The Wedding Biz - Behind the Scenes of the Wedding Business (Andy Kushner)
Explorez tous les épisodes de The Wedding Biz - Behind the Scenes of the Wedding Business
| Date | Titre | Durée | |
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| 13 Nov 2023 | 482 MICAELA ERLANGER: Celebrity Fashion Stylist and Elevating Moments Behind the Seams | 00:27:03 | |
In this episode of the show, Andy welcomes back celebrity fashion stylist and bestselling author Micaela Erlanger! Micaela, who has styled renowned personalities like Lupita Nyong'o, and Jennifer Hudson, shares her insights into the world of high-profile styling and how it intersects with the wedding industry. Micaela discusses the importance of storytelling through image, emphasizing the role of stylists as key players in the wedding planning process. She provides valuable advice to wedding planners, urging them to involve stylists from the beginning to ensure a seamless and visually stunning event. She also delves into the challenges of running a styling business, highlighting the significant role of logistics in her work. Sharing her experiences collaborating with brands like Forevermark Diamonds and launching product lines, she showcases her creativity beyond celebrity styling. She also touches upon recent projects, including collaborations with Olivia Culpo and Christian McCaffrey, hinting at the exciting red carpet moments awaiting viewers after the anticipated end of industry strikes! Andy is so grateful to have had Micaela back on and hopes that you enjoy this engaging conversation with her! If so, then please be sure to share it with a few friends or colleagues who might also enjoy it. Be sure to also leave a top review wherever you listen because that really helps him and the show out, and don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast so that you never miss a new episode!
Have you heard about Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey on The Wedding Biz Network? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!
Time Stamps [1:31] - Learn that today’s guest is returning guest Micaela Erlanger of Micaela Erlanger Studios! [3:41] - Micaela discusses post-pandemic challenges and what she has been up to. [6:59] - Micaela emphasizes her dual focus of projecting services and personal brand in events. [9:29] - Hear about how Micaela adapts styles for Kelly Clarkson's diverse roles. [12:40] - How has Micaela evolved personally and professionally? [14:03] - Micaela emphasizes thoughtful curation and building lasting client relationships. [16:08] - Micaela emphasizes the vital role of stylists as key vendors. [19:06] - Micaela identifies logistics as the most difficult part of the business. [20:17] - Micaela stresses meticulous planning, discussing details like venue dimensions. [22:48] - Hear about Micaela's collaborations with Forevermark Diamonds and Bella Rosa. [24:35] - What films or red carpets have Micaela styled for in the last couple years? [26:25] - Andy reveals where to reach out to Micaela.
LINKS AND RESOURCES Micaela’s Previous Guest Spots on The Wedding Biz
Micaela’s Website
The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment. | |||
| 20 Jan 2021 | 325 THE NEXT LEVEL: VALERIE GERNHAUSER discusses MATTHEW MYHRUM, Event Visualization & Communicating Design | 00:18:48 | |
Andy welcomes Valerie Gernhauser back to The Next Level. Valerie is the Owner, Planner, and Designer with Sapphire Events working worldwide out of New Orleans. Listen as they discuss Matthew Myhrum's definition of what he does and the events Valerie has worked on with Matthew, plus much more.
Matthew is the Founder of Matthew Myhrum Event Visualization, where they provide concept renderings, design drawings, and production design services for event professionals. Matthew shares that they essentially communicate design not only for his clients who are event planners and designers but also to be able to sell their concepts to their clients more effectively and help them with their design process in telling a story.
Listen, as Valerie shares that for her, design isn't just decor; it involves constant innovation, and hiring Matthew allows her to show her clients exactly what the design will look like. Valerie tells a story of a wedding she worked on with Matthew to create a 360-degree presentation with a virtual reality headset and the reaction she got from her clients.
Valerie discusses the small nuances and details that Matthew puts in his presentation and how these elevate the level of reality for the client. Valerie also speaks about the importance of lighting and how it can be manipulated in Matthew's presentation to create the look that will be achieved with her design. Valerie believes that in time Matthew will figure out how to add taste and smell to his presentations to elevate the client's experience.
Have you heard about the brand new show on The Wedding Biz Network, Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don’t forget about Sean Low’s podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show: For as little as $6 per month, or $0.75 per episode, are you willing to support the industry insights Andy brings on his podcast? If you are so inspired: contribute.
Show Highlights:
This Week's Guest Co-Host, Valerie Gernhauser - Owner, Planner, Designer with Sapphire Events Valerie Gernhauser Episode 19 on The Wedding Biz @sapphireeventsweddings @sapphireevents
Find Matthew: Matthew Myhrum Event Visualization @matthew.myhrum @mmyhrum
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment
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| 31 Jul 2023 | 469 TAYLER CUSICK HOLLMAN: Utilizing Artificial Intelligence for Your Marketing Strategy | 00:39:02 | |
Get ready to welcome Tayler Cusick Hollman, marketing consultant, small business builder, and founder of Enji. Taking what she has learned over nearly a decade of helping small businesses with marketing to design and build a suite of online marketing tools that fits your lifestyle and makes sense for you, she joins Andy today to talk about the rise of artificial intelligence and how wedding planners can use it to their advantage! She delves into how artificial intelligence is starting to change the game when it comes to marketing our wedding businesses, and she talks us through some practical first steps we can take to build an effective marketing strategy as small business owners with limited time and resources. Andy and Tayler also dive into how AI tools like ChatGPT can specifically help us in three main ways, and even though these tools are very helpful, Tayler reminds us that we still need to review and edit any AI-generated content to ensure it meets our standards. It isn't foolproof – at least not yet. Ultimately, the most important takeaway here is that while AI offers opportunities to simplify tasks, couples still want to work with human experts who provide that personalized touch. With a sensible approach, AI tools can complement without replacing our services. This was such a thought-provoking and insightful conversation for Andy, and he really enjoyed talking with Tayler about both the pros and cons of adopting artificial intelligence. If you enjoy this conversation, please share it with colleagues. We suggest you subscribe to the podcast so that you never miss a new episode and to leave a top review. That really helps people find the show!
Have you heard about Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey on The Wedding Biz Network? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!
Time Stamps [0:00] – The sponsor of this episode is Zola. [0:20] - Have you, the listener, tried using any AI technology? [1:27] - We learn that today’s guest is Tayler Cusick Hollman of Enji. [3:04] - Tayler recommends adopting a narrow and realistic marketing strategy. [6:33] - A solid marketing strategy involves setting goals and understanding your customer. [9:09] - Tayler argues that creating an effective avatar is key to crafting the right message. [11:24] - Tayler offers a basic definition of AI. [16:07] - How can wedding pros use AI to support marketing efforts? [20:53] - Hear about how Andy experimented with an AI chatbot and what he discovered. [23:12] - Learn why businesses should never just copy and paste AI generated content. [27:09] - How will AI come to affect what couples expect? [30:03] - Tayler gives her opinion on SEO. [34:51] - Engineers are being paid to assess what the most effective AI prompts are. [37:08] - Tayler enthusiastically encourages us to reach out to her. [38:03] - Andy reminds us where we can find Tayler and Enji online.
Find Enji: Website
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
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| 04 Feb 2019 | 125 ANDY KUSHNER: Interviewed By Mary Swaffield of The Wedpreneur | 00:44:46 | |
Today it's all about Andy! For quite a while now, people have been asking him to air an interview about himself. Andy has been interviewed on many different podcasts, so today he decided to publish the most recent of these, with Mary Swaffield, of the Wedpreneur Podcast. Andy and Mary will be talking about what Andy has learned from all the amazing icons whom he has interviewed on The Wedding Biz Podcast. Mary asks Andy about the common threads in the more than seventy-five interviews he's done with some of the biggest names in the wedding and events’ industry. Andy addresses topics like cyclical struggles, dealing with anxiety and fear, and also his changing perspective about the way he views the business aspect of this highly creative industry. Show Highlights:
NOTE: This interview of Andy took place in November of 2018 and some information mentioned about The Next Level episodes has changed. It is now released on Wednesdays with varying guest co-hosts, all of whom are previous guests of The Wedding Biz.
Links and Resources: Recommended books: The Inner Game of Tennis, by W. Timothy Gallwey The Obstacle is the Way, by Ryan Holiday The Wedding Biz website: www.theweddingbiz.com The Wedding Biz on social media: Facebook Instagram Andy's entertainment site: www.kushnerentertainment.com Mary's website: www.thewedpreneur.com The following guest interviews, from The Wedding Biz, are referred to:
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| 03 Jul 2019 | 165 THE NEXT LEVEL: SEAN LOW Discusses Meryl Snow: Maximizing Sales, Consulting, And Feastivities Events | 00:16:51 | |
In this episode of The Next Level, Andy Kushner and guest co-host, Sean Low, discuss key topics from last Monday’s interview with Meryl Snow. Sean is a big-picture thinker who connects the dots for creative business owners to find high levels of success. On this episode of The Next Level, Sean and Andy discuss the way Meryl Snow built her business to where it is now. From becoming a trendsetter to creating a defined hiring practice, Meryl has built her business for ultimate success. Sean also chats about Meryl’s belief that traditional sales tactics no longer work, and those trained in sales should start from scratch. You won’t want to miss out on Sean’s insights into the many effective practices Meryl has put into place to build multiple successful businesses. Tune in to hear his take on her best practices. Show Highlights: [01:15] Andy recaps the work and accomplishments of Meryl Snow, the topic of this The Next Level episode. [02:04] Sean chats about how Meryl jumped in and did it herself and the courage she had in doing that. [04:08] Getting awards helped boost Meryl’s career, Sean discusses the efficacy of that strategy. [06:57] Andy shares the moments of doubt he experiences when business decisions don’t seem to pan out. [07:43] Sean reveals how to make the decision to pivot or change when things don’t seem to connect. [08:59] Being different is how you should work to sell your products and services to your potential clients. Per Meryl, traditional sales strategies no longer work. [12:04] Before you get to the selling, you need to connect with people. [13:18] Sean discusses Meryl’s strategy, while hiring, of first requiring every candidate to leave a voicemail with the reason they are the perfect fit for the company. LINKS: @theweddingbiz Meryl Snow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/merylsnow1/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meryl.snow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/merylsnow/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/merylsnows This Week’s Guest Co-Host, Sean Low Sean’s Websites: Sean’s Email - sean@thebusinessofbeingcreative.com LINKS & RESOURCES: SPONSOR LINKS Kushner Entertainment www.kushnerentertainment.com Quotes: “If you can’t get what you want, you just have to do it yourself” Meryl Snow “Getting external validation is always meaningful, and also using that platform whether you’ve got the external validation or not, to choose yourself so that you set trends are both consistent.” Sean Low “Everybody is on the front lines and everybody defines your company.” Sean Low | |||
| 14 Nov 2022 | 436 SARAH WINWARD: A Master Floral Designer’s Process and from Creativity Blooms Beauty | 00:32:12 | |
Andy is so excited to bring on today's guest, Sarah Winward! Sarah is based out of Salt Lake City and is a destination wedding florist who creates flower arrangements that are inspired by the changing of seasons in nature. Believing that flowers should feel natural in the environment in which they are going to be viewed, Still, she also finds many of her materials in the immediate area where the event will be held. Sarah primarily does flowers for events but also works on installations for private and commercial clients. She also offers various workshops and is a master of her craft! Sarah dives into various topics such as what her childhood was like and what her biggest hobbies were as a child, how an interest in weddings and events came about for her, what the process frequently looks like between her and her clients, what her biggest challenge often is and how she overcomes it, how she has managed to become so popular on social media, what her morning routine and evening routine look like, her love for nature, and so much more! Andy really appreciates Sarah's time and had a great time interviewing her. He hopes that you enjoy listening to it and also encourages you to check out her online courses available for purchase from If I Made. He would love it if you were to share this episode with a few people you know who might also enjoy it and would also appreciate it if you were to subscribe to the podcast if you aren't already so that you never miss a new episode! Be sure also to leave a top review wherever you listen because that really helps out the show and helps people find it!
This episode is sponsored by Zola, the fastest-growing wedding platform that connects today’s couples with the right planners and vendors. Zola gives wedding professionals more control, better exposure, and higher quality leads — all with competitive pricing and no annual commitment. Create your free listing at www.zola.com/andy.
Have you heard about Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey on The Wedding Biz Network? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!
Time Stamps [0:00] – Today's sponsor is Zola. [0:29] – We learn that today's guest is Sarah Winward. [2:02] – What were Sarah's hobbies as a child? [2:50] – Andy refers to a quote from Sarah's website. [5:54] – Learn how an interest in weddings and events developed for Sarah. [8:14] – Sarah explains how she learned to handle the business side of things. [9:44] – Sarah walks us through her usual process with clients. [11:00] – Sarah reveals how she is usually inspired. [14:10] – Learn why Sarah lets clients in on what she is seeing. [16:43] – Sarah gives us an example of a memorable experience with a client. [19:08] – Sarah identifies weather as frequently being her most significant obstacle. [22:04] – Sarah is very appreciative of her team. [23:43] – Hear about Sarah's approach to social media. [25:39] – We are given advice, such as being true to ourselves. [27:30] – Sarah discusses her morning routine. [28:59] – Sarah describes her evening routine. [31:19] – Andy reveals where we can find Sarah online.
RESOURCES Sarah’s Ultimate Guide to Floral Design Course
Find Sarah:
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
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| 14 May 2018 | 55 THE STAR-STUDDED ANNIVERSARY SHOW: Celebrating One Year of The Wedding Biz | 00:41:21 | |
It hardly seems possible that today’s show is the celebration of the One Year Anniversary of The Wedding Biz podcast! When Andy started the show a year ago, he began as a passion project, but since that time, it has turned into so much more! Andy knew he wanted his podcast to be different, and he certainly accomplished that. One of the things that makes The Wedding Biz so unique is that Andy only does interviews in person. So for the past year, he has visited the homes, offices, and event venues with his guests, in order to sit down and conduct a face to face interview. Andy says it’s one of his secrets to making a real connection with his guests!
Listen to the episode as Andy introduces you to his team - Marketing Director, Melissa Fancy, and Director of Strategic Partnerships, Christy Haussler. Together they share their favorite things about the show, re-live some highlights of their favorites guests on the show, and they also reveal the strategic direction of the podcast of 2018 and beyond!
This star-studded show also features some heartfelt congratulations from some of our favorite guests. Be sure to listen to this episode to get this behind the scenes look at The Wedding Biz! | |||
| 22 Aug 2022 | 425 JACK EZON: Navigating Today's Travel Market | 00:18:53 | |
Jack Ezon, C.E.O. and managing partner of EMBARK Beyond, returns to the podcast to talk with Andy about where he is today in the travel industry. Embark Beyond is a luxury lifestyle partnership that specializes in bespoke travel experiences. They have the ability to access royal palaces, private homes, luxury yachts, global landmarks, and more, and they negotiate hotel, air, and other components related to travel. EMBARK Beyond ultimately acts as a full concierge service to develop the perfect itinerary in the world's most sought-after destinations. Jack reflects on the travel industry and its current status right now with COVID-19 still being a problem. He gives some helpful tips and advice such as to be sure to buy travel insurance and to ship luggage rather than travel with it in anticipation of something possibly going wrong. He also talks about the importance of emotional impact when it comes to clients' trips and how loyal customers are drawn toward heart, not money, gives an example of a recent wedding that involved emotional impact, and so much more! This conversation is chock full of great advice in such a brief period of time, and Andy, as always, had a great time chatting with Jack! He would really appreciate it if you would share this episode of the podcast with a few people you know who might also enjoy it! Andy would also be grateful if you were to subscribe to the podcast if you aren't already and to leave a top review wherever you listen! That really helps out the show and helps people find it!
This episode is sponsored by Zola, the fastest-growing wedding platform that connects today’s couples with the right planners and vendors. Zola gives wedding professionals more control, better exposure, and higher quality leads — all with competitive pricing and no annual commitment. Create your free listing at www.zola.com/andy.
Have you heard about Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey on The Wedding Biz Network? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!
Time Stamps [0:00] – Zola is this episode's sponsor. [0:48] – Andy just got back from a trip to Park City, Utah and then Colorado. [1:27] – We learn that today's guest is Jack Ezon of EMBARK Beyond. [2:42] – Jack offers his opinion on the overall status of travel right now. [3:46] – We are advised to buy flight insurance. [5:33] – Jack encourages travelers to go to unexpected places. [7:06] – Jack discusses the importance of emotional impact. [8:28] – Learn about current trends in the travel industry. [11:22] – Jack argues that there has never been a better time to be in this industry. [12:54] – Jack reflects on failures and risks over the last year. [14:49] – Hear a story about a recent wedding that involved emotional impact. [16:09] – Jack touches upon how planners can best use Embark Beyond's resources. [17:47] – Andy shares where we can find EMBARK Beyond online.
RESOURCES The Wedding Biz - Episode 379 JACK EZON: Bespoke Travel & A Risk-Taking Entrepreneur
Find Jack: EMBARK Beyond – Website
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
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| 02 May 2022 | 411 REVISIT BRETT CULP: Obstacle Or Opportunity | 00:44:11 | |
What does leadership mean to you? Leadership has many meanings, and everyone may have their own perspective on it. Today’s guest, Brett Culp, has a wonderful point of view on leadership and has built an amazing foundation for his life. Brett had a very successful career as a videographer in the lux wedding market, for ten years, until the recession of 2008 forced him to pivot. Now a filmmaker and keynote speaker, Brett Culp films is based out of Tampa FL. He also is an author, and produces short films such as “How to stay positive when the world feels negative.” Brett has 3 main key elements he has come up with to live by, do great work, show it to lots of people, and be really nice. Join us today as we learn that people love to work with people they like.
Show Highlights:
Resources: Brett Culp Website Facebook and Instagram: brettculpfilms Twitter: brettculp Overview of Brett’s work/career - https://vimeo.com/289128900 Clip from one of Brett’s keynotes - https://vimeo.com/278802855 Trailer for Brett’s new film, Look to the Sky: https://vimeo.com/risinghero/supermanisreal Connect with The Wedding Biz: Instagram & Facebook: @weddingbizshow On The Wedding Biz Network: The Stylish Bride with Julie Sabatino Our Sponsors: Sponsor: OFD Consulting Website Sponsor: Kushner Entertainment Website
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| 04 Oct 2021 | 383 REVISIT MINDY WEISS: Setting the Standard | 01:07:59 | |
Mindy Weiss is a force in the high-end wedding and event planning business. Since her early beginnings, she has delighted celebrity and non-celebrity clients alike with her ability to build meaningful relationships every step of the way. On this episode, Mindy shares her wealth of knowledge about what it’s like to maintain an A-List clientele. But while there certainly are additional factors to consider when planning luxury events for celebrities, Mindy’s insights from years of experience working with families and couples are applicable to anyone in the event planning industry. From getting to truly know your clients-- both financially and personally-- to how you might be able to successfully evade the paparazzi, Mindy Weiss dives in with honesty and humor to share her wisdom on this episode. About Mindy: Mindy Weiss is based in Beverly Hills and is the best-selling author of 3 books: The Wedding Book, The New Mindy Weiss Wedding Organizer, and The Baby Keepsake Book and Planner. She is also a product innovator and spokesperson, planning celebrations all over the world for celebrity clients like Fergie, Ellen Degeneres, Pink, Jessica Simpson, Serena Williams, and Heidi Klum, among many others. Show Highlights:
Links Mentioned in the Show: Mindy Weiss on Instagram - @mindyweiss and @under30over50 Vow To Be Chic - The Mindy Bridesmaid Dress The Wedding Book by Mindy Weiss The New Mindy Weiss Wedding Organizer | |||
| 15 Apr 2019 | 143 RISHI PATEL: CEO of HMR Designs | 00:51:38 | |
“Luxury does not come without service. Service is luxury.” Today, CEO of HMR Designs, Rishi Patel, talks about how service and luxury work cohesively to create astonishing events and a mutually fulfilling experience for the client and their designers.
In this episode, Andy and Rishi focus on establishing connections, finding your position in life and in your career, and how to showcase your work. Join this week’s lighthearted and educational conversation on The Wedding Biz for tips on how you can catapult your career.
Show Highlights:
HMR DESIGN LINKS Website: hmrdesigns.com Instagram: @hmrdesigns Rishi’s Instagram: @rishithedesigner Facebook: @hmrdesignschicago Twitter: @HMR_Designs
THE WEDDING BIZ LINKS The Wedding Biz Website The Wedding Biz Instagram The Wedding Biz Facebook
SPONSOR LINKS OFD Consulting www.ofdconsulting.com Kushner Entertainment www.kushnerentertainment.com | |||
| 17 Apr 2019 | 144 THE NEXT LEVEL: Rishi Patel: CEO of HMR Designs | 00:17:30 | |
Join Andy Kushner and guest co-host, Jennifer Stein, Editor-In-Chief of Destination I Do Magazine, in today’s episode of The Next Level! Today Andy and Jennifer discuss key topics from last week’s interview of event planner and designer, Rishi Patel, CEO of HMR Designs. Jennifer Stein is also the Co-Founder of Destination I Do Magazine, the premier magazine for Destination Weddings. It was Jennifer’s own desire to have a destination wedding that led her to the destination wedding industry! From the luxury of service, establishing client relationships, and focusing on the present, this episode provides tangible advice to reflect on and implement in your own business. To hear more about Rishi’s interview tune into this episode of The Next Level.
Show Highlights:
RISHI’S LINKS
HMR DESIGN LINKS Website: hmrdesigns.com Instagram: @hmrdesigns Rishi’s Instagram: @rishithedesigner Facebook: @hmrdesignschicago Twitter: @HMR_Designs
JENNIFER’S LINKS https://destinationido.com/blog IG, Twitter, Pinterest: @DestinationIDo Facebook: DestinationIdomag
THE WEDDING BIZ LINKS The Wedding Biz Website The Wedding Biz Instagram The Wedding Biz Facebook
SPONSOR LINKS OFD Consulting www.ofdconsulting.com Kushner Entertainment www.kushnerentertainment.com
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| 19 Jun 2020 | 268 ALAN SHUKOVSKY: Protocols for Running Events During the Covid-19 Pandemic | 00:35:57 | |
Alan Shukovsky is located in NYC and is the Executive Director of Event Sales & Marketing for Glasshouses, which has new venues in NYC, including The Glasshouse, the highly anticipated new venue with a capacity of 1,850 located on the west side of the city. He is a member of a Manhattan-based task force for events and catering in NYC. The task force is made up of 30 plus of some of the most prominent properties and local event professionals in the City. Their purpose was essentially to collaborate and create a system of protocols, checks and balances, for running events during and after the Covid-19 pandemic and for both event professionals and their clients to feel safe. At a minimum, listening to this conversation will give you a host of important issues and ideas to think about. Below are the documents that resulted. Links: https://theglasshouses.com/ @the.glasshouses on Instagram | |||
| 29 Apr 2020 | 251 THE NEXT LEVEL: NAYRI KALAYJIAN discusses MONTE DURHAM - Star with TLC’s Say Yes To The Dress Atlanta | 00:14:21 | |
Picking a wedding dress is hard, and you need an expert to make sure you look and feel your best. Listen as Andy and Nayri discuss Monte Durham, his humble upbringing, his great success as a fashion expert and TV star, and his love of being a hairstylist. Nayri Kalayjian is a wedding fashion expert with Lovella Bridal, she is also a best-selling author, celebrity stylist, and she coaches and educates with a series of fantastic online courses. Monte is a very successful fashion expert and one of the stars of TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress, Atlanta, where he had been the fashion director at Bridal’s By Lori, the south's premier bridal salon. Monte is also getting ready to launch a new reality show and open a new hair salon. Listen, as Andy and Nayri speak about her ability to gain a bride’s trust quickly, how location sets the tone sometimes but how she feels a bride should be able to wear the dress she feels most beautiful in no matter the place. They also talk about how the front of the dress is more important than a plunging back and train when it comes to wedding photographs. Nayri shares who she believes brides should bring with them when picking out a dress and how excited she is for every good thing that is coming Monte’s way. Nayri has known Monte for a long time and has even worked with him. Listen as she shares some things about him that you might not know. SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show: For as little as $6 per month, or $0.75 per episode, are you willing to support the industry insights Andy brings on his podcast? If you are so inspired: contribute.
Show Highlights:
Find Monte: Monte’s Hair Care line, available on Amazon. @montedurham @therealmontedurham
This Week's Guest Co-Host, Nayri Kalayjian, of Lovella Bridal @weddingfashionexpert Instagram | YouTube | Facebook @lovellabridal Instagram | Twitter | Facebook @lovellabridalplus
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment | |||
| 03 Jun 2020 | 262 THE NEXT LEVEL: HEATH ALAN RAY discusses NEILLIE BUTLER, Delivering a Bride’s Vision & More | 00:15:56 | |
Listen, as Andy and Heath Alan Ray discuss Neillie's insights into having different streams of income under one umbrella, how using this pause for the pandemic to reassess your company can be beneficial and much more. Heath is the owner and Creative Director of Jackson Durham, a full-scale event design house. Neillie Butler is the Founder of Mariee Ami, a multimillion-dollar wedding and event planning firm in the Southeast. Ami a Vie, their new lifestyle brand, extends their community beyond their clients by engaging blog content, social media, and an online shop of entertaining artisanal essentials. Listen, as Heath shares how his company is using the downtime to reorganize and downsize inventory. They discuss Neillie's pricing model and how using a percentage-based model instead of a flat rate model allows for better cash flow and budget distribution. Do you ever caption your pictures on Instagram? Andy and Heath talk about how this is an enormous part of what Neillie does on social media. Instead of just posting a picture, she adds a caption to enhance the emotional impact so you can feel the meaning behind the image. Heath and Andy have a great conversation about Neillie that you won't want to miss. Look for Andy's new podcast network called The Wedding Biz Network, where he produces podcasts from creatives in the industry. SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy’s work and the show: For as little as $6 per month, or $0.75 per episode, are you willing to support the industry insights Andy brings on his podcast? If you are so inspired: contribute.
Show Highlights:
Find Nellie @mariee_ami Instagram | Pinterest | LinkedIn @marieeamiweddingplanningstudio
This Week's Guest Co-Host, Heath Alan Ray - Owner and Creative Director of Jackson Durham Events @jacksondurham @jacksondurhamevents
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by PartySlate - the first website designed specifically for event professionals and venues! | |||
| 07 May 2018 | 54 THE NEXT LEVEL: David Tutera: Finding True Success in Self-Reinvention | 00:17:53 | |
In this companion episode of David Tutera's interview, Andy and Melissa Fancy take a deeper dive into the strategies that David shared. David insists that you don't have to love your clients, as long as you love what you do for your clients. This concept and many more are discussed in this episode of THE NEXT LEVEL! Don't forget to visit the website - www.theweddingbiz.com and sign up for the additional information to help grow your business!
Previous Episodes Mentioned: | |||
| 13 Feb 2019 | 127 THE NEXT LEVEL: Cindy Novotny: Part 2 Master Connection Associates | 00:25:17 | |
Having a set expectation of goals implemented is important for any company. This structure helps eliminate losing direction and the impact of confrontation. In today’s episode, Andy and renowned New York City based event producer and designer, David Stark discuss this week’s episode with Cindy Novotny. Their commentary covers advice Cindy shared on how to embrace confrontation, creating unification in the workplace, how to set prices, and combatting fear. Tune into this episode of The Next Level with Andy Kushner and David Stark to embark on your own journey in changing the culture of your business.
