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Ep. 203 - How to Build Powerful Vendor Relationships with Melissa Buffaloe of Blue Moon Events
0 Playsin 11 hours
Today on Get a Heck Yes, we’re diving into one of the most underrated secrets behind a thriving wedding business — strong vendor relationships.
Our guest, Melissa Buffaloe, is the creative force behind Blue Moon Events, known for transforming venues into magical, moody, and unforgettable spaces. With years of experience collaborating with top-tier wedding pros — from photographers and florists to DJs and caterers — Melissa has mastered the art of partnership.
In this conversation, Melissa opens up about her early mistakes investing in the wrong things, and how shifting her focus toward community over competition completely changed her business. She shares tangible insights on:
✨ Building trust and reputation through collaboration
💡 How to become the vendor everyone wants to work with
🤝 Turning networking events into long-term relationships
🌸 Why being “easy to work with” is a major business asset
Melissa reminds us that success in this industry isn’t just about aesthetics — it’s about people, energy, and integrity.
🔑 Key Takeaways
- “I stopped chasing leads online and started investing in real connections.”
- “When you show up, do great work, and support others — referrals naturally follow.”
- “Vendor relationships are the backbone of every successful event.”
💕 Connect with Melissa
Blue Moon Events
📸 Instagram: @bluemoon.events
🌐 Website: https://www.bluemooneventplanning.com/
Joined the 10 day challenge https://course.digitalwealthyhypegirl.com/
https://www.instagram.com/carissawoo
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction & Sponsorship
00:00:00
Speaker
It's episode 203. Wowie. Thank you 17 Hats for sponsoring my podcast. I partnered with them years ago because I couldn't run my business without them.
Guest Introduction & Topic Overview
00:00:12
Speaker
I automate all my leads, marketing, client communication, and everything and you have to go check out their marketplace it's like business in the box use code heck yes to get 50 off the entire year it's so worth it and thank you everyone that joined my 10-day challenge on how to make passive income with digital products it's only 27 but it's really priceless it changed my life when you wake up to sales it will change your life too So today I have my dear friend Melissa Buffalo from blue Moon Planning.
00:00:45
Speaker
We are on each other's preferred vendor list and I love working with her. i can be myself in front of her and that is so special because we're working like 10 hour days.
00:00:55
Speaker
We laugh, we make inappropriate jokes, um but we still show up for our clients 110%. hundred and ten percent And today's hot topic is vendor relationships. Enjoy.
Host Background & Podcast Focus
00:01:11
Speaker
Welcome to Get a Heck Yes with Carissa Wu. I'm your host Carissa and I've been a Los Angeles wedding photographer for over a decade. I've traveled the world, built my team, and seen it all.
00:01:22
Speaker
I now coach wedding photographers hit 10K a month and build a thriving business. In this podcast, we are going to deep dive into how top wedding creatives get that heck yes from their dream clients. We are not holding back on the struggles of the business and how to push through the noise. Some healthy hustle, mindset shifts, up-leveling your money story,
00:01:40
Speaker
Time hacks because I'm a mom of two, a little bit of woo-woo, and most importantly, self-love and confidence are just a few of the many things we will talk about. i want to give you a genuine thank you for following along my journey.
00:01:52
Speaker
i hope to inspire you every Woo Wednesday so that you say heck yes to listening to this podcast. See you guys soon.
Guest's Journey in Wedding Planning
00:02:03
Speaker
Hey everyone, welcome back to Get a Heck Yes with your girl, Carissa I'm here with the fabulous Melissa Buffalo with Blue Moon Planning Events. We just did a spooky wedding on Halloween together we've done a couple weddings in the past over the past decade.
00:02:20
Speaker
And I'm so excited for this conversation. i've been following your journey time. for quite some time. And I know you're very inspiring. um Melissa is a super talented wedding planner who's built her business through real relationships, hard work and community.
00:02:36
Speaker
i love how you are all about connecting with other vendors, which we'll talk about more later, and truly showing up as yourself. And it's paid off big time for you. So welcome to the show, Melissa.
00:02:48
Speaker
Thank you. hi thank you for having me. Yeah, it's funny how you just told me your hot topic and like my intro was all about that. So I guess we're like already aligned. Yeah, definitely. You look beautiful. um We could be on YouTube, but yeah, the audio, but tell the listeners who you are in a nutshell.
00:03:08
Speaker
Okay. So I am Melissa Buffalo. My company is Blue Moon Event Planning. um So I am a coordinator here in Southern California, Los Angeles mostly. Of course, we'll travel for work, of course.
00:03:21
Speaker
um Yeah. Doing the thing. Yeah. All right. Yeah. Keeping it short. i love it. um I just want to get into your backstory, like where you're from, anything about your family, family dynamics, and we'll just start just start bantering.
00:03:39
Speaker
Okay, perfect. ah Well, I grew up in Colorado, kind of zero to 18, and then ah went to the East Coast for school and after school. And I originally studied theater, of production management and stage management, so not even events at all. I kind of I'll let you know when I segued into that.
Founding Blue Moon Planning
00:03:57
Speaker
But um so yeah, produced live theater for the longest time and you know got ah got a minor in business admin because I knew I didn't want to do it all my life.
00:04:06
Speaker
um So during that journey, I was... um i My casting director at the time actually was like, hey, Melissa, I think you'd be really great at events and you know um and even wedding coordination. I go, you know do you want to coordinate my wedding? And I was like, sure, I'll give it a shot. That sounds fun.
00:04:22
Speaker
um So I coordinated his wedding and and had ah had a blast doing it, to be honest. And um ah you know my move to California segued me into the event industry as a whole.
00:04:33
Speaker
um starting with festivals and concerts. So kind of a larger scale, of course, and big public events. um So then, but I still love the weddings on the side. So I started side hustling Blue Moon and, um and you know, did a couple year, of course, of that, you know, because schedules and whatnot could only allow for so much, but I still really love to do it.
00:04:52
Speaker
Yeah. And then kind of fast forward to ah about 2018, I jumped off jumped off the ship, um so to say. my My producing was at the Queen Mary.
00:05:04
Speaker
So I jumped ship in 2018 to do this full time. So um yeah, partnered with other planners to kind of grow my network and make those connections that we'll talk about in a little bit. But um yeah, so now I'm completely sustainable on my own and being my own boss has just been the best ever in life.
00:05:24
Speaker
And I recommend it. I highly recommend it as well. yes I had a Monday wedding yesterday and I feel like crap today because i was just know so overstimulated so i couldn't sleep yeah wedding hangover so i'm like i just could talk to you my friend and maybe take a nap after so that's a life it is the life i wanted to go in a little bit into your childhood were you into plays what were you like so um was i into place well
00:05:56
Speaker
you know i played I played some sports and then you know wasn't really feeling that. um Entered into like the the theater and the theater you know sector and um really loved bossing people around and and communicating and making sure everybody was on the same page. and you know Again, telling people what to do is really my my passion.
00:06:15
Speaker
i fell in cause I wasn't an actor. and wasn't like ah I didn't want to be on screen or you know in in front of ah the audience. um I always loved being backstage. um running the show. So, um so stage management is where I kind of fell into. And then, you know, when it became time to look for colleges and whatnot, I was like, okay, well, what do I love to do? Well, I like to do this.
00:06:33
Speaker
So, you know, let's grow that. So um yeah, there's some phenomenal theater programs out there. So. Wow. What kind of, what plays have, I was in the play industry, like yeah as a kid, but what were you, what kind of plays were, um did you help produce?
00:06:48
Speaker
ah so ah well, A lot. I would say musicals were always my favorite because there were so many more moving pieces. um to Some of my favorite musicals were um Miss Saigon. ah Yeah.
00:07:02
Speaker
So fun. That helicopter and geez, that thing would break down occasionally, but that was horrible. Anyway, it you know ones with more technical you know aspects to to worry about and to call you know call those shows and everything.
00:07:16
Speaker
Wow. Ray was in one of one of my favorites, you know, just the ones with the most, ah the ones with the most. Yeah.
Family Background & Personal Growth
00:07:23
Speaker
Did your parents have anything to do with like you being kind of involved with this or getting involved with this?
00:07:29
Speaker
No, they were both scientists. My sister and i didn't even did not even go that go that way. um So we were we entered completely different areas, more more artistic and and also logistics. She's ah she's an architect.
00:07:43
Speaker
so Oh, cool. Scientists. That's cool. It's like, what do your parents do? They're scientists. Cool. Tell me a little bit about college days. What was it like? What were you like?
00:07:56
Speaker
What was they like in college? and love that. um So, um ah well, i do want to say my my dad passed away when I was 15. So, um you know, that's but something something that really, you know, really shaped me as a person. I grew up really fast.
00:08:10
Speaker
So, you know, in high school, I was kind of already taking care of myself. um So college for me was like, ah you know, kind of a step back, honestly, because I'm like, I've been living by myself and my mom was traveling for work and everything. So, you know, I'm I feel like I really, you know, just,
00:08:28
Speaker
it was It was fine, but it was also like, these are kids. like you know I still felt like I was like more mature than everyone else because I was like, I can cook for myself and I can like do all these things for myself. and So for me, I was like, okay, well, all right, it' was gonna we're going to do this for four years.
00:08:40
Speaker
um And during the summer times, I always did summer stock theater. So i was always I was in a different city for every um every summer doing doing their programs um to you know build my space management and production management skills and everything.
00:08:55
Speaker
That's awesome. So you're pretty much a grown up your whole life. Yeah. Yeah.
00:09:03
Speaker
That sucks, but it's probably beneficial in the career realm. and No, it's great. It's great. Hey, you know, everything happens for a reason and it makes you really appreciate what you have.
