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The Michael Coombs Show

Michael Coombs

Welcome to The Michael Coombs Show, where we'll be having conversations with tastemakers, entrepreneurs, and business leaders in the wedding and event industry. So sit back and enjoy The Michael Coombs Show.

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#70
September 22 · 29 min
Joel & Justyna on Spontaneous Wedding Photography and Building an International Career
Host Michael Coombs interviews wedding photographers Joel and Justyna about their spontaneous, guest-like approach to capturing weddings “from the inside out,” prioritizing how people feel over perfect shot lists. Joel traces his path from growing up around photographer parents in Ottawa to being scouted for modeling, buying a camera, second-shooting weddings in 2009, and eventually expanding with Justyna from local work to Toronto, Montreal, and global destinations. He describes assisting his father—Canada’s official royal portrait photographer—during Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee portrait, emphasizing months of preparation and the importance of people skills. Justina shares her fine art and art history background and how creative fashion/editorial projects led into weddings. They explain abandoning heavy pre-planning after timelines, weather, and other variables, keeping only essentials like details and family photos, and attribute growth to local excellence and word-of-mouth relationships over content trends. 00:00 Spontaneous Wedding Philosophy 00:34 Meet Joel and Justyna 00:52 Joel’s Winding Career Path 03:55 Assisting the Royal Portrait 06:07 People Skills Behind the Lens 07:30 Justyna’s Fine Art Origins 09:07 From Craigslist to Weddings 10:28 Ditching the Shot List 13:28 Planning Versus Pivoting 16:18 Fashion Influence on Weddings 20:15 Why Couples Connect 23:39 Confidence and Self Portraits 25:22 Going International from Ottawa 28:53 Final Thanks and Subscribe Links : Michael Coombs Joel & Justyna
#69
September 15 · 31 min
Luxury Is Personal: Andrea Eppolito on Letting Go of Volume and Rebuilding for Ultra-Luxury Weddings
Host Michael Coombs interviews luxury wedding and event planner Andrea Eppolito about making a clean-break repositioning from high-volume work to a personal, intentional luxury brand. Eppolito describes letting go of the need to take every inquiry, overcoming fears that the phone wouldn’t ring again, and clarifying who she serves by removing misaligned portfolio content, rebuilding her website, refining messaging, and only accepting ideal clients—taking just two weddings from 100+ leads during a difficult transition year. She explains how a “board of directors” led by her husband and strategist Sean Lowe supported the shift. Discussing pricing (starting around $2,500 per person) and high-end clients, she says they buy tailored, granular decisions and access to top talent. She also outlines industry changes driven by social media, reduced gatekeeping, and AI, redefining luxury as personal, intentional, and irreplicable. 00:00 Luxury Is Personal 00:19 Meet The Guest 00:54 Letting Go Of Volume 03:29 Fixing Brand Confusion 07:22 The Hard Reset Year 10:28 Why A Clean Break 13:27 Fear And Support System 18:12 Quoting Ultra Luxury Budgets 22:12 What Clients Really Buy 25:43 Industry Shifts And AI 30:12 Defining Luxury Today 30:52 Closing And Subscribe Links : Michael Coombs Andrea Eppolito
#68
September 8 · 29 min
Akeshi Akinseye on the Felt Journey: Intention, Culture, and Genuine Luxury in Events
Host Michael Coombs interviews Nigerian-born planner, designer, educator, and author Akeshi Akinseye of Kesh Events about building meaningful, culturally rooted celebrations and redefining luxury as “the felt” rather than visible, expensive details. Akeshi explains a planner’s responsibility in translating a client’s culture by listening first, asking real follow-up questions, and reflecting insights back in proposals to personalize the experience. She describes the “felt journey” as designing emotion and intention at every touchpoint, and urges creatives to shift content from visuals to feelings to better communicate value. Akeshi shares how education, constant learning, and humility support premium positioning, and discusses her platform, The Kesh Experience, which offers courses, membership, and a mastermind. She emphasizes personal branding, visibility, representation, and taking up space with excellence, and mentions her books, including The Art of Celebrating, available widely. 