Show Highlights:
Links:
Master Connection Associates Website Cindy’s Instagram
GUEST CO-HOST LINKS, DAVID STARK
SPONSOR LINKS OFD Consulting www.ofdconsulting.com Kushner Entertainment www.kushnerentertainment.com
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| 20 Feb 2023 | 448 LEWIS MILLER: Dealing with Burnout, Grounding Yourself, and the Business Versus the Creative | 00:25:40 | |
Second-time guest Lewis Miller is the founder of Lewis Miller Design based out of New York City, and he has over 242,000 followers on Instagram as of today. He is a floral designer whose client list includes leading industry professionals in fashion, design, photography, art direction, and architecture such as Bulgari, Carolina Herrera, Mayor Blumberg, Chanel, Tiffany, Versace, Bergdorf Goodman, the Whitney Museum, and more. The last time that Lewis was on the show was in September of 2020 when we were still very much in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic, so he talks today about some updates and new developments since then. He discusses his book Flower Flash, what his flower flashes are and why he began them, what he learned about himself and his business because of the pandemic, whether or not he plans to take on a business partner, how he thrives when challenged, and so much more! Andy is really grateful to Lewis for coming back to the show and hopes to touch base with him again in the future. If you enjoy this interview with Lewis, please don’t keep it to yourself! Andy would be so appreciative if you would share this episode with a few people you know who might also enjoy it and would also be grateful if you were to subscribe to the podcast if you aren't already so that you never miss a new episode! Be sure to also leave a top review wherever you listen because that really helps out the show and helps people find it!
This episode is sponsored by Zola, the fastest-growing wedding platform that connects today’s couples with the right planners and vendors. Zola gives wedding professionals more control, better exposure, and higher quality leads - all with competitive pricing and no annual commitment. Create your free listing at www.zola.com/andy.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!
Time Stamps [0:00] – Today's sponsor is Zola. [0:42] - Andy reveals that today’s guest is returning guest Lewis Miller of Lewis Miller Design. [2:25] - Learn a little bit about Lewis’ book Flower Flash. [3:08] - Lewis provides a summary of what his flower flashes are. [5:41] - Flowers, Lewis argues, have the power to bring people joy. [6:31] - What did Lewis learn about himself and his business because of COVID? [9:39] - Lewis does not allow himself to experience burnout. [11:02] - Lewis explains why he could use a business partner. [14:00] - Discover how long Lewis has been in business. [14:50] - Lewis touches upon when he is least happiest. [16:54] - Lewis discusses what he needs to stay grounded. [19:23] - The second half of 2021 was especially difficult for Lewis. [21:44] - What about the future excites Lewis? [25:05] - Andy reveals where you can find Lewis online.
RESOURCES The Wedding Biz - Episode 292 LEWIS MILLER - The “Banksy of Floral Design”
Find Lewis: Lewis Miller Design - Website
The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
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| 01 Nov 2021 | 387 REVISIT EDDIE ZARATSIAN: Experiential Events to Delight the Senses | 01:01:50 | |
If you’ve never had the joy of working with a designer who absolutely lives to utterly delight their client, then you will find this interview with today’s guest, Eddie Zaratsian a breath a fresh air. Eddie’s abundant energy and passion for creating a feast for the senses, allows him to reflect the very essence of his clients in an unimaginable way. Eddie Zaratsian is the Owner of Eddie Zaratsian Lifestyle and Design. Eddie was born in Armenia and came to the US when he was 5 years old. He watched his parents arrive in the US, unable to speak English, without the promise of a career, and yet they were determined to pursue their dreams. The family arrived in Hollywood and built the life they had dreamed of. Eventually, Eddie started his own business that evolved over time and became a luxury lifestyle and design company serving A-list clients and creating events that cultivate a sense of wonder and delight the senses-both for the clients and their guests. Show Highlights:
[embed]https://vimeo.com/159132188[/embed] Resources: Eddie on Facebook Eddie on Twitter Eddie on Pinterest Eddie on LinkedIn This show is sponsored by Valerie Gernhauser of Sapphire Events:Valerie's Pricing for Profit Course is launching soon and she's offering a special discount for The Wedding Biz listeners! Get $250 off the price of the course by signing up at theweddingbiz.com/sapphiresessions to get your discount today! To learn more about Valerie's philosophy of pricing and the exact structure she uses, listen to her interview on The Wedding Biz here. | |||
| 21 May 2018 | 56 HARMONY WALTON: The Bridal Bar and Jet Fete | 01:09:58 | |
It takes but a moment to see that Harmony Walton’s path to success had everything to do with how she handled perceived challenges along the way. Her career is marked by her own fearless ability to focus on giving direction to her dreams and focus on doing work that she loved and would succeed at. She credits her work with a well-known Hollywood Celebrity as the best training she could have had, especially when it comes to high touch client service.
About Harmony:
Harmony Walton is the founder of The Bridal Bar and a luxury destination wedding and honeymoon blog, Jet Fete. She hosts Bridal Bar Radio, powered by Clear Channel, airing weekly and on demand at iHeart Radio. Since it’s inception, The Bridal Bar has been featured in over 100 media outlets, including The New Yorker, The NY Times, Entertainment Tonight, People magazine, Martha Steward Weddings, US Weekly, and many, many more. She also has over a decade in marketing, consulting, and brand-representation experience in the luxury wedding industry. Some of her celebrity clientele include Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Kendra Wilkinson and Hank Baskett, and Katherine Heigl and Josh Kelly. As a wedding business consultant and wedding expert, she speaks frequently worldwide to both consumers and companies.
Show Highlights:
Resources:
Find Bridal Bar on iHeart Radio | |||
| 21 Jan 2019 | 121 JULIE NOVACK: PartySlate & Building A Venture-Capital Backed Business | 00:50:48 | |
There are many digital platforms that provide inspiration for designing and organizing events, however, PartySlate is an especially curated platform, using images, that offers such inspiration and connections to local professionals. Creating such a well-orchestrated and impactful company is no small feat, which is what makes building this creative source so impressive. Julie Novack is not only the mastermind and CEO behind PartySlate, but also has 20 years of marketing experience working for top tier digital agencies. Join us in this episode of The Wedding Biz with Andy Kushner to learn more about raising venture capital, building a digital platform, and how to expand and continue to stay relevant. And check out The Next Level episode, releasing Wednesday, in which Andy and guest co-host Sean Low, of The Business Of Being Creative, discuss Julie’s interview. Show Highlights:
Links: Website: www.partyslate.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/partyslate Facebook: www.facebook.com/partyslate YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7vBiL-EVCr_Xjbm5I-y9cg
Sponsors Sponsor: OFD Consulting www.ofdconsulting.com Sponsor: Kushner Entertainment www.kushnerentertainment.com
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| 17 Jul 2019 | 169 THE NEXT LEVEL: JES GORDON Discusses DARREN OLARSCH, Creating the Ultimate Music and Entertainment for Events! | 00:17:00 | |
In this episode of The Next Level, Andy and Jes Gordon, the rockstar event producer, chat about Darren Olarsch’s interview on The Wedding Biz. Jes has been involved in planning and visualizing top tier events for huge companies and has a lot to say about the space. Listen in to hear her input on the live music scene for occasions and how passion is the driver of business.
Andy and Jess dive deep into the need for, and the push towards, live music and how a hybrid model of a particular type of live music and DJ entertainment is a key to capturing our short attention spans. Many event planners and organizers enter the space as a way of life and that passion is what makes them great. Learn more on this episode!
Show Highlights:
LINKS: @theweddingbiz
Darren Olarsch Darren on Instagram
This Week’s Guest Co-Host Jes’s Website: www.jesgordon.com Jes’s episode on The Wedding Biz: Jes’s interview on The Wedding Biz
LINKS & RESOURCES:
SPONSOR LINKS Kushner Entertainment www.kushnerentertainment.com | |||
| 08 Mar 2021 | 338 LISA ZACHERY: Embodying True Passion in Stationery | 00:34:24 | |
"Imagine your dreams on paper, imagine being able to embody true passion in stationery." Listen as Andy and his guest Lisa Zachery discuss the meaning behind this quote, her passion for stationery, her belief that invitations set the tone for the event you are having, plus much more on this episode of The Wedding Biz.
Lisa is the CEO and Creative Director of Papered Wonders. As stationers, they design, create and produce exquisite wedding stationery that represents the love and passion shared by the couple. All of their designs are unique and share a piece of the love story unfolding during the time leading up to the wedding. Papered Wonders is also a custom design and print studio, and Lisa also assists other business owners in crafting their best look on paper and other collateral.
Listen as Lisa shares her process for designing invitations that showcase the couple's love, how they use favors to imbed the wedding memory into each guest's hearts and what inspires her to pick the right font, graphics, color, etc. Lisa also helps other creatives rebrand their businesses because she believes that branding is ever-evolving, and as a company grows, its story changes.
Lisa discusses needing more diversity in the industry and the need for more women in power everywhere. She gives advice on what to look for when finding a wedding planner and someone to design wedding invitations because they all need to work together to create the best experience for the couple.
Have you heard about the brand new show on The Wedding Biz Network, Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show: If you are so inspired: contribute.
Show Highlights: [01:54] Welcome to the show, Lisa! [02:25] Lisa shares what inspired the quote, "Imagine your dreams on paper, imagine being able to embody true passion in stationery." [04:55] Lisa discusses her transition from her corporate job to owning her own business. [06:25] Why she specializes in the wedding industry. [08:24] Lisa speaks about the process they use to design invitations that showcase the couple's love. [10:43] Lisa shares how they use favors to imbed the wedding memory into the heart of each guest. [12:00] What inspires you to pick the right font, colors, graphics, etc.? [13:53] Lisa discusses how they help other creatives rebrand their businesses. [16:10] Brands are always evolving because as companies grow, their stories change. [18:28] What topics do you talk about when you are asked to speak at conferences? [20:40] Lisa discusses diversity and the need for more women in power. [23:03] Did you know that Engage is recognized as one of the most well-attended conferences in the wedding industry? [26:46] Lisa shares her view on what couples should look for when finding someone to do their wedding invitations. [29:28] Lisa gives some things to look for when looking for a planner for your wedding. [31:06] Lisa talks about shirts in her shop that say Black Event Professionals Matter and the challenge to build teams with more diversity. [32:53] Thank you for being on the show!
RESOURCES
Find Lisa: @paperedwonders Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest @paperedwondersinc
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by PartySlate - the first website designed specifically for event professionals and venues!
Mentioned: Simon T. Bailey Episode 46 on The Wedding Biz Simon T. Bailey Episode 272 on The Wedding Biz Rebecca Grinnals & Katheryn Arce Episode 1 on The Wedding Biz | |||
| 18 Dec 2019 | 213 THE NEXT LEVEL: CARRIE GOLDBERG discusses RIME ARODAKY & GREG FINCK - Bridal House For Rebel Goddesses | 00:16:03 | |
Andy is speaking with Carrie Goldberg on this episode of The Next Level. Carrie is the Travel and Weddings Director at Harpers Bazaar. She oversees all things, bridal, weddings, and travel for Bazaar.com. Carrie is also responsible for content strategy and visuals for Bazaar's digital travel and wedding verticals, and is the editor of Bazaar's new program called Bazaar Brides. Rime is a wonderful designer whose company is known as the “bridal house for rebel goddesses.” Greg has been running the business side of Rime's business as her general manager for a little over a year, and they are engaged. Greg is a wonderfull photographer who was interviewed on The Wedding Biz this past October. Carrie and Andy speak about the edge that Rime’s designs have, the different types of brides designers face, and how sometimes planners can focus on the person writing the check and not the bride herself. They also chat about the inherent issues with business that creative people can sometimes have and the challenges that can test your partnership in business and life. Do you use Instagram to market your business? Listen as Carrie and Andy talk about the benefits of Instagram, how it should be a part of every marketing campaign, and how your posts and direct messages should be authentic and personal. Enjoy this episode as they bring to life the thoughts and ideas of Rime and Greg.
Show Highlights:
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment
How to Find Rime @rimearodaky @rimearodakyparis Rime on Vimeo
How to Find Greg Greg on Vimeo Greg’s Website Greg’s Workshop Greg@gregfinck on Instagram Greg@gregfinckphotographie on Facebook
This Week's Guest Co-Host, Carrie Goldberg, Travel and Wedding Director at Harpers Bazaar Carrie on Instagram: @harpersbazaarus or @carrielauren Email Carrie: carrielgoldberg.com Harpers Bazaar Bride Membership
Mentioned Greg Finck on The Wedding Biz Laurie Arons on The Wedding Biz Jose Villa on The Wedding Biz | |||
| 15 Apr 2024 | 500 JENNIFER STEIN: Building Destination Dreams: Two Decades of Wedding Industry Resilience | 00:33:06 | |
Returning to the podcast this week is none other than Jennifer Stein, editor-in-chief, publisher, and co-owner of Destination I Do Magazine, a magazine that can be found online and on newsstands. Jennifer joins Andy today to explore the journey of building a renowned brand in the destination wedding industry, sharing how she and her business partner started Destination I Do twenty years ago to fill a gap in the wedding industry by showcasing real couples celebrating their destination weddings worldwide. From humble beginnings with an amateurish first issue to becoming sought-after across various platforms, Jennifer reveals the challenges they faced, including financial struggles and burnout. Despite setbacks, they persevered, eventually turning a profit after three years of hard work and reinvestment. She also discusses their staffing approach, emphasizing flexibility with independent contractors and prioritizing long-term relationships. She shares insights into their decision not to use virtual assistants and how they adapted during the pandemic by listening to clients’ needs and offering tailored solutions. With destination weddings making a strong comeback post-pandemic, Jennifer reflects on the industry's resilience and the evolving trends that she is observing. Throughout the interview, Jennifer's passion for storytelling and commitment to serving her clients shine through, highlighting the invaluable lessons learned over two decades in the business. Andy had such a great time having her back on the show, especially since he feels that their conversations together are always especially animated and electric! If you enjoy this conversation with Jennifer Stein, then please don’t keep it to yourself! Share it with a few good friends and industry colleagues who might also enjoy it! Andy would also appreciate it if you were to leave a top review wherever you listen to the show because that really helps the show out! Lastly, don’t forget to follow The Wedding Biz on Instagram and subscribe to the podcast so that you never miss a new episode when it drops!
Have you heard about Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey on The Wedding Biz Network? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!
Time Stamps [0:00] - This is episode 500, and Andy expresses gratitude for all of his loyal listeners! [0:51] - Today’s guest is returning guest Jennifer Stein of Destination I Do! [2:44] - Launching Destination I Do filled a gap for couples seeking more than tropical destinations. [4:23] - How long was it before Jennifer turned a profit? [5:55] - Jennifer touches upon how initial setbacks led to learning from mistakes, paving the way for eventual success and growth. [8:06] - Jennifer reveals how limited resources led to self-financing without investors or loans, navigating challenges like the mortgage crisis. [10:38] - Flexible staffing, Jennifer explains, includes hiring contractors for roles like sales, creating long-term mutual relationships. [13:08] - Hear why Jennifer prefers not to use virtual assistants. [15:24] - Jennifer nearly sold her business three times, prioritizing buyers who understand the wedding industry intricacies. [16:34] - Despite setbacks and burnout, Jennifer avoided selling her company, realizing buyers misunderstood her situation and intentions. [19:31] - Jennifer's realization in 2020 prompted her to pay herself what she's worth. [20:53] - Andy reflects on a time when he felt burnt out and found relief by getting a business partner, re-energizing him for success. [23:33] - Amid the 2020 pandemic, Jennifer prioritized client needs, offering assets and support and fostering valuable partnerships. [26:05] - Jennifer shares how she and Harmony Walton revamped projects, enhancing storytelling and revenue. [28:57] - Jennifer, a Gen Xer, learned that success isn't instant, facing setbacks but finding joy in victories. [31:09] - Jennifer strongly feels that destination weddings are back with a vengeance! [32:27] - Learn from Andy where Destination I Do can be found online.
LINKS AND RESOURCES Jennifer’s Previous Guest Spots on The Wedding Biz
Find Jennifer:
Destination I Do – Facebook Page
Destination I Do – Instagram Page
Destination I Do – Twitter Page
Destination I Do – Pinterest Page
The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
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| 09 Jul 2018 | 68 MARK HELD: A Lifetime Of Floral Innovation | 00:42:15 | |
Mark Held didn’t originally see himself as a florist. His first arrangement-- a project assigned to him at summer camp as a young boy-- turned out to be poison ivy. But after a successful dance and theater career as a young adult, Mark wanted to continue his creative expression. His partner, Richard David, had just the outlet: a flower shop he was opening up. And he convinced Mark to join him for a bit. At the time, Mark thought it would be a temporary arrangement.
Fast forward a couple decades, and Mark Held is a prominent name in floristry. As a grounded, creative mind, he believes that flowers “breathe life into events” and is always looking forward to the future of his business and clients.
In this episode, Mark shares his perspective on career development, crafting a quality event, and the way he navigates the Hollywood scene as a professional florist.
About Mark
Born in Chicago, Mark Held is the son of a preacher and attended the University of Redlands in California.
Together with Richard David, Mark Held created Mark’s Garden, which is a self-described “part retail flower shop and part creative design studio”. Mark’s team has crafted floral design for the Academy Awards Governors Ball for the past 24 years, plus Television Emmy Awards, Golden Globes Awards, top level civic events and a long list of celebrity weddings including Fergie and Josh Duhamel, Pink, Gwen Stefani, Heidi Klum, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Simpson, and Adam Sandler, among others.
Mark is also the co-author of a book titled, Fabulous Parties: Food and Flowers for Elegant Entertaining.
Show Highlights:
Links Mentioned in the Show:
Mark’s Garden Instagram - @marksgarden
Mark’s book - Fabulous Parties: Food and Flowers for Fabulous Entertaining
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| 23 Apr 2018 | 50 RAYSHUN LAMARR: The Voice Finalist Who Honed His Talents as a Wedding Entertainer | 01:24:41 | |
| 02 Jan 2023 | 441 REVISIT PRESTON BAILEY: Designer for the Ages | 00:52:20 | |
The year is 1980. The place is New York City, and the person is Preston Bailey, who at the time was just looking for a way to pay the bills and not get evicted from his apartment. What started as a small-time floral business blossomed into what we know as Preston Bailey’s immaculate and stunning work. For Preston, it’s been a long journey to get to the top tier of wedding and event designing. He’s had to overcome challenges and obstacles, both personally and professionally, including drug addiction and taking his business and clients more seriously, but at 68 years young, Preston’s career is far from the home stretch, as he’s still as passionate about pushing boundaries and discovering new designs as he’s ever been. In this illuminating interview, Andy and Preston explore Preston’s meandering path to present. The two discuss his most life-changing moment back in 1990, how Preston truly wows guests with his decor and designs, and how he orchestrates his own work to be in perfect synchronicity with all the other moving parts of an event.
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| 08 Feb 2020 | 224 BRUCE RUSSELL: The Winding Road to Becoming an Elite Planner/Designer | 00:48:59 | |
“An event is theatrical, and it’s more than just a wedding or an event; it brings people together.” This is what fuels the passion that Bruce Russell has for planning weddings and events. His goal with each event is to produce the most memorable experience possible. Listen as he shares how he started in the industry and his journey to success.
Bruce is the owner and managing director of By Bruce Russell, based in London. He is a planner, designer and coordinates wedding parties and other events around the globe. He was awarded Best Wedding Planner by Belle International Bridal Awards and has been featured in International Publications such as Brides, Mayfair Magazine, and Hello Fashion, to name a few. He is the co-star of RTE Ireland’s production of My Big Day: Home or Away, with Tara Fay, and has appeared on many other TV shows.
Bruce shares his journey of growing up in a small fishing village in Nova Scotia to New York after 9/11 to end up in London. He speaks about leaving his corporate job, starting his event business, and the creative way he got his first clients plus the recognition that he needed. Bruce also talks about his process with prospective new clients and making sure that they understand how he works.
Listen in as they discuss Bruce and Tara Fay’s TV show My Big Day: Home or Away, what it’s like to have a camera follow you around, and how the two co-stars get along on and off the show. They also talk about Bruce and Tara’s YouTube channel, and how they are helping people with questions they don’t know to ask. Bruce is one of those guys who doesn’t take anything for granted and is a joy to listen to so you don’t want to miss this episode.
Show Highlights: [02:23] Bruce, welcome to the show from Engage in Mexico. [03:00] Bruce shares his upbringing in a tiny fishing village in Nova Scotia. [05:02] In school, did you do anything that led you toward the career you have today? [07:17] Bruce chats about working at a hotel after college for fifteen years, moving around the world with the Fairmont chain, and ending up in New York after 9/11. [09:33] How did you end up in London? [12:24] Bruce enjoyed hosting and entertaining people so much that he decided to launch his own event planning business. [13:45] Were you scared to leave the corporate job and start your own business? [15:20] Bruce shares how he used his previous contacts at the Savoy Hotel to get his first wedding clients and get his name out there. [17:52] Bruce says that an event is theatrical, and it’s more than just a wedding or an event. It’s bringing people together. [19:10] Bruce chats about his process when consulting with a prospective new client. [22:22] Bruce believes that weddings are when couples are making their most significant financial decisions with their emotions. [25:46] Bruce shares a story about a wedding he did in Marrakesh, which started the destination wedding side of his business. [28:15] How do you go about finding local experts whom you can trust? [29:44] Bruce chats about flow and entertainment and what he means by that. [30:48] He gives us an example of an event where the flow was interrupted, but the guests were so entertained that they never noticed. [35:13] Since wedding planning is one of the top ten most stressful, how do you handle the stress? Does stress keep you focused? [37:26] Bruce speaks about the TV show he hosts with Tara Fay and the concept of the show. [40:40] Bruce tells us that he and Tara are experts, not influencers; they are trying to educate people on how to do things well. [41:04] What is it like having a camera follow you around everywhere? [43:55] Bruce chats about the new YouTube channel that he and Tara have to help people with things they don’t think to ask. [45:04] Bruce shares how he balances everything he has on his plate. [46:52] Thank you so much for being on the show, Bruce!
LINKS & RESOURCES Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment
Find Bruce: @bybrucerussell Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest
Mentioned: Tara Fay | |||
| 02 Apr 2018 | 47 PETER CALLAHAN: Embracing Creativity to Lead an Inspired Life | 00:57:53 | |
Peter Callahan almost didn’t become a world-famous caterer. Growing up around successful finance businessmen, he felt as if that was his destiny and attended undergraduate programs for business.
But with every elaborate party Peter designed and catered in college, he learned more about crafting incredible experiences through creativity and food.
It would still take him multiple failed college classes and several more years to finally make the leap from a career as a precious metals bonds trader, but at 26 he left to start his own food business and has never looked back.
In his adult life, Peter embraced his creativity and learned it’s never too late to start doing more of what you love. His famous artisanal miniature bites have become the cornerstone of his culinary brand, but with a mind like Peter’s, there is always more on the horizon.
About Peter:
Peter Callahan is the iconic owner and Creative Director of New York City-based Peter Callahan Catering. Widely credited with having created the mega trend of miniature savory and dessert comfort food hors-d'oeuvres, Peter has been a caterer, food stylist, and culinary innovator for more than twenty-five years.
Seen countless times on the Today Show and Martha Stewart Show, Peter is also a Contributing Editor for Martha Stewart Weddings and is the author of best-selling book, Bite by Bite: 100 Stylish Little Plates You Can Make for Any Party as well as his newest book, Party Food.
Peter has created sensational events for Martha Stewart, Vera Wang, Kate Spade, JP Morgan, Tory Burch, Valentino, Regis and Joy Philbin, Tony Bennett, Kelly Ripa, Google, and Al Gore, among many other clients.
Peter and his wife, fashion designer Josephine Sasso, divide their time between New York City and Nantucket.
Show Highlights:
Links Mentioned in the Show: Peter’s books - Bite by Bite and Party Food | |||
| 18 Jul 2022 | 420 JULIE NOVACK: Differentiating Your Brand and Dreaming Out Loud | 00:24:46 | |
Longtime and/or regular listeners of The Wedding Biz will likely remember today's guest as she is no stranger to the show! Returning to The Wedding Biz to once again chat with Andy about what she does is Julie Novack, C.E.O. and co-founder of PartySlate! Founded in 2016, PartySlate is an online resource full of photos that connects people who are planning events of all kinds with leading event planners, venues, and vendors. It is also a place where leading event professionals can share their work, build their brands, and drive leads. Before founding PartySlate, Julie held executive positions at top-tier digital agencies such as Razorfish, Vibes, and Agency.com, and with more than two decades of digital marketing experience, Julie has brought so much expertise into the events industry and has helped some of the biggest brands in the world! Julie discusses some of the positive outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as how so many people were so eager to collaborate and rebuild relationships that had been put on pause. She also offers her opinions on administration and virtual assistance, whether or not she believes a recession would negatively impact the events industry, why it's important to invest in your digital footprint and how to go about doing it, how to differentiate your brand, what trends that she is currently seeing in event design, and so much more! Julie never gives interviews that disappoint as they are always full of reflection, tips, and advice, and this one is certainly no exception! Be sure to click here to register for a free PartySlate profile as well as here to sign up for a free website or Instagram page review! As always, if you can think of at least three good friends who would benefit from and enjoy this interview with Julie, be sure to share it with them! Andy would also really appreciate it if you were to subscribe to the podcast if you aren't already and to leave a top review wherever you listen! That really helps out the show and helps people find it! Have you heard about Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey on The Wedding Biz Network? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!
Time Stamps [0:24] – Andy is excited about going to New York City! [0:48] – Today's guest is revealed to be Julie Novack of PartySlate! [2:15] – Discover when PartySlate got started. [3:04] – Julie reveals what it was like to return to work following the pandemic. [4:41] – Julie admits that administration isn't her strength. [5:53] – Julie discusses virtual assistance. [6:49] – Learn how Julie feels about the possibility of a recession on the horizon. [8:17] – We are advised to invest in our digital footprints. [9:27] – Andy encourages us to go back and listen to episode 373 of the podcast. [10:12] – Julie offers more specific advice on how to optimize our digital footprints. [13:16] – Andy and Julie talk about differentiating our brands. [14:53] – Discover whether or not COVID is still impacting attendance at events. [16:04] – Julie identifies current trends in event design. [17:45] – Julie has been thinking about PartySlate expanding globally. [19:39] – Hear what Julie offers in the way of coaching and consultation. [22:26] – Julie shares where we can find her online.
RESOURCES The Wedding Biz – Episode 373 JULIE NOVACK: Optimizing Your Digital Footprint
Find Julie: julie@partyslate.com
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
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| 10 May 2021 | 356 LAUREN DICKENS: Balancing Business with Creativity | 00:36:56 | |
Listen as Andy interviews Lauren Dickens, founder and lead designer with Elle Audrey, a luxury planning and design company based out of New York City. Although she loved parties when she was a child because she always enjoyed the ones that her grandmother hosted, Lauren didn't go into the wedding planning business until well into her adulthood after hosting a friend's baby shower. Hosting events then became a hobby until it finally became an entrepreneurial career. Lauren is unique in that she doesn't like cookie cutter methods. She has a unique and personalized brand that has become her signature. In fact, she always wants to go all out and be very creative but sometimes can't take it as far as she would like because of budget constraints. She also has to find a balance between business and creativity which she does, in part, with business partners and personal assistants. She has managed to find these balances and does so successfully, as Elle Audrey is nothing if not successful! The jump from the corporate world to a world of entrepreneurship can often be a scary one, and it most certainly was for Lauren. She took a leap of faith by leaving a job where she was earning a definite income and hoping that she could make it as an entrepreneur, but it definitely paid off for her! She offers advice to people looking to go down a similar path as hers and/or people who already are on that path but are looking to take it to the next level, suggesting that people today not do what she did and take that leap of faith because of the times that we currently live in. She also encourages entrepreneurs to not take on every single prospective client because you and the client need to be good matches for each other. She says to not focus too much energy on your Instagram page and to scale your business, and she, finally, enthusiastically recommends raising your prices once every year or two. Andy said that he had a blast interviewing Lauren in this episode and hopes that you will enjoy listening to his conversation with her! Please be sure to share this episode with at least three friends who you think would enjoy it and/or benefit from it. We would also very much appreciate a review and hope that you will join us next time on The Wedding Biz.
