How Certification Changes the Way Venues See (and Trust) You

Venues don’t gamble with their space—or their reputation. In this episode, Krisy Thomas, Senior Educator of the CWP Society, is joined by Nikki Rodgers, Master Certified Wedding Planner and Certified Educator, and Aisha Garnett, Master Certified Wedding Planner and Certified Educator, for a candid conversation about why certification instantly changes how venues perceive and trust wedding planners.

We break down why certification instantly changes the way managers read your emails, respond to your calls, and welcome you on site, and how that shift gets you onto preferred lists faster. With master certified planners Nikki Rogers and Aisha Garnett, we dig into the signals that matter most to venues: realistic timelines, airtight communication, contract fluency, and calm, quiet problem solving when the inevitable curveballs hit.
 
 Across candid stories and practical tactics, we map the journey from “optional add-on” to “essential partner.” You’ll hear how to make your first contact count, the questions that prove you’ve done your homework, and the small behaviors—respecting policies, confirming logistics early, sharing clean run-of-show updates—that build trust long before event day. We also explore why staying current on tools like 3D floor plans and collaborative timeline software isn’t just modern—it’s a competitive advantage that lightens venue workloads and elevates guest experience.
 
 If you want steady referrals, faster access to preferred vendor lists, and invitations to styled shoots and venue-led events, this conversation shows the path: pair formal certification with consistent, predictable execution. Ready to raise your visibility and become the partner venues recommend with confidence? Subscribe, share this with a planner friend, and leave a review telling us the one move you’ll implement this week.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

You're listening to the Wedding Planner Society podcast, brought to you by the CWP Society.

SPEAKER_03 0:15

Hey there, wedding planners and wedding coordinators. Welcome back to the Wedding Planner Society Podcast. I'm Christy Thomas, Senior Educator here at the CWP Society. And today we're diving into something that can completely change your business. And I am honestly living proof of this. How certification transforms the way venues see you and work with you. And I am joined by two incredible certified educators who work with venues day in and day out, including Nikki Rogers, who is a master certified wedding planner, who actually specializes in wedding venues and knows exactly what venue managers are looking for when they are building their preferred vendor list. And then there's the fabulous Aisha Garnett, who is also a master certified wedding planner and works with our members on really strengthening their industry relationships, including the all-important relationships with venues. Here is the reality, guys. Venues have a choice about which planners they recommend, promote, and trust with their space. And today we're talking about why certified wedding planners consistently rise to the top of that list. So if you ever wondered how to move from, well, let's say being tolerated at a venue to being genuinely valued as a partner, this conversation is for you. Nikki Aisha, welcome back to the podcast. Obviously, I've had you both on the podcast before, but not together. So I am excited about this duo for today.

SPEAKER_02 1:41

Thanks for having me, Chrissy. So excited to be here, especially with you, Nikki.

SPEAKER_01 1:46

I know, right? Same. I am so excited to be here with both of you. Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 1:50

Absolutely. So let's go ahead and get started. And I want to start with the venue perspective first. Because Nikki, to me, you are the perfect person to have this conversation with because you've had decades of experience in not just being a wedding planner, but also working at venues. So, Nikki, let's go back to when you were actually working with venues. What was the first thing that you noticed about a certified planner versus someone who isn't certified?

SPEAKER_01 2:17

Definitely. So when you first make contact with a venue as a certified planner, or in most of our cases, a certified, a master certified wedding planner with the CWP Society, the first thing that they notice as a venue is that we come with a level of professionalism and preparedness. They can immediately trust us in that moment, be that with the first email, phone call, or the first time you visit. As a CWP certified professional, we signal that we understand the industry standards, timelines, contracts, and the flow of the wedding from start to finish. It's not just about knowing how to plan, it's about knowing how to communicate clearly with the venue, respect their processes, and handle any curveballs without adding stress. For venues, that is incredibly important. It makes them so much more comfortable working with us because they know that we're gonna run the day smoothly and not complicate it, Chrissy.

