Lady Whistlewed: Why Wedding Planners Are Essential for a Proper Wedding

Ever wonder what sets a certified wedding planner apart from the rest? Today, we promise to unravel that mystery with Laurie Hartwell, founder of the CWP Society, and Krisy Thomas, its Vice President. Together, they shed light on the crucial distinction between certified and uncertified wedding planners, emphasizing the unique expertise and ethical standards certified professionals bring to the table. Drawing from Lady Whistlewed's latest column, Laurie and Krisy reveal how proper training can safeguard a couple’s special day from potential pitfalls, making certification an indispensable investment for any wedding planner's career.

But that's not all—we also explore the broader significance of certification and continuous education across various fields. Using thought-provoking parallels to professions like dentistry, Laurie and Krisy illustrate how ongoing learning helps professionals stay on top of their game. They discuss the pivotal role of the CWP Society in providing accessible education and resources, enabling wedding planners to remain competitive and uphold the highest industry standards. Tune in for an enlightening conversation that underscores the vital importance of certification and ongoing education, not just in wedding planning but in every professional journey.

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Transcript

The Importance of Certified Wedding Planners

Speaker 1 0:00

You're listening to the Wedding Planner Profiles Podcast brought to you by the CWP Society. Welcome to the Wedding Planner Profiles Podcast brought to you by the CWP Society, the world's leading wedding planner certification program and the largest network of wedding professionals. Your hosts for today's episode are Lori Hartwell, founder of the CWP Society, and Chrissy Thomas, the Society's Vice President. In this episode, they'll be examining the latest column from Lady Whistlewet, a prominent voice in the wedding planning community. First, you will hear Lady Whistlewed's most recent piece read aloud. Then Lori and Chrissy will share their thoughts and insights, breaking down what this means for today's wedding planners. So let's listen in to Lady Whistlewed's latest column.

Speaker 2 0:57

Dear Gentle Reader, once again I find myself compelled to put quilt or parchment on a matter of great import to those embarking upon the path to matrimony. Today, we shall discuss the paramount importance of engaging not just any wedding planner, but one who bears the distinguished seal of certification. In this age of self-proclaimed experts and charlatans, it behoves the discerning couple to seek out those planners whose expertise has been rigorously trained and officially recognized. Much like one would not entrust their health to an uncertified physician or their legal affairs to an unqualified solicitor, so too should couples think twice before placing the fate of their nuptials in the hands of a potentially unqualified planner. Consider, if you will, the unfortunate tale of Lord and Lady Hetherington's youngest daughter. In her eagerness to wed, she engaged the services of a so-called planner whose only qualifications were an eye for fashion and a penchant for gossip. The result, I regret to inform you, was a wedding that shall live in infamy, with wilted flowers, confused guests and a cake that bore an uncanny resemblance to the Tower of London mid-collapse.

Speaker 2 2:09

A certified wedding planner, dear reader, is a bastion of knowledge and propriety in the oft-tumultuous sea of wedding preparations. Their certification is not merely a piece of parchment to be framed and admired, but a testament to their dedication, education and ethical standards. These esteemed professionals have undergone rigorous training, mastering the intricate dance of logistics, the delicate art of negotiation and the subtle nuances of etiquette that can make or break a society event. Moreover, certified planners are bound by a code of conduct that ensures they will advocate tirelessly for their clients' interests. They possess the wisdom to navigate family dynamics with the deftness of a seasoned diplomat, the foresight to anticipate and avert potential disasters, and the connections to secure the cream of the crop in terms of vendors and venues.

Speaker 2 3:03

Let us not forget, gentle reader, that a wedding is not merely a celebration but a significant financial investment. A certified planner brings to the table a wealth of budgeting expertise, often saving couples from financial folly through their astute management and industry knowledge. Many a noble house has been spared from ruin by the prudent guidance of a certified planner who knew just where to trim excess without sacrificing elegance. In conclusion, I implore you, dear couples, to seek out those planners who bear the seal of certification, for in doing so, you entrust your special day not to chance or mere enthusiasm, but to proven expertise and unwavering professionalism. Your wedding day should be remembered for its joyous celebrations and touching moments, not for the calamities that might have been avoided with proper planning. Until we meet again in the pages of this column, I remain your faithful servant in matters of society and matrimony, yours truly, lady Whistlewed.

