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

Today I'm chatting with Emmy Award winning comedian turned wedding speech writer Beth Sherman. She shares her personal story of getting into comedy, her tips on how as pros and venues we can improve our guests experiences of giving a speech and her insight into how we can all bring more personality and humour into our businesses.
Click to find out more about Beth
Connect with Beth on Linkedin
Find out more about Authentically Funny Speeches.
Time Stamps:
Comedy Writing and Stand-Up (00:00:00) Beth shares her background in comedy writing and stand-up, influenced by her family and love for comedy.
Transition to Working in Entertainment (00:02:43) Beth discusses her transition into working in writers' rooms for comedy variety shows and developing the skill to be funny in someone else's voice.
Starting the Wedding Speech Business (00:08:58) Beth shares how she started her business, initially taking on work through Upwork and finding her passion for helping people with speeches.
Overcoming Challenges and Finding Support (00:11:16) Beth discusses her pragmatic parents and the importance of hard work and determination in pursuing her career in comedy writing.
Working in the Wedding Industry (00:16:35) Beth talks about the meaningful experiences and emotional support involved in working with clients for wedding speeches.
Growth Strategies for Wedding Speech Business (00:17:05) Beth explains the evolution of her business, from using Google ads to focusing on content marketing through YouTube for lead generation.
The Dads are the Higher Ticket Clients (00:21:36) Beth discusses how the fathers of the bride tend to be her higher ticket clients due to their age and financial capacity.
The Pressure of Wedding Speeches (00:23:32) Becca and Beth talk about the pressure on non-professional speakers at weddings, and Beth shares her opinions on delivering successful wedding speeches.
Setting Speakers Up for Success (00:24:20) Beth explains how wedding professionals can set up speakers for success, including providing clear instructions and positioning the speaker for better visibility.
The Importance of Clear Audio (00:31:11) Beth emphasizes the importance of clear audio for speeches, highlighting the impact on delivering jokes and connecting with the audience.
Using Humor in Social Situations (00:34:40) Becca and Beth discuss the role of humor in social interactions, providing tips on using humor to build connections in various settings.
Listening to Customers (00:40:18) Beth reflects on the importance of listening to customer needs and preferences when creating products and packages for her business.
Mentioned in this episode:
Summer Support!
Looking for support with your wedding business or venue this season? I have put together some options for you.

Wedding Pro Agency:
Hand over some of your admin tasks to my team to give you some time back this summer. From social media posting to website updates, email sequences and crm set up, there are lots of ways we can help you.

One to One support:
I have two spaces to offer one to one support from June - August to help keep you in track. If you are interested, drop me an email: becca@beccapountney.com
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Today I'm chatting with Braden Drake, founder of Not Your Average Law Firm. He takes two typically dry subjects - finance and law and makes them a whole lot more fun. We discuss the importance of understanding legal and financial matters for wedding business owners. Braden talks about hiring practices, the necessity of comprehensive contracts, and the significance of separating personal and business finances.
Find Braden on Instagram
Check out his podcast
Join the FB group
Time Stamps:
(0:00:00) Hiring and managing employees, freeing up time for business growth.
(00:00:24)  Introduction to the podcast and guest, Braden Drake.
(00:01:23) Initial conversation and welcome to the podcast.
(00:02:02) Making boring subjects exciting, sharing enthusiasm.
(00:02:50) Discussing the start of Braden's journey in law and numbers.
(00:03:30)  Law school experience, comparison to "Legally Blonde."
(00:04:37) Graduating and starting own business with financial support.
(00:05:57)  Transition from working with creatives to the wedding industry.
(00:07:44) Helping wedding industry professionals with legal and financial matters.
(00:08:37)  Mission behind helping businesses with legal and tax matters.
(00:10:26)  Common contract mistakes and the importance of having contracts.
(00:11:13)  Essential elements to include in client contracts for wedding suppliers.
(00:14:27) Common mistakes in accountancy, importance of separate finances.
(00:15:54) Setting aside money for taxes and profits, utilizing auto-savings.
(00:17:36)Personal approach to managing profits and savings for specific goals.
(00:18:15)  Encouraging proactive tax payments and automation.
Automating Savings (00:18:29) Braden discusses the benefits of automating savings and the psychology behind it.
Tax Deductions and Credits (00:19:19) Braden explains the difference between tax deductions and tax credits, using examples to clarify.
Transparency in Finances (00:21:08) Becca praises Braden's transparency in discussing his own finances and the benefits of normalizing such conversations.
Pricing and Mistakes (00:22:59) Braden shares insights about pricing services based on actual numbers and learning from business mistakes.
Being Unapologetically Yourself (00:24:10) Braden talks about finding confidence in being himself and the benefits it brings to his business.
Hiring and Business Growth (00:26:10) Braden and Becca discuss the importance of hiring and growing a team in business expansion.
Closing and Contact Information (00:27:39) Becca shares details on how to connect with Braden and concludes the podcast episode.
Mentioned in this episode:
Summer Support!
Looking for support with your wedding business or venue this season? I have put together some options for you.

