My guest today is Maria Romano, who is the founder of trueloveknots.com. She's an ordained minister, dating coach, professional speaker, event planner, and best-selling author. In addition, she has performed over 3,000 weddings, with this she holds years of wedding and event planning experience.
Minnie : Hi everyone, this is Minnie again with a brand-new episode of our podcast uSpeak. My guest today is Maria Romano, who is the founder of trueloveknots.com. She's an ordained minister, dating coach, professional speaker, event planner, and best-selling author. In addition, she has performed over 3,000 weddings, with this she holds years of wedding and event planning experience. She offers different levels of an online dating/coaching program; besides this, she also has a course on how to become a wedding officiant. Maria loves being home, spending time with her dog, cooking for her family and friends, she also enjoys wine tasting, exercising, reading, and volunteering. Welcome, Maria to our show, I am so pleased and honored to talk with you.
Maria : Oh, and thank you so much for the invite, I'm thrilled.
Minnie : You are welcome. Would you tell my audience something about yourself and the birth of trueloveknots.com?
Maria : Yeah. So, it's a very insightful question. And especially depending upon where you're at in life; I was in the rental car industry many many years, and my late husband and I, we sold that company in 2010. And it was at a time in my life where I still wanted to work, I needed to work. And I've always been an owner and entrepreneur, so I'm used to my own schedule, which is great. I went to a wedding ceremony over at the Las Vegas country club, and I saw a woman performing that, I said, "I think that would be a great type of industry to get involved in; having fun, you're making money, and you're impacting couples on one of the happiest days of their life."
So, I reached out, I started out, "Okay, I'm gonna find out how to do this." It took me time because in the state of Nevada you must be licensed, and you have to go through background checks, make sure you have a company, you're affiliated with some sort of religious organization at that time. And I went through the process, and then I got myself together, got my website, and figured, "Okay, great, my website's here, and I should be getting calls." But it didn't work that way, I had to put together a marketing kit. And I went out, and I put together a mock video on a wedding ceremony, and then I went out to all the different hotels and chapels. So, it's been almost now a 12-year journey, and close to 4,000 weddings, and it's like, "It really is not easy."
Minnie : Okay, so now you need to update your website, it says 3,000.
Maria : Right, I know. Really in Vegas because it's a large industry, we perform probably and issue close to 80,000 marriage licenses a year in Clark County alone, that's a lot of weddings when you think about it.
Minnie : Yes, it is. And I think that – is that the most favorite place for all the brides and grooms to go and get married there?
Maria : Well, it's one of – I think we represent about 5% of weddings in the United States, which is pretty large when you look at comparisons to what is offered to you. Mexico also is a great area as far as going down because they have all these resorts that are inclusive, so destination weddings are big, as well as Las Vegas is big too. So, it's all about the experience, that's what people are looking for today.
Minnie : Okay. So, with your credentials can you do a drive-thru wedding? Can you perform a drive-thru?
Maria : Well, actually I can do any type of – I am licensed in the state of Nevada, but my license also is recognized in many other states as well which is great. And probably Nevada is probably one of the most stringent because it is such a large industry, and they wanna make sure that the ministers are complying. That they're not fly-by-night because you have people that perform wedding ceremonies that never submit the paperwork, so you're not legally married. And something could come back, and there could be repercussions down the road, so it's interesting. But, yeah, I'm thrilled, I love, I love this industry.
Minnie : Good, good for you. So, tell me, your business model, how does it work?
Maria : Well, it's interesting because I have – within that business model I have a couple of different components as you all know, I guess you could say I'm in the love industry. But my business model, when you say what the business model is, is first of all I definitely market to brides and grooms that are coming in, or brides and brides, or grooms and grooms. That's the first thing, and being able to provide them with the service, and then from there I also provide other people with the service of how to officiate weddings. And it's not a course that's just for Las Vegas, it's for anywhere, anywhere in the world and the country as long as – I just communicate by English, that's it.
