The We Do Wedding Podcast

Gary Pope of Love Long and Prosper Photography joined us on the We Do Wedding Podcast to talk ALL things nerd, and how he's built a business serving his favorite kind of people: fellow geeks!

Gary is passionate about incorporating a  couple's geeky obsessions into their engagement session and/or wedding, and he had a TON of great stories and examples of ways his couples have gotten creative and incorporated their nerdy passions into their big day. We talked about constitutes a nerd, why nerds are his ideal clients, and how he gets people who feel awkward in front of a camera to loosen up.

We also went down the rabbit hole of our own nerdy obsessions, which was incredibly fun and freeing to do. Gary was a total joy to talk to. We know you'll love this episode!

Where to find him: www.lovelongandprosperphotography.com 

Email: [email protected]

Social media: @lovelongandprosperphotography on Instagram and Facebook 

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Find the hosts on social:

Podcast: @weddoweddingpodcast
Regina: @weddingsbyreginamarie
Cate: @catebarryphotography

www.WeDoWeddingPodcast.com
www.WeddingsbyReginaMarie.com
www.CateBarryPhotography.com

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Follow Us!
Podcast: @weddoweddingpodcast
Regina: @weddingsbyreginamarie
Cate: @catebarryphotography

Reach out to Cate or Regina today!

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Reverend Maureen Cotton is a coach and officiant based in Beverly, Massachusetts and serving all of New England. She joined Regina and Cate for a wonderful, meaningful, meandering conversation about tradition, ritual, and why weddings are so full of potential.

Maureen is not your average wedding officiant. She works with couples in a therapeutic coaching relationship prior to their wedding to ask big picture questions and find out what matters to them, and why. She thinks of this as an imperative not only for wedding planning, but also as the foundation for a solid, successful, communicative marriage.

Maureen was so much fun to talk to because her experience and knowledge base are so broad--she is truly interested in and passionate about so many things. Our discussion took turns from the profound and heavy to the lighthearted and joyful, and by the end of her interview, we felt like we had been hypnotized by her compassionate and empathic energy.

Where to find her: thesoulfulwedding.com 

Email: [email protected]

Social media: @maureencottonceremonies on Instagram 

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Find the hosts on social:

Podcast: @weddoweddingpodcast
Regina: @weddingsbyreginamarie
Cate: @catebarryphotography

www.WeDoWeddingPodcast.com
www.WeddingsbyReginaMarie.com
www.CateBarryPhotography.com

Intro/Outro Music
Instant by Nettson https://soundcloud.com/nettson
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream:

Follow Us!
Podcast: @weddoweddingpodcast
Regina: @weddingsbyreginamarie
Cate: @catebarryphotography

Reach out to Cate or Regina today!

Intro/Outro Music
Instant by Nettson https://soundcloud.com/nettson
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/al-instant
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/3MPl9j...

Susie and Liza are co-owners of Hope Lodge Venue, a wedding and event space in Moosup, Connecticut. They joined Regina and Cate to discuss their purpose in opening a venue in their community, and what buying and renovating an historic building has meant to them and their clients. 

Susie and Liza recounted their decision to purchase a well-known building with loads of history in the small town of Moosup, CT. We learned about how they brought the place back to life with a singular purpose: providing a place for gatherings of all kind, for people on a budget!

It was fun hearing the entrepreneurs' vision and execution and talking about all the ways clients have been using the building and making it their own. 

Where to find them: thehopelodgevenue.com 

Email: [email protected]

Social media: @hopelodgevenue on Instagram and Facebook 

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Find the hosts on social:

Podcast: @weddoweddingpodcast
Regina: @weddingsbyreginamarie
Cate: @catebarryphotography

www.WeDoWeddingPodcast.com
www.WeddingsbyReginaMarie.com
www.CateBarryPhotography.com

Intro/Outro Music
Instant by Nettson https://soundcloud.com/nettson
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream:

Follow Us!
Podcast: @weddoweddingpodcast
Regina: @weddingsbyreginamarie
Cate: @catebarryphotography

Reach out to Cate or Regina today!

Intro/Outro Music
Instant by Nettson https://soundcloud.com/nettson
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/al-instant
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/3MPl9j...

Jenna Szyluk is the founder/CEO of Dash of Pride, an LGBTQ+ friendly wedding and special event supplies shop, as well as Dash of Pride Wedding Pros, a wedding vendor directory focused on serving LGBTQ+ clients. The business is based out of Oregon and serves clients and vendors worldwide.

Jenna's episode was a special one. She joined us in a very real, very vulnerable conversation about the complexities LGBTQ+ folks (and other under-represented groups) face while planning their weddings (and frankly, in general). We get REALLY real in this episode, all of us speaking frankly about experiences we've had and what motivates us to serve, love, and empower ALL kinds of clients, especially those who typically can't expect to be met with acceptance and love.

Jenna's vision of creating a trusted, affirming community of wedding pros across the globe is inspiring and aligns with one of our main goals with this podcast. It was such a pleasure having this time with Jenna, and we hope you enjoy our conversation.