00:00 Luxury Is a Feeling 00:12 Meet Akeshi Akinseye 00:42 Intention and Culture Roots 02:07 Translating Culture to Events 03:11 Listening for Client Clues 04:10 From Cues to Proposals 06:10 Genuine Luxury vs Expensive 07:53 The Felt Journey Explained 09:13 Selling the Feeling Online 11:26 Pricing with Education Value 13:59 Make It About the Client 15:23 Creative Humility Habits 15:57 Learning Everywhere Daily 17:20 Cash Experience Breakdown 18:13 Luxury Market Misconceptions 19:37 Handling Client Resistance 21:01 Why Personal Brand Wins 22:24 Press Visibility Proof 24:06 Representation Take Up Space 26:12 Books Legacy Impact 28:59 Where To Buy Closing Links : Michael Coombs Kesh Events
#67
August 18 · 39 min
Julian Leaver on Hospitality, Client Advocacy, Feedback, and Pricing Transparency in Wedding Planning
Host Michael Coombs interviews event planner Julian Leaver, who started by planning sorority parties at the University of Oklahoma, nearly pursued a State Department career, worked in hotels including Rosewood, and now runs Julian Leaver Events with offices in Dallas and Paris. Leaver explains how low-budget college events taught scrappiness, tight logistics, and prioritizing guest experience, and how hotel systems, data, and collaboration shaped his firm while he left behind high-volume repetition. He discusses saying no based on fit and budget, educating clients on costs (including a budgeting method based on venue and food-and-beverage estimates), and managing 3,000+ micro-decisions through phased planning and recorded calls. He details post-event surveys for clients and vendors, using feedback to improve systems and understand buyer types, emphasizes client advocacy and direct communication with vendors, shares his 10-year sobriety, describes his “Mind Over Matrimony” podcast for transparency, and outlines clear, commission-free pricing practices. 00:00 Service Is the Product 00:19 Meet Julian Leaver 00:42 From State Dept to Events 02:42 Sorority Parties to Hospitality 04:24 Origin Story and Referrals 06:32 Guiding Clients on Experience 08:17 First Year Lessons Saying No 10:16 Budget Fit and Education 12:51 Wedding Budget Rule of Five 13:51 Hotel Systems vs Creative Freedom 17:06 Client Capacity and Team Structure 18:12 Paris Office and Global Planning 19:32 Local Teams Matter 20:19 3000 Micro Decisions 22:15 Recording Calls For Clarity 23:03 Post Wedding Surveys 24:15 Using Feedback To Improve 25:51 Buyer Types And Messaging 27:09 Why Vendors Avoid Surveys 30:18 Client Advocacy First 31:51 Handling Vendor Misalignment 33:09 Mind Over Matrimony Podcast 36:23 Pricing Transparency Explained 38:58 Closing Thanks And Subscribe Links : Michael Coombs Julian Leaver Events
#66
August 11 · 30 min
Dryden & Emily on Excellence, Preparation, and Building a Luxury Destination Wedding Brand
Host Michael Coombs interviews husband-and-wife destination wedding photo and video team Dryden and Emily about building a respected luxury storytelling brand since launching in 2020. They explain why destination work keeps them inspired and removes seasonality, how they manage creative disagreements by leaning into each other’s strengths, and why extensive preparation—like arriving 2–3 days early to scout—helps them capture “magazine-worthy” imagery without harming the couple’s wedding experience. They credit rapid growth to social media, constant debriefs, and pursuing excellence in shooting, editing, branding, and posting. They discuss rebranding from Wild & Rome to “Dryden and Emily” to better resonate with luxury clients, evolving their ideal client, relying on planner relationships, and the role of community, networking, and conferences. They close by stressing there’s no single path to success and acknowledging struggles with comparison and FOMO. 00:00 Excellence First Mindset 00:46 Meet Dryden And Emily 01:29 Why Destination Weddings 02:56 Creative Conflict And Prep 05:38 Imagery Versus Experience 07:23 Prep As A Business Edge 09:38 How They Started In 2020 10:49 Scaling Fast With Social 12:34 Rebrand To Their Names 14:29 Finding The Right Clients 18:42 Planners And Vibes Check 23:52 Community Fuels Growth 26:51 Where To Network 27:57 No One Right Path 29:50 Wrap Up And Thanks Links : Michael Coombs Dryden & Emily
#65
July 28 · 42 min
DJ Malike on Choosing Joy, Cultural Relevance, and Innovating the Wedding DJ Industry
