Unveiled Interviews

From being one of the very first professionals a couple will interact with on their wedding day to determining how a person will look in photos for the rest of their lives, the role of a hair and makeup artist is certainly a role that holds a lot of power.  Here to talk about power of the role and what couples can do to ensure they find the best artist for them is Michelle Schultz, founder of the NYC-based hair and makeup collective, Willow House Beauty. Throughout this conversation, Michelle helps us understand how couples can find their wedding beauty artist(s), questions they should ask themselves to determining their wedding day look,  Michelle also speaks directly to the professional beauty artists out there looking to build their brand authority or make a lasting impression on their clients. From advice on branding and marketing to sharing ways hair and makeup artists can better serve their couples and leave with glowing reviews, Michelle shares all her best industry knowledge. You can follow Michelle and her business Willow House beauty on instagram at @willowhouse.beauty or at their website www.willowhousebeauty.com. Cover image by Jessica Perez

In the professional space, we see so many female business owners struggling with health issues that are frequently tied to stress/burnout in some form or the other. Especially in the wedding industry, a space predominantly operated by females, it’s sad that we commonly see business owners struggling with a sense of imbalance, overworking, perfectionism, and burnout especially when they originally established their businesses from a place of passion, joy, and inspiration. In this episode, we interview Rachel Nichols, a hormone-health specialist who predominantly coaches female entrepreneurs through her own business called Restoring Eve. During our conversation, Rachel shares some ways we as women can optimize our workflows and routines to lead both our lives and businesses with less burnout and instead, a greater sense of energy, clarity, and fulfillment.  To discover Rachel's work and learn more about the power of hormone health in business and general wellness, you can follow her on Instagram at ⁠@restoring.eve⁠ or on her website ⁠https://www.restoringeve.com/⁠

We talk a lot about the big, fancy, exuberant wedding celebrations here on Unveiled Interviews, but we also believe their is another way to get married. A wedding doesn’t have to be elaborate to be special; for some couples, it’s the simplicity of an elopement or courthouse ceremony that resonates most with their beliefs and priorities. In this episode we interview Blake Nelson, a wedding and editorial photographer based in New York City. Recently, Blake’s wedding work has been recognized as synonymous with Manhattan’s city clerk’s office, so he has so much wisdom to share in what it takes to plan, execute, document, and enjoy a simple wedding celebration. Not only does Blake walk us through the logistics of what it takes to plan a NYC city hall wedding, but also the mindset and energies that so many of his couples are embracing throughout the wedding planning process in order to have a day that speaks to their individuality. You can discover and follow Blake’s  work on Instagram ⁠@blakenelsonweddings⁠ or on his website at ⁠https://blakenelsonphotography.com/⁠.

In this content-driven world, the demand for photography in the wedding industry has skyrocketed. More and more, wedding photographers are feeling the pressure to work not only for the couple who hired them, but also the vendors who are also contributing to the wedding. The pressure of serving upwards of a dozen different clients per wedding has muddied the waters a little bit in how photographers approach their work. More than ever, photographers are having a difficult time distinguish themselves as unique artists, and it's not difficult to see why this is happening. Content is pushed out so quickly and with such demanding expectations, that we’ve forgotten to appreciate the “inside process” of how good photography is achieved, especially in an environment as important and sensitive as a wedding. In this episode, we speak with Emily Magers, a wedding photographer based in California. We talk not only through technical aspects of wedding photographers do but also on the art of observation and the specific thoughts going through their minds at different moments on a wedding day. You can discover and follow Emily's work on Instagram @emily.magers or on her website at https://www.emilymagers.com/.

With the rising trend of the term “luxury”, it seems like everyone wants to call themselves a “luxury” fill-in-the-blank these days.  But what does the term luxury even mean in the wedding industry? Are there qualifiers for being able to use the term? Does the term say something about how a professional charges or the level of service they provide? How do you know whether a wedding classifies as a luxury event? And the biggest question – is working in the luxury market a true pinnacle of success? In this conversation, we talk with Jaime Kostechko, lead planner and founder of the wedding planning firm, Wild Heart Events, who breaks down the term “luxury” and shares with us her interpretation of where it fits in the wedding industry. You can follow Jaime and her planning company Wild Heart Events on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/wild_heart_events/.