00:09:13
Speaker
Yeah.
Career at the Queen Mary
00:09:14
Speaker
Okay. Talk about like the Queen Mary job. What was your role and what did you learn? Yes. ah So I, well, when I first came to um California, I ah i I didn't know which sector of ah the events industry I wanted to go in. So um i i took I dipped my toe into, what was it? a Trade shows.
00:09:36
Speaker
So, i you know, those big, big trade shows, you like manage a booth and you have all these, you know, unions that, you know, I've worked with unions before, of course, in the theaters. um Very different, not for me. So it was nice to kind of learn what I don't want.
00:09:49
Speaker
um So going to the Queen Mary was amazing. So I was a entertainment events manager. So twofold, it was, we we would produce our own events, which was, you know, my my passion part. So I, you know, that was, that's what I loved the most about it.
00:10:02
Speaker
um ah We produced the Art Deco Festival and New Year's Eve Fourth of July. And like calling the fireworks is like such a power trip, I have to say. It was my favorite part ah ha for each of those events where we had the fireworks for all of Long Beach.
00:10:20
Speaker
um That was pretty fun. That was my favorite parts. But then um concerts were always so fun so fun too. My favorite concert I produced was um a throwback ah rock the queen with the Woody show.
00:10:33
Speaker
So we we had spin doctors and sugar Ray and it was like totally my jam. Like I was a, I was a punk girl in high school. So it was really, really, this is a kind of a dumb question. Cause I've never been a like a producer, but when you say like produce that, does it mean like finding the lineup, like um doing the marketing or do you like just manage a team?
00:10:56
Speaker
um all All of that. So yes, we, you know, there was there was a marketing department on the Queen too. So we would, of course, work closely with them. um It was a nice partnering, like partnering with the Woody Show, for instance, they, you know, help partner up with talent and everything.
00:11:10
Speaker
um But overall, I mean, as the producer, I was, you know, in charge of every single aspect and making sure everybody had the correct information, you know, scheduling those meetings, bringing everybody together. um Because, you know, we've got attractions doing the ticketing. We have,
00:11:25
Speaker
security, doing all the all the permit like i do all the permitting with the city, working with the police department and the fire department and you know rentals, getting all my porta-potties in place for you know all that stuff. So it was just a lot of moving parts. But again, that was always my favorite part of theater.
00:11:42
Speaker
So um you know those big concerts were being Being in charge of, you know, five to 13,000 people is pretty interesting. Yeah. What was the feeling of like the day of the event and then after like executing it?
00:11:58
Speaker
ah they They were long, long days setting up, long, long days, you know, during the event. And I think... It's the adrenaline that's really, that really just kind of makes you power through. I mean, we I always feel this and on wedding days too, of course, like you're feeling it right now.
00:12:11
Speaker
We're so on and we're putting all ourselves out there, right? So it's just, it's a lot of time, a lot of energy, lot of effort, a lot of pressure too, you know.
00:12:23
Speaker
But I think that's the best part of it is is keeping your cool. You know, um people people love to work with me because I don't freak out. Yeah. You know, something happens, we need to fix it.
00:12:33
Speaker
You know, what's was what are we doing? What are we doing now? i'm like, okay, well, let's, what what are our options? um You know, talk about it together and get through it. Yeah. You have a bubbly personality. So just like, let's do it. no Okay. So, um, I, you mentioned before we started recording that you have a, your own wedding this weekend at the Queen Mary, um, which is really cool. So what are like the main differences of being on that side, like event producing and now like wedding planning at the same venue? Yeah. No, I mean, honestly, it's, it's really nice because I know all the ins and outs of the ship. So I know I can get around for it a little bit more easily than other people.
00:13:12
Speaker
but um But, you know, it's great. It's nice to be, you know, disconnected, um but still have the the resources and and know everybody over there um and have the connection again with them.
00:13:24
Speaker
Oh, that's awesome. Friendly faces and new faces. Yeah, i love it. Okay.
Transition to Business Ownership
00:13:29
Speaker
Talk about the transition of like starting your own thing. It must have been like scary because you're leaving such a really great career with a great paycheck, um consistent paycheck. What was it like then? And like, how did you get your brand and business off the ground?
00:13:44
Speaker
Yeah, great. Great question. So uh, the reason why I left, uh, was because, um we, they, they started to veer away from the producing side of it. So, um, you know, that again was my passion piece of it. and you know they were they were going to be outsourcing to like, you know, Golden Voice and some other producing companies. So the re that's the reason for the jump. So that was the, you know, the meat of it. So yeah, I went ahead and, um,
00:14:11
Speaker
and made made that jump. And then, yeah, it was absolutely very, very scary at first. um But, you know, it's it support from friends and family um kind of to help you work work through it. And then again, the the the best and and most cherished connection I do have is the partnerships I would get ah with the other planners around.