Speaker 3 4:06

Hello everyone and welcome to the Wedding Planner Profiles podcast. Laurie, how are you doing?

Speaker 4 4:11

I am really, really well. I'm glad that we were able to listen to the latest column. I really am and I have a lot of thoughts. I know you have a lot of thoughts. Let me kind of throw it back at you and let me hear from you and what was top of mind.

Speaker 3 4:26

You know they. Obviously I honestly, just starting off with the title, why wedding planners are essential for a proper wedding, like thank you, lady Whistlewet, I appreciate you for that. But she dives a little bit deeper and mentions not just a wedding planner but someone who has what she referred to as that seal of certification and why that is so important. And I think it's because with our industry and this is phenomenal for entrepreneurs, but within our industry it is quite easy to get into, it's quite easy to create a phenomenal website, have a really cool social media and then declare yourself a wedding planner.

Speaker 3 5:06

And with our industry we don't have those steps. You're not required to have a degree, you're not required to really get any type of formal education to start your journey as a wedding planner. And I think as business owners, we kind of have to look at that as a sense of well, I do want to be the best version of myself and I think by just winging things and getting that quote unquote experience versus let me have a proper base and some type of education and a certification before I start taking on even more weddings, or to elevate myself and maybe attract the type of clientele I want, or just to improve who I am as a wedding planner. Having that certification to me is vital, and she mentions that and what a difference it is between just a wedding planner and an actual certified wedding planner. And there and there is a difference.

Speaker 4 5:55

Yeah, and I think the big difference here is investment in yourself and, and so anytime you're going into a career, we do have a choice of deciding to just learn as we go or get some really great foundational pieces and information so that, when I do jump into the actual career itself, that as I'm learning and as I'm growing and as I'm going through my journey, I am best prepared. I've got all the tools to prepare myself for whatever is about to come my way. The problem here is that I don't think some people are as intentional as they should be, and, as a wedding planner, we have output and we have input. So let me kind of break that down real quick. So output, that's we should be intentional about what we say, how we say it, who we are saying it to, things like that, and that can cross all types of mediums. Whether we're speaking to someone at a networking meeting or we're speaking to the masses on social media, or maybe it is the messaging that we have on our website. There's that output. You've got to be intentional with that output, and part of that output should be here are all the ways that I am qualified and incredibly educated on what you are hiring me to do. Okay, so that's part of the output, but what's interesting to me is that there are some that don't have as much focus on the input, and we need to be just as focused and intentional on the input as we are on the output. So it's how am I feeding my mind, how am I feeding my soul and how I want to present myself to the world? That all comes from that input, and that input has a lot to do with, as a wedding planner, that certification base, that knowledge base, and not just the one off. It's how am I going to continue my education in an industry that changes on a regular basis? And so we, as an industry especially a really very specific category within an industry we have to step up and do a little bit better.

Speaker 4 7:58

There are too many people that are doing what you say winging it, and winging it isn't going to help the industry are doing what you say winging it, and winging it isn't going to help the industry. Winging it doesn't help our potential couples or our current couples. Winging it is not going to ever elevate you. What elevates you is knowledge and education and constant, intentional input. That's what's going to elevate you, because there's no such thing as being in an industry, no matter how many years you've been in it, to where you should be saying to yourself I can do this completely on my own and I don't need to get fed from the outside, I need to only feed myself. And that that becomes a vacuum, does it not? You know, if I'm educating myself, that's a me, me, me kind of input system. That's not going to help.

Speaker 4 8:50

What you need in order to really truly elevate yourself is to hear thoughts and ideas and educational content and things from outside of who you are, not just from your experiences, because where, where do your experiences come from? It's all still circling around one person, which is you. It is so vital to make sure that you're thinking outside of yourself a bit and saying you know what I care so much about, what I'm putting out there, that I don't want to continuously repeat the same things that I've been doing. I actually want to see if there are ways that I could improve and getting that educational piece which, like the CWP Society, offers for wedding planners and wedding professionals, that is there to spark new ideas, new thoughts, new ways that you can actually elevate yourself.

