The Business of Luxury Weddings
The only podcast designed to help driven wedding professionals elevate your wedding business, travel to amazing locations, and double your revenue even if you don't think this is possible…yet. Each week we talk to luxury wedding pros who have broken through & built a high-net-worth clientele. Together we share the strategies, success tips, and roadmap to follow. So you can build a lifestyle filled with powerful experiences, inspiring relationships, and long-lasting connections.
Episodes
Haley Paige: Who Am I If I'm Not a Designer?" On Identity, Reinvention, and Protecting What You
What happens when you lose the legal right to use your own name? Wedding dress designer Hayley Paige spent nearly five years, and every dollar she had ever earned, fighting to win back her name and her right to design. In this conversation she joins James and Otto to trace the whole arc: the identity crisis of asking "who am I if I'm not a designer?", the businesses she built in the wilderness ye
Shelby Wax: Inside the Mind of a Wedding Editor - Taste, Timing, and the Stories That Actually Get Published
In this episode, James sits down with writer and contributing editor Shelby Wax for a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how wedding editorial really works—and what it actually takes to get published. Shelby shares how her path through Martha Stewart Weddings, Brides, and now freelance work shaped her perspective on storytelling, curation, and taste. Together, they unpack what most photographers and
Kiran + Leigh: On Taste, Trust & Never Doing the Same Wedding Twice
Some planners execute a vision. Natalie Kiran Laskowski and Chelsea Leigh Wenner of Kiran + Leigh are the vision. In this episode of The Business of Luxury Weddings, the co-founders of one of the most quietly compelling destination wedding studios in the country sit down with hosts James Christianson and Otto to talk about what it actually takes to build something with taste — and keep it that w
Samkoma: How to Build a Brand People, Feel, Follow and Never Forget
In this episode, James and Otto sit down with the creative minds behind Samkoma—a collective that's redefining what it means to build a brand in the luxury event world. From their roots in nightlife and cultural production to curating experiences for global fashion houses and elite weddings, Samkoma brings an entirely different energy to the table. Josiah and Otto open up about the intentionality
Kimberley Curtin: The Quiet Power of Trust, Timing, and Unshakable Calm
In this episode, James and Otto sit down with Kimberley Curtin, Senior Event Producer at JZ Events, for a rare and generous conversation about what it really takes to operate at the highest level of luxury event planning. As the right hand to Jennifer Zabinski—one of the most sought-after planners in the world—Kimberley brings an extraordinary combination of calm precision, deep intuition, and fla
Kayley Watson: The Art of Connection, Culture, and Celebrations at Belmond
In this episode, James and Otto sit down with Kayley Watson—Account Director of Celebrations at Belmond—for a journey through the soul of luxury hospitality. With her signature blend of warmth, wit, and unshakable professionalism, Kayley pulls back the curtain on what truly sets Belmond apart: curated experiences rooted in place, culture, and human connection. From designing unforgettable moments
Amrit Dhillon-Bains: On Belonging, Boundaries, and Becoming Who You Were Meant to Be
In this episode, James and Otto sit down with Amrit Dhillon-Bains—founder of Anais Events—for a conversation that goes beyond weddings and deep into identity, resilience, and leadership. Known for her powerful presence and soulfully intentional celebrations, Amrit shares what it's meant to build a globally recognized brand while holding true to her values. From navigating cultural expectations to
Emily Coyne: The Power of Clear Standards, Quiet Confidence, and Luxury that Feels Personal
In this episode, James and Otto sit down with Emily Coyne—creative director, founder, and force behind Emily Coyne Events—for a masterclass in elegance, leadership, and intentionality. Known for her elevated simplicity and seamless execution, Emily shares how her team creates weddings that feel effortless, emotionally resonant, and deeply personal—without sacrificing operational precision. From he
Julian Leaver: Why Good Taste Isn't Enough—It's How You Make People Feel
In this episode, James and Otto sit down with Julian Leaver, the celebrated event planner of Julian Leaver Events, former hotelier, and master of gracious hosting, for a conversation that redefines what luxury really means. Julian shares why beautiful design is only the beginning—and how emotional intelligence, anticipation, and warmth create the kind of experiences that guests never forget. With
