Let’s talk about your brand. Does it reflect who you are as a person and as a company - and does it attract your ideal clients? Is it something you’re proud of and passionate about, and you truly understand what your colors mean? Is it consistent throughout your website, your socials, your newsletters, and all the things? Branding can be super confusing, so that’s why I brought on branding expert Lisa Aihara to give us some answers.

It’s been 4 years since Weddings for Real came to be. Over the last 4 years we’ve evolved and grown in a lot of ways and today, we’ll share some of our all time favorite AHA-moment episodes, and we invite you to join in on the fun!

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.

On last week’s episode, Ashley Ebert gave us the inside scoop on WHY we need to build a team, even though it can be pretty scary. But what happens when you actually DO start building a team? How can you create a culture that you can truly be proud of, something that represents both you and your brand, and something that your team, your partners, and your clients can feel? As we graduate from solopreneurs to leaders, it is our responsibility to create this elusive culture, but most of us aren’t really sure where to start.

When you think about building a team around you, what comes to mind? Is it that your company will be able to work more weddings and you’ll be able to make more money because of it? Or is it that more team members means more headaches and loss of control?

As a wedding planner, I’ve found that our jobs are 30% logistics, 30% vision and decor, and about 40% therapy. If you’re a planner - or wedding vendor who works with couples - you know that there’s stress, disagreements with family members, and quite a few (not happy) tears. I always tell the planners I coach that you can expect some sort of full meltdown one to two weeks before the wedding. For me 12 years ago, it was about gift bags. So wouldn’t it be great if we could get some help from someone who’s a certified life coach - someone who specializes in helping couples navigate some of these hard and meltdown-inspiring moments?

One of the most frequent questions we get in The Planners Vault is, How can I get on the preferred vendor list at the best wedding venue in my market? Or even before getting on the preferred vendor list, how do I even get the venue coordinators to know who I am?

It’s not as simple as sending an email to introduce yourself. So what do you do? Shannon Tarrant has some actionable tips - and mistakes to avoid.

"Pretend that every single person you meet has a sign around his or her neck that says, 'Make me feel important.' Not only will you succeed in sales, you will succeed in life." - Mary Kay Ash

Keep that quote in mind for this solo episode, as Megan Gillikin is giving her 5 tips for getting more referrals from your fellow wedding pros.