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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

254. Book the Top Package, from the Own Your Business Podcast

Today we’re sharing an episode of the Own Your Business Podcast, which I was a guest on earlier this year. My friend Sam Jacobson and I talk about how wedding pros can book more couples at higher packages. This has nothing to do with "sales tactics". It’s all about empathy and understanding customer needs, creating an effective pricing proposal, and challenging customers during the discovery call.

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Megan Gillikin Megan Gillikin

253. Feeling Burned Out? This Unraveling Is For You

The Unraveling series, where amazing and inspiring entrepreneurs share the unraveling of old habits and mindset that holds us back, and the rebirth of new.  Today we feature Amber Melanie Smith, the Founder and Executive Director of Activate Good, a non-profit she has run for her entire adult life.

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Megan Gillikin Megan Gillikin

250. Podcast Roundup: WeddingMBA, Workcations, and Getting Off The Hustle Hamster Wheel

Today's episode is a short roundup of a few things I want to share with you, including my thoughts on my upcoming trip to Wedding MBA, my recent Planner’s Vault Workcation, tips for you on planning your own workcation, and a quick hitting conversation with my friend Ashley Ebert of The Abundance Group on how to know if you've hired the right team member.

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Megan Gillikin Megan Gillikin

249. 4 Referral-Boosting Relationship Strategies for Wedding Pros

After 12 years as a wedding planner, I can say this with deep conviction. The number one way I built my business from unknown and scrappy to respected, referred and booked out year after year - was from referrals. These referrals were what allowed me to be able to hire team members, raise our rates and eventually sell my business last year so I could focus full time on education and support for wedding pros. When I sold, we were charging premium pricing, we had venue partnerships with a few high end venues in my market and we paid zero dollars a year for advertising.

I want to share some of my top strategies with you today to help you lean into this area in your own business.

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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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