January 7, 2025 • 49 mins
Welcome to Episode 56 of the Wed.Co Podcast. Today, Toga sits down with Kiera from Creative Weddings Byron Bay for a chat about the evolution of the wedding industry, the importance of branding and social media for vendors, and the various services Kiera offers. This episode was filmed at The Valley Estate, on the Gold Coast
In this episode Kiera from Creative Weddings Byron Bay talks about her journey from being a chef to a wedding planner. The conversation also covers the wedding planning process, timing for booking vendors, current trends in weddings, and tips for newly engaged couples.
Kiera emphasises the importance of personalising the wedding experience and adapting traditions to fit the couple's unique vision. In this conversation, Kiera discusses the multifaceted role of wedding planners, emphasising the importance of guidance throughout the planning process. She highlights the significance of building strong relationships with vendors, enhancing the client journey, and implementing effective marketing strategies.
Kiera also shares insights on balancing work and personal life, as well as the value of coaching and mentorship within the wedding industry.
Takeaways
- Creative Weddings Byron Bay offers full planning and month-out planning packages.
- Social media branding is crucial for wedding vendors.
- Couples should prioritize booking key vendors early in the planning process.
- A year is a good timeframe for wedding planning.
- Weddings should be unique and tailored to the couple's vision.
- Espresso martini towers are a popular trend in weddings.
- Newly engaged couples should do thorough research before making deposits.
- Personalizing the wedding experience is essential for enjoyment. Wedding planners provide essential guidance beyond just booking vendors.
- Understanding the nuances of wedding planning is crucial for success.
- Photographers benefit greatly from collaborating with planners.
- Personalized outreach to vendors can lead to better relationships.
- The client journey should be mapped out from start to finish.
- Automation can help vendors manage their workload effectively.
- Social media presence is vital for wedding professionals.
- Adding value to couples through informative content is key.
- Balancing work and personal life is essential for sustainability.
- Coaching can help vendors improve their business strategies.
If you want to hear more from Kiera you can get more info at https://weddingsbyronbay.com.au/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/creativeweddingsbyronbay
Your support enables us to bring more enriching conversations and insights to both engaged couples and wedding professionals.
Stay connected with us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/wed.copodcast and watch all your favorite wedding professionals on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@Wed.CoPodcast
Catch our episodes on major podcast platforms like Apple, Spotify, and Youtube, all under WedCo Podcast.
For all of your Wedding Photography / Videography needs head over to https://www.instagram.com/the_tognazzinis/ or our website at https://thetognazzinis.com.au/
Join us for our next episode on the Wed.Co Podcast, where we continu
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:02):
Welcome to the Wedco podcast where wedding wisdom meets street smarts.
We're dishing out all the tips, tricks and wedding goss to take your wedding to the nextlevel.
Time to ditch the formalities and get this party started.
Hello and welcome to the WEDCO podcast.
I'm Toga and today we have Kiera from Creative Weddings Byron Bay on the couch with us.
(00:25):
Thank you so much for coming down.
No problem.
I really appreciate it.
It's because you're living in Byron or we're about to you based.
I actually used to live in the area, but I don't live near the Byron area anymore.
Through COVID, we decided to move closer to our family because we're on the wrong side ofthe border to our families.
And so we've got a little hobby farm halfway between Brisbane and Toowoomba.
(00:47):
So I just do everything remotely and then I have my day coordinators that are local thatrun the wedding.
Amazing.
That's awesome.
I love that.
Well, maybe we can start with a little bit of a backstory behind your business yourself aswell.
Yeah.
So I used to be a chef.
Yeah, sure.
I used to be a chef and so I've worked in events and catering my whole life and had kidsand had to get out of the industry.
(01:14):
And I had one of my chefs recommended that I
look at becoming a wedding planner and he had a friend that had a business that she wantedto sell and so he connected us and the rest is history.
I did a business degree in between being a chef and being a wedding planner because Ididn't know what to do with myself.
(01:34):
And yeah, just kind of hit the ground running with it.
Yeah.
Love it.
And so how long ago was that like when you started it?
About 12 years.
Yeah, far out.
So the industry changed a little bit in that time?
A lot.
Yeah.
Even since I've had my wedding, you know, it's changed so much.
yeah, it's amazing.
All of the different styles that come in and out.
So what services are you currently offering?
(01:56):
I offer two different packages, just to keep things simple.
The full planning from start to finish and a month out planning.
So usually the month out is more aimed at couples that are in events themselves and theyknow the ins and outs of it all or just need somebody
in the last leg to help wrap everything up and be there on the day to run things.
(02:17):
And on the side, do sort of business coaching and things for industry vendors as well.
awesome.
I didn't know that.
Okay.
So like just every within just kind of specifically the wedding industry?
Yeah, usually.
I mean, it really depends.
It's because I know the industry inside out and when I am booking vendors, I see big gapsin between, you know, what
(02:40):
their offering is and their client journey and it really fails them sometimes.
So what I do is I teach vendors how to set up their business to run really efficiently.
yeah, plus social media as well.
That's so good because yeah, I guess that's another benefit of the podcast is like gettingto speak to so many different people and you kind of, because you have this overall view
(03:02):
of how many people are doing different things, you can kind of pick little parts apart.
Whereas like when it's just yourself, all you know is what you're doing and you're justhoping that this is the best.
but you might not be doing all the things that everyone else is doing.
Yeah.
But when I reach out for quotes for different vendors and they take like a week or two toget back to me or they make a mistake or you know, miss something in the coding stage and
(03:23):
I have to follow them up constantly.
It's kind of, you know, they're all creatives and they're amazing at what they do, but theadmin side of things really fails them.
So it's just about setting things up and automating certain things in their business andyou know, just using different programs to help their.
their business run really efficiently and then they can sort of focus on the creativeside.
(03:44):
Cause I feel like that's such a struggle with people in the wedding industry.
Like we got into it for photography.
I love floristry.
I love whatever.
And then all of a sudden, like the business is, you know, 75 % of it.
And then just the 25 % is a part that you actually love.
And it's all social media too.
It is.
It's like, that may as well be a full-time job just so that your social media these days.
Yeah.
But even that, like when I look at yours, I think I saw maybe a little reel from you aswell, where you were really talking, you might've been on a recent podcast.
(04:09):
And you were talking about how you'd really wanted your kind of feed to kind of standapart from all, like there are so many beautiful feeds out there.
And like, why are people going to stop on your feed?
Or they would remember like, I saw this beautiful wedding, but I just cannot rememberwhere I saw it from.
And you kind of just get lost in the sea of beautiful weddings.
And it's all amazing.
And there's so many amazing creatives out there, but it's about whatever you post, make itlike a really strong brand.
(04:37):
when it comes up in somebody's feed,
They know exactly that it's Yeah.
And is that so that's something have you consciously been doing this for a long time?
Like really diving deep into this?
A solid year.
I hired a business coach about a year ago and we went really deep into the messaging andmarketing and all of the branding and that sort of thing.
(05:01):
And yeah, just really focused on like all savable stuff and shareable.
reels just so people had the education around it.
So even with brides that aren't planning in buyer and they can save certain things andshare things with their friends that will help them along the way with their planning
journey.
like the Monday memes, the Monday memes.
(05:22):
Even like when I see those, like I still like to look at them.
I've been doing that for longer than I can remember and it's got nothing to do withweddings.
It's just a funny meme every day that, but people love it and they sort of wake up eachmorning and there's something new and
My coach actually said recently, she's like, I need you to make it like a carousel so Ican share these with my friends rather than a story.
(05:46):
And so it just breaks things up a little bit.
Yeah.
I mean, this is something like people are going to keep, cause as soon as they're kind ofscrolling through the carousel, then you know, whatever the algorithm is going to be like,
well, you enjoyed that.
So they're going to come back and be seeing more of your page more often.
And they just know every Monday, this is coming out as well.
We're going to this.
Yeah.
It's just consistency.
It's just keeping, you know, in people's minds, omnipresence, you know.
(06:07):
And so when, okay, say a couple comes to you and they want like the full kind of packagewith you, like planning from the start to the finish, how are you going about lining up?
Like do most people already have a venue locked in and then you're kind of helping withthe vendors through the whole process?
Usually that's the case.
mean, a few couples come to me and they don't have a venue in mind either and they want itright from the beginning.
(06:32):
But usually they would...
go on the hunt for the venue first and then they either have the venue and possibly awedding date in mind and then they start doing research and realise like, my God, this is
too much, like I need somebody to help.
Or they come across venues that, you know, that you require a planner in most of thevenues in Byron.
(06:53):
So then they're like, okay, you know, I'll look around and then they deep dive on socialmedia, see all the different tags and the weddings that have happened at their venue
recently.
and then they come across me and talk from there.
Yeah.
And so like how would the process, so they haven't booked in a photographer.
So then, like you said, you might be going to get quotes from the photographers.
(07:15):
Are you then sitting down with the couple and a photographer like on a zoom call orsomething, or is it you kind of then just pitch them like, hey, here's two or three
photographers I like that I think would really suit your style and then going from there?
Yeah, we usually have like a big chat about the overall vision initially.
And I have a secret directory on my website that I send to couples just to start having alook at like my hand-picked suppliers.
(07:38):
And I don't like to have that live because I like to keep the list quite, you know, smalljust so it's not overwhelming for couples.
And so whoever's on there is like tried and tested.
do an amazing job and I've worked with them for years.
And 50 emails every week being like, can I get on your directory?
And I do anyway, and I try and keep it low key that I have that list.
(07:59):
So don't come at me everyone.
But you know, it's more just like I would never just put on a photographer that I haven'thad a rapport with.
You know, I have done in the past, you know, I've reached out to other people that I knowto see if they've worked with photographers.
So it's not like if I haven't worked with you, you're not going on the list.
It's more just like, and I put people on the list straight away as soon as I've seen theirstyle.
(08:23):
So it really depends on if it works with my sort of weddings that I offer and the brandand that sort of thing.
So, but usually I, start with booking in the key vendors that you can't easily replacelike celebrant photography, videography and music.
Those are the, like, so if you find a photographer that you love that you cannot imagineyour wedding without that person, it's really important to get them booked in sooner
(08:47):
rather than
And same with like celebrant and music, that sort of thing.
And then we sort of move on with the rest of the planning.
So it's, did I answer your question?
Yeah, no, it's fine.
Is there like, I mean, the wedding industry has been shifting a fair bit lately.
Is there like kind of a key time that you think for these important venues, vendors thatyou're talking about at the start?
Like are people, should they be a year out, 18 months out?
(09:10):
Like is there kind of a hard and fast rule at the moment?
Not really.
I mean, I have planned a wedding within a month.
from start to finish.
but it's more about like a year is a good timeframe just for availability and that sort ofthing.
Up to 18 months, I wouldn't take on a booking more than that because I know that thecouple are going to change their minds on styling and vendors and that sort of thing three
(09:32):
times throughout the process, which makes it really hard.
But usually a year is a good amount of time, but it's more about revolving the date aroundthe vendors that you love as well.
So if you don't have a date initially, but you know,
that you really want a certain photographer or seller brand, check their availabilityfirst, you know, and pick a date that aligns with the creatives rather than, you know, a
(09:55):
date that you pick out of the air.
