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Ep. 175 - Breaking Wedding Traditions & Standing Out as a Gen Z Wedding Pro with Kara Galvan
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✨ Episode Overview:
In this episode, I sit down with the powerhouse Gen Z planner herself—Kara Galvan—who’s making waves in the Seattle luxury wedding scene. At just 26 years old, Kara has climbed the ranks from part-time planner to Seattle Regional Manager at Your Perfect Bridesmaid, with features in PEOPLE, Over the Moon, and Washington Wedding Day under her belt. We talk about what’s out in weddings, what’s next, and how to show up fully as yourself in this fast-paced industry.
🔥 Hot Takes Kara Drops in This Episode:
- Formal Cake Cuttings? Overrated! Kara shares why this outdated tradition might be better as a private couple's moment or just for the photo opp.
- Sparkler Sendoffs Are Dying: Save yourself the stress and go out with a bang on the dance floor instead.
- Ditch the Basic Arch: Floral pillars or a bold floral arch elevate your ceremony AND your wedding gallery.
💡 Listener Takeaways:
- Trust your gut—your instincts are usually right.
- Let go of what you can’t control and focus on being authentically YOU.
- You don’t have to wait to be older or more experienced to lead—you can shine right now.
🌟 The Woo Factor:
Kara’s youth is her superpower. At just 26, she’s built a thriving career, trusted by high-end clients to bring their dream weddings to life with a fresh and bold perspective.
📣 Want More from Kara?
Follow her journey and get wedding inspo, BTS tips, and all her Gen Z fire on Instagram:
@yourperfectbridesmaid | @seattleweddingplanners | @kuurraa
Follow Carissa Woo
https://instagram.com/carissawoo
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Transcript
Introduction to Digital Affiliate Marketing
00:00:00
Speaker
Happy Woo Wednesdays everyone. i don't know if you guys know but I'm into digital affiliate marketing. It's all about selling digital products. You could turn your expertise into passive income.
00:00:14
Speaker
It is on fire right now.
Guest Introduction: Cara from Your Perfect Bridesmaids
00:00:16
Speaker
I have a nine minute video you can watch all about it um and you can make some extra cash while you wait for those inquiries to roll in um But today is all about wedding hot takes with Cara from Your Perfect Bridesmaids. She keeps it real.
00:00:34
Speaker
She is based in Seattle and I'm so excited to meet her next week. She is a director of education for Seattle WIPA and chose me to speak for their event.
00:00:45
Speaker
I'm so nervous and so excited. But she is so down to earth and i just can't wait to go to dinner with her. She shares her journey to becoming a wedding planner. and she really helps the listeners take away that no matter life circumstances, your age, your success, everything happens for a reason.
00:01:05
Speaker
And you could only control yourself, your decisions and your reactions. Enjoy.
00:01:14
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.
00:01:25
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,
00:01:43
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.
00:01:55
Speaker
i hope to inspire you every Woo Wednesday so that you say heck yes to listening to this podcast. See you guys soon.
00:02:06
Speaker
Hey everyone, welcome back to Get a Heck Yes with me, your girl, Carissa Wu. i have a very special guest today. Her name is Kara Galvin, and she is from Your Perfect Bridesmaid and also Seattle Wedding Planners.
00:02:19
Speaker
And she um has been in Seattle for four years now, starting off her career as a part-time lead planner to now being the Seattle Regional Manager and Senior Lead Planner and Designer Her compliment accomplishments include wedding publishings in People, Over the Moon, and Washington Wedding Day. And now I hear Vanity Fair.
Cara and Carissa's Connection Through WIPA
00:02:43
Speaker
Yes.
00:02:44
Speaker
Thank you, Carissa. I really appreciate that intro. um so excited to be here. Yes, and a little backstory of how me and you met. I guess you could tell the story even more, but you found me through WIPA. We're both serve on the board. I serve on SoCal board. You serve on Seattle board, VP of education. and you asked me to be a speaker at your next event, talking about how to get luxury clientele. So I'm so excited.
00:03:11
Speaker
Yeah, no, I'm literally so stoked to have you come up. We, as a board, we're so excited and we were impressed by your professionalism. So i think it'll be a great topic. And especially up here in Seattle, where we do a lot of luxury weddings. So I'm very excited.
00:03:27
Speaker
Ooh, I love it. I love it. Love it. Okay. So tell the audience who you are.