Have you heard about the brand new show on The Wedding Biz Network, Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!
Time Stamps [1:48] – Andy reveals this episode's guest, Lauren Dickens, to us and provides us with some of her credentials. [2:35] – Lauren explains why she views weddings as transformative, both for people getting married and for her as a planner. [5:08] – Lauren reveals that she loved parties when she was young. [7:54] – Lauren admits that it was very difficult at first to make that leap into entrepreneurship and recommends that people not do what she did in current times. [8:47] – Lauren describes what makes her brand unique and personalized. [10:10] – Lauren and Andy discuss how important that it is for planners and clients to be good fits for each other. [12:03] – We learn what the planning process tends to be like for Lauren and her clients. [13:25] – Lauren details a specific example of a wedding that she planned and how it was planned. [14:11] – Lauren discloses what she struggles with most often – matching her creativity with a budget. [18:05] – Lauren gives an example of a challenge that she once faced and how she overcame it. [21:27] – We discover how a client ended up suing Lauren and how it was resolved. [22:54] – Andy shares a story of a difficult time that he had working with another planner. [24:51] – Lauren expounds upon how she balances business with creativity. [26:53] – Lauren describes her pricing method and how she charges a flat fee. [28:14] – Lauren enthuses over how much she hates social media even though she is very successful on her social media platforms such as Instagram. [29:50] – Lauren offers us some helpful tips if we are looking to take planning and designing to the next level. [32:36] – Lauren asserts that looking at online guides as to how the planning process should go is setting unrealistic expectations and explains why. [33:38] – We learn that Lauren considers scaling your business to be a measure of success.
RESOURCES
Find Lauren: Elle Audrey - Website
On Clubhouse, follow Andy @andykushner and join his club, “The Wedding Biz” to get additional content and to get direct access to Andy.
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment. http://www.partyslate.com
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| 14 Sep 2020 | 290 A Conversation with: LAURIE ARONS | 00:25:39 | |
Andy has Laurie Arons on the show today to talk about how she is handling the pandemic personally and professionally, some events she has been lucky enough to have, and how she has stayed connected with her clients that rescheduled their events for next year, and much more on this episode of The Wedding Biz.
Since founding Laurie Arons Special Events in 1994, Laurie has been featured in numerous magazine publications and was listed in Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and Martha Stewart Weddings as one of the top planners worldwide. Her clients include noteworthy trendsetters like Vanessa Getty and Christy Turlington, and prominent business moguls like Gary Friedman, Frank Schofield, and Eddie DeBartolo.
Laurie shares some safety measures she has in place for her events, how she has been able to keep all of her team, and how she believes this pandemic will affect the event industry going forward. Listen as Laurie speaks about postponing her Masterclass, rescheduling it for December, and some exciting things that the attendees will experience.
Laurie says that she always tries to find the silver lining during a crisis, and because of COVID, she has done some things that she wouldn't have had time for otherwise. This is a conversation that you won't want to miss.
We are all experiencing quite a bit of stress and other issues during this pandemic. Andy has put together a list of the top ten tips for dealing with stress, which he has compiled from interviews with icons of the wedding and event industry. If you would like a copy, go to www.theweddingbiz.com/toptips.
Are you a creative who wants to turn your craft into a business or take it further? Head to the Wedding Biz Network and listen to The Business of Being Creative podcast with Sean Low. Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show: For as little as $6 per month, or $0.75 per episode, are you willing to support the industry insights Andy brings on his podcast? If you are so inspired: contribute.
Show Highlights: [01:44] Welcome back to the show, Laurie! [02:19] Laurie shares how she is handling the pandemic personally and professionally. [04:09] Laurie discusses some events she was able to do. [07:17] She speaks about doing rapid testing on anyone around the guests during the events. [08:26] Laurie shares her strategy in connecting with her clients that have been rescheduled. [10:19] Keeping the connection and the excitement alive for her clients is important to her, so she connects with them twice a month. [13:19] Listen as Laurie speaks about her employees and how she has kept them on. [16:49] Laurie believes that people will be more thoughtful after this experience when planning their events, and the safety measures will still be in place. [20:00] Andy says that when the vaccine is available, he will take it, but many people won't, so this could still be around for a while. [21:01] Laurie discusses postponing her Masterclass to December and how they will keep people safe. [23:05] Laurie shares some things she has learned about herself and done during this pandemic. [24:08] Thank you for taking the time to be on the show!
RESOURCES
Find Laurie Arons: Laurie Arons Episode 139 on The Wedding Biz @lauriearons @lauriearonsspecialevents
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment
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| 16 Dec 2020 | 315 THE NEXT LEVEL: JENNIFER STEIN discusses MAJEDA & SEWAR BISHARAT/MY Event Design: Turning Vision Into Reality | 00:18:13 | |
Andy welcomes Jennifer Stein back to The Next Level. Jennifer is the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Destination I Do Magazine, which can be found at newsstands in all fifty states and twelve countries. She also publishes a daily blog, consults, custom publishes, and has a podcast called CONFETTI.
Majeda Bisharat and Sewar of MY Event Design, based in Jordan, cover events across the Middle East and Europe. MY Event Design is a full-fledged luxury event design, planning, and management company that has designed and planned events for influential figures in various industries and members of the Royal family.
Jennifer discusses the natural gifts that she believes people in the event industry are blessed with, how Majeda gets her inspiration from everywhere, and how great it is that Majeda and Sewar have a multigenerational approach to events that have served them well. Jennifer also talks about what Majeda said about Sewar’s engagement party.
Listen as Jennifer shares how vulnerable and upfront Majeda was when she said she is in a state of confusion when it comes to dealing with the pandemic and how she took that confusion and turned it into a new company called MY Tablescape so that everyone can rent the luxurious accessories they need to make any occasion special.
Are you a creative who wants to turn your craft into a business or take it further? Head to the Wedding Biz Network and listen to The Business of Being Creative podcast with Sean Low. Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show: For as little as $6 per month, or $0.75 per episode, are you willing to support the industry insights Andy brings on his podcast? If you are so inspired: contribute.
Show Highlights:
This Week's Guest Co-Host, Jennifer Stein Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Destination I Do Magazine Jennifer Stein Episode 145 on the Wedding Biz
Find Majeda & Sewar @myeventdesign @majedakassirbisharat @myevententertainment
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment | |||
| 22 Jul 2020 | 277 THE NEXT LEVEL: JENNIFER STEIN discusses MATT PORTEOUS/Photographer: The Way He Sees The World | 00:22:58 | |
Andy welcomes Jennifer Stein back to The Next Level. Jennifer is the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Destination I Do Magazine, which can be found at newsstands in all fifty states and twelve countries. She also publishes a daily blog, consults, custom publishes and has a podcast called CONFETTI.
Matt is an award-winning photographer who has gained a world-class reputation for his exquisite documentary style photography. Matt is considered the Royal photographer for his work with the Cambridges. He helps change-makers make a difference and shoots on behalf of Ocean Culture Life, a global community of storytellers, photographers, filmmakers, and environmentalists whose lives have been shaped by the sea.
Jennifer and Andy discuss Matt's love of travel, how he immerses himself into the culture of the people he photographs and how he connects with his clients by taking them to the places they love and getting them to relax. They also speak of Matt's charity work and the fact that he doesn't just take photos of beautiful things, he takes photographs that can change lives.
If you knew this pandemic had an end date, would you change how you live your life right now? Andy shares that he is using this time to take a day to himself to recharge and how it is allowing him to come up with fresh ideas. Jennifer speaks about the Black Lives Matter movement, and how it's coming on the heels of the pandemic has allowed people to think about what it means and take the time to listen.
If you haven't listened to Matt's interview, sit down, give yourself a moment to listen and be inspired to look for the positive things when right now it seems easier to focus on the negative.
Don't forget to listen to Andy's new podcast, The Music Makers. It's a podcast about behind-the-scenes stories from some of the most influential music industry pros around including artists, recording engineers, record producers, songwriters, managers, record industry executives, and more. You can find The Music Makers podcast by searching for that term in your cell phone's podcast app or by going to www.themusicmakers.com.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show: For as little as $6 per month, or $0.75 per episode, are you willing to support the industry insights Andy brings on his podcast? If you are so inspired: contribute.
Show Highlights:
Find Matt @m_weddings @mattporteous
This Week's Guest Co-Host, Jennifer Stein Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Destination I Do Magazine Jennifer Stein on the Wedding Biz
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by The Music Makers Podcast, where you can get behind-the-scenes stories from the most influential music industry pros.
Mentioned: Colin Cowie Episode 267 on The Wedding Biz
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| 24 Aug 2020 | 286 JOANN GREGOLI: The Godmother of Destination Weddings | 00:40:16 | |
Andy and his guest, JoAnn Gregoli, discuss how she educated herself to speak the language of her vendor team, how she approaches destination weddings, how she approaches marketing for her services, and much more on this episode of The Wedding Biz. JoAnn is the owner of Elegant Occasions by JoAnn Gregoli. She has been included in Modern Bride Magazine as one of their Top Trendsetters of the year and was recently recognized as one of the top twenty-five most influential wedding planners in the World. Elegant Occasions creates events that tell the story about the couple. Listen, as JoAnn shares how she was obsessed with weddings in her twenties, the wedding she did for Rupert Murdoch's daughter, and why she has been called the Godmother of destination weddings. JoAnn speaks about how she creates a team for destination weddings and her process for local and destination events. JoAnn discusses her company's business side, how she determins how to price the events she plans, and her strategy for using social media. JoAnn says to stay relevant she goes to conferences, to continue her own learning, and isn't afraid to reinvent herself and her business. JoAnn speaks of her grassroots effort to make sure anyone who needs a face mask has one. She started sewing masks, then reached out to some women's groups to help her, got some of her brides got involved, and now they have shipped out over 50,000 masks at no cost. Her main focus has been providing them to homeless shelters and to battered women. They have been sewing for over seventeen weeks with no plans to stop until the pandemic is over. JoAnn is an amazing woman. She doesn't sit back when something needs to be done; she jumps in with both feet. She did it for brides that lost their venue during 9/11, and she is doing it now with the pandemic. This is an episode you don't want to miss. Are you a creative who wants to turn your craft into a business or take it further? Head to the Wedding Biz Network and listen to The Business of Being Creative podcast with Sean Low. Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show: For as little as $6 per month, or $0.75 per episode, are you willing to support the industry insights Andy brings on his podcast? If you are so inspired: contribute.
Show Highlights: [02:38] Welcome to the show, JoAnn! [03:13] JoAnn shares how her childhood determined the path she would follow. [05:05] JoAnn speaks about being obsessed with weddings in her twenties. [08:11] She discusses the wedding she did for Rupert Murdoch's daughter. [10:12] She is known as the Godmother of destination weddings. [11:13] Listen, as JoAnn shares how she put a team together for her first destination weddings. [13:05] JoAnn speaks about her process when she plans weddings. [15:46] What other events do you do besides weddings? [17:38] JoAnn discusses how she view's the business aspect of her company. [19:56] JoAnn discusses her pricing philosophy. [22:36] What is your strategy for using social media? [24:18] Listen as JoAnn speaks about reinventing yourself constantly to stay relevant. [26:10] JoAnn shares how to market to different generations from baby boomers to GenZ. [29:04] JoAnn discusses how she decided to “re-prioritize,” rather than “reinvent,” and got started sewing face masks and the women's groups she got to help. [32:16] To help JoAnn and all her helpers to keep making masks, please go www.sewingangels.org and click the go fund me link for frontline sewing angels. [35:25] JoAnn believes that this pandemic makes people stop, slow down, appreciate what you have, and help the people who can't help themselves. [37:36] JoAnn shares what she wants to do once the pandemic is over. [39:06] Thank you so much for being on the show!
RESOURCES
JoAnn Gregoli: Elegant Occasions with JoAnn Gregoli @joanngregoli @joann_gregoli @elegantoccasionsinc Video - Hightail Arielle & Ian’s Wedding Trailer
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment | |||
| 28 May 2018 | 58 REVISIT: Rebecca Grinnals & Kathryn Arce, Engaging Concepts | 00:53:54 | |
REVISIT: Rebecca Grinnals and Kathryn Arce are powerhouse team is the force behind the wedding and honeymoon industry consulting firm Engaging Concepts. In this episode, we talk about their road from their Disney Weddings days to their own Engage! Summits events. | |||
| 27 Nov 2019 | 207 THE NEXT LEVEL: SEAN LOW Discusses ROBERT SHERMAN/Washington Talent - Creating Happiness One Event at a Time and Forming A Partnership | 00:25:29 | |
The Next Level welcomes back Sean Low. Sean’s company, The Business of Being Creative, focuses on providing practical advice to those in the business of being creative. His client list includes the whos who of the wedding industry and design community. Robert is the owner of Washington Talent, the iconic entertainment company out of the Washington, DC area. Robert is passionate about what he does and is in it to bring joy not only to his clients but also to his industry partners. Andy and Sean discuss how Robert expanded his company by adding services designed to make Washington Talent a place where you get everything you need for an event. They talk about his ability to be flexible and professional with the planners, which makes the events less stressful for them. Did you hear that Robert and Andy are partnering up on Kushner Entertainment? Listen as Sean talks about all the positive things that are in store for these powerhouses of the music and events industry as they combine their forces and form a mega team. Robert is bringing his business acumen to add structure to Kushner Entertainment, and that will leave Andy to focus on what he loves, which is being creative. This is one of those conversations that will keep you spellbound. Every time you think you’ve heard all they have to say, they say something better. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn some news about the event industry that not a lot of people know yet, don’t you want to be able to say “have you heard?” Show Highlights:
The Next Level welcomes back Sean Low. Sean’s company, The Business of Being Creative, focuses on providing practical advice to those in the business of being creative. His client list includes the whos who of the wedding industry and design community.
Robert is the owner of Washington Talent, the iconic entertainment company out of the Washington, DC area. Robert is passionate about what he does and is in it to bring joy not only to his clients but also to his industry partners.
Andy and Sean discuss how Robert expanded his company by adding services designed to make Washington Talent a place where you get everything you need for an event. They talk about his ability to be flexible and professional with the planners, which makes the events less stressful for them.
Did you hear that Robert and Andy are partnering up on Kushner Entertainment? Listen as Sean talks about all the positive things that are in store for these powerhouses of the music and events industry as they combine their forces and form a mega team. Robert is bringing his business acumen to add structure to Kushner Entertainment, and that will leave Andy to focus on what he loves, which is being creative.
This is one of those conversations that will keep you spellbound. Every time you think you’ve heard all they have to say, they say something better. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn some news about the event industry that not a lot of people know yet, don’t you want to be able to say “have you heard?”
Show Highlights:
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by PartySlate - the first website designed specifically for event professionals and venues!
Robert Sherman @washingtontalent @wta_talent
This Week's Guest Co-Host, Sean Low, Founder and President of The Business of Being Creative LLC. Sean Low on the Wedding Biz The Business of Being Creative LLC Email Sean: sean@thebusinessofbeingcreative.com Sean:@seanlow
Mentioned Harmony Walton on The Wedding Biz Bryan Rafanelli on The Wedding Biz Bryan Rafanelli Revisit on The Wedding Biz David Stark Part 1 on The Wedding Biz David Stark Part 2 on The Wedding Biz Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by PartySlate - the first website designed specifically for event professionals and venues!
Robert Sherman @washingtontalent @wta_talent
This Week's Guest Co-Host, Sean Low, Founder and President of The Business of Being Creative LLC. Sean Low on the Wedding Biz The Business of Being Creative LLC Email Sean: sean@thebusinessofbeingcreative.com Sean:@seanlow
Mentioned Harmony Walton on The Wedding Biz Bryan Rafanelli on The Wedding Biz Bryan Rafanelli Revisit on The Wedding Biz David Stark Part 1 on The Wedding Biz David Stark Part 2 on The Wedding Biz | |||
| 07 Apr 2025 | 528 REVISIT MAURICIO KIRSCHNER: Architect of Dreams and Deep in the Heart of Event Design | 00:39:30 | |
Andy brings us a revisit of his March 2023 interview with Mauricio Kirschner, the founder and chief designer of House of Kirschner. They create out-of-this world interior and event design, and are also professional architects which enables them to design and produce unique constructions and designware beyond the usual. In this insightful revisit, Andy and Mauricio discuss Mauricio's childhood passion for construction, structure, and architecture, and Mauricio talks about how he started his career as an architect and then got pulled into the event industry, then diving deep into the heart of what event design means to him, describing it in a unique way. Mauricio also explains the unexpected way in which he begins his creative meetings, reveals what inspires him, and so much more! Andy found this interview to be absolutely fascinating and knows that listeners will also get a lot out of it and find themselves inspired, so if you do, then please share this revisit episode with at least three people you feel will also enjoy it and subscribe to the podcast, if you aren’t already, so that you never miss a new episode! Be sure to also leave a top review wherever you listen to podcasts because that really helps the show out!
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!
Time Stamps [0:25] – Andy reveals today’s episode to be a revisit of his interview with Mauricio Kirschner of House of Kirschner. [1:02] – Mauricio describes what he does. [2:45] – Learn about Mauricio’s passions as a child. [4:43] – Mauricio discusses his education and his beginnings. [7:06] – Mauricio compares what he does to alchemy. [9:53] – How does Mauricio come up with ideas? [12:59] – When does Mauricio share his ideas with clients? [15:40] – Mauricio begins with a meditation with his team. [19:14] – How does Mauricio inspire himself? [22:52] – Mauricio argues that fashion helps promote inclusiveness. [27:11] – Andy offers insight into perspective. [27:48] - Learn what House of Kirschner’s philosophy and purpose are. [30:48] – Mauricio expands upon why he shares his beliefs with his team. [34:52] – Does Mauricio have any unrealized dreams? [38:51] – Andy shares where to find Mauricio.
RESOURCES
Find Mauricio:
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment.
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| 21 Sep 2020 | 292 LEWIS MILLER: The “Banksy of Floral Design” | 00:48:25 | |
"Before I know what flowers I'm going to use, I need to know what backdrop I'm going to create to show off those flowers." Listen, as Andy and his guest Lewis Miller discuss how he came to be in New York City, his process with clients, how he gets inspired for his designs, how he has been able to maneuver through the pandemic, and so much more on this episode of The Wedding Biz.
Lewis is a floral designer and founder of Lewis Miller Design out of New York City. His client list includes leading industry professionals in fashion, design, photography, art direction, and architecture such as Bulgari, Carolina Herrera, Mayor Blumberg, Chanel, Tiffany, Versace, Bergdorf Goodman, the Whitney Museum, and more.
Lewis discusses how his pop-up flower flashes started and where he did his first one. He shares why he moved from Seattle, Washington to New York City and how he opened his small flower shop without fear or hesitation because he knew that was what he was supposed to be doing.
Listen, as Lewis shares his process when speaking with clients, a story about one particular wedding he did, in an unappealing ballroom, and the curveball he was thrown. Lewis also shares how he merges his company's business aspect with his creative side and how the pandemic has affected him both personally and professionally.
Lewis is a poster child for how to run a business that can tackle a pandemic and come back bigger and stronger. He believes that if you trim the fat every few years and watch where you spend money, you will still be around when others are not. He is an inspiring creative, and you don't want to miss this episode.
We are all experiencing quite a bit of stress and other issues during this pandemic. Andy has put together a list of the top ten tips for dealing with stress, which he has compiled from interviews with icons of the wedding and event industry. If you would like a copy, go to www.theweddingbiz.com/toptips.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show: For as little as $6 per month, or $0.75 per episode, are you willing to support the industry insights Andy brings on his podcast? If you are so inspired: contribute.
Show Highlights: [01:52] Lewis, it's so good to have you back on the show! [02:21] Lewis shares how he got the moniker, the “Banksy of Floral Design.” [03:42] He discusses the pop-up flower flashes he does in the middle of the night. [06:38] Lewis speaks about what led him to create the pop-ups and where he did his first one. [09:25] Lewis shares his background and journey into floral design. [12:20] Listen as Lewis discusses his move from Seattle, Washington to New York City. [15:11] He speaks about moving to New York and opening his flower shop. [17:25] Lewis didn't have any fear or hesitation when he opened his business and started small. [19:24] What percentage of your business is weddings? [21:15] Lewis speaks about his process and how he comes up with unique designs. [23:46] "Before I know what flowers I'm going to use, I need to know what backdrop I'm going to create to show off those flowers." [24:20] Lewis shares a story of a wedding he did the floral design for. [27:01] He shares this story because there were so many battles to win and problems to solve, making it fun for a designer. [30:04] When planning events with people who have money, you are dealing with many personalities. [31:51] How do you balance the business aspect with the creative side? [33:38] Lewis discusses what he believes has kept his business alive. [36:38] Listen as Lewis shares how he is doing during the pandemic, personally and professionally. [37:34] Lewis describes what flash boxes are and how he came up with the idea. [40:35] He speaks about the flower design classes he is doing on his studio's ground floor. [43:52] What are you doing on social media to get the following that you have now? [46:37] Thank you so much for being on the show!
RESOURCES
Find Lewis Miller The Lewis Miller Design Flower Class @lewismillerdesign Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook @flowerflashnyc
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by PartySlate - the first website designed specifically for event professionals and venues!
Mentioned: | |||
| 14 Jan 2019 | 119 BRETT CULP: Obstacle Or Opportunity | 00:47:20 | |
What does leadership mean to you? Leadership has many meanings, and everyone may have their own perspective on it. Today’s guest has a wonderful point of view on leadership and has built an amazing foundation for his life.
Brett had a very successful career as a videographer in the lux wedding market, for ten years, until the recession of 2008 forced him to pivot. Now a filmmaker and keynote speaker, Brett Culp films is based out of Tampa FL. He also is an author, and produces short films such as “How to stay positive when the world feels negative.” Brett has 3 main key elements he has come up with to live by, do great work, show it to lots of people, and be real nice. Join us today as we learn that people love to work with people they like.
Show Highlights:
Resources: Brett Culp Website Instagram: @brettculpfilms
Facebook and Instagram: brettculpfilms Twitter: brettculp Overview of Brett’s work/career - https://vimeo.com/289128900 Clip from one of Brett’s keynotes - https://vimeo.com/278802855 Trailer for Brett’s new film, Look to the Sky: https://vimeo.com/risinghero/supermanisreal
Instagram & Facebook: @weddingbizshow On The Wedding Biz Network: The Stylish Bride with Julie Sabatino
Sponsor: OFD Consulting Website Sponsor: Kushner Entertainment Website
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| 21 Mar 2022 | 405 SHAN-LYN MA: CEO of Zola and How Her Company Has Experienced Explosive Growth | 00:38:23 | |
Shan-Lyn Ma, the CEO and co-founder of Zola, joins Andy in this episode of The Wedding Biz to discuss her business and her career! Launched in 2013, Zola is the wedding company reinventing the wedding planning and registry experience by combining compassionate customer service along with modern technology. The company has been named one of the Wall Street Journal's top 25 tech companies to watch as well as one of Fast Company's most innovative companies! A first-generation immigrant two times over, Shan discusses her childhood and what her interests were as she was growing up and how she learned that she had to work really hard in order to accomplish her dreams. She touches upon former jobs prior to founding Zola and what she learned from them and also how Zola came to be and what about weddings attracted her. Having co-founded Zola with Nobu Nakaguchi, she also touches upon how she and Nobu divide responsibilities and who is in charge of what, the smart technology that Zola makes use of, what kinds of services that Zola offers, how the COVID-19 pandemic affected Zola, what is on the horizon for the company, and so much more! Andy had such a blast chatting with Shan-Lyn and hopes that you enjoy listening as well! If you can think of three good friends who might benefit from and enjoy this episode of the podcast, be sure to share it with them! Andy would also be appreciative if you were to leave a top review wherever you listen to the podcast! Have you heard about Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey on The Wedding Biz Network? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!
Time Stamps [0:43] – Andy reveals that this episode's guest is Shan-Lyn Ma of Zola. [1:37] – We learn about some of Shan-Lyn's education and regional background. [4:15] – Shan shares that she had wanted to be an entrepreneur for most of her life. [5:51] – Shan touches upon some of her biggest lessons learned from past jobs. [8:01] – We discover how Zola came about. [10:56] – Shan-Lyn reflects on when she realized that Zola was going to be successful. [13:00] – Andy and Shan discuss entrepreneurs being able to tolerate taking risks. [15:01] – Shan explains how she divides responsibilities with her partner Nobu Nakaguchi. [18:47] – Shan discusses the smart technology that Zola implements. [21:33] – We learn about whether or not potential wedding vendors are vetted. [22:32] – Shan-Lyn makes a case for how Zola stands out from other wedding companies. [24:09] – Shan reflects on how and why Zola has grown so explosively since 2013. [26:17] – Shan discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic affected Zola. [28:49] – We hear how the pandemic had some positive impacts on Zola. [30:33] – Shan talks about a new platform offered that offers home products. [33:13] – Learn about what wedding trends Shan-Lyn has been seeing in 2022. [34:51] – Shan-Lyn projects toward Zola's future and its goals. [36:30] – Shan offers some final thoughts. [37:37] – Find out where to find Shan-Lyn online.
Find Zola: Zola - Website
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment.
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| 15 Nov 2021 | 389 ELIZABETH SOLARU: From Biomedicine to Crafting World-Class Cakes | 00:37:14 | |
Andy welcomes Elizabeth Solaru to this episode of The Wedding Biz! Elizabeth is the founder of Elizabeth's Cake Emporium and Luxury Business Emporium and creates the most opulent and decadent handcrafted cakes using the finest ingredients! With clients that include British, European, and Middle Eastern royalty; international celebrities; and high net worth individuals, Elizabeth's creations have been featured in many prestigious national and international publications! She has even appeared on several television programs as a luxury expert and is a regular on Sky TV, being the only three-time winner of The Great Cake Bake! She is also a published author, having published the bestselling book Opulencia: Artisan Baking & Sugarcraft and offers master classes in cake-making and overall business consulting. Elizabeth discusses various aspects of her career with Andy, such as her former job as a biomedical scientist and how it was more than two decades before she fully made the switch to making cakes. She also details her artistic process and what it tends to look like between her and her clients, gives an example of one of her favorite client experiences, reveals some of her greatest disasters and what she learned from them, explains how she balances art and business and how she was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic being that many of her clients are international, and so much more such as her experience of having a cake of hers featured in the movie My Best Friend's Wedding! Andy found his conversation with Elizabeth to be so fascinating and such a pleasure and hopes that you have as much fun listening to the conversation as he did having it! Be sure to check out Elizabeth's Cake Emporium online, and until the next episode of The Wedding Biz, please share this interview with at least three good friends who might also benefit from it, and leave a review of the podcast wherever you listen! Have you heard about the brand new show on The Wedding Biz Network, Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!