Where to find her: dashofpride.com and dashofprideweddingpros.com 

Email: [email protected]

Social media: @dashofpride and @dashofprideweddingpros on Instagram and @dashofpride on Facebook 

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Find the hosts on social:

Podcast: @weddoweddingpodcast
Regina: @weddingsbyreginamarie
Cate: @catebarryphotography

www.WeDoWeddingPodcast.com
www.WeddingsbyReginaMarie.com
www.CateBarryPhotography.com

Intro/Outro Music
Instant by Nettson

Follow Us!
Podcast: @weddoweddingpodcast
Regina: @weddingsbyreginamarie
Cate: @catebarryphotography

Reach out to Cate or Regina today!

Intro/Outro Music
Instant by Nettson https://soundcloud.com/nettson
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/al-instant
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/3MPl9j...

Gary Bass is the founder/owner of MNE Events, a full-service Connecticut-based entertainment company that offers DJ and emcee services, photo booths, lighting and sound, and photography for weddings and events. Gary joined us to talk about his entrepreneurial journey, his approach to weddings, and why this lane change has been satisfying for the popular hip hop radio personality. 

Gary entertained us with stories of his widely varied weddings, and we all agreed that expanding your knowledge of people different from yourself is not only rewarding; it's also a blast. He talked about enjoying not being pigeonholed in the wedding industry. By working with all different kinds of couples with all different tastes and cultures, he's been able to stretch and show off different parts of his own personality and musical repertoire. 

Gary brought enthusiasm, passion, and straight-up joy to our discussion of the wedding industry. His delight in serving clients shone through every story he told.

Where to find him: mneevents.com 

Email: [email protected]

Social media: @MNEevents on Instagram and @MNEeventsCT on Facebook 

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Find the hosts on social:

Podcast: @weddoweddingpodcast
Regina: @weddingsbyreginamarie
Cate: @catebarryphotography

www.WeDoWeddingPodcast.com
www.WeddingsbyReginaMarie.com
www.CateBarryPhotography.com

Intro/Outro Music
Instant by Nettson https://soundcloud.com/nettson
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream:

Follow Us!
Podcast: @weddoweddingpodcast
Regina: @weddingsbyreginamarie
Cate: @catebarryphotography

Reach out to Cate or Regina today!

Intro/Outro Music
Instant by Nettson https://soundcloud.com/nettson
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/al-instant
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/3MPl9j...

Shiran Nicholson is the founder/owner of The Knowlton, a full-spectrum wedding/event venue, art gallery, and public space in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Shiran joined Cate and Regina in a fun, passionate conversation about his journey to (and with) the Knowlton and all of the things he hopes the space will one day provide for the city of Bridgeport and beyond. 

Shiran radiated excitement about the venue he's created, and his enthusiasm and vision were truly infectious. He has created a space that welcomes everybody, with a variety of event spaces serving all kinds of public and private needs, on waterfront property. 

Not only that, but he's thought of every vendor's needs and incorporated them into the very infrastructure and design of the building. Finally, there is an outdoor space complete with large-scale graffiti art that is currently open to the public. You need to hear Shiran talk about this venue--it might inspire you to tackle the big, dream project you have waiting in the wings!

Where to find him: theknowlton.com 

Email: [email protected]

Social media: @theknowlton on Instagram and Facebook 

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Find the hosts on social:

Podcast: @weddoweddingpodcast
Regina: @weddingsbyreginamarie
Cate: @catebarryphotography

www.WeDoWeddingPodcast.com
www.WeddingsbyReginaMarie.com
www.CateBarryPhotography.com

Intro/Outro Music
Instant by Nettson https://soundcloud.com/nettson
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream:

Follow Us!
Podcast: @weddoweddingpodcast
Regina: @weddingsbyreginamarie
Cate: @catebarryphotography

Reach out to Cate or Regina today!

Intro/Outro Music
Instant by Nettson https://soundcloud.com/nettson
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/al-instant
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/3MPl9j...

Jess Gonsavez is the owner of JH Events, a wedding planning and coordination business based in Connecticut. Jess joined Cate and Regina to talk about the fire that fuels all planners, the slightly unusual path she took into the wedding industry, and what her specialty is (she definitely likes a challenge!) 

Jess and Cate reminisce about the wedding they worked together in 2021, and Jess and Regina spin off on all the planning details that get them excited about their job. (Cate continues her education in why she never wants to be a wedding planner as a result.) Jess was just as easy to talk to as she is to work with, and her hard-working, easygoing nature made her a dream guest.

 Where to find her: jheventsllc.com

Email: [email protected]

Social media: @jhevents_llc on Instagram and @jheventsllc on Facebook 

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Find the hosts on social:

Podcast: @weddoweddingpodcast
Regina: @weddingsbyreginamarie
Cate: @catebarryphotography

www.WeDoWeddingPodcast.com
www.WeddingsbyReginaMarie.com
www.CateBarryPhotography.com

Intro/Outro Music
Instant by Nettson https://soundcloud.com/nettson
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream:

Follow Us!
Podcast: @weddoweddingpodcast
Regina: @weddingsbyreginamarie
Cate: @catebarryphotography

Reach out to Cate or Regina today!