Cara's Background and Personal Journey
00:03:32
Speaker
Yeah. um so I grew up in California. I am a California girl, born and raised I'm from the East Bay area. um i have quite a large family. so I'm a big family person. my i have five other siblings.
00:03:50
Speaker
um So I'm the oldest of six, technically. um And yeah, i I, went to college in Southern California. So I'm very familiar with the LA area.
00:04:02
Speaker
um I grew up swimming. So I actually went to college for a swimming like scholarship. So that was a really fun um part of my life. And Yeah, I just, you know, I moved to Seattle because I graduated college in 2020, like right in the middle of a world pandemic.
00:04:24
Speaker
wow So I, you know, I came up to Seattle, a city that I've never been to before. um and we'll talk about, you know, why and the jobs, but i just, you know, I wanted to get um out of California. I think I just wanted to see and experience new things. I was 21 and young and having fun. So that kind of how I landed here in Washington. But yeah, i I grew up in California and I definitely miss it. And I definitely want to go back at some point in my life.
00:05:00
Speaker
um What was it like being the oldest of six children? yeah I definitely have this like maternal instinct. um I, you know, like I am ah My brother, he's seven years younger than me. So he's the next oldest.
00:05:17
Speaker
So I, for a long time, i was sort of this only child. um My, my mom and my dad actually had me quite young just out of high school. So, um,
00:05:29
Speaker
Yeah. So but it was almost this like weird transition of I'm an only child. And then at seven, oh my gosh, there's babies and they'll, they, it kind of turned into this, like, I'm always the babysitter, always watching, um kind of this mother figure that I put on myself, obviously. But yeah yeah, even in my friend groups, my friends are like, you're like the mom of our group.
00:05:52
Speaker
And And it's just so natural to me to do that. But yeah, yeah, no, it's it's so fun. My youngest brother, he is um he is in sixth grade. So i they're still pretty young. um Wow. And yeah, and that's why travel back to California quite often is because I feel sort of a disconnect of I grew up sort so surrounded by them.
00:06:18
Speaker
um and then moving here, obviously, i feel like i'm missing time with them. So I try to go back like four times a year. Yeah. Oh, that's so crazy. It's like your parents stuck it out and then they had a lot of other babies together. Yeah.
00:06:35
Speaker
but Very, very rare. um Yeah. like that's title so Walk me through college years. What college did you go to and like what were you into besides like swimming?
00:06:50
Speaker
Yeah. So I went to Azusa Pacific University, um just, well, in Azusa, but closer to Pasadena area. um And yeah, I really, i would say a lot of my time was spent at the
Career Transition to Wedding Planning
00:07:04
Speaker
beach.
00:07:04
Speaker
I love going to the beach. I'm a beach girl through and through. um Obviously at that time as well, friend groups are important to me. And so I remember like my favorite i A day in a life, my favorite thing to do would be obviously go to some practice, go to classes, and then go to a coffee shop with my girlfriends. And then at the end of the day, but well, I'd have another practice.
00:07:27
Speaker
And then we'd go to the beach. Typically, we go to Huntington or Orange County somewhere over there. um But yeah, like it was that's like my ideal day back in college. Yeah.
00:07:41
Speaker
Yeah. um I mean, other things, I'm pretty active in general. I still live that active lifestyle. um I have a dog. His name's Ollie. He's an Australian Shepherd, and he keeps me going. He is so crazy energetic.
00:07:58
Speaker
um And so, you know, I have to stay active for him. um oh And I go on a lot of hikes and outdoorsy things, which totally fits the PNW aesthetic in that vibe. So,
00:08:10
Speaker
Yeah, that's easy. um i still do a lot of coffee shop hopping. I think that that's if I am, I mostly work from home. We'll talk about that ah later. But um i since I do mostly work from home, um it's easy for me to just hop to a coffee shop and post up for a day. So I still thrive in that space.
00:08:32
Speaker
And yeah, I, you know, I feel like a lot of my pastime is just really um at home. I think I'm a little bit of a homebody. yeah yeah i love to cook. I love like one, like I have a horrible um habit of like, I don't meal prep. I don't plan out my weeks like that despite being a planner.
00:08:54
Speaker
one of like a random Tuesday, I'd be like going through the cookbooks and thinking, oh, maybe I'll just cook up salmon patties and then go to the store and just yeah get all this stuff and have leftovers. But yeah, so yeah.