00:14:31
Speaker
You know, um finding finding your people in the industry is is very real. um community over competition is the mentality I have. And um i found my people that have those like likewise mentalities because you know there's enough work for us, for everyone out there.
00:14:47
Speaker
So you know if these couples are choosing you, there's a reason. um And if they're not, that's okay. There's plenty out there. So um yeah, I think making those connections and Working partnering with those with those planners giving me giving me the opportunity to to get myself out there.
00:15:04
Speaker
Yeah, and me vendors because quite honestly, it's really just you know, this was a me assisting and a leading for other people. It's kind of how i how I kind of put the bandaid over the ones that I, you know, to keep my, keep my schedule busy, right. Keep my, keep, keep my own paycheck coming.
00:15:18
Speaker
Yeah. So yeah.
The Importance of Vendor Relationships
00:15:20
Speaker
Putting me in front of vendors and honestly me making those connections myself in person. um And then, you know, them giving, having my support and my back to be like, okay, well, you know, they want to refer me, me, Melissa.
00:15:32
Speaker
yeah. Yeah, it's kind of where it where it all unfolded. All right. Well, that's a great segue to our hot topic, which we've been talking about it from the start. But what is your hot topic, Melissa? And why is it so near and dear to your heart?
00:15:49
Speaker
Wedding pros, listen up. If you don't have a CRM that helps you organize and automate your entire business, you need to stop everything and get one. I've been using 17 hats for over a decade and I'm telling you right now, I could not run my business without them.
00:16:05
Speaker
They're also the sponsors of this podcast and for good reason. With 17 hats, I know exactly when I'm getting paid. I can project my income for the month and the next year and the next year, and I never have to awkwardly helm people for money again.
00:16:20
Speaker
I break up payments for clients and it's such an easy heck yes for them because it's simple and stress-free. Plus the features so good. You can now add photos to your proposals and contracts.
00:16:32
Speaker
Hello, elevated client experience. And there's a marketplace where you can literally grab business in a box workflows from seasoned wedding pros who's been in the game forever, including mine.
00:16:44
Speaker
I got a cool wedding questionnaire in there that my couples love and yours will too. So here's a deal. Use code HECKYES to get 50% off your entire year.
00:16:55
Speaker
Yes, 50% off. Go check it out. Set yourself up for a success. And big shout out to 17 Hats. I couldn't run this podcast or my life without you.
00:17:07
Speaker
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00:17:20
Speaker
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00:17:42
Speaker
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00:17:56
Speaker
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00:18:12
Speaker
back to the
00:18:15
Speaker
So vendor connections is my hot topic. um It is very near and dear to me because, um well, of course, it's great to have our connections with our with our clients. um These people are the ones we work with you know every weekend, you know a couple of times a year.
00:18:31
Speaker
So it's really important to to make sure those connections are there and to treat treat everyone with respect and, um, it goes a long way. So that's my, that's my topic and my tips about it.
00:18:45
Speaker
I think like after all these years of, you know, photographing weddings, I would say, don't know like what percentage, but like a high percentage of like, it's just having a good personality, which is, doesn't come natural to everyone.
00:18:58
Speaker
It doesn't come natural to me, but no, I mean, you know, it's funny. The gift of gab is is It's a real thing because you just, you know, especially as a coordinator, you know, you just need to talk to people. Yeah.
00:19:11
Speaker
Time and you need to, you know, tell them twice and three times sometimes to do things. hum But just having having the patience um to do that, too, is important.
00:19:22
Speaker
Yeah. Did you ever did you feel like you had the gift of gab like since you're young? Oh, yeah, for sure. Okay, I didn't have it. Yeah. Passing people around. i mean, okay, not like early days early early high school days. you Yeah, yeah.
00:19:36
Speaker
A little time to jump to get into it. but um But yeah, now I'm like, put me in a b room full of strangers. No problem. I'll be just fine. Wow. Okay, yeah, me too. But it took me like 40 years. Yeah.
00:19:48
Speaker
But now you have it. Once you have it, you got it forever. Okay. So we're talking right now to wedding pros. A lot of them that listen to this podcast are newer and they want to just make stuff happen for them. So they're just kind of like getting stuff in their head.
00:20:04
Speaker
So let's talk about it. Like what are some tips and tricks to make a good vendor relationships? Yeah. So ah my first one is kind of simple, be nice. um So coordinators absolutely set the tone for the day.
00:20:17
Speaker
um and not just coordinators, every single vendor in in play is is is part of the team, right? where We all need to be working together. So yeah um you know when when each vendor walks in, um um i make a point to give a warm welcome.
00:20:35
Speaker
It's something so simple. yeah You know, last week, I walk up to you. I'm going give you a big old hug. Yeah. Who are you? You know, we talk about traffic maybe for a second, but then just kind of get ready for the day. And, and you know, I really try to make that make that first impression and and set the tone.