Host Michael Coombs interviews DJ Malike of Curate Entertainment about his recent high-profile appearances (BizBash, New York Bridal Fashion Week, Engage, FIFA) and why audiences respond to his authenticity, energy, and focus on joy. Malike defines joy as a resilient choice distinct from happiness, shaped by his mother and influenced by Viktor Frankl, and describes practicing it through acceptance, gratitude, and service, including a FIFA Fan Fest moment when sprinklers ruined the sound system and he shifted to uplifting others backstage. He discusses being the first DJ to speak on Engage’s main stage, the role of goal-setting with deadlines, and BizBash recognition for making DJs culturally relevant and fashion forward by blending professionalism with club-level cultural cool while “knowing the rules” before breaking them. Malike addresses pricing through perceived value, scarcity, and emotional intelligence, and responds to online criticism about his style by defending cultural expression and refusing to change. 00:00 Rules and Innovation 00:19 Meet DJ Malik 01:15 Authenticity and Joy 02:38 Defining Joy 04:35 FIFA Setback Story 08:29 Choosing Joy Daily 10:19 Engage Main Stage First 11:36 Why Malike Was Chosen 14:05 Who Malike Really Is 16:26 Goals and Manifestation 19:30 BizBash Recognition 20:01 DJ Industry Bubble 20:41 Conference Famous Trap 21:35 Giving Flowers Publicly 22:14 Culturally Relevant DJs 24:45 Bridging Two Worlds 26:19 Know Rules Break Rules 27:44 Reading The Audience 29:41 Raising Rates Perception 32:54 Best Work Scarcity 36:54 Heat Over Style 37:48 Culture Loud Luxury 42:16 Final Mic Drop Links : Michael Coombs Curate Entertainment
#64
June 23 · 31 min
Kristin Banta on Defining Creative Point of View, Storytelling Events, and Finding the “Why”
Host Michael Coombs interviews Kristin Banta, founder of Kristin Banta Events, about being named one of the most influential event professionals of the past 25 years and how her 23-year journey evolved from learning weddings from scratch to producing premieres, immersive brand events, and corporate work. Banta explains she broke from traditional weddings by first mastering the rules, then reshaping them around a clear point of view, and advises creatives to define what they uniquely bring and find clients who respond. She describes her client intake process as listening, asking the right questions, and uncovering the “why” before design begins, noting the stigma corporate clients can have toward wedding producers and the limits of designing solely for social media moments. She details her award-winning “Shape of Water” wedding concept and shares how surviving a hit-and-run accident reframed her priorities and gratitude for life. 00:00 Find Your Point of View 00:16 Meet Kristin Banta 01:22 Starting in Weddings 02:51 Theater to Events Path 05:30 Learning the Rules 06:53 Breaking Tradition Backlash 08:36 Expanding Beyond Weddings 09:51 Client Why and Intake 11:11 Corporate Stigma Shift 15:25 Pretty Versus Impact 16:13 Beyond Social Media Moments 18:30 Standing Out Today 20:40 Shape of Water Concept 22:50 Guest Journey Walkthrough 24:43 Designing Multisensory Stories 25:39 Life Changing Accident 28:56 Why the Work Matters 30:55 Closing and Subscribe Links : Michael Coombs Kristin Banta Events
June 2 · 31 min
Veronica Di Santo on Launching V, Building Ines Di Santo, and Leading Through Grief
Today’s show features Veronica Di Santo, co-founder and managing partner of Ines Di Santo, about luxury bridal fashion, entrepreneurship, and resilience. Veronica describes herself as a passionate, people-focused, and spiritual person while sharing the story behind the launch of V, Veronica Di Santo. She reflects on growing up in her mother’s atelier, where she learned that bridal is about creating history and that building a successful brand requires both sacrifice and a relentless pursuit of excellence. She also shares the “aha” moment she experienced while in university that led her to join the family business. Throughout the conversation, Veronica discusses the brand’s growth on a global scale, the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people, and why strong teams are essential to long-term success. She opens up about her manifestation practices, navigating the loss of her husband during COVID with the support of her team, and the habits that keep her grounded, including working out and learning tennis. Her biggest lessons: lead with passion, embrace what makes you different, invest in great people, and always be willing to listen. 00:00 Carving Her Own Path 00:35 Meet Veronica Di Santo 02:34 Launching V Bridal Line 04:41 V Bride vs Ines Style 06:03 Growing Up In Atelier 08:29 Choosing The Family Dream 11:16 Scaling To Global Luxury 13:24 Finding Talent And Manifesting 18:56 Grief And Healing Journey 24:12 Staying Grounded And Sharp 26:47 Advice For Brand Builders 27:57 Power Of Listening 31:03 Closing And Subscribe Links : Michael Coombs Veronica Di Santo Ines Di Santo