Intro/Outro Music
Instant by Nettson https://soundcloud.com/nettson
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/al-instant
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/3MPl9j...

This week we spoke with Amanda Parker, director of sales and event production at OnTheMarc Events. She got us seriously ravenous, talking about OnTheMarc's fresh, seasonal food and custom menus.

OnTheMarc Events is a catering company based in Norwalk, Connecticut that works throughout the tri-state area and has exclusive relationships with several high-end venues. We talked about all the little details that can make or break an event (namely, timeline management, preparation, and proper staffing), upcoming food trends, and what makes OnTheMarc stand out in the wedding industry. Amanda's passion for her job and for the company was palpable, and by the end of the interview all we wanted to do was eat one of their signature mini lobster rolls. 

Where to find them: onthemarcevents.com

Email: [email protected] | [email protected]

Social media: @onthemarcevents on Instagram and @onthemarcevents on Facebook 

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Find the hosts on social:

Podcast: @weddoweddingpodcast
Regina: @weddingsbyreginamarie
Cate: @catebarryphotography

www.WeDoWeddingPodcast.com
www.WeddingsbyReginaMarie.com
www.CateBarryPhotography.com

Intro/Outro Music
Instant by Nettson https://soundcloud.com/nettson
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream:

Follow Us!
Podcast: @weddoweddingpodcast
Regina: @weddingsbyreginamarie
Cate: @catebarryphotography

Reach out to Cate or Regina today!

Intro/Outro Music
Instant by Nettson https://soundcloud.com/nettson
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/al-instant
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/3MPl9j...

Cassie Torres is one half of a husband-and-wife team that owns Beet & Blossom Photography based out of Connecticut. Cassie joins the podcast to continue the conversation around why wedding photography matters.

Cassie described her journey from English teach to full-time wedding photographer and talked about what makes a Beet + Blossom couple unique. We puzzled as to why, as photographers, the styles we're drawn to aren't always what we deliver to our clients, and we talked at length about our big WHY. For Beet & Blossom, it is all about creating a long-lasting legacy for their clients, and focusing on their marriage above all else.

Cassie was honest, forthcoming, and was easy to connect with. Download the episode here or listen below!

Where to find her: https://beetandblossom.com/

Where to find them: beetandblossom.com 

Email: [email protected]

Social media: @beetandblossom on Instagram and @beetandblossom on Facebook  

--

Find the hosts on social:

Podcast: @weddoweddingpodcast
Regina: @weddingsbyreginamarie
Cate: @catebarryphotography

www.WeDoWeddingPodcast.com
www.WeddingsbyReginaMarie.com
www.CateBarryPhotography.com

Intro/Outro Music
Instant by Nettson https://soundcloud.com/nettson
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream:

Follow Us!
Podcast: @weddoweddingpodcast
Regina: @weddingsbyreginamarie
Cate: @catebarryphotography

Reach out to Cate or Regina today!

Intro/Outro Music
Instant by Nettson https://soundcloud.com/nettson
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/al-instant
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/3MPl9j...

Tony and Tara of Costanzo Clothing join the podcast for a lively discussion about how clothing is so much more meaningful than we often think.

Tara and Tony have owned and operated their Hartford-based custom clothier business for almost twenty years. They specialize in crafting tailored garments that are customized to fit a person's frame, style, and personality, and they do house calls and in-depth online meetings to make sure every single detail of the garments in question are person.

Tony and Tara completely won us over with their warm-hearted spirits and the passion they so clearly have for the work they do. We talked at length about how fraught clothing (and shopping can be) for people, especially folks who have body sizes/shapes and gender identities outside of what society considers 'normal'. Their energy for giving back and leaving a legacy left us feeling excited about referring them to clients and knowing them in general.

Costanzo clothing serves Connecticut, New York, New England, and beyond!

Download the episode here or listen below.

Where to find them: www.costanzoclothing.com 

Email: [email protected] and [email protected]

Phone: (860) 667-8766

Social media: @costanzoclothing on Instagram and @costanzoclothing on Facebook 

Find the hosts on social:

Podcast: @weddoweddingpodcast
Regina: @weddingsbyreginamarie
Cate: @catebarryphotography

www.WeDoWeddingPodcast.com
www.WeddingsbyReginaMarie.com
www.CateBarryPhotography.com

Intro/Outro Music
Instant by Nettson

Follow Us!
Podcast: @weddoweddingpodcast
Regina: @weddingsbyreginamarie
Cate: @catebarryphotography

Reach out to Cate or Regina today!

Intro/Outro Music
Instant by Nettson https://soundcloud.com/nettson
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/al-instant
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/3MPl9j...