I've actually had that happen a fair bit more often lately and people are like, look, I'mthinking kind of June, July, like what are your availability is about then?
And yeah, it makes, it makes sense unless I guess the venue is like, this is a venue.
I don't care.
This is a venue I have to get married at.
But yeah, but if there, it is like, you know, you really love.
this florist work and I really need this, you know, musician to play like, yeah, check outwith them first and see when they're available and then kind of book it around.
(10:20):
Cause otherwise it's so disappointing when, like my wife and I did that, we got married inItaly and we loved Frosty Photo.
Like I've looked at his stuff forever and we approached him and like, look, we're to behere between, whatever it was in September here and here, like when are you available?
He's like, the 16th.
we're like, cool, we'll have our wedding on the 16th.
Cause that's, we just loved his work and yeah, we're going to make everything else workaround it.
(10:42):
Whereas otherwise, yeah, you just, it's just full of disappointment.
Exactly.
You know, and, and if it's just one vendor that makes things easier, but if you're tryingto line up a few vendors, it's, makes it a little bit harder, but it's more just if you
have come across somebody that you really love, but if you haven't, then obviously workaround your family and, and what they're after as well.
(11:03):
Cause family is a big one that gets involved.
And like, would you have a, like, typically is not a good word, but like, you know, awedding.
that you would usually put together?
Are you kind of, no, it's all very different.
It's so different.
It's all bespoke.
I won't replicate the same wedding over and over.
I just find that so boring.
(11:23):
It's the same.
the venues that have all the included items have definitely have its pros and cons.
You know, I think having included items is great, but I find that those venues tend tohave the same looking wedding.
over and over, you know.
So the way that I approach that, if it's all all inclusive package, is that we utilize theincluded items, but then outsource others, bits and pieces.
(11:49):
So like with table styling, you might have like using included plate, but outsource somedifferent cutlery or glassware or napkin, you know, just to create something that's a
little bit different.
Otherwise it just, it's all boring.
Like it's the same thing over and over.
And that's what I keep saying, like to stay in the industry, you need to do it just asmuch for yourself as for the couple.
Like, know, if you're just doing it, yeah, if you aren't kind of growing and doing stuffthat you really enjoy, it's going to be very easy to kind of fall out of love with it.
(12:17):
And you're just like, it's just work, like whatever.
But it's also the couple comes to you because they know that they're going to getsomething unique as well.
You know, and it's great to have inspiration photos of other people's weddings, but youkind of see it as an overview of like, okay, that's the sort of direction, you know, more
classic rather than like a boho sort of theme.
But it's like the fine tuning of it is completely different.
(12:41):
We see you talk about themes, know, trends and themes are flowing like crazy at themoment.
It feels like they're speeding up a little bit more.
Is there anything within your, like I would say like you kind of service the higher endmarket for sure.
Like people, like all the weddings I see from you, like they're very, you know, they'revery elegant.
They're beautiful, like beautiful weddings.
And that's usually where the trends and the themes will kind of come through first andthen kind of will trickle down a year or two later to other kind of, you know, the...
(13:06):
They're not as high end weddings.
Is there anything you're kind of seeing coming through at the moment that everyone'sasking for an espresso martini tower?
well just the cocktail towers are a big hit at the moment.
I've seen that around for a little while though.
Vintage is a big one that's really coming back.
The sort of classic vintage, not in the cheesy old school way, but just like that reallyminimalistic, know, toned down vintage with just those sort of
(13:36):
really clever elements involved.
And then, so, are your clients mainly local, mainly interstate?
Like, how does that work?
Most likely they're interstate.
Back before COVID, were getting mainly Sydney and Melbourne crew.
Through COVID up until recently, it was all Brisbane.
(13:58):
And I feel like, nothing against Brisbane couples, but the money wasn't there.
So they were trying to come to buy.
and have a champagne taste with a beer budget almost.
And I hate saying that, but it's more just that we found that that level of affordabilitywasn't there.
(14:19):
So, but now it's starting to open up a little bit, but just because like everything was soexpensive with flights and buying is really expensive with accommodation, that sort of
thing.
people are, finding that a lot of couples are focusing more on smaller weddings, but donereally well.
rather than like the big hundred, 120, 150 sort of people weddings with like Sperry tentsand things like that.
(14:41):
They're sort of toning it down so they can have the elements that are really important tothem and have it beautifully styled, but just for like 40 or 50 people.
I love it, because I was going to ask about that.
Like if you see things shifting, do you think that is all to do like economy based or doyou think it's just, yeah, it is?
Yeah, I think so.
mean, people still have the funds, you know, even if with the economy people still.
(15:02):
have the money there and it's an important day for them.
But I find that their priorities have shifted, you know, rather than inviting everyonethat they know, make it sort of really personal and intimate with your friends and family,
yeah.
So people are just coming through and they've just got engaged.
Do you have any like tips for them?
(15:23):
Like, hey, we just got engaged two weeks ago.
Any tips for them?
Like you're just about to start this crazy journey.
Hyro planner straight away.
I think the more research you do, the more overwhelming it can be.
You know, it's really important to do your research before you start throwing depositsdown and that sort of thing, because people tend to not read the fine print on things.
(15:47):
So like a lot of the venues in Byron have a, you know, earlier curfew and soundrestrictions because of neighbors and things like that.
when they get halfway through and they're looking at musicians and they want like a sevenpiece band, we're just like, sorry, you know?
So it's really important to go into it knowing your budget roughly or if that's flexibleand choosing the vendors based on, you know, what you're allowed to have at that venue and
(16:15):
weigh it up to see if it's important to you or not.
And do you find like budgets for weddings, they saying a similar budget, like average?
But they're just having less people now or yeah.
Cool.
Yeah.
And I don't like throwing out how much people spend on weddings and that sort of thing,just because it is how long this piece of string, as you know, you know, I've had people
(16:36):
spend like on florals, like 2000 on florals or 40,000 on florals alone.
So it's really, you can do so much with it.
But yeah, what I'm seeing is more intimate weddings, but same budget.
Which is, mean, like it's good because
there's a reason, you know, we got married and it was like, cool, we want to have 40people.
(17:00):
But then as soon as one uncle comes, another uncle has to come.
And then all of sudden you've got 100.
And we originally going to get married in the Yarra Valley.
And it's just, it was cheaper for us to fly with our immediate family to Italy and getmarried over there than what it was to have 100 person, you know, wedding in the Yarra
Valley.
Yeah.
And would you really want all of your uncles and everyone there as well?
Like, it, is it that meaningful to have those extended family there?
(17:21):
Like what?
My husband and I did, I mean, we got married like nine years ago, but we split it up.
We got married on a Tuesday, had 40 people, no cake, no bridal party, any of that.
And then had a really beautiful, intimate wedding.
And then through a party, like booked out a bar in Brisbane and invited all the rest ofthe people and had like a second reception, which was great.
(17:46):
So mainly just because my husband doesn't like, you know, being up in front of so manypeople and being that.
vulnerable.
So we wanted to kind of keep it simple and then, you know, but still celebrate witheveryone else.
So I'm finding that that's really popular now too.
We did a similar where we did a big engagement party and same thing like you didn't evenreally get to speak to your friends very much because you kind of going around saying
(18:07):
hello to everyone and same thing got to the end of that like, yeah, cool.
It was a fun night.
We partied, but so glad that we did the wedding the way that we did it as well.
just feels so rigid.
Like it feels like you're just there on show and you can't really enjoy it properly.
You can have those moments, yeah.
like what would like, okay, so you talk about like people should really like personaliseand you know, really make it, not like, not even so much just about to them, but do it
(18:32):
their way.
To a point.
To a point, yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah, so like, what is there any tips that you can kind of give to couples in that regard?
I'm really for couples enjoying the experience of the
planning as much as the wedding day because you could have an amazing wedding and have themost stressful experience and what you're going to look back on is the stressful
(19:00):
experience.
just keeping that in mind and sorry, what was the question?
I feel like I'm ranting.
No, no, no, it's great.
No, it's just more so like how, like I feel like maybe a couple of years ago it was verymuch like your wedding your way and
don't care about what anyone else thinks.
It's kind of like trying to find that little bit of balance between like, yes, this isabout you, but then also trying to balance that out as well.
(19:23):
Yeah.
Well, family is a big one that gets involved.
That is like you do it your way to a point, whereas you have to weigh up how many feathersyou're ruffling through the process of not doing it, like not listening to people that are
around you.
I don't think that you should have to, but if it's going to cause more.
(19:45):
problems with family and split family and dynamics and that sort of thing, then it's sortof weighing up what is more important as well and what you would compromise on.
I definitely think that couples should do it their way, but not at a cost for their futurewith all of their people.
I feel like even you don't want to play the age game, but like even when I was a littlebit younger, the amount of things I'd push back on just to push back on things as well.
(20:11):
like say a thing like eight years later, you're like...
it didn't matter at all.
But like you just push back because it's like, no, this is our wedding.
We're going to do this.
Like I didn't really care.
But it's just because you want something.
Just stand your ground.
And that's what I mean.
You've got to weigh up if it's really that important.
Like if you're like, no, I don't want a wedding cake.
And your aunt Betty is just like, no, want to make a wedding cake for you.
(20:34):
You're just like, sure.
Okay.
Like whatever.
exactly.
You know, so it's, you don't have to sort of like.
dig your heels in just for that, if that means something to them and they feel, becausethey've your friends and your family, like they're the most important people in your life.
So it's just weighing it all out.
And then as far as like people kind of having the recoveries and everything like therecovery days and everything like that, do you find the days are great?
(21:01):
What I see a fair bit is people kind of wanting the whole weekend experience is kind ofbecoming more and more with the weddings that I'm doing.
It's always been a thing in Byron and I guess that's the area you can do that.
It's a destination for your wedding and it's got all of the facilities to do all of thosepre and post gatherings.
So that really hasn't changed.
(21:22):
There's a lot of venues that have popped up that will promote that that's what they offerin the area.
We didn't have as many just because we were sort of restricted in certain venues beingable to, know, in Airbnbs you can't host weddings but
And then there's that gray area with sort of post gatherings as well.
So it's trying to get around that, but certain ones have popped up lately, which is great.
(21:45):
And that's the attraction for Byron as well, just to make it that whole celebrationweekend.
Because as you know, the wedding day goes so quick and being able to look forward tomultiple days.
And then it takes the pressure off the actual day itself to catch up with everyone becauseyou're seeing them the day before and the day after as well.
So on the wedding day, you can focus on the two of you.
(22:06):
really sort of making that special.
Not just catching up with everyone.
because it's not about that.
Yeah.
And then with the like first looks and everything, feel like, you know, five years ago itwas really big and then it kind of like went down again.
How are you feeling about like first looks currently?
People don't take into consideration how many other things that affects just with thetimings of the day.
(22:30):
So if you're doing a first look, you're going to be in hair and makeup that much earlier.
You're going to have to hire your photographer for a longer period of time.
You have to of shuffle a lot more around.
And I love first looks if it's important to the couple to settle those nerves and havethat intimate moment.
