บทถอดความฉบับเต็มของ Ghosting In The Wedding Industry

husband who was singing. 00:04:15.039 --> 00:04:21.839 But no, listen, to answer your question, I care about people too much to ever put them through listening to me sing. 00:04:25.120 --> 00:04:27.439 Like, what we're not gonna do is torture people. 00:04:27.680 --> 00:04:28.000 Right. 00:04:28.160 --> 00:04:29.519 Like, that's not what I'm into. 00:04:29.680 --> 00:04:31.120 So that's number one. 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:39.199 But let's just say everyone signed like a waiver and they if my ears bleed, I do not hold Laura accountable. 00:04:39.439 --> 00:04:39.759 Right. 00:04:39.839 --> 00:04:43.120 And and that's why they're gonna also have to agree to wear earplugs. 00:04:43.920 --> 00:04:46.879 But let's just say they're still insisting that I get up there. 00:04:47.040 --> 00:04:56.240 Now, I can try to answer it, but this is where my Libra thing kind of kicks in because suddenly I cannot make a decision to save my life. 00:04:56.399 --> 00:05:05.680 So if you were forcing me to narrow it down, which is the best I can do for you today, I would say either the song Dreams by uh the cranberries. 00:05:05.920 --> 00:05:06.079 Okay. 00:05:06.240 --> 00:05:06.800 That's complicated. 00:05:07.519 --> 00:05:11.600 Oh, it's but that's a difficult song to sing even when you're like alone in the shower. 00:05:11.839 --> 00:05:24.639 But honestly, that one or anything by Billy Joel, Elton John, or Garth Brooks, just because they're feel-good songs and most everybody knows them, and then I probably wouldn't be the only one singing them, and then I wouldn't feel so awful. 00:05:24.800 --> 00:05:28.639 Um, but like you asked how confident I am that I would do well. 00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:32.879 Um, oh, I'm extremely confident that I might kill someone's eardrums. 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:36.480 So the earplugs would be the right call, is all I'm trying to say. 00:05:36.800 --> 00:05:39.199 So I'd be passing out earplugs and then you'd get on stage. 00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:40.800 And waivers waivers. 00:05:40.879 --> 00:05:41.920 Don't forget about the waivers. 00:05:45.680 --> 00:05:48.800 Uh so all right, you got your shot at me. 00:05:49.040 --> 00:05:52.000 Now let's go ahead and get into this ghosting thing. 00:05:52.160 --> 00:05:55.120 Because here's something that kind of poetic. 00:05:55.199 --> 00:06:02.079 The the very first subject that you and I ever tackled on this show years ago was this one. 00:06:02.160 --> 00:06:03.279 And it was about ghosting. 00:06:03.360 --> 00:06:11.839 And I remember thinking at the time of all the topics in the world, why is this the hill that we're planting our first flag on? 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:12.480 Right. 00:06:12.720 --> 00:06:16.399 And and over the years, I realized though, it never stops coming up. 00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:19.680 I mean, it's still one of the topics that people bring to me when I'm mentoring them. 00:06:19.839 --> 00:06:22.399 They're like, Lori, they just stopped answering. 00:06:22.560 -->

00:06:29.839 And so we had to come back to it and what a great time of year this is to actually talk about it because Halloween is in a few days. 00:06:29.920 --> 00:06:32.639 So talking about ghosting just seems, I don't know, appropriate. 00:06:32.879 --> 00:06:36.160 Yeah, it's spooky season after all, so it works out well. 00:06:36.399 --> 00:06:38.000 And it's your favorite season. 00:06:38.240 --> 00:06:44.560 So, but you know, let's say like a couple goes quiet before they've booked with a planner or coordinator. 00:06:44.639 --> 00:06:53.680 Let's say they sent an inquiry through someone's website, the planner coordinator sent a thoughtful reply and poured themselves into it, and then nothing. 00:06:53.839 --> 00:07:00.079 And and I kind of want to say this to every planner and coordinator who's listening because you all do deserve to hear it. 00:07:00.399 --> 00:07:05.199 That silence that you might be experiencing is almost never about you. 00:07:05.439 --> 00:07:14.959 I mean, couples inquire with a handful of planners and coordinators, as well as like what, a million other wedding professionals, they then become very overwhelmed. 00:07:15.040 --> 00:07:18.560 They're newly engaged, they're drowning in decisions, they're drowning in emails. 00:07:18.720 --> 00:07:23.279 And most of the ones who go quiet never really meant a single thing by it. 00:07:23.439 --> 00:07:27.519 It's just that maybe your email went below about a hundred others. 00:07:27.680 --> 00:07:35.439 So when you read that silence as rejection, you make it mean something that it doesn't necessarily mean. 00:07:35.600 --> 00:07:39.680 And then you start second guessing a reply, right, yourself. 00:07:39.920 --> 00:07:42.480 And your reply may have been perfectly good, right? 00:07:42.639 --> 00:07:50.480 So what the CWP Society teaches instead is to control the one thing that's actually yours, which is your response. 00:07:50.639 --> 00:07:57.759 I mean, here at CWP Society, the standard is that every inquiry gets answered within 12 to 24 business hours. 00:07:57.920 --> 00:07:59.680 And then you keep the door propped open. 00:07:59.839 --> 00:08:05.920 You don't just, you know, answer their question and then stop and hope to and pray for a reply. 00:08:06.079 --> 00:08:07.920 You ask another question back. 00:08:08.079 --> 00:08:19.360 So you give the conversation somewhere to go and you build a simple follow-up rhythm so a lead never just slips through the cracks because you assume that they just weren't interested. 00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:22.639 Chrissy, can you share your thoughts on some of this? 00:08:22.959 --> 00:08:39.519 I think it's funny that she mentioned how as wedding planners and coordinators, we do pour our hearts and we pour ourselves, and we're very thoughtful and mindful of the response that we send back, which is why I think we get so almost offended that we don't get a response back. 00:08:39.600 --> 00:08:47.519 And sometimes we have to take ourselves out of the equation and kind of put ourselves back in the shoes of someone who's starting their wedding planning journey. 00:08:47.679 --> 00:08:50.080 And like you said, it is overwhelming. 00:08:50.240 --> 00:08:59.600 And I have found a lot of times when I do the follow-up for someone who initially quote ghosted, it's usually an immediate response of, oh my gosh, I am so sorry. 00:08:59.759 --> 00:09:01.600 Things just got really overwhelming with work. 00:09:01.679 --> 00:09:04.879 I kind of put wedding planning on the back burner, but thank you so much for reaching back out. 00:09:04.960 --> 00:09:07.200 I am actually now ready to kind of start that process. 00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:09.360 Would love to schedule a consultation with you. 00:09:09.600 --> 00:09:17.120 So because I know and I tend to put myself in the shoes of those potential couples, I don't get as offended when they go ghost. 00:09:17.360 --> 00:09:20.799 And I have my follow-up procedures that were taught to me by the CWP Society. 00:09:20.879 --> 00:09:24.639 And once I get those procedures, I kind of emotionally move on from it. 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:27.039 But I know that's easier said than done. 00:09:27.200 --> 00:09:32.240 Because, like you mentioned, Larry, we do pour so much of ourselves into our emails and how we respond. 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:37.279 And we do get really excited, especially if it's a couple that we're available, it's a venue we want to work at. 00:09:37.360 --> 00:09:41.360 They've got some vendors maybe we love working with, and it's like, oh, please, please, please. 00:09:41.519 --> 00:09:42.559 And then they go ghosts. 00:09:42.639 --> 00:09:46.879 It's like you're an immediate high, and then they don't talk to you, and then you're like back down to low. 00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:50.240 So I get that response, but I think you're right. 00:09:50.320 --> 00:09:54.879 We have to kind of take a step back and remember what that process is like for them. 00:09:55.039 --> 00:09:58.159 And it's a process that has a lot of emails, and that's overwhelming. 00:09:58.399 --> 00:10:00.559 It is, and so we shouldn't give up on them. 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:08.080 Yeah you know, don't just assume something terrible, just maybe check in again, you know, and I think that that's a really nice thing. 00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:16.320 Now, here's the one thing that really kind of gets under a planner's skin is the couple who already signed a contract and paid their deposit, right? 00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:26.960 And then disappears in the middle of the planning and suddenly they're chasing someone down for details about their own wedding, and you got vendors, you know, looking at you like, what's going on? 00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:29.440 It just feels upside down in a way. 00:10:29.519 --> 00:10:40.320 And this is where I want planners and coordinators to grow a new reflex because when a booked couple goes quiet, it's so tempting to make it about you. 00:10:40.559 -->

00:10:41.759 Did I do something? 00:10:41.919 --> 00:10:43.600 Are they unhappy with me? 00:10:43.840 --> 00:10:45.759 Are they leaving me? 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:56.320 But one of the things that we talk about in our certifications, you know, when a client melts down, let's say over napkins, it was never about the napkins, guys. 00:10:56.480 --> 00:11:00.240 It's stress, it's fear, it's it's feeling out of control sometimes. 00:11:00.320 --> 00:11:03.039 And silence works the exact same way. 00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:09.600 A booked couple going dark is usually carrying something that we may not be aware of. 00:11:09.679 --> 00:11:15.759 Maybe it's overwhelm, maybe it's money problems, maybe family is just talking in their ear. 00:11:15.919 --> 00:11:17.279 It could even be cold feet. 00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:18.720 I hate to say it, but it could be. 00:11:18.879 --> 00:11:22.799 And maybe they're just too embarrassed to say what's really going on out loud. 00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:25.679 So your job isn't to panic, right? 00:11:25.759 --> 00:11:29.600 Like it's it isn't to also match their silence. 00:11:29.759 --> 00:11:31.360 It's about being reliable. 00:11:31.679 --> 00:11:35.600 And reliability includes emotional consistency. 00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:43.200 So give them the same steady, warm part of you, no matter what's happening on their end. 00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:54.080 Keep your check-ins calm, keep them short and sweet, and always give them an easy kind of on-ramp that can come back in, like a yes or no, or you're probably feeling overwhelmed. 00:11:54.159 --> 00:11:57.519 And if it helps, just pick A or B from your options below. 00:11:57.679 --> 00:12:09.120 You know, something that costs them almost no energy to answer you, but you make coming back into the conversation much easier instead of making the silence feel like a thing that they now have to apologize for. 00:12:09.279 --> 00:12:10.720 What are your thoughts on some of that? 00:12:10.960 --> 00:12:19.120 Oh, I love that you mentioned this, Laura, because this actually quite literally just happened to me back in August with one of my summer 2027 couples. 00:12:19.279 --> 00:12:27.200 And it was a couple who I and I think part of my process in really getting to know my couples is a benefit when these types of situations happen. 00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:29.759 I knew what was going on in their personal life. 00:12:29.919 --> 00:12:33.120 So I didn't immediately think, oh, Chrissy, you clearly suck at planning. 00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:34.639 That's why she was not talking to you. 00:12:34.799 --> 00:12:38.320 I knew that there was, they were getting ready to go through a really busy season of life. 00:12:38.559 --> 00:12:44.399 But she was kind of, it was my the bride was just on top of it to the point where she when we were well ahead of the schedule. 00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:46.320 Some vendors were like, whoa, we don't need to slow down. 00:12:46.399 --> 00:12:49.039 And I would also have to tell her, we're way ahead of schedule. 00:12:49.120 --> 00:12:50.480 We can slow down a little bit. 00:12:50.639 --> 00:13:03.200 And I'm glad we were ahead of schedule because we did slow down because she was going through a lot personally with her job, with her fiance having to travel and leave for work for a longer period of time than they anticipated. 00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:11.519 So when there was a lull and she wasn't responding back to me in the quick two days that she normally does, I knew, okay, she's going through a lot right now. 00:13:11.600 --> 00:13:13.600 So I didn't panic at all. 00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:18.799 I just went about my business and continued to plan the things that I could plan without her. 00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:20.159 And then I did my check-in. 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:25.600 And then my check-in was very much like what she mentioned was a, hey, I know right now you're going through a lot. 00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:28.879 He's out of town right now, and I know work is picking up. 00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:31.279 Just know this is what I'm here behind the scenes doing. 00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:35.519 When you're ready to pick back up, we'll have a meeting with both them, them, then, and then we'll get going. 00:13:35.679 --> 00:13:37.039 Just wanted to check in on you. 00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:38.879 She didn't reply back to that. 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:46.559 And I didn't panic again because there were things happening behind the scenes that she knew I was taking care of for reviewing contracts, reviewing proposals. 00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:47.759 I still needed her decision. 00:13:47.840 --> 00:13:49.360 But the good thing is we had time. 00:13:49.519 --> 00:13:53.360 And I kind of told her, Well, we will need to make our decision for this by September. 00:13:53.519 --> 00:13:56.720 So when you're ready to pick back up in September, you just let me know and reach out to me. 00:13:56.799 --> 00:13:57.840 And that's exactly what we did. 00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:02.559 And she was feeling like Chrissy, I'm so sorry, but thank you so much for your grace and your patience. 00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:04.320 You, you know how swamp work has been. 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:08.480 Thank you for your planning behind the scenes and keeping things going while I couldn't do that. 00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:19.919 But that took me and how my planning process with my couples, it's very intentional and that I plan for them based off of their style and their personality and who they are. 00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:27.120 Obviously, the processes are very similar, but how I communicate, how I approach my clients, it's all going to be different because they're all different people. 00:14:27.440 --> 00:14:37.200 So because I'm so intentional and really getting to know who my clients are, what their personality is, what their communication style is like, I know how to handle these situations when a client does ghost. 00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:46.399 I love that

what you said right at the top of this was because I got to know my client and what they were going through right in the beginning. 00:14:46.559 --> 00:14:50.240 See, that's a part that I feel like a lot of planners and clients miss. 00:14:50.480 --> 00:15:10.080 And I want that to just sit with people while we kind of go through the rest of what we want to talk about today, because I think that a lot of planners and coordinators need to be focusing more on getting to know the people, not just the process, but the people behind the process and the people that you are creating the process for. 00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:16.240 And I just want to make sure I just touched on that and piggybacked off of that because I think it was such an important point that you made. 00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:22.000 Now let's talk about other pros because planners really rely on a web of people, right? 00:15:22.080 --> 00:15:24.000 And with no pun intended, I'm just saying. 00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:34.399 And when one of them goes dark, right when the day depends on it, that's a kind of special kind of stress, if you will. 00:15:34.559 --> 00:15:40.559 But I want to make a distinction here because this is kind of the educator in me, and it's just coming out. 00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:49.919 So sorry in advance, but there is a difference between a vendor who simply got slammed and a vendor who doesn't belong in your circle in the first place. 00:15:52.559 --> 00:15:53.039 Right? 00:15:53.200 --> 00:16:02.080 So the slammed one still will send you like a really quick, hey, I got your email, but listen, I'll have to get to you like later or by Friday. 00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:03.519 It's like eight seconds. 00:16:03.679 --> 00:16:07.519 You're at least you know that they're still alive, they're still kicking, they're still in it. 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:11.519 That person I still consider reliable because they're just busy. 00:16:11.679 --> 00:16:19.360 But the one who vanishes on you repeatedly when the stakes are high, that's information that you need not ignore. 00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:22.080 If if I don't, if you don't mind me saying, okay. 00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:26.399 And this is why at CWP Society, we're so intentional about the language. 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:28.879 It's not our preferred vendor list. 00:16:29.200 --> 00:16:32.240 You and I, Chrissy, coined a different phrase. 00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:36.799 You and I both were like, no, I think we need to change it from preferred to approved. 00:16:36.960 --> 00:16:40.799 So it's your approved vendor list, and approved means vetted. 00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:42.320 And what are we vetting people on? 00:16:42.399 --> 00:16:48.639 We're vetting them on their quality, their reputation, their honor, their ethics, their talent, but also their reliability. 00:16:48.879 --> 00:17:00.399 So when you're vetting someone new, you're not supposed to just be looking at their portfolio and seeing if they're talented, because there's so many amazing, fabulous, and talented pros out there. 00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:05.759 You need to be asking how they communicate, though, what their response rhythm is, right? 00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:10.640 Whether they're gonna honor a timeline, because a gorgeous portfolio just isn't enough. 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:18.240 And ghosting and making a habit of ghosting, that's a problem at your client's wedding with your name attached to it. 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:28.319 So the friend that I want planners and coordinators to leave with isn't protect yourself from flaky vendors, even though, yeah, that's separately, that's something you need to do. 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:29.680 But it's bigger than that. 00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:36.559 You're building a team you can count on, or that you need to be able to count on so that your couples are covered no matter what. 00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:40.000 And that's coverage, that's you know, capability. 00:17:40.160 --> 00:17:48.960 And if someone can't hold up their end of the communication, you are allowed to quietly let that approved status lapse and get them off your list. 00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:53.920 So, Chrissy, let me ask you this, because I think that this is gonna help a lot of our listeners understand. 00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:59.519 How do you vet vendors specifically on communication? 00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:06.720 And maybe even more importantly, what disqualifies a vendor in your eyes from even being on your list or staying on your list? 00:18:06.880 --> 00:18:08.480 Oh, that's such a good question, Laura. 00:18:08.559 --> 00:18:16.319 I when I'm doing the process of someone who is new on my list, I do directly ask them, how well do you work with a wedding planner? 