SPEAKER_03 3:14

I love that that you mentioned that seeing that CWP certification, how that immediately is like a signal of like, oh, thank God. This is someone that we know is going to follow our rules because I'm sure as a venue, and we'll talk about this a little later on, you have probably seen it all. And you know, what's hard about with the term wedding planner, especially if you're not requiring a certified wedding planner, anyone can put that sticker on and say, I'm the wedding planner. Whether it is great Aunt Sally, who has planned really great family reunions and a fun party, but's never planned a wedding, or just your best friend who got married a couple months ago, they can easily put that hat on that I am a wedding planner. And venues are probably like, oh gosh, let's see if this person is even legit. Let's see if this person knows what they're doing. But when they see an email or a phone call or that initial introduction, and when you say or they see, I am a certified wedding planner with the CWP Society, I can imagine that that's an instant like relief. And again, like I mentioned earlier, uh, okay, thank God, this is someone who clearly has been trained. So I'm so glad that you mentioned that that it's a signal of like this person knows what they're doing. Aisha, from your work with our fellow CWPs, what are you hearing about how certification can change that initial conversation that they're having with venues?

SPEAKER_02 4:35

Chrissy, it's definitely mentioned in the beginning of the conversations with venues, as early as the introduction. It's an accomplishment worth highlighting. Being able to lead those conversations by letting venue coordinators, managers, and owners know that we are certified wedding planners is definitely an added value. It shows that you've invested in yourself. And in a sense, it can encourage venues to invest in you as well. I personally share with venues that I'm a master certified wedding planner through the Certified Wedding Planner Society. I say it proudly.

SPEAKER_04 5:14

You will notify Wedding Planner Society. You're gonna know about me.

SPEAKER_02 5:20

So, Chrissy, bringing those credentials to the table along with my expertise and experience, it's afforded me with the opportunity to be on the approved vendor list for one of the world's largest hotel chains, specifically in the North Carolina market.

SPEAKER_04 5:35

Wow.

SPEAKER_02 5:36

I've seen other certified wedding planners gain similar, if not the same, recognition. But, you know, the CWP Society or certified wedding planners take their skill set to an elevated level. And that's worth mentioning at the start of your conversation with venues.

SPEAKER_03 5:50

Oh, Aisha, I'm so glad that you're mentioning this because I I want to, and I'm hoping anyone who is currently certified that you are really listening to what she is saying. Because I hear actually, Aisha, in a lot of my one-on-one coaching calls, I hear RCWP say, it just feels like I'm bragging when I mention my certification.

SPEAKER_04 6:09

Okay. It's like, what's the problem, eh?

SPEAKER_03 6:15

But you're to me, it's not, it's not bragging. Yes, you are you're listing your credentials, but again, it's you informing them what's going to make you different. And to piggyback off what Nikki said, it's that signal of okay, this is someone who is, like you said, Aisha, has invested in themselves and their education. Therefore, I can now as a venue invest in you. And as planners, you're probably thinking, well, what do you mean they're investing in me? Like they're not paying me money to be on the property. No, but they're putting you on their approved vendor list, which means that they are trusting you to take care of their venue, they're trusting you to represent them well. Because just like with us as wedding planners, when things go wrong on a wedding day, the two people they look at are the wedding planners and the venue.

SPEAKER_04 6:57

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 6:58

So if things are crumbling on the wedding day, that's a bad reflection of the venue. So, yes, it is an investment into you as a wedding planner to be on their approved vendor list. They're putting a lot on the line there, that trust. So it is important that she actually share this and let them know what makes you different and say that I am a certified wedding planner. And I don't, again, like you said, Aisha, I wouldn't stop it there. I'm a certified wedding planner with the CWP Society.

SPEAKER_04 7:22

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 7:22

Because we all know that not every certification or education is created equal. And as the CWP Society, we are well known in this entire industry of being the top-tier education for wedding planners. So that's signal, that's just like Spidey senses are just going off our venues when you take the time to tell them this. So it is so incredibly important. And that kind of ties into what I want to ask you, Nikki, about credibility. Because we talk a lot about it when it comes to the industry. But what does credibility actually look like from a venue's point of view? You know, what are venues watching for when they first work with a wedding planner?

SPEAKER_01 8:00

So, in my experience, it comes down to how you show up when you head to the venue and every correspondence with the venue. From a venue's perspective, they notice right away if a planner is organized, communicates clearly, and really understands their process. Certified planners are trained to think ahead, to build those realistic timelines, like I mentioned before, and to know exactly how to work alongside the venue without creating that confusion for any vendors, the venue, the couple, or anyone else involved in the wedding. Venues also watch for how you handle the problem-solving aspects of the day. When you stay clear and calm under pressure, when you have backup plans in place, and when you keep the couple's vision on track, that builds instant trust, like you were mentioning, with those venues. So, really, certification is more than just a piece of paper. It's a signal to these venues, as you mentioned, that you're professional, prepared, and someone that they can confidently partner with to make the day run incredibly smoothly.

SPEAKER_03 9:09

I love everything that you mentioned, Nikki, because that's 100% true. It is such a difference because we do have that education behind us because we know the proper way to approach venues. And, you know, I think about it. I remember I had a venue tour with a couple. It was a venue they secured before they hired me, and it was a venue I never worked at. So, you know, being a certified master certified wedding planner, I knew I needed to introduce myself to this venue from the jump. So that was an initial email. And then me scheduling a one-on-one with the venue manager, but just me before I even included my couple. So that way I could really get to know them, really understand the space. I obviously I had a copy of the contract, so I'm reviewing that before the meeting. So that way I'm coming to this meeting super prepared. And I was like, you know, I noticed this in the contract, so I just wanted to double check, you know, is all this the same. Where are the loading dogs? Like I'm asking all the right questions that I was taught in my certification, and they were just like mouthdrop, blown away. They're like, Where have you been all my life? You wouldn't believe the amount of hand holding I have to do at some of the wedding planners who come through on our property who don't even take the time to read my contract. And I'm spending an hour meeting answering questions that are already in the contract, and it's so frustrating. And I get that as a venue, but again, it all comes down to knowing that certification is more than just that piece of paper, knowing it's actually that education that you get in order to build all of those steps needed to create that trust with the venue, like you mentioned. And Nikki, I want to keep talking to you for a moment, you know, because I know you've seen both sides of this. How does certification affect the way venues actually communicate with planners?

SPEAKER_01 10:47

Does it in fact change that dynamic and how they communicate with them? I feel it certainly changes that dynamic. Absolutely. Having worked on both sides, like you've said, as a venue coordinator and now as a planner, I can tell you that the certification immediately gives those venues that level of confidence in you and they can breathe. They know that the day is in good hands with you. They communicate more openly and professionally because they know that you're going to understand the process, those timelines, and the expectations, how to manage expectations of the couple, as well as the venue's requirements. It's not just about showing up with that knowledge. It signals that you respect their role and how to collaborate effectively. That mutual respect makes the relationship so much smoother, reduces misunderstandings, and lets us focus on creating an amazing experience for the couple instead of getting caught up in logistics or miscommunications.

SPEAKER_03 11:45

Oh, a thousand percent, Nikki. I love that you said how to collaborate effectively, because I guarantee a big shift probably in how the communication is between planners, certified wedding planners, and the vegan coordinators is because we're not coming in to take over their job. We're not bulldozing them out of the picture completely. Because as certified wedding planners, we know this is a partnership. And we know that when this partnership is right, oh, it is delicious. And it's just a benefit for us, for them, and more importantly for our couple. So I can see how when they know that you're certified, that communication does shift because they know that we're respecting them. And I know from conversations with our fellow certified educator Emma, who specializes in church venues, how, especially with them, they have ran into many situations of planners not respecting their church policies, not respecting the boundaries in place, not respecting the rules. So their guard is just all the way up compared to when they know it's a certified wedding planner, that guard comes down a little bit. The same kind of works for venues as well, similar to churches, what Emma has talked about with us on past episodes. So I do want to talk about problem solving. And I think I'm gonna bring you back for this. When something goes wrong on a wedding day, and let's be honest, things go wrong on wedding days. That's why they have a certified wedding planner to put that fire out. But how does a venue's response differ when they're actually working with a certified planner versus someone who didn't get that same training or education?

