Jump to Youtube Video

This episode hit a nerve…

because it reminded me so much of where I used to be in my own business. I’ve been that wedding pro who was killing it on the outside—booked every weekend, loved by clients, admired by peers—but barely hanging on behind the scenes.

This student’s story is proof that being busy doesn’t mean you’re being profitable. And I want to make sure you don’t make the same $140,000 mistake she did. So let’s dive into the two big shifts that transformed her business—and could completely change yours too.

---

1. Stop Confusing Busy with Profitable

“Most wedding pros think being busy means being successful, but here’s the truth—being booked out and being profitable are not the same thing.”

When this student came into the Wedding Pro CEO program, she was on the brink of quitting. Not because she wasn’t getting clients—but because she was doing everything. Sales calls, contracts, vendor meetings, follow-ups, networking… you name it.

And the kicker?

She wasn’t paying herself a livable wage.

Her calendar was full. Her inbox was popping. But when we dug into her numbers? She was missing out on $140,000 in lost revenue every year simply because she didn’t have time to follow up on leads that weren’t immediately ready to sign.

---

2. Identify Your Bottleneck (Spoiler: It Might Be You)

“When you’re the one doing all the selling and all the delivery—you stop selling. It’s not intentional. It’s survival.”

I asked her one simple question:

“Who’s in charge of sales?”

She laughed and said, “Technically… me.”

And that’s when we knew the problem.

She wasn’t actively selling—she was barely keeping up with hot leads who landed on her calendar. But what about the ones who needed a little nudge? Or a follow-up call? Or just a real conversation?

They got lost.

And that—right there—was her $140,000 mistake.

---

3. Shift #1: Hire a Salesperson (Yes, Even If It Scares You)

“We didn’t throw money at ads. We didn’t rebrand. We didn’t build a new website.”

We brought in a part-time sales consultant trained in our Wedding Pro CEO sales framework, and her only job was to:

• Manage inquiries
• Follow up with leads
• Handle discovery calls
• Close the sale

Let me tell you, it was like flipping a switch.

“Her close rate doubled in two months—not because she got better at sales, but because someone finally had time to sell.”

No more ghosting leads. No more “Oops, I forgot to follow up.” No more burnout-driven silence.

Your sales need time and attention—and when you’re doing everything else, there’s just no room left to do it well.

---

4. Shift #2: Open Your Books Early

“So often, I see wedding pros make rules in their business that are really just personal preferences.”

This one’s so simple but SO overlooked.

She used to open her books for the following year after her annual vacation, around January 15th. And I totally get that—rest is important! But by delaying her open dates, she was literally sending clients elsewhere. They’d go find someone who was open.

Once her sales manager was in place, we changed that rule.

She started opening her books on November 1st—and the difference was night and day.

“Those kinds of decisions can create dry spells where your team is twiddling their thumbs, and cash flow dips.”

Let your team keep selling even when you’re off the clock. Systems > hustle. Every time.

---

5. It Was Never About Ads or Funnels—It Was About Leverage

“She didn’t need to work harder. She needed a system.”

This wedding pro didn’t scale by burning the midnight oil. She did it by stepping out of the weeds, empowering a team, and trusting the process we mapped out.

In less than 6 months, she added $140,000 in revenue—without spending a dime on advertising.

It’s not magic. It’s not overnight success.

It’s systems, strategy, and support.

---

6. Scaling Isn’t a Mystery—It’s a Map

“Success leaves clues. Every business that scales hits the same walls.”

Here’s what we’ve seen across hundreds of wedding businesses:

• 💡 At $100k: You’re doing it all. You’re the bottleneck.
• 🔧 At $300k: Your systems are a mess.
• 📉 At $500k: You’re scared to delegate.
• 🎯 At $1M: You need vision and leadership, not more tasks.

In the Wedding Pro CEO program, we don’t just give you ideas.

We walk you through it—step by step.

“Our students grow faster and with less stress because they don’t have to guess.”

---

Before We Go. Ready to Stop Being the Bottleneck?

If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or underpaid, it’s not because you need more clients—it’s because your system is maxed out.

👉 Book a free gap assessment with our business consultants at:

🔗 weddingproceo.com/application

We’ll go through your numbers, find your leaks, and help you map out your next right move.

And friend, remember this:

“You don’t need to work harder. You need to work like a CEO running a business bigger than them.”

---

FAQ

Q1: I’m not ready to hire a salesperson. What can I do instead?

Start by tracking your leads and response times. Use a CRM (like Honeybook or Dubsado), and block time for follow-ups. But don’t wait too long to outsource sales—it’s often the first hire that changes everything.

Q2: How do I know when I’m the bottleneck?

If your default answer to follow-ups, system updates, or team management is “I know I should, but…”—you’re it. The good news? You can change that today.

Q3: What if I don’t have consistent inquiries?

That’s a different issue. You may need to focus on visibility, brand messaging, or offer clarity. But you still need a system ready for when the leads do come.

Q4: Do I need to be making $100k+ to join Wedding Pro CEO?

Nope! We’ve got students at all stages. The key is being ready to shift from hustler to CEO—someone who wants to lead with vision, build systems, and scale sustainably.

---

Got value from this episode blog? Then don’t forget to:

✅ Subscribe to the podcast

✅ Leave a 5-star review

✅ Share this with a fellow creative who’s ready to scale

Let’s change the way the wedding industry does business—together. 💼💕

Check out the video version of the podcast below. 👇
Subscribe, comment and share to support the channel.

💌For business inquiries: sayhello@weddingproceo.com

Heads up, CEO! Some of the links I share may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you decide to purchase—at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools and resources I actually use and love, and that I believe will help you grow a profitable, sustainable business you’re obsessed with.