So, that course you learn all the fundamental skill sets, and the skill sets are also a lot of other soft skills; how to present, how to think quickly on your feet, how to maybe deal with difficult challenging situations sometimes, so there are a lot of skills that you can learn in that side. And then on the other side, also I'm a widow, I've been a widow for almost 10 years, and when I got back in the dating world after being married for 30 – I was with my husband for 33 years married, 35 years with him – and getting back into the dating world, he passed away in 2014, I realized that there was a need. So, that's another business model component, I talk to people and provide them with information on how to get back in the dating world, but also how to be cautious. So, there are different areas that I have on my business model, but it's all love, it's all about love.
Minnie : Okay. So yeah, and as you said you are a dating coach also, tell me how that works?
Maria : Well, what I do is I like to kind of really not so much as a coach, but somebody that you can confide in because getting back in the dating world Minnie, especially when you're in your 50s and 60s and 70s and you've been in a long-term relationship, it is different today. Because years ago, we went out, right? When you're younger, we met maybe through work – which is of course still a way – you meet people while going to different events, or somebody matchmaking.
But now you have so many other online platforms that match people together because being in the wedding industry, I meet people from all over the world that have met online. Probably a good 40 to 50% of the couple's that I've married, and I'm just one minister. They meet online, and that's the difference. But you have to also understand how to put yourself online, so therefore that's what I do; I wanna make it simple, but I also want you to learn how to protect yourself as well because you've heard stories, and you just want to be aware of it. What happens is as when we get older, and all of the sudden somebody love-bombs us, and tells us all these wonderful things, so before you know it, we are sort of like hooked to somebody that might not really be beneficial for you.
Minnie : Okay. So, and I'm sure when you were looking for yourself, you saw a real need for such dating coaching for older adults, right?
Maria : Oh, I made mistakes, that's how I learned – hardcore. Yes, even when I started officiating wedding ceremonies there wasn't anybody to teach you this, I've made lots of mistakes.
Minnie : Okay, so you learned from your mistake, and just moved on. So, I'm sure you had blessings from all these people who had regained love, trust, confidence after finding their perfect partners, so I am sure of that. And one more thing I want to mention here, that I love your tagline, "Go from one to the perfect plus one," it's like so perfect for this business, it's like perfect tagline. Okay, so tell me, so you are coaching all the older adults, so if somebody who is 21 and he reaches you, would you help him or you just reserve it for people over 50?
Maria : No, no, no. I think, first of all, you know what, I think it's great when somebody realizes they need a helping hand because as being a coach, whether it's officiating weddings or helping people with getting back in the dating world, I want my long journey to be their shortcut. And that's what we talked about having those challenges, making those mistakes, but you learn from them and you're able to share that with other people. So, somebody 21, you know what I think? I think that they do need to have somebody that is a dating coach, and not necessarily someone that is their age because they still haven't gone through all of the lifetime experiences. Somebody that sits from my age, we have that experience, we have that knowledge. And as long as you're taking it because you're objectively giving them information, and they're open to it. And I think that's the key thing, you have to be open to wanting to learn.
Minnie : Right. Yeah. Yeah, because you have seen this world, you know this area, so they better take you seriously and value you, right?
Maria : Right.
Minnie : Yeah. Okay, so after dating comes wedding, which needs a lot of planning, so you again come in the picture because you are a wedding planner too, correct?
Maria : Well, I used to do some wedding planning, and I sort of – I keep it to a very minimal. And that's because there's a lot of moving components to a wedding, and I work with lots of wedding planners. And I'm also on the board of the Las Vegas Wedding Chamber of Commerce, so I get the opportunity – there is so many moving parts when you are into event planning Minnie. Understanding project management is the biggest thing for an event planner, there are lots of moving parts.
Minnie : Okay. But do you have any wedding package that you still offer, or you – ?