Time Stamps [0:36] – Andy reveals that today's special guest is Elizabeth Solaru of Elizabeth's Cake Emporium and Luxury Business Emporium. [2:31] – Elizabeth talks a bit about her background in microbiology. [3:45] – We learn how and why Elizabeth made the leap from microbiology to cake designing. [5:48] – We discover that it was about 23 years before Elizabeth made the switch to making cakes. [8:57] – Elizabeth credits Ron Ben-Israel as being her hero. [10:28] – Elizabeth describes the artistic process between her and her clients. [14:11] – Elizabeth gives an example of one of her favorite experiences with a client. [17:15] – Elizabeth addresses the pressure that she feels as a result of this job. [18:48] – We learn about some of Elizabeth's catastrophes and what she learned from them. [22:51] – Elizabeth reflects on how she balances art with business. [26:38] – Andy and Elizabeth discuss what she still struggles with and what is most challenging for her in this industry. [29:20] – We discover whether or not Elizabeth plans to follow up on Opulencia and write another book. [31:01] – Elizabeth enthuses over her cakes being featured in movies such as My Best Friend's Wedding. [33:07] – We learn about Elizabeth's master classes. [36:10] – Find out where Elizabeth can be found online!
RESOURCES The Wedding Biz Episode 48 RON BEN-ISRAEL: Answering the Call of Creativity with Couture Cakes The Wedding Biz Episode 328 A Conversation With: RON BEN-ISRAEL
Find Elizabeth: Elizabeth’s Cake Emporium - Website Elizabeth’s Cake Emporium - Facebook Page Elizabeth’s Cake Emporium - Instagram Page Luxury Business Emporium - Website Opulencia: Artisan Baking & Sugarcraft
On Clubhouse, follow Andy @andykushner and join his club “The Wedding Biz” to get additional content and to get direct access to Andy.
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment.
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| 15 Feb 2021 | 332 ERICH MCVEY: Combining Documentary and Fine Art Style Photography | 00:47:57 | |
"What I strive to do for every couple I shoot is to deliver variety, quality, and consistency throughout." Listen as Andy and his guest Erich McVey discuss a variety of topics, including how he got started in photography and what he means by combining documentary and fine art styles when he shoots weddings plus much more on this episode of The Wedding Biz.
Erich is a wedding, portrait, and editorial film photographer with a love for medium format cameras, natural light, and incredible scenery. Erich was named by Harpers Bazaar, Brides, and Martha Stewart Weddings as one of the world's best wedding photographers and twice selected as film Photographer of the Year.
Listen as Erich discusses controlling variables to position couples to give them a moment and not let the business and repetition kill his zest for creating unique imagery. Erich also shares what drew him to film over digital and why he believes he can live in the camera when he shoots with film instead of dealing with the distraction of digital.
Erich believes that lighting is a photographer's best friend. Using light is probably the most enjoyable aspect of being a photographer and is a major way to distinguish photographers from one another. Erich says that he loves the fact that this gets to be his job and that it's totally interpretive.
Have you heard about the brand new show on The Wedding Biz Network, Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show: If you are so inspired: contribute.
Show Highlights: [02:22] Welcome to the show, Erich! [03:26] Erich shares how his mom got him an interview to shoot an ad campaign before he ever even had a camera. [05:17] Erich speaks about traveling the country for his first job, shooting at different locations for the company, and how the person they paired him up with eventually became his wife. [08:02] Erich believes his parents were an enormous influence on him becoming a photographer. [09:15] He shot a family friend's wedding, and his career started from word of mouth. [12:01] Erich describes what he means by combining documentary and fine art style. [14:48] Erich tells every couple he talks to, whether or not they hire him, to look at full wedding galleries from wedding photographers. [16:12] Erich discusses how he goes about putting couples in a position to have a moment. [18:52] Having the headspace to roll with and address the variables as they come is very important. [20:08] Erich believes you can lose your zest and artistry to create unique imagery when business and repetition kill the soul. [24:13] Why did you choose film over digital? [26:39] Once Erich determined how he wanted his photography to look, he reached out to Jose Villa and signed up for his workshop. [28:32] Erich talks about why he likes the look of film over digital. [30:08] Erich lives in the camera when he shoots film instead of the disruption of using digital. [31:28] How do you think about framing and composition? [33:18] Erich believes that light is a photographer's best friend, and there is a learning curve when you go from digital to film. [35:40] "Utilizing light is probably the most fun aspect of being a photographer and the way that maybe even distinguishes photographers the most from one another." [38:53] What still challenges you and gives you anxiety? [40:28] Erich loves that this is his job and that he can take a wedding in many directions, which he says is terrifying, but it keeps him motivated. [42:36] Erich discusses the online photography course he and his wife put together. [45:23] What is the latest equipment that you are using? [46:08] Thank you for being on the show!
RESOURCES
Find Erich: @erichmcvey Erich’s online course if i made
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment
Mentioned: Jose Villa Episode 49 on The Wedding Biz Jose Villa Episode 228 on The Wedding Biz Jose Villa Episode 235 on The Wedding Biz
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| 29 Oct 2018 | 100 KELLY MCLESKEY & NANCY LIU CHIN – Oh So Inspired | 00:52:49 | |
On today’s show, we hear from Kelly McLeskey-Dolata and Nancy Liu Chin, Co-Founders of Oh So Inspired. Each successful in their own right, Kelly in planning and Design with her own company, Savvy Event. Nancy, a floral designer with her company, Nancy Liu Chin Designs. Oh So Inspired, is an annual 3-day retreat for wedding professionals. We will get to hear about Nancy and Kelly and what led them to where they are today, and what they are doing. Also, we will hear about the dynamics of creating a partnership in the industry.
Show Highlights:
Resources: Instagram: @weddingbizshow The Stylish Bride with Julie Sabatino Instagram: @asavvyevent Instagram: @nancyliuchin Instagram: @ohsoinspired
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| 01 Apr 2024 | 498 REVISIT CALEB JORDAN LEE - Filmmaker Extraordinaire! | 00:40:41 | |
“I resonate with the client that wants to make you a part of their family throughout the wedding weekend.” Listen as Andy and his guest Caleb Jordan Lee discuss Caleb’s early passion for travel and filmmaking, Caleb starting his LLC at sixteen and why he decided to film weddings, plus much more on this episode of The Wedding Biz. Caleb is a brilliant filmmaker and the owner of East West Production, a full-service event filmmaking company with award-winning coverage. Caleb’s work has been showcased in publications such as People’s Magazine, particularly for shooting Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra’s wedding. He has also been featured in Vogue, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Brides Magazine, and Harpers Bazaar named Caleb as one of the world’s top filmmakers. Caleb speaks about his first year in business and how his sister’s wedding was the catalyst for his business boom. He speaks about how important he feels relationships are with the creative partners and planners and how he works with the planners to create the best product. Listen as Caleb shares a story about Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra’s wedding and how iconic his shot of her walking down the aisle with her 70 foot train was. Caleb also discusses how he and his team edit and how everything plays a part in getting the perfect film for his clients. Caleb shares the work he does commercially and how he brings emotion to each small snippet, and he talks about the challenges he faces when telling a client’s story, his perspective on social media, the equipment he uses, and how he keeps up with the constant technology change. Caleb started as a teenager and has been in the industry for over ten years. His is a success story you don’t want to miss! If you enjoy this revisit with Caleb Jordan Lee, then please don’t keep it to yourself! Share the episode with some good friends who might also get something out of it, and be sure to also leave a top review wherever you listen to the show, as that really helps the show out! Lastly, don’t forget to follow The Wedding Biz on Instagram and subscribe to the podcast so that you never miss a new episode when it drops!
Have you heard about Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey on The Wedding Biz Network? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!
Time Stamps [01:27] - Today’s episode is a revisit of Andy’s 2020 interview with Caleb Jordan Lee of East West Production! [02:49] - Caleb shares where he grew up and how he ended up back in the area. [03:40] - Caleb speaks about how family values have shaped the man he is today. [05:08] - Caleb began shooting videos in the Himalayas, transitioned to weddings, and found passion and success. [08:31] - Caleb talks about where the idea of filming weddings came from. [09:42] - Hear how Caleb's career blossomed through learning from experienced mentors and prioritizing relationships, particularly with wedding planners. [12:16] - Caleb discusses his process and how it’s all about his relationships with planners. [13:24] - Caleb realized the importance of scaling his business wisely, opting for quality over quantity in client experiences. [14:18] - Caleb speaks about how he works with the planners when getting to know the clients. [16:04] - Caleb shares about some standout events he has done throughout the years. [17:58] - Caleb discusses the experience he had when filming Nick Jonas’ and Priyanka Chopra’s wedding. [21:09] - Caleb speaks about catching Priyanka walking down the aisle with a 70′ train and how iconic it was. [23:08] - Caleb talks about how he and his team edit film. [25:10] - We learn that Caleb's journey into the hospitality market stemmed from his love for weddings and capturing the essence of experiences. [27:49] - Putting together a reel of his work and trying to put all the parts together to create a story is the hardest thing Caleb does. [28:37] - Caleb shifted his wedding videography style to focus on capturing genuine, intimate moments, tailored to each client's preferences. [31:01] - Discover that Caleb hasn't encountered major disasters in his wedding videography career, though drone flights remain nerve-wracking. [32:44] - Caleb discusses how he views the business side of his company. [33:51] - Caleb shares his perspective on social media and he uses it in his business. [36:29] - What equipment does Caleb use, and how does he handle the constant changes with technology? [38:26] - Caleb feels successful if he can bring other people up with him. [39:59] - Andy reveals where Caleb can be found online.
LINKS AND RESOURCES
Reel
Caleb’s Instagram Page
The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
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| 03 Sep 2018 | 84 REVISIT BRYAN RAFANELLI: Part 1 - Telling Clients’ Stories Through Event Design | 00:52:14 | |
REVISIT: If you’ve ever felt family pressure to pursue a certain career, then you can relate to today’s guest. When he realized the careers his family had chosen were not for him, he didn’t let it stop him. Today, you’ll hear the story of forging a completely new path and struggling, but being determined enough to succeed at the highest levels, as told by the amazing Bryan Rafanelli! Bryan Rafanelli of Rafanelli events grew up in Rhode Island with an Italian family and was taught to be his own boss. Bryan’s passion in crafts was encouraged by the women in his family. Bryan went to college in Syracuse and in his senior year of college he just knew he could not be a lawyer. Bryan always had in the back of his mind he wanted to go to art school, though he knew he still wanted to be successful. Bryan started his own company designing events, and Rafanelli Events was born and has made him one of the best planners in the world. Show Highlights:
Resources:
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| 30 Aug 2021 | 379 JACK EZON: Bespoke Travel & A Risk-Taking Entrepreneur | 00:35:10 | |
Andy chats today with Jack Ezon, C.E.O. and managing partner of EMBARK Beyond! EMBARK Beyond is a luxury lifestyle partnership that specializes in bespoke travel experiences, and they have the ability to access royal palaces, private homes, luxury yachts, global landmarks, and so much more! Negotiating hotel, air, and other components related to travel, EMBARK Beyond acts as a full concierge service in order to develop the perfect itinerary! Jack talks about some of the things that he and his company have been asked to do – some of them being pretty colorful and illegal in certain countries – and reveals where his wanderlust originates. He also reflects on how he started as an attorney in commercial financing but knew that he wanted to be a travel agent, especially since he hated being a lawyer and didn't like the corporate world. Jack also discusses failure and having to overcome fear and take measured risks in order to grow, and he enthusiastically touches upon the concept of loyalty and what it means to him in regards to the relationship between his company and his clients. He offers some really touching examples of times that EMBARK Beyond did truly wonderful things for its clients, and he affirms how important it is to him to protect his brand both personally and professionally. Andy and Jack also have a conversation about the COVID-19 pandemic and crises in general, and Jack reflects on the struggle of having been at the front of a travel company in the midst of a pandemic, revealing how he overcame the crisis and came out stronger than ever. This conversation with Jack Ezon made for such a fun interview for Andy, especially with Jack being so open and willing to discuss just about anything and everything! He encourages you to share this interview with three good friends who might also enjoy it! Have you heard about the brand new show on The Wedding Biz Network, Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!
Time Stamps [0:44] – Today's interview is with Jack Ezon of EMBARK Beyond. [2:10] – Jack explains his willingness to do anything as long as it's legal and ethical. [3:21] – Jack reveals where his passion for travel comes from. [5:31] – Jack reflects on how the transition between careers went for him. [7:27] – We discover how Jack personally dealt with such a major loss of money when he was younger. [10:25] – Jack talks about 9/11 having ended an opportunity for him but having led to other opportunities. [11:53] – We learn how and why Jack started EMBARK Beyond. [13:27] – Jack explains how EMBARK Beyond takes risks and doesn't fear failure. [15:23] – Failures, Jack emphasizes, are opportunities to grow. [16:13] – Jack gives an example of a failure from his past that he overcame and explains how he overcame it. [20:30] – Jack discusses the standards of his company's philosophy. [22:33] – Jack details a specific example of an emotionally meaningful situation that they created for a client. [24:56] – Jack argues that building loyalty is about connecting to your clients and listening to them. [26:08] – We hear about further examples of meaningful trips that EMBARK Beyond planned. [27:52] – The most stressful part of Jack's job, he reveals, is maintaining his reputation. [29:08] – We discover how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected Jack and EMBARK Beyond. [31:46] – Jack discusses his favorite travel destination and what excites him most about the future. [33:58] – Andy reveals where to find Jack online.
RESOURCES Ryan Holiday - The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph
Find Jack: EMBARK Beyond - Instagram Page
On Clubhouse, follow Andy @andykushner and join his club “The Wedding Biz” to get additional content and to get direct access to Andy.
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment. | |||
| 22 May 2023 | 461 MATTHEW ROBBINS: Catching Up Since the Pandemic | 00:24:01 | |
Matthew Robbins joins Andy in this episode to be featured on the show three times! Matthew is the founder and creative director of Matthew Robbins Design, an event-planning firm with a focus on design and production for weddings and other events, and he is the co-owner of Robbins Otoya, a company which focuses on destination events internationally. Matthew is also an author whose work has been featured in many publications such as Martha Stewart Weddings, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, etc., and he has been a featured guest on Martha Stewart Living Radio and The Today Show. Learn how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted Matthew and his businesses and what he learned from the experience. Also, what you should do if you’re a planner who wants to start doing events overseas, how he navigates burnout and angst, and more! Andy is so appreciative that Matthew returned to the show, and if you enjoy this conversation with Matthew, then Andy would be grateful if you were to share this episode with a few people you know who might also enjoy it. Be sure to also subscribe to the podcast if you aren't already so that you never miss a new episode and to leave a top review wherever you listen, as that really helps people find the show!
This episode is sponsored by Zola, the fastest-growing wedding platform that connects today’s couples with the right planners and vendors. Zola gives wedding professionals more control, better exposure, and higher quality leads - all with competitive pricing and no annual commitment. Create your free listing at www.zola.com/andy.
Have you heard about Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey on The Wedding Biz Network? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!
Time Stamps [0:00] – The sponsor of this episode is Zola. [0:17] - Andy updates on his comedy class. [2:39] - Today’s guest is revealed to be Matthew Robbins of Matthew Robbins Design! [4:04] - How did the pandemic change the way Matthew runs his businesses? [7:35] - Matthew shares a couple of his favorite design stories from last year. [10:24] - Matthew gives advice to planners who want to do international events. [11:38] - Who does Matthew contact for referrals? [14:58] - Does Matthew ever experience burnout? [17:19] - How does Matthew stay inspired and grounded? [19:21] - What does Matthew do to circumvent artist angst? [22:03] - Matthew really wants to write another book. [23:20] - Andy shares where Matthew’s businesses can be found online.
LINKS & RESOURCES Episode 357: REVISIT: MATTHEW ROBBINS: Creative Process and Connecting with Couples Episode 240 ROBBINS OTOYA: Loving What They Do and Doing It Together
Find Matthew: Matthew Robbins Design - Website
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
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| 23 May 2022 | 414 SEAN LOW: The Heart and Soul of the Wedding Industry | 00:28:43 | |
Sean Low of The Business of Being Creative joins Andy today to talk about his business and how it has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic over the last couple of years. The Business of Being Creative is a consulting firm that is focused on providing practical advice to those in the business of being creative! His client list includes the who's who of the wedding industry and design community, and he is also the host of a very informative podcast with The Wedding Biz network called The Business of Being Creative. Sean dives deep into how his approach has been impacted because of the pandemic, and he and Andy discuss how the heart and soul of the wedding business has gotten even deeper as a result of the pandemic. Sean also reveals and discusses some of the common themes that he has been noticing among his current clients and posits that business owners need to be sure that they have clarity about what qualifies as rational vs. irrational about the way that they run their businesses. He also encourages business leaders to come to terms with the fact that they're not going to be for everyone and that not all prospective clients are going to be for them, defining the decision for them to work with a client and vice versa as a radical choice. Sean also details the process that he goes through with his clients and describes the three different ways to hire him. Andy, as usual, had a blast sitting down to chat with Sean and appreciates his time! Be sure to check out Sean's website and his social media pages on Twitter and Instagram, and, as always, if you can think of at least three good friends who might benefit from and enjoy this episode, be sure to share it with them! Andy would also be appreciative if you were to subscribe to the podcast if you aren't already and to leave a top review wherever you listen, especially since it really helps the show and helps people find it!
This episode is sponsored by Zola, the fastest-growing wedding platform that connects today’s couples with the right planners and vendors. Zola gives wedding professionals more control, better exposure, and higher quality leads — all with competitive pricing and no annual commitment. Create your free listing at www.zola.com/andy.
Have you heard about Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey on The Wedding Biz Network? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!
Time Stamps [0:00] – Zola is this episode's sponsor. [0:52] – Andy reveals that today's guest is Sean Low of The Business of Being Creative. [1:46] – Sean reflects on how he has changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. [4:34] – Sean touches upon the knowledge gained from being in the wedding industry. [5:55] – Andy offers insight into how the heart and soul of the industry have become deeper. [7:47] – Sean reveals how the pandemic caused him to assess why he does what he does. [8:41] – We learn about some common problems that industry leaders are currently having. [11:47] – Sean argues that you need to have clarity about what about your business is rational. [15:20] – Andy reflects on how he used to sell bands vs. how he does now. [16:59] – Sean states that he sees more and more bands charging design fees. [19:09] – Andy prompts Sean to discuss radical choice. [22:19] – Andy sums up what he means by radical choice. [23:03] – Hear Sean explain what he means by what he calls the bird story. [24:57] – Sean reveals how to go about hiring him. [28:02] – Andy shares Sean's contact information.
RESOURCES Sean's Previous Guest Spots on The Wedding Biz
Find Sean: The Business of Being Creative LLC - Website The Business of Being Creative Podcast Email Sean: sean@thebusinessofbeingcreative.com
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
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| 18 Nov 2024 | 519 TWB – BROOKE KEEGAN: Building a Dream Wedding Business | 00:28:03 | |
Andy is happy to be welcoming Brooke Keegan back to the show! Brooke is the visionary owner and creative director of Brooke Keegan Special Events, a leading firm specializing in custom, multi-day destination weddings, and since founding her company in 2009, she has garnered recognition from Harper's Bazaar and Brides as one of the world's top event planners! She is here with Andy in this episode to share, amongst other things, her invaluable insights from her years in the industry! As Brooke and Andy catch up, Brooke reflects on challenges faced, particularly the significant downturn in wedding engagements attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and the typical slow- down during election years. She discusses the evolving wedding landscape, highlighting how while low-budget and extravagant weddings continue to thrive, mid-range events are seeing a decline. Brooke also shares her process for working with bridal couples, from initial consultations to curating a creative team tailored to each client's visio, and, emphasizing the importance of balance between creativity and business acumen, she sheds some light on how she navigates the complexities of managing a successful event planning company while prioritizing personal well-being. Andy had such a great time talking with Brooke just as he did the first time and hopes that you enjoy listening to this conversation with her! If so, then please don’t keep it to yourself. Andy asks that you please share it with at least three colleagues you know who would benefit from hearing this episode. Also, be sure to leave a top review wherever you listen because that really helps Andy and the show out!
Have you heard about Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey on The Wedding Biz Network? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!
Time Stamps [0:20] – We learn that this episode’s guest is returning guest Brooke Keegan! [2:01] - Brooke discusses how the wedding industry activity has slowed, with fewer weddings and lighter-than-expected calendars this past year (2024). [3:22] - Mid-range weddings have declined, but Brooke is optimistic for 2025. [6:16] - Brooke tailors her planning process based on each client's engagement stage, preferences, and budget. [9:57] - Creative partner teams are curated like recipes, combining complementary skills for each event. [10:49] - Brooke adds that creative partner selection depends on investment, style, and personality. [13:41] - Andy argues that balancing creativity with business structure is crucial for running successful events. [14:23] - Brooke asserts that weddings are a business that require detailed budgets, transparency, and professionalism. [17:01] - Surrounding herself with knowledgeable people and maintaining accountability drives personal and professional growth for Brooke. [19:59] - How does Brooke balance personal life with business? [21:00] - Brooke believes that prioritizing personal time and self-care is crucial for work-life balance and job satisfaction. [24:22] - Establishing investment strategies and retirement plans is very important for long-term financial security in the industry. [27:32] - Andy reveals where Brooke can be found online.
RESOURCES The Wedding Biz - 483 BROOKE KEEGAN: The Long Game, Creative Partners, Pricing Strategy, and More!
Find Brooke:
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment.
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| 06 Mar 2019 | 133 THE NEXT LEVEL: David Stark: Part 2 Creativity In Design & Business | 00:26:32 | |
As David Stark says, putting together a team is one of the most creative things you can do. That is just one of the dynamic topics Andy discusses with today’s guest co-host, on The Next Level, Sean Low of the Business of Being Creative. Today, we discuss David Stark’s interview - a Part 2. David is Chief Creative Officer of David Stark Design and Production. High profile clients and events include Brad Pitt, Glenn Close, Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary, Louis Vuitton and more! David has five books published so far and product collaborations including a limited edition collection of one of a kind art pieces with Bergdorf Goodman. David was also inducted into the event organization Biz Bash’s hall of Fame. Show Highlights:
David Stark Design and Production Website Instagram: David_Stark_Design
Instagram: @weddingbizshow
Guest Co-Host, Sean Low Website www.thebusinessofbeingcreative.com and www.thebbccollective.com. Twitter @seanlow The BBC Collective on Facebook
Sponsors: OFD Consulting Website Kushner Entertainment Website
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| 21 Apr 2025 | 529 DAWSON HAYNES MITCHELL: Easton Events’ Executive Director | 00:32:57 | |
Andy is excited to share this interview with Dawson Haynes Mitchell, executive director of Easton Events. Dawson pulls back the curtain on what it means to be the right hand of one of the industry’s most respected planners, Lynn Easton. She discusses how luxury event planning is all about seamless execution and stunning experiences and, behind the scenes, it's really a high-pressure world demanding adaptability, sharp problem-solving, and in-depth attention to detail. Listen in as Dawson shares how she rose from intern to a leadership role over the course of ten years, managing everything from budgets and timelines to client interactions. She offers us a look at the intense problem-solving that comes with the job, from last-minute challenges to the constant push for perfection. Dawson also discusses her close working relationship with Lynn and how mentorship has helped shape her approach to leadership. Dawson introduces eventPERCH, Easton Events’ software designed to bring order to the chaos of event planning and to offer planners a better, and more efficient way of handling budgets, schedules, and payments. Looking ahead, she reflects on the possibility of one day stepping into Lynn’s shoes and what it would mean to carry forward Easton’s legacy. Andy had such a great time chatting with Dawson for this episode and hopes that listeners enjoy listening. If so, then please share this episode with at least three people you feel will also enjoy it and subscribe to the podcast, if you aren’t already, so that you never miss a new episode! Be sure to also leave a top review wherever you listen to podcasts because that really helps the show out!
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!
Time Stamps [0:35] - Today’s episode is with Dawson Haynes Mitchell of Easton Events. [4:11] Initially rejected for an internship at Easton, Dawson reapplied with experience and was then accepted. [6:57] Easton operates transparently, with Lynn handling high-level decisions while others manage finer details. [8:25] Easton blends planning and design, collaborating with clients and partners to refine event aesthetics. [10:37] Dawson shares that success at Easton requires resilience, adaptability, and maintaining composure under pressure. [13:36] Dawson ensures that small issues don’t escalate by having proper paperwork and anticipating client needs. [16:48] - Dawson discusses overcoming her fear of delegation and learning to manage tasks more effectively. [18:55] - Dawson describes her close, open communication with Lynn Easton. [21:42] - Dawson shares her love for traveling with Lynn, both enjoying site visits together even though they have varying schedules. [23:43] - Dawson discusses the challenges of frequent travel, balancing the perks with personal life struggles. [25:35] - Hear how Easton Events unintentionally began developing a tech startup to improve event planning software. [27:52] - Dawson discusses Easton's soft launch of eventPERCH, gathering feedback and aiming for a full release by summer. [29:22] - Dawson reflects on Lynn's impact, feeling empowered and valued as her "number two.”
RESOURCES Lynn Easton’s Guest Spots on The Wedding Biz
Easton Events - Instagram Page
Easton Events - Facebook Page
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment. | |||
| 15 Jul 2019 | 168 DARREN OLARSCH: Creating the Ultimate Music and Entertainment for Events! | 00:51:06 | |
Darren Olarsch, Founder of On The Move Entertainment, has built a business out of creating the ultimate music-scapes for every event he puts on. He is sought after for his focus on live bands and orchestras and creating the most amazing dramatic music scenes for his events. Learn how music is the keystone of each event and how Darren layers his musical themes to create a magical dream-scape for all of his events. Also, learn how Darren manages his business and vision for every event. You won’t want to miss this amazing inside look at how Darren blends business and creativity in creating the ultimate experience! Show Highlights: [02:45] Welcome Darren to the show! Andy and Darren talk about their musical influences and when the bug got them! [06:15] What happened that pushed Darren toward music vs archeology? [07:50] Learn how taking a chance outside of school made all the difference. [09:42] Building the form of each specialized event has become the soul of Darren’s business. [11:38] Fast forward to 1990 when Darren was in Miami… learn all about Latin orchestras! [13:29] The hybrid of a live band and DJ… the answer to a very specific need. [15:57] How did live music mature in the party space? [18:48] Why is live music making a resurgence? [23:00] That gorgeous feel of a full band playing the current hits is what is making it! [24:17] What is the curation process for a wedding? [28:29] Each “next thing” for Preston’s event was a reigning moment. [29:33] Defining entertainment through layers of music is Darren’s goal. [31:33] Every party is different, what is the common factor? [33:49] People don’t have focus anymore, learn what you can do to grab them! [35:33] Learn how to build an entertainment business for events. [38:14] Learn how various social effects affect the events industry. [39:17] Where is music going? And what does that mean for Darren? [40:18] A well-rounded entertainment company needs…. [45:37] How does Darren stay in touch with clients and future clients? [47:35] How does the changing face of music affect the brand? [49:19] Check out Darren Olarsch on social media! LINKS & RESOURCES The Wedding Biz @theweddingbiz Darren Olarsch Darren on Instagram Mentioned during the interview: Preston Bailey’s Interviews on The Wedding Biz: Norma Cohen’s Interview on The Wedding Biz: Building A Thriving Business Within A Community Bryan Rafanelli’s Interview on The Wedding Biz: | |||
| 11 Sep 2019 | 185 THE NEXT LEVEL: LYNN EASTON Discusses MARCY BLUM - A Pioneer of the Experiential Approach to Event Planning | 00:21:58 | |
Today on The Next Level, Andy Kushner is speaking with Lynn Easton, creator of Easton Destination Events, a worldwide luxury destination wedding design, and planning company. She is also the Co-Founder of Easton Porter Group, a luxury hospitality company with a portfolio of award-winning boutique hotels, vineyards, restaurants and event venues in North America and Europe. The discussion this week is on Marcy Blum, an internationally sought-after event planner, and entertainment expert. She has been named one of the best in the world by Vogue, Martha Stuart Weddings, Harper's Bazaar and the New York Times magazine. Marcy has worked with celebrities including LeBron James, George and Tamika Soros, Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, to name a few. She has also appeared on television shows including Oprah, Live with Regis and Kelly and the Rachel Ray Show. Lynn speaks about how events need to evolve as they unfold. She also believes that every event should be customized for each client. Planners always need to up their game, plan more creative activities, and Marcy is the master at planning experiences. This is a conversation you won't want to miss. Show Highlights:
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by PartySlate - the first website designed specifically for event professionals and venues!
