Ep. 198 — How Speaking Can Elevate Your Wedding Business in 2026 with Meghan Ely

Welcome to a new year of the I Do Wedding Marketing Podcast! We’ve had so much fun over the years talking all things wedding marketing – but today’s episode is a fresh side of marketing that feels perfectly aligned with New Year energy: speaking opportunities.

If you’ve been a longtime listener, you know I started adding in-person speaking to my business last year. Building my business during the COVID years meant everything was virtual, so stepping onto live stages for the first time felt intimidating – and I know I’m not alone in that.

For me, the secret sauce was taking Meghan Ely’s Wedding Industry Speakers course – the roadmap I didn’t know I needed. It put me on an incredible trajectory, and it’s exactly why I wanted Meghan on the show to kick off 2026. Because when it comes to speaking, PR, and positioning yourself as an industry authority, there are few people more qualified to lead that conversation than Meghan.

You probably already know OFD Consulting, where owner Meghan Ely combines in-the-trenches event experience with a deep love of wedding PR to help her clients take their businesses to new heights. 

As a result, she’s become one of the industry’s most trusted voices, earning press for her clients in outlets including The New York Times, Brides, Martha Stewart Weddings, People, Bridal Guide, Architectural Digest, and Style Me Pretty. She is also a longtime columnist for Special Events and Catersource.

Meghan is a past national president of WIPA, a member of the Allied Council for the National Society of Black Wedding & Event Professionals, and a National Speaker of the Year honoree by NACE. Most recently, RSVP Club named her the 2025 Favorite Educator  – and honestly? I have a feeling she’s about to be one of our favorite guests of 2026.

What we cover in this episode:

• Why speaking is one of the most effective ways to build authority and trust in the wedding industry

• Who speaking is actually for (B2B, B2C, educators, and tech brands alike)

• How speaking can open doors beyond the stage, including new revenue streams

• How to know if you’re ready to speak – even without prior experience

• Where to start if you’ve never taken the stage before

• What Meghan wishes she knew before her first speaking gigs

• Why speaker fees aren’t the full ROI (and what really matters)

• How to choose a signature talk that aligns with your goals and expertise

• How to start small, build confidence, and grow into speaking sustainably

Where to find Meghan + her course

You can learn more about Meghan, her work, and the Wedding Industry Speakers course at:

• weddingindustryspeakers.com

• ofdconsulting.com

Registration is open through January 21. It runs for eight weeks, is live and recorded, and yes – those office hours are as fun (and helpful!) as they sound.

Onward and upward to 2026!

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Links in shownotes:

• Wedding Industry Speakers course — https://weddingindustryspeakers.com/register/wedding-industry-speakers-the-course-2026/
• weddingindustryspeakers.com — http://weddingindustryspeakers.com
• ofdconsulting.com — http://ofdconsulting.com
• Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/idoweddingmarketing/
• Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/idoweddingmarketing
• LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/nina-addeo-699898ab/
• Threads — https://www.threads.com/@idoweddingmarketing
• Aisle Planner — https://www.aisleplanner.com/affiliate/IDWMxAP