Maria : What I do offer is I will offer that what I'll do is, let's say somebody want to get married in a hotel suite, okay? Or even at a park, or whatever, or they have a venue, and they say, "Maria, we'd like to use you." Flowers I will offer them, if they want flowers I work with a florist. If they wanna have a caterer, I also work with that. And photography and videography, which is what most people need. Or, if they're looking for a recommendation, since I'm on the board of the Wedding Chamber of Commerce, "Where would you suggest?" and I bring them back to vetted and certified members. Because again, you want to work with vendors, you wanna work with people that I'm going to refer that you know are gonna provide the couple with a great client experience, and also great products as well. So, especially if I'm working with photographers and videographers, I have to make sure that they're gonna really provide some great service, great art.
Minnie : Yeah, and since you have already been in this business for so long, I'm sure you know a lot of such people, and who are in your portfolio, so good. So, tell me, why should one become a wedding officiant, and would you please tell me the different wedding officiant courses that you offer?
Maria : Well, I have a couple of courses that I offer, and I'm going to be offering a third one. And basically, a wedding officiant, this is a great – people might call it a side hustle, Minnie, and I call it another skill set because it's always great to have different skillsets on your resume. And the officiating site, first of all, you have an opportunity, you're walking into a situation where you're meeting people that they're, again, on the happiest day of their life. Or getting ready, you're helping them plan their wedding ceremony on the happiest day of their life, it's a gift as far as I'm concerned. And the officiating side brings so many rewards, because what you say to that couple, and their guests also, can resonate with them for the rest of their lives. So, your words are very powerful, and that's a gift, and that's something – again, that's a skill set that you develop.
The same thing when you – and what's great about that one skill set right there, Minnie, is that helps you with your presentation skills, and how to present in the business world too. It's a business this, but let's say you move and you're doing something else, you have a couple of different revenue streams. So, you need to present yourself, you need to maybe convey a project in your work, so these skills will help you enhance the skills. And then also, the other skill set is, is it's a little bit of project management, you have to be aware of how to deal with photographers and videographers, and placements, and processional, and who goes in what order, and how to work with the photographers and videographers, the queueing with DJs, so there's so many great things. But again, you can perform weddings – I've performed them in helicopters, you can perform them in – I also go on these big Ferris wheels, you can go on yachts, boats, hot air balloons, state parks, or somebody's backyard, but it's so fulfilling and rewarding. And it's timeless, it doesn't matter how old you are, how young you are, as long as you can get your license, right?
Minnie : Right, right, right. So, you are confined to Las Vegas area, or you can go somewhere – suppose somebody is asking you to come to New York for a grand wedding, would you go there?
Maria : If they wanted to pay the price, absolutely. But you know what? There is so many great officiants all over, and people that want to enhance themselves. And my course takes them to another level, I call it a rockstar officiating because I've really elevated the skills on just things you can do to enhance your ceremony. But of course, I can go anywhere if they wanted me to.
Minnie : Okay. So, do you think that in this business while you are learning all the components – and you said, as you said, you were an entrepreneur before also, right?
Maria : Yeah.
Minnie : So, do you think that that experience, you used it here also? That came in handy.
Maria : Oh, I think all the skills that you develop you can utilize them in whatever business, whatever business you decide, profession you decide to elect to go into. Because you need certain skills anyway, you need to have certain skills; if you're going to start a new business you need to write some sort of a business plan. So, I was in the rental car business, and so I had to deal with lots of different moving parts as well; we had a large staff that worked for us, we were dealing with obtaining credit lines because you have millions and millions of dollars worth of vehicles with insurance, and you had to make sure that you were compliant. So, all of my experience in the rental car industry definitely trained me for what I'm doing today, even though it's on a smaller scale, but also having the skill sets to deal with people, and understand people, and engage them. And that to me is a very important skill set in whatever you do, is having those skills to be able to connect with people.
Minnie : Yep, okay. And since you are an author also, let's talk about your book Go From One to the Perfect Plus One.
Maria : Yes, I have it on ya.
Minnie : When did you write it, and tell me something about it?
Maria : Well, you know what, 2020 was a really interesting year for a lot of people, right?
Minnie : Yes, lots of time on hand, right?
