Show notes:
Meghan Ely,from is back on the podcast to chat about how the wedding industry is shifting and what that means for your visibility in 2026. We dive into buyer behaviour, the evolving role of press, styled shoots, and why “purposeful visibility” matters more than ever. Plus, Meghan shares what makes a great speaker, why in-person events still count, and the one thing she wishes she’d learned sooner in business.
Time stamps:
00:06 – The Importance of Understanding Your Audience
06:12 – The Impact of Celebrity Engagements on Wedding Trends
10:50 – Shifts in the Wedding Industry
19:10 – The Evolution of Wedding Industry Marketing
23:51 – The Importance of Purposeful Visibility
34:20 – The Importance of Great Speakers at Conferences
40:51 – Finding Balance in Professional Commitments
Transcript:
Meghan
00:00:00.160 – 00:00:20.880
Well, first of all, be easy to work with, Becca. I’m sure I can get snaps from you on that one. Easy to work with.
Really take time to understand the audience going into it ahead of time and is responsive all the things like admin wise. But a great speaker on site. They’re not going to be someone who just turns it off as soon as they get off stage. It’s so interesting to me.
Becca
00:00:22.320 – 00:01:17.850
I’m Becca Poutney, wedding business marketing expert, speaker and blogger and you’re listening to the Wedding Pros who Are Ready to Grow podcast. I’m here to share with you actionable tips, strategies and real life examples to help you take your wedding business to the next level.
If you are an ambitious wedding business owner that wants to take your passion and use it to build a profitable, sustainable business doing what you love, then you’re in the right place. Let’s get going with today’s episode.
Today I’m joined by the fabulous Megan Ealy, PR expert, owner of OFD Consulting, and most importantly for me right now, one of the keynote speakers for my wedding industry conference, wedpros Live, which is taking place this March.
Megan is gonna be on stage at both the island and the London events, asking the question, are you ready for the new way of doing business in weddings? She’s an incredible person, a fountain of knowledge and I know you’re all gonna love her. Megan, welcome back to the podcast. Thank you.
Meghan
00:01:17.930 – 00:01:26.410
I’m so happy to be back. Thank you so much for having me. Now virtually and also before long across the pond. I’m so excited.
Becca
00:01:27.050 – 00:01:45.830
I am excited as well.
Now here’s a bit of trivia for you because I look back because this isn’t your first appearance on the podcast and look back to see when your last appearance was. So my podcast started in March 2022. So when, between now and March 2022, take a guess when you were last on the podcast.
Meghan
00:01:45.910 – 00:01:50.709
April 2022. I feel like I’d be like first out the gate. I’m like, I’m obsessed.
Becca
00:01:50.950 – 00:01:57.590
You were there early, so you were episode 38 in 2022. So it’s been a while.
Meghan
00:01:57.590 – 00:02:09.570
I can’t believe it’s been a while. But we’ve stayed in touch, everybody. Like we’ve seen each other. We’re at NBA, we were in London together. So have no fear. It’s not our.
It’s not only our second time seeing each other as people.
Becca
00:02:10.610 – 00:02:31.890
Definitely not. Friendship continued. It shows that it was time to get you back on this podcast. And if people want to Listen back to that episode.
You could go find it. Episode 38. We were talking all about pitching and PR and all that kind of good stuff.
So anyone who hasn’t heard that initial episode or hasn’t come across you before, just give us a super quick recap of who you are and how you ended up in the world of weddings.
Meghan
00:02:32.050 – 00:03:01.750
Absolutely. So I’ve been in the industry more than 20 years. I started out in venues, so. So I was in venues for almost seven years.
And then my background formally is in public relations, publicity training. And I decided to go out on my own. That’s a longer story. Requires a glass of wine. We shall not do that today.
And I started OFD Consulting, which is a wedding publicity agency. We’re small but mighty. We have a great team and we help people get published.
So that’s gonna be through getting quoted, podcasts, interviews, real wedding features and the like.
Becca
00:03:02.230 – 00:03:11.590
And is most of what you do now? Because again, things shift in business from the last time you were on. Here is most of what you do one to one. Are you doing small group work?
How does it look?
Meghan
00:03:11.670 – 00:04:12.490
Wonderful question. Because every publicist is different. We kind of take our own paths in terms of what we do.
So I do, I bet 80% of my work is actually a membership called OFD Collective. I call it a Done alongside you membership. So it means yes, we’re doing educating, we have office hours to consult.
But yes, if someone wants us to do the submissions, we will do that. We will take on the submissions and do that for them. You can check us out on Instagram, you can see placements, things like that.
But what’s kind of interesting about what we do is that we work with writers, editors, publishers all over, and they come to us and they will have articles.
Sometimes we’re writing them as well, but they’ll come to us and we will go ahead and, you know, they’ll say we need help on an article about X, Y and Z. I’m like, great, we’ll go ahead, we’ll send it to the members, see who’s the best fit, and people will share their expertise and then the writer will pick the best suited ones for it. So it’s very much a membership base. I do do some coaching as well, and I have a couple of legacy retainer clients, but currently we’re full for that.
And then we also have a course too. So we’ve got a mix of how you want to hang out with us.
Becca
00:04:12.970 – 00:04:24.330
I love it. But also I love stalking on your Instagram and seeing where your Clients get featured. You hit some great places.
Like, just tell me some of the great places you’re going to feature this year.
Meghan
00:04:24.490 – 00:05:19.670
So it’s been a while. I’ll be honest. 2025 was wild. We were up like 22%. I think with Lisa, there’s just a lot of need for, for articles and things like that.
We were so proud to work with the New York times on their 2026 wedding trends. Also a massive. It took 17 months to publish but about the cost of weddings. Right. So that was a big one as well with those days.
But you can see over at Martha Stewart, in the past we’ve been at Brides. I mean, right now they’re on editorial pause, so you won’t see anything from us over there. Right now we work at Bridal Guide Destination.
I do love Inc. Louisiana Times, lot of the wedding blogs. I mean, green wedding shoes, ruffles, carrots and cakes, so and so forth. But we have some, we have some fun ones too where it’s like Southern living.