SPEAKER_02 13:14

Oh my goodness, Chrissy, there is a significant difference. To piggyback off what Nikki mentioned, there's a noticeable sense of ease from a venue when they know a certified wedding planner is managing the wedding day for their clients. As certified planners, our training and education come into play when addressing the inevitable challenges that arise on wedding days. And let's be honest, like you just mentioned, we know there are going to be some challenges. We proactively consider every aspect during the planning phase to prevent potential issues, ensuring that problems are addressed or avoided well in advance. That expertise doesn't come solely from the number of weddings we've planned over the years or how long we've been in business. While that experience is valuable, certification adds a layer of credibility and knowledge that venues recognize. When challenges do occur on wedding day, venues are able to lend support to us rather than feeling the need to step in and resolve issues themselves. They trust that we can communicate effectively with the couple, act as a liaison when needed, and manage situations professionally. That trust isn't automatically given to every planner. Speaking from my own experience as a certified wedding planner, having a true proven track record and formal training makes a tangible difference in how venues perceive and collaborate with us.

SPEAKER_03 14:37

Amen. You know, Aishie actually it makes me think of there is a venue in my market. So for those of you who are listening, I cover three separate markets. Two markets are major cities. One is a very small, it's not super small. Like we have more than one stuff like that. We have a Walmart and a Target. It's a bigger city, but it's not as big as my two bigger markets. So when I first started my career, there were a handful, and I quite literally mean four wedding planners in the area, and that's it. And they were not certified wedding planners. And I remember during after I gave my certification, all the knowledge I needed to become a success, I hit the ground running and met with every venue in that market I possibly could. And at that time when I first started my career, wedding planners were essentially optional. It was almost like luxury only in that market. Like it wasn't something that people just recommend in a wedding planner. It was like you just kind of, you know, good luck. Have someone else coordinate things. So I made an effort to show them like you're going to see what it's like to work with me. And you are never going to want to work another wedding without a certified wedding planner because you're going to see such a difference. And they kind of, you know, gave me that look. And I was like, I promise, just trust me with the one, and I'm going to change your world. And it did. And I will never forget one venue who was a little hesitant about it. They were like, Well, I mean, people, it's just people typically have their family members helping. You know, I know you're another expense. Sometimes it's just not necessary. And the one wedding I did after that, they were like, never again. I didn't even have to work today. I could stay in my office and I wasn't putting out a ton of fires. And to the point where, you know, they obviously I was on their approved vendor list, they recommended and then they updated their policy where they required at minimum a coordinator for their wedding days because they were able to see that difference. And I remember a few years down the road, they actually, the venue manager, the one one wedding I worked, they just didn't come. They stayed at their house, which was up the street from the venue. And I was like, hey, I know you trust me, but I do need someone from the venue here because the toilets are messed up and I'm not touching the toilets. So, but I felt so incredibly honored that she was like, I'm not even leaving my house today because Chrissy is at my venue. It's the level of trust. It's the level of trust. And it's knowing that if anything happens at my venue, any problems, Christy, as a master certified wedding finder, is going to take care of it. So it does truly make a difference for venue coordinators and obviously for me, because I that that that was business, that was money, all from referrals from venues in my market.

SPEAKER_01 17:10

And Christy, real quick too, just to piggyback on what you said, it was so incredibly helpful for me as a venue coordinator when there was a planner there. Like you said, I could sit in my office and actually do other work. You don't always know how much behind-the-scenes work because venue coordinator has. They are managing multiple weddings, multiple events in a day, in a weekend. They might have appointments first thing in the morning that they still have to prepare for while this wedding is going on the night before. So it's just so helpful from that standpoint to have someone you can trust, whether you stay home or prep for other things. Yeah, exactly. Exactly.

SPEAKER_03 17:47

And Nikki, you know, that could kind of remind me because you know, all the we we talked about this in one of our well-beginning podcasts, Nikki, about the difference between being managers, catering managers. You know, I think about, you know, those catering managers from those hotels like Aisha mentioned earlier. Who doggy? The role of a catering manager is so, so much because they have those revenue goals they have to meet. So when you have a certified wedding planner on property, you are able to then meet with those couples who can only meet with you on Saturday. Those walk-in couples, especially who just want to come toward the space because you know they're free that weekend. But you can do your other aspects of your job, like Nikki mentioned, if you are a catering manager, because you have a trusted certified wedding planner on property during that wedding, it really does make a huge difference. And Nikki, I want to ask you this because I think this is something our listeners do wonder about. And that is the certification actually makes it easier to get on a venue's preferred vendor list. What's really happening behind those decisions?

