Education + Relationships: The Winning Formula for Wedding Planners

What truly separates thriving wedding planners from those who struggle to build sustainable businesses?

In this candid conversation, Master Certified Wedding Planners & Certified Educators, Aisha Garnett and Crystal Dailey join Krisy Thomas, COO of the CWP Society, to reveal the powerful synergy between education and relationships that has transformed their careers.

Aisha reflects on her early days, when she charged just $300 for an entire wedding before pursuing certification, a decision that connected her with mentors who reshaped her professional trajectory. Crystal shares how her educational foundation gave her the confidence to cultivate industry relationships that continue to generate opportunities years later.

The discussion takes a memorable turn when Aisha recalls a shocking moment: a caterer attempting to host a client tasting in a stairwell. Her takeaway. “Vet your vendors, and then vet them again!”, highlights why proper education empowers planners to ask the right questions and protect their clients.

Both Aisha and Crystal credit their Master Certification through the CWP Society as a game-changer, not only sharpening their technical expertise but also equipping them to manage challenging client dynamics with professionalism and grace. Crystal describes how education prepared her to calm an anxious mother-of-the-bride, while Aisha explains how professionalism has safeguarded her reputation in a competitive market.

For planners who feel isolated or stuck, this episode is more than inspiration, it’s a roadmap. Education and relationships aren’t separate paths; they’re the foundation of a sustainable career. And when you connect with a supportive community like the CWP Society, you’ll never have to navigate this industry alone.

Ready to take the first step toward building the business you’ve been dreaming of? Visit cwpsociety.com today to join the network that’s helping wedding planners nationwide elevate their skills, their confidence, and their careers.

www.cwpsociety.com | info@cwpsociety.com | IG: @cwpsociety | FB: @cwpsociety

Transcript

Speaker 1 0:00

You're listening to the Wedding Planner Society podcast brought to you by the CWP Society. Welcome back to the Wedding Planner Society podcast brought to you by the CWP Society. I am one of your co-hosts, Chrissy Thomas, the COO of the CWP Society, and I have not one, but two powerhouse guests with me. Joining the conversation is Aisha Garnett. She's a master certified wedding planner, certified educator and owner of Sharia Moore Events. And Crystal Daly, another master certified wedding planner, certified educator and owner of Empower Weddings. Wedding Planner, Certified Educator and Owner of Empower Weddings. Aisha is known for her incredible relationship building skills, while Crystal's superpower is empowering wedding planners through education. Together, they prove that when you combine the right knowledge with the right connections, you become unstoppable in this industry, and today we're going to dive into how education and relationships work hand in hand real stories where one opened the door to another, and actual steps that you can take to grow your business.

Speaker 1 1:10

Ladies, welcome back to the podcast. You guys are some of our regular educators who we love having here, and I will say why I'm so excited about having the both of you on this podcast is because each of you bring and I want to call it a superpower, but it's something that the two of you have, where you are both so incredibly inspiring, People look up to you, and not only that, but you are also so kind and always have an open door to other wedding planners, other CWPs, of your knowledge, your information, your time, and I absolutely love that about both of you. And not only that, you two are also two of the funniest women I know. So I feel like this podcast is going to be filled with a lot of us laughing, but also I do feel like the two of you are going to really inspire our listeners. So thank you both for being a part of today, and this is going to be a really fun episode. I'm excited.

Speaker 2 2:05

Thank you for having us Kristen.

Speaker 3 2:07

Yes, absolutely, I'm excited. I'm looking forward to it. Thank you for having me.

Speaker 1 2:11

Absolutely. So I did mention that you guys do have your own superpowers. Obviously, crystal education I mean, that is just your thing. That is something that you absolutely love. I know, obviously, aisha, you're another one of our educators who love education. Both of you combined have every single certification you could possibly get. You guys have, but, aisha, you also have that power of relationships and to me, those two things together make you unstoppable. So, aisha, can you speak on that, when it comes to your relationships and how that really has benefited you and your career as a certified wedding planner?

Speaker 2 2:45

Of course, I'd say it's like any other career field. You have to receive some sort of education to improve on your craft, at least for me. I want to work with someone that I know has had the education behind their expertise, versus someone that doesn't. I've always been a fan of getting education. I love learning and in doing so I've met some of the most amazing individuals, and some of my most valuable relationships have been birthed from me taking the step to receive knowledge in my career field. I can say without a doubt that I would not be where I am today in my career without the education that I've continued to learn in this industry. With an industry that is forever changing, I'm literally fueled by the fact that there's always a learning opportunity. It'll help me become a better person than I was yesterday, and that alone gives me an unstoppable mentality.

Speaker 1 3:36

Absolutely, crystal. How about you? How do you feel that relationships on top of education I know you're educated girl how do you feel like two things combined have helped you in your career?

Speaker 3 3:48

So I don't think without the what I call formal education I use air quotes because there's really no formal education for wedding planners outside of the Certified Wedding Planner Society but through this education that I have obtained I have learned to create those relationships, whether it's through networking, whether it's just through creating relationships with my clients and their families. This is where I have learned to prosper and grow and really build my dream teams. So I did not, I would not have gone as far as I have in these past couple of years without education and building those relationships. I've even I've even gotten referrals from now my friend doors that I've built those relationships with. So through my education I have learned to really find value in prospering relationships, really building on them and finding building relationship, relationships with the right people, like-minded people.

