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Episode 158 - Making your business your own - Laura Dish Wish Girl
54 Plays2 months ago
Happy Woo Wednesdays!
I have my dear friend Laura Rexer in the heck yes house, also known as the Dish Wish girl. Laura's goal is to work with people who appreciate her work and level of service. She creates a synergy amongst all the pieces of the tablescape + beyond.
I love how Laura shares her story about seeing an opportunity in the wedding industry and going for it.
Laura is a master tablescape designer, curator and innovator who has focused on the idea of the personality of the celebration coming through in the unique details and aspects of the dining experience. Her work over the last 14 years can be seen in Vogue, Harper's Baazar, C Magazine, People Magazine and in the vast majority of national event and bridal publications and blogs.
Hot Topic : Making your business your own
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction & Listener Engagement
00:00:00
Speaker
Happy Will Wednesdays. Welcome to Episode 158. Heck yes, crew. I'm trying to get 100 reviews by the end of the year. If you would be so kind to leave me a review on Apple Podcasts, tag me while you're at it. I could bring on more amazing guests for you. And thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Guest Introduction: Laura Rexha
00:00:19
Speaker
So today, Laura Rexha is in the heck yes house. In my early years of photography, I kept hearing about Dish Wish Girl.
00:00:28
Speaker
She designed beautiful tablescapes and everyone wanted her to be a part of their styled shoot. I was actually able to work with her years later and get published with her studying dishes. I love this conversation. I love the story about getting her first check from a big project. She actually didn't cash it and she wrote something on it. Like she would only do this for the love of the business and not for the money. I love that story. You are going to fall in love with this girl. She is full of amazing stories. Enjoy this episode.
Podcast Focus: Wedding Creatives
00:01:05
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. 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,
00:01:33
Speaker
time-packed 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. I hope to inspire you every Woo Wednesday so that you say heck yes to listening to this podcast. See you guys soon!
00:01:56
Speaker
Hey, everyone. Welcome back to Get a Heck Yes with your girl, Carissa Wu. I have my dear friend, Laura Rexer, in the Get a Heck Yes house. She is known as the Dish Wish Girl. Laura is a master tablescape designer, curator, and innovator, which has focused on the idea of the personality of the celebration coming through in a unique details and aspect of the experience. Her work has, over the past 14 years, have been featured in Bogue,
00:02:24
Speaker
Harper's Bazaar, Sea Magazine, People Magazine, and then the vast majority of national events and bridal publications and blogs. What's up, Laura? Hi, Carissa. Thank you so much for having me. Good to see you. Yes. Oh, you're welcome. Yeah, I've known you for the past, I don't know, it's been 12, 13-ish years, and we recently reconnected through a WIPA event at the Fig House, and we kind
Laura's Journey: From Childhood to Dishwish
00:02:52
Speaker
of hit it off. and Yeah, it was just nice to reconnect with you. And I've always admired your work and your vision and your uniqueness, but tell the audience briefly who you are in a nutshell.
00:03:04
Speaker
Gosh, i will now I'm a Dishwish ah owner, a curator for events, a mom, a wife, and an exhausted person who's just looking for a little bit of a break and also create how to get that creative outlet that I know so many of us in this industry are always looking for, to keep us inspired. and I love that. Okay, let's take it back to young Laura. What were you like as a kid growing up? What was your personality like? Your parents tell us anything that you want to share. Gosh, so I'm an only child. I grew up in Southern California like you. um I feel like what was unique about me from a young age and I see in pictures was that I was a gatherer. I would gather stuff up and almost like they called me like a bag lady where I'd like push around my pram with random stuff I found around the house.
00:03:58
Speaker
I was also very, very, very into arranging, like rearranging my room from a very young age. I had really heavy Ethan Allen furniture that was on carpet and I remember I was alone a lot you know playing and my mom would come in and be like, whoa, whoa, whoa, what? like You moved all of this yourself. So I had an odd um connection to wanting my space to evolve and change. And when I'd go to friends' houses, I'm sure their parents did not love me because I also wanted to rearrange their rooms and decorate. so
00:04:31
Speaker
It's kind of fun after all these years connecting with old friends and they have the memories of me doing that. I think now as an adult, oh my gosh, how obnoxious that I thought that I should just be going around people's houses and changing their furniture around. But yeah, that was something that was a little bit unique about me.
00:04:48
Speaker
That's funny. You're kind of like an interior decorator, like at a very young age. Or even, yeah, I just like style and and how, yeah, to even take what you had and just sort of shift it around and make it feel different. I like change a lot. That's so interesting. Yeah, my My oldest daughter, she does like to gather things. Like even since a baby, like the nanny or the daycare lady would say she always has to hold something. Right? Is that and like innate in us? Like from certain and bloodlines of like, for me, the ones out in the fields gathering all the food. I don't know. you Oh my God. Okay. So let's talk about like maybe high school years. What were you into? What were you like? So I went to a really small, I caught like a saved by the bell school, like
00:05:29
Speaker
compared to most Southern California schools. like We had like ah got married to somebody. We had a flower baby that we had to take care of. like It was very, I don't know, small town feeling. And I was really involved in student government, probably super obnoxious. I was in charge of activities, basically, for um that each grade I would do like some student body position. And then but as a senior, I did associate student body. So I guess I was always trying to be in charge of something.
00:05:58
Speaker
yeah Wow. Yeah, I totally see that. How about like college years? What were you like? And what were you into? Oh gosh, that was such a hard time. like I feel like everyone talked about that time of your life being like the time of your life. And when I got there, it was definitely not. I i didn't go very far. I went to school at Chapman. I wanted to be in broadcast journalism, like investigative journalism. But pretty soon, I realized like maybe it's not for me. They really ah prepared us to think we have to drive like move around to very small towns. And gosh, this California girl didn't want to do that. So pretty early on, I moved into the film department film school. and
00:06:33
Speaker
uh, pursued a degree in production. And then I didn't do anything with that. What did you like love about it? What did you not not love about it? That's a good question. What I loved about film school was like the creating part, right? And like, ah I feel like my I try to make my personality not be generally like an asshole. So I really fell into the producer role well. I feel like that's just about making everybody feel good and everyone doing their job in their best way. And although I didn't end up going that route mainly because I really wanted to travel after school and it just sort of one decision led to another and I went down the business marketing route.
00:07:09
Speaker
But what I loved about that was like the team aspect of production and and the details and they kind of bringing all the people and the details together for the but betterment of the project. so Okay. And then what did that lead into like after college? like Tell me about your early jobs and then we'll kind of bring it to how you started Dishwish. So for the like last two years of school, I did quite a few internships. I thought I wanted to be an entertainment lawyer.
00:07:34
Speaker
And I went to do an internship at this really cool company. They were, I don't even know how to describe it. That company, the kind of company doesn't matter. But what I got from that internship was nobody there wanted to be a lawyer. They all, I wish I was an architect or I wish I was this. And I'm like, well, these people don't want to be doing it like heck if I want it, right? So this, my senior year I did an internship. Oh my gosh, I'm totally blanking now on what I was going to say.
00:08:00
Speaker
I did an internship. Oh, I did. it I'm sorry. I worked at agencies right out of school. And those jobs are really tough. A lot of people start out there. No matter what you're going to do, it's kind of like a good grunt, grunt job to start with. Everybody is so competitive. Like everybody wanted someone else's job. Like even for lunch breaks, like the girls were so catty. Wow. And um so I didn't last long there because it just felt like nobody had any kind of joy. wow But i did I did ride the elevator with a couple, like very cool. I worked for CAA, so there was a lot of things. I don't remember the guy's name, but the most the one that sticks out most, he was like, Was there a circle called like Smallville and there's like a really good looking guy that maybe played like Superman or something? Yeah, I guess I'll do it. Oh my God. I rode on the elevator with him like for a while. Oh boy, was he cute. oh shit's what i That's what the only good thing I remember from that job. But no, it's kind of funny because just wish kind of evolved. But when I, when friends would suggest that I would do a rental company, I'm like, I am not going to work in the events industry with a bunch of females.
00:08:58
Speaker
that are competitive because that was my experience even in jobs where like I didn't think it should be competitive just a bunch of women like it always felt a little bit toxic so it's been a surprise a nice pleasant wonderful surprise because none of the women I really encountered in the industry have been that way which is sort of ironic they're out there but it's kind of was easy to sort of avoid them. Oh, interesting. Yeah, I was agency life too. I was at agency. So that's right. That's right. It was similar. Like, this boss, she would ask everyone to lunch except me. And it was just it was like, Oh, like, who's gonna get promoted first and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. So and then I looked at like the higher ups and I'm like, they seem really stressed out. Like, it just felt like the more you're in it, even like the more stressed out you are. So I'm like, I don't want that life anymore. He wants to strive to do that job. Exactly. Like get paid more money, but be miserable. Yeah, totally. So high five. I'm getting up. Yeah, right. i Okay. So tell me about like your friend or you you told your friends, Oh, I would never get in the rental industry. And then, and then how did you start? Like just, I'm actually really curious. So this is going to be a good story.
Creation of Dishwish: Inspiration and Evolution
00:10:07
Speaker
Well gosh, lower your standards. But, um, what I recall is I was working, um, in dental marketing of all things.
00:10:15
Speaker
and you know doing well, like buying the fun, if you can, and dental marketing. And I went to Happy happy Hour with a girlfriend that I had met um at a few a few jobs before. And she really she I was talking about the dishes and like just saying, oh, I've been buying these dishes. like I don't know. I'm just like obsessed with like asking people. There are stories behind it, because China, vintage China seem like people would just sort of cherish it, not really use it.
