69: Building Wedding Vendor Relationships with Fausto & Reuben

69: Building Wedding Vendor Relationships with Fausto & Reuben

What if the secret to a thriving wedding business has less to do with your logo and more to do with how you treat the people you work alongside every weekend? In this episode, Fausto and Reuben share the real story behind building Blue Elephant from the ground up, including how they landed their first venue exclusives, why they named their business after a childhood good-luck charm instead of themselves, and how they've stayed in business for two decades by prioritizing wedding vendor relationships over transactional networking. Key takeaways: * Why building trust with venues, not just clients, is one of the most overlooked paths to consistent referrals * How Fausto and Reuben approach wedding vendor relationships without turning them into transactional exchanges * The branding decision that helped Blue Elephant stand out (hint: it wasn't about logos or fonts) * Why documenting every client conversation protects your business and your reputation * How showing up for fellow vendors, even outside of "wedding season", pays off in ways that can't be measured by ROI alone * Listen in for the full conversation and practical ideas you can bring into your own business. If this conversation resonated with you, and you're ready to build a brand that reflects the kind of trust and intention Fausto and Ruben talk about, Emily Foster Creative [https://emilyfostercreative.com/] would love to help you get there, from brand strategy to a website that finally feels like you. Blue Elephant Events and Catering: www.blueelephantcatering.com [https://www.blueelephantcatering.com] Fausto's personal site: www.thefausto.com [https://www.thefausto.com] Engage Your Brand® Podcast: Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0smtk1ZsqCbAqHhQr8V2Mb?si=f45beb6bab9845ff] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/engage-your-brand/id1812949104] | emilyfostercreative.com [https://emilyfostercreative.com/engage-your-brand-podcast]

68: Choosing your Website Designer for Photographers

Choosing a website designer as a photographer can feel tricky, especially when you know your site needs to do more than just look good. In this solo episode of Engage Your Brand®, I’m talking about how to choose the right website designer for photographers and what actually matters when investing in a photography website. Key Takeaways: *  Why a beautiful website is not always an effective website  *  What photographers should look for in a website designer  *  Why SEO matters so much for photography websites  *  How brand strategy impacts inquiries and conversions  *  Why your website needs to showcase more than your portfolio  *  Common mistakes photographers make during a website redesign  *  How to know if your current website is outdated  *  Questions to ask before hiring a website designer  Inquire with us to work on your photography website:  https://emilyfostercreative.com/contact [https://emilyfostercreative.com/contact] Read the blog on how to find the right Showit web designer for your business:  https://emilyfostercreative.com/how-to-find-the-right-showit-website-designer/ [https://emilyfostercreative.com/how-to-find-the-right-showit-website-designer/]

67: Building Community in the Wedding Industry with Gabby and Kari of Just Another Biz

Building a wedding business can feel a lot less lonely when you have honest conversations and real community around you. In this episode of Engage Your Brand®, I’m joined by Gabby Pinkerton and Kari Smith of Just Another Biz to talk about podcasting, community building, authenticity, boundaries, comparison, and the very real behind-the-scenes experience of running a wedding business. Key Takeaways: *  Why community matters so much for wedding pros  *  The realities of starting and growing a podcast  *  How honest conversations create stronger connection  *  Why authenticity helps attract the right clients  *  The importance of boundaries and avoiding scope creep  *  How comparison can impact your business mindset  *  Why staying in your own lane matters  Explore more branding, marketing, and website education for wedding pros: https://emilyfostercreative.com [https://emilyfostercreative.com] Connect with Gabby, Kari & Just Another Biz: Just Another Biz Podcast: https://justanotherbizpodcast.com/ [https://justanotherbizpodcast.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justanotherbizpodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/justanotherbizpodcast/] Kari: https://www.instagram.com/featheredarrowstudio/ [https://www.instagram.com/featheredarrowstudio/] Gabby: https://www.instagram.com/causewecanevents/ [https://www.instagram.com/causewecanevents/] Join their Substack:  https://substack.com/@justanotherbizpodcast [https://substack.com/@justanotherbizpodcast]

66: Gen Z Marketing for Wedding Pros: How to Connect with the Next Generation of Couples

Gen Z couples are already changing the way weddings are planned, researched, and booked. In this episode of Engage Your Brand®, I’m talking about Gen Z marketing for wedding pros and how this generation is shaping the future of wedding industry marketing. We’ll look at how Gen Z researches vendors, why they value authenticity, transparency, personalization, and quick access to information, and how wedding pros can adjust their brand, website, and sales process to better connect with the next generation of couples.  Key Takeaways: *  Why Gen Z marketing matters for wedding pros right now  *  How Gen Z researches wedding vendors differently  *  Why authenticity and transparency are so important  *  How fast responses and clear information impact inquiries  *  Why pricing, reviews, and social proof matter more than ever  *  How to make your website feel more aligned with Gen Z clients  *  Why personalization and unique client experiences are key  *  How to show more personality through your brand and marketing  Explore branding, website design, and marketing support with Emily Foster Creative:  https://emilyfostercreative.com [https://emilyfostercreative.com]

65: Modern Wedding Marketing in 2026 with Becca Pountney

Marketing feels noisier than ever, but it doesn’t have to feel impossible. In this episode of Engage Your Brand®, I’m joined by Becca Pountney to talk about modern wedding industry marketing, the shift from the traditional funnel to the “marketing theme park,” and how wedding pros can stay visible, consistent, and booked in 2026. Key Takeaways: *  Why the traditional marketing funnel no longer works the same way  *  What the “marketing theme park” means for wedding pros  *  How couples are researching vendors across TikTok, websites, AI, referrals, and social media  *  Why TikTok is becoming a powerful visibility tool  *  How to stop overcomplicating your marketing strategy  *  Why consistency matters more than perfection  *  How to use data instead of emotion when evaluating your marketing  *  Why real-world relationships and referrals still matter   Explore more branding, marketing, and website education for wedding pros:  https://emilyfostercreative.com [https://emilyfostercreative.com] Connect with Becca:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beccapountney/ [https://www.instagram.com/beccapountney/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beccapountney [https://www.facebook.com/beccapountney] LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/becca-pountney-a0181033 [https://uk.linkedin.com/in/becca-pountney-a0181033] Website: https://www.beccapountney.com [https://www.beccapountney.com] Podcast: https://wedding-pros.captivate.fm/listen [https://wedding-pros.captivate.fm/listen] Resource Mentioned:  Done Is Better Than Perfect: https://a.co/d/fOS1cAR [https://a.co/d/fOS1cAR]