The Wedding Biz - Behind The Scenes Of The Wedding Business

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: How Brett built his foundation When Brett became passionate about film How Brett transitioned into a film career Having a large goal, and breaking it into smaller and achievable goals 3 key elements Brett came up with to foster succes

Today's guest, Heidi Thompson, has no shortage of hats that she wears! She is a wedding business and marketing strategist and is also a bestselling author, having published Clone Your Best Clients. She is also the founder of Evolve Your Wedding Business where she helps wedding professionals grow six-figure and multi-six-figure businesses without putting a ton of hours in! Heidi's business and marketing expertise has been featured on The Huffington Post, Wedding Business Magazine, Wedding Wire, and many more, and she is even an advisory board member for the UK Academy of Wedding and Event Planning and is also the creator and host of Book More Weddings Summit and Wedding Business CEO Summit! Heidi dives into what motivated her to get into marketing and the wedding industry and how she married those two passions together, how she goes about creating a marketing plan and the importance of doing research, how to create reasonable and realistic goals and how to measure those goals, how to stand out in a very satur

Andy's guest today is Jennifer Stein, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Destination I Do Magazine, a magazine that can be found on newsstands in all fifty states as well as twelve countries. The magazine can also be found online along with a daily blog, and Jennifer also has her own podcast. She has over two decades of experience in business and publishing, and she was even recognized as one of the top 35 entrepreneurs under 35 by Arizona Republic! Jennifer shares her thoughts on how the past two years of the COVID-19 pandemic have felt and how that time has changed her, how her business and domestic destination weddings in general have changed since the pandemic, and some of the staffing issues that have arisen because of it. She also discusses the anxiety that many of us feel around international events and what would happen if one were to get stuck in an international country due to a positive COVID test, and she and Andy talk about why travel protection is therefore important. Jennifer remains hopeful for

Today's guest spot goes to Paul Morse, who chats with Andy about his career as a professional photographer! Paul is of Paul Morse Studios based in New Orleans, and his talent and unique style have earned him the trust of presidents, world leaders, Fortune 500 companies, and numerous bridal couples. He enjoyed a successful photojournalism career with the Los Angeles Times and then served as a White House photographer documenting the lives of President George W. Bush and his family as well as President Barack Obama's inauguration ceremonies. Paul walks us through when he first realized that he had a pull toward photography and why he first got into it, touching upon his first few jobs. (Incredibly, even though he has had several jobs, he has always had a career in photography!) He reflects on his time with the Los Angeles Times, his position as Deputy Director of Photography at the White House, and how he came to be interested in wedding photography. He also touches upon his strengths as a photographer, how he

As anyone knows, sometimes we need a little motivation, a push in the right direction. Maybe we’re not as focused as we need to be and just need someone to motivate us to reach our potential. Cindy Novotny is with us today, and she’s here to give some of her signature “straight talk” advice. Listen in and find out why you should embrace public speaking, set goals, and stay focused on what you want out of your life. An icon in the hospitality industry, Cindy Novotny is the original founder of MCA and is an internationally renowned leader in sales, leadership and customer service. She has been recognized by the American Society of Training and Development as one of the most powerful, innovative and passionate speakers in the industry. Cindy has become a “radical mentor” for thousands of executives around the world. Her ability to close the “gap” with senior executives and line employees has made MCA a leader in many industries.

Joining Andy today is Sharon Sever, Head Designer for Galia Lahav. Galia Lahav has established itself as one of the leading couture fashion houses, with garments characterized by their high-end fabrications, meticulous sewing techniques, and their unique technology to make each piece meet exact measurements even from overseas. They have flagship stores in major cities all over the world and are a part of 70 retailers including the most exclusive and luxurious. You can read more about the company on their website and see some of their amazing collections. As a dedicated student, Sharon left his family and hometown in Ashdod, Israel, to pursue his dreams of becoming a fashion designer in one of the world’s most recognized in the artform - Paris. A graduate from the Paris American Academy, Sharon also apprenticed with fashion icons, including Christian Lacroix, Pierre Balmain, Carven, Balenciaga, and some of the other leading Parisian fashion houses. In this episode, in fact, Sharon shares how he was able to bec