#62
May 19 · 40 min
Consistency, Follow-Up, and Luxury Hospitality Principles for Sales and Leadership with Cindy Novotny
Host Michael Coombs interviews sales, leadership, and customer service trainer Cindy Novotny about building sustainable businesses through the combination of strong sales, exceptional service, and leadership. Drawing from her experience with the Ritz-Carlton Learning Institute and Malcolm Baldrige quality standards, she shared how vision, mission, onboarding, daily standards, reviews, and communication huddles all contribute to long-term success — and how luxury hospitality practices can translate into corporate industries. She also emphasized the importance of fast, personalized follow-up through “personal automation,” avoiding public pricing for customized work, and consistently pursuing business through referrals, outreach, and re-engaging after lost bids. We discussed the value of asking for honest feedback after losses, the reality that most prospects need 6–13 touchpoints, and the importance of staying connected with clients at least every six months. Some of the biggest themes throughout the conversation were consistency, blocking one hour daily for business development, understanding your numbers and ROI, using AI for call notes and speech prep, improving presentation skills, and staying curious and coachable across generations. 00:00 Consistency Wins 00:40 Meet Cindy Novotny 01:27 Sales Service Leadership Trio 02:56 Luxury Hospitality Playbook 04:08 Vision Mission Standards 05:13 Processes for Solo Entrepreneurs 06:06 Fast Follow Up Example 07:47 Personal Automation System 09:04 Why No Website Pricing 10:32 Referrals and Lost Deals 11:40 Handling Rejection and Feedback 14:36 Ghosting and Mystery Shopping 16:04 No Fluff Direct Leadership 19:14 Truth and Ethics in Sales 20:53 What Makes Winners Consistent 21:25 Daily Sales Consistency 21:42 Practice Beats Talent 23:11 One Hour Business Block 24:27 Capture Leads Fast 25:36 Follow Up Cadence 29:59 Know Your Numbers 31:26 Build Lists And Referrals 33:30 Get Help To Scale 36:37 AI As Your Assistant 38:13 Mentors And Learning 40:25 Closing Thanks And Subscribe Links: Cindy Novotny Michael Coombs
#61
May 12 · 41 min
Josh Spiegel of Birch Events: Listening as Luxury, Surviving Debt, and Scaling Creativity
Host Michael Coombs interviews Josh Spiegel, founder and chief creative officer of Birch Events, about his path from selling florals in his dad’s Brooklyn balloon shop to producing 200+ events a year. Spiegel says Birch’s foundation is service and listening, defining luxury as how clients feel and how heard they are. He recounts early financial naivety that led to about $1.5M in debt, and describes steps to regain control: paying himself a salary, using an “envelope diet,” finding partners with complementary skills, and selling 70% of the company to gain operational and financial support; he says the debt took about 10 years to resolve. He discusses partnership lessons, resilience through COVID, designing by extracting clients’ stories, the role of relationships and authenticity, excitement about AI-driven internal tools, hiring CEO Lance Emanuel in 2023, and plans for global growth and broader market service. 00:00 Service Is Luxury 00:16 From Balloon Shop 01:20 Listening Builds Birch 02:33 Debt And Naivete 04:20 Envelope Budgeting 07:15 Finding The Right Partner 09:59 A Decade To Debt Free 10:55 Surviving COVID 13:44 Resilience Mountain Mindset 16:47 Humility And Authenticity 18:17 Innovation At Scale 19:47 Client Discovery Process 20:45 Design Starts With Questions 21:07 Reimagining Navy Theme 21:50 Jewel Box Event Reveal 23:22 Listening As Superpower 25:52 Luxury Means Whole Sentence 27:18 Relationships Build Success 29:55 Social Media And Privacy 31:30 Standing Out In Luxury 33:46 AI Transforms Workflow 36:20 Why Hire A CEO 39:18 Whats Next For Birch 40:27 Final Thanks And Signoff Links: Michael Coombs Birch Events
#60
April 14 · 32 min
Mo Govindji of Mango Studios - Wedding Photography with Systems, Trust and a Visual Planning Process