Wedding Pro Agency:
Hand over some of your admin tasks to my team to give you some time back this summer. From social media posting to website updates, email sequences and crm set up, there are lots of ways we can...

Today I am chatting with one of my founding Wedding Pro members Kevin Lines. What I love about Kevin is the way he keeps his work life varied with a mix of corporate work and wedding photography. He has a 'family first' mindset whilst also striving to bring in more income - it's a great conversation.
Visit Kevins Website
Follow Kevin on Instagram
Join the Wedding Pro Members Lounge
Time Stamps:
The journey to photography (00:00:00) Kevin discusses the importance of family and his background in photography, leading up to his career in press photography.
Transition to wedding photography (00:08:16) Kevin shares how he initially didn't want to do weddings but ended up enjoying it, leading to his first clients and the snowball effect.
Marketing strategies (00:10:25) Kevin discusses his unconventional approach to marketing, emphasizing the power of word of mouth and personal connections over traditional advertising.
Differences between corporate and wedding photography (00:18:11) Kevin explains the differences in corporate and wedding photography, how he found corporate photography connections, and the importance of networking.
Corporate Photography Challenges (00:20:21) Kevin discusses the challenges of corporate photography, including the limited creativity and the need to provide a defined brand style for clients.
Setting Rates in Corporate Photography (00:23:13) Kevin explains the process of setting rates for corporate photography, including considerations for day rates, half-day rates, and adjusting based on the client's budget.
Balancing Work and Family (00:26:35) Kevin shares his strategies for balancing work and family, including blocking out days for family time and limiting weekend work.
Benefits of Community Membership (00:31:28) Kevin highlights the benefits of being part of a community, such as sharing business issues with like-minded professionals and building a network for support.
Avoiding Comparison in Business (00:34:37) Kevin emphasizes the importance of not comparing oneself to competitors and focusing on individual strengths and unique selling points.
Conclusion and Contact Information (00:35:38) Becca and Kevin wrap up the conversation, and Kevin shares his website for those interested in reaching out to him for advice or enquiries.
Mentioned in this episode:
Summer Support!
Looking for support with your wedding business or venue this season? I have put together some options for you.

Wedding Pro Agency:
Hand over some of your admin tasks to my team to give you some time back this summer. From social media posting to website updates, email sequences and crm set up, there are lots of ways we can help you.

One to One support:
I have two spaces to offer one to one support from June - August to help keep you in track. If you are interested, drop me an email: becca@beccapountney.com
Wedding Pro Agency

Ever wonder how to make your wedding clients feel special? In a recent 2024 study by Wedding Dates they found that 74% of couples responded to say they felt like a number and not made to feel special by their wedding suppliers. In today's episode I am talking to founder of 'Secrets of a Bridal Seamstress' Nadine Bozeman about how we can ensure we give out clients the best experience so they feel seen and special every single time.
Follow Nadine on Instagram
Grab Nadine's private podcast resource.
Want to meet other likeminded wedding pro's so that you can share ideas, network and help each other out? Then why not go ahead and join my free Wedding Pro community over on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/weddingprosreadytogrow/

Find out more about how I can help you grow your wedding business over on my website or Instagram page:
www.beccapountney.com
www.instagram.com/beccapountney
Time Stamps:
Growing a Successful Alterations Business (00:00:00) Nadine discusses the importance of creating a memorable experience for brides during their appointments and consultations.
Introduction to Nadine Bozeman (00:00:54) Becca introduces Nadine Bozeman, founder of Sweet Francis Sewing Company, and her journey from a middle school teacher to a successful bridal seamstress.
Nadine's Chicken Therapy (00:01:41) Nadine shares the story of how she unexpectedly became a chicken owner and the joy she finds in spending time with her chickens.
Early Passion for Sewing (00:03:30) Nadine talks about her childhood interest in sewing, quilting, and how she transitioned from teaching to pursuing sewing as a business.
Transition from Teaching to Entrepreneurship (00:05:19) Nadine discusses her exit strategy from teaching and the shift towards building her alterations business.
Growth of the Alterations Business (00:06:58) Nadine shares the journey of transitioning from a part-time bridal seamstress to establishing a thriving brick-and-mortar alterations business.
Knowing When to Make the Leap (00:11:02) Nadine discusses the decision-making process and timing of leaving her teaching job to focus on her alterations business full-time.
Focus on Wedding Dress Alterations (00:16:40) Nadine explains her decision to specialize in wedding dress alterations and the higher value of bridal services.
Building Relationships in the Wedding Industry (00:17:54) Nadine shares her initial apprehension in approaching bridal shop owners and the importance of building relationships within the wedding industry.
Perfect Timing (00:19:44) Nadine discusses how a serendipitous meeting with a shop owner led to business growth and meaningful relationships.
Professional Boundaries (00:20:35) Nadine highlights the importance of establishing professional boundaries and controlling client communication channels.
Valuing Creative Work (00:23:43) Becca and Nadine discuss the undervaluation of creative skills in the industry and the...