I think that's beautiful.
(22:51):
Same sort of thing with getting ready with your partner on the morning.
know, all these traditions are so outdated anyway that if like I really encourage couplesjust to scrap whatever doesn't mean anything to them.
walking down the aisle with your dad.
If you don't like your dad, don't walk down the aisle with him or, you know, walk byyourself or walk with your cousin or your uncle, you know, somebody that means something
(23:12):
to you.
But first looks, I, yeah, I'm in two minds about that just because it affects so manyother things of the day that people don't realize.
Plus lighting is a big one.
You know, if you're, if you have a two o'clock ceremony and you have like a one o'clockfirst look, the lighting isn't going to be great.
for those photos as well, because it's in middle of the day.
(23:32):
So once you sort of wait until a little bit later when the lighting's perfect, I mean, youknow all about that.
yeah.
I've been finding some people are doing, or actually a fair few are doing kind of, likethey'll do their own personal vows and they can either do it at a, like a first look prior
to the ceremony.
And then they, at the ceremony, they kind of just doing the legalities there.
Or even had some people in the portrait shoot where they'll kind of, after the ceremony,they'll kind of get their congratulations and everything.
(23:57):
and then they'll go and do their personal vows like somewhere else separate as well.
And even that's like beautiful to kind of have their own little moment there.
Yeah.
You can rework the wedding day to completely suit you.
The only thing that you have to keep in mind is just the venue restrictions and whatyou're allowed to do.
But you can do it backwards if you want to have the ceremony at the end of the night, youknow, like you, whatever resonates with you the most.
(24:21):
And that's why having a planner on board to recommend.
So just to get to know you as a couple and know, you know, if you're super nervous andintroverts, then these are the things that we can do to sort of help that.
And just little things along the way that you might not know that you can do.
People get really caught up in like, do I have to have a cake?
And I feel like saying like, yeah, that's like the wedding law sort of thing.
(24:43):
Like you don't have to do any of it.
And I think that's like people, myself included, like we'll think of a plan and like,yeah, cool.
Someone's going to organize my vendors for me.
and like take that hassle out, but it is so much more than just like, here's all thevendors you're gonna need.
It's a completely different, like when all the little hints and tips that you're talkingabout there and just the guidance along the whole route.
(25:03):
Yeah.
No, it's definitely not just booking vendors in.
It's really, cause each vendor is so great at what they do, but they're only focused onwhat they're doing.
So having somebody that oversees the whole thing and filling in all of those gray areasand thinking of the things that you may not.
realise like it's the first time that you're doing this.
(25:25):
So you don't know what you don't know.
So you're just sort of going in blind.
Whereas if you have somebody that goes, need to, you know, when you're booking in aphotographer, these are the things that you need to consider when you're sort of working
out timings and how many hours and if you get a second shooter or whatever, it's just sortof that guidance along the way to keep your sanity as well.
Otherwise you're just like hardcore researching and you have no idea what you're doing andyou're just booking in things willy nilly, which you can do.
(25:51):
Like it's not rocket science people can plan their weddings, but it's just whether it'ssuccessful or not, or, you know, whether you sort of sane at the end of it.
You actually had a good time.
exactly.
And that's all you're going to remember if you're stressed out.
So, yeah.
Even I was speaking to Harley a little bit earlier and we're talking about getting photosof the reception space before everyone enters.
And that's a, that's a massive difference between having like a really good venue orhaving a wedding planner on board is like that time will be kind of cut out for you.
(26:18):
because there's so many times you're out on like say the portrait shoot and you know thateveryone's about to go enter over there, but there's just no time allocated to that as
well.
And so you're in two minds where like everyone's put so much effort into making thiswedding so beautiful.
I need to get those photos, but also these guys are paying me.
So I need to stay here and get photos of these guys.
And so it's so hard to know to take photos of people's bags on the chair or like missingchairs to put at the ceremony or like that's like a-
(26:45):
huge pet peeve of mine, missing chairs, like just to repurpose chairs.
I try not to do that at all.
But just like all the photographers love working with planners for that reason, becauseyou know, like it's all been thought of and you don't have to have that like choice on the
day.
Like, where do I go?
Exactly.
Like, do I work for the people that I'm going to get more work with over here and lookafter my other wedding vendors?
(27:08):
Or do I look after the clients who have paid me for today and look after them?
Because sometimes they can be opposing on the day.
It can be different things that you need to do.
Yeah.
But it's also with the setup shots for the couple, they want to see how it looked beforethe guests get in there as well.
So it's not so much, you know, the people that you'll get ongoing work with.
(27:28):
It's what creates the whole story for the couple as well.
So, you know, when they're printing albums, they can have those full set up photos andreally look back on it not have somebody's handbag in the way.
jacket over the seat.
Exactly.
I don't know why photographers don't just take all of that stuff off.
I've taken off and just put it on a couch and you're like, I'm sorry, like priorities.
(27:51):
but yeah, just, it makes the biggest difference.
Like you said, they've, they've been planning for 12 months and you've been planning withthem.
And like these are the flowers we've chosen.
These are the table runners we've chosen.
And now you have a shot with a handbag and a jacket over the seat.
They awesome.
And then, as planners, we get these back and we're like,
God.
So, and it's so hard to use because you want the complete look for future couples as well.
(28:16):
But then it's also for the couple that just had their wedding.
You're just like, I can't get that back.
know, okay.
So people trying, I'll go from a vendor perspective for a second.
So you're not letting anyone else onto your list.
So don't worry about that.
like I said, I am, am.
It just, yeah, it, there's certain things that I look out for.
What things would you look out for for, let's just go from photo and video side of thingsor say just photo and make it easy.
(28:41):
Photo video would be similar.
I, the biggest pet peeve I have with vendors that contact me, they don't do the research.
They'll misspell my name.
They'll be like, Hey, creative weddings team, or spell my name incorrectly and, or not putin the effort.
It's like just this stock standard thing that they're just like.
(29:02):
putting out to everyone and I don't even answer 99 % of them just because I'm like, if youcan't put in the effort, I'm busy and I'm not going to write back to you.
Just put in the effort with a planner, build a report, don't ask them for a cup of coffeeto catch up.
We're all busy and we don't have time to sort of do that constantly.
(29:23):
But I booked in a call with a videographer that reached out to me purely because of herapproach.
she had a personalized video embedded into the email, like, hey, Kira, like, this is a bitabout me and that sort of thing.
And it just stood out to me so beautifully that I was like, yeah, I'll give them my timefor sure.
(29:45):
And I jumped on a call and had a bit of a chat and gave some guidance and that sort ofthing with them.
Just think outside the box and do your research.
Don't just blanket email everyone and copy everyone into one email just because it's like,there's no use.
They're not gonna reply.
And even by that stage, by the time you get this embedded video, like you probably haven'teven looked at her work yet, but already you're like, I really like this person.
(30:08):
Yeah, it's the approach, you know, it's, it's really showing that niche and your approachto couples and vendors that you take the time to, to get to know that, client or that,
that vendor.
Because yeah, if they've done that for you, they're probably doing that for their clients.
Like really if a lead's coming through, they're probably doing something very similar tolike, Hey,
(30:29):
know, couple, thank you so much for the email.
And like they would be loving that.
And then I've talked about this before, but like everything from you being a planner,everything almost ends up falling back on you.
So it kind of comes back to like, you're not going to recommend photographers you don'tknow or can't get recommendations from.
If anything kind of goes awry on the day, it is bad as it sounds, it kind of falls back onyou.
Yeah.
And that's why the list is tight.
(30:50):
And I've learned the hard way with that.
And it's, like to work with the same, you know, and it's,
a big enough list for people to look through without it being overwhelming, but it'sreally tried and tested.
know how they work.
And even though there's someone there that I have to chase for quotes and follow up andit's frustrating.
And that's why I've started doing the business coaching as well.
(31:12):
know, it's just that reputation is so important because if you've recommended this personand if they've failed or not done the right thing throughout the process, it's on you for
sure.
that has happened in the past, like it just, someone falls through the cracks and you'rejust like.
But people make mistakes as well.
(31:33):
So like I've made plenty of mistakes over the time as well, that it's a learning processand you really have to, as long as you're improving and you're looking at those gray areas
where you can improve, it's, yeah, you can definitely work with different planners withoutsort of being blacklisted.
So you have access to a fair few, I'll keep on the kind of the vendor side of things, youhave access to a fair few different vendors contacting you and with the people you
(32:00):
recommend.
What would be one big thing that where you think vendors could kind of lift at the momentto provide a better experience for their couples?
The client journey.
It's so important.
You look at it from start to finish.
Like first point, how do they find you?
you know, if they're finding me through all the different tags and like social proof onInstagram, you know, how does that page look and stand out?
(32:28):
Then how they contact you, is that easy?
And then what's your, like how quickly do they hear back?
And then what information do they have?
And you sort of map it out from start to finish the whole booking process throughout thewhole journey and then post wedding as well, what they receive and if they're just really
looked after.
that's the most important part.
And that's where all the systems and processes come in place, that you can automatecertain things.
(32:53):
know, like on Instagram, you can use Manichat so you can, you know, comment a certain wordand then you can automatically get sent an information brochure like that.
You know, it's just being so accessible without that burnout for the vendor because thevendor doing everything manually will just be like, my God, this is hard.
Like, I don't want to do it.
Whereas, you know, you can put in the work.
(33:15):
to settle all of this up and then it just runs like clockwork.
Do you do much of that?
Like is that a weekly or a monthly thing where you are kind of trying to build that out inyour own business?
I've spent years building that out and I'm always sort of looking at different programs toimprove that.
My job is a lot more personalized so I don't really automate things.
(33:37):
But it's set up in a way that it really supports me so I can do a lot of weddings and Idon't get burnt out.
but like I spend a solid 40 % of the work that I do on marketing.
Yeah, it's a big part.
I can focus on that much of marketing because I've set up these systems to support me.
(33:59):
What would your marketing entail?
Instagram, my God.
that's a big majority of it at the moment.
Yeah, well, it was for me and then everything.
changed a couple of weeks ago.
I've just, yeah, as you know, I've just got my page back, but it got disabled.
And that was extremely humbling for me.
(34:20):
was like, my God, everything's on there.
Like, who am I?
I'm just like, I've disappeared from the face of the earth.
I was really like, I had a full pity party there for like a week.
And then I was like, right, okay, let's, let's look at, like, let's look at the, the prosof this.
And then it really gave me the time to upload.
lots more albums on the website and really beef up the website.
(34:42):
So, and fall back on my reputation and word of mouth and that sort of thing, which is abig part of it.
So then even though Instagram's down, they can still access me and, you know, I've sort ofput up banners and things like that to let people know that I'm working on getting that
back.
it's, social media is just such a big thing because that's the first place that they'regoing to look.
(35:03):
TikTok is a new up and coming thing.
That's a whole different kettle of fish that I haven't explored yet.
I've got the account, but yeah, I haven't sort of dipped my toe too much in that.
But just social media, it's social proof.
It's how people know that you are who you are.
And Google reviews is a big one as well.
I find that people get scared of Google reviews just because they can't take certain onesdown.
(35:29):
Whereas if you're just consistently.
amazing at your job, then you shouldn't have to sort of worry too much about that.
But just, it's just about having that proof that you are amazing and that they have tobook you.
And it's so easy to get Google reviews now.
Like it used to be kind of be a bit harder, but now it's like, you know, a canned emailafter the wedding, like, hey, cause most of the time, like realistically the day after the
(35:50):
couple love, like they love it.
Like, thank you so much for my day.
It has been amazing.
And like, if you can send an email with they answer like two or three days after theirwedding and it's, they just click on this link.
And just like, I had an amazing experience.
Perfect.
Yeah, while it's still fresh.
Yeah, yeah, exactly.
Because then, a month down the track, it's a little bit harder.
Like, yeah, we'll get to it.
Yes.
But we're back at work.
then they can't remember half the things as well.
(36:10):
But like even using those reviews in different ways as well, like you can screenshot atext or screenshot the Google review and do it as a carousel or a story or a reel on
social media.
So you're sort of constantly showing people that that you're amazing.
So yeah.
I'm just currently doing like a little marketing course.
(36:31):
was like Engage Creative.
I interviewed them maybe a couple of weeks ago and same thing.
I'd never really thought like for me, it's like, I've got to plan this post for Instagram.
And I'm like, cool, I did it.
And then, and then there's like, that's it.
And it's like, but then it's like thinking about like, but where else could you like, whoyou could have an Instagram post, but then that could also be a story.
But then also that could be something on the website or like there's so many differentplaces to be able to repurpose that.
(36:53):
Yeah.
But also reusing stuff that you've already created from like three months ago, you can
recreate a reel that you've made.
Same concept, same information, but just done a different way because most people aren'tlooking at every single thing that you post.
You think that they do, but they don't.
it's just keeping it fresh rather than feeling like you have to come up with somethingdifferent every day.
(37:18):
But you can get a certain piece of information and break it down into so many differentthings like carousel stories, blog posts, like email marketing.
yeah, and just linking it all back.
So, you know, it's, it's, yeah, you can, don't have to overwhelm yourself with, yeah.
That's what I'm kind of moving more into the email marketing thing.
(37:39):
Like obviously that was a big thing back in the day, you know, econ businesses andeverything like that.
And to me, like it doesn't on paper make too much sense because cool, you're to have thisclient for 12 months and then realistically they're not going to follow your Instagram,
you know, your email marketing after that point.
But even as far as like a call, if I just send one.
every month and it's like, okay, here's a wedding I just did and here's an album that Icreated and here's a vendor I love working with.
(38:01):
Like you are still building so much rapport with that client leading up to that weddingday anyway.
And then chances are they've probably seen three or four albums that you've designed alongthe way.
You haven't been trying to sell that to them.
You're just like, these are albums that I've been doing.
And then all of a sudden like, maybe I need a wedding album.
So it's like there is so much benefit in doing it.
And then also maybe they will keep following your email marketing list.
(38:21):
They have friends.
They would go, my God, like I've got this guy that's like always in my inbox and he doesthese amazing things.
I'll flick you across one of his emails, you know, like it's, it's word of mouth.
it says, I said before, it's omnipresence.
You're like everywhere where this, this couple, you know, think of, of how they can comeacross you at any point, sort of planting that seed along the way through emails, through
(38:47):
social media, through podcasts, you know.
Yeah.
Do have a team helping you out?
No.
I feel like this is a lot.
It's a lot.
Yeah.
I mean, I have day coordinators that run the weddings, but everything else I do.
Yeah.
I used to do all of the day coordination as well.
And it just got too much.
can't sort of do the planning and be there on the ground and shuffle all the things aswell.
(39:12):
it's that work life balance with having a family as well.
And that's why we could move away from the area.
Like I could be anywhere and do the planning because it's all over zoom calls becausethey're all interstate couples anyway.
you know, and sometimes I go down to Byron if I need to, but usually it's, it's all onlineanyway.
So what's like a, an ideal kind of number of weddings for you a year at the moment.
(39:36):
What I've done versus what I'm comfortable with.
I think the most I did in one year was like 80.
It was crazy.
Like as a one person, like that's a lot of weddings for without having a team.
And that was more through after COVID and we're doubled up with the amount of weddingsthat were happening.
just with all the postponements and that sort of thing.
(39:57):
But for me, think 40 to 50 is a good, good number.
Anything more than that is stretching a bit thin and.
You know, I like to have a life as well.
you know, I've got a million animals that I can look after plus the kids and the husband.
So it's a lot.
They all blend in together.
then the on day coordinators, are they like kind of freelance to you or is that like ateam that you have that it's kind of pretty regular same people?
(40:23):
Same people, but still freelance.
So it's through another, I outsource through another business in the area that they hadthe staff and the manpower available.
And I just pay their stuff.
So we sort of do a bit of a handover the week before they look through everything.
We answer questions and that sort of thing.
And then they're like the wedding ninja on the day, just running the show based on whatwe've put together.
(40:46):
that's perfect.
And then like, mean, yeah, it's it's all weddings are the same, but like by the time youcan actually give them a good rundown of like, this is exactly what happening.
They know the process.
They've done weddings.
Yeah.
And my like planning documents are really highly detailed.
So it's all broken down and the run sheets are like three, four pages long.
And
You know, so it's all in there.
So they don't really have to sort of question bits and pieces.
(41:09):
Cause I know everything down for them.
Well, like, do you want to touch any more about your like coaching?
Cause like, I'm, I didn't actually know that about you that you did the coaching side ofthings.
It's still new.
I'm still sort of dipping my toe in it.
And, it's word of mouth at the moment because I don't, and you wouldn't know because Idon't like to cloud that on social media.
(41:29):
don't want to sort of, you know,
have people question like, she a planner or is she like a business coach?
Like, so I keep it all offline and through email marketing and word of mouth, I just sortof chat to different vendors and I could easily call up the vendors that I know that need
the help.
But I don't, I don't like to cold call.
It's more just because I'm chatting with these vendors on a regular basis anyway.
(41:51):
And I ask them how their business is doing and we sort of naturally talk about, and I waslike, well, we can jump on a strategy session.
I can sort of take you through the whole thing.
And that's like,
repeat business as well.
people like my friend last week, she's like, can I jump on a session with you?
Like just help set this part up in my business.
And I'm like, yeah, no worries.
You know, and so it's just tackling it.
(42:12):
But I find that most people need the help around social media because you need somebodyjust to say like, do this, this will work, you know, because I've sort of done the testing
and everything over a solid year.
I know sort of how like,
still learning, but it's how it all works.
And they just want to know how to promote themselves.
(42:34):
But then once we dive deeper, I'm just like, okay, so then what?
know, like once people that you've got, like is your business set up if you've got like 50leads that come in today?
Is it set up to support you?
You know, like how would you feel about that?
Like which areas would you feel that is lacking in your business that you wouldn't be ableto keep up with that amount of demand?
(42:56):
And then we sort of dive deeper into that and sort of, yeah, move forward.
That's cool.
Cause like, as much as we talk about brides and grooms being overwhelmed with planning, Ifeel like running our businesses can be so overwhelming as well, because it's like, well,
there's so many things to do and I'm going to do none of them except post this random poston Instagram.
Yeah.
But also like confuse your messaging and post a photo of your coffee or you at the beachand then a wedding.
(43:22):
it's just like.
It's what's the, is there, there's no strategy around it.
And it really, you have to really focus on your niche and, fine tuning and really speakinginto that to make yourself different online.
Otherwise you just a part of the sea of beautiful weddings that happen.
then a random coffee shot when you're like, And that's the good thing about the podcast.
(43:47):
I was like, I was talking earlier as well as like, it's just content, you know, and likepeople.
There's so many amazing vendors now.
It's like you need something else apart from your work to make you stand out.
is a big one.
Everyone's like, and then it's like, okay, cool, but I want to put stories of me hangingdown the beach with my family because I feel like that's people getting to see me.
(44:08):
But then it's also like, yeah, but it's also the work.
It's so hard to know, do I include the thing of the coffee or do I not?
And there's there's so many different angles to take it.
Well, I mean, you could do the thing with the coffee.
Like you're about to have a meeting with a couple and you, you know, list out yourstrategy around like what you're going to be covering in your meeting.
You like have like an actual purpose of why, like think about what, what it is that you'reposting that for.
(44:34):
Is it an ego thing?
Like, Hey, I'm on holidays and you're not, or is it, you know, like actually giving valueto the couple and a reason why they would want to book you.
And even like, feel like so many things that we do as a business and as people, peoplewould love to do that as a job.
what you do for a job, you've done it for so long.
(44:55):
Like there's aspects you don't think are special, but like when you travel down to Byronand you're like, you're planning a wedding and you're doing this and this, like people are
like, how does she do that?
And like, then you don't put it on social media cause you don't think it's special, butpeople would actually love to see that.
And it's like, yeah, the things that...
people react to on social media where you're just, it's kind of just a throw away,whatever.
And people are like, my God.
(45:16):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Just have a strategy behind it.
You know, like the day to day life is a good thing.
could say like setting up like, does today look for me?
You know, what's in store?
I've got like a strategy session with a vendor.
I've got three planning meetings.
I'm doing a styling brief and you sort of list out the things and I'm able to do thisbecause of this, this and this, these systems, you know, it really depends on what your
(45:37):
marketing that could be more for.
business coaching, but you know, and that's why I like to post a lot for couples to savecertain reels and share things like, you top 20 song choices for your processional song.
They could Google that, but having one page where they can go to that has a full list ofall the songs that are really popular for weddings.
(46:01):
They're like, I know who, who I can go to for that.
but
half the stuff you can just Google yourself anyway, but people are lazy as well.
like, you know, it's, good to sort of add value to couples rather than just posting forthe sake of posting without any strategy.
And that comes back to your marketing, like where you're, you're thinking about likelittle topics like that that you could be like, well, maybe I could put something like
this together, this together, people through to the website.
(46:24):
Yeah, well exactly.
And it's, it's just, it's social proof.
So it's like posting weddings that you've done for inspiration.
It's, you know, adding value so you can,
create play, like playlists and you know, like run sheet templates and whatever.
There's going to be certain ones that go viral and, and you know, become really popular,but they won't get you the bookings either.
(46:48):
It's just like people are like, great.
I've got a song list.
Whereas, you know, the ones that you're selling your services will always have a lowerengagement because also Instagram doesn't like you selling stuff without you paying for
them.
So they're going to drop that engagement, but that's what's going to get you the bookingsas well.
But just.
So you're not selling in every post that you do, breaking it up to sort of hit thoseother, you know, elements just to sort of have a bit of variety.
(47:16):
One little last thought as well is when you talk about, okay, so you're coaching, which isamazing.
Do you think that gets you more bookings with clients?
Because obviously they're looking like you are a leader in your field and now you'reteaching other planners how to do their job.
Do you think that builds like more authority that people are coming to you more?
for planning services?
No, no, I think that's, they're two separate things and that's why I don't want to blendthem together.
(47:42):
My authority in the industry is like, I've been around forever and you know, I've workedwith all of these vendors and they know my process and they know how thorough I am.
