Author: James
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Dawson Mitchell — From Fired to Thriving – What It Takes to Become Undeniable
In this episode in our second installment in a special series on incredible number twos—James and Otto sit down with Dawson Haynes, Director of Operations at the world-renowned Easton Events, to unpack what it really takes to thrive inside a brand known for precision, polish, and excellence. What does it look like to grow inside…
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Natalie Denyse — Clients Don’t Buy Brands—They Buy Trust
In this episode hosts James and Otto sit down with Natalie Denyse, founder of In Good Company PR, a strategic branding and marketing firm specializing in the luxury hospitality and wedding industry. With over a decade of experience, Natalie has worked with top-tier planners, photographers, and venues to help them craft brands that last, build…
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Preston Utley — Blurred Lines, Messy Love, and Finding the Soul of a Wedding
In this episode hosts James and Otto sit down with Preston Utley, an acclaimed Denver-based destination wedding photographer with a photojournalistic background. With over 15 years in luxury weddings and a deep passion for storytelling, Preston shares how his early career as a newspaper photographer shaped his ability to anticipate moments, blend into the background,…
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Bash Please – Reinventing Weddings & Corporate Events—What Planners Need to Know
In this episode hosts James and Otto sit down with Sunna and Mollie, the powerhouse duo behind Bash Please, a full-service luxury event planning, design, and production firm with studios in San Francisco and Beverly Hills. With over a decade in the industry, they have redefined what it means to create multi-day destination weddings and…
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John Dolan – The Perfect Imperfect
In this episode On today’s episode, hosts James and Otto are joined by guest John Dolan, the legendary wedding photographer who has spent decades redefining what it means to capture life’s most intimate moments. John has a distinct approach to capturing wedding moments authentically, emphasizing individual frames that stand alone as works of art. To…
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Katherine Gray – Michelle Rago Destinations
In this episode hosts James and Otto are joined by Katherine Gray, Senior Event Producer at Michelle Rago Destinations, a globally renowned luxury wedding planning firm. To begin, explains her title as senior event producer, emphasizing the full-time, collaborative nature of her role compared to freelance event producers. Katherine aligns her professional identity with a…
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Bianca Hall & Erica Vanco – Estera Events
In this episode hosts James and Otto are joined by Bianca Hall and Erica Vanco, the powerhouse duo behind Estera Events, a luxury wedding planning and design firm based in Chicago. To begin, they recount their journey to becoming co-owners of Astera Events. In 2010, Erika interned for the original owner, Hillary, while in college.…
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Kelsey Connely – Downey Street Events
In this episode James and Otto are joined by Kelsey Connely, the owner and creative director of Downey Street Events, which is a luxury wedding planning firm. Downey Street Events was started by Lauren Geissler and Emily de Ayora, who met and became best friends in law school. They started the company in 2008 and…
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Melissa Sullivan – Studio Sully
In this episode James and Otto are joined by Melissa Sullivan, the owner and founder of Studio Sully, a design and production firm focused on events that is located in Los Angeles and New York. Melissa had years of professional experience in the wedding and event industry with top designers, and after the tail end…
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Colin Cowie
In this episode James and Otto are joined by Colin Cowie, a renowned figure in the event industry and Founder of Colin Cowie Lifestyle. Colin reflects on how the pandemic led to a surge in demand for events. Many people were unable to celebrate or get married during the pandemic, resulting in an unusually hectic…
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The Fourniers
In this episode James and Otto are joined by Joshua, half of the incredible fine art wedding photographer duo The Fourniers. To begin, Josh shares that he comes from a background in medicine, with a master’s degree in physician assistant studies from Grand Valley State University in Michigan. He recounts how his venture into wedding…
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Lea Stafford
In this episode founder of Stafford Creative + Co and Seven-Eight Living, Lea Staffod talks about intentionality and what it takes to produce events that have a soul. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Shownotes: When you work in the fast-paced, demanding world of luxury weddings, it’s easy to run on reactivity – to…
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Augusta Cole
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. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify A special event is made up of 3 types of experiences – the atmospheric, the tangible and the…
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John Moler
In this episode We’re joined by Colorado photographer, John Moler. He shares how he tripled his price tag by simplifying everything he does. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Offer a discount, drop your rates, or put more into the package – this is what most people will do when they want to get…
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Jack Ezon
In this episode We’re joined by travel industry icon and founder and partner of EMBARK Beyond, Jack Ezon. He shares his journey, what sets his team apart, and why travel matters. He also shares luxury trends in the wedding industry and beyond. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify As luxury shifts from conspicuous consumption…
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Sofia Crokos
In this episode We’re excited to be joined by the luxury event planner, restaurateur, and founder of Sofia Crokos Events & Lifestyle. Sofia shares how she went from fashion to weddings, how her restaurant came about, and all the incredible ways she chases beauty and inspiration in everything she does. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen…