สำเนาบทสนทนา 🔗
WEBVTT
00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:04.080
There's a moment on almost every wedding day where the air changes.
00:00:04.320 --> 00:00:09.599
A vendor's on edge, or the timeline is slipping, or somebody's voice gets a little too sharp.
00:00:09.759 --> 00:00:15.599
And every single person in the room quietly turns and looks at you, the wedding planner or coordinator.
00:00:15.759 --> 00:00:18.160
And today we're talking about that moment.
00:00:18.399 --> 00:00:23.519
Not how to avoid it, but how to see the actual human underneath it.
00:00:23.679 --> 00:00:25.120
So let's hop in.
00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:45.119
Welcome to the Wedding Planner Society Podcast, brought to you by the CWP Society, the world's premier planner certification and membership program.
00:00:45.439 --> 00:00:49.600
Now let's jump right in with our host, founder and CEO, Lori Hartwell.
00:00:49.840 --> 00:00:50.960
Welcome in, everybody.
00:00:51.119 --> 00:00:53.840
Today I have got Vanisha Walker with me.
00:00:53.920 --> 00:00:58.880
She is the heart behind Cloud9 events, and I love her why.
00:00:59.119 --> 00:01:01.920
See, she built Cloud9 back in 2023.
00:01:02.079 --> 00:01:03.920
She launched it in 2024.
00:01:04.079 --> 00:01:13.439
And for her, this isn't just a business, it's her calling and a way to really honor the gifts that she was given by helping couples become one unit.
00:01:13.599 --> 00:01:16.239
She came to this after a whole first chapter, right?
00:01:16.319 --> 00:01:24.719
She was a retail manager, then a bank manager, and now she's got this beautiful blended family that she's pouring that same love right into.
00:01:25.040 --> 00:01:34.000
And there's just something about a wedding planner or coordinator who has spent years keeping the peace behind a counter and then brings it into this world, the wedding world.
00:01:34.159 --> 00:01:37.519
So I already know this is going to be a really great conversation.
00:01:37.599 --> 00:01:39.680
So, Venetia, welcome to the podcast.
00:01:39.840 --> 00:01:42.000
I am so excited and happy that you're here.
00:01:42.239 --> 00:01:42.959
Thank you, Lori.
00:01:43.280 --> 00:01:43.760
Thank you so much.
00:01:43.840 --> 00:01:47.280
I'm super, super excited to be here and to share my heart with people.
00:01:47.519 --> 00:01:49.840
That is one of my favorite things about you, my sweet girl.
00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:55.359
So, first and foremost, though, this podcast is typically in a virtual coffee shop.
00:01:55.439 --> 00:01:59.200
But a little birdie told me that you're not much of a coffee or tea drinker.
00:01:59.359 --> 00:02:01.840
So, what would you prefer to drink?
00:02:02.079 --> 00:02:09.039
Well, honestly, my go-to is a canned coke, not a bottle, a canned coke over ice.
00:02:09.360 --> 00:02:10.479
That is my jam.
00:02:10.800 --> 00:02:11.120
Okay.
00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:12.639
I love this.
00:02:12.879 --> 00:02:13.360
You know what?
00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:23.840
Like in a place that runs typically on oat
Load full transcript
milk lattes and matcha foam, a cold Coke over ice is straight up a power move.
00:02:23.919 --> 00:02:30.000
And now that I'm thinking about it, what we need to do is pivot, like any great wedding planner or coordinator does.
00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:32.000
And let's go to a different location.
00:02:32.080 --> 00:02:42.080
Let's leave this coffee shop and let's go to the diner next door where you can get your Coke over ice and maybe grab a Snickers bar because I know that's another one of your favorites.
00:02:42.319 --> 00:02:47.280
And I get a and I'm gonna get a root beer with some fries with ranch dressing on the side.
00:02:47.360 --> 00:02:48.560
That's what I need right now.
00:02:48.800 --> 00:02:49.840
So that sounds good.
00:02:50.800 --> 00:02:55.840
Listen, you can join me in that, but I am fully committed to this whole experience.
00:02:55.919 --> 00:02:56.960
So that's what we're gonna do.
00:02:57.120 --> 00:03:03.120
Let's make sure that we we place our order and let's find a nice, cozy little booth where we can have a nice quiet conversation.
00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:15.120
So before we dig into your world, I've got a little tradition on this show where every guest gets to put me on the spot and you get to flip the script and ask me one personal question and anything you want.
00:03:15.360 --> 00:03:18.000
And I I don't even, I'm not allowed to dodge it.
00:03:18.159 --> 00:03:21.439
So go ahead, Miss Venetia, put me in the hot seat.
00:03:21.599 --> 00:03:23.599
What is the question that you would like to ask?
00:03:23.759 --> 00:03:27.280
Now, I have thought about this question, Lori, for a while now.
00:03:27.520 --> 00:03:36.479
And you know, our connections uh that we have weekly, I'm real big on love languages, and so I want to know how do you like to be loved?
00:03:36.560 --> 00:03:45.039
Not like you and Phil, but you know, from a workplace standpoint, what is your love language, your jam, and how can others serve you in that area?
00:03:45.199 --> 00:03:52.159
Yeah, so whether it's work or in my personal life, it is the same one, it's the same thing.
00:03:52.319 --> 00:03:54.719
So I actually love this question so, so much.
00:03:54.800 --> 00:04:02.639
And the honest answer, and I and I'm sitting here just really thinking about this, but mine isn't one of the top five love languages.
00:04:02.800 --> 00:04:04.319
I don't feel like I fit into that.
00:04:04.400 --> 00:04:10.800
So, and you can tell me if maybe I'm wrong, but let me tell you what my love language is and try not to laugh.
00:04:11.120 --> 00:04:18.560
But it is to be kind to me, even when or if you're angry with me or frustrated with me.
00:04:18.639 --> 00:04:19.120
And that's it.
00:04:19.279 --> 00:04:20.480
Like that's the whole thing.
00:04:20.720 --> 00:04:22.319
To me, that shows me love.
00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:30.160
That's how people can serve me, and that's how I would like to serve other people when I'm frustrated or angry, is to always talk to them with kindness.
00:04:30.399 --> 00:04:32.480
To me, you can be frustrated with me all day long.
00:04:32.720 --> 00:04:42.959
You can completely disagree with me, but we can be right in the middle of something hard while being gentle with one another and being careful how we're saying things to one another.
00:04:43.120 --> 00:04:52.319
So if somebody can hold on, you know, to that kindness with me, even when they're upset, that reaches me on a deep, deep level.
00:04:52.480 --> 00:04:59.360
It's better than flowers or gifts or anything else that anybody could ever want to give to me.
00:04:59.519 --> 00:05:05.519
So that's how I would love to be loved is being soft with me, especially when things aren't easy.
00:05:05.839 --> 00:05:07.120
I love that.
00:05:07.439 --> 00:05:08.639
I resonate with that.
00:05:08.720 --> 00:05:10.319
I felt that in my heart.
00:05:10.639 --> 00:05:12.720
Oh, really?
00:05:12.800 --> 00:05:13.199
I did.
00:05:13.279 --> 00:05:14.160
I was like, you know what?
00:05:14.240 --> 00:05:14.879
She's right.
00:05:14.959 --> 00:05:16.240
That's a lot of tea right there.
00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:18.480
We can we can end it right there.
00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:21.439
Just you know, right that'll preach.
00:05:21.600 --> 00:05:22.560
That will preach.
00:05:22.800 --> 00:05:23.519
That will preach.
00:05:24.959 --> 00:05:26.399
What is before that?
00:05:26.480 --> 00:05:30.639
Like, what what did you think your love language was for you?
00:05:31.360 --> 00:05:38.639
My love language, um, I don't care how many times I take the phys the actual test, it always comes out to quality time.
00:05:38.879 --> 00:05:46.720
Okay, quality time with others is so important to me, whether it's with my family, you know, with my husband, with my friends.
00:05:46.879 --> 00:05:54.399
Like it's just it's so important because I feel like as as we grow as a society, we don't know how to be great friends to each other.
00:05:54.639 --> 00:05:55.040
True.
00:05:55.279 --> 00:05:56.480
Checking up on other people.
00:05:56.639 --> 00:05:57.759
Hey, how are you doing?
00:05:58.000 --> 00:06:05.199
And even with the people that seem strong and have it all together, I a lot of times that is just them trying to power through, right?
00:06:05.279 --> 00:06:11.279
And we need to check up on others, and people do that with me every once in a while.
00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:16.639
Like because they a lot of times I come across like, oh, you know, I'm so strong, I've got it all together.
00:06:16.800 --> 00:06:40.720
Look, Lori, all of her ducks are in a row, but that strength is exhausting, and it can really just and sometimes when someone checks up on me out of the blue because I'm not used to it, I literally just break down in tears, and not necessarily because I am going through something tough, but sometimes it's because I'm so moved by the fact that someone checked up on me, someone cared.
00:06:40.800 --> 00:06:42.000
Uh you felt the care.
00:06:42.399 --> 00:06:42.879
Yeah, yeah.
00:06:43.120 --> 00:06:50.079
And so you when you say how we show up, people don't really show up for others the way maybe we once used to.
00:06:50.240 --> 00:06:52.480
That it that resonated with me, which you just said.
00:06:52.560 --> 00:06:53.120
So I love that.
00:06:53.360 --> 00:06:56.000
Yeah, do you know how hard it is to keep ducks in a row?
00:06:56.240 --> 00:06:58.000
Like it's so hard.
00:06:58.240 --> 00:07:01.600
Have you seen a mother duck trying to walk ducklings across the road?
00:07:01.839 --> 00:07:05.040
She literally whips around like I can hear her duck language.
00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:06.800
Like, come on.
00:07:07.519 --> 00:07:10.800
Yes, and she's trying not to hear an over by cars, yeah.
00:07:11.279 --> 00:07:12.480
Uh, it's such a big deal.
00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:19.279
So, you know, that kind of helps me too, because that's basically where I can see your whole heart, right?
00:07:19.600 --> 00:07:23.120
Grace for people, even when maybe they're not at their best.
00:07:23.199 --> 00:07:29.360
And I think we accidentally just found the whole vibe for this episode.
00:07:29.519 --> 00:07:30.720
So I want to start here.
00:07:30.879 --> 00:07:36.399
I want to because I know about you and Christmas, you and I have a shared love for this holiday.
00:07:36.639 --> 00:07:39.759
But every year you put up a Grinch Christmas tree.
00:07:39.839 --> 00:07:46.000
And it's not because it's just a fun thing, it's because the Grinch actually reminds you that everyone has a heart.
00:07:46.160 --> 00:07:49.920
So if you don't mind, I'd love to have like a little bit of more backstory.
00:07:50.079 --> 00:07:57.839
Tell me where that belief actually shows up when maybe you're working with your couples and your vendors and where this actually came from.
00:07:58.079 --> 00:07:59.920
I actually have a lot of Grinch stuff.
00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:08.959
Like my husband thinks I'm obsessed, which I mean, he might be right in a world where men were right, but you know, I mean, maybe.
00:08:09.199 --> 00:08:16.399
So I have a lot of Grinch stuff, and I I do keep it up like in my office year round just to just to remind me.
00:08:16.800 --> 00:08:19.360
It may be a little, I have this little bitty Grinch.
00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:20.480
He's probably about this high.
00:08:20.560 --> 00:08:33.200
He sits on the speaker in our in our um living room, and I can literally see him when we walk by, and it just and I tell people, you know, it it doesn't hurt to be kind, you know.
00:08:33.519 --> 00:08:38.720
Even those that are not kind to us, sometimes maybe they're just having a bad day.
00:08:40.159 --> 00:08:43.120
Somebody didn't show up for them, and you're that one person.
00:08:43.519 --> 00:08:50.720
It just takes a little bit to smile, and that could just like make a person's day, and so it's important.
00:08:50.799 --> 00:09:03.600
And I guess I don't even know when it I've I've always loved the Grinch from a little girl, but here over the past, I guess maybe six or seven years, it just each year it gets it grows like the Grinch is hard.
00:09:03.679 --> 00:09:05.200
It just grows and grows.
00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:17.440
And what's funny is anybody that knows me that comes in contact with me, they try to send me all these Grinch things because they resonate that with me because they know that you know I am looking at growth.
00:09:17.600 --> 00:09:23.120
Yes, the Grinch symbolize growth, like you can always grow into a better person.
00:09:23.279 --> 00:09:29.440
You don't always have to be identified by who you once were, you have the opportunity to change and grow.
00:09:29.679 --> 00:09:33.279
So to me, that is stunningly beautiful thing to say.
00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:46.480
That is that is that completely matches up with the human being that I know that you are, and I and I love that too, because in our world, like the hardest moments almost never look like what they actually are, too.
00:09:46.639 --> 00:10:00.000
Because somebody might snap about the napkins being folded differently than what they had in their mind, or you know, and a newer wedding planner or coordinator might be thinking, Oh my gosh, wow, this person seems to be like really impossible about napkins.
00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:03.120
But Venisha, it's never really about the napkins, right?
00:10:03.200 --> 00:10:12.399
It's the stress and the fear, it's it's somebody feeling completely maybe out of control on the biggest days of their life or whatever situation that they're in.
00:10:12.799 --> 00:10:23.600
To me, the moment that you can see the heart underneath the behavior, you then stop reacting to the surface and you start answering the real thing, which is that heart.
00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:28.320
You know, you're looking at the heart behind that, and that's the whole game.
00:10:28.559 --> 00:10:44.960
And I even have to say, you know, a little something that I can kind of start sound like a broken record about, but I we always say, like, leave the drama at the door, but not because feelings don't matter, but because the second you pick up that drama, you can't see the heart as clearly anymore.
00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:46.399
And that to me is a big deep.
00:10:46.879 --> 00:11:02.240
Yeah, I I typically have, you know, if I'm working with a team, I usually will have a meeting at the beginning and say, you know, just remember whose day it is, because at the end of the day, no matter how you feel, it's not your day.
00:11:02.559 --> 00:11:06.960
And then how would you like that to be reciprocated if it was your day?
00:11:07.279 --> 00:11:14.720
You want people to show up and be kind and be nice and pay attention to details and all the little things, you know.
00:11:14.879 --> 00:11:21.360
There, you know, brides and grooms, they they plan these things for a while.
00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:30.480
Some some women have been dreaming about this since you know, they
got their first Barbie doll, you know, and so there's so much love that they've poured into it.
00:11:30.639 --> 00:11:33.759
They've hired us because they trust us.
00:11:34.639 --> 00:11:36.879
Because something resonated between us.
00:11:37.120 --> 00:11:45.519
And if they trust me enough for their biggest day, it's important to me to find out like why is it this big for them?
00:11:45.679 --> 00:11:54.720
Like the why behind that, so I can know what their heart posture is, so I can bring their heart posture to our vendor team.
00:11:54.879 --> 00:12:02.799
I, you know, like they need to know too, because they may hear a or talk to a DJ once, but I talked to them multiple times.
00:12:02.960 --> 00:12:07.200
And so I have to share my heart, the client's heart with the DJ.
00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:10.720
So, you know, we're all on the same team, and the goal is the goal.
00:12:10.960 --> 00:12:26.399
That's it, you know, and helping other people see that heart so that we are all showing up for that couple the same way, you know, it really unifies, it changes something about the entire dynamic on that wedding day, and and really just showing up.
00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:29.279
It kind of goes back to how do we show up for other people?
00:12:29.519 --> 00:12:32.159
And I think you just described it right there, and I love that.
00:12:32.320 --> 00:12:49.360
And now your bio says something that kind of jumped out at me, and and it's that you keep everyone, all the vendors, your couples, and everyone on the same page, and and that you'll happily step in and mediate if you have to, but that's the job, isn't it?
00:12:49.440 --> 00:12:57.360
Like, walk me into when and if you're experiencing personalities that don't naturally line up.
00:12:57.519 --> 00:12:59.600
I am actually gonna give you a real life scenario.
00:12:59.679 --> 00:13:00.960
It's not even a walkthrough.
00:13:01.039 --> 00:13:03.360
Like it this literally just happened.
00:13:03.519 --> 00:13:08.000
I had a bride who was very adamant, and most brides are, you know, we want what we want.
00:13:08.159 --> 00:13:12.879
And I say we because I've been a bride, and I I still look back at my day and be like, you know what?
00:13:13.039 --> 00:13:14.240
I wanted what I wanted.
00:13:14.399 --> 00:13:16.000
So we want what we want.
00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:26.320
And the officiant, the one of the biggest vendors for the wedding, decided to wear something that the bride specifically had said, please don't.
00:13:26.559 --> 00:13:30.240
And she went out of her way to say, Yes, I'm doing it anyway.
00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:34.000
And so an hour before the wedding, this all unfolded.
00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:41.679
The bride found out that the the officiant was wearing gold, and she had specifically asked them not to.
00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:53.440
And so they called me, the bride, and the maid of honor called me in, found out what it was, and I just simply asked her, What would you want in this moment?
00:13:53.600 --> 00:13:55.120
What do you want in this moment?
00:13:55.279 --> 00:13:59.679
Because again, she is my client, she is technically my boss in the moment.
00:13:59.919 --> 00:14:01.679
What do you want to happen?
00:14:01.919 --> 00:14:09.440
And if we can't get you to that point, what are you willing to settle for without hurting your heart?
00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:14.080
And so she she gave me the scenarios.
00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:18.799
I went back to the officiant because here I am mediating in real life.
00:14:19.039 --> 00:14:32.559
Went back to the officiant and I said, Okay, I need you to help me understand where you're coming from, why this dress, and what is it about this dress that makes it the dress for you?
00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:38.080
And if the bride needs you to change, could there be a compromise in the situation?
00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:39.600
It all unfolded.
00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:43.120
The officiant did not want to budge.
00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:54.799
And the bride and the groom and I had a conversation, and she was relieved of her duties day of 30 45 minutes prior to she understood the nature.
00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:59.039
I had told her that possibly would happen, and she said she was fine with that.
00:14:59.120 --> 00:15:05.200
She just wanted to make sure that the bride was happy, so that was relieving her of the duty.
00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:10.399
We then had to find another officiant, and so in 45 minutes, yeah.
00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:12.159
So we were able to do that.
00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:18.480
Um, but at the end of the day, what's most important for me is that my clients they're heard.
00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:23.440
I think that's most of the time, disagreements is all about do you hear me?
00:15:23.600 --> 00:15:25.039
They want to be heard.
00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:25.679
That's it.
00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:31.279
Then they want to know, they want to see, physically see facial expressions, posture.
00:15:31.440 --> 00:15:38.240
They want to see that you felt it, the gravity of it, and then they want to see that you're willing to help them find a solution.
00:15:38.480 --> 00:15:38.960
That's it.
00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:40.639
And that's really all it is.
00:15:40.720 --> 00:15:51.600
It's about being able to do those three things hear them, feel, feel what they're feeling, empathize with them, and then find a solution and back them up on the solution.
00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:52.320
Yes.
00:15:52.559 --> 00:15:55.279
And it all ended up to be totally fine.
00:15:55.440 --> 00:15:56.799
They're married to this day.
00:15:56.960 --> 00:15:58.559
The certificate got turned in.
00:15:58.720 --> 00:16:03.840
We literally had to have someone get go through their officiant in 45 minutes.
00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:08.399
One of the wedding party, like one of the groomsmen, actually, it was the best man.
00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:11.200
He became an officiant in no time.
00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:18.720
But you know, it's just finding those parameters which the people are willing to work in and and just making sure that all everybody is on the same page.
00:16:18.960 --> 00:16:21.519
This is happening, the train car is moving.
00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:22.080
Yep.
00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:33.440
I need you to either get on the train car as a passenger or step aside and allow the train car to keep moving, but not trying to hurt your feelings.
00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:34.320
That's it.
00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:35.039
That's it.
00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:41.200
And we have to remember as wedding pros that our couple is the star of the show.
00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:46.080
We don't get to make the decisions for how we want their wedding to be.
00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:48.799
It has nothing to do with us.
00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:57.120
We are the people that these two humans trusted with the most important day of their life in our hands.
00:16:57.279 --> 00:16:58.320
They trusted us.
00:16:58.639 --> 00:17:00.799
And we need to show up for them.
00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:11.519
And I wish that more wedding pros took themselves out of that equation a little bit more and just honored what the couple is looking for and what they're wanting.
00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:17.759
Because, you know, I know that here at CWP Society, we teach that vendor coordination is the heart of what we do.
00:17:17.839 --> 00:17:24.960
I mean, we're the single point of contact, and the one person every professional in the room can turn to and run to if there's an issue.
00:17:25.119 --> 00:17:32.880
And here's the part that I think a lot of people miss holding the center isn't about, you know, bossing people around and telling people what to do.
00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:40.960
It's about finding that sweet spot where every single person who's been hired to do this job can do their best work.
00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:47.920
So the photographer needs the right light, the band or DJ needs their setup time, the caterer needs their window.
00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:53.279
And the officiant needs to make sure that they are able to hold their values.
00:17:53.519 --> 00:18:01.920
But again, coming down to what we're wearing, that had that is something I don't think that that's a hill worth dying over for an officiant.
00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:08.720
I feel like that's we need to honor what the couple is wanting to have in the rest of their pictures for the rest of their lives.
00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:20.319
And so to me, that's the whole gift is kind of finding the overlap where all of our wedding pros get to shine, but remember who is the star.
00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:33.279
And when you hold that center, nobody, nobody's elbowing each other for whatever reason, you know, because the planner and the coordinator can be that calm hub where everything kind of flows through.
00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:41.440
And that's what you were trying to do is be that in-between person so that we're not dealing with flared tempers or flared emotions.
00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:44.559
We're trying to keep that calm, right?
00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:46.400
Yes, the calm within the storm.
00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:51.519
That's that's one of the things that I always say, the calm within the storm, not before or after.
00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:52.880
It's just within the storm.
00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:58.799
And on one of a podcast that I had done earlier this year, I kept saying that you're always learning.
00:18:59.200 --> 00:19:18.480
And even in what three years of being a planner, I will honestly have to say, I'm never not learning because I did learn something in that that I could have done better, and which was find out what the bride really wanted from an outfit standpoint.
00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:19.039
Okay.
00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:21.680
Was never on my target list.
00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:24.960
And I'm like, okay, going forward, guess what's going to be on my list now?
00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:33.200
You know, find out what what the approved attire is from the bride or groom and make sure that I pass that along to vendors.
00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:36.799
You would think that that wouldn't be a thing, but I guess it can be.
00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:43.839
It's okay to learn new things and to take what we learned and apply it to all of our future experiences.
00:19:43.920 --> 00:19:52.559
And that's that's kind of you know, the heart of what I try to say is that we're not working solo, right?
00:19:52.880 --> 00:19:58.079
It's we're a bunch of professionals, a bunch of professional minds with a bunch of professional hands.
00:19:58.160 --> 00:20:04.720
And not because any one of us can't handle it, but when we work together, we provide coverage.
00:20:04.799 --> 00:20:14.480
And when we're all working towards the same goal, which is the happiness of our couple, whatever that might be, then you get to be the calm one in the room instead of the frazzle one running in circles.
00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:21.680
Since coverage is what buys you composure, that's what we need to make sure that we're always working toward.
00:20:21.839 --> 00:20:22.640
So I love that.
00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:37.440
So let's let's go to a harder, harder place because okay, this phrase of, you know, everyone has a heart, which is, you know, your mantra, it's easy to say when everything's going swimmingly, right?
00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:39.839
When everything is lovely and no one's upset.
00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:46.480
But how do you hold on to that when someone's genuinely being difficult or when they're at their worst with you?
00:20:46.640 --> 00:20:48.160
How do you typically handle that in the moment?
00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:49.519
I'm gonna be honest with you.
00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:54.240
Sometimes I have to take a moment, I have to step outside of the situation.
00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:59.279
And even like if it's a, I don't like to say arguments, I always call it a heated debate.
00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:09.200
If I'm ever in a moment of where I feel like something's a heated debate or whatever, I'll ask the other person, hey, is it okay if we table this until later?
00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:13.920
And then you and I can have a conversation one-on-one somewhere else outside.
00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:28.400
Because what I've learned from my daughters or from playing sports personally, the coach always says, if you have a grievance, please wait 24 hours before you bring it to me.
00:21:28.559 --> 00:21:40.960
That allows hearts and minds to be settled because it's easy to lash out in the moment and you're feeling that that whatever it is, but if you wait that 24 hours next day, you may not even feel like that.
00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:48.559
You might be like, that was so little, or I don't know why I was making a big deal out of it, or it was just um a napkin.
00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:51.039
One was waterfalled and one wasn't.
00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:51.359
Right.
00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:55.039
Didn't even hurt the night, or whatever the case may be.
00:21:55.119 --> 00:21:59.759
So I always try to, you know, especially when I'm having the one on ones with vendors.
00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:09.519
If there is a grievance, can we table it to make this one person, this person's one day, the most amazing day that it can be?
00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:21.200
And then later we'll have a conversation and share with each other like what we could do better for each other in that moment, what we could have done better in that moment to like serve each other.
00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:24.799
Because I'm real big on, you know, we talk about the heart.
00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:28.480
My biggest thing is dying to self and being selfless.
00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:31.119
That means to take self out of it.
00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:35.119
You have to have a heart, you have to take self out of it.
00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:41.119
So you have to be selfless, less of yourself and more of what is desired in that moment.
00:22:41.359 --> 00:22:49.920
And a lot of people call that ego, you know, your ego, which is just your mind wanting to be right or trying to protect whatever triggers or protect yourself in whatever way.
