Wedding Industry Insider

Hosted by Eddie Babbage: Wedding Technology Entrepreneur

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Create professional wedding timelines with ease.

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October 13, 2026Episode 2031 hr 2 min

WII 203 – Don’t Hire Your Friends: DJ Mary Nisi’s Rules for Wedding Planners

What can wedding planners learn from DJs? Mary Nisi got into her groove as a wedding DJ decades ago, and now she has business lessons that any pro can take to the dance floor. If you’ve ever wanted to get into the mind of a (great) wedding DJ, you’ll want to listen to this week’s Wedding Industry Insider. We’re talking about fun stuff like song choices along with the nitty-gritty details that make a wedding business so successful. Plus, Mary gives the lowdown on burnout and the rare reasons she steps into the DJ booth these days. Toast & Jam, Hot Flash Dance Parties, and Retiring from the Day-to-Day Mary Nisi is the founder and president of Toast & Jam DJs . She’s also the DJ behind Hot Flash Dance, a “punctual party for rowdy women.” In addition to her roles as a DJ and entrepreneur, she also produces the “All Up in My Lady Business” podcast , which makes this the perfect crossover for wedding planners who love a good dance party. You’ll come for the tunes and stay for the business advice, because Mary’s got some “un-fun and un-sexy” lessons you can apply to your wedding planning career right now. Don’t Skimp on Your Core Values It’s been a long time since we talked about core values on Wedding Industry Insider. But now that we’ve talked with Mary Nisi, we can’t believe we’ve skipped over this incredibly important aspect of entrepreneurship. Join Mary as she talks about the non-negotiables that make decision making easy. She’ll share the process you can follow for creating your core values plus some examples to jump-start your brainstorming session. Staying in Your Zone of Genius Mary Nisi knows there are no shortcuts in business, but that doesn’t mean you have to grind through every task. Once you find out what you need, and why you need it, you can hire the right people to get your business to the next level. This could be associate hires, legal advice, or contract work. And it could be the key to getting out of the “start-up” phase of your business. And her biggest lesson of who-not-how : your friends are not the who. Mary’s got some good reasons why you shouldn’t hire your friends for the jobs that matter. Why Mary Stepped Out of the DJ Booth… And Found Her Way Back Here’s something we wedding planners can relate to, especially those of us who have been in the industry for several years. Eventually, Mary got tired of the long nights and realized she didn’t want to work in-person at weddings anymore. So tune in, because Mary shared some of her hiring woes and how she set up her business to run without her constant, hands-on care. And hear about how Mary’s latest project put her back behind the turntable (and a chance for Chicago-based women entrepreneurs to join in on Mary’s dance parties). The Music That Keeps Mary Going Mary is an open book of business advice, as though she’s eager for other women entrepreneurs to find success without burnout. She’s also a lot of fun to talk to. Mary’s delivering on fun wedding stories, including a cocktail hour inspired by Home Depot shopping trips, the terrible songs that inspired her to DJ weddings, and the vibes she hopes her team brings to every event. And… Mary Nisi’s #1 Advice for Wedding Planners Our conversation with Mary comes full circle, as she shares her honest take on core values, and why we definitely needed to bring this topic to the Wedding Industry table sooner. More from Mary Nisi To hear our full interview with Mary, you can press the play button above. And be sure to subscribe to our podcast in Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or wherever you listen! We want to say a special thank you to Mary for sharing these insights with our Timeline Genius community. Mary faced the music and found success through a recession, Covid, another recession, and her own personal trials. We hope this interview inspires you to dance to your own beat and find your groove as a wedding planner. Show Notes: You can learn all about Mary Nisi’s DJ and business consultation services on her website here . Learn all about Toast & Jam DJs here . Here’s where you can get all the info on Hot Flash Dance . Listen to Mary’s Podcast: All Up in My Lady Business . Questions? Get in touch with Mary or Eddie Want to get into the groove of wedding planning? Create your first timeline for free at TimelineGenius.com The post WII 203 – Don’t Hire Your Friends: DJ Mary Nisi’s Rules for Wedding Planners appeared first on Timeline Genius Blog .

