The Talks I Give: Wedding Industry Speaking Topics for Conferences and Associations

Event organisers usually ask me the same first question: "What do you talk about?" The short answer is the business of weddings, told straight. The longer answer is below.

These are the talks I give most often to wedding conferences, industry associations, venue groups, networking events and online summits. Each one can be shaped as a keynote, a workshop, a virtual session or a panel contribution. Think of this as a menu, not a script.

How I approach every talk

Before the topics, a word on style, because it matters more than the title on the program. My background is production. I spent around twenty years producing live events, including working as entertainment co-ordinator for Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras and creating The Burlesque Ball. I know what it's like to be the organiser watching the clock and the audience's faces.

So every session I deliver follows three rules:

1. Practical over inspirational. People should leave with something they can do on Monday.
2. Honest about money. The wedding industry needs fewer fairy tales and more numbers.
3. Built for your room. I ask about your audience before I write a single slide.

Talk 1: Booked Out and Still Broke

Pricing, packaging and profit for wedding businesses.

My most requested talk. Many wedding businesses have full calendars and empty bank accounts, and this session explains why and what to do about it. We cover how to work backwards from an income target, cost a package properly, spot unpaid hours and scope creep, and raise prices without losing your best clients.

Best for: planners, stylists, florists, celebrants and small supplier businesses. Works brilliantly as a workshop with worksheets. The background thinking is in my post booked out and still broke.

Talk 2: From Enquiry to "Yes"

Sales for wedding professionals who hate selling.

A step-by-step look at the journey from first enquiry to signed contract: response times, the first reply, consultation calls, proposals and follow-up. I share a simple process attendees can copy, plus how to talk about price calmly.

Best for: venue sales teams, planners and anyone whose enquiries go quiet after the price list. Very popular as in-house training for venue groups.

Talk 3: From Creative to CEO

Leadership, systems and growing beyond yourself.

Most wedding businesses are started by talented creatives who suddenly find they're running a company. This talk is about that shift: building systems, delegating, hiring your first team member and leading people who care deeply about their work. I draw on growing a planning business to a team of 18 planners, and on owning The Wedding Academy, which I bought in 2022.

Best for: established business owners, leadership streams and association conferences.

The wedding industry doesn't need more fairy dust from the stage. It needs people who'll talk honestly about money, systems and leadership.

Talk 4: Community Is a Growth Strategy

Lessons from building Business in Heels.

I founded Business in Heels, a networking community for women in business, grew it to around 50 branches across 9 countries and sold it at the end of 2014. This talk looks at how suppliers, venues and planners can grow together through referral networks, collaboration and generosity, rather than competing for the same couples. I've written about it in what founding Business in Heels taught me.

Best for: associations, networking events, women in business events and opening keynotes.

Talk 5: The Future of Wedding Careers

Education, skills and what the next generation of wedding pros needs.

As owner of a 100% online school that has trained more than 11,000 students since 2004, I see who's coming into this industry and what they struggle with. This talk covers the skills that matter, how to build a career path in weddings, and what established businesses can do to train and keep good people. It pairs well with the practical side of my eight-book Wedding Handbook series.

Best for: education events, career days, industry bodies and graduation or awards events.

Other formats

MC and host

I'm comfortable holding a whole event together: welcoming the room, introducing speakers, keeping time, running Q&A and keeping the energy up after lunch. Years in production and radio help.

Panels and fireside chats

Happy to join a panel or be interviewed on stage, particularly on pricing, leadership, education or buying a business.

Virtual workshops

For associations and venue groups spread across regions, I run interactive online sessions designed for screens, not just a keynote pointed at a webcam.

How to book

Tell me about your event, your audience and the outcome you want, and I'll recommend the right talk and format. I'm based in Melbourne and speak in person and online worldwide. If you're new to booking speakers, my guide on how to book the right speaker for your wedding event will help you write a strong brief. You can also see more on my speaking page, and if you'd like a one-on-one version of any of these topics for your own business, that's what coaching is for.

What attendees take home

Whichever talk you choose, I build in something tangible for people to use after the event:

• A framework they can sketch on a napkin, such as the four pricing levers or the seven-step enquiry process.
• An action for the next week, small enough that they'll actually do it.
• Worksheets or a resource list for workshop formats, so the learning continues after the room empties.
• Time for questions, because the most useful moment in any session is often the question someone has been too nervous to ask a peer.

Organisers tell me the thing they want most is a buzz in the room afterwards, with people still talking about the session at the bar. That's the goal every time.

Enquire about a talk for your event

FAQs

What topics does Jac Bowie speak on?

Pricing and profit for wedding businesses, sales and converting enquiries, leadership and growth, community as a growth strategy, and the future of wedding careers and education. She also works as an MC and host.

Can talks be customised for our association or venue group?

Yes. Every session is shaped around your audience and the outcome you want, and most topics can be delivered as a keynote, workshop or virtual session.

Does Jac Bowie speak at events outside Australia?

Yes. Jac is based in Melbourne and speaks at events in person and online around the world.

What makes a good speaking topic for a wedding industry conference?

Topics that solve a real problem your members face right now, such as pricing, sales, staffing or burnout, delivered with practical steps attendees can use straight away.