Speaker 1 4:47

Oh, I love that you mentioned that, crystal like-minded people, because in the wedding industry, especially as wedding planners our job, you know, we're all we work from home.

Speaker 1 4:57

Typically it can be quite lonely in the field that we're in and I think a lot of people you know.

Speaker 1 5:03

I'll give my story, for example, when I first started out I was eager to find other wedding planners to hang out with, to get to know, and I got really basically smacked in the face with the who are you, you're new, you gross, and that is incredibly discouraging.

Speaker 1 5:20

But I know, with the three of us obviously being part of the CWP society, it opened up the door to obviously getting a phenomenal education, but also getting in front of a community of people who, like you said, crystal, were like-minded but also who were not going to shun you out and who were not going to look down on you for being new and close that door before you even got a chance to step your foot in it.

Speaker 1 5:43

So it is all about finding the right people and if there's anyone listening who's like I've tried that and they had the same experience with me I do want them to know there are organizations like CWP society where that's not going to happen, and you two are complete proof of that. Complete proof of that, and obviously me as well. But I do want to talk about how complete proof of that, and obviously me as well. But I do want to talk about how if you both could share and I'll start off with you, aisha if you could share a time when education opened up the door to a relationship, or even the other way, where maybe a relationship opened up the door to you getting education.

Speaker 2 6:17

Sure, chrissy, I'll share a personal story and it's actually my personal story of becoming a wedding planner. It started with me searching for the best program for me to receive knowledge on how to become a certified wedding planner. Now, at the time, I had just executed my very first wedding and I charged $300.

Speaker 1 6:37

Oh, not $300. At least I charged $5.

Speaker 2 6:41

She didn't know any better, ok, but I had charged $300 for that wedding. Now, as I mentioned, remember that was the uncertified wedding planner that we're talking about Now. I could have easily just stamped wedding planner next to my name and continue to charge pennies for my services, but I wanted to learn the things that I knew. I didn't know about the industry. I wanted to be official. I wanted to be certified Okay, and I'll Crystal's the same way.

Speaker 1 7:14

I remember one of our podcast episodes. Crystal said I gained my certification because I wanted to be outstanding.

Speaker 2 7:19

Okay, and that's what it means Certified.

Speaker 1 7:22

If I could snap, I would. Unfortunately, I cannot snap, that is not a skill that I have. But snap, snap. Okay, I'll take it.

Speaker 2 7:30

Well, chrissy, in 2012, I took the stance and I bet on myself. I came across what was known at the time as the Bridal Society. I'm dating my age with the company. Now, whatever, this is me doing a three-hour drive to Virginia from North Carolina. I spent an entire jam-packed weekend receiving the education I needed to become a certified wedding planner. At the end of the course, I asked Lori Hartwell, our fabulous CEO, one simple question and of course it had something to do with charging and she gave me the advice to charge what you're worth right out the gate. I'll just add that in there.

Speaker 2 8:09

But at the end of that course, I asked her that simple question and in asking that, I couldn't help but to realize that she had just spent three whole days pouring knowledge into students, hours on hours, and she still had time to speak to me. She made the time to speak to me. A simple question turned into the start of a beautiful relationship, a beautiful friendship and a mentorship. So here I am, still learning with the same organization, still working to be the best that I can be in my craft with the same organization. So many doors have opened for me. After betting on myself, when I decided to take the course with the CWP Society. It's literally a revolving door of opportunity, education and beautiful relationships, and for that I am forever grateful. Oh, aisha, you're making my eyes water.

Speaker 1 9:00

Well that's good, and I'm still doing it ice water, because our journeys are basically the exact same way. I took a long drive to gain my certification. I, at the end of the course me being for those of you who are listening and I think I mentioned this in the past I am extremely introverted, so the thought of like approaching anyone to talk to them after this was over was frightening to me. But, of course, lori welcomed me with open arms and our stories are also very similar in the sense that this is the CEO of an international company and yet she continued to follow us. Yes, lori stalked us in our careers and when she thought there's something in the two of you, she made us educators. So that to me like how phenomenal is that that there's someone who can pour that much into you and what that did for our careers.

Speaker 1 9:48

Yes, and I always say this, I would not be where I am today if I did not gain my certification. I certainly wouldn't have felt comfortable enough to reach out to other wedding planners because I got so burned when I first started my business, having the CABP Society and the family, that we have allowed me to open that door to be more welcomed. Like hi, I'm also certified and was welcomed with open arms, so all it does, like you said, it's a revolving door of opportunities that has led all three of us on this episode to have these thriving careers. And, Crystal, I want to ask you the same question Can you share a time when your education opened the door to relationships, or maybe relationships opened the door to you and your education?

Speaker 3 10:29

Absolutely, and they definitely go hand in hand. So, like Aisha, just through taking the certification course and working with Lori, lori has really been the only person outside of you. Of course, chrissy, I've worked with you as well. That has taken me with open arms to be a mentee. There was no hey, join this. $10,000 mentorship or $30,000 mentorship or something. It was more. So okay, you've invested in yourself. You became a certified wedding planner. Let me help you grow.

