The Wedding Biz &#8211; Behind the Scenes of the Wedding Business

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Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment.

369 REVISIT RON BEN-ISRAEL: Answering the Call of Creativity with Couture Cakes Jun 23, 2021

Show notes

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:

www.asthecaketurns.com

Connect with Ron:

Instagram: @rbicakes

Facebook

Twitter

https://www.youtube.com/user/RonBenIsraelCakes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NVfxmUo2iM

368 JOSE VILLA & LAURIE ARONS: Discuss Working Together As Photographer & Planner/Designer and More! Jun 21, 2021

Show notes

Andy chats with two guests in this episode of The Wedding Biz, both of whom have been featured on the podcast multiple times in the past. Laurie Arons is a planner and designer of Laurie Arons Special Events and has been featured in numerous magazine publications and has been listed in Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and Martha Stewart Weddings as one of the top worldwide planners. Her clientele is made up of trendsetters such as Sophia Coppola, Vanessa Getty, and Christy Turlington as well as prominent business moguls like Gary Friedman, Frank Caufield, and Eddie DeBartolo. Laurie has also created and runs a very successful wedding planner master class.

Also joining Andy is Jose Villa, a fine art photographer who is considered by many to be the top event photographer in the world. He has been published in numerous magazines and was named one of the top wedding photographers by Martha Stewart Weddings, Harper's Bazaar, Style Me Pretty, and Vogue. He was also named one of the top ten photographers in the world by American Photo Magazine and was named one of the most influential photographers of the decade. Jose, in addition, runs workshops and authored the book Fine Art Wedding Photography.

Laurie and Jose have been working together for nearly a decade, and they each elaborate upon what it's like working with the other. Laurie describes her business as live theatre only not with actors, a feeling which gives her butterflies because she puts a lot of thought into it. They also discuss at length how they address unexpected obstacles such as challenging weather, what's important to them as far as the guest experience is concerned, what they look for in a good venue, and what they are seeing happening currently in their business now that we are (hopefully) nearing the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Andy had such a fun time talking to Laurie and Jose again – especially at the same time – and encourages you to go back and listen to their previous episodes of the podcast by going to The Wedding Biz's website and typing in their names in the search bar. Be sure to also 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 to the podcast, share it with them! Andy would also appreciate a positive review wherever you listen to the podcast!

SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ

Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!

Time Stamps

[1:42] – Andy reveals this episode's two guests – Jose Villa and Laurie Arons – and gives their credentials.

[3:44] – Jose reveals that location and communication are some of the key elements for a successful collaboration with a designer.

[4:36] – We learn that Laurie considers a lot of photography experience as well as commitment to be very important when working with a photographer.

[6:13] – Laurie and Jose talk about their collaborative process together, and Jose reflects on the stressful aspects of his job.

[9:12] – Laurie explains how she tries to keep Jose as informed of details as possible.

[12:03] – Laurie reflects a little on the difficulty of obstacles such as the bride wanting her hair redone and how that negatively impacts a set schedule.

[13:46] – We hear examples of how weather can negatively impact events.

[16:52] – Laurie and Jose share what's important to them in relation to the guest experience.

[18:24] – Laurie and Jose describe a very long wooden pathway that Laurie was involved in making for a particular client.

[20:30] – Laurie discusses venues and what makes a good venue for her.

[23:25] – From a photographer's perspective, Jose expounds upon what makes a good venue for him.

[25:47] – Jose talks about the importance of a venue eliciting a certain mood.

[27:16] – Jose and Laurie reveal what they are currently seeing in the business now that we are approaching the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

[29:29] – Andy explains how to go about finding Laurie and Jose on previous episodes of the podcast.

RESOURCES

The Wedding Biz - "Top 10 Event Luminary Tips for Dealing with Stress"Laurie's Previous Guest Spots on The Wedding Biz Jose's Previous Guest Spots on The Wedding Biz Jose Villa – Fine Art Wedding Photography: How to Capture Images with Style for the Modern Bride

Find Laurie:

Laurie Arons Special Events - Website

Laurie Arons Special Events' Facebook Page

Laurie's Instagram Page

Laurie's Twitter Page

Find Jose:

Jose's Website

Jose's Blog

Jose's Facebook Page

Jose's Instagram Page

Jose's Twitter 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 Podcast - Episode 147: TIM CHI, CEO, The Knot Worldwide: Combining Technology and Trends to Innovate the Wedding Industry

367 REVISIT TARA GUERARD: Wedding Designer with a Southern Flair Jun 16, 2021

Show notes

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

366 TIM CHI – CEO, The Knot Worldwide and Reflections Post-Covid Jun 14, 2021

Show notes

Andy hopes that you will join him in this episode as he chats with Tim Chi, the CEO of The Knot Worldwide which provides leading wedding marketplaces personalized wedding websites, planning tools, and registry services with its brands in multiple countries across North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia. The Knot Worldwide also includes lifestyle brands and this is actually Tim's second time joining Andy on the podcast, previously having been on episode 147 which Andy highly recommends that you go back and give a listen.

Andy and Tim talk about the COVID-19 pandemic and how it impacted Tim both personally and professionally (as well as the wedding planning industry in general). Tim shares that he deeply misses in-person human connection and what negative consequences have come out of that being removed from the equation, such as many professional relationships becoming more transactional rather than personable. From that, he explains the importance of relationships maintaining cordiality and how he goes about doing that.

