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Weddings For Real has officially rebranded to
For Real: Life, Leadership, and Unlearning

After 7 years and 300+ episodes, the podcast has evolved... because so have you! What started as a show for wedding pros has  has evolved into a bold, no-BS space for high-achievers to unpack identity shifts, quiet the inner critic, set boundaries that stick, and navigate the messy (but powerful) moments of growth and change.  

For Real is still hosted by Megan Gillikin, and it’s here to meet you in this next chapter as a whole human, not just a business owner.

Click the button below to check out the latest For Real episodes, or scroll down to dive into the archive of Weddings For Real, featuring 300+ episodes on client experience, team building, social media, SEO, branding, and the real-life lessons of entrepreneurship in the wedding industry.

wedding industry podcast
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300+ Episodes

5 star reviews

Over 250+ five star reviews

Podcast downloads

350,000 Downloads

POPULAR EPISODES:

290

10 Life Hacks for Squirrel Brain Entrepreneurs

239

219

279

What You Need To Know About Growth + Burnout (Part 1)

Use This Strategy For Standing Out In A Crowded Market

5 Truths Every Business Owner Needs To Hear

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CHECK OUT OUR RECENT EPISODES

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Megan Gillikin Megan Gillikin

6: Top 10 Wedding Planning Mistakes with Amanda Scott of A Swanky Affair

Amanda Scott with A Swanky Affair sat down with Megan to go over the Top Ten wedding planning mistakes couples make.  Both Megan and Amanda are wedding planners in the Triangle area and have seen just about every mistake possible.  In going over them, they get to share some of their stories usually reserved for parties, from both the planning process and the wedding day.

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Megan Gillikin Megan Gillikin

5: Why You Need a Wedding Video with Phil McInnis from Twenty-One Films

Phil McInnis from 21 Films Videography in Raleigh came on the show to talk about how he has built up his business from just Phil and his wife Jess to a team of 6 filmmakers and editors, what differentiates the 21 Films style of videography from other wedding videographers, what motivates Phil, how to work with other vendors, and of course we get into some crazy stories about people drinking a little too much and being on camera.

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Megan Gillikin Megan Gillikin

4: Stories from a 3rd Generation Florist: Cydney English with The English Garden

Cydney English, owner of The English Garden, has been in the flower business for literally her entire life and runs a florist shop in Raleigh where about 60% of her business is weddings.  She does over 120 weddings per year, and she employs 10-20 people at a time depending on the season. Actually, Cydney and her husband Warren are both third-generation florists.

On this episode, Cydney talks about her life growing up with her dad and grandma as florists, what it was like in the early days of starting her business, trends in the wedding industry, making your wedding personal to you, and what she thinks about competition.

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Megan Gillikin Megan Gillikin

2: How to Hustle and Grow Your Wedding Business with Joe Bunn from Bunn DJ Company

This episode is with the one and only Joe Bunn from Bunn DJ Company of Raleigh. Joe has been DJing for over 30 years and has built his business up so he now has 15 DJs working with him in Raleigh, plus three other divisions, in Charlotte, Charleston, and Richmond, with multiple DJs at each of those locations  The company has over 1,100 5-star reviews on Wedding Wire.

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Megan Gillikin Megan Gillikin

1: Wedding Planning Behind the Scenes with Grace Beason from Grace Leisure Events

In the first episode (!) of Weddings for Real, Megan sits down with fellow planner Grace Beason to talk about her career start at The Knot, planning her first weddings with her mentor Marcy Blum, how weddings have evolved over the years, how anyone can say they’re a planner with an Instagram account, being a mom while running a business, same sex weddings, advice for breaking into the wedding industry, personalities she wants to work with (assistants, couples, and vendors), and how weddings might not be quite as glamorous as everyone thinks.

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WHAT LISTENERS THINK

  • This podcast has been one of the greatest resources that I have.

    I absolutely love this podcast! It is the completely real side to having a wedding planning business and it’s so nice to know that I’m not the only one who struggled starting out. I have learned so many things that have implemented into my business and this podcast has been one of the greatest resources that I have.

    — JANE S.

  • I learn something new every time I listen

    I learn something new every time I listen, and I'm also reminded that I'm not in this alone! I own a ceremony music company, and sometimes it feels like our experiences are not common to other vendors. However, every time I listen, I am reminded that we all experience the same things....just in different ways, and it's funny and comforting at the same time. Thanks, Megan, for providing valuable and entertaining content. I appreciate that it always feels like time well spent when I finish an episode.

    — REGINA F.

  • I’ve taken something valuable away from every. single. episode.

    I’ve been listening to Megan on Weddings for Real for years now, and I’ve taken something valuable away from every. single. episode. The topics are so relevant to both wedding planning and business in general, the guests are informative, and Megan’s delivery and personality make me look forward to every new show! Highly recommend!

    — LIBBY S.

  • This podcast and Megan are both such gems.

    This podcast and Megan are both such gems. She has this kindness about her when approaching the topics and makes you feel comfortable and takeaways doable. You can’t help but feel energized and refreshed after listening to the episodes.

    — LISA N.

  • You seriously NEED Weddings for Real in your life!

    This podcast is so easy to listen to and every episode has at least one nugget of wisdom that sticks with me and some actionable advice I can use to improve my wedding business today. If you're the owner of a wedding business, and especially if you're a planner, you seriously NEED Weddings for Real in your life!

    — KARITSU

  • This podcast has everything you need to expand your mindset and learn

    Where has this podcast been all my life? I was introduced to Weddings For Real a few days ago and I think I've already binged 30 episodes. Megan is such a great host. She has actionable advice and asks her guests really good questions. You won't find fluff here. The information that guests and her share is priceless. If you don't have a business mentor I would come here for inspiration and tips on good business strategies. This podcast has everything you need to expand your mindset and learn.

    — ANASTASIIA P.

  • This is by far my favorite "business" podcast!!!

    This is by far my favorite "business" podcast!!! It's packed with info, great guests and filled with content from start to finish. I sometimes go back and re-listen when I am implementing something she has suggested, or stopping and taking notes. Other pods I've listened to seem to be just about selling things or they are scraping the bottom of the barrel for content. This is the real deal.

    — SUZZANNE B.

  • This podcast is PACKED with helpful, actionable information in EACH and every episode

    WFR Podcast is the absolute BEST podcast if you're a wedding professional or an aspiring wedding professional. This podcast is PACKED with helpful, actionable information in EACH and every episode. After starting this podcast and joining The Planner’s Vault my confidence in the industry has sky rocketed.

    — BRITTANY B.

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