So that in itself is that social proof with the vendor side.
So I can just do that with word of mouth and they have that trust already because theyknow that they, that I can deliver with that.
Whereas having it as completely separate,
(48:04):
couples are only going to be right at the beginning of their journey when they stumbleacross you.
So they're not going to know that I'm an industry professional that have been in theindustry for so long.
They're going to go, my God, I like that wedding that she did.
I'll call her.
So it's tapping into two really different markets.
Okay.
Cool.
All right.
And then where can people find you when they want to get married?
(48:26):
Well, through Instagram now that that's back up and running, but yeah, creative weddingsby and by.
You know, it's got all the links on there.
Otherwise my website is, is weddingspireandbait.com.au.
Beautiful.
Any more parting words?
No, think, I think we're good.
Awesome.
Thank you so much for coming on.
really appreciate it and taking the time.
My pleasure.
Really appreciate it.
(48:46):
Thank you so much.
Thanks for tuning into the Wedco podcast.
We're dropping a fresh episode every week featuring industry professionals dishing out thewedding wisdom you need to turn those dreams into reality.
Make sure you are following us on our social media, you have those notifications turned onso we can help plan your wedding day.
Your dream wedding day just got a whole lot easier.
(49:09):
Thanks for listening.
Welcome to the Wedco podcast where wedding wisdom meets street smarts.
We're dishing out all the tips, tricks and wedding goss to take your wedding to the nextlevel.
Time to ditch the formalities and get this party started.
Hello and welcome to the WEDCO podcast.
I'm Toga and today we have Kiera from Creative Weddings Byron Bay on the couch with us.
(00:25):
Thank you so much for coming down.
No problem.
I really appreciate it.
It's because you're living in Byron or we're about to you based.
I actually used to live in the area, but I don't live near the Byron area anymore.
Through COVID, we decided to move closer to our family because we're on the wrong side ofthe border to our families.
And so we've got a little hobby farm halfway between Brisbane and Toowoomba.
(00:47):
So I just do everything remotely and then I have my day coordinators that are local thatrun the wedding.
Amazing.
That's awesome.
I love that.
Well, maybe we can start with a little bit of a backstory behind your business yourself aswell.
Yeah.
So I used to be a chef.
Yeah, sure.
I used to be a chef and so I've worked in events and catering my whole life and had kidsand had to get out of the industry.
(01:14):
And I had one of my chefs recommended that I
look at becoming a wedding planner and he had a friend that had a business that she wantedto sell and so he connected us and the rest is history.
I did a business degree in between being a chef and being a wedding planner because Ididn't know what to do with myself.
(01:34):
And yeah, just kind of hit the ground running with it.
Yeah.
Love it.
And so how long ago was that like when you started it?
About 12 years.
Yeah, far out.
So the industry changed a little bit in that time?
A lot.
Yeah.
Even since I've had my wedding, you know, it's changed so much.
yeah, it's amazing.
All of the different styles that come in and out.
So what services are you currently offering?
(01:56):
I offer two different packages, just to keep things simple.
The full planning from start to finish and a month out planning.
So usually the month out is more aimed at couples that are in events themselves and theyknow the ins and outs of it all or just need somebody
in the last leg to help wrap everything up and be there on the day to run things.
(02:17):
And on the side, do sort of business coaching and things for industry vendors as well.
awesome.
I didn't know that.
Okay.
So like just every within just kind of specifically the wedding industry?
Yeah, usually.
I mean, it really depends.
It's because I know the industry inside out and when I am booking vendors, I see big gapsin between, you know, what
(02:40):
their offering is and their client journey and it really fails them sometimes.
So what I do is I teach vendors how to set up their business to run really efficiently.
yeah, plus social media as well.
That's so good because yeah, I guess that's another benefit of the podcast is like gettingto speak to so many different people and you kind of, because you have this overall view
(03:02):
of how many people are doing different things, you can kind of pick little parts apart.
Whereas like when it's just yourself, all you know is what you're doing and you're justhoping that this is the best.
but you might not be doing all the things that everyone else is doing.
Yeah.
But when I reach out for quotes for different vendors and they take like a week or two toget back to me or they make a mistake or you know, miss something in the coding stage and
(03:23):
I have to follow them up constantly.
It's kind of, you know, they're all creatives and they're amazing at what they do, but theadmin side of things really fails them.
So it's just about setting things up and automating certain things in their business andyou know, just using different programs to help their.
their business run really efficiently and then they can sort of focus on the creativeside.
(03:44):
Cause I feel like that's such a struggle with people in the wedding industry.
Like we got into it for photography.
I love floristry.
I love whatever.
And then all of a sudden, like the business is, you know, 75 % of it.
And then just the 25 % is a part that you actually love.
And it's all social media too.
It is.
It's like, that may as well be a full-time job just so that your social media these days.
Yeah.
But even that, like when I look at yours, I think I saw maybe a little reel from you aswell, where you were really talking, you might've been on a recent podcast.
(04:09):
And you were talking about how you'd really wanted your kind of feed to kind of standapart from all, like there are so many beautiful feeds out there.
And like, why are people going to stop on your feed?
Or they would remember like, I saw this beautiful wedding, but I just cannot rememberwhere I saw it from.
And you kind of just get lost in the sea of beautiful weddings.
And it's all amazing.
And there's so many amazing creatives out there, but it's about whatever you post, make itlike a really strong brand.
(04:37):
when it comes up in somebody's feed,
They know exactly that it's Yeah.
And is that so that's something have you consciously been doing this for a long time?
Like really diving deep into this?
A solid year.
I hired a business coach about a year ago and we went really deep into the messaging andmarketing and all of the branding and that sort of thing.
(05:01):
And yeah, just really focused on like all savable stuff and shareable.
reels just so people had the education around it.
So even with brides that aren't planning in buyer and they can save certain things andshare things with their friends that will help them along the way with their planning
journey.
like the Monday memes, the Monday memes.
(05:22):
Even like when I see those, like I still like to look at them.
I've been doing that for longer than I can remember and it's got nothing to do withweddings.
It's just a funny meme every day that, but people love it and they sort of wake up eachmorning and there's something new and
My coach actually said recently, she's like, I need you to make it like a carousel so Ican share these with my friends rather than a story.
(05:46):
And so it just breaks things up a little bit.
Yeah.
I mean, this is something like people are going to keep, cause as soon as they're kind ofscrolling through the carousel, then you know, whatever the algorithm is going to be like,
well, you enjoyed that.
So they're going to come back and be seeing more of your page more often.
And they just know every Monday, this is coming out as well.
We're going to this.
Yeah.
It's just consistency.
It's just keeping, you know, in people's minds, omnipresence, you know.
(06:07):
And so when, okay, say a couple comes to you and they want like the full kind of packagewith you, like planning from the start to the finish, how are you going about lining up?
Like do most people already have a venue locked in and then you're kind of helping withthe vendors through the whole process?
Usually that's the case.
mean, a few couples come to me and they don't have a venue in mind either and they want itright from the beginning.
(06:32):
But usually they would...
go on the hunt for the venue first and then they either have the venue and possibly awedding date in mind and then they start doing research and realise like, my God, this is
too much, like I need somebody to help.
Or they come across venues that, you know, that you require a planner in most of thevenues in Byron.
(06:53):
So then they're like, okay, you know, I'll look around and then they deep dive on socialmedia, see all the different tags and the weddings that have happened at their venue
recently.
and then they come across me and talk from there.
Yeah.
And so like how would the process, so they haven't booked in a photographer.
So then, like you said, you might be going to get quotes from the photographers.
(07:15):
Are you then sitting down with the couple and a photographer like on a zoom call orsomething, or is it you kind of then just pitch them like, hey, here's two or three
photographers I like that I think would really suit your style and then going from there?
Yeah, we usually have like a big chat about the overall vision initially.
And I have a secret directory on my website that I send to couples just to start having alook at like my hand-picked suppliers.
(07:38):
And I don't like to have that live because I like to keep the list quite, you know, smalljust so it's not overwhelming for couples.
And so whoever's on there is like tried and tested.
do an amazing job and I've worked with them for years.
And 50 emails every week being like, can I get on your directory?
And I do anyway, and I try and keep it low key that I have that list.
(07:59):
So don't come at me everyone.
But you know, it's more just like I would never just put on a photographer that I haven'thad a rapport with.
You know, I have done in the past, you know, I've reached out to other people that I knowto see if they've worked with photographers.
So it's not like if I haven't worked with you, you're not going on the list.
It's more just like, and I put people on the list straight away as soon as I've seen theirstyle.
(08:23):
So it really depends on if it works with my sort of weddings that I offer and the brandand that sort of thing.
So, but usually I, start with booking in the key vendors that you can't easily replacelike celebrant photography, videography and music.
Those are the, like, so if you find a photographer that you love that you cannot imagineyour wedding without that person, it's really important to get them booked in sooner
(08:47):
rather than
And same with like celebrant and music, that sort of thing.
And then we sort of move on with the rest of the planning.
So it's, did I answer your question?
Yeah, no, it's fine.
Is there like, I mean, the wedding industry has been shifting a fair bit lately.
Is there like kind of a key time that you think for these important venues, vendors thatyou're talking about at the start?
Like are people, should they be a year out, 18 months out?
(09:10):
Like is there kind of a hard and fast rule at the moment?
Not really.
I mean, I have planned a wedding within a month.
from start to finish.
but it's more about like a year is a good timeframe just for availability and that sort ofthing.
Up to 18 months, I wouldn't take on a booking more than that because I know that thecouple are going to change their minds on styling and vendors and that sort of thing three
(09:32):
times throughout the process, which makes it really hard.
But usually a year is a good amount of time, but it's more about revolving the date aroundthe vendors that you love as well.
So if you don't have a date initially, but you know,
that you really want a certain photographer or seller brand, check their availabilityfirst, you know, and pick a date that aligns with the creatives rather than, you know, a
(09:55):
date that you pick out of the air.
I've actually had that happen a fair bit more often lately and people are like, look, I'mthinking kind of June, July, like what are your availability is about then?
And yeah, it makes, it makes sense unless I guess the venue is like, this is a venue.
I don't care.
This is a venue I have to get married at.
But yeah, but if there, it is like, you know, you really love.
this florist work and I really need this, you know, musician to play like, yeah, check outwith them first and see when they're available and then kind of book it around.
(10:20):
Cause otherwise it's so disappointing when, like my wife and I did that, we got married inItaly and we loved Frosty Photo.
Like I've looked at his stuff forever and we approached him and like, look, we're to behere between, whatever it was in September here and here, like when are you available?
He's like, the 16th.
we're like, cool, we'll have our wedding on the 16th.
Cause that's, we just loved his work and yeah, we're going to make everything else workaround it.
(10:42):
Whereas otherwise, yeah, you just, it's just full of disappointment.
Exactly.
You know, and, and if it's just one vendor that makes things easier, but if you're tryingto line up a few vendors, it's, makes it a little bit harder, but it's more just if you
have come across somebody that you really love, but if you haven't, then obviously workaround your family and, and what they're after as well.
(11:03):
Cause family is a big one that gets involved.