00:20:52
Speaker
Because I want this day to go smoothly. i want everyone to be in a good mood. Like, yeah, you probably just were in traffic. You probably have had a day You probably had to get your kids to school. Like, whatever.
00:21:02
Speaker
Everybody has so much going on. And just understanding and have the empathy um with those with everyone just to to understand ah where everybody's coming from and just make sure it's coming off in a positive ah positive light right at the right at the get-go.
00:21:18
Speaker
Yeah. And then one thing I wanted to add was some wedding pros are like when I was in my early phase, like you expect people to know who you are or they expect you to know who they are, but it's definitely not true. Like they think, oh, you follow them on Instagram or you looked at the email and you like study their feed. Like, no, like introduce yourself and give them eye contact. yeah Introduce yourself. They don't know.
00:21:43
Speaker
yeah but Every time I walk in a room, i'm like, hi, I'm Melissa, the coordinator. Right. You know, you just absolutely introductions. Absolutely. And don't assume anything, which is kind of my next kind of my next point.
00:21:55
Speaker
OK, go for it. Yeah. So I would say communication is the next tip. um Communication communication and and not assuming anybody knows anything.
00:22:06
Speaker
um So, you know, for coordinators, that that means it's okay to be detailed. You need to know exactly where everything's coming from, you know, for catering. Do you, do you need me to rent tables? Or do you need, or what are we doing? You know, do you need me to, to provide this? Who's doing the mixers?
00:22:22
Speaker
I get detailed with everything because the second you make an assumption, you're, you, you, it will bite you in the butt, you know? so So no assumptions and, um,
00:22:33
Speaker
You know, one of the things that I always do to, um for the most part, ah el unless I know that they know what they're doing. um But, you know, even just the day before sending, sending like, say safe for hair and makeup and photography, I'm not necessarily going to be at the hotel or at the getting ready place. So I'm not going to be there for the first touch.
00:22:52
Speaker
So I always make sure that I text people the day before, say, hey, here's the room number. Here's the parking situation. Here's what you're going to do. Call me if you need me. Here's my number. Now you have it handy. You know, it's so simple. And because, you know, you're trying to set everyone up for success because ah they're the first touches for the day. I mean, hair, makeup and and then photography.
00:23:11
Speaker
It's just those are the those are the night. Those are the the first um the first things to do for the day. The first formalities, I should say. yeah So making sure those are set up for success um really sets I think that really helps, especially when you did that, because it's like, is this going on?
00:23:30
Speaker
Is this really happening?
Communication in Event Planning
00:23:31
Speaker
If you don't have like touch base, like for a while. So you're like, yeah, what if you don't know where to park and then it ends up being like another 20, 30 minutes or, you know, like you have a question, you have no one, you can't contact the bride, like they're not picking up their phone. So definitely a good tip. Do you have any examples of like um something that either went right, really right or really wrong or?
00:23:57
Speaker
um It's all happened. Yeah. It's all happened. Yeah. You know, if I, if so if something wasn't communicated the night before, um you know, I i wake up, in well, i'll get I'll be getting texts at, you know, 5 a.m. You know, I'm still sleeping.
00:24:13
Speaker
yeah Text at 5 a.m. you know i don't know what's going on or I can't get in touch of this person. So then I'm getting on the phone and I'm like, here's their number or here's this and here was the plan and, you know.
00:24:25
Speaker
So those are the kind of things you, you work out you and you kind of, you have their misses at the beginning and then you learn and then you, you don't let that happen again. and so um, yeah, yeah like planner just called me, texting me the other week and guess the photographer didn't show up.
00:24:42
Speaker
So she's like, can you come or can you find me someone? so i was like, well, called, I can't come, but call these three people. So, yeah um, just like shit happens sometimes.
00:24:54
Speaker
Yeah. Hopefully not in your big, big day, but um yeah, no, absolutely. It it happens. Um, and gosh, I still get lots of, lots of texts from everybody, um, saying, Melissa, where do I park? I'm like, well, you didn't read my email. Did you? Yeah. yeah yeah Like, you know, I get it. People are just kind of like, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:25:12
Speaker
Don't even read my timeline. That's fine. yeah Yeah. fire roll But whatever, like, just get here, you know, like, I'm just um giving the directions and, you know, I just copy paste from my email.
00:25:23
Speaker
Here's where you
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
00:25:24
Speaker
go. yeah so Have you implemented any like workflow um tips in the past, like 10 years um that are kind of like automated?
00:25:38
Speaker
Um, not, not really. I mean, i have my own process and I have my own kind of forms that I, know you know, like my pre, pre fab ready to go, um, jargon for yeah step of the process for, for clients, but, um, but they still need a lot of, you know, catering to exactly what, what they need and what they want. Um, but yeah, no, I, I, I have a pretty down pat now in, in my process and what I do. So nothing's nothing super automated. Yeah.