00:22:50.079 --> 00:22:54.880
When you're triggered, some people just react in such an aggressive way.
00:22:55.119 --> 00:23:02.319
If we did just take a minute, take a beat, and ask yourself questions and take some responsibility.
00:23:02.400 --> 00:23:11.920
And I always say, I don't believe in an argument that, like, okay, we disagree and it looks like a bunch of rams like hitting each other.
00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:30.160
I think it's really if we just change the mindset and go, actually, it's really just information that we are receiving, and it's how we respond to that information that we're receiving that we that can allow us to serve the person that we are talking to and receiving information from.
00:23:30.319 --> 00:23:39.039
But if our only goal is to just defend our information because we think
our information is the only information that's right, that's where we're gonna go wrong.
00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:49.039
And that's us not showing up for other people and not serving those around us, and that's also going to prevent us and our needs even from being served.
00:23:49.279 --> 00:23:50.960
And people process things differently.
00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:59.759
Some people process super fast and they can get through the information, and others need a moment to like, oh, that's what they meant by that.
00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:00.640
Oh, okay.
00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:06.240
You know, it just takes them a minute, and everybody has a different personality, and it's it's crazy.
00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:15.839
Weddings bring so many a dynamic of personalities, you know, like the baker may like something certain a certain way, like, don't touch my cake.
00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:17.279
I'll let me put the flowers on.
00:24:17.359 --> 00:24:23.839
And the florist is like, girl, I've been doing this for 20 years, I can put flowers on, and they're like, and I'm like, hold on.
00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:25.680
Again, a lesson learned.
00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:31.759
That's one of those vetting things that I need to do beforehand and say, okay, yes, now what how do you like to work?
00:24:31.839 --> 00:24:33.759
That's my favorite question for all vendors.
00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:34.240
Yes.
00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:35.839
How do you like to work?
00:24:36.079 --> 00:24:39.440
And what can I do to make your job easier?
00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:40.240
Yes.
00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:46.240
And part of that is to explain it to other people whose vendor team is going to affect that other vendor.
00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:51.839
We have to make sure that we are creating an environment where everyone can, in fact, shine.
00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:57.440
Because I feel like a lot of times wedding planners and coordinators fall into a trap.
00:24:57.599 --> 00:25:11.200
Whereas if you've had one difficult person at one of your weddings, now, right, now the next strong personality walks through the door, and you've already decided in your head that that they're wrong or that they're going to be a problem.
00:25:11.599 --> 00:25:13.279
But that's not intuition, right?
00:25:13.359 --> 00:25:15.759
I mean, that's what that is is projection.
00:25:16.079 --> 00:25:23.920
Real read the room skills is based on what's actually in front of you right this very second, not the last person who bruised you.
00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:27.920
And every new human should get a clean slate.
00:25:28.160 --> 00:25:32.160
And we need to ask the questions that you were just mentioning is how do you like to work?
00:25:32.480 --> 00:25:39.519
What would make you be able to, what would allow you to do your job at its very best?
00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:45.599
And and here's the wild part being calm is every bit as contagious as being panicked.
00:25:45.839 --> 00:25:54.559
And and if you walk in like in a tense way and you're walking into a space, it is going to become contagious.
00:25:54.640 --> 00:26:03.359
Other people are going to feel that they're going to then what they it might even be unconscious because their nervous system is reacting to your nervous system, right?
00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:10.559
But if you're the steady person, right, the anchor, people literally start breathing a little bit differently around you.
00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:12.880
You're the calm within the storm.
00:26:13.119 --> 00:26:13.599
That's it.
00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:20.079
I mean, and it goes, I'm literally writing a book right now called Calm Chaos, and it's all about being the calm within the storm.
00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:26.240
And your calm is doing a lot more work than most anybody's ever going to get credit for.
00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:30.799
So when somebody comes, you know, at you and they're coming in hot, is what I like to say.
00:26:31.039 --> 00:26:38.799
The move isn't to defend yourself, it's to ask yourself what's the real thing that they're scared of right now, and then answer that.
00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:40.720
I get upset too.
00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:44.079
I get frustrated and flustered.
00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:47.039
And usually my team already knows.
00:26:47.119 --> 00:26:50.799
I tell you all the time, you can see how I'm feeling on my face.
00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:55.359
Like you will know before the words come out of my mouth where I'm at.
00:26:55.599 --> 00:26:58.720
And some people judge me based on my facial expressions.
00:26:58.880 --> 00:26:59.839
I'm working on it.
00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:01.359
God ain't through with me yet.
00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:02.240
I promise.
00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:12.400
However, I have been trying to learn, I guess, breathing, taking a moment, like you know, just this deep breath and trying to center myself.
00:27:12.559 --> 00:27:13.680
I'm I'm not perfect.
00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:26.000
I like to say I'm progressing, and I don't want it to sound like on this podcast that I am perfect because definitely I have my moments of I have to check myself, okay, Venetia, where is your heart?
00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:28.559
Yes, how is your heart today?
00:27:28.880 --> 00:27:31.519
You know, and then you have outside factors.
00:27:31.839 --> 00:27:36.720
I might have had a daughter who decided she wanted to break curfew, and I'm mad about it.
00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:46.960
You know, and I stayed up past midnight or whatever her curfew was, waiting on her, didn't get my sleep, but then I have to go show up for this bride and show her my true authentic heart.
00:27:47.200 --> 00:27:54.799
And I need to like say a couple of woo-saws and talk to God a few times in the car and like get myself together.
00:27:54.880 --> 00:28:00.799
So it's not just it's everybody, everybody needs to check their heart, their heart posture.
00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:04.799
Because again, it's not about us on that day.
00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:06.240
No,
it's not about us.
00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:15.599
We've poured so much time and effort into making sure that this couple has the most amazing day.
00:28:16.079 --> 00:28:21.279
Why would we want to bring outside factors in when it has nothing to do with them?
00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:22.000
That's it.
00:28:22.079 --> 00:28:24.640
It's not their burden, it's not their burden to carry.
00:28:24.880 --> 00:28:30.799
And we need to make sure that we're not putting that burden on anybody, whether it's a networking meeting, whether it's a couple.
00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:33.279
We are not expected to be perfect.
00:28:33.440 --> 00:28:39.839
What we're expected to do is check ourselves and pivot in whatever moment that we need to pivot in, right?
00:28:40.240 --> 00:28:49.599
So to me, it's kind of like a tacked sandwich, like you cushion tough stuff between two things that are genuinely true and positive.