Like sometimes we dip into the world of like a lot of our planners. You should be considered hosting or hostessing if you are hosting experts. And so they do some pretty cool stuff.
Occasionally we’ll, we’ll dip into travel and leisure and such. Anything wedding related. Wherever weddings are being talked about, that’s where you’re going to find us.
Becca
00:05:19.670 – 00:05:33.670
I love it. You’re all over the place. Here’s a fact about me. I love a bit of Southern living. My best friend lives in Alabama.
When I go to stay, I’m always like looking through because it’s so different to the way we do things here, like looking at the recipes and the decor. I love it.
Meghan
00:05:33.750 – 00:06:12.830
So different. What you need to do is find the TikTok accounts where it’s like Southern recipes from the 50s. Everything has like spoiler. Everything has Jell O.
It’s all gelatin based. It’s wild and so no, it’s Southern living is such a fun one.
And some of these I’ll say real quick, one of the most fun things about my job, sometimes we’re in the lifestyle space but talking about wedding. So we might get like a Good Housekeeping or something living.
And then someone will get quoted and sometimes they’ll say to me, and I think this is very sweet, like, oh my gosh, my mom read this growing up or I read this like I read Good Housekeeping growing up. So like, I love, I love seeing that. So that’s always fun when there’s like a nostalgic, you know, Bit to it as well.
Becca
00:06:12.990 – 00:06:22.750
And there’s another big PR moment that happened last year that we can’t move on without talking about because I know you tell the story. Someone important got engaged in the US last year.
Meghan
00:06:22.990 – 00:06:29.150
Oh my gosh. Taylor Alison Swift. And let me be the first to tell you, Becca, like, am I self identified? Swifty?
Becca
00:06:29.150 – 00:06:29.510
No.
Meghan
00:06:29.750 – 00:08:24.400
I have a deep respect for her philanthropy, her cat lady ways, her music, all this stuff. So I was like, here, I’m going to give you the visual. I’m literally walking on. I’m about to walk on a plane, right? I’m like, do to do, do my thing.
Probably playing wordle or something. And I’m heading, I’m at the Philly airport. I can’t remember where I’m going. I really can’t. Doesn’t matter.
I’m going to Philly, I’m in Philly, I’m going somewhere else and I’m on my phone and suddenly my phone just blows. I mean just pew, pew, pew, pew, pew. Like, and it’s like Taylor Swift is engaged. I remember looking around going, why is everyone screaming?
Like, isn’t this like a huge. Like, I can’t believe no one was reacting like the good people of Philadelphia Airport.
And so as I’m walking on the plane, I’m like, if this plane doesn’t have WI fi, I’m going to scream. Like, because I think I was only about a two hour flight, but didn’t matter. Like, I needed that time.
So as you can imagine, I’m standing here, I get the news. As I’m walking to my seat, I’m pitching editors, like, because you have to go fast. It’s like, are we getting the band back together?
What are we doing? Like, here I am. We got everybody, we. I think there was an extra 40 hours added to my workweek that week. But as my husband says, you kind of love it.
Like, like, yeah, you’re exhausted, but you’re kind of like loving this. And it was so much fun, Becca. I’ll tell you, we had articles. We had one article where they’re like, yeah, just get it to us by like next week.
And they’re like, no, we actually need it in three hours. I was like, what? And so we put on an insta live. We did this whole education. It was, it was fun. I mean, who knows like, what she’s gonna do, right?
Because at the time of this recording, we don’t know. I mean, there’s a lot of like anticipation, but there’s no.
We know it will be after football season, I was talking with someone who’s like, oh, it’s gonna be 2027. And I’m like, no way. There’s no way. They’re wait. The longer a celebrity wait. The reason.
One of the reasons they do them quickly, partly because they have the budget to do it, is because the longer you wait, the more people can figure out what’s going on. Right? You need to get it done, get it done, get married.
Becca
00:08:24.880 – 00:08:30.480
Maybe she’ll take inspiration from the Pantone color of the year and just go for white.
Meghan
00:08:30.720 – 00:09:50.900
You chose violence today, Becca. You really did. No, I listen. The pantone color of the year, for those who don’t know Pantone comes up with, like, this color.
And they’re like, this is the color of the year. And does it impact weddings? Not necessarily, but it is quick in the news cycle, and it’s my least favorite day of the year.
Everyone who knows me knows this because there’s no way to prepare. You just get the color, and it could be it’s super oversaturated or something you don’t have, or it’s ugly. Look, I’m looking at you. Baby blue.
Baby pink from a few years ago. That was like. That was.
But anyways, so I changed my gym schedule, knowing when it was coming out, and they still came out like, 10 minutes early, which made me mad. And I’m standing at the. Grabbing my stuff at the gym. I just finished my workout, look down, and it says the color is white. And I basically almost.
I wanted to choose violence that day. I’ll be honest, I could not have been more disappointed. I thought, well, that’s not really picking a color, is it? And there’s.
I mean, how do you make. But then it posed a really interesting publicity challenge of how do you make that interesting? So we did.
We partnered with Bridal Guide in particular and wrote this awesome article. And it was. I mean, yeah, it’s white, but what can we do different? And I’m really proud of our members because, I mean, we had so many jokes.
So many jokes, but people really rose to the challenge. What did you think? That was ridiculous, right?
Becca
00:09:50.980 – 00:09:54.900
I thought what my children would say is, white’s not a color. It’s a shade.
Meghan
00:09:56.420 – 00:10:08.980
In primary school, yeah. I was like, this is not. What is this? So I don’t know. I don’t know. I would have loved something. I would have loved something. How about that? Period?
I don’t need to end that. That’s a sentence. I would have loved something.
Becca
00:10:09.220 – 00:10:20.080
But what I have enjoyed about it Actually is. In some ways it’s made us all talk about it more because we have, like, it’s so ridiculous and we’re having to make fun of it. Actually.
It’s very memeable and I quite enjoy that.