Speaker 3 11:04

And there's been so much in this relationship. I just can't count the times that I look back and say Lori helped me make this X, y, z decision in my career. That has catapult me so much to where people are coming to me. Oh, my gosh, crystal, you have grown so much. I love to see your growth. I love to see your growth.

Speaker 3 11:24

So that education that I received through the Certified Wedding Planner Society, through every single certification I've taken and through that revolving door of educational opportunities that Aisha spoke of, that relationship that I've built with Lori has truly been golden and I mean she'll give you as much or as little as you need. So that for me, has been definitely game-changing because I know I have someone to come to to get that, that solid advice from that I know has the experience in the industry. So she's not talking to me from necessarily. Oh well, I'm going to just give her what I've read somewhere, what, what I think, what AI told me. She's given me exact experience so I know that I am able to take that and apply it to my career and it has been proven. I've taken her advice and it has been proven and it helped me. So that has been truly just golden and that relationship that I built has been just invaluable.

Speaker 1 12:22

I love that and I love too, crystal, that you mentioned you know this wasn't a $3,000, $10,000, $20,000 program to be a part of. Because, crystal, because you value education so much, you dug deep, you researched education, you have been through other programs, you have worked with other quote unquote educators before and you've invested a lot of money into that and you've been met with well. This was a waste of my money and some of those other programs, so I'm glad that you mentioned that. For those listeners who are wanting that education or like I'm seeing these educators on it's, crystal calls them and they charge 10 million a session. I can't afford that. Is that going to be worth the investment? So I know one of our past podcasts, crystal, we talked and we dive deep into how to find the right education for you by taking that time due to due diligence, read reviews, really get to know the educators and make sure they line up with your standards, your values, so that way you can hopefully find a phenomenal mentor who's going to lift you up, not just take you for every dime that you have, and there is definitely a difference there.

Speaker 1 13:27

Now, crystal, something that we've talked about, and we talk about almost every podcast, is that you are truly passionate about educators or, excuse me, you're truly passionate about planners getting their education early on, at the jump. You know what's one mistake, you see, when planners skip this step, when they skip getting education. And I know that's something that both of us, all three of us, have mentioned. We've taken on a wedding, we didn't charge what we needed to charge and we got our education. So for those of you who've already made that mistake, all three of us have. So just be aware of that. But is there any other mistake that you see that planners make if they skip getting their education at all?

Speaker 3 14:06

It's the foundation of planning that wedding, the process. You will probably be a lot further behind in what you need to do within wedding planning when you skip that step of getting educated and I could go into that in a lot further details and and I could go into that in a lot further details but when you become educated, when you take the certificate, especially the certified wedding planner society certification, there is a step-by-step process to wedding planning that you learn and there's gaps that are filled, because a lot of I've heard so many people say well, I planned my cousin's wedding and I did that great. You know, a lot of people can do things great one time in a perfect scenario. However, becoming a certified wedding planner that attained that education taught me OK, this is what to do when this happens. This is what you do when this X, y, z happens Bet your darn vendors.

Speaker 3 14:57

Even just that one thing of betting your vendors that I've learned. Oh, I'm not supposed to just work with someone's uncle that has a speaker that they got from Costco, why not? So just even just that step alone of just vetting your vendors working with licensed and insured professionals, that was a complete game changer once I became. So. There's certain just methodologies within wedding planning that people take for granted. They think it's so simple just because they were able to throw it together for one person one time and did it halfway well, then that's just what they want to continue on with. When there's every single wedding is different, I'm sure all of you know you probably learned something from every single wedding, no matter how many you do. So really getting that foundation, I really believe, is that something that there's so many mistakes there's just not one I can point out, but definitely vetting your vendors and getting that foundation.

Speaker 1 15:51

And I put on a t-shirt. Vet your darn vendors, because you know how passionate I am about the approved vendor list. Why he got on a shirt and like man.

Speaker 3 16:04

I worry you guys, guys. Why didn't I know that in 2016?

Speaker 1 16:09

that's why we teach about it. I'm gonna bring it up almost every single workshop. You guys know there's every single Wednesday we have our workshop. I'm gonna bring it up because it it is so much of a foundation of your business and being a successful wedding planner. Now, aisha, have you ever seen a relationship suffer because someone either didn't have the right education or professionalism?

Speaker 2 16:31

Chrissy have I? I'm glad you two are discussing, or mentioned, vetting your vendors, because even in me, doing my research on this particular vendor or this story that I'm about to share, vet your vendors and then vet them again. Yeah, I have definitely seen relationships suffer or, in this experience that I want to share, it didn't even start due to someone not having the right professionalism, and I think professionalism and education go hand in hand. I can recall a time when I reached out to a caterer for one of my clients. Now my clients wanted to schedule a tasting with this caterer. Everything from my initial contact with her to scheduling the tasting seemed professional until my clients and I showed up to her commercial kitchen. As she escorts us to what I thought would be the kitchen or some sort of tasting room, no, we turn the corner and we end up in a stairwell with a table set for two. Behind us was a door to the loading dock. Ok, this is where she had planned our tasting.

Speaker 1 17:42

I want to tell you right now, for those of you listening I mentioned this probably once a month with our podcast. I watch a lot of Dateline. This sounds like something Keith Morrison would be talking about. This is literally a Dateline podcast. Go on, I'm intrigued.

Speaker 2 18:00

So I left off where we entered the stairwell, okay, in the corner there's a table set for two. Two, and I'm not even going to get into the decor on this table, but it was set for two. Okay, my clients and I were looking at each other. We're stunned. Okay, immediately, I look at them and I motioned let's go. No, thank you. But no, thank you. And they're like no, no, let's you know no. So she go to get their food and they're I'm like y'all, we, we can leave. Right now I can let her know this is not a great. They're like no, let's just, let's taste it, let's give her the benefit of the doubt. Oh, I know.

Speaker 2 18:41

So I stayed on behalf of my clients just to see. But the professionalism went out the door, because I know that a licensed caterer knows better than to serve food in the middle of a stairwell. Needless to say, we didn't go with her. And the non-professionalism didn't stop there. After tasting, I sent her an email, a very nice, respectful email, stating that my clients had decided to go in a different direction. She responds to me, adding my clients to the email, and she starts to tell us how unprofessional we were to schedule a tasting and then decide not to work with her True story. She mentioned how she missed out on spending time with her family and how she wouldn't have scheduled the tasting if she knew it wouldn't turn into a contract for her services. Keep in mind she charged for the tasting.

Speaker 2 19:34

Oh right, from that moment on, I kept my professionalism and responded to her email that I'd give her a call and that we could start an email removing my clients, as they didn't need to see the communication between she and I, because I knew what was about to go on, but you'd be proud of me, okay, I kept it very respectful. But my client stepped in and literally took over and explained to her why they decided not to go with her. They were very direct. They mentioned things that I would have definitely mentioned, but in this case they were the clients, they were spending the money. So they were very, still professional but very direct with her, and they explained to her. You know why they decided not to work with her.

Speaker 2 20:23

That experience definitely denied a professional relationship. That could have happened, but it also showed me that this caterer clearly doesn't have the right education or they weren't utilizing their education in their profession because it was completely unprofessional. So I didn't even get the chance to start up, to start to build a relationship with her front end and reaching out. Even in doing my research and I've done this before I've seen caterers. They have a restaurant. She had a restaurant she had as it as on it looked like everything was kosher. But no, once you actually see her and meet her face to face, you actually see behind the scenes of what's going on with this catering company.

Speaker 1 21:11

And so I mentioned earlier, when you vet them, vet them again because on the back of the shirt your so I'll have to vet your darn vendors on the front and then vet them again on the back.

Speaker 2 21:27

Because, what?

Speaker 1 21:29

Yes, because I can imagine, aisha, since if you would have just went surface level with that vetting process and they went ahead and hired them, what disasters would have been in store for you on the day of.

Speaker 2 21:40

Major and I would have been crying and in the corner in the fetal position wondering.

Speaker 1 21:48

What happened? What? Oh gosh. Ok, so I'm going to. I'm going to switch things out, because now I'm breaking out in hives. That's literally what wedding planners have nightmares over. That's one reason why, part of our certification program, we go into detail for each and every single vendor category. What questions you should be asking, how we should vet them, because ultimately, we're obviously our main goal as wedding planners is we want our clients to have the most phenomenal wedding day ever, but these are relationships that we're going to be developing and that are also going to be a reflection of us and our company, so we have to know what questions to ask, which is why we spend so much time over it in our certification program. So thank you for sharing that story. That's probably going to scare a lot of people. We're probably gonna get some emails and I'm going to have them send you their therapy pill. If that's okay, that's fine.

Speaker 3 22:40

But that goes back to what I was saying, that foundation of wedding planning, that that those questions you refer to, what to ask when you're betting. I still, I still refer back to those questions that you guys listed in the certification program. I'll never forget what did chrissy say when I was going through the? Let me go back, let me have to write that down or take my notes again. I I still go back to those questions to this day when I'm vetting new vendors. And to Aisha's point, you do have to re-vet them. You have to vet them again in real time. Everyone can sound good. Some people have the right okay, they have the right mindset. How do they execute? How do they execute? On Wednesday?

Speaker 3 23:22

And if I can share a quick story, chrissy, I had a DJ that I work with pretty well and until we had a wedding where it did, there was a little bit of challenge. That was that surface and my, when the DJ came in, she came in very flustered. She came in not being able to really handle those challenges with a smile. We know as planners we have to pivot sometimes when it's not the most comfortable situations, to where my assistants were coming to me like, oh, did you? Did you catch her attitude, did you see? I was like, oh, okay, so now, now I'm having to go help smooth her over, help relieve some of the pressure that she's feeling so she can get back into her mode of being the DJ and being an entertainer, being fun. So I'm having to fix that for her. Whereas so now I know, okay, you're not the best person for me to work with on wedding day, because when challenges come up, I can't have you displaying your frustrations. You know, I cannot have you doing that. And then later on my bride actually told me, actually in the groom, how they felt some things were not handled very well with that particular DJ.

