Last year, I got to join hundreds of others at the Wedding MBA — my very first in-person summit after two years of virtual events.

When I was there, one of the things that surprised me the most was how much I enjoyed meeting, hugging, and talking to so many people face-to-face! Working from home the past couple of years showed me that I actually love this new life of being only half-dressed every day, not needing to commute to attend meetings, and meeting others by sending a quick DM. But I forgot how energizing it is to talk, in-person, with other industry pros that I admire.

Don’t get me wrong — I appreciate the convenience virtual reality and technology have added to my life as an entrepreneur. It turns out, though, I really miss making those connections in person, too!

So for today’s blog, I wanted to talk about the power of community, why community is important for growing your business, and also plans I have to create my very own wedding pro summit!

The reality of being an entrepreneur

If you’re new to this blog, there’s one thing you should know about me: I’m all about keeping it real. I talk a lot about the amazing benefits of being a creative entrepreneur on this platform. But on the flip side, I also talk about the struggle that comes with balancing the roles of an entrepreneur, a creative, a boss, and a parent.

With that being said, I have to be honest: as great as it is to be an entrepreneur and have that power to create a life you love, it can also be a lonely lifestyle.

We are constantly filling other people’s cups — our staff’s, our clients’, our vendor partners’, our spouse’s or loved ones’ our childrens’, and/or our friends’. When it’s our turn to have our cups full, though, where do we turn?Friends don’t always understand what we do. Our spouses can be our rock but don’t always get it either. And we certainly can’t share the stress of keeping it together with our staff.

This is why I’ve committed myself this year to not only attending more in-person events but also hosting my own called the Wedding Pro CEO Summit!

This is a dream I’ve had for years, but there was always something on the to-do list that took precedent over planning my own in-person entrepreneur summit. However, when one of my friends asked if I would ever consider hosting a summit of my own, it gave me the push to start planning.

The power of community (and what I hope to bring with the Wedding Pro CEO Summit)

The Wedding Pro CEO Summit will be unlike anything else in our industry. I realize this is quite a bold statement since there are so many amazing wedding summits that already exist, but what I wanted to do was combine some of the best things we’ve come to love about online summits with some of the things we’ve missed about in-person learning.

Another thing you should know about me if you’re new here is that I’m an advocate for the practical application of knowledge. That’s why I’m going to be focusing on more than community building. We’re going to be taking a deep dive into the best practices, how to apply these practices to your niche, and offer a hands-on learning experience from some of the best in the wedding industry.

I wholeheartedly believe that the wedding professionals who have been in the industry for a while need to share the knowledge we’ve learned throughout our years to properly prepare the next generation of wedding professionals.

It’s too common for industry leaders to hide their secrets and to feel protective of their processes in fear of being outcompeted. The reality is, there is no event planning school, wedding bustling college, or flower arrangement semester class you can take in school. Plus, I firmly believe there are enough consumers out there for every single one of us.

This is why I’m so excited to host the Wedding Pro CEO Summit: to build that sense of community, rapport, and support within our otherwise cutthroat industry.

About the Wedding Pro CEO Summit

Doors are officially OPEN to the Wedding Pro CEO Summit, but there are only 100 spots! Be sure to claim your spot for our inaugural year by clicking here. We already have so many amazing guest speakers signed, and I know that you’ll gain so much value from attending! Not to mention, it’s at the gorgeous Lake Nona Wave Hotel, so you can enjoy a weekend of relaxation right after learning from the best in the game.

Here is what you can expect when attending the Wedding Pro CEO Summit!

1. An intimate group

This is going to be a relatively intimate summit, so you’ll be learning alongside like-minded business owners who are truly ready to break the status quo of the wedding industry and kick burnout to the curb.

2. Inspiration to build a sustainable life

During the summit, you’ll not only learn applicable practices that will enhance your skills but you’ll also learn how to build a healthy business from the inside out. My goal is to help you love your business and your life. After all, no one has ever said, “I can’t wait to start a business so I can work 24/7!”

3. A safe space to be yourself

This summit is going to have a casual atmosphere — no style guide is needed for this event! — that will promote real learning and real community. (I don’t say this to throw any shade. I’m just a jeans, t-shirt, and funky earrings kinda gal.) I want you to feel like you can show up and be authentically you.

4. A solid return on your investment

I’m gathering some of the best wedding educators in our industry to teach at the summit. These are the educators who I know deeply care about prepping the next generation of wedding professionals, who see the value in transparent teaching, and who focus on entrepreneur mental health.

Plus, these professionals aren’t here to give you a teaser into how you can progress in your business and then sell you their big course. No — they will be taking you through actionable steps so you walk away knowing exactly what to do next to move the needle forward in your business.

5. Fun!

The best part of being an entrepreneur, in my opinion, is being able to mix work with play! The summit is being held in Lake Nona, which isn’t just a town but also a destination vacation and a feast for your senses! We’ll have a mix of group events and time for you to split off into smaller groups to network and enjoy what this area has to offer.

Final thoughts about community and business

If you haven’t had a chance to attend an in-person summit yet, I hope this post gets you excited to get back to building your community! And if you have attended an in-person summit, I hope this encourages you to keep attending in-person events and summits!

Ready to join us this year at the gorgeous Lake Nona with other like-minded wedding professionals? Grab your ticket to the Wedding Pro CEO Summit before spots fill up by clicking here!