SPEAKER_01 18:46

So, certification is definitely a clear signal that when you meet those standards, it's going to show that you've invested in your education. Understanding the industry best practices is so helpful in those instances. You can communicate effectively with the venue team as well as the full vendor team on the day of the wedding. Behind the scenes, venues are weighing trust and predictability. So when they see that you're certified, it immediately gives them confidence that you're going to be handling your clients and the day overall with professionalism while representing their venue to some degree, which can really open the doors to being recommended over others within that venue.

SPEAKER_03 19:27

I love the way that you worded that trust and predictability. I think that's the predictability is something that I don't think I've ever considered because it makes sense, though, that if I'm have this list of phenomenal certified wedding planners on my vendor list that my couples are then selecting from, I know every single weekend it's going to be okay. Versus if you don't have a policy like that with your venue, you genuinely don't know what you're going to get walking into Saturday, walking into your ballroom. You're kind of walking in blind. And I know, Nikki, in one of our earlier podcasts, you Mentioned there was a venue that when you were working on the venue side of things, you walked in the property on Saturday and there was a wedding planner, and you had no clue that the couple had even hired a wedding planner. Meaning that wedding planner never even reached out to you prior to the wedding day. And what's funny, I remember that conversation, you said they were offended, and you were like, Why are you offended? I should be offended. I'm a new anger and I had never even heard of you. But that happens quite often. I've had one of my photographer friends let me know. She was like, Hey, I had a wedding and there was a wedding planner. No clue that there was a wedding coordinator or planner for this day. So I love that you mentioned the predictability, and that's something that venues are looking for when it comes to their approved vendor list. Aisha, we know that continuing education is a big part of the success that you have as a wedding planner. What difference does it make that certified wedding planners are staying current when it comes to impressing some of these venues?

SPEAKER_02 20:57

Chrissy, it makes a huge difference. Otherwise, we risk falling behind and jeopardizing not only our business, but also the experiences we deliver for our couples. Staying current, it's non-negotiable. Okay. It demonstrates our commitment to our profession, our willingness to embrace change and our dedication to mastering our craft. So we have to stay current.

SPEAKER_03 21:37

Oh, absolutely. You know, I joke, we joke with Lori, our wonderful founder and CEO all the time because Lori has been planning, she's been in the industry for 33 years now, which is a very long time to be in the wedding industry. But I just think about if she was still doing the things that she was doing in her first 10 years of business, a venue would look at her like, what is this fax? What do you mean? What's our fax number? What is it? What is this? We don't do that here. You know, it would, it would just, you would that would not be impressive. But then I also think about like you mentioned technology, how that's changing. I venues have just been blown away by some of the technology that I use, my floor plan software. When I'm able to show them this is the 3D version of what your venue looks like, they're always like, Oh my gosh, I absolutely love this, and that is a selling point. That's a reason why they want me back because they know that I can create these beautiful weddings in their space and they see it. My timeline software that I use, they're blown away by timeline genius because the venue managers are getting updates, the catering team, the manager's getting an update about the flow of the day. All of that is because I evolved. All of that is because I didn't think, well, I know how to do everything. My little Excel spreadsheet is perfectly fine with my timeline. I knew I needed to grow and evolve and continue my education, and that is impressive to everyone. That's impressive to venues, that's impressive to your future couples who are looking for you. So it does truly make a difference, like you mentioned, Aisha. And I do want us to both talk about, or all three of us, excuse me, talk about what this actually looks like in practice. You know, I gave that quick little example about four plans and timelines. What are the small things that send them to venues if they're actually working with a true professional? Nikki, I'll start with you first.

SPEAKER_01 23:19

Sure. I think it adds all the little things. They really add up, right? Showing up prepared every time, getting information out early regarding timelines, the contract questions, like you mentioned, reviewing those contracts, asking those questions, opening up those lines of communication early with the venue so everything is very clearly communicated with all vendors. As we said, knowing the venue's rules and respecting their processes, handling the challenges calmly without adding stress, those small details can really tell a venue immediately that you are organized, reliable, and professional. They don't just see a planner, they see someone who makes the day run smoothly for everyone involved and helps the entire team elevate.

SPEAKER_03 24:04

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 24:05

Aisha, what are your thoughts here?