Meghan
00:10:20.080 – 00:10:41.520
Yeah, no, I was gonna say there was a lot of hubbub and it’s really funny to me because there’s just so much dialogue. My favorite is like, I had my friend Janice wrote.
Or no, no, she sent me a voice recording and she goes, hey, listen, you need to move your phone away from your ear because I’m about to scream. And I was like, this is so funny. So it’s like the worst. Anyways, we’ll see. Try again. Try harder next year. Pantone.
Becca
00:10:41.680 – 00:10:45.440
Yeah. If you’re listening, like, let’s go for something a little bit more vibrant and.
Meghan
00:10:45.440 – 00:10:48.240
A little bit flashy. Anything. Anything.
Becca
00:10:50.140 – 00:11:09.860
We have seen the industry shifted. I’ve been talking about this a lot over the last couple of years. Marketing shifted, the industry shifting.
The demographic of our consumers is shifting, consumer behavior. There’s so many shifts.
So I thought from your perspective, it would be interesting to know what you’re seeing has shifted in the industry over the last kind of six to 12 months into 2026 or.
Meghan
00:11:09.860 – 00:14:23.490
I mean, there’s a few things I’d love to touch upon media here as well, if you don’t mind, because that’s just fresh on it. But. But let’s start with the industry itself. I mean, of course we are seeing a continued push. You. The economics. Right. Globally of where we are.
We’re seeing that the sales cycles look different. Right. You’re seeing that couples are booking closer in. That can wreak havoc on a cash flow. As somebody who, when I worked in venues, you know, we.
We had historical data that if I was still doing that now, it would be blown to smithereens. Right. Because you’re like, well, now they’re booking four months out, like things like that as well.
And so we’re also seeing a continued push in the best way possible towards authenticity. We want the couples are.
And we’ll talk a little bit about this when I come over, but just kind of a sneak peek here is that they want to know what you value. That’s very important to them. According to Linda. Splendid insights. Couples are looking at portfolio and personality for sure. That’s still the case.
But in addition to that, they are looking to know what do you stand for? What are your values? What are important to you? Video continues to just boop, boop, boop, boop.
Boot like it’s just the algorithm loves it, the couples love it. It’s how they take in their information as well. So it’s been interesting to see wedding pros who not only.
We’re not just talking about content creators at the event for the wedding, we’re seeing content creators being hired for the wedding pros to show like how everything gets put together, so on and so forth.
If I may touch upon wedding PR for a second and say the media, because we actually are talking about that later today with the team is I am always like, the media is constantly changing. I mean, that’s true, right? Like, I could say that every year on repeat because that soundblade you can just keep playing over and over.
But here’s the thing is I’ve never seen so many shifts within staffs of corporate in the last year. So, you know, for those listening, Brides had two series of layoffs in 2025. It was in Q1 in January, late January, early February.
Happened right before the end of the year. They’re down, you know, brides is down to a skeleton staff and kind of figuring out what’s next when it comes to that.
The knot went through a heavy amount of layoffs from, from what it looks like at near the end of the year, they lost a real weddings editor, their editorial team. A lot of the writers I worked with, Bridal Guide went through brand new, you know, Danny, brand new publisher, relatively new team. That’s a lot.
That’s a lot. Those are kind of big. And Martha Stewart still has not published a wedding since August 19, 2024.
So they’re out of the game for real wedding submissions right now. I mean, they’re still doing articles, but they’re, they’re definitely out of the game for, for wedding submissions. So that’s a lot.
I mean, those are the, the ones. I mean, don’t get me wrong, there’s still Vogue and all these other places.
But I think that seeing all those adjustments, as well as the kind of more public infiltration of pay to play, which we’re seeing as well, you know, people paying for a spot in British Vogue magazine. Actually, your, your issue. No, I’m just kidding. You go to the page, it’s like a million wedding photos and it says Vogue Advertising.
Like they do everything right to make sure they’re following and being very clear on this. But then what happens is, you know, wedding pros are putting it out there, and I’m not bemoaning them for paying for something, but they’re.
They’re giving the impression they earned it editorially. So there’s a lot like not just the industry, but my little, my little world is, is facing a lot of interesting challenges right now.
Becca
00:14:23.730 – 00:14:42.910
It definitely is seeing a shift. And with all of that considered.
So thinking about the rise of video, the social media, the way that the couples are behaving, do you think press and traditional PR does actually still have a place in our industry? And what does that look like? Where should people focusing their time and effort in that area?
Meghan
00:14:43.310 – 00:16:25.470
Sure. No, that’s a great question. So press absolutely matters, but it matters differently than it has in years past.
So again, not to over quote, I think Splendid insights is amazing. And like they just rolled out their 2026. It’s kind of like consumer reports for the wedding industry and I love it.
But what we saw was actually an uptick in the number of, of couples who sing this year. Yeah, press matters. 2 degree. It’s almost 30% of couples say that’s something we’re looking at.
So when it comes to press, I really encourage people to, to, you know, take a look at it and determine on their own what makes the most sense for what’s going to work best for them. So there’s a few things like how visibility is going to work for them. One, when it comes to press, it’s going to be the backlinks.
Like I’m sure I know SEO, it can serve you very well giving you those beautiful backlinks. Right. When you get quoted in the New York Times, when you get quoted in Bridesmar, whatever, you get those great backlinks.
And that’s part of an SEO campaign to move you up on Google, which is still one of the top ways couples find their, their 180 team relationships. Relationships are still a huge referral base for wedding pros.
I work with a lot of photographers who do press because they know that their planners and their venues love it. So it’s just kind of, you know, investing in those relationships as well. But it’s also the social proof. It’s what I said about the 30%.
You know, the couples who absolutely, you know, they’re looking to social proof, they know that what that you do a great job. They need to know everybody else thinks you’re great and they need to see that in one of the ways.
There’s others, there’s testimonials and so and so forth, but press is part of it as well. So those are kind of big ones.
Now when you look at statistically like couples are finding people through SEO and referrals, publications are still up there. So that’s something to think about too. Whether it’s editorial advertorial. So yeah, press still matters.