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 servic

Chatting with Andy in this episode of The Wedding Biz is Anna Price Olson! Anna is the editorial director of Brides and acts as the brand lead for the publication. Anna discusses how she got started in the industry, how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the industry (with not all of it actually being bad), what the state of the market is like right now, some of the exciting trends that Anna and her publication are seeing, how planners and couples can have the best chance at getting their wedding story covered in Brides, and how planners and photographers can get on the best-of lists! Anna also reveals what got her into the wedding industry and how one of the positive aspects of the pandemic has been people allowing themselves to break rules more and have more unique, personalized weddings. Andy has been aware of Anna's name for a while and keeps up with Brides, so he is really grateful for Anna's time and enjoyed having her on the podcast. Be sure to check out both Brides’ and Anna’s social media pages and a

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: The first time lighting was used to change the ambiance of a room Norma shares her process for planning an event What she recommends on how to bring out a client’s personality How it is possible to have a successful career without a college education Where and how Norma discovers new ideas for future events What the biggest turn ons and turn offs are from a Planner’s perspective Why it’s important to prepare for unexpected outcomes The moment that caused Norma to completely change her style of design and planning What success means to Norma and th

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 storytel

Ryan Hill, founder and C.E.O. of Apotheosis Events, joins Andy on The Wedding Biz today to talk about his career and his business! Apotheosis Events is a premier event planning firm located out of New York City and produces and designs star-studded premieres including lavish weddings and large Broadway and stage premieres such as Hamilton and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child! Ryan also handles strategic product launches, elegant galas, over-the-top afterparties, and even intimate personal celebrations. Clients of Ryan's have included but are not limited to The Rolling Stones, Ambassador Theatre Group, John Hardy, Cher, Sting, Denzel Washington, Scarlett Johansson, and Amy Schumer! Ryan enthusiastically shares details about his childhood and upbringing, revealing where his love for design and creativity comes from. He discusses his background in theatrical production and how that has impacted how he works with prospective clients and also what he learned from having been an associate producer for Jeffrey Sell

Andy has a really fun interview planned for this episode – an interview with the highly successful Brazilian model Daniela Braga! Daniela is based out of New York City and has done campaigns for Givenchy, Balmain, Avon, Pantene, and so many others. She has been featured on the covers of various prestigious magazines such as Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Elle, V, Marie Claire, and Cosmopolitan in several countries such as the United States, Brazil, Italy, and France. And she has worked with several important photographers in the fashion industry. Daniela also walked four consecutive times in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. She was even cast for the TV show Model Squad on E! in 2018, and in addition to modeling, she is an ambassador for World of Children. Andy actually had the pleasure of meeting Dany and her husband Adam Freede, as he, with his band Sound Connection, produced the music for their wedding ceremony and reception! She talks with Andy today about how a stranger's Gucci bag led to not only a friendshi

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 a

Hugh Howser, Director of Creative at H Three Events, joins Andy today to talk about his career as a wedding planner thus far. Hugh is Nashville's go-to expert for events and weddings for A-list celebrities such as actress Nicole Kidman and country superstars Wynonna, Reba McEntire, Jake Owen, George Strait, Martina McBride, Kenny Rogers, and more. He has been featured across the country on CMT, ABC, People, InStyle, USA Today, and Brides, offering his unique, fun approach as a lifestyle expert with his trademark style and sense of humor. Hugh reflects a bit on his childhood and some of his earliest memories, such as how his grandmother loved to throw parties and how that affected him. He reveals his initial plans when going to college and how he made the big jump from pharmaceuticals to event planning. He also walks us through the usual process that he has with his clients, sharing that he feels that he has a sixth sense which allows him to envision what someone's wedding is going to look like after talking w

Annie Lee, the principal planner of Daughter of Design, joins Andy in this episode of The Wedding Biz to reflect on her career and her accomplishments, of which there are many! In addition to being the principal planner of Daughter of Design, Annie is the author of Learn to Speak Wedding: Flashcards for Beginners and the founder of Plannie, a global platform to hire an event planner by the hour. Daughter of Design has been named as a top planner by Harper's Bazaar, The Knot, Martha Stewart, Brides, and PartySlate, and Annie has come to be known by various names such as “The Wedding Doctor” by Refinery29, “Party Planner” by New York Magazine, “Celebrity Entertaining Expert” by People Magazine, and more! She even has the honor of being named one of only five Women of Style by Modern Luxury Miami! Annie actually started her career in marketing by interning with San Francisco Opera, and she enthusiastically reveals that that is where her love for events comes from. Her family also does interior design, so she gre

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

Welcome to 2022! Kicking off the new year is a great interview with not one but two guests – siblings Robin Selden and Jeffrey Selden of Marcia Selden Catering, with Robin a managing partner and the executive chef and Jeffrey a managing director and managing partner. With offices in Connecticut and New York City, Marcia Selden Catering holds the esteemed honor of being the first ever catering company to be inducted into the Restaurant Association's Hall of Fame, and they were also named to The Knot Weddings Hall of Fame and best caterer and best of the Gold Coast by Moffly Media. Robin and Jeffrey were also both named two of the 100 most inspiring people in the wedding industry by The Knot and have also been the recipients of various other prestigious recognitions! Robin and Jeffrey are siblings, the children of the founder of the company, Marcia Selden, and they both reflect on what that was like growing up. They elaborate upon how they each ended up deciding to join the family business and what distinguishe

On today’s episode, Andy shares with us the honor of sitting down with renowned chef Roy Yamaguchi, as he shares his story. Roy shares his experiences from coming to the United States for the first time to attend culinary school, starting his first restaurant in Los Angeles, and finally creating Roy’s in Hawaii. Listen in as Roy shares with Andy, as well as the rest of us, his passion, his mission, and his hopes for the future. Show Highlights: How HomeEc sparked Roy’s culinary path The moment he decided to commit to cooking and pursue Culinary school in America Roy shares his first experience of New York compared to living in Japan The reason Roy went with his gut on opening his restaurant in Hawaii, when everyone told him not to What Roy took away from Cheers and the influence that played in creating his restaurant Roy shares the value of having a team and the importance of everyone having a voice Why sometimes you’ve got to let ideas marinate The difference in what makes a great Chef versus what makes a g

Joining Andy in this episode of The Wedding Biz is AJ Williams, founder and executive producer of the Boston-based AJ Events. AJ has been named BizBash's top event producer of the year and also made the BizBash 500 most influential professionals list. Every year since 2003, she has made the Boston Business Journal's area's top meeting and event planning companies list, has made Boston Herald's top 10 event planners, and so much more! AJ has also worked with a number of celebrities and well known people such as Jennifer Hudson; Earth, Wind, and Fire; Queen Latifah; President Bill Clinton; The Eagles; etc.! AJ has always loved parties and planning for them. She talks about her gig working for a celebrity chef and how that led to her starting AJ Events, details the usual process between herself and her clients, explains how she deals with nerves and anxiety around her job, and reflects upon the COVID-19 pandemic and how AJ Events got through it and even flourished. She also explains what success means to her and

Meg Smith of Meg Smith Photography joins Andy in this episode to talk about her photography! Meg has done photography for celebrity weddings such as those of Anne Hathaway, Jimmy Kimmel, Governor of California Gavin Newsom, LeAnn Rimes, and the late Robin Williams. She has also photographed engagements for Christina Aguilera and Nicole Richie. Meg is a frequent contributor to Martha Stewart Weddings, Town & Country, and InStyle Magazine, and her photographs have also been featured in many other publications such as The New York Times, Vogue, and Glamour. Her images have also graced covers and been featured in books including, but not limited to, InStyle Weddings and Vera Wang on Weddings! Meg dives into so many interesting topics such as how, early in her career, she photographed riots and protests such as the Gulf War riots and Take Back the Night. She discusses how she really wanted to be a part of history in those ways and how they are examples of photography being found rather than created, as she is