In the Margins: Strength Doesn't Need to Be Loud — with Michelle Rago
In this In the Margins episode, we step into a quiet but powerful moment with Michelle Rago, one of the most respected voices in luxury event production. Michelle opens up about how her childhood shaped her ability to stay grounded under pressure—and how that emotional clarity has become a cornerstone of her leadership. She shares why she no longer feels the need to prove herself, what she looks f
Beth Helmstetter: Designing With Heart—Luxury Hospitality as a Love Language
In this episode, James and Otto sit down with renowned planner and designer, Beth Helmstetter, for a masterclass in emotionally intelligent event design. Known for her deeply intentional, soulfully refined approach to luxury weddings, Beth shares how she's built a brand rooted not just in aesthetics—but in hospitality, heart, and human connection. From working with ultra-high-net-worth clients t
Chris Jespersen: Big Swings, Bold Moves & The Hidden Cost of Playing Small
What does it really take to thrive in the luxury wedding world—not just creatively, but personally? In this episode, we sit down with Chris Jespersen of Storybox Cinema to unpack the risks, identity shifts, and real growth that come with building a creative life in a high-stakes industry. Chris shares the wild story behind one of his earliest career-defining moments (spoiler: it involved a one-way
In the Margins: These Moments Aren't for Us — With A Day in May
What if success in luxury wasn't about being seen—but about helping others feel seen? In this intimate In the Margins episode, Alicia Fritz—founder of A Day in May Events—pulls back the curtain on what it really means to serve at the highest level. From honoring generational legacy to staying grounded in the presence of extraordinary wealth, Alicia shares how her small-town values built a brand tr
Dawson Mitchell: From Fired to Thriving – What It Takes to Become Undeniable
In this episode—our second in a special series on great number twos in the industry—hosts James and Otto sit down with Dawson Mitchell, Director of Operations at Easton Events, the globally respected luxury event firm founded by the legendary Lynn Easton. Dawson shares the now-iconic story of getting fired on her first day—then showing back up the next morning with quiet determination and a plan t
Bryan Rafanelli: From Frat Parties to the White House—How Connection Built an Iconic Brand
In this episode, hosts James and Otto sit down with Bryan Rafanelli, founder of Rafanelli Events, the creative force behind some of the most iconic celebrations in the world—including Chelsea Clinton's wedding and major White House events. But Bryan's story doesn't start with celebrity clients and presidential galas—it starts with frat parties, hand-drawn flyers, and a deep love for storytelling t
Natalie Denyse: Clients Don't Buy Brands—They Buy Trust
Most wedding professionals think they're selling a brand. They're wrong. Clients don't buy logos, color palettes, or fancy websites—they buy trust. And no one understands that better than Natalie Denyse, founder of In Good Company PR. In this episode, Natalie breaks down why most businesses struggle with branding (hint: it's not about aesthetics), how to build a brand that actually lasts, and why
Preston Utley: Blurred Lines, Messy Love, and Finding the Soul of a Wedding
Weddings aren't about perfect pictures—they're about the in-between moments, the blurry edges, the unscripted, beautiful chaos. And no one captures that better than Preston Utley, a photojournalist-turned-wedding photographer who sees beyond the surface. In this episode, Preston takes us deep into his philosophy of shooting from the gut, anticipating emotion, and embracing imperfection. We talk ab
Bash Please: Reinventing Weddings & Corporate Events—What Planners Need to Know
In this episode, we sit down with Mollie & Sunna, the powerhouse duo behind Bash Please, one of the most forward-thinking event planning and design firms in the industry. With backgrounds in luxury hospitality, private catering, and large-scale event production, they've built a firm known for its intentionality, authenticity, and ability to create multi-day experiences that leave a lasting impact.
John Dolan: The Perfect Imperfect—How 15 Frames Can Tell the Story of a Lifetime
In this episode, we sit down with John Dolan, the legendary wedding photographer who has spent decades redefining what it means to capture life's most intimate moments. Known for his philosophy of "The Perfect Imperfect," John shares how he approaches weddings with empathy, artistry, and a deep respect for authenticity. From his early days in the darkroom to photographing iconic events, including
Katherine Gray: The Art of Anticipation, Authenticity and being Number Two.
In this episode, we welcome Katherine Gray, Senior Event Producer at Michelle Rago Destinations, a globally renowned luxury wedding planning firm. Katherine shares her incredible journey from cold-calling her way into the industry to becoming the trusted right hand of Michelle Rago. With a background in theater and a knack for anticipation, Katherine dives into what it takes to succeed at the high
Estera Events: How Partnership and Passion Built a Global Wedding Brand
In this episode, we're joined by Bianca Hall and Erica Vanco, the powerhouse duo behind Estera Events, a luxury wedding planning and design firm based in Chicago. Starting as interns and eventually purchasing the business in 2019, Bianca and Erica share their incredible journey of transforming Estera into a global brand known for stunning destination weddings and exceptional client experiences. Th
Michelle Gainey: Authenticity, Resilience, and Breaking Barriers in Luxury Events
In this episode, we sit down with Michelle Gainey, the visionary behind Lemiga Events, a luxury event design and planning company based in Atlanta. Michelle opens up about her inspiring journey of breaking racial barriers in the wedding industry while staying true to her authentic self. She shares how she overcame societal assumptions as a Black woman in the luxury market, transforming those chall
Jose Villa: How Film Photography, Humility and Bold Choices Built an Icon in Luxury Weddings
In this episode, we welcome Jose Villa, arguably the most influential wedding photographers of our time. With over 20 years in the industry, Jose's journey has been about more than just taking photos—it's been about building a legacy. From his early days charging $400 for weddings to now capturing million-dollar events around the globe, Jose opens up about the power of client relationships, master
Downey Street Events: How Strong Relationships and Profit First Drive Success in Luxury Weddings
In this episode, we sit down with Kelsey Connely, owner and creative director of Downey Street Events, a premier wedding planning firm. Kelsey shares her fascinating journey from corporate HR to the world of luxury weddings and how she successfully took over an established event planning business. She dives into the importance of vendor relationships and how these partnerships are the backbone of
Studio Sully: How Vendor Partnerships and Creative Vision Fuel Success in Luxury Weddings
In this episode of the Business of Luxury Weddings, we sit down with Melissa Sullivan, founder of Studio Sully, a renowned event design and production firm based in Los Angeles and New York. Melissa shares her unique journey from assistant planner to headlining her own firm—right as the pandemic hit. Tune in to hear how Melissa navigated the challenges of launching a business during unprecedented
Colin Cowie: The Gold Standard — Lessons in Luxury, Culture, and the Pursuit of Excellence
In this captivating episode of The Business of Luxury Weddings, we're honored to be joined by the renowned Colin Cowie, an iconic figure in the world of luxury events. With nearly 40 years of experience, Colin shares his fascinating journey from his humble beginnings with just $400 and a dream to becoming the go-to planner for Hollywood's elite. He opens up about the evolving landscape of the even
The Fourniers: Risk, Resilience, and the Road to Luxury Wedding Success
In this episode of The Business of Luxury Weddings Podcast, we sit down with Joshua Fournier, one half of the power duo behind a flourishing luxury wedding photography brand. Coming from a medical background, Joshua and Leidy share how they transitioned from physician assistant studies to photographing weddings full-time—all while balancing the demands of medicine and life as new parents. They dis
Rosemary Hattenbach: Experience is Everything - Mastering the Art of Flawless Execution
In this episode of The Business of Luxury Weddings Podcast, James and Otto chat with Rosemary Hattenbach of Rosemary Events. Rosemary's journey started in the film industry as a line producer, where she worked with A-list directors. Now, she brings that same level of attention to detail and collaboration to luxury weddings. Rosemary shares what it takes to succeed in high-end event planning—confid
Diwan by Design: Keeping Time - Where Watches, Design and Weddings Converge
In this episode of The Business of Luxury Weddings Podcast, hosts James and Otto sit down with Sneh Diwan of Diwan by Design. Sneh opens up about her journey from studying design and merchandising at the Fashion Institute of Technology to becoming a "timekeeper" in wedding planning, where her love for watches perfectly complements her passion for crafting unforgettable events. Sneh shares the prof
42 North: Together We Shine - The Beauty of Partnership and a Collaborative Spirit
