How Emily Reno Scaled Her Wedding Business Without Burning Out

If you’ve ever felt like your business is running you instead of the other way around, you’re not alone. In this episode of The Dream Biz Podcast, I sat down with Emily Reno—founder of Elopement Las Vegas and The Vegas Planners—to talk about what it actually takes to scale your business without working yourself into the ground.

Spoiler: It’s not about doing more. It’s about doing things differently.

Emily’s Journey

Emily didn’t start out with a fancy business degree or a full client roster. She was bartending in Vegas while building her business from the ground up—learning website design, SEO, marketing, and social media on her own. She did her first wedding for $350, worked way too hard for the money, and kept going.

Her passion eventually led her to create Elopement Las Vegas, an inclusive and streamlined wedding experience for couples who want a beautiful, intimate celebration without the full-blown wedding price tag. What started as a side offering to accommodate lower-budget inquiries turned into a full-blown operation doing over 700 weddings a year.

How to Scale Your Business Without Losing Your Sanity

At one point, Emily realized she was maxed out. She had no weekends, no holidays, and no wiggle room. Sound familiar?

She was turning away business because she couldn’t physically take on more events—and increasing her prices dramatically didn’t feel aligned. That’s when someone asked if they could work for her. At first, she hesitated. But as she started outsourcing weddings to trusted planners under her brand, she discovered something big: she could make money without being on-site for every single event.

That’s when everything changed.

“I enjoyed planning weddings, but I wanted to spend more time growing the business. I realized I could step back, delegate, and still provide an incredible experience.”

Grow Your Team and Let Go of Control

Letting go of control isn’t easy—especially when your business is your baby. But Emily knew she had to trust her team if she wanted to grow.

Here’s what helped:

• Outsourcing tasks she didn’t enjoy (like social media and blogging)
• Documenting trainings to avoid repeating herself
• Focusing on trust over micromanagement
• Hiring based on character and trainability—not just experience

She also switched her management approach to one rooted in growth, grace, and clear systems, creating an environment where people feel supported, not scrutinized.

Future Proof Your Business

One of Emily’s biggest early mistakes? Naming her business after herself. When she started hiring planners, clients only wanted “Emily”—which made growth tricky. If you’re dreaming of scaling or selling someday, consider a brand name that allows you to grow beyond yourself from the start.

Build a Team That Has Your Back

Emily’s team is now full of women who were either referred by someone she trusted or shared the same values and work ethic. Experience came second to culture fit.

She also structured creative compensation, like profit sharing, to reward her right-hand woman without giving up equity—an idea that gave her team member ownership without legal partnership.

Implement Sustainable Systems To Avoid Burnout

These days, Emily works about 20 hours a week. She doesn’t have a nanny, and her 1-year-old daughter helps set the pace of her life and business.

Her secret? Sustainable systems, strategic hiring, and clear priorities.

“If I ever start feeling overwhelmed again, I take it as a sign to hire help. I don’t wait until I’m completely burnt out.”

Advice for Burnt Out Business Owners

If you’re drowning in tasks and feel like you can’t step away, start small. Identify one or two things you don’t enjoy and find a way to delegate them—even just a few hours a week.

“That’s when I saw my business grow—when I started passing things off, little by little.”

Connect with Emily

• Instagram: @thevegasplanner and @elopementlasvegas
• Websites: thevegasplanners.com | elopementlasvegas.com

Whether you’re ready to scale, dreaming of more time freedom, or just burnt out from doing it all yourself—Emily’s journey proves it’s absolutely possible to build a successful business that doesn’t burn you out.

✨ Start small. Delegate a little. Watch your business (and joy) grow. ✨

Listen to more episodes of The Dream Biz Podcast Here!