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...
Ever wonder why some planners seem to leap ahead while others grind for years? We unpack the real advantage behind the scenes: a mentor who listens, challenges, and opens doors. From first weddings full of unknowns to high-stakes productions, we walk through the qualities that separate a true guide from a loud voice—proven experience, integrity, generosity with knowledge, strong listening, access to opportunity, and the emotional intelligence to navigate family dynamics and vendor teams with ...
Wedding planning is an emotional rollercoaster for couples, and behind every seating chart and floral arrangement lies a complex web of feelings that skilled planners must navigate with grace and understanding. Riley Snider, Certified Wedding Planner and Certified Educator, joins Krisy Thomas to explore how wedding professionals can serve as the steady emotional anchor their clients truly need. This conversation uncovers the hidden emotional undercurrents of wedding planning; from navigating ...
Ever wondered what venue coordinators really think when wedding planners walk through their doors? In this eye-opening conversation, Nikki Rodgers, Master Certified Wedding Planner and Certified Educator, joins Krisy Thomas, COO of the CWP Society, to pull back the curtain on both sides of the planning experience. With over a decade of experience managing venues, sometimes coordinating up to six events in a single day, Nikki transitioned into wedding planning with a perspective few others pos...
Krisy Thomas, COO of the Certified Wedding Planner Society, is joined by two remarkable Certified Wedding Planners, Vicki Amar and Ashley Babbitt, to share their transformative journeys in the wedding industry. This captivating conversation highlights the power of education, certification, and community in shaping a successful career. Vicki Amar brings a fascinating perspective, having coordinated iconic New York City events like the Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball Drop and Macy’s Thanksgivi...
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...
The relationship between wedding planners and church coordinators has long been marked by tension, misunderstandings, and at times, outright conflict. But what if there’s a better way forward? In this episode, Emma Cockerham, Certified Educator and Master Certified Wedding Planner, joins Krisy Thomas, COO of The CWP Society, for a candid conversation on transforming these often-strained relationships into true partnerships. Emma shares her personal journey through church wedding burnout in 20...
Certified Wedding Planner and Certified Educator, Amanda Borrero, joins CWP Society COO, Krisy Thomas, for an unfiltered conversation about one of the wedding industry’s most debated practices: kickbacks. Together, they unpack what kickbacks really are, why they’ve become so ingrained in the wedding world, and the ethical dilemmas they create for planners and couples alike. From “pay-to-play” venue lists to referral fees passed quietly between vendors, this discussion explores how these arran...
Have you ever considered what it’s like for a guest with mobility challenges to navigate a wedding day? From uneven outdoor paths to inaccessible restrooms, the obstacles they face might surprise you. In this powerful conversation, Krisy Thomas, COO of the CWP Society, leads a discussion with Master Certified Wedding Planner and Certified Educator Brianne Ackerland to shine a light on an often-overlooked aspect of wedding planning: accessibility and inclusion for guests with physical limitati...
Step into the world of wedding planning leadership as Krisy Thomas, COO of the CWP Society, sits down with four extraordinary certified wedding planners who are reshaping the industry across the globe. Together, they share their journeys from skilled professionals to influential change-makers, highlighting how education and community are redefining the wedding planning profession. Joining the conversation: David Ude of Dafame Concept, raising the bar for weddings in Nigeria.Tracy Dapp of Inke...
Krisy Thomas, COO of the CWP Society, sits down with Master Certified Planner and Certified Educator Nikki Rodgers, who brings 22 years of experience on both sides of the aisle, for an eye-opening episode that tackles one of the wedding industry’s most common confusions: the difference between venue coordinators and wedding planners. When couples hear "your venue comes with a coordinator," they often assume this person will handle all wedding day logistics and details. This common misconcept...
What separates thriving wedding planners from those who struggle? In this candid conversation, Master Certified Wedding Planner and Certified Educator, Crystal Dailey, joins Krisy Thomas, COO of the CWP Society, to reveal the transformative power of education in building a sustainable wedding planning business. Crystal shares a refreshingly honest account of how recognizing her own shortcomings became the catalyst for her educational journey. "Failing," she admits without hesitation, dr...