The pandemic and shutdown has been a very challenging period of adjustment not only for couples who had been planning large weddings for 2020 and into 2021 but also for wedding planning professionals like Tim and his team. Morale was down for a lot of people (humanity in general, in fact), and Tim describes how, as a leader, he worked to boost morale and keep it up, emphasizing the importance of staying in regular communication and holding on to the reminder that the struggle was temporary – that weddings would eventually pick back up again. He also stresses the importance of practicing empathy and giving others grace, patience, and understanding.

Andy had such a blast talking to Tim again and strongly encourages you to, once again, go back and listen to the first episode in which Tim was featured as it was a wonderful and insightful conversation about Tim's background. Be sure to check out Tim and The Knot Worldwide online, and also be sure, if you aren't already subscribed, to subscribe to the podcast so that you never miss an episode!

SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ

Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!

Time Stamps

[0:34] – Returning guest Tim Chi, C.E.O. of The Knot Worldwide is revealed to be this episode's guest.

[1:50] – Tim reflects back on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected him personally.

[2:46] – Tim shares what the plans are for reopening his doors in the near future.

[3:59] – Tim provides general reflections on how the pandemic has impacted his industry.

[5:30] – We learn how Tim has run a global company during a pandemic.

[7:56] – Andy and Tim discuss company culture and how Tim kept morale up during the shutdown.

[10:30] – Tim and Andy talk about how Tim maintained effective leadership during the shutdown and how important holding onto cordiality is.

[13:25] – Tim discusses what he is seeing as far as weddings in the near future are concerned.

[15:50] – We learn what The Knot Worldwide has planned for the future.

[17:06] – Andy shares where online we can find Tim and The Knot Worldwide.

RESOURCES

Find Tim:

The Knot Worldwide - Website The Knot Registry The Knot Worldwide - LinkedIn Profile The Knot Worldwide - Instagram Page The Knot Worldwide - Twitter 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 Hand Painted Moment - Momental Designs (YouTube)Flowers on Flowers on Flowers Epic Watercolor Wedding Invitation (YouTube)Watercolor Wedding Invitations in Action (YouTube)Architectural Inspired Pattern Wedding Invitation (YouTube)

Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.

Title Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Kushner Entertainment.

365 REVISIT JES GORDON: Bringing Personality to Every Event Jun 09, 2021

Show notes

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

364 KRISTY RICE: Soul-Filled Event Stationery and the Joy of Fine Art Jun 07, 2021

Show notes

Tune in to this episode of the podcast as Andy interviews Kristy Rice – artist, author, stylist, and founder of Momental Designs. Kristy's hand-painted events, stationary, and other work has been credited in People Magazine, Good Morning America, Inside Weddings and Brides Magazines, Vanity Fair, Martha Stewart Weddings, along with countless blogs. Kristy's work has also crossed into fine art and lifestyle markets with licensing and the development of branded product lines for the top arts and crafts stores nationwide.

She is also the author of nine titles (most of which are about watercoloring and finding joy in art), with her tenth title about to be released (and an eleventh one currently being dreamed up!), and we talk about the process of writing books. She also talks about working on Sean Parker's wedding and Jessica Simpsons's wedding. We talk about the difficult aspects of what she does, and we also discuss building structure and process within a highly artistic brand, building a team, and licensing branded product lines.

Kristy reveals that her love and passion for art began at a very young age when she was only about six years old and found herself copying Garfield cartoons. She was later the art nerd in school and ended up getting a college degree in Art Education. She shares how Momental Designs ended up being born and where it has progressed over time, and she even digs into how she balances her time between being an artist, an events planner, a writer and illustrator, and a mother! Andy had such a fun time talking to and getting to know Kristy and encourages you to reach out to her and her business online. It would also be helpful if you share the podcast with a few friends and/or family members who might find it interesting as well as leave a good review of the podcast!

SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ

Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!

Time Stamps

[0:53] – Andy reveals the guest of this episode of the podcast – artist, author, and stylist Kristy Rice.

[2:32] – Kristy reveals when her passion for art began.

[4:39] – We learn how Kristy made the transition from retail management to events planning.

[6:23] – Kristy talks about making the leap to entrepreneurship.

[8:30] – Kristy describes what her career entails.

[9:14] – Kristy shares how she would describe her personal artwork style.

[10:05] – Kristy walks us through her typical process after first meeting a client.

[12:53] – Kristy talks about sometimes having to guide clients and help them express themselves regarding what they want artistically.

[14:18] – We learn how Kristy's process of working with clients is an immersive one.

[15:08] – Kristy describes what it was like to help plan Sean Parker's wedding.

[17:04] – Kristy reflects upon working on Jessica Simpson's wedding.

[20:16] – We discover what the most difficult aspect of Kristy's job is.

[22:38] – Kristy reveals how she builds structure around her artistic brand.

[25:21] – Kristy discusses the process of building a team.

[27:18] – We learn how Kristy fell into the licensing aspect of her business.

[29:09] – We discover how to appoint an art rep.

[30:43] – Andy and Kristy enthuse over Kristy's career as a writer, focusing on her upcoming tenth book.

[32:20] – Kristy details how she finds time to write books on top of everything else that she does.

[34:15] – Kristy discusses how she has done a lot of teaching over time.

[36:00] – Kristy addresses how she balances being a parent while also being an entrepreneur, emphasizing the importance of being fully present with her children when she is with them.

[39:04] – Andy shares where online we can find Kristy.

RESOURCES

Find Kristy:

Kristy's Website

Momental Designs - Website

Kristy's TikTok Page

Momental Designs - Instagram Page

Kristy's Amazon Author 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: