Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Trina Burkhalter. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Trina, thanks for joining us today. Alright, so we’d love to hear about how you got your first client or customer. What’s the story?

WOW!!! That was so long ago back when I lived in Chicago. Let me see…. It was a cold winter month and well you know if you live in Chicago. But really, my first real paying client came by way of word of mouth. I had just fell into my business… Yes fell. I was laid off from my job and had already been planning small gatherings for church and family members, it brought me so much joy! I remembered I just wanted to take a break for a little while being laid off. I started doing some research about wedding and event planning and thought I could make a go of it, so I took a few classes and got (2) certifications to start me off. I next created the ugliest website ever, but it helped until I got better in that area. With little training and nothing major under my belt, I got my first call from a lead sources website I was connected with at the time.

Can I tell you I was nervous and did not know what to say … honestly thinking back, I did not know how I was going to get anything done for this client. The client asked for Day Of Planning, which was really simple for sure, but the hardest part was running the rehearsal….. that is a story all in itself. To pick things up, I started watching every wedding show, movies, and youtubes I could get my eyes on. I had more than a few months to practice what I needed to do before be in charge of the entire event to ensure I knew what I was doing. And to add to the pot, I did not like driving long distances… and did I say it was a cold winter month, that part.

I know you are like waiting to see what happen. Well, I planned the meetings, study my lingo and learned all details that I needed for the client, after all, this was my first paying client. I was beyond excited to be able to have my first signed contract and trusted client. I can’t remember every detail, but I do remember one of their toasting glasses had broken, oh boy… No need to worry, I had an extra set in my emergency buckets. I SAVE THE DAY!!! This was the highlight of my evening and the toast was successful.

From there I can only say that it got better and better each time I had the opportunity to plan a wedding. Most of my clients from that point on was word of mouth. I would have at least 3 clients before my events were over. As my confidence grew at that time, I was encouraged and eager to learn as much as I could to be 5 steps ahead. My first client was amazing, and the event challenged me for sure. My first payment for Day Of Planning was $750.00 at the time, a lot has changed since then.

Trina, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi I’m Trina Burkhalter, a certified wedding and event planner. I have been planning weddings helping clients and bringing their Vision to life by executing their details, making friendships lasting friendships and partnering with other vendors for 20 plus years.
My journey started in Chicago while helping plan events at church here and there. I would spend time together with one of my mom’s friends because this was something that she did and it became of interest to me. Originally, I wanted to be a model and live in New York, but I became a party and wedding planner instead. Thank God for His plans!
So where can I start… well I shared a little bit with my experience of getting started earlier and one of my other passages and it kind of fell into my lap. After being laid off, I decided to explore this opportunity further as I was already vested in the job. I investigated some certification classes and took two of them immediately, passed my classes and became certified in less than 6 months. I built the ugliest website in the entire world, but I kept chugging along to get this business going. I had no business experience or plan, I didn’t talk to anybody, I just stepped out on faith believing that I could do this.
I remained undeterred and unaware of my potential failures. I can remember my earlier days and getting clients, some clients I would not take because I did not take because I was scared to to drive far distances and so I would say that I was. Initially, the journey was challenging. However, upon gaining confidence, progress was made. that you must have in being a wedding an event planner it all just was so seamless and my love and my passion group overnight, my confidence kicked in… I was on my way!
So after getting through those hurdles, those beginning stages, it is as if God poured knowledge into me. I often say that I attended the University of Jesus Christ and that is because I came into the business with no help, no knowledge, or under no one is wings to help me aside from seeing what my mom’s friend did. That brings me to a story, I remember reaching out to a wedding planner, I will not reveal that person’s name because we are now acquaintances. I reached out and asked her if I could shadow her. Now by this time I have got some experience under my belt, and I have been in business for about 2 years with steady clients, but not doing as well as she was, and I thought she could give me some pointers. The long of the short is that she said NO! and was not willing to help me. Boy, I was disappointed. This made me more eager to learn because I was just so confused as to why another wedding planner would not want to help another wedding planner get to the next step. I would soon find out that this industry is just not willing to help one another. So, I just began doing all my own research. I learned as much as I could, the best I could. I learned how to do my websites better and better. My knowledge increased, my clients increased, my trust increased with clients and word of mouth was getting out about the wedding planner with the short gray hair who executed and orchestrated events with such passion and excellence, who often wore a baseball cap to client meetings.