Host Michael Coons interviews Mo Govindji of Mango Studios, a wedding photography company founded in Toronto in 2005 that now shoots globally with a boutique team across Toronto, Miami, and destination markets. Mo attributes 20+ years of consistency to quality as a prerequisite, plus strong people, customer service, consistency, systems, and embracing change. He explains Mango’s three “machines” (sales/marketing, hiring/training and shooting, and production) and how their funnel uses tools like Instagram, Typeform, Acuity, Salesforce, and ShootQ. After COVID reduced in-person consultations, Mango built an in-house, collaborative system that transcribes calls and turns them into a visual canvas/plan (vision-board style) to align expectations and build trust, reducing post-wedding disconnects. Mo argues trust is the key differentiator in saturated markets, advises focusing on what you’re obsessive about, strengthening foundations to fix “leaky buckets,” prioritizing distribution, and applying “pain plus reflection equals progress” to adapt. 00:00 Adapt Or Die Mindset 00:49 Meet Mango Studios 01:51 Three Keys To Longevity 02:36 Building Consistency At Scale 03:50 Systems That Run The Studio 05:12 Sales Funnel And CRM Stack 06:39 Consultations Before And After COVID 09:42 Vision Board For Creative Alignment 12:03 Why Clients Stop Booking 13:38 From Portfolio To Plan 15:13 Integrating Tools Into One Canvas 18:25 Trust As The Differentiator 23:04 Advice To Rise Above 25:47 Start With A Strong Foundation 27:47 Distribution Beats The Product 29:51 Pain Plus Reflection Equals Progress 31:53 Closing And Farewell Links: Mango Studios Michael Coombs
#59
April 7 · 49 min
Kathy Romero on Certainty, Alignment, and Building a Premium Event Planning Brand
Host Michael Coombs interviews global event planner and brand strategist Kathy Romero following her surprise talk at Toronto’s client appreciation party, The Interlude. Romero explains that reaching high-profile work required complete self-trust, strong boundaries, and projecting certainty because clients “hire a presence,” not just a planner. She emphasizes leaving fear by choosing yourself, vetting client alignment through experience, and building a clear, evolving vision rooted in the life and lifestyle you want rather than comparison or volume. Romero discusses recurring doubts, grief-driven overcompensation, burnout, and recovering through certainty. She defends a lean three-person team and fewer, higher-value clients, warning that scaling for status can trap businesses in overhead and ego. She outlines raising prices as a positioning signal, guiding clients away from trends, maintaining expert authority, handling vendor pushback through documented recommendations, fostering abundance-minded collaboration, and selling transferable skills when switching event niches. 00:00 Interlude Event Setup 00:47 Meet Kathy Romero 01:19 Becoming Certain 03:22 Leaving Fear Behind 05:30 Client Alignment Mindset 06:16 Vision And Foundation 09:18 Lifestyle First Business 10:35 Grief And Boundaries 13:11 Burnout And Certainty 15:19 Small Team Big Value 18:32 Status Ego Trap 20:57 Raising Prices Upmarket 25:26 Charge What You’re Worth 26:31 When to Raise Rates 27:59 Pricing With Integrity 28:48 Positioning Your Brand 29:52 Trends vs Timeless Taste 32:19 Stop Being a Yes Man 34:57 Handling Bad Vendor Picks 38:17 Confrontation and Accountability 38:51 Referrals Ego and Scarcity 43:11 Find Your People 46:40 Pivot Without a Portfolio 49:29 Closing Thanks and Subscribe Links: Michael Coombs Kathy Romero
#58
March 31 · 37 min
Behind the Scenes of TIFF's 50th with Mariangel Urdaneta
Toronto International Film Festival isn’t just a festival—it’s a cultural force. TIFF’s Director of Special Events, Mariangel Urdaneta, pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to bring it to life. At its core, TIFF operates as a charity with a bold mission: to shift how people see the world through film. For its 50th anniversary, the focus wasn’t on doing more—it was on doing better. Think elevated experiences. Opening day set the tone with a Walk of Fame moment, back-to-back premieres, and a high-energy kickoff party that only TIFF can deliver. Behind the scenes? It’s all about intentional design—keeping events accessible, maintaining a seamless brand feel, and building with sustainability in mind (yes, even repurposing florals across 100+ events). Because at TIFF, every detail isn’t just planned—it’s curated. 00:00 TIFF Vision Intro 00:42 TIFF 50 Highlights 03:33 Budget And Partners 05:38 Event Guidelines 07:17 Sustainability In Action 09:59 Hangar Party Logistics 12:40 Keeping It Fresh 14:45 Content Market Explained 18:20 Behind The Scenes Ops 22:30 Permits Visas Logistics 23:50 Tribute Gala Evolution 26:40 Honorees Star Power 27:45 Breaking Into Events 30:00 Weddings Versus Festivals 31:15 Drone Show Planning 35:50 Looking Ahead To 2026 37:40 Final Thanks And Wrap Links: Michael Coombs Marieangel | Instagram tiff