Follow Marcy Blum Marcy on Instagram: @marcyblum Marcy on Facebook: @marcyblumassociates Marcy on Pinterest: @marcyblum This Week's Guest Co-Host, Lynn Easton creator of Easton Destination Events Lynn on Instagram: @eastonevents Lynn on Facebook: @eastonevents Lynn on Pinterest: @eastonevents Lynn on Twitter: @eastonevents Lynn's Episodes on The Wedding Biz: | |||
| 07 Feb 2022 | 399 REVISIT CHRISTIAN OTH: Innovative Wedding Photojournalism | 00:45:43 | |
On this episode of The Wedding Biz, Andy is having a conversation with Christian Oth. Listen as he discusses how he is dealing with the pandemic both personally and professionally, why he charges an upcharge for new contracts and a non-refundable percentage if a client postpones. Christian also shares what he is doing now, including his newest workshops Christian is an internationally renowned photographer. His experience in fashion, photojournalism, portraiture, advertising, and still life combines into an editorial style that makes Christian truly one of a kind. American Photo named him one of the world's ten best photographers, and his work has appeared in top fashion and wedding publications. Listen as Christian shares what he is doing to stay grounded and in shape, since the pandemic began, and how it has affected him personally. Professionally, the pandemic has led to cancellations and postponements. However, he has been able to stay busy with Commercial and Advertising Photography. Christian speaks about staying in touch with his clients and working with them to reschedule one-on-one. He talks about adding an upcharge to new contracts to help cover the cost and how he is now running a leaner and meaner company with a strong core team of employees and outsourcing what he can. Christian has also launched a workshop on photography and is looking forward to adding more specialized courses and, eventually, a business course to learn how to run a photography business. Do you wish you could be a fly on the wall and listen to music industry pros? Then listen to Andy's new podcast, The Music Makers. It's behind-the-scenes stories from some of the most influential music industry pros around, including artists, recording engineers, record producers, songwriters, managers, record industry executives, and more. You can find The Music Makers podcast by searching for that term in your cell phone's podcast app or by going to www.themusicmakers.com. SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show: If you are so inspired: contribute.
Show Highlights: [02:51] Welcome back to the show, Christian! [03:03] Christian speaks about how he uses video when doing calls because it is easier to connect with people. [05:10] Christian shares that the last major job he did before the world shut down was a wedding in Egypt. [07:57] Christian discusses leaving New York City for the Hamptons at the beginning of the pandemic. [10:32] He speaks about returning to the city in April and riding a bike to help stay grounded and in shape. [13:22] Christian talks about spending a lot of time biking with his son. [15:29] Christian discusses the postponements and cancellations caused by the pandemic. [17:45] Advertising photography is something Christian has always done, so he has been able to stay busy. [19:13] Christian speaks about how he is keeping in contact with his clients as this crisis drags on. [20:45] Christian discusses adding an upcharge on new contracts and how he pays the photographers on his team. [22:42] Christian says that he runs his business lean and mean and has created a really strong core team and outsourced the rest. [24:39] He shares that he has wanted to add workshops for a long time and launched them on October 26th. [26:55] Christian speaks about what they will cover in the classes and what you need to bring to photoshoots. [29:11] Next, he will have more specialized courses and then courses on the business side of being a photographer. [30:31] Christian looks forward to traveling again once this crisis is over. [31:16] Thank you for being on the show!
RESOURCES
Find Christian: Christian Oth Episode 74 on The Wedding Biz Christian Oth Episode 223 on The Wedding Biz @christianothstudio Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest @christianoth
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment | |||
| 22 Jan 2020 | 220 THE NEXT LEVEL: JENNIFER STEIN discusses MICHELLE RAGO - Producing Events While Expecting The Unexpected | 00:28:29 | |
Andy welcomes Jennifer Stein back to The Next Level. Jennifer is the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Destination I Do Magazine, which can be found at newsstands in all fifty states and twelve countries. She also publishes a daily blog, consults, custom publishes, and is about to launch a new podcast.
Michelle is a destination planner, producer, and designer based out of New York City who works all over the world. She has a book called “Signature Weddings - Creating A Day Uniquely Your Own,” and she does many different types of events, she has even produced an event at the Vatican in Rome.
They talk about how Michelle brings in clients and builds relationships, using print to market your business and the power that Michelle brings from a chaotic childhood to her business mindset today. Jennifer also talks about taking a step back, thinking things through before responding, and how critical conversations need to happen in person or on the phone.
Did you know that fear can be a motivator? Listen in as Andy and Jennifer speak about letting fear motivate you but getting rid of the fear that doesn’t serve you. These two always have the best deep conversations, and this is one that should be on your must-hear list. Take a moment to listen and think about what they are saying.
Show Highlights:
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by PartySlate - the first website designed specifically for event professionals and venues!
How to find Michelle Michelle Rago Part 1 on The Wedding Biz
This Week's Guest Co-Host, Jennifer Stein Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Destination I Do Magazine Jennifer Stein on the Wedding Biz
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| 15 Apr 2020 | 246 THE NEXT LEVEL: DARREN OLARSCH discusses NORMA COHEN Part 2 - Creating Positive Energy While Planning Elaborate Events | 00:15:42 | |
“If you don’t have lighting, you can’t see the beauty you’ve created.” Listen as Andy and Darren discuss Norma Cohen, her elaborate designs, her attention to lighting and how it affects her vision and more. Darren Olarsch founded On The Move Entertainment in 1993, an event production company that specializes in entertainment, and appeared as a guest on The Wedding Biz on July 15th, 2019. Norma started her company, Norma Cohen Productions, nearly thirty years ago. She is a powerhouse and has planned numerous events at New York’s most iconic spaces and Europe’s most luxurious destinations. Norma believes that you have to get rid of the negative energy in your life and the company to thrive. Listen as Darren shares how involved Norma is with her events, from lighting to wardrobe and everything in between. She even makes sure the lights and music are choreographed and work together. He says that he has seen Norma stand by the Lighting Director and verbally make changes to match what she wants to see. Andy and Darren discuss Norma’s views on live bands versus DJ’s and how a great stage for the band can make all the difference. Darren speaks about wardrobe and how instrumental Norma was in his company having different looks from stock-looks to custom-looks depending on what the client wants. Darren has worked many events with Norma and gives us a look into her events from the inside. Her attention to the smallest detail and the trust she has in her creative partners is unique, and it’s those qualities that make her the success she is today.
Show Highlights:
Find Norma: Norma Cohen on The Wedding Biz @normacohenproductions Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest
This Week's Guest Co-Host, Darren Olarsch Darren Olarsch on The Wedding Biz @on-the-move-events-entertainment @onthemoveevents
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment | |||
| 05 Nov 2018 | 102 PAULA LEDUC: Fine Catering, Design, Emotion and Relationships | 00:52:37 | |
Did you grow up knowing what you wanted to do with your life? Most people change their minds multiple times before they decide on their career. Today’s guest grew up always being creative, as her father was an engineer, building things. If you asked her then, she would not have an idea she would be where she is today - an entrepreneur growing something from nothing, and knowing what her skills were, and what she could pass on to others. Paula LeDuc of Paula LeDuc Fine Catering and Events started out in college studying Sociology and Special Education. With an Italian heritage, Paula LeDuc grew up surrounded by family who loved to cook and entertain, yet she never cooked until after she was married! Exploding unexpectedly, the catering business for Paula came so naturally. Listen in to hear all about Paula’s ultimate goal of creating the experience for her clients. Show Highlights:
Resources: Instagram: @weddingbizshow The Stylish Bride with Julie Sabatino Paula LeDuc Fine Catering & Events Website Instagram: @paulaleduc Paula LeDuc Facebook
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| 10 Aug 2020 | 282 ABI MATESUN: Emmy-Winning Cinematographer, Filmmaker, Photographer & Speaker | 00:39:07 | |
“Everything you see in life that has impacted the world in any form or way started as a dream.” Listen as Andy and his guest Abi Matesun discuss what Abi means by this statement, why he left Nigeria, how he started in photography and the transition into film, and much more on this episode of The Wedding Biz. Abi is the Founder and CEO of Malekfoto Films and Malekfoto Weddings. Abi is a two time Emmy-winning cinematographer, filmmaker, photographer, public speaker, and two time Telly Award winner. Born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, Abi studied Management and Information Systems at the University of Texas. “Catching all the moments between the moments.” Listen as Abi tells the story of how he films weddings, and his process when he meets with the couple for the first time. He and his team then do a storyboard so they can make life easier for the wedding planner. He says they want to be like a special forces team. Their footprint is very small, but their impact is unforgettable. Abi speaks about the story behind his documentary Inner Conflict, the love story Fire and Ice, that he filmed in Iceland, and how important the music is to his work. Abi also speaks about how he handles the business and artistic side of his business and how the pandemic is affecting him both personally and professionally. “Success is doing better tomorrow than you did today.” Abi is so insightful and passionate about his life and his work, and the way he views his art is so different from anyone else you will ever meet. Take the time to listen to the brilliance of Abi Matesun. We are all experiencing quite a bit of stress and other issues during this pandemic. Andy has put together a list of the top ten tips for dealing with stress, which he has compiled from interviews with icons of the wedding and event industry. If you would like a copy, go to www.theweddingbiz.com/toptips.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show: For as little as $6 per month, or $0.75 per episode, are you willing to support the industry insights Andy brings on his podcast? If you are so inspired: contribute.
Show Highlights: [02:39] Welcome to the show, Abi! [04:14] Abi discusses the educational system in Nigeria and why he went to school for Quantity Surveying. [05:40] Abi shares how he ended up moving to the United States. [07:38] What was your impression of the United States when you arrived? [09:30] Abi speaks about the photography company he started while in college. [11:17] Abi discusses the transition from photography to cinematography. [13:50] He shares a wedding for his friend that became the catalyst for Malekfoto Weddings. [16:00] Abi explains the story behind how he shoots weddings. [16:54] Listen as Abi speaks about his process when he first meets with a couple. [18:32] Abi shares a story about one of his favorite weddings. [20:46] Do you storyboard with your team for a wedding? [22:47] Abi discusses his documentary, Inner Conflict. [24:06] Listen as Abi shares the story behind his film, Fire and Ice. [25:59] How much thought do you give to the music in your films? [28:19] Abi speaks about how he views the difference between business and art. [30:24] Abi shares what his topics are at his speaking engagements. [31:38] How is the pandemic affecting you personally and professionally? [33:51] Abi gives some advice for professional cinematographers or filmmakers that want to get to another level. [35:18] Abi shares what success means for him. [37:23] Thank you for being on the show!
RESOURCES
Find Abi: @malekfotoweddings
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment | |||
| 11 Jul 2022 | 419 AUGUSTA COLE: Planning, Designing, and Staying One Step Ahead | 00:33:46 | |
Augusta Cole joins Andy in this episode of The Wedding Biz to talk about her career and how she always manages to stay one step ahead, discussing how she took the leap to start her own business, how she built her team, and more. Andy first met Augusta when she was working for Lynn Easton as Executive Director where she garnered a stellar reputation for her wide-ranging abilities. She has since started her own business - Augusta Cole Events based out of New York City and Charleston, South Carolina! Augusta has always, as she shares, had a love for this business. As a child, for example, she loved having birthday parties and always wanted to hand-deliver invitations on silver trays. She touches upon her education and what it was like for her to make the transition into entrepreneurship. Also discussed is her usual process with her clientele and how she does scheduled check-ins with them and goes about assuring them that she is one step ahead. Augusta also shares what her experience has been like doing virtual meetings as opposed to in-person meetings, what her first event (a very small wedding of only nine people) was like, how she handles challenges, how she goes about finding talent, why time management is her biggest struggle, how she balances her personal life with her business life, what would be most important for her to teach in a master class, and so much more! Andy had such a great time reconnecting with Augusta like this and appreciates her coming onto the show to chat! Be sure to check out Augusta's website as well as her Instagram page, and as always, if you can think of at least three good friends who might really benefit from and enjoy this interview with Augusta Cole, be sure to share it with them! Andy would also really appreciate it if you were to subscribe to the podcast if you aren't already and to leave a top review wherever you listen! That really helps out the show and helps people find it!
This episode is sponsored by Zola, the fastest-growing wedding platform that connects today’s couples with the right planners and vendors. Zola gives wedding professionals more control, better exposure, and higher quality leads — all with competitive pricing and no annual commitment. Create your free listing at www.zola.com/andy.
Have you heard about Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey on The Wedding Biz Network? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!
Time Stamps [0:00] – Today's sponsor is Zola. [0:49] - Andy just got back from Tampa, Florida! [1:38] - Andy reveals today’s guest to be Augusta Cole of Augusta Cole Events. [2:58] - Augusta reflects on her childhood and what led her to this. [3:51] – Augusta reveals what she majored in at school. [6:17] – Hear about what Augusta's transition to entrepreneurship was like. [7:49] – Augusta explains why she moved to New York City. [9:44] – Augusta walks us through her usual process with her clients. [13:00] – Augusta discusses meeting in person vs. meeting virtually. [14:22] – Hear more details about August's first event, a small 9-person wedding. [16:53] – How does Augusta figure out what to plan for an event? [18:56] – Learn about how Augusta faces challenges. [19:46] – Augusta argues that planners need to be flexible and adaptable. [20:58] – Andy reflects on his struggle with staying calm. [22:28] – Augusta expresses gratitude for her team. [24:56] – Discover how Augusta goes about finding talent. [25:49] – Time management is what is most difficult for Augusta. [28:28] – How does Augusta balance her personal life with her business life? [30:32] – Augusta touches upon what she would primarily teach in a master class. [31:24] – We are encouraged to take advantage of what makes us unique. [33:00] - Learn where to find Augusta online.
RESOURCES David Stark’s Previous Guest Spots on The Wedding Biz Vogue - “La Dolce Vita Meets Southern Charm at This Charleston Wedding” Over the Moon - “A Hamptons Garden Fairytale Wedding at The Reform Club”
Find Augusta:
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
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| 02 Aug 2021 | 375 DAVE CALZARETTA: Fighting the Fear of Missing Out and Making Your Own Luck | 00:39:26 | |
Listen in to Andy's conversation with Dave Calzaretta, the founder and president of Magnificent Events & Entertainment! Magnificent Events & Entertainment was founded in 2000 and has since established an impeccable reputation out of Chicago, Illinois (and also now Scottsdale, Arizona), and it is considered an international booking and event expert company. Dave always had a love for music, especially after fostering a unique friendship with The Temptations at a young age, but he majored in accounting because he was told that he should choose something practical. He reveals how he landed the career that he now has in the events and wedding market, however, and reveals what it was like to make the jump from the corporate world to a career in music and events. Motivated by a fear of missing out, Dave explains, he became an entrepreneur because he didn't want a 9-5 office job but instead wanted to live a more whimsical lifestyle. He discusses negotiation and how it's about gathering what's important on both sides of a transaction. He also reflects on the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has affected his career and his business over the last year or so. Andy has been wanting to have Dave on the show for a while and appreciates his connection and friendship with Dave. He's so happy to have had this chance to talk with him on the show! Have you heard about the brand new show on The Wedding Biz Network, Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!
Time Stamps [1:12] – Andy reveals that this episode's interviewee is Dave Calzaretta, founder and president of Magnificent Events & Entertainment. [2:31] – Dave reflects on a time at fourteen years old when his father took him to see The Temptations. [5:08] – Dave talks about how he majored in accounting despite his love for music. [7:50] – Dave explains what it was like to make the leap from the corporate world to the music world. [9:25] – Having an accounting degree, Dave shares, made him comfortable with the gap between careers. [11:33] – We discover how Dave balances business and art. [14:07] – Dave looks back at the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and how it affected his career. [16:43] – We learn how Dave's career doesn't have a shelf life anymore and he can continue to do this into his sixties. [18:06] – Dave talks about his office in Chicago and how he manages it post-pandemic. [21:08] – Dave describes his family situation. [23:50] – The biggest challenge that the industry faces, Dave asserts, is the waves of people who value price over quality. [27:01] – Andy expounds upon the challenge of explaining why you're worth your price to prospective clients. [28:26] – We hear Dave reflect on how difficult it is to reach prospective clients via video. [31:49] – Dave discusses negotiation and how a lot of musicians don't recognize their own value. [34:21] – Dave shares his thoughts about current emerging trends and talents. [38:21] – Andy reveals where Dave can be found online.
RESOURCES Andy’s Top 10 Event Luminary Tips For Dealing With Stress
Find Dave: Magnificent Events - Facebook Page Magnificent.Events - Instagram Page
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment & PartySlate.
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| 19 Jul 2021 | 373 JULIE NOVACK: Optimizing Your Digital Footprint | 00:23:05 | |
Join Andy in this episode as he chats with Julie Novack, C.E.O. and co-founder of PartySlate, a photo-rich website (that, in fact, just recently hit a million photos) where leading event professionals share their work, build their brand, and drive leads. Before founding Party Slate, Julie held executive positions at top-tier digital agencies such as Razorfish, Vibes, and Agency.com. With over twenty years of digital marketing experience, Julie has helped some of the biggest brands in the world. Longtime listeners of The Wedding Biz may actually remember Julie having been on the show before as she has been on a number of occasions such as in episode 121. Julie is here in this episode to talk about how to optimize your digital footprint. She discusses how to do that with your website, blog, social media, backlinks (which she describes as very similar to PR), third-party platforms, etc. She talks about what she calls a homepage handshake and why it is so crucial on your website since no one should have to do a whole lot of investigating to find out what you actually do, and she comments on blogs and how they can help you build authority. Julie also encourages listeners to spend at least one hour making their LinkedIn profiles represent them and their companies and to be sure to have at least 500 contacts on LinkedIn. In closing, Julie puts particular emphasis on the importance of networking and building strong online connections with other people and with other companies. Only so much of Julie's vast knowledge on this subject can be shared in twenty minutes, but this is such a fantastic summary and overview, and Andy strongly encourages listeners to not only go back and listen to this episode a second time to take notes but to also go back and listen to Julie's earlier episodes of The Wedding Biz, especially episode 121. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so that you never miss an episode, and if you can think of at least three good friends who would benefit from listening, share it with them! Andy would also appreciate a positive review wherever you listen to the podcast and for you to go back and listen to some of the interviews in his back catalogue, especially if you're a new listener having just recently come on board! Have you heard about the brand new show on The Wedding Biz Network, Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!
Time Stamps [0:43] – Andy reveals that this episode's guest is Julie Novack, C.E.O. and co-founder of PartySlate. [2:12] – Julie starts by talking about how to improve your digital presence via websites. [3:46] – Julie presents the possibility that about 80% of websites miss what she calls the homepage handshake. [5:03] – Julie offers her general opinion on blogs. [5:40] – We are provided with an example of how a blog entry could be helpful. [7:10] – Julie touches upon the importance of marketing yourself on social media, especially Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. [8:53] – Julie addresses the difference in importance between having a personal profile and a business profile on LinkedIn. [9:35] – We are strongly encouraged to occasionally post content on LinkedIn and are told why. [10:36] – Julie encourages us to have at least 500 contacts on LinkedIn. [13:00] – Julie explains the difference between content SEO and technical SEO. [14:32] – We learn what backlinks are and why they are important. [16:08] – With third-party platforms, Julie explains that they tend to be polarizing and why. [19:08] – Julie sums up by encouraging us to think about our online connections and how they can help us. [22:23] – Andy gives Party Slate's contact information.
RESOURCES The Wedding Biz - Episode 121 Julie Novack: PartySlate & Building A Venture-Capital Backed Business
julie@partyslate.com
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment & PartySlate.
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| 16 Jun 2021 | 367 REVISIT TARA GUERARD: Wedding Designer with a Southern Flair | 00:44:46 | |
Southern charm and Tara Guérard are synonymous with each other. Add weddings to the mix, and you’ve got one of the most highly respected wedding designers in the business. Tara’s business, Tara Guérard Soirée, began 20 years ago when she discovered her love for design, creativity, and of course, planning parties! Her design aesthetic and passion for her work has led her to being a top tier designer with offices in Charleston, South Carolina and New York City. Tara is also the owner of The Lettered Olive, a company that focuses on designing immaculate one-of-a-kind wedding invitations, save the dates, and more, has also published two books with a third on the way, and is a mother of 3 young children. She wears a lot of hats, and to no surprise, wears them all very well! Andy and Tara dive into how she got started in her career and how much has changed in the industry since she started her business. The two also chat about how she brings clients her southern flair, what it’s like raising three children under ten while also running a business, and Tara’s popular YouTube channel Tara Guérard's Life’s a Party. The full interview is available now, only on The Wedding Biz! Links | |||
| 23 Aug 2021 | 378 REVISIT MINDY RICE of MINDY RICE DESIGN: Creating Feelings Instead of Just Events | 00:44:55 | |
When we think about wedding and event floral designs, our imagination is often limited to bouquets and centerpieces. Today, I am talking to one of the premier event designers in the world. She sees flowers and foliage as a way to create lasting memories of events your guests will never forget. Mindy Rice, of Mindy Rice Design, is a native Californian with a creative lineage. Growing up, Mindy was taught how to think like a designer. Never feeling confined by the “rules” wedding floral arrangements like to follow, Mindy seemed to fall into the wedding business after designing events for the corporate world. What makes Mindy unique is how she encourages her clients to step into their most daring self. She turns dreams into reality—no Pinterest board copy-cat ideas here! Today, Mindy is going to walk us through her process, from the exciting ideation stages to actually executing her most memorable pieces. She will share stories of how she has transformed a simple barn into a Redwood wonderland. Mindy will describe her favorite pieces, and how she uses color and perspective to transform any event space. Mindy’s goal is to create unique elements for each event that guests will really remember. She is not afraid to take a risk because she knows the risky pieces will always pay off. Every bloom and bough is placed thoughtfully so that guests will feel something long after the last toast and dance.
Today is not just about flowers and spectacle! Mindy and I will chat about what it means to own our own business, and how we can successfully balance our creative endeavors with family life. The event design business sometimes feels as though it could take over everything! Mindy embraces the life she’s been given and chooses jobs that will both fulfill her creatively and best support her family. Mindy is inspiring in so many ways, and I know she is going to transform the way you’ve always thought about flowers. Expect the unexpected when Mindy is around! Show Highlights:
Connect with Mindy: | |||
| 05 Feb 2024 | 490 REVISIT LISA VORCE: The Intangible Soul of an Event | 00:44:23 | |
“My proudest moments aren’t only about design. They are about how my clients feel when they see and experience the design.” Listen as Andy and his guest Lisa Vorce discuss Lisa’s love of celebrations, what inspired her to leave corporate America to launch her own business and much more on this episode of The Wedding Biz. Lisa is a world-renowned celebrity event planner, receiving accolades from Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Brides, BizBash, and Martha Stewart, to name a few. She planned several events for Kobe Bryant and produced some of the most iconic celebrations, including the weddings of John Legend and Chrissy Teigen and Kate Upton and Justin Verlander. Lisa is a speaker and headliner at conferences worldwide, including WPPI, Engage, and DWP. Lisa shares that the first event she worked at was a birthday party for George Clooney’s mom, how the referrals from the first wedding she planned led her down the destination wedding path, and the process she follows for each client. Lisa also shares the roles each of her treasured team members play in the events they produce. Listen as Lisa describes an event she did recently, how she helps her clients choose a venue for their wedding and why each client is set up with a website and email address so they can communicate not only with Lisa’s team but so that the team can communicate with the guests that are attending the wedding.
If you enjoy listening to this revisit with Lisa, then Andy asks you to please not keep it to yourself! Share the episode with some good friends who might also get something out of it, and be sure to also leave a top review wherever you listen to the show, as that really helps the show out! Lastly, don’t forget to follow The Wedding Biz on Instagram and subscribe to the podcast so that you never miss a new episode when it drops!
Have you heard about Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey on The Wedding Biz Network? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!
Time Stamps [00:18] - Today’s episode is a revisit of Andy’s original conversation with Lisa Vorce! [01:45] - Lisa shares what she means by wanting to design something that resonates with someone’s soul. [04:03] - Lisa speaks about her family and the mixed heritage she grew up around. [05:35] - Was there any place outside Lisa's family experience where she was exposed to celebrations like she does today? [07:30] - Lisa speaks about meeting her husband during a blizzard in Colorado. [08:52] - Lisa shares that one of the first events she worked was for Nina Clooney, George Clooney’s mom. [09:54] - When Lisa transitioned from the corporate world to open her own company, was it something she thought about or was it impulsive? [12:00] - Lisa discusses the first wedding she planned and how that was the catalyst for specializing in destination weddings. [15:28] - Lisa speaks about her process from initial contact with a potential client through the event. [17:31] - Lisa explains what she focuses on for each event and what role each member of her team plays. [19:27] - What are some of the most significant stressors Lisa finds that her clients face? [21:49] - Lisa discusses how she helps her clients decide what venue will work best for them for the destination they choose. [24:30] - Lisa gives us an example of a wedding she did recently and how they picked the venue, resorts, excursions, and flights. [28:37] - Why is lighting the first thing that Lisa look at before designing an event? [31:29] - Lisa speaks about being involved in a couple’s website for their wedding and communicating the necessary information. [33:27] - Lisa shares that each client has a specific email address linked directly to their company and the communication plan they do with the guests. [36:06] - Lisa discusses how hard it is to break into designing at a top-level in the event industry. [38:33] - How does Lisa suggest that photographers and other creative partners who want to work with her approach her? [41:18] - Lisa shares about her product line called Lisa Vorce and Zola, a registry for brides. [42:17] - Lisa speaks about where she sees herself in the next few years. [43:49] - Andy reveals where Lisa can be found online.
LINKS AND RESOURCES
Lisa's Website
The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
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| 19 Jun 2023 | 464 JOEL SERRATO: Artistry in Wedding Photography | 00:39:47 | |
Joel Serrato is today’s guest, and Andy is so excited to have him on the show! Joel has been named a top wedding photographer by Harper’s Bazaar and Martha Stewart Weddings, and his photography is based on capturing pure moments of authentic emotions. Some of his noteworthy work includes work for Pat Benatar, Tamara Mowry, and Adam Housley, and the quality of his work simply speaks for itself. Joel details how his original interest was in filmmaking but that his husband Jose Villa got him interested in wedding photography. He touches upon whether he prefers digital or film (and makes a pretty bold statement that might surprise you), what he does to bring in compatible clientele, and whether or not he has managed to find a balance between being a professional wedding photographer, a husband, and a father to two little ones. Joel also strongly believes in event professionals supporting each other rather than going up against each other, and he even demonstrates that by reaching out to photographers who got jobs over him and congratulating them. This positivity is something that he also carries with him pretty much everywhere that he goes, and he gives an example of how he managed to make a really good situation out of a literally rainy day, putting on what he calls his “swan face.” This was such a special conversation for Andy because of how kind and thoughtful Joel is, and he really appreciates Joel’s time and how open that he was on the show. If you enjoyed Andy’s conversation with Joel Serrato, then he would really love it if you were to share this episode with at least three people you know who might also enjoy it. Be sure to also subscribe to the podcast if you aren't already so that you never miss a new episode and to leave a top review wherever you listen. That really helps out Andy and the show!
