedding planner.  Here are some great conversations you can look forward to this week: Eddie and Krisy theorize why education is so undervalued among wedding planners, and how it's affecting the industry as a whole. Krisy reflects on her 13+ year career as a wedding planner, including how she overcame big obstacles and learned to celebrate her big wins.  Learn how to approach wedding coordination with kindness (while still running things efficiently and confidently!).  Krisy shares roadblocks that can get in the way of growing a wedding planning business.  And… hear Krisy's #1 advice for wedding pros! Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!  

When Mark Chapman heard a friend say, "Let me TikTok that," he knew he needed to come back on Wedding Industry Insider and spread the news: You need to be creating short-form content to reach clients.  Short-form videos (like TikTok and Instagram Reels) are relatively new, and they may not be natural for entrepreneurs. But you should be harnessing its power.  The good news? Advertising with short-form videos doesn't have to be scary and time-consuming.  Mark is president of The I Do Society, and he's an expert on online advertising. He's got great insight on how couples find wedding planners online, and how you can be the pro they find and hire. Here is some of what you'll discover during Mark's great interview with Eddie: Content ideas for short-term videos Why it's so important to be visible multiple times on multiple platforms (you need couples to see you again and again!) Tips for making content creation easier How much a paid social media advertising strategy costs… and when it's time to invest in one. Advertising updates with TikTok, AI, Meta, and more. And… Mark's #1 advice for wedding planners! Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!  

Looking to grow your wedding planning business? Once Paul Tramonte discovered the thrill of corporate events, he never looked back.  If you're curious about planning corporate events, this is the episode for you. But don't worry, Paul also has great advice that any planner can use to grow their business. Here are some favorite highlights from Paul's interview: Why corporate events offer better work-life balance An easy way to start planning meetings and events A step-by-step guide to building a team How Paul makes tough decisions as an entrepreneur How to price your services as a wedding and event planner And… Paul's #1 advice for wedding pros! Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

Fractional COO and former wedding planner Colleen Carswell is laying it all out so you can avoid her mistakes and grow your business in a way that feels good. Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

Our guest Alejandra Poupel gives actionable advice that you can use to take big steps towards international events. Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

What commitments did you make during Covid? Now, 5 years later, Amber Anderson is urging us to slow down and break up with busy.  Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

Braden Drake walks us through his process for organizing the legal and tax side of your business, in a way that isn't overwhelming or scary.   Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

Shannon Tarrant gives a step-by-step guide for getting venues' attention on social media. Stand out and get on their preferred vendor list! Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

Get on track for a great 2025 with Cassie LaMere's best insight on success, luxury, and strong relationships.  Here are some of our favorite highlights from this week's episode: An inspiring reflection on the importance of celebrating milestones with loved ones How to build authentic relationships that can help catapult you to a new level of planning Cassie's tips for diversifying your cashflow How Cassie became comfortable niching down to her ideal client And… Cassie's #1 advice for wedding pros! Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

Jody-Ann Rowe, founder of Event Certificate, gives us a crash course on SEO and how to use Google's free tools to reach your ideal clients.  Here are some of our favorite highlights from this fantastic episode:  How to leverage your Google Business Listing so you show up in searches.  Jody-Ann's quick, easy, and free way to do keyword research.  How wedding planners can use YouTube to increase visibility and gain trust. The most common marketing mistakes wedding pros make (and what successful pros are doing instead!).  How to know when you're promoting your business too much.  And… Jody-Ann's #1 advice for wedding planners.   Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

Can you really have it all? Tirzah Caffee talks about the challenges AND solutions for anyone trying to strike that work-life balance. Here is some of what she's outlining in this valuable episode: How she separates work from her marriage, even though she and her husband manage the venue together.  Tirzah's approach to running a family business, and how she involves her kids in her work! The exact way Tirzah researches the market to stay ahead of wedding trends.  What she learned from years of therapy – and how you can prioritize mental health as a wedding pro.  And… Tirzah's #1 advice for wedding pros. Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

Are your emails met with radio silence? Alan Berg tells us why clients ghost you and how to connect the right way. Listen along as Alan shares his insight into converting leads, expanding your business, and selling a unique, unbeatable experience. Here's some of what you can look forward to in this episode: What Alan discovered when he submitted contact forms to 450 wedding companies (and what you can learn from their mistakes!). What the client experiences when they reach out to you, and how you can get them to respond.  Understanding your unique brand and how to sell that to clients.  Alan's tips for running a business, and his roadmap for expanding.  And… Alan's #1 advice for wedding pros. Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out

Wondering if you have what it takes to lead your wedding planning business toward success? In this throwback episode, Ashley Ebert breaks down myths about leadership and shows us that anyone can become a successful leader.  Listen to Ashley share her top secrets for finding success and freedom in her work, discover her favorite leadership mastermind, and put her leadership principles to work right away.  Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out  

It took Candice two years to go from zero to six figures, and she's revealing how she got there (and the lessons she learned throughout her career!) Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out  

You'll love Terrica's approach to package listings, automation, and sales because it is the gateway to lighter workloads and more profits. Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out

As someone who works in both mental health and event planning, Charessa has a unique insight into the unique needs and struggles of wedding planners. And she also has fantastic tips and solutions to the many stressors we face. Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out  

In this great interview, Emily talks about her early days rejecting events she couldn't do herself and how she eventually learned how to hire, train, and maintain wonderful employees.  Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out  

Unbearably busy? Not seeing the profits you hope for? Marley Majcher will get you on track with one question: How Are You Spending Your Time? Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

Brandee is laying out the foundation for a more profitable and fulfilling career. The secret? Think more like a business-savvy entrepreneur (and less like a service-minded wedding planner).  Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!

Katelyn has an easy-to-follow formula to help you set and reach your income goals. Plus, she's providing real examples with real numbers so you can apply it to your own business.  Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out  

Luxury wedding planner Thomas Bui talks about his decades of event experience, and how he still includes some old-school practices to create elegant, modern weddings.  Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out  

What if you could work less and make more money? It's any wedding planner's dream, but for Tara Guerard, it's her reality. We're revisiting our 100th episode to hear how Tara reached this level of success and her advice for wedding pros.  Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out

Be truly yourself… but also who your clients want you to be. If that sounds jumbled and complicated, this week's Wedding Industry Insider is perfect for you.  Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out  

You'll love Bobbi's pitch-perfect reminders about why you decided to become a wedding planner – and why the wedding industry needs you! Want more from Wedding Industry Insider? Check it out!