The Wedding Biz - Behind the Scenes of the Wedding Business

Latest Episodes:

118 THE NEXT LEVEL: Amy Moeller: Editor-In-Chief, Washingtonian Weddings Jan 07, 2019

Show notes

In today's episode, Andy is joined by guest co-host Michele Hodges of Michele Hodges Events. They discuss Andy's interview with Amy Moeller and pull out some of the highlights.

Andy and Michele discuss:

Current wedding trends
Why wedding trends have a really long shelf life
Some wedding trends that are definitely out
The future of print wedding magazines

If you haven't already listened to Amy's interview, you can find it here.

You can connect with Michele Hodges here.

Resources:

The Wedding Biz Website

Instagram: @weddingbizshow

The Stylish Bride with Julie Sabatino

Sponsor: ODF Consulting Website

Sponsor: Kushner Entertainment Website

Washingtonian Weddings Website

Amy's email: amyemoeller@washingtonian.com

Connect with Washingtonian:

Our annual Love Unveiled wedding showcase

Follow on Facebook

Podcast mentioned in show about elements we've never seen before

Follow on Instagram

117 AMY MOELLER: Editor-In-Chief, Washingtonian Weddings Jan 07, 2019

Show notes

Want your wedding featured in a magazine? Real weddings are becoming more popular to feature in magazines, whether online or on the printed version. Today's guest will help you learn the best way to submit as well as discuss a host of pertinent topics.

Amy Moeller, the Editor-In-Chief of Washingtonian changed her major 7 times in college, at the University of Tennessee. Journalism and electronic media with a concentration in sports journalism was the one she landed on in the end. Join us today and also hear how Amy balances home life with her 3-month-old, and a 2-year-old while working.

Show Highlights:

The path Amy tried to find and realizing the path was there all along
What about weddings that pulled Amy in
Amy's most memorable moment of her own wedding
Day to day life of being the editor in chief
Setting trends and current trends coming
Winter weddings becoming more popular
Patterns such as plaid trending instead of just two colors
Taking inspiration from pieces of tile
Couples now contributing to their own weddings
The empowerment of the couples impacting the industry
Traditions of weddings, some are being skipped
Online media presence and how it affects Amy
The overall social media strategy for Washingtonian Weddings
The best way for the industry and couples to submit weddings
How they decide what topics to cover for the Washingtonian Weddings
What it is like to be a guest at a wedding for Amy
Balancing Amy's life with her career

Resources:

The Wedding Biz Website

Instagram: @weddingbizshow

The Stylish Bride with Julie Sabatino

Sponsor: ODF Consulting Website

Sponsor: Kushner Entertainment Website

Washingtonian Weddings Website

Amy's email: amyemoeller@washingtonian.com

Connect with Washingtonian:

Our annual Love Unveiled wedding showcase

Follow on Facebook

Podcast mentioned in show about elements we've never seen before

Follow on Instagram

116 THE NEXT LEVEL: Lynn Easton: Destination Weddings with a Classic Touch, Part 1 Dec 31, 2018

Show notes

Join Andy and guest co-host, Julie Sabatino of The Stylish Bride, as they discuss Lynn Easton's amazing interview. It's easy to admire Lynn's business, but don't let her calm demeanor make you think her business is no big deal. Lynn Easton has built an empire and she works tirelessly to keep all of her balls in the air while building a solid base of raving fans! Learn how she does it all.

If you haven't listened to Lynn's full interview, you can find that here.

You can find Julie Sabatino at www.thestylishbride.com.

On The Wedding Biz Network: The Stylish Bride with Julie Sabatino

This Episode is Sponsored by:

OFD Consulting

Contact OFD Consulting

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.

115 REVISIT LYNN EASTON: Destination Weddings with a Classic Touch, Part 1 Dec 31, 2018

Show notes

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

Contact OFD Consulting

OFD Consulting is an awarding-winning publicity agency that focuses on the wedding industry.

114 THE NEXT LEVEL: Sylvia Weinstock: The Queen Of Cakes Dec 17, 2018

Show notes

Join Andy and guest co-host, Sean Low as they dig deeper into Sylvia Weinstock's interview. Both Andy and Sean know Sylvia very well and they are still just blown away by her story.

Andy and Sean discuss:

Sylvia was 50 years old when she started her current career.
It's important to recognize the pressure brides are under to have a fairytale wedding.
The cakes Sylvia makes are considered to be art and every wedding vendor contributes their own art to the wedding.
How Sylvia wasn't taken seriously when she started.
Sylvia's retirement plans.

If you haven't listened to Sylvia's full interview, you can listen here.

On The Wedding Biz Network: The Stylish Bride with Julie Sabatino

This Episode is Sponsored by:

OFD Consulting

Contact OFD Consulting

OFD Consulting is an awarding-winning publicity agency that focuses on the wedding industry.

