Engage Your Brand®

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]

64: What to Know About Showit Template Customization

If you’ve ever wondered whether a Showit website template is actually worth it, or if you should invest in a custom website instead, this episode is for you. In this episode of Engage Your Brand®, I’m breaking down the difference between Showit templates, template customizations, and fully custom website design, especially for wedding professionals and creative business owners. I’m sharing the pros and cons of each option, what most people misunderstand about website templates, how SEO impacts template performance, and how to know which direction makes the most sense for your business stage, goals, budget, and timeline. Key takeaways: * The difference between a Showit template and a custom website  *  What template customization actually means  *  Why Showit is different from Squarespace, Wix, and WordPress  *  The truth about SEO and website templates  *  How to decide between DIY, template customization, and custom design  *  Why strategy matters just as much as aesthetics  *  How to know which website option fits your business stage, budget, and goals  Explore branding, website design, and Showit template customization:  https://emilyfostercreative.com [https://emilyfostercreative.com] Showit Templates by Emily Foster Creative [https://emilyfostercreative.com/showit-website-templates]

63: Authentic Networking for Wedding Pros with Sara Alepin

If networking has ever felt more exhausting than meaningful, this conversation is going to feel like a breath of fresh air. In this episode of Engage Your Brand®, I’m joined by Sara Alepin, founder of District Bliss and Photos from the Harty, to talk about authentic networking, relationship-driven marketing, and building a business rooted in real connection instead of transactional growth. Sara shares how her frustration with traditional networking culture led her to create District Bliss, a community designed for entrepreneurs who value genuine relationships, education, and long-term support. In this episode, we talk about: *  Why traditional networking feels transactional for so many entrepreneurs  *  How authentic relationships create stronger referrals and long-term growth  *  The story behind District Bliss and its community-first mission  *  Inclusive branding in the wedding industry  *  Building a referral-based business through trust and connection  *  How personal storytelling strengthens your brand  *  Creating a business that supports work-life balance and travel  *  Why your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room  ✨ Connect with Sara & District Bliss:  District Bliss [https://districtbliss.com/] District Bliss Instagram [https://instagram.com/districtblissevents/] Photos from the Harty Photos from the Harty Instagram [https://instagram.com/photosfromhart/] ✨ Grab Sara’s Networking Made Easy Course:  Networking Made Easy Course [https://districtbliss.myflodesk.com/engageyourbrand] ✨ Explore Emily Foster Creative:  Emily Foster Creative [https://emilyfostercreative.com/]