SPEAKER_02 24:07

Well, I agree 100% with everything Nikki just said. I'd also add that professionalism should be conveyed before you ever step foot inside the venue. The initial conversation sets the tone for the entire relationship. First impressions, they matter, and venues are forming opinions immediately. How you communicate in that first email, phone call, or during that in-person interaction will determine how you'll show up on a wedding day. You always want to reassure the venue that you're someone they can trust, collaborate with, and ultimately recommend.

SPEAKER_03 24:42

Absolutely. Put that on a coffee mug. Your professionalism should be conveyed before you ever step foot inside the venue. Amen to that. And I want another question for the both of you. Have you guys ever seen a situation where a venue specifically sought out or requested a certified wedding planner? And if so, what do you think was driving that? And I'll start with you first, Nikki.

SPEAKER_01 25:05

Yeah, I definitely have, Chrissy. There's actually a venue in my area that requires every single client to work with a planner. Well, they're a little bit of a newer venue. So when they first opened, they didn't fully realize that not all planners are created equal. They started seeing the differences firsthand, how some planners really understood, you know, the communication, the timeline, the day of logistics and problem solving versus the ones that didn't. And they made the decision to make it a certification requirement for planners going on site for that venue. For them, it really became a way to ensure the consistency and professionalism while assisting with the representation of their space. And it really shows how much value they place on having a planner who is trusted and truly trained and prepared for anything to come up during that wedding day.

SPEAKER_03 25:55

Oh, I love that that they make it not just planners anymore, but that you have to be a certified wedding planner. And like you said, that first year business, they were probably like, oh. What is the difference here?

SPEAKER_04 26:05

A little bit, right? Just a little bit. Exactly, exactly. I used to have you seen a situation similar to this before.

SPEAKER_02 26:11

You know what, Chrissy? I this is this is a really good question, but I personally haven't seen where venues require a certified wedding planner, but I have seen where they require couples to hire a wedding planner. I think it's definitely something that needs to be a requirement for more venues. Can you imagine the confidence venues would have if certified planners were the standard? It's not just about credentials, it's about elevating the entire wedding experience for couples, vendors, and venues. And if that were to happen, I believe that would spark a true movement in the wedding industry.

SPEAKER_03 26:47

It really would. And can you imagine, though, if the standard to become a wedding planner was you have to go through certification? Can you imagine the world that we would live in right now? Listen. And beginning, and obviously that's our mission here at CWP Society, but we all know unfortunately, people are getting that advice when they're, hey, I want to be a wedding planner, what should I do next? And people are saying, get experience, get experience, shadow, shadow, shadow. Nowhere, other than you know, fellow CWPs who are like, no, please get educated because we know the value, we see the difference. And we don't want them to make those same mistakes that other planners are making that can hurt their reputation before they even get started. And even for planners who are listening who may have years and years of experience, Nikki, I know for you, example, like you've had years of venue experience and then you became a certified wedding planner. So you could have had the mindset of, well, I don't need certification. I know everything there is to know because I ran venues for so long. But no, you understood the value of that certification. You also saw the difference when working a venue between planners who didn't know certification or didn't have a certification versus planners who did. So you knew, okay, there's value in this certification. There's value in me getting education because running a venue and planning a wedding are two totally different things. So I just I can imagine, I can imagine a world where it's just being a certified wedding planner is the standard. And I do think, like you said, Aisha, if venues could even just make that their standard, that would help tremendously.

SPEAKER_02 28:24

It'll start the movement. Well, it really would.

SPEAKER_03 28:27

Yeah, it really would. It really would.

SPEAKER_01 28:29

So not all certifications are created equal, you know. They need to remember that the CWP society certifications are truly something so special, Chrissy. I mean, I learned things that you would never think of from the venue side, from the catering side, from the floral side. I've done so many things in this industry, and it truly made a difference when I took the CWP certificate uh society certifications versus some others in the past, too.

SPEAKER_03 28:54

Yeah. I'm so glad that you mentioned that because it's not all created equal. Our current certification now, our 2026 version, is 32 and a half hours of such goodness. 32 and a half hours. That is a lot of information, guys. And and that, which means that that's so that's a lot that you need to know. So to take on someone's wedding and to be on an approved vendor list. So I'm so glad that you mentioned that. And, you know, looking at the long game as we wrap up here, how did certification change the planner-venue relationship over time? You know, what opportunities open up for certified planners that might not be available to others? Aisha, I'll start with you first.