00:28:49.680 --> 00:29:08.240
When you're talking to someone who's a little bit difficult, they're they're coming at you in a hot way, finding ways to present your information so that it doesn't land in a way that offends someone who might be uh sensitive to triggering, being triggered.
00:29:08.400 --> 00:29:11.759
It is really important that we take responsibility for how we show up.
00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:13.599
That's that is how it is.
00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:16.240
Now, if I screw up, tell me about it.
00:29:16.400 --> 00:29:20.559
If I offend you, tell me about it, but do it in a kind way.
00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:25.440
You know, there's ways to stress your feelings with kindness and love.
00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:35.119
Yes, and and I think that we all need to kind of stay there, especially in heated times like a wedding day, because I mean there's there's millions of things happening all at one time.
00:29:35.359 --> 00:29:36.880
We have to stick together.
00:29:37.119 --> 00:29:52.079
Now, yeah, you know, I kind of want people to know this about you too, because you're not just planning weddings, you're also one of our industry advancement directors here at the certified wedding planner society, and you've chosen to basically turn around.
00:29:52.160 --> 00:30:02.240
You're you're going forward all the time with your business, but you you also take the time to turn around and see that when someone else needs lifting up, you lift them up.
00:30:02.559 --> 00:30:10.799
And I love that all the people coming behind you, you're like, Oh, I've got you, I was there, here's something I learned, and you're pulled toward that.
00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:15.519
Can you speak to why that is and what motivated you in that way?
00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:16.640
Yeah, absolutely.
00:30:16.880 --> 00:30:26.640
I think the reason why I do that is because when you feel like you're alone on this island, you just need a helpful hand.
00:30:26.799 --> 00:30:30.960
I've been there personally and felt like I didn't have anybody.
00:30:31.119 --> 00:30:33.119
I felt isolated, I
felt alone.
00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:41.920
Sometimes this industry has a way of making you feel like you're always the new kid on the block, no matter how long you've been in the business.
00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:55.839
Just because you haven't worked with so-and-so or this person or that person, or just because maybe you haven't done a photo shoot before and you this is your first one, and they're treating you like, I mean, you might be the baby, but don't treat me like a baby.
00:30:56.079 --> 00:30:59.359
Being the baby and being a baby are two different things.
00:30:59.599 --> 00:31:08.640
So I feel like there are people that you know, wedding planners happen and coordinators happen all the time, like new ones that come up.
00:31:08.880 --> 00:31:19.680
And I feel it's important that we teach and share the right way, then allow them to get out here and flounder because we talked about the heart of the wedding, the heart of the couple.
00:31:19.920 --> 00:31:29.519
They can't honor the heart of the couple and the heart of the wedding if they're told to just get out there and make the mistake, you'll learn along the way.
00:31:29.680 --> 00:31:31.359
That's unfair to them.
00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:36.720
That's unfair to the couple, that's income unfair to the industry as a whole.
00:31:36.960 --> 00:31:42.079
And it gives us as coordinators and planners a bad rap from the start.
00:31:42.319 --> 00:31:47.680
So, my question is to all planners and coordinators out there, why wouldn't you?
00:31:47.839 --> 00:31:48.720
Why gatekeeping?
00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:50.480
Like, what's the purpose of gatekeeping?
00:31:50.720 --> 00:31:56.240
Just gonna say a lot of times what I'm seeing is the whole just just go out and get experience.
00:31:56.400 --> 00:32:00.960
I'm thinking, wow, that's are you trying to hurt them?
00:32:01.200 --> 00:32:02.960
Would you go to a heart surgeon?
00:32:03.039 --> 00:32:06.160
Like, you need heart, you need a new heart.
00:32:06.640 --> 00:32:11.680
And someone told this heart surgeon, you know what, you just graduated high school.
00:32:11.839 --> 00:32:13.519
You can be anything you want to be.
00:32:13.599 --> 00:32:15.920
Well, yes, I can, but I need to go to school first.
00:32:16.079 --> 00:32:21.759
But no, no, don't worry about going to school, just go out there and and operate on somebody's heart.
00:32:21.920 --> 00:32:23.279
Would you sign up for that?
00:32:24.160 --> 00:32:26.640
Our couples aren't signing up for that.
00:32:26.880 --> 00:32:38.400
There are people out there that are faking it until they make it, and they're trying to present themselves more than what they are, and then which is nothing wrong with being confident.
00:32:38.960 --> 00:32:42.799
Being confident and and lying about your credentials are different.
00:32:42.880 --> 00:32:47.119
There's nothing wrong with confidence, but it hurts someone's big day.
00:32:47.279 --> 00:32:48.160
They can't redo it.
00:32:48.559 --> 00:32:54.960
There's no do-overs, there is no like takebacks, like once it's done, it's out, it's done.
00:32:55.119 --> 00:32:58.559
It's out, it could be remembered forever.
00:32:59.039 --> 00:33:11.279
And so it's important to me that that we don't have people coming behind us that are creating these passionate careers that they are told just go out and get experience.
00:33:11.440 --> 00:33:19.519
Because it's one thing to have experience, it's another thing to have education, and it's also another thing to have the education and not use it, but that's a whole nother ballgame.
00:33:20.319 --> 00:33:21.599
That is a whole thing.
00:33:21.759 --> 00:33:22.720
That is a whole thing.
00:33:22.880 --> 00:33:24.319
Don't even get me started on that.
00:33:24.640 --> 00:33:24.960
Sorry.
00:33:25.359 --> 00:33:27.599
We can do another podcast on that next year.
00:33:27.839 --> 00:33:28.319
I love that.
00:33:28.480 --> 00:33:29.440
We absolutely will.
00:33:29.599 --> 00:33:37.599
And I think that what we need to think about too is combining education with experience is is honestly the key here.
00:33:37.839 --> 00:33:41.119
But be careful who you are getting experience with.
00:33:41.200 --> 00:33:48.319
Because a lot of times when someone's new, they say, you know what, I think I want to work under someone for a little bit, but they don't realize what that implies.
00:33:48.480 --> 00:33:51.039
And I'm just going to give a couple quick things here.
00:33:51.359 --> 00:34:03.279
A, you don't, you've got to make sure that you know exactly who you're shadowing under because there are plenty of people with years of experience that are actually still doing it wrong or backwards or sideways, right?
00:34:03.359 --> 00:34:08.000
They're not doing it at the at the level of best practices.
00:34:08.320 --> 00:34:22.800
Second thing, a lot of times when people say, I want to work for someone else for a little while and then I'll open my business, they're not realizing that they can't actually speak about all of that experience when they open up their new company.