00:10:38
Speaker
very often it was you know for special family meals, you know Thanksgiving once a year or whatnot. yeah And i bought I started with one set and I bought at a flea market and the person that was running the booth seemed to know a lot about the family. And so I was asking questions and they were kind of sharing back and forth and sounds really stupid, but it sort of connected that like broadcast investigative journalism aspiration that I used to have about kind of like just getting to know people more and like the natural progression of questions. And I don't know why, but like I started wanting to buy more, and wanting to buy more. i don't I didn't host dinner parties at the time. If I had people over, like we were eating off little tiny, boring, appetizer plates. like I wasn't making Martha Stewart big meals and hosting at all. And it was weird. After you know a few weeks, like i was I had so many. And like I was putting them into my bed. I lived in a one-bedroom apartment by myself. It seemed kind of silly. So I was telling my friend this. And she was laughing like, well, why don't you rent them out? I'm like, oh, I don't want to do that.
00:11:38
Speaker
Definitely not dealing with that. Yeah. No, but you could buy more. And then I'm like, oh, I could buy more. I'm interested. So we actually sketched out on a cocktail napkin, like what ended up being the logo. We named it like right then. Wow. Dishwish. And I don't know. I asked my friend Zoe. I'll call her out, my friend Zoe.
00:11:56
Speaker
She, and yeah, she's been such a support ever since as she does even in her own things. But yeah, that's kind of how it happened. And then it almost like it happened despite me because I really wasn't, I didn't set out to make this business. So in a way, like each little decision, it didn't feel like this big pressure to do everything perfect or everything the same way. I kind of was, I had no experience at all in any of the aspects of it. And I kind of like learned as I went and I don't know. It just, like I said, it happened despite me. I but i wasn't trying to make it be like my full all end all be all job or any of it. Yeah. What flea market was it? ah Santa Monica. Why not like Santa Monica? It's by the like little airport in Santa Monica. I don't even know if they still have it. Okay. Yeah. I've only been to the Long Beach antique land.
00:12:43
Speaker
And the Long Beach is my favorite, honestly. That one's easy. The way they do the aisles is very clean. Rose Bowl would always overwhelm me, although I did go a few times. In the Long Beach one, you get better prices anyway, because it's not as trendy as...
00:12:55
Speaker
Okay, so I mean, this is what the podcast is all about is just like connecting the dots looking backwards, you know, because it's just fun to like realize you use your broadcasting journalism skills to kind of ask all these questions about like the history of these dishes, which makes it even more special. Tell me maybe like getting your first client or like the early years of your business, how you kind of like, you because you you, I mean, just telling the audience, you got you kind of blew up pretty fast and talking to you like in a two hour conversation in the car. So um just kind of like shine the light on how you kind of did it in the beginning years.
00:13:33
Speaker
I feel like a lot of it was timing. so that point i You came about the same time. It was kind of evolving. There was a lot of people that were old school in the business for a long time, you know planners that you know worked with the mother of the bride and the planner tend to be on a little bit of the older side. photographer Same thing, like eight not to be ageist, but the industry had a lot of people that were very much like rigid. If you got married in a hotel ballroom, you know there was note that you were getting like a polyester tablecloth and like nobody cared that the carpet was like absolutely busy and hideous and not
00:14:09
Speaker
necessarily, you know, at all design worthy. And most people did like interior events that would be at a facility where like the catering would be part of it. And it just was very dry and stale. And I feel like we both came around the same time where all of a sudden this became a very visual industry. yeah And not that it wasn't before, but I think money-wise, like budget-wise, that could be very limiting before, right? Like, oh, you know, a nice wedding would be like at a nice country club or a hotel. And when we came about, like visual imagery was so helpful. This is this is when the blogs are coming out. Correct. And I feel like blogs had been out, but I think the machine of like how those images got around yeah had really expanded, right? Because Instagram wasn't a thing even then. Facebook wasn't ah ah really a big business marketing tool at the time.
00:14:59
Speaker
So the blogs really did stand out for that and they were popping up different, um, you know, wedding specific or event specific ones.
00:15:07
Speaker
Pardon this short interruption, but guess what? I have a new program. It's for all wedding professionals. It's called the triple threat. We redo your brand messaging, the homepage of your website. Part two is we do all your marketing. We do create a beautiful brochure so you could start getting on Prefer venue vendor list and we do all your sales so we actually make you a sales presentation leading your client to the heck yes so you get paid. I have a free 20 minute demo training. It's only 20 minutes. Go to my Instagram at Carissa Woo.
00:15:47
Speaker
and DM me the word DEMO. I will send it right over. It's how to get 10 to 15 quality leads in your inbox per month. Enjoy, guys. Krista Wu is a l LA-based wedding photographer who's actually turning business coach. She helped me grow and change, and I'm so proud to call you coach.
00:16:10
Speaker
tell us how you're feeling. Like, I want to just know a little bit more about your thoughts. Yeah, it's beautiful. And you're, you're awesome. It's beautiful. I'm speechless. I just like the fact that it feels like myself. like I can I feel myself when I see this. Oh, man. Well, you got me pumped and excited for this. Carissa, thank you. I also because the part I like about working is being creative with other people. So most of the time in the beginning when we would do what now as everyone knows as styled shoots, it was really about like creating together. So we'd find an inspiration, maybe it'd be like a famous painting or maybe it would be, we saw this really cool spot that probably was super impractical to have an event in the mindset of people then, but no, it was like magical.
00:16:56
Speaker
So a lot of a lot of us, like some young not to be ageist again, but the younger ones sort of like shook that world that big time. And I saw the ripples through so many of the disciplines. Hotels were losing money because they all these like outdoor, you know,
00:17:12
Speaker
kind of unique venues were popping up, planners were frustrated because the barrier of entry had changed to how someone would become a planner. So you know if you did a couple awesome events that were beautiful, like you could put those images up and people would be coming to you like crazy because they wanted to do something different. So for me, the fact that my business and what I did was so visual,
00:17:35
Speaker
on its own, it kind of lent itself to the images and the work were being shared almost very easily because it was different, so different at the time. How did you like connect with your first like team of vendors? Well, that's right. You asked about the first
Business Philosophy: Passion Over Money
00:17:49
Speaker
job. i I literally taught myself how to do a website. I knew like the a little bit basic stuff of like marketing and SEO. I mean, nothing like how it is now. But at the time, that was harder you know to build a website and whatnot.
00:18:02
Speaker
And I kind of put it up and when the first, I never did any style shoot, all the pictures were shot in my mom's backyard um with my ex-husband at the time, he shot a couple of decent photos. My first job, I didn't even cash the check. I framed it and i I wrote on the back of it, when when you feel like you're doing this for the money,
00:18:26
Speaker
get out. Oh, Laura. and yeah and Don't ask me where that frame check is. I do have it. That's funny. It's no longer like on the wall, but that sentiment like really stayed with me because I never, going back to like that past, what you said about the jobs and like everybody being unhappy, like I did not that want that to be me. And we all, I mean, yes, of course we all love to make money, but I need i needed to find the joy and what I did. And if this creative outlet wasn't going to bring me that and I was motivated more about the money, then I wanted to remind myself that that would be time to get.
00:18:59
Speaker
to get out or pivot or whatever it be. Wow, that's so powerful. And it it was um it was not a small check. I don't even know if they realized it. Oh my gosh, you're so sweet. But it's okay. Yeah. Wow. Okay. ah Tell me about either the first time you got published at Filling or just like your favorite pub,
00:19:16
Speaker
publish Or is that a word? you know What stands out to me more were some of the girls they met in the beginning. I guess a few guys, too. But there was some that were just so talented, creative-wise. And sometimes when you're talented, creative-wise, not everything's super organized or super polished. It's like about working together and like throwing things at the wall until they hit. The names I'm thinking off the top of my head, definitely Nicole from Nicole Alexander Design. She's amazing. Marissa.
00:19:45
Speaker
from Marissa Nicole events, Lana, which I can't remember the iteration of her business name now, but she was. Laney, Laney, Laney. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, just a lot of the ones that just, it was it was a process that we were going to together. One of the things I struggled with the dishwish in the beginning and so and frankly kind of do more so now is that my creative or my vision is not limited to what the China that I have is. It really goes a lot beyond that, but carving that niche out to be like a tablescape designer or a tablescape stylist and to bring in elements from all these different companies
00:20:22
Speaker
It was really, I kind of wanted to try to carve that out, but it's really hard because it does step on the toes of some other positions that maybe they don't want to give that up. I feel like there's been a few people that I've tried to pivot that way, planner-wise, just kind of even to focus on one aspect of the event rather than, you know, planning the whole thing, being gone all weekend or hours of the night.
00:20:45
Speaker
And I don't see, I think they've also had the same struggles. So ah that would be my dream. Like to be someone who like knows what the only has knows what our cat, those with frienders or competitors have and like helping the client like figure out what it is they want within their budget.
00:21:03
Speaker
Yeah, I had done it a lot of tangents with this question. Yeah, we did. um No, no, we did a style shoot together. I forgot which one it was. But I remember going to your house and like, been happy each and like your whole garage is full of beautiful shelves with all of the dishes and all of like, ah couplet what they call the They're called the gauntlet. Well, that was a that was a wild ride too. So like I moved into this like old historic house. It was so random that it's like, I found out from a neighbor that used to be this beach community in front of LAX. But as the planes got louder and louder, LAX bought that land, they moved houses or destroyed the houses. And the house I was in was supposedly like moved from there. It was like they dug out underneath the house.