Have you heard about Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey on The Wedding Biz Network? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!
Time Stamps [0:00] – The sponsor of this episode is Zola. [0:23] - Andy recommends the book The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin. [1:54] - Andy is excited to announce that Joel Serrato is this episode’s special guest! [2:52] - Discover that Joel got his start in filmmaking. [5:35] - Joel identifies his husband Jose Villa as his greatest teacher. [7:39] - Does Joel prefer film or digital? [10:03] - How does Joel look at lighting, composition, and style? [12:04] - Joel walks us through the usual process with his clients. [14:44] - Joel believes that wedding industry professionals should support each other. [16:09] - Hear what the biggest challenges of destination weddings are. [19:29] - Does Joel approach photographing celebrities differently? [22:59] - Joel gives an example of a challenge that he had to overcome. [25:37] - Learn how Joel calmed a nervous bride down. [29:24] - Joel discusses situations that led to other opportunities. [31:26] - Joel reveals whether or not he’s able to balance his professional and personal lives. [35:14] - Joel reflects back on how his parents inspired him. [36:41] - What gear is Joel currently using? [38:59] - Andy gives us Joel’s website and Instagram information.
LINKS & RESOURCES Rick Rubin - The Creative Act: A Way of Being
Find Joel: Joel’s Website
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
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| 09 Jun 2021 | 365 REVISIT JES GORDON: Bringing Personality to Every Event | 00:52:38 | |
How do you truly entertain without boundaries? Just ask event designer, producer, and planner Jes Gordon. Designing and planning events that are constantly pushing creative and innovative limits is what she does best. From getting inspired by her clients and their families to seeing what’s on the streets of cities and incorporating that into her work, she’s got no short supply of amazing ideas. Though Jes technically started her career in the design world working in a floral shop at the tender age of 13, she hit it out of the park big-time at 19, where her innate ability to design and produce fabulous events became apparent. After a few serendipitous turning points in her life, she started her own business Proper Fun, which encapsulates what Jes’ style and process is all about. Today, Jes and Andy delve into how the wedding industry has changed, and how there can still be a balance of professionalism and personality if you do it right. She shares what her most and least favorite events to produce are, why she deems herself an event producer rather than just a designer, and how her upbringing shaped her path to becoming a world-renowned event creator. Jes’ interview brings her splash of personality and vivid inspiration to listeners, showing that there’s always something new to create and be inspired by every single day. Check out the full episode right here. Links | |||
| 09 Nov 2020 | 304 ROB VAN HELDEN: Perfect Simplicity and Floral Design for Royalty | 00:34:54 | |
"I personally believe that flowers speak for themselves." Listen as Andy and his guest Rob Van Helden discuss ‘perfect simplicity' and what he means by that. Rob also talks about starting a business out of the back of a car with his sister Patrice and how through word of mouth they were able to grow, plus much more on this episode of The Wedding Biz.
Rob is the owner of Rob Van Helden Floral Design Limited out of London. His previous clientele include Nelson Mandela, Joe Malone, Elton John, the Beckham's World Cup party, Alfred Dunhill and James Bond film premiers, and Royal weddings and events including Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, and Princess Margaret's 70th birthday among others.
Rob shares why he likes to work with a lot of just one type of flower, how instrumental props are in the design, and setting the theme. Rob shares his process when he works with clients. And he speaks about taking his clients to the flower market with him so they can see firsthand what he has in mind for the design and experience their responses.
Listen, as Rob describes the flower arrangements he designed for his own wedding and some of the biggest challenges he has faced at an event. Rob shares how he is handling the pandemic personally and professionally, and that success to him is having happy clients.
Do you need some tips on handling stress during this crazy year? Andy has put together a list of the top ten tips for dealing with stress, which he has compiled from interviews with icons of the wedding and event industry. If you would like a copy, go to www.theweddingbiz.com/toptips.
Are you a creative who wants to turn your craft into a business or take it further? Head to the Wedding Biz Network and listen to The Business of Being Creative podcast with Sean Low. Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show: If you are so inspired: contribute.
Show Highlights: [02:00] Welcome to the show, Rob! [03:08] Rob shares growing up in a small village in Holland and his journey to where he is now. [06:03] Rob speaks about finding out he has a knack for floral design. [07:16] Rob discusses starting a business with his sister Patrice in the back of a car. [09:13] He shares why he believes in the term perfect simplicity. [09:47] Why do you like to work with a lot of one type of flower? [10:53] Rob discusses why he believes props are instrumental in the design and setting of the theme. [13:52] He has natural conversations with his clients, sends them a proposal, and takes them on a trip to the flower market to show them what he has in mind. [17:27] What are some of the biggest challenges you have had during a wedding? [18:24] Rob describes what he designed for his wedding in 2007. [21:02] Rob shares some Royal weddings and events he has designed flowers for. [23:41] What events have you done for Sir Elton John over the years? [24:22] Rob discusses how he creates the right display for hotels and their venues. [25:23] Rob shares how he is handling the pandemic personally and professionally. [27:53] Rob speaks about what he has learned about himself during this crisis. [30:10] Andy and Rob share that everyone is in this together and how they connect with the people they work with on events. [32:04] Success to Rob means happy clients and getting letters from clients sharing how much they loved his design. [33:20] Thank you for being on the show!
RESOURCES
Find Rob Rob Van Helden Floral Design Limited @rvhfloraldesign Instagram | Facebook | Twitter @rvhprophire @rvhhome
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment
Mentioned | |||
| 22 Apr 2024 | 501 ANNA ROUSSOS/Photographer: Capturing Love: A Journey from Fashion to Romance | 00:33:06 | |
Andy dives into an enriching conversation this week with Anna Roussos, a prominent wedding photographer renowned across Europe. Anna shares her journey from a TV director to a distinguished wedding photographer, unveiling the pivotal moments that shaped her career. Discover how Anna's childhood fascination with romance and artistry steered her towards capturing timeless moments of love and emotion through her lens. From her early days in fashion photography to her transformation into a leading figure in luxury wedding photography, Anna's story is a testament to the power of passion and perseverance. Anna has a truly unique approach to wedding photography, blending elegant reportage with a touch of fashion, and she shares insights into storytelling, aesthetic coherence, and client satisfaction. She also discusses the intricacies of branding and niche development in the wedding photography industry and unveils the key elements of building a successful luxury brand. She even elaborates upon the impact of technology and social media on wedding photography, from the demand for quick turnaround times to the rise of drone photography and content creation. Gain valuable tips on portfolio curation, client communication, and balancing artistry with business acumen in the dynamic world of wedding photography. You won't want to miss out on this insightful conversation with Anna Roussos, and if you do enjoy it, then Andy would really appreciate it if you were to share it with a few good friends and industry colleagues who might also enjoy it! Andy would also appreciate it if you were to leave a top review wherever you listen to the show because that really helps the show out! Lastly, don’t forget to follow The Wedding Biz on Instagram and subscribe to the podcast so that you never miss a new episode when it drops!
Have you heard about Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey on The Wedding Biz Network? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!
Time Stamps [0:55] - Andy reveals this episode’s guest to be Anna Roussos! [3:26] - When did Anna realize that she wanted to do photography as a career? [5:44] - After discovering the joy of capturing love, Anna transitioned to full-time wedding photography. [8:47] - Anna reflects on her style, revealing that her style style blends elegance with storytelling, emphasizing aesthetic cohesion and client satisfaction. [11:42] - Anna prioritizes thorough client engagement, crafting detailed timelines and mood boards for personalized wedding photography. [14:47] - Andy points out how collaborating with planners on draft timelines allows for optimal event coordination and enhancements. [15:38] - Having input on draft timelines is crucial to Anna for capturing specific moments and adjusting as needed. [18:44] - How does Anna describe her niche? [19:43] - Anna argues that building a strong brand image through portfolio selection is vital for attracting ideal clients. [22:46] - In today's fast-paced world of social media, quick delivery times are essential for photographers. [25:59] - Anna feels that creating a luxury brand for wedding photography involves rarity, exclusivity, prestige, and authenticity. [28:47] - Andy asserts that establishing immediate connection and excitement enhances the client experience from the first interaction. [30:50] - Learn what equipment Anna is currently using. [32:21] - Andy touches upon where Anna can be found online.
LINKS AND RESOURCES
The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
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| 04 Nov 2024 | 518 TWB – BRYAN RAFANELLI: The Art of Lasting Success & Self-Fulfillment | 00:29:22 | |
Andy really hopes that you will join him for this episode of The Wedding Biz as he welcomes back to the show Bryan Rafanelli of Rafanelli Events! Bryan is a renowned designer and planner and is the founder and chief creative officer of Rafanelli Events, and he has been behind some of the most high-profile events in recent history, including Chelsea Clinton’s wedding and several of President Obama’s White House state dinners. His team has also worked on key campaign events for Vice President Kamala Harris! Bryan opens up about the pressures of maintaining excellence in a saturated market, admitting that even after decades of success, he still feels the weight of “being only as good as your last event.” Listen in to hear him reflect on how he balances innovation with authenticity, rejecting trends for the sake of trends and instead focusing on creating meaningful connections through his work. He also shares his candid thoughts on burnout, revealing that while he’s sometimes tempted to step back, his passion for creativity keeps him grounded. Whether designing an unforgettable party or brainstorming new ideas, Bryan thrives on making the impossible possible! This episode of The Wedding Biz truly goes beyond event planning, diving deeply into the challenges of balancing the business and creative aspects of a career in design. Bryan and Andy also touch on the importance of surrounding oneself with talented people, finding joy in personal routines, and staying motivated in the face of immense success. Join them for an inspiring conversation about the highs and lows of life at the top of the creative industry! If you enjoy and get something insightful out of this conversation with Bryan, then please don’t keep it to yourself! Andy asks that you please share it with at least three friends and/or colleagues you know who would benefit from hearing this episode. Also, be sure to leave a top review wherever you listen because that really helps Andy and the show out!
Have you heard about Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey on The Wedding Biz Network? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!
Time Stamps [0:31] – We learn that this episode’s guest is returning guest Bryan Rafanelli of Rafanelli Events! [2:01] - Bryan strives to create unique and memorable events that resonate with their themes! [3:35] - Bryan shares how he loves his current creative career and feels fulfilled by the challenges that it presents. [6:32] - Andy recalls Bryan's appreciation for balancing artistic creativity with business success. [7:36] - Bryan emphasizes the importance of balancing creativity and business for overall success. [9:27] - Bryan believes in staying engaged with both creative and business aspects for success. [11:01] - Bryan values all opportunities and continuously strives to maintain and enhance his success. [14:50] - Pushing his team forward, Bryan thrives on accomplishing seemingly impossible challenges. [17:11] - Bryan finds fulfillment in balancing work and personal happiness while taking advantage of exciting opportunities. [19:40] - Andy recalls a memorable event that Bryan designed and seeks another satisfying story. [20:15] - We learn how Bryan has mastered creating adaptable wedding plans, finding beauty in unexpected weather. [23:26] - We hear how Bryan enjoys solving real-time challenges in event planning, especially in relation to weather changes. [26:33] - Bryan is involved in politics and anticipates the impact of upcoming elections on his work! [29:00] - Andy reveals where Bryan can be located online.
RESOURCES Bryan’s Previous Guest Spots on The Wedding Biz
Find Bryan: Rafanelli Events’ Instagram Page Rafanelli Events’ Facebook Page Rafanelli Events’ Twitter Page
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment.
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| 08 May 2019 | 149 THE NEXT LEVEL: Liese Gardner: Brand Therapy & Marketing With Heart | 00:16:38 | |
On today’s episode of The Next Level, Guest Co-Host Shannon Leahy, of Shannon Leahy Events, joins Andy Kushner in reflecting on last week’s interview with Liese Gardner. Liese is a blogger, branding and marketing strategist, and influential event industry leader. This episode is full of key tips you can apply to growing your own business. To hear more from this week’s episode translated into tangible tactics join Andy and Shannon on this episode of The Next Level. Show Highlights:
LIESE GARDNER’S LINKS Instagram @liesegardner
GUEST CO-HOST, SHANNON LEAHY’S LINKS Instagram @shannonleahyevents Facebook @Shannon-Leahy-Events
THE WEDDING BIZ LINKS The Wedding Biz Website The Wedding Biz Instagram The Wedding Biz Facebook
SPONSOR LINKS OFD Consulting www.ofdconsulting.com Kushner Entertainment www.kushnerentertainment.com | |||
| 09 Sep 2024 | 514 TARA GUERARD: Global Tastemaker with Southern Hospitality | 00:25:30 | |
If you have been a longtime listener of the podcast, then today’s voice may sound familiar to you as it is her third appearance on the show! Andy is so thrilled to welcome back Tara Guerard, owner and creative director of Tara Guerard Soirée headquartered out of Charleston, South Carolina (and with an additional office in New York City). Tara is recognized as one of the nation's leading tastemakers globally, and she is here to share some exciting updates since she was last on the show. Listen as she and Andy reflect on the profound changes brought about by the pandemic and how it has influenced their approach to client relationships. Tara shares her struggle with the shift to virtual meetings, highlighting why it's important to have in-person connections and how much she values reading a client's body language and energy, something that is unfortunately difficult to replicate over the phone or through a screen. Tara shares some insights into maintaining energy and inspiration after decades in the business. She credits her success to her naturally high energy levels and an unrelenting desire to learn and grow, revealing her plans to pursue new creative endeavors when she turns 60. Tara also discusses the challenges of working in diverse locations where the level of service may not meet her high standards, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and her commitment to ensuring that every event is executed as flawlessly as possible. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of creativity and business, and Andy had such a great time chatting with her again! If you enjoy the show, then Andy urges you not to keep it to yourself! Share it with a few people you know who might also enjoy it and get something out of it, and he would also be grateful if you were to subscribe to the podcast if you aren't already so that you never miss a new episode! Be sure to also leave a top review wherever you listen because that really helps out the show and helps people find it!
Have you heard about Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey on The Wedding Biz Network? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!
Time Stamps [0:26] - We learn that today's guest is returning guest Tara Guerard of Tara Guerard Soirée. [2:26] - Tara elaborates upon how meeting clients in person is more effective for connection than communicating electronically. [5:11] - High energy and enthusiasm drive Tara's lifelong learning and future aspirations, even at 55. [7:08] - Each wedding's uniqueness keeps Tara's work exciting, even when using her least favorite flowers! [10:22] - Pleasing people has fueled Tara's success, although she does sometimes go to extreme lengths to make others happy. [11:57] - The biggest challenge in wedding planning is working with vendors unfamiliar with high service standards. [14:48] - Tara reveals how balancing creativity with business acumen has led to success, including never being in debt. [18:04] - The book Unreasonable Hospitality inspires Tara to integrate exceptional service with effective business practices. [19:09] - Speaking at conferences and sharing her experiences as a business owner and mother is rewarding for Tara. [20:38] - Managing work and family life for Tara involves setting rules for herself and multitasking, with exercise as a mental and physical outlet. [23:11] - What about the future excites Tara? [24:57] - Andy reveals where Tara can be found online.
RESOURCES Book:
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment.
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| 18 Nov 2019 | 204 JOE GOLDBLATT: Event Industry Pioneer and Founder, ILEA & CSEP Program | 00:41:26 | |
The Wedding Biz welcomes Joe Goldblatt to the show. Joe is a true pioneer and icon of the event industry; he owned The Wonder Company for over 20 years before selling it. He has written, edited, or co-authored 38 books, including the first textbook in the event industry. He founded ISES, the International Special Events Society that is now known as ILEA, the International Live Events Association, and created the CSEP Program, Certified Special Events Professional. And as a teacher, Joe taught over 10,000 students. Joe believes that we need to spend time working on our businesses as well as working in our businesses. And do you thoroughly research and evaluate your projects? Joe tells us that these two go hand in hand and are critical when planning exceptional events. He speaks to us about the organization he created and the reason he believes that events have a logical connection to fields like anthropology, theology, sociology, and technology. He also tells us how we can approach the fear of economic health. Joe has a profound knowledge of the event industry and business in general. Listen in as he tells us why he believes we are on the cusp of what he terms a Platinum Age, an era of great possibility with technology and a generation with big hearts and a conviction to learn. This episode is different from all others. It will leave you in awe of Joe and what he has accomplished and continues to accomplish. You don’t want to miss what he has to say.
Show Highlights: [03:03] Welcome to the show, Joe! [03:53] Joe tells a story about being a hippie at Woodstock in 1969. [05:54] When did you know you wanted to be in the event industry? [08:00] He speaks about a quote by George Bernard Shaw and what it means to him. [10:32] Joe talks about some of the 10,000 students he has taught over the years. [13:09] The needs of the audience must be perfectly aligned with the delivery of the event. [14:32] Joe feels like people spend too much time working in the business and not on the business. [15:42] He says everyone needs to take a step back every 2 to 3 years to get away alone, reflect, and get inspired. [18:52] Have you ever tested a hypothesis on your trusted group? [20:20] Research and evaluation are two of the most important things you can do when taking on new projects and planning an event. [23:36] Joe discusses the organization he started, ILEA - previously known as ISES - the research he did for it, and how they structured it. [27:37] In events, there is a logical and essential connection to more established fields of study like sociology, anthropology, theology, and technology. [30:18] How should we approach fear when it comes to our economic health? [32:43] Joe speaks about Naseem Talib and the book he wrote, The Joy Of Life, A Memoir. Have you heard the term “Black Swan Theory?” [34:56] Everyone should have a rainy day fund, and especially small businesses. [38:00] Joe believes that we are on the cusp of a platinum age because of the potential of technology. [38:38] Thank you on behalf of the industry for all you have done. [39:06] If you would like to purchase one of Joe’s books with a personal inscription, please see the link below.
LINKS & RESOURCES Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by PartySlate - the first website designed specifically for event professionals and venues!
Joe Goldblatt Joe Goldblatt - Website Joe Goldblatt - Blog @joejgoldblatt @joejeffgoldblatt
The True Joy of Life, A Memoir by Joe Goldblatt - Paperback or E-book
Mentioned Rita Bloom on The Wedding Biz Angelo Bonitez The Black Swan: The Impact of The Highly Probable by Nassim Talib | |||
| 28 Feb 2022 | 402 GINA ESPOSITO AND SHEENA MEEKINS: Partners In Photography | 00:36:24 | |
Joining Andy in this episode of The Wedding Biz is not one but two guests – Gina Esposito and Sheena Meekins! Gina and Sheena are best friends turned business partners who are the owners and principal photographers of Anée Atelier, a wedding photography business based out of New York City. They are listed in Brides as being one of the best wedding photographers in the United States and are also listed in Harper's Bazaar as one of the top wedding photographers worldwide! Andy actually had the pleasure of meeting both Gina and Sheena in person when he produced the music for Daniela Braga's wedding, at Amanera in the Dominican Republic and they handled the photography for it. Today, they chat about various things like how they each developed their love for photography and their prior experience in photography prior to meeting and forming Anée Atelier. They also reflect on their friendship prior to partnering in 2016 and how their friendship led to the business partnership, how photography is a method of storytelling and how the story needs to be told via the client's perspective, what their collaborative process usually looks like, how they respond to and handle pressure, what their hopes and goals are for the future, and so more! Andy really appreciates Gina and Sheena taking the time to talk with him about their business and careers as wedding photographers, and hopes to have another opportunity to meet them again in person in the future! Be sure to visit their website and their Instagram page, and also be sure to share this interview with at least three good friends and/or colleagues who might benefit from and/or enjoy it and to leave a top review of the podcast wherever you listen! Have you heard about Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey on The Wedding Biz Network? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!
Time Stamps [0:47] – Andy reveals that today's guests are Gina and Sheena of Anée Atelier. [2:20] – Gina reveals where she developed her passion for photography. [4:56] – Sheena addresses the various magazine titles that she did marketing for. [7:36] – We learn more about Gina and Sheena's friendship. [10:48] – Gina touches upon having had to rebrand after partnering with Sheena. [11:43] – Gina reveals where the name of the company came from. [13:26] – Hear about wedding photographers looking through their clients' eyes. [16:03] – Find out about the negative side of Gina and Sheena always working together. [18:45] – Gina walks us through their general process with clients. [20:24] – Sheena adds to the conversation about the collaboration between Gina and herself. [22:26] – Andy, Gina, and Sheena discuss things being socially different because of the pandemic. [23:42] – Gina asserts that she and Sheena thrive in especially challenging situations. [24:46] – Sheena discusses whether or not a major publication changes their approach. [26:06] – We learn about the most difficult aspects of the job. [29:40] – Discover how Gina and Sheena work in both digital and film. [32:50] – We hear where Gina and Sheena hope to be in a few years. [35:29] – Andy shares where Gina and Sheena can be found online.
RESOURCES The Wedding Biz Episode 400 DANIELA BRAGA: A Professional Model’s Dream Wedding
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment.
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| 04 Jan 2021 | 320 Andy’s Reflections on 2020 with Jennifer Stein | 00:38:27 | |
Are you ready for something a little different? Andy is being interviewed by his good friend Jennifer Stein, the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Destination I Do Magazine. Listen, as Andy gets a little personal and allows us to see a side of him that maybe we've never seen before as they discuss the craziness that was the year 2020, what he wants to change in the future and the plans he has for 2021 all on this episode of The Wedding Biz.
Andy shares how the pandemic has affected his life professionally in both negative and positive ways. He talks about the biggest thing he has learned during 2020, launching The Wedding Biz Network, a new podcast he launched called The Music Makers, and some exciting things that will be announced on The Next Level on Wednesday, January 6th.
Congratulations, Andy, on your New Year's Eve engagement! Listen as he shares the amazing things that have happened in his personal life since the quarantine at home orders and how this last year has changed his outlook on life both personally and professionally. If you want to get to know Andy a little better, you don't want to miss this one of a kind episode.
Don't forget to listen to Andy's other podcast, The Music Makers. It's behind-the-scenes stories from some of the most influential music industry pros around, including artists, recording engineers, record producers, songwriters, managers, record industry executives, and more. You can find The Music Makers podcast by searching for that term in your cell phone's podcast app or visiting www.themusicmakers.com.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show: If you are so inspired: contribute.
Show Highlights: [02:43] Welcome back to the show, Jennifer! [03:07] Jennifer shares what the holidays looked like for her. [03:58] Andy speaks about having his family close for the holidays. [06:16] Andy discusses what was going on with Kushner Entertainment before the pandemic set in. [09:29] What was it about your partnership with your music business partner that gave you back your passion for the work? [11:45] Andy shares how working with Sean Low has helped him with his companies. [13:05] Andy talks about the impact of the pandemic on his business. [15:31] What's the biggest thing you have learned this year? [16:43] Andy speaks about how The Wedding Biz has worked with the pandemic. [18:38] Andy announces a new show launching on The Wedding Biz Network in the new year. [21:15] Andy says that the network has been on his mind for a while, but the extra time he's had during the pandemic has allowed this to become a reality. [23:31] Do you feel like good things have come out of this health crisis? [25:50] Andy discusses how the pandemic has affected his personal life. [27:32] Andy shares that he just got engaged on New Year's Eve!! [29:37] Has this experience of 2020 fundamentally changed your outlook on life? [32:37] Jennifer agrees with Andy that Joe Biden, and his administration, is the right person for the country right now. [34:40] Andy believes that, for the most part, the event industry will come back full force once this pandemic is over. [37:13] Jennifer, thank you for coming on the show!
RESOURCES
Find Jennifer: Jennifer Stein Episode 145 on The Wedding Biz
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment | |||
| 12 Aug 2019 | 176 SEAN DE FREITAS - From King of Carnival to King of Design | 01:03:32 | |
Andy is excited to welcome, Sean De Freitas, Founder of Designs by Sean an International award-winning full service event decor company specializing in both corporate and social events. Sean’s work has been recognized with over 35 industry awards and his designs are out of this world. In this episode, Sean chats about how he got started in design, his influences along the way, how a logistic mind is crucial and how lighting can make or break an event. Listen in as he tells a moving story about how getting to know his client led to making a father-daughter dance a moment they and none of their guests will ever forget. In this episode you will get it all from Sean, the ups, the downs and what he had to change to make this his best life. Go to his website to see his amazing designs then sit back, tune in and learn about the man behind the creations. Show Highlights: [03:10] Welcome to the show Sean De Freitas! [04:53] Sean tells us how he knew what he wanted to do with his life after going to Carnival at 6 years old. [09:38] He tells us how at 11 he was crowned Jr Carnivale King. [10:12] The performance part of it changed his life and set him on the path to his career. [11:31] Sean talks about his first job with mentor Neal Goldberg. [12:58] He believes that you have to have a logistic mind to be successful. [14:34] In what ways are we all influenced by art? [16:20] Learn how Sean did something really special for a dad to make his daughter’s wedding special. [20:11] Sean describes the process he goes through with each client for their event. [23:08] What method does he use to come up with ideas for his clients? [25:30] How does Sean get his events to evolve? [26:56] He gives us some examples of events he did that evolved beyond what they expected. [32:59] Why is lighting for an event so important? [36:13] Why does Sean think that reinventing your business leads to career longevity? [41:57] Listen as he tells us what he is changing so that he has a better quality of life and career. [53:01] Is taking on a partner or teaming up with someone good for your business? [54:28] How does Sean define success in business or life in general?
LINKS & RESOURCES
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Title Sponsor: PartySlate – the first website designed specifically for event professionals and venues!
Sean De Freitas http://www.designsbysean.com/overview.html https://www.facebook.com/public/Sean-De-Freitas https://www.instagram.com/designsbysean/?hl=en https://twitter.com/dbssean?lang=en https://www.pinterest.com/designsbysean/
Mentioned during the interview: | |||
| 09 Oct 2023 | 478 BOB CONTI: From Visual Merchandising to Luxury Wedding Success | 00:30:04 | |
Welcome back to The Wedding Biz! This week, Andy has Bob Conti on the show! Bob is a principal member and business partner of Ed Libby and Company Events. For over two decades now, Bob has made a name for himself in the event industry by designing and producing milestone luxury events. Bob shares his journey from a background in visual merchandising to becoming a renowned figure in the luxury market, and he also discusses the importance of balancing creativity with practicality, adapting to changing industry dynamics, the value of collaboration among event professionals, what he means when he refers to legacy clients, what he still struggles with in the market, and so much more! Join Andy and Bob as they delve into the world of high-end events, share insights about staying authentic, and discuss the evolving landscape of the event industry. You'll also discover how collaboration is becoming a pivotal trend in creating memorable experiences for clients and guests. Andy had such a great time catching up with Bob and having him on the show and is very grateful for his time. He hopes that you enjoy this conversation, and if you do, please be sure to share it with a few friends or colleagues who might also enjoy it. Andy would also appreciate it if you were to leave a top review wherever you listen because that really helps the show out! Be sure to also subscribe to the podcast so that you never miss a new episode, and we will catch you next week on The Wedding Biz!
Have you heard about Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey on The Wedding Biz Network? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!