Speaker 3 24:34

I was like, okay, so never again. You know, never again. I had never had that problem. But one time is enough, you know, and it wasn't a huge problem. I will say that. But I don't need it to become a huge problem. You know, I don't, I don't, I don't need a lightning to hit me to say, okay, let me fix that. No, we're gonna, we're gonna take that that little, uh, that little small chip. All right, great, I'll take that and move on.

Speaker 1 24:57

So, yeah, revet for sure at them again and miss Crystal D love that. So, chrysal, for you, what's one educational experience or even a relationship building opportunity you took that had a bigger impact than you actually initially expected it to, and why do you think it worked so well?

Speaker 3 25:17

so I would say, taking the master certification course I. I went into that one. I was like what is this master thing? Because they get their own whole calls and all this stuff. I need to be on the master team one.

Speaker 1 25:36

Anytime there is a new program clinic workshop you are the first to sign up. I remember there was one that was like Crystal. You don't even need this. We have to call him like crystal. This isn't about you, we'll stay with it. Keep it on my dashboard. I'm gonna learn. I want to say that first, real listen. Every time there's education, crystal is the first to hop on and get that, I'm telling you.

Speaker 3 25:59

I was like, wait a minute, I need to. What is, what is? What is this master click? I need to join that team.

Speaker 3 26:04

So, but taking that course, and I will never forget, I was helping another planner. I was going to Charlotte to help another planner and I enrolled and I'm just listening and I'm like taking a back, I was like, oh my God, what is Lori talking about here? Why, where was this information before? It was just so many jewels and that. I think that's probably my turning point in me becoming a more elevated planner.

Speaker 3 26:32

So that had a even bigger impact on me as a planner than I would have thought it was. I thought it was just gonna be just a few more things, maybe a few more checklists, just an extension of the, the regular certification, but it really was an elevation to it, like I think everyone should become a master if you're truly, truly serious about being a wedding planner. So there's so many things I learned in that program that I'm still doing to this to this day. You know, and I'm even I can't wait for the well, I don't want to spill any, let me not spill any news here, but I'm always excited about taking on more certification programs, and I think taking on that master one that definitely had a very positive impact on me as a planner and the type of service that I give my clients.

Speaker 1 27:20

And I'll say, crystal, I had the exact same reaction you did of like what is Lori talking about? And at this point I had been working side by side with Lori. This was when we were still doing things in person. I can't imagine how we did that, especially with now, our new certification program, our 2026 program, is 32 hours worth of content. How we did that in two to three days blows my mind. But either way, I was sitting side by side with Lori and I'm like let me take the master. I work with her. I should know everything I called. I paused her and called her and was like why are you holding out for me? You have all this extra information and knowledge in that brain of yours and I don't even know about it. But it was a huge like, oh my God completely elevated me and in the same route.

Speaker 1 28:05

I didn't expect it to and obviously I know the education that we put out there. I know it's phenomenal, I know it's good and I know it's years sometimes and I know with Master's of Education it was years of work was put into this program and, crystal, it is okay if you sprinkle a little news. We are a part of the cdp society because the industry is always changing, we have to also change our content. We also have to make sure our members and the planners have the most up-to-date information with this ever-changing industry. So the masters is being revamped and I'm if I would, we were blown away by the first one. I'm like, good lord, are we gonna our brains are going to literally pop out of our heads with this, this revamped version Like, are we going to be able to handle all this extra education?

Speaker 3 28:50

I'm telling you I had. I was in the car saying, okay, I'll just, you know, listen to it. I had to stop and like, okay, I gotta go back so I can do this at the computer and take some notes. You know, I still have those notes in my OneNote on my computer of all, just all the little little things that she mentioned during that, during that course. So that was definitely eye opening, game changing, it was elevating, for sure.

Speaker 1 29:13

A thousand percent. Aisha, I'm going to ask you the same question Was there an experience where either it was relationship, learning opportunity or an educational experience that made a bigger impact on you and your career than you initially thought it would?

Speaker 2 29:25

Well, just like Crystal, I'm going to have to bring it back to my experience with the CWP Society as well. I had no idea that in 2012, I'd go from getting certified to now being a certified educator for the very organization that provided me with the knowledge that I needed to do what I've grown to love tremendously. Not only that, I, too, gained my master's certification. I have been a part of countless conferences and paloozas with the CWP Society. I've gained even more knowledge from our educational clinics and our workshops. I've had speaking engagement opportunities and I've even had the opportunity to co-host the Wedding Industry News Series on our podcast. To being a guest on our podcast today and I was awarded the 2025 Wedding Planner of the Year.

Speaker 1 30:18

Yes, queen.

Speaker 2 30:22

But this was all because of the start of my educational experience with the CWP Society, even though it started in 2012,. I feel like I'm just getting started, not have imagined that this would be my journey, and I definitely acknowledge the CWP Society in that success. I've taken all that I've learned and I've put it to the test in my own business and how I show up in this industry. But I don't show up in this industry alone. There are thousands of members that I can call on, but there are my absolute favorites and I'm on this podcast with the two of them today and, of course, lori looks in the background somewhere listening. But I've been able to call upon some amazing members with the CWP Society and those relationships have afforded me some great opportunities. It has given me valuable lessons and I'd say this is better than well. It's amazing.

