How two wedding suppliers got their work-life balance back

Wedding season is a magical time. It’s full of love, laughter, and absolutely stunning celebrations. But for those behind the scenes, the lead-up can feel more chaotic than charming. 

Melbourne celebrants Clare Alice and Sarah Davoli sit down to chat all things balance: juggling home life, work commitments, and the joy of telling a couple’s love story as they say ‘I do’ in front of their nearest and dearest.

EasyWeddings have partnered with Solo by MYOB to bring wedding vendors back work-life balance. Get Solo by MYOB for a limited time for just $6 for 12 months

Clare and Sarah’s journey to officiating weddings

Like many in the wedding industry, Clare and Sarah’s work is fuelled by passion. A blend of creativity and a genuine love for helping couples bring their big day to life.

Sarah’s journey started with a passion for acting. “I got into this because I really wanted to be an actor, but then I failed at that,” she adds with a laugh. “No, I really love it. I’m a bit of a sassy gal, but I feel like the connection with people is on a deep and personal level. And now I crave that in my life.” 

For Clare, it was simply her love of a good story. “I kind of got into this because I love to story tell, and it’s the best way to be able to bring a story to life, is how somebody loves their partner,” she explains.

The great balancing act

For many people who work in the wedding industry, it’s one of two (or multiple) jobs. Clare has a full-time job, and Sarah is already juggling being a mum and a content creator. These two were running on caffeine and calendar reminders. Admin? That had taken a backseat. A tangled mess of spreadsheets and post-it notes. It felt like they were never logging off.

“I felt like I was using ten different systems to do one job,” Clare says. “Before Solo, my workflow was just… scattered.”

Sarah agrees. “I was using an accounting system that shall not be named,” she laughs. “It made everything harder than it needed to be. I just wanted to focus on my couples and not waste hours trying to send an invoice.”

Enter Solo by MYOB, the mobile app that helped them get their time back.

Simplifying with Solo

Explicitly designed for sole traders, Solo streamlines admin and is a wedding pro’s sidekick for all their paperwork. It handles invoicing, expenses, payments, and more – all from one app on your phone.

“For me, the game-changer was everything being in one place,” Clare explains. “I can see my jobs, my finances, my to-do list, all on the app. It’s simple, visual, and I don’t have to bounce between tools anymore.”

Sarah felt like the admin and paperwork were wasting her time and holding her back. 

“I absolutely hate money stuff to put it most eloquently. It’s very time-consuming and I feel like it’s time-wasting,” she says. “I want to spend my time doing creative things, and it was just so laborious. I felt like I was constantly trying to figure out how to use it every time I would send an invoice. Every time that I needed something from it, it wasn’t simple. I couldn’t just look it up.”

Building better boundaries

It can be hard to do: Setting boundaries with couples who are planning the most exciting day of their lives! But Clare and Sarah both admit that setting boundaries and bringing in structure was a way to balance out their work and life outside. From limiting emails after hours to actually taking a full weekend off (imagine that!), they finally started reclaiming their time.

“Before, I didn’t know how to stop,” Sarah admits. “But I realised I wasn’t doing my couples, or myself, any favours by being constantly on. Now I stick to a rough 9–5, and I’m way more present in all areas of my life.”

Clare’s approach differs: “I still have a full-time job, so structure is everything. But using Solo has made the admin side of my celebrant work feel manageable. I’ve learned how to balance it without it taking over.”

Rituals and rhythms (and some zen)

Wedding day prep looks different for everyone. Wedding suppliers often have their own rituals to ‘get in the zone’. From a cup of coffee to a touch of exercise, there is always a personal way to prepare for the day ahead. For Sarah, it’s about practice, practice, practice.

Somewhat of a performer, Sarah finds herself rehearsing in front of the mirror, complete with imaginary guests and the all-important dramatic pauses. “I perform the whole thing out loud,” she explains. “It’s a little embarrassing, but it means I’m prepared for anything.”

Clare takes a quieter approach. “I like to get to the venue early, walk the space, check the layout. It helps me centre myself and understand the vibe, whether it’s going to be heartfelt or more upbeat.” That way, she can set the right tone from the start.

Work-life balance has two winners

But why is work-life balance so important? Besides the obvious reasons of avoiding burnout, a calmer and more present supplier is a better experience for couples as well.

Sarah opens up about her past of burning the candle at both ends: “When I was overcommitting and burning out, it showed,” Sarah says honestly.

“Now I’m more focused, I communicate better, and I can really give my couples the energy they deserve.”

For Clare, it’s a very similar story. “Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish, it actually makes you a better supplier,” she explains. “Using tools like Solo frees up your brain for the stuff that matters: connection, creativity, and a little bit of joy.”

Thinking of going Solo?

If you’re a wedding celebrant, photographer or hairdresser and you’re running your own show, Solo by MYOB might be the work-life balance boost you need. For just $6 for 12 months, you can finally get on top of your admin and get back to doing what you love.