And like, would you have a, like, typically is not a good word, but like, you know, awedding.
that you would usually put together?
Are you kind of, no, it's all very different.
It's so different.
It's all bespoke.
I won't replicate the same wedding over and over.
I just find that so boring.
(11:23):
It's the same.
the venues that have all the included items have definitely have its pros and cons.
You know, I think having included items is great, but I find that those venues tend tohave the same looking wedding.
over and over, you know.
So the way that I approach that, if it's all all inclusive package, is that we utilize theincluded items, but then outsource others, bits and pieces.
(11:49):
So like with table styling, you might have like using included plate, but outsource somedifferent cutlery or glassware or napkin, you know, just to create something that's a
little bit different.
Otherwise it just, it's all boring.
Like it's the same thing over and over.
And that's what I keep saying, like to stay in the industry, you need to do it just asmuch for yourself as for the couple.
Like, know, if you're just doing it, yeah, if you aren't kind of growing and doing stuffthat you really enjoy, it's going to be very easy to kind of fall out of love with it.
(12:17):
And you're just like, it's just work, like whatever.
But it's also the couple comes to you because they know that they're going to getsomething unique as well.
You know, and it's great to have inspiration photos of other people's weddings, but youkind of see it as an overview of like, okay, that's the sort of direction, you know, more
classic rather than like a boho sort of theme.
But it's like the fine tuning of it is completely different.
(12:41):
We see you talk about themes, know, trends and themes are flowing like crazy at themoment.
It feels like they're speeding up a little bit more.
Is there anything within your, like I would say like you kind of service the higher endmarket for sure.
Like people, like all the weddings I see from you, like they're very, you know, they'revery elegant.
They're beautiful, like beautiful weddings.
And that's usually where the trends and the themes will kind of come through first andthen kind of will trickle down a year or two later to other kind of, you know, the...
(13:06):
They're not as high end weddings.
Is there anything you're kind of seeing coming through at the moment that everyone'sasking for an espresso martini tower?
well just the cocktail towers are a big hit at the moment.
I've seen that around for a little while though.
Vintage is a big one that's really coming back.
The sort of classic vintage, not in the cheesy old school way, but just like that reallyminimalistic, know, toned down vintage with just those sort of
(13:36):
really clever elements involved.
And then, so, are your clients mainly local, mainly interstate?
Like, how does that work?
Most likely they're interstate.
Back before COVID, were getting mainly Sydney and Melbourne crew.
Through COVID up until recently, it was all Brisbane.
(13:58):
And I feel like, nothing against Brisbane couples, but the money wasn't there.
So they were trying to come to buy.
and have a champagne taste with a beer budget almost.
And I hate saying that, but it's more just that we found that that level of affordabilitywasn't there.
(14:19):
So, but now it's starting to open up a little bit, but just because like everything was soexpensive with flights and buying is really expensive with accommodation, that sort of
thing.
people are, finding that a lot of couples are focusing more on smaller weddings, but donereally well.
rather than like the big hundred, 120, 150 sort of people weddings with like Sperry tentsand things like that.
(14:41):
They're sort of toning it down so they can have the elements that are really important tothem and have it beautifully styled, but just for like 40 or 50 people.
I love it, because I was going to ask about that.
Like if you see things shifting, do you think that is all to do like economy based or doyou think it's just, yeah, it is?
Yeah, I think so.
mean, people still have the funds, you know, even if with the economy people still.
(15:02):
have the money there and it's an important day for them.
But I find that their priorities have shifted, you know, rather than inviting everyonethat they know, make it sort of really personal and intimate with your friends and family,
yeah.
So people are just coming through and they've just got engaged.
Do you have any like tips for them?
(15:23):
Like, hey, we just got engaged two weeks ago.
Any tips for them?
Like you're just about to start this crazy journey.
Hyro planner straight away.
I think the more research you do, the more overwhelming it can be.
You know, it's really important to do your research before you start throwing depositsdown and that sort of thing, because people tend to not read the fine print on things.
(15:47):
So like a lot of the venues in Byron have a, you know, earlier curfew and soundrestrictions because of neighbors and things like that.
when they get halfway through and they're looking at musicians and they want like a sevenpiece band, we're just like, sorry, you know?
So it's really important to go into it knowing your budget roughly or if that's flexibleand choosing the vendors based on, you know, what you're allowed to have at that venue and
(16:15):
weigh it up to see if it's important to you or not.
And do you find like budgets for weddings, they saying a similar budget, like average?
But they're just having less people now or yeah.
Cool.
Yeah.
And I don't like throwing out how much people spend on weddings and that sort of thing,just because it is how long this piece of string, as you know, you know, I've had people
(16:36):
spend like on florals, like 2000 on florals or 40,000 on florals alone.
So it's really, you can do so much with it.
But yeah, what I'm seeing is more intimate weddings, but same budget.
Which is, mean, like it's good because
there's a reason, you know, we got married and it was like, cool, we want to have 40people.
(17:00):
But then as soon as one uncle comes, another uncle has to come.
And then all of sudden you've got 100.
And we originally going to get married in the Yarra Valley.
And it's just, it was cheaper for us to fly with our immediate family to Italy and getmarried over there than what it was to have 100 person, you know, wedding in the Yarra
Valley.
Yeah.
And would you really want all of your uncles and everyone there as well?
Like, it, is it that meaningful to have those extended family there?
(17:21):
Like what?
My husband and I did, I mean, we got married like nine years ago, but we split it up.
We got married on a Tuesday, had 40 people, no cake, no bridal party, any of that.
And then had a really beautiful, intimate wedding.
And then through a party, like booked out a bar in Brisbane and invited all the rest ofthe people and had like a second reception, which was great.
(17:46):
So mainly just because my husband doesn't like, you know, being up in front of so manypeople and being that.
vulnerable.
So we wanted to kind of keep it simple and then, you know, but still celebrate witheveryone else.
So I'm finding that that's really popular now too.
We did a similar where we did a big engagement party and same thing like you didn't evenreally get to speak to your friends very much because you kind of going around saying
(18:07):
hello to everyone and same thing got to the end of that like, yeah, cool.
It was a fun night.
We partied, but so glad that we did the wedding the way that we did it as well.
just feels so rigid.
Like it feels like you're just there on show and you can't really enjoy it properly.
You can have those moments, yeah.
like what would like, okay, so you talk about like people should really like personaliseand you know, really make it, not like, not even so much just about to them, but do it
(18:32):
their way.
To a point.
To a point, yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah, so like, what is there any tips that you can kind of give to couples in that regard?
I'm really for couples enjoying the experience of the
planning as much as the wedding day because you could have an amazing wedding and have themost stressful experience and what you're going to look back on is the stressful
(19:00):
experience.
just keeping that in mind and sorry, what was the question?
I feel like I'm ranting.
No, no, no, it's great.
No, it's just more so like how, like I feel like maybe a couple of years ago it was verymuch like your wedding your way and
don't care about what anyone else thinks.
It's kind of like trying to find that little bit of balance between like, yes, this isabout you, but then also trying to balance that out as well.
(19:23):
Yeah.
Well, family is a big one that gets involved.
That is like you do it your way to a point, whereas you have to weigh up how many feathersyou're ruffling through the process of not doing it, like not listening to people that are
around you.
I don't think that you should have to, but if it's going to cause more.
(19:45):
problems with family and split family and dynamics and that sort of thing, then it's sortof weighing up what is more important as well and what you would compromise on.
I definitely think that couples should do it their way, but not at a cost for their futurewith all of their people.
I feel like even you don't want to play the age game, but like even when I was a littlebit younger, the amount of things I'd push back on just to push back on things as well.
(20:11):
like say a thing like eight years later, you're like...
it didn't matter at all.
But like you just push back because it's like, no, this is our wedding.
We're going to do this.
Like I didn't really care.
But it's just because you want something.
Just stand your ground.
And that's what I mean.
You've got to weigh up if it's really that important.
Like if you're like, no, I don't want a wedding cake.
And your aunt Betty is just like, no, want to make a wedding cake for you.
(20:34):
You're just like, sure.
Okay.
Like whatever.
exactly.
You know, so it's, you don't have to sort of like.
dig your heels in just for that, if that means something to them and they feel, becausethey've your friends and your family, like they're the most important people in your life.
So it's just weighing it all out.
And then as far as like people kind of having the recoveries and everything like therecovery days and everything like that, do you find the days are great?
(21:01):
What I see a fair bit is people kind of wanting the whole weekend experience is kind ofbecoming more and more with the weddings that I'm doing.
It's always been a thing in Byron and I guess that's the area you can do that.
It's a destination for your wedding and it's got all of the facilities to do all of thosepre and post gatherings.
So that really hasn't changed.
(21:22):
There's a lot of venues that have popped up that will promote that that's what they offerin the area.
We didn't have as many just because we were sort of restricted in certain venues beingable to, know, in Airbnbs you can't host weddings but
And then there's that gray area with sort of post gatherings as well.
So it's trying to get around that, but certain ones have popped up lately, which is great.
(21:45):
And that's the attraction for Byron as well, just to make it that whole celebrationweekend.
Because as you know, the wedding day goes so quick and being able to look forward tomultiple days.
And then it takes the pressure off the actual day itself to catch up with everyone becauseyou're seeing them the day before and the day after as well.
So on the wedding day, you can focus on the two of you.
(22:06):
really sort of making that special.
Not just catching up with everyone.
because it's not about that.
Yeah.
And then with the like first looks and everything, feel like, you know, five years ago itwas really big and then it kind of like went down again.
How are you feeling about like first looks currently?
People don't take into consideration how many other things that affects just with thetimings of the day.
(22:30):
So if you're doing a first look, you're going to be in hair and makeup that much earlier.
You're going to have to hire your photographer for a longer period of time.
You have to of shuffle a lot more around.
And I love first looks if it's important to the couple to settle those nerves and havethat intimate moment.
I think that's beautiful.
(22:51):
Same sort of thing with getting ready with your partner on the morning.
know, all these traditions are so outdated anyway that if like I really encourage couplesjust to scrap whatever doesn't mean anything to them.
walking down the aisle with your dad.
If you don't like your dad, don't walk down the aisle with him or, you know, walk byyourself or walk with your cousin or your uncle, you know, somebody that means something
(23:12):
to you.
But first looks, I, yeah, I'm in two minds about that just because it affects so manyother things of the day that people don't realize.
Plus lighting is a big one.
You know, if you're, if you have a two o'clock ceremony and you have like a one o'clockfirst look, the lighting isn't going to be great.
for those photos as well, because it's in middle of the day.
(23:32):
So once you sort of wait until a little bit later when the lighting's perfect, I mean, youknow all about that.
yeah.
I've been finding some people are doing, or actually a fair few are doing kind of, likethey'll do their own personal vows and they can either do it at a, like a first look prior
to the ceremony.
And then they, at the ceremony, they kind of just doing the legalities there.
Or even had some people in the portrait shoot where they'll kind of, after the ceremony,they'll kind of get their congratulations and everything.
(23:57):
and then they'll go and do their personal vows like somewhere else separate as well.
And even that's like beautiful to kind of have their own little moment there.