One of the very first, and often most stressful, parts of wedding planning is establishing a budget. It’s the piece that sets the tone for the rest of the wedding planning and execution processes and when done right, has the power to alleviate you from further stressors down the road. However, how exactly does a couple establish a wedding budget? How do couples decide how much to spend on their wedding, then how do they decide where to allocate those funds amongst all of the areas including venue, food and beverage, decor, documentation… there is just so much to consider and it’s easy to get overwhelmed and lost in it all. In this episode, we talk with Corinne Van Arsdale, planner and founder of New York state wedding planning company Canvas Weddings. Corinne first walks us through all the questions couples should be asking themselves before deciding on a wedding budget, then advises couples on how to avoid budget creep as the planning unfolds. During our conversation, we also address the notion of “wedding tax” and whether or not its true if prices of goods or services  may be inflated just because they are being used for a wedding, and whether or not this could be a secret to cutting costs. You can follow Corinne and her team at Canvas Weddings on Instagram at @canvasweddings or on their website at https://canvaswedding.com/. Cover images by Joel & Justyna

After over a decade of being suppressed by the convenience of digital, film photography is having its renaissance, especially in the wedding industry. Even with its rising costs, slow and tedious process, and theoretically risky behavior, more and more couples are requesting their wedding days to be captured on film, which has led to more and more wedding photographers feeling the pressure to start offering it in their process. But, what exactly are people loving about film? Why has it become such a popular request? What can film do that digital cannot? I am so grateful that one of my personal industry inspirations, wedding and editorial photographer Sophie Berard, was willing and eager to jump on and talk with us on the allure of film and her best guess as to why it’s suddenly so sought after. You can find and follow Sophie on Instagram at @sberardweddings or on her website at sberard.com.

Out with the old and in with the new – weddings today are not what they once were. Waning traditions and a newfound love for personalized experiences have taken over the wedding industry and couples today are seeing their big day in a whole new light. Simply put, societal expectations for weddings have just changed, which has caused a little confusion for couples as to what steps they need to take, when, and in what sequence, in order to plan the celebration of their dreams. In this interview, Lara Mahler, founder and lead planner of wedding planning company THE PRIVILEGE IS MINE, breaks down the different approaches you can take while planning your wedding and offers examples of resources that can help along the way. During our conversation, she continuously offers bits of wisdom and advice for the couples struggling through the decision-making process and specific questions they can ask themselves to ensure the end result is a beautiful and genuine representation of their unique taste and priorities. During this interview, Lara also discusses her online planning platform, TPIM ONLINE, which offers free and paid subscription services for couples planning their weddings. Not only does the platform offer a vendor directory and an open discussion board for the community, but Lara also hosts regular webinars on various topics in hopes of providing clarity and direction to those who need it most.  You can follow Lara and learn more about her company at www.theprivilegeisminenyc.com or on Instagram at @tpimweddings.  To join or learn more about her online platform, TPIM ONLINE, visit https://community.theprivilegeisminenyc.com/c/start-here/. Cover image by Brian David Weddings.

Wedding stationery is so much more than just invitations – customized signage, paper products, personalized tokens and mementos all have the power to transcend a wedding’s experience and how this remembered. Yes, monogrammed matchbooks and handwritten place cards have their moment, but going a step further with other unique whimsical touches can collectively create an immersive experience that demands attention from all the senses – leaving a lasting impression on both the couple and their guests for years to come. In this episode, we are joined by stationery artist and visionary, Alexandra Collins of One Mimosa Please, a high-end event creative design studio based in Melbourne, Australia. Alexandra’s incomparable and captivating process interprets stationery not as a supplementary service for weddings, but rather an asset to how a wedding day is experienced from all angles.  During our conversation, Alexandra breaks down her process and provides examples of different ways couples can use stationery to set a vibe and create a lasting impression. This team isn’t just making invites and signs – they analyze the individual needs of every event and find creative solutions to elevate even the smallest of touch points. This conversation is not only inspiring, but a beautiful reminder that weddings are so much more than lavish productions; all the little decisions you make along the way really are a love letter to your guests. Follow Alexandra on Instagram at @onemimosaplease_ https://www.onemimosaplease.com/ 

Ever wonder what it’s like to plan a destination wedding from a couple’s perspective? In this two-part series of Unveiled Interviews, we sit down with a real couple, Gillian and Matt who reside in New York City, and ask them all about the experience of planning their upcoming destination wedding, which will take place June 2024 in Mallorca, Spain:  How did they decide where to have their wedding? How did they break the news to their family? Did they experience any backlash from guests, and if so, how did they handle it? How did they find their venue, vendors, and suppliers? What has been the most stressful part of the planning experience? Part II of this series, which will be recorded after their wedding has taken place, will gain even more perspective of the wedding’s execution:   How was their experience with all of their vendors? Did their guests enjoy the destination experience? Did anyone have any issues with travel? If given the chance for a do-over, would they choose a destination wedding again? Stay tuned for the launch of that episode later this summer. Follow Gillian, a New York City based wedding photographer and real-life bride, on Instagram at @gillianleephotos Cover image by Gillian and Matt's talented wedding photographer @hilaurenhello