Maria : Yes. Well, the wedding business was closed down for about a couple of months, but in the interim of course when it started spooling up again it really did not come back until the last, I would say four or five months. Well, actually 2021 was the better year. But anyway, over 2020, first of all, I recognized that there were more people that were trying to still date. And they felt confined, they panicked, and they needed to learn how to virtually date, how to virtually. So, I started thinking about that, I spoke to some news media outlets, and then I started – I had time, I said, "I really need to write a book."
And the reason is is because there are people, they wanna get back into the dating world, some of them don't know how, or some that keep making the same mistakes. So, I actually wrote a book, and I started in March of 2020 which was a great time, and I finished it in the summer, and I launched it in September of 2020. And the book covers a myriad of areas, topics of how to date somebody that's a professional, how to date somebody that's divorced with children, without children, a widow – how to date a widower or a widow. And also, how to really, when you go on a date, have fun, but don't look at it as, "This is the only person, and I need to connect with them, and I'm not gonna find anyone else." And I also talk about in the book, and I wrote, is you need to make sure that you are over your past relationships if you don't wanna make the same mistakes in the past. And I call that "dysfunctional detoxing," so that also is a whole chapter that I devote to on how to overcome – and again, gives people how they can overcome or think about their past relationships, and what work and what didn't work, and how to move forward so you're not attracting that same type of individual that didn't serve you well and you didn't serve them well.
So, that book came about, and then I decided – I had Covid in 2020 also in November – and I started, somebody reached out to me in November and wanted to know how – give him some advice on officiating weddings. And I thought, "I should be developing a course," so I actually videotaped every segment I talk about officiating, so that came about. And I put together a digital course and took an extensive class on how to put one together and launch it. So, that's what 2020 did for me, it was a lot.
Minnie : Well, you were busy, good for you. And then this book is – anybody can use this book? Not
Maria : No, it doesn't matter.
Minnie : Yeah, right.
Maria : It doesn't matter what age you are; it gives you some great insight. And it's on Amazon or yeah, somebody wants to reach out to me and buy it directly from me I can sign it and send it to them. But, yeah, it's a great great tool, it's a great guide, and it gives you a good platform definitely.
Minnie : Yes. And, as you said, it's available on Amazon?
Maria : Correct.
Minnie : And what kind of – are people liking it? I'm sure people are just writing to you that, "Oh, this is such a good book."
Maria : Yes. It's interesting, because I coach some people, and just by a little bit of tweaking – first of all I had a friend that I shared with her, "You need to open up your world on dating." And we talked about, and she did that, and she opened up her mindset, and she met somebody, and they've been in a relationship for a while. And then there was another woman who had reached out to me, and we talked about, again, tweaking her profile, and then a few weeks later she goes, "I met somebody, and they're from out of state and I would have never thought of – and we have this great relationship, we think it's gonna go on to long-term." And then I've worked with an individual gentleman, that he was making the same mistakes and choices, and he just wasn't getting out of that hamster-wheel. And now he's dating, and he's dating somebody, and it's a healthy relationship, so that is so rewarding in itself.
Minnie : It is. It is. And I'm sure you have tons of blessings from people.
Maria : I love the blessings. Sending them out and keeping them coming, right?
Minnie : Right. Okay, so besides – so you said you are no longer a wedding planner as such, but do you still do like baptism and other event planning?
Maria : Well, what I do –
Minnie : Would you tell me a little bit more about that?
Maria : Well, what I do is I facilitate celebrations of life, so people that pass away. And I handle that, I handle coming out, talking about that individual, maybe a prayer, and leading it through. Because a lot of people don't have those services in necessarily religious setting, they sometimes have them in their home, a park, or at the actual funeral location. And then of course baptismal's are big because people don't wanna leave their homes, they like to have them in their homes, so I'll go out and I'll come out and do the actual baptismal there, and I love that. And I've had people that I've married that reach out to me, and they've had children, and even sometimes a parent will get baptized, and it's just a non-denominational baptismal. And then of course I have people reach out to me that I've married that parents have passed away, and I handle their celebration of life, their spreading of the ashes, which is kind of like a gravesite in term although it's not a casket going in. So, there's a lot you can do with this type of ministry, you can move from one area to another. And again, it's timeless.
