Own Your Business

They unpack six subtle sales habits that quietly cost bookings. Topics include why canned inquiry emails repel discerning clients and how listing a starting price beats hiding costs. Learn why discovery calls should be conversational, not interrogations, and how gatekeeping turns leads away. They also cover avoiding assumptions from surface cues and selling benefits instead of features.

Are you tired of following the same old advice yet still missing out on luxury clients? This discussion uncovers the surprising truths about high-end bookings. Discover why luxury isn't just about high-cost weddings and how diverse looks define luxury clients. Learn to expand your referral sources beyond just planners and why influencers might not be your best bet. Plus, find out why a full calendar doesn't equate to success and how to realign your goals for steady growth.

Struggling to book luxury clients? Discover how today's couples are more cautious and demand clear value from vendors. Katy and Sam reveal how a 50% full calendar might be a blessing in disguise. Learn the importance of crafting urgency and showcasing unique experiences rather than mere products. Competition is fierce, and mismatched messaging can break trust. Find out how to align your visuals and language to attract bookings and clearly convey your worth in a crowded market.

If your inbox is full of first inquiries that go nowhere, it’s probably not a demand problem. It’s a response problem. Most wedding pros treat that first reply like a formality, just something to check off the list. But couples are looking for connection, clarity, and a reason to keep talking.In this episode, Sam and Katy break down why those initial emails fall flat, even when the couple was excited enough to reach out. Slow replies, templated language, too much information, or a total lack of direction—all of it adds up to silence on the other end. They’ll show you what to do instead so you can get more traction with the inquiries you already have.Your next client is not ignoring you. They just need a better reason to write back.

If your calendar’s full but your goals are still sitting on the shelf, you’ve got a problem—and it’s probably not lack of effort. In this episode, Sam and Katy call out the quiet time sucks: projects that go nowhere, clients who demand too much, and work that looks impressive but leads to zero traction.You’ll hear what they’ve cut, what they’ve kept, and how they’re protecting their time like it’s a VIP guest list.Inside the episode:The hidden difference between being busy and being effectiveWhy people-pleasing is secretly wrecking your scheduleHow to spot (and stop) the projects that don’t deserve your energyA simple audit exercise that gives you hours back every weekPerfect listening if you’re ready to stop doing all the things and start doing the right things.

Most business owners end the year searching for tactics, but the real growth comes from getting clear on why you’re in business in the first place. In this episode, I walk through the turning points that helped me reconnect with my own motivations and explain how easy it is to drift into old goals or other people’s expectations without noticing. As you get ready for a new year, this conversation will help you zoom out, reset your direction, and make sure the business you’re building actually matches the life you want.Takeaways• Why you need to revisit your core motivations at the end of the year• How drifting into old goals or others’ expectations can derail your business• The role your psychological drivers play in every major decision• How to build next year around the life you actually want to live

In this insightful conversation, Abby Jiu, co-founder of Duet Social Media and a key figure in the wedding industry, offers a fresh perspective on the Engage event. She discusses the true value of such events beyond the parties, emphasizing the importance of visibility in luxury branding. Abby shares how clients prefer relatable personalities, and gives practical tips for connecting with new contacts. The duo also reflects on emotional moments from the conference and urges attendees to embrace their authentic selves while networking.

You’re wiped. Or maybe just wildly uninterested in your own business. That’s not always burnout—it could be bore out, and it’s a real problem. In this episode, Sam and Katy unpack the difference between doing too much and not being challenged enough, and how each one quietly derails creative entrepreneurs.Inside this episode:Why burnout isn’t the only reason you feel stuckHow to recognize bore out before it tanks your motivationThe business moves people make when they’re bored (and how they backfire)Practical ways to reignite your energy without burning everything downThis is the episode you need when your business feels more like a chore than a calling.

Transform your website with simple fixes that boost performance! Discover how to guide visitors like a conversation and leverage testimonials effectively without falling into the carousel trap. Learn to craft a services page that captivates and simplifies your contact form to increase inquiries. Katy highlights the importance of matching hero images to emotional motivations, while Sam stresses the website's role as a sales tool. Get ready for impactful changes that attract better clients!

Today we’re diving into a conversation I know so many of you in mid-size and mid-market regions have been craving. Because while Instagram might make it look like luxury only happens in New York, LA, or destination hot spots, the truth is that real growth, real demand, and real opportunity exist everywhere — including the places where the industry often assumes it doesn’t.And few embody that better than today’s guest: Kate Turner of Kate & Company. If you’ve been in the wedding world for any amount of time, you’ve likely heard her name — or worked with someone she’s impacted — because Kate has built something remarkable out of St. Louis, Missouri. She’s grown a planning and design firm that serves high-end clients, produces destination events around the world, and still leads with an unapologetic honesty about what it actually takes to make it in this business.This episode isn’t just about design or pricing or scaling a service. It’s about what happens when you’re building a business in a mid-market that’s under-resourced, under-estimated, and sometimes flat-out resistant to change. We talk about being the first in your market to raise your prices, the confidence gap so many wedding pros struggle with, the messy reality of striving for more, and how vulnerability — real vulnerability — can become the thing that finally unlocks deeper connection with clients and peers.I've worked with Kate for years now, and she’s generous, candid, and incredibly grounded. And if you’ve ever felt alone in your market, or unsure if you can build a luxury-level business where you live, this conversation is going to feel like a breath of fresh air.Let’s get into it.