00:09:08
Speaker
I love to cook. I love to explore cooking and all of that. So I spend a lot of time doing that. um And yeah, kind of just chilling. I'm just existing in this world.
00:09:20
Speaker
Wow. No, you sound like you have a great life. Oh, thank you. I definitely resonate with you a lot. I mean, have a lot of similarities besides ah liking to cook, but my my dog keeps me very active.
00:09:33
Speaker
I lost a lot of weight. I have a sheep doodle, very energetic. So I lost a lot of weight after getting this dog because um we walk a lot. Yeah. you Literally so relatable. Yeah. Ollie, he needs probably at least – two hours of some sort of exercise. I mix that with playing fetch or running or walking. Yeah, i definitely staying in fit.
00:09:59
Speaker
A shape is pretty easy with you with a dog. So yes. Tell me about like early jobs out of college. um Anything that kind of shaped you to who you are today and then you can kind of bring it what you do. Yeah, totally.
00:10:16
Speaker
Um, so like I said, I was in, um, the Los Angeles area after college and I graduated in 2020. So there was a lot of unknowns in general at that time.
00:10:30
Speaker
Um, and so I had friend, I have a couple friends actually that are originally from Washington, um, the Seattle area and,
00:10:42
Speaker
They were, you know, talking about going back home and I was thinking, well, I guess I can just go back home too. But I really wanted a job. um And actually, i my degree is in elementary education. so specializing in multi-subject education.
00:10:59
Speaker
so... and so I was thinking, well, do I really want to start off my first year of teaching virtually? Like that did not feel right with me.
00:11:10
Speaker
i just
Networking and Leadership in the Seattle Market
00:11:11
Speaker
didn't feel that connection to the students and, you know, pots potential students that I had felt previously when I was obviously before COVID. So, um, so I just, I felt it in my gut that I just did not want to pursue that career at that time.
00:11:29
Speaker
Um, and so because I had never left California, lived out of California, um I'd never been to Washington or, and or anything. I was just like, I kind of want to do something crazy. Why not just move here for a couple months and just live my life? Like I said, I'm Young, I can do whatever I want. I have no ties. So why not? um So I moved to Washington and I found a job right away with a nonprofit actually.
00:11:58
Speaker
um And I worked there for about a year, um which was longer than I totally thought. And during that timeframe, I found a job on LinkedIn with Your Perfect Bridesmaid for being a wedding planner.
00:12:12
Speaker
And so I'm like, well, I don't know how much longer I'm going to be here because I don't really like this nonprofit job anymore. i feel like I've grown out of it and I need to get a second job to live in Seattle. So it's, you know, quite expensive.
00:12:29
Speaker
So, um, I was like, I don't know. i just don't know what to do. um but then I interviewed with this company that I currently work for and fell in love with it right away.
00:12:41
Speaker
and then i left the nonprofit job and I got a, event planning job at the University of Washington. So I was the event specialist for the university's president.
00:12:54
Speaker
um And so that was that really just opened the doors of event planning. Sure, it'd be corporate slash educational, but um it just really opened the doors of what I love doing.
00:13:07
Speaker
And that is just creating spaces for people that are, that clearly enjoy themselves. Like I love to create spaces and create memories for people that they will cherish. So I, um, the job at the university really was kind of my, my, my door for the world that I'm in now.
00:13:30
Speaker
Um, and I really, Yeah, I cherished my time there for a long time. um And so I was doing that job as the event specialist and this current job as a part time lead planner, like we said earlier.
00:13:44
Speaker
um And then at some point, ah the university, you know, asked that I had to choose between the two because my weekends are starting to get full with weddings. Valid, very valid.
00:13:55
Speaker
Um, and so again, I just followed my gut and I just felt like this role in my current ah job right now at Your Perfect Bridesmaid was the right decision for me.
00:14:06
Speaker
Um, So I left that job and I've been doing this job solely since then.
Role as Director of Education at WIPA
00:14:12
Speaker
ah and yeah, so my current role um is Seattle regional manager and senior lead planner. I do extensive designs for for couples and um I lead the team that we have up here.
00:14:30
Speaker
um it didn't start off as that. just started off as you know ah ah wedding planner, um but as as As I've grown in this role, um I saw an opportunity for a promotion and luckily that worked in my favor. So wow I've been manager for about, a regional manager for about a year now, over a year.