Speaker 1 31:15

This is amazing. I want to piggyback off of what you said when you mentioned. I feel like I'm just now getting started and I feel the same way, and it reminds me of Hamilton the musical, where he says there's a million things I haven't done, but just you wait. And that's how it feels when we're part of an organization like CWP, because it doesn't just stop once we got our certification. Every single year, every single, it's just built and built and built. And I'm in that same boat as you are.

Speaker 1 31:48

If you would have told me when I gained my certification that I would now be the COO of the company, part of me I'll be honest, part of me would have not believed that I made this far. I did believe at some I would be the success that I was, because when I sat down and gave my certification, I thought this is going to change my life. I immediately knew that it would. So I knew that where I would be as a wedding planner. I was like, oh yeah, this is going to take me where I want to go as a wedding planner, and it did. I didn't think that my desire and my dreams of being able to have other wedding planners have the same success that I did. I remember I told my husband I was like I want to impact other people the way that Lori impacted me, and I don't know what that looks like. And no lie, a few weeks later, Lori calls me out of the blue and was like I've been spying and watching you. I think you would be a great educator. And that kind of opened up the door.

Speaker 1 32:38

And I do feel like every part of my life and my journey has led me to this moment. I've been public speaking since I was in the fourth grade, which my mom is even so shocked by that. I was winning public speaking contests at 10 and 11 years old and she was like you literally wouldn't talk to anyone. And here you are, winning public speaking contests, but it's led me here. I went to college. I wanted to be a news anchor, just like Aisha as well, and how's that benefited us. We're on this wonderful podcast together. Every little step in my journey has led me here, but wow, what a journey it's been. Wow, and not only that. Like you said, I'm just getting started. My body may be shutting down as I approach, as I get closer and closer to 40, but I feel like I'm just getting started. I really, I really do, and I'm so glad that you mentioned that, Aisha, and what a beautiful thing that is for us in this industry, with our careers.

Speaker 3 33:29

And I just want to say, chrissy, when you were announced as the COO, I was not in the least bit shocked. I was like well-deserved. I don't know that she could have chosen anybody better. So no shock here.

Speaker 1 33:43

I'm going to make you cry. Thank you, crystal, for saying that. I appreciate that. I do want to talk about relationships and our phenomenal membership here at CWP, aisha, because you are the queen of making the most out of your CWP membership. What's one overlooked way planners can use their membership to really strengthen their business?

Speaker 2 34:06

I'd say an overlooked way would be that they don't use the CWP Society membership Like getting the certification, like you said, chrissy, doesn't just stop once you cross the finish line of completing the program. That's when the real work begins, because you now have to apply what you've learned. And what better way to apply what you've learned than to get involved, stay involved and build those relationships with a group of like minded individuals that have gone through the program with you? I'm pretty sure that all our members can relate to one another and find something in common with one another, but you've got to be willing to take the steps in building those relationships. It's easy to feel like you're alone or you're on your own after the program is over, but you aren't, and that's one of the values of the CWP membership. Simply take the time to reach out to someone. You never know. What can flourish if you don't plant the seed.

Speaker 1 35:01

Goodness, a thousand percent Crystal. Same question for you, but maybe even a twist on it how can education help give planners more confidence to really utilize their membership or to network in a beautiful way?

Speaker 3 35:13

And I'll even because I used to describe that so well, so I'll even go kind of speak more to a networking perspective with even vendors, because our friend doors, or vendors, can become friend doors. They can really help you flourish in your business. So through the education that I received with the certification program, I've learned what to look for. You mentioned like how, in terms of vetting your vendors, I I learned how to present myself. So now I'm going to these networking events and I'm I'm not introverted, but I'm also not 100 extrovert, I'm like an extroverted introvert.

Speaker 3 35:51

So I've learned how to even present myself in a way where I, my education shines through, my experience shines through, in a way where I, my education shines through, my experience shines through in a not cocky way, because that's, I'm very big on being modest, but in a way that I'm open to receiving the relationships with other folks.

Speaker 3 36:11

And then I understand, okay, who are the reals in the business, meaning who are the people that are real professionals, people that are real nice people, because I definitely want to work with nice people. You're nice to me, you're going to be nice to my clients. So I think those are the skills and some of the values and characteristics I've learned to look for just by being a member of the certification of the CWP Society, and it's not just through the certification, it's the continuous educational opportunities, the workshops we used to have, clinics that we were. I mean, there's just been so much that I've been able to absorb over these years as being a part of the cwp society. So I think all of that has given me so much more confidence to to speak of my, my background, and then also, like I said, just understanding what to look for in my vendors when I'm meeting with them and networking with them.

Speaker 1 37:05

Yeah, and on that note, when it comes to vendors, because, like you mentioned, that's all about that relationship building, aisha what's the difference between collecting contacts, but also what's the difference between collecting contacts and building true relationships in this industry, as Crystal mentioned, the real relationships in this industry.

