Latest / The Preferred List: A Wedding Vendor Podcast / Episode 52 Creating a Wedding That Your Guests Can Feel From the Moment They Arrive: Protea Event Planners

Transcript

Episode 52 Creating a Wedding That Your Guests Can Feel From the Moment They Arrive: Protea Event Planners · The Preferred List: A Wedding Vendor Podcast

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: So, Caroline, thank you for being on.
• 0:02
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the preferred list.
• 0:04
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I'm excited to dive into all things planning.
• 0:09
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but before we jump into like the tips and tricks and like all the stuff that's gonna help couples and even help vendors kind of run better days, I'm curious, just give me the backstory.
• 0:20
  SPEAKER_00: How did you get here?
• 0:20
  SPEAKER_00: How did you start FOTIO?
• 0:22
  SPEAKER_00: Where did all of this begin for you?
• 0:25
  SPEAKER_01: So if you haven't heard, I'm from South Africa.
• 0:30
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I was only supposed to come here to America for about six months, about 15 years ago.
• 0:38
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so I came through this awesome program, all in food and beverage.
• 0:43
  SPEAKER_01: So I came for six months as a little old hostess.
• 0:48
  SPEAKER_01: Um never had gotten on an aeroplane to fly 16 hours before.
• 0:53
  SPEAKER_01: So I came all by myself and I learned the tricks of the trade.
• 0:58
  SPEAKER_01: We, you know, with this awesome company, they help with your visas and everything.
• 1:04
  SPEAKER_01: And I got to Florida, and the first person that I actually met at the hotel was my now husband.
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and yeah, that was 15 years ago.
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_01: He was here for at least a year before I came.
• 1:21
  SPEAKER_01: And we did our travels together.
• 1:25
  SPEAKER_01: We got to see 34 states.
• 1:28
  SPEAKER_01: We didn't know we were going to be living in America.
• 1:31
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so we we traveled a lot.
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_01: We I worked really, really hard in the industry.
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_01: So I progressed every six months.
• 1:38
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so you have to move every six months in this program.
• 1:42
  SPEAKER_01: So I went between New York and Florida up until about three years, where the visas then expire and you have to go back home.
• 1:49
  SPEAKER_01: So we were both then sponsored a green card.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_01: And we moved, we immigrated in 2016, uh, lived in New York, and then I ended up moving out to Greenport, Long Island, like very end of Long Island, and I ran a catering department, which we were doing about 100 to 150 events a year.
• 2:12
  SPEAKER_01: Wow.
• 2:13
  SPEAKER_01: And I just love this industry.
• 2:16
  SPEAKER_01: I love food and beverage, and I'm a sucker for love.
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_01: So, yes, as a wedding planner, I do love love.
• 2:24
  SPEAKER_00: As most wedding vendors should be, at least, right?
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_01: Exactly, right?
• 2:28
  SPEAKER_01: So come fast forward a few years, and um my husband we relocated to Frederick for work.
• 2:36
  SPEAKER_01: So me and the family packed up, not knowing anything about Frederick.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_01: We're like, who is Frederick?
• 2:42
  SPEAKER_00: What is this guy?
• 2:43
  SPEAKER_01: What is this guy?
• 2:44
  SPEAKER_01: So we moved and we fell in love with it.
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_01: So we packed up our two cats, dog, twin boys, and moved cross-country.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_01: And I then started my own business.
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_01: I was doing a lot of different types of events, and I also didn't want to get in back into a job where I would have to work 16 hours a day, all day, every day.
• 3:10
  SPEAKER_01: I wanted to grow up with my children.
• 3:12
  SPEAKER_01: I want to watch them grow up.
• 3:14
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so I started ProTA event planners.
• 3:17
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and then this way, I mean, you do put in a lot of hours for your own business, but it's for your own.
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_01: And this way I can show my children that you could do whatever you want as long as you put hard work into it.
• 3:30
  SPEAKER_01: And you love what you do.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_01: It really shows and it really comes across.
• 3:34
  SPEAKER_01: And being sort of like an immigrant, you know, minority, things like that, I feel it's really special and it's it's really rewarding watching your business grow this way.
• 3:44
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, that's incredible.
• 3:46
  SPEAKER_00: It's so fun.
• 3:46
  SPEAKER_00: I have so many questions because we just like we traveled what 15 years, like from when you first came.
• 3:53
  SPEAKER_00: And um to tell me a little bit more like how did those first experiences diving into, I mean, you were just a hostess at first, but like you experienced so many different things.
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_00: What's one of the biggest things that you took from those experiences in the early years of of being here that you have, you know, putting into your business today?
• 4:17
  SPEAKER_01: So we started off at country clubs, and country clubs are are really it's a tough industry to stay in, right?
• 4:25
  SPEAKER_01: But the foundation that they teach you, I still use today.
• 4:30
  SPEAKER_01: You know, so I I did I worked as a hostess, then I grew to a server, then I went to manager of one of their restaurants, and then uh when I went to America, I grew to being the executive administration for the general manager.
• 4:47
  SPEAKER_01: So I have been in all these positions, which I feel really helps me today with my own business.
• 4:52
  SPEAKER_01: But going all the way back then, I think it was a huge culture shock, right?
• 4:58
  SPEAKER_01: Um, first of all, I I had to learn all these new words that America's Americans were using.
• 5:07
  SPEAKER_01: Um banana and banana.
• 5:10
  SPEAKER_01: Simple, but you know, and I had to sort of change my accent so people would understand me.
• 5:15
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 5:16
  SPEAKER_01: Um, we don't say trash can, we say garbage, you know.
• 5:20
  SPEAKER_01: So a lot of those words I had to change.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and obviously for the best, and now my children are more Americanized than me and my husband.
• 5:29
  SPEAKER_01: So we're learning along with them.
• 5:31
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but we did have to change a little bit, but still being true to ourselves.
• 5:38
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but it is it's a culture shock because in South Africa, you know, there's you can't really walk up to someone's door.
• 5:47
  SPEAKER_01: There's all these high walls and electric fences, and you know, it's a third world country.
• 5:52
  SPEAKER_01: It's it's there's a lot of poverty, so there is a lot of crime.
• 5:56
  SPEAKER_01: So it's just, it's, it's really special to sit on your porch and watch your children play in the yard.
• 6:04
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, it's so rewarding to watch that because it's so different in South Africa.
• 6:08
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so we're really blessed.
• 6:10
  SPEAKER_01: We have given a lot of sacrifices, but we are really blessed to be in a country like this where we can do things like that.
• 6:16
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I think you were mentioning before we started just like the difference of like maybe not being around as much family, raising the boys, like doing that whole thing um sort of by yourself.
• 6:26
  SPEAKER_00: But there's there's upsides to there's upsides and downsides to everything.
• 6:30
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
• 6:31
  SPEAKER_00: But it's it's interesting.
• 6:32
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, I would have to imagine there's not many planners that have, you know, not that you're coming from South Africa specifically, but just the experiences that you had in all those different kinds of service-based industry categories, right?
• 6:48
  SPEAKER_00: You start at a hostess, you move to a server, you got managing experience, and then you jump into planning weddings.
• 6:55
  SPEAKER_00: Um, what what was that switch like when you went from just service-based industry stuff to specifically planning uh planning weddings?
• 7:06
  SPEAKER_01: I feel it was pretty natural, right?
• 7:08
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and I think it's definitely helped me in ways in which, you know, building a timeline, I look at both perspectives.
• 7:16
  SPEAKER_01: I look at the caterer's perspective of how long food is actually gonna take to be served.
• 7:22
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, with speeches, how long speeches are going to take so it doesn't hinder the service, um, how long it takes for a bar to get it set up, right?
• 7:32
  SPEAKER_01: I have perspectives from both sides now.
• 7:34
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and also working in the service industry, guest experience for me is like number one, right?
• 7:41
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 7:42
  SPEAKER_01: Of course, I want to make the couple is yeah, right.
• 7:45
  SPEAKER_00: They're the ultimate guests.
• 7:46
  SPEAKER_01: They're the ultimate.
• 7:47
  SPEAKER_01: We don't even count them in.
• 7:48
  SPEAKER_01: But I want to make sure guest experience is everything.
• 7:51
  SPEAKER_01: So when you're putting a seating chart together and what people are gonna first see as they come into your whole day, you know, they're the welcome sign and beverages on arrival, things like that.
• 8:03
  SPEAKER_01: Like, I just want to show the couples how to do that.
