We were lucky to catch up with Jennifer Murphy recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jennifer, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you as a business owner?

From my previous traditional work experience, I now realize how much I learned from working in the 9-5 sector before entering entrepreneurship. Today I understand the importance of showing up consistently for myself. But when I made the transition to full-time business, I thought “I have all the time in the world to do x,y, and z.” Ha! I was clueless!

I soon realized I will never become successful if I cannot show up every day even when I do not feel it, want to hang out with friends, sleep in, or any other distraction I could come up with! I must say the hardest part of working as the HBIC is understanding (and now appreciating) how much I needed the corporate structure. It held me accountable and kept me consistent. No matter how much talent you have, showing up for yourself consistently is the difference between success and failure. It is that important.

As a great man once said, “distractions will do you in.” ~Drake

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am Jen, the owner of Weddings Made To Order. A full-service wedding planning company for couples, like you, who want a wedding that will impress for decades. Beautiful weddings don’t just happen, they are planned.

I got into the business by planning events for friends and family, then I decided I wanted a change in my career. So wedding planning it is! Although wedding planning is my specialty, we do plan other events – political events, launch parties, birthdays, baby showers, engagement parties, brunch parties, and anything you can think of (except funerals, ha! but really tho!).

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The thing I had to “unlearn” was how to dress. This was probably the least suspecting and the biggest surprise. I really struggled with this because I was so infused into corporate America that for a while I felt wrong for showing up to my own place of business in anything other than slacks and heels. Ughhhh, I am so glad I finally found myself on the other side of business. That undoing showed me how much I was essentially sucked into the “traditional” way of life of “normalcy.” As I transitioned out of my heels (at least my corporate heels) and slipped into my Nike Air Max’s or ripped jeans or leggings and sweatshirts (these are for all non-wedding days – just a day in the office), I had such a hard time with who I now was since I was on my own. Is this okay, can I wear those? Should I color my hair like that? Will people judge me? Will I lose business for showing up the way that makes me happy? Eventually, I said *$#!% it and embraced what felt right to me. I changed my entire style, this new me was hidden inside me the entire time but the corporate norms were so loud I could not hear her, until now. Even as I am writing this I am in my Fashion Nova Matching Sweatsuit and Nike slides, just another day at the office!

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Just serving people is my secret sauce. Shhhh, don’t tell anyone! :)

I believe serving people has been what sets me apart from my competitors. Don’t get me wrong there are so many other things I do to get clients and there are so many other planners out there who are amazing too. But what I have found is there is a lost art in seeing people, people feeling/being heard, feeling advocated for, and just supported. Most people are nice but the question is how do you serve them? It does not have to be complicated it is as simple as giving credit when credit is due, for instance, when you see someone else doing a great job – tell them! When your potential client and current clients need a little extra help or just a little motivation – speak life into them or go the extra mile. Don’t worry it is a full-circle process, what you put out is what you get back in return.

Just ask yourself how would I want someone to show for me, or my mother, or my child if “x” happened. That will help you better understand how to serve the people around you. I have closed some of my best business deals because I showed up, went the extra mile, and did not complain. Or I saw how one of the vendors (who did not know I was a wedding planner) take such good care of me and everyone else around us that I sent them an email the next week to tell them how great they were. They were so pleased with my email that they want to now send their clients my way. This is the free low-hanging fruit that keeps people coming and happy to pay for my services! It is a win-win for everyone and you just feel good at the end of the day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://weddingsmto.com/
• Instagram: @weddings_made_to_order

Image Credits
Summer Brooke Photography