00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:26.160 And I ask them not just on wedding day, but during the planning process, because a lot of my full planning clients are expecting you to communicate with me and usually and at that point, me only. 00:18:26.319 --> 00:18:28.960 Because I've I've had vendors who say, Oh, no, no, no, no, no. 00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:31.519 I I only do all my communication with the couple. 00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:35.680 And unfortunately, that's just you're not going to make my approved vendor list because of that. 00:18:35.839 --> 00:18:41.839 That's the reason why my couples have hired me because that communication is overwhelming, and it's my job to take care of that communication for them. 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:45.119 And sometimes what I found is I usually have to educate them on that. 00:18:45.279 --> 00:18:55.119 And yeah, I had a caterer in mine who I've went to one of their open houses, the food was delicious, their staff was dressed really well, and we had a meeting after the open house, and I asked him that. 00:18:55.200 --> 00:19:00.480 And he's like, No, I usually just like to talk directly with the couple, and I had to explain to him why that didn't work for me. 00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:06.640 And he was like, Oh, well, I've usually

only worked with day of coordinators, I've never really worked with the planner before. 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:07.200 Got it. 00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:15.599 So, really taking the time to explain to him what that process looked like and why I had to be his single point of contact when it comes to my planning couples. 00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:17.759 But you know how much I love the approved vendor list. 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:19.039 Like that is my jam. 00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:20.559 I love it, I love it, I love it. 00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:25.839 One thing that I get, I get a lot of questions back from planners and coordinators who say, don't you get pushback from your couples? 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:26.720 And I don't. 00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:27.920 And here's why. 00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:32.319 At the initial consultation, I explained to them that it this is a protection method. 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:37.920 But I tell them the thing is about the people on my approved vendor list is I see behind the pretty. 00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:43.440 I see besides their other pretty grid, I see what goes on behind the scenes. 00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:55.599 So if a wedding vendor doesn't respond back to emails in a timely manner, if a wedding vendor shows up late on a wedding day, if a wedding vendor panics when the timeline has to shift on a wedding day, guess who sees it? 00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:56.559 The planner. 00:19:56.799 --> 00:19:58.559 Guess you're not gonna see that on Instagram. 00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:02.000 You're not gonna see that on their website, but you're gonna see it because I saw it. 00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:14.559 And because I get that behind the scenes scoop of how a vendor actually is, other than their pretty Instagram feed, I know who's gonna be able to actually produce and do the job that they were paid to do on your wedding day. 00:20:15.039 --> 00:20:17.680 And they it's a sense of, oh, I didn't think about that. 00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:18.799 Yeah, yeah. 00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:20.880 So clients appreciate it. 00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:30.799 I I really do feel like clients appreciate the fact that you're looking out for them in a way that they can't do for themselves because there's no way that a couple would ever be able to see the behind the scenes. 00:20:31.039 --> 00:20:38.240 Now, there are some coordinators and planners who say, I don't know if I feel comfortable saying that to a vendor. 00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:40.160 How do you get past that? 00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:42.160 Do you have any advice for those people? 00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:48.640 I kind of get past it because usually at that stage, a vendor realizes that I am their repeat customer. 00:20:49.119 --> 00:20:52.480 I am someone who's going to continue to bring them business. 00:20:52.559 --> 00:21:01.119 And they almost appreciate that kind of direct honesty and conversation because they know not only am I going to be bringing them business, I'm going to be re bringing them business that makes sense for them. 00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:05.200 My approved vendor list isn't just a blanket list that I give all my couples. 00:21:05.359 --> 00:21:08.240 It's curated, it's customized to them. 00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:16.880 So they know that when Chrissy's bringing me a couple, this is a couple who Chrissy has already built me up to them, but that they also get my style, they're going to be within my budget. 00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:20.400 We're probably going to mesh really well and how and our personalities are going to click well. 00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:31.599 And I'm going to be really able to fulfill the needs for this couple in a really beautiful personal way because I know that Chrissy's already done that part and pairing me with a couple who she knows is going to be a good fit for me. 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:34.000 And I explain my process to vendors. 00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:37.599 And when they get that, they're like, okay, I understand that process, they respect it. 00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:46.319 And then once we start working together, they're really like so appreciative of my process and they're so appreciative of the clientele I'm bringing them because it's a beautiful fit for them. 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:46.799 Yeah. 00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:47.359 Yeah. 00:21:47.680 --> 00:21:54.559 We have to, as planners and coordinators, explain to vendors why what is our why behind some of this. 00:21:54.640 --> 00:22:01.279 And I feel like, just like you said, once they hear it and they seem to understand it and then everything Everybody can be on the same page. 00:22:01.359 --> 00:22:02.160 So I love that. 00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:07.119 Can I mention too, Lori, another part of our process, and this is something that we do teach here at CWP. 00:22:07.359 --> 00:22:10.079 My vendors are not paid to be on my list. 00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:11.440 I don't get a kickback. 00:22:11.519 --> 00:22:13.200 I don't get a referral fee. 00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:16.880 They're on my list because I know that they're going to be phenomenal for my couples. 00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:26.480 And I also explain that to my couples because they're hearing things on TikTok and on threads of like, oh, if your planners are recommending that you use your list, they're getting paid from it. 00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:28.880 I let them know from the front that's not how I operate. 00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:35.440 And I also let my vendors know I'm not expecting anything from you, but just for you to do your job and for you to do your job well and take care of my clients. 00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:36.160 I don't want to cut. 00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:38.400 If you want to give me something, give my couples a discount. 00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:39.279 That's it. 00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:40.000 That's it. 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:51.039 Thank you for even clarifying that because there are some probably even newer planners and coordinators out there that see and hear all of that nonsense on

TikTok and think that that's how we operate. 00:22:51.119 --> 00:22:52.640 And that's not even close. 00:22:53.039 --> 00:23:02.880 Professional, elite planners and coordinators do not take kickbacks, affiliate fees, commission fees, referral fees, any of the fees. 00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:08.880 We don't we do not benefit at all from it financially or gift-wise. 00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:14.319 The way we benefit is the peace of mind knowing that our couples are going to be taken care of. 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:18.079 And there should not, it shouldn't be a transactional situation. 00:23:18.160 --> 00:23:22.000 I don't want a transactional relationship with my vendors. 00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:28.880 I want to select and curate a vendor team that I know is going to be amazing for my couples. 00:23:29.119 --> 00:23:31.279 And that is what it's supposed to be about. 00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:38.880 And so when my vendors do understand that and I'm explaining it, they then go, uh, this person's different. 00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:40.160 I see that now. 00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:48.240 And now I understand why they need to talk directly, you know, to me and that I need to talk directly to them. 00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:54.160 And they're not cut, we're not trying to cut the relationship between the couple and their wedding pros. 00:23:54.640 --> 00:23:56.799 Have the conversations just include me. 00:23:57.039 --> 00:23:57.759 Include me. 00:23:57.920 --> 00:23:59.599 I need to still be a part of that. 00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:07.759 And so I think it's really important that planners and coordinators, whether you're brand new or you've been doing it for 20 years, there is what we call planner code. 00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:16.319 And planner code does need to be kind of upheld where we're not undercutting each other, we're not charging vendors kickbacks or referral fees. 00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:18.160 There's so much more to it. 00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:23.279 And we don't want to cloud the reason why we are referring people in the first place. 00:24:23.359 --> 00:24:29.039 And kickbacks, referral fees, they cloud the reason why we're making those recommendations in the first place. 00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:34.079 All right, so deep breath, because I'm about to throw a twist in our tralala here. 00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:39.440 And it's the part that most people just won't say out loud. 00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:43.519 And that's sometimes planners and coordinators are the ghost. 00:24:43.680 --> 00:24:43.920 Yeah. 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:47.519 And I'm not saying that to shame anybody. 00:24:47.680 --> 00:24:55.359 I'm saying it because, listen, Chrissy and I are educators, and naming it honestly is how we coach people out of it. 00:24:55.680 --> 00:25:00.640 There are planners and coordinators who just go quiet just like the couples do. 00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:07.680 And when I dig into the why with these professionals that I mentor, it's almost always one of three things. 00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:11.119 The first thing that I hear is, listen, I'm just busy. 00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:21.680 I'm overbooked this season, I'm buried, listen, I'm human, and the inbox becomes a wall that I just can't seem to penetrate. 00:25:21.920 --> 00:25:24.319 That's that's the first thing that I hear all the time. 00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:27.759 The second thing that I hear all the time is, and this one's real, I get it. 00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:34.079 If they have to say no to someone or give bad news, that it feels too awkward, so they avoid it. 00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:37.519 They avoid hard conversations, so they ghost. 00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:40.880 So that's not good, right? 00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:46.559 Uh, the third thing that I hear all the time is just plain avoidance wearing the first two as a costume. 00:25:46.720 --> 00:25:47.039 Okay. 00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:53.119 Uh so commitment without boundaries, of course, leads to burnout. 00:25:53.200 --> 00:25:58.400 So you're not committed to answering emails at midnight, but you you know what you are committed to? 00:25:58.640 --> 00:26:01.599 Not avoiding the hard conversations just because it's hard. 00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:06.960 And and here's a line that Chrissy and I talk about and teach all the time. 00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:17.680 And I think every single planner should kind of tape this to their mirror or something where it says, it is tact that is golden, not silence. 00:26:18.079 --> 00:26:18.400 Okay. 00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:27.759 Silence feels like the safe, kind choice in certain situations and in certain moments, but it almost never is. 00:26:27.920 --> 00:26:30.000 See, the couple still feels the quiet. 00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:32.160 They don't know why, though. 00:26:32.400 --> 00:26:37.440 And so they fill it with the worst part of any story that it could possibly be. 00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:42.640 You know, you have mentored a lot of planners and coordinators through the CWP Society, Chrissy. 00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:44.480 What do you see? 00:26:44.640 --> 00:26:46.480 Do you see a lot of what I was just mentioning as well? 00:26:46.960 --> 00:26:47.599 A thousand percent. 00:26:47.759 --> 00:26:51.119 I see a lot, I would say 90% of what I see is I'm booked and busy. 00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:55.599 And sometimes I see, unfortunately, I feel like sometimes people wear that busy as a badge of honor. 00:26:55.839 --> 00:26:56.720 Thank you. 00:26:57.119 --> 00:27:01.519 It's not, it's not, and I'm and this is coming from someone who's been there. 00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:06.160 Where I felt like, oh, I'm such a success because I'm just so busy. 00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:09.839 And behind the scenes, my big your business can be falling apart. 00:27:10.400 --> 00:27:10.799 Yeah. 00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:17.440 The thing about running and operating a business, you everything that you do has to be so strategic. 00:27:17.599 --> 00:27:19.119 We're planners crying out loud. 00:27:19.200 -->

00:27:22.480 And sometimes what happens with planners and corners is we don't plan for ourselves. 00:27:22.640 --> 00:27:22.960 That's right. 00:27:23.119 --> 00:27:26.480 We don't plan for our businesses, we don't plan for how our days are gonna look. 00:27:26.640 --> 00:27:28.799 And and I'll I say this because again, I've been there. 00:27:28.880 --> 00:27:39.359 I remember there is a season where I had meetings every single day, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, weddings on Saturday, dead on the couch on Sunday, back to it Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. 00:27:39.440 --> 00:27:41.920 Or I was just meeting, meeting after meeting after meeting. 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:45.279 And I sat and I was like, You had no office time. 00:27:45.359 --> 00:27:48.960 When are you gonna make that four plan from the meeting that she had a couple weeks ago? 00:27:49.119 --> 00:27:50.720 When are you gonna send out these emails? 00:27:50.799 --> 00:27:52.640 You you have to have office time. 00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:58.799 So I had to be very strategic and look at my calendar and say, okay, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, you cannot be out meeting. 00:27:58.880 --> 00:28:03.119 You got to be in front of your computer, answering emails, doing your four plans. 00:28:03.200 --> 00:28:04.480 You've got to be very strategic. 00:28:04.640 --> 00:28:15.680 And even when I had meetings, I need to block off two points in my day where I'm sending out my emails because if I don't, that's gonna be well past the 24-hour business mark that I've reached out to my people. 00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:19.359 But again, that's all you have to be strategic about it. 00:28:19.440 --> 00:28:21.920 You can't just wing how you operate your business. 00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:30.880 And unfortunately, what happens because we're such in that sea and that rush of busy busyness that we think we're being productive, but we're not. 00:28:31.599 --> 00:28:32.559 I love that. 00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:33.680 I love that. 00:28:33.920 --> 00:28:37.920 Yes, and I hear it time and time again. 00:28:38.559 --> 00:28:45.440 You can't be a winger when your title is a planner, and you have to plan how you're going to plan. 00:28:45.599 --> 00:29:01.839 You're not just planning someone's day, you have to plan out how you're gonna plan multiple people's day, and that means that you cannot afford to get sucked into the I'm busy or I can't look at it right now because that does not work. 00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:03.279 You cannot ghost. 00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:15.759 And I feel like ghosting is even when I see those auto replies that say, sorry, this is my busy season, it's gonna be a delay in responding to you, maybe 72 hours. 00:29:15.920 --> 00:29:18.240 I'm thinking, are you kidding? 00:29:18.480 --> 00:29:20.319 Are you really putting that out there? 00:29:20.559 --> 00:29:33.440 So for everybody who's listening right now that you have an autoresponder on that's automatic, no matter what, every single email that says, I'm sorry, or I'll get back to you when I can, we're in the middle of busy season, you need to take that off. 00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:41.519 The only time autoresponders ever need to be on is like on a Friday evening when you are going to be gone for the whole weekend because you've got a wedding. 00:29:41.599 --> 00:29:47.440 And even when you don't have a wedding, you have you're you have the right to not have any kind of communications over the weekend. 00:29:47.599 --> 00:29:49.359 You're you're allowed to have a day off. 00:29:49.519 --> 00:29:59.039 Uh, but these autoresponders that say this give the impression, to me at least, of wow, this person can't even manage their own business, or they've taken too many clients. 00:29:59.119 --> 00:30:00.240 That's all I see in here. 00:30:00.400 --> 00:30:02.319 It's it's I don't think badge of honor. 00:30:02.400 --> 00:30:04.480 I don't think, oh wow, I hope to one day. 00:30:04.640 --> 00:30:05.359 No, what? 00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:07.839 Like that's the worst thing you could ever do. 00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:11.200 So so if you're listening and that's what you're doing, take it down, you know. 00:30:11.359 --> 00:30:12.880 And you know who else feels that way? 00:30:13.119 --> 00:30:14.880 A potential client who emails you. 00:30:14.960 --> 00:30:26.160 And I know for a fact they do because one of my coordinating clients, she had reached out to one of my top photographers and she got that mismessage and she's like, Hey Crazy, I just think she's too busy to take me on as a client. 00:30:26.319 --> 00:30:26.960 Wow. 00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:27.920 Wow. 00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:32.319 And a lot of people don't even realize that that's the impression that they're giving, right? 00:30:32.400 --> 00:30:40.799 Yeah, they're just trying to like either brag or they're trying to say to people, I can't, I just can't. 00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:42.000 I don't think I can do it. 00:30:42.160 --> 00:30:44.400 But that needs to be a signal to you at that point. 00:30:44.559 --> 00:30:58.319 If you're thinking I can't respond in a timely manner, in a professional way, because I've got too much going on, that is your signal that you need to take on a little bit less or manage your time more efficiently. 00:30:58.559 --> 00:31:06.240 There is so much more to it, and you cannot be in business and then not be able to handle your clients. 00:31:06.799 --> 00:31:07.759 That does not work. 00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:08.240 Okay. 00:31:08.720 --> 00:31:14.160 So let's kind of give people the actual tools because that's that's what we're here to do, right? 00:31:14.319 --> 00:31:17.839 A few habits that kind of keep your side of the line open. 00:31:18.079 --> 00:31:23.519 So, first, like set your response expectation, and then I want you to beat it. 00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:32.240 So we always talk about, and Chrissy and I have for years saying, you know, 12 to 24 business hours to respond is the standard. 00:31:32.319

--> 00:31:42.880 But elite planners and coordinators, they set it and then they always respond sooner than that, because that buffer is what keeps you reliable even in your busiest week. 00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:47.279 Get crystal clear on what business hours mean as well. 00:31:47.440 --> 00:31:57.119 Because if a couple emails you Friday night, like I was talking about, they should already know that they're gonna hear back from you on Monday, not be left wondering all weekend, right? 00:31:57.200 --> 00:32:02.480 So at your own onboarding meeting, that's when you're gonna be discussing with your couples what your hours are. 00:32:02.640 --> 00:32:20.000 When you can't give a full answer to whether it's a vendor who's asking or a couple who's asking, I want you to still respond because maybe they asked you a question that you'd have to maybe check with the florist about or check with the photographer about, or maybe your florist asked you a question that you have to talk to your couples about. 00:32:20.160 --> 00:32:25.839 Don't just wait till you have the answer because you have no idea how long it's gonna take you to get that answer. 00:32:26.079 --> 00:32:29.519 So take eight seconds and reply. 00:32:29.680 --> 00:32:32.480 Give that same grace that you would want from others, right? 00:32:32.559 --> 00:32:39.119 And just say, okay, I just want to let you know I received it, I'm on it, I'm going to respond as quickly as I hear back. 00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:45.119 You know, that one line is the entire difference between just being busy and ghosting. 00:32:45.279 --> 00:32:45.599 Okay. 00:32:45.759 --> 00:33:05.039 And before you send anything hard, if you're having a difficult conversation, read it back to yourself because emails have no tone, they have no facial expressions, soften the language, lead with something positive, but don't sacrifice the clarity that you're trying to emit. 00:33:05.200 --> 00:33:08.960 So that pause before you just click send right away. 00:33:09.200 --> 00:33:11.279 That's the tact that we're talking about. 00:33:11.519 --> 00:33:28.480 Do you have anything, Miss Chrissy, to add to some of the things that you want planners and coordinators to be thinking about when it comes to some of the tools that they can use that will help them avoid ghosting others or help them when people are ghosting them? 00:33:28.799 --> 00:33:34.880 I would say when it comes to helping you as the planner or coordinator avoid ghosting others, this is something that you taught me, Lori. 00:33:35.039 --> 00:33:43.039 And it's all about calendar blocking and ensuring that you are blocking off time in your calendar for those emails. 00:33:43.119 --> 00:33:50.960 And that's going to be every day, not just on those office days, like I mentioned earlier, but every day you should have at least two parts of your day where you're responding back to emails. 00:33:51.039 --> 00:33:52.720 And obviously, figure out what works best for you. 00:33:52.880 --> 00:33:56.799 For me, it's when I first get in in the morning from eight to nine. 00:33:56.880 --> 00:33:57.519 That's what I'm doing. 00:33:57.599 --> 00:34:00.400 I'm sending out emails, and then my office day starts at nine. 00:34:00.480 --> 00:34:04.480 And then I also send out emails again right before I get my boys from school. 00:34:04.640 --> 00:34:08.719 Yeah, and that day, by the time I pick up my boys, my day, my office day is officially over. 00:34:08.880 --> 00:34:10.079 So just blocking it off. 00:34:10.159 --> 00:34:16.000 And I'm not saying mentally, I'm I'm actually saying pull up your calendar, click Southern Sparkle emails. 00:34:16.079 --> 00:34:18.000 That's what it's that's how it's worded in my calendar. 00:34:18.079 --> 00:34:19.519 Southern Sparkle emails. 00:34:19.679 --> 00:34:23.280 It's uh blocked off, it's in hot pink, so I can't miss it. 00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:26.639 Right and I get a notification of you know 10 minutes. 00:34:26.719 --> 00:34:28.639 Oh, I gotta send my emails. 00:34:28.800 --> 00:34:31.920 That helps me having that notification because I don't like notifications on my phone. 00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:37.760 I don't like notifications for my text messages when I'm working, I don't like notifications from Instagram, that all that kind of stuff is distracting. 00:34:37.840 --> 00:34:40.800 But when I get my calendar notifications, it reminds me. 00:34:40.880 --> 00:34:43.199 So let's say that I'm knee deep in a floor plan. 00:34:43.360 --> 00:34:49.840 It kind of reminds me because sometimes I can go off, I can be a spiral where I had only intended to work on that floor plan for an hour. 00:34:50.000 --> 00:34:52.800 Next thing you know, it's three hours, and I'm still working on this floor plan. 00:34:53.039 --> 00:34:57.039 Blocking off my calendar allows me to say, okay, you've got to move on to the next thing. 00:34:57.199 --> 00:34:57.760 Yeah, yeah. 00:34:58.400 --> 00:35:00.639 Then I'll just, you know what, let me switch some things over. 00:35:00.800 --> 00:35:03.920 I didn't finish the score plan today, I'm gonna move this over to Tuesday. 00:35:04.480 --> 00:35:09.199 But having it in my calendar allows it to actually get done. 00:35:09.519 --> 00:35:14.320 You have to treat it like a real meeting with yourself, right? 00:35:14.559 --> 00:35:18.400 And I feel like a lot of people time block, but then they ignore it. 00:35:18.559 --> 00:35:21.360 And I'm thinking, no, no, no, we got to take it seriously. 00:35:21.519 --> 00:35:30.400 Even for our members with the continuing education that we provide every single Wednesday at noon and it's all live, I always say block it out and then take it seriously. 00:35:30.559 --> 00:35:33.119 Pretend I'm your client, you are your client. 00:35:33.360 --> 00:35:39.039 So I just think that it's important that you don't just time block, but you actually follow that. 00:35:39.280 --> 00:35:52.480 And if something has to pivot, be willing to pivot, but you

