Ever wonder what it takes to get your wedding featured in an esteemed wedding magazine like Brides or even Vogue? What are these publications looking for, what does the submission process look like on the other side, and 

Shelby Wax is a writer, editor, and consultant who has created work for renowned publications such as Vogue, Allure, The Knot, and Brides. During our conversation, we discuss the prestige that such sought-after publications continue to strive for in their featured work and the specific elements desired in the wedding space. Shelby’s insight offers a first-hand look into the minds of editors at such prestigious wedding publications and the specific elements they look for in the features they select. 

You can find Shelby on Instagram at @shelbywax or her website at https://www.shelbywax.com/ 

Cover image by Jenny Fu.

Thank you for listening to Unveiled Interviews with Alyssa Vanzo. To hear more episodes or follow along on the journey, visit us at ⁠alyssavanzo.com/podcast⁠ or on Instagram @unveiledinterviews. We hope you look forward to next time.

Wondering where to submit your real wedding? Here are some ideas:

*Please note that some publications require membership or submission fees in order to submit for feature. We have done our best to mark these above with an asterisk, but please be sure to do your own research and read through the unique instructions and requirements for each individual publication before submitting.

One of the biggest questions asked by couples planning their weddings – why are wedding florals so expensive? In this week’s episode, Brooklyn-based wedding florist Ahna Han breaks down the cost of wedding florals and all the reason’s couples today are receiving higher floral quotes than ever before.

Spoiler alert: you aren’t just paying for the flowers themselves. Just like any other industry, florists are dealing with increased costs associated with labor, transportation, importation taxes, etc. Ahna gracefully shares her insight on all of these costs and how they impact overall floral costs for weddings. 

Ahna Han is the owner and lead designer of a full-service wedding and event floral design studio based in Brooklyn, New York. The Ahna Han floral studio specializes in artful arrangements and installations designed with seasonal flowers and inspired by nature.

Follow Ahna on Instagram at @ahna__han

https://www.ahnahan.com/ 

Cover image by Hannah Jan Photo.

Thank you for listening to Unveiled Interviews with Alyssa Vanzo (@alyssavanzophoto). To hear more episodes or follow along on the journey, visit us at ⁠alyssavanzo.com/podcast⁠ or on Instagram @unveiledinterviews. We hope you look forward to next time.

It’s taking over the internet for its eclectic whim and effortless vibe – but what is documentary photography, really? Why are we suddenly so drawn to it? How does it differ from "editorial" or other styles of photography? What mindset is required (of both the photographer and subject) for the most beautiful documentary style photographs to take place? What strategies and techniques can wedding photographers apply in their process before or on a wedding day to leave with more candid captures?

In this episode, we sit down with wedding photographer Tracy Koflanovich of Tracy Jade Photography and ask her to help us define documentary photography and how it is utilized and approached in the wedding space.

Tracy is a wedding photographer based in Rochester, New York. Specializing in a non-intrusive and observational technique, Tracy believes that the best images are those that are unposed, unstaged, and tell the truth about particular moments in time. She generously shares insight on her philosophy across her Instagram and in doing so has gained a substantial following with those who resonate with her documentary approach.

Follow Tracy on Instagram at @tracyjadephoto

https://www.tracyjadephotography.com/ 

Thank you for listening to Unveiled Interviews with Alyssa Vanzo (@alyssavanzophoto). To hear more episodes or follow along on the journey, visit us at alyssavanzo.com/podcast or on Instagram @unveiledinterviews. We hope you look forward to next time.

The cornerstone of the wedding day – venues play quite possibly the most influential role in how a wedding is experienced by the couple, guests, and vendors. Venues can define the personality and essence of a wedding, and can impact everything from the number of guests you can have, whether or not you can get ready or have the ceremony on site, how events flow from early to late into the evening, as well as additional rentals, florals, or amenities that must be considered in the overall budget. Even “last minute” details such as contingency plans, prep space for catering, parking, transportation, locations for photos, and proximity from nearby hotels are affected by the venue chosen for a wedding day.