00:26:07
Speaker
Yeah. Were you, um I know because you're already connected like in the event industry before you started your business. um Did you have any problems like with like imposter syndrome to connect with other people or did you, like how did you build that confidence muscle?
00:26:25
Speaker
o Because that was really hard for me. Oh, so it's it's very hard. I think um for me, it was Trying to be who you thought they're supposed to, right. You thought you who you're supposed to be as a as a planner, as a coordinator and how you're supposed to act or what you're supposed to say and what you're supposed to do and how you want to be. And i think I absolutely had struggled with that at the beginning for sure. Um, yeah.
00:26:51
Speaker
And I think ultimately, again, finding finding my people um and then having the confidence to just just be myself. um it's It's very easy to... um i mean, i wasn't I wasn't booking the business because I wasn't being myself.
00:27:05
Speaker
Interesting. So I think after I just embraced who I am and you know, just simply was who I was and just had a conversation with them as and just, you know, putting myself out there that way that then, then things just started coming in. Interesting. Let's talk about that.
00:27:25
Speaker
years Yeah. Let's talk about that breakthrough because we could get a little deep. um We have some time. So, okay. Say for instance, like you felt like maybe you were too like rigid or corporate or whatever. And Things were not going your way. Like, what was that shift and mindset of, like, I want to be who I am? And then also the twofer question is, like, who are you as, like, a person and as a wedding planner?
00:27:49
Speaker
I mean, I think it started to be – it started to get really frustrating. it was like, well what am I doing wrong? um You know, what am – what am I not, what am i what why aren't they, why aren't they booking me? Right. So it's, what, what am I saying wrong? What am I doing wrong? Did I not follow up? Did I follow up too quickly?
00:28:06
Speaker
You know, those kinds of things. um And in terms of the breakthrough, it was, it was certainly
Authenticity in Business
00:28:11
Speaker
not overnight. I mean, it's not something that you can, I, I'm not sure I'm able to like pinpoint it, but I just, I guess I just started seeing everyone else kind of being who they were. was well, that's not me.
00:28:26
Speaker
going to, I'm going to, this is me. So I think that's, what that was, i was i kind of understanding what I didn't want to be and who yeah was not relating to.
00:28:37
Speaker
um So just kind of figuring out myself. um And then, and then it all just falls into place after that. Of course it takes time to, you know, I'm saying that it falls into place, but it's not an overnight thing and it does take a lot of time.
00:28:51
Speaker
And yeah patience to just get yourself there. and Yeah. I mean, I love you and I love your personality, but how would you describe yourself and your likes, dislikes and who you are as a wedding planner?
00:29:04
Speaker
Yeah. I think um I always, even I even say this on on calls, you know, I say, um i i mean, I'm not, so I'm not a stuffy planner. I'm going to keep it real with you. I'm going drop F-bombs in my inquiries because that's who I am. Like I'm not, you know, I'm, I'm here to be your wedding bestie and your, and your person in this process.
00:29:24
Speaker
um And be your friend um above ah above everything else. Of course, it's I'm on your side and I'm your person and I'm here to be your your advocate um and also in the entire kit and caboodle way. Right.
00:29:37
Speaker
So I think so for me, just literally just being real, being real no and so just not taking anything too seriously. You know, it's a terrible analogy, but we're not curing cancer here. People were having an event. and Yeah. Yeah. And it kind of goes back to my, the me who I am understanding the and importance of what you have and importance of what's important, um, you know, in life and, and everything.
00:30:07
Speaker
So, yeah. And I think you, you attract that to the the client, um, like our last wedding, like they're pretty chill. They're creative. You know, they want like event production.
00:30:20
Speaker
um They want like a grand setup, but they're not like stuffy and they want something original. So I think you're kind of attracting people that fit like a line with you and like your personality.
00:30:34
Speaker
Yes. Good job for that. ah
00:30:40
Speaker
Okay. How did you um pick the name Blue Moon Planning? I thought you might ask this question. and So it's kind of a silly story. ah My senior year of high school, ah my economics class, we had to create a business.
00:30:56
Speaker
Oh, I created Blue Moon Event Planning. ah huh i had price points. i you know, I don't know what, I didn't know what i was talking about or what I was doing. But anyway, so that's where the name came from. i was, so I hearken back to that when I was figuring out this business.
00:31:09
Speaker
Yeah. um Decided to just roll with that. i said, well, that was fun. Let's just go, let's just go with that. Yeah, it definitely rolls off the tongue. like Yeah, I definitely want to remember. Something that is rare. I'm celestial. I really enjoy you know astronomy and the moon.
00:31:28
Speaker
Yeah, I love that. Okay, so I know you have a couple more tips or one more tip before um cultivating good vendor relationships. Take it away.
Building Genuine Vendor Relationships
00:31:40
Speaker
Well, my last one was be real. and i And I mean that both in – in booking business for myself, but i but I also mean that with, with vendors too. um You know, we're all human and even throughout the whole day, you know, making sure we, I'm making sure I know what the vendor meal situation is.
