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Wedding Planner Society Podcast
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Wedding Planner Society Podcast

Author: Laurie Hartwell & Krisy Thomas - CWP Society

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CWP Society is proud to produce the "Wedding Planner Society: Industry Expert Insights" podcast!

Laurie Hartwell & Krisy Thomas, award-winning Master Certified Wedding Planners and Industry Educators from the CWP Society, discuss the real lives of wedding planners and professionals, dispense business tips, and share ways you can elevate yourself and your career in the wedding industry. 

Visit the CWP Society website for more information: www.cwpsociety.com

113 Episodes
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Krisy Thomas, Senior Educator at The CWP Society, is joined by Master Certified Wedding Planner Nicole Martinez for an honest conversation about what it actually takes to lead with confidence on wedding day — not just survive it. If you've ever had the quiet thought, I hope nothing major happens today because I'm not sure what I'd do — this episode is for you. Nicole shares what shifted when she stopped treating wedding planning as something you simply pick up along the way and started buildi...
What Gave Me The Push

What Gave Me The Push

2026-03-0944:06

Feeling that quiet pull to level up — but not sure what to change? That restless sense that you're capable of more is worth listening to. In this episode, Krisy Thomas, is joined by Christina Collins, Master Certified Wedding Planner, and Tracy Dapp, a seasoned Certified Wedding Planner, who nearly walked away from years in the industry, before finding her way back through certification and community. Together, they dig into what it really looks like to turn that instinct into repeatabl...
In this episode, Krisy Thomas, Senior Educator with The CWP Society, is joined by Rima Shaw, Certified Wedding Planner and Certified Educator, for a conversation that goes straight at one of the most uncomfortable moments in our industry — that jolt of panic when a couple asks you to lead a culturally rich, multi-day celebration you don't fully understand. Together, they unpack what true preparation really looks like: before the inquiry call, before the proposal, and long before the wedding d...
Weddings don't come with a second chance — and yet too many planners are still showing up underprepared, overpromising, and hoping it all works out. In this episode, CWP Society Founder and CEO Laurie Hartwell and Senior Educator Krisy Thomas pull back the curtain on what's really at stake when planners skip the education and go straight to the business card. This isn't about gatekeeping or status. It's about protection — for couples trusting us with one of the most significant days of their ...
The Turning Point

