Wedded: The Wedding Planner Podcast - podcast cover

Wedded: The Wedding Planner Podcast

Tracy Taylor Ward and Shannon Leahywww.spreaker.com
Welcome to Wedded: The Wedding Planner Podcast. We are Tracy Taylor Ward and Shannon Leahy, wedding planners with a love for event design who work with clients all over the world. Tracy’s company, Tracy Taylor Ward Design, is based in NY and FL, and Shannon’s company, Shannon Leahy Events, is located in CA and MD. After a combined 20 years in the events industry, we’ve “wedded” our expertise to share with you everything we know about weddings and how to run a successful luxury event planning company. Whether you’re a wedding planner looking to elevate your client’s experience, or a bride or groom wondering how to hold a chic, seamless and exceptionally fun wedding, you’ve come to the right place! So grab your favorite pen and notebook, and take a seat. We can’t wait to help you level up your wedding!
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Episodes

From Help Wanted to Dream Team: Our Hiring Evolution

In this episode, we’re diving into the essential strategies for building an exceptional team that propels your business forward. Whether you’re a seasoned planner or just starting out, hiring the right people is crucial for scaling effectively. Tune in to learn about our first hires, our best tips for growth, and how to assemble a team that not only supports your success but also enhances your brand’s reputation. Visit Our Website: https://www.WeddedPodcast.com Grab Our Freebies And Planning Too...

Apr 30, 202517 min

Perfect Petals: How to Use Personal Flowers in Weddings

What is a “personal flower,” who gets them, when do they get them, how are they presented, and what do you do with them?! From bouquets and boutonnieres to nosegays and wreaths, we have many thoughts! Tune in to learn what flowers work best and how to make them last! Plus, hear all about our strong feelings about corsages and take note on some imperative reminders to ensure you have every detail covered! Visit Our Website: https://www.WeddedPodcast.com Grab Our Freebies And Planning Tools: www.W...

Jul 10, 202414 min

Inflation Frustration: Navigating Wedding Price Surges

Welcome back to “Wedded” with Trace and Shannon! After a brief hiatus, we’re here with a fresh format and lots of exciting topics sourced from you, our fantastic listeners. In this episode, we dive into the topic of wedding inflation. We discuss how prices have changed in the wedding industry, how to manage client expectations, and the importance of clear communication from the start. Whether you’re a planner or a bride/groom-to-be, this episode is packed with insights to help you navigate the e...

Jun 05, 202415 min

How To Plan Like A Pro: Our Core System Revealed

Planners— are you tired of spinning your wheels with inefficient systems? Couples— have you ever wondered how you could plan your wedding more effortlessly? Today we are breaking down all of our Core System tools and how you can prevent yourself from wasting time and making mistakes by employing them! Plus, a big update on the status of Wedded! Visit Our Website: https://www.WeddedPodcast.com Grab Our Freebies And Planning Tools: www.WeddedS hop.com Email Us All Of Your Questions and Comments: Q...

Jun 21, 20239 min

After the Aisle: Conquering Post-Wedding Blues, Name Changes, and the Journey Ahead!

Join us today as we provide practical advice and strategies to overcome post-wedding blues, simplify the name change process, preserve cherished memories, and thrive in your new life as a married couple. Whether you're a newlywed or a wedding planner, this episode is your guide to navigating the exciting and sometimes overwhelming post-wedding journey. Plus, one listener asks how to tackle initial floral design conversations with clients as a floral designer! Discussed in this Episode: - How to ...

Jun 07, 202320 min

The Art of Wedding Negotiations: Strategies for Successful Vendor Communications

Get ready to dive into the nitty-gritty of vendor contracts! Today we are sharing valuable tips on establishing clear and open communication channels throughout the negotiation process. Discover our favorite strategies for requesting discounts, understanding pricing structures, and finding areas where costs can be adjusted without compromising quality. Plus, one listener asks how to approach launching a luxury wedding planning business within a city geared toward a lower-priced market. Visit Our...