SPEAKER_02 29:38

Chrissy, I'd say it opens the door for venues to start trusting you and truly seeing the benefit of having you as a partner and not just another planner on site. The credentials may be there, but it's how you demonstrate that your experience and continued education directly contribute to the success of the client's wedding day. That makes the real difference. When venues recognize that your presence enhances operations, protects their space, and supports their team, it creates the foundation for a long-term planner-venue relationship. That trust can lead to ongoing referrals from the venue, the ability to confidently recommend the venue to your own clients, and opportunities to collaborate on a broader corporate level, like you know, planning their style shoots or doing style shoots there, educational events, preferred partnerships, or branded experiences.

SPEAKER_03 30:32

Absolutely. It opens up the door to so much. Nikki, what are your thoughts here?

SPEAKER_01 30:38

I agree with you, Aisha, definitely. Over time, that certification can really strengthen the planner venue relationship, exactly like you said. Venues begin to trust you, not just from one wedding, but as a reliable partner that they can consistently recommend again and again. Certified planners and master certified planners, like those at the CWP Society certification, often get access to those preferred vendor lists, possibly faster than those without the certification. Collaborative opportunities, exactly like you mentioned, the styled shoots, those educational events, those preferred partnerships, the branded experiences, and early notice and the venue availability, right? It opens those doors that might not be on the table for someone without the credentials that we have. Because venues know that they're working with someone who's proven professional and truly committed to the craft.

SPEAKER_03 31:32

Venue relationships is something that we really heavily teach within our certification because it can be such a game changer. It is something where, you know, I think of back to my career, I've never had to advertise at all because all of my business came from referrals. And the bulk of that came from my venue partnerships. And it is because obviously my certification had a big do to those relationships I created, but also because I not just, you know, the certification and my credentials and my badge, but because I knew what I needed to do in order to create a phenomenal relationship with these venues. I knew the type of planner I needed to be in order for them to trust me to add me to their approved vendor, the preferred vendor list. And that all boiled down to the education I received from my certification. I knew how to approach them. I knew how to review contracts thoroughly. I knew what questions I needed to ask during those site visits. I knew how to make sure that I was making their lives easier. All of these things allowed me to get these recommendations and these referrals. And I think that's something a lot of people, their ultimate goal is how do I get on an approved vendor list, preferred vendor list from revenue? That's what they ultimately want. It's work. It's work because it's a relationship. And to me, in order for you to crank open that door of building that relationship, it comes with that solid foundation of trust, like any other relationship. And having your certification, to me, that's that foundation of trust. That's that first concrete port is that trust. Okay, she's got a certification level one trust. And now, you know, she's doing all these things. Now we're building that beautiful house, and it's now we've got a mansion of trust between me and this venue, all from your certification. So, again, guys, what you just heard here isn't theory, it's the reality of how this industry works. Venues are paying attention to those who have invested in their education, who understand professional standards, and who show up prepared. Certification isn't just a credential to add to your website, it's the difference between being seen as a vendor and being seen as a trusted partner. If you are serious about building a sustainable wedding planning business, certification isn't optional anymore. It's the professional standard. At the CWP Society, we exist to get you there with comprehensive training, ongoing education, and a community of certified and master certified wedding planners who are raising the bar across this industry. Don't wait until you've learned the hard way. Don't wait until a venue chooses someone else because they have the credentials that you didn't. Visit CWPsociety.com today and start your certification journey. Whether you're brand new to this industry or have been planning weddings for years, certification will change the way you work and the way venues see you. Thank you for listening and thank you to Nikki and Aita for sharing your expertise today. Now you guys go earn that certification and show the industry what you're capable of. We'll see you next time on the Wedding Planner Society podcast. Thanks, guys. Thank you. Thanks, Chrissy.

SPEAKER_00 34:37

And before you go, we've got a little something just for our podcast listeners. If you're ready to elevate your career as a wedding planner or coordinator, you can use Code Podcast to receive$75 off the Executive Certification Program. This code is valid until the next episode releases, so be sure to take advantage while it's available. This offer can't be combined with any other discounts. Visit CWPsociety.com to learn more.