The Turning Point

2026-02-1620:23

What if the moment that changes your wedding planning career isn't a lucky break, but a choice you make today? CWP Society Senior Educator, Krisy Thomas, opens up about being an introvert in a relationship-driven industry and how a recognized credential transformed the room before she even spoke. From that first venue meeting as a Certified Wedding Planner to national features and trusted partnerships, this story tracks how credibility, structure, and community create momentum that lasts. We ...
Doubt on wedding day can be quiet but crushing—the second-guessing after a tough call, the 2 a.m. mental replay, the nagging feeling that something's off even when the night goes "fine." That's what winging it feels like, even when you're good at what you do. In this episode, From Winging It to Owning It, Krisy Thomas, Senior Educator with The CWP Society, sits down with Master Certified Wedding Planners, Nikki Rodgers and Brittney Poole, to unpack how they made the shift from reactive...
Certified Wedding Planner, Industry Advancement Director, and Director of Student Organizations, Ashley Babbit, joins CWP Society's Senior Educator, Krisy Thomas for this episode. What if the right credential didn't just polish your bio—but changed how you see your future? We sit down with Ashley to unpack how structured training, community, and ongoing education turn hesitant beginners into confident pros. From moving to a new market with zero contacts to landing roles that play to her stren...
In this podcast, Krisy Thomas, Senior Educator of The CWP Society, shares how a quiet moment at a venue changed everything: a sales manager noticed the credential and suddenly the conversation shifted from uncertainty to trust. That small recognition became the spark that accelerated a brand-new wedding planning business into a full-time career within a year. We pull back the curtain on why certification doesn't just open doors—it shortens the timeline from introduction to preferred lists, nu...
Join Krisy Thomas, Senior Educator of the CWP Society, and Laurie Hartwell, Founder and CEO of the CWP Society, for a conversation designed to help wedding planners start the year with clarity—not chaos. We break down the four pillars that keep a wedding planning business strong in 2026: precise packages, protective contracts, a guided workflow with strong presentations, and continuing education that helps you stay high touch in a tech-heavy world. If you’ve struggled with scope creep, unclea...
In this episode, Krisy Thomas, COO of the CWP Society, sits down with two incredible relationship pros: Amanda Borrero, Certified Wedding Planner and Certified Educator, and Aisha Garnett, Master Certified Wedding Planner and Certified Educator. Together, they unpack how planners turn vendors into true collaborators, leverage community for confidence, and keep ethics front and center while growing a business that lasts. They dig into the real difference between a reliable vendor and a "friend...
Church weddings don't have to be a battlefield between sacred tradition and creative vision. Join Krisy Thomas, COO of the CWP Society, alongside Emma Cockerham, Master Certified Wedding Planner and Certified Educator, and Riley Snider, Master Certified Wedding Planner and Certified Educator, as they reveal how alignment—not conflict—transforms church ceremonies into seamless, deeply meaningful experiences. What you'll discover: The three-lane model that changes everything: church coordinator...
Ready to stop playing catch-up and start leading your business with clarity? We're closing out 2025 with finance expert and Master Certified Wedding Planner Matt Mitchell to help you run a clean, confident year-end reset. Together we walk through the exact steps to reconcile your accounts, fix messy categories, and review your numbers with curiosity instead of criticism—so you can see what truly worked, where money leaked, and how to design a profitable 2026 you'll actually enjoy living. We d...
In this rapid-fire solo episode, Krisy Thomas, COO of the CWP Society, shares a practical blueprint for wedding planners ready to make 2025 more profitable and organized. She walks through a simple reflection exercise to identify what's energizing your business versus what's draining it, then covers the systems and boundaries that create sustainable growth. You'll hear specific examples for streamlining timelines, controlling scope creep, and communicating with confidence—plus why certificati...
Join Krisy Thomas, COO of the CWP Society, and Certified Wedding Planner & Certified Wedding Planner & Certified Educator, Rima Shah, as they dismantle the dangerous assumption that South Asian weddings are just "bigger centerpieces on a longer timeline." This is a masterclass in what multi-day celebrations actually demand: extended vendor access, hospitality infrastructure most venues ignore, and contracts built for sacred ceremony sequences—not just "out by midnight" clauses. You'll...
What if the secret to thriving in wedding planning isn't just about serving clients—it's about finding your people? In this episode, we're pulling back the curtain on one of the most powerful (and underrated) relationships in the wedding industry: the planner-to-planner friendship that actually saves your business—and your sanity. Joining the COO of the CWP Society, Krisy Thomas, are Certified Wedding Planners Hailey Beard and Amanda Borrero, who met at CWP Society Certification conference,&n...
Not all "venue coordinators" are created equal—and assuming they are can derail your entire event. In this episode, COO Krisy Thomas sits down with Master Certified Wedding Planner and Certified Educator Nikki Rodgers to pull back the curtain on how venue teams actually operate, so you can stop guessing and start collaborating with confidence. Nikki breaks down the four core roles you're likely to encounter—from the owner who sold the date to the banquet captain directing service—and explains...
Surprise moments should make hearts lift, not race. In this episode, Krisy Thomas, COO of the CWP Society, welcomes Master Certified Wedding Planner and Certified Educator Brianne Ackerland to explore how planners can create high-impact celebrations that honor military guests and anyone living with PTSD or sensory sensitivities—without sacrificing the magic couples dream about. The reality is that surprise cannons, strobes, and smoke machines can trigger panic attacks, flashbacks, and genuine...
Wedding days inside a church can feel like navigating a maze of policies, people, and expectations, and many planners carry battle scars from these sacred spaces. In this episode, Master Certified Wedding Planner & Certified Educator, Emma Cockerham joins Krisy Thomas, COO of the CWP Society, to unpack why church venues often feel more challenging and how to transform tension into trust through intentional communication and genuine respect. From first contact to final blessing, Emma maps ...
Weddings with rich traditions don’t just need timelines—they need translators. In this episode, Certified Wedding Planner and Certified Educator, Rima Shah joins CWP Society COO, Krisy Thomas to unpack the real work behind South Asian weddings: navigating multiple families, aligning expectations across generations, and setting boundaries that protect joy without steamrolling culture. From the first consultation to the final site visit, we share scripts, policies, and small shifts in language ...
Tired of hearing “just get experience” as if that’s a strategy? On this episode, we dig into why that advice often backfires, eroding vendor trust, anchoring fees at unsustainable levels, and putting couples at risk on a day with no do‑overs. Crystal Dailey, Master Certified Wedding Planner and Certified Educator, joins Krisy Thomas to show a better path—one that blends hands-on learning with real education. Together, they explore how standards, structure, and certification transform instinct...
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