• 8:07
  SPEAKER_01: And I think it makes them feel comfortable because I have had this experience for so long helping people and guiding them.
• 8:17
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I I have to, I mean, I'm just like sitting here thinking, like, because I I spent a little bit of time as a host.
• 8:24
  SPEAKER_00: My wife was a server at the same restaurant, she made way more money than I did.
• 8:29
  SPEAKER_01: Sounds about right.
• 8:30
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 8:31
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and she'll probably get a laugh out of that.
• 8:33
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but you have a different perspective jumping in and focusing in on that guest experience.
• 8:40
  SPEAKER_00: And I I think I'm gathering that more.
• 8:42
  SPEAKER_00: I was just, you were saying that.
• 8:43
  SPEAKER_00: I'm just sitting here thinking, like, there may not be calling it guest experience, but it seems like more couples now are focused in on like, what are the people that are coming?
• 8:55
  SPEAKER_00: What are they gonna do?
• 8:56
  SPEAKER_00: How are they gonna feel?
• 8:57
  SPEAKER_00: Are you noticing that too?
• 8:59
  SPEAKER_01: 100%.
• 9:00
  SPEAKER_01: And I feel, you know, right now is definitely how couples are looking at their weddings.
• 9:09
  SPEAKER_01: And also, and and this is the way the the industry, if it's not yet ready, will be growing or two, right?
• 9:14
  SPEAKER_01: It's all intentional and it's making your wedding your yours, not cookie cutter, not oh, I saw this on Instagram or I saw this on Pinterest, right?
• 9:26
  SPEAKER_01: Super cool stuff and inspiration, of course.
• 9:28
  SPEAKER_01: But couples want a more personalized wedding.
• 9:32
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, um, they want to bring those touches to them.
• 9:35
  SPEAKER_01: I just recently did a wedding um, and the couple, the the bride was from Argentina, and there it was just such a unique setup, but it was them on a table, right?
• 9:47
  SPEAKER_01: So they went antiquing for like a year building up to their wedding, and they got stuff that reminded her of home.
• 9:55
  SPEAKER_01: So each table was completely different, but there was like, and and everything was probably like 70 to 100 years old, and you walked into that space and you're like, this is them.
• 10:06
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, like you didn't need a welcome sign, you didn't need anything.
• 10:10
  SPEAKER_01: You knew that this is the couple, and you knew their culture, you knew where she was from, just the way that the table was designed, and it was so cool.
• 10:18
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and I think that's what if you're not thinking about it already, bring you yourselves to your wedding.
• 10:25
  SPEAKER_01: That's what people want.
• 10:27
  SPEAKER_00: I've it's interesting because I'm I'm thinking it from the vendor's perspective of like, and I'll I'll ask you you both these questions, but just like, how does that shift how we do business?
• 10:36
  SPEAKER_00: And then from the couple's perspective, I'm sure some couples heard you say that antiquing for a year, and they're like, that sounds incredible.
• 10:43
  SPEAKER_00: And then I'm sure some are like, nope, not for me.
• 10:47
  SPEAKER_00: So I guess I mean let's maybe let's maybe go with the vendor route first, and then we'll we'll kind of touch on the couple side of things.
• 10:53
  SPEAKER_00: If a vendor's listening and they're like, Cool, couples want intentionality, they want authenticity.
• 10:59
  SPEAKER_00: How do I go alongside that?
• 11:02
  SPEAKER_00: How do I jump in?
• 11:03
  SPEAKER_00: How do I jump onto that boat with them?
• 11:05
  SPEAKER_00: How do I help them do that?
• 11:06
  SPEAKER_00: What's that look like maybe for some different vendor categories?
• 11:09
  SPEAKER_00: Because you work alongside and maybe pull in videographers, photographers, florists, and they all want the best for the couple.
• 11:18
  SPEAKER_00: And it seems like, you know, that authenticity is kind of like rising to the top.
• 11:21
  SPEAKER_00: So, like, how do they help them get to that point?
• 11:25
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, I think it's just getting to know the client.
• 11:28
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I'm a professional within my field, right?
• 11:34
  SPEAKER_01: So I think speaking for other vendors, what what I do is just get to know them, um, learn about their history, where they're from, their personalities.
• 11:44
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I have on my consultation calls, I I want to get to know them, right?
• 11:48
  SPEAKER_01: So it's not really like a sales pitch or anything like that.
• 11:51
  SPEAKER_01: I'm like, tell me you, where did you meet?
• 11:54
  SPEAKER_01: How did you get engaged?
• 11:55
  SPEAKER_01: How long have you been together for?
• 11:57
  SPEAKER_01: And even that first phone call, I learn about them.
• 11:59
  SPEAKER_01: And I want to know more about them.
• 12:02
  SPEAKER_01: And then through the planning process, of course, there's like different levels of planning, right?
• 12:06
  SPEAKER_01: So some couples are like full planning, some are just, I need a little bit of help towards the end, pull everything together.
• 12:15
  SPEAKER_01: So it's a lot easier when you're full planning because then you can get to know them, you can build up their design board, things like that.
• 12:21
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but I just think it's sitting and actually listening and getting to know them.
• 12:26
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and it seems simple, but I think if you're doing that, one, you're gonna do what we're saying, like you're gonna get to know them better, you're gonna be able to help them better.
• 12:35
  SPEAKER_00: But two, I think you get a better chance to see if you're actually a good fit.
• 12:38
  SPEAKER_00: Like it's totally fine if you're not a good fit.
• 12:40
  SPEAKER_00: You're not gonna be a good fit for every couple if you're a vendor listening.
• 12:44
  SPEAKER_00: But you only know that if you get a chance to sit down and ask the questions and do less talking.
• 12:49
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, there's it's more likely to have some red flags popping up if you get to know them on that first call and you're like, This is a great fit.
• 12:56
  SPEAKER_01: We connected so well.
• 12:58
  SPEAKER_01: I love you guys, but I have recommendations for you.
• 13:01
  SPEAKER_00: Which is not a problem.
• 13:02
  SPEAKER_00: It's not a problem.
• 13:03
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I always tell couples it's like, hey, if we're if we're vibing, like I'm gonna be there for the whole day.
• 13:08
  SPEAKER_00: I'm gonna be by your side, like walking through all of these important things.
• 13:11
  SPEAKER_00: I want you to be vibing with me.
• 13:13
  SPEAKER_00: I don't want you to be like unsure, like maybe, you know, or and feel comfortable, yeah, or talking to a company that you're gonna get someone different from.
• 13:22
  SPEAKER_00: Like you're gonna get me, you're gonna get you when you hire our companies because it's us, right?
• 13:27
  SPEAKER_01: Wear the brat.
• 13:28
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 13:28
  SPEAKER_00: Now, when you're thinking about um the same kind of idea, but for couples, what's your best advice for them to really put themselves into the room?
• 13:37
  SPEAKER_00: Because I I think you painted the picture so perfectly.
• 13:39
  SPEAKER_00: It's like what used to be a welcome sign that had some design element to it that kind of pointed back to the couple is now more so becoming like an experience, an ambiance of like what's the room feel like?
• 13:53
  SPEAKER_00: How does a uh guest like walk through the different spaces and what do they feel like when they do that?
• 13:59
  SPEAKER_01: I think also maybe incorporating like food and beverage to it as well.
• 14:04
  SPEAKER_01: You know, think of what drink did you have on your first dates?
• 14:08
  SPEAKER_01: Or if you as a couple did travel, what was that favorite?
• 14:12
  SPEAKER_01: Maybe you had the coolest fish taco at your favorite restaurant.
• 14:17
  SPEAKER_01: Ask the caterer to make that for you and have everyone experience what you have in your lives.
• 14:23
  SPEAKER_01: Um, maybe you when you got engaged at a place, get a picture from there or something like that that really tells people a story and not just have it laid out like you would see on Instagram.
• 14:36
  SPEAKER_01: Tell them your story, let them be a part of it.
• 14:39
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I it seems like, and I don't know, I've been in this since 2018, so not like forever, but like enough years that I think things are shifting now.
• 14:48
  SPEAKER_00: And I it seems like more couples were like seeing inspiration and wanting that exact thing, like replicate this for me.
• 14:55
  SPEAKER_00: And now it's like we're pulling in from all these different places, and then it's like, let's craft this new unseen thing.
• 15:02
  SPEAKER_00: Like, we want to do something completely different.
• 15:04
  SPEAKER_00: I literally had a couple that was like, we want to do this thing that like no one does, we want it to be completely different, and we're focused in on the guest experience.
• 15:13
  SPEAKER_00: It's really interesting.
• 15:14
  SPEAKER_00: What other things have you noticed shifting from like your first planning, your first wedding you did planning to the weddings that you're planning now?
• 15:23
  SPEAKER_01: Hmm.
• 15:24
  SPEAKER_00: Put you on the spot.
• 15:25
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that's a tough one.
• 15:26
  SPEAKER_00: I literally said to her before I was like, sent you questions, not gonna ask you any of those questions.
• 15:31
  SPEAKER_01: Hmm.
• 15:33
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, I think there's so many factors that go with that, right?
• 15:36
  SPEAKER_01: Like, first of all, there's so much out there now, right?
• 15:41
  SPEAKER_01: So it's a blessing and a curse because you go on Instagram, you go on on all these different platforms and you see all these cool things, and it's hard to try and sort of make it your own.
• 15:52
  SPEAKER_01: So, I mean, when I first started planning, I mean, there was information out there, but not like it is today.
• 16:00
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 16:00
  SPEAKER_01: And that's definitely shifting as well as, I mean, we've got to mention AI, right?
• 16:04
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, yeah, it's crazy.
• 16:06
  SPEAKER_01: You know, and we gotta grow with it, otherwise we're just gonna get left behind.
• 16:10
  SPEAKER_01: Not saying AI will ever replace us as wedding vendors, walking into a room, doing the walkthroughs, showing, you know, how you could set that up here and do this.
• 16:21
  SPEAKER_01: You know, it I am all for AI and I feel it is going to help us with organization, communication, right?
• 16:30
  SPEAKER_01: Let's go.
• 16:31
  SPEAKER_01: I'm all about it.
• 16:32
  SPEAKER_00: I get paralyzed sometimes just responding to an email because I want to make sure that I'm like saying the right thing and like interacting and like showing myself and being true to myself.
• 16:40
  SPEAKER_00: And then it's like AI is just like, do this.
• 16:43
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm like, that's exactly what I would want to say.
• 16:46
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
• 16:47
  SPEAKER_00: But I don't want it to be like editing my wedding films because there's still an element, like you're saying, you're gonna be the one that's going in the room and saying, like, I can see it this way, I can see it that way, and we can do all those actual physical things.
• 16:59
  SPEAKER_00: Right.
• 17:00
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, uh, AI can gladly come and peel stickers off of you know every frame, or come have at it.
• 17:10
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, steam all the things that need steam.
• 17:12
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so this is why I know like our industry is forever gonna grow.
• 17:16
  SPEAKER_01: It it's not going anywhere, right?
• 17:18
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and same as food and beverage, that's why I was like, it's a tough industry to be in, but I'm in it because everyone needs to drink, everyone needs to eat, and everyone needs to have an experience and a good time.
• 17:29
  SPEAKER_01: Same as weddings, people are gonna get married.
• 17:31
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so our industry is here for good.
• 17:34
  SPEAKER_01: We just gotta grow with the technology and grow with, you know, the trends and things like that.
• 17:40
  SPEAKER_01: But even with the the trends now, people, yes, they're following the cool colors and the cool inspo and things like that.
• 17:47
  SPEAKER_01: But again, coming down to being your individual selves and showing what that is.
• 17:55
  SPEAKER_00: It's almost like I was literally just watching uh a video on YouTube, I think yesterday, recording this.
• 18:01
  SPEAKER_00: It's not gonna make any sense for when this comes out.
• 18:03
  SPEAKER_00: But um, it was a guy, it was a photographer kind of talking about the difference between like AI uh image generation that's out there with venues kind of using some AI and like pamphlets and like maybe ads even.
• 18:16
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but couples wanting more of that like authentic view of it and it being like maybe you're putting like film photos in there because you can't AI film photos, yeah.
• 18:27
  SPEAKER_00: Right?
• 18:27
  SPEAKER_00: It's like what other ways are you seeing or what other ways could vendors be like showing up more authentically, like that sort of film photo versus digital photo, or or the difference between like the full, like everything's lit exactly perfectly, and then couples are like, we actually just want like the raw raw file.
• 18:49
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and people also just want to have a good time too.
• 18:52
  SPEAKER_01: So, you know, I just did a planning call with a couple, and you know, all they said to me was like, we just want to have a good time.
• 19:02
  SPEAKER_01: If things aren't perfect, they're not perfect, and we're fine with that.
• 19:06
  SPEAKER_01: We just want someone there to advocate for us because I don't want everyone coming to me and asking me questions, but it doesn't have to be perfect, we just want to have a good time with our friends, and and that you can't you can't get anywhere else, right?
• 19:20
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
• 19:21
  SPEAKER_00: Well, I mean, it it speaks to what we've already said about the idea of like them wanting everyone there together, celebrating, enjoying their time together, but also like they're getting married.
• 19:34
  SPEAKER_00: So yeah, it's exciting either way.
• 19:37
  SPEAKER_00: Um, when you're going through your planning process, um, what's that look like?
• 19:42
  SPEAKER_00: You mentioned you know, you're connecting with your couples at first.
• 19:45
  SPEAKER_00: How are you kind of getting couples from the the point of here's some ideas, here's some inspiration to like here's the actual day they're walking in, you know, to the room for the first time, being like, Caroline, this is insane.
• 19:58
  SPEAKER_00: How did you do this?
• 19:59
  SPEAKER_01: Right on, yeah.
• 20:00
  SPEAKER_01: And for me, that's the best part.
• 20:02
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, right.
• 20:03
  SPEAKER_01: Like all this planning and emails and communications, it's so much, but it's so worth it when you see them walk into the room and it's just like, yes, we did this, right?
• 20:15
  SPEAKER_01: That's your inspiration, but we put this together together.
• 20:19
  SPEAKER_01: Um, love that feeling.
• 20:22
  SPEAKER_01: But so when, you know, we do a consultation call as a client comes on board with Protea event planners, then you know, I set them up with a form like um more information about them.
• 20:36
  SPEAKER_01: And this is where um the personalization comes in, where okay, what are your hobbies?
• 20:40
  SPEAKER_01: What do you love to do?
• 20:41
  SPEAKER_01: Tell me a little bit about your give me some insight too on like family dynamics and just on a day of like don't put that one together with that one, right?
• 20:50
  SPEAKER_01: Or seating charts will keep them separated.
• 20:53
  SPEAKER_01: There's always family dynamics, um, but it's also how you handle it.
• 20:57
  SPEAKER_01: And I have different, like I mentioned earlier, I have you know, full planning where I do everything from start to finish.
• 21:04
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and then I also have partial planning or wedding management.
• 21:10
  SPEAKER_01: So wedding management start about eight weeks out, and um I also have different like add-ons, if you want to say, yeah, um, a la carte add-ons, you can sort of build your own package for your needs, your financial needs.
• 21:26
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so I do help a lot with design.
• 21:28
  SPEAKER_01: I love design.
• 21:30
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so if a couple's like, I like blue and pink, how do I bring this together without looking like a kid's birthday party?
• 21:38
  SPEAKER_01: I'm like, let's go.
• 21:39
  SPEAKER_01: I will then do this whole design board for you.
• 21:42
  SPEAKER_01: Um, from like bridal party to groomsman, bouquets, bootnias, things like that, how the table will look like, cocktail hour, all things blue and pink if that's your that's your vibe.
• 21:57
  SPEAKER_01: And then I find those vendors who can actually.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_01: Execute it.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_01: So that's a really helpful thing to do because again, there's so much information out there.
• 22:05
  SPEAKER_01: Like, how many videographers and photographers are within our industry, right?
• 22:10
  SPEAKER_01: Just in that little area.
• 22:12
  SPEAKER_01: So it's so overwhelming for couples.
• 22:14
  SPEAKER_01: And I think that's what really helps.
• 22:16
  SPEAKER_01: It's like, where do I start?
• 22:17
  SPEAKER_01: I have this thing in my head.
• 22:21
  SPEAKER_01: How do I put it on a table?
• 22:23
  SPEAKER_01: And how do I get those vendors to execute it?
• 22:25
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, man, I have so many questions.
• 22:26
  SPEAKER_00: I want to see the blue and pink upscale, whatever that is.
• 22:31
  SPEAKER_00: Right.
• 22:33
  SPEAKER_00: I'm just trying to picture.