have to have enough self-discipline to literally move it to another day if something has to, you know, be finished up or what have you. 00:35:52.559 --> 00:36:03.119 You've got to know that these blocks of time are really there to help you structure yourself and to be most efficient in what you're doing. 00:36:03.199 --> 00:36:04.159 So I love that ad. 00:36:04.320 --> 00:36:05.519 Thank you, Chrissy, for doing that. 00:36:05.599 --> 00:36:15.599 And that kind of brings us to the last piece, which honestly might be my favorite, which is the graceful exit, because sometimes the answer genuinely is no. 00:36:15.920 --> 00:36:20.639 And the lead that's gone cold or just maybe wasn't the right fit. 00:36:20.800 --> 00:36:26.880 And a lot of planners and coordinators think that their only two options are keep chasing forever or vanish. 00:36:27.039 --> 00:36:33.599 They they feel like that's the only two things, but there is a third door, and and it's the professional one. 00:36:33.840 --> 00:36:38.000 You close it, but you do it kindly and you speak it out loud. 00:36:38.159 --> 00:36:45.199 So when a couple's uh, you know, hired pros that we can't work with, let's say, let's say they hired I'm a terrible DJ.com, right? 00:36:45.360 --> 00:36:47.199 You we need to have language for that. 00:36:47.360 --> 00:36:56.559 And it needs to be simple language, warm language, especially language that's not bad mouthing the person that we are not willing to work with. 00:36:56.719 --> 00:36:57.039 Okay. 00:36:57.199 --> 00:36:58.320 And it sounds like this. 00:36:58.400 --> 00:37:04.159 You could say, oh, well, it looks like you've booked a professional who isn't on our approved vendors list, and that's perfectly okay. 00:37:04.239 --> 00:37:07.440 It's just that we have a policy of only working with those who are. 00:37:07.599 --> 00:37:08.719 Now, see what happens there? 00:37:08.800 --> 00:37:10.800 It's clean, it's respectful, done. 00:37:10.960 --> 00:37:21.440 There's there's not a no that was delivered necessarily, but it was a decline with tact, which is exactly the opposite of ghosting, by the way. 00:37:21.599 --> 00:37:21.920 Okay. 00:37:22.400 --> 00:37:25.840 So same with a lead that's kind of drifted off. 00:37:26.000 --> 00:37:27.280 You follow up, right? 00:37:27.360 --> 00:37:28.639 You give it a real chance. 00:37:28.719 --> 00:37:38.159 And if it's clearly over after several follow-ups, you send one really nice, kind closing note and then release it. 00:37:38.320 --> 00:37:41.760 Like letting go and disappearing are not the same thing. 00:37:41.920 --> 00:37:54.159 It it takes a little courage to send that closing note, but courage to have the hard, kind, respectful conversations is literally in the job description. 00:37:54.400 --> 00:37:59.360 You just want to make sure that you don't give up too easily too early. 00:38:00.480 --> 00:38:04.960 You know, and and I feel like that is a lot of what planners and coordinators do. 00:38:05.119 --> 00:38:07.199 Have you been seeing a lot of people just giving up? 00:38:07.599 --> 00:38:11.920 They the initial email, they're like, Well, they never got back to me and they're done and they get offended and they get mad. 00:38:12.000 --> 00:38:13.760 And I'm like, Well, did you did you follow up? 00:38:13.920 --> 00:38:17.280 And they're like, No, and I'm like, it could have gone to their spam, you know. 00:38:17.519 --> 00:38:18.880 Did you think about that? 00:38:19.280 --> 00:38:31.840 So and honestly, the way that the that my final follow-up is so graceful and so like doors will open it that if you know, if you ever get back to planning, that method has allowed me to book people. 00:38:32.000 --> 00:38:32.159 Yes. 00:38:32.320 --> 00:38:39.840 Now sometimes I come back too a little too late and I'm already booked, but I'm but once they started that journey, they immediately thought, oh, Chrissy was the nicest. 00:38:40.000 --> 00:38:41.599 Or Chrissy actually followed up with me. 00:38:41.760 --> 00:38:42.800 Let me reach back out to her. 00:38:42.880 --> 00:38:43.760 I'm ready to start planning now. 00:38:44.000 --> 00:38:44.480 I'm not available. 00:38:44.559 --> 00:38:46.400 Or oh, I'm available, you know. 00:38:46.559 --> 00:38:46.800 Right. 00:38:46.880 --> 00:38:53.119 And you know what's so funny is when clients do feel that warmth and they tried to get back to you, but you were booked already. 00:38:53.280 --> 00:38:57.119 The next people that they hear about who's engaged, they're gonna probably refer to you. 00:38:57.519 --> 00:38:58.639 And that is so important. 00:38:58.800 --> 00:39:00.159 Yeah, they respond back in the email. 00:39:00.239 --> 00:39:02.320 When I say, like, oh, I'm so sorry, I'm unfortunately booked. 00:39:02.400 --> 00:39:05.519 They're like, Oh, I'm I knew it, I'm gonna beat myself up for this. 00:39:05.679 --> 00:39:08.079 But I will, if my friends are engaged, I'm gonna tell them to hire you. 00:39:08.159 --> 00:39:08.800 You're so kind. 00:39:08.960 --> 00:39:10.880 Like they that happens. 00:39:11.199 --> 00:39:12.639 It is a real thing. 00:39:12.719 --> 00:39:17.599 So don't give up too early and make sure that you don't give up too easily. 00:39:17.760 --> 00:39:21.679 And make sure that you're also like you're said, send the closing note with grace. 00:39:21.840 --> 00:39:22.960 I really, really love that. 00:39:23.119 --> 00:39:31.199 So if there's one thing that I want everyone who's listening to take from this, silence is a choice. 00:39:31.440 --> 00:39:33.280 And you know what else is a choice? 00:39:33.599 --> 00:39:34.000 Tact. 00:39:34.639 --> 00:39:46.000 See, the lines need to stay open whether we, you know, decide that they stay open, or if someone else decides for us by just ghosting us, we still need to show up the right way. 00:39:46.159 --> 00:39:49.760 So be the planner or coordinator who sends that eight-second email. 00:39:49.920 --> 00:39:53.199 Uh, be the person who sends that closing note with grace. 00:39:53.360 --> 00:39:54.719 That's the whole thing. 00:39:54.960 --> 00:40:04.079 So, Chrissy, this was everything I actually hoped that this revival of the ghosting episode that we did five years ago would be. 00:40:04.239 --> 00:40:07.840 So, before I let you go, tell everybody where they can find you. 00:40:08.000 --> 00:40:11.840 So, what's your website and where can people follow you on socials? 00:40:12.079 --> 00:40:15.039 Yeah, again, my company is Southern Sparkle Wedding and Event Planning. 00:40:15.119 --> 00:40:17.519 You can find me at Southern SparkleWeddings.com. 00:40:17.599 --> 00:40:22.079 And then my Instagram handle is just Southern Sparkle Weddings, and you guys can follow me there. 00:40:22.400 --> 00:40:23.360 Go follow her. 00:40:23.519 --> 00:40:29.039 I want you guys to really just embrace some of the things that she and I are talking about today. 00:40:29.199 --> 00:40:31.519 She has been one of my educators for the longest time. 00:40:31.599 --> 00:40:33.280 She's taught right beside me. 00:40:33.440 --> 00:40:35.039 She is one of the good ones, y'all. 00:40:35.199 --> 00:40:38.719 Do not miss any of the episodes that we ever do with Miss Chrissy. 00:40:39.119 --> 00:40:46.880 And if you've been listening and this conversation really lit something up inside of you, that's exactly what the Certified Wedding Planner Society is here for. 00:40:47.039 --> 00:40:54.800 We are the world's premier wedding planner and coordinator certification and membership programs, as well as the largest community of wedding pros anywhere. 00:40:54.960 --> 00:40:59.679 And we have a place for you no matter where you are in your journey. 00:40:59.760 --> 00:41:03.920 So come elevate yourself and your business and visit our website to learn more. 00:41:04.159 --> 00:41:09.119 Certified Wedding Planner Society.com or CWP Society.com both work. 00:41:09.280 --> 00:41:10.960 We are your people, we are your tribe. 00:41:11.039 --> 00:41:13.920 And until next time, happy planning, y'all. 00:41:14.079 --> 00:41:14.960 Bye, Chrissy. 00:41:15.119 --> 00:41:16.800 Hi Lori, thank you.