Speaker 2 37:23

Well, chrissy, we can all add to our Rolodex of professional contacts, but to be able to reach out to someone on your contact list that you truly have a relationship with is another level. There are members in the CWP Society that I have reached out to for advice or just to lend an ear while I vent, or to help me with an event when my back is up against the wall, and they maneuver some things around in their own schedules to make it happen for little old me, even with Crystal, for example. I can remember before relocating to Georgia, I messaged Crystal after one of our CWP meetings and I simply said I'm coming your way, girl, I'd love to jump on a call to pick your brain on the best cities to live in in the area. That message led to Crystal and I talking more about the wedding industry here in Georgia, of course, but we also discussed the best cities and counties in the area, even down to the counties with the best school systems for my high schooler and some of the areas to search for you know for where I would find my next home.

Speaker 2 38:23

You can't have those kinds of relationships by just adding names to your contact list. I had to have seen Crystal's character and a kindness in her that gave me the nudge to message her and, you know, get that advice or pick her brain on something that was so personal to me. If you are afforded an opportunity to build those kinds of relationships, then it's truly a blessing and it definitely goes beyond adding another name to your contact list.

Speaker 1 38:46

Absolutely, and what a beautiful thing is that as CWPs, we have that already built in. So to kind of piggyback off what you talked about earlier, about anyone who's gained a certification but they're not taking advantage of their membership Part of taking advantage of that membership is by utilizing all of the other members, getting that opportunity to get to know them, finding the people in your area, seeing if you can connect with them, establishing those relationships, because all that does is going to blossom into something really beautiful, like what you and Crystal have now. And I know even, aisha, when you were in North Carolina, your relationship with one of our other fellow wedding planners of the year, nicole how that blossomed. And then, even when you moved to California, linking up with another CWP, opened up the doors for you to begin booking there, wow.

Speaker 2 39:32

You are never alone. Even when you're in such a big industry, when you feel like you are, you are never alone.

Speaker 1 39:39

Never A thousand percent. I do want to have a little bit of fun and talk about some success stories, because you two are some phenomenal, absolutely successful wedding planners. And Crystal, I'll start with you. I know you both have had some incredible wins throughout your careers. Can you each, crystal I'll start with you share a story where your specialty, crystal education, completely changed the game for you? Share a story where your specialty, personal education, completely changed the game for you as a planner?

Speaker 3 40:03

oh yes. So, as I, as I mentioned, the master certification really elevated our skill sets and and how we connect with our clients, our, our vendors and our even our clients' family. So I actually had a. I had a mom and I've never had a bridezilla. Let's have some wood to knock on there, lord, I don't want any. I had never had a bridezilla. I have had I won't say momzilla's, but I think I've had just definitely overbearing moms and I. I've had to learn. I had to learn, and even I even reached out to lori on this one. Okay, I need some, I need some advice here on how to handle mom. I had, I just had one mom.

Speaker 3 40:52

She just she was so worried about everything. I mean, the weather was stressing her out. We had a complete indoor event and I'm like, why is this weather so? But you know it was and it was just all the things. So I had to.

Speaker 3 41:06

Through my education, I learned that okay, I need to, I need to sit mom down, we need a one-on-one, we need some powwow time so we can really talk through all of her concerns and then I can show her. This is how I'm going to mitigate all of those things that you're worried about I, we, they. We are going to overcome them. Don't worry about it. Here are my plan a, b's and c's. I got your back that day. This I'm going to show up for you.

Speaker 3 41:33

That is how I had to really help her get through that day, which is least amount of anxiety. It didn't. It didn't just completely relieve it, because that's just not. It was just in her personality to have, you know, to just be a little bit overwhelmed. However, I did see her at one point of the night just go enjoy herself and let go, and I think that that I mean the entire day was smooth. She, even she, she commended me on oh gosh, we were ahead of schedule. I said, I know, I told you, girl, I got you. I told you, this timeline is cushioned to death. I mean, I made sure we were accounting for everything that could happen, accounting for everything that could happen. So in that I knew that I had to just go above and beyond and talk to her in a different way. I had to meet her where she was and then help her understand how I was going to be there to support her, and there's no way I would have known to do that outside of the CWP Society, but I did not have that education.

Speaker 1 42:36

Yeah, exactly, because it is so much more than logistics, our career, and that's why we teach about personality traits. That's why we teach about how to communicate with people, because you run into so many different types of people and there's a way to communicate with them and there's a way to ease stress and anxiety, and it's not going to be the same for every couple and, again, it goes beyond just social logistics, which is why it's that something that we teach and we're even this um, this month we're talking about the burnout epidemic. Last month, we talked about that emotional intelligence. As a wedding planner, we got this timelines and checklists because we ultimately, it takes more than being good at the logistics to make you a well-rounded planner. So I'm glad that you shared that Absolutely.

Speaker 1 43:19

And, aisha, I want to ask you the same thingrounded planner. So I'm glad that you shared that Absolutely. And, aisha, I want to ask you the same thing has there ever been some incredible wins in your careers, whether it's through education or your relationships, that completely helped you change the game or, you know, for a wedding or just in your career in general?