#57
March 24 · 29 min
Why the Human Touch Is the Future of Luxury: Scaling Wedding Creative Businesses with Katie Hendricks
Host Michael Coombs interviews Katie Hendricks, founder of Masterfully Managed and Forma, about supporting wedding creatives through operations and representation. Katie explains that Masterfully Managed, an eight-year-old 17-person team, acts as an extension of clients’ brands by handling behind-the-scenes tasks like client communication, vendor/venue sourcing, submissions, social media, blogs, and Pinterest. She shares how Forma, launched five to six months ago, emerged from photographers requesting agency-style representation, and how she now matches photographers/videographers to planners and couples by factoring in budget, availability, and personality dynamics. They discuss the value of in-person conferences and relationship-building, the benefits of a specialized virtual team versus a single assistant, common operational pain points like broken systems and inbox/file chaos, and cautious, selective use of automation and AI while emphasizing personalization and human connection as “the future of luxury.” 00:00 Human Touch Luxury 00:20 Meet Katie Hendricks 00:53 Two Businesses Explained 01:47 Why Forma Exists 03:14 Matchmaking Photo Video 06:11 Creative Outreach Ideas 09:22 Conferences Matter 12:06 VA Versus In Person 13:56 Fixing Operations Systems 16:25 Building Client Trust 18:41 Automation And AI 23:04 Future Of Luxury 24:41 Advice For Overwhelm Links: Michael Coombs Masterfully Managed Forma
#56
March 17 · 30 min
DJ MOS on Becoming the Oscars’ Official DJ, NYC Nightlife Roots, Social Media Growth, and AI in DJing
Host Michael Coombs interviews DJ MOS, an NYC and LA nightlife veteran and, with his wife DJ Kiss, the Academy Awards’ official DJ. MOS recounts how he manifested the Oscars gig and met an assistant to the Academy president who helped connect him, and explains preparing for celebrity rooms by reading the crowd and mixing classics with current hits. He reflects on formative experiences at NYC clubs like the Tunnel, interning at Elektra Records, and learning through “DJ university” nights, citing mentors including Peter Paul, Du Ray, Mark Ronson, Rich Medina, DJ AM, and Clark Kent. He describes moving to LA with DJ Kiss, how they met at PM and became a DJ duo, and shares views on brand partnerships, DJs’ longevity, and embracing new tech while staying rooted in vinyl. He discusses AI as a research/organization tool, social media’s importance, and how COVID live streams—boosted by a D-Nice redirect—gained him 35,000 followers in eight hours. He previews film projects, new music, and continuing to DJ. 00:00 Viral DJ Moment 00:12 Oscars DJ Origin Story 02:13 Preparing for Celebrity Rooms 03:29 Teen Years in NYC Clubs 04:53 Electra Records and Leveling Up 06:35 Mentors and DJ University 09:53 Why Move to Los Angeles 11:39 Meeting DJ Kiss and Duo Life 13:26 Brand Deals and Staying Authentic 14:45 DJs as Brand Ambassadors 15:42 No Age Limit DJing 16:10 Connecting Across Generations 16:32 Music Knowledge Advantage 17:30 Relentless Gig Stories 18:51 Veterans vs New Tech 20:24 Gear Preferences Workflow 21:21 AI in DJing 24:16 Social Media Strategy 26:05 COVID Live Stream Breakout 29:03 What’s Next and Farewell Links: Michael Coombs DJ MOS | Instagram
#55
March 10 · 34 min
Tyler Speier on Carefully Executed Restraint and Executing Luxury Events at Scale
Host Michael Coombs interviews Santa Barbara planner, designer, and florist Tyler Speier, creative director for Engage! Santa Barbara, about executing luxury at scale under industry scrutiny, short turnarounds, and high expectations. Speier explains the intentional Santa Barbara story he designed for Engage—from natural beauty and monarch migration to agriculture, downtown, Fiesta, cowboy history, and old Hollywood—and why he took on the project for both challenge and ROI, citing amplified reach, stronger venue relationships, and new contracts. He shares how his company began after high school with budget weddings, grew alongside a nonprofit career, and expanded rapidly after an analytical decision to go full-time. Speier emphasizes venue relationships, kindness, hospitality, and on-site presence, and details his philosophy of “carefully executed restraint”: strategically balancing wow moments