Wedding Planner Society Podcast

Laurie Hartwell & Krisy Thomas - CWP Society
  • 5.0 (26)
  • Entrepreneurship
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CWP Society is proud to produce the "Wedding Planner Society: Industry Expert Insights" podcast!Laurie Hartwell & Krisy Thomas, award-winning Master Certified Wedding Planners and Industry Educators from the CWP Society, discuss the real lives of wedding planners and professionals, dispense business tips, and share ways you can elevate yourself and your career in the wedding industry. Visit the CWP Society website for more information: www.cwpsociety.com

  1. Three Quiet Business Blockers

    3d ago

    Three Quiet Business Blockers

    Your calendar can be full and your business can still feel stuck. In this episode of The Wedding Planner Society Podcast, Senior Educator Krisy Thomas breaks down three quiet growth blockers that show up in wedding planning businesses at every stage — and they rarely look like problems. They look like decisions you already made. We dig into the pricing structures, service packages, and long-standing workflows that become invisible ceilings when you stop asking whether they still reflect the business you want now. Then we look at reputation — not the one you're building, but the one that's already out there telling your story for you. And finally, the standard that lives in your head but never made it into your process, and what that costs you when it's time to grow. Then Certified Wedding Planner, Tracy Dapp, joins Krisy for a candid conversation about what it looked like to pivot after years in the industry — from an early partnership that quietly held her back to the deeper education and mentorship that changed how she operates. Tracy gets specific about referrals, vendor relationships, messaging, and the real work of rebranding, updating services, and building the kind of documented systems that create consistency clients can trust. If any of this feels familiar, this is your sign to stop filing it under "later." Pick one area, revisit it, and take the next step. Subscribe, share this with a planner friend, and leave a review so more wedding pros can find the resources they need to keep growing. Visit CWPSociety.com to learn more about certification and membership. www.cwpsociety.com | info@cwpsociety.com | IG: @cwpsociety | FB: @cwpsociety

    33 min
  2. The Quiet Middle: Why Couples Lose Trust Between Milestones

    Jun 18

    The Quiet Middle: Why Couples Lose Trust Between Milestones

    What Your Couples Really Remember About Working With You A wedding can run flawlessly and still leave couples feeling unsupported during the planning process — and that gap is exactly what we're addressing in this episode. Riley Snider, Master Certified Wedding Planner, Certified Industry Educator, and owner of Elegant Affairs by Design, joins Laurie Hartwell, Founder and CEO of the CWP Society, to map the full emotional client journey: from the early excitement after signing, through the quiet middle stretch where communication often fades, to the high-pressure final weeks when deadlines and family dynamics collide. Couples don't evaluate their planner by the number of spreadsheets you built. They remember whether they felt safe, supported, and guided — especially when nobody was watching. This conversation covers the simple check-ins that prevent anxiety before it builds, why explaining the reasoning behind your recommendations builds lasting trust, and the critical difference between sending information and actually preparing your couples to feel calm and confident on wedding day. If you want more referrals, stronger reviews, and a reputation rooted in trust, this is the skillset that moves the needle — without adding more to your plate. Ready to go deeper? The CWP Society's certification programs and  memberships give you the frameworks, community, and credentials to build a business couples rave about — and refer. Visit CWPsociety.com to explore your next step. www.cwpsociety.com | info@cwpsociety.com | IG: @cwpsociety | FB: @cwpsociety

    44 min
  3. Your Business Grew. Did You?

    Jun 8

    Your Business Grew. Did You?

    When was the last time you made a decision that was entirely for you — for your business, and for the version of you that's still becoming? That question sits at the center of this conversation, because wedding planning is built on heart. But heart without structure has a ceiling — and a lot of planners hit it before they ever realize what held them back.This industry has a way of keeping you so focused on everyone else's big day that your own professional growth quietly gets deprioritized. And that gap shows up eventually — in your systems, your pricing, your confidence. In this episode, Krisy Thomas is joined by Denitra Barnes, Certified Wedding Planner and owner of Tailored for You Wedding and Event Planning, who is currently pursuing her Master Certification. Denitra opens up about what finally pushed her past the internet rabbit holes and into structured professional education — and the real-world difference it made: stronger client consultations, clearer pricing, more confident vendor relationships, and tools that help her deliver a consistent, elevated planning experience every time. They also get into something that doesn't get talked about enough — how education reshapes your internal credibility. Denitra shares how client psychology training has changed the way she responds when emotions run high, family dynamics get complicated, or conflict shows up mid-process. That kind of calm doesn't come from experience alone. It comes from preparation. If you've been sitting on the fence about certification, Master Certification, or simply how to grow your planning business without burning out, this conversation will give you something real to work with. Subscribe, share this episode with a planner who's ready to grow, and leave a review — it helps more planners find this community. To learn more about professional development, certification, and what's possible for your planning business, visit The CWP Society — the world's premier wedding planner certification and membership organization — at CWPSociety.com. www.cwpsociety.com | info@cwpsociety.com | IG: @cwpsociety | FB: @cwpsociety

    46 min
  4. The Calm Is the Service

    Jun 1

    The Calm Is the Service

    Most couples think they're hiring a wedding planner/coordinator for timelines, vendor coordination, and flawless logistics. And yes — we deliver all of that. But the deeper truth is that they're hiring us for permission to be fully present on one of the most important days of their lives. When something goes sideways, our calm becomes their peace of mind. That steadiness isn't a bonus. It's the service. Krisy Thomas, Senior Educator with The CWP Society, sits down with Master Certified Wedding Planner Brittney Poole of Forever Moments to dig into a mindset shift that changes everything about how we show up: confidence isn't just something we build for ourselves — it's something we provide for our clients. From the nerves of a wedding morning to the moment the room looks to you for the next move, couples take their emotional cues from our pace, our presence, and our energy. And performing confidence without the foundation to back it up eventually cracks under pressure. Together they talk about what emotional safety actually looks like in practice, how preparation builds real confidence under pressure, and why systems, education, and professional structure lead to better decisions when it counts. We also get honest about the consultation process — how trust is built less by over-explaining your services and more by listening well, asking the right questions, and leading with clear professional judgment. https://www.cwpsociety.com/ www.cwpsociety.com | info@cwpsociety.com | IG: @cwpsociety | FB: @cwpsociety

    37 min
  5. Become the Planner Your Dream Client Is Looking For

    May 25

    Become the Planner Your Dream Client Is Looking For

    If you've ever wondered why some wedding planners earn glowing reviews, steady referrals, and dream clients while others stay stuck in the chaos — this episode goes straight to the root. We're not talking about having a prettier timeline or better software. We're talking about the moment the schedule slips, a vendor is frustrated, the client asks the same question for the third time, and every eye in the room is on you to lead. Krisy Thomas, Senior Educator with The CWP Society, sits down with Laurie Hartwell, Founder and CEO of The CWP Society, for an honest conversation about what it actually takes to be good at this work: self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and the discipline to pause before you react. They unpack how aggressive communication, slow response times, negative energy, and careless email tone quietly erode trust with clients and vendor partners — and how those small, repeated patterns can cost you the relationships your business depends on. The conversation also gets into real wedding day crisis management: how to stay composed when something goes sideways behind the scenes, and how to protect the couple's experience so what they remember is joy, not your stress. And then they connect the dots to professional growth — why becoming a well-rounded planner who leads with kindness and confidence is the standard worth building toward. www.cwpsociety.com | info@cwpsociety.com | IG: @cwpsociety | FB: @cwpsociety

    47 min
  6. Emergency Preparedness for Wedding Planners

    May 18

    Emergency Preparedness for Wedding Planners

    There's a split-second on a wedding day when something shifts — weather, a timeline slip, a vendor delay — and every person in the room reads one thing first: the planner. If we tighten up or sound frantic, stress spreads. If we stay steady, the room steadies too. Quiet confidence isn't a personality trait. It's the visible result of preparation done before anyone is watching. In this episode, Krisy Thomas, Senior Educator with The CWP Society, is joined by Brianne Ackerland, Master Certified Wedding Planner and Certified Educator and owner of Stress Free Wedding Space in Iowa, to get specific about what "prepared for anything" actually looks like in practice. They cover the blind spots many planners miss — including planning for the possibility that you can't be there — and how to build a backup plan with a qualified assistant, keep documents accessible for a seamless handoff, and use strong contracts to protect both the client and the business. They also go deeper on venue walkthroughs: not just layouts and logistics, but emergency protocols. Who is the point of contact after you leave? How do emergency services enter the building? Where do guests shelter in severe weather? Where is the AED — and does the staff actually know? Plus: how to have contingency conversations with couples without bringing doom, and how clear vendor communication during pivots protects trust and prevents missed moments. If you want venues to refer you, vendors to love working with you, and couples to feel safe the moment they meet you — this one is for you. 🎙️ Subscribe, share this with a fellow planner, and leave a review sharing the preparedness habit you're committing to next. www.cwpsociety.com | info@cwpsociety.com | IG: @cwpsociety | FB: @cwpsociety

    42 min
  7. 22 Years Later — Laurie Hartwell Sits Down with a Past Client

    May 11

    22 Years Later — Laurie Hartwell Sits Down with a Past Client

    In this episode, Laurie Hartwell sits down with Amber — a bride from one of Laurie's weddings she planned back in 2004 — to ask a question most couples never think about until much later: what do you actually remember? Before Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok told brides what they were supposed to want, wedding planning depended on trust, clear choices, and the right vendor team. Amber's answer is refreshingly honest. The tiny details people obsess over? Not what stuck. What stayed was the feeling of being calm, cared for, and completely present. Amber wanted a "kick-a** party" — great music, nonstop dancing, and a reception that felt effortless. What Laurie delivered was something deeper: blind trust. The kind where the couple never has to carry the stress because someone qualified is already handling it. They cover the DJ moment Amber's friends still bring up decades later, the bar cap decision that kept the party alive, and what it really means to lead with quiet confidence instead of ego. For wedding planners, Laurie breaks down why attracting your ideal couple starts with intentional messaging, how certification protects the couple's investment, timeline, and emotions, and why unqualified advice is one of the biggest threats to this industry. If you are wanting to create a lasting legacy years later, and if you are interested in building your wedding planning business the right way — this one is worth your time. 🎧 Hit play, subscribe, and drop a comment with the one wedding detail you think you'll still remember in 20 years. www.cwpsociety.com | info@cwpsociety.com | IG: @cwpsociety | FB: @cwpsociety

    33 min
  8. Integrity In Wedding Planning

    May 6

    Integrity In Wedding Planning

    Integrity doesn't announce itself — it shows up in the small decisions no one's watching. And in this industry, those decisions either build your reputation or quietly erode it. Founder and CEO Laurie Hartwell and Senior Educator Krisy Thomas are saying the uncomfortable parts out loud. The gray areas. The shortcuts. The behind-the-scenes choices that couples never see but absolutely feel — through trust, referrals, and the kind of reputation that either opens doors or puts up walls. They get specific about what a lack of integrity actually looks like: misrepresenting experience, leaning on unverifiable credentials, ghosting clients, overpromising through vague package language, and taking credit for work you didn't do. They also tackle one of the most talked-about hot buttons in the industry right now — vendor kickbacks and referral fees — and walk through how to build a preferred vendor list the right way, so couples understand your recommendations are based on fit, not a financial arrangement happening behind the scenes. From there, the conversation gets practical. What does integrity actually look like in action? It looks like telling hard truths with care. Owning a mistake before a client hears about it from someone else. Treating every couple with the same level of respect regardless of budget. And showing up for your fellow planners and vendors in a way that strengthens the community instead of competing with it. Laurie and Krisy also address modern marketing ethics — AI-generated imagery, reposting work that isn't yours, and the ongoing question of whether integrity can be taught at all, or whether education only sharpens skills without touching character. You'll leave this episode with a clear-eyed look at the standards you can apply immediately, and a strong reminder that long-term success is built on trust you earn repeatedly — not just once. If this conversation resonates, subscribe, share it with a planner or coordinator who needs to hear it, and leave a review so more wedding professionals can find their way to it. www.cwpsociety.com | info@cwpsociety.com | IG: @cwpsociety | FB: @cwpsociety

    52 min
See All (128)

5
out of 5
26 Ratings

About

CWP Society is proud to produce the "Wedding Planner Society: Industry Expert Insights" podcast!Laurie Hartwell & Krisy Thomas, award-winning Master Certified Wedding Planners and Industry Educators from the CWP Society, discuss the real lives of wedding planners and professionals, dispense business tips, and share ways you can elevate yourself and your career in the wedding industry. Visit the CWP Society website for more information: www.cwpsociety.com

Information

  • Creator
    Laurie Hartwell & Krisy Thomas - CWP Society
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    128
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 @2024 CWP Society, The Wedding Planner Podcast
  • Show Website
    Wedding Planner Society Podcast

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