Minnie : Okay. And I'm sure you come across many such people who are looking for such service, so would you like to share with me one of your most memorable stories, something that truly moved you?
Maria : Well, you know what I have to tell you, Minnie, what really moved me – I did a wedding ceremony, it was 2021 of this year, it was February 14th, which is Valentine's Day.
Minnie : Valentines Day.
Maria : And when I was going over to one of the chapels that I work out of, I was walking in, and I noticed that the coordinator was holding the hand of the groom and guiding him. And when I met him, and it was the groom, he of course was legally blind – couldn't see, he had a cane – he was probably early 50s. And then the bride walked in, and she too was impaired, visually impaired as well. And they met – she, unfortunately, had some issues with her eyes that then progressed to being legally blind, she can't see, and he was her teacher on how to use braille.
Minnie : Oh.
Maria : Yes. And they met, like two years, three years before, they were getting married, they were from Tennessee, they came to Las Vegas, and I had to guide them through the ceremony. And what I mean by guide them, is they actually had their phones set up so that they were able to read the braille, feel it, I don't know what type of program that is. They read their own vows to each other by touch, and then the rings I had to guide them through that. And also, they did a unity candle, so you're dealing with candles, and having them light that. That was really moving to me, that was extremely moving because I never had experienced that, okay? And I thought that was, "Wow, love is powerful in lots of different ways."
Minnie : It is. It is. Oh, I am so moved. Well, God bless them. All right, so let's talk about now – actually I wanted to tell you about us a little bit, I'm not sure if you're aware what we do here at TCI. So, we offer an online training program in general transcription, and we have a job board that matches transcriptionists and translators with transcription companies seeking such services. We also have accuracy assessment tools for newbies to test their transcription skills. Our audience comprises men and women involved in transcription and translation who work from home by choice. So, before I let you go, I want to ask for your advice to someone contemplating entrepreneurship?
Maria : Well, it's an interesting question, very insightful because entrepreneurship doesn't mean instant success. And I think that's the key thing that people need to understand, entrepreneurship is dedication, and it's a discipline. And it's also having an open mind to learn because sometimes you move in one direction, Minnie, and it doesn't necessarily serve you and you quit, and this is what happens with most people that start their own business because they want to see instant results. So, I think the first thing is is, like especially in the field that you're offering which is such a huge opportunity, but you have to know the areas that's gonna be your niche. So, finding your niche is important, and then being dedicated as well, and being open-minded to learning from people that have the experience in order for you to be successful. But the biggest thing is dedication, and being able to move forward, and showing up. Showing up for your client, showing up and providing a service that is a quality service so that they come back. So, that's what I think is important when it comes to entrepreneurship.
Minnie : Okay. Thank you so much for doing this interview with me, Maria. I think this interview was unique and emotional, filled with some warm advice and tips. If someone is looking for such services, please don't hesitate to get in touch with Maria. Maria, would you like to tell my audience how to find you?
Maria : Sure, they can. And if you want me to send you some links Minnie I will, so you can put it into this. But it's Maria, M-A-R-I-A @trueloveknots.com, and T-R-U-E-L-O-V-E-K-N-O-T-S .com. And then also I'll put my telephone number into – I'll send you a link directly, so with my website, my contact. My personal contact, I answer my own phone, and I answer my emails.
Minnie : Okay. Perfect. Thanks again Maria, I so appreciate you taking some time out and talking to us. Take care and stay safe and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Maria : And you too. And thank you for this opportunity.
Minnie : You're most welcome. All right everyone, I look forward to our next installment of USpeak. Take care and share this with anyone who may find it interesting. Please check out our website at www.transcriptioncertificationinstitute.com, and don't forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Wishing all of you a very happy Thanksgiving. Bye, and have a great day.