with restraint to highlight architecture, natural beauty, and impact. He describes an integrated planning/design/floral process, logistical realism, solution-oriented client communication, collaborative team structure, and educational offerings on tylerspeier.com. 00:00 Executed Restraint Teaser 00:39 Engage Creative Pressure 02:02 Santa Barbara Story Arc 03:16 Why Take The Risk 05:05 Finding Daily Inspiration 06:23 From Budget To Luxury 08:29 Going Full Time 10:06 Venue Relationships Matter 12:02 Kindness As Leadership 13:25 Being Present Onsite 15:44 Defining Executed Restraint 18:04 Origins Of The Philosophy 18:24 Design With Restraint 19:25 Guiding Budget Choices 21:05 Client Process Breakdown 22:28 Hands On Or Hands Off 23:40 Creativity Meets Logistics 25:05 Truth Moments With Clients 26:34 Backup Plans Under Pressure 28:01 Team Candor And Brainstorms 30:05 How The Team Is Structured 31:40 Education And Giving Back 32:48 Engage Santa Barbara Reflections 34:35 Final Thanks And Sign Off Michael Coombs
#54
March 3 · 37 min
Manifesting Success: Ashley Pigott and the Art of Event Planning Excellence
In this episode, Ashley Pigott shares her insights on the power of manifestation, the importance of obsession with excellence, and the personal costs of growth in the event planning industry. She discusses the calculated risks involved in expanding her business internationally and the significance of building collaborative partnerships. Ashley emphasizes the need to stay true to oneself amidst industry noise and the evolving definition of success. She also highlights the importance of creating memorable experiences for clients and managing pressure during high-stakes events. Finally, she reflects on her journey of manifesting opportunities and her recent work with the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. 00:50 The Power of Manifestation 04:10 Obsessed with Excellence 05:10 The Cost of Growth 07:10 Calculated Risks in Expansion 11:10 Building Collaborative Partnerships 13:40 Staying True to Yourself 15:45 The Importance of Experience 19:50 Defining Success 22:20 The Little Things 23:50 Handling Pressure 32:10 Do Your Own Thing 35:30 The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Launch
#53
February 24 · 38 min
Brandee Gaar on Confident Selling: Consultation Frameworks, Pricing Transparency, and Closing Wedding Clients
Brandee Gaar, founder of Wedding Pro CEO, explains that many wedding professionals undercharge and avoid leading clients to a decision because they fear sounding pushy, which leaves couples confused about next steps. She outlines a four-part consultation framework: deep discovery to uncover motivations and pain points; pitching only in direct relation to those pain points rather than listing generic service bullet points; securing small verbal “yeses” throughout (including addressing budget and pricing in the call instead of deferring it); and then assuming next steps by confidently guiding clients into a contract when readiness is confirmed. She emphasizes not sending a contract unless the client explicitly wants it, and if they are not ready, ending the call by setting a specific follow-up date rather than leaving the process open-ended. Brandee argues for putting ballpark pricing on websites to help leads self-qualify, noting modern buyers expect immediate information; she recommends ranges like “starts at” or “average client spends,” and suggests that strong marketing and nurturing should make consultations largely a formality. She discusses differentiation by knowing competitors and proactively addressing comparison points during consultations, including using AI to analyze competitor reviews and clarify unique value. Brandee also distinguishes selling to planners/venues versus couples, advising vendors to avoid cold pitching, seek warm introductions (especially via networking event hosts), follow up effectively, and understand that planners need direct information rather than a full sales funnel. She strongly discourages sending proposals after calls as it delays pricing clarity and increases ghosting, advocating instead for handling objections live and moving straight to contract; she notes florists may still need proposals but should give an in-call price range first to prevent sticker shock and proposal-shopping. She recommends meeting clients where they communicate, including email, DMs, and even text consultations. Throughout, she reframes sales as serving: providing a solution to a couple’s need and leading them clearly so they don’t book a poorly fit vendor with better marketing. 