Speaker 2 43:32

I'll start by saying being a part of the CWP society and, like you mentioned, it goes beyond just that certification and the education and thing you know you have to be. You have to be well-rounded in this, in this industry. So this is not fit for just anybody and the fact that we have amazing leaders to look up to. So, chrissy, you and Lori, you guys are amazing. You ladies are amazing leaders and we literally have learned from the best. We're still learning from the best. So when you have amazing leaders that you're looking up to and you go and you show up in this industry with other certified wedding planners or with other wedding professionals, you want to make sure you're making your leaders you know proud. You don't want to get out there in these streets and just act a fool.

Speaker 1 44:30

Okay, Back to us. We'll be like Aisha, you know better, aisha, you know better.

Speaker 3 44:39

Aisha, let me tell you, let me just say I behave accordingly because I, Chrissy and Lori, better not hear about some misbehavior.

Speaker 2 44:50

Listen, Linda, it comes on my doorstep too.

Speaker 3 44:54

I make sure moms over there don't get no bad reports on me. I don't know who knows, who knows who.

Speaker 2 45:03

No man the pressure that we are under when we have to keep it professional. This industry is cutthroat in a way, but our leaders we have literally learned from the best and, as a CWB society member, I want to make our leaders proud. I want to make our other members proud and, as, chrissy, you mentioned, these people are looking up to me and sometimes I'm like you know me, yes, but yeah, I don't want to step foot into this industry and not know how to act, not know how to carry myself, and I have learned from the CWP society how to act accordingly, ok and professional and like to me. That's a win in my career, because I have yet to have some crazy review. I have yet to have a vendor say we don't want to work with her again. Just absolutely nasty attitude, like none of that it's and where's the wood? I need to knock on it. But I have. I have had a very, very blessed, impactful career and it started because I started with the CWP system. So I'm just going to delete that right there, yep.

Speaker 3 46:18

Leave it, drop the mic pieces. Okay, so I'm just going to delete that right there. Yep, leave it, drop the mic, drop that mic.

Speaker 1 46:22

I need you to pick it back up, though, cause I have one more question. I'm back. We dropped it. Well, we picked it back up. Thank you for saying that.

Speaker 1 46:36

That means the world to me, and I think it's because within this industry, when we think about it, there are no standards in place. There's just not when you think about with a restaurant or a coffee place or a hospital, or even being an attorney, there are standards in place that you have to abide by. There's even probably going to be tests you have to take. It's not like that with the wedding industry. So being the part of an organization where we have our standards in place of how we're going to teach, the education you're going to receive and the fact that you're certified automatically sets you apart from everyone else and because of that, you want to meet those expectations. You want to meet those standards because you're proud of the fact that you have this certified wedding planner badge on your website and that you carry that title. So being a part of that allows you to have those set standards, and all that does is create a domino effect within your industry and your market.

Speaker 1 47:26

I think about my market when I first started in my smaller market. Oh, the standards were to the ground. They were absolutely low. And when I met with other venues in the area and tried to be like, hey, I want to be on your approved vendor list, they didn't have them approved vendor list. I'm going to say here's the thing You're going to work one wedding with me and realize that you never want to work another wedding planner or another wedding without a certified wedding planner. I can promise you I'm going to change your life that much and I did.

Speaker 1 47:50

And it got to the point, obviously, where I can't book every single weekend. And these venues were like, please, and I'm like, no, there's other. Look, I'm going to let everyone know about CWP and hopefully get some of these other wedding planners in our market certified so that way they have the same standards that I do. But I'm so glad that you mentioned that, aisha, and thank you for saying that. But before we go, I do want to ask you guys, if a planner is listening today and wants to walk away with one thing they can do this week to grow your business, what's your challenge for them? Crystal, I'll go with you.

Speaker 3 48:21

I'll say audit your business, find your gaps, determine what can you do to improve. And I challenge you, if you're not a certified wedding planner, to look at one of the certifications because I bet the certified wedding planner society is going to fill those gaps. So I definitely I challenge anyone go out of your business, see what you can do better. I bet I can guarantee you it's stepping right into this, into the society, and becoming a member.

Speaker 1 48:56

Absolutely Aisha. Same question for you. If a planner is listening today, wants to walk away with one thing they can do this week to grow their business, what would it be?

Speaker 2 49:04

I challenge them to reach out to a wedding planner or a wedding professional that they'd like to work with and take the first step to building a professional working relationship. And I said it before but I'll say it again vet them and then vet them again before you reach out. But a simple email introducing themselves and an invite to connect and discuss how they could possibly work together would be a challenge. There's a ton of CWP members to start with if they are stumped on who to reach out to, but that would be my challenge. Take the first step at building those valuable professional relationships in the wedding industry.

Speaker 1 49:38

Take the first step at building those valuable professional relationships in the wedding industry. Aisha and Crystal, thank you both so much for such a thoughtful and inspiring conversation. I love how you've shown that education and relationships aren't just separate paths but two sides of the same coin when it comes to building a successful and sustainable wedding planning career For our listeners. I hope you're walking away not just with ideas, but with clear action steps you can start using right now, whether that's investing in your professional growth or intentionally nurturing the connections you already have. And if you are not yet part of the CWP Society, now is the time to join. Our membership gives you both top tier education, a powerful network of certified planners and opportunities to elevate both your skills and your business. Learning and connection are not optional in this industry. They're essential, and at the CWP Society you get both. Visit cwpsocietycom today and secure your membership and gain your certification.