With all this pressure, how does one go about finding that perfect venue that will not only fulfill the vision, but also the ideal “flow” and vibe for everyone involved?

During this episode, we talk with esteemed wedding planner Erika Bellitt of Array Creative Design, who walks us through every detail she considers (both good and bad) when helping her couples narrow down on the perfect venue. Besides just aesthetics, Erika touches on the more unsightly details such as vendor and decor restrictions, availability for set-up and tear-down, and even hidden fees that might pop up at certain venues.

If you are an up-and-coming wedding planner or couple in the early stages of wedding planning, this is an episode you will not want to miss.

Erika Bellitt is the owner and lead designer at Array Creative Design, a full-service wedding design and planning studio based in Santa Barbara, California and serving all of Southern California and beyond. Array Creative Design strives to produce original and authentic weddings inspired by each client’s vision and originality. Erika has featured designs in People Magazine, BRIDES, Over The Moon, Anti-Bride, 100 Layer Cake, Martha Stewart, and many more.

Follow Erika and her team at @array_creative_design

https://arraycreativedesign.com/ 

Cover image by Dani Toscano.

Thank you for listening to Unveiled Interviews with Alyssa Vanzo. To hear more episodes or follow along on the journey, visit us at ⁠alyssavanzo.com/podcast⁠ or on Instagram ⁠@unveiledinterviews⁠.

Both have their time, place, and impact in the wedding industry, but many fail to realize the true difference between their (vastly different) roles – the planner vs. the coordinator.

In this episode, we sit down with renowned planner and educator, Manda Worthington of Mae & Co Creative, who breaks down the roles of wedding planners and coordinators and what makes their jobs so different from one another. She also defines the role of the venue coordinator, who yet again plays their own unique part in the wedding experience and in most cases should not be confused with these other roles.

What jobs are each taking on? Where do their roles overlap with one another? What are the client-facing touchpoints for the planner versus the coordinator? What does each of  their day-to-day look like? What can couples expect to pay for each of these roles? How can coordinators start transitioning and marketing their services for full-service planning? – Manda answers all of these questions, and so many more.

Manda Worthington is the owner and lead producer of Mae & Co Creative, a full-service design and production agency for high-end weddings and events across the globe. Follow Manda’s wedding planning business on instagram at @maeandco_creative and her educational platform for wedding professionals at @maeandcomonthly.

https://www.maeandcocreative.com/

https://www.maeandcomonthly.com/ 

Cover image by Kristin Piteo.

Thank you for listening to Unveiled Interviews with Alyssa Vanzo. To hear more episodes or follow along on the journey, visit us at alyssavanzo.com/podcast or on Instagram @unveiledinterviews.

The wedding industry is a funny space; it depends on both the following and creation of trends but it's also compelled to keep old-school traditions alive. How can we possibly expect artists in this space to keep up with such insane expectations?!

Imposter syndrome and burnout are two things nearly every wedding professional has experienced (or will) at one point or another in their career. Being a creative entrepreneur has its challenges beyond the logistics of business – it takes a lot of emotional energy to create with your heart – and in an industry as emotionally-driven as the wedding industry, there can be immense pressure to fall victim to things like trends and comparison.

During this episode of Unveiled Interviews, we address these concerns around imposter syndrome and creative burnout with Los Angeles-based wedding photographer Krista K Photo. Since its inception only a few short years ago, her business has evolved rapidly and as a result, Krista has developed a keen sense of self-awareness. During our conversation, she shares insight on how she has learned to identify the sensations of burn out or imposter syndrome creeping in and ways she combats these feelings we all dread to experience as creatives.

Follow Krista on Instagram at @kristakphoto
https://kristakphotos.com/

Thank you for listening to Unveiled Interviews with host ⁠Alyssa Vanzo⁠. To hear more episodes or follow along on the journey, visit us at ⁠alyssavanzo.com/podcast⁠ or on Instagram ⁠@unveiledinterviews⁠. We hope you look forward to next time.