May 24, 202322 min

Thriving in a Slow Wedding Season: Adaptation and Resilience for Wedding Planners

It's time to talk about something we all dread in the wedding industry: a super slow season. But don't worry, we've got you covered with a ton of tips and tricks to keep your business thriving even when things are moving at a snail's pace. From diversifying your business to strengthening your online presence and fostering a supportive community, we're going to show you how to make the most of your downtime and come out on top. Plus, one listener asks how to transition from corporate events into ...

May 10, 202321 min

Hashtag 'Happily Ever After': Exploring the Role of Social Media in Modern Weddings

This week we are exploring the ever-evolving world of social media and its impact on weddings. From swoon-worthy inspiration to the pressure for Instagram-perfect moments, we'll uncover the good, the bad, and the controversial. Plus, don't miss our listener question segment where we reveal our client gifting process. Discussed: Simone LeBlanc Visit Our Website: https://www.WeddedPodcast.com Grab Our Freebies And Planning Tools: www.WeddedS hop.com Email Us All Of Your Questions and Comments: Que...

Apr 26, 202319 min

An Introvert's Guide to Wedding Planning

Planning a wedding can be stressful for anyone, but for introverts, it can be especially overwhelming. So, we're here to share some tips and strategies for creating a wedding that prioritizes self-care, mental well-being, and introvert-friendly planning. From scheduling moments of alone time to establishing an "introvert zone" for the couple and introverted guests, we’ve got you covered. PLUS: we’re dishing on what to do when a planner is asked to handle all vendor payments on the clients’ behal...

Apr 12, 202317 min

Going Green: Planning a Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Wedding

On this week's episode of Wedded, we're all about planning a sustainable and eco-friendly wedding! We're sharing stories and tips for carbon conscious couples, including how we find venues and vendors who prioritize environmentally friendly options for everything from flowers to wedding attire. It’s easier than you might think! PLUS: One listener asks for advice on how to manage client meetings while balancing a full time job. Discussed in this Episode: Nordeen Bridal ( www.nordeenbridal.com ) B...

Mar 29, 202324 min

How to Attract Your Ideal Client

Let's face it, in the wedding planning industry, there are a lot of fish in the sea. So, if you want to stand out and attract your ideal clients, you need to know who they are and what they want. On this week’s episode we are dishing on how to find your "ideal client" and improve your marketing efforts to ensure your brand identity is crystal clear. PLUS: One listener asks how to determine who their real client is when the person paying is not the same person supplying the decisions. But, wait, ...

Mar 15, 202321 min

The Budgeting Masterclass You’ve All Been Waiting For

Whoever said ‘Money, Money, Money. Must be Funny” must not have been a wedding planner. Tune-in to this week’s episode for everything you need to know about wedding budgets, from when to discuss finances with clients to our personal processes for setting and sticking to a wedding budget. But that’s not all…We’re also releasing the ULTIMATE Budgeting Guide on WeddedShop.com that’s been two years in the making! PLUS: One listener asks for advice around setting boundaries with clients, specifically...

Mar 01, 202328 min

Navigating Conflicts With Parents During Planning

It’s never easy to make plans when there are too many cooks in the kitchen, and event planning is no exception! Planning a wedding often means navigating inter-family dynamics for the first time, which can be challenging, especially when the parties’ involved aren’t seeing eye to eye. That’s why this week we’re sharing our advice on how to navigate one of the trickiest parts of wedding planning with hyper-involved parents: emotions and conflicting opinions. PLUS: One listener asks about how to h...

Feb 15, 202322 min

Vendor No Show? No Problem.

For those who have never been in a scenario where a vendor cancels at the last minute or simply doesn’t show up on the wedding day, consider yourself one of the lucky ones! Handling this type of situation can feel overwhelming and stressful, especially for a crucial vendor for your clients’ celebrations…Fear not, because we’re sharing our tips for how to avoid such situations (spoiler alert: having a contingency plan in place is key) and pivot plans quickly, if needed. PLUS: One to-be-wed listen...

