Wedding Pros who are ready to grow - with Becca Pountney Becca Pountney

Today I'm chatting with former Wedding Planner and current owner of the Refine Collective Amber Anderson. She shares her own story of starting a Wedding Planning Business and shares insights and learning's from along the way. Amber also shares her story of a recent health crisis and what it's taught her about life and business.
Visit Refine for Wedding Planners
Find Amber on Instagram
Want to meet other likeminded wedding pro's so that you can share ideas, network and help each other out? Then why not go ahead and join my free Wedding Pro community over on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/weddingprosreadytogrow/

Find out more about how I can help you grow your wedding business over on my website or Instagram page:
www.beccapountney.com
www.instagram.com/beccapountney
Time Stamps:
00:00 The Power of Education in Business Growth
00:32 Introducing Becca Pountney and the Podcast's Mission
00:59 Special Guest Amber Anderson: A Journey from Fitness to Wedding Planning
01:32 Networking and Creativity: The Selfie Museum Event
03:13 Amber's Business Beginnings and Learning Curves
06:02 The Importance of Networking and Choosing the Right Clients
10:43 Navigating the World of Business Education and Mentorship
15:18 Radical Honesty and Problem Solving in the Wedding Industry
19:37 Self-Care, Health Challenges, and Business Adjustments
31:34 Final Thoughts and Advice for Entrepreneurs

Today I'm chatting with social media manager and content creator Emily Rochotte! We talk all things content, and dive deep into why it's time for your wedding business to be on TikTok. We also talk about outsourcing work to others and the recent evolution of social media in the wedding industry.
Grab a copy of Emily's outsourcing checklist here.
Website: https://emilyrochotte.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyrochotte/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@emilyrochotte
Want to get further training from Emily? Join the Wedding Pro Members lounge now to access her TikTok session:
https://go.beccapountney.com/wedpro
Time stamps:
00:00 Reflecting on the Journey: From Cringe to Growth
00:16 Meet Becca Pountney: The Voice Behind the Wedding Pros Podcast
00:45 Introducing Emily Rochotte: A Social Media Manager.
01:57 Emily's Path into the Wedding Industry
03:21 The Importance of Social Media in Wedding Business Marketing
06:00 Content Creation Tips for Wedding Professionals in 2024
09:02 Overcoming the Challenge of Limited Images
11:39 Staying Fresh and Innovative in Content Marketing
13:13 The Essential Guide to TikTok for Wedding Pros
18:53 Embracing Imperfection in Content Creation
19:20 Navigating the Post-COVID Wedding Industry Landscape
20:03 The Long Game of Social Media Marketing
22:16 Staying Consistent with Content During Busy Seasons
26:18 The Importance of Marketing for Fully Booked Businesses
28:34 When and How to Consider Outsourcing Your Social Media
33:02 Understanding Your Brand for Effective Marketing
35:00 Final Thoughts and the Value of Knowing Your Business
Want to meet other likeminded wedding pro's so that you can share ideas, network and help each other out? Then why not go ahead and join my free Wedding Pro community over on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/weddingprosreadytogrow/

Find out more about how I can help you grow your wedding business over on my website or Instagram page:
www.beccapountney.com
www.instagram.com/beccapountney
Mentioned in this episode:
TikTok Training inside the Wedding Pro Members Lounge!
Want more indepth training on using TikTok in your Wedding Business? Join Emily and myself inside of the Wedding Pro Members Lounge for a full masterclass.
Not yet a member? Use the code PODCAST at checkout to get your first month for just £10.00!


Wedding Pro Members Lounge

Today I'm chatting with Bernadette Chapman. Having spent 21 years in the wedding industry and being the sole founder of the UK Alliance of Wedding Planners, recently Bernadette has made some big business decisions. We dive deep into how she has stepped away from the career she loves, the state of the wedding industry in 2024 and how we can all strive to be better at the business of weddings.
Want to meet other likeminded wedding pro's so that you can share ideas, network and help each other out? Then why not go ahead and join my free Wedding Pro community over on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/weddingprosreadytogrow/