Is it the post-pandemic mindset, a shifting economy, or maybe the up-and-coming new generation of couples? The wedding industry has experienced a huge transformation in recent years leaving so many couples and industry professionals wondering how to prepare themselves for the 2024 and 2025 wedding seasons (and beyond). 

During this episode of Unveiled Interviews, we sit down with New York City based wedding planner, Rachel Urban, to get her take on what is happening behind the scenes: 

Why have weddings become so expensive? Why are couples taking longer to plan their weddings? Why are old marketing strategies no longer working for industry professionals? These questions, and so many more.

Rachel Urban is a co-owner and full-service wedding planner at Apricity Event Co, a boutique wedding planning company specializing in understated-luxury events in the US, Europe and destination. 

Follow Rachel and her team at @apricityevent.co

https://www.apricityeventco.com/ 

Episode cover photo by Taylor and Porter.

Thank you for listening to Unveiled Interviews with host Alyssa Vanzo. To hear more episodes or follow along on the journey, visit us at alyssavanzo.com/podcast or on Instagram @unveiledinterviews. We hope you look forward to next time.

For the pilot of Unveiled Interviews, we wanted to start things off with a conversation around the importance of clients hiring vendors with whom they can develop a deeper, more personal and trusting relationship.

Especially in an industry as emotionally-driven as weddings, it’s more important than ever that the vendor-client relationship is cornerstoned with trust above all else. As much as couples can try to plan their day with every single detail considered, things can happen on a wedding day that are completely out of anyone’s control. Rather than pulling themselves away from key moments with loved ones, it’s paramount for couples to have a team of truly aligned professionals they can fully trust to fulfill their vision and maintain a joyful and memorable experience for themselves and their loved ones.

To help us elaborate on not only the importance, but also the how, of building foundational vendor-client relationships, we invited renowned wedding photographer, Kristin Piteo, to speak on her philosophy and process.

Kristin Piteo is a wedding photographer based in California but most frequently serving destinations across the world. She works closely and passionately with each of her couple’s to provide them a high-touch experience that is tailored to their unique vision and priorities. During our conversation, Kristin enlightens us with her take on vendor-client relationships and the specific strategies she implements in her business to build that unwavering trust with her clients from their very first conversation.

Follow Kristin on Instagram @kristinpiteophoto

https://www.kristinpiteo.com/ 

Thank you for listening to Unveiled Interviews with host ⁠Alyssa Vanzo⁠. To hear more episodes or follow along on the journey, visit us at ⁠alyssavanzo.com/podcast⁠ or on Instagram ⁠@unveiledinterviews⁠. We hope you look forward to next time.

Biggest welcome to Unveiled Interviews: a podcast dedicated to making the wedding industry a more transparent place for everybody.

My name is Alyssa (@alyssavanzophoto) and I am a wedding photographer based in Rochester, New York. Although most of my work is in the New York City and Hudson Valley regions, over my six years in business I have been fortunate enough to travel all over the continental US for weddings including many National Parks, up and down the coasts of Oregon and California, and nearly every corner of New York State.

Before kicking off the podcast, I wanted to start with a brief introduction of myself and provide some clarity of what this podcast is all about and who it's for.

With confusion and gatekeeping at the forefront of so many conversations in the wedding industry, I felt compelled to create a safe space where everyone could feel heard and validated. I created Unveiled Interviews as a sort of neutral playing field where couples and industry professionals could come to air out their concerns and get real, actionable insights. While some conversations are naturally more suitable for one group over the other, our goal at Unveiled Interviews for every interview is to provide value and clarity for everyone. 

This passion project has lived in the depths of my mind since the inception of my wedding photography business and it feels surreal that everything is finally coming to fruition. I am so excited to get these incredible conversations out into the world and sincerely hope at least one person finds value from every conversation had. I truly love what I do and the industry I work in, so it brings me immense pleasure to bring you Unveiled Interviews.

Follow us on Instagram @unveiledinterviews

Submit your feedback & questions or apply to be a guest speaker on the podcast at alyssavanzo.com/podcast

Follow Alyssa on Instagram @alyssavanzophoto or visit her website at alyssavanzo.com