00:34:23.039 --> 00:34:32.800
All of the reviews you got for the five years that you were working for someone else, you can't bring those reviews into the new company because those reviews are owned by the other company that you were working with.
00:34:33.119 --> 00:34:38.000
And all of the images from all of the weddings that you did, none of them belong to you.
00:34:38.159 --> 00:34:46.079
You are not allowed to use a single one of those because that is the ownership of that particular planner's work.
00:34:46.239 --> 00:34:53.119
Because that planner, even though they own the business and didn't maybe plan it themselves, they had you plan it, that doesn't matter.
00:34:53.360 --> 00:34:55.679
It's still under the umbrella of that other company.
00:34:55.760 --> 00:34:57.760
And a lot of people don't understand all of that.
00:34:57.920 --> 00:35:05.199
But to me, the worst part is shadowing under someone
and not realizing you're actually developing other people's bad habits.
00:35:05.360 --> 00:35:09.599
So if you go into it with education first, now I know all the education.
00:35:09.679 --> 00:35:14.239
Now I've got all of the stuff that the Certified Wedding Planner Society taught me.
00:35:14.400 --> 00:35:28.800
Now when I go out and shadow someone, I'll know if those are bad habits, something to pick up on, or if I'm gonna only pick and choose some of the things that I know are being done well and learning something from someone.
00:35:29.039 --> 00:35:34.559
But you're right, there are some people that get education and then don't do a single thing with it.
00:35:34.719 --> 00:35:37.360
They are not applying it to their businesses at all.
00:35:37.519 --> 00:35:39.840
They only want a piece of paper to hang on their wall.
00:35:40.000 --> 00:35:47.280
And if that is somebody, I can honestly say don't bother coming to the Certified Wedding Planner Society if you're just looking for a certificate.
00:35:47.440 --> 00:35:58.719
It's really, we're here at the CWP Society to literally improve who you are, to make you a better person tomorrow than you were today, to make you a better business.
00:35:59.039 --> 00:36:02.400
And that can't happen with a closed mind, right, Mr.
00:36:02.880 --> 00:36:09.199
Yeah, and to give you the confidence, because I will I will say, I want to say, what is this 2026, 25, 2024?
00:36:09.360 --> 00:36:11.360
My my word of the year was confidence.
00:36:11.760 --> 00:36:18.400
I started DWP, my brain is I want to say late 22, but 20, maybe 23.
00:36:18.480 --> 00:36:18.960
I don't know.
00:36:19.119 --> 00:36:20.400
You know, I've slept since then.
00:36:20.480 --> 00:36:20.639
Right.
00:36:21.119 --> 00:36:36.159
But I I will say, like, if if people really wanted to know about me and how I got started with the CWP, God birthed this, my business, into my heart, just to make this really quick.
00:36:36.400 --> 00:36:43.280
And I just recently gotten married and I looked at my wedding planner because she did such a phenomenal job, such a phenomenal job.
00:36:43.519 --> 00:36:48.079
I went to her and I said, Hey, this is where I'm at, but I want to get educated.
00:36:48.239 --> 00:36:52.239
I said, I do want to get educated, and she pointed me to the CWP society.
00:36:52.559 --> 00:36:54.320
You want to know the funny part about that?
00:36:55.519 --> 00:36:58.719
She's not been to the CWP, she she's not even been through.
00:36:59.199 --> 00:37:01.840
She's just listen, sis.
00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:11.440
I just I was like, okay, she said I thought about it, but by the time I thought about it, I felt like I was too far gone to go back.
00:37:11.840 --> 00:37:20.800
And I told her, I said, Listen, if you seen like after I started classes, I was like, if you've seen half the people that I've seen on these calls, they older than me, sis.
00:37:21.119 --> 00:37:28.079
Like they're older planners than myself, and I've
been in my early mid-century years, but whatever.
00:37:28.320 --> 00:37:33.440
So yes, um, I didn't come up for Mayflower, but you know, I was shortly there.
00:37:33.679 --> 00:37:33.760
Right.
00:37:34.079 --> 00:37:37.519
The CWP Society is for people of all ages.
00:37:37.840 --> 00:38:00.400
We not only have for students who want to be a planner in the future, because I think we forget to say talk about that on our calls, Lori, but where you will help students, and then you know, we have our industry pros, and then we have people who have maybe wanted to be a planner and to get all the details, our certified wedding planners, and then we have the masters and then educators.
00:38:00.480 --> 00:38:04.239
Like literally, the CWP has everything that you need.
00:38:04.320 --> 00:38:08.719
It's almost like going from kindergarten to your master's program at one school.
00:38:08.960 --> 00:38:10.719
Yeah, and we'll meet you wherever you are.
00:38:10.960 --> 00:38:18.960
Here's what I want planners to know whether you have five years of experience, zero, five, ten, twenty-five, thirty.
00:38:19.360 --> 00:38:23.679
I have some planners who have been doing this for 30 years who just went through the wedding planner certification program.
00:38:23.920 --> 00:38:39.199
I hear this it's either I am so relieved that I was doing 90% of this right, but 10% of it was brand speaking new and has completely revitalized how I am actually going to show up in my business from this moment on.
00:38:39.360 --> 00:38:41.280
I take that as such a huge compliment.
00:38:41.519 --> 00:38:46.800
Now, other people go, okay, yeah, I have been on the wrong path this entire time.
00:38:46.960 --> 00:38:49.280
For all 25 years, I've been on the wrong path.
00:38:49.440 --> 00:38:52.639
I am so grateful that I just wish I would have found this sooner.
00:38:52.719 --> 00:38:54.719
I wish I would have taken this sooner.
00:38:55.039 --> 00:38:57.440
Let me tell you one thing that I've never heard.
00:38:57.760 --> 00:39:05.280
There has never been a time because we ask for testimonials, we we say, tell me how your experience was.
00:39:05.679 --> 00:39:10.960
And a lot of people, I've never said, never heard anybody say, I didn't learn a single thing.
00:39:11.199 --> 00:39:15.119
I have never once received that that feedback.
00:39:15.280 --> 00:39:26.320
It has always been, I asked myself why I didn't do this 10 years ago, or I asked myself why I've been so distant to wanting to learn or become better.
00:39:26.400 --> 00:39:32.079
And that's we have to look at ourselves, and we need to not just show up because we've been talking this whole time about showing up for other people.
00:39:32.400 --> 00:39:34.320
But what about showing up for ourselves?
00:39:34.480 --> 00:39:42.800
We're asking couples to invest in us, but so many planners and coordinators are not willing to invest in themselves.