Find out more about how I can help you grow your wedding business over on my website or Instagram page:
www.beccapountney.com
www.instagram.com/beccapountney
Time stamps:
Procrastination and Subconscious Resistance (00:00:00) Explanation of why people procrastinate and resist change due to subconscious fear.
Introduction to Bernadette Chapman (00:00:24) Becca Pountney introduces Bernadette Chapman, a veteran in the wedding planning industry, and discusses her experience and insights.
Starting a Wedding Planning Business in the Pre-Internet Era (00:01:36) Bernadette Chapman shares her experience of starting a wedding planning business before the internet era, including the challenges and lack of resources.
Challenges of Getting First Clients (00:05:04) Discussion about the challenges of getting the first wedding planning clients and the unexpected experience of Bernadette's first wedding.
Launch of the UK Alliance of Wedding Planners (00:10:07) Bernadette discusses the reasons for launching the UK Alliance of Wedding Planners and its impact on the industry.
Common Mistakes in Wedding Planning Business (00:12:42) Insights into the common mistakes wedding planners make, including overemphasis on aesthetics and the importance of training and education.
The Misconception of Instant Success in the Wedding Industry (00:15:37) Discussion about the misconception of instant success in the wedding industry and the importance of hard work, experience, and adaptation.
Importance of Onboarding for a Smooth Client Experience (00:19:26) Bernadette emphasizes the importance of onboarding for creating a positive first impression, setting boundaries, and automating processes for a smoother client experience.
The importance of quick response and automation (00:22:04) Clients' expectations for immediate answers, automation systems, and quick processes in the wedding planning business.
Efficient onboarding process (00:24:01) Creating a smooth and quick onboarding process for clients, including proposal, contract, deposit, and welcome email.
Using systems to streamline processes (00:25:16) Discussion about using software and systems to automate processes, making it easier for clients to pay and streamline operations.
Challenges and decision to close the UK Alliance of Wedding Planners (00:27:20) The emotional impact and reasons behind the decision to close the UK Alliance of Wedding Planners after 21 years, including the need for joy and the toll of emotional support.
Reflections on entrepreneurship and business decisions (00:32:06) The pressure to grow a business, the importance...

Today I am sharing my top tips for preparing your wedding business for the future. There will likely come a time when you need to outsource your tasks or grow a team, so today I am sharing my top tips to ensure your wedding business or venue is ready to take that leap.
In today's episode I mention:
The Wedding Pro Business Builder course
The Wedding Pro Agency
Scribe plugin
Enji
Step 1: Brand Guide (00:00:57) Creating a comprehensive brand guide including logo, color codes, fonts, and brand voice.
Step 2: Templates (00:06:34) Using templates for social media graphics and ensuring they are easily accessible in Canva.
Step 3: Password Manager (00:09:07) Implementing a password manager, such as LastPass, for secure and efficient sharing of login details.
Step 4: Organizing Image Files (00:12:45) Organizing image files in a cloud-based system with a structured folder hierarchy and including relevant details for each image.
Organizing Image Files (00:17:52) Becca emphasizes the importance of organizing image files into a cloud-based system and subfolders for efficient outsourcing.
Clear Processes (00:18:55) Becca discusses the necessity of documenting regular tasks using a tool called Scribe, simplifying the outsourcing process.
Clear Plan and Objectives (00:19:44) The importance of having clear objectives and a marketing calendar for effective outsourcing is highlighted.
Marketing Calendar (00:22:22) Becca stresses the need for a marketing calendar to facilitate targeted and effective content creation for outsourcing.
Key Performance Indicators (00:26:43) Understanding and tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) is essential for monitoring the effectiveness of outsourcing tasks.
Recap of Eight Steps (00:31:13) Becca summarizes the eight essential steps for preparing a business for outsourcing tasks, emphasizing the importance of taking it one step at a time.

Today I am welcoming back the head of strategy for Guides for Brides - Nikita Thorne. This time we are not talking about wedding directories - instead we are talking about her recent experience of planning her own wedding, and how it's changed the way she thinks about wedding business marketing.
Find out more about Guides for Brides
Want to meet other likeminded wedding pro's so that you can share ideas, network and help each other out? Then why not go ahead and join my free Wedding Pro community over on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/weddingprosreadytogrow/