00:14:52
Speaker
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00:15:08
Speaker
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00:16:14
Speaker
Yeah, and so... What I do as regional manager is essentially a lot of networking. Obviously I am, you know, in some ways the face of the Seattle market for the company. Um, so I, I really take that to heart of, you know, putting my best face forward, um, and at networking events, I do a lot of that, um,
00:16:38
Speaker
i manage the Seattle team and we have, uh, currently we have a about 11 lead planners, 11, 12 lead planners. Um, and we have six associate planners. So I, I am, you know, responsible for, for them and checking in on them, mentoring them. i have a counterpart. Her name's Jade. She's amazing. So she helps me with that too.
00:17:01
Speaker
um, and yeah, we do. I mean, have projects on the side that are relevant to managerial stuff. I'm in charge of scheduling. Um, so I, I wear a lot of hats and on top that, obviously I have weddings myself.
00:17:16
Speaker
So, um, I i take on, i try to take on between 18 20 weddings up upwards to maybe 21 sometimes, but yeah. um Yeah. So I, definitely juggle my time. um And now I'm the whip on the whip aboard. So that's exciting.
00:17:40
Speaker
um That was a new opportunity that I took on this past year um that's my first term as director of education. So that's kind of a full circle moment for me, yeah you know,
00:17:51
Speaker
Having an education degree ah and the passion that i have for the wedding industry and education and learning, um ah they it just perfectly aligns with but kind of who I am. So I'm stoked to be in this role for the next couple years.
00:18:07
Speaker
Yeah. But yeah, thats that's what I do. That was a long-winded answer. I just let you keep going. Yeah.
00:18:18
Speaker
No, it is very full circle. like um i like how I was like elementary, trying to get into elementary education, and then you graduated like during COVID, which is crazy.
00:18:29
Speaker
i graduated like right before 2009 recession, so it was kind of similar, but yours was even more insane. like And then you work for your perfect bridesmaid, but also like you're in events and then you go full time with your perfect bridesmaid. And then now you're WIPA education. so it's like you are teaching. So yeah, i educators. So that's pretty cool. And and you're you're so young. So it's like like quite the resume. Yeah.
00:19:02
Speaker
Thank you. yeah i I am definitely, you know, i do pride myself in being 26, Gen Z, and having accomplished what I've accomplished and kind of finding my my niche so young in life.
00:19:17
Speaker
um i I don't take that for granted, for sure. Dang, I'm 14 years older than you.
00:19:25
Speaker
ah We're going to party in Seattle. Yes, we are. I'm an old soul at heart, as you know, as I'm sure you guys can tell. So yeah, I could tell. Okay. um One question before Hot Topic, um I guess just briefly ah tell us about like WIPA Seattle, like were you involved um before you were on the board and like kind of what is your role?
00:19:49
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. Uh, I was involved before, so I was a member, uh, for the maybe two years at this point. And again, just as a, the representative of your perfect bridesmaid for Seattle. Um, so I love WIPA. I think that it is a great organization, that connects the wedding professionals in different industries of our, our world. So I think that, um,
00:20:18
Speaker
I found it very beneficial for myself, getting myself out there, meeting, literally meeting new people all the time. Um, so for me, that was a challenge, but also it it is now so natural to me. So I, I needed to have that space and have a safe space in a way to do that.
00:20:37
Speaker
Um, so WIPA really, WIPA Seattle really created that for me. um But yeah, I mean, I love our board. So I joined the board literally this year. So I am three months into it. um I think I'm doing well.
00:20:54
Speaker
ah But yeah, we, as a director of education, you know, That role in general is essentially every quarterly meeting that we do, um there is an educational aspect to it.
00:21:09
Speaker
So my job is to basically find speakers through the WIPA database, social media, or anything like that. um Kind of not interview them, but have a conversation with them on like, hey,
00:21:24
Speaker
What do you think about this topic? As a board, we we sort of decide what topics we want to talk about, um obviously, because we need a topic that's relevant to our city, um yeah and relevant to our market.
Wedding Trends and Industry Insights
00:21:36
Speaker
So um i I do the vetting process of finding a speaker that can fit that topic or um a speaker that perhaps has a topic that we're interested in. I'd have to have a chat with them, see if they are you you know, fit kind of what we're looking for.
00:21:55
Speaker
um And then i go through the contracting process and then i typically meet with them beforehand. So it's a really fun, um, role to be in because you're meeting, you're literally meeting people that are not in your circle. Right. Yeah. I'm meeting you in someone in SoCal that i probably would have never met before. Yeah. And it's like, you're amazing. I wish i like this sort of networking connection system that WIPA provides is phenomenal.
00:22:24
Speaker
So, um, yeah, I can now like confidently say, you know, I have close colleagues that I would see in like, um, South Carolina in yeah in Texas. So it's, it's a really, really cool it is foundation.
00:22:40
Speaker
So yes, you have to visit. Um, okay. So now i guess go into hot topic and explain like, um, like you've probably done so many weddings in this like very kind of short time.
00:22:53
Speaker
um But you've seen like trends that you like, trends that you don't like. You have some hot takes and stuff. You're a little bit spicy in your opinions. I could tell um you're not very, yeah, super, you're not super cookie cutter and you have like something to say.
00:23:09
Speaker
So um what are, what is your hot topic and why is it so near and dear to your heart? Yeah, I have a couple of wedding hot topics and wedding hot takes. I would say ah first one being, I think the formal cake cutting in general at weddings are not it anymore. I think that they need to be, it's a done tradition. um i do love though, like this is the difference. I love a good photo shoot moment with a cake.
00:23:38
Speaker
If you have, you know, let's say like a super trendy cake, multi-tier cake with cute stuff on it, whatever. Yeah. But when it actually comes to your wedding day timeline and trying to incorporate a time to cut your cake, it's always so like...
00:23:57
Speaker
Oh, let's just put it in here really quick and kind of almost irrelevant because people don't actually see it at the end of the day. Your guests, if you want your guests to see it, like you have to take out genuine chunks of time.
00:24:10
Speaker
And at the end of the day, all not all of your guests will see it. And yeah it really, really at also is a photo moment. So why don't you just take time beforehand during your couple shots and to have a photo op with the cake if that's really all you want with it you know so yeah it is kind of it is kind of awkward because it's like oh like dj like oh come come everyone around so that takes time and then yeah after the couple's like is that it you know exactly exactly like and go back to experience yeah and you know sometimes typically it leads into that first dance typically it leads to something else but
00:24:48
Speaker
It's like, just cut out the middleman. Just have the DJ announce everyone to come join for the first dance if that's what you're wanting. Like, that's how I feel about it, okay? yeah um Another hot take is I think that the the grand exits are sort of out. Like, I'm 50-50 on it.
00:25:06
Speaker
If it's a sparkler exit, no. Hard no for me. I don't think that. I don't think it's worth it. If it's like a grand exit with some sort of vehicle or...
00:25:18
Speaker
I don't know, like a fancy car, you know, I would say then that is totally worth it for the photo op again. yeah, You know, sparkler exits take so long.
00:25:30
Speaker
I know. To just gather and wrangle all of your guests to then get in two separate lines to start lighting the sparklers. All it does is cut out your dance time.
00:25:41
Speaker
And so if you really just want a dance party and just like, you know, party, have a good time, just have a final last hurrah fun song don't don't do Don't try to cut your dancing short just to accommodate sparkler exit.
00:25:56
Speaker
Yeah. That's how feel. Yeah, it's kind of it's kind of dangerous too. Yeah, I'm like in California, I'm sure you guys have fire bands all the time. So you can't I've been like, not like berm, but like once it like goes on your skin, it's like, ah! Yeah, it kind of hurts.
00:26:12
Speaker
Exactly. Exactly. no I agree. That's so funny. he How many weddings have you have you done, do you think? Oh, gosh.
00:26:21
Speaker
I would, I don't, that's a great question. i would say close to a hundred, maybe close to hundred in last four years.
00:26:32
Speaker
Yeah. Like my very, very, very first season with your perfect bridesmaid, I did, um, I did 13 weddings and then I I've only gone up from there.
00:26:43
Speaker
So, um, Yeah. I like this year I have 19 probably going to take on a couple more. Well, 19 this year and then active. I have some for 2026. So active weddings is like 21, 22.
00:26:56
Speaker
Wow. one twenty- two wow So yeah, at this point, I would say close to 100, but
Attracting Luxury Clients and Building Relationships
00:27:05
Speaker
I don't know. Oh my God.
00:27:07
Speaker
um Before you go into your third hot take, um how do you get like your luxury client? i know all your clients are not not luxury, but you have a lot of luxury clients and, you know, getting published in Vanity Fair.
00:27:18
Speaker
Like what is your tip and trick on how to get this clientele? Because I know like it's like The clientele is this percent, don't know, 5%. And then, but like this many people of vendors are trying to get that, um being planner, photographer, florist.
00:27:34
Speaker
So how do you, like, what's your tip to get these luxury clients? Photographers, I am so thrilled to announce my new sponsors Aftershoot, an AI editing company.
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00:28:04
Speaker
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00:28:41
Speaker
After Shoot, I can't thank you enough for giving me back my time to focus on this podcast. Oh yeah, back to the podcast. Yeah, yeah. So my, I i personally,
00:28:55
Speaker
don't do the vetting process of luxury versus not luxury. Yeah. But I do know as a company, we market ourselves to be able to be flexible with all budgets. And so I think that when say a lug, a true luxury client is looking for, a company, um, to work for, a work with, I mean, they want they want a vendor that can be flexible. So like, sure, they have the money for a luxury wedding, quote, unquote, but, um you know, if they don't, if they can get everything that they want and not have to spend all this money that they have perhaps allocated, I think that that is what is,
00:29:39
Speaker
um ah like, I think that's what they're looking for. They want yeah like the ability and flexibility with um their planner. And I know, you know, possibly from other vendor perspectives, having a portfolio, I know that we have a portfolio that again, ranges from a luxury where they can see, oh, they do luxury, they fit exactly what I'm looking for.
00:30:01
Speaker
And also, sometimes they do barn farm ones or and so I think they like that that ability and that difference. But, um you know, for me personally, the clients that I had that were published in people and, um, over the moon, they said that they, um, they just appreciated the transparency that was on our website. And, um, you know, ah the sales team did a really good job, um, talking to them about our different packages because we offer four different packages and,
00:30:37
Speaker
we can also customize any package. So I think having that leniency of we will fit whatever you are looking for wow is what is attractive to luxury, luxury clientele.
00:30:48
Speaker
And then the sales admin team, they knew that i you know, specialize in that. And I would have that stronger connection and have that experience at this particular client was looking for. And yeah so that's how they got to me. And I, you know, um i was really lucky with with that and how it all played out.
00:31:11
Speaker
oh Yeah, so I would say that's just my perspective. Do I know if that actually, you know, turns into clientele like that? I'm not sure. But yeah, I can see from our track record as a as a company.
00:31:26
Speaker
um Yeah, I think that's what is beneficial. Yeah, what does like your perfect bridesmaid mean to like you? Because i that's like such a cool name for a company. So um where was that like, don't know, like how does she come up with that? And then like, I'm sure you have to like talk about the meaning of it, right? on To your clients. like So what does it mean to you?
00:31:49
Speaker
Yeah, I would say, you know, your perfect bridesmaid means to me is just someone who will not well, who is consistent, someone who is consistently there to help you, someone who is consistently, um, you know, available.
00:32:08
Speaker
Um, again, as a company, we sort of pride ourself in that professional knowledge and, and knowing when to think quickly on our feet. And so I, um,
00:32:21
Speaker
I like to create relationships with my clients. yeah I'm sure everyone does. And so I kind of turn into this wedding planner, therapist, friend sort of thing for all of my clients.
00:32:37
Speaker
And I think that is in essence, your, you know, your perfect bridesmaid is it's, it's this, we're not just your planner. We are your person. Like we are here for you.
00:32:48
Speaker
um And you know, we, as a whole, we want to include all of the communities. And so we have also been leaning towards YPB weddings in general, just because of that inclusivity of language. But I think that it just is all in all art. The company is, um, yeah, it really prides itself in, in that professional knowledge and relational, um, kind of clientele relationship that we have.
00:33:19
Speaker
Wow. Yeah, that's a good answer. How do you think like, um do do you guys have like a mantra for like your best like heck yes, sales technique on sales calls? Like um um any tips and tricks that you could give to the audience? Because I'm sure they're dying to know how you you you guys book all these weddings per year. Yeah.
00:33:36
Speaker
um Honestly, so because we are in different markets, it's totally different. Like you would think that Portland would be exactly the same market as Seattle because we're so close, but it's absolutely not. And Arizona, we just happened to Arizona market as well.
00:33:54
Speaker
They, they're completely different market and how we need to sell ourself is, is totally different. um I would say like, you know, what we see in Seattle, we see that, um, most couples or people that, you know, we have sales calls with, they actually just want a phone call. They don't want to talk face to face, something like this.
00:34:19
Speaker
And that's totally different Portland where they would prefer to talk face to face, not phone calls. And so when we look at our sales, um, you know, our sales and but pull up the spreadsheets. We're like, okay, we are severely unsuccessful with face-to-face conversation in Seattle.
00:34:37
Speaker
What is wrong with that? um And it's like, we are just constantly learning about our market and where we are wanting to, you know, have business. And so I think that it comes from boots on the ground.
00:34:51
Speaker
um My job and in particular of like, what is the Seattle market needing? how can we attract these clients? And I, you know, I come back with feedback of, yeah, I think phone calls best because people want to just have a straight conversation. There's no fluff, no need to fluff yeah um in the Seattle market, at least.
00:35:12
Speaker
And, you know, they want to see price comparisons. And so a lot of that is, I'm sure, very universal, but it's also something that you're like, don't really realize at the end of the day that you do, you change your um sales calls or conversations to that specific market.
00:35:31
Speaker
Well, that's so crazy. Like yeah it goes so deep. Like um Tom Chelnik did not for the whip event yesterday. It's all about like doing your research and like. Totally about doing. Yeah. Like people don't care about it or they don't want to do it. But at the end of the day, like your long-term career is going to be all based on research. and yes I agree with that. And um you know, as I've said, I'm, I don't actually do the sales calls. I just see that aftermath, but when I do review the spreadsheets and I have these, um, you know, we do Seattle meetings, obviously to talk about our market and,
00:36:10
Speaker
When I see these trends coming up, it's like, okay, how can i as a manager, as the rep here, what can I do to um ah adjust our um our leads, our people, our networking to fit and be successful in this market?
Generational Wedding Trends and Market Strategies
00:36:28
Speaker
Wow. Okay, so I have a Gen Z-er broad question. I don't go know what I'm going ask, but yesterday's um talk at the WIPA event, like he I think he said that Gen Z-ers accumulate 60% of the weddings for this year.
00:36:46
Speaker
so you're a Gen Z-er, you're 26, but you you talk to a lot of non-Gen Z-ers. like What do you think like the key differences in conversations are and like what people... what Gen Zers want, opposed to like maybe older people?
00:37:02
Speaker
Yeah, that's so fair. That's a great question. um You know, when I speak to, when I have clients that are my generation, a lot of it is about face value.
00:37:17
Speaker
A lot of it is like, how is this going to look on social media? I want this, I want my wedding to be trendy. I want my wedding to be beautiful. I just want it to look beautiful.
00:37:28
Speaker
um And I think that, you know, i ah I, agree. Like, yeah, absolutely. That's very valid. um But then the the downside of that is the financial budgeting that perhaps that conversation is there and we can have it very surface level, but then nitty gritty come down to it, you know, these luxury florals that you want,
00:37:52
Speaker
you can't necessarily afford that. So how can we pivot to have your visually aesthetically pleasing, beautiful wedding that you're wanting um that, you know, sort of fits this budget that you may not have because you are a younger generation, um you know, if you don't have familial um help.
00:38:14
Speaker
And so those harder conversations are talked about much, much sooner, um even though, you you know, they have this like visual dream. A lot of my job is kind of bringing them back down to earth and what can we tangibly get and what can we tangibly do um with your current situation?
00:38:35
Speaker
And I see a lot of times vendor wise, they are also doing very similar things of like marketing in a way to attract Gen Zers.
00:38:45
Speaker
And I think it is because, truthfully, I think it's because it's an easier generation. Like they just want to have fun, be frilly. And it's not, there's a more of a low key sense of things, if that makes sense of yeah um almost relatable in a way.
00:39:05
Speaker
um And I oftentimes when I have clients that are Gen Zers, whether I'm younger than them or older than them by a couple years, I, i see those,
00:39:19
Speaker
becoming like true like friends of mine. Like it's just become such a natural thing between us as clientele to to planner relationship, especially if we're working together for more than a year or something like that. Yeah. um It's just really easy to, to become friends and um you know, have that great repertoire.
00:39:43
Speaker
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Speaker
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00:40:08
Speaker
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00:40:26
Speaker
And when it comes to, you know, the ladder with the different generations, older generations, I do see that, you know, personally, i typically have to put, um, a lot of effort into, you know, being more professional and,
00:40:40
Speaker
um And I am pretty professional, but it's more so like I'm putting on sort of a face of like, I know what I'm doing. i clearly there's an age gap here, but I need you to trust me. And so that trust has to be built first way before, um, really like we'll talk about nitty gritty, but i I feel like I am working harder to earn their trust, which is super fair.
00:41:05
Speaker
Like I, you have to do that. Um, In this and this industry. But I do feel as if for me personally, I'm working harder to build their trust. that I know what I'm doing.
00:41:15
Speaker
And I need you to trust me that I know what I'm doing. um and And so that's kind of where those lines differ. um But at the end of the day, they also have luxury weddings.
00:41:29
Speaker
Like they have some, a lot of them, they're from their, they're using their own money, not perhaps not familial help versus, know, Gen Z. And so think that also that budgetary conversation is taken very, very literally. Whereas Gen it's like, oh yeah, it's whatever. Like, I'll just talk to my family, or I'll just talk to this or we'll figure it out. Like, it's not a big deal.
00:41:51
Speaker
Like that's something like that is word for word. What i hear sometimes im like, Cool. I'll circle back with you in about a week on that not a big deal thing, but I'll let you sit with that.
00:42:02
Speaker
But with older, you know, older generations, they're very much, no, this is so hard budget. Don't give me any vendors that don't even fit my budget. I don't want to see that. And so it's like, great, you know exactly what you want and we're going to get that move on. And a lot of times it's actually a lot easier because they, they know exactly what they
Advice for Wedding Professionals and Closing Remarks
00:42:22
Speaker
want.
00:42:22
Speaker
Wow. So yeah, I think that it it's ah it's a really, really cool dynamic that we live in right now of, especially in this industry of seeing the two sort of worlds collide and how, you know, as a wedding professional, how can we fit in that and adapt to both ah generations and be successful?
00:42:43
Speaker
Yeah. I mean, I'm just thinking about like my Gen Z assistants, but they're very like, um, What's the word? They have, like, a lot of boundaries. Yeah.
00:42:53
Speaker
yeah They do have a lot of boundaries. I can say, like, they're just, like, they'll just be, like, straight up, like, no Like, not going to happen. But, yeah, working with, like, some of my Gen Z couples, it's, like – They're totally different and they do just want to talk about themselves and I just am there to listen. It's kind of interesting and kind of, he i don't know, it just um give them like a lot of attention then and then Let them speak their hearts. I think that's like my big heck yes technique.
00:43:28
Speaker
Let them shine. again yeah Yeah. That's very relatable. Yeah. yeah Oh my God. So I could talk to you forever and I'm so excited that we're going to hang out in Seattle, but I guess last question, um Speak to the hearts of wedding professionals um wanting to make it in this industry, but they don't know if they they can.
00:43:49
Speaker
um What would you say to them today to just um light the fire in their hearts to say like you could do it? Yeah, um that's a great question.
00:44:01
Speaker
I, you you know, I talked a lot about my gut intuition. Yeah. And i I genuinely think that is how I've gotten to where I have ah where i am now, um following your gut intuition. And I think that is you leaning into yourself and trusting yourself is huge.
00:44:23
Speaker
um Having the confidence in yourself is huge. And so... you know, comparison, I, my mom grew up sharing, saying this quote me, but comparison is the thief of joy. And so you as an individual, whatever professional you are wanting to be in the industry, comparing yourself will not work. um It will not, you're not going to be an overnight sensation.
00:44:48
Speaker
um So it takes a lot of work, follow your gut and follow your intuition and, step out of your box, um do those networking things that make you uncomfortable, talk to someone that you don't know. And so I think that when you get out of your, your headspace and put yourself out there, that is where you will thrive.
00:45:10
Speaker
um Even though if it makes you uncomfortable, just needing to do that and following your gut is huge. Yeah, I love that. I definitely see that in you. Yeah, thanks. You are old soul for sure. And where can everyone find you?
00:45:23
Speaker
Yeah. so I am on social media. I'm sure you'll tag me. And so you can follow me on Instagram, follow at your perfect bridesmaid on Instagram. um And yeah, keep up to date on my life.
00:45:37
Speaker
Yay. And we're going to see each other in Seattle. So excited to see you. And I'll come down to SoCal to visit you. Of course, I have to go to WIPA event down there. I'm so stoked. Yay. Thank you, Kara. Yeah. Thank you.
00:45:53
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.
00:46:09
Speaker
See you next time, wedding pros.