All Podcast Episodes

294 AMANDA HEARST & MICAELA ERLANGER: Gowns, Jewelry, Sustainability and a Fairytale Wedding

by Andy Kushner | Sep 28, 2020 | Gown Designers

Do you know how to have a responsibly sourced wedding? Listen, as Andy and his guests Amanda Hearst and Micaela Erlanger discuss their process of working together to style Amanda’s outfits and jewelry for her extended wedding weekend and the aspects of sustainability that were considered and incorporated. Amanda makes an exciting announcement at the end of the show about a new product line and so much more on this episode of The Wedding Biz.

Amanda is the Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer of Maison De Mode. She is also the Co-Founder of Well Beings. This next-gen movement brings attention and action to the interconnections between animal welfare and climate change. Amanda is also a contributing editor at Town & Country Magazine.

Micaela is a sought-after celebrity stylist and has been profiled by Vogue, Vanity Fair, Harper’s Bazaar, and several other publications. The Hollywood reporter has repeatedly named her one of the “Most Powerful Stylists.” Her clientele includes Meryl Streep, Lupita Nyong’o, Common, Shailene Woodley, and Diane Kruger. In 2019 Micaela launched her Bridal Styling business and is the author of “How to Accessorize: A Perfect Finish to Every Outfit.”

Listen, as Amanda shares how she met and started working with Micaela and her concept for sustainable outfits and accessories for her wedding weekend. Micaela shares details of the gowns Amanda wore for each event and her favorite look of the weekend. Additionally, Micaela speaks about the vegan shoes that Amanda wore with her wedding gown.

Amanda shares some recommendations for brides who want to have sustainable dresses and jewelry for their weddings. Both Amanda and Micaela speak about their new products; Amanda has designed a sustainable fashion jewelry line, and Micaela has a sustainably sourced engagement ring line through Forevermark. If you were wondering how to have an environmentally friendly wedding, you won’t want to miss this conversation.

293 THE NEXT LEVEL: SOFIA CROKOS discusses LEWIS MILLER The “Banksy of Floral Design”

by Andy Kushner | Sep 23, 2020 | 1The Next Level, Floral Designers

Andy’s guest co-host today is Sofia Crokos. Sofia is a planner/designer based out of Hamptons, New York City. She has also partnered with The Heritage Collection behind four exclusive private properties in Europe. Listen as they discuss the flower flashes Lewis he does to give back and creatively challenge himself. He also discusses his process with his clients, and much more on this episode of The Next Level.

Lewis Miller is a floral designer and founder of Lewis Miller Design out of New York City. His client list includes leading industry professionals in fashion, design, photography, art direction, and architecture such as Bulgari, Carolina Herrera, Mayor Blumberg, Chanel, Tiffany, Versace, Bergdorf Goodman, the Whitney Museum, and more.

Listen, as Sofia speaks about following Lewis on Instagram to see where his flower flashes pop up, how his client process is similar to hers and how important it is to talk to clients to discover how they want their wedding designed. Sofia also shares a story about purchasing one of Lewis’s flower boxes and how she paid it forward by sharing the beauty with a friend.

They discuss slowing down, getting off the hamster wheel, and reconnecting with friends, family, and nature during the pandemic. Andy and Sofia have a wonderful conversation, so tune in and enjoy!

292 LEWIS MILLER – The “Banksy of Floral Design”

by Andy Kushner | Sep 21, 2020 | Floral Designers

“Before I know what flowers I’m going to use, I need to know what backdrop I’m going to create to show off those flowers.” Listen, as Andy and his guest Lewis Miller discuss how he came to be in New York City, his process with clients, how he gets inspired for his designs, how he has been able to maneuver through the pandemic, and so much more on this episode of The Wedding Biz.

Lewis is a floral designer and founder of Lewis Miller Design out of New York City. His client list includes leading industry professionals in fashion, design, photography, art direction, and architecture such as Bulgari, Carolina Herrera, Mayor Blumberg, Chanel, Tiffany, Versace, Bergdorf Goodman, the Whitney Museum, and more.

Lewis discusses how his pop-up flower flashes started and where he did his first one. He shares why he moved from Seattle, Washington to New York City and how he opened his small flower shop without fear or hesitation because he knew that was what he was supposed to be doing.

Listen, as Lewis shares his process when speaking with clients, a story about one particular wedding he did, in an unappealing ballroom, and the curveball he was thrown. Lewis also shares how he merges his company’s business aspect with his creative side and how the pandemic has affected him both personally and professionally.

Lewis is a poster child for how to run a business that can tackle a pandemic and come back bigger and stronger. He believes that if you trim the fat every few years and watch where you spend money, you will still be around when others are not. He is an inspiring creative, and you don’t want to miss this episode.