Find out more about how I can help you grow your wedding business over on my website or Instagram page:
www.beccapountney.com
www.instagram.com/beccapountney
Time stamps:
Instagram vs TikTok (00:00:00)
Comparison of social media platforms and potential content strategies.
Chat with Nikita (00:01:02)
Discussion with Nikita Thorne about wedding planning experiences and changes in views.
Budget and Surprises (00:02:34)
Reflection on wedding expenses and unexpected investments.
Upselling and Trends (00:04:30)
Discussion on upselling and last-minute additions to wedding budgets.
Initial Wedding Planning Steps (00:06:20)
The first steps taken after getting engaged, including guest lists and venue inquiries.
Venue Availability (00:09:45)
Challenges and ease of obtaining venue availability information.
Choosing a Venue (00:11:43)
The importance of marketing and customer service in selecting a wedding venue.
Narrowing Down Suppliers (00:13:56)
Criteria for selecting trustworthy suppliers and the importance of online presence and responsiveness.
Supplier Response Time (00:16:57)
The impact of fast or slow supplier response times on decision-making.
The excitement curve (00:17:43)
The diminishing excitement after inquiry and the importance of fast responses.
Pricing transparency (00:18:23)
The impact of not having prices on listings or websites for wedding services.
Importance of timing for reviews (00:23:34)
The challenges of leaving reviews after the wedding and the impact of timing on getting reviews.
TikTok as a marketing platform (00:28:41)
The growing influence of TikTok in wedding planning and its potential impact on marketing strategies.
Adapting to new social media trends (00:30:28)
The need to adapt to new social media platforms like TikTok for marketing to younger generations.
Couples Taking Longer to Inquire (00:35:56)
Couples are taking longer to make decisions, impacting the wedding industry's advertising and booking patterns.
Changing Trends in Engagement (00:38:23)
Engagement and wedding planning trends are shifting, with more spread-out inquiries and a longer-term strategy needed.
Utilizing Wedding Planning Platforms (00:41:07)
Couples use wedding planning platforms in diverse ways, emphasizing the need for consistent and accessible information.
Importance of Transparent Pricing (00:41:42)
The significance of transparent pricing and the need to regularly review and synchronize pricing across all advertising platforms.

Today I am chatting with founder of Wedding Dates and Wed Pro Ciara Crossan. Earlier this year Wedding Dates released their 2024 Wedding Industry Report and it was a great read. They surveyed over 1000 couples to find out more about the wedding planning landscape and discovered what frustrates them the most.
In this episode I find out more about Ciara's journey and we digest the latest findings and how you can use that data in your own wedding business / venue.
Download the 2024 UK Wedding Report
Download the 2024 Ireland Wedding Report
Find out more about Wedding Dates and Wed Pro
Time Stamps:
Using TikTok for Wedding Business (00:00:00) Ciara discusses using TikTok for sharing expertise, tips, and personalization in the wedding business.
Introduction and Background (00:00:27) Becca introduces Ciara Crossan, CEO and founder of Wedding Dates, and discusses her background and the platform's growth.
The Inception of Wedding Dates (00:01:58) Ciara shares the background and inception of Wedding Dates, including the idea's origin and early development.
Challenges Faced as a Female Tech Founder (00:05:27) Ciara discusses the challenges she faced as a female tech founder and the resilience required to overcome them.
Experience on Dragon's Den (00:09:03) Ciara shares her experience on the Dragon's Den TV show, highlighting the preparation and the positive impact it had on her.
Hiring and Building a Team (00:13:07) Ciara discusses the challenges and benefits of hiring and building a team, emphasizing the importance of culture and longevity.
Wedding Dates UK Industry Report (00:16:11) Ciara talks about the purpose and history of the industry report, explaining the motivation behind its creation.
The survey and report (00:17:02) Ciara discusses the motivation behind conducting surveys and creating industry reports to share with wedding venues and suppliers.
The importance of data (00:18:29) Ciara explains the significance of conducting separate reports for the UK and Ireland and the value of the data for understanding industry trends.
Incentivising survey participation (00:20:00) Ciara reveals the strategy of offering a prize to incentivize couples to participate in the survey.
Couples' feelings during wedding planning (00:21:04) Ciara discusses the surprising statistic that over 70% of couples felt underwhelmed during the wedding planning process and the opportunity it presents for wedding professionals.
Common frustrations and challenges (00:26:04) Becca and Ciara discuss common frustrations reported by couples, such as pricing transparency and slow response times, and how wedding pros can address them.
Resistance to change (00:29:58) Ciara explains the resistance to automation and price transparency as a fear of change and the importance of self-care in the industry.
TikTok for Wedding Inspiration (00:33:16) Couples' use of TikTok for wedding inspiration and how businesses can utilize the platform effectively.
Trust Factor in Wedding Businesses (00:34:18) The importance of trust in wedding businesses, particularly in relation to staff turnover in venues.
Tech