Meet Gina Esposito and Sheena Meekins, affectionately referred to as the “eenas.”  Warm, sophisticated,  funny and incredibly insightful, these extraordinarily accomplished photographers are “best friends first, roommates second and finally, business partners.” Together they are Anée Atelier.

My compelling conversation with this dynamic duo, who  literally finish each other’s sentences, covers everything from shooting for seventeen hours straight at a wedding in Dubai, discovering what they refer to as “the found image,” and the critical importance of creating a meaningful connection with each client.

I hope you enjoy this sparkling episode as much as I did. And as always, stay safe and stay healthy.

–Doug

My latest “Zoomland” podcast features the delightful and charming Marina Luri, the eponymous destination event planner of  Marina Luri Events.

Our inspirational and informative conversation was actually “Take Two” with Marina — as I feel I must confess and (once again) thank her for agreeing to re-record the podcast; I actually forgot to press “record” when we began our first conversation! But, Marina was just as upbeat and filled with incredible insights on our second take as she was on our first…beginning with her being born in New York and continuing with her account of dual citizenship with Italy and a brief and idyllic time spent in Switzerland, all of which made her fluent in four languages by the time she was in her early teens.

After her early European adventures, Marina returned to New York and burst onto the PR and Fashion scenes with invaluable stints at  Donna Karan and Hermès, recounting extraordinary experiences with both.

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Fun-loving and full of laughter, the versatile, adventurous and imaginative Destination Weddings Producer Fallon Carter was my latest phenomenal podcast guest. Our conversation went everywhere, which is totally fitting for the joyfully travel-addicted Fallon, who discusses starting her own life’s journey from Mississippi to Memphis to Maryland and finding herself on her own in Paris at just thirteen, as a foreign exchange student. Then, years later, she found herself back in France to attend a friend’s sister’s wedding which forever changed her life.

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Until now,  each of the brilliant event industry innovators and icons who has graciously appeared on The Wedding Wisdom Podcast has been headquartered in, or around, either New York or Los Angeles. Meet the irresistibly charming Jennifer Thye, owner of Imoni Events in spectacular Scottsdale, Arizona. As our mutual friend Allyson Joseph (of Bob Gail Events) so accurately observed, Jennifer is a force of nature.

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When I think of the guest on my latest Zoom podcast, the first things that come to mind are events featuring the bold excitement of a Corvette transported into a bank,  the magic of live butterflies set free and the soft, effervescent sound of crickets. For the charming and extraordinarily creative Erica Taylor, along with her co-founders Liz Castelli and Adette Contreras and their dynamic company, Tinsel Experiential Design,  these exceptional “outside-the-box ideas” are all in a day’s work.

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My latest podcast was a vibrant and enthusiastic Zoom conversation with Marc Weber, Chef, Founder and Owner of ONTHEMARC Events, headquartered in Stamford, CT.  Our episode was a highly spirited one that covered everything from being a Fellow at the Culinary Institute of America to the impact of coronavirus on the hospitality industry to everything it took to grow a business out of his parents’ garage, the importance of teamwork to his new staffing app, and so much more.

But, most of all, there’s the one overriding feeling that prevailed throughout our animated and captivating chat: Marc’s total passion for cooking and all things culinary…and all the new directions he’s taken his ever-growing business.

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What a delightful time I had recording my latest podcast…a wonderfully expansive conversation with the extraordinarily expert, warm and brilliant Bill Coyne, Director of Business Development for Cloud Catering, which you’ll immediately recognize as a great labor of love, along with his many other passions, most notably that of actor and activist.

My two key takeaways from our incredible time over Zoom?  That the genius is in the details — from the Sous-Chef to the “cater waiter, ” table settings to lighting, seating charts to wine stewards and so much more. And the importance of the mindset Bill brings to every event as a “people whisperer” with his truly joyful attitude.

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For episode 60, I was joined by one of the most gregarious, open-hearted and passionate industry influencers I’ve ever met.  As the Business Development Mgr at Party Rental Ltd., Jim McManus is often considered the face of the company, which was actually founded by Michael and Sunny Halperin back in 1972.

Jim is the ultimate podcast guest — a totally engaging, knowledgeable and colorful raconteur who knows absolutely everyone in the hospitality industry.

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The recording of Episode 59 was a wonderfully uplifting Zoom adventure with the lovely, dynamic and deeply spiritual Andrea Freeman who came back to the podcast to explore a very timely subject and reveal an exciting and deeply meaningful part of herself.  So, if you only know Andrea Freeman as a talented and successful event planner get ready for a treat…and meet Andrea Freeman, Mindful Business Coach.

Andrea reveals her lifelong “obsession” with mindfulness, which began when she “borrowed” her mother’s book by Andrew Weil at the tender age of thirteen. As she explains, she was always looking for ways we can all get more connected to ourselves.

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My compelling conversation with the delightful and endlessly upbeat Amy Marella, founder and owner of The Hidden Garden,  a hugely successful floral studio in Los Angeles, California, is fresh cut and at peak bloom, as it was recorded over Zoom just a few days ago. And honestly, it was a true joy. Amy is a spirited, imaginative, highly talented and passionate innovator who shares so much about her business and her life. From the importance of balancing motherhood and her career to the importance of “her team,” the  critical meaning of hydration, timing, temperature, geography to “the process” and so much more,

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