00:31:57
Speaker
Cause I know I'm gonna get that question too, which is okay because we want to, we all want to be fed and it's a long day. Yeah. So yeah, again, just being real and human and and understand, having an understanding for, for other humans in the room.
00:32:10
Speaker
Oh, yeah. He definitely like got us fed right away. You're like, i I was like, what? Yeah. Because people don't know photographers, like if they eat too late, then, you know, we need to take pictures.
00:32:23
Speaker
Yeah. ah Yep. Oh my God. Okay. So this is kind of a silly question, but like, was there ever a vendor that you just like absolutely hated to work with? And like, why?
00:32:35
Speaker
oh man. Um, Hmm. I'm sure there has been. but There's been several. There's been some. There's been. i mean, I've been working. but I've been working for, you know, 10 plus years. Right. So but there's certainly been some vendors that have not been not been great.
00:32:53
Speaker
Do you have any pet peeves? Oh, God.
00:32:58
Speaker
Well, my biggest pet peeve, I would say, when. when I was going to say the parking thing, but I was like, that's not that'st my biggest pet peeve. I'm trying to be like nice about that. yeah yeah yeah um I would say if people are asking me questions excessively, and this doesn't usually come from vendors, to be honest. This is mostly from guests. Like, oh, what are we doing next?
00:33:20
Speaker
What time is this? What time is that? i was like, don't worry about it. I got it. You know? um So anybody checking in and like micromanaging my timeline, that's my biggest pet peeve. Interesting. That's my job. Yeah. Yeah. When people start posing for me, I'm just like, no, no no and and Yes.
00:33:36
Speaker
Like I got it. I'm going to talk in one second. Just give me a freaking second.
Getting on Preferred Vendor Lists
00:33:40
Speaker
yeah Okay. So let's talk about getting on the preferred vendor list, like in both ways, like getting on your preferred vendor list, what are tips and tricks and also like you getting on other people's vendor lists, like venues.
00:33:53
Speaker
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00:34:06
Speaker
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00:34:17
Speaker
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00:34:35
Speaker
Yep. Yep. ah So those, those relationships are where it, where it's at, you know? um And I think keeping those connections too, because even if I've worked with somebody several, several years ago, I mean, Chris, you've been on my list forever. So, um you know, ah yeah.
00:34:50
Speaker
So, um you know, it doesn't, I feel like after, after I've had a good experience with you, yeah i have to work with you once. Like, you know, those emails that come through my in inbox, like, Hey, can I be added to your list? who' was like, well, no, I haven't worked with you before. i don't What if you're shit? but Yeah.
00:35:05
Speaker
like So you yeah, who are you? So um as long as I've had good experiences continually with somebody, they can definitely be added to mine. In terms of getting on other people's lists, again, this is this is where they the vendor relationship is really important.
00:35:20
Speaker
um I think in this down, you know, the our downtime being the wintertime-ish, something that I'm going to start doing is reaching out to some of my vendors I haven't seen in a while and just stop by and have a lunch, have a coffee, and just and just gab, again, a gift of gab, just like a little bit about the industry, about whatever, about their life, who cares, you know, just just have a chat with them and and reconnect.
00:35:43
Speaker
Yeah. I love that. And you're on my list as well. So I love your realness. I feel like we could just talk about whatever and I don't have to be super always appropriate.
00:35:56
Speaker
Yeah. but And I like that about you. no You know, that's the realness, you know, make a dirty comment. It's funny. you' Like, yeah. Right. Like make it, you know.
00:36:07
Speaker
yeah Yeah. Yeah. No, I totally agree. and But, you know, but yeah. And we're like there for so long. So we might as well like entertain ourselves. Yes.
00:36:18
Speaker
Make it fun. andra for them Were you on, um say that first year, because I always always go back to the first year because it's like the hardest. um Do you have any breakthroughs or tips on like how you got on some of your first vendor list for venues? Yeah.
00:36:37
Speaker
Uh, yes. Well, maybe not, maybe not breakthrough moment, but honestly, working, working consecutively at at venues is what's the most helpful. Yeah.
00:36:48
Speaker
It's kind of, it's difficult, you know, it's difficult to break into. it depends on also how they, how they do their lists too. Um, some, some people do the frequency in which you've worked. Some people do, you know, just preference, um, if they enjoyed working with you or not. Um,
00:37:07
Speaker
So yeah, I think I'm one of my other kind of pseudo tips that goes kind of off of the being nice thing is understand that every single person that you work with, uh, and honestly, even when it, even guests, even clients, every single person that you interact with that day, you're leaving an impression, you know, whether it's, whether it's lasting or not, you know, but, um,
00:37:32
Speaker
always be aware of of how you're talking to people how you're behaving with people and how you're like literally every single person. i i' you know It's very important to even be really sweet to the guests too.