113 REVISIT SYLVIA WEINSTOCK: The Queen Of Cakes Dec 17, 2018

Show notes

REVISIT: It's hard to overstate how glad I am to share my conversation with Sylvia Weinstock with you. I am thrilled that you'll get to spend some time with her, as I've been lucky enough to.

If you're in the wedding business or familiar with it, Sylvia needs no introduction. Sylvia Weinstock reinvented the tradition of the wedding cake, and for 37 years she and her team set a standard for wedding creations—quality, workmanship, pride—that few have matched, and few will match.

In this episode, I talk with Sylvia about her amazing life and career in the wedding business, her philosophy on both, and about this amazing time in Sylvia's life as she closes one chapter and opens a new one.

Links

On The Wedding Biz Network: The Stylish Bride with Julie Sabatino

This Episode is Sponsored by:

OFD Consulting

Contact OFD Consulting

OFD Consulting is an awarding-winning publicity agency that focuses on the wedding industry.

112 THE NEXT LEVEL: David Stark: Creativity in Design, Creativity in Business Dec 10, 2018

Show notes

Andy and first-time co-host Cindy Novotny, of Master Connection Associates, discuss the incredible interview with David Stark. David opens up about his business and his business structure. David really does so many things in his business incredibly well.

Andy and Cindy also discuss:

There will always be parts of your business that are out of balance.
It's important to build a business structure from which you can create.
You have to empower your employees.
Storytelling is at the heart of everything David does.
David's own aesthetic never comes out in his creations for his customers.
How to find client partners who understand your value.
Pushing boundaries is how David has made a name for himself.

If you haven't listened to David's full episode, you can listen here.

Check out Cindy Novotny and Master Connection Associates here.

111 REVISIT DAVID STARK: Creativity in Design, Creativity in Business Dec 10, 2018

Show notes

REVISIT: "You're only as good as your last party." This old adage is something that renowned event producer and designer David Stark holds in high regard. David has produced events for noteworthy celebrities like Glenn Close and Brad Pitt, organizations like Saturday Night Live, the Whitney Museum, and the Metropolitan Opera, has 5 books published, and the list goes on in similar fashion.

David's career in design started in college when he pursued studies in painting. After finishing graduate school in New York with an MFA in painting, he realized he, in fact, did not want to become a painter. While waiting tables in New York in his twenties, he and his boyfriend began diving into the floral scene, slowly growing from a small job operation to eventually a larger-than-life business 12 years later. Though David didn't end up becoming a professional painter, he attributes his success in large part to what he learned in art school; not to paint, but to solve problems creatively, how to put together teams, and invent things. That process is what carries through to today for David, noting that putting together a team is the most creative act you can pull off as well as creating a business structure for your company.

Andy and David also chat about his favorite events he has produced, and he explains the mindset he uses when approaching a new event. For David, it's all about creating relationships with people, pushing boundaries in the designs he creates, and always staying a little nervous because that means you're trying something completely original. Listen to the full interview to hear what inspires David, how he pulled off creating event decor out of toilet paper, and how he balances the creative and business aspects of his company.

Links

On The Wedding Biz Network: The Stylish Bride with Julie Sabatino

This Episode is Sponsored by:

OFD Consulting

Contact OFD Consulting

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.

110 THE NEXT LEVEL: Phillip Van Nostrand: Photography & Designing Your Lifestyle Dec 03, 2018

Show notes

Just in time for Engage!, Andy and Melissa are discussing all of the best networking techniques to make you stand out among your competition. The topic of today's episode comes from lessons learned from Andy's interview with Phillip Van Norstrand. He's a master networker!

In this episode, Andy and Melissa also discuss:

Techniques to make the most of any conterence or networking event.
How to make deeper connections to last your whole career.
Ways to help remember important things about the people you meet.
The power of networking and why it is so important for your business!

Resources:

Phillip Van Norstrand Interview

Bryan Rafanelli Interview

On The Wedding Biz Network: The Stylish Bride with Julie Sabatino

This Episode is Sponsored by:

OFD Consulting

Contact OFD Consulting

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.

109 PHILLIP VAN NOSTRAND: Photography & Designing Your Lifestyle Dec 03, 2018

Show notes

Has your religion influenced you through your whole life? On today's show that is just the case as our guest grew up in a Christian family with good clean fun all around him, despite the influence of a "hippy commune." Starting off his career path as part of the church, he eventually found a new devotion to photography when he fell in love with traveling.

Phillip Van Nostrand of Phillip vn Photography not only has the talent of capturing perfect photos for weddings and other events, but also has photographed in 30+ countries as he travels somewhere new, abroad every year. Phil already has his ultimate formula for life complete, as most people are still trying to figure out how to build an ideal life for themselves. Listen in and hear how Phil's fascinating and unique upbringing transformed into his passion for traveling and photography.

Show Highlights: