Nearly all engaged couples have the same end goal in mind: showing their guests an incredible experience. But, what exactly does it take to accomplish this?Is it all in the food and beverage? The music or entertainment? Does a good experience depend on creative design or thoughtful amenities? What about the itinerary or wedding day timeline – is this the secret to a lasting impression?Given her business motto is all about “planning really good parties,” we figured the best person to ask all these questions to was Tory Smith, lead planner/producer at Smith + James Events. Tory and her team have done unparalleled work both executing events that perfectly fuse refinement with approachability, and reaching clients that also speak their language, so we invited her to find out: how do they do it?Website: https://www.smithjamesevents.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smithjamesevents
Building a thriving and reliable business, especially in the wedding industry, requires more than just creative talent or charisma. Many wedding professionals often get caught up in maintaining appearances through social media, blogging, submissions, and workshops, and while these are important for visibility, they don't guarantee long-term success or sustainability.Kelsey Connely, owner and creative director of Downey Street Events, brought a strong understanding of business-to-people relationships from her previous career in HR before later acquiring the premier wedding planning company.In our conversation, Kelsey and I delve into the often "daunting" aspects of business ownership, covering topics such as setting up bank accounts, saving for taxes, drafting and negotiating contracts, and strategizing to move a business into higher markets.Website: https://downeystreetevents.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/downeystreetevents/
For some brides, the tradition of shopping for “the dress” is warmly embraced, leading to joyous memories of "girl time" over champagne. But for others, the reality isn’t so simple or glamorous; its stress over finding multiple looks, refuting conflicting tastes, balancing price tags with budgets, and figuring out how to communicate likes (and dislikes) with the wedding party.Fortunately, for these types of wedding woes, we have professionals like Gabrielle Hurtwitz, a bridal fashion stylist based in New York City. Not to be confused with beauty artists or personal shoppers, bridal stylists like Gabrielle work closely with brides to curate thoughtful and thorough wardrobes for the entire wedding weekend. As you can probably imagine, layering colors, textures, and budgets for not just “the dress,” but also other looks for the bride – and often her close family and friends – comes with many challenges, so I was thrilled to interview Gabrielle on all parts of her role and process.Website: https://gabriellehurwitz.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabriellehurwitz/
Wedding publications, magazines, digital editorial: Whatever you want to call it, what is going on in this space?What are publications' purpose in the wedding industry? What role should they fulfill? Are they genuinely helpful or relevant for couples planning their weddings today? For wedding professionals and vendors serving these couples, is it worth “paying to play” and why have the wait times for publication become so long? With me in this episode is weddings editor turned media consultant, Sarah Schreiber, who, over the course of her decade-long career in digital editorial at Martha Stewart Weddings and Brides, gained a deep understanding of how this world operates. During our conversation, we discuss how (and why) this space has changed so much over the past couple of years—and what the publication landscape might look like with the rise of a new generation of both couples and technology.Instagram: @sar_schreiber
Though he prefers to say he is “photographer fascinated by weddings, rather than a wedding photographer,” John Dolan is recognized today as a pioneer who helped bring wedding photography into the modern world, where we seek creative and holistic storytelling and appreciate it as an actual artform.But, the appreciation of the artform has seemed to fog up a bit as a new industry has emerged – the industry of education in wedding photography. Suddenly, the focus seems to be more on the business side where photographers are seeking quick-fixes and immediate gratification. So we wanted to know… what is John’s take on all of this? Are we onto something or have we lost the point?John’s Website: https://www.johndolan.com/John’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johndolanphotog Memory Cult by Anastasia Pagonas: https://www.memorycult.com/John’s Book “The Perfect Imperfect, Second Edition”: https://www.johndolan.com/print-shop
This episode is for all the wedding documentarians out there – photographers, videographers, and yes, content creators, I’m looking at you – who are wondering how they can get their clients to open up a bit more, feel more comfortable, and ultimately be fully present with the full range of emotions that are ultimately felt on a wedding day.In this interview, I welcome Joel & Justyna Bedford, a husband and wife destination wedding photography team. Joel and Justyna are highly recognized in their industry for their warm and whimsical approach to photography and for their ability to document their subjects with authenticity. For this interview, the scope of our conversation will be how wedding vendors can show up for their clients with said “softer footprint” and ways we can hold space for our clients and their loved ones on the wedding day.Website: www.joelandjustyna.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/joelandjustyna
What would weddings look like without our beloved Instagram, Tik Tok, etc.? Would the trends be the same? Would they last as long, or longer? How would we find our vendors? How would we find our inspiration? Though I originally reached out to her with the intention of having a conversation around floral trends, Amanda Luu of Studio Mondine and I immediately bonded over our mutual struggles with social media and the way it has shaped the way we think about weddings today. So, we figured why not have this conversation instead?In this episode, we take things back in time to the ways social media has shifted our approach, mindset, and ethos when it comes to weddings, and how moving past it might be the key to "success" we’ve been missing.Website: www.studiomondine.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/studiomondine
Considering that the wedding industry is largely composed of female entrepreneurs, it's surprising there isn’t a stronger dialogue in this space concerning the realities of operating a creative business as a mother. Becoming a mother changes you in so many ways – physically, mentally, and spiritually – and comes with endless unknowns. With all of these shifts, how does one find a sense of work-life balance? How can women prepare their businesses for pregnancy, then again in post-partum, then create a sense of balance (and abundance) through the following seasons? As entrepreneurs, how can we be present with our child while also seeking growth and fulfillment in our businesses?Wanting to have this conversation with a fellow mother, I invited along Olivia Rae James, a destination wedding photographer living in Charleston, South Carolina. In our conversation, Olivia shares her invaluable perspectives on experiencing growth as both a mother and a business owner, from family planning and navigating the transitions of pregnancy to managing the ongoing changes throughout parenthood.Website: https://oliviaraejames.com/Instagram: www.instagram.com/oliviaraejameswed
Navigating the complexities of wedding planning can be a challenge, especially when it comes to balancing dreams with practical realities. The abundance of inspirational examples can sometimes lead to unrealistic expectations for newly engaged couples, who may be unaware of the resources and effort required to bring their visions to life. In an effort to alleviate these challenges, I invited Barbi Walters of The Lynden Co, an event production team who specializes in fully-custom build outs. During our conversation, Barbi and I demystify the logistics and costs behind so many of the wish list items for the modern couple, and shed light on the many reasons weddings have become as big (and expensive) as they are today.Website: https://lyndenlane.com/Instagram: www.instagram.com/lyndenlane
In a world saturated with endless inspiration, how does one even begin to approach designing one of the most important events in a person's life – their wedding day?In this episode, I'm joined by Augusta Cole, one of the top event designers and producers in the wedding industry. Augusta’s work is widely recognized for its classic and inviting style, yet each event holds a unique character of its own.In our conversation, Augusta shares insights into how she uncovers the true goals and priorities of each client, and how these elements combine to shape the logistical, technical, and atmospheric stories of their unique celebration.Website: www.augustacole.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/augustacole
What does it take to grow a wedding business today? Is it more about networking, getting published, refining your portfolio, or cultivating a strong personal brand?While achieving these goals seems pretty straightforward when you’re familiar with your audience, entering a new market introduces a new set of challenges, often leaving business owners feeling stuck and confused.In this episode, we interview Samm Blake, a New York-based wedding photographer. Samm not only shares the key behind scaling her business to the high-end market but also reveals how she transformed her brand into a household name.Website: www.sammblakeweddings.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/sammblake
Like “documentary” photography, "editorial" is definitely a buzzword right now, but how many people know what this term actually means in terms of in-person process and approach on a wedding day? Do couples understand what will be expected of them in order to achieve an "editorial" style? Do photographers that use this term in their branding understand what could be expected of them in terms of their approach, experience, or philosophies? In this episode, wedding and editorial photographer Madison Aycoth demystifies these two terms and explains how although they may appear different in style, they can actually be quite similar in approach and play very well together on a wedding day.Website: www.madisonaycoth.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/madisonaycoth
It’s easy enough to start a business in the wedding industry and start calling yourself a professional artist, but what is it that makes your art different and unique? What sets your work apart from the sea of wedding professionals out there and what does it take to achieve a truly distinguishable style?In this episode, we speak with NYC-based wedding photographer, Camille Delaune, where we discuss her journey in discovering her confidence and solidifying her place in the world of wedding photography.Website: www.camilledelaune.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/camilledelauneweddings
In this episode, we interview Lisa Ashley, founder and curator at The Wedding Artists Co, a company that represents a selective group of photographers and videographers in the wedding industry. Lisa’s role is pretty unique but one that (we believe) is up-and-coming and soon will completely transform the landscape of the wedding industry as we know it.Website: www.theweddingartistsco.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/theweddingartistsco
When looking at photos of a wedding online, it’s easy to imagine the execution of that wedding being as effortless and romantic as the images portray… but to the surprise of many, the reality is not so simple. Like cogs in a clock, the success of any wedding can be determined by the harmony of the professional team; when everyone has a similar vibrancy and end-goals in mind, that’s when true magic can be made.With me in this episode is Jesse Tombs, founder and lead creative director of the eponymous event production company based in the Bay Area of California. In our conversation, Jesse explains his why and how behind building these strong and symbiotic teams, and explains the differing benefits between long-term creative partnerships versus welcoming in someone new.Website: www.jessetombs.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/jessetombs
Workshops, content days, styled shoots – they come by many names, have many purposes, and run with many reputations, but not matter what you call them or how you see them, there is no doubt that these curated experiences have made tremendous impact for so many businesses in the wedding industry. From using them for content to their powerful networking opportunities, styled shoots and workshops have certainly earned their place as a powerful strategy to grow one's business.But what exactly makes for a successful styled shoot/workshop? As a host, what elements should we consider to create an incredible experience for the attendees and leave with glowing reviews? As an attendee, how do we know which experience is actually going to move the needle forward in our business and create lasting impact? With me for this conversation, I invited wokshop-host-extraordinaire, Nicola Dixon, a destination wedding photographer based in Mallorca Spain. Nicola has been hosting styled shoots and workshops of all shapes and sizes for over ten years and in the process, has learned almost everything there is to know about hosting and attending. In our conversation, she shares her experiences, lessons learned, and the inside scoop on what it actually looks like to host one of these.At the end of our conversation, Nicola even shares some incredible opportunites she is offering for October of this year – one of which I am personally attending myself!Nicola's website: https://nicoladixonphotography.com/Nicola's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/editorialsbynicoladixon/Mallorca Workshop with Jesse Tombs: https://nicoladixonphotography.com/mallorca
Society loves to brand weddings as the “best day of someone’s life” but in reality, there is a ton of stress felt by so many during the planning process and sadly it's not openly talked about enough. To help shed some light on the topic of stress, we invited Dr. Olivia Muzones to the podcast, a practitioner of holistic chiropractic kinesiology based in California. During this conversation, Olivia addresses many of the ways stress can manifest physically, emotionally, and spiritually and shares some things couples can do to hopefully keep the planning process as fun and beautiful as it deserves to be. You can follow Olivia and her work on instagram at @droliviamuzones.
From being one of the very first professionals a couple will interact with on their wedding day to determining how a person will look in photos for the rest of their lives, the role of a hair and makeup artist is certainly a role that holds a lot of power. Here to talk about power of the role and what couples can do to ensure they find the best artist for them is Michelle Schultz, founder of the NYC-based hair and makeup collective, Willow House Beauty. Throughout this conversation, Michelle helps us understand how couples can find their wedding beauty artist(s), questions they should ask themselves to determining their wedding day look, Michelle also speaks directly to the professional beauty artists out there looking to build their brand authority or make a lasting impression on their clients. From advice on branding and marketing to sharing ways hair and makeup artists can better serve their couples and leave with glowing reviews, Michelle shares all her best industry knowledge. You can follow Michelle and her business Willow House beauty on instagram at @willowhouse.beauty or at their website www.willowhousebeauty.com. Cover image by Jessica Perez
In the professional space, we see so many female business owners struggling with health issues that are frequently tied to stress/burnout in some form or the other. Especially in the wedding industry, a space predominantly operated by females, it’s sad that we commonly see business owners struggling with a sense of imbalance, overworking, perfectionism, and burnout especially when they originally established their businesses from a place of passion, joy, and inspiration. In this episode, we interview Rachel Nichols, a hormone-health specialist who predominantly coaches female entrepreneurs through her own business called Restoring Eve. During our conversation, Rachel shares some ways we as women can optimize our workflows and routines to lead both our lives and businesses with less burnout and instead, a greater sense of energy, clarity, and fulfillment. To discover Rachel's work and learn more about the power of hormone health in business and general wellness, you can follow her on Instagram at @restoring.eve or on her website https://www.restoringeve.com/
We talk a lot about the big, fancy, exuberant wedding celebrations here on Unveiled Interviews, but we also believe their is another way to get married. A wedding doesn’t have to be elaborate to be special; for some couples, it’s the simplicity of an elopement or courthouse ceremony that resonates most with their beliefs and priorities. In this episode we interview Blake Nelson, a wedding and editorial photographer based in New York City. Recently, Blake’s wedding work has been recognized as synonymous with Manhattan’s city clerk’s office, so he has so much wisdom to share in what it takes to plan, execute, document, and enjoy a simple wedding celebration. Not only does Blake walk us through the logistics of what it takes to plan a NYC city hall wedding, but also the mindset and energies that so many of his couples are embracing throughout the wedding planning process in order to have a day that speaks to their individuality. You can discover and follow Blake’s work on Instagram @blakenelsonweddings or on his website at https://blakenelsonphotography.com/.