Wedding Wisdom Podcast w/ Doug Winters

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Episode 97 continues my wide-ranging conversation with Jen Stone about the multi-faceted approach that a truly innovative Global Event Designer can bring to any celebration.

At the 14:00 minute mark, Jen launches into a truly hilarious “stand-up-comedy-worthy” rant on the “virtual insanity” of negotiating the Loading Docks of midtown Manhattan’s most iconic, luxury hotels.

Together with episode 96, Jen paints an endearingly loving portrait of the life of a top-tier Event Designer that is both hysterical and delightfully enlightening. I’ve hope you’ve enjoyed this Master Class on Event Design as much as I have. Thanks so much for your generosity of time and wealth of wisdom.

As always, stay safe and stay strong.

-Doug

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Named one of Harper’s Bazaar’s 2020 Top Wedding & Event Designers in the World,  the talented, charming treasure trove of knowledge and skill, Jen Stone, started out as an innovative entrepreneur with a thriving floral business on New York’s upscale Upper West Side. Discovered by two luminaries in the event industry, Tinker Boe of “Mood Food” and the incomparable event planner Marcy Blum, Jen (a painter and protegée of the brilliant Robert Isabell) began a journey that led her to become one of the most sought-after names in “the art of the party.” Pictured above with her current, long-time artistic partner and brother-in-law, Marco Olmi,  the innovative co-owner of StoneKelly (which began with her original partner, Don Kelly), I found her effusive, expressive way of speaking to be a virtual education about flowers, caterers, lighting, venues and all the artistic touches that make an event unforgettable.

Our conversation was so compelling, Jen Stone’s podcast is the first to become a two-parter. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did…and stay tuned for Part 2!

As always, stay safe and stay strong.

All my best

-Doug

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My guest for Ep. 95 of The Wedding Wisdom Podcast is the extraordinary Chef Jill Freiberg, the owner of Jillicious Foods & Events. Our fascinating conversation from her home in Park Slope, provides an extraordinarily vivid portrait of what it’s like to be both Head Chef and owner of one of New York’s most sought-after “Off-Premise” catering companies.

With a true artist’s sensibility, she talks about finishing the construction of her “post-COVID” dream kitchen with the same charm that she speaks of offering her beloved “Spiced, Smoked, Roasted Popcorn,” “S’mores Kit” and “Grazing Boxes” to purchase online.

I truly hope you enjoy this unique look into a fascinating life as much as I did. Thanks for everything Jill!

-Please stay safe,

Doug

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Episode 94 brings us the charming, sophisticated and talented Boston-based Event Planner, Sara Kovel, of Sara Kovel Events. 

In our fast-moving thirty minute conversation, we discuss precisely what the actual experience of a wedding planner entails. Creative, intuitive and inventive, Sara draws a remarkably apt comparison between that of an interior designer and an expert industry planner. Our inspirational chat draws on her invaluable experience at the elegant Four Seasons in Boston and the legendary Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida.  I know that you’ll enjoy our delightful conversation.

As always, stay safe…and get out there and enjoy the beginning of Spring.

— Doug

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In a truly refreshing conversation with Kleinfeld Bridal’s Director of Marketing & Public Relations, Jennette Kruszka, you’ll meet an extraordinary woman. One with an uncompromising pride and loyalty to her company and its owners, Mara Urshel and Ronnie Rothstein, who she considers her “second parents” as well as devoted mentors.

What I found amazing about Jennette is that working at Kleinfeld has been her sole employer. Starting as a 17-year old high school student Customer Service Rep, straight through college as a marketing major, she worked at the original Brooklyn location three days a week. Her final college paper was the reason why she deserved a full-time position at her beloved Kleinfeld. She got it, and since then, has never looked back. Jennette says: “It’s been twenty wonderful years and I’m looking forward to the two decades.”

I think this is a wonderful introduction to fans of TLC’s “Say Yes To The Dress” and brides who’ve never had the true Kleinfeld Bridal Experience.

Please stay safe, and enjoy.

All my best,

Doug

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My erudite guest for Episode 92 is Seth Stern, the owner of Something Different Party Rental.  Extraordinarily well-spoken, he explains the intricacies of the often-overlooked “Party Rental” side of our $1.3 trillion event industry.  One of the most unusual parts of what this side of the industry does is found in its “invisible” nature — providing tabletop to full kitchens and everything in between. Our conversation traveled from his enormous warehouse and fleet of trucks in Paterson, New Jersey to his home on the North Shore of Long Island, his long-time love of The Grateful Dead and so much more. Please join us for a completely entertaining and compelling glimpse into something completely different with the remarkable Seth Stern.

As always, stay safe.

All my best,

Doug

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meet Allan Kurtz, Managing Director of both Gotham Hall & Ziegfeld Ballroom, after three years at The Water’s Edge and 13 years at Tavern on The Green. To say he is a wealth of information would be a vast understatement. He is heavily involved with petitioning the government for aid to our $1.3 Trillion Event Industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He’s actually an “event historian” working with Hollywood impresario Warner LeRoy at Tavern On The Green, and studying Broadway impresario Flo Ziegfeld when helping to create Ziegfeld Ballroom.

In the course of our wide-ranging conversation we talk about meeting Presidents Reagan, Bush, Clinton and Obama as well as a moving story about being in a position to put his grandfather on the phone with Willie Mays.

This specific episode is a “must-listen” for anyone in, or interested in the Events Industry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My guest for Ep. 91 is the Event Planner Nancy Hoehler of ShimmerNYC. Our truly delightful, insightful conversation ranges from her early days working at a large Wall St. brokerage firm, to establishing ShimmerNYC as a top-tier full-service event planning office. In the mix are stories of her hilarious experience with “Bar Mitzvah crashers” at her very first event to helping another Bar Mitzvah family deal with a blizzard that started right in the middle of their child’s service.

Nancy very humbly refers to herself as “providing the calm” in any situation that might arise before, during or after an event, and very clearly elucidates the very nature of being an innovative Event Planner in Manhattan. I hope you enjoy meeting this extraordinary woman as much as I did.

As always, stay safe & stay strong,

-Doug

 

 

 

 

My guest for episode 89 is Rachelle Doreen Koser of Rachelle Doreen Events & Exploration. With an office in Manhattan as well as Newport Beach, California, she is a total breath of fresh air. Her ebullient personality shines throughout our entire conversation, which takes her from the West Coast to New York, where she became the Director of Events at The Norwood Club, a private arts club in a landmark building on 14th St. At the same time, she is truly delighted to open her eponymous event planning company here.

In 2018 she officially launched her company which continues to thrive, even though many of her events are now “virtual” during COVID, hosting, planning and executing events for what she calls her “sweet spot” of one hundred or less guests.

Join us in her journey through studying and mastering “Aerial Arts,” which she started as a way to relieve stress.

I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did.  As always, stay safe…we’re all in this together.

Best,

-Doug

 

 

My guest for Episode 88 is the compassionate, charming, consummate wedding professional, Randy Janis. He’s been both Maitre ‘d and Director of Sales at two of the most prestigious venues in all of Manhattan, if not the world, and is uniquely qualified to speak about virtually every moment before, during and after a wedding,

Randy and I  covered everything from the importance of details on a timeline that must be accounted for and executed as close to perfectly as humanly possible…including the signing of the contracts, the load-in of the florist, band and design elements, until the last car has been delivered by the valet.

I hope you learn as much from this episode as I did.

Here’s to all of our health, prosperity and success entering the Biden-Harris Administration.

As always, stay safe!

Fondly,

-Doug