• 22:34
  SPEAKER_00: I'm just trying to picture, but it just keeps going to like birthday party.
• 22:38
  SPEAKER_00: Um, like those bright, like neon blue and pink.
• 22:41
  SPEAKER_00: Um uh so many questions.
• 22:44
  SPEAKER_00: How do couples find those vendors that are gonna do what you said?
• 22:50
  SPEAKER_00: Like the they're for them, they're gonna execute, they're gonna do the blue and pink, they're gonna do it like top-notch, and they have so many options.
• 22:59
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 22:59
  SPEAKER_00: So, like, how do they narrow it down?
• 23:00
  SPEAKER_00: How do they find the right people?
• 23:02
  SPEAKER_01: So, if couples do decide to ask me for help, then I will look at the design, I will find out their budgets, and I'll really hone into the personalities too, right?
• 23:16
  SPEAKER_01: You know, the vendors that you work with actually like this florist is gonna be perfect for your personality, your budget, and your design, right?
• 23:25
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, but if couples choose to go the route of finding their own vendors, which perfectly some couples love to do that, and it's exciting, and I'm all for it.
• 23:34
  SPEAKER_01: So I would give recommendations, but then that's they're on their own and they can decide.
• 23:39
  SPEAKER_01: But I feel this is also, and I hate to say it, but AI.
• 23:44
  SPEAKER_01: AI comes in to a huge part in this.
• 23:46
  SPEAKER_01: You literally type in like your style, your budget, your location, and you know, chat GPT or whatever is going to pull up those vendors who would suit you perfectly.
• 23:59
  SPEAKER_00: I feel like we need a sponsorship.
• 24:01
  SPEAKER_00: We've we've mentioned it so many times.
• 24:02
  SPEAKER_01: I know.
• 24:03
  SPEAKER_00: How many times have to say chat GPT for them to give us some money or something?
• 24:07
  SPEAKER_01: Right on.
• 24:08
  SPEAKER_00: Um they probably won't give us any money because they don't need to.
• 24:10
  SPEAKER_00: Um so AI will help a little bit.
• 24:13
  SPEAKER_00: Um, once they get to the point where maybe they're setting up some meetings, maybe I'm assuming that would be your your goal for them is to actually chat with these vendors.
• 24:22
  SPEAKER_00: Um, how do they figure out what questions do they ask?
• 24:26
  SPEAKER_00: How do they figure out like the differences between XYZ photographer and this one and that one?
• 24:32
  SPEAKER_00: And and maybe all the styles are very similar, prices are similar.
• 24:36
  SPEAKER_00: Like, how are we finding the right one of the you know closed-in circle kind of idea?
• 24:43
  SPEAKER_01: I think it comes down to personality, to be honest with you.
• 24:46
  SPEAKER_01: If you're looking at invoice A or quote A and quote B, exactly the same, you know, you're offering the same flowers, right?
• 24:55
  SPEAKER_01: I really think it comes down to them personality.
• 24:58
  SPEAKER_01: I had a full planning client that uh their wedding's coming up in October, and they really did struggle on finding, you know, I helped the, they were full planning, I'm helping them then back then find their vendors.
• 25:10
  SPEAKER_01: And, you know, when we came down to the same pricing and they asked me, well, which one would we go for then?
• 25:17
  SPEAKER_01: I'm like, who did you connect with?
• 25:19
  SPEAKER_01: Who do you think that you would have fun with or that person would, you know, get all your guests on the dance floor, right?
• 25:28
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 25:28
  SPEAKER_01: So I really think it at that point it comes down to personality and who you had that connection with.
• 25:33
  SPEAKER_00: So how I'm gonna ask a question similar, but on the vendor side of things.
• 25:38
  SPEAKER_00: How do vendors stand out?
• 25:41
  SPEAKER_00: If all of the photos look the same, they don't, and I know they don't, please don't hate me for saying that.
• 25:46
  SPEAKER_00: If all the photos look the same or the floors can do the same installations, how do you stand out in that crowd and that sea of vendors that are kind of doing a similar thing for a similar price?
• 26:00
  SPEAKER_01: James, when you have that answer, let me know.
• 26:04
  SPEAKER_00: Let me know because I can do it too.
• 26:06
  SPEAKER_01: Please.
• 26:06
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, it's so tough because there's so many of us out there.
• 26:10
  SPEAKER_01: And I I am having the same battle with my own business and with my own personality, right?
• 26:15
  SPEAKER_01: Like, people are like, you need to get your voice on Instagram.
• 26:19
  SPEAKER_01: I'm like, no, no, no.
• 26:20
  SPEAKER_00: You should.
• 26:21
  SPEAKER_01: Because that makes sense.
• 26:22
  SPEAKER_01: Instagram will love it, right?
• 26:23
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, maybe that's my selling point that I'm different to everyone else, but you know, there's so many wedding planners.
• 26:31
  SPEAKER_01: There's so many great wedding planners in this area.
• 26:35
  SPEAKER_01: And you know, how do you stand out?
• 26:39
  SPEAKER_01: I don't know.
• 26:40
  SPEAKER_01: You know, we all do a great job, and we like to think that, you know, I'm the best out there, but you know, there's so many great people out there, there's so many great vendors, and it's definitely for me, it's community over competition.
• 26:54
  SPEAKER_01: And, you know, if if I'm busy that day, I'm going to send that client to one of my other planning friends, right?
• 27:02
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 27:02
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but I think it's really important for all of us to also have that community and fight for each other and and have each other's backs as well, because there's a lot of us, but it's also a small world at the end of the day.
• 27:15
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 27:16
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so and I feel me moving to Frederick, um, I've never felt such a great community, and especially woman for woman.
• 27:28
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I I felt so supported here.
• 27:30
  SPEAKER_01: That's awesome.
• 27:31
  SPEAKER_01: And you know, my business is two years old next month.
• 27:36
  SPEAKER_00: Crazy.
• 27:37
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 27:38
  SPEAKER_01: And I've had so much fun doing it, but I don't think I would have grown so fast not having that support that I did here.
• 27:45
  SPEAKER_01: And I'm just, I'm really blessed and I'm really honored that I have had the support.
• 27:50
  SPEAKER_00: What's I I have again, so many questions.
• 27:53
  SPEAKER_00: But my brain, I need to like slow it down.
• 27:56
  SPEAKER_00: Um, one thing really quick before we jump off of the standing out idea, and then I want to ask you about your support.
• 28:03
  SPEAKER_00: Um, it's interesting because I feel like with AI and all the stuff, you you almost have to find a way to show the authentic version of yourself within the context of your business.
• 28:18
  SPEAKER_00: Cause to me, right now, and I I don't know how to do it exactly, but it seems like if if you can get yourself out there in a way, like doing this, right?
• 28:29
  SPEAKER_00: Like they can see and hear and like experience, it's like, oh, it's not just another wedding videographer.
• 28:36
  SPEAKER_00: I understand like the heart behind what James at Light Ridge Studio is trying to do.
• 28:41
  SPEAKER_00: I understand why he's you know so focused in on audio and story and all that stuff.
• 28:47
  SPEAKER_00: Um, again, I don't I don't have the answers, but I was just curious if you did.
• 28:51
  SPEAKER_00: But we'll still work.
• 28:52
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, if you guys know, like drop a comment.
• 28:55
  SPEAKER_00: Please.
• 28:55
  SPEAKER_00: Wherever this is at, drop a comment.
• 28:58
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but I'm curious, what's what's the biggest thing that you've experienced or received from that support, the supportive community that you have, the women that are in your life?
• 29:08
  SPEAKER_00: Like, what's the biggest thing that they've done or spoken into your life to get you like, okay, I can do this.
• 29:15
  SPEAKER_00: Another hard day hit.
• 29:16
  SPEAKER_00: I'm okay.
• 29:17
  SPEAKER_00: We can do this.
• 29:18
  SPEAKER_00: We keep pushing forward.
• 29:20
  SPEAKER_01: It was really tough for me moving from New York.
• 29:24
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I mean, if I started my business in New York, it would have been a lot easier, right?
• 29:30
  SPEAKER_01: I'd been there for 10 years already.
• 29:32
  SPEAKER_01: I knew vendors, I knew venues.
• 29:34
  SPEAKER_01: People knew of me.
• 29:36
  SPEAKER_01: Moving here, I was very vulnerable.
• 29:40
  SPEAKER_01: I also didn't want to step on any toes.