I learned to drive far distances so that I could take on those clients that were more than 30 minutes away. I love weddings, I eat sleep drinks, daydream, think about weddings and events all day, every day. It is just such a desire that I have to ensure that clients are seriously a guest at their own event, I want them to just show up! They do not have to know what is next because I’m going to direct them, they don’t have to know what that surprise game prize will be because I want them to be surprised as well.

I just have the greatest love for my clients, the greatest love for their vision. It is my heart’s desire to serve in the capacity that would be pleasing to the Lord who is allowing me to be in this position. I want potential clients’, followers, and fans to know that I can be trusted with their day, with their moments, with their memories with their heart’s desire for the event they are planning. You can count on what you are visioning so that we can make it realistic for you and your budget not to break the bank. My brand is to serve in excellence.

Any advice for managing a team?

Well that’s a great question.

I would have to say this old but very great saying… “treat others the way you want to be treated”. I know that’s old school or over used, but that’s the honest to God truth. You want to treat someone the way you would want to be treated, and hopefully that is in a respectfully manner.

I want to treat my team with the utmost respect, as I intend to be treated as a person and more importantly as the business owner that I am. I can’t completely be friends with the team while planning because it’s business and I want to remain respectful in that manner I truly embrace the client and their event, and I want that line between myself and the team to stay visible and true to what is needed, sharing little small successes while maintaining the balance of the relationship.

I believe that if your are not vested, it will clearly show in your work and your personality and in your presentation. I try to make sure that our team know that their opinions matter in the vision. It doesn’t matter if we have a client that’s $5,000 or a client that’s $500, we want to treat that client and their event with the utmost respect and with the same level of respect no matter what spectrum they are on the map.

So the long of the short pf managing an effective team involves clear communication, delegation, fostering collaboration, providing regular feedback, and setting clear expectations. It also requires understanding individual team member’s strengths and motivations, and creating a positive and supportive space to speak freely.

And last,,, not Mirco-managing….is never good. I allow those working with me to take ownership of the project they are tasked with and help to make them feel free to make decisions, giving them a sense of responsibility and accountability.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I think what has helped me build my reputation in the market first and foremost I have to give all glory to God. I can’t say anything without acknowledging that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior and honestly this business… my business, Weddings And Events By Trina belongs to the lord.

When I started this business earlier in Chicago it was completely different. I did not acknowledge God in anything that I was doing, and yet while the clientele was building quickly ( by word of mouth) and things did start to immediately flourish there was someone missing, a true friend and partner.

Currently living in Arizona being married to my wonderful husband, James L. Burkhalter, Jr. of Makarios JB Photography, and having the opportunity to relaunch the business after coming here to retire and be a regular person has been a tremendous plus for me to rebuild my reputation within the market, and a NEW market at that.

In a nutshell, keeping God first and acknowledging Him in all things by consistently focusing on the key areas, as a planner, and one of God’s children, I want to give honor where honor is due in order to cultivate a reputation for expertise, reliability, and positive customer experiences.

Paying attention to detail for precision and efficiency with my client events. Going above and beyond to deliver more value than expected. Building trust and reliability to keep our word and show up before time.
Keeping your word to follow through on commitments and timelines in the crucial planning stages. Admitting to mistakes and addressing issues promptly and professionally. These are just a few things that have help to build my reputation in the market. And last… plenty of reviews and word of mouth is still a good source for me in my building as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.weddingsandeventsbytrina.com
• Instagram: weddingsandeventsbytrina
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeddingsEventsByTrina
• Youtube: @WeddingsAndEventsByTrinaLLC
• Other: Wedding Wire | https://www.weddingwire.com/biz/weddings-events-by-trina-goodyear/cb34d00c81362b32.html

  @trina.wedevents

Image Credits

Markarios JB Photography ( James L. Burkhalter, Jr.