Hannah Trahan joins us today on the show and I am so excited for you guys to hear what she has to say! Hannah is an event planner in South Louisiana, specializing in weddings. She recently started her own company, Southern Couture Weddings. Hannah even planned my wedding and honeymoon! Through the years of working together, we have become such close friends and I truly admire her hard work and passion for what she does. With over 500 weddings in the life of her career, Hannah shares her story with us about how she got to where she is today including how she balances work and personal life!
WHAT YOU WILL HEAR IN THIS PODCAST:
- How to balance Business and Parenthood?
- How and When should I find help for my business?
- What are a few mistakes to learn from in starting your own business?
- What are the do’s and don’ts for a wedding photographer?
- What are a few pieces of advice for aspiring business owners?
How to Balance Business and Parenthood:
Hannah realized once she started a family that she no longer could work 60 weddings a year. However, she still had such a strong passion for coordinating weddings she decided this was the perfect time to start Southern Couture Weddings. Her oldest child is now three years old and she has two other little ones as well. I’m sure you are all wondering how in the world does she do it?! She dedicates specific days and times throughout the week that she focuses on her business, the other times are spent focusing 100% on her family. She also has some help! It is so important to surround yourself with people who can help you. Whether this is someone who helps with your business tasks, or can help you with your children, great help makes a world of difference!
How and When should I find help for my business?
Once Hannah had her third baby she knew it was time to get help with Southern Couture. She first hired someone to help with the behind the scenes work. This person’s job was to make sure the clients were happy and things were delivered on time. It is so important to find someone who is willing to work hard and who understands you, the business and your clients. Finding someone to help you can be challenging, but Hannah found that by talking to different people and through trial and error, she has found amazing people to help her. Some business owners know that they need help, but might not be able to afford it. An easy way to know if it is time to hire help is when you are at the point where you are so busy and in too high of demand. Since you can only do so much, raise your prices so that you can then afford to hire help.
Mistakes to Learn from in Starting your Own Business:
- There are 1,000,001 things to think about all while trying to keep your clients and their friends/family happy! We all make mistakes … we cannot beat ourselves up over that. But it is important to remember that in addition to focusing in on those micro-details that it is also necessary to see the bigger picture!
- Communication regarding the timeline is crucial. It always helps to make sure there is open communication regarding every aspect of the wedding!
- Stay organized and consider making the switch to digital contracts and one platform for all calendars and correspondence.
Do’s and Don’ts for a Wedding Photographer
As a wedding coordinator, Hannah has a different perspective of photographers than I do. She lists three things that are so important for a photographer to remember!
- Personality and Professionalism: Both are SO important. This includes responding in a timely manner, and creating an overall great experience for the client. Many vendors have great work, but what separates those apart from others are those who create that memorable client experience.
- Some photographers ignore the timeline that is provided to them which causes the organization of the entire day to be disrupted. Getting back on schedule during the chaos of the wedding day can be difficult, especially for the planner and vendors. Stick to the timeline!
- It is so important for photographers to leave home at home and come in a great mood and ready to have fun! Photographers are with the bride and groom during all of the big special moments, so being happy and able to adapt to the changes is necessary for a successful experience for the bride and groom.
Advice to Aspiring Business Owners:
- Do what you Love – this is the core of being good at what you do. If you are doing something you absolutely love, you’ll go above and beyond. When you know it’s your passion and you want to improve each day – then you will excel!
- Find people you look up to. Do whatever it takes to get your foot in the door to learn everything possible from these people. Observe what sets these business owners apart from the rest, and model it for your own business!
CONNECTING:
Instagram: @southerncouturewed
Facebook: Southern Couture Weddings
Website: southerncoutureweddings.com
SPONSORS:
Showit – User-Friendly Web Design Platform: Use code MAGIC for 10% off your subscription!
Black River Imaging – High Quality Online Print Site: Use code MAGIC for 20% off your order!
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