What if the moment that changes your wedding planning career isn't a lucky break, but a choice you make today?

CWP Society Senior Educator, Krisy Thomas, opens up about being an introvert in a relationship-driven industry and how a recognized credential transformed the room before she even spoke. From that first venue meeting as a Certified Wedding Planner to national features and trusted partnerships, this story tracks how credibility, structure, and community create momentum that lasts.

We dig into five real turning points from planners at different stages:

The Burnout Breakthrough — How one planner transformed exhaustion into boundaries when pricing met industry standards and client screening became non-negotiable.

The Education Chaser — Meet the planner who tried every course until a complete curriculum finally connected sales, timelines, vendor relations, and client experience under one roof.

The Balance Myth — We break down why "someday I'll have balance" is a trap, and show how workflows, office hours, and value-based pricing make space for life without compromising service.

The Market Shift — One Certified Wedding Planner helped peers level up, raising local standards so high that venues started expecting training and couples began asking for credentials.

The Venue Flip — How certification transformed venue relationships from gatekeeping to partnership, opening doors to preferred lists and steady referrals.

If you're craving confidence that sticks, vendor trust that's earned, and systems that protect your time, this conversation maps the path. We believe the industry rewards preparation and professionalism — and that a respected credential can speak for you while you keep your energy for design, logistics, and care.

Ready to find your turning point? Subscribe, share this with a planner friend who needs a nudge, and leave a quick review to help more pros discover the show. Then visit cwpsociety.com to find your turning point.

www.cwpsociety.com | info@cwpsociety.com | IG: @cwpsociety | FB: @cwpsociety

Doubt on wedding day can be quiet but crushing—the second-guessing after a tough call, the 2 a.m. mental replay, the nagging feeling that something's off even when the night goes "fine." That's what winging it feels like, even when you're good at what you do.

In this episode, From Winging It to Owning It, Krisy Thomas, Senior Educator with The CWP Society, sits down with Master Certified Wedding Planners, Nikki Rodgers and Brittney Poole, to unpack how they made the shift from reactive problem-solving to confident, visible leadership that vendors trust and couples feel.

We get specific about what changed. Certification didn't just add letters after their names, it gave them usable frameworks: contracts that protect the work, pricing that reflects value, and timelines detailed enough to coordinate arrivals, handoffs, and contingencies without friction. They show how defined assistant roles expand your field of view, and why proactive vendor communication turns a list of services into a true team.

The difference between winging it and owning it shows up in moments that matter, like a guest collapsing during dinner and the room staying composed because the plan, the roles, and the trust were already in place.

We also confront the hidden cost of improvising your way through: undervaluing fees, fraying venue relationships, and fueling the misconception that planners are optional. Nikki and Brittney explain how identifying blind spots, package design, clause gaps, staffing standards, reduced anxiety and raised the quality bar. Their candor about perfectionism, pressure, and the physical toll of constant vigilance is matched by a clear path forward: build systems, practice them, and surround yourself with peers who share your standards.

The community piece matters. Regular workshops, co-working sessions, and mentorship turned a solitary job into a supportive network that speeds decisions and sustains momentum.

If you've felt that quiet tug that something's missing, this conversation hands you next steps to replace guesswork with clarity and calm, to stop winging it and start owning it.

Subscribe, share with a planner friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Ready to go deeper? Use code PODCAST for $50 off the Executive Certification Program at cwpsociety.com before the next episode drops.

www.cwpsociety.com | info@cwpsociety.com | IG: @cwpsociety | FB: @cwpsociety

Certified Wedding Planner, Industry Advancement Director, and Director of Student Organizations, Ashley Babbit, joins CWP Society's Senior Educator, Krisy Thomas for this episode. What if the right credential didn't just polish your bio—but changed how you see your future? We sit down with Ashley to unpack how structured training, community, and ongoing education turn hesitant beginners into confident pros. From moving to a new market with zero contacts to landing roles that play to her strengths, Ashley shows how certification can be the spark that opens doors you didn't know to knock on.

We walk through the real shifts that happen after formal training: questions move from "what are the hours?" to "how do I lead timelines, vendors, and client expectations with grace?" We talk about the power of weekly workshops to keep skills sharp as trends, tech, and client behavior evolve. And we address a common myth head‑on—success doesn't have to mean starting a company. If you love planning but not payroll, the associate track builds excellence on a team; if you want to lead a brand, the executive track gives you the business foundation to scale with integrity.

You'll hear how certification changes hiring conversations, shortens training, and signals professionalism to owners who protect their reputations fiercely. We share the markers that make a resume stand out, the habits that build trust with venues and vendors, and the community culture that rejects gatekeeping in favor of genuine support. Whether you're just starting, mid‑career, or ten years in, there's always more to learn—and the right peer network makes the journey lighter and faster.

Ready to step into a career that fits your strengths and goals? Subscribe, share with a planner friend, and leave a review telling us which path—associate or executive—you're exploring next.

https://www.cwpsociety.com/

www.cwpsociety.com | info@cwpsociety.com | IG: @cwpsociety | FB: @cwpsociety