On today's episode, hosts James and Otto are joined by Britt and Francie from 42 North, a weddings and event planning business. While much of their clientele is in New England, they also plan destination weddings for clients in New York, Chicago, and LA. Britt and Francie share what a wedding planner does, comparing wedding planning to putting on a Broadway production with no rehearsals. They di
Alison Bryan Destinations: The Power of Vulnerability and Authenticity
On today's episode, hosts James and Otto are joined by Alison and Bryan from Alison Bryan Destinations. The couple has an impressive portfolio, which includes work around the globe, including Morrocco, Spain, and Greece, Italy and Mexico, just to name a few. Many people use "experience" as a buzzword, but with Alison and Bryan, it is a fundamental part of their ethos. Kicking things off,
Erik Clausen: From Creativity to Content: The Power of Self-Reflection and Personal Growth
As photographers and business owners, continuous growth is the name of the game. What gets in the way of this growth are the blindspots we all have. If we're not booking the weddings we want or showing up the way we want to, curiosity and radical self-honesty are the only way to initiate the change we need. It's really hard to assess ourselves, and often that process is brought on by a huge life
Manda Worthington: How to Craft A Wedding Around Wellbeing and Happiness
Unique experiences, powerful emotions, beauty, family, love and legacy…these are some of the words planners use to describe the service they provide. It's very rare to hear a planner talk about wellbeing and happiness being the leading drivers of what they do. At the highest level of wedding planning, the concept of caring for people can get lost in the luxurious logistics. What sets the best ap
Brooke Keegan: It's a Party! But it's Still a Business
Luxury weddings involve so many great things like travel, amazing experiences and glamorous events. Because all these facets are so fun and exciting, it's easy to fall into the trap of treating the job like a hobby. In order to build something that sustains you, you have to treat it like a business. Yes, the job is fun, but it's also our livelihood so we have to handle it accordingly. In an indu
Le Rêve Films: How to Turn One Industry Relationship Into a Lifetime of ROI
Most wedding professionals are taught to grow by way of digital marketing, but there's something with a much higher ROI - relationship marketing. When you compare what you get out of fostering industry relationships with digital marketing, it's not even close. The former will always win. One ad can bring in a single wedding. One industry collaboration can bring you hundreds of weddings throughou
Lea Stafford: How to Intentionally Fold Familiarity and Coziness Into a Wedding
When you work in the fast-paced, demanding world of luxury weddings, it's easy to run on reactivity - to act first and then think later. Running on intentionality, being thoughtful first and then taking action is a completely different approach. Living by intention touches every facet of your life, and of course impacts how you run your business and serve your clients. For Lea Stafford, being inte
Augusta Cole: Atmospheric, Tangible and Organic: How to Create An Heirloom Experience
A special event is made up of 3 types of experiences - the atmospheric, the tangible and the organic pieces of what's happening in the moment. Wedding planners are tasked with weaving all these things together and adding connection to the recipe. When this takes place in the context of a destination - local or abroad - there also has to be a story component centered on the place. From the flutte
Don't Devalue Yourself: How to Triple Your Price w/John Moler
Offer a discount, drop your rates, or put more into the package - this is what most people will do when they want to get more business. The problem is, in doing this, you're devaluing yourself in the eyes of the client, which works against you in luxury. The secret to raising your rates is actually refining your brand and elevating your proposal which means eliminating elements. Instead of incen
Jack Ezon: Experience First, Location Later: The Secret to Luxury Travel
As luxury shifts from conspicuous consumption to conscious consumption, we have to change how we think about the services we provide. It's not that people are spending less money, they are just choosing to spend smarter, and putting more meaning behind every buying choice. In the luxury travel space, crafting a great experience shouldn't start with the location, it starts with the feeling people
Sofia Crokos: How to Chase Beauty, Inspiration, and Collaboration