September 23, 2026Episode 20259 min

WII 202 – The Wedding You’re Scared to Plan (with Laura Detwiler)

Delegating, taking on big bookings, firing clients, networking. These are all some of the biggest fears wedding planners face. Laura Detwiler tells us how to defeat these horrors.

September 10, 2026Episode 20158 min

WII 201 – Signs Your Wedding Business has a Sales Problem (with Katie Lyth)

Are you marketing harder when your wedding business actually has a sales problem?Katie Lyth reveals where you may be losing clients and losing money.

August 26, 20261 hr 30 min

WII 200 – Timeline Insiders and the Wedding Planning Software that Changed Everything

What makes an incredible wedding day timeline? When we first set out to create a wedding planning software, we quickly learned that it takes a lot of heart and hard work. And thanks to some of the industry’s kindest and caring pros, we’re celebrating 13 years of Timeline Genius. We’re also celebrating 200 episodes of Wedding Industry Insider. That’s right: the 13th birthday of our company aligned serendipitously with the 200th episode of our podcast, and we knew we needed to do something big for it all. 200 Wedding Insider Interviews For many successful wedding planners, Timeline Genius is a part of their daily workflow. It’s where they settle in to do planning. It’s where they set their teams up for productive work. It’s where they map out wedding days that reflect their expertise. And many of them tune into the Wedding Industry Insider Podcast. It’s here where we break down the business side of wedding planning with full-length interviews and actionable advice. Experts join us every episode to talk about the grind and grit it takes to have a career in weddings. These are interviews for wedding pros who are ready to take notes, who want to learn from people who have reached their goals. Success leaves clues, and we’re mapping out the paths that wedding insiders have taken toward their successes. And if you’re new to the podcast, you’ve just discovered a treasure trove of industry-leading education. Take a look through our catalog and find a theme that fits where you are in your business journey. We’ve got episodes about marketing, branding, technology and systems, productivity and balance. You can hear about how wedding planners build additional income streams and how they’ve grown their teams. Our Celebration Episode: 5 New Interviews This week, we’re reflecting on all of it. Thirteen years of Timeline Genius. 200 episodes of Wedding Industry Insider. Thousands of wedding planners who have found encouragement, productivity, balance, and community through it all. And such an important week called for some important guests. So we called in some of the people who made it all possible. This week, we have five brand new interviews from some of our most treasured podcast guests and most influential supporters. Here’s who is joining us this week for exciting updates, thoughtful reflection, and encouragement for all planners who are working toward their own milestones: Brooke Richie-Babbage : a social impact strategist and coach who had the idea to help wedding planners strengthen their work through technology. Brigid Horne-Nestor: the owner of I-Do Weddings & Events , who gave Eddie the idea for a timeline software for wedding planners. Nora Sheils: co-founder of Rock Paper Coin and owner of Bridal Bliss . She was an early advisor as we developed Timeline Genius, and she was our first annual subscriber. Laurie Hartwell: founder & CEO of the Certified Wedding Planner Society , which helps us reach wedding planners with education and certification courses. Laurie provides fantastic feedback for Timeline Genius features and works to create a better wedding industry for all wedding planners. Terrica: wedding business strategist and educator who partners with Timeline Genius for free masterclasses, educational events, and inspirational support. 5 Pros Share Their Wedding Tech Stories Brooke Richie-Babbage – The Wedding that Started it All When Eddie Babbage first set out to start a new company, he was looking for a way to help. And his wife, who had recently taken on most of their wedding planning, pointed him in a specific direction. Go help wedding planners. Now, Brooke Richie-Babbage is joining us to tell the entire story as someone who was in the thick of it all: feeling the weight of the risk, riding the waves of entrepreneurship, and feeling the joy of solving problems. It’s fun to hear Eddie and Brooke talk about their marriage and how it was shaped alongside tech startups, big investments, and a desire to help people. Brigid Horne-Nestor – What Wedding Planners Needed Thirteen years ago, Brigid Horne-Nestor sat down with Eddie hoping he’d be able to make software that supported her as a wedding planner. And just before they ended their meeting, Brigid chimed in with a quick addition that laid the groundwork for Timeline Genius: What about something that solved the time-consuming and complicated nature of wedding timelines? They’re telling the full story during their interview, and showcasing how 13 years can transform a business alongside our lives. Brigid also reveals something that surprised her about the early days of Timeline Genius, and gives her take on seeing wedding day timelines as property. What you hear might change the way you look at “competitors” in the industry. Nora Sheils – What Wedding Entrepreneurship Looks Like Nora Sheils invested her time, money, and energy in Timeline Genius before the company even had a name. As our first annual subscriber, Nora saw the promise of the company, and the potential of her own company if she spent less time building timelines and more time building her business. We hope this mini interview gets you excited for the potential you can unlock if you stop losing hours to wedding timelines. After all, Nora has grown her wedding planning company by leaps and bounds AND she co-founded Rock Paper Coin, another beloved wedding technology company that helps wedding planners work better. Remember: You can get 60% off a Rock Paper Coin subscription with the promo code TG Laurie Hartwell – A Champion for Wedding Planners You know all the new features Timeline Genius releases? Those ideas come from wedding planners who speak up and share their wildest wishes with us. And many of them came from Laurie Hartwell . Laurie joins us from the Certified Wedding Planner Society to talk about how she helps planners master the skills and systems to grow their businesses. We’re so grateful for all of Laurie’s support over the years and appreciate the ways she strengthens the entire industry. Terrica – What Success Looks Like in the Wedding Industry We’ve interviewed 200 wedding pros for our podcast, and certain pieces of advice endure through the years. Embrace your unique self; find your community; we’re all better when our industry is better. And Terrica embodies all of this with abundance, as a wedding planner, as a wedding educator, as an entrepreneur, as a Timeline Genius supporter, and as a friend. You’ll want to stick around for Terrica’s interview, because she’s sharing her key to success, which just may be the key to our success at Timeline Genius too. “We talk so much in our industry about networking and finding your ideal client,” Terrica says. “Find your ideal collaborator, your ideal partner, your ideal circle, because that is going to bring you so much more peace and money and support and just strength than all of those other things will.” More From Wedding Industry Insider Podcast To hear our full interviews with Brooke, Brigid, Nora, Laurie, and Terrica, you can press the play button above. And be sure to subscribe to our podcast in Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or wherever you listen! We want to say a special thank you to these wonderful pros for sharing these insights with our Timeline Genius community. And thank you to everyone who has joined us for an interview on Wedding Industry Insider. Timeline Genius was built out of a desire to serve others and solve problems through technology. Our hope is that you’ll find ways to help others, solve problems, and find abundance in your career as a wedding planner. Show Notes: Explore our full catalog of wedding planner podcast episodes here . Questions? Get in touch with Eddie . If you’d like to pitch an appearance as a guest on Wedding Industry Insider, please email our podcast management here . Discover the software that has transformed thousands of wedding planning businesses: try Timeline Genius for free here . The post WII 200 – Timeline Insiders and the Wedding Planning Software that Changed Everything appeared first on Timeline Genius Blog .