It just matters in a different way than Maybe it did 10 years ago.
Becca
00:16:25.630 – 00:16:44.310
And what’s interesting, kind of my brain’s ticking as you’re talking with the rise of AI, One thing I’ve been talking about is how, you know, in the, in the digital world of AI, they’re saying that brand mentions are as important as backlinks. So if you want to show up in the search, is being your brand being mentioned by publications and by those.
Meghan
00:16:44.310 – 00:16:44.750
Yeah.
Becca
00:16:44.830 – 00:16:46.430
Helps your authority in the search.
Meghan
00:16:46.590 – 00:17:03.580
100%. Thank you for adding that geo, which I’m just still continuing to learn, but we had a great. We sat down with Sarah Dunn and talked about it recently.
Geo, definitely how couples find you on ChatGPT. I’m always monitoring. So far so good. I’m good on ChatGPT. But those articles help. You’re right. Absolutely. So thank you you for that.
Becca
00:17:03.740 – 00:17:22.620
And when it comes to your kind of media PR approach as a wedding business owner, do you think we need to look at a more holistic package now rather than just the press? So should we be asking questions or looking to get social media mentions from the press?
Should we be looking at things like podcasting, for example, as a growing market?
Meghan
00:17:23.020 – 00:18:44.820
I’m huge on diversification. I’ve always been, that’s always been my thing.
I mean that’s how I run my business is that I always looking at ways to diversify without diluting and so on and so forth as well. So yes, 100%, I’m a big fan of making sure that first of all, you diversify.
If you’re doing submissions, you diversify within that you’re focused a little bit on national, a little bit on niche, a little bit on local, like whatever makes the most sense for you. Right. So that’s part of it.
But in addition to that, because winning submissions are such a long game and or not always a great fit for everybody, you’re looking at being quoted. But as you say podcasts, I mean there’s well over 100 different industry type podcasts also in and award winning ones right in front of us.
And you know, that’s a great way to be able to showcase your personality. It’s a little bit of a. The lift, you know, it’s. You always want to be prepped and ready to go and I’m sure you can share that with people.
But really the lift is not so much that you can’t integrate that into a busy schedule as well. So yes, big part of that.
Now I will say when it comes to social media, like is it part of a bigger look at promotion, how you’re showing up on social, SEO, geo. Yes.
In our world, when we’re looking at publications to decide well, who’s the best fit so and so forth, all this stuff you, you are mindful of, like, are you going to be tagged by their social. Will they put you on social? So yeah, that, that absolutely is. But diversification continues to be the, the name of the game for sure.
Becca
00:18:45.060 – 00:19:17.120
Yeah.
And even when it comes to things like podcasts, there’s a huge selection and you thinking about what’s the right fit in the same way as you are with any traditional press. Like, is it, am I trying to go after a couple market, Is this a business to consumer podcast or am I going after the other business owners?
Business to business, There’s a whole lot of stuff we could talk about there. Yes. I think it’s interesting to see press and PR as a more holistic picture rather than just going styled shoots in magazines.
Do you think styled shoots are kind of slowly becoming a thing of the past? Because I’m definitely noticing less people doing it.
Meghan
00:19:17.520 – 00:20:54.950
I knew that when you said style shoots, I was like, I knew that’s coming. Here’s the thing.
I wish my colleague Megan, the other Megan in my life, Megan Acosta, who’s on my team, I wish she was with me because we both have different but passionate views about styled shoots. I’m going to try and do us both well. Here’s the thing, styled shoots can work under certain circumstances, but you got to change your goals.
I personally have never been a massive fan of. I’ve never been a big fan of them.
In the early years of your 2009, 2010, they would get picked up, but over time, the wedding publications primarily will lean into weddings and prefer weddings over style shoots. Now, there are, there are exceptions to the rule. There are publications that still do really beautiful editorial shoots.
Like, I don’t necessarily mean those, but when someone’s like, hey, let’s all get together and do it. If you are doing styled shoots, they’re still around, but they’re less so. And I’m fine with that.
And you just have to make sure that the goals are not completely focused on editorial. Instead it could be focused on, you know, maybe that’s third place compared to like, well, I’m trying to build these relationships.
This is a new venue. I really want to do something new and exciting and different. So I’m going to go ahead and jump in here and do this and show people I can.
This is something I can do. So if you do it for content, if you do it for relationship building, fine.
Just, I would say please, please, please make sure that there’s no one person.
Like, I mean, I feel like the florists get hit so hard, Becca, with these, because, like, it’s a lot of product for them, but you just have to make sure you’re fair with how people are, what they’re putting into it. But also be mindful that press is less likely than it used to be, which is fine by me. I’d rather see the weddings. I’d rather see actual events.
As a former event pro, and I.
Becca
00:20:54.950 – 00:21:15.780
Think that has definitely been a shift. I’m definitely seeing it here in the uk. Less people are doing style sheets. And you’re right, the goal needs to change.
And I am still seeing some people in the old model where they’re like, they’re desperate to get it in a certain magazine and therefore they’re not showing any of the content anywhere. And I understand that, but actually, so often they don’t then get that. And I’m like, you’re wasting it.
Like, just get it out there, let everyone see it.
Meghan
00:21:16.180 – 00:22:35.410
I would say one of the biggest misnomers, though, one of the biggest misnomers is that you don’t have to, like, when it comes to features, like, you can’t share it anywhere. And that’s rare.
Like, for the most part, with the rare exceptions of, like, New York Times, Vogue, you know, like, very rare exception, used to be brides, like anything and of course, anything celebrity, like People magazine, you can’t share.
But otherwise, as long as we like to use the word judicious here at ofd, if you are selective, judicious, if you want to share and then, then you can share. You just can’t overdo it and put like 20 images in a carousel. But the other thing too is you do have to wait.
Like, we talk about setting the filters for these publications, right, and say, well, what are they doing for social? The other is there. Are they a long wait or not? Because we’re doing our state of the wedding media later today and we have. Spoiler alert.
We’ve got some slides dedicated to acknowledging, like, these are quicker turnaround places, these are longer turnaround places. I think that’s important that people know that.
You know, we had this one publication that I won’t name, but it was a Very, it’s a very sought after, like people really are gunning for it. Not one we’ve talked about yet, but it’s a really well known one and we got accepted. It was 18 months, 18 months until that wedding was featured.
Which is like a wild amount of time for me when you really want to showcase those images. So you have to make determinations for yourself what’s worth it and what’s not.
Becca
00:22:35.410 – 00:22:36.890
You know, so helpful.
Meghan
00:22:36.970 – 00:22:37.450
Yeah.
Becca
00:22:37.850 – 00:22:51.290
You work with a lot of wedding pros. I work with a lot of wedding pros. So I want to know what you’re seeing out there. What are the most successful pros focusing on right now?
So people, you know, that are doing well in the industry, what’s their focus on?
Meghan
00:22:51.930 – 00:23:58.840
So there’s a few things. First of all, they are focused on what I like to call purposeful visibility.
Like they’re focused on being visible in the right rooms, the right places and really running their why test on why they’re doing the things they do. They don’t just go to galas because they’re fun. They go because there’s connections to be had there.
They don’t just serve on industry boards because like of course you do it, you know, to be of service. But there’s, there’s a reasoning behind that as well. They are, they’re going for publications that make sense for of course, you know, the people.
They’re trying to attract their ideal client and so and so forth as well. So they’re running a Y test on their visibility and they’re choosing accordingly. Those are what successful people doing.
And if I may say more in a general since wedding pros, the success, successful ones are still pouring into people. That, that’s never going to change. Everything has changed every year since I’ve been in business.
But what doesn’t change is people and putting time into them, you know, taking care of each other and with, with a purpose as well. But, but just being mindful others and pouring into them, that is, that’s going to lead to success. And it’s, it’s a do good thing too.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t mean this to sound like a strategic, but the people who really value relationships are the ones who’ll do well.
Becca
00:23:59.390 – 00:24:16.430
Yeah, 100%. And I love that phrase, purposeful visibility. I think people need to hang on to that because people can be visible for the sake of being visible.
But actually you’re so right at doing something with purpose, knowing the reason behind doing it, why you’re going and doing those Things is always going to be more impactful for your business.
Meghan
00:24:16.430 – 00:24:17.150
Thousand percent.
Becca
00:24:17.230 – 00:24:22.830
Stop you being a busy fool. Because we can all just go to every trip or every event happening and burn out.
Meghan
00:24:23.150 – 00:24:41.590
Yeah, you can burn out. It leads. That’s what I say is when you’re. When you don’t have alignment with your visibility. Right? When you don’t have alignment, it’s burnout.
What you experience, not breakthrough. You don’t get some sort of breakthrough. You’re burnt out by the end of it. And I just.
As someone who’s come dangerously close a few times because I was a yes person so many times, I’ve learned not to. Not to do that.
Becca
00:24:41.910 – 00:25:00.130
Yeah, me too. There was someone years ago when I started a business that used to teach just go for all the coffees, go for all the coffees with no purpose.
And I used to then teach the opposite and be like, there should be a reason if I’m going for coffee with you. Like, unless we’re really good friends. Like, my time is precious and there needs to be a purpose to the coffee. We can’t just go for coffee.
Meghan
00:25:00.210 – 00:26:07.420
I’ve had to learn that. Well, let me tell. Let me give. Can I tell you what I do a lot of. And this is like, I. Believe me, if I could, I would with everybody, but I just.
It doesn’t work. And you and I both with families and so and so forth. Like, I. There’s just no way with my time and my travel.
And so if someone comes in there, even them really. Oh, even the really nice people who are like, I really just want to pick your brain.
I want to grab coffee when I usually say, hey, listen, like, truly, my time is not my own right now. I have to focus fully on prospect clients and current clients. Like, there’s just no in between with that. So, you know, I’m sorry, I can’t. Da, da, da.
If I can answer a couple email like, or like, you know, I just can’t. But I also, what I tell people too is one of the. I actually choose to. I’m a. I have.
I mentor two people at my alma mater and also through the National Society of Black Wedding and Event Professionals. I love that group. And so I devote my time to three people and that’s what my bandwidth allows this year. And that’s what I let people know.
It’s like it. It doesn’t mean you can’t, you know, meet with people and do good. It just means you have to build boundaries around it.
Otherwise you and I will be overly caffeinated. With everybody in town, you know.
Becca
00:26:07.740 – 00:26:36.350
Yeah. And that’s hard when you’re a yes person because sometimes you just want to say yes to everyone.
But I think there’s a lot of people in this industry that are yes people. And there’s a lot of people that need to understand that we need boundaries to move forward.
Now, talking about your precious time, you are spending some of your precious time over here with me in 2026. So you’re coming to Ireland. You’re coming to London.
I know you’ve been to both places before, but just tell the listeners what are you excited about in terms of the country? What are you excited about doing in.
Meghan
00:26:36.350 – 00:26:36.750
Oh, my gosh.
Becca
00:26:36.750 – 00:26:38.350
And what are you excited about doing in London?
Meghan
00:26:38.350 – 00:29:07.490
So this is my, like, ninth trip to Ireland. Like, I’ve been Ireland a bunch, so I’m very excited. I’m taking. I’ve got to my.
My two besties and speakers, Renee and Leah and are going a little over early. So we’re in Dublin. Y’ all know where we’re going. Y’ all know the two we’re. We’re going to. I’m taking them to the Book of Kells.
I’m taking him to the Guinness Storehouse, which, I mean, I know, but, like, that’s what everyone does. But I’m really looking forward to walking around with them so. And so forth personally over in Ireland. I’m really excited.
My family will join me later, and I’m excited to go down to the coast to Dingle and visit some friends. And also, Travis and I renewed our vows there many, many years ago. And then we partied all night at Dick Mac’s Pub in downtown Little Dingle. So.
And the owner of the pub, who’s. Who has since passed, but he was literally, like, he grew up there. He was born there, all the things.
His name is Oliver, and his name is what inspired Oliver’s name to remind us of that fun time. So to be able to bring my son back is crazy. Like, I’m so excited. So that’s a personal.
But I’m excited to bring the ladies around to some of the little hot spots, spots that we only have a few days there. So I’m excited that personally. And then, of course, I’m excited at the conference to revisit people I haven’t seen in a while.
I mean, I’ve done many conferences. Back in the day when there was wipa, I spoke there. So I’m excited to get reacquainted with some friends who haven’t seen in A long time.
And for both of them, I will say I’m excited because the talk for each of them will be a little bit different, and it will be based on some of the attendees. Like, we pull examples of people doing things really well. So I always love customizing that for these events and then having people’s reaction.
Like, someone’s like, oh, my God, that’s me on her slides. And so, London. Well, I’m excited to spend time with you, obviously, in both places. Leah. And I was gonna say Leah, Renee.
And I have not made fully plans for that week, but I’m excited. See what I’m gonna say. Becca, you’re just gonna roll your eyes because it’s just so touristy.
Like, if I tell you, you’re gonna be like, girl, you know, I’m a royals person, so, like, I might just slip back over to Kensington palace and hang out all day. I love talking to the staff, like, in the. In the museum area. Like, I have all these questions about, like, Queen Victoria’s mourning period.
Like, I just have all these questions. But I love walking over to Harrods. I just do. I love. Oh, Fornum and Mason, too. I’m sorry. That makes me so such a tourist. But I love.
Oliver only drinks Fortnum and Mason tea, and I can’t get it over here, so I have to go get his Christmas presents for the next three years.
Becca
00:29:07.490 – 00:29:13.010
So that’s so funny, because that sounds like such a bougie thing to say here. My child only drinks.
Meghan
00:29:13.710 – 00:29:33.390
No, no, no, guys. Like, he’s. Well, he is bougie. I mean, he literally has a towel warmer to warm up his pj. So, I mean, the kid loves comfort. He love.
He knows what he loves, so he primarily. Yeah, he loves Fortnum and Mason. So I’m gonna. I’m just gonna go back over, and I. I. My happy place is Fortnum and Mason.
I just love being there and taking it all in and staring at everything all day.
Becca
00:29:33.790 – 00:29:38.430
But we won’t judge you for being touristy, because we all know that when I come to the States, I do everything.
Meghan
00:29:38.750 – 00:29:45.280
Yeah, you do. I was gonna say, I know I’m hard on myself, but then I’m like, well, I am a tourist. Like, it’s the. Like, why am I.
Becca
00:29:45.280 – 00:30:08.920
Exactly. I come to Vegas. You guys are all working hard, and I’m like, I just went to the Giant cocktail shop. I just went to the Strip.
I went because, oh, my God, we’ve flown all that way. We got to enjoy the things that are there and be touristy. That’s okay.
And so if you’re listening to this and you’re from outside of the London area or outside of the island area, like, make the most of your time coming to the conference. Spend a couple of days, do something either side because there’s so much to do.
Meghan
00:30:08.920 – 00:30:11.120
Yeah, Come to tea with me. I’ll be there.
Becca
00:30:11.200 – 00:30:17.150
I’ll go for tea at Fortnum and Mason. So your talk at both Ireland and London.
Meghan
00:30:17.150 – 00:30:17.670
Yeah, yeah.
Becca
00:30:17.670 – 00:30:25.310
As I said in the introduction, is all about like, are you ready for the new way of doing weddings? What are people going to learn specifically from that session?
Meghan
00:30:25.550 – 00:31:29.410
Sure. I’m so excited about this. You know, it started as a 20 minute one that I did in the Middle East a couple of years ago and it really kind of landed.
And then I started expanding that and updating it every six months. And so, so what they’re going to see is some of the top like buyer behaviors of couples right now.
We’re going to see what it is about them, what are the shifts we’re seeing with them, how do we react to those things?
There’s going to be a bunch of homework things I want people thinking about, you know, embracing social proof and, and what we’re going to do is we’re going to, for each, each one, we’re going to weave in examples of wedding pros who are already doing it well, which I love because it’s one thing for me to stand up there and say, well, you need this, you need logos, you need. But to actually show people’s peers doing it and doing it well, I think is, is it really adds something to the talk as well.
So expect to get really shed some light on what we’re seeing with, like I said, buyer behaviors right now based on, and it’s global, you know, generationally what we’re seeing and you know how to, I don’t want to say the word pivot because that reminds me of COVID but you know, how to adjust accordingly to see long term success.
Becca
00:31:29.890 – 00:31:48.270
Amazing.
And I love it when people bring in real examples as well because I think we learn from seeing what someone else is doing rather than it just a, a concept that’s kind of airy in the sky.
And that’s why I love your trends talk that you do at wedding mva because you’re bringing in, you’re saying this is the trend and here’s some pictures of people who’ve actually, actually done it.
Meghan
00:31:48.270 – 00:32:04.430
Well, can I give you a little spoiler alert that you, you might keep your eyes open for, for, for wedding, NBA 2026, you know, looking at getting us back, getting the gang back together. So keep an eye out because you might see us back with new ideas. We’ll see.
Becca
00:32:04.830 – 00:32:21.970
Amazing. That’s definitely one of the highlights. Okay. Pushback. Only a tiny bit of pushback from people.
When I’ve been talking about my conference here in London, saying, Becca, it’s great you’re bringing in all your friends, they’re coming to speak from the us But I’m a florist in Wales. What’s this American publicist gonna teach me?
Meghan
00:32:21.970 – 00:33:29.230
Why? Yeah, that’s a good question. So here’s the thing.
And to the florists in Wales and everybody else as well, you know, the right speakers, when Becca brings them in and you have brought in the right speakers, are going to adjust accordingly. Like I’m an international speaker. I’ve spoken before in many, many places. When we bring content, it is not going to be primarily U.S. based.
You know what I mean? Like my content is going to work for, for this market.
And one thing I always like to remind people too is because of the World Wide web, because of the Internet and all those things, our generations are all connected a lot. There are a lot more similarities with our audiences than there were 10, 15 years ago. So.
