The Business of Luxury Weddings

This week’s guests are Britt, a skilled wedding planner managing clients and vendors, and Francie, the co-founder of a successful event planning business. They describe the art of wedding planning, comparing it to orchestrating a Broadway show without rehearsals. Britt shares a gripping tale of making quick decisions during a monsoon at a wedding in New Mexico. They also discuss the importance of trust and collaboration in their decade-long partnership, emphasizing how adaptability and empathy shape the wedding planning experience.

Alison and Bryan Destinations prioritize creating exceptional events by focusing on vulnerability and authenticity. They discuss the importance of finding the right fit for clients, building strong relationships, and constantly innovating. The conversation highlights the challenges of managing destination events, emphasizing quality over quantity and the rewarding nature of working with high-end clients.

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 event. Nothing makes us self-reflect more than a moment of transition in our lives, like the end of a relationship.   For Erik Clausen, the last 18 months have been a season of reflection, growth and transformation and his business has benefitted. How did photography go from hobby, to artform and then to a business? How does the process of self-reflection benefit us as business owners? How do you shine a light on your blindspots?   In this episode, Erik shares the story behind his personal growth and why it’s made him better at what he does.   Want a clear and comprehensive roadmap on how to succeed in the luxury wedding market? Check out the Business of Luxury Weddings course. You’ll learn the entire business model and thought process - so you can sign consistent 5-figure contracts, build a powerful network of the right people, and travel to iconic destinations. Learn more and join the waitlist at SageJourney.co.   Guest Bio   The original ‘Mom with a camera’, Erik shot his first wedding in 2007 and has been traveling the world shooting them since. An artist and a storyteller he lives a creative life, seeking to see everything in a new way as often as possible, using light as his muse and relationships the gateway. For more information, go to www.erikclausen.com and follow @erikclausen on Instagram and find him on Facebook.   

Manda Worthington, a wedding planner prioritizing wellbeing, discusses the importance of caring for clients, setting big goals in business, and stepping out of one's comfort zone. The podcast explores her journey in luxury event planning, emphasizing belief, confidence, and the shift in mindset towards exercise for success.

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 industry where the barrier gets lower everyday, the people who have staying power are the ones who think like CEOs, and build solid structures that support what we do.   How did Brooke Keegan come to this realization and what did she change after it dawned on her? How did she shift from flat fee to percentage-based pricing?   What other structures did she put in place to truly start treating it like a business? In this episode, Brooke talks about the epiphany that changed her business, and what it took to get to where she is today.   Want a clear and comprehensive roadmap on how to succeed in the luxury wedding market? Check out the Business of Luxury Weddings course. You’ll learn the entire business model and thought process - so you can sign consistent 5-figure contracts, build a powerful network of the right people, and travel to iconic destinations. Learn more and join the waitlist at SageJourney.co.     Guest Bio   Brooke has more than 21 years of experience designing, planning, and producing spectacular events for some of the world’s most ambitious and exacting clients. Named a top wedding planner by Harper’s Bazaar, she has established a reputation of excellence and consistency for producing unique, beautiful, and innovative events that leave a lasting impression. With her outstanding organizational skills and love of design, she has established a reputation of excellence in event management, flawless execution and visually stunning events. Brooke’s clients can trust with confidence that they will experience an exceptional planning process whilst exceeding their expectations. She has solid relationships with premier creative partners both nationally and internationally, ensuring that anyone she refers to is at the top of their respected field. Her past events are testaments of the quality, detail and experience that make her successful. A Division 1 volleyball player at San Diego State University, Brooke graduated with dual degrees in Marketing and Management. Prior to running her own business, she pursued a professional career in the restaurant and hospitality industry, a combination that gives her an edge when producing top-notch events for world-class clients. For more information go to https://brookekeegan.com/ and follow @‌brookekeegan.

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 throughout your lifetime. That’s the kind of ROI marketing dollars will never buy! It doesn’t matter what level you’re at - entry level, high-end or ultra-luxury, investing in relationships will always create the most value.   How do you grow your business and even level up in your clientele without digital marketing? Could introverts actually have an advantage when it comes to networking? How can one industry relationship turn into a lifetime of business?   In this special on-site episode in Venice, Italy, we’re joined by husband and wife duo Cherish and Lindsey Conklin. The co-founders of Le Rêve Films talk about their business, networking and how they grew an ultra-luxury wedding business without paying for a single ad.    Guest Bio   This husband-wife duo launched Le Rêve Films in 2010 from their shared passion for traveling the world and transforming the magical memories from a couple’s nuptials into a visual tapestry that showcases their love story for a lifetime. Le Rêve takes pride in focusing on capturing the beauty, emotion and all the details in between from a couple’s wedding weekend, all the while, always portraying real, authentic love.   Le Rêve Films’ reputation and award-winning work has been featured in Vogue, People, BRIDES, Martha Stewart Weddings, iHeart Radio, and has earned them a spot among Harper’s BAZAAR’s list of The Top Wedding Videographers in the World.  They have had the privilege of capturing events for clients like Naomi Biden, Sean McVay, DJ Tiesto, and other high-profile celebrities, musicians and athletes. Go to https://lerevefilms.com/ for more information. Get Le Rêve’s custom LUTS here and follow @lerevefilms on Instagram. 

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 intentional means slowing down to think more clearly, identifying what allows her to be her best and making that the foundation of everything she does. What practices allow Lea to be a more intentional individual, and how does that impact her business? How does connecting with clients at a deeper level make for more meaningful moments? How do you create events that tug on all the senses? In this episode, we’re joined by the founder of Stafford Creative + Co and Seven-Eight Living. Lea talks about intentionality and what it takes to produce events that have a soul.   Guest Bio Lea Stafford is the founder of Stafford Creative + Co and Seven-Eight Living. SC+Co. is a highly desired creative brand coveted for its expertise in delivering soulful multi-day events and celebrations globally. Collaborating with discerning clients who appreciate the subtle nuance with a touch of audacity is where SC+Co. thrives. Their enthusiasm revolves around venturing to culturally vibrant destinations and joining forces with conscientious artisans who embrace sustainability and ethics in their craftsmanship. For more information, go to https://staffordcreativeco.com/ and follow @staffordcreative_co and @seveneightliving on Instagram.

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 fluttering fun of initial planning to the gratification of the culminating moment, everything has to be about designing this experience. Then the experience has to connect to the couple, the guests and the location. How do you craft a defining experience and then connect people to it?   Why does our guest take a bespoke approach to assembling the team of vendors? In this episode, Augusta Cole talks about her journey, the beautiful roots of her approach to weddings, and the process of starting her own business after working with Easton Events.   Guest Bio With over a decade of extensive experience in producing events across the world, Augusta Cole is widely trusted and respected for her discretion as well as her intuitive creative design, innate eye for detail, and seamless planning process. Based in New York, NY and Charleston, SC, with a global presence, Augusta excels in producing one-of-a-kind occasions of all shapes and sizes, ranging from multiple-day destination weddings and high-caliber corporate programs to intimate dinner parties. Her emphasis on customizing experiences and empowering a team of creative talent allows each event to reflect her client’s vision, personality, and style. Throughout her career, Augusta has project-managed a diverse portfolio of highly detailed, logistically complicated events, which has developed her invaluable bank of industry knowledge. Augusta’s fresh perspective and drive to provide dedicated, enthusiastic planning and design aims to surpass client expectations on every level. Go to https://www.augustacole.com/ and follow @augustacole on Instagram.

John Moler, a Colorado wedding photographer, talks about how he tripled his rates by refining his brand and proposal, not by lowering prices. He discusses the importance of valuing oneself, simplifying offerings, and attracting luxury clients. The podcast explores strategies for business growth, networking in the wedding industry, and the mindset shift needed to increase prices in the luxury market.

Luxury travel expert Jack Ezon emphasizes the importance of experience over location in crafting unique travel experiences. He discusses the shift in luxury towards conscious consumption and the value of meaningful buying choices. Jack also explores building relationships with luxury vendors, luxury trends in the wedding industry, and the significance of personal connections in luxury travel. He shares insights on embracing failure for success and embracing risk in business.