August 11, 2026Episode 19954 min

WII 199 – What Belly Dancing Taught Vanessa Domenech About Wedding Planning

She takes 8pm phone calls, turns away vendors with slow response times, and earns five figures per wedding. Here's how Vanessa Domenech grew her business. In this episode: How a career as a belly dancer and Bollywood-style dancer prepared Vanessa for the world of event planning Vanessa's controversial take on boundaries (including taking calls at night, on vacation, and in her pajamas) The step-by-step process for raising pricing, including the "red flag" pricing that sends the wrong message to luxury wedding clients, and what to do when you get fewer bookings The 24-hour response window Vanessa expects from vendors, and why she sends certain vendor emails straight to trash. Thanks to Vanessa Domenech for this fantastic interview! Try Timeline Genius free at timelinegenius.com/insider

July 28, 2026Episode 19858 min

WII 198 – The ‘Secret’ Clients Who Changed Joe Rogers’ Wedding Business

Joe Rogers built his business planning weddings for gay couples who had no template to follow. Then a call from a straight bride shifted everything. During this great interview, Joe shares what it was like to come out as gay while starting his wedding planning business. He also talks about shifting his ideal client persona to include straight couples. Then, we get into advertising, and Joe reveals a controversial decision that he's standing by (even if he can't say for sure that it paid off). All this and more on this week's brand new interview.

