The Wedding Biz - Behind the Scenes of the Wedding Business

Latest Episodes:

98 ANDRE MAIER: Photography from the Heart Oct 22, 2018

Show notes

Have you ever felt stifled by the exactness and predictability of your chosen career? Today's guest spent years studying science, such as molecular biology and organic chemistry, all the while his creative side was calling.. Eventually, he transitioned to photojournalism and found that he was really good at it, and more importantly, it fed his soul.

Andrè Maier of Andrè Maier Photography has a special gift for photographing subjects and events so that they look as natural as they do in person. It's not an easy aesthetic to create, because looking natural is as much about what you don't see, as what you do see. Andrè tells a story with his photography - much the way a journalist would. Andrè thinks of himself as a wedding photojournalist, and not your typical photographer. Andrè has even photographed the Dalai Lama! Join us as he shares his journey from science to art and how he feels now that he is living his passion.

Show Highlights:

The origin of Andrè's passion for photography
Why Andrè left science for the arts
Andrè's one year of photography school
How Andrè has re-defined photojournalism
Andrè shares some of his most memorable photo shoots
How Andrè got started shooting events
Transitioning from events to weddings as a photojournalist
Shooting the Dalai Lama
Andrè's process for capturing the best images of the wedding and the couple
Andrè's take on networking and how it impacts his business
The story behind Andrè's awesome family photos on his website - don't miss them!
What's next for Andrè

Resources:

The Wedding Biz Website

Instagram: @weddingbizshow

The Stylish Bride with Julie Sabatino

Andrè Maier Weddings

Andrè Maier Family

Andrè on Instagram

Andrè on FB

97 THE NEXT LEVEL: Jennifer Zabinski: High-Touch Planning Oct 15, 2018

Show notes

In this episode, Andy and Melissa discuss Andy's interview with Jennifer Zabinski, of JZ Events. Jennifer's interview presented so many tangible takeaways for other Designers, so listen in and learn the biggest takeaways from this episode.

In this episode, Andy and Melissa discuss:

The work of a Designer is a certain form of therapy
How Jennifer honed her business skills
Ways that working in a restaurant prepared her to be a business owner.
The importance of resilience in business.
Why you should know every aspect of your business.
People remember the little touches and attention to detail.

Make sure if you haven't already listened to Jennifer's show, you can listen here.

96 JENNIFER ZABINSKI: High-Touch Planning Oct 15, 2018

Show notes

This week's episode features Jennifer Zabinski of JZ Events. Jennifer is a dedicated and talented wedding planner, known for being cool under pressure, great with communication and always looks out for the vendors while honoring the clients.

About Jennifer: Jennifer Zabinski is all about the details. She tailors every event to the couple, adding stylish elements and engaging all the senses in the process. She's also the queen of logistics—her weddings are mini-productions with every detail planned and executed with total precision. The New Yorker has planned events in some of the world's best cities—New York, Paris, San Francisco, Florence and too many fabulous island destinations to name. She loves bringing a couple's vision to life and even enjoys the adrenaline rush on the wedding day.

Show Highlights:

Jennifer's priority of embracing her couples personality
Techniques Jennifer uses to get to know her couples
Why listening is very important
The wedding has to reflect the couple's personality
The importance of being cool under pressure
It is a team effort when working weddings
A few things Jennifer does to make it memorable
Why Jennifer considers herself 100% a planner not a designer
How Jennifer helps choose vendors, fitting vendors to clients
Use visual inspiration from outside the world of weddings
How Jennifer balances life, kids, work, and being a wife

Resources:

The Wedding Biz Website

Instagram: @weddingbizshow

The Stylish Bride with Julie Sabatino

Instagram: @jzevents

Jennifer Zabinski Website

95 THE NEXT LEVEL: Ceci Johnson: Designing Stationery, Lifestyle and Business Oct 08, 2018

Show notes

On today's show, Andy has Sean Low joining as a guest co-host. Today's episode focuses on all of the nuggets that can be extracted from Ceci Johnson's interview. Ceci has an incredibly creative business, so Sean is able to offer some insights on the creative business side. Sean Low is the Founder of The Business of Being Creative.

In this episode, Andy and Sean also discuss:

The hustle of starting your own creative business
How to accurately price your creative and custom services
Ways to scale your creative business
How to make sure your business is in the top tier of your niche
Branding - is yours giving off the right vibe?

Previous Episodes Mentioned:

Colin Cowie

Preston Bailey

Julie Sabatino

Connect with Sean Low

94 CECI JOHNSON: Designing Stationery, Lifestyle and Business Oct 08, 2018

Show notes

This episode features Ceci Johnson of Ceci New York. We have the privilege to listen to how Ceci built her business from the ground up. Ceci of New York is an artist and designer of not only invitations and stationery but art and branding materials as well. Ceci tells stories of her client's life in her design of invitations and stationery, and about being in the business of happiness.

Show Highlights:

A little on Ceci's background growing up
Some lessons Ceci learned from her father
How Ceci works hard on maintaining and projecting such a positive perspective
How she got into the bridal industry
Ceci moving to New York from California
Her first jobs and invitations she created
How Ceci gets inspired for each client
Some stories of clients Ceci has worked with
Save the Dates are your first impression
Establishing partnerships with other companies
Ceci's philosophy on pricing
Giving alternate solutions/choices
The business aspect of the company
Systems that are critical in Ceci's company
Ceci's brand consultation and design for other people
Common mistakes she finds with others on their branding and design
Quotes Ceci lives by and loves
Some of the biggest tips she gives in this industry
How Ceci defines success

Resources:

The Wedding Biz Website

Instagram: @weddingbizshow

The Stylish Bride with Julie Sabatino

Instagram: @cecinewyork

@cecijohnson

Ceci New York Website

93 THE NEXT LEVEL: Ines and Veronica Di Santo: Bridal Couture Brilliance Oct 01, 2018

Show notes

On today's show, Andy and Melissa are joined by Julie Sabatino of The Stylish Bride podcast on The Wedding Biz Network. Today's discussion centers on Ines and Veronica DiSanto's show.

In this episode, Andy, Melissa and Julie discuss:

The determination of Ines and how that impacted the start of her business.
Properly outfitting a bride really isn't about what the designer thinks about the dress - find out what matters more.
Involving your children in your business can be life changing for the child - and bond you together in a completely different way.

If you haven't listened to the entire interview with Ines and Veronica, you can find it here.

92 INES AND VERONICA DI SANTO: Bridal Couture Brilliance Oct 01, 2018

Show notes

On today's show we hear from Ines and Veronica of Ines Di Santo, a bridal and evening gown couture dress designer. We learn how Ines grew up with the deep creative passion to having her business now.

Show Highlights:

Where the passion got ignited
Ines tells her incredible and unique story about growing up including her traumatic move from Buenos Aires to Toronto
Ines's biggest dream in her life was to have a daughter and she is the passion of Ines's life
Ines first wedding dress she made and how she obtained her first sewing machine
How Ines convinced a bank for a loan for her first fashion show
Veronica growing up in the industry with her mother
Veronica's passion first being in film before it became couture gowns
What Veronica's roll evolved from, was when she started helping her mother, to what it is now
How Ines got the exclusive on materials
How Ines got distribution
Weddings gowns are memories
The importance of choosing a gown for your personality
Some details on the technique of designing the dresses
About the team and what they do for the company
How they maintain happiness
The future and a look into it

Connect with Ines and Veronica:

http://inesdisanto.com/

https://www.instagram.com/inesdisanto/

https://www.facebook.com/InesDiSanto.Bridal/?ref=bookmarks

https://www.pinterest.ca/inesdisanto/

Resources:

The Wedding Biz Website

Instagram: @weddingbizshow

The Stylish Bride with Julie Sabatino

Instagram: @inesdisanto

Ines & Veronica Website

91 THE NEXT LEVEL: Pablo Oliveira: Combining Business Savvy with Impeccable Design Sep 24, 2018

Show notes

In today's episode of THE NEXT LEVEL, Andy and Melissa join forces to discuss all of the amazing insights from Pablo Oliveira's episode. Pablo has a unique niche in the wedding industry and he's managed to rise to the very top of his game and he works with many high profile clients.

Andy and Melissa also discuss:

Every aspect of your business can be creative - even doing your books!
Bootstrapping your business can keep you from making some serious financial mistakes.
Talking to the people in your business that are on the front lines can make or break your success.
Never stop learning. The more you know about your business, the better your decisions about your business will be.

If you haven't listened to Pablo's full interview, you can do it here.

90 PABLO OLIVEIRA: Combining Business Savvy with Impeccable Design Sep 24, 2018

Show notes

Pablo Oliveira's work is so elegant and sophisticated, his portfolio images alone are a feast for the eyes. Nuage Designs, the name of Pablo's company, is growing internationally. From royal weddings to inaugural balls, Nuage Designs has been dressing the tables of some of the most prestigious events globally including Chelsea Clinton's Wedding.

Pablo grew up in Brazil, and with no history of design or events in his family, becoming who he is today appears to have been a total accident. Always having an artistic side, though also loving math, he ended up going to Switzerland to study Hospitality. Dealing with high end expectations comes from Pablo's background in the Hospitality industry. Pablo started his company working in the textile industry and is now considered a trend setter in the linen world. Starting with his first warehouse, Pablo has grown his business and continues to do so.

Show Highlights:

Nuage Designs company name and how Pablo came up with it
Pablo's background and passions growing up
How he ended up going to college for Hospitality in Switzerland and what got his attention to go there
Did internships in Switzerland, Barcelona and lived in California, and now Miami
Being let go from his last hospitality job began an opportunity with a friend in a Textile industry at 25 years old
One role model in Pablo's life was the owner of a hotel in Miami
The biggest things Pablo learned from working for him was being humble, having a hands-on approach and caring deeply for his business and team
Pablo had no background in design when he began working in the Textile industry so learned on the go
Pablo started showing friends in event design fabrics and they mentioned they do not buy, they rent. Thus the idea of starting a rental company was born
Pablo was conservative as he grew his business never taking on debt or investors
Nuage Design company is starting to spread internationally and has around 50 employees
Pablo's newest passion is to learn every detail about his business
The process of linen design planning
Trends change quickly, so continue to introduce new products
Collaborating with Preston Bailey for a linen collection
Pablo gives tips and advice in dealing with linens
The next 5 years of Pablo's career and where he thinks he will go
Pablo tells a story about Chelsea Clinton's wedding
Balancing business with personal life

Resources:

Nuage Designs Website

Watch the making of Preston Bailey Linen Collection

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0ojW-Xhku0

Nuage Designs Instagram: @nuagedesignsinc

Pablo Oliveira Instagram: @pablocoliveira

Email: Pablo@nuagedesigns.com

Marketing Manager: Zaira@nuagedesigns.com

89 THE NEXT LEVEL: Preston Bailey: Part 2 Interview Sep 17, 2018

Show notes

In this episode of THE NEXT LEVEL, Andy and Melissa are focused on the most impactful parts of Preston Bailey's second interview with Andy. Preston has been in the wedding business almost 40 years, so he has a tremendous amount of knowledge to share.

In this episode Andy and Melissa also discuss:

No one can get away from pricing - even Preston has to educate his clients on the true cost of their dream wedding.
How to stay relevant, but also approachable and transparent.
Everyone has periods of tight cashflow - it's how you handle them that determines your success.

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

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