Feb 01, 202321 min

What to Wear — Wedding Planner Edition

Wondering what you and your on-site team should wear to your upcoming events? We’ve got you covered—Tune in this week for our tips on determining the best dress code for you and your team, and how appropriate on-site attire can actually impact future client bookings! PLUS: One listener asks about how, and how much, to include the couple’s parents and in-laws in the planning process. Discussed in This Episode: Old Navy ( https://oldnavy.gap.com ) Banana Republic ( https://bananarepublicfactory.ga...

Jan 18, 202324 min

How to Decide if an Engagement Party is Right for You (& How to Plan One)

Wondering why your social media feeds have been flooded with proposals lately? That’s because we’re in the height of Engagement Season (Nov-February), the most popular time for to-be-wed couples to pop the question! With that, we’re talking all things engagement parties this week, so whether you’re planning your own upcoming celebration or you’re fielding a ton of engagement-related inquiries at the moment, this episode is one you won’t want to miss! PLUS: One listener asks for advice on what to...

Jan 04, 202316 min

Best Practices for Annual Business Reflections To Guarantee Your Best Year Ever Ahead

Wedding season has wrapped, so what should you do with this time off from in-person events?! Well wed-heads, we’re so glad you asked! This week we’re dishing out our best practices for reflecting on the prior year and using the off-season to plan ahead for the one ahead in order to ensure it’ll be your best one yet! PLUS: We answer one listener’s question regarding what fields to include on their online inquiry form. Discussed in The Episode: - Uber ( https://www.uber.com ) - Wedded Episode: 7 L...

Dec 21, 202218 min

Venue Search: The Most Important Questions To Ask To Find Your Perfect Space

With proposal season now in full swing, venue searching will be (if it’s not already!) top of mind for thousands of couples and their wedding planners. That’s why this week we’re diving into all the details you should consider before contracting with a wedding venue, many of which may surprise you! PLUS: One listener asks about wedding expos, specifically whether they are a good investment for younger planners and how to get the most out of participating in them. Discussed: Four Seasons Philadel...

Dec 07, 202223 min

Surprising Unforeseen Costs In Wedding Planning

This week, we’re talking about one of our favorite topics…finances! More specifically, we discuss those big budget items that couples either forget about or are shocked to find out what they actually cost, so whether you’re a planner hoping to better educate your clients or you’re planning your own wedding and trying to budget appropriately, this episode is definitely one you don’t want to miss! Plus: One listener asks about whether it’s better to use printed or digital files (or both) throughou...

Nov 23, 202220 min

10 Wedding Day Details You Definitely Don’t Want to Forget

Let’s be honest…nobody’s perfect, ourselves included! This week we’re discussing the ten most commonly forgotten wedding day details and lessons we’ve learned over the years so that you too can learn from our mistakes! PLUS: One listener asks about how to navigate personal and professional relationships with clients, specifically how to prevent certain close relationships from taking time and attention away from other projects. Discussed in This Episode: Wedded Shop Gratuity Guidelines ( https:/...

Nov 09, 202221 min

7 Life-Saving Tips to Prevent the Burnout Blues

With wedding season coming to a close, it’s time to talk about burnout, which can be a common phenomenon with any demanding profession, and wedding planners and designers are no exception! This week, we disclose our top tips for preventing and reducing unnecessary stressors that can ultimately lead to burnout. PLUS: We answer one listener’s question about the best way to approach site visits for destination weddings. Discussed in This Episode: The Knot ( https://www.theknot.com/) Our Episode on ...

Oct 26, 202226 min

How to stretch your budget to make your weddings (and portfolio) look like luxury weddings

Calling all planners and designers looking to level up their portfolio in order to attract a higher caliber of clientele—You won’t want to miss this week’s episode where we share our top tips for making your portfolio pop, which is imperative for bringing in bigger budget projects! PLUS: We discuss how to manage multiple projects and the processes we have in place to help keep us organized. Discussed in This Episode: FedEx Decal Printing ( https://www.fedex.com/en-us/printing/marketing-materials...