00:21:46
Speaker
and then like set the house down. So um underneath it had about like a thousand square foot of space, which I like over the time I was there, like built walls. Like, I mean, we had a commercial dishwasher down there, but like a full like sink set up and everything. And it was even featured like randomly featured and like a studio like design inspiration magazine, like And that was really cool to do. And I don't know, just the whole evolution of that was kind of fun. Although I look back at those pictures now and I'm like, Oh my God, I never would make those same special choices now. Yeah, times change, styles change. But yeah, it it was a fun space and a fun time. Yes, I remember you coming and a little more space to play. and And what was it like to do those sort of things? And like your first blog or publication and
00:22:30
Speaker
Well, I feel like anyone that like I think like stuff anything aesthetic, sometimes even once you do it once, you feel like you don't want to do it again. so Part of it is like you know my taste changes a little bit and I'm very critical. like The saying, better done than perfect, i am I have such paralysis of analysis on doing stuff because with creatively, I feel like it's never done yeah to the perfect way. so When I look back on that space now and the feeling, like I still want to feel proud that that happened, but I look and I'm like, oh, ah that that's not what I would do now. kind of the you know yeah yeah and think ah Be proud of yourself. you For what it was and the amount of... you know
00:23:08
Speaker
effort and but low money than it costs. i Yeah, I should go. Yeah. Okay, so let's go into hot topic. I kind of take this hot topic for you so you can change it if you want but um it was just kind of what I felt about you but it was making your business your own and I'll explain like why I felt like it was a good hot topic for you is because at the time like there was rental companies and maybe some competitors but the way like you designed and the way that you curated these tablescapes you're kind of in the league of your own just because no one else really could do what you're doing so that's my hot topic for you what do you feel about that sure yeah i mean we you and i've talked a lot about like how the industry's evolved and even
00:23:57
Speaker
I think one of the biggest changes and nobody really talks about is like, who pays for the wedding changed? I don't know if it changed 13 years ago when we, you know, got into this or if it was like a gradual thing, but that change affected the decisions that kind of were being made because no longer were couples fully having to listen to what their parents wanted or what then they were able to make personal choices for themselves. And it kind of opened up this George for couples to think, like, what do we want? Like, what reflects us? Are we the couple that's getting married in a field? Are we the couple that's getting married? You know, and now the Rocky Oaks overlooking the trees and mountains and like, what is that? So,
00:24:39
Speaker
me being that I didn't set out to make this like my life's work, I think it was kind of cool just to kind of set take a step back and like see what people what drove them what images inspired them. This also was the time like Pinterest like first started and it was like a blessing and a curse right because you would get so much imagery with no context and I think maybe the combination of like me not really having an ego and what I could provide and really was more focused on what was for the betterment and like the personal, what was the takeaway that like people would come as a guest, like having been, you know, seated at the table, having been, you know, dancing at the dance floor, eating the desserts, you know, the presentation of all of it and how the energy of that print reflected the couple and the celebration itself.
Trends in the Wedding Industry
00:25:27
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I think smart of you to even realize that because I think going through it and like, you know, it's only let's say visions 2020 only in hindsight. Yeah, but I really didn't know that what was really happening to us. I know I was killing it at that time and we were all like making good money and people were like knocking up at our door like constantly but I didn't understand it at all. But I think you kind of like had a better perception of what was happening. ah is that Do you feel like that? I mean, yeah, in some cases. I think because I never necessarily was thinking like, oh, two to years down the line, I want to do this, three years. It was more like in the moment. And I will say without being derogatory about anybody else in my discipline, not everybody that did this had a good reputation. They were not always easy to work with. They were not always ah appreciative of the work, the planners and different things.
00:26:24
Speaker
And given that I had jobs for people who are assholes, the last thing I wanted to do is be an asshole. So I hate to say it, but I honestly think that was probably one of the strongest things I had on my side was that people just seemed like they wanted to work and collaborate together. Interesting. and yeah i mean i am I feel like, okay, that time of year is like when you when you display something and it got published in a blog and then Did you feel like people just, Brett and Groom just said, I want that. And they reached out to you. I'm excited to share with you all about our first Get A Heck Yes sponsor, Seventeen Hats. I've been using this CRM company for over a decade and I've been referring them to all my frienders for all this time. I always know when I'm going to get paid and most importantly, I get paid. So here is a question. What is holding you back?
