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Hey There, CEO!

I know what you’re thinking: Do paid ads actually work for wedding planners? It’s a question I get asked all the time, and I’ve asked it myself for years. After all, we hear all the success stories about paid advertising, but can those same results apply to wedding pros like us?

So, I decided to find out once and for all. I teamed up with Wedding Industry Ads, run by the incredible Whitney Hodges and Daniela Justus, for a six-month collaboration to test the waters with Google and Meta (Facebook and Instagram) ads for my wedding planning business, Blush.

If you’re a wedding pro who’s been on the fence about running paid ads, this podcast episode blog is for you! I’m pulling back the curtain and sharing 7 key takeaways from my experience so far with paid ads. Spoiler alert: Ads aren’t a magic wand, but with the right strategy and expectations, they can make a huge difference!

Stay subscribed and follow for more updates during this 6 month testing period.

1. Ads Are Not a Quick Fix—Be Ready for the Long Game

Let me start with the big one: Paid ads are not a quick fix. They take time to gain momentum, and the results don’t come flooding in overnight. We’re still in the early stages of this collaboration, but I’ve already had to remind myself to be patient.

“I’ve got it in my head that we won’t start seeing a return necessarily till Thanksgiving.”
-Brandee Gaar

Whitney and Daniela made it clear from the start that paid ads take time to work. You’re essentially laying the groundwork by getting your brand in front of potential clients. Ads are about building visibility first, then the inquiries will follow.

2. You Need to Understand Your Organic Numbers First

One thing I realized before we even turned the ads on is that you need to know your organic numbers. At Blush, we already had a good handle on our data—how many leads we were generating each month, our conversion rates, and how our website was performing. This info is essential because it gives you something to compare your ad results to.

“Ads amplify what’s already going on in your business. If you’re not getting sales now, ads probably won’t be the fix.” -Whitney Hodges

In other words, ads won’t fix a broken sales funnel. If you’re not getting leads or sales organically, it’s a sign that there are bigger issues that need to be addressed first.

3. The Tech Setup Is No Joke (But It’s Totally Doable)

I’ll be the first to admit—I thought we had everything set up perfectly before we started running ads. Boy, was I wrong! The tech setup that goes into running ads can be a bit overwhelming, especially when it comes to tracking conversions.

“There’s a lot of techie stuff that needs to happen at the beginning, but it’s important because you want to own your data.” -Whitney Hodges

Whitney and Daniela walked us through everything step by step, from setting up Google and Meta ads to installing tracking pixels on our website.

Without proper tracking, you won’t know where your leads are coming from or what’s driving traffic, so don’t skip this!

4. Start with Client Attraction Ads to Build Awareness

One of the things that surprised me the most was how we started the ad process. Instead of jumping straight into ads focused on getting inquiries, Whitney and Daniela recommended starting with Client Attraction Ads.

“We just got our first round of data, and I’m loving that we’re reaching more people with a small ad spend!” -Brandee Gaar

Client Attraction Ads are all about building awareness and engagement first. You’re getting your content in front of people who’ve never heard of your brand before. Over time, this builds trust and familiarity so that when you do start running lead generation ads, your audience is already primed and ready to take action.

5. You Don’t Have to Create New Content—Repurpose What You Have

Let’s talk about one of the best parts of running ads—you don’t have to reinvent the wheel! Whitney and Daniela took existing Instagram Reels and other content we were already using organically and repurposed it for our ads.

“If you already have a beautiful website or strong social media presence, use it!”
-Daniela Justus

By using content that was already performing well, we were able to hit the ground running without creating anything new. It’s a great reminder that your ads don’t have to be super polished or overly produced—they just need to connect with your ideal client.

6. Paid Ads Are Essential for Targeting Multiple Markets

One of the biggest advantages of paid ads is that they allow you to target multiple markets effectively. Blush serves both Orlando and St. Augustine, so we’re running different ad campaigns for each market. This is something we’ve struggled with organically, especially in a market where we’re not physically located.

“Where paid ads really help is filling the gap in markets where you’re not physically based.”
-Daniela Justus

Paid ads can be a game changer if you’re expanding to new areas or want to reach clients in different regions. You can target specific geographic areas and get in front of couples who may not find you through organic search.

7. You Have to Stay Engaged with Your Ads Data

Here’s the thing about running ads—you have to stay engaged. Whitney and Daniela send me reports regularly, and I make it a point to sit down and review the data. You can’t just set your ads and forget about them.

“You have to be an active participant. I set aside time to really look at the reports and understand what’s working.” -Brandee Gaar

Being involved in the process, asking questions, and understanding how your ads are performing is key. If something’s not working, you need to be ready to make adjustments, and that only happens when you’re reviewing the data consistently.

Before We Go

So, do paid ads work for wedding planners? Stay tuned for the rest of this six-month collaboration with Wedding Industry Ads for the full details.

But I’d say the short answer is yes—but only if you approach them with the right mindset and expectations. Ads are an amazing tool to increase your visibility, target multiple markets, and amplify what’s already working in your business. But they aren’t a magic bullet.

These first few weeks with Wedding Industry Ads has been an eye-opener, and I can’t wait to share more updates as we move forward. Just remember: ads are an investment. You have to be willing to put in the time, review your data, and make adjustments along the way.

If you’re ready to dive into ads, make sure your foundation is strong, your tech is set up, and you’re prepared to give it time. I promise, when done right, the results are worth it!

DM Wedding Industry Ads on Instagram and let them know you heard them on the Wedding Pro CEO Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/weddingindustryads/

FAQ

Q: How long does it take to see results from paid ads?

A: It typically takes several weeks or even months to see a real return from paid ads. Right now, we’re two weeks in, and I’ve set the expectation that it might be closer to Thanksgiving before we see any significant results.

Q: Can I run ads if my website isn’t perfect?

A: Yes, but your website needs to be able to handle traffic and convert visitors into leads. Whitney and Daniela helped us optimize our site for conversions before we started ads.

Q: How much should I budget for ads?

A: We decided to spend $2,000 per month, split between Google and Meta ads across two markets. However, you can start with $1,000 per month and scale as you start seeing results.

Q: Will paid ads help if I’m not getting organic leads?

A: If you’re not generating leads organically, you might want to focus on fixing your sales funnel or refining your messaging before investing in ads. Ads work best when you’re already seeing some level of success.

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