291 A Conversation With: CINDY NOVOTNY

by Andy Kushner | Sep 16, 2020 | 1The Next Level, Consultants

“When life gets tough, it takes guts to keep going.” Andy is excited to have Cindy Novotny back on the show. Cindy is the founder of Master Connections Associates, an internationally renowned leader in sales, leadership, and customer service. The Association of Talent Development has recognized her as one of the nine most powerful and innovative speakers. Cindy is also the author of the book Living with No Balance and Loving it.

Listen as Cindy speaks about where she was when the pandemic hit, and how she immediately jumped on webinars with her clients at no charge to help them navigate the crisis. Cindy discusses some common issues she has been helping clients with and why she believes that non-stop communication with your clients and team is important.

“You have to be in charge of your own destiny.” Not everyone is in the same boat; some industries are busier than they have ever been. Cindy shares what she tells people in the event industry about looking at an empty calendar and how you have to be flexible with your business model.

“Never ever reduce your prices.” Listen, as Cindy says, that reducing your prices will take you five years to recover. Instead of lowering your rates, she says to take on more clients. Cindy also touches on the vaccine controversy and shares that she has gotten every available vaccine and will get the COVID-19 one when it is available.

Cindy believes that you need to be humble if you have no clients and are in trouble financially, use what you know, and get a job. She believes that you need to do what’s necessary and remember this will pass. What a powerful and inspiring interview!

290 A Conversation with: LAURIE ARONS

by Andy Kushner | Sep 14, 2020 | Event Planners and Designers

Andy has Laurie Arons on the show today to talk about how she is handling the pandemic personally and professionally, some events she has been lucky enough to have, and how she has stayed connected with her clients that rescheduled their events for next year, and much more on this episode of The Wedding Biz.

Since founding Laurie Arons Special Events in 1994, Laurie has been featured in numerous magazine publications and was listed in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Martha Stewart Weddings as one of the top planners worldwide. Her clients include noteworthy trendsetters like Vanessa Getty and Christy Turlington, and prominent business moguls like Gary Friedman, Frank Schofield, and Eddie DeBartolo.

Laurie shares some safety measures she has in place for her events, how she has been able to keep all of her team, and how she believes this pandemic will affect the event industry going forward. Listen as Laurie speaks about postponing her Masterclass, rescheduling it for December, and some exciting things that the attendees will experience.

Laurie says that she always tries to find the silver lining during a crisis, and because of COVID, she has done some things that she wouldn’t have had time for otherwise. This is a conversation that you won’t want to miss.

289 ABI MATESUN discusses ZAINAB ALSALIH/Carousel Events: One of Dubai’s Leading Women Entrepreneurs

by Andy Kushner | Sep 2, 2020 | 1The Next Level, Event Planners and Designers

“It’s not about how a wedding looks; it’s about how it feels.” Andy’s guest co-host today is Abi Matesun, Founder and CEO of Malekfoto Films and Malekfoto Weddings. Abi is a two time Emmy winning cinematographer, filmmaker, photographer, public speaker, and two time Telly Award winner. Listen as they discuss how Zainab honed her skill set as a child, the advantages of traveling to many countries and cultures, and much more on this episode of The Next Level.

Zainab Alsalih is the Founder and Creative Director of Carousel Events out of Dubai, one of the region’s best-known companies for event design. Zainab is also considered one of the most respected authorities on weddings in the middle east. She has been covered and quoted in countless regional and international programs and publications.

Abi discusses how traveling as a child opened Zainab to many cultures and languages, which gives her an edge in her designs. And she honed her skill by redecorating her bedroom frequently as a child.

Listen, as Abi and Andy share how Zainab sets up her office so that when she meets with clients for the first time, they get a feel for who she is and what to expect from her. Zainab believes that less is more because people don’t miss what they can’t see and luxury is a personal experience.

Abi speaks about what Zainab created for Engage!20 Dubai and shares some details about what made it breathtaking. Zainab is an amazing designer and any conversation about her is riveting, but when you add Abi Matesun to the conversation, you end up with the need to go further and find out more about both incredible creatives. Enjoy!

288 ZAINAB ALSALIH/Carousel Events: One of Dubai’s Leading Women Entrepreneurs

by Andy Kushner | Aug 31, 2020 | Event Planners and Designers

“I try always to make sure I design a wedding with the couple in mind and personalize it as much as possible.” Listen as Andy and his guest, Zainab Alsalih, discuss how she designs a wedding, why she transitioned from corporate events into weddings, her process when doing events, and much more on this episode of The Wedding Biz.

Zainab is the Founder and Creative Director of Carousel Events out of Dubai, one of the region’s best-known companies for event design. Zainab is also considered one of the

most respected authorities on weddings in the middle east. She has been covered and quoted in countless regional and international programs and publications in various languages on radio, televisions, print, and online, including Harpers Bazaar, Martha Stewart, and Vogue.

Listen as Zainab shares how she got started in event planning and the transition to weddings. She speaks about how young couples today are leaning toward less traditional weddings and more towards western influences. Zainab also discusses her process from the first time she meets the client until the actual wedding.

