Today I am welcoming back the head of strategy for Guides for Brides - Nikita Thorne. This time we are not talking about wedding directories - instead we are talking about her recent experience of planning her own wedding, and how it's changed the way she thinks about wedding business marketing.Find out more about Guides for BridesWant to meet other likeminded wedding pro's so that you can share ideas, network and help each other out? Then why not go ahead and join my free Wedding Pro community over on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/weddingprosreadytogrow/Find out more about how I can help you grow your wedding business over on my website or Instagram page:www.beccapountney.comwww.instagram.com/beccapountneyTime stamps:Instagram vs TikTok (00:00:00)Comparison of social media platforms and potential content strategies.Chat with Nikita (00:01:02)Discussion with Nikita Thorne about wedding planning experiences and changes in views.Budget and Surprises (00:02:34)Reflection on wedding expenses and unexpected investments.Upselling and Trends (00:04:30)Discussion on upselling and last-minute additions to wedding budgets.Initial Wedding Planning Steps (00:06:20)The first steps taken after getting engaged, including guest lists and venue inquiries.Venue Availability (00:09:45)Challenges and ease of obtaining venue availability information.Choosing a Venue (00:11:43)The importance of marketing and customer service in selecting a wedding venue.Narrowing Down Suppliers (00:13:56)Criteria for selecting trustworthy suppliers and the importance of online presence and responsiveness.Supplier Response Time (00:16:57)The impact of fast or slow supplier response times on decision-making.The excitement curve (00:17:43)The diminishing excitement after inquiry and the importance of fast responses.Pricing transparency (00:18:23)The impact of not having prices on listings or websites for wedding services.Importance of timing for reviews (00:23:34)The challenges of leaving reviews after the wedding and the impact of timing on getting reviews.TikTok as a marketing platform (00:28:41)The growing influence of TikTok in wedding planning and its potential impact on marketing strategies.Adapting to new social media trends (00:30:28)The need to adapt to new social media platforms like TikTok for marketing to younger generations.Couples Taking Longer to Inquire (00:35:56)Couples are taking longer to make decisions, impacting the wedding industry's advertising and booking patterns.Changing Trends in Engagement (00:38:23)Engagement and wedding planning trends are shifting, with more spread-out inquiries and a longer-term strategy needed.Utilizing Wedding Planning Platforms (00:41:07)Couples use wedding planning platforms in diverse ways, emphasizing the need for consistent and accessible information.Importance of Transparent Pricing (00:41:42)The significance of transparent pricing and the need to regularly review and synchronize pricing across all advertising platforms.