This Week In Weddings

Running a wedding business is very often more than a full-time job and when you add a child to the mix, it's no joke! In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with a wedding industry entrepreneur who is also a new mom to hear how she's balancing both roles. Whether you have a young child or are just thinking about how you can make parenthood work when you own your own wedding business, this episode is for you. About our guest:  After graduating from The University of Texas graduate with a degree in botany and 5+ years in the hospitality industry R. Love Floral was born and the business began to take off. Raquel Lovern Harris and her team have been creating beautiful weddings in the DFW + Austin/Hill country areas since 2010. Raquel has since traveled the country to study under the top designers in the world to hone her design eye, experiment with texture and explore the world of flowers.  Balancing family, business and life, Raquel loves spending time with her husband and to

When you're in the wedding industry, you often have the benefit of seeing other vendor categories up close. If you've ever considered making a switch from one field to another, this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast is for you. We're chatting with Larissa and Chavvon Smith, who made the switch from being wedding photographers to owning a letterpress and luxury printing company. This week's episode is a must listen for all the serial entrepreneurs out there, and is full of great advice for anyone with an entrepreneurial spirit. About our guests:    Larissa and Chavvon Smith are the owners of Cotton Paperie, a Dallas based letterpress and luxury printer. They print items ranging from business cards that help businesses create powerful first impressions to luxury wedding invitations. In addition to working with some of the most amazing brides & wedding planners in the industry, their clients include Google, the Dallas Cowboys, eBay, Cotton Inc., Hennesey, the George W. Bush Foundation, and

As you're building your wedding business, it's easy to think any client who can afford your services is your ideal client, but that's simply not the case! In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with invitation designer Kristin Wilson about her experience with working with the "right" and the "wrong" clients and how she focuses her business to only work with clients that are a fit with her brand. About our guest:  Kristin Wilson is an entrepreneur with a passion for teaching creatives and designing for couples. As the owner of the Society for Creative Founders, she works closely with artists, makers, and designers to help them to grow their business, educating women both in an online community, through monthly classes, and with annual in-person events. Falling in love with all things paper when she first started her entrepreneurial journey in 2010, she also designs bespoke wedding collections for forever sweethearts as the founder and designer for Grace and Serendipity.  Sh

Getting that perfectly styled image isn't all about luck... there's also science involved. From Instagram to print magazines, styling images is all the new rage, and in this week's episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, we're chatting with photographer Rebecca Yale, who shares some tips for styling images that will get the attention of magazines and potential clients. Whether you're a photographer or planner looking to expand your range of services or you're just wanting better images of your own products, this week's episode about styling will be one to hear. About our guest:  Rebecca Yale is an internationally acclaimed wedding and fashion photographer.  She holds a degree in art history, aesthetic philosophy and photography from the Gallatin school at NYU.   Winner of Rangefinder Magazine’s Grand Prize in Wedding Photography and 1st Place in the Details Category Two Years in a row, she was the photographer of the 2017 Knot Dream Wedding and has been featured in 50+ publications including Martha Stew

As we say each week, running a business is hard! But when you're dealing with your own personal struggles – whether it be a death in the family, issues with your children, or even a bout with depression – it can be even harder. In this week's episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, we're chatting with custom invitation designer Tifany Wunschl, who shares how she's kept her business afloat for 13 years when life hasn't always made it easy.  About our guest:  Tifany Wunschl started Gourmet Invitations in 2005. She wanted her business to reflect her personality and as a foodie, Gourmet Invitations was the perfect name for her custom invitation business. She has been seen on WeTV’s “Preston Bailey’s Midnight Wedding” after having the honor of designing invitations for Preston Bailey. Her work has been seen on Entertainment Tonight and published in wedding magazines such as Martha Stewart Weddings, Bridal Guide, Destination Weddings I Do, Brides, The Knot and many others. Her work has also been featured on S

Is it time for you to make a change to your business? Sometimes change is necessary to move forward successfully, whether it's a dramatic shift to your business offerings or just a slight tweak. In this week's episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, we're chatting with event planner Amy Zaroff of Minneapolis-based Amy Zaroff Events + Design. In her 15+ years in business, Amy has transformed and reinvented her business several times to keep it moving forward, and in this week's episode she's sharing her story and tips. About our guest:  Myriad career paths have led Amy Zaroff to this high point in life. An early career as a television producer and later as a marketing director allowed Amy to refine her skills in design, planning and time management. Along with her husband, Amy fine-tuned her innate skills in event planning at their authentic, New York-style delicatessen. In 2004, she purchased the invitation, stationery and gift store, Give My Regards To, and added full-service event planning to the comp

Growing your business doesn't have to just mean booking more events in your local market. Taking your company nationwide or working in different markets is another way to grow your brand. If that's something you're considering, this week's episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast is for you. In this week's episode, we're chatting with musician and singer Jordan Kahn about how he's taken his entertainment company from just local-based to booking events throughout the country. About our guest:  Raised on the great popular music of the last century, Berklee College of Music graduate Jordan Kahn and his party orchestra of 11 to 40+ performers have a reputation for dance-floor-filling musical performances that will bring you across all genres.  From Justin Timberlake to Chicago, Pitbull to Earth Wind and Fire, Sinatra to Santana, and many many more, the talent is vast and possibilities endless.   Matched with his expansive repertoire and ability to go from song to song without stopping, is Jordan's unique form

If you've been in business for any period of time, you may have considered writing a book. But do you know how to go about doing it? In this week's episode of the This Week in Weddings podcast, we're chatting with wedding photographer Cavin Elizabeth who recently self-published a book about wedding photography. In this podcast episode, we're diving into the process and steps to get you from idea to published author. About our guest:  Cavin Elizabeth is a wedding photographer based in San Diego, California. Her wedding work has taken her all over the United States and France. She has been published numerous times on leading national wedding blogs, such as Ruffled, 100 Layered Cake, Style Me Pretty, and Green Wedding Shoes, as well as stunning regional blogs such as Southern California Bride.  In addition to being a wedding photographer, Cavin is an educator and an avid blogger of wedding planning tips for brides and grooms. Beyond creating one-of-a-kind images for her clients, Cavin focuses on teaching couple

If you're not tapped into the Jewish wedding market, you're missing out on business. In this episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Michele Schwartz all about breaking into the Jewish wedding market.  About our guest:  Michele Schwartz began her career in hotels and weddings at Walt Disney World. She is a published author and highly sought-after speaker, with a degree in Communications from the University of Texas at Austin. Michele is the creator and editor-in-chief of The Modern Jewish Wedding where she shares her expertise in Jewish wedding design, fashion and culinary trends. She has also recently expanded into consulting with creative partners in the event industry to assist them in their blogging, social media efforts and developing a winning customer experience. She is also a member of the goMagic team helping others experience the Disney Magic. Award-winning, innovative and influential, Michele is the President-Elect of NACE Austin, and has served as Vice President of Commu

Until you make a sale, you're not really in business. Making sales is what it's all about, yet many of us in the wedding industry haven't been properly trained on how to sell and how to close the deal. In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting consultant and trainer Cindy Novotny about sales tips that anyone can use to book more business. About our guest:  Cindy is the founder of Master Connection Associates, a premiere international training and consulting company, specializing in customer service, sales and leadership performance. During MCA’s history, Cindy has received numerous awards and accolades. The American Society for Training & Development (ASTD) recognized her as one of nine most powerful and innovative speakers and Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) recognized Cindy as one of the Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales & Marketing. The Award is given for the most innovation, vision and achievement in the hospitality, trave

In this casual episode of This Week in Weddings, Kimberly and Annie catch up, chat a bit about their own weddings, and look forward to coming episodes.

Is your business model a true reflection of who you are? Are you carrying out your brand's image in your every day life? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with event planner Andrea Eppolito, of Andrea Eppolito Events about living your brand. From what you wear and how you present yourself in public to having an understanding of the restaurants your ideal client frequents, this week's episode is all about keeping your brand top of mind. About our guest:  Having worked a wedding show at fifteen, Andrea fell in love with the beauty, the timeless traditions, and the transformative qualities of weddings and events. During her time at UNLV, she planned weddings while working in restaurants and studying her craft. In 1998, Andrea opened the iconic Bellagio Resort; the first of many she would ultimately come to work with. Andrea founded her eponymous event planning business, Andrea Eppolito Events, in 2011. In the years that followed, her work received numerous awards and ha

Are you educating yourself and growing your network by attending industry conferences? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with photographer Phillip Van Nostrand about his experience on the conference circuit and how it's affected his business and industry connections. From the Engage conference to WPPI, Phil will share how he's leveraged wedding industry conferences to grow his business and network. About our guest:  Phillip Van Nostrand is based in New York and California. With a strong background in weddings, commercial and lifestyle projects, he is an expert in capturing bright, cinematic lifestyle imagery. He travels abroad once a year and has photographed 30+ countries. Co-founder of La Rousse Shoppe, a successful e-commerce company specializing in glass memory boxes. Phil has been published in the New York Times, Dwell Magazine, Fortune.com, Fast Company, Huffington Post, Parade Magazine, San Diego Style Weddings, and was a Master Class speaker at WPPI in 2016 a