00:39:42.960 --> 00:39:56.800
Why is listen, you know, while you were saying that, I thought, now if I went to the same hairdresser for all this time and she never went back and got re-educated, I'd have a 1980s hairdo.
00:39:57.039 --> 00:39:57.840
Do you understand?
00:39:58.000 --> 00:40:02.960
Like, I know things go around, but I ain't gonna look cute with a big poofy.
00:40:03.039 --> 00:40:05.519
Like, I just you know, I'm just not gonna be cute like that.
00:40:05.760 --> 00:40:18.079
So we we expect everybody else to get educated, we expect our doctors to go back and get educated and stay current, we expect our dentists to stay current and have the nice new equipment, you know.
00:40:18.960 --> 00:40:21.440
We should be the same way, you know.
00:40:21.519 --> 00:40:25.360
We expect our lawyers to do it, like we should be the same way.
00:40:25.760 --> 00:40:30.480
Education is evolving, it's ever growing.
00:40:30.800 --> 00:40:41.039
And if you ever had someone to say, and they took any class that they didn't learn at least one thing, then that means they weren't there to apply themselves.
00:40:41.199 --> 00:40:45.840
It was to show up for someone else other than themselves, just to say, I did it.
00:40:46.639 --> 00:40:56.159
So I don't think you'd ever have anybody with the CWP society that say they didn't learn anything ever because it's so much knowledge over here.
00:40:56.400 --> 00:40:59.119
Listen, I have yeah, eons of notes.
00:40:59.199 --> 00:41:03.679
I'm a note taker, and it's it's it's it's that it's sad.
00:41:03.840 --> 00:41:06.719
I still have notes in my phone that I haven't transferred to paper.
00:41:06.880 --> 00:41:10.079
You didn't just take the certifications, Miss Venisha.
00:41:10.320 --> 00:41:17.199
You then show up every Wednesday for our free continuing education that's included in your membership, and I watch you.
00:41:17.360 --> 00:41:22.239
You know, like you are so tuned in to how can I grow?
00:41:22.480 --> 00:41:29.199
What can I be doing that is going to make me a better planner today than I was yesterday?
00:41:29.360 --> 00:41:47.360
And that is the thing that I love so much about you is that you care so much about your couples, you care so much about your vendor teams, and you care so much about your business, yeah, that you are willing to continuously get more information.
00:41:47.519 --> 00:41:48.960
And I just love that about you.
00:41:49.119 --> 00:41:52.000
The aha moments are like crazy.
00:41:52.079 --> 00:41:54.159
I'm like, oh, that's a great idea.
00:41:54.320 --> 00:42:04.320
That's what I love about the CWP because we get to share with one another because I may be doing something that's working for me, but I hear something else, I'm like, oh girl, that was good.
00:42:04.480 --> 00:42:05.920
Let me write that down again.
00:42:06.079 --> 00:42:06.719
More notes.
00:42:06.880 --> 00:42:12.480
Let me write that down because even last week I was like, I'm gonna need I'm gonna do that.
00:42:12.639 --> 00:42:15.199
I'm gonna do that and try it, see if it
works for me.
00:42:15.280 --> 00:42:17.519
It may work for me, it works for me, it may work for me.
00:42:17.599 --> 00:42:18.079
I love my C.
00:42:18.559 --> 00:42:18.960
I love it.
00:42:19.119 --> 00:42:20.400
Yes, and you know what?
00:42:20.559 --> 00:42:23.360
CWP decided, let's you write back, Miss Phoenicia.
00:42:23.519 --> 00:42:27.599
And but if I'm pulling one thread out of this entire conversation, it's this.
00:42:27.760 --> 00:42:32.480
You wrote something to your couples that I can't actually stop thinking about.
00:42:32.639 --> 00:42:38.639
That on their wedding day, their only goal is to enjoy every single moment.
00:42:38.800 --> 00:42:48.480
And everything that we've talked about on this podcast, holding the center, giving grace, you know, seeing the heart under all of their chaos.
00:42:48.880 --> 00:42:52.719
It's it kind of all exists for that one reason.
00:42:52.800 --> 00:43:04.159
And we do all of that quiet, invisible work so that people that we love get to forget that we're working at all and just be there fully in their own joy.
00:43:04.480 --> 00:43:07.519
That, Miss Venisha, is the heart of all of it.
00:43:07.760 --> 00:43:16.719
So before I let you go, because I know that people are gonna want to find you and get to know you, because it has been my pleasure to get to know you all over the years.
00:43:16.800 --> 00:43:19.199
So tell everybody you know, what's your website?
00:43:19.440 --> 00:43:21.360
Where can they follow you on social media?
00:43:21.440 --> 00:43:22.639
Give them all the deeds.
00:43:22.800 --> 00:43:29.679
Well, I'll say this because cloud nine events is such a popular, like people talk about oh, being on cloud nine is so popular.
00:43:29.840 --> 00:43:32.559
I had to invert my website on my website.
00:43:32.639 --> 00:43:34.960
It's events by cloud9.com.
00:43:35.199 --> 00:43:39.440
Also on Instagram, it is events by cloud nine.
00:43:39.519 --> 00:43:40.079
You'll find me.
00:43:40.159 --> 00:43:43.199
I'm a black logo with the cloud nine on it.
00:43:43.440 --> 00:43:50.880
Same thing for Facebook, it's cloud9 events, but come come see me, come follow me, and copy my inbox.
00:43:51.039 --> 00:43:51.519
We can chat.
00:43:51.679 --> 00:43:52.719
Yeah, I love that.
00:43:52.960 --> 00:43:53.360
Perfect.
00:43:53.519 --> 00:44:01.679
Go find Venetia because she is exactly as warm and as wonderful and as kind and loving and patient as she sounds.
00:44:01.840 --> 00:44:04.079
I am here to promise you all of that.
00:44:04.239 --> 00:44:12.800
And to anybody listening, if this conversation actually lits something up in you, that's exactly what the Certified Wedding Planner Society is here for.
00:44:13.039 --> 00:44:22.400
We are the world's premier wedding planner and coordinator certification and membership program, as well as the largest community of wedding planners anywhere.
00:44:22.480 --> 00:44:27.199
And we have a place for you, just like Venetia said, no matter where you are in your journey.
00:44:27.360 --> 00:44:29.280
So come elevate yourself in your business.
00:44:29.440 --> 00:44:35.280
Visit our website, cwpsociety.com, and learn more about all of our different offerings.
00:44:35.599 --> 00:44:37.519
We are your people, we are your tribe.
00:44:37.679 --> 00:44:40.800
So until next time, happy planning, everyone.