00:27:23
Speaker
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Speaker
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00:29:24
Speaker
And yeah, they are going to get your finances in order so you can continue to scale and succeed. Back to the show. For sure, we got a lot of people that wanted to mimic what someone else did, where they saw that. And not specific to my things, but it started to snowball in a way I think that no one was really ready for, and in which I think is continuing still to be sort of a challenge, is that there was a lot of content that we all created that was not feasible in a real event. Interesting. Like you know where the tables would be set, see these tables would be set up in like marsh area, you know like areas where it's,
00:30:01
Speaker
this, even the logistics of it or the things you're seeing in the picture, very, very few people could afford because it was a lot of money to sort of put those flowers together, i put that table there, put those. So I think right now it's, we're still seeing some of the ripples of like, people are seeing these images, they like them, but they have no idea what, what vendors do it and what it costs. Interesting. So I think as far as when people would see stuff from me, there would usually be Sort of a process of trying to peel the layers back and like what is it that they saw in that that they liked? Yeah, not everybody can mimic depending on the sort situation You know what that is. Yeah, how did I go? Yeah gone? Well in addition to I think also couples are so now driven by the content they're gonna have from their wedding their videos their images and that also drives them more in a way that I think is kind of maybe hurting the process because
00:30:59
Speaker
they're not focused on their day they're focused on you know the social media shareable moments of ah know like Like we had a bride who had a 450 person wedding. She spent so much money. I know she did. She would not walk down the aisle because she was worried they didn't do the flat lay of the invitation. right oh She was trying to zhuzh herself as she's like, as the people are seated ready for dun dun dun. Like, dude, that is really devastating. And not, yes, right? Like, I, that's where I feel like some personal responsibility. Like, did we, did we ruin this? Like, when we were all out, you know,
00:31:35
Speaker
working together, having fun and doing all these collaborations. But I mean, I long
The Impact of Social Media on Weddings
00:31:39
Speaker
winded there. that Just like the number of eyes to brides is just to be present on your big day and just let it flow and not to have to think about your flat lay. So ah right. And the the fact that it's even a word that people are like throwing around like that should just be on our our side of it, not on that side of it. Right? Yeah. Yeah. I want to ask you a question about like,
00:31:57
Speaker
I'm just trying to like, get it in my head like when you go to these antique stores, and you've kind of like evolved like inspiration and you get it from your your clients. How do you draw inspiration is just like looking around you get inspired by books by people by designers? Like how do you keep your creative juices flowing throughout the the years?
00:32:17
Speaker
Well, in the beginning, it was definitely like what I liked aesthetically. And then it sort of evolved to what's missing. like What do I not have that I want? In the very beginning, I only did dishes because they could be compacted. And glasses were so bulky. I mean, even in the beginning, like I was like, I'm not going to get a bunch of glass racks. I'm not going to do this that much. And you everything flows. Of course, you need a glass rack. It was a logistical nightmare not to have them. But um as far as what I look for,
00:32:44
Speaker
Yeah, something that speaks to me. I i was in the process of like manufacturing my own things and personally had some struggles with two kids having severe special needs and then you know COVID and all the fancy things that came along with that wonderful time. But I would really like to create things that are in my mind's eye.
00:33:03
Speaker
But as the industry is evolved, believe it or not, it's coming back the vintage thing again. So and I'm actually looking for and some more unique pieces than I had before and trying to build some new collections in that because just like you said, a lot of people have did the vintage just thing. They left the market. There's a lot of companies that are putting that into, bigger companies are putting that inventory out there, but there is a lot of the people that are doing that, they don't, I don't think they really understand the process. They just want to have you know, some stoneware plates or whatever. They're not necessarily design focused. So yeah, I'm looking into building some new ones actually, as I see the trends coming back. That's amazing. And like, just shout out to you for like raising two kids special needs. They're gorgeous. I haven't met them. But it's so hard to run a business, let alone during COVID and everything. So you're doing a great job. I know.
00:33:57
Speaker
we've had these conversations before and a lot of our peers that you know came up with us are kind of the same chapter
Future Trends: Intimate Weddings
00:34:02
Speaker
of life. And yeah, I feel like I'm just coming out of that you know really little kid phase where they're now in school. So my AD, deep brain, creative brain is very much looking for... forward to more chunks of time to be creative in and get back to the work that I love. Oh, good. So explain to us the audience just, I don't know where you see like the wedding industry going as far as like design and like the vintage coming in back and like what the styles are going to be and like what are some cool new things coming out because I have no idea. You know, I
00:34:35
Speaker
I could be wrong, but my impression is that as these visual images are circulating and as people are in their planning process and trying to gather like, Oh, this is my budget. Oh wait, no, that's not going to include, you know, but I see. I feel like people are going to start moving more towards beautiful photos and micro weddings and whether they have a very casual, you know, family, you friends, whatever celebration on their own, I think because we're so visually motivated, I'm hoping um that people really are focusing on that part aspect. of like that If that's really what they want, like get some pretty images and then have like a meaningful, small, less expensive celebration you know with who you, you know your nearest and dearest.
00:35:20
Speaker
wherever that be. um I'm seeing, I think there's going to be more elopements or even like, just be like, even we're getting a lot of couples that are from other States that are coming to California to do these micro weddings, like at Airbnb is that they still can do it or smaller venues or midweek venue, you know, places they can get midweek where I know you were having a midweek of event ah tomorrow.
