The Business of Luxury Weddings James × Schulze

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.

Offer a discount, drop your rates, or put more into the package - this is what most people will do when they want to get more business. The problem is, in doing this, you’re devaluing yourself in the eyes of the client, which works against you in luxury.
 
The secret to raising your rates is actually refining your brand and elevating your proposal which means eliminating elements. Instead of incentivizing clients by lowering your price or stuffing your offering, you get them to spend by valuing yourself more. 
 
What are some of the things we need to refine or even eliminate? How can you make big leaps in business through small increments? What are the secrets to getting more luxury clients? In this episode, we’re joined by Colorado photographer, John Moler. He shares how he tripled his price tag by simplifying everything he does. 
 
Guest Bio
John Moler is a Colorado wedding photographer with a timeless, true-to-life style. He approaches each wedding with a sense of calm curiosity, noticing and capturing details people will remember forever. Go to https://johnmoler.com/ and follow @johnmolerphoto on Instagram.  
 
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.

As luxury shifts from conspicuous consumption to conscious consumption, we have to change how we think about the services we provide. It’s not that people are spending less money, they are just choosing to spend smarter, and putting more meaning behind every buying choice.
 
In the luxury travel space, crafting a great experience shouldn’t start with the location, it starts with the feeling people are seeking. It’s about focusing on the ingredients of the experience rather than the deliverable. What they want, not where they want.
 
This is especially true in the destination wedding space - where travel intersects with celebration, meaning, and connection. How do we deliver experiences driven by meaning, not money? What is the secret to building relationships with luxury vendors? Where is luxury travel headed and what does it mean for weddings?
 
In today’s 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.
 
Guest Bio
Jack Ezon is a travel industry icon and founder and partner of EMBARK Beyond. ​​More than a travel agency, EMBARK Beyond is a luxury travel advisory dedicated to creating thoughtfully designed experiences that go beyond a destination. Jack was the longtime president of one of the largest and most successful luxury travel companies in the United States. Over his 15 years as president, he found explosive growth in the business (100x growth in annual sales), and made close connections with global industry leaders. Together with Founding Partners Eli Ashear and Julie Danziger, Jack recognized the need to evolve as our clients’ demands and industry trends did. Thus sparking the idea for EMBARK Beyond! Focused first on client needs, they have built relationships with the world’s most sought-after lifestyle and fashion brands to open the world - beyond imagination - to their clients. The EMBARK Beyond team is comprised of some of the most respected names in the travel industry. Their closest friends include the world’s top hotel owners, general managers, global sales directors, tour operators, airline leaders, and cruise directors.
Go to https://www.embarkbeyond.com/ for more information and follow @embarkbeyond on Instagram.  
 
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.

Every human being has moments where inspiration strikes them, but not everyone will chase it. A great creative concept, collaboration, or business idea can fade because you’re scared to put it out there.
 
Not for Sofia Crokos.
 
She goes down every avenue of creativity from fashion and weddings to food and flowers. Her secret: manifesting, chasing beauty, and acting on inspiration without limitation. Instead of saying ‘no’ or ‘not now’ to an idea she engages with it and goes after it.
 
Because of this, her pursuits aren’t just successful - they also fulfill her and pull her to the next incredible idea. How does she stay inspired as she gets pulled in different directions? Why is the pursuit of beauty the thing that drives her life and business?
 
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. 
 
Guest Bio
Sofia Crokos is a luxury event planner, restaurateur, and founder of Sofia Crokos Events & Lifestyle. She’s also a connector, a collaborator, a creator; qualities that turn her clients’ great expectations into luxurious, elevated realities. Sofia Crokos Events & Lifestyle has perfected the art of entertaining. Since 1998, Crokos and her agency have offered unparalleled style and service, luxurious design, and expertly orchestrated events to the most discerning clientele. Internationally renowned for their personalized philosophy, impeccable eye for detail, boundless creativity, and infectious positivity, Sofia Crokos Events & Lifestyle champions a hands-on approach to every aspect of a celebration, no matter the size. This exceptional insight into the world of luxury events, paired with relationships with the most prestigious vendors around the globe, allows every client to experience these unforgettable moments with a sense of ease and levity, while also earning Sofia Crokos Events & Lifestyle recognition as one of the premiere event agencies in the industry. For more information, go to https://www.sofiacrokos.com/ and follow @sofiacrokosevents on Instagram. 
 
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.

When your successful planning business has a thriving floral arm, why would you shut it down? To make room for more creativity and collaboration! Most people wouldn’t dream of ending something that’s doing so well, but that could be keeping us from what we really want.
 
If a business is just chugging along, it’s easier to keep going as is. Shaking things up is actually so much harder than staying the same, but as entrepreneurs, we often have to let go to level up. We have to close down something good to make room for something exceptional.
 
This is what By Bello’s Lindsey Morgan realized, so she made the decision and took the leap. How did she come to the realization that she had to close her floral business? What new awesomeness has this created space for? What are the keys to her business growth and success?
 
In this episode, she talks about her journey, the power of taking action, and how she has created multiple streams of income in her business. 
 
Guest Bio
 
Lindsey Morgan is the owner and creative director of By Bello and Bespoke by Bello. Passionate about marrying natural landscapes with distinctive event design, Lindsey has been nationally recognized for her inspired approach, building memorable parties from the ground up. Alongside her masterful team, Lindsey provides each client with a highly personalized experience, leaving both the celebrated and celebrating with an event they’ll remember for a lifetime. For more information, head to https://bybelloevents.com/.
 
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.