The power of word of mouth networking is something I talk about frequently and in today's episode I talk to Kevin Dennis about how he has used it to build his own wedding business. From networking meetings to wedding days, Kevin builds connections everywhere, and his business has benefited as a result.
Kevin Dennis is the editor of Wedding IQ and the owner of Fantasy Sound Event Services.
Want to meet other likeminded wedding pro's so that you can share ideas, network and help each other out? Then why not go ahead and join my free Wedding Pro community over on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/weddingprosreadytogrow/

Find out more about how I can help you grow your wedding business over on my website or Instagram page:
www.beccapountney.com
www.instagram.com/beccapountney
Helping out and building relationships (00:00:00) Kevin discusses the importance of helping others and building relationships in the wedding industry.
Introduction and background of Kevin Dennis (00:00:53) Becca introduces Kevin Dennis, his background, and his experience in the wedding industry.
Starting in the wedding industry (00:02:19) Kevin Dennis shares his journey into the wedding industry, starting as a DJ in high school and transitioning into his own DJ service.
Challenges and changes in the industry (00:06:51) Kevin discusses the significant changes in the industry, particularly the evolution of DJing from vinyl to digital.
Keys to success in the wedding business (00:07:58) Kevin emphasizes the importance of relationships and networking as key factors in his business success.
Building relationships and networking (00:10:30) Kevin discusses the significance of belonging to associations, local groups, and getting involved in the community for building relationships.
Effective networking and relationship-building (00:13:20) Kevin advises on the importance of genuine networking, listening to others, and taking time to build relationships.
Practical tips for networking (00:15:42) Kevin provides practical tips for effective networking, including feeling comfortable, bringing a wingman, and researching the guest list before attending an event.
The importance of personalization in networking (00:16:55) Emphasizing the impact of personalizing interactions and avoiding generic approaches at networking events.
The significance of business cards (00:17:28) Highlighting the enduring value of business cards and the impression they create in networking.
Professional email addresses and first impressions (00:18:37) Stressing the importance of using professional email addresses and the impact it has on initial perceptions.
Challenges in networking events (00:19:29) Discussing challenges such as alcohol-related issues and inappropriate behavior at networking events.
Etiquette and behavior at networking events (00:21:07) Addressing the importance of open communication and respectful behavior while networking.
Respect and professionalism at venues (00:22:15) Emphasizing the need for respect and professionalism while working at event...

Today I'm challenging the idea that there are too many people in the wedding industry. Despite the influx of new people entering our industry, I don't want you to see this as a negative, instead I am encouraging you to embrace collaboration over competition.
In this episode I am going to talk through and respond to some of the negative comments I am hearing and I am going to share my tips for standing out in a crowded wedding market.
Want to meet other likeminded wedding pro's so that you can share ideas, network and help each other out? Then why not go ahead and join my free Wedding Pro community over on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/weddingprosreadytogrow/

Find out more about how I can help you grow your wedding business over on my website or Instagram page:
www.beccapountney.com
www.instagram.com/beccapountney
Time Stamps:
The competition challenge (00:00:00) Addressing the perception of a saturated wedding market and the impact of increased competition on standing out.
Local competition concern (00:00:59) Reflecting on the survey results showing local competition as a significant challenge for wedding professionals and the speaker's perspective on collaboration over competition.
Benefits of increased suppliers (00:02:52) Discussing the positive impact of more suppliers entering the industry, using examples of commercial spaces and the normalization of new wedding services.
Maintaining professionalism (00:07:17) Strategies for maintaining professionalism amidst new entrants, including embracing newcomers and emphasizing one's own credentials and experiences.
Dealing with price wars (00:10:51) Addressing concerns about price wars, emphasizing the importance of knowing one's own numbers, avoiding the race to the bottom, and educating clients on the value provided.
Standing out in a crowded market (00:15:06) Encouraging differentiation and finding a unique selling point to stand out in a crowded market, highlighting the need to avoid being the "vanilla" option.
Diversifying business sources (00:17:39) Advising on the importance of diversifying business sources and not relying solely on one venue or supplier recommendation.
Building Relationships with Venues (00:18:41) Tips for wedding professionals to go above and beyond for venues and benefit from collaboration.
Embracing New Competition (00:19:33) Encouragement to welcome new professionals, learn from fresh ideas, and embrace the industry's growth.
Dealing with Price Competition (00:20:31) Strategies to handle competitors offering lower prices and reassurance about the value of quality service.
Surviving and Thriving Amid Competition (00:21:27) Reassurance that businesses offering poor quality or extremely cheap services won't survive in the long run.
Reframing the Perception of Competition (00:23:21) An exercise to reframe the way wedding professionals view their direct competition and identify areas for improvement.
Leveraging Competition for Growth (00:25:13) Using the strengths and weaknesses of competitors to set goals and refine marketing messaging.
Community and Collaboration (00:26:11) Encouragement to build relationships and collaborate with other wedding professionals for...