Sometimes it's just nice to chat with someone who has a rich history in the event industry, has grown a successful business, and just tells it like it is. This week on the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're doing just that with New York City-based event designer Jes Gordon. In this week's episode, we're chatting with Jes about her experience the industry and what she's learned along the way. About our guest:  Jes Gordon’s namesake company jesGORDON/properFUN, provides high end, personal event design and management with loads of signature style. Her first book, Party Like A Rock Star (Globe Pequot Press), provides everyone with the tools they need to throw the party of their dreams, regardless of their budget. Gordon was the Design Mentor on Bravo’s “Rocco’s Dinner Party.” Each week, Gordon aided the competing chefs in creating a memorable dinner party experience that went well beyond the cuisine. Gordon’s innate eye for color was first noticed at thirteen when she stumbled into the industry as an assistant

SEO and websites and social media... oh my! In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Julie Novack of PartySlate all about digital marketing. Julie shares some straight forward tips for boosting your presence on Google, improving your website, and creating online profiles for your business. About our guest:  Julie Novack is the CEO and Co-Founder of PartySlate, a photo-rich platform where leading event professionals share their work with the world. PartySlate is a website for brides, grooms and party hosts of all kinds who are searching for new ideas and top local event professionals. Unlike other inspiration platforms such as Pinterest, PartySlate is designed specifically to give Event Professionals such as Photographers, Planners, Décor Companies, and Venues a better way to showcase their work, build their brand, credit partners and collaborate with their clients.   Julie brings over 20 years of digital experience overseeing global and national teams at Vibes Mobile,

If you're not making a profit, you don't have a business. While it sounds simple, creative businesses aren't always the best at charging what they're worth. In this episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Sean Low, who has been consulting creative businesses for nearly 10 years. Check out this week's episode for some real talk and tough love as Sean Low lays it down! About our guest:  Sean Low is the Founder and President of The Business of Being Creative, a consulting firm focused on providing practical advice to those in the business of being creative. Prior to founding The Business of Being Creative in August 2009, Sean spent six years as the President of Preston Bailey Design, Inc. representing Preston in his business endeavors around the world. Sean has a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania and apart from working with amazing creative professionals, his business acumen is honed from his previous experience as a lawyer, investment banker, financial executive and small

Oh Millenials! They always get a bad rap, but when Millenials are our clients (and employees) in the wedding industry, it's important that we understand who they are, how they think, and how best to work with them. In this episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Dallas-based event planner Meredith Commender, who has the skinny on the mindset and preferences of this generation, born between 1981 and 1999.   About our guest:  Meredith Commender, CSEP has been the owner and Lead Event Coordinator & Designer at Significant Events of Texas for the past 11 years. Weddings are the largest sector of her business, but she frequently produces events for charitable organizations and corporate clients as well.   Meredith also runs a successful internship program and the majority of both her clients, employees, and interns are of the millennial generation. Prior to starting Significant Events, Meredith taught high school English for 7 years where she faced the successes and challenges of edu

How much do you know about European weddings? Oh... not much? Neither do we, so we're getting our learn on with two ladies who know all about weddings in France! About our guests:  Anne Mulvihill Prior to forming Fête in France, Anne worked in marketing, public relations and communications in a large international corporation. The inspiration for starting her own agency came when she organized her most favorite event: her own wedding.   Nancy LaTart After beginning her professional career on the corporate track in strategy consulting and marketing, Nancy joined the world of event planning and hasn’t looked back. Nancy received her MBA from INSEAD. Fête in France Since starting the business in 2006, Anne and Nancy have planned more than 300 events over the past 11 seasons for an international clientele. Thanks to their high-touch, concierge-level service we have built a strong reputation in the industry, cultivated privileged relationships with vendors and created memories of a lifetime for our couples. Their

Happy New Year, and welcome back to the This Week In Weddings podcast! In this mini-episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, Kimberly and Annie share some of the biggest things they've learned from the podcast in 2017 and share some of their personal and professional goals for 2018.

Raise your hand if you want to increase the number of referrals you receive.... We thought so! While advertising your wedding business is certainly a way to bring in clients, direct referrals is often the most effective (and least expensive) way to grow your business, and this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast is all about increasing your referrals. Our guest Laura Neff, owner of Laura Lee Photography, has increased her referrals 1200% and she's sharing some tips with us on how she did it as well as how she's systemized her business process to give her more time to focus on building relationships with her clients. About our guest:  Laura Neff is a New Jersey + Worldwide wedding and brand photographer preserving memories for adventurous, fun-loving couples and heart-driven creative brands. In addition to running a very successful photography business, she has a passion to educate the creative community!  Laura is an expert when it comes to productivity, workflow, systems, and growing a profi