Every human being has moments where inspiration strikes them, but not everyone will chase it. A great creative concept, collaboration, or business idea can fade because you're scared to put it out there. Not for Sofia Crokos. She goes down every avenue of creativity from fashion and weddings to food and flowers. Her secret: manifesting, chasing beauty, and acting on inspiration without limitat
Lindsey Morgan: Letting a Profitable Business Go For Something Better
When your successful planning business has a thriving floral arm, why would you shut it down? To make room for more creativity and collaboration! Most people wouldn't dream of ending something that's doing so well, but that could be keeping us from what we really want. If a business is just chugging along, it's easier to keep going as is. Shaking things up is actually so much harder than staying
Them, Not You: How to Adapt a Better Branding Mindset
When it comes to branding and approach, most photographers are focused on themselves. It's all about their aesthetic and getting clients to fit into it. We make ourselves the thing our clients should aspire to. That was our approach for years…until we realized that it wouldn't allow us to sustain real success in luxury. So we switched to this: focusing on our clients; and instead of pigeonholing
Photographer's Edit: Creating Desire in the Mind of Your Buyer w/Nathan Holritz
Get to know your client and match yourself up to that. That's the format of traditional marketing we're taught to use. What if we could accomplish more by going about it in a completely different way? In luxury, cost isn't the biggest factor in the decision making process - desire is. If we make people want our service, they will buy it. Creating desire instantly makes us more sought-after, espe
B&H Photo: Shifting From Cost to Want Transformed Our Business
For many photographers, weddings are a highly intimidating niche. The idea of shooting a once in a lifetime event, at the highest spectrum of emotions can be daunting. And that's before you add a luxury component to it. Shooting that level of event and having that caliber of client comes with a lot, but the biggest thing is a shift in our own mindset. To break into luxury and command those r
Alicia Fritz: Staying Grounded in the High Gravitas World of Luxury Weddings
At the luxury level of weddings, it's easy to think you have to live in an epicenter city and have a ton of notoriety to succeed. The whole world has to know you if you want your business to grow. But bigger, famous and splashier isn't the only route to visibility, success can happen without notoriety. You can thrive while being the best kept secret. It's possible to create these gravitas "goose
Jennifer Zabinski: Make Weddings Authentic To Who You're Celebrating
Creating a magical wedding is a dance of balancing contradictions. You have to saturate the senses without over-producing, steep the event with individual details that become seamless, pace a fast-moving day, and counter the emotional crescendos with much needed lulls. The planners responsible for this do multiple events a year, but they still have to make that particular event authentic to who'
How to Strip Success Down to the Exceptional Essentials w/Steph Kadlicko
In this business, the biggest leaps don't come from adding bells and whistles to our approach. They come from stripping what we do down to the clearest, most actionable and exceptional basics. Going an inch wide and a mile deep produces more profound results than going a mile wide, an inch deep. When you really think about it, we spend 10% of our time in the business behind the camera. What mov
Joshua Coombes: The Powerful Ripple Effect of One Free Haircut
A simple, kind and meaningful act can have a powerful ripple effect, like giving a haircut to someone in need. Not only does it create doorways to connection. It can open up entire portals that break the typical pattern of how we interact with the community around us. Through one simple compassionate act, we can create moments that matter - moments that can start to break through layers of hard
Barbi Walters: Beyond Ballrooms: The Rise of Interior-Informed Wedding Design
Interior design and wedding design have always had a natural synergy. Inspiration from interiors has always trickled into events. Now that there's a huge movement to make weddings feel residential, interiors aren't just inspiring events, they are informing them. People want the big day to feel authentic, and not just like another decorated ballroom. The big day is an extension of how they'd host p
Sarah Tivel: From Formulaic to Intentional: The Beautiful Evolution of Wedding Planning
Just like dress trends and decor trends, weddings and how they are planned have gone through a huge evolution of their own. How the special day was crafted used to be formulaic and predictable. There were traditions that had to be met and boxes the event had to check. Today, there's plenty of room for the unexpected, the whimsical and the meaningful. What people include in that day is more a