“It’s not about how a wedding looks; it’s about how a wedding feels.” Zainab shares why this is the way she views weddings, why less is more is her main mantra, and what the definition of luxury means to her. She shares many details of major weddings she has designed and tells it with color and passion so you can visualize it as if you were there. You don’t want to miss this conversation.

We are all experiencing quite a bit of stress and other issues during this pandemic. Andy has put together a list of the top ten tips for dealing with stress, which he has compiled from interviews with icons of the wedding and event industry. If you would like a copy, go to www.theweddingbiz.com/toptips.

287 ROBERT SHERMAN discusses JOANN GREGOLI, The Godmother of Destination Weddings

by Andy Kushner | Aug 26, 2020 | 1The Next Level, Destination Events, Event Planners and Designers

Does giving back make you feel better? Listen as Andy and Robert Sherman, the President of Washington Talent, and Andy’s partner at Kushner Entertainment discuss JoAnn being the godmother of destination weddings, wanting to be an advocate for her clients and the Sewing Angles plus much more on this episode of The Next Level.

JoAnn is the owner of Elegant Occasions by JoAnn Gregoli. She has been included in Modern Bride Magazine as one of their Top Trendsetters of the year, and she was recently recognized as one of the top twenty-five most influential wedding planners in the World.

Listen as Robert and Andy share how JoAnn was a wedding crasher in her twenties because she loved love, how JoAnn took classes in every aspect of an event so she could talk to her creative partners in their language and her insights into getting to know every generation so she could market to them all in a way they would respond to.

They also discuss how JoAnn is giving back during the pandemic by sewing masks because her daughter was on the frontline with limited PPE. She got some women’s groups involved and paid for the materials out of her pocket because she says giving back makes you feel better.

If you want to be inspired to help JoAnn with shipping the masks, please go to her go fund me page at www.sewingangels.org and click on the Frontline Sewing Angles link.

286 JOANN GREGOLI – The Godmother of Destination Weddings

by Andy Kushner | Aug 24, 2020 | Destination Events, Event Planners and Designers

Andy and his guest, JoAnn Gregoli, discuss how she educated herself to speak the language of her vendor team, how she approaches destination weddings, how she approaches marketing for her services, and much more on this episode of The Wedding Biz.

JoAnn is the owner of Elegant Occasions by JoAnn Gregoli. She has been included in Modern Bride Magazine as one of their Top Trendsetters of the year and was recently recognized as one of the top twenty-five most influential wedding planners in the World. Elegant Occasions creates events that tell the story about the couple.

Listen, as JoAnn shares how she was obsessed with weddings in her twenties, the wedding she did for Rupert Murdoch’s daughter, and why she has been called the Godmother of destination weddings. JoAnn speaks about how she creates a team for destination weddings and her process for local and destination events.

JoAnn discusses her company’s business side, how she determins how to price the events she plans, and her strategy for using social media. JoAnn says to stay relevant she goes to conferences, to continue her own learning, and isn’t afraid to reinvent herself and her business.

JoAnn speaks of her grassroots effort to make sure anyone who needs a face mask has one. She started sewing masks, then reached out to some women’s groups to help her, got some of her brides got involved, and now they have shipped out over 50,000 masks at no cost. Her main focus has been providing them to homeless shelters and to battered women. They have been sewing for over seventeen weeks with no plans to stop until the pandemic is over.

JoAnn is an amazing woman. She doesn’t sit back when something needs to be done; she jumps in with both feet. She did it for brides that lost their venue during 9/11, and she is doing it now with the pandemic. This is an episode you don’t want to miss.

285 A Conversation With: CARRIE GOLDBERG

by Andy Kushner | Aug 19, 2020 | 1The Next Level, Media

Andy is happy to have Carrie Goldberg back on the show to discuss how COVID-19 has affected her personally and professionally, what she is hearing from both brides and planners, and the challenges planners have with managing their clients’ expectations, but also keeping them safe and socially distanced.

Carrie is the Digital Travel & Weddings Editor at Harper’s Bazaar, where she oversees all things weddings and travel for HarpersBazaar.com. She is in charge of content, strategy, and visuals for Bazaar’s digital travel and wedding verticals and editor of their membership subscription program called Bazaar Bride.

Listen, as Carrie discusses the different ways some brides are viewing their weddings and how planners are coping with wedding guests while trying to keep them safe. Carrie believes that this pandemic has made couples ask themselves what’s really important and whether now is the right time to take a chance on a large wedding or wait until it’s safe.

She also believes that some changes, she sees now, will continue in the future because people are realizing what is important and much of it is about getting back to basics. Carrie shares advice for planners and stylists around shopping and talks about where she will be for the next few months. Carrie has great insight into what is going on in the wedding and event business during this pandemic. You don’t want to miss what she has to say.

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