• 29:43
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I'm a new wedding professional coming into the industry.
• 29:47
  SPEAKER_01: Like, hi, I'm a pro GFM planner.
• 29:51
  SPEAKER_01: Like, I didn't want to step on any toes, and I was very shy.
• 29:54
  SPEAKER_01: And within the first networking, you know, I really threw myself out there.
• 29:58
  SPEAKER_01: I went to networking events and I threw on a bunch of reels on Instagram, really showing like me, my authenticity.
• 30:06
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and it was just so well received.
• 30:10
  SPEAKER_01: And, you know, groups of other wedding planners were like, yes, we need someone like you.
• 30:17
  SPEAKER_01: And I assisted some wedding planners just so I could learn the way in which other people are doing.
• 30:23
  SPEAKER_01: I just didn't come in here like, what do they say, a bull in a china shop, right?
• 30:27
  SPEAKER_00: Picturing you kicking down the door and being like, I'm Caroline from South Africa, let's get this.
• 30:35
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so I did.
• 30:36
  SPEAKER_01: I treaded really lightly and I was like, okay, can I help this planner here?
• 30:40
  SPEAKER_01: Can I help this planner there?
• 30:42
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and I learned the ways in which this community is, which is so cool, right?
• 30:48
  SPEAKER_01: Um, very different to what I'm used to, very different to South Africa.
• 30:52
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and it was just such a almost like an honor being like, yeah, come and join our community.
• 31:00
  SPEAKER_01: Let's go.
• 31:01
  SPEAKER_00: You didn't have to kick it down because the door's already open.
• 31:03
  SPEAKER_01: I'm kind of a little upset about that.
• 31:05
  SPEAKER_01: I would have loved to kick in a door.
• 31:06
  SPEAKER_00: But you can go back, they'll close it for you just to bam.
• 31:11
  SPEAKER_00: I just thought this would be so funny to see you kick down a door.
• 31:14
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I just met you though, so maybe I don't know.
• 31:17
  SPEAKER_01: I'd be kicking down a door holding a glass of wine.
• 31:20
  SPEAKER_01: That is like my vibe.
• 31:21
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, if you guys didn't know, she brought a bottle of wine.
• 31:24
  SPEAKER_00: I'm very appreciative.
• 31:24
  SPEAKER_00: It's amazing.
• 31:25
  SPEAKER_01: 9 a.m.
• 31:26
  SPEAKER_01: Let's go.
• 31:27
  SPEAKER_00: We did we did not open it to be clear.
• 31:29
  SPEAKER_00: We're not day drinking, but you know.
• 31:32
  SPEAKER_00: Um, there's a full bar right behind you.
• 31:35
  SPEAKER_00: Um when you're working alongside other vendors, being kind of the one that everyone's like, Caroline, what's next?
• 31:43
  SPEAKER_00: How do we do this?
• 31:44
  SPEAKER_00: What's happening?
• 31:45
  SPEAKER_00: What do we need to do?
• 31:46
  SPEAKER_00: Where do we need to be?
• 31:47
  SPEAKER_00: What's your best advice for vendors to, you know, really be team players on the wedding day?
• 31:54
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe even like, is there stuff before the wedding day, after the wedding day?
• 31:57
  SPEAKER_00: How can we like make this whole organism like work better?
• 32:02
  SPEAKER_01: It and it's so important, James.
• 32:04
  SPEAKER_01: You know, like working together, leading up to the point and day of like communication from the start.
• 32:10
  SPEAKER_01: Here's the couple's timeline.
• 32:12
  SPEAKER_01: You know, not this is how it's gonna go, but do you have any suggestions?
• 32:18
  SPEAKER_01: Is X amount of time good for their first look, or do you suggest something else?
• 32:23
  SPEAKER_01: Like, you know the how many group pictures that they're gonna have.
• 32:27
  SPEAKER_01: How much time do you need?
• 32:28
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, right, but still keeping in mind the couple's needs and wants, right?
• 32:34
  SPEAKER_01: So maybe photographers are like, yes, give me 30 minutes of cocktail hour.
• 32:39
  SPEAKER_01: And I'm like, no, no, can we do 15?
• 32:42
  SPEAKER_01: You know, the collaboration, right?
• 32:44
  SPEAKER_01: Rather than me saying this is how it's gonna go, and then day off like checking in, making sure timelines are like, okay, we we're running a little bit behind.
• 32:54
  SPEAKER_01: Can you maybe wrap it up a little bit?
• 32:56
  SPEAKER_01: Um things happen, right?
• 33:00
  SPEAKER_01: And that's why having a wedding planner, wedding coordinator is so important day off because we're there to advocate for you.
• 33:07
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, if you know, photos are running a little bit late, we need to communicate with the kitchen, right?
• 33:13
  SPEAKER_01: The caterers, things like that.
• 33:15
  SPEAKER_01: Like we are running 10 minutes late.
• 33:17
  SPEAKER_01: Can we swap this?
• 33:18
  SPEAKER_01: Can we do this?
• 33:19
  SPEAKER_01: You know, maybe we could cut the pictures here a little bit, have salads, and then we can go take more pictures, you know, having that experience to just shuffle things around.
• 33:28
  SPEAKER_01: And I feel being in the industry, um, the uh stressful food and beverage industry, and thinking like really quickly, pivoting, and and you know, you have to in that industry.
• 33:41
  SPEAKER_01: And I feel that's definitely what I brought over to wedding planning.
• 33:44
  SPEAKER_01: That's helped me so much.
• 33:46
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, well, I mean, you have the back end on all those different pieces, like we said at the beginning.
• 33:50
  SPEAKER_00: So that if there is like a kitchen thing, you're not just going like, hey, can we push it back?
• 33:55
  SPEAKER_00: You're like, hey, I understand what's going on.
• 33:58
  SPEAKER_00: Can we do salad?
• 33:59
  SPEAKER_00: Can we do this?
• 33:59
  SPEAKER_01: Can we you're like providing realistic expectations, right?
• 34:04
  SPEAKER_01: Not like, you know, we're gonna be 30 minutes late for dinner.
• 34:08
  SPEAKER_01: Can you just keep it hot?
• 34:09
  SPEAKER_00: Can you keep it hot for like uh chop, chop?
• 34:12
  SPEAKER_01: Let's go.
• 34:12
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 34:13
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and and just having that communication throughout the day is so important, you know, checking in with everyone, um letting them know speeches, you know, the photographers, hey, can you come back into the room?
• 34:25
  SPEAKER_01: We're about to start speeches, um, and just keeping that open line of communication throughout the whole day.
• 34:31
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I mean, it's a willingness to bend a little bit.
• 34:35
  SPEAKER_00: It might not be the exact amount of time that you want for photos, but if we're thinking about the couple, like maybe they do really want to get to cocktail.
• 34:43
  SPEAKER_00: I feel like I'm asking all my couples now, like, do you want to get to half of them are like, yeah.
• 34:49
  SPEAKER_00: And then they're half are like, well, maybe.
• 34:51
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 34:52
  SPEAKER_01: But it's just on the day.
• 34:54
  SPEAKER_00: It feels like it's more of that like authentically experiencing the day idea as opposed to like let's just go take photos for an hour.
• 35:02
  SPEAKER_00: I feel like more couples are like, we just want to be there and be with our people and do less of the like formality.
• 35:08
  SPEAKER_00: Are you seeing that too?
• 35:09
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely, and more, you know, like an organic dress reveal with the bridesmaids, you know, instead of something staged and a first look.
• 35:21
  SPEAKER_01: I I love a first look.
• 35:23
  SPEAKER_01: And if couples ever ask me, what do you what do you think?
• 35:26
  SPEAKER_01: I'm like, I'm not telling you because that's all on you.
• 35:30
  SPEAKER_01: But if you want, you know, the little asterisk down at the bottom, like, I mean, you're kind of yeah, it does allow you to enjoy more of your cocktail hour, you know what I mean.
• 35:42
  SPEAKER_00: More of the day together is to me, and I caveat.
• 35:46
  SPEAKER_00: My wife and I did not do a first look, it was down the aisle.
• 35:48
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and if that's important, do that, do you?
• 35:51
  SPEAKER_00: But the amount of the day that you get together, just I mean, it goes like not double, but like a third more, probably, depending on when the first look is.
• 36:02
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 36:02
  SPEAKER_00: But it's really, I mean, you gotta stick true to yourself if you're a couple listening, just because a first look might give you more time if you don't want to do that.
• 36:10
  SPEAKER_00: Like, yeah, don't do that, just do what you believe.
• 36:12
  SPEAKER_00: Do you, yeah, yeah.
• 36:13
  SPEAKER_01: Do what you believe.
• 36:14
  SPEAKER_01: And also, you know, some have religious reasons, some just are very traditional, which is great.
• 36:20
  SPEAKER_01: Let's do it.
• 36:21
  SPEAKER_01: And, you know, then having someone who knows how to work a timeline, we can fit pictures in.
• 36:29
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, we can make it work.
• 36:31
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but you know, I will never tell you you need to do this, this, and this.
• 36:37
  SPEAKER_01: Let's work together.
• 36:38
  SPEAKER_01: Tell me what you want, and let's see how we can make it happen.
• 36:41
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I'm sure you have some couples that are like, just do it.
• 36:44
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, yeah.
• 36:44
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 36:45
  SPEAKER_01: Just let me come.
• 36:46
  SPEAKER_01: You do everything, I'll just arrive.
• 36:48
  SPEAKER_01: I'll just show up, yeah.
• 36:49
  SPEAKER_00: I feel like that would be me now being in the industry.
• 36:51
  SPEAKER_00: I would just like, just do it.
• 36:52
  SPEAKER_00: I'll I'll be there, it'll be amazing.
• 36:54
  SPEAKER_00: I know.
• 36:55
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and you know, I I do love a couple like that, but I also do love the collaboration too, right?
• 37:02
  SPEAKER_01: So I like to have a mixture.
• 37:05
  SPEAKER_00: I would assume maybe maybe so if I'm wrong, but like a couple that does collaborate, it might push you to think of something differently or see it a different way, and then you're just like stack that in your like long list of like different ways that we can do things.
• 37:19
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah, 100%.
• 37:21
  SPEAKER_01: And I do like being pushed, you know, to for um imagination and things like that.
• 37:27
  SPEAKER_01: Like, I love a challenge, let's go, right?
• 37:30
  SPEAKER_00: I'm gonna ask you to like think back.
• 37:32
  SPEAKER_00: What's the what's one of the most different things that couple has been like, hey, I wanna do no one's ever done this before.
• 37:39
  SPEAKER_00: Like, you probably haven't planned this kind of thing, but like we want to do it.
• 37:43
  SPEAKER_01: Hmm.
• 37:44
  SPEAKER_01: I would probably I mean, now it's quite a trend, but I would probably think back to like I want to say like 10 years ago.
• 37:51
  SPEAKER_01: I had a couple that wanted to do a donut tower.
• 37:54
  SPEAKER_01: We did donuts, it's so cool, but then I was like, wait, what?
• 37:59
  SPEAKER_00: You don't want to do a big tall cake?
• 38:00
  SPEAKER_00: No, like seven layers?
• 38:02
  SPEAKER_01: No, and I kind of thought it was gross because it was on like this wood with like these things sticking out, and I was like, oh, people are gonna be touching other people's donuts.
• 38:13
  SPEAKER_01: It's gross, but it was really cool.
• 38:16
  SPEAKER_01: Good to see you in the bag, like ew after everyone took a donut out, like wipe it down now.
• 38:22
  SPEAKER_01: Isn't that crazy?
• 38:23
  SPEAKER_01: But it was a new thing, like I had never seen it, but we I got a custom board made, right?
• 38:30
  SPEAKER_01: With their initials and things like that.
• 38:31
  SPEAKER_01: I even had like a strip at the bottom that lined it up, it was super cool.
• 38:36
  SPEAKER_00: That's cool.
• 38:37
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but it was new and it was exciting, and yeah, I love stuff like that.
• 38:42
  SPEAKER_00: So we did donuts, and uh where the donuts were placed was right next to where they did the cocktailer food.
• 38:50
  SPEAKER_00: And so people went through that and grabbed the donut on the way out, and we're like, there was hardly a donut left for us when we did our like cake cutting moment.
• 38:58
  SPEAKER_00: We had there was like three donuts left.
• 38:59
  SPEAKER_00: It's like, okay.
• 39:00
  SPEAKER_00: And then my wife took the donut and like smashed it up my nose, and I was like, love that.
• 39:05
  SPEAKER_00: Starting this, yeah.
• 39:06
  SPEAKER_00: That's a great photo.
• 39:07
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe I'll put it in there.
• 39:08
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, it's just so fun.
• 39:09
  SPEAKER_01: You should definitely, I'd love to see that.
• 39:12
  SPEAKER_00: Gosh, I'll have to find it for you before you leave.
• 39:14
  SPEAKER_01: Um, funny enough, I'm doing a lot of um Pittsburgh cookie tables.
• 39:20
  SPEAKER_01: I love a cookie table.
• 39:22
  SPEAKER_00: I had we had a wedding last year, uh the biggest cookie table you could imagine, like thousands of cookies.
• 39:29
  SPEAKER_00: Oh my gosh.
• 39:30
  SPEAKER_00: And it's just like you just see it out there and you're like, endless opportunities.
• 39:35
  SPEAKER_01: It's so cool.
• 39:36
  SPEAKER_01: Being from South Africa, I'm like, okay, Pittsburgh cookie table.
• 39:40
  SPEAKER_01: Like, this sounds cool, right?
• 39:41
  SPEAKER_01: I had one assistance for like 150 people.
• 39:45
  SPEAKER_01: I'm like, I can do this.
• 39:47
  SPEAKER_01: It's a cookie table.
• 39:48
  SPEAKER_01: How long could it take?
• 39:50
  SPEAKER_01: My guy, it took us three hours.
• 39:54
  SPEAKER_01: Just to put a cookie bridge.
• 39:55
  SPEAKER_01: Each cookie had to go on a certain platter.
• 39:58
  SPEAKER_01: We had a bridge.
• 40:00
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, cookie bridge.
• 40:01
  SPEAKER_00: Why not?
• 40:01
  SPEAKER_01: It was so cool, but it took so long.
• 40:04
  SPEAKER_01: So now every time it's actually one of my questions on like my cookie table.
• 40:09
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, will you be having a cookie table?
• 40:11
  SPEAKER_01: Because then I'll bring in another system because that took me days.
• 40:15
  SPEAKER_00: Oh my gosh, the cookie table.
• 40:18
  SPEAKER_00: But I did eat a lot of cookies.
• 40:19
  SPEAKER_00: I'm a sucker for the desserts and the like reception coke.
• 40:22
  SPEAKER_00: I'm like, I need a cold Coke.
• 40:24
  SPEAKER_00: Don't talk to me for five minutes.
• 40:26
  SPEAKER_00: And if there's cookies later, I'm like, let's go.
• 40:28
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
• 40:30
  SPEAKER_01: I love it.
• 40:30
  SPEAKER_01: Talk about rituals, right?
• 40:31
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, right.
• 40:32
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 40:33
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, the last wedding, we're getting like completely off topic.
• 40:36
  SPEAKER_00: But the last wedding I was just at, I had somehow I had three different.
• 40:41
  SPEAKER_00: It was a Coke come out and doing a Coke, and the person I was shooting with, he's like, Is that your third soda or pop, whatever you call it?
• 40:50
  SPEAKER_00: And I was like, Yeah, yeah, this is number three.
• 40:55
  SPEAKER_00: I'm just gonna go for it.
• 40:56
  SPEAKER_01: There's no judgment here.
• 40:57
  SPEAKER_00: And I finished it on the way home, you know?
• 40:59
  SPEAKER_01: Nothing wrong with it.
• 41:00
  SPEAKER_00: My little clear cup, and I was like, let's just do this.
• 41:03
  SPEAKER_01: There are different vices in the world, so there's nothing wrong with a little bit of sugar.
• 41:07
  SPEAKER_00: Um, so I wanna I wanna peel back the layers here and and talk about budget just a little bit.
• 41:14
  SPEAKER_00: Um I think it's one of the the things that we're kind of up against as vendors is like we're all in these kind of different budget categories.
• 41:22
  SPEAKER_00: Couples have numbers in mind.
• 41:24
  SPEAKER_00: If you ask Chat GPT, it says everything's a thousand dollars.
• 41:28
  SPEAKER_00: Sometimes um a little shade at Chat GPT.
• 41:32
  SPEAKER_00: But how how are how are you navigating the like there's a whole bunch of stuff to spend money on, and we have you know a big number that we need to like fit everything into?
• 41:44
  SPEAKER_00: How are you kind of navigating that with your couples?
• 41:47
  SPEAKER_01: So it's tough.
• 41:48
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, I I only work with couples' budgets if I'm in full planning, right?
• 41:53
  SPEAKER_01: So I have some wedding management couples who are like, so I have X amount.
• 41:59
  SPEAKER_01: Do you think I can make this work?
• 42:00
  SPEAKER_01: I'm like, oh, that's a really tough question.
• 42:03
  SPEAKER_01: Like, I don't know anything else, right?
• 42:06
  SPEAKER_01: If you say let's go 300,000 and I'm going this small way, sure, let's go.
• 42:11
  SPEAKER_01: But um, it's a really tough question.
• 42:13
  SPEAKER_01: So I only work with budgets uh with full planning clients, and my biggest thing would be food and beverage.
• 42:21
  SPEAKER_01: That's part of your experience too, right?
• 42:24
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so I think that's the biggest venue a hundred percent.
• 42:29
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, but the food and beverage is so important.
• 42:33
  SPEAKER_01: Um maybe people disagree with me, but this is you know, no one's gonna remember how thick that like menu was or the design of you know the cool welcome sign.
• 42:44
  SPEAKER_01: It's pretty cool.
• 42:44
  SPEAKER_00: I can guarantee that people disagree with you because I just had some designers on and they were like, This is the most important thing.
• 42:53
  SPEAKER_00: I know, I know.
• 42:54
  SPEAKER_01: Listen, each to their own.
• 42:55
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I'm just saying food and beverage, people are gonna remember how good that steak was, right?
• 43:00
  SPEAKER_01: They're gonna remember this cool signature cocktail.
• 43:03
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, what you're saying is more so just like don't let that be like a flippant decision of like, oh cool, they'll have good food.
• 43:10
  SPEAKER_01: Right, yeah.
• 43:11
  SPEAKER_01: Like that, that really is important.
• 43:13
  SPEAKER_01: Um and your wedding vendors, everything does cost money, but having the good vendors on your side, it makes such a big difference.
• 43:26
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, don't cheap out on vendors.
• 43:28
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, this is a vendor podcast all for us, right?
• 43:31
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, a little bias.
• 43:31
  SPEAKER_00: We're a little biased.
• 43:32
  SPEAKER_00: We'll admit it though.
• 43:33
  SPEAKER_01: We'll admit it, they're not gonna and no and no digging design or anything like that, right?
• 43:38
  SPEAKER_00: It's important, but if you don't have the money for it, you know, it's something something has to give somewhere, right?
• 43:46
  SPEAKER_00: And I think as long as you're finding the right people for the things that you are gonna spend the money on and you know, vetting them, I think we said this already, but if you're not having a sit down conversation of some kind.
• 44:00
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 44:00
  SPEAKER_00: Virtual phone, multiple phone, you know, have have if you're if your parents are helping you decide and paying for stuff, like have them talk to them too.
• 44:10
  SPEAKER_00: Like, I can't stress that enough.
• 44:13
  SPEAKER_00: Like, if someone's not willing to chat with you like virtually or over the phone, that's probably the biggest red flag.
• 44:20
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, 100%.
• 44:22
  SPEAKER_01: And I mean, you know, financially, it weddings are expensive.
• 44:27
  SPEAKER_01: And I mean, it's probably while I'm saying it, it's common sense.
• 44:31
  SPEAKER_01: But smaller weddings, your money can go a lot further.
• 44:35
  SPEAKER_01: And I know it's hard.
• 44:36
  SPEAKER_01: You gotta invite Harry and then Harry's cousins, brothers, sisters.
• 44:40
  SPEAKER_00: Harry's just causing problems.
• 44:41
  SPEAKER_00: Bro, maybe we just still get you.
• 44:43
  SPEAKER_00: Harry's out.
• 44:43
  SPEAKER_00: Harry, you're out.
• 44:45
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but you know, the smaller the guest counts, the less tables you have, the less linens you have, right?
• 44:51
  SPEAKER_01: It it's a domino effect.
• 44:53
  SPEAKER_01: The less tables you have, it's the less centerpieces you need.
• 44:56
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so but some people can't do that, right?
• 44:59
  SPEAKER_01: So it's a caveat, like you gotta wait for the same thing.
• 45:03
  SPEAKER_00: It's like the slider thing.
• 45:04
  SPEAKER_00: You've seen the slider that's like good, fast, and what's the last one?
• 45:10
  SPEAKER_00: Something uh budget, like price.
• 45:13
  SPEAKER_00: It's like that's a slider thing.
• 45:14
  SPEAKER_00: It can be good and fast, but it's gonna be expensive.
• 45:17
  SPEAKER_00: Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 45:19
  SPEAKER_00: Um anyways, I probably botched that slider thing.
• 45:22
  SPEAKER_00: But it's like one of those things where like you have this like moldable slider where it's like, okay, if we're spending this much on food, then we have a little bit less for videography.
• 45:32
  SPEAKER_00: Or if we're if we're narrowing down the people, we can do this big floral installation.
• 45:38
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but I think it's so it's just so tough because you're just sitting there like endless opportunities to go a thousand different directions.
• 45:45
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 45:45
  SPEAKER_00: And you just need some like clarity.
• 45:47
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 45:48
  SPEAKER_00: It's like hire a planner.
• 45:49
  SPEAKER_01: Hire a planner, pro G of M planners.
• 45:52
  SPEAKER_01: Hello.
• 45:53
  SPEAKER_00: Um, when you're looking at like this idea of like planning potentially being stressful for some couples.
• 46:00
  SPEAKER_00: Um I know some are like love it, make all the decisions, type A, big book, got it all planned out.
• 46:07
  SPEAKER_00: But some are like, oh, I'm just so stressed.
• 46:10
  SPEAKER_00: What's your biggest tip for the ones that are feeling stressed to make that whole process more enjoyable?
• 46:16
  SPEAKER_01: Honestly, one step at a time.
• 46:18
  SPEAKER_01: It's a lot.
• 46:19
  SPEAKER_01: There's a lot of things you need to do.
• 46:21
  SPEAKER_01: Um, that's one of the planning tools that I give every single client, no matter what package it is, is a checklist from 12 months out, what needs to be done all the way down to week of, right?
• 46:32
  SPEAKER_01: What and just checking those things off is it's so cool, so rewarding.
• 46:37
  SPEAKER_01: That sounds like such a good resource.
• 46:39
  SPEAKER_01: It is, it's great, but it is overwhelming.
• 46:42
  SPEAKER_01: So just take it step by step, right?
• 46:45
  SPEAKER_01: Book the photographer, book the caterer, like get those things checked off.
• 46:50
  SPEAKER_01: Just take it one step at a time.
• 46:53
  SPEAKER_01: If you look at the whole wedding and you're like, oh my gosh, this is I I can't do this.
• 47:00
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, well, A, you could hire a wedding planner.
• 47:04
  SPEAKER_01: B, if you don't have the funds to hire a full planning wedding, um full wedding planner, then just take it step by step, one thing at a time, and you can definitely achieve it.
• 47:14
  SPEAKER_00: It's almost like the I'm picturing like the reality.
• 47:17
  SPEAKER_00: Like the couple is like, this venue looks amazing, and you're seeing the venue, but you're seeing like everything else, and they're just seeing the venue being like, oh my gosh, this would be so cool.
• 47:26
  SPEAKER_00: But when you get a venue, you have money full of florals.
• 47:29
  SPEAKER_00: When you get a venue, you like this room.
• 47:32
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, it's amazing, it's beautiful, but it's empty.
• 47:34
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, there's nothing in it.
• 47:35
  SPEAKER_00: And so if you had a wedding here, you'd have to fill it with all the stuff.
• 47:40
  SPEAKER_01: Right.
• 47:40
  SPEAKER_01: But but on the other hand, like a venue like visitation is it's really cool, and you don't have to do much, right?
• 47:48
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so that's also like having that insider, like cool, spend a lot of money on the venue.
• 47:53
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, a couple of bud phases and you know, some candles would be perfectly fine.
• 47:58
  SPEAKER_01: But other venues they do need a little bit more love, right?
• 48:01
  SPEAKER_00: So we won't name those ones.
• 48:03
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's here and there.
• 48:05
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 48:06
  SPEAKER_01: But I also I struggled a lot with my own pricing, right?
• 48:09
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and I still am forever changing my contract because I'm forever learning some things that maybe I should put in my contract, you know, some things you would never think of.
• 48:19
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 48:19
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but as things happen, I'm like, this is going in my contract.
• 48:23
  SPEAKER_00: Oh my gosh, I just thought of a great idea.
• 48:25
  SPEAKER_00: You should have on your Instagram a series called Spilling the Tea because it's Protea.
• 48:32
  SPEAKER_01: I love this idea.
• 48:34
  SPEAKER_00: And you're just spilling the tea.
• 48:36
  unknown: Oh yeah.
• 48:36
  SPEAKER_00: Hey, it's Caroline, I'm spilling the tea.
• 48:38
  SPEAKER_01: And I need a cool little tune to go with it.
• 48:40
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 48:40
  SPEAKER_01: And then you go to the team.
• 48:41
  SPEAKER_00: You're just gonna like you're gonna be like leaning in with your tea, and you're like, I'm just gonna spill the tea.
• 48:46
  SPEAKER_01: Or pro tea.
• 48:49
  SPEAKER_01: I could give pro tips.
• 48:50
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, I like that too.
• 48:51
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 48:52
  SPEAKER_00: Run them both.
• 48:53
  SPEAKER_01: Bruh.
• 48:53
  SPEAKER_01: I love it.
• 48:54
  SPEAKER_01: I know, business plans.
• 48:55
  SPEAKER_00: Man, we're just we're killing it.
• 48:57
  SPEAKER_00: Anyone want to be on the podcast?
• 48:58
  SPEAKER_00: We're gonna elevate your business.
• 49:00
  SPEAKER_00: No, I'm just kidding, I don't do that.
• 49:02
  SPEAKER_00: Get your story out there, that's all I do.
• 49:04
  SPEAKER_00: Um, Caroline, this has been so fun.
• 49:07
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, one of the questions that I've recently loved asking in this sort of like closing portion of the episode is just what do you wish or hope that couples or vendors uh are experiencing working alongside you and your team at Proteo?
• 49:26
  SPEAKER_01: I always want clients to feel a sense of relief.
• 49:31
  SPEAKER_01: Like, oh, thank goodness we have Caroline on our side, right?
• 49:35
  SPEAKER_01: And if you read some of my reviews, that's exactly how my clients feel.
• 49:40
  SPEAKER_01: And I want to support them, I want to be there for them.
• 49:43
  SPEAKER_01: So I'm always saying, like, if you have a thought, and I probably shouldn't broadcast this, but if you have a thought at 2 a.m.
• 49:51
  SPEAKER_01: and you're having an anxiety attack and you're stressing, you I am here for you.
• 49:55
  SPEAKER_01: I am your wedding planning, BFF.
• 49:58
  SPEAKER_01: Like anything you need, just let me know.
• 50:00
  SPEAKER_01: I will support you.
• 50:01
  SPEAKER_01: I've done this for over 15 years, like I've seen it all, I've done it all.
• 50:06
  SPEAKER_01: And I just want couples to just, after having like the first planning call with me, be like, oh, she's got us.
• 50:14
  SPEAKER_00: Yep.
• 50:14
  SPEAKER_01: Like, there's nothing that can happen that she's not gonna take care of.
• 50:17
  SPEAKER_01: And that's what I want them to feel.
• 50:18
  SPEAKER_01: I want them to feel the ease and I want them to have fun.
• 50:21
  SPEAKER_01: It's so much fun planning a wedding.
• 50:23
  SPEAKER_01: It's so much fun having your family together, and that's what you should be thinking of, not oh, I need to communicate this with the band and this and this and this.
• 50:31
  SPEAKER_00: Like, yeah, you're like laying down to go to bed and you're like the checklist is like building in your head.
• 50:36
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, just chill, have fun, and I got you.
• 50:38
  SPEAKER_00: So if you learn anything from this podcast, we're texting Caroline at 2 a.m.
• 50:42
  SPEAKER_00: with all of our worries.
• 50:45
  SPEAKER_00: Help me.
• 50:47
  SPEAKER_01: Only if you give me the check.
• 50:49
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, right.
• 50:51
  SPEAKER_00: That is true.
• 50:52
  SPEAKER_00: That is true.
• 50:53
  SPEAKER_00: Um, so I will not be texting you.
• 50:55
  SPEAKER_00: Um no.
• 50:57
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, this has been so fun.
• 50:59
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I I want to just, you know, highlight the thought of like enjoy this time of being engaged if you're listening.
• 51:06
  SPEAKER_00: If you made it this far and you're a couple, thank you for listening this far.
• 51:10
  SPEAKER_00: Highlight in and just know that we want you to have the best engagement.
• 51:14
  SPEAKER_00: It's a fun season and we don't want it to be filled up with this like absolutely hustle and bustle and gotta make all these.
• 51:20
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, you have to do all that stuff, or you can hire Caroline.
• 51:24
  SPEAKER_00: Um but there's there's this like idea for me.
• 51:28
  SPEAKER_00: Um, we did a an open house thing, and I set up a little like love note recording station for the couples that came through.
• 51:36
  SPEAKER_00: And my idea for it was just like capture what you're thinking and feeling in this season of engagement.
• 51:41
  SPEAKER_00: Because it's like it is a season and it's important and it's fun, but it can be filled up with so much like wedding planning stuff, yeah, that it you kind of lose the like joy of like okay, we gotta engage.
• 51:53
  SPEAKER_00: And it's like, okay, now we gotta plan everything.
• 51:55
  SPEAKER_00: But there's just so many like little things that you can kind of like hone in on and just enjoy the season before you jump into like the forever part.
• 52:03
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely, and you get to a point where it's just decision fatigue, right?
• 52:07
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and you're just like, can someone else just answer it for me?
• 52:11
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so it is tough, but enjoy it, enjoy every moment and just enjoy each other.
• 52:16
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
• 52:17
  SPEAKER_00: Caroline, thank you so much for being on.
• 52:19
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you.
• 52:20
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for having me.
• 52:21
  SPEAKER_00: Of course.
• 52:21
  SPEAKER_00: Um, if you didn't know, Caroline set up this film day.
• 52:24
  SPEAKER_00: So, like, big thanks for that too.
• 52:26
  SPEAKER_00: Right on.
• 52:27
  SPEAKER_00: Um, where can people find and follow along with what you're doing with Proteo?
• 52:31
  SPEAKER_01: Um, Instagram is of course number one.
• 52:36
  SPEAKER_01: I know I need to get onto TikTok, but that's just not my thing right now.
• 52:40
  SPEAKER_00: It's not mine either, so you're good.
• 52:41
  SPEAKER_01: But Instagram, love me some Instagram.
• 52:44
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so Proteo Event Planners and my website is also cool, got a lot of reviews there.
• 52:53
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but yeah, I'm trying to have a lot of fun and show my personality on on Instagram.
• 52:57
  SPEAKER_01: So there's some some funny cool content there.
• 53:02
  SPEAKER_00: And look out for a new series.
• 53:04
  SPEAKER_00: Oh yeah.
• 53:05
  SPEAKER_01: Spilling the tea.
• 53:07
  SPEAKER_01: Um instead of tea, we'll have wine.
• 53:10
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 53:11
  SPEAKER_01: And we'll spill less of it than more wine, more tea, my friend.
• 53:16
  SPEAKER_00: That is true.
• 53:16
  SPEAKER_00: That is true.
• 53:17
  SPEAKER_00: Caroline, thank you so much for being on.
• 53:19
  SPEAKER_00: Again, thank you for helping put this day together.
• 53:22
  SPEAKER_00: If you've listened this far, it would be incredible if you could share this with a friend or someone that might be, you know, getting inspiration from Caroline's story, her journey from South Africa, or just all the stuff that we talked about.
• 53:34
  SPEAKER_00: We talked about so much stuff in this episode.
• 53:37
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and if you're also made it this far, if you could subscribe, like this video if you're on YouTube, leave us a review if you're listening on audio, all that stuff just helps us get in front of more people.
• 53:50
  SPEAKER_00: And it's not to get in front of more people, but it's so that more people can benefit from hearing stories like Caroline's and her journey with starting her business and running it.
• 53:59
  SPEAKER_00: Um to the moon, let's go.
• 54:01
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, yeah.
• 54:02
  SPEAKER_00: I love that.
• 54:02
  SPEAKER_00: That's all for this episode, and we'll catch you guys next time on the preferred list.
• 54:07
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you.