00:37:44
Speaker
I mean, it's but it's their experience and they're only there for the day, but there's always somebody who has like, I really love that coordinator. Like she knows what she's doing. And I get a lot of comments even from guests like, Hey, you're doing a great job. I'm like, thank you.
00:37:56
Speaker
Go sit down. no yeah But it's really important to really understand that every single person that you talk to is important. Yeah, I agree. we'll speak, especially if they're afraid of the vote. they Certainly if they don't like you, there'll be there'll be some words about it. But try to leave those those those positive lasting impressions on every single I would, I even, if i were to like sum up my whole like career, i would tell myself like, never burn a bridge. i even tell this to my daughters, never burn a bridge.
00:38:29
Speaker
Always leave a impression. Everyone's watching you. yeah um And always be positive. Yep. And if there's something that you don't like or, or is not for you, then leave it and walk away.
00:38:42
Speaker
I love it. Okay. So last question before rapid fire, like shorter answer questions. um What would you tell like wedding pros that are struggling right now to make ends meet, to get bookings, to get their foot in the door, give them like a um kind of like a knock on the head, like some words of wisdom from Melissa on how to get out of the funk and make your dreams come true.
Advice for Wedding Professionals
00:39:12
Speaker
Don't waste money on marketing. Get in front of other vendors and talk to them. Wow. Yeah. Sometimes you got to spend a little bit of money to go to those those events, those um vendor events.
00:39:28
Speaker
um But there are some great free ones out there too. So just getting yourself in front of people and talk to people and just make those make connections. Do you know any free ones out there? Because I don't think any of the of them are on my radar.
00:39:41
Speaker
Um, okay. So, uh, Orange County wedding professionals, I think they do a free one every night. Yeah. Those are free. Um,
00:39:52
Speaker
think that might be the only one that I know. Yeah. That's, that's, I'm, no, I'm glad it's on my radar now. So at least I'll make sure to put on my, my list. I missed the, um, the Halloween one.
00:40:03
Speaker
So I'm like, I went to the one last year, but it's such a great event. Yes. They're, they're fun. They're really fun. Um,
00:40:10
Speaker
Okay, that's great advice. These are rapid fire questions, shorter answers. ah Best social media hack?
00:40:20
Speaker
Do it often. Nice. yes Yes. As often as possible, as much as you can. Yes. Often and consistent. um You look great. Like I told you a bazillion times, but what's your best workout hack? Cause you gotta to be in shape for weddings.
00:40:34
Speaker
Yes, you do. um Yes. Well, for me, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm not working. I'm in the gym. So I would say, uh, work out. Yeah.
00:40:45
Speaker
I, I, well, and do a combination of lifting and cardio because both of those things for the whole day. Yeah. Yeah. I love it. You have to, we're losing our muscle mass, like as we get older. So we got to live.
00:40:58
Speaker
I'm going but also keep your muscle. Cause that's, you know, we're all lifting stuff. Yeah. Okay. Favorite podcast or book. Heck yes.
00:41:09
Speaker
but Besides mine, but thank you for saying that. um Weddings Uncensored. Okay. Okay. I didn't know. Ally Shane. Uh-huh. Yep. Okay, perfect.
00:41:20
Speaker
um Let's see. Favorite wedding explained in like a couple of sentences. Oh, man. Okay. Favorite wedding. um I would say in the desert, we did this.
00:41:34
Speaker
It was a golf course wedding, but it was one a very, very funky venue. Super sweet. Had a like a taco guy, had a really funky funky ballroom.
00:41:45
Speaker
ah out of the box funky stuff so it was it was just gorgeous and they like had um disco balls and whole bunch of like fun 70s kind of inspired um themes so oh i love disco balls yeah one yeah okay so take it away with any last words that you want to share that you didn't think you shared and then tell everyone where to find you and how to work with you amazing um i would say the last the last thing ah for new beginners, um again, along the lines of being yourself. But one of my best tips that I do in an inquiry call is um I don't actually end on
00:42:27
Speaker
anything anything related to the work. I ask them something about themselves and then try to find something, might so find my connection with them. ah Typically, I ask like where they're from because I've where lived and lived and worked in the entire United States in many, many, many different areas.
00:42:42
Speaker
So I always find my my one my one hook and then and the and the call kind of on a really positive note. so Wow, interesting. Yeah. That's that's my boy my sales technique. Cool. And where can everyone everyone find you?
00:42:59
Speaker
You can find me at bluemooneventplanning.com and on Instagram at bluemooneventplanning. Thank you, Melissa. This is such a great conversation. Thank you. Thank you for having me.
00:43:16
Speaker
Thanks for joining me this week on Get a Heck Yes with Carissa Wu. Make sure to follow, subscribe, leave a review, or tell a friend about the show. Take a screenshot and post to IG. Tag me. Also, don't forget to download my free guide on how to become a lead generating machine.
00:43:31
Speaker
See you next time, wedding pros.