00:35:44
Speaker
and We are getting much more midweek stuff. 11-11 is another big one, I think that's on Monday. and We have a lot of a lot of couples that date, which you know that's a date we tend to get a lot, but the fact that it's midweek, we're getting all sorts of ones that aren't that like... you know Yeah. And then with inflation and of the cost of venues, anything to save money. So that's i I think you're totally right about elopement and like even doing backyard weddings or just you know being creative about the budget because you know no one could buy a house. Right? And it's like it seems like, not to say that there aren't people that can do that, but I think as the trends have become like where the parents are no longer
00:36:28
Speaker
rarely, the no longer the but full financial ah planner, there's there's couples that are investing or you know paying for a majority of the wedding themselves because they also want to be able to make those decisions for themselves. So that shift of like who's who has the say I think has influenced things a lot because now the couples are like, well, I don't really want to pay all this money for this, even though I want it. Yeah. Yeah. But I love that. But just like the change that we saw like 10, 12 years ago, I think that where those DIY rides are coming, i think it's I think the shift is more more towards less people, more more personality, design focus, aesthetic. you know, beautiful location. Yeah, you're totally spot on about that. Speak to wedding pros, um trying to find their niche or their foot in the industry and kind of like speak to the how to be unique, maybe tips and tricks to
00:37:19
Speaker
find a company that you could call your own and that like competition doesn't even have to be a thing. i mean you really I think what will always resonate to me about this conversation is that check um and not cashing it and then not doing it for the money. I think if you don't do it for the money, I think it it always makes it fun. And when it's fun, like you do your best work and the money will eventually come and it'll flow and it'll be you know you'll have longevity in the business. so Can I speak on that to wedding pros to the hearts of them? I feel like so many of us, like we know there's certain clients we don't want to work with. right And like there's various ways we realize, oh, this is a mismatch. like For me, as I got working with these wonderful planners that are planning throughout the world, like those high budget clients are not always the most fun people to work with, unfortunately. So I think for wedding vendors, and we always say this, but I really mean it. like
00:38:15
Speaker
Rather than trying to network to grow your business, network to grow your
Building Genuine Relationships
00:38:21
Speaker
relationships. Network to get to know the people that are in the industry because I think that's when you genuinely make that connection, that collaboration. And while I absolutely know that I need to make my, I i have a post on Instagram in years, months, whatever, it was because it started to get stressful for me. It started to be like, oh, the grid, oh, the colors. I need to take my own advice and scratch that again and get back to like, what is genuinely about you? Like, so Deanna, is that her name? with it. Since following her, like I know she walks you know all the steps every single day. like There's little things like that that I think stand out about each individual person. So I know like when she reaches out to me for a client, I can check in with her on those things. And it feels real. it feels you know like Although we aren't with each other as much as we all like networking or doing ah monthly events, I think when you take them
00:39:17
Speaker
the self part of like, what can this do for me? And really just think about just like, yeah, building friendships, building, getting to know people and who they really are in and out of the industry. Yeah. Shout out to Dina Nash. Uh, yes. Yeah. you know yeah roused her whippa She's amazing. She was on my podcast. She was the one that popped out to me. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it's a very mutual connection.
00:39:40
Speaker
I really resonated in what you're saying because it is who you truly are. You're investing um when you network. It's not just a one-off. Here's my card. It's like investing in the long-term um yeah relationship. And I was just thinking about that yesterday because I was in Girl Scouts all last year and you know I didn't make too many friendships with the moms, but then coming back and I didn't think I was going to do it this year, um but I did do. I was like, okay, I'll give it one more year. and then because I hear another year and then it's like people with the first time I had a conversation with this mom that I seen all year last year. So it's interesting that's like, okay, it's like once you get past this like threshold of, oh, you're you're sticking around. It's like, okay, now we can be friends. And you know, maybe for some people, there's a mentification there for like certain members of industry, but most everybody is very nice. You know, not a lot of people are trying to be competitive, but yeah, I mean, we're all in different disciplines, but even knowing, you know,
00:40:37
Speaker
other vendors may be a better fit for something. I find that like, I don't know, it's like the boyfriend, like let it go and it'll come back to you. Yeah. Let it go. When I was looking for love, that was many years ago. Yeah. Oh, I love that. ah One more question before I wrap up our questions, but let's see. What is your best, get a heck yes, heck yes sales technique. How do you get your heck yes for your dream client?
00:41:04
Speaker
photographers. I am so thrilled to announce my new sponsors Aftershoot, an AI editing company. They do AI editing, unlimited cropping and straightening. I am seriously blown away by the precision and five hours a week I get back in my life. My life is so much better and I literally don't have any more anxiety. It's so crazy.
00:41:29
Speaker
I remember being at barbecues with my laptop because I had to get out of shoot and and that was so stressful, so not fun. And the best part about after shoot compared to their competition is that it's a monthly minimal cost, not cost per image because I am a true overshooter. I could shoot like, I don't know, 3000 photos in an engagement shoot, which is not good. But anyways, using my code in the show notes to get a 30 day trial and 20% off you're gonna get in the software and just go crazy with it. And AfterShoot edits 2.0 just released, and they have a lot of new features that you are going to love. AfterShoot, I can't thank you enough for giving me back my time to focus on this podcast. Oh yeah, back to the podcast. I stay away from anyone that has an AOL email. That used to be with my team. That was the joke. Oh, we got another AOL over here. They're gonna be trouble. That's hilarious. I'm gonna ask a ton of questions.
00:42:26
Speaker
I'm not to be repetitive. I just think being genuine, you know, like if I'm not the fit for you, great. Like sometimes run off the rip for different reasons, but I'll know, you know, someone's not a fit.
