This Week in Weddings

In this casual episode of This Week in Weddings, Kimberly and Annie catch up, chat a bit about their own weddings, and look forward to coming episodes.

Is your business model a true reflection of who you are? Are you carrying out your brand's image in your every day life? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with event planner Andrea Eppolito, of Andrea Eppolito Events about living your brand. From what you wear and how you present yourself in public to having an understanding of the restaurants your ideal client frequents, this week's episode is all about keeping your brand top of mind.

About our guest: 

Having worked a wedding show at fifteen, Andrea fell in love with the beauty, the timeless traditions, and the transformative qualities of weddings and events. During her time at UNLV, she planned weddings while working in restaurants and studying her craft. In 1998, Andrea opened the iconic Bellagio Resort; the first of many she would ultimately come to work with.

Andrea founded her eponymous event planning business, Andrea Eppolito Events, in 2011. In the years that followed, her work received numerous awards and has been featured by the likes of BRIDES, WedLuxe, Grace Ormonde, and more. Renowned for designing weddings with soul, and called "vibrant, chic, and impeccably organized” Andrea prides herself on the deep relationships she creates with her clients and partners.

A custom magazine she gifted to her clients went viral in 2016, leading to the creation of The Wedding Editorialist. This self publishing platform creates story-driven issues published both online and in print. The Wedding Editorialist believes that every story deserves to be told, and services couples, creatives, and venues.

Committed to collaboration and education, Andrea is a keynote speaker, eternal student, and eager participant in think tanks and book clubs. Born in New York, Andrea lived bi-coastally between there and LA before relocating to Las Vegas, Nevada. After over 20 years she considers herself "nearly a native" of the city she now resides in with her husband and children

In this episode, listeners will hear about:

• Andrea's background and why luxury weddings are a fit for her
• Why looking the part is important when running a business
• How to familiarize yourself with high-end restaurants without having to spend the money on a 5-course meal
• How Andrea has added to her business through the Wedding Editorialist

Want to connect with Andrea?

• Website: http://www.andreaeppolitoevents.com/ 
• Instagram: @andreaeppolito
• Facebook:@andreaeppolito 
• Email: [email protected]

Are you educating yourself and growing your network by attending industry conferences? In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with photographer Phillip Van Nostrand about his experience on the conference circuit and how it's affected his business and industry connections. From the Engage conference to WPPI, Phil will share how he's leveraged wedding industry conferences to grow his business and network.

About our guest: 

Phillip Van Nostrand is based in New York and California. With a strong background in weddings, commercial and lifestyle projects, he is an expert in capturing bright, cinematic lifestyle imagery. He travels abroad once a year and has photographed 30+ countries. Co-founder of La Rousse Shoppe, a successful e-commerce company specializing in glass memory boxes.

Phil has been published in the New York Times, Dwell Magazine, Fortune.com, Fast Company, Huffington Post, Parade Magazine, San Diego Style Weddings, and was a Master Class speaker at WPPI in 2016 and 2017.

In this episode, listeners will hear about:

• Phil's experience in the wedding industry and his early conference experiences
• How tenacity allowed Phil to photograph the industry's premier luxury wedding conference
• How to Philip does the conference scene as affordably as possible

Want to connect with Jes?

• Website: http://phillipvn.com/
• Instagram: @phillipvnweddings
• Facebook:@phillipvnphotography

Sometimes it's just nice to chat with someone who has a rich history in the event industry, has grown a successful business, and just tells it like it is. This week on the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're doing just that with New York City-based event designer Jes Gordon. In this week's episode, we're chatting with Jes about her experience the industry and what she's learned along the way.

About our guest: 

Jes Gordon’s namesake company jesGORDON/properFUN, provides high end, personal event design and management with loads of signature style. Her first book, Party Like A Rock Star (Globe Pequot Press), provides everyone with the tools they need to throw the party of their dreams, regardless of their budget. Gordon was the Design Mentor on Bravo’s “Rocco’s Dinner Party.” Each week, Gordon aided the competing chefs in creating a memorable dinner party experience that went well beyond the cuisine. Gordon’s innate eye for color was first noticed at thirteen when she stumbled into the industry as an assistant to a floral designer. By the time she reached her junior year at Bard College, she had a blooming floral business. Gordon went on to open a contemporary art gallery and flower shop in Taos, New Mexico, and later moved to New Orleans to work on set designs for films, including “Interview with a Vampire” and “Dead Man Walking.”

