072: Fallon Carter & The Importance of Mentorship

Hi planners, welcome to this week's episode. It's one that is equal parts laughter as it is filled with nuggets of insight. Meet my next guest, Fallon Carter. 

Fallon is the founder and creative director of Fallon Carter Events. She has been named one of the top wedding planners in the world by Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, and Brides Magazine. Fallon is well known for connecting southern hospitality with international luxury. 

As you'll hear in this episode, Fallon's journey began after helping a friend with her three-day Paris wedding. Fallon soon fell in love with the organization, logistics, and the process of planning. So she left law school and began the life of an entrepreneur, launching Fallon Carter Events in New York in 2012. Finding the joy in adventure, travel, and alfresco dining, Fallon leaned into the destination, events, and experiences. 

In this conversation, you'll hear how incredibly natural it is for Fallon that she focuses on destination events and how travel is a massive part of her life, including how she's taking this year to live a nomad life in Japan, Mexico, France, Angola, and more. But one of the most interesting things about our conversation is that despite being well-known, well-respected, and highly sought after, she too struggles with perfectionism and negative self-talk. We dive into that a bit and I'm so appreciative of Fallon's honesty. We also talk about how crucial relationships and referrals are to her success and how after many conversations with planners seeking advice, Fallon has started officially offering advice for those looking to learn from her, her experience that has so often been learned the hard way. 

In this episode:

• Fallon Carter specializes in destination weddings and event planning.
• Her first wedding experience in Paris ignited her passion for planning.
• Networking and referrals were crucial in her early career.
• She emphasizes the importance of having a financial safety net when starting a business.
• Fallon did not seek formal education but learned through experience and mentorship.
• Perfectionism and self-critique are ongoing challenges for her.
• Destination planning is both thrilling and stressful due to various challenges.
• She believes in the power of community and sharing knowledge among planners.
• Fallon reflects on the importance of learning from mistakes in her career.
• Her journey highlights the significance of finding one's unique strengths in event planning. Resourcefulness is key in destination weddings.
• Understanding client needs is crucial for successful planning.
• The ideal client trusts the planner and focuses on the marriage.
• Word of mouth is the best marketing strategy.
• Diversifying business can create new revenue streams.
• Mentorship can provide valuable insights and guidance.
• Every conversation can lead to mutual learning and growth.
• Future plans should align with personal passions and interests.
• Simplicity in weddings can be refreshing and meaningful.

Connect with Fallon:

Fallon Carter Events

https://falloncarterevents.com/

https://www.instagram.com/falloncarterevents

Podcast - The We Do Collective

https://www.instagram.com/thewedocollective/