00:00 Meet Brandee Gaar: Sales Strategy for Wedding Pros 00:29 The #1 Sales Pitfall: Being Afraid to Lead the Client 01:54 Consultation Framework Part 1: Deep Discovery That Uncovers Real Motivations 03:04 Part 2: Pitch to Pain Points (Not Boring Bullet Points) 04:30 Part 3: Get Mini ‘Yeses’ + Talk Budget Before the Proposal 06:34 Part 4: Assume the Sale & Walk Them Through Next Steps 07:41 When They’re Not Ready: Don’t Send the Contract Yet 10:23 Why Pricing Belongs on Your Website (Without a ‘Menu’) 13:46 Will Pricing Scare People Off? How Marketing Should Pre-Sell the Consult 16:03 Instagram vs Reality: Reviews, Reputation, and the Couple’s Vendor Journey 19:03 Standing Out in a Crowded Market: Differentiation Beyond Extra Bullet Points 20:10 Why a Full-Time Planning Team Beats a Solo Planner 20:49 Know Your Differentiator: Selling Against Competitors (with AI Help) 22:18 Selling to Planners & Venues vs. Selling to Couples 23:48 Networking the Right Way: Warm Intros, No Cold Pitches 27:21 Stop Sending Proposals After Calls: Close in the Consultation 29:47 Follow-Up Strategy: Set the Next Step + Florist Proposal Caveat 35:08 Meet Clients Where They Are: Email, DMs, and Text Consultations 36:33 Final Mindset Shift: Sales as Service (and Why It Matters) Links: Michael Coombs Wedding Pro CEO
#52
February 17 · 38 min
Resilience and Reinvention: The Journey of Bridal Designer Hayley Paige
In this episode, renowned bridal designer Hayley Paige, shares her inspiring journey from loving dresses as a young girl to navigating a tumultuous legal battle over her own name. Hayley discusses her early influences, including her grandmother who taught her to sew, and her academic journey, which initially included pre-med at Cornell before pivoting to fiber science and apparel design. She reflects on her professional experiences, including creating a 10-piece bridal collection at Cornell and working with top designers like Jill Stewart. Hayley opens up about her time at JLM Couture, her public legal battles, and the emotional toll it took. She also talks about her rebranding efforts with Cheval, the support she received from the bridal community, and her nonprofit organization, A Girl You Might Know Foundation, which aims to protect young creators' intellectual property. Lastly, Hayley shares her excitement about re-entering the bridal industry, planning her own wedding, and her continuous commitment to her craft and her values. 00:00 Introduction: Who is Hayley Paige? 01:43 Early Life and Inspirations 02:51 From Science to Fashion 04:30 Breaking into the Bridal Industry 06:08 Challenges as a Young Designer 08:15 The JLM Couture Journey 12:52 The Legal Battle and Its Impact 17:36 Rebuilding and Moving Forward 22:52 Cheval: A New Beginning 23:50 The Importance of Faith and Community 32:44 A Girl You Might Know Foundation 35:57 Looking Ahead: The Next Chapter Links: Michael Coombs Hayley Paige A Girl You Might Know Foundation
#51
February 10 · 27 min
Maximizing Visibility and PR Strategies in the Wedding Industry with Meghan Ely
In this episode, Michael Coombs interviews Meghan Ely, a renowned expert in wedding and event PR. They discuss the importance of maintaining a strong digital presence and the role of PR in achieving credibility, bookings, and growth. Meghan emphasizes the need for customized PR strategies based on specific goals within the event industry, such as wedding submissions, increasing brand awareness, and diversifying into B2B. She addresses current shifts in media publications, the impact of AI, and the significance of in-person conferences and associations. Meghan concludes with practical advice for wedding professionals looking to improve their PR efforts. 00:00 Introduction to Visibility and Digital Presence 00:29 Meet Meghan Ely: PR Expert 00:53 Is It Too Late for PR in 2026? 02:02 Effective PR Strategies for Event Professionals 03:46 The Importance of Real Wedding Submissions 04:56 Choosing the Right Publications for Wedding Features 06:57 Measuring ROI on Media Publications 09:27 Big PR Shifts and Trends for 2026 13:58 The Role of Conferences in Building Visibility 14:59 Choosing the Right Conference 16:01 Evaluating the Costs and Benefits 16:41 The Importance of Associations 19:48 Digital Detox and Print Media Revival 22:26 The Role of AI in Wedding PR 24:49 Advertorials and Ethical Concerns 26:46 Quick PR Tips for Wedding Professionals Links: OFD Consulting Michael Coombs Entertainment

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