Yeah.
You can rework the wedding day to completely suit you.
The only thing that you have to keep in mind is just the venue restrictions and whatyou're allowed to do.
But you can do it backwards if you want to have the ceremony at the end of the night, youknow, like you, whatever resonates with you the most.
(24:21):
And that's why having a planner on board to recommend.
So just to get to know you as a couple and know, you know, if you're super nervous andintroverts, then these are the things that we can do to sort of help that.
And just little things along the way that you might not know that you can do.
People get really caught up in like, do I have to have a cake?
And I feel like saying like, yeah, that's like the wedding law sort of thing.
(24:43):
Like you don't have to do any of it.
And I think that's like people, myself included, like we'll think of a plan and like,yeah, cool.
Someone's going to organize my vendors for me.
and like take that hassle out, but it is so much more than just like, here's all thevendors you're gonna need.
It's a completely different, like when all the little hints and tips that you're talkingabout there and just the guidance along the whole route.
(25:03):
Yeah.
No, it's definitely not just booking vendors in.
It's really, cause each vendor is so great at what they do, but they're only focused onwhat they're doing.
So having somebody that oversees the whole thing and filling in all of those gray areasand thinking of the things that you may not.
realise like it's the first time that you're doing this.
(25:25):
So you don't know what you don't know.
So you're just sort of going in blind.
Whereas if you have somebody that goes, need to, you know, when you're booking in aphotographer, these are the things that you need to consider when you're sort of working
out timings and how many hours and if you get a second shooter or whatever, it's just sortof that guidance along the way to keep your sanity as well.
Otherwise you're just like hardcore researching and you have no idea what you're doing andyou're just booking in things willy nilly, which you can do.
(25:51):
Like it's not rocket science people can plan their weddings, but it's just whether it'ssuccessful or not, or, you know, whether you sort of sane at the end of it.
You actually had a good time.
exactly.
And that's all you're going to remember if you're stressed out.
So, yeah.
Even I was speaking to Harley a little bit earlier and we're talking about getting photosof the reception space before everyone enters.
And that's a, that's a massive difference between having like a really good venue orhaving a wedding planner on board is like that time will be kind of cut out for you.
(26:18):
because there's so many times you're out on like say the portrait shoot and you know thateveryone's about to go enter over there, but there's just no time allocated to that as
well.
And so you're in two minds where like everyone's put so much effort into making thiswedding so beautiful.
I need to get those photos, but also these guys are paying me.
So I need to stay here and get photos of these guys.
And so it's so hard to know to take photos of people's bags on the chair or like missingchairs to put at the ceremony or like that's like a-
(26:45):
huge pet peeve of mine, missing chairs, like just to repurpose chairs.
I try not to do that at all.
But just like all the photographers love working with planners for that reason, becauseyou know, like it's all been thought of and you don't have to have that like choice on the
day.
Like, where do I go?
Exactly.
Like, do I work for the people that I'm going to get more work with over here and lookafter my other wedding vendors?
(27:08):
Or do I look after the clients who have paid me for today and look after them?
Because sometimes they can be opposing on the day.
It can be different things that you need to do.
Yeah.
But it's also with the setup shots for the couple, they want to see how it looked beforethe guests get in there as well.
So it's not so much, you know, the people that you'll get ongoing work with.
(27:28):
It's what creates the whole story for the couple as well.
So, you know, when they're printing albums, they can have those full set up photos andreally look back on it not have somebody's handbag in the way.
jacket over the seat.
Exactly.
I don't know why photographers don't just take all of that stuff off.
I've taken off and just put it on a couch and you're like, I'm sorry, like priorities.
(27:51):
but yeah, just, it makes the biggest difference.
Like you said, they've, they've been planning for 12 months and you've been planning withthem.
And like these are the flowers we've chosen.
These are the table runners we've chosen.
And now you have a shot with a handbag and a jacket over the seat.
They awesome.
And then, as planners, we get these back and we're like,
God.
So, and it's so hard to use because you want the complete look for future couples as well.
(28:16):
But then it's also for the couple that just had their wedding.
You're just like, I can't get that back.
know, okay.
So people trying, I'll go from a vendor perspective for a second.
So you're not letting anyone else onto your list.
So don't worry about that.
like I said, I am, am.
It just, yeah, it, there's certain things that I look out for.
What things would you look out for for, let's just go from photo and video side of thingsor say just photo and make it easy.
(28:41):
Photo video would be similar.
I, the biggest pet peeve I have with vendors that contact me, they don't do the research.
They'll misspell my name.
They'll be like, Hey, creative weddings team, or spell my name incorrectly and, or not putin the effort.
It's like just this stock standard thing that they're just like.
(29:02):
putting out to everyone and I don't even answer 99 % of them just because I'm like, if youcan't put in the effort, I'm busy and I'm not going to write back to you.
Just put in the effort with a planner, build a report, don't ask them for a cup of coffeeto catch up.
We're all busy and we don't have time to sort of do that constantly.
(29:23):
But I booked in a call with a videographer that reached out to me purely because of herapproach.
she had a personalized video embedded into the email, like, hey, Kira, like, this is a bitabout me and that sort of thing.
And it just stood out to me so beautifully that I was like, yeah, I'll give them my timefor sure.
(29:45):
And I jumped on a call and had a bit of a chat and gave some guidance and that sort ofthing with them.
Just think outside the box and do your research.
Don't just blanket email everyone and copy everyone into one email just because it's like,there's no use.
They're not gonna reply.
And even by that stage, by the time you get this embedded video, like you probably haven'teven looked at her work yet, but already you're like, I really like this person.
(30:08):
Yeah, it's the approach, you know, it's, it's really showing that niche and your approachto couples and vendors that you take the time to, to get to know that, client or that,
that vendor.
Because yeah, if they've done that for you, they're probably doing that for their clients.
Like really if a lead's coming through, they're probably doing something very similar tolike, Hey,
(30:29):
know, couple, thank you so much for the email.
And like they would be loving that.
And then I've talked about this before, but like everything from you being a planner,everything almost ends up falling back on you.
So it kind of comes back to like, you're not going to recommend photographers you don'tknow or can't get recommendations from.
If anything kind of goes awry on the day, it is bad as it sounds, it kind of falls back onyou.
Yeah.
And that's why the list is tight.
(30:50):
And I've learned the hard way with that.
And it's, like to work with the same, you know, and it's,
a big enough list for people to look through without it being overwhelming, but it'sreally tried and tested.
know how they work.
And even though there's someone there that I have to chase for quotes and follow up andit's frustrating.
And that's why I've started doing the business coaching as well.
(31:12):
know, it's just that reputation is so important because if you've recommended this personand if they've failed or not done the right thing throughout the process, it's on you for
sure.
that has happened in the past, like it just, someone falls through the cracks and you'rejust like.
But people make mistakes as well.
(31:33):
So like I've made plenty of mistakes over the time as well, that it's a learning processand you really have to, as long as you're improving and you're looking at those gray areas
where you can improve, it's, yeah, you can definitely work with different planners withoutsort of being blacklisted.
So you have access to a fair few, I'll keep on the kind of the vendor side of things, youhave access to a fair few different vendors contacting you and with the people you
(32:00):
recommend.
What would be one big thing that where you think vendors could kind of lift at the momentto provide a better experience for their couples?
The client journey.
It's so important.
You look at it from start to finish.
Like first point, how do they find you?
you know, if they're finding me through all the different tags and like social proof onInstagram, you know, how does that page look and stand out?
(32:28):
Then how they contact you, is that easy?
And then what's your, like how quickly do they hear back?
And then what information do they have?
And you sort of map it out from start to finish the whole booking process throughout thewhole journey and then post wedding as well, what they receive and if they're just really
looked after.
that's the most important part.
And that's where all the systems and processes come in place, that you can automatecertain things.
(32:53):
know, like on Instagram, you can use Manichat so you can, you know, comment a certain wordand then you can automatically get sent an information brochure like that.
You know, it's just being so accessible without that burnout for the vendor because thevendor doing everything manually will just be like, my God, this is hard.
Like, I don't want to do it.
Whereas, you know, you can put in the work.
(33:15):
to settle all of this up and then it just runs like clockwork.
Do you do much of that?
Like is that a weekly or a monthly thing where you are kind of trying to build that out inyour own business?
I've spent years building that out and I'm always sort of looking at different programs toimprove that.
My job is a lot more personalized so I don't really automate things.
(33:37):
But it's set up in a way that it really supports me so I can do a lot of weddings and Idon't get burnt out.
but like I spend a solid 40 % of the work that I do on marketing.
Yeah, it's a big part.
I can focus on that much of marketing because I've set up these systems to support me.
(33:59):
What would your marketing entail?
Instagram, my God.
that's a big majority of it at the moment.
Yeah, well, it was for me and then everything.
changed a couple of weeks ago.
I've just, yeah, as you know, I've just got my page back, but it got disabled.
And that was extremely humbling for me.
(34:20):
was like, my God, everything's on there.
Like, who am I?
I'm just like, I've disappeared from the face of the earth.
I was really like, I had a full pity party there for like a week.
And then I was like, right, okay, let's, let's look at, like, let's look at the, the prosof this.
And then it really gave me the time to upload.
lots more albums on the website and really beef up the website.
(34:42):
So, and fall back on my reputation and word of mouth and that sort of thing, which is abig part of it.
So then even though Instagram's down, they can still access me and, you know, I've sort ofput up banners and things like that to let people know that I'm working on getting that
back.
it's, social media is just such a big thing because that's the first place that they'regoing to look.
(35:03):
TikTok is a new up and coming thing.
That's a whole different kettle of fish that I haven't explored yet.
I've got the account, but yeah, I haven't sort of dipped my toe too much in that.
But just social media, it's social proof.
It's how people know that you are who you are.
And Google reviews is a big one as well.
I find that people get scared of Google reviews just because they can't take certain onesdown.
(35:29):
Whereas if you're just consistently.
amazing at your job, then you shouldn't have to sort of worry too much about that.
But just, it's just about having that proof that you are amazing and that they have tobook you.
And it's so easy to get Google reviews now.
Like it used to be kind of be a bit harder, but now it's like, you know, a canned emailafter the wedding, like, hey, cause most of the time, like realistically the day after the
(35:50):
couple love, like they love it.
Like, thank you so much for my day.
It has been amazing.
And like, if you can send an email with they answer like two or three days after theirwedding and it's, they just click on this link.
And just like, I had an amazing experience.
Perfect.
Yeah, while it's still fresh.
Yeah, yeah, exactly.
Because then, a month down the track, it's a little bit harder.
Like, yeah, we'll get to it.
Yes.
But we're back at work.
then they can't remember half the things as well.
(36:10):
But like even using those reviews in different ways as well, like you can screenshot atext or screenshot the Google review and do it as a carousel or a story or a reel on
social media.
So you're sort of constantly showing people that that you're amazing.
So yeah.
I'm just currently doing like a little marketing course.
(36:31):
was like Engage Creative.
I interviewed them maybe a couple of weeks ago and same thing.
I'd never really thought like for me, it's like, I've got to plan this post for Instagram.