00:42:42
Speaker
That's such a boring answer, but yeah, I guess just like it's the true yeah it really is anyway you I through email, if my, like the genuine is the genuine connections come through. I have a client who reached out there getting married at La Quinta, not La Quinta, La Venta, there we go. ah And the couple like even their images were like, from my picture sport that was from my second one, like everything they wanted was so similar. And as we were talking with to like,
00:43:10
Speaker
you know, what I personally have liked through the years. And my first wedding I had, which no one was doing, I had custom gelato players and custom cookies, which we put together for ice cream sandwiches and that they were named after the bridesmaids. And they were like funky things like fig and marscapone gelato with like the red velvet cookie. And this couple was also not going to do cake. They were going to do cookie sandwiches, which they like hadn't figured out how they were doing. Anyway,
00:43:37
Speaker
Point being, I think there are certain people that you genuinely connect with as far as and couples and photographers. I mean, you've got to find a good photographer, right? But for me, like there's not usually a lot of personality in like a rental company, right? you have You're working with a salesperson who generally works for like a bigger company.
00:43:52
Speaker
So it is a more unique experience to talk to me or the members of my team because if we're small like we can get to know You know everything you want where we can recommend other vendors that you know are small and also can be personally ah Helpful to them, you know linen vendors and like smaller Companies that have great stationery and all that the paper goods and all those things too. Yeah good answer um I love like the you get Laura when you You know, yeah yeah, it's like your brand it's you so it's not like a real thing Real quick before I forget so there was a couple years back yeah a woman that worked in wedding PR ah We had a good relationship and she wanted a bigger rental company who was kind of losing business because they weren't pivoting wanted to buy dishwish and they wanted me to work um for them and instead of like such a cool opportunity and And I remember I went there and it was such a wake up call. It was mostly a family run business, but I just saw like the owner like yelling at what I thought was like
00:44:56
Speaker
his cousin or his sister. yeah There was so much like stress and like turmoil. And it was a big company. I mean, they had Hollywood, they had like entertainment stuff. They rented. I mean, it was no small potatoes company. wow And even though the package of what they were offering me and the job and all of it, like literally good, the energy of it was so not how I had run my little, you know, but small tiny operation. yeah And I'm like, well, I even said to him, like, it's not going to do you any good to buy this because the the energy like we run it so differently like they would not be coming to you for that like yeah it was such a disconnect um and i never regretted that i didn't do that because it wouldn't it wouldn't have benefited either side like i wouldn't have been happy working there or i wouldn't felt like they would listen to
00:45:40
Speaker
you know, what any input or any advice I had as far as, you know, where what direction to go with the other aspects of the business. And like, this risk wouldn't have been what it was there
Maintaining Dishwish's Unique Culture
00:45:49
Speaker
either. So yeah, I would say no, because this is this is your baby. So and well, and like, again, like I never was trying to build it up for anybody to value it other than me. So it was kind of a wake up call to to realize like, wow, not everybody Approaches this industry the same way. Yeah, I love that. Okay, so rapid fire questions. What do you love most about your hubby? Oh Wow, you know that you know the love languages, right? Yeah. Yeah. So my love language is receiving acts of service and he He loves those acts of service. Bobby goes to the grocery store. He buys something I told him not to buy again like ice cream or chocolate and
00:46:27
Speaker
I love that. But it comes late at night. I love that. What is your organizational half? Organizational half? Well, I love folding things like a madwoman, like the little pouch, like how you can fold pants, like a little pouch, shirt, like a little pouch, underwear. That's like, oh, but that's nothing to do with dishwish. But yeah, folding. I loved fold. Oh, I got a heavy one. Oh, it's it.
00:46:56
Speaker
is sony i yes Marie Kondo started it and then everybody kind of adopted stuff. But yes, no, I love, love, love, love a good fold. i i And it's sticking up. What do you, where do you see Dishwood? And then coming year, like busy one year to two years.
00:47:19
Speaker
I would really love to do more international events. Several years ago, I was so lucky. I got to do some really awesome international events. And I'd also really love to work with vendors, like hotels or different places where they have their own stuff or the ability to, you know, enhance their collections that they have and help advise them as far as like trends wise, where that could go for them and the value of them having some pieces in house that are a little bit elevated that they can offer to their clients. So there's not so much rental, you know, outside rental companies actually, which to me, I think helps everybody. Yeah. I love that. This has been a great conversation. It really is. If you have the right
00:48:04
Speaker
of why you're in the room, then you couldn't really be 16. And I don't know, I just create the empire of a business. But where can everyone You can find me if they want to find me. Looks like I'm dead on Instagram. Just switch girl. Although I'm coming back guys. Um, and then my personal Instagram, which shares a lot more, uh, kid pictures and family pictures, but I do love to dress my kids up. Um, that's at the wanders of Laura and Instagram. Um, grandma's too old for social like for Tik TOK or snapchat. So maybe the next platform.
00:48:38
Speaker
you are the stick poation
00:48:44
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. See you next time, wedding pros.