Time Stamps [1:23] - Andy reveals that this episode’s guest is Bob Conti of Ed Libby and Company Events! [2:14] - Bob used to be an executive in visual merchandising. [3:02] - How did Bob transition into the events industry? [4:51] - Bob values his enduring partnership with Ed Libby, which evolved organically. [7:56] - Bob prioritizes representing clients' tastes over personal style for successful events. [9:08] - Bob's creative process involves adapting to clients' ideas and understanding their style. [10:41] – Hear how Bob's career initially revolved around bar mitzvahs, leading to legacy clients. [13:14] – Andy and Bob discuss varying degrees of parental involvement in modern weddings. [15:05] – Nearly all of Bob's work involves collaborating with a planner or producer. [18:17] – Bob identifies one of his biggest challenges in the industry. [20:07] – Learn about the talks that Bob gives at conferences. [22:55] - Bob's mission is to ensure newcomers engage with industry veterans at conferences. [23:58] - Bob believes in simplicity and staying authentic in the saturated industry. [26:43] – Bob identifies collaboration as a current trend in the industry. [29:07] – Andy reveals where Bob can be found online.
LINKS AND RESOURCES Find Bob: Ed Libby - Website
The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
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| 03 Aug 2020 | 280 ZAMEER KASSAM: Designing Fine Jewelry And Telling Love Stories | 00:47:08 | |
Zameer Kassam is known for Infusing storytelling with personal history when designing jewelry. Listen as Andy and Zameer discuss the rings he designed for Hasan Minhaj, Ashley Judd, and Lupita Nyong’o. Zameer also talks about his background working in his immigrant family's jewelry business, why talking to people about their love stories was his favorite part, the passion that led him to design jewelry plus much more on this episode of The Wedding Biz. Zameer is the Founder and CEO of Zameer Kassam Fine Jewelry. Zameer continues to be a member of the Rock 100, the 100 fastest growing startups founded by alums of the Harvard Business School. And, in 2015, De Beers group entered a strategic partnership with Zameer Kassam offering exclusive access to their most rare and precious diamonds. Zameer is a storyteller, but instead of words, he uses jewelry to tell stories. Listening to the couple's love stories and designing a ring that encompasses their lives gives him joy. Working with De Beers and using diamonds from the Botswana diamond mines gives him a way to do what he loves but still benefit the country they came from and that is something he feels very passionate about. "I just brought back thoughtfulness and meaningfulness to something that should be thoughtful and meaningful." As Zameer speaks about opening a design company, he hated that the jewelry industry was going into the generic mass consumption direction. He believes that when someone buys a ring for the person they love, it should be unique and not the same ring hundreds of others have been given from the same jewelry store. Zameer shares his process of finding the sweet spot in diamonds where beauty and value are optimized, the thrill of working with celebrities to bring attention to their causes, and how the pandemic is affecting his business and the changes they made to keep production going. Zameer's story and approach to business is very moving. You don't want to miss the extraordinary conversation. The Business of Being Creative is another great show on The Wedding Biz Network with host Sean Low. Sean has taken the creative business advice he shared with accomplished notables such as Preston Bailey, Vicente Wolf, Nate Berkus, Sylvia Weinstock, and many more. He is offering it to you on his new show, so tune in every Tuesday on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show: For as little as $6 per month, or $0.75 per episode, are you willing to support the industry insights Andy brings on his podcast? If you are so inspired: contribute.
Show Highlights: [02:47] Welcome to the show, Zameer! [03:30] Zameer speaks about a ring he designed for Hasan Minhaj. [05:36] He shares his life, growing up around his family's jewelry business. [08:27] Zameer discusses his first job at a consulting company. [09:13] Listen, as Zameer speaks about his parents being refugees and how that shaped his life. [12:18] Zameer speaks about telling people's stories because everyone has a story. [14:21] Was there a moment where you decided you wanted to follow your passion? [16:28] Zameer talks about his internship with the De Beers group. [17:17] He discusses spending his second year, the second semester in Botswana, in the diamond mines. [19:09] Zameer speaks about opening his own fine jewelry company. [21:36] He tells a story about a friend asking him to design a ring for the love of his life. [24:50] "I just brought back thoughtfulness and meaningfulness to something that should be thoughtful and meaningful." [26:28] Listen as Zameer shares his process from the first meeting to the finished product. [28:01] What are some major tradeoffs in the attributes of a diamond? [30:48] Zameer shares another story of a couple that moved him. [33:14] Zameer speaks about the high profile design he did for Ashley Judd that celebrated women directors in film. [36:53] Zameer shares his perspective on the Botswana diamond industry. [38:54] Are you working on a wedding show that will air on Netflix? [40:27] Zameer speaks about how the pandemic is affecting his business. [41:03] He describes all the changes they made to focus on getting the rings done. [44:35] Zameer shares how everything has slowed down and people are focusing on the important things. [45:32] Thank you so much for being on the show!
RESOURCES
Find Zameer @ZameerKassam Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by PartySlate - the first website designed specifically for event professionals and venues!
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| 17 Jan 2022 | 396 TOM KEHOE: How a Driving Gig Became a Designing Empire | 00:36:01 | |
Andy welcomes you to join him in this episode of The Wedding Biz as he interviews Tom Kehoe, the C.E.O. of Kehoe Designs! Kehoe Designs is a full-service event design and decor company specializing in social and corporate events including but not limited to private parties, luxury weddings, fundraisers, trade shows, product launches, festivals, and retail grand openings. Tom is also the owner of the events venue The Geraghty and BlackOak Technical Productions, and he was awarded top 50 event designers by BizBash in 2019 (along with other recognitions)! Tom shares his story with Andy, revealing that he was only sixteen years old when he started working in floral, initially as a driver for a flower shop and then eventually in the store itself. He then, a couple of years later, attended Florida International University where he double majored in Business and Hospitality Management, initially believing that he wanted to own a hotel. Soon after graduating, however, life took an unexpected turn when he was offered the shop where he worked as a teenager! That shop ultimately took the form of the empire that he has now, and the rest is history! Tom walks us through the process that tends to go down between him and his wedding clientele, describing the process as a fun one which he considers key. He also shares some memorable events that he has designed for, including one in which he used projected lighting to make Lake Michigan appear to change color! He shares how he handles stress and anxiety and how he balances the creative side of his job with the business side of his job, and he also enthusiastically reveals that he loves constant change and that that is how he stays relevant in an industry that changes every day. Tom had actually never been interviewed on any podcast prior to this one, so Andy is so thankful that he took the time to have a guest spot on The Wedding Biz and chat with him. He is also appreciative of Julie Novack, C.E.O. of PartySlate, for referring Andy to Tom. Be sure to visit Tom's website and his social media platforms, and also be sure to share this interview with at least three good friends and/or colleagues who might benefit from and/or enjoy it and to leave a top review of the podcast wherever you listen! Have you heard about Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey on The Wedding Biz Network? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!
Time Stamps [0:42] – Today's guest is revealed to be Tom Kehoe of Kehoe Designs. [1:50] – We discover that Tom started his floral career when he was only sixteen years old! [4:17] – Tom reveals that when he went to college, he thought that he wanted to own a hotel. [5:02] – We learn how Tom came to buy out the flower shop where he worked as a teenager. [6:53] – Tom discloses that he has never had any partners but has a great team. [9:13] – Tom walks us through the usual process with his wedding clientele. [11:27] – We hear Tom expound upon when his visions for design tend to come to him. [14:32] – Tom shares a story of a favorite wedding event. [17:12] – Tom details an event where colored lighting was projected onto Lake Michigan. [19:36] – We discover whether or not Tom handles galas differently than he does weddings. [22:35] – Tom discusses fear and anxiety around what he does. [24:32] – Tom gives a recent example of a challenge that he had to overcome. [27:53] – We are told how Tom handles the challenge of balancing creativity with business. [30:04] – Andy and Tom discuss how eye-opening it is to track the time and the money that goes into the job. [32:01] – Tom reveals that his love for change is how he stays relevant. [35:03] – Learn where to reach out to Tom!
RESOURCES The Wedding Biz Episode 121 JULIE NOVACK: PartySlate & Building A Venture-Capital Backed Business The Wedding Biz Episode 373 JULIE NOVACK: Optimizing Your Digital Footprint
Kehoe Designs - Website
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment & PartySlate.
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| 21 Aug 2023 | 472 NORA SHEILS: Automating Your Way to Success | 00:25:04 | |
Andy hopes that you will join him in this insightful conversation with Nora Sheils of Rock Paper Coin, a pioneer in wedding industry automation! Listen in as Nora talks about all things automation, explaining how it can save events and wedding pros considerable amounts of time and money while boosting efficiency and reducing mistakes. She recommends starting with calendar automation so clients can easily schedule appointments without email tag, recommending a number of platforms including her favorite, cloudHQ. Nora goes on to discuss how workflow automation platforms can automate multi-step processes using triggers and conditions. She also advises that even though some luxuries may prefer less automation, platforms like Rock Paper Coin allow automating contracts, invoices, and client communications while boosting sales, and she encourages us that while she completely understands being weary of tech, this is very user-friendly and intuitive. The implications of intuitive automation in business are ultimately enormous - saving up to a third of time spent on manual tasks while boosting professionalism and sales. Again, although it can absolutely be daunting at first, starting small and giving new tech a chance can yield big rewards. Andy himself even hopes to try out some of these suggestions and see how automation can help simplify and scale his own creative event business. Andy found this conversation to be so helpful and really hopes that you do as well! If you do, then please share this episode with at least three good friends who would benefit from it. Andy would also appreciate it if you would subscribe to the podcast and leave it a top review wherever you listen because that really helps the show out.
Have you heard about Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey on The Wedding Biz Network? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!
Time Stamps [0:06] - This is a slow time of year, and Andy has done a lot of traveling. [1:35] - Today’s guest is Nora Sheils of Rock Paper Coin! [2:55] - Nora explains how automation can help those in the event and wedding industry. [4:16] – Nora understands reluctance to automate but recommends starting simple. [6:52] - Nora particularly likes cloudHQ and also recommends 1Password. [10:11] – Nora argues that transitioning to a password manager app is simple and gradual. [12:02] - Nora also recommends resources like Honeybook, 17Hats, and Dubsado. [15:57] - Rock Paper Coin can automate contracts, invoices and client communications. [18:08] - What are the broader implications of automation in business management? [19:37] – Learn why Nora recommends automation tools like Zapier and IFTTT. [22:21] - Many find tech intimidating, but they should take advantage of free trials and demos. [24:23] – Andy gives out Nora's contact information.
LINKS & RESOURCES
Email: nora@rockpapercoin.com
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
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| 31 Oct 2022 | 434 MICHELLE RAGO: Destination Planner, Producer, and Designer Part 3 | 00:31:47 | |
This episode marks today's guest's third spot on The Wedding Biz! Michelle Rago is a very popular and successful destination planner, producer, and designer based out of New York City, and she has published a book titled Signature Weddings: Creating a Day Uniquely Your Own. She joins Andy today to discuss topics such as how the COVID-19 pandemic affected her business, how she sometimes has to make decisions in the moment, her passion for travel, how she values her independence, what her greatest challenge is now especially since the pandemic, what she is most excited about in the future, and more! Andy is so glad that he had yet another opportunity to talk to Michelle and hopes to have her on again in the future! If you enjoyed his conversation with Michelle and/or found it helpful, then Andy would love if you were to share this episode with a few people you know who might also enjoy it and would also appreciate it if you were to subscribe to the podcast if you aren't already so that you never miss a new episode! Be sure also to leave a top review wherever you listen because that really helps out the show and helps people find it!
This episode is sponsored by Zola, the fastest-growing wedding platform that connects today’s couples with the right planners and vendors. Zola gives wedding professionals more control, better exposure, and higher quality leads — all with competitive pricing and no annual commitment. Create your free listing at www.zola.com/andy.
Have you heard about Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey on The Wedding Biz Network? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!
Time Stamps [0:00] – Today's sponsor is Zola. [1:02] – Andy reveals that today's guest is Michelle Rago. [2:42] – Michelle discusses how COVID impacted her business. [5:32] – The destination part of Michelle's business completely shut down during COVID. [6:47] – What did Michelle learn about herself during the pandemic? [8:26] – Michelle reflects on a recent wedding at Palm Beach. [9:40] – How did Michelle curate a team for this specific event? [12:50] – Michelle describes what it's like being a team leader. [16:24] – Andy shifts the conversation toward making your own luck. [19:23] – Andy gives an example of improvisation as a musician. [21:23] – Michelle touches upon how she stays inspired. [22:48] – Does Michelle ever feel burnt out? [24:58] – Michelle shares what her greatest challenge is. [27:00] – Learn about the second business Michelle might launch. [28:40] – Michelle discusses what about the future excites her. [30:58] – Discover where to find Michelle.
RESOURCES Michelle's Previous Guest Spots on The Wedding Biz
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
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| 22 Feb 2021 | 334 REVISIT DAVID TUTERA: Finding True Success in Self Reinvention | 00:49:18 | |
This is a revisit of Andy’s popular interview of David Tutera from May of 2018 with a new introduction. Show Highlights:
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| 13 Mar 2020 | 234 Online Crisis Communication And The Coronavirus | 00:12:25 | |
Christie Osborne is FEMA-certified in Social Media Crisis Communication and I was fortunate to get some time with her while attending Catersource/The Special Event conference in Las Vegas. She talks about what to consider when communicating policies regarding response to a crisis, including the Coronavirus. She also tells us about the most frequently asked questions she's getting while at the conference. This includes, when events get cancelled, how to communicate online regarding the issue of how we decide to handle deposits. Christie also discusses how to respond when clients ask if they should get tested when they've attended a venue or event where it's later discovered that one or more people were infected. She also talks about how to respond when people have yet to attend an event that has not been cancelled and are asking if it's safe. This includes how to handle the recovery period once we are past the crisis. Christie Osborne's website and email: www.mountainsidemedia.comchristie@mountainsidemedia.com My title is owner of Mountainside Media. Facebook | |||
| 24 Feb 2020 | 228 REVISIT: JOSE VILLA/Part 1: Redefining Success with Fine Art Photography | 00:51:07 | |
REVISIT: Jose Villa is a fine art wedding photographer known for crafting vibrant, fine art images that are as unique as the people in the photographs. Jose has been published in many magazines around the world, including Grace Ormonde Wedding Style, Elegant Bride, Instyle Weddings, Inside Weddings, Brides Magazine, Modern Bride, Weddings, Brides, Pacific Weddings, Southern Weddings and many more. Jose has been named a top wedding photographer in Martha Stewart Weddings, Harper’s Bazaar, Style Me Pretty, and Vogue, and was recently listed in the Top 10 Wedding Photographers in the World by American Photo Magazine. Jose was born in Mexico but grew up in Solvang, California. He attended Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California and is the author of Fine Art Wedding Photography. Show Highlights:
LINKS & RESOURCES Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by PartySlate - the first website designed specifically for event professionals and venues!
Find Jose: Jose’s Book: Fine Art Wedding Photography @jose-villa @josevillaphoto @josevilla | |||
| 20 Mar 2019 | 136 THE NEXT LEVEL: Colin Cowie: Part 2 Creating Groundbreaking Luxury Experiences | 00:22:30 | |
Today’s guest co-host, Harmony Walton, joins Andy to help reflect on The Wedding Biz interview with Colin Cowie, Part 2, and how Colin finds innovation in everything. Harmony Walton is the founder of The Bridal Bar, luxury destination weddings and honeymoon blog site, Jet Fete, and host of the Bridal Bar Radio. She has a decade of experience in marketing, consulting and brand representation in the luxury wedding industry. Harmony has many celebrity clients such as Tom Cruise and Katherine Heigl. Listen today and discover new insight on Colin’s wonderful new interview. Show Highlights:
Resources: Instagram: @weddingbizshow Colin Cowie Lifestyle Website Instagram: @colincowie Direct link to Harmony’s episode on The Wedding Biz Harmony Walton Website Instagram: @bridalbar Sponsors: OFD Consulting Website Kushner Entertainment Website
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| 31 Dec 2018 | 115 REVISIT LYNN EASTON: Destination Weddings with a Classic Touch, Part 1 | 00:58:23 | |
REVISIT: Lynn Easton is a busy woman. Between managing her destination wedding design business Easton Events and growing her Easton Porter Group luxury properties, she’s got a lot of balls in the air. But for her, that’s all just part of the fun. Lynn started her wedding planning career over twenty years ago almost by accident. She offered to help a friend plan and design her wedding, back before planners were really around. One wedding turned into another and another, and soon Lynn realized she had a true thriving business. But she wanted more; her beautiful designs were only being noticed regionally, and she was ready to go national, and even international. Lynn’s story is one of how to make it on the big stage, and her sage advice goes a long way in inspiring and educating others in the industry. In this week’s episode, Andy and Lynn talk all things business, family, and pleasure, and how she truly does it all. She shares her take on what an Easton event really is, what she attributes most to her success, and how she and her husband are taking on now more than ever in the business- and still loving it. Lynn also gives pointers to other up and coming event planners on where to focus efforts most to get the more clientele. This perceptive interview is a perfect reminder of how someone with a strong vision and a great business plan can create one of the world’s most sought-after companies. The full interview is available now. Links Easton Events Easton Events [Instagram] Easton Events [Facebook] Easton Events [Twitter]
On The Wedding Biz Network: The Stylish Bride with Julie Sabatino This Episode is Sponsored by:
OFD Consulting is an awarding-winning publicity agency that focuses on the wedding industry. Client portfolios range from top-tier planners and venues to well regarded national brands and industry thought leaders. Owner, Meghan Ely is regarded as the leading PR Expert in the industry education space. She is a WeddingWire education expert and has spoken most recently at TSE, Engage Summits, Catersource, Wedding MBA, NACE Experience and WeddingWire World among others.
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| 14 Aug 2023 | 471 CHRISTOPHER CONFERO: Wedding Planning from the Inside Out | 00:31:27 | |
Andy welcomes you to another episode of The Wedding Biz in which he interviews Christopher Confero, a well known wedding planner and designer based out of Atlanta who manages to balance being not only the owner of his award-winning company Confero but also editor of the magazine Alabama Weddings. Christopher describes how his passions for music, performance, and theater shaped him creatively and continues to help him direct weddings and live events. Events, he reveals, allow him to be a creative storyteller and craft bespoke experiences for his clients. Christopher also discusses his process of connecting with couples and designing weddings to reflect their personality. Although he has systems and processes, he says he tries to meet clients where they are and have natural conversations to make them comfortable, and he describes creativity as combining different elements in a cohesive way to bring life to his clients' love stories using his "childlike ability to play." You can also expect to hear Christopher share specific examples of how he designed weddings using imagination and fresh perspectives, and he even reveals some of the challenges that he faces, especially the weather, and how he overcomes them through preparation and troubleshooting. Andy and Christopher agree on the benefits of having a business partner to manage the business side so that business owners can focus on the creative aspects if that is what they enjoy the most. Andy had such a blast having this conversation with Christopher and really appreciates Christopher's willingness to be open and vulnerable. If you enjoy the conversation, then Andy would love it if you were to share it with colleagues and leave a top review. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so that you never miss a new episode, and we will catch you next week on The Wedding Biz!
This episode is sponsored by Zola, the fastest-growing wedding platform that connects today’s couples with the right planners and vendors. Zola gives wedding professionals more control, better exposure, and higher quality leads - all with competitive pricing and no annual commitment. Create your free listing at www.zola.com/andy.
Have you heard about Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey on The Wedding Biz Network? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!
Time Stamps [0:00] – The sponsor of this episode is Zola. [1:17] - We learn that this episode’s guest is event designer Christopher Confero! [2:06] - Christopher confirms that his initial passions were in music and acting. [2:35] - Christopher touches upon how his passion for music has helped him as a planner. [4:16] - When did Christopher first feel a pull toward event design? [5:57] - Christopher describes his personal signature. [7:47] - Christopher walks us through his usual process with his clients. [10:36] - Christopher explains his unique approach to wedding design. [12:16] - We hear an example of how Christopher transforms spaces to reflect personalities. [15:26] - Weather tends to be Christopher's biggest obstacle. [18:26] - Christopher runs his wedding business and magazine from Atlanta and Birmingham. [19:20] - Balancing event design and magazine editing is harder for Christopher than expected. [22:52] - Christopher has learned to outsource so that he can focus more on the creative side. [26:35] - Andy touches upon how travel and nature are inspirations for him. [28:55] - What do success and legacy mean to Christopher? [30:10] - Andy provides Christopher’s contact information.
Find Christopher: Confero - Website
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
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| 09 Jan 2023 | 442 Transforming Spaces with Laurie Arons, Susan Kidwell, and Sarah Winward | 00:53:42 | |
This episode of The Wedding Biz is a special one because Andy is recording live during Laurie Arons’ masterclass and has three special guests today - Laurie herself, Sarah Winward (who will very soon be featured on the podcast in her own individual interview), and Susan Kidwell (who will also be appearing on the podcast fairly soon). Laurie has been on the show several times before and runs Laurie Arons Special Events. She discusses her process behind transforming a venue and how she decides which aspects of an already existing venue to keep intact, which aspects to change, how she relies on Susan to help her conceal more unsightly elements of a venue, and more! Sarah, a destination wedding florist based out of Salt Lake City, shares her personal approach to transforming a venue, at what point she ideally likes to be involved in the process, what her favorite methods are to create an emotional impact, what her greatest challenges are, etc. Susan of Hensley Event Resources talks about her priorities when it comes to thinking outside of the box when she helps transform venues, what her clientele usually is, how weather tends to be her biggest obstacle, what advice she has for clients regarding budgeting, and so much more! Time is also allowed for questions from the room, including but not limited to how Laurie conveys her ideas and direction to Sarah, what resources are available for one to learn more about technical aspects, how to weigh a pavilion down, how Susan and Laurie use universal terminology with planners that they will understand, and how safety is balanced with aesthetics. This panel was so informative, and Andy appreciates you listening! He would appreciate it if you were to subscribe to the podcast if you aren't already so that you never miss a new episode, and be sure also to leave a top review wherever you listen because that really helps out the show and helps people find it!
This episode is sponsored by Zola, the fastest-growing wedding platform that connects today’s couples with the right planners and vendors. Zola gives wedding professionals more control, better exposure, and higher quality leads - all with competitive pricing and no annual commitment. Create your free listing at www.zola.com/andy.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!
Time Stamps [0:00] – Today's sponsor is Zola. [0:22] - Andy introduces today’s three special guests. [2:45] - Laurie explains her process behind transforming a venue. [3:53] - Which does Laurie prefer - transforming a venue or starting from scratch? [4:54] - Laurie reveals how she decided which aspects of a venue to preserve. [6:00] - Sarah describes her approach to designing a venue transformation. [7:54] - At what point would Sarah prefer to be brought into the process? [9:19] - Susan details her priorities. [10:10] - Susan’s clients are the planners. [10:42] - How does Laurie hide unsightly elements of a venue? [12:25] - Sarah touches upon her favorite ways to create an emotional impact. [13:52] - Time and the elements are Sarah’s greatest challenges. [14:44] - Susan immediately identifies weather as her biggest obstacle. [15:30] - Laurie argues for the importance of logistics. [16:41] - Learn about an event that all three women worked on together. [18:48] - What, according to Susan, should clients know about budgeting? [20:28] - We are encouraged to have fun with the process. [23:45] - Laurie points out that there are so many resources now in 2022. [25:25] - Susan encourages us to have people send photos of updates. [27:49] - Sarah further details her collaboration process with Laurie. [29:07] - Laurie reveals one reason why she started this masterclass. [31:22] - Sarah comments on the mockup process. [32:25] - Laurie answers what her direction to Sarah tends to look like. [34:26] - Susan points out how she does 3D rendering from Laurie’s ideas. [35:11] - How does Susan determine placement? [37:40] - What resources can be used for technical aspects? [39:33] - How does one work with the venue to establish placement? [42:17] - Susan explains how to weigh a pavilion down. [44:28] - What is Laurie’s process for working with private homes? [46:10] - We learn a bit about permitting. [48:00] - Susan answers a question about using universal language with planners. [49:30] - How is safety reconciled with aesthetics? [52:53] - Discover where to find Susan, Laurie, and Sarah online.