And I'm like, cool, I did it.
And then, and then there's like, that's it.
And it's like, but then it's like thinking about like, but where else could you like, whoyou could have an Instagram post, but then that could also be a story.
But then also that could be something on the website or like there's so many differentplaces to be able to repurpose that.
(36:53):
Yeah.
But also reusing stuff that you've already created from like three months ago, you can
recreate a reel that you've made.
Same concept, same information, but just done a different way because most people aren'tlooking at every single thing that you post.
You think that they do, but they don't.
it's just keeping it fresh rather than feeling like you have to come up with somethingdifferent every day.
(37:18):
But you can get a certain piece of information and break it down into so many differentthings like carousel stories, blog posts, like email marketing.
yeah, and just linking it all back.
So, you know, it's, it's, yeah, you can, don't have to overwhelm yourself with, yeah.
That's what I'm kind of moving more into the email marketing thing.
(37:39):
Like obviously that was a big thing back in the day, you know, econ businesses andeverything like that.
And to me, like it doesn't on paper make too much sense because cool, you're to have thisclient for 12 months and then realistically they're not going to follow your Instagram,
you know, your email marketing after that point.
But even as far as like a call, if I just send one.
every month and it's like, okay, here's a wedding I just did and here's an album that Icreated and here's a vendor I love working with.
(38:01):
Like you are still building so much rapport with that client leading up to that weddingday anyway.
And then chances are they've probably seen three or four albums that you've designed alongthe way.
You haven't been trying to sell that to them.
You're just like, these are albums that I've been doing.
And then all of a sudden like, maybe I need a wedding album.
So it's like there is so much benefit in doing it.
And then also maybe they will keep following your email marketing list.
(38:21):
They have friends.
They would go, my God, like I've got this guy that's like always in my inbox and he doesthese amazing things.
I'll flick you across one of his emails, you know, like it's, it's word of mouth.
it says, I said before, it's omnipresence.
You're like everywhere where this, this couple, you know, think of, of how they can comeacross you at any point, sort of planting that seed along the way through emails, through
(38:47):
social media, through podcasts, you know.
Yeah.
Do have a team helping you out?
No.
I feel like this is a lot.
It's a lot.
Yeah.
I mean, I have day coordinators that run the weddings, but everything else I do.
Yeah.
I used to do all of the day coordination as well.
And it just got too much.
can't sort of do the planning and be there on the ground and shuffle all the things aswell.
(39:12):
it's that work life balance with having a family as well.
And that's why we could move away from the area.
Like I could be anywhere and do the planning because it's all over zoom calls becausethey're all interstate couples anyway.
you know, and sometimes I go down to Byron if I need to, but usually it's, it's all onlineanyway.
So what's like a, an ideal kind of number of weddings for you a year at the moment.
(39:36):
What I've done versus what I'm comfortable with.
I think the most I did in one year was like 80.
It was crazy.
Like as a one person, like that's a lot of weddings for without having a team.
And that was more through after COVID and we're doubled up with the amount of weddingsthat were happening.
just with all the postponements and that sort of thing.
(39:57):
But for me, think 40 to 50 is a good, good number.
Anything more than that is stretching a bit thin and.
You know, I like to have a life as well.
you know, I've got a million animals that I can look after plus the kids and the husband.
So it's a lot.
They all blend in together.
then the on day coordinators, are they like kind of freelance to you or is that like ateam that you have that it's kind of pretty regular same people?
(40:23):
Same people, but still freelance.
So it's through another, I outsource through another business in the area that they hadthe staff and the manpower available.
And I just pay their stuff.
So we sort of do a bit of a handover the week before they look through everything.
We answer questions and that sort of thing.
And then they're like the wedding ninja on the day, just running the show based on whatwe've put together.
(40:46):
that's perfect.
And then like, mean, yeah, it's it's all weddings are the same, but like by the time youcan actually give them a good rundown of like, this is exactly what happening.
They know the process.
They've done weddings.
Yeah.
And my like planning documents are really highly detailed.
So it's all broken down and the run sheets are like three, four pages long.
And
You know, so it's all in there.
So they don't really have to sort of question bits and pieces.
(41:09):
Cause I know everything down for them.
Well, like, do you want to touch any more about your like coaching?
Cause like, I'm, I didn't actually know that about you that you did the coaching side ofthings.
It's still new.
I'm still sort of dipping my toe in it.
And, it's word of mouth at the moment because I don't, and you wouldn't know because Idon't like to cloud that on social media.
(41:29):
don't want to sort of, you know,
have people question like, she a planner or is she like a business coach?
Like, so I keep it all offline and through email marketing and word of mouth, I just sortof chat to different vendors and I could easily call up the vendors that I know that need
the help.
But I don't, I don't like to cold call.
It's more just because I'm chatting with these vendors on a regular basis anyway.
(41:51):
And I ask them how their business is doing and we sort of naturally talk about, and I waslike, well, we can jump on a strategy session.
I can sort of take you through the whole thing.
And that's like,
repeat business as well.
people like my friend last week, she's like, can I jump on a session with you?
Like just help set this part up in my business.
And I'm like, yeah, no worries.
You know, and so it's just tackling it.
(42:12):
But I find that most people need the help around social media because you need somebodyjust to say like, do this, this will work, you know, because I've sort of done the testing
and everything over a solid year.
I know sort of how like,
still learning, but it's how it all works.
And they just want to know how to promote themselves.
(42:34):
But then once we dive deeper, I'm just like, okay, so then what?
know, like once people that you've got, like is your business set up if you've got like 50leads that come in today?
Is it set up to support you?
You know, like how would you feel about that?
Like which areas would you feel that is lacking in your business that you wouldn't be ableto keep up with that amount of demand?
(42:56):
And then we sort of dive deeper into that and sort of, yeah, move forward.
That's cool.
Cause like, as much as we talk about brides and grooms being overwhelmed with planning, Ifeel like running our businesses can be so overwhelming as well, because it's like, well,
there's so many things to do and I'm going to do none of them except post this random poston Instagram.
Yeah.
But also like confuse your messaging and post a photo of your coffee or you at the beachand then a wedding.
(43:22):
it's just like.
It's what's the, is there, there's no strategy around it.
And it really, you have to really focus on your niche and, fine tuning and really speakinginto that to make yourself different online.
Otherwise you just a part of the sea of beautiful weddings that happen.
then a random coffee shot when you're like, And that's the good thing about the podcast.
(43:47):
I was like, I was talking earlier as well as like, it's just content, you know, and likepeople.
There's so many amazing vendors now.
It's like you need something else apart from your work to make you stand out.
is a big one.
Everyone's like, and then it's like, okay, cool, but I want to put stories of me hangingdown the beach with my family because I feel like that's people getting to see me.
(44:08):
But then it's also like, yeah, but it's also the work.
It's so hard to know, do I include the thing of the coffee or do I not?
And there's there's so many different angles to take it.
Well, I mean, you could do the thing with the coffee.
Like you're about to have a meeting with a couple and you, you know, list out yourstrategy around like what you're going to be covering in your meeting.
You like have like an actual purpose of why, like think about what, what it is that you'reposting that for.
(44:34):
Is it an ego thing?
Like, Hey, I'm on holidays and you're not, or is it, you know, like actually giving valueto the couple and a reason why they would want to book you.
And even like, feel like so many things that we do as a business and as people, peoplewould love to do that as a job.
what you do for a job, you've done it for so long.
(44:55):
Like there's aspects you don't think are special, but like when you travel down to Byronand you're like, you're planning a wedding and you're doing this and this, like people are
like, how does she do that?
And like, then you don't put it on social media cause you don't think it's special, butpeople would actually love to see that.
And it's like, yeah, the things that...
people react to on social media where you're just, it's kind of just a throw away,whatever.
And people are like, my God.
(45:16):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Just have a strategy behind it.
You know, like the day to day life is a good thing.
could say like setting up like, does today look for me?
You know, what's in store?
I've got like a strategy session with a vendor.
I've got three planning meetings.
I'm doing a styling brief and you sort of list out the things and I'm able to do thisbecause of this, this and this, these systems, you know, it really depends on what your
(45:37):
marketing that could be more for.
business coaching, but you know, and that's why I like to post a lot for couples to savecertain reels and share things like, you top 20 song choices for your processional song.
They could Google that, but having one page where they can go to that has a full list ofall the songs that are really popular for weddings.
(46:01):
They're like, I know who, who I can go to for that.
but
half the stuff you can just Google yourself anyway, but people are lazy as well.
like, you know, it's, good to sort of add value to couples rather than just posting forthe sake of posting without any strategy.
And that comes back to your marketing, like where you're, you're thinking about likelittle topics like that that you could be like, well, maybe I could put something like
this together, this together, people through to the website.
(46:24):
Yeah, well exactly.
And it's, it's just, it's social proof.
So it's like posting weddings that you've done for inspiration.
It's, you know, adding value so you can,
create play, like playlists and you know, like run sheet templates and whatever.
There's going to be certain ones that go viral and, and you know, become really popular,but they won't get you the bookings either.
(46:48):
It's just like people are like, great.
I've got a song list.
Whereas, you know, the ones that you're selling your services will always have a lowerengagement because also Instagram doesn't like you selling stuff without you paying for
them.
So they're going to drop that engagement, but that's what's going to get you the bookingsas well.
But just.
So you're not selling in every post that you do, breaking it up to sort of hit thoseother, you know, elements just to sort of have a bit of variety.
(47:16):
One little last thought as well is when you talk about, okay, so you're coaching, which isamazing.
Do you think that gets you more bookings with clients?
Because obviously they're looking like you are a leader in your field and now you'reteaching other planners how to do their job.
Do you think that builds like more authority that people are coming to you more?
for planning services?
No, no, I think that's, they're two separate things and that's why I don't want to blendthem together.
(47:42):
My authority in the industry is like, I've been around forever and you know, I've workedwith all of these vendors and they know my process and they know how thorough I am.
So that in itself is that social proof with the vendor side.
So I can just do that with word of mouth and they have that trust already because theyknow that they, that I can deliver with that.
Whereas having it as completely separate,
(48:04):
couples are only going to be right at the beginning of their journey when they stumbleacross you.
So they're not going to know that I'm an industry professional that have been in theindustry for so long.
They're going to go, my God, I like that wedding that she did.
I'll call her.
So it's tapping into two really different markets.
Okay.
Cool.
All right.
And then where can people find you when they want to get married?
(48:26):
Well, through Instagram now that that's back up and running, but yeah, creative weddingsby and by.
You know, it's got all the links on there.
Otherwise my website is, is weddingspireandbait.com.au.
Beautiful.
Any more parting words?
No, think, I think we're good.
Awesome.
Thank you so much for coming on.
really appreciate it and taking the time.
My pleasure.
Really appreciate it.
(48:46):
Thank you so much.
Thanks for tuning into the Wedco podcast.
We're dropping a fresh episode every week featuring industry professionals dishing out thewedding wisdom you need to turn those dreams into reality.
Make sure you are following us on our social media, you have those notifications turned onso we can help plan your wedding day.
Your dream wedding day just got a whole lot easier.
(49:09):
Thanks for listening.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.