Wendy Jacobs Hampton: Indecisiveness is the Downfall of Luxury Events
Among the many superpowers of a luxury wedding planner, is the ability to turn 18 months of planning into a timelined, well-executed event with hundreds of moving parts. The secret: there is absolutely no room for indecisiveness. The clients hire you to guide them and make decisions. If you're still thinking "I wonder if we should…" on the day, it's not a business you're built for. Wendy Jac
Shut Up and Listen: How to Elevate Events into Experiences w/David Beahm
Luxury is the ability to surprise, delight, anticipate, and deliver. In the wedding space, it's ultimately the difference between planning an event and creating an experience. Our clients are incredibly discerning individuals, so we have to be discerning too. The job is going above and beyond "what we have in the warehouse" to actually bring about a well-executed vision. In this high stress
Every Detail For a Reason: The Secret to Precise, Elevated Design w/Rishi Patel
In the realm of ultra-luxury event design, the pressure to exceed the client's high expectations comes with the territory. Creatively speaking, it's hard to say no to the vision, and that requires us to constantly push the boundaries of what's possible. The work of designers is incredibly detailed and precise, and that can be a heavy energy expenditure to whoever's at the helm of that vision. Th
Relationships Are the Job: The Highest ROI Decision You'll Ever Make w/Sarah Bradshaw
In an industry like wedding photography, "there are as many opinions as there are planners". It's easy to get caught up in groupthink and herd mentality. People parrot information about running our businesses and what it takes to succeed like it's universal truth when it's one perspective. All information and advice is meaningless if it's not filtered through what works best for us. Sometimes,
Obsessive Craftsmanship, Relentless Collaboration: What Wedding Photography Means to Us
Obsessive craftsmanship, storytelling, collaboration. If we could sum up wedding photography, it would be in these 4 words. It's not just about taking a pretty picture, and it's definitely not just about the technical stuff. At some point focus, light, and composition become so deeply ingrained in us we have to reach for something more. We have to learn the art of earning the photo - both from
"Your Vision's Safe With Me": The Number 1 Rule of Luxury Event Planning w/ Michelle Rago
"Your vision is safe with me." That's what a planner needs to say and deliver to their clients. When you're at the helm of a magical moment where every detail matters, how things look isn't your first consideration. You have to go 30,000 ft up, take what they want to see and steep it in reality, while still maintaining the magic. To do this effectively, confidence, competence, and kindness are
Focus On Worth, Not Work: The Secret to Quadrupling Your Rate w/Sidonie Vidal
If you're good at the craft, raising your rates isn't a question of skill. It's more about doing the mindset work so you can confidently elevate how you show up in the marketplace. Your work has to be good - that's a given, but you'll hit a ceiling if you only focus on that. To grow our revenue, we have to raise what we think our work is worth - and that has a lot to do with branding. The shift
Read the Room, Collaborate & Serve: What It Takes to Pull Off Seamless, Fairy Tale Experiences w/Peyton Frank
Luxury wedding or not, we're in the business of serving our clients and pulling off a once-in-a-lifetime fairytale for them. Of course, we have to be exceptionally talented, but there's also a whole strategic process of unglamorous, behind-the-scenes work to make it look seamless and luxurious. All wedding vendors are in the unique position of not being guests, but having such a pivotal role on
Through the Lens of An Elite Planner: How to Get Your First Ultra-Luxury Wedding w/Lynn Easton
An emotion-provoking image that speaks to the planner, not a wasteful unsolicited gift. Steady, quiet persistence, not annoying pushiness. Understanding the cues that say ultra-luxury, and nothing less. That's how you get on the radar of an elite ultra-luxury planner, and get hired again and again. In the high stakes, high-touch and high detail world of elite wedding planning, photographers a
From Charging $500 per Wedding to a 7-Figure Wedding Photography Business & Our Vision for This Podcast
"If only I was just better at the craft...." If you're a creative in the wedding industry struggling to get those next level weddings, you've probably said this to yourself. It's easy to think getting better at what you do is the missing link. The truth is: digging into and putting an emphasis on the business side is the solution. Most creatives feel like artists who happen to run a business.
