Own Your Business

Join wedding industry veterans like Abby Jiu, a wedding photographer and social media strategist, and Daniel Kim, an experienced photographer capturing authentic moments. They delve into the shifting landscape of client expectations, emphasizing creativity and genuine connections over traditional luxury. Eleanor Scola discusses the evolution of venue trends, while Kimberly Richmond highlights changes in buyer psychology. Laura Ritchie shares insights on the importance of authentic brand communication and the need for transparency, helping vendors navigate today's competitive market effectively.

Dive into the truth about luxury in the wedding industry, where it's revealed that aesthetics alone won't cut it. Discover what today's luxury clients truly desire, focusing on meaningful experiences rather than just beautiful visuals. Understand the pitfalls of projecting a luxury image without the expertise to back it up, and learn how genuine client relationships can redefine luxury. Equip yourself with strategies to enhance your brand, moving beyond superficiality to create trusted, personalized experiences that resonate.

This discussion dives into the tricky line between genuine business growth and merely increasing workload. Creative entrepreneurs often mistake hustle for progress, leading to chaotic lives. Hiring more help or adding services may not alleviate overwhelm; true growth requires clarity and effective systems. The speakers advocate for redefining success, emphasizing freedom and fulfillment over traditional metrics. A transformative retreat is spotlighted, offering tools for realignment and sustainable growth for wedding industry professionals.

If your offer is good — maybe even great — but you’re still not booking enough of the right clients, you’re not alone.In this episode, we unpack why even the most refined services can fall flat when they’re not framed around what the client truly wants. From over-explaining deliverables to diluting your messaging with too much detail, we walk through the real reasons your offer might be getting passed over — and how to shift your approach so your value lands with clarity and confidence.Takeaways:Why a strong offer can still fall flat if it’s framed around you, not your clientWhat business owners do when bookings are low — and why those fixes backfireHow messaging becomes diluted when you grasp for attention or try too hardThe difference between selling the outcome and selling your process

Are your ideal clients really ignoring you? It might just be that your messaging lacks clarity. Discover how unclear communication confuses potential buyers and why more effort often leads to noise, not results. Learn to identify the core messaging issues and the long-term benefits of aligning your brand voice with client expectations. With practical strategies to enhance your communication and attract the right clientele, you can transform your approach in the wedding industry and beyond.

Explore the pitfalls of popular sales tactics that can actually drive potential clients away. Discover why proposal expiration dates might create more resistance than urgency. Learn how over-qualifying leads can diminish your opportunities, and understand the importance of treating discovery calls as genuine conversations rather than sales pitches. Quick, personal responses often trump automated replies, especially in luxury markets. Insightful advice awaits to help transform your sales process into a winning strategy!

Business owners often chase validation from others, building companies for the wrong reasons. This discussion urges listeners to rediscover their core motivations and intentions. Nine key psychological drivers are introduced, revealing how they shape our entrepreneurial journeys. Personal stories emphasize the importance of autonomy and realignment with personal goals. The impact of transformative experiences is explored, illustrating how they can ignite passion in business. Ultimately, it’s a call to reclaim freedom and align business success with true personal fulfillment.

Today's wedding couples prioritize emotional connections over mere aesthetics when choosing vendors. The podcast delves into four core desires—belonging, esteem, engagement, and autonomy—that drive these decisions. Discover how addressing deeper needs can transform your messaging and client experiences. Personal stories about the speaker's journey from therapy to sales provide unique insights into problem-solving. Perfect for industry professionals, this discussion offers practical examples to resonate with couples and inspire them to say ‘yes.’

Selling to BTS Decision-Makers with Amrit Dhillon‑BainsSelling and managing luxury weddings is hard enough. Add multiple decision makers, deep cultural traditions, and high emotional stakes — and it becomes a true test of your sales and client service skills.In this episode, Sam sits down with Amrit Dhillon‑Bains, founder of Anaïs Events, a Northern California–based planning and design firm specializing in upscale, highly personalized South Asian weddings. Amrit brings a rare blend of creativity, business acumen, and cultural insight to her work, helping families plan multi‑day celebrations with hundreds (sometimes thousands) of guests — while keeping everyone aligned.Amrit shares how she:Identifies and maps out key stakeholders early in the processGains trust and buy‑in from even the quietest or most resistant decision makersHandles sensitive family dynamics with empathy and authorityPrepares clients to make informed budget decisions without alienating themPersonalizes proposals and sales conversations for each unique family and situationBalances flexibility and boundaries to maintain a sustainable businessWhether you work in luxury weddings or simply want to improve your ability to sell and serve complex client groups, this episode is packed with insights you can apply right away.Connect with Amrit Dhillon‑Bains:Instagram: @anaiseventsWebsite: www.anaisevents.com

Welcome back to the podcast! This time of year, so many wedding pros are deep in the ramp-up for busy season juggling timelines, emails, client meetings, vendor questions, and still trying to execute this weekend’s wedding on top of it all. It’s exciting, but it’s also exhausting. And if you’re not careful, it’s easy to say yes to everything… and end up with nothing left in the tank when it really counts.That’s why today I’m sharing a replay of one of my favorite episodes all about the power of saying no.If you’ve ever found yourself stretched too thin, feeling like there’s no room left for the work that really lights you up, this conversation is for you. We talk about how saying no — even during your busiest months — can actually help you prevent burnout, recharge your batteries, and keep you focused on what matters most.Because when your calendar is packed with low-priority tasks, there’s no space left to say yes to the big opportunities that can move your business forward.So as you head into the thick of wedding season, take a breath and listen in. Let’s dive into the replay.