LINKS AND RESOURCES: Laurie’s Previous Guest Spots on The Wedding Biz
Find Laurie: Laurie Arons Special Events - Website
Sarah’s Website
Find Susan: Hensley Event Resources - Website
The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
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| 13 Nov 2019 | 203 THE NEXT LEVEL: KIANA UNDERWOOD Discusses RACHEL BIRTHISTLE - The Lake Como Wedding Planner and Creating a Wedding with Contrasting Events | 00:19:14 | |
The Next Level welcomes Kiana Underwood! Kiana is the founder of Tulipina, an internationally renowned floral design studio that specializes in creating incredible experiences for luxury weddings and events. She is the author of the book, Color Me Floral, which covers the secrets of designing showstopping monochromatic arrangements for each season. Her work can be seen in numerous publications and she has sold out workshops all over the world. Rachel is a wonderful planner and designer from The Lake Como Wedding Planner based in Como, Italy. She not only works with clients directly but also has the pleasure of, as she says, morphing into the local team for many foreign companies such as planners in the states like Lisa Vorce on Chrissy Tegan and John Legend’s wedding and many others. Kiana and Rachel share many of the same views about making quick decisions before you can talk yourself out of them, having a clean slate when working with a client so that the design is unique, and the need to see the client's reactions to colors and places. Contrasting multi-day events so that each day is different and creating an experience from the moment you meet the prospective client. Andy and Kiana dive into a few of the noteworthy points of his interview with Rachel. Both Rachel and Kiana are strong women who have carved out a place in the event industry to excel in their respective careers. Listen in and discover what it takes to bring your visions to life and how to have the best people around you to make it happen. You won't want to miss this conversation if you're going to take your business to the next level. Show Highlights:
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment
Rachel Birthistle Rachel@lakecomoweddings Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest
Links
This Week's Guest Co-Host, Kiana Underwood founder of Tulipina Kiana Underwood on The Wedding Biz | |||
| 30 Jun 2021 | 371 REVISIT CECI JOHNSON: Designing Stationery, Lifestyle and Business | 01:00:04 | |
This episode features Ceci Johnson of Ceci New York. We have the privilege to listen to how Ceci built her business from the ground up. Ceci of New York is an artist and designer of not only invitations and stationery but art and branding materials as well. Ceci tells stories of her client’s life in her design of invitations and stationery, and about being in the business of happiness. Show Highlights:
Resources: Instagram: @weddingbizshow The Stylish Bride with Julie Sabatino Instagram: @cecinewyork and @cecijohnson
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| 02 Dec 2019 | 208 MICAELA ERLANGER/Celebrity Stylist: Bringing Styling Into The Spotlight | 00:47:52 | |
Andy is speaking with Micaela Erlanger on this episode of The Wedding Biz. Micaela is a celebrity stylist based out of New York City and Los Angeles and was named one of the most influential stylists by the Hollywood Reporter and has sustained that title for five years. Micaela has been honored with the Style Influencer Award by the Accessories Council, and she is also the Marie Claire Image Maker Award winner. She has styled numerous celebrities like Constance Wu, Lupita Nyong’o, and Jennifer Hudson to name a few, and she recently styled Amanda Hearst for one of the most talked-about weddings of 2019. She is also the best selling author of the book, How to Accessorize: A Perfect Finish to Every Outfit. Micaela tells us about growing up and her passion for putting together outfits to wear to school, dressing up her baby sister, and styling girls for prom. She went to college for pre-med before she decided that it wasn’t for her and changed her major to design and management. She intended to be a fashion editor and interned every summer at different publications to get exposure to the industry. She discusses her mentor Annabel Tollman, and how she taught her all there was to know about the business from the bottom up. Micaela speaks about styling Amanda Hearst for her wedding and how she was the first bride for the new bridal styling and consulting company she launched. Listen, as Micaela tells us what her process is when talking with a client, that you are an extension of your brand, so make sure you always dress the part and her advice to new stylists in the industry. There are so many fantastic details in this exciting episode that you don’t want to miss, so plugin and enjoy! Show Highlights: [04:36] Welcome to the show, Micaela! [05:02] Micaela says if you exude confidence and you feel great, that shines through. [05:36] She talks to us about growing up and her love of dress-up and putting together outfits. [07:25] Micaela went to school for pre-med but changed her major to design and management intending to be a fashion editor. [09:30] She was introduced to one of the top stylists of the time, got to work with her, and learned the ins and outs of the business side of fashion. [12:23] Style can be transformative, and there is power in what we choose to wear. [15:01] One dress can change everything. She learned that from her first client. [16:18] Her approach when working with her clients is holistic and 360. [19:01] Micaela says you never want to be in the wrong dress for the wrong occasion. [19:43] She tells us waht she went through when she styled Amanda Hearst for her wedding. [23:15] Micaela describes the wedding day and how amazing it was. [25:12] There is no formula or recipe for a wedding or a wedding event; it’s all highly personalized. [27:00] Micaela discusses her wedding plans and says that she is her worst client. [30:24] What advice do you have for planners who are working with a bridal couple that can’t afford a stylist? [32:18] Micaela gives examples of things that have gone wrong that she has had to deal with at the last minute. [34:01] She says stylists and planners are essentially the hired help. It’s always about the client. [35:01] You are an extension of your brand, so you should reflect the part. [36:05] At conferences, you need to bring your A-game and represent what your brand is to others. [38:37] Can you arrange your outfit around an accessory? [40:38] How do you organize the outfit around a tattoo? Have you ever had to cover one? [42:06] Micaela discusses the launch of her new bridal styling and consulting company. [44:30] Her recommendation to stylists. [45:23] Are there any hot fashion tips that you would give right now? [45:55] Thank you so much for being on the show, Micaela! LINKS & RESOURCES Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment
How to Find Micaela @micaelaerlanger @micaela How to Accessorize: A Perfect Finish to Every Outfit by Micaela Erlanger
Mentioned Annabel Tollman Micaela’s Mentor David Monn Part 1 on The Wedding Biz David Monn Part 2 on The Wedding Biz | |||
| 14 Oct 2019 | 194 GREG FINCK/Photographer: The Leap to Professional Fulfillment | 00:44:01 | |
Andy is excited to be speaking with Greg Finck on this episode of The Wedding Biz. Greg is a brilliant photographer based in Paris. He studied business in France then came to the U.S to get his MBA. Greg was a marketing executive for ten years with Proctor and Gamble and at first, was doing wedding photography on the side as a hobby. Greg is now a major photographer even though he's technically only been doing it full-time for five years. Besides shooting significant weddings, he is doing fantastic work in the fashion world and has mastered marketing digitally in social media. He also gives master classes on photography and speaks at Engage. "Elegance is the only beauty that never fades," a quote on his website from Audrey Hepburn summarizes the approach that Greg has to photography. Black and white photos are what he started out doing, giving him the ability to really focus on what he wanted to shoot in order to hone his eye. Greg talks to us about many things; his life in marketing, the catalyst for moving into photography professionally, and how glad he was that he took that leap of faith. He speaks about the niche he found with destination wedding photography, mostly taking place in Paris and other parts of Europe, doing fashion photography during the slow wedding season, and why he uses medium format film. Listen in as Greg shares with us his secrets to rapid success, how to manage your client's expectations and the tools to choose the right photographer. He discusses his tricks for calming the nerves of a bride and tells us what equipment he uses to get such fantastic shots. The knowledge Greg has acquired in his relatively short time as a full-time professional photographer is immense. His business acumen is on point, and his humility is second to none. If you want to learn how to build your business in any industry, this is a conversation you shouldn’t miss.
Show Highlights: [02:57] Andy welcomes Greg to the show! [03:18] Greg says that timeless elegance is what he wants to bring to his photography. [04:43] Greg's childhood was spent in darkrooms developing film with his dad. [05:23] He shot mostly black and white, back at the beginning, which helped him hone h his eye for capturing images. [06:06] He feels like he has always been a portrait photographer. [07:18] When he was in college, getting his MBA, photography was just a hobby. His parents encouraged him to take the safe path. [08:20] He went to work with Proctor and Gamble, but was very grateful for what he learned. [08:53] Greg says the most significant thing he learned from working for such a large company is how to be humble. [10:14] Humility and hard work are fundamental values in this saturated market. [11:44] He discusses why he left a safe job at Proctor and Gamble to pursue his love of photography. [13:55] He went to a workshop held by Feather and Stone out of California, and it changed his perspective on being a professional photographer. [16:20] Were you financially prepared when you quit your job or did you take a leap of faith? [18:29] Why bring a photographer from the states to shoot your wedding in France when I am already here was Greg's marketing approach. [20:32] Greg speaks about branding and shooting with film, which set him apart in Europe because not a lot of people were doing it. [22:20] Listen as Greg tells us what it means to have a European touch. [24:01] They discuss medium format film, which is the highest possible quality film you can find at this time. [24:56] Greg speaks about the use of hashtags to get noticed with social media. [26:34] What percentage of your business is related to fashion and editorials? [28:09] The total expectations from clients are much higher today than in times past. [29:21] Greg gives us his process when working with a client. [30:51] Being direct with your clients is the key to managing expectations. [31:44] Exuding confidence is how he helps dissipate a bride's nerves and anxiety. [33:46] Greg chats about giving a master class and telling his students that they need to get out of their comfort zone. [36:00] What are the qualities of a great photographer? [37:07] Greg’s presentation topic at the next Engage Luxury Wedding Summit. [39:09] If you want to learn directly from Greg, he gives workshops once a year in the spring. [39:53] You can buy prints or gift cards on his website. [40:23] His favorite equipment right now is a Contax 645 with an 80 mil lense. [41:27] Thank you, Greg, for being on our show, it has been a real pleasure. [42:01] Please tell your friends about our podcast and leave reviews if you like what you hear.
LINKS & RESOURCES Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment
Greg Finck Greg on Vimeo Greg’s Website Greg’s Workshop Greg@gregfinck on Instagram Greg@gregfinckphotographie on Facebook
Mentioned during the interview: | |||
| 07 Dec 2020 | 312 CALEB JORDAN LEE: Filmmaker Extraordinaire! | 00:43:48 | |
"I resonate with the client that wants to make you a part of their family throughout the wedding weekend." Listen as Andy and his guest Caleb Jordan Lee discuss his early passion for travel and filmmaking, Caleb starting his LLC at sixteen and why he decided to film weddings, plus much more on this episode of The Wedding Biz.
Caleb is a brilliant filmmaker and the owner of East West Production, a full-service event filmmaking company with award-winning coverage. Caleb's work has been showcased in publications such as People's Magazine, particularly for shooting Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra's wedding. He has also been featured in Vogue, Martha Stewart Weddings, Brides Magazine, and Harpers Bazaar named Caleb as one of the world's top filmmakers.
Caleb speaks about his first year in business and how his sister's wedding was the catalyst for his business boom. Caleb speaks about how important he feels relationships are, with the creative partners and planners, and how he works with the planners to create the best product.
Listen, as Caleb shares a story about Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra's wedding and how iconic his shot of her walking down the aisle with her 70 foot train was. Caleb also discusses how he and his team edit and how everything plays a part in getting the perfect film for his clients.
Caleb shares the work he does commercially and how he brings emotion to each small snippet. Caleb talks about the challenges he faces when telling a client's story, his perspective on social media, the equipment he uses, and how he keeps up with the constant technology change. Caleb started as a teenager and has been in the industry for over ten years. His is a success story you don't want to miss!
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show: If you are so inspired: contribute.
Show Highlights: [02:30] Welcome to the show, Caleb! [03:07] Caleb shares where he grew up and how he ended up back in the area. [03:57] Caleb speaks about how family values have shaped the man he is today. [05:10] Did you have an early passion for travel and filmmaking? [07:26] Caleb talks about where the idea of filming weddings came from. [08:49] He shares how his business boomed after he filmed his sister's wedding when he was just sixteen. [12:33] Caleb discusses his process and how it's all about his relationships with planners. [14:36] Caleb speaks about how he works with the planners when getting to know the clients. [16:21] Caleb shares about some standout events he has done throughout the years. [18:21] Caleb discusses the experience he had when filming Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra's wedding. [21:30] He speaks about catching her walking down the aisle with a 70' train and how iconic it was. [24:49] Caleb talks about how he and his team edit film. [25:51] Caleb discusses the work he does commercially and how he brings emotion into each product. [28:30] Putting together a reel of his work is the hardest thing Caleb does; trying to put all the parts together to create a story. [29:18] What are the challenges you face when you tell a story? [33:24] Caleb discusses how he views the business side of his company. [36:17] Caleb shares his perspective on social media and he uses it in his business. [38:55] What equipment do you use, and how do you handle the constant changes with technology? [40:52] Caleb feels successful if he can bring other people up with him. [42:12] Thank you so much for being on the show!
RESOURCES
Find Caleb: @eastwestfilms @calebjordanlee
Vimeo Links
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by PartySlate - the first website designed specifically for event professionals and venues!
Mentioned Jose Villa Episode 228 on The Wedding Biz Jose Villa Episode 235 on The Wedding Biz Bryan Rafanelli Episode 84 on The Wedding Biz Bryan Rafanelli Episode 247 on The Wedding Biz David Stark Episode 111 on The Wedding Biz David Stark Episode 132 on The Wedding Biz David Stark Episode 242 on The Wedding Biz | |||
| 20 Jul 2020 | 276 MATT PORTEOUS/Photographer: The Way He Sees The World | 00:44:02 | |
"I'm lucky now because I get to go to really beautiful places and photograph wonderful people." Listen, as Andy Kushner and his guest Matt Porteous discuss the small island he was born and raised on, when he became interested in photography, how the way he saw the world differed from other kids his age, his years surfing and taking pictures plus much more on this episode of The Wedding Biz
Matt is an award-winning photographer who has gained a world-class reputation for his exquisite documentary style photography. Matt is considered the Royal Photographer for his work with the Cambridges. He helps change-makers make a difference and shoots on behalf of Ocean Culture Life, a global community of storytellers, photographers, filmmakers, and environmentalists whose lives have been shaped by the sea.
Matt speaks about the small channel island near France where he grew up, how he became a stonemason when he left school, then took off for two years to travel and surf. Matt shares that when he takes photographs, he likes to immerse himself in the culture of whoever is being photographed and how he balances all the different genres and projects he is involved with.
Have you ever heard of the documentary style of wedding photography? Matt shares his process with his clients and how he gets the guys he photographs to relax for photos. Matt discusses how he became known as the Royal Photographer, his work with Ocean Culture Life, and with some charities that helps rescue children in India from child labor.
Matt says he feels very blessed to live the life he has and he doesn't take one moment for granted. During the pandemic, he put together a tutorial to help others navigate the world of photography. This was a very dynamic conversation that you won't want to miss.
Don't forget to listen to Andy's new podcast, The Music Makers. It's a podcast about behind-the-scenes stories from some of the most influential music industry pros around including artists, recording engineers, record producers, songwriters, managers, record industry executives, and more. You can find The Music Makers podcast by searching for that term in your cell phone's podcast app or going to www.themusicmakers.com.
We are all experiencing quite a bit of stress and other issues during this pandemic. Andy has put together a list of the top ten tips for dealing with stress, which he has compiled from interviews with icons of the wedding and event industry. If you would like a copy, go to www.theweddingbiz.com/toptips.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show: For as little as $6 per month, or $0.75 per episode, are you willing to support the industry insights Andy brings on his podcast? If you are so inspired: contribute.
Show Highlights: [02:25] Welcome to the show, Matt! [02:43] Matt speaks about being on a small island called Jersey, which is tucked inbetween Britain and France and is part of the channel islands. [03:43] Matt shares where he grew up and the culture he was raised with. [04:30] Listen, as Matt speaks about when he became interested in photography. [06:04] Matt discusses how he saw the world as a teenager, which differed from most kids his age. [08:09] When Matt left school, he had no idea what he would do with his life. [09:58] He went into the building industry as a stonemason because he was told it was a great way to make money and see the world. [11:02] Matt describes becoming a surfer and traveling the world surfing. [15:00] When Matt takes photographs, he submerses himself in the group's culture. [17:23] Matt discusses how he balances all the genres of photography that he is involved in. [20:08] Matt describes what documentary style wedding photography comprises. [21:46] Listen as Matt shares his process when getting to know a couple. [24:06] Matt talks about how he gets the guys to relax for photos. [25:32] How did you get chosen to be the Royal photographer? [28:12] Matt speaks about how being the Royal photographer was a game-changer for him. [29:51] "In order to inspire others, you must first tell an inspiring story." [30:02] Matt shares his work with Ocean Culture Life and change maker storytellers. [31:56] Matt speaks about some charities he has been working with and shares a story about working in India to rescue children from child labor. [34:35] Matt discusses how he has been affected by the pandemic. [37:07] Over the last few weeks, he has spent a lot of free time at the beach at home in Jersey. [39:45] Matt is putting tutorials together on how to through the photography world during this pandemic shut down. [41:23] Thank you so much for being on the show!
RESOURCES
Find Matt @m_weddings @mattporteous
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by The Music Makers Podcast, where you can get behind-the-scenes stories from the most influential music industry pros.
Mentioned: | |||
| 09 Apr 2018 | 48 RON BEN-ISRAEL: Answering the Call of Creativity with Couture Cakes | 00:58:26 | |
To Ron Ben-Israel, a cake is far more than a cake. It’s equal to a performance. And if anyone knows about performance, it’s surprisingly the master of couture celebration cakes.
After graduating college with a Fine Arts degree, Ron saw the world through two distinct lenses: the Israeli military, and a ballet company he joined after serving in his early 20’s. He traveled around the world, performing with two companies over nearly 15 years before finding himself in New York City and wanting to make a career transition. This is where he began to discover his talent for baking.
From never having baked a professional cake to founding Ron Ben-Israel Cakes, Ron shares the path and experiences that got him there. His practical and disciplined approach to growth illustrates the level of passion, dedication, and humble learning that successful pastry chefs possess.
About Ron Ben-Israel
Ron Ben-Israel is a renowned pastry chef originally from Israel and currently based in New York. Ron is the founder of Ron Ben-Israel Cakes, where he and his team create delectable cakes for luxury events. From 2011-2013 hosted a Food Network show Sweet Genius, and was also a judge on the network’s reality competition series, Cake Wars. His specialty and wedding creations are consistently featured in national periodicals, including Martha Stewart Weddings, Brides Magazine and New York Magazine and are also prominently highlighted in books.
Show Highlights: -The two characteristics innate in Ron that make him a successful pastry chef -How Ron’s education in fine art made for an inspirational platform for his career -Ron shares how he came to love ballet while he was serving in the Israeli military -Where Ron was when he first began designing artisanal cakes -How Ron acquired professional pastry chef mentors -The importance of learning how to develop new skills in person -The benefits of making new mistakes -The two necessities that you should prove when managing your business -The difference between being an artist and providing a creative service -Ron shares about his experience being on two Food Network TV series -Ron gives tips on how to truly experience cakes, understand and describe flavors
Links Mentioned in the Show:
Links: Social Media: Instagram @rbicakes https://www.youtube.com/user/RonBenIsraelCakes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NVfxmUo2iM
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| 07 Mar 2022 | 403 REVISIT NORMA COHEN: Building A Thriving Business Within A Community | 00:40:24 | |
If there’s anyone who knows all the ins and outs of party planning, it’s Norma Cohen. Norma started planning parties on her own for her friends when she was only 12 years old. Later, she became the youngest female, at 16, on an Executive Board of Directors of the community center. And at 18 she opened her own business, Party Expressions. Listen in to find out why, after several attempts to leave the business, she just couldn’t keep away for long.
Show Highlights:
Resources: | |||
| 05 Dec 2022 | 438 REVISIT MARCY BLUM: A Pioneer of the Experiential Approach to Event Planning | 00:49:48 | |
Andy is very excited to welcome Marcy Blum, an internationally sought after event planner and entertaining expert who has 30 years experience. She has been named one of the best in the world by Vogue, Martha Stuart Weddings, Harper’s Bazaar and the New York Times magazine. Marcy has appeared on many television shows and, with event planner Sarah Haywood, has developed EPIC, the Event Planners International Collaborative that offers an intensive and advanced wedding and event planning education. In this episode, Andy and Marcy discuss how she got started in the industry, when she started her own business and how scary it was to strike out on her own. She tells us about wanting her event designs to be different from everyone else and looking for clients who wanted the same thing. She also gives us insight into what the business looked like when she got started in the 80’s and how it has evolved today. Listen in as Marcy talks to us about some of the weddings she remembers, the way she structures the rates she charges for her services, her advice for people starting out in the industry today and about EPIC, the program she started with her friend Sarah Haywood. Marcy is a pioneer in the event industry and you won’t want to miss all of the knowledge she has to share about the industry.
This episode is sponsored by Zola, the fastest-growing wedding platform that connects today’s couples with the right planners and vendors. Zola gives wedding professionals more control, better exposure, and higher quality leads - all with competitive pricing and no annual commitment. Create your free listing at www.zola.com/andy.
Have you heard about Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey on The Wedding Biz Network? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don’t forget about Sean Low’s podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
Show Highlights: [01:25] Welcome to the show, Marcy! [03:08] Was there anything when she was growing up that was related to being in events? [03:44] She went to the CIA to be a chef but after graduating and working in restaurants decided that it wasn’t what she wanted to do, it was too repetitive, not creative enough for her. [04:26] She was planning parties at restaurants and some of the customers started asking her if she could plan events for them. [05:08] Was she scared when she started out on her own? [07:08] She said if she knew then what she knows now, about how difficult it is, she would never have started her business. Good thing she wasn’t aware of it at the time! [07:49] Is there a relationship between acting and event planning? [08:51] Back in 1986, how did people view her as a party planner? Did she try to do things differently than other party planners? [12:43] Did she have visions of how she wanted her events to be different? [15:04] She felt that everything was so canned and stiff back then, she wanted clients who wanted something different. [16:52] How did she balance the art with business decisions? Were they emotional decisions? [17:45] Marcy changed her business perspective by thinking more about the numbers instead of just the design. [18:38] She now spends more of her time on events that are profitable and points out we can’t stay around this long unless we seriously consider the financial end. [19:37] Her advice for someone just starting in the business is to get knowledgeable about what you are trying to do. [20:33] You can’t be successful without templates, but you have to be able to customize them for each client. [21:04] She is all about the experiential approach to event planning, sell the sizzle not the steak. [23:06] Does she pay attention to the news on a daily basis? Does a possible recession scare her? [23:50] People, for the most part now, are more interested in what they are bringing to their friends and family than their own experience. [26:50] Is the demographic of the guests at a wedding important when planning the event? [27:46] Music should have a beginning, middle and end. Hear Marcy’s favorite way of presenting music for ceremonies. [32:13] Marcy says guests really appreciate place cards at events; it can give guests a different experience and they can meet people they wouldn’t normally have talked to. [33:04] Hear her take on the best timeline for weddings. [33:51] Marcy talks about planning 3 or more day events before a wedding, starting with the rehearsal and lasting until after the wedding. [36:00] Marcy would love to take a lighting design course – the visual nature of it can take events to another level. [36:46] How involved is she in the lighting design of her events? [39:20] Is there a dream project she hasn’t yet been able to do? [42:02] Learn about Marcy’s pricing policy. [43:29] EPIC is hands-on education for someone wanting to take a deep dive into event planning. It is very intensive and lasts 3 to 4 days. [45:44] Within the next five years, Marcy would like to write a novel based around the event business. [46:30] What is her morning routine? [46:45] What is her work schedule like? [47:40] How does Marcy define success at this point in her life?
LINKS & RESOURCES Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Zola! Marcy Blum Marcy on Instagram Marcy on Facebook March on Twitter Marcy on Pinterest
Harriet Rose Katz of Gourmet Advisory Lynn Easton’s Episodes on the Wedding Biz – Part 1 and Part 2 Bryan Rafanelli’s Episode on the Wedding Biz Colin Cowie’s Episodes on the Wedding Biz – Part 1 and Part 2 David Stark’s Episodes on the Wedding Biz – Part 1 and Part 2 Preston Bailey’s Episodes on the Wedding Biz – Part 1 and Part 2 Sylvia Weinstock’s Episode on the Wedding Biz Ray Thompson’s Episode on the Wedding Biz | |||
| 28 Oct 2019 | 198 AUDREY NERACOULIS: Emotional Photography And Authenticity In Business | 00:50:37 | |
Audrey Neracoulis, Welcome to The Wedding Biz! Audrey is a film photographer based in Paris and is known for her unmistakable fashion house inspired aesthetic, and unique and sophisticated work. She also brilliantly utilizes social media, especially Instagram, in ways that will surprise you. Audrey has a master’s degree in marketing and dreamt of being surrounded by, and working with, a wonderful team. When faced with the reality that a first job working for a corporation meant sitting alone in a cubicle, she decided it wasn’t for her. She chose to pick up a camera, tell stories visually with pictures and become a photographer, even though she had never taken a picture before. Is the hardest part of your business attracting new clients? Listen, as Audrey describes what she did when she started out and what she does today to attract clients. She says you have to have a strong brand and make personal connections with your clients. Audrey is sharing her life with pictures on Instagram believing that letting potential clients see her story through photographs will give them the best idea of the reality of her work. Audrey’s vision for a wedding is to blend fashion photography and cinematic documentary to make the perfect photographs. Her passion is capturing the emotional and physical connections of the bride and groom so that the images evoke meaningful memories. For added dimension, she likes to build in a sense of sensuality learned from her experience with shooting boudoir. If you are a photographer or want to be, pay attention as Audrey points out the difference between using film, going digital, and the benefits of both. Listen as she tells us how to create and connect with clients when traveling, about her retreats in Paris, and all the ways she teaches about photography. This is a compelling episode with so much great information you will definitely need to take notes, so sit back and enjoy.
Show Highlights: [02:54] Audrey, it is so exciting to have you on the show! [03:38] Andy and Audrey chat about speaking English in France. [04:37] She was married to a man from Kentucky but lived in New York, where she went to school, got her master’s degree, and her first job. [06:53] Audrey started her career in photography with no training because she wanted to tell stories with pictures. [08:23] She made a business decision to blog before she bought her first camera to see if she could attract clients. [10:17] Audrey chats about learning from YouTube and taking pictures of friends. [11:33] Attracting clients is about telling a story, the wedding industry is very personal, and you need a strong brand. [12:37] She shares her life through photos on Instagram so that clients can get a better sense of who she is. [15:44] Audrey takes a video of each event to show everything that happens in real life, the good and the bad. [18:10] She takes a photo at each event that she posts to Instagram so that potential clients can see in real-time what she does. [19:44] Audrey gets recommendations from vendors for events. [20:39] She explains her process for her preparing because she often doesn’t meet the client until the wedding. [22:49] Audrey speaks about her vision for each wedding and how she creates beautiful portraits by blending fashion and cinematography. [24:37] How do you capture the emotional and physical connection between the couple? [27:42] Doing boudoir and couples’ photos allows her to add a sense of sensuality to the images. [29:12] Audrey shoots with film instead of digital, which is more challenging because every shot counts. [32:08] Why do you use film? What are the benefits of each? [33:24] She networks wherever she is, even on vacation, she posts where she is going and creates meetups. [36:31] Audrey has retreats in Paris where she shows people what she shoots, provides hair and makeup classes, and powerpoint presentations on photography. [39:20] How do you find out what people want? Direct messages or...? [41:28] Audrey says her social media platform of choice is Instagram. [44:42] Her retreats are tours of the area, round tables with people sharing their ideas, cooking classes, and more. All along the way, she photographs, which people learn about. [45:42] What kind of equipment do you use? [47:57] Audrey, thank you for being on the show!
LINKS & RESOURCES Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment
Audrey Neracoulis @audreyparisphoto Retreat information at Rendezvous with Audrey
Mentioned on the Show Jose Villa on The Wedding Biz Andre Maier on The Wedding Biz | |||
| 19 Apr 2021 | 350 ARUN BABLANI: Creating Luxurious South Asian Weddings | 00:40:54 | |
"Keep doing what you are doing, but work extremely hard at it. You have to work from the heart." Listen as Andy and his guests, Arun Bablani, discuss at what age his interest in event planning became clear and his decision to make it his career. They also talk about what motivated him to start his own company, his courage and his belief that anything worth having doesn't come easy, and when he began to specializ in South Asian weddings, plus much more on this episode of The Wedding Biz.
Arun is the founder of Vivaah Weddings, a premier wedding planning, and management company operating globally for destination weddings with offices in the UAE. They specialize in South Asian weddings in the form of Indian, Pakistani, Srilankan, and Bangladeshi weddings. Vivaah Weddings was rated the best wedding planning and management company in the Middle East by Brides Awards 2020, the Best Wedding Planner 2020 global wedding category at the International Wedding Awards, Best Wedding Planners 2020 Best Wedding Concept and Destinations wedding category at the Belief Weddings Awards, and the prestigious WOW Awards Middle East 2019 under the category of Wedding Celebrations of the Year.
Listen as Arun shares what he believes has to align in order to have a successful business, when he decided to specialize in South Asian weddings, and what he feels sets him apart from other planners who produce and manage South Asian weddings. Arun talks about a wedding he planned and designed at Disneyland Paris and all the intricacies that went into the event.
Arun shares how he integrates the creative side of his company with the business side, the most difficult aspect of what he does, and how he stays relevant with the constant change in technology. Arun talks about some weddings he has designed with unique challenges, from creating level ground out of a mountain to designing a full-on wedding for six people with no holds barred.
Have you heard about the brand new show on The Wedding Biz Network, Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don't forget about Sean Low's podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.
SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ Become a patron and support Andy and the show: If you are so inspired: contribute.
Show Highlights: [01:46] Welcome to the show, Arun! [02:23] Arun shares the age he became interested in event planning and when he decided this was what he wanted to do as a career. [05:04] How long ago did you start your own company? [06:58] Arun shares what he believes are the biggest things that have to align to become successful. [08:16] He had no experience with South Asian weddings, but a friend asked him to plan his wedding, which led him to specialize in South Asian weddings. [10:50] What sets you apart from other planners that produce and manage South Asian weddings? [13:00] Arun discusses his process from the first meeting with the client through to the event. [15:36] Managing families along with the bride and groom are his forte. [17:17] Arun shares an example of a wedding he did at Disneyland Paris and how he managed all the different moving pieces. [22:47] Do you see many interracial marriages and does it make it more complex to plan and design? [25:10] Arun speaks about how he integrates his company's creative side with the business side. [28:07] With the pandemic he had to lay people off, but since weddings have started back up, he believes he will be able to get fully staffed again soon. [29:04] What is the most difficult aspect of what you do? [31:45] Arun discusses staying relevant to the constant change of technology we are all facing. [33:27] Arun shares some examples of weddings he designed that were challenging. [35:41] Arun speaks about another fun instance he had with a Dubai wedding for six people where cost was not an issue. [38:36] Arun gives one piece of advice he would give a young planner that would like to reach the level he is at. [40:04] Thank you for being on the show!
RESOURCES
Find Arun: @weddingsbyvivaah Videos Varun & Anisha (Disneyland Paris)
On Clubhouse, follow Andy @andykushner and join his club, “The Wedding Biz” to get additional content and to get direct access to Andy.
Follow The Wedding Biz on Social: The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz
Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.
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