In 1992, Gordon became the Events and Decor Director for the infamous Tavern on the Green restaurant in New York. Her work at Tavern on the Green led to private commissions for celebrities including Madonna, Barbara Streisand, Harrison Ford, Vanessa Williams, Sting, and Elton John, among others. Gordon now applies her eye for design and passion for the unexpected to her event design and production firm. Gordon has created captivating corporate events for Bank of Hapoalim, CNN, Ann Taylor, M&M’s, Comcast, AOL, Yahoo, Rowenta, A&E Networks, West Point, Lifetime Channel, and many others. She also continues to dazzle brides and socialites alike with dream weddings and private affairs. With a strong base in New York, she continues to work all over the world.

In this episode, listeners will hear about:

• How Jes Gordon got started in the event industry at the age of 13
• How Jes uses an initial meeting to learn about her clients through observation
• Jes's take on competition in the industry and staying in your own lane
• Looking outside the industry to gain knowledge
• How having her name on the door has shaped her business

Want to connect with Jes?

• Website: http://www.jesgordon.com/
• Instagram: @jesgordon
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jesgordonproperfun/

SEO and websites and social media... oh my! In this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Julie Novack of PartySlate all about digital marketing. Julie shares some straight forward tips for boosting your presence on Google, improving your website, and creating online profiles for your business.

About our guest: 

Julie Novack is the CEO and Co-Founder of PartySlate, a photo-rich platform where leading event professionals share their work with the world. PartySlate is a website for brides, grooms and party hosts of all kinds who are searching for new ideas and top local event professionals. Unlike other inspiration platforms such as Pinterest, PartySlate is designed specifically to give Event Professionals such as Photographers, Planners, Décor Companies, and Venues a better way to showcase their work, build their brand, credit partners and collaborate with their clients.  

Julie brings over 20 years of digital experience overseeing global and national teams at Vibes Mobile, Razorfish and Agency.com. Julie received an MBA in marketing and finance from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and a BA in Economics from the University of Michigan.

In this episode, listeners will hear about:

• Basics for Search Engine Optimization, including the importance of local key words
• What authoritative link backs are and why you want them for your website
• The most important section of your website that's often overlooked
• What PartySlate is and how to get listed on the website

Want to connect with Julie?

• Email: [email protected] 
• Website: http://www.partyslate.com
• Instagram: @partyslate
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/partyslate

If you're not making a profit, you don't have a business. While it sounds simple, creative businesses aren't always the best at charging what they're worth. In this episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Sean Low, who has been consulting creative businesses for nearly 10 years. Check out this week's episode for some real talk and tough love as Sean Low lays it down!

About our guest: 

Sean Low is the Founder and President of The Business of Being Creative, a consulting firm focused on providing practical advice to those in the business of being creative. Prior to founding The Business of Being Creative in August 2009, Sean spent six years as the President of Preston Bailey Design, Inc. representing Preston in his business endeavors around the world.

Sean has a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania and apart from working with amazing creative professionals, his business acumen is honed from his previous experience as a lawyer, investment banker, financial executive and small business owner. 

Sean’s client list includes the who’s who of creative business – from designers (interior, graphic, event and fashion), photographers, florists, even Cordovans (shoemakers). Sean is passionate about challenging creative businesses to be the best versions of themselves, helping them set the foundation for growth and development and working along side creative business owners to take their businesses as far as they want them to go.

In this episode, listeners will hear about:

• Sean's experience with creative businesses and how he starting consulting businesses in the wedding industry
• Some of the biggest mistakes creative businesses make when it comes to pricing
• The risk of raising your pricing without making other significant changes to your business
• Why Sean believes itemized pricing is a mistake
• How to get more "tough love" from Sean through private coaching/mentoring or the BBC Collective

Want to connect with Sean?

• Blog: http://www.thebusinessofbeingcreative.com/
• The BBC Collective

Oh Millenials! They always get a bad rap, but when Millenials are our clients (and employees) in the wedding industry, it's important that we understand who they are, how they think, and how best to work with them. In this episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, we're chatting with Dallas-based event planner Meredith Commender, who has the skinny on the mindset and preferences of this generation, born between 1981 and 1999.

