Creative Passion Meets Profit Building A Sustainable Event Business

Creative Passion Meets Profit Building A Sustainable Event Business

In this episode of ABC Weddings Unveiled, we sit down with entrepreneur and event industry educator Ekima Smith, founder of EDCAC and The Five Collective. With a background in finance and accounting for major corporations like CITI Group, LBrands, and Nationwide Insurance, Ekima brings a unique perspective to the event industry—helping creatives understand the business behind the beauty. We discuss pricing strategies, budgeting, cash flow management, leadership in the wedding industry, and why understanding your numbers is essential for long-term success. Ekima also shares how creatives can build profitable businesses without sacrificing their artistic passion. Whether you're a wedding planner, designer, venue owner, or creative entrepreneur, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you grow sustainably and confidently.

Rain, Ruin & Risk: Protecting Your Wedding from the Unexpected

Weddings are built on beautiful details—but what happens when something goes wrong? In this episode, we’re diving into the side of weddings that no one wants to think about—but every professional needs to understand risk, liability, and protection. Natalie Rainey from The Event Helper joins us to break down real-world wedding disasters, what could have been prevented, and how event insurance plays a critical role in protecting couples, planners, and vendors. From unexpected accidents to last-minute chaos, this episode will change the way you think about planning—and help you protect your clients, your business, and your peace of mind.

My First Sandals Group Contract with Casey Pittman

ABC Weddings Unveiled Live: My First Sandals Group Contract with Casey Pittman In this special live-recorded episode of ABC Weddings Unveiled, we sit down with wedding planner and travel advisor Casey Pittman, PWP, as she shares her real-life experience booking her very first Sandals group contract. From taking a leap of faith and transitioning from a full-time career into the wedding and travel industry, to navigating the complexities of group bookings, Casey offers an honest and insightful look at what it truly takes to step into destination wedding sales. She pulls back the curtain on the fears, challenges, and “baptism by fire” moments that come with managing a group contract for the first time—and how she turned that experience into a profitable and confidence-building milestone. Listeners will gain valuable takeaways on: * How to move from “I think I can do this” to confidently executing your first group booking * What to expect when working with Sandals group contracts * Lessons learned from real challenges and how to overcome them * The importance of mindset, preparation, and continuous learning in growing your business Whether you’re a wedding planner looking to expand into destination weddings or a travel advisor ready to take on your first group, this episode delivers both inspiration and practical guidance to help you take that next step.

The End of Zoom Planning? Inside the New Era of Destination Weddings

Michele Fox Gott has spent over two decades producing some of the most iconic, globally recognized weddings and celebrity events in the world. As the founder of Center of Attention Events and the creator of Luxury Wedding Escapes, Michele is redefining how destination weddings are planned—and experienced. In this episode, we explore leadership in the wedding industry, the shift away from remote planning, and why today’s luxury couples are demanding immersive, in-person experiences before they ever say “I do.” Michele shares behind-the-scenes insight from celebrity weddings, destination trends, and what wedding professionals must do now to stay relevant in an experience-driven market. This is a must-listen for planners ready to evolve, differentiate, and lead the future of destination weddings.

Beyond the Pretty: Using Styled Shoots to Build Your Brand & Book More Weddings

Styled shoots are more than just beautiful photos—they’re powerful business tools when used strategically. In this episode of ABC Weddings Unveiled, host Veronica Foster sits down with Master Wedding Planner Colleen Bauer, founder of Fairy Godmother Events, to break down how wedding professionals can leverage styled shoots to elevate their brand, build meaningful industry relationships, and ultimately book more weddings. Together, they go beyond the aesthetics and dive into the real strategy behind successful styled shoots—what works, what doesn’t, and how to turn creativity into measurable growth. If you're a wedding planner or event professional looking to stand out in a competitive market, this episode will give you actionable insights to make your styled shoots work for your business—not just your Instagram feed.