Speaker 4 9:41

We're not saying do it exactly this particular way. What we do is we try to inspire you to think bigger and badder, right, we try to inspire you to go. Oh you know what? That was a great idea, but I don't know if that's going to work for me, but that just inspired this other idea over here. See, that's exciting.

Speaker 3 9:59

I love it. It is so exciting. And two, I love that you mentioned that, if you care, and I I will say I think all of us wedding planners get into this because we love, love, we truly love the couples who are trusting us with their day, and because I love my couple so much, because I am just like overjoyed that they decide to invest in me, they're investing in me. Why, why shouldn't you invest in yourself?

Importance of Certification in Wedding Planning

Speaker 4 10:22

And that shows right, doesn't show like. When I'm looking at hiring a contractor for any given job, chrissy, what I'm looking at is are you certified to do the job? When I'm looking to hire a contractor, when I was building my house, I didn't want to hire someone who wasn't certified and had all of the knowledge at their fingertips. I looked for someone who was going to be able to put out the right information for me and to guide me through this process, knowing that they're educated in this matter. When I go to the dentist, I don't want to get someone who was taught by their uncle right on how to do an extraction. What I would rather do is know that that person put themselves through and invested in themselves to get the education and requirements that they need in order to perform the job. Same is true with wedding planners, and there does seem to be a little bit of a disconnect. So there's a couple of different levels here, chrissy. One of the levels is someone coming in that's brand new. They might be thinking well, I don't have enough money to invest in myself. Well, the CWP Society actually has ways to solve that problem. You should always invest in yourself, especially in the beginning, because I don't want you out there making all kinds of mistakes and ruining reputations of wedding planners because you're making big mistakes and then those people that you are tainting with your inexperience and not you know and not having the knowledge at your fingertips, they might be thinking well, that might mean all wedding planners are like this, and so now I want to avoid all wedding planners. So it doesn't help our industry, not the industry you're going into. So if money is the obstacle, cwp society has ways around that. Now, maybe it's not money. Maybe, let's say, you've been in the industry a few years now. Maybe you're thinking do I really need to get a certificate to show that I know what I'm doing? Yeah, let me tell you why. Your future clients have no way of believing you because, see, there are so many new people popping up into the industry that are not necessarily going after the education that they need in order to create a great foundation of knowledge so that they do not ruin weddings.

Speaker 4 12:34

How will a customer, a client, a couple be able to tell the difference between you and that person? You're the one with the experience. They have no experience, but that you both have beautiful websites, you both have packages and you both have great personalities. Now what? No, no one can tell you apart and, by the way, that's going to be true. Whether you have five years of experience, 10 years, 15 years, 20 years, 30 years, guys, it's all the same. How can someone tell?

Speaker 4 13:00

Just because you claim to have 20 years of experience, by the way, that doesn't mean that you're doing it right. I want you to know that I have met and counseled and coached and mentored a huge number of people who have been in the industry for well over 15 years of experience and a lot of them I have realized they were not doing things to the best of their ability and they were actually still at the level of someone who had only been in the industry for a few years with education. So someone who's getting into the industry. And they are now coming into the industry and getting, gaining their certification and gaining all of their knowledge. Some of them have more knowledge than someone with 15, 20 years of experience, because that person with 15 years of experience is not taking in and having more intentional input, right knowledge. We cannot base it all on experience alone, because our future customers are not going to know the difference between someone who's entering into the industry and someone with a lot of experience they can't tell.

Speaker 3 14:04

No, and we say this often, but this is so true. Our industry is always changing, constantly evolving. Every industry is. When you think about it, even we'll talk about dentists. Technology is different than what it was, you know, 15, 10 years ago. Every industry, so these dentists, more likely, are going to conferences, they're re getting, they're investing because the times are evolving and times are changing. So if you've been in this industry for 30 plus years, I can guarantee you it's a lot different than it was 30 years ago. Oh, I can guarantee it 's a lot different than it was 30 years ago.

Speaker 4 14:37

Oh, I can guarantee it.

Speaker 3 14:38

Yeah, because you've been there. You were there 30 years ago and the difference between what it was in the 90s compared to what it is now, it changes every four years, four or five years or so. The industry is always evolving and that's why the certification it's not just the certification, it's not that you just get your base education and you can move on. And it's not just the certification. It's not that you just get your base education and you can move on. And that's how we built the CDOB Society. Because we know the industry is always changing.

Speaker 3 15:03

We want our certified members to be able to continually grow and to continually get their education, which is why we have clinics, we have other certifications, we have our weekly workshops, because we know there is no such thing as just stopping. You have to continually get your education. And couples know that. Couples recognize that If you're doing things that you were doing in the 90s now they're not going to relate to you, they're not going to understand you, you're not going to get hired. That someone who's got one year of experience is going to beat you out with your decades of experience. Because they are getting that information, that education, because they're growing their company and their business.

Speaker 4 15:38

And I can tell just by looking at someone's website how many years of experience you have and how educated or uneducated you are. I can tell, I can see it, I can almost predict it. When I am about to do a mentoring session with someone, I can go okay, I can guarantee you this person's got like 15, 20 years of experience, but they have not yet gotten certified. And here's how I know right. And then I can and I'm literally taking notes and saying this has to change, this has to change. This has to change because you have to stay up with the current trends and you have to know how the new group of people who are getting married are actually communicating, what they're looking for and what's important to them. But not just that, but, like you said, technology has changed significantly. I mean, I started planning weddings back in 1993. I am not the same planner or the same person I was in 1993, chrissy. I'm a totally different person. I have evolved in such a big way. But what led that was education and wanting to improve and never stop learning. And I do not learn just from my mistakes or from my experiences. I learn from the outside world, I learn from what other people are going through. I learn from other mentors and things of that nature. That's our job and that we are very, very intentional with the input so that we can be intentional with the output. We have to do that. It's just incredibly important.

Speaker 4 17:02

One other thing that I want to mention is what I think is different about the CWP Society, outside of the fact that you get lifetime free member benefits once you become certified, because that's insane but outside of that, we are not just a venue or a place to get a certificate, a piece of paper. We are on a bigger scale, are all about making sure that we're creating community, that we are creating a safe space and a safe environment for all of us to share our experiences, learn from each other's experiences and to create a place where you can get those weekly free workshops that cover just the gamut of topics and situations that wedding planners are surely going to be going through. We are way more than a piece of paper. We are a community, and that is the big, big difference. And it's a free community. After you get your certification, it's done. You never have to pay again. If you never want to pay another cent towards your education, you don't have to, because from that moment on, you're going to get weekly free education.

Speaker 4 18:09

I mean, who else does that? I think no one. So I think it's really important that we care. I think it's important that we focus our intentions on both the input and the output, so that we are having more control, I guess, over our career choice. So many things feel out of control. As a wedding planner, this is the one thing you can control. So grab a hold of that and allow it to work for you.

Speaker 4 18:35

A hundred percent, a hundred percent agree so for those of you who are not yet a member of that and allow it to work for you 100%, 100% agree.

Speaker 4 18:41

So for those of you who are not yet a member of the CWP Society, we would absolutely love to bring you into our fold and welcome you as a family member.

Speaker 4 18:45

Go to our website, wwwcwpsocietycom, and you'll see that we have three different levels of membership. We have the free pro membership. Three different levels of membership. We have the free pro membership. Then we have the premium pro membership where you as a planner if you are not yet ready to get certified, maybe you are looking to kind of build up some money. Well, every dollar you pay in dues actually goes towards your certification. We give you a full credit of everything, but you also get access instantly to those weekly workshops that we do live. And then the certified planner membership is so awesome because you pay that very low one-time fee to get the certification itself and then it unlocks tons of amazing benefits that are at your fingertips that you never have to pay for on a monthly or yearly basis ever again. So definitely check us out, cwpsocietycom, and thank you, chrissy, for joining me again today and for all of you who are listening. We hope that the rest of your day goes swimmingly. Take care, happy planning, thank you.