Oct 12, 202219 min

Respondez, S'il Vous Plaît! — The Etiquette Around RSVP-ing & Tips for Simplifying the Process

Whether RSVP collection is a service you offer or you simply need help advising couples on how to handle it themselves, guest management is no easy feat! On this week’s episode we give you an inside look at how each of us tackle collecting all necessary guest information and how such details impact many other aspects of the wedding day/weekend (think transportation schedules, welcome bag drop offs, entrée selection and more). PLUS: One listener asks for advice on what to do when they are asked t...

Sep 28, 202221 min

The Art of Decision-Making – How to Help Clients Progress Throughout the Wedding Planning Process

As planners, it’s our job to alleviate the stress surrounding the hundreds, if not thousands, of decisions that go into our clients’ events, but you can go about this in a variety of different ways…This week we discuss how our processes for helping clients navigate decision making has evolved over the years, and how to know which course of action is best for your business. PLUS: We share advice for handling scenarios in which planners are tasked with certain jobs that fall outside their typical ...

Sep 14, 202221 min

Wedding Trends: 2022/2023 Edition

The time has come to share our top five wedding trends! If you’ve been wondering what you can expect to see throughout the remaining half of the year and into 2023 at wedding celebrations, this week’s episode is right up your alley! PLUS: We share our go-to places to find design inspo. Discussed in this Episode: Wedded Gratuity Guidelines ( https://www.weddedshop.com/product-page/gratuity-guideline) Wedding Trends: 2021/2022 Edition ( https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wedding-trends-2021-202...

Aug 31, 202214 min

Your “I Do” Crew – Who to Have by Your Side, When to Ask Them & What’s Expected of Those in Your Wedding Party

Deciding who will be standing by your side throughout the wedding planning process and on your wedding day is one of the first decisions engaged couples have to think through–From the number of wedding party attendants to have (if any) and when to ask them to be a part of your “I Do” crew to what is expected of these individuals, tune-in this week to hear all our thoughts on wedding parties! Plus, we discuss when it’s appropriate as a planner to share your advice free-of-charge or offer paid men...

Aug 17, 202218 min

Cheers to the Freakin’ (Wedding) Weekend — Everything You Need to Know about Planning a Weekend Wedding Experience

Why have one day of celebrations when you can have many?! On this week’s episode we’re discussing full wedding weekends and their recent rise in popularity over the last few years–Tune in to hear our thoughts on these multi-day soirées, including tips for budgeting for numerous events, preventing guest burnout with too many activities, how to staff appropriately for such celebrations and so much more. PLUS: We talk through planner travel fees and whether it’s better to charge a set amount for tr...

Aug 03, 202221 min

Please Be Seated: The Real Deal on Escort vs. Place Cards

This week we’re diving deep into the details, discussing all things escort and place cards! Whether you’re wondering what the differences are between the two, when to incorporate each into your events or just want to know what our favorite escort card displays have been to-date you’ve come to the right place. Plus, we answer one listener’s question about budgeting and the benefits of discussing both all-in and per-person budgets when connecting with prospective clients. Discussed in this Episode...

Jul 20, 202221 min

How to Find & Book Your Perfect Beauty Team

We’re back and talking all things beauty! Whether you’re hiring your own hair and makeup team or looking for tips and tricks on vetting the right professionals for your clientele, we’re here to help. Listen in to hear why we think who you hire can make or break the entire wedding day vibe. Plus, we discuss how and when, as a planner, it’s appropriate (and potentially helpful) to share personal wedding planning experiences with clients. Visit Our Website: https://www.WeddedPodcast.com Grab Our Fr...

Jul 06, 202219 min

Big News: Our Personal, Professional & Podcast Updates

Don’t worry—This isn’t goodbye, it’s just see you later! With events back in full swing, our lives have been a little bit busy. So while we LOVE connecting each week with all you wed heads, we’re taking a break to focus on our upcoming events, our families and, of course, more big plans for Wedded! Make sure you subscribe so you’ll be the first to know when we’re back and ready to answer all your wedding planning and questions. Discussed in this episode: Melissa Alt Cakes ( https://www.melissaal...

Mar 30, 202211 min
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