So yes, I’ll be bringing some thoughts from America, but they will translate over well. But a lot of what I do, this stems from a global talk. So it’s always meant I gave this talk in different.
It’s been obviously changed quite a bit because so much has continued to evolve. But it was, it was actually exclusively an international talk at first. So yeah, the right people will bring the right content with them.
Becca
00:33:29.390 – 00:33:45.250
I 100% agree. And what’s interesting is I really think we are becoming more and more of a global industry. We are, we’re getting inspiration here in the uk.
We’re seeing rise of multicultural weddings. We’re seeing things from different cultures, different places. You know, the industry isn’t siloed just to the uk.
Meghan
00:33:45.810 – 00:33:56.930
No. You know, yeah, we can universally, we can universally dislike the pantone color of the year. That is not a US based dislike unhappiness.
Just so you know.
Becca
00:33:57.490 – 00:34:25.320
Exactly. Now one of the things I’ve done from this conference is been very intentional about the speakers that I bring in.
Because for me, going to a conference and having a boring speaker or a, to a speaker that’s not very good at speaking, you lose the whole room. And it, you know, it’s people’s precious time, they’re giving up a day of their time to come and learn.
We want to make sure that the best people are there to teach them. And I know you work with speakers all of the time. You help speaker training course. So in your opinion, what makes a great conference speaker?
Meghan
00:34:25.640 – 00:35:55.380
Oh, I mean this could be a whole other. Whole other thing. What makes a great conference speaker? Like, let me do the unsexy stuff real quick. Okay.
The behind the scenes, a great conference speaker will first of all be easy to work with. Becca, I’m sure I can get snaps from you on that one. Easy to work with.
Really take time to understand the audience going into it ahead of time and is responsive all the things like admin wise. But a great speaker on site, they’re not going to be someone who just turns it off as soon as they get off stage.
It’s so interesting to me when you have like Renee Dallow is never off. Let me be clear. Like Renee, never off. Like she’s stayed with me at my house never. And I love that about her.
Her energy is her energy and it’s infectious. And it’s someone who takes the energy from the stage and brings it out in life as well.
You know, there’s someone who they understand, they’re there to educate, but also connect one on one with people. And then when on stage, there’s someone who is engaging and you.
Because they understand the crowd to the best of their ability ahead of time, you know, yeah, they, they’re catching the attention and they just hopefully people listen to them and they grab a few nuggets. Maybe it’s not a million things, but enough nuggets that they feel satisfied. And also maybe a little bit of homework as well.
But I mean, I could literally talk about this forever, but those are a few things that stand out.
I think that there’s someone who can be easy to work with, but also understand that the audience they’re bringing, like they truly understand the people in the room so that they can present something that makes sense for them.
Becca
00:35:55.770 – 00:36:18.730
And I think a great conference is a great conference because it has great speakers.
We’ve all been in those conferences where, you know, some big name is announced as being the headline speaker, but then our speaker and then they share their story and it doesn’t resonate and then we find it hard. And I think it’s difficult for me as a marketer because I’m like, come to my conference. Here’s a great. There’s loads of great speakers.
But sometimes people don’t know what that means. So thank you.
Meghan
00:36:19.050 – 00:36:42.530
No, no, absolutely.
Well, you know, I think one of the biggest things you said, I teach a course on speaking and I have to remind people all the time, someone’s like, well, they, they consider to be there. Well, I’ve been doing this planning thing for 20 years or look at my portfolio. It’s like all of that is amazing. This is a different discipline.
This is a completely different discipline. Like you are learning a brand new thing. And so if we don’t humble ourselves to that fact, it’s not going to work out, you know.
Becca
00:36:42.850 – 00:37:01.100
Yeah, 100 agree. Yeah. Now you like me also go to a lot of industry events. You’re always up and down the US across the world going to industry events.
So you’ve seen it all. What do you think makes a good industry event and why do you think people should prioritize them as a business owner?
Meghan
00:37:01.180 – 00:38:53.320
Sure. One of the best things, it’s the people. I mean, you cannot replicate that.
You know, I just went to a brand new conference out in Arizona and it’s their first year and they did a great job.
But I, and I went to the one of the conference, I think I went to both conference directors, Megan and Ashley and I said to them at the end, I’m like, like you can’t. Whatever you did in this room is magical. Like these people, this exact group of people, this, this was, this was it, you did it.
And this is a very hard thing to replicate meaning outside of that. And so I think that having people come where there’s no ego, there’s no ego.
And they’re there to learn and be there to humble themselves, to meet more people. That kind of vibe, that kind of electricity, that kind of energy is, is something that is amazing. Like that’s a big part of it.
I love that the most is going to be the people I also love. You know, for me, I always lean towards the education too. I want great speakers who it’s not their first day on a stage for a conference.
Like, I just can’t, I just can’t. I can’t. They can start somewhere else and then move their way up. Why people should prioritize a few different things. One is FaceTime.
FaceTime with people is still huge. I mean, I go on the road, I’m at wedding and be, I’m at all these things. Having that FaceTime makes all the difference. It truly does.
Is, you know, top of mind, right? Makes you top of mind for referrals, but also just fills your cup. And it’s the inspiration that comes with it. But also it’s the education, yes.
There’s some great online stuff. And don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of your podcast, Becca, so I get a lot from your podcast.
But there’s no substitute to listening to someone live, being able to have lunch with them afterwards after, ask follow up questions, discuss among your peers. Like that is the best way to learn. So for me, I, yes, I do a lot of speaking, so I’m out on the road, but I also invest in going things.
Like I do go to things, you know, I practice what I preach.
Becca
00:38:53.320 – 00:39:39.360
Yeah. 100. Nothing beats being in a room with people. And it kind of brings us full circle to what we were saying earlier in terms of, you know, me and you.
We’re saying we don’t have time to go out for coffee and chat with everyone, but actually being in a room with people at an event when we’re there all day, that’s the perfect time for you to ask a quick question, get a little bit of insight, follow up on a conversation over a cup of tea rather than, you know, and so being in the room with the people at that time is a great opportunity. And the other thing is, it’s going back to that purposeful visibility. If you’re going to choose to come, be purposeful in it.
Why are you coming to that room? How are you going to showcase that on your social media? How are you going to make connections? Are there certain people in the room you want to meet?
Are there certain topics you want to learn more about? Like be purposeful. If you’re gonna come, don’t just think, oh, that looks fun, I’ll go there. You need to know why you’re giving.
Meghan
00:39:39.360 – 00:39:51.880
Up that, why you’re doing that.
I mean, as you and I know, we have to balance home, work, life, the life that my cats deserve, you know, and I, if I’m gonna leave, I have to do it and have a reason behind it, you know, and justify that.
Becca
00:39:51.880 – 00:39:56.720
Yeah. 100. Well, I’m excited to have you in March in both island and London.
Meghan
00:39:56.720 – 00:40:04.830
I know we’re gonna have so much. I can’t believe we’re all gonna be, this is so dorky. But we’re all gonna be on a plane together from, from Dublin to London.
And I think that’s so adorable.
Becca
00:40:05.070 – 00:40:30.830
It’s a road trip. We’re road tripping around the uk. It’s gonna be, it’s gonna be a lot of fun.
I mean, I don’t know what possessed me to think starting a conference was a good idea, but the closer I get, the more excited I am about it because it’s all coming together, and I know it’s gonna be a great event. Now, Megan, I always end my podcast with the same question. Yes. Which is, what’s one thing you wish you’d known sooner in your own business?
Now, before I ask you this, I also looked back to see what you said last time.
Meghan
00:40:30.830 – 00:40:34.190
Oh, shoot. Oh, my God. I don’t remember what I said last time.
Becca
00:40:34.190 – 00:40:35.350
Of course you don’t. But I will.
Meghan
00:40:35.350 – 00:40:36.190
You tell me after.
Becca
00:40:36.430 – 00:40:51.070
I will. I find it very interesting because I think our minds change. We evolve. What we’re thinking about at a certain time changes.
So I’m interested to know whether your answer’s the same or different to last time. I’ll tell you afterwards what it is. Okay. One thing you wish you’d know sooner.
Meghan
00:40:51.870 – 00:41:55.080
That the world will not crumble if you say no to something. Like I used to. Used to. I was a yes lady for everything. And, you know, I learned. I started. It started with my mature. Not maternity leave.
I barely have maternity leave. Shout out to America for that one. But anyways, I had. But I did have to limit the number of clients I came in. So to be able to say.
And I realized they waited. They were okay with waiting. And.
And then sometimes I say no to a volunteer board position because I’m doing a lot on boards already and nothing’s ever crumbled because of that. And I wish I could have assured myself that that’s okay.
It’s okay to build, you know, a few more boundaries and not go to everything because you’re not going to see. Like, it’s not like I say no to everything. I purposely say no to some things or maybe later, and it’s okay.
And I wish I would have given myself permission. It took years. And it took Michelle, Loretta, who love her bch consulting with the numbers to say, you don’t have to say yes to that. That doesn’t.
That’s not making. That’s not a profitable choice. Okay, what did I say last time?
Becca
00:41:55.400 – 00:42:00.840
Last. It’s not that far off, actually. Lastly, to stop being so hard on yourself.
Meghan
00:42:01.320 – 00:42:20.970
Oh, well, yeah, that’s. I. Whoo. That has not improved. I’ll be honest. Like, but the thing is, I’m a perfectionist. Like, I’m very.
I go on stage and I know it when I do a good job. But in my head, I’m like, oh, you could have done that. You could have done it. But no, I, I. Yes, Yes, I am hard on myself.
That’s a good I should probably bring that to a thing.
Becca
00:42:22.720 – 00:42:25.200
Well, now’s not the time that I am not the therapist.
Meghan
00:42:25.200 – 00:42:27.840
No, no. But I think that’s so interesting.
Becca
00:42:28.240 – 00:42:40.560
Yeah, it is interesting. And I think it’s actually. It kind of all comes together, though, because not being so hard on yourself is also part of learning to say no.
Because as people pleasers, when we say no, then we give ourselves a hard time about it because then we feel bad.
Meghan
00:42:40.880 – 00:43:13.630
Absolutely. You know, if I can make a guess, here is. I think I’ve gotten to truly a place in my life. Not again, not to turn you into a therapist, but.
But I’ve gotten to a place in my life where I understand that me being hard on myself, like, there’s ways to leverage that in a healthy way. You know what I mean, what I’m looking for and what I hope. But I also don’t hold others to that. You know what I mean? So I think I’ve truly.
Yes, I’m hard on myself, But I think three, four years into the future now, where we are today, 2026, I think I’ve learned to make peace with it and use it for kind of like the power of good. So that’s aw. 2022 Megan.
Becca
00:43:14.430 – 00:43:18.030
Exactly. Well, maybe 2030 Megan will be back on the podcast.
Meghan
00:43:18.030 – 00:43:18.830
Oh, my God.
Becca
00:43:18.830 – 00:43:21.180
Flexing back in some kind of. Of crazy.
Meghan
00:43:22.300 – 00:43:28.780
The rest of this will be gray. I’ll go from gray to gray hair. I can’t imagine what will my hair look like? And we’ll revisit it. We’ll revisit.
Becca
00:43:29.500 – 00:43:38.460
Meghan, it’s been such a pleasure. Thank you so much for your time. And I cannot wait to hear what you’ve got to say in both Ireland and London, especially now.
I know they’re not going to be the same.
Meghan
00:43:38.620 – 00:43:39.660
Yeah, I’m excited.
Becca
00:43:41.180 – 00:43:58.200
Such a great conversation with Megan. Always love to chat with her. She has so much to say. She’s such a.
A guiding fountain of knowledge when it comes to all things press and PR and the state of the industry. If you haven’t yet got your tickets for London or Ireland, you can get them now at wedproslive. Com and I cannot wait to see you there.
I’ll see you next time.
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