About our guest: 

Meredith Commender, CSEP has been the owner and Lead Event Coordinator & Designer at Significant Events of Texas for the past 11 years. Weddings are the largest sector of her business, but she frequently produces events for charitable organizations and corporate clients as well.

Meredith also runs a successful internship program and the majority of both her clients, employees, and interns are of the millennial generation. Prior to starting Significant Events, Meredith taught high school English for 7 years where she faced the successes and challenges of educating and assisting Millennials on a daily basis.

In this episode, listeners will hear about:

• The history and period of time that shaped this generation
• How parenting styles changed over time, and how this chagne affecting Millenials behavior
• Communicating with Millenials
• The strengths Millenials have when it comes to collaboration and brainstorming
• Some of the biggest challenges you might face when employing Millenials
• Changes you can make today to your website to better appeal to Millenials

Want to connect with Meredith?

• Website: https://significanteventsoftexas.com/
• Instagram: @significanteventsoftexas
• Facebook

How much do you know about European weddings? Oh... not much? Neither do we, so we're getting our learn on with two ladies who know all about weddings in France!

About our guests: 

Anne Mulvihill

Prior to forming Fête in France, Anne worked in marketing, public relations and communications in a large international corporation. The inspiration for starting her own agency came when she organized her most favorite event: her own wedding.  

Nancy LaTart

After beginning her professional career on the corporate track in strategy consulting and marketing, Nancy joined the world of event planning and hasn’t looked back. Nancy received her MBA from INSEAD.

Fête in France

Since starting the business in 2006, Anne and Nancy have planned more than 300 events over the past 11 seasons for an international clientele. Thanks to their high-touch, concierge-level service we have built a strong reputation in the industry, cultivated privileged relationships with vendors and created memories of a lifetime for our couples. Their aim is to help clients navigate the wedding planning process from vision to execution, and overcome the distance, language and cultural barriers in order to have the wedding of their dreams.  Fête in France's work has been featured in Brides, Vogue, Martha Stewart Weddings, Grace Ormond Wedding Style, WedLuxe, Style Me Pretty, Junebug and 100 Layer Cake.  They have also been named Best Wedding Planner in Paris 2 years running by Expatriates Magazine.

In this episode, listeners will hear about:

• How European weddings differ from American weddings
• Working with vendors in Europe
• How important face-to-face meetings are for working with European vendors

Want to connect with Anne and Nancy?

• Website: https://feteinfrance.com/
• Instagram: @feteinfrance
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/feteinfrance

Happy New Year, and welcome back to the This Week In Weddings podcast! In this mini-episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast, Kimberly and Annie share some of the biggest things they've learned from the podcast in 2017 and share some of their personal and professional goals for 2018.

Raise your hand if you want to increase the number of referrals you receive.... We thought so! While advertising your wedding business is certainly a way to bring in clients, direct referrals is often the most effective (and least expensive) way to grow your business, and this week's episode of the This Week In Weddings podcast is all about increasing your referrals. Our guest Laura Neff, owner of Laura Lee Photography, has increased her referrals 1200% and she's sharing some tips with us on how she did it as well as how she's systemized her business process to give her more time to focus on building relationships with her clients.

About our guest: 

Laura Neff is a New Jersey + Worldwide wedding and brand photographer preserving memories for adventurous, fun-loving couples and heart-driven creative brands. In addition to running a very successful photography business, she has a passion to educate the creative community!  Laura is an expert when it comes to productivity, workflow, systems, and growing a profitable business while leading a fulfilling life.  She loves helping creative businesses systematize their everyday tasks and create workflows so they can have more time to spend with friends and family and do the things they love! She's obsessed with firepits, sweet wine, deep conversation, elephants, and showing off her horrible dance moves at any given moment. Laura is on a mission for entrepreneurs to schedule more date nights, brunch weekends, and vacations as a result of finding work-life balance while running a thriving business!

In this episode, listeners will hear about:

• Tips for servicing your clients well so that they will want to refer you
• How to build relationships with not just your couple, but the wedding party and guests
• Asking for a referral from a previous client
• Social media tips for connecting with your next client

Want to connect with Laura?

• Photography Website: http://imlauralee.com/
• Education Website: http://lauraleecreative.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imlauralee/
• Laura Lee Creative Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauraleecreative/ 
• Instagram: @lauraleecreative