July 15, 2026Episode 919757 min

WII 197 – David Tutera’s Best Advice For Wedding Planners [Rebroadcast]

We're rebroadcasting one of our earliest and most popular interviews. David Tutera talks about sales and pricing, burnout and failure, and how he found so much success as a wedding planner. During his sit-down with Eddie, David is so grounded and honest, and his advice is timeless. Listen in to hear David Tutera's full story.

June 30, 2026Episode 19658 min

WII 196 – How Chelsea Brooke Started Her Wedding Business with Styled Shoots and Daily IG Posts

Chelsea Brooke started her wedding planning business with 3 followers and no events to showcase. Here's the roadmap she took to success.

June 16, 2026Episode 1951 hr 7 min

WII 195 – Weighed Down by Your Wedding Planner Tasks? Katie Hendricks is Getting You Back to the Work You Love

Wedding planners: How can you work creatively and serve your clients when the day-to-day operations take up all your time and energy? Katie Hendricks of Masterfully Managed shares step-by-step systems that free up time and get you back to the work you love.

June 2, 2026Episode 1941 hr 0 min

WII 194 – Content Creation: Everything Wedding Planners Need to Know (with Reagan Teel)

Wedding content creators: a valuable vendor, or just another person to manage? As wedding planners, we know that the demand for content creators is growing. But how do you work them into your planning flow, and how do you find ones that elevate weddings? Today’s Wedding Industry Insider is all about wedding content creators. This is an episode we’ve been so excited about, especially since we realized that content creators aren’t a passing wedding trend. They are here to stay, and they can make a big impact on how couples remember their wedding day. What does that mean for wedding planners? We’re not only making space for these pros, we’re learning how to sell their services. Today’s interview is the perfect launching point. A Wedding Content Creator Tells All Our guest this week is Reagan Teel , the founder and lead creator of Unveiled Content Co . She’s breaking down the biggest selling points of content creation and revealing the biggest ways your wedding planning business can benefit from this modern-day service. How content creation actually works (and what it costs!) How can you sell your clients on content creation if you don’t know how it works? Reagan shares how images and videos are captured, delivered, and packaged. This is huge for you to know, because understanding the logistics and pricing of content creation can prevent you from hiring inexperienced “pros” who may oversell and underdeliver. Should this replace photographers and videographers? We’ll go on and give away the spoiler for this one: NO, content creators are not a replacement for professional photographers or videographers. But there’s more to it than that. Reagan explains why the right vendor team influences the types of bookings she takes, and how she structures her pricing as a content creator. What makes a great wedding planner? Eddie asks Reagan an insightful question: what does she love about her favorite wedding planners? And she’s got lots of great answers. Hear the question that wowed her as a bride, and the small detail that wows her as a vendor. And that wow-worthy small detail? It’s all about making social media marketing easy, and Timeline Genius gets you there faster with true polish. What to expect from wedding content creators Reagan shares all her content with all her vendors, so you can include it in your wedding planner content strategy. But here’s the catch: if she’s hired by the couple, that’s who she’s capturing content for. So don’t expect the content creator to shadow you as you work, but you can look forward to some exciting content to share. Interested in content creation that’s all about your wedding planning business? Most content creators (including Unveiled Content Co.) also offer packages for wedding pros, so you can hire someone to shadow you throughout the wedding, making exclusive content just for your business. Reagan Teel’s #1 advice for wedding planners Reagan has found major growth in a competitive market, and she’s sharing the challenges and leaps of faith that brought her here. Listen until the end to discover the encouragement she shares with fellow wedding pros who are putting in the hard work. More from Reagan Teel To hear our full interview with Reagan, you can press the play button above. And be sure to subscribe to our podcast in Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or wherever you listen! We want to say a special thank you to Reagan for sharing these insights with our Timeline Genius community. Reagan is proof that new pros can find success in saturated markets, even without a roadmap. We hope you take her advice and run with it. Show Notes: Be sure to follow Unveiled Wedding Co. on Instagram here You can also find them on TikTok here . Questions? Get in touch with Reagan or Eddie Want to impress vendors with your polished, thorough timelines? See what Timeline Genius can do for you . The post WII 194 – Content Creation: Everything Wedding Planners Need to Know (with Reagan Teel) appeared first on Timeline Genius Blog .