Protect Yourself and Your Business When Sht Hits the Fan with Nora Shiels of Rock Paper Coin | I Do Wedding Marketing Podcast Episode 164

In the wedding industry, we’re used to thinking on our feet. But when real challenges strike—legal issues, bad reviews, slow bookings—are you actually protected?

This week on the I Do Wedding Marketing Podcast, I sat down with Nora Shiels, co-founder of Rock Paper Coin and founder of Bridal Bliss, to talk about the tough stuff: what to do when things go wrong. And more importantly, how to prepare for it before they do.

We talk about:

• How a business plan competition launched Nora’s wedding career

• What to do (and not do) when you get a bad review

• The contract clauses every vendor needs in 2025

• Financial strategies to survive a slow season

• How to stay visible, protected, and proactive

Nora drops gem after gem in this episode, blending real talk with practical solutions. So whether you’re just starting out or feeling the pressure in a changing market, this one’s for you.

Episode 164: Protecting Your Business When Sh*t Hits the Fan with Nora Shiels of Rock Paper Coin Nina: Hello everybody, and welcome back to another episode of the I Do Wedding Marketing Podcast. How are we doing, everybody?

We’ve been really rocking it here lately. Some things have changed this year. First, I got a podcast manager—and that has been such a relief. I can focus on having great conversations and hand off the rest. And second, it’s because of you guys: the listeners and the guests. Guests are recommending other guests, and it’s been such a blast.

That continues today with Nora Shiels, co-founder of Rock Paper Coin. She’s here to talk about protecting yourself and your business when the sht* hits the fan.

Nora tells us her origin story, how she started Bridal Bliss Inc, and how that led to Rock Paper Coin. She uses what she’s learned from producing over 150 weddings a year with a team of 30+ women to help the rest of us thrive in the industry.

They were even kind enough to provide a referral code if you sign up for Rock Paper Coin—check the show notes. Now, let’s dive in!

Welcome and Introductions

Nina: Nora, thank you so much for being here today.

Nora: Oh, thanks so much for having me. I’m excited to chat.

Nina: Where are you joining us from?

Nora: I’m in Portland, Oregon—and it’s snowing here today. Everyone’s so excited!

Nina: We’ve got a slushy wintry mix in New York. That’s how it goes here.

Nora: We usually get ice, so snow is exciting!

Nina: It looks like a beautiful space you’re calling from—and we both have our mugs. Mine’s coffee—what do you have?

Nora: Tea. Black tea with a little milk.

Nina: Perfect. With the weather like it is, a cozy tea is a nice touch.

Nora’s Origin Story: Bridal Bliss + Rock Paper Coin

Nina: I’d love for everyone to hear, in your own words, about Bridal Bliss, Rock Paper Coin, and how you got into the wedding industry.

Nora: I’ve been in the industry for many, many years. I always wanted to be a wedding planner, even when it wasn’t really a known job. I’m from an Iraqi family that loves to throw big, fabulous events. So I loved being part of celebrations.

In college, I saw a flyer for a business plan competition. I wrote a plan for Bridal Bliss, submitted it—and won! That gave me the startup funds to launch the business right out of school.

At the time, I’d worked at a florist, a bridal shop, and done campus events—but not a full wedding. I had nothing to lose, and I loved it even more once I started. Today, Bridal Bliss has teams across Oregon and Washington, and we do destination weddings too.

Nina: That’s incredible! And it all started with a business plan competition.

Nora: I didn’t realize how lucky I was at the time. But I had amazing parents who let me move back home and keep expenses low. That was back in 2002!

Creating Rock Paper Coin

Nora: As the company grew, we needed better systems. We tried every tool out there, but none were right—too expensive, not user-friendly, our team didn’t like them.

So we decided to build something in-house. We were naïve about how complex software development is! But that’s how Rock Paper Coin was born. It’s a software platform for the wedding and event industry—a full CRM with lead capture, contracts, invoices, reminders, and low processing fees.

We offer white-glove onboarding and truly aim to support pros however we can.

When Things Go Wrong: Protecting Your Business

Nina: Our topic today is how to protect yourself and your business when sht hits the fan*. Was that mindset something you always had as a planner, or did it come later?

Nora: I think it came every time something actually did go wrong. Owning a business isn’t always smooth sailing. Things will go wrong—it’s inevitable. The key is preparing and knowing how to respond.

Bad Reviews: What To Do

Nina: I think the first thing people worry about when things go wrong is: reviews.

Nora: 100%. That gut punch when a bad review comes in—it’s so frustrating, especially when you worked hard for that client. Maybe there’s a little truth in it, maybe not, but it stings.

“Don’t respond out of emotion. Stop. Breathe. Think about how the feedback can be useful. The world won’t end.”

People leave bad reviews because they want to feel heard. If you ignore it, the problem often grows. Responding with empathy shows professionalism and builds trust with future clients—even if you don’t win the original reviewer back.

Nina: I also think we’re scared that future clients will see the bad review—and how we responded to it.

Nora: Exactly. That’s why the response matters. Be classy. Never bash the reviewer, even if they were difficult. Focus on what you did to fix it.

“Even if the person was unreasonable, take the high road and show how you handled it.”

Also, follow up with past clients and ask for reviews. Make it easy—send direct links. And if needed, ask friends or family too. Bury the bad review with real, glowing ones.

When Legal Threats Come Up

Nina: What about when someone threatens legal action?

Nora: It happens. First—don’t panic. Stop communicating and talk to an attorney.

“If you take one thing from this episode, it’s to have a rock-solid contract in place.”

You can use contract templates from sites like Legally Set (use code RPC for 20% off), but you still need a lawyer to review it for your state. Laws vary, and your contract is your protection.

Also, use platforms like Rock Paper Coin for e-signatures. We log IP addresses to prove identity if needed in court. A signed PDF doesn’t offer that level of protection.

Must-Have Clauses in Your Contract

Nora: A few must-have clauses:

• Photo Release – protect your ability to use images

• Harassment-Free Environment – you can leave if someone acts inappropriately (groomsmen, vendors, anyone)

• Decision-Maker Clause – clarify who gets final say

• Ghosting Clause – if the client goes silent for X days, contract is void and payments are non-refundable

“Some of these sound extreme—but they exist for a reason. Every planner’s long contract has a story behind it.”

COVID showed us how important it is to plan for the unthinkable—acts of God, pandemics, etc. Many businesses lost income because they weren’t protected.

Financial Protection in Slow Seasons

Nina: A lot of pros are experiencing slower bookings. How can they stay afloat financially?

Nora: First: know that it’s not just you. The entire industry is seeing a slowdown. There are theories—like the average four-year relationship timeline and how fewer couples met during COVID. But the truth is, bookings are down.

What to do:

• Upsell existing clients: add-on sessions, services, upgrades

• Cut labor: use automation, reduce hours, streamline with software

• Reevaluate advertising: don’t pay just to be “seen” by other vendors

• Raise your prices: everything else has gone up—so should your rates

“You can’t just hope things will fix themselves. Look at your numbers and take action.”

Visibility + Mindset

Nora: This is also the time to clean up your backend. Work on your:

• CRM setup

• Standard Operating Procedures

• SEO and website

• Bookkeeping

• Review requests

If you can, hire help—virtual assistants, SEO experts, or system specialists.

“You want to come out of a slow season stronger. Control the narrative. Look booked and busy, even if you’re in a lull.”

Events, Networking, and What’s Next

Nina: What networking groups or events do you recommend?

Nora: I love the Emerge Event Collective. It’s kind, non-clicky, and very helpful. I’m on the board there. They have Zoom and in-person events. And of course, Wedding MBA is a great place to learn and connect—we’ll be there this year with a booth, and I’ll be speaking!

Nina: Love that. So finally—what would you say to someone listening who’s feeling discouraged?

Nora: Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Reach out to friendors. Be honest.

Also, save an emergency fund if you can. And use this time wisely. Prep your systems. Review your contracts. Be proactive.

“Tough seasons happen—but you can come through them stronger and smarter.”

Nina: Such wonderful advice. Where can people follow you?

Nora: We’re at @rockpapercoin and @bridalblissnw!

Nina: Thanks so much for being here, Nora. We’ll link everything in the show notes—including that Legally Set discount code and how to get started with Rock Paper Coin.

Sign up for Rock, Paper Coin and receive 50% off using code IDOWEDDING

Every wedding pro knows: no matter how much you love this industry, it’s not all champagne toasts and sparkler exits. And that’s why conversations like this one with Nora are so important.

She didn’t just tell us how to weather the storm—she gave us real, practical ways to prepare for it.

✅ Want to streamline your contracts and invoices?👉 Visit rockpapercoin.com and follow @rockpapercoin

✅ Need contract templates?👉 Use code RPC at Legally Set for 20% off

✅ Want to see what else Nora and Bridal Bliss are up to?👉 Follow @bridalblissnw

And finally, if you loved this episode, share it with a fellow